Faulty Hoofcuffs

"So Babe?" Soarin asked, setting down his drink on their table. He looked over to see her and Scootaloo snoozing soundly, making the decorated stallion laughed. "Well, I guess it was a lot to ask of ya to stay up after just getting out."

"Mmmph, no more sweets Pinkie, my teeth hurt..." Rainbow moaned in her sleep, getting a bigger laugh out of Soarin.

"Babe, it's midnight. Why don't we take Scootaloo back to her room and then we go to ours?" Soarin asked, getting the cyan mare to wake slightly.

"Sounds great Speedy," Rainbow said sleepily. "Let me just get 5 more minutes..."

Soarin laughed and got Rainbow up, then the two carried Scootaloo to her bedroom, setting her down in bed and looking fondly at the little filly.

"Soarin," Rainbow said still attempting sleep, "Where do you stand? With foals?"

"Are you saying you want kids RD?" Soarin asked his marefriend, genuinely shocked.

"Mmph, not really," Rainbow said halfhearted. "I was just wondering."

"Well if I may Babe, I always liked adoption myself," Soarin said as they walked out of the room and headed to their chambers.

"Really?" Rainbow said, nuzzling the colt at heart.

"Really. I think there are enough foals already, so why not give a kid who has never had a good home a great one," Soarin said looking distant. He had put a lot of though into this, and felt the time was right to tell Rainbow.

"Awe, Speedy. You're going soft on me. No more late night pies," Rainbow joked.

"Har har... You're not serious about the pies, are you?" Soarin asked worriedly. "Babe? Don't mess with this colt's pie."

"Okay, okay," Rainbow giggled. The two made it to their chambers, and promptly made it all the way to the bed before passing out on top of the covers.

The early morning sun was not as warm today, the streets filled with a cold, stinging wind. The first day of winter. The snow flurried around Twilight and Rarity's hooves as they made their way to Shining Armor's and Cadence's home. They had declined living in a castle, wanting to have a more relaxed lifestyle, not being shut out from the world. But right now, one lavender mare with a raw flank was wishing her brother and sister had come to them for breakfast.

"Hurry up my love," Rarity chided next to Twilight, "We don't have all day. The train leaves a noon."

"I would hurry up if my ass would stop hurting," Twilight growled.

Rarity flipped her nose in the air, and jokingly replied, "Not my fault in the slightest, my love. I gave you a safe word."

"'Please, another' doesn't count!" Twilight cried as they reached her brother's doorway.

Rarity smiled her coy, mischievous smile as she rang the bell, and whispered "Not with that attitude, my love."

The door flew open, and two white appendages flew out and grabbed Twilight and Rarity, pulling them into a very strong hug with a very enthusiastic stallion. "Twily, Rare! Great to see ya! Have a seat! Need anything? Coffee? Tea?"

Rarity, her head spinning, recognized one of her favorite words and latched on, "Coffee, yes. Two creams and three sugars, please and thank you."

"Of course! Cadence, they're here!" Shining called rushing into the kitchen.

"Hey girls," Cadence called, poking her head out and smiling at the pair warmly. "Sorry about Shining, he's just a bit worked up."

"You don't say..." Twilight said sarcastically, but it went unnoticed. No long after arriving, the four sat around the table, Shining continuing his uncharacteristic hyperactivity.

"So Twilight, how was the dance? I noticed you're walking kinda weird today, you slip on some ice or something?" Shining blurted out, bouncing around as he did. What on Equis had him so worked up? He hadn't looked like this since he made Captain.

"Something like that darling," Rarity answered with her grin settling back into place, memories of her night welling up again. "And Cadence, you're positively glowing this morning! What product do you use darling?"

"Oh, I hadn't really used anything beyond my shampoo and conditioner this morning. Do I really look that different?" Cadence mumbled. She was being quite, reserved. The opposite of her normal actually. She was usually the life of any gathering, but right now, she was almost like Fluttershy, pleasantly there but not trying to contribute.

"Okay, what's up you two?" Twilight sighed, shaking her head. She knew it was good news, she was not that out of sorts in social settings.

"Honey, may I?" Shining asked, settling down a touch. With a nod from his loving wife, Shining set out to the good news. "Girls, Cadence is pregnant. About one month now."

"OhmygoshyesCadenceIamsohappyforyou!" Rarity squealed, rushing the princess into a hug and pleasant nuzzle.

"Oh my gosh, congratulation you two!" Twilight sang, limping over to hug her brother and Cadence in turn.

"Thanks Twily... Um... Why are there whip marks on your cutie mark?" Shining asked, noting his sister's more than painful trip around the table.

"Oh, that, ha ha, it's nothing, really," Twilight said, her cheesy smile returning. She was a horrible liar when Shining Armor was concerned.

"Twilight," He said sternly, making all three mares shrink away a tad. "Don't make me use it."

"Use what?" Rarity asked as Twilight gasped.

"You wouldn't."

"Watch me. Twilight," Shining said standing and looking down his snout at her, "As your big Brother, tell me the truth." Cadence chuckled and rolled her eyes, Bad idea lover boy.

Twilight cracked hard, the big brother play was too much for her. "Rarity did it! We were screwing last night and she spanked me with a riding crop. I loved it, it was amazing!"

Shining blinked, and for the first time ever wished his sister could lie to him, just this once. "Um..."

Cadence came to his rescue with a laugh, "Well, that was a bit much too much information."

Rarity shrugged, "Well, she started it, being all sexy last night. There is only so much a mare like me can endure."

"Please stop," Shining and Twilight said.

"Didn't you have a safe word at least?" Cadence asked, enjoying making her family squeamish.

"Oh yes darling, of course," Rarity smiled.

"Along the lines of 'Another!'" Twilight shot back.

"Wha..." Shining said, his mind reeling from a heavy overdoes of too much about little sisters personal life. "Twilight," Shining rallied, "Why didn't you just heal yourself then? Is Rarity not letting you?"

"I would never!" Rarity cried. "Or at least as long as I'm still enjoying it. But he does have a valid point my love," Rarity said, looking to her love with concern.

"I can't," Twilight whispered, looking to the floor.

"What do mean you can't? Is your magic still weak after-" Shining started, but a quick jab in the ribs from Cadence stopped him before he said something really uncouth.

"No, I feel fine..." Twilight muttered, playing with a spot of carpet.

"Then what's wrong?" Shining asked. "I know you know the spell."

"I'm afraid."

"Of what?" Cadence asked, unsure of what Twilight meant.

"Magic."

"Twilight, you're the element of magic, you-" Shining began.

"Not magic. Magic, the force itself, that I embody. What if-" Twilight began but stopped, feeling the heavy tears already rolling down her cheeks.

"What is it my love? Please?" Rarity asked.

"What if Magic hurts somepony? Or worse, steals you from me?" Twilight sobbed, falling into Rarity's embrace.

"Darling..." Rarity muttered as she held onto the lavender mare, tears welling up in her sapphire eyes as well.

The gang all settled into their seats, the steam billowing around the train as it edged forward, building up speed as it began it's long journey back to Ponyville. Six mares, three fillies, a dragon and one really out of place coltfriend sat in the cabin, relaxing and enjoying the smooth ride. But the mood was differing around the cabin, as each had a story of last night, some good, some not so much. One, the coltfriend Soarin, was busying reading the Canterlot Daily, namely the cartoons.

"Pinkie, you got your hair to straighten!" Rarity chimed, smiling broadly.

Without looking back from out the window, Pinkie scoffed. They're sitting together, I know it. Mares. They just play with you, Pinkie thought. "I guess I did. Look at that."

"Pinkie?" Twilight asked, but Rarity shook her head.

"We've dealt with this before. Break up Pinkie. She's going to hate all couples for a bit," Rarity whispered. "I really should have seen it sooner."

"Well, you would have if you weren't playing tonsil hockey with Twilight!" Pinkie snapped.

"Pinkie, not called fer," Applejack snarled. "Don't get upitty with us now. Ah'm sorry it didn't work out with the Princess, but y'all are an adult, so buckin act like it."

"Easy for you to say, you weren't just used and then left lying on the cold marble floor!" Pinkie shouted, full of fire and venom. No pony had a rebuttal to that, but the dragon did.

"Well, you picked the floor from what I heard. That was your choice," Spike said. Pinkie turned to him, her nostrils flared, but she quit, and finally let herself deflate.

"You have a point Spike. But she still used me, and I didn't like it."

"Pinkie..." Twilight whispered. She had never seen her friend this... defeated before. It was not pleasant, and all Twilight wanted to do was help, but she had no clue how, she had never had a breakup.

"I know how you feel Pinkie," Fluttershy said. Was it Twilight, or did Fluttershy glare at her, for the briefest of a second? No, surely not. "Loved once, then left for the day to day."

"What happened to you, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked. Okay, Fluttershy defiantly blushed, didn't anypony else see that? Twilight thought.

"Well, I had a kiss..." Fluttershy smiled.

"It was Celestia, wasn't it?" Pinkie asked hotly.

"Wait, you kissed Princess Celestia!?" Everyone else but one pony asked. That one being Rainbow Dash.

"Awe yeah! Go Shy, it's your birthday! Uh huh. Oh yeah," Rainbow sang, dancing a bit. Soarin rolled his eyes and began to read the paper again. He kept showing Rainbow certain parts, dealing mostly with her award and Wonderbolt status.

"Thanks Dashie. And it was nothing much, but still very, special," Fluttershy said, looking to... Rarity? Okay, that has to be a double entendre, Twilight thought. Why do I doubt her? I love Fluttershy like a sister. Something's wrong...

"Well I'm glad Darling," Rarity smiled. Fluttershy smiled back, blushing like mad. If she looks at my Rarity again, I'll blind her, Twilight thought, to her own horror. She didn't want to be distrustful of Fluttershy, but she was. And Twilight hated it. It was like another mind was in hers. Magically almost.

"Girls, um... Have any of you read today's paper?" Soarin asked, not taking his eyes away from the paper in question. Rainbow looked absolutely pissed, beyond words.

"No, why?" Applejack asked, who was sitting second closest.

"Twilight! I think you need to see this!" Soarin called, a mix of anger and what sounded like fear running through his voice. Rarity floated the paper over, and set it before Twilight.

"Last night's Winter Moon Coronation was heralded as the must see even this year in Equestria, as Princess Luna rose-" Twilight read.

"Next page Twilight," Rainbow said.

"Okay, okay... Later that night, Miss Vinyl Scratch, in a bout of forgetfulness, admitted to romantic as well as sexual feelings for her colleague and flatmate Octavia Baritone. Oh my gosh, Vinyl!" Twilight cried out. This was slanderous, and more than that, down right disgraceful.

"Keep reading," Soarin prompted.

With a angry snort, Twilight pushed on, "And it was also reviled that at a as of yet unknown time, Vinyl's cousin, Lady Twilight Sparkle had Sexual Relations With Miss Octavia! What in Tartarus is This Crap!" Twilight cried out.

"How dare they!" Rarity cried, "Lying about you like that!" Twilight deadpanned, and Rarity took the hint. "It's not a lie, is it?"

"Sorry Rare. It was three years ago-" Twilight began, but Rarity kissed her, and stunned the poor lavender mare. "What? Okay."

"I don't care who you were with. In the end, I got you, that's all that matters to me," Rarity said. Twilight had a feeling this conversation was not over, just quelled for now.

"Very nice, but..." Soarin interjected.

"There's more?!" Twilight groaned. This was the hardest reading Twilight had ever done. Soldiering on, she read, "And it has been confirmed from multiple sources that Lady Twilight continues to prefer the mares, currently in a highly sexual relationship with Miss Rarity, one of the top five fashion moguls for Equestria!"

"Top Five!" Rarity beamed, trying to read the article.

"Rarity!" Twilight snapped. "It outed us!"

"What the hay!?" Rarity shouted as that thought dawned on her. "How could they do this? To you, to us!?"

"Do they get the Canterlot Daily in Ponyville?" Scootaloo asked looking out the window to the rapidly approaching town.

"Spike, take a letter!" Twilight shouted, but the small dragon was looking out the window as well, as the train made the last corner to Ponyville, and the station came in sight.

"Um, Twi, I don't think that'll help..." Spike said, sizing up the crowd.

"Welcome home girls," Granny Smith smiled at Apple Bloom and Applejack, the first to step off. Twilight and Rarity shared a spot near the back, neither one finding the courage to face the five hundred ponies just yet. Not when they would be seen as liars and deviants rather than the couple they were. But a sudden cheer changed their minds.

"Congrats Rainbow!" "Way to go Fly-girl!" "You Rock RD!" The whole crowd was electric for the mare. It only began to dawn on the two lovebirds that the crowd was for her, and not them after all. They might just be in the clear. They stood, and made their way out. To the last pleasant greeting they would ever receive in town.

"Hello Twilight, Rarity," Granny Smith smiled at them. "I always liked y'all, and I don't believe the lies that fancy pants Canterlot paper is puttin out there. So we'll help y'all clear yer names." Her smile made it clear, she knew what the paper said was true, but here it was, this was their chance at redemption. This was their chance to slip by. The only one, and neither mare would ever take it.

"They're not lies, Granny Smith," Twilight said, puffing out her chest defiantly.

"Indeed, my darling Twilight and I are a couple. Is that a problem, deary?" Rarity asked, looking to the old earth pony.

"None at all, as long as you two don't mind doin what's right by it now. Ah bought y'all two tickets back to Canterlot, you leave tomorrow, so you can pack," Granny said, still smiling. A kind smile that somehow invited trouble, and made it turn tail. Granny was an unmovable object. Fortunately, Twilight and Rarity were an unstoppable force.

"Really? Says you and what army?" Rarity asked.

"We are not pushovers Granny Smith. We won't be bullied," Twilight said, her horn starting to glow.

"And we refuse to let any filthy fillyfoolers stay in town. Y'all had yer chance. Now we take this ta the city magistrate, Missy," Granny spat back, her face inches from Twilight's. Twilight jerked toward the old mare, but Granny didn't even blink. "Ah'm givin y'all til tomorrow. Be gone, or else."

"Or else what, you heartless witch?" Rarity hissed under her breath. "You'll stop selling us apples?"

"Ah'll stop holding back," Granny said. The look in her eyes would have turned Discord to stone all over again, and made Nightmare Moon apologize. Twilight and Rarity though, in defiance, pushed past with their friends, heads held high, even as tomatoes and lettuce were thrown at them. The others ran interference as much as possible, but they made no friends on the walk home.

"Granny, yer outta line!" Applejack shouted when the Apple family had all reached their farm home.

"The hays gotten into you! Ah raised you better then that," Granny snarled, and to her credit, Applejack did calm down.

"Ah'm sorry. But Granny, they ain't hurtin nopony," Applejack begged.

"Applejack, yer too young to get it. This runs deeper then y'all realize," Granny said as she walked into the kitchen. "Now wash up, suppers in twenty."

Applejack wanted to yell and scream, but she couldn't. She wanted to let Granny know she was wrong, but the words never formed. She wanted to tell her about Amy, but she just walked away. Applejack went to her room, slumping against the door, and cried, for what seemed hours. But the fact that she was on time for dinner told her otherwise. Some element of Honesty Ah turned out ta be, Applejack thought as she sat down. Ah can't even be honest with myself.

Twilight and Rarity stayed together that night, and made the fact very well known. They expected some retaliation for this, but when it came, it still hurt. Looking at the Carousel Boutique the next morning, the words Fillyfooler spray painted across the front, was hard. But they would shoulder this burden as they had all others. Spike and Scootaloo took it harder though, and Sweetie Belle was extremely distraught.

"My home," Sweetie cried. "What's wrong with them?! Who? Who are they hurting by just being themselves!? Cowards! All of you! Cowards!" Sweetie screamed at the onlookers, til Spike put his arm around her. There was not many friendly faces there this morning. Twilight began to wonder if there were any in town actually.

"Just leave, please," One pony, a friend named Daisy pleaded.

"Daisy, I would sooner let Applejack design my next seasons starting line that willingly leave," Rarity spoke to the gathering ponies more than the one pony. "I don't care how much I have to endure. I will not back down. Right, my love?"

"I stand by you now as you did with me," Twilight said stepping next to Rarity. She nuzzled the white unicorn, and took a small amount of pleasure in watching a couple ponies smile a bit. They each felt differently, but as a crowd, they were still morons. "I don't have anything to hide anymore!"

"Girls," Granny Smith said, her kind old mare voice parting the crowd, "It sounds like y'all are turnin down my generous offer. So be it. Ah'll see y'all in town hall tomorrow. Ladies," Granny Smith said taking her leave. The crowd thinned some, but many stayed, either to ask the mares to leave quietly, or to break a window, as somepony did that night after they had left.

Rarity gathered several supplies and personal effects, and she and Twilight, along with Sweetie Belle, Spike, and Scootaloo, levitated or carried everything back. Twilight carried the most of it.

"Darling, thank you," Rarity whispered.

"For what?" Twilight asked, enjoying the feeling of Rarity's warm breath in her cold ears.

"For everything. Your support, and your courage. I love you," Rarity said.

"I'm only as brave as you, my very special somepony," Twilight smiled.

"No no, my love. You're using magic again. Just for me," Rarity commented. She soon wished she hadn't, because as Twilight realized what she was doing, she accidentally dropped everything. But a fast minute later, everything was back up, and even repaired if needed, as they hurried to the library. Twilight turned to the crowd following on their tails, and snorted. She summoned a thick force field, the glowing pink orb a warning to all ponies, 'Do not disturb.' Magic was no longer an issue as Twilight's rage needed an outlet. But she let the field open as three ponies knocked gently, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Big Mac.

"Hey," Twilight called as she let them in, "Come to enjoy good book?"

"Oh yeah," Applejack said hugging her friend, "It's called Ponyville Law. We here will be yer legal counsel, Twilight."

"Eeyup." Big Mac smiled.

"Big Mac, are you..." Twilight ventured.

"Nope." Why does everypony keep sayin that? Big Mac thought

"I was going to say speak for us," Twilight joked. She let in the small gang, and happily set about learning the local laws. Twenty minutes later though, she was ready to quit.

"The Apple Family has tie breaker rights! Not to mention Granny Smith is a key member of the town counsel," Twilight groaned. "How?"

"The Apple family founded this here town Twi," Applejack said kindly, "My great granny, Sew 'n Sow, wrote these here laws. See, this one's bout family first."

Twilight looked at the law, and then back to another she was reading. "It can't be..."

"What is it Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think I just found out the Apple family secret," Twilight said looking up to her friends. It was quite a leap, but it might just pan out. It all came down to how Twilight could spin it tomorrow. So the gang all settled in for the night, Big Mac heading home, while Fluttershy and Applejack stayed. They all wanted to go to court together in the morning.

Around 3 am, Rarity awoke, feeling rather warm. She still had Twilight tucked gently into her, the poor girl. If Rarity was warm, how hot was Twilight? Rarity sighed, and kissed her love's forehead, thinking she was just nervous. But an almost inaudible moan enlightened Rarity to the real reason. She turned her head as much as she could to see she was right, Fluttershy had crawled into their bed and cuddled up to her. Poor mare must be worried sick about the trial in just a few hours. Rarity still had no clue who the yellow pegasus loved so much, but it didn't matter right now. Rarity chuckled as she came to a realization.

"Rarity, it's three am. What is so dang funny?" Twilight asked, roused slightly by the heat and movement.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Rarity said setting her head back down.

"It's okay hun. What's up?" Twilight asked.

"Fluttershy is cuddling with me in her sleep," Rarity explained.

"No way."

"She's big spoon."

"No. Fluttershy?"

"I know."

Fluttershy groaned, and dragged her hooves up to Rarity's chest and started massaging it gently in her sleep. Twilight stifled a giggle.

"Stop laughing or I get the cuffs," Rarity threatened.

"Kick Fluttershy out and do it anyways," Twilight prompted. Rarity was extremely tempted to, but lost steam looking at the gently snoozing mare. She was rather cute like this, even more so than normal. So the mares settled back to sleep, ready to face the music.

"Oh look, the paint sticks to my shield spell," Twilight groaned as she opened the door, the word 'Fillyfooler!' greeting her backwards. She and the rest gathered outside, and readied themselves for the long walk to town hall. Twilight lowered the spell, just as a snappy dressed mare trotted up to them, pulling a paper out of her saddlebags.

"Greetings, I'm Caring Hooves, Scootaloo's foster family attorney. I'm here today because-" This new mare said, but an angry Twilight cut her off.

"If you think I'm giving up Scootaloo, you're in for a shock," Twilight growled.

"No Miss Sparkle, you are. The city has declined your request to act as Scootaloo's foster parent. Miss Scootaloo, Hi, I'm-" Ms Hooves said happily now, but was again cut off.

"Go buck a pineapple lady," Scootaloo said.

"Scootaloo!" Twilight and Rarity scoffed. Though secretly, they felt the same, and the look on Ms Hooves face was priceless.

"Missy, I'm being nice. Let's keep it like that, okay?" Ms Hooves said, her voice icy for that smile.

"And I'm being difficult. Your move bitch," Scootaloo retorted. Twilight groaned and held her head, though she did admire the little filly right now more than she probably should.

Ms Hooves lunged for Scootaloo, hoping to grab her and drag her off, but Scootaloo is really quite nimble, and very skilled physically. "Miss Spark-" Ms Hooves began.

"Lady," Twilight interrupted calmly.

"What?" Ms Hooves said, exasperated.

"Lady. My title is Lady Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and student of Princess Celestia. What were you saying Ms Hood?" Twilight asked.

"It's Hooves."

"Whatever, it doesn't even matter Ms Hoops. Scootaloo does not wish to go with you, and I won't make her," Twilight said, looking at her hoof much like Rarity tended to.

"I will get the Ponyville police involved if I must," Ms Hooves said.

"And I will get the Princesses. The fact of the matter is that I am higher up this little chain of command than you, or your boss, or their boss, all the way to the bucking top. So back off Ms Hooves, or I will make sure the only job you can find involves a shovel and the outhouse. Do I make myself clear?" Twilight said, looking down her snout. For the first time ever, Rarity could see the family resemblance between Twilight and her brother, the way he had done this to her but not two days ago.

So without another word, they all set off to town hall, passing the silent mare on the way. Most of town had turned out. Most threw things today, but they mostly missed, so there was that. Three friendly faces greeted them though, rounding out the gang.

"You ready to rock, Twi?" Rainbow asked. Soarin looked rather sharp in his uniform, and Pinkie was... well, more Pinkie like than last time.

"Yay! Lets win, then we can have a good-job-defending-your-rights party!" Pinkie cried.

"That sounds lovely right now Pinkie," Rarity said with a polite curtsy.

"Tehehe, my pleasure girls," Pinkie sang, hugging them all.

They all marched proudly to town hall, heads held high as they reached the steps, and walked up them, steeled in their resolve. Nothing would stop them now! Nothing.

Except a nearly empty court room. There was only seven ponies in here, actually make that six and a donkey, Cranky D. Donkey, counsel member. Twilight let her mouth hang open as she rallied for sanity.

"Granny, I thought we were here for a trial! What the-" Twilight began, but Granny hushed her with a time tested motherly glare.

"Deary, Ah asked ya here to plead yer case to the town counsel if ya will remember. Ah never said this was a court thingy now did Ah," Granny smiled. Then that kind smile faded, "Now shut yer trap. There's two matters a head of y'all this mornin. Next time try and be early!"

So Twilight and the gang sat down, their group more than doubling the original number present. They sat patently as one pony, Mr Greenhooves, complained about the early freeze damaging his new field irrigation system. Then they sat quietly as Mr Jim Beam and Mr Jack Hammer, two construction ponies gave a quick briefing about the repairs to the town hall, along with the maintenance schedule for the roads and street lamps. Then it was their turn, and not a moment to soon.

"Miss Twilight, correct?" William Wright asked, the last of today's chair members, along with Mayor Mare.

"It's Lady Twilight actually," Twilight chuckled. She was feeling much better about this suddenly.

"So why should we allow fillyfoolers to live in our town? You yourself have seen the public reaction to your relationship, and I dare say, it's not good," William said. And there went the nice feeling.

"Well, first, please don't use that term, it's rather insulting. And second, we pose no danger to any institutions, marriage or otherwise. Why shouldn't we be allowed?" Twilight asked.

"Cause this town is an earth pony town," Granny replied. "This town has always believed in family values, which y'all so blatantly don't, from where Ah sit at least."

"How?" Rarity scoffed.

"For one, commitment. Twilight Sparkle has been open lately about her promiscuous past," Cranky read with a frown. "She had several partners for only one such engagement. Is this true?"

"Twilight had never dated before, yes, but that was before. We are committed now," Rarity pleaded.

"And how many other partners did Twilight have before?" The mayor asked politely.

"Hehe, um... Two..." Twilight began.

"That's not so bad," William said.

"...Hundred eighty seven," Twilight finished blushing enough for everypony there.

"How?" Everypony present asked. Including the construction crew and Mr Greenhooves.

"Well, a few where at the same time..." Twilight said shrinking into her seat.

Finally Cranky managed to regain thought, as he asked, "And where they all other mares?"

Twilight did the impossible and blushed even more, saying meekly, "They were not even all ponies..."

"Oh Celestia," Rarity muttered under her breath.

"So I think we should move on to the second item, abuse," Granny said, paler than anypony had ever seen her. There is only so much any pony's mind can take, and they figured it was best to change subject before they tested the limit much more.

"Abuse?!" Twilight exclaimed, and now Rarity blushed.

"Two days ago, when you arrived, you had fresh whip marks on your flank, which Miss Rarity was responsible for, correct?" William asked.

"How did you know?" Twilight asked, confused. They hadn't breathed a word to anypony.

"Rarity has a history, to say. She hospitalized two stallions before during... intercourse," The mayor read.

Twilight looked to Rarity, questioningly. "I said it took me years to get right," Rarity smiled awkwardly. Twilight blushed.

"Well, I think you're excellent," Twilight smiled. She might have took a bit of pleasure from making the counsel feel a bit out of place, but only because they were.

"Third, foal bearing and respect for public officials. This morning Miss Scootaloo-" The mayor began, but was cut off.

"That bitch wanted to steal me from Twilight! She had it coming!" Scootaloo yelled.

"And the fact that we have no such outburst from heterosexual couples before leads us to believe that two mares cannot effectively raise a foal," Cranky sighed as he explained.

"That's not true! You don't have nearly enough data to make that accusation!" Twilight yelled, standing now.

"Sit down young'un. The fact that ya threatened the mare as well does not help yer case," Granny retorted. Twilight snorted as she shook with rage. It had been a set up. Granny had planted that bitch to secure their case, she must have. It was time for the big guns then.

"Granny, I studied Ponyville law last night, and uncovered the Apple family secret!" Twilight rallied. This was foolproof.

"What secret?" Granny asked, looking mighty perplexed.

"That your mother, Sew 'n Sow Smith, hated our fair Princess Celestia, and crafted rules to undermine her!" Twilight said, sitting down triumphantly.

"Well, yeah. We all know that," Granny said, stealing the wind out of Twilight's sails. "But that don't change nothin. Them rules are fer growin families, not pleasin ponies. Mah ma' hated her for her sluty ways Missy, true, but that changes nuthin bout the no fillyfoolers ruling for ten years ago. So tell me, why should you stay?"

Twilight breathed, "We are just two ponies in love. You don't hate us or what we want, you hate the change it represents. But these things change, as everything does. We are just the latest wave."

"Ten years ago, Cranky wouldn't even be on the counsel, much less a cornerstone like he is now," Applejack added. "Everything changes. This one is hard only because it makes y'all question yer loyalties, yer long held concept of right an wrong."

"Exactly," Pinkie added, "I tried things with a mare, but I'm still the same Pinkie. It's not my thing, but I can see that for Twilight and Rarity, it is. Call it Pinkie sense."

"Yep. I love a mare too, it's just who I am," Fluttershy said, then realized what she said. "I'm sorry, I just got caught up in the action of it all."

"That's alright darling," Rarity smiled. "I for one grew up in Ponyville, but I came to love Twilight of my one free will. I believe that makes a strong case for this being nature, not nurture."

"May I?" Scootaloo asked, waving a hoof in the air as if in school. "I'm Bisexual, always have been. I like it all!" She smiled, a bit too enthusiastically. That girl is a wonder, I'll give her that, Twilight chuckled to herself.

"Thank you ladies, for your stirring accounts. We called this meeting to review the subject of citizenship rights for same sex couples. But in the end, I find that Fillyfoolers such as you still pose a danger to our firmly held family belief system, our local doctrine, and local welfare based on potential hate crimes against you. I vote for the ban. All in favor?" William asked. This was it. Granny predictably voted for the ban. The mayor shot it down, she was willing to try. That just left one.

"I think we should try, I myself like change," Cranky said with a smile to his friend Pinkie. A tie, better than a defeat, it gave them time. Except for one small detail.

"That's a tie then, and Ah will have y'all know Ah hold the tie breaker position," Granny said.

"Nope," Said a big red stallion nopony had even noticed had walked in with his youngest sister. Big Mac walked up the table, and placed down a law book in front of his granny. "Ya don't have the vote Granny. Y'all voted in this matter, makin ya partial. It goes to the next oldest present Apple Family Member, which is me."

"Big Mac..." Applejack whispered.

"Before Ah vote, Ah wanna know somethin. Tell me the truth sis," Big Mac said looking to her.

Applejack swallowed, and looked right past Big Mac. This wasn't for him, and his honest, humble ways. It was to Granny, the hard worker that had raised Applejack basically, but now tried to dictate how somepony else was supposed to live their life. "Ah- Ah'm A fillyfooler Granny! A fillyfooler and Ah am damn proud!" Applejack cried.

"What? These filthy whores corrupted my granddaughter!" Granny Smith yelled, no longer the nice little old mare.

"No, she came bout this for herself Granny. Yer wrong bout them, their still the same girls they always were, now just in love. Ah vote against," Big Mac smiled.

Ten ponies cried in joy, hugging each other as they danced around, and two mares shared their first, maybe only kiss ever inside that hallowed building. One stallion though, smart as he was, got his friends and family's attention.

"Um, ladies? Ah don't think everypony else is as happy as you are..." Big Mac said as he listened to the angry yells gathering, the windows starting to shake.

"Let them hate. I can deal with the glares and mean words," Twilight said, her lips just inches from Rarity's. They walked, tail and tail, to the door, ready to face the boos and slander. As the old saying goes, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. But those sticks and stones should not be dismissed.

The stone, no larger than a bit, hit Rarity right above the eye, as she walked down the steps. Twilight watched as the world, her world, slowed. She watched her love, one of the most important ponies in her life, fell to the ground, blood running down her face from the gash above her eye. The colt, no more than sixteen, yelled something, but Twilight never heard it. It might have been an apology, but based on the second rock he was grabbing for, it was not. A few ponies started to throw things, but Twilight never took note. They deserve it, they hurt her, and she is yours. Avenge her, Magic whispered. She turned her eyes onto the citizens, their stones and trash frozen in thin air. Then She spoke.

"No Pony Hurts My Rarity." No pony was left standing afterwords. Twilight was sure of that. She punished them all, using a simple spell to induce agony in all those that expressed hate right now. But there were so many, so so many, so full of hate. Twilight would repair the damage done to her love, all of it, the home she had lost, the cut, all of it. Twilight gave Rarity everything but the one thing she truly wanted. Her.

"Rarity!" Applejack cried as she rushed to her friend. Fluttershy sped past, and picked up Rarity.

"There there my love," Fluttershy whispered, but Rarity didn't notice. She was fighting to be free, trying to get to the only spot of grass, the force of Magic having melted the snow atop it moments ago.

"Twi-Light!" Rarity managed. "Where- is- She? Twilight!?"

"Rarity, She's-" Rainbow said, limping over. Rainbow tried to piece it together, but, but she had to be wrong. Surely, Twilight was -

"Where's Twilight?" Scootaloo cried. Spike slumped into the snow, shaking as he stared helplessly. It had been so fast, and now...

Pinkie cried, turning away from the barren spot and hugging whatever was closest. That thing, Big Mac, didn't fight it, but hugged her back, his breathing labored. He had never seen some pony- No, no she couldn't have. She would never.

"Twilight!" Rarity screamed as she pawed at the ground, tears rolling down her face freely. She couldn't breath. She couldn't move. She simply lay in the wet grass, her blood still smeared across her face. "Twilight! Please, Don't leave me! I Need You! Come back, please! Please! I Love You! Twilight!" Rarity cried, and cried, and cried. That day, the world ended for two mares.