Ménage à Liaison

The three of them hadn't moved at all, twiddling their thumbs on the couch as they thought of what to do. As sad as this made them... they knew each other would be okay, no matter what Sunset decided in the end. "So..." Midnight droned.

"Maybe we should... go out and do something?" Sunset sighed, "But... what could we do?"

"I dunno. Why don't we have a picnic?" Midnight suggested, seeming excited at her own suggestion.

Sunset smiled slightly, "We do have to tell the others about what's going on." She said, "So... why don't we invite someone along with us?"

"I was waiting for someone to invite me!" Pinkie cheered. The other three screamed, diving for cover behind the couch. Midnight peeked her head out, then Sunset, and finally Twilight. "Tell us what?"

Midnight and Twilight cringed. Of all the people to tell, Pinkie was going to hurt the most. They both looked at Sunset with a scared gaze. All they did were shake their heads, as if saying not now.

"It can... wait, you don't have to worry about it right now." Sunset said.

"Oookay! I'm gonna go bake some snacks. You three should bring something too." Pinkie bounced from her position on the armrest of the couch and to her feet. "I'll be back when they're done, don't leave without me!"

"Alright..." Sunset mumbled.

Once Pinkie left the house, the trio sighed and slumped into each other. "This is gonna suck..." Midnight facepalmed.

"Soooo badly..." Sunset groaned. "This'll be horrible!"

"Let's just not think about it." Twilight put an arm around both girls and pulled them into a loving hug. "We'll save it for the end of the day. Until then... what should we make for the picnic?" She asked, giving a smile so genuine that both Sunset and Midnight couldn't help but smile too.

"Ooh boy... that's a great question." Sunset sighed. "I'm sure Pinkie's going to make a lot but, we still do need to bring something."

"Yeah, maybe some actual food. My pancreas can only handle so much Pinkie." Twilight said, making Midnight snort into a fit of cute laughter.

"Right." Sunset chuckled. "Hmm, why not some sandwiches?"

"What kind of sandwiches does Pinkie like?" Midnight asked. Silence rang in their ears, blinking slowly as the three of them thought. Pinkie was a sweets junkie. They had never actually witnessed her eat normal food. They all genuinely were baffled at the question. None of them had ever considered. And now the thought was eating away at them. They were all curious, and they needed to know somehow.

"We could... you know text her.., or just ask and hope Pinkie's Pinkie." Sunset shrugged.

Midnight was already halfway through typing the message on her phone. Sunset and Twilight shook their heads and just laughed. The nerdy poindexter looked up at them, cocking her head curiously. "What?" Midnight blinked.

"Don't worry." Sunset grinned.

The three women had received a strange and definitely Pinkie answer.

"Why did she..." Midnight muttered reading over the long and intricate description for the sandwich.

"Don't question her." Twilight sighed. "Just... don't."

"Well... um since we can't make that, why don't we do ham sandwiches or something?" Sunset offered.

"New text! Yes." Midnight said.

"Great!" Sunset hopped up, let's make them and... hope our sugary death comes swift."

"Well, we have the food written down. But where exactly are we going to take this picnic?" Midnight asked, glancing between the two for answers.

"The park perhaps?" Sunset suggested. "Just... maybe slowly edge it on. If Pinkie takes it well... it'll be easier to tell the others."

"That's a big if." Midnight sighed.

"We can hope... regardless they'll all have to accept it." Sunset sighed quietly.

"They don't have to accept anything. I know what Midnight said, but if you want to stay, you can. No one is forcing you, Sunset... the only thing I want is for you to be happy. As long as staying makes you happy, I'll be happy." Twilight took Sunset's hand, her words making the orange girl's heart flutter.

"I know..." Sunset sighed quietly.

Twilight stood up, stretching and motioning the two up. "Well let's go! Pinkie probably already knows where we're going and is there already. We have a pic to nic!" Twilight beamed down at the two.

Sunset and Midnight grinned, standing up to follow Twilight. "Let's go!" Midnight agreed.

It took the trio about half an hour to reach the lakeside camping area. The blue skies were clear to let the sun give the lake a beautiful shimmer. And of course, Pinkie was already there waiting. The moment they were spotted, Pinkie waved frantically.

The three walked over to join Pinkie. "Hey." Sunset smiled as she approached.

"Hiya! Whatcha been up to?" Pinkie asked, kicking her shoes off to the side.

"Just talking, what about you?" Midnight asked.

"Jumping and hopping to see you three!" Pinkie dove and belly flopped onto the three of them, sending all four ponies to the grass.

The three woman laughed and hugged Pinkie.

"That's great!" Sunset smiled.

"Why today of all days to invite just mwah to a picnic?" Pinkie took the blanket and rolled through the grass, unraveling the blanket into a neat square for them all to sit.

Sunset glanced to Twilight and Midnight for an answer or advice.

"Oh, well... I don't know exactly how to say this, but..." Midnight bit her lip, scratching her head as she tried to gain the courage to speak the words.

"Something really... big came up..." Sunset continued

"The portal to Equestria is fading... When Twilight leaves, she won't be able to come back. Sunset and Twilight are in love." Midnight closed her eyes after speaking, not even wanting to look at anyone.

Pinkie was quiet, looking between the other three women. "Really?" She asked quietly.

Twilight frowned and nodded. "I don't belong here. You all proved that you don't need me anymore."

Pinkie closed her eyes. "And... you want Sunset to come back with you... right?"

"I want her to make a choice. It doesn't matter what she does... no one can fault her for either decision." Twilight said softly.

"If... you both go, won't that mean all the magic will go with you two?" Pinkie asked.

"Magic is part of you girls. You don't need us anymore. You're some of the bravest girls I've ever met... I know you'll be just fine." Twilight gently hugged Pinkie.

Pinkie hugged Twilight back, "That doesn't mean it'll be easy to get over you never coming back..."

"Pinkie, let me tell you something." Twilight leaned back, keeping an arm around the pink mare. "Back in my world, that world's version of Pinkie Pie is a hero. She helped save the world. So much so that I had witnessed a world without you. It's a world without laughter... fun... parties... without you, there would be gloom. I don't care what universe we're in, you are destined to be great. This world needs heroes... this world needs you Pinkie. And it needs you to be strong... be strong for me." Twilight had her forehead pressed against Pinkie's forehead, their eyes unable to look away from the other's.

Pinkie smiled slightly. "Twilight, don't worry about me." She squeezed the violet woman, "I'll be fine, we'll all be fine. I already know that. We have each other to lean on. And that's what we need."

"And don't you ever stop partying!" Twilight giggled.

"You'd better not either!" Pinkie giggled back.

Twilight's smile shrank slightly. "I'm glad you're taking it this well. I'm... afraid to tell the others." She said sadly.

"Don't be, they'll understand." Pinkie assured. "Sure, they'll miss you... but I know you'll miss us too. That's what friendship is about, right? Being there to understand what your friends are going through, and being there to help and support them! You've done all of that for us, we should be there to see you off. Even if we'll never see you again..."

"Hey, Midnight?" Twilight turned her gaze to her doppelganger.

"Yeah?" Midnight replied.

"I don't mean any offense when I ask, but... maybe I can have a day alone with each of your friends. You know... to tell them myself. Give them each some time with me." Twilight smiled, though it seemed slightly forced.

"Alright... I don't see why not." Midnight nodded slowly.

"But in the meantime... Sunset, why don't you keep Midnight company?" Twilight gave another smile to Sunset. This one felt much more genuine, and sincerely happy as her eyes met with the fiery haired woman.

"Okay!" Sunset smiled, nodding as she moved to hug Twilight for a few moments.

Twilight returned the hug. Everyone there saw Twilight's face shifting to a light red.

"Don't have too much fun without me..." Sunset whispered teasingly before she pulled back.

Twilight didn't let her go that easily. She stepped closer, surprising the orange girl with a slow, wet smooch on the lips. "Fun is subjective... you're objective. It just doesn't exist without you." Twilight said confidently.

Sunset blushed lightly, "Oh you..." She laughed quietly.

Twilight walked to Pinkie and took her hand. "Well! What's on the itinerary for today?"

Pinkie just smiled her usual excited smile. In that moment Twilight felt a twinge of fear, she'd just asked Pinkie what she wanted to do. Not even the gods could foresee what this chaotic woman would want or do.

Thankfully however, it appeared Twilight had truly caught Pinkie on a 'sane' day. They'd only just ended up at a pizza parlor, but it was more than clear Pinkie had even more surprises planned for Twilight. Something told the purple woman that Pinkie had already planned for this all to happen and that only made her worry more.

"Wow. Any reason you wanted to come here in specific? Or are you just craving some pizza." Twilight chuckled, walking Pinkie to a booth off to the side.

"Here they can't listen to us!" Pinkie said, plopping down into the booth.

"They?" Twilight mused uncertainly as she unfolded her menu.

Pinkie leaned in close, "The Lizard people! They're everywhere..." She whispered in a hushed tone.

Twilight blinked a few times, slowly pulling her menu up between the two.

"Good..." Pinkie pulled back. "So, what did you want to get?" She asked, picking up her own menu.

"Maybe some nice herbal tea? Oh, and maybe some tea cakes too." Twilight beamed back at Pinkie. Though Pinkie was stuck in some kind of logic loop, not seeming to believe what Twilight had just asked for.

"You're weird. We're at a pizza parlor." Pinkie now put her menu up in between them. "Herbal tea... psssh... coke's much better..." She muttered quietly.

"Coke works." Twilight nodded with a shrug. "You know, I've never actually had pizza. What's good?"

Pinkie dropped her menu. "What."

"Oh sorry, I'll have a coke too." Twilight smiled back at her, clearly oblivious to the problem.

"No, I mean what. You haven't ever had pizza. Do you live under a rock or something?" Pinkie said. "How have you never had pizza?"

"I think the only pony I know who lives under a rock is your sister." Twilight joked.

"She lives in a cavern, thank you very much." Pinkie corrected, crossing her arms.

"And what are caverns made of?" Twilight's smug face reached a new level.

"Now you're acting like you've never heard of a metaphor." Pinkie retorted. "Miss Smarty Pants."

"Clearly I can't be that smart. I've never had pizza. What's wrong with me, right?" Twilight's entire expression shifted to more genuinely happy tone. There was no condescension in her voice at all, and Pinkie felt her heart flutter happily. Then it only made her think of how much she was going to miss Twilight.

Pinkie was quick to slip over to Twilight's side, wrapping her arms tightly around the purple woman. "I'm going to treat you to only the best." She smiled widely.

"I already have the best. You're sitting right here." Twilight returned the embrace with a giggle.

Pinkie giggled quietly, "So, when were you gonna tell everyone about your extra feature?" She asked, the sudden change in topic startling Twilight to no end, but she immediately remembered she was dealing with Pinkie.

"Huh? Ohh... well that's..." Twilight was blinking rapidly, avoiding eye contact. "I'd say never... Midnight, Sunset, and I guess you, are about all I can handle at the moment."

"What's wrong? It's part of you, why should you be embarrassed or scared by it? You know, if I had one I'd be sharing it with everyone!" Pinkie said cheerfully.

"Yeah, you say that a lot." Twilight's brows furrowed. Her words confused Pinkie.

"What do I say a lot?" Pinkie asked.

"That I shouldn't be embarrassed, like it's that easy. I don't mean you, I mean the Pinkie from Equestria. It's easy for you to say how easy it is when you're the most shameless creature in the world. But I'm not you, Pinkie." Twilight sighed.

Pinkie's brow furrowed. "Fine." She stated, waving the waiter over. She was quick, and somewhat uncharacteristically curt with him, placing what the two woman wanted before she shifted back to the other side of the booth. Now they were left in silence. "I understand you aren't me. But friends like me, and the other girls aren't going to judge you for being you. But, if you don't believe me that's fine."

"Don't do that... don't make me feel like the bad guy. It has nothing to do with..." Twilight's voice was filled with something Pinkie had never heard from the stoic violet princess. Pinkie heard sadness. And a growing one at that.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad. If you want to keep it a secret. Than do it. I won't tell anyone, it isn't for me to tell." Pinkie said. "You don't have an obligation to tell, and we don't have any right to know. It's your choice to tell, I just want you to understand, I know none of us will judge you."

Twilight was silent for a few moments. "Imagine being born expected to succeed. You're loved, and they support you. But no matter how hard you try, you can't get better. No matter how hard you train, or practice, you feel helpless. Then one day, during the biggest test of your life, you panic. In that flurry of emotion, you accidentally unleash magic that impresses the Princess of the Sun herself... You're filled with disbelief, awe, and above all, hope..." She pauses, closing her eyes and finding the energy to continue.

Pinkie stared at Twilight, clearly not expecting this of all things. "O... okay." She said quietly.

Twilight took a deep breath before continuing. "You couldn't be happier. You're Celestia's prized student, and the world's biggest bookworm. Then one day she tells you she's sending you to Ponyville to learn about friendship. It was something I never wanted. But once I had it, I couldn't let it go. That first year in Ponyville was hell. I would have preferred fighting Nightmare Moon, or even Discord again. But the thought of losing your only friends? It's easy to believe, and it's even easier to doubt. I can't say the same for you, because I honestly don't know... I learned to live with the fear that some friendships don't last, and it could end quicker than it started. Especially when you're put on a pedestal for ponies to stare at... they see a new alicorn, a new princess. How would you feel about revealing my secret if you were in my shoes?"

"I'd be scared too." Pinkie said quietly, her entire being drooping a little bit.

Twilight wrapped her arms around Pinkie tightly, catching the party girl by surprise. "Fortunately, you know. And you're here right now. So I don't have to hide it right now... and I couldn't be happier."

Pinkie smiled a little again, returning the hug. She seemed a bit brighter now, but still not completely back to her normal bubbly self.

Twilight’s smile shrank, but still remained warm and friendly. “You know… when I first met you in Equestria, you drove me crazy. The singing, the laughing, everything. It was the polar opposite of what I was used to growing up. But then you know what happened?”

“What?”

Twilight closed her eyes, picturing a certain pink pony hopping through Ponyville with a mob of colts and fillies chasing after. “I saw what friendship was capable of. You smiled, and it made everypony else smile. You laughed, and other ponies laughed, sometimes not even knowing why they were laughing. I made a mistake a while back, one that almost cost me my friends, and nearly ruined everything we built together. It was also the same mistake that made me a princess. But in the arduous quest it took to fix what I broke, I saw a glimpse of Ponyville without Pinkie Pie.” She said, cupping Pinkie’s cheeks. “You may not make the sun rise, or hold the moon in the sky. But you are the life of the town. There wouldn’t be a me, without you.”

Pinkie’s bright bubbly nature returned in full. She tightly hugged Twilight, pulling her into the tightest hug she had received yet.

“Thank you Pinkie… don’t ever stop smiling.” Twilight buried her face into the pink girl's neck.

“I already told you, I won’t.” Pinkie squeezed her a bit more, just holding Twilight for a few moments.

“Hey…” Twilight’s smile grew significantly.

“Yeah?” Pinkie asked curiously.

“I think our pizza is ready.” Twilight and Pinkie turned to see the waiter standing beside, smiling down at them with a large platter that looked far too heavy for him to hold with one hand. Yet he held it effortlessly.

“Great! Let’s dig in then, pizza is literally the greatest thing ever!” Pinkie said happily. The waiter set the pizza down on the table, leaving the two to eat the entire massive pizza laid out before them.

Twilight stared down at the pizza with a few blinks between. “Does it come with a knife and fork?”

“Silly, you eat it with your hands!” Pinkie said, lifting a piece up and putting it on a smaller plate and handed it to Twilight. She scooped another piece for herself and began to chow down on it.

Twilight lifted the plate, staring down at the slice. She brought the plate close to her face and slid the piece of pizza slowly off the plate and into her mouth, biting a large chunk off.

Pinkie just started laughing, “No, you have to pick it up!” She giggled. “And I don’t mean the plate!”

Twilight, her mouth full, slurred out something inaudible as she chewed.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full! You’ll spit out all the pizza if you do!” Pinkied said, giggling even harder.

Even Twilight seemed to be struggling not to laugh and choke. Her eyes were clamped shut, and she pressed her face into the table.

Pinkie grinned widely, leaning over and hugging Twilight, smearing her in pizza grease.

Twilight swallowed the mouthful in one big gulp. With her mouth empty, all Twilight could do was sputter and laugh, trying to shove Pinkie away.

“I’m so happy you’re enjoying it so much!” Pinkie said gleefully.

Twilight’s smile began to die down. There was almost what Pinkie felt as dread creeping up in her stomach. She knew it was all coming right from Twilight. “Who should we tell next?”