Bookends Part 2: Or Making Dreams Come True

Twilight, Cheerilee, Rarity and Applejack collected their bags. Twilight hired a cab to deliver Rarity and Applejack’s bags to their hotel, and for Cheerilee’s and Twilight’s to her parent’s house.

The two couples walked to a little café Twilight frequented in her student days. They sat and drank tea or coffee and had some chrysanthemum salad Twilight recommended was to die for, it didn’t disappoint.

After an hour, Rarity told them she and Applejack really did have business to do and if they wanted any ‘recreational time’ later at the hotel, they needed to go.

They agreed to meet at the baggage check counter the next day before going home.

But not before Twilight and Cheerilee promised they wouldn’t tell anypony about them. It was their business and their responsibility if they wanted ponies to know.

After Rarity and Applejack left, Twilight looked at her lover with a gleam in her eyes.

“You say you haven’t been to Canterlot a lot?”

“No Sweetie,” said Cheerilee, “usually it’s a field trip to the sculpture gardens or to the art museum.”

“Have you never had a tour of the castle?” asked Twilight.

“Never,” said Cheerilee, “I’ve always thought it was such a beautiful place. But I’ve never had the chance.”

“Then that’s our first stop.” Said Twilight with a smile, “I think I can pull a few strings and get us in without a tour group.”

Cheerilee’s eyes lit up, she was excited. She probably would’ve been even more excited if she’d known what Twilight had in mind.

They walked the distance to the castle, it was hard to miss, it dominated the Canterlot skyline. As they drew near, they could see ponies, young and old waiting in designated areas for guided tours. Weekends were always a busy time for castle tours.

Cheerilee looked at the ponies waiting as she and Twilight just walked past them.

As they approached the large open gate in the perimeter walls, she saw several uniformed Palace Guards guarding the entrance. They’d stop any ponies who approached and ask for their passes or identity papers. Cheerilee was a little nervous, she didn’t remember if she’d brought her I.D. with her, and if she had, it was in her bag, now at Twilight’s parents’ house.

But what happened next wasn’t what she was expecting. As Twilight with Cheerilee in tow, approached the guard, two of them saw her and motioned them to come to them.

“Twilight Sparkle!” said the one guard, “haven’t seen you in a bit. How’s your brother doing in the Crystal Empire?”

“He and Cadence are doing great Strong Hoof,” said Twilight. “I’ll tell him you asked about him when I see him next. By the way, this is Cheerilee, she’s with me.”

“No problem and thanks Twilight,” said the guard stepping aside to let them pass.

They walked into the castle grounds headed to the Castle itself. It was the same thing almost every guard they passed. As the princess’ protégé and Shining Armor’s sister, Twilight was well known to the Palace Guard.

They entered the castle and Twilight started to show Cheerilee the finer points of the architecture, some of the exquisite stain glass windows (a few were even depicting Twilight and her friends) and some of the well-used areas. They came to a large vaulted hallway with a velvet rope across the opening. A sign was hanging on it stating;

Official Business Only. No Tours.

Violators Subject To Arrest.

Cheerilee was nervous about the warning, but Twilight kept walking in the direction of the hallway. Cheerilee heard a voice from behind shout to them. Her heart stopped.

A guard came galloping up.

“Stop right there,” said the guard.

Cheerilee froze in fear, but then the guard continued;

“Let me get that for you Twilight,” and he levitated the rope for them to pass.

“Thanks Noble Heart,” said Twilight as the guard gave a little bow as they went by and then put the rope back in place.

Twilight continued to show Cheerilee some of the inner sanctums of the castle. She was wide eyed with wonder, the library was beyond what she had ever imagined. They turned a corner in the hall and there were some of the largest doors Cheerilee had ever seen. There were at least half a dozen guards before them. When they saw Twilight they all snapped to attention.

Twilight walked up to one wearing a sash, obviously the officer of the watch.

“Are they occupied?” asked Twilight.

“No Miss Sparkle,” said the officer, “you may go on in.”

Cheerilee was in shock when she realized that Twilight had brought her to the throne room, and was about to bring her before the princesses. The doors glowed and opened enough to allow the two ponies to pass, and the guards moved aside to let them in.

“Thank you Swift Wind,” said Twilight as she passed.

As she entered, it was all Cheerilee had ever imagined. The walls lined with hanging tapestries showing heroic and historic scenes. Precious metals were inlayed in the walls.

But the most impressive sight was the raised dais with the two regal princesses enthroned thereon.

Twilight approached the princesses, but Cheerilee was unable to move. Twilight noticed and chuckled.

“Come on Darling,” said Twilight, “they don’t bite. Well, Luna might nibble a little.”

They noticed Luna had overheard and giggled a bit. Twilight took Cheerilee by the hoof and led her before the princesses.

“Twilight Sparkle!” said Princess Celestia in a stern voice, “what’s the meaning of bringing such a beautiful mare before us? Is it your intention to put us to shame?”

Then the princesses and Twilight broke out in laughter.

“Guard,” called out Princess Luna, the door opened, “no admittance until further notice.”

The guard closed and bolted the door. The two princesses came down to meet the two mares. Princess Celestia and Luna hugged Twilight.

“My most faithful student,” said Celestia, “to what do we owe the pleasure?”

“I’ve learned a lesson in friendship and I didn’t want to commit it to paper, it needed to be brought before you in pony.”

“Oh, is that so,” said Luna, “and who is this lovely mare with you?”

“She’s what this is all about,” said Twilight, “this is Cheerilee, she’s the teacher at Ponyville School...

And my marefriend and partner.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other. They turned and returned to their thrones.

“Twilight,” said Celestia, in a very official voice, “I don’t believe you’ve thought this out. Your position here with me, as well as a public servant in Ponyville, demands the highest of personal decorum.

Are you telling us that you’re in love with a...

Mare?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Twilight was starting to get nervous, perhaps she’d been rash in bringing Cheerilee here so soon. She could feel Cheerilee’s fear growing.

“Are you admitting that you’re in a homosexual relationship, Twilight Sparkle?” asked Luna.

“Again yes, Your Highness,” said Twilight starting to regret this trip.

Luna and Celestia whispered to each other. Then Celestia spoke up;

“Because of your service to us, we’ll not act without giving you a choice. If you remain with this mare, then you must renounce your position as my protégé and student, resign your position as librarian of Ponyville. But most importantly, you must surrender your Element of Harmony,” said Celestia.

“You must decide now!” said Luna sternly. Twilight was suddenly reminded of Nightmare Moon.

The wasn’t any hesitation on Twilight’s part, she spoke up right away.

“I thank you for what you two have done for me, and my love for the two of you doesn’t diminish any. But I must be true to my heart, I choose...”

“Twilight wait!” interrupted Cheerilee, “I love you but I’ll not let you give up everything you’ve worked for, just for me. I’m not worth it.”

Then turning to the princesses;

“I’ll leave Twilight alone and you’ll never be bothered by me again, you’ve my solemn word Your Highnesses,” said Cheerilee in tears.

“I can’t let you do that Darling,” said Twilight to Cheerilee.

“SILENCE!” Luna said in the Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice.

Twilight and Cheerilee cringed as if physically assaulted.

“Twilight Sparkle,” said Princess Celestia, “you’re willing to give up all you’ve worked for and fall out of our good graces…

All for this mare?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” said Twilight.

“And you, Cheerilee, you’re willing to give up your happiness for Twilight’s future?” asked Luna.

“Yes Your Highness,” said Cheerilee in tears.

“Then I must pass judgement without delay.” Said Celestia, Twilight and Cheerilee held hooves and braced themselves. But they noticed that Celestia and Luna smiled.

“Twilight, You have learned the greatest lesson about friendship…

That of love.

There’s nothing more important in life. True love gives a pony strength to face the greatest of adversities (nopony knew how prophetic those words would be).

I’ve never been more proud of you than how I am right now,” said Celestia.

“We wish we could take credit for this,” said Luna, looking at Cheerilee, “but it takes a special pony to teach this. We only hope what we’ve taught has opened the way for you.”

“So as of now, you’re a complete adult, you’ll retain your official position as my protégé and I’ll still be your mentor, if you want. But most of all I hope you’ll consider my sister and me as personal friends.”

Twilight and Cheerilee just looked at each other stunned.

“Come with us,” said Celestia.

The two princesses did something that Twilight had never witnessed. They levitated their tiaras and put them on their thrones. And they walked to the wall behind the dais. Their horns glowed and a hidden door appeared, opened and the two princesses led them through to a suite of rooms Twilight never knew existed. There was a small kitchen area, a bathroom with a hot tub large enough to be a small swimming pool. And the main area was a large open area with a magnificent balcony, the only furniture was a huge cushion with blankets and pillows scattered.

Celestia and Luna lowered themselves to the cushion, they were actually up against each other quite close. It appeared as more than just a sisterly familiarity.

“Please join us,” said Celestia.

“Thank you Princess,” said Twilight as she and Cheerilee joined them on the cushion.

“In here, my beloved Twilight,” said Celestia, “there are no crowns and no rank.”

“We have our ‘official’ quarters, as you’ve visited in the past. But here is our area to get away from the issues of state. In here is our most private inner sanctum sanctorum, here we’re just Tia and Lu. The only ponies who are invited here are the closest of personal friends and lovers.” Said Luna, then nuzzling Celestia as if to punctuate what she’d said.

To the surprise of the two visiting ponies, Celestia turned and kissed her sister quite passionately. They rested their heads against each other before facing them again.

“Don’t be shocked ladies,” said Celestia, “we’re immortal, we’ve had lovers and consorts from time to time, stallions and mares, but we go on. There are no other ponies who can ever be as close. We have each other, and we need love as much as any other pony.”

“Does this disturb you Twilight?” asked Luna.

“No it doesn’t. I’ve often wondered about that. And I guess it’d be more to the spirit of this place if you just called us Twi and Cheeri.” Said Twilight.

“I believe we’d like that,” said Celestia. “What about you, Cheeri?”

“To tell the truth,” said Cheerilee, “I’m still in awe. But I’ve no problem with the situation.

Twi and I’ve only recently discovered the importance of love and I don’t think that I’d want to go on without it. In your situation, I believe yours is the best solution, as long as you’re happy with it.”

“Thank you My Dear,” said Celestia. “You’re a teacher, of all my roles, teaching at the School for Gifted Unicorns is my favorite. Sometime we must talk about dealing with unruly students, like Miss Sparkle.”

All ponies laughed.

They all talked for several hours, Twilight had never been around her teacher and her sister this relaxed. They laughed, gossiped, kidded and just talked about love and loving. There was even innuendo that some visit in the future that they’d be welcome to stay a night with them (after Luna had raised the moon) so they could experience the true depth of immortal love.

After their visit, Twilight’s affection for the two princesses doubled.

As Twilight and Cheerilee got ready to leave, Princess Celestia told Twilight her brother and Cadence were in town from the Crystal Empire and were probably at Twilight’s parent’s home.

They returned to the throne room, where the princesses gave a hug to the two mares and a kiss of blessing on the forehead. Then Twilight and Cheerilee departed to find some snack before going to Twilight’s parents’ home.