Love, Trust and Friendship

Twilight materialized in her bedroom with a brilliant flash of white light. She stood still, not daring to move. The only sound her rapid, shallow breathing. The sudden silence pressed in making her ears ring.

After a moment of quiet, the panic started to lose it grip and her breathing slowed. Rainbow Dash was no longer in front of her. The eyes of the townsponies weren't on her. Rarity wasn't there. She was alone. The post-panic numbness started to settle in.

Twilight absently noticed her cheeks were wet. Turning her head, she looked in the mirror to see tears running down her face. Looking into her own, wide eyes she suddenly felt the weight everything crashing like shards of broken glass through the numbness. Her legs went weak and she threw herself onto her bed, sobs wracking her body. The fear, anxiety and shame came pouring out as she curled into herself.

Everything was going so well... and now... It's all a mess...

Despite trying to hold them in, more sobs escaped her throat. Twilight squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that continued to flow.

How can Rainbow Dash like me!? We're so different! It doesn't make any sense! And why would she freak out like that? Why would she say those horrible things about Rarity? And in front of everypony!?

The sobs slowed as Twilight started trying to put the pieces of her broken evening back together. Did I miss something? That was why she acted weird when I told her about Rarity. And then I pushed her... And she told half of Ponyville she had feelings for me... And said Rarity wasn't good enough for me...

In front of everypony...

Twilight felt her shoulders tighten at the thought of all the townsponies looking at them as Rainbow and Rarity had it out.

All those eyes looking at us...

Everypony knows...

The panic threatened to well up again and Twilight felt fresh tears. She squeezed her eyes shut again, tears falling as another sob escaped.

Well, not everypony, the logical portion of her mind tried to argue. But everypony will know soon enough. This wasn't how I wanted everypony to find out. I wasn't sure how I wanted them to find out... just not a big public spectacle like that!

Twilight felt a knot twist in her stomach. Oh no... Rarity. The thought of leaving her marefriend caused a rush of guilt. I left her there! I didn't even say anything. She must be worried sick...

Twilight buried her head in her hooves as fresh sobs came, her body shaking. She wasn't sure how long she lay there, face pressed against her blanket, crying uncontrollably, the events of the night swirling over and over through her mind.

A long while later, Twilight lifted her head from the tear-stained bedspread. Her eyes burned, her throat and head ached. You wanted to just sit here and keep Rarity to yourself and just not tell anypony, she thought dejectedly. You were afraid of changing the way things were.

Because it's scary... Ponies will look at me differently... They'll judge me.

But what about Rarity and Rainbow? They're out, and they don't appear to suffer because of it. Maybe Rarity is right, maybe I'm making a bigger deal out of it than I need to...

But they never hid it...

But Dash still mucked everything up, she thought bitterly.

Twilight pressed her hooves to her red-rimmed eyes, trying to dry the last of the tears. She felt so tired. She wanted to curl up under her blankets, cover her head and hide from the world for the next two days.

Twilight started as she heard a gentle knock at the door. Rarity's muffled voice came from the other side. "Twilight?"

Twilight felt a mix of joy and guilt as she heard Rarity's voice. "Come in," she said, her voice hoarse.

The door opened, and Rarity came in, mane slightly disheveled, a relieved look on her face. She trotted over to the bed. "Dearest... are you alright?" she asked gently, putting her hoof on the bed next to Twilight.

"I think so," Twilight said quietly, shifting to face Rarity. She covered Rarity's hoof with her own and looked down at the bed. She couldn't look Rarity in the eye.

"I was hoping it wouldn't take me long to find you," Rarity said, a small smile tweaking the corners of her mouth.

"I'm so sorry Rarity," Twilight said, feeling tears pricking her eyes again, her voice cracking. "I panicked... I didn't know what to do-"

"It's OK," Rarity interrupted. "No need to apologize, it was an awful thing that happened, and I'm partly to blame anyway."

"Rarity..." Twilight said, looking up from the bed.

"No," Rarity said, "I shouldn't have risen to her baiting. I knew I had to get you out of there... There was no good way for that conversation to go..."

Twilight frowned. "I just don't know why Dash flipped out like that."

"Twilight," Rarity said, "I think she's been keeping it in too long. When you do that, things can boil over in the most... Inappropriate ways. Her finding out about us likely just set her off..." Rarity bit her lip and paused. "And being pressed about it probably didn't help..." she finished reluctantly.

Twilight looked down, staring hard at the bedspread. "Yeah... Looking back it's obvious I should have let it go..." She could feel embarassment burning in her cheeks. She had been working hard to identify when she was chasing answers with too much focus. Here she knew she had failed.

Rarity frowned. "Well... What's done is done," she said with a sigh. "I'm sorry your first date had to end this way."

Twilight gave a sad chuckle. "It did turn into quite a mess, didn't it?" She asked rhetorically.

"You know," Rarity said, a smile touching her lips. "The date really ended after the show, so the park was technically the end..."

Twilight blushed remembering making out with Rarity in the grass. "We'll call that the end of our date then," she said, peeking up at Rarity, a lopsided smile on her face. She still felt cheated that her night had been ruined, but she appreciated Raritys attempt to salvage the good in it.

"Agreed," Rarity said as she leaned in, nuzzling Twilight's cheek.

Twilight closed her eyes, leaning into the contact. They stayed like that for a moment until Twilight lifted her head, a quizzical expression on her face.

"Everything alright, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Umm... I was just wondering..." Twilight started, trying to think how to phrase her thought properly. "Not to say I'm interested in Rainbow Dash, but if she was interested in me... Why didn't she just say so?"

"Her and I likely wrestled with the same question of approaching you," Rarity said, patting Twilight's hoof. "Neither of us really knew you liked mares."

Twilight wrinkled her brow. "But you were willing to take the chance..."

"I was," Rarity admitted. "But honestly, I also felt I could repair things if you didn't share my feelings. Rainbow Dash may not have."

"Oh..." Twilight said. In a small way she was grateful that Rainbow Dash had never expressed her feelings. She had no idea what she would have done to politely turn her down. Knowing me, I'd probably have freaked out... and things would have devolved from there.

"Yes," Rarity said. "It's no small thing to risk a friendship when you don't know your feelings will be returned."

After a moment's silence Twilight said, "It never would have worked anyway.".

"What wouldn't have?" Rarity asked.

"Dash and I," Twilight replied. "We are just too different in the wrong ways."

Rarity blinked. "It sounds like you've given some thought to this."

"Well, yeah," Twilight said with a shy smile. "Years ago when I found out she liked mares I thought about it, but we're just not compatible. Our differences don't compliment each other, and the things that make us the same are not the things they should be."

"Some serious thought then," Rarity said smiling.

"I mean, look what she had with Midnight," Twilight continued. "Their relationship was... intense."

"Now that's putting it politely," Rarity said sarcastically.

"But their similarities held them together and their differences complimented each other. Polar opposites don't always attract. I mean, they're both headstrong and never shied from confrontation, which is why they could always work through everything. But Midnight had a tenderness to counter Dash's brashness." Twilight had a thoughtful look in her eyes. "And they always managed to meet in the middle, despite the sparks and the arguing, there was always love."

Rarity looked down at the bedspread. "But we all know how it ended..." she said quietly.

"How Dash ended it," Twilight corrected.

"True," Rarity conceded.

"I don't see myself like that," Twilight said. She looked into Rarity's eyes. "I don't see us like that."

Rarity returned her gaze. "How do you see us?"

Twilight looked away, her thoughtful expression returning. "I see us as quieter and more understanding, willing to listen rather than arguing everything," she said. "Passionate, but without burning down the castle or smashing all the plates while we scream it out."

Rarity laughed, the sound making Twilight's heart flutter.

"I see our differences as being complimentary," she continued. "You're far more social and outgoing than I am, even though I enjoy being out around other ponies. Like tonight, I had a really good time but it's not something I would have done on my own."

"Well dates are done with two ponies," Rarity teased.

"Seriously Rarity," Twilight said, "this whole relationship thing is scary and new. The last few days have been.. exciting... but I'm glad I have someone patient and understanding like you to help me along. I don't think I could do it with anypony else."

"You'll get through it, darling. Every relationship has an adjustment period, and the first is always the biggest," Rarity said climbing onto the bed. Twilight shifted and they laid on their sides facing each other. Rarity wrapped her forelegs around Twilight pulling her close.

They lay there, holding one another. Twilight could feel all the stress of the evening melting away as she clung to her marefriend, breathing in the scent of her mane, tiny ringlets tickling her nose. For Twilight, the rest of the world disappeared, kept at bay by the embrace of a gorgeous white mare.

Hopefully there won't be anymore adjustment periods, she thought wistfully.

After a moment, Twilight's eyes flicked open as an unpleasant thought intruded on her happiness. She pulled back enough to meet Rarity's eyes. "I want you to know..." she started, "what Rainbow Dash said about you holding me down... It's not true."

Hurt flashed briefly in Rarity's eyes. "I didn't assume it was, darling," she said. "Besides, you've given me wings once before, remember?" she said, smiling at the memory.

Twilight smiled, Rarity's wings had been quite an accomplishment. "I know," she said, her tone serious, "but those weren't permanent. And I really do have to fly more, I've been avoiding it, I'm just so used to being on the ground."

"It's Ok Twilight," Rarity said warmly. "I knew there were going to be challenges dating an alicorn princess, and that's OK. We'll deal with it if it becomes an issue."

Twilight held Rarity's gaze, not fully convinced. "Are you sure?"

Rarity reached out a hoof and stroked Twilight's mane. "All I ask is that you come back down for a kiss once in a while," she said giving Twilight a wink.

Twilight blushed, giving Rarity a chaste kiss on the lips. "Of course."

Rarity dropped her gaze, her expression serious. "I do have another thing to ask though..."

Twilight felt a twinge of anxiety. "What's that?" she asked, not really sure she wanted to know.

Rarity looked back at Twilight. "When something like tonight happens, I want you to promise me you won't bail on me," she said looking pained. "I don't want to have to come searching for you every time we run into a problem."

Twilight felt her earlier guilt burn in her cheeks, a sick feeling in her stomach. She couldn't look at Rarity. She really had been upset that I took off, she thought biting her lip.

"I care about you, a lot Twilight," Rarity said reassuringly, putting a hoof under Twilight's chin and turning her head until their eyes met, "but we need to face things together. I know it's new and scary and the emotions can run high sometimes, but I need to know I can trust you to stick by me if things get rough."

Twilight felt tears pricking her eyes again. "I'm sorry Rarity," she said, eyes squeezed shut against the tears that wanted to come through. "It's just... I wasn't expecting it... And I didn't know what to do..." She could feel a tear running down her cheek. Guilt squeezed her heart.

Rarity pulled Twilight into her embrace, stroking her mane. Twilight clung to her, face nuzzled into Rarity's neck. "Twilight, we only learn to deal with these things by actually facing them," she said in a low soothing time. "You can't read your way through dating one of your best friends while the other has a crush on you," she chuckled. Something between a sob and a laugh escaped Twilight, muffled against Rarity's coat. "You never do it right the first time, but every time gets easier, and you get better at dealing with these things."

Twilight took a deep breath. Trying to stop the tears that wanted to keep coming. She felt a little more in control of herself. She rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling, one foreleg still trapped under her marefriend. "I'm suddenly reminded why I avoided dating for so long..." she said weakly with a sidelong look at Rarity.

Rarity smiled at Twilight. "Yes, but the cat's out of the bag now, so there's no going back," she said snuggling up next to her. "We'll get through this, and while things won't be the same, they'll settle down... for a while. You'll see."

Twilight closed her eyes and took another deep breath. "OK. I promise. I won't bail on you again."

Rarity nuzzled Twilight's cheek. "Good."

"Just make sure that if I really start freaking out you pull me out..." Twilight said hopefully. "Or give me some support, OK?"

"I promise," Rarity said sweetly, propping herself up so she looked down at Twilight. She sealed the promise with a long, slow kiss.

The events of the night melted away for Twilight again. The vice of guilt around her heart loosened as Rarity's tongue slid against hers. The feel of her weight on the bed ensuring Twilight wasn't dreaming. Rarity's mane brushed against her face, bringing the faint smell of berries and linen with it. I'm making out with Rarity on my bed! her mind squeaked. A small moan escaped her throat.

Twilight rolled back towards Rarity, hooking a hoof behind her head, pulling her down.

Rarity leaned across Twilight, propping herself up on a hoof. She broke the kiss, slowly trailing kisses down Twilight's jawline, pausing to suck and nibble the skin below her ear. Twilight sighed happily. She's almost pinning me down... she thought absently, enjoying the feel of Rarity's lips on her skin.

Rarity continued kissing her way down Twilight's neck. Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Rarity, pressing her close, burying her face in her marefriend's mane. She sighed again as she felt Rarity gently bite down and then begin to suck the tender skin of her neck. She let go as she felt Rarity pull away.

Rarity settled down beside Twilight again. Brushing Twilight's mane out of the way, Rarity traced a line up Twilight's ear with her tongue, breathing gently as she did so. Twilight shivered.

"As much as I'd love to stay," Rarity whispered, "I must really get going soon."

Twilight turned half-lidded eyes on Rarity. "Now who is a dreadful tease?" she asked playfully.

"Oh indeed," Rarity said laughing. "But darling, I really must get going. I should get a decent night in my own bed before I pick up Sweetie Belle from Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow."

Twilight looked at Rarity with wide eyes, putting on her best, saddest looking pout.

The sight of Twilight trying to keep Rarity in her bed using a pouty face cause Rarity to laugh so hard she rolled onto her back, forelegs wrapped around herself. Twilight, unable to hold a straight face, laughed along with her.

Recovering her senses Rarity wiped a tear from her eye with a hoof. "You, darling, are something else," she said as she righted herself. Stepping off the bed, Rarity shook her mane back into place. She cocked an eyebrow at Twilight, "See me out?"

Twilight sat up. "Of course," she said smiling. She stood up and hopped off the bed, opening the bedroom door with her magic.

Twilight and Rarity trotted through the brightly lit crystal halls towards the main doors. Twilight was feeling much better about the night's events, but she wasn't sure how she was supposed to proceed, or what she should actually do about Rainbow Dash. Might as well ask Rarity.

"What should I do if I see Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked.

Rarity blinked at her. "Talk to her," she answered simply.

"Huh... Yeah, I guess so," Twilight agreed. The simplest solution is usually the best one, she thought.

"Really darling, just talk to her. Get through all the messy stuff and figure out how to make it work," Rarity elaborated. "As I said, there is no book on this. You and Rainbow need to figure it out between yourselves. I'm here for you, but this is a conversation you will need to have on your own."

"Well..." Twilight said, taking a deep breath, "it can't be any worse than it was tonight,"

They stopped at the doors, Rarity turning to face Twilight. "You'll be fine," Rarity said, lifting a hoof to stroke Twilight's cheek. Twilight leaned in, closing her eyes to savor the contact, a sleepy smile on her face.

Twilight opened her eyes, looking at Rarity. "Thank you for tonight," she said.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your first date," Rarity said, pulling Twilight into a hug. They held each other for a few seconds, Twilight basking in the warmth and faint smell of berries.

"Goodnight, darling," Rarity said pulling away.

"Goodnight," Twilight replied.

Rarity leaned in and gave Twilight a long, chaste kiss before turning and heading out the doors and back to Ponyville. Twilight watched her go, sleepily enjoying the swaying of her flank she as she left before gently closing the doors with her magic.

Twilight trotted back through the castle halls to her bedroom. Now that Rarity was gone, she felt very tired again, her hooves heavy. She fought to keep her eyes open. On reaching her bedroom, she lit her horn, turning down the magic lamps on the walls and allowed her eyes to close. She lit her horn again and pulled her dress off, letting it to fall to the floor.

Twilight climbed into bed, snuggling under the covers. Too tired to form coherent thought, her mind a blur of kisses and the scent of berries, she quickly drifted off into a dreamless sleep.