Twinkling Through The Dark

Later on during the party, Starlight approached Twilight. “Um Twilight, could we talk, in private please?” Starlight said nervously as she looked around to see if no pony heard what she had said. “Of course Starlight, is outside ok?” Twilight said as the two ponies slipped out of the function room and went outside of the hotel. Twilight asked what was on Starlight’s mind. “It’s just that, well my mum is sort of, pressuring us.” Starlight said looking quite embarrassed about telling Twilight. “’Pressure’? What do you mean… oh…ok.” Twilight said as she realised what Starlight was talking about. Starlight then trans-mutated some snow into a couple of chairs and they sat down and continued.

“It’s not like we don’t love each other, but it seems that she is trying to speed the whole thing along and its making me feel uneasy just to be near her or show any affection to Sunburst as it might cause her to egg us on, you know?” Starlight went on growing more frustrated and upset. “Starlight, I understand completely where you are coming from.” Twilight said while rubbing Starlight’s back. Starlight looked shocked as she never thought Twilight would knew what she was going through.

“My own mother is also pressuring me, she is like ‘why aren’t you married yet?’or ‘why don’t you have a colt-friend yet? You are a Princess for pony sake!’” Twilight said trying to imitate her mother’s voice. “It was worse for Shining Armour after he started to date Princess Cadance. Dad was starting to get sick and tired of it to the point where he tried to time them being at home when she wasn’t. It got worse until they had Flurry Heart when she finally got off his case.” Twilight explained what she and her brother went through and what Twilight still occasionally goes through.

Then they heard the door behind them open and Sunburst came out looking for Starlight as he noticed that she was missing. “Starlight, there you are, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Sunburst said as he then noticed Twilight and stepped back. “Oh, are you having a private chat? Sorry for interrupting! I’ll just go back in…” Sunburst said as Twilight called out telling that he could stay and got up and let him sit down.

“Sunburst, Me and Starlight were just talking I have a question for you and I’m sorry in advance if this is too personal or intrusive of a question. Is any pony from home pressuring you about Starlight in particular areas of interest?” Twilight said in a supportive tone trying to not offend Sunburst as she knew that he did not like these sort of questions, especially after what she had done this morning. “How do I know that you would not tell any pony else after what you pulled this morning.” Sunburst said with a thread of hurt in his tone of voice as he did not either appreciate what Twilight said or done this morning.

“Sunburst, Starlight, I’m so sorry for my behaviour this morning. I took this way too far and after thinking about it I realised how hurtful I was being to you to. Now I will Pinkie Promise right here and now that I will keep this conversation completely confidential.” Twilight said, expressing her regret over her actions but Pinkie burst from the door shouting to them to come back inside and also her Pinkie Sense told her some pony was about to make a Pinkie Promise.

“Pinkie Pie, not now please. I’m having a serious discussion with Starlight and Sunburst here and would appreciate it if you went back inside.” Twilight said in a calm voice, but when Pinkie argued for them to come back in, she started to get frustrated. “Pinkie, I said. Not. Right. Now. Now go back inside, we will be coming back in in a little bit.” Twilight said as she started to get more and more frustrated of Pinkie’s antics. But when she didn’t stop Sunburst had enough as well but he did not take it so well. “THE PRINCESS TOLD YOU TO GO BACK INSIDE, NOW GO BACK INSIDE!!!” Sunburst screamed at Pinkie and now she got the point and slowly backed off.

Sunburst turned around only to see Twilight pull the same face of shock she last pulled when Starlight screamed at her to be quiet back in her old village. It took him a moment to realise what he had done and was burring his head in his hooves in frustration and shame as this was the second time today he had exploded in anger at some pony. “What’s going on with me today!?” Sunburst said as Starlight was petting his back trying to comfort him. Eventually, Sunburst answered Twilight’s original question.

“Yes, Twilight. My father has been on my case about Starlight.” Sunburst said thankfully in a calmer tone. Twilight began to understand why Sunburst has been so frustrated. She explained to Sunburst that all of these provocations and privacy intrusions have made him angrier and angrier, but by not expressing his frustrations as events happen, he’d bottled them up until it reached the point that he was letting them out in massive outbursts. But Twilight went back to the main issue Starlight and Sunburst were having.

“Look, at the end of the day, it should be you two and only you two that get to decide how quickly you two want to proceed with your relationship. No pony has the right, not even your parents, to tell you directly, or not, how fast you should take it, especially if either one or both of you are starting to feel uncomfortable. The best advice I can give you two is to talk it out with them as they might continue until you tell them to stop. If you tell them that they are making your relationship uncomfortable, I’m pretty sure they will listen.” Twilight giving the couple some sound advice and guidance.

“Thank you Twilight, we really needed to hear some pony say that.” Starlight said with Twilight appreciating the complement. Then Sunburst asked Twilight how was the best way to apologise to Pinkie Pie for screaming at her in the way that he did. Twilight said it would involve baking a cake. Sunburst was confused but Twilight explained that whenever she would make a pony upset, she would bake them their favourite cake as an ‘apology’ and she would expect the same thing if it was her that was upset. Sunburst understood but said that he had not the first clue in how to bake but Starlight said that she’ll help. Then the three ponies went back into the function room and Twilight brought Pinkie over.

“Sorry for yelling at you Pinkie Pie. It’s been such a stressful and frustrating day that I should not have snapped at you.” Sunburst apologising to Pinkie and then he asked what cake she wanted for him to make for her. Pinkie proceeded to pull a recipe book out of her mane and selected one and then Starlight just grabbed the book, and came out of the kitchen with the said cake and said that she made it for him as he could not make it himself. Pinkie inspected the cake and ate the whole thing in one bite….

“Apology accepted Sunburst. Now, what’s your favourite cake for I’m really, really sorry for making you so angry!” Pinkie said while hugging Sunburst’s leg. He told her that he liked Orange Jaffa cake and then Pinkie ran into the kitchen and a few moments later, came out with an Orange Jaffa cake. Sunburst ate a slice and really enjoyed it and said that her apology was accepted and then Pinkie gave a huge smile and bounded off.

As the party wound down, everypony said goodbye and wished again Starlight a happy birthday. After Pinkie cleaned up with some party vacuum and left, it was just Starlight’s parents, Sunburst and Starlight herself left in the function room. Starlight suggested that they head of bed but her parents said that they had to show them one more thing and Steller proceeded to blindfold his daughter and Evernight did the same for Sunburst. Although Starlight did not know that her parents were up to, she let them guide her to whatever they was taking them.

Both Starlight and Sunburst have had a couple of jugs of cider each and were a little bit disorientated and weren’t exactly sure where they were going but all they knew that they went outside and then back inside and then their blindfolds were removed. To their shock, Starlight’s parents had set her up with the best luxury cabin in the entire site as Evernight recently had a few cabins built near the tree line above the hotel and their home. It had everything, including of all things a spa room, games room and a large wine rack, even a bottle of champagne on ice with two glasses, a vase with roses, and a box of chocolate in a heart shaped box on the coffee table next to the fireplace which was already set up and lit!

“Sooooooooooooo, what do you think?” Evernight said while she nudged Starlight and Sunburst, who were just were staring in the distance. Ok, this is as subtle as a train wreck, Evernight! Sunburst thought to himself as the hints before him were just so obvious and over the top that it would not look out of place if he just got married and he and Starlight were on their honeymoon! Even Steller thought that this was over the top, given that it had only been a couple of days. Finally, Starlight have had enough.

“Mum, could we talk?” Starlight said to her mother who took a seat on the lounge. “Look, I appreciate all of the work and effort you put into today, and you too dad and you honestly have no idea how much this has been to me. But this, seriously mum, this is too much. Not the effort you put into this but you may not realise it, but you are putting me and Sunburst under a lot of pressure. So much that we haven’t been able to enjoy ourselves fully without being worried that you or Sunburst’s father would take it as a sign and either make it into a joke at our expense or pushing us to being so uncomfortable around each other that we have to separate ourselves just to play it safe. So could you please leave us to develop our relationship at our own pace? Please!” Starlight said as she slowly started to get more and more upset as went on and by the end she was sitting on the floor crying.

Evernight had no idea that she was making Starlight so uncomfortable and came over and hugged her quite upset daughter. “Starlight, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you so uncomfortable, I thought that those little jokes were nothing serious. But it’s good that you told me that I was going too far. Please stop crying, you know how much I love you and don’t want to see you be so upset.” Evernight said as she could not help but get upset herself by just seeing Starlight upset. As Starlight wiped the tears off of her face she asked if she would keep her word and to her surprise, she did the movements for a Pinkie Promise. Starlight then hugged her mother and thanked her for understanding. Although she added that it didn’t mean that she would not have some fun every once in a while, but that was ok for Starlight.

“Evernight? Isn’t there some pony else that you should be apologising to as well?” Steller said as Evernight realised that this meant Sunburst as well. Evernight went on and apologised to Sunburst for making him uncomfortable as well and he thanked her for stopping as well. Although he stated that it might me harder to convince his father it stop as he is well, enjoying this too much. “Sunburst, your father is a kind and understanding pony, I’m sure that if you tell him how you really feel about this, he’ll understand.” Steller said and Sunburst thanked him for the reassurance.

“Hey Sunburst, did you still have some of that Orange Jaffa cake left?” Starlight asked but before he could answer, Steller placed the cake on the table and said that he thought you might forget it so he took it with him. “I think we should leave you two alone know.” Steller said and as they were about to leave, Starlight came up and gave them a hug and thanked them for understanding and being the best parents she could have hoped for and they hugged her back even harder.

Then Steller and Evernight both telekinetically picked up Sunburst and had him join in too. Initially he was confused but Steller said that as of now, both he and Evernight would consider Sunburst part of the family as well. Sunburst was touched by this and hugged back as well. Then they said good night and left them alone.

Starlight said that she would be going to sleep and Sunburst said that he’ll stay up for a while longer. A couple of hours later, Starlight awoke and heard noises coming from downstairs. She donned her dressing gown and went down to investigate. She found her way to the spa room only to find Sunburst relaxing in it with candles lit all around it and he had the champagne and glasses nearby as if he knew she would be coming! Starlight was having the same reaction she had earlier on, but this was way more intense. Initially, she pinched herself it see if she was just dreaming, but she wasn’t. Then Sunburst noticed Starlight in the room and shut the door behind her. “Starlight, would you like to come in? The water is nice and warm and you look freezing standing there.” Sunburst said as he noticed that Starlight was shaking, although unknown to him, it was out of sheer nervousness, and was blushing profusely.

“Sunburst, I um… you are so… um…” Starlight stammered as she was just simply so love struck with Sunburst that she could not finish her sentence, let alone move. Then unexpectedly for Starlight, Sunburst telekinetically lifted Starlight, took off her dressing gown and put it on the rack and then placed her in the spa next to him. Her nervousness was sky rocketing as she had never been this close and personal with him before. Sure they had slept together, but this was something else altogether.

“Starlight, are you sure you are alright? It’s the setting is it, I knew I used too few candles and left the water temperature too low.” Sunburst said as he thought that what was causing the problem, oblivious to what Starlight was really feeling. “Sunburst, it’s not the water or the candles, they’re perfect. It’s that I’m, I’m quite nervous about this.” Starlight said and then Sunburst placed his hooves on Starlight’s and he reminded her that if she was still uncomfortable about anything, that they could take their time with this.

“Sunburst, it’s not that I’m nervous with you’ll or that you would take this too fast, it’s that I’m not sure if you’ll think I’m taking it too fast and make you uncomfortable.” Starlight said letting Sunburst know about what was making her nervous. “Starlight, as long as you are happy and comfortable, then I’ll be as well….” Sunburst said before he was cut off with Starlight grabbing him and kissing him as passionately as she could for she could not keep her feelings in check any longer. At first, Sunburst was shocked how much she wanted him but eventually he fell for her love of him.

An hour, and a couple of bottles of champagne later, they were still in the spa but Starlight had, well other plans. “Hey Sunburst, would you mind if we continue this up in the bedroom, hmm?” Starlight said with the most seductive look she had given Sunburst at this point and got out of the spa while brushing her tail over Sunburst’s face. It was clear to Sunburst that Starlight was no longer having any measure of subtlety about this, or maybe it was the fact that she drank most of the champagne herself, but he had so fallen for Starlight that he didn’t care at this point. Sunburst then said that he would like that and the two love struck ponies finished for what was now, the best night of their lives.