Equestrian New Year

Twilight stared out over Ponyville, resting on the window seat in her NEW Castle. After what had transpired recently, the Castle had needed to be repaired, and the citizens of Ponyville had all been willing to help. Granted, the new castle wasn’t made of crystal, the only remnant of the old castle being the map table, which would likely survive a magical nuclear war. But it was still her home. Each room was special to her, because all of her friends had helped build it. Especially the library, where ponies, as well as other creatures, from around Equestria, had donated books.

Today was the celebration of the New Year, and she wanted to be ready for it. But that didn’t mean constantly studying. Especially today of all days. Pinkie Pie had a party planned, to which everypony in Ponyville was invited, and the Princesses were likely to attend, and she had to be rested for her part. It wasn’t as crucial as Pinkie made it sound. Lighting a fuse that would lead to a series of Party Canons the party mare had designed to fire a special message into the air. It sounded like something she could to herself with a small torch, but it warmed Twilight’s heart that her friends wanted to include her. She’d been too busy the previous year to attend the New Year’s Festival in Ponyville.

They hadn’t asked, likely because she’d locked herself away in her castle to study. But Rainbow had insisted the following day that Pinkie hadn’t stopped fretting over them not inviting her and had even demanded that they save cake, ice-cream, and other treats specifically for Twilight. Not that some of the treats had made it. Rainbow had gotten hungry, so the most the Princess of Friendship got was some cake and ice cream. It didn’t bother her much. In Canterlot, she hadn’t bothered attending New Year’s festivals or parties. Even the party her parents threw every year went on without Twilight attending.

She’d promised herself that this year, monster attack or no monster attack, preferably the latter, she would attend the New Year’s Festival. And she was already prepared. She would light Pinkie’s fireworks, of course, but she had an idea for how to make this the most spectacular New Year’s Festival ever. All she needed to do was send the letters that were still sitting on her desk. Sucking in a breath, she figured she’d procrastinated long enough and climbed off of her window seat. Levitating the letters over, she trotted out of her castle, down the road to the mailbox, and popped the lid.

To be greeted by a blast of confetti, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. She found all manner of places to hide her confetti cannons. Twilight smiled as she levitated the small canon out of the mailbox and placed the letters inside. As soon as the lid was closed, she turned around and smiled. “Hello Derpy. Busy day on New Year’s?” She asked and Derpy smiled and nodded.

“Yup. Lots of ponies sending out letters to friends and loved ones. You got any letters you want sent out Princess?” She asked and Twilight smiled and levitated the letters back out and passed them to her.

“You may need a team of mail-mares to deliver all of them. I’m not doubting your skills as a mail-mare, but there are an awful lot of them.” She said and Derpy just smiled and shook her head.

“Nah. I can do it. I’ve delivered more than this quicker than this.” She said and Twilight smiled as Derpy took the letters and put them in her mail bag. “I’ll see you at the party Twilight.” With that, the Mail Mare was off and Twilight was alone. Again. Save for two ponies and one dragon. Starlight Glimmer, her ever faithful student. Spike, her ever faithful companion. And Umber, a unicorn stallion she’d met in Canterlot when she was vacationing there with Starlight after her friends had spent most of their savings on getting them a room at the most luxurious spa/hotel. She was there for a week, and in that week, Twilight, Umber and Starlight had spent most of their time in their hotel room.

Unlike Starlight however, Twilight had some inhibitions. Umber and Starlight had spent most of the first night in bed. Together. Twilight hadn’t watched. Exactly. But she couldn’t help but keep seeing the image of Starlight and Umber having sex every time she thought about him. It was hard not to know they’d had sex when Starlight’s room was right next door to Twilight’s. When Sunset had visited once, Starlight had invited Sunset to partake. Twilight had nearly blown up on her about that. She was fine with sharing Umber with Starlight, and from what she’d heard Sunset had her own version of Umber in her world.

A version of Umber who, just before the end of the school year, had given her “quite the present”. In the form of a new car, an apartment for herself, and a promise to marry her. After they’d graduated at least. From what Sunset had said in her last message, she rarely took off the ring he’d given her. Twilight smiled at the thought before turning back into the room behind her. Laying on his back, legs kicked up in the air, was Umber. Twilight always smiled when he was like that. He seemed at peace when he was on his back. Relaxed. Walking over to him, she leaned down and kissed his throat lightly.

He didn’t stir, but he smiled. Chuckling to herself, she walked over to the bookshelf and put the books she’d been studying away. This year’s New Year Festival would be one to remember. Placing the books back on her shelf, she didn’t realize Umber was walking up behind her. The unicorn she’d fallen in love with was one of her personal guards. A stealth trained security stallion, Umber used his magic to cloak himself in shadows, turning veritably invisible.

When he reached her, he stopped. He could go about this two ways. It was the New Year’s Festival, after all. The first way was he could pounce on her, pinning her to the window seat and torment her neck, nipping and biting as he went. That would get her riled up. Another way he could go would be to sneak up behind her, perfectly silent, and duck down under her tail. He knew she’d appreciate a surprise like that. But… today was special. The New Year’s Festival was a time of renewal and restoration. Today was a special day because he had a special plan.

Twilight stared out the window, completely unaware of the Unicorn sneaking up behind her. Until his magic wrapped a blindfold around her eyes. “Ah! Umber, what the heck?” She shrieked as he leapt towards her, supporting her with his side as she stumbled.

“Just trust me, alright? Put your wing around me.” He said and she sighed and followed his advice, wrapping one wing around his shoulders. “And no taking that blindfold off. That’s an order Princess.” She sighed again and walked with him. It didn’t take much time before they were outside. “Wait right here.” Before even waiting for her answer, he disappeared.

“Umber… Umber, I can’t see. What’s going on?” She asked, feeling around with her wings until she reached the steps again. Sitting down, she stayed put, hoping he wasn’t just going to abandon her there. A part of her knew he wouldn’t, but another part of her feared that he was just going to leave her sitting on her steps. “Umber… where are you… you ordered me to leave it on and I will, but I can’t see and it’s scaring me.” She said only to feel his muzzle against her cheek.

“I’m right here. I had to go get something.” He said and she snuggled in close, shaking a little. “I didn’t mean to scare you sweet heart. Come on. One more stop.” Smiling, Twilight wrapped her wing over his shoulders again and walked with him. This surprise had to be worth it if he was being this secretive. Walking with him was always a pleasure. Even more so when she could see.

“Can you at least tell me where we’re going?” She asked and he kissed her cheek.

“This time. But after that, secret city. We’re going to Carousel Boutique. And Rarity is sworn to secrecy too, so she won’t say a thing.” He said and she sighed. That meant no clues from Rarity, but it gave her a small hint. Carousel Boutique sold dresses. She could hear ponies greeting them. She waved automatically, but all of the ponies that stopped them sounded excited. Before too much longer, they were at Carousel Boutique. Following him inside, Twilight was immediately shocked by how loud it was. Rarity was always busy, but today it wasn’t customers. Not from how many voices were in the shop.

“Twilight, darling. And Umber. I’ve been waiting. Sweetie Belle, watch the counter please. Umber, lead her this way please.” Rarity said and Twilight’s love lead her through the swinging doors into the back of the shop. “Now, have her sit down, ok?” Rarity said and Umbra nudged Twilight into a chair. While she was sitting, he wandered off, leaving her blind folded.

“Umber, I don’t like surprises.” She said and he chuckled from somewhere to her right.

“You’ll like this one, trust me.” He said and she let out a sigh.

“Alright darling, we have been planning this for quite some time now, so I already had all of the measurements I needed. I assure you, this will fit quite well.” Rarity said as she returned. “Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy will help you into it when you arrive at your next destination. I’ll see you both there. Come now Sweetie Belle.”

“Before we leave, Umber, can I please take this off for a minute…? I’m getting nervous.” Twilight asked and Umber smiled and lifted the blindfold up so she could see again.

“It’s going right back on in a moment.” He said and she nodded, nuzzling close to him. “I promise you Twilight, you’ll like this surprise.” She smiled up at him and nodded again.

“I hope so.” Swallowing and sucking in a breath, she nodded and he put the blindfold back down, wrapping her wing over his shoulders. Twilight walked with him, leaning close to him and relishing his warmth and presence. She couldn’t tell where they were going, despite all the sounds and smells. When they stopped again, he nudged her lightly.

“Now, stay still, ok?” She nodded and felt his warm magic wrap around her. When his magic faded away, she was wrapped in something else. Warm and flowing. She still couldn’t tell what it was.

“Umber, she looks amazing. I’ll see you two there, alright?” Rarity said and Umbra nodded. Twilight heard a pop and knew Rarity had teleported.

“Alright. We’re teleporting now.” He said and Twilight nodded as he teleported the two of them. When they arrived at their destination, she sucked in a breath and smiled. She knew this scent. Sweet Apple Acres North Field. Where the tree that was planted by Applejack’s parents was.

“Why here?” She asked and he smiled and leaned in to kiss her.

“Twilight, I’ve been thinking. Really thinking. And it hit me pretty damn hard when Rainbow Dash zapped me with a lightning bolt. I’ve been here in Ponyville for about two years now. You, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity, as well as the CMCs and the rest of Ponyville have been welcoming me with open hooves since I got here. But out of all of the ponies here, out of all of the mares here that showed an interest in me, you showed the most. Spending time with me, helping me with my magic when it went wonky. You even sat with me in the hospital when Dash over-did it that one time.

“Hell, you turned down Flash Sentry, who you’ve been crushing on for a while, and Prince Bluebutt, who would have given you a direct connection to Princess Celestia. For what? Some silly little Pegasus you met at the Grand Galloping Gala? A goofball who flew with the Wonderbolts during one of their shows? Who crashed into a cloud his first day in Ponyville, very nearly causing a hurricane? I’m nothing special, Twilight. I’m not royalty, I’m not some governor. I’m just a Pegasus who got lucky enough to fly with the Wonderbolts when Soarin hurt his wing.” He said and Twilight smiled despite still being blindfolded. “I’m not even a part of the Wonderbolts Reserves, but they’ve pumped every member of the Reserves they have into the Wonderbolts themselves.

“So here I am. Just a Pegasus. Standing in front of an Alicorn Princess who has done me the honor of loving me as much as I love her. And I’m here to tell her that she’s wrong.” He said and Twilight tilted her head. Feeling his wings come around behind her head, she ducked her head a little as he removed the blindfold. Looking up, she gasped. Around them, all smiling, wearing suits and gowns from the Boutique, were their friends and the residents of Ponyville. Turning around, she stared at the site. Directly behind her, dressed in a regal white gown was Celestia.

Next to Princess Celestia was her sister, dressed in a gown as dark as the night sky and dotted with diamond dust, reflecting the stars. On Celestia’s other side was Cadance, dressed in the gown she wore at Twilight’s coronation. The last time they’d gathered like this was for Twilight’s coronation. Turning back to Umber, she brought a hoof to her mouth. He was levitating a small box between them, opened to reveal a silver ring encrusted with a ruby and two sapphires.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle, will you do me the eternal honor of becoming my wife?” He asked and Twilight stared at the ring, tears forming in her eyes as she nodded.

“Yes Umber… of course.” She said, leaning forward and kissing him as he placed the ring around her horn. The instant it was on her, her magic felt stronger.

“The gems are enchanted. As long as you have that on, your magic will remain stronger.” He said and she smiled as they turned to Celestia. Looking up at her, Twilight fought back the tears in the corners of her eyes. Celestia was smiling even as tears leaked from her own eyes. Until Cadance, the princesses did not wed. With Twilight being the second of four, it made her think that maybe now was the right time.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts. Please take your seats.” Celestia said and Twilight smiled, looking up at her mentor. “Now we may begin. Fillies and Gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate a very happy moment…”