The Day of Love

Chapters

Starfall: Twilight and Rarity
Deeply: Pinkie and Aria
Major Points: Sunlight and Midnight
In Every Way: Moondancer and Rainbow Dash
With the Ones You Love: Cadence and Shining Armor
Spoilers: Flash Sentry and Lemon Zest
Laid Back Meal: Adagio Dazzle and Sandalwood
Star of Night: Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy
Bonus

Starfall: Twilight and Rarity

I hopped over the railing of the landing and spread my wings as the clock tower continued to ring out the fact that it was four in the afternoon.

“Spike!” I called out as I landed and began looking around. “Spiiiike! Where is the gift I got for Rarity?” I could feel panic rising, I had gotten wrapped up in reading and lost track of time. I barely had the time now to sneak over to the salon to get a fresh manestyle done for the Hearts and Hooves Day dinner I had planned with Rarity weeks ago. And now I was running late and the gift was missing and…

“It’s right there, Twilight,” Spike said as he came out into the foyer, pointing at the main gate. “I put it there so you wouldn’t forget it.”

I looked over and saw a box sitting on the table I had set there to catch mail dropped through the slot. It was wrapped in a soft pinkish paper with a purple and white bow on top. I eyed the dragon.

“I don’t remember wrapping it,” I said as I stared at him.

“You didn’t,” he said as he came over and gave me a quick hug. “I did. Happy Hearts and Hooves day, Twilight.”

“Thanks, Spike,” I said. “What are you doing tonight? Want me to bring anything back?”

“Nah,” he replied. “I’m actually getting together with the Crusaders and running an O&O game for them. Babs is supposed to be visiting and Apple Bloom wanted to take her mind off of things.”

I smiled and turned to leave, but paused for a minute and glanced at the dragon. “Are you sure you’re ok with this, Spike?” I asked. “Me and Rarity, that is?”

He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Yeah, of course,” he replied. “I still think Rarity is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, but…” he paused for a moment. “I’m starting to recognize that it was just an infatuation. I still like to help her out when she asks, but she’s just as much a friend to me as Fluttershy is. And you make her happy, just like she makes you happy. That’s much more important to me.”

I sniffed for a moment. “Thanks, Spike,” I whispered before racing out the door. I was ten minutes late, but making sure I was still on good terms with my oldest friend was important.

I slowly strode into the restaurant, eyes roving over the multitude of ponies celebrating this special day. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the sight. Despite all the differences, days like this made you remember what was important in life. I stepped aside to allow a Unicorn with a dusty orange coat and his smiling Pegasus date to leave and wandered inside to look for a certain purple mane in the sea of colors.

I didn’t see it, for some reason. I didn’t even see an empty table, which was odd. I had made the reservations days ago. I knew that Rarity would sometimes be what she called ‘fashionably late’ - which made no sense to me at all - but there should have been a table free.

I walked over to the hostess stand and waited for the pony to return. The one that came over was new, as I didn’t immediately recognize her. She paused and smiled as she adjusted her pince-nez. “Just one?” she asked, lifting a menu with a teal aura.

“Ah, no,” I began. “I’m actually supposed to have a reservation, but I don’t see any tables available and it was supposed to be for now.”

The mare consulted a bit of paper on the stand, taking longer than the usual mare did. How new was this filly?

“No, I’m afraid all parties are seated where they are supposed to be,” the hostess replied, a lock of teal and purple falling down in front of her ears. “Maybe you are mistaken?”

“But I know I made reservations!” I said, frowning before continuing to myself. “I told Rarity about this weeks ago!”

The mare’s green eyes glittered. “Ah,” she said. “You didn’t mention who you were meeting. She arrived a little earlier as was escorted to the table she reserved. If you would follow me?”

I trailed behind the strange mare, blinking. Why had Rarity made a reservation here after I told her I had done so?

The hostess led me to the bay doors that led out to the bistro tables on a balcony. I looked at the mare in confusion, they were usually closed during the winter.

“Your server will be with you shortly,” she whispered and drifted backwards out of my sight. I took hold of the doorknob with my magic and turned to thank her, but I couldn’t spot her in the crowded restaurant. She must have been blocked by some of the standing patrons.

The door slid open and instead of a cold breeze, warmth slid over me with a slight hint of cherries and oak. I saw a small chiminea burning in the corner of the balcony and a slight shimmer of magic over it and the only table set out. A few roses sat in a vase mixed with several lavender sprigs and white lilies. I stepped out and saw that some flutes had already been filled and placed by the table settings.

“Do you like it, darling?” the silky voice of Rarity slid out, revealing the Unicorn standing by the door. “I do hope you forgive me for changing your reservation, but I thought that this might be a slightly more appropriate setting for tonight.”

“Well, I do appreciate the effort,” I nodded. “But why exactly does this make it more appropriate?”

She held a pristine and well done hoof to her chest and gave me a sly look.

“Why, Twilight Sparkle,” she cooed. “Does this mean that you don’t know what tonight is?”

I frowned. “It’s Hearts and Hooves Day,” I told her, confused. “That’s why we’re here tonight, isn’t it?”

She started laughing as she leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. “Oh, this is delicious,” she giggled as she went and sat down, lifting her menu in her cornflower aura. “I finally have one over you, and this will be perfect!”

Sitting, I frowned at the mare. “What is it, Rarity?” I asked, confused.

“All in good time, Twilight,” she whispered from behind her menu. “Didn’t we agree not to exchange gifts until after dinner?”

Sighing, I lifted my menu and began picking out my meal. I knew there was no budging her on this until the matter was at hand.

But the occasional chuckle or giggles that drifted out during our meal didn’t help.

“Ah, that was simply delightful,” Rarity sighed as we moved to a bench near the chiminea to finish our drinks. “This establishment serves simply the best Prench food.”

“They do,” I agreed as she snuggled up against me. Even with the warmth from the small fire next to us, I slid a wing over her, hearing another contented sigh slip from her lips. I smiled. It had been a great meal with even better company. A box with a purple and white bow lifted into the air in my magic. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Rarity.”

She took the package in her magic and pulled the bow off, her glee slipping out in her excited squeal. Inside the box was a small, elegantly made comb that melded our two cutie marks, one of the five smaller stars replaced with the center gem of hers.

“Oh, Twilight,” she whispered. “This is simply marvelous. Wherever did you get this made?”

“There’s a craftsman in Saddle Row,” I explained as she slid it into her mane. “He normally doesn’t do customs, but there are benefits to being a Princess at times.”

She examined her reflection in her cider flute. “I should say so,” she agreed. The clock tower began to chime again, signaling the arrival of nine at night. “Close your eyes, dear, and I’ll get your present ready.”

As my eyes slid shut, I couldn’t help but be curious as to what exactly she had up her sleeve. I hadn’t noticed a box or anything on the balcony besides mine. Did she have it hidden? Or was it something she was doing that involved her?

My wings twitched as I felt my face heat up at that thought. Of course not.

“Ok, Twilight, open your eyes.”

Rarity was the first thing I saw, standing by the railing. She motioned me over, and I went to join her.

“Ok,” she said, turning her face and pointed out to the mild glitter of Ponyville lake. “Just watch.”

I was about to ask why when lights began flashing through the sky. Streaking stars filled Luna’s night with a display of brilliance and color, and the view was doubled as they flew over the lake. I watched in awe at the display. I turned to Rarity slightly, not willing to ignore the shower.

“Did you ask Luna for this?” I asked.

The fashionista shook her head with a smile that suggested that she was entirely pleased with herself. “Not at all, Twilight,” she cooed, sliding up to me. “You really think after being together for as long as we have that I wouldn’t pick up a few ideas of what you enjoy? This shower was planned to fall tonight. It’s why I asked to have the table out here set up, so we could share it.” She batted her eyes at me. “Though I find the thought that you were so wrapped up in spending time with me you forgot that there was supposed to be a meteor shower tonight rather charming.”

I looked at the sky again, then at Rarity.

“Did you actually know about this the whole time?”

The purple mane swirled slightly as she nodded. “And it was better than anything I could have found in a store,” she whispered into my ear.

I pulled her close and kissed her just below her horn before sliding my wing over her again. I kept watching the stars fall, but every now and again, I would watch their reflection in her shining eyes.

As we left, she leaned in close and whispered in my ear again, a mischievous smile on her lips.

“So, what went through your mind that caused your wings to twitch and blush earlier?”

Her giggle cut through my groan as we entered my castle.

Author's Note

I will admit to a couple of guest stars here. See if you can figure out who they are :raritywink:

Deeply: Pinkie and Aria

I was just drying my hands from the dinner dishes when Pinkie came back from putting Rhapsody down for the night, blowing one of her bangs from her face.

“That kid is a handful,” she sighed as she came over for a hug before we collapsed on the couch. “She had to hear two bedtime stories tonight.”

Smiling, I leaned over to my wife and whispered to her. “You know she only does that because she knows you’ll put up with it, right?”

“Well, duh,” came the response. “But that doesn’t change the truth of my comment.”

I wrapped my arms around her as we sank into the comfortable embrace of our couch. Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day, and despite having been on this side of the portal for some time, I never did understand the holiday until Pinkie had become a staple in my life.

I felt her thumb start rubbing my wrist and she was uncharacteristically quiet. I glanced down at her.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, staring at our hands. Then, softly like she didn’t want anyone to hear, a single question came out.

“Why did you hurt yourself once upon a time?”

I blinked for a second, not comprehending her meaning until it clicked.

“Oh,” I whispered. “I don’t know.”

Despite the time that had passed, the overflowing love that Pinkie instilled in me and the fact that we had a two year old bundle of energy for a daughter, the memories came back in a flash. Living in what barely passed for an apartment, the gnawing hunger from the loss of my Song, and the depressive spiral I had fallen into...

And the cold feel of steel on my thighs. I shivered at the memory, both haunting and familiar at the same time.

“Back then, nothing seemed real to me.” Words tended to flow from my mouth much more easily now than they used to, at least when talking to Pinks. “We has lost our old Song, and that brought with it a cold, festering pit inside. We were always hungry, and not in a way food could satisfy.”

I felt her hands grip my arms a little tighter as I spoke. “There were a lot of things I tried to fill the void, but nothing helped for more than a few minutes at a time except that. For some reason, feeling the sharp pain from the cut helped keep the hunger at bay for a while, especially during certain acts.”

She looked up at me, her eyes filled more with curiosity than anything else. “You weren’t afraid you’d cut too deep?”

I shook my head. “I knew where not to cut and it was never too deep,” I told her, eyes drifting back into the mists of time. “But I hated everything about myself back then, and I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t have cared much if I had done it in a way to have scarred. We heal pretty quickly even without magic.” I leaned my head against hers and breathed in the smell that was comforting about her, a faint vanilla and sugar air.

“You don’t donit any more, right?”

I grunted an assent. “I don’t think I’ve done it outside of an accident in the kitchen since Fluttershy helped us move into the old apartment.” I moved my mouth down to her ear. “Or since a certain hyperactive girl started hanging around.”

She giggled, some of the heavy air lifting from around us. I leaned back, feeling the warm love flowing between us in a silent exchange. “Why did you want to know?” I asked after a moment. “It’s been years since that had a place in my life.”

“I couldn’t understand why anyone would do that to themselves,” she answered. “How anyone could be so sad or angry that the only option was to hurt themselves more.”

“That’s the thing of it, Pinkie,” I breathed. “Sometimes, people are so used to feeling pain that it becomes all we know. And we become accustomed to it, like a shadow that follows us. It affects you deeply, like a chill that never quite goes away until you feel like there isn’t another way.”

I kissed her just behind her ear, causing her to giggle. “I’ve found something to replace that chill, though, and it runs a lot deeper than any pain. And I don’t know how to ever completely express my thanks to you for that. “

She shifted until she was leaning towards me, her eyes slightly hooded.

“I could think of a few things,” she whispered, head tilted invitingly. I leaned forward and smiled.

“I’m sure you could,” I agreed before kissing her.

“What time are they supposed to be here?” I called from the bathroom as I finished getting ready.

“Any minute now,” Pinkie called out over Rhapsody’s giggiling.

I put the handful of makeup bits back into the drawer that we kept them in and went out to see my wife and child in a staring contest with their breath held. They both blinked and then laughed at the same time, causing me to chuckle too.

A knocking at the door brought me out of my drinking in the sight of the two most important people in my life playing. On the other side were a pair of women I knew pretty well, one of which held a slightly kinder look as of late.

“Aunt Limestone! Aunt Maud!” Rhapsody squealed, rushing over and fairly swarming up into Limestone’s arms.

“Hey, squirt,” she laughed, hoisting her into a more comfortable position.

“I am not a squirt!” Rhapsody protested, crossing her arms.

“Thanks for watching her, you guys,” I said as Pinkie slipped her shoes on. “She won’t sit still for anyone else.”

“Well, she is my favorite niece,” Limestone said as she set Rhapsody down. The toddler grabbed Maud’s hand and pulled the woman over to her rock collection. “Wish I could make it down more often, actually.”

I smiled. The years had cooled Limey’s anger and I’m almost positive being an aunt had something to do with that.

“We should be back around nine thirty,” Pinkie told them as I gathered up coats and purses. “You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen, but she’s due in bed before we get back.” She pointed a finger at our daughter. “You behave for your aunts, ok?”

Rhapsody gave us a thumbs up and a grin. She was so much Pinkies kid.

As we drove to meet Marble and Macintosh at the restaurant, I glanced over at my wife.

“You do know I love you, right?” I asked rhetorically.

She nodded.

“Deeply.” I emphasized.

She grinned and looked at me from the corner of her eye. “Uh huh,” she giggled.

“Just wanted to make sure.” I leaned back a little in the seat. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Pinkie.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ari,” she responded.

“Let’s just hope Rhapsody doesn’t eat Limey and Maud while we’re gone.” I chuckled as we pulled into the parking lot, seeing the old pickup Mac drove already there.

“We’re only going to be gone five hours,” she responded. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Major Points: Sunlight and Midnight

I personally hate taking the time to get all girly and primp most of the time. That was more my sister’s thing. But there were a few things that I could get behind doing something special for.

Sunlight and Valentine’s Day would be one of those.

So that’s how I found myself rushing around in the bedroom, trying to remember where my dress clothes were in nothing but a towel. I swear that sometimes, human clothing for women is designed to frustrate us. I mean, any of the nice evening wear I had in Equestria was simple slip on and tighten, easy with my horn. These things…

And that's how my husband found me, struggling to zip the back of my dress.

“Need a hand?” he asked, suppressing a chuckle.

“I’d rather have my horn,” I growled, but turned my back to him and pulled my hair back out of the way.

As he pulled the zipper the rest of the way up, he leaned in and kissed the nape of my neck. “You don’t exactly have the best of luck with your horn on this side,” he breathed into my ear. “We found that out with the dishes.”

I blushed hard, remembering when we had found out that out of the several spells I could cast strongly when ponied up, telekinesis wasn’t one of them. I’m just glad it wasn’t any of the good plates.

“Why couldn’t we do this in Canterlot this year?” I asked simply. “I seem to recall that our schedule had us slated for there this year.”

“Because according to the other schedule you made,” he said with a grin. “Made this holiday mine to plan. And I’ve made quite a few calls and set up something I hope you’ll enjoy.”

I eyed him carefully. “You know I don’t care for carnivals, right?”

He patted the air. “It’s nothing like that. And why ask you to dess up for that?”

“I don’t know, Lighty,” I said as I reached up and ruffled his hair - which was in sore need for a trim - before going to do my makeup.

“You’ve had some strange plans in the past.”

Pulling into the parking lot of a ritzy restaurant, I looked at him.

“How are we affording this, exactly?” I asked.

He shrugged. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

I looked at him closely. The money we made was split oddly, especially since my income was in bits from working at Aunt Sparky’s school for Unicorns. I could do what Mom did when she was younger and try to exchange them, but I also knew how tricky that could be. Besides, Lighty’s job at the lab paid well enough for our apartment and other needs on this side of the mirror just as mine did on the other side.

“You're up to something,” I said, giving my husband the side-eye. “And you’re trying to be sneaky about it, too.”

“You’re too perceptive for me, Middy,” he said, laying a hand against his heart.

“You're not good at the sneaky type, hon,” I rebutted. “That’s more my angle, and you are more the straight arrow.”

He looked at me. “I can be sneaky!”

“You had trouble hiding the proposal from me,” I countered. “And mainly because Rory helped you plan it.”

“You were surprised,” he claimed as he pulled me in close. “I knew you well enough by then to tell. And we do share feelings from time to time.”

“I was surprised you managed to get the words out,” I snarked. “I could tell how nervous you were. Though I will admit, having Rory get my ring size was a nice bit of misdirection. Good job, there.”

He gave a slight bow as he opened the door for me, gesturing inside.

As the hostess led us to a table, I couldn’t help but stare at the opulence of the interior. After giving our drink orders, I leaned forward and hissed at the calm face of my love.

“We can’t afford this, Sunlight,” I told him, my face giving way slightly to worry. “The wine alone is more than we usually spend on a dinner out!”

“Relax,” he said, patting my hand. “This is a once a year thing, and I’ve squirreled a bit of money aside for it all year. Plus, the salary of a level three researcher can easily handle one date night like this.”

“But you don’t have to spend a lot of money on me, Light,” I told him. “You know that…level three? I thought you were a level two?”

“As of today, I now lead one of the research teams.” He grinned at me, obviously pleased with how he had taken me off guard. “And now I get travel allowance for when I have to head out to one of the field stations.”

“Lighty, that’s great!” I smiled at the young man as our drinks were set on the table. “Do your folks know yet?”

“Not yet,” he said. “I might be really close with them, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to get one over on you, Professor.” He squeezed my hand as he teased me with my title. “We’ll tell them tomorrow. Tonight, there is nobody but you and me.”

I smiled at the promise, then realized something else.

“If we’re telling them tomorrow,” I mused out loud. “Then we’re staying in Equestria then?”

He nodded. “Got something planned for you there, too.”

I titled my head and gave a playful frown. “Who are you, and what have you done with the goofball I married?”

He laughed. It was a nice laugh, and I hoped that he never stopped having it.

“So, let me get this straight,” I said as we walked through the door. “You took me out to a fancy dinner, then brought me here to go dancing at the Royal Ball, and now we’re just going to crash in the house? Don’t get me wrong, you’ve scored some major romance points tonight, but I don’t get what’s so important about making it here by midnight.” I took my glasses off and set them on the table, feeling the magic in my horn pulsing steadily.

He pushed the door shut with his golden aura and leaned into me. His mane was still wavy and in still in desperate need of a cut, but even as a pony, he was handsome and surprisingly sexy.

“It was important because if my calculations are correct, midnight will give us the perfect angle.” he fairly well trotted up the stairs, leading us to the master bedroom. The fireplace was already stoked and the room aired out. Despite it being nearly twenty-four years later, a faint smell of smoke still hung in the room, remnants of a fire attack during a crisis while Mother was pregnant with me.

“Perfect angle for what?” I asked as he pushed the curtains open and struck me dumb.

Outside the window was the bright lights of the Aurora Borealis, something that was rarely visible from Canterlot. It’s lights shifted and wavered across the sky, and I realiesed that the moon was in it’s dimmest situation for the night, making the stars and the borealis shimmer even more brightly.

“Do you remember the last time we watched one?” he whispered to me, shoulder touching mine.

I nodded. “I do,” I whispered back, tilting my head to rest it against him. The shifting light made me remember the night he proposed. “One of the happiest days of my life, actually.”

“Well, at least it made your top ten,” Lighty teased as he planted a kiss just under the base of my horn, making me shiver at the sensation.

“You know what that does to me,” I purred softly, flicking my tail against his flank.

“Yeah, I do,” he returned in an equally soft voice. “What are you going to do about it, though?”

I rose and placed myself between him and the window, locking eyes. When his grinning face was fully on me, I smiled an impish smile.

And I couldn’t quite suppress my chuckle as his grin faded slightly.

“Remember how our first night at Mt Canter went?” I asked, taking a stalking step forward. “Your folks won’t interrupt us tonight.”

He chuckled nervously. “Major points, huh?”

“Oh, yeah,” I whispered as I went in for the kill. “Major points. Almost enough to call the shots.”

And I kissed him, sealing my claim to him, and his on me.

“Almost.”

In Every Way: Moondancer and Rainbow Dash

Moondancer was calmly unpacking the books her collection when a knocking sound got her attention. Glancing around, she saw a blue Pegasus hovering outside the window of the study of her new house, grinning.

Smiling, the Unicorn trotted over and slid the window open with her magic. “Hey, Dashie,” she greeted as she leaned forward for a quick kiss. “Thought you had weather duty today?”

“Well, yeah,” Rainbow Dash rasped, waving a hoof in dismissal. “It’s not supposed to be anything but sunny in Ponyville today.” A sly look came over her face. “You saying you don’t like seeing me, Moonie?”

“Perish the thought,” Moondancer teased. “I know that with me moving to Ponyville is a good chance for us to spend more time together, but that doesn’t mean you get to shirk your responsibilities.”

“Me?” the Pegasus feigned shock. “Shirk work? Never!” Both ponies burst out giggling. Even now, cloud naps were a favorite activity of the cyan pony. Sometimes with a certain yellow-gray companion. “I just wanted to make sure we were still on for tomorrow.”

“As far as I know,” the bookish mare replied. “Why, has something come up on your end?”

“Nope, making sure,” Dash winked. “Hope you’re prepared for an awesome night.”

“Always ready to spend time with you,” Moondancer admitted with a soft smile as the clock tower started chiming the time.

Dash turned and grimaced for a moment before giving her marefriend another peck on the cheek. “Gotta go,” she apologized. “But looking forward to tomorrow, it’s going to blow the rest of our dates away.” She flew off, her rainbow contrail disappearing after a moment.

Moondancer was humming as she returned to her sorting, the books lifting from their boxes and sailing towards the empty shelves in her pale pink aura. It was always uplifting when she thought of the laidback Wonderbolt marefriend of hers, and the last year had been a great time. Even when you counted the couple of days following when Rainbow had bitten her ear while she was trying to cast the cloudwalking spell, causing her to be stuck in the clouds, unable to step off.

Moondancer froze as the thought crossed her mind. It had been almost a year, and the two of them had met just after Hearts and Hooves Day. She raced to her desk, digging her day planner from the pile of disorderly clutter.

“Oh, roadapples,” she whispered when she realized that tomorrow was the holiday.

The door opened following Moondancer’s frantic knocking, revealing a small drake.

“Oh, hey Moondancer!” Spike said.

“Hi Spike,” Moondancer said a little hurriedly. “Is Twilight available, I really need her advice.”

“Yeah,” the dragon said, stepping to the side to allow the mare to enter the castle. “She was in the map room a little while ago.”

As the two made their way through the corridor, the dragon looked up. “So, have you gotten settled in yet?”

The Unicorn nodded distractedly. “Almost,” Moondancer mumbled. “Still have a few rooms to unpack still.”

“Well, be sure to let us know when you do,” Spike said as he stopped infront of the door. “I’m sure Pinkie would love to throw you a housewarming party.”

That brought a chuckle from the nervous mare. “Minuette has already made the offer as well, so I’ll not be surprised if they start planning together.” She gave the young drake a hug before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

“Moondancer!” the Princess of Friendship exclaimed as she hopped out of her chair at the table, leaving a couple of books behind. “What brings you by?”

“I kind of need some advice, Twilight,” Moondancer told her friend. “I just realized that Dash and I are coming up on our one year anniversary…”

“And tomorrow is Hearts and Hooves Day,” the Alicorn nodded.

“Yeah.” Moondancer rubbed her foreleg shyly. “I’m not sure what to get her. She’s got something special planned and I don’t want to mess it up.”

“Well,” Twilight told her, motioning to the chairs surrounding the map. “Rainbow has pretty simple tastes despite her flashy persona. As long as it comes from you, I’m pretty sure she’ll enjoy it. And after a year, you probably know her almost as well as I do.”

“Maybe Applejack still has a bottle or two of cider leftover,” the bespectacled mare muttered.

“Probably,” Twilight said. “But trust yourself. I’m sure you’ll think of something for her.”

“You’ll think of something,” Moondancer muttered later that night. “It’ll come to you easily. Right, soooo easy.”

She rolled over and stared at the wall of her new bedroom. More than the worry of what she was getting Rainbow Dash was keeping her up, such as the newness of her surroundings. But trying to think of something for the athlete kept her mind churning.

Sighing in frustration, she climbed out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, maneuvering around boxes that were only partially unpacked. She put the kettle on, thinking that some tea should settle her mind and help her rest. Staying up all night won’t help anything, after all.

As she waited for the water to boil, she saw the pile of mail she had just brought in on her return from visiting Twilight. She flipped through it, seeing a few items that were meant for a previous tenant and the obligatory random mailer from local businesses that used them.

Then she opened a letter from the editor of the newsletter she wrote for on occasion, with another editorial offer. Her eyes widened as she saw who it was for.

“Sandstone’s new novel? I wasn’t aware any desl copies were available yet!” She skimmed the information and an idea flickered to life in her mind. She knew how much Dash had enjoyed the author, and they had both talked about the upcoming release ever since it was announced.

She smiled, and made sure to set her alarm so she had time to get to Canterlot and back in time for dinner. Sleep came quickly to her this time.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Moonie!” Rainbow Dash said as she set a covered plate in front of her marefriend.

“Happy Anniversary, Dashie,” Moondancer replied. “Well, almost anniversary, at least.”

Rainbow sat down at her place with a similar dish. “Has it been a year already?” the Pegasus asked, blinking.

Moondancer nodded, horn lighting up with her pinkish aura. As she lifted the cover, the smell of steamed and grilled vegetables and aromatic spices rose to her nose. She saw a delicious looking rice dish before her, the rice a soft yellow and mixed with the vegetables.

“This looks delicious, Dashie,” she said as she raised her fork. “Why don’t you cook more often? It’s obvious you’re quite good at it.”

The Pegasus shrugged. “Most of the time, I’m content to grab something from the mess hall or just something quick and easy when it’s just me.” She picked up a fork in her wingtips and indulged in a bite of her creation. “But for you I wanted to do something special.”

“It’s deeply appreciated,” Moondancer said around a bite. “Especially after putting up with my cooking those early days.”

“They weren't all that bad,” Rainbow replied quickly. “You just hadn’t practiced all that much.”

Moondancer blushed a little. “I didn’t have a lot or reason to do so at the time,” she whispered. “By the way, I got something for you today. I hope you like it.”

“That’s awesome,” the Pegasus said with a sly smile. “But I doubt it’s as cool as what I got for you.”

The Unicorn blushed. “We’ll see, Dashie.”

They ate slowly, enjoying each others company and chatting lightly about their days. When the dishes were cleared away, Moondancer brought a wrapped package from her overnight bags.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Rainbow,” she said as she offered it to her marefriend. As Rainbow ripped the wrapping and saw the item within, she stared for a moment.

“Glyphs of Luminosity?” she whispered. “I didn’t know it was out already! Where’d you get it?”

“From my editor,” Moondancer told her. “He got an advance desk copy and wants me to review it before its official release.”

Rainbow nuzzled the mare. “This rocks, Moonie,” she giggled. “And I love it. But, even as awesome as this is, I think mine is better.”

“I wasn't aware we were competing,” Moondancer sourly replied.

Blue hooves went up in defense. “That came out a little wrong,” she said hastily. “I wasn’t trying to say yours wasn’t amazing, because it is.” She got up and went over to a table and opened a drawer, pulling something out and hiding it in her feathers.

“But, I think you’ll agree that this is just as awesome,” Rainbow said, coming over and sitting next to Moondancer’s chair, and the bespectacled Unicorn’s heart started to race.

“Moondancer,” Dash said. “Our relationship got its start over a book, which is something I never thought I’d say in a hundred years. But it’s been a great time, and even though we’ve kind from two opposite worlds, we fit pretty good together.”

Her wing slid out, revealing a small box. “So I got to thinking,” Dash said as Moondancer brought a hoof to her mouth in surprise. “What could I do to show you how much I’ve enjoyed our time together, good and bad? Any book I could think of you practically have, and I couldn’t think of anyplace we could go with the amount of leave I have right now that we’d enjoy.”

She smiled as she cracked the box open to reveal a ring inside sized to fit a Unicorns’ horn. “Then I thought about making me the gift,” Rainbow chuckled. “A little egotistical, huh? But I want to give you everything I have, now and forever. If you’ll have me, that is.”

Moondancer stared at the small hoop of gold and citrine in amazement. “Dash,” she whispered.

Silence stretched out to a minute, causing Rainbow’s ears to fold back against her head. “Ah, Moonie?”

The Unicorn flung herself out of her seat and kissed Rainbow, harder than they had ever before.

“Yes,” Moondancer whispered to her marefriend when they separated, causing Dash to start laughing in relief. “In every way, yes.”

Author's Note

This was a very unique ship insomuch as only one other person thinks of it and that happened to be who asked me to write the first bit of this story in White Day.

With the Ones You Love: Cadence and Shining Armor

Silence. It was such an alien thing in my house. But tonight, it was a blessed thing. Mom and Dad were watching Gleaming Bulwark so Cady and I could have a nice evening to ourselves and reconnect.

“Even after you have kids,” she had said. “It’s still important to make time for yourselves.”

I leaned my head back on the couch, giving my wife a gentle squeeze. She sighed happily and snuggled in a little closer. “This is nice,” I said into the quiet. “An actual chance to relax.”

Cady nodded without moving her head from it’s spot against my shoulder. “Gleam is a darling,” she murmured. “But she also needs to figure out how to sleep through the night. I haven’t missed this much sleep since my master’s program.” She leaned up slightly and smiled at me. “And thank you for sharing the nighttime calls.”

“Hey,” I protested with a smile. “She’s my kid too. Gotta be the best dad I can be.” I leaned my head back and closed my eyes for a moment, just enjoying the feel of Cady nestled against me and nothing going on.

“Do you think your mom can handle her?” my wife asked.

“Cadence,” I said without lifting my head. “She’ll be fine. She raised me and Twilight, you know.”

“I know,” Cadence said, sitting up. “But what if we forgot to pack something in her bag? Did we put enough diapers in? What about her floof? Did we…”

I pressed a finger against her lips and smiled. “Cady,” I whispered. “There was one whole bag of diapers. If that isn’t enough for one night, then we’d have to call the pediatrician. Also, Gleaming doesn’t let her floof go long enough for us to wash it sometimes. That little stuffed horse is precious to her.” I kissed her gently. “Don’t worry so much, Mom would call if something came up, and Twily is going over for dinner. She’ll be fine.”

My wife relaxed slightly, closing her eyes and leaned back against me. “I know,” she whispered. “It’s just I worry.”

“Wouldn't love you if you didn’t,” I said. “So, you want to go anywhere tonight? It is Valentine’s Day, after all. Your favorite holiday, if I remember correctly.”

She was silent. “Can’t we just stay in tonight?”

I frowned and tilted my head so I could see her face. Through the soft smile and closed eyes, I could still see some fatigue on her beautiful features. “We have stayed in the last four months running,” I said. “And aren’t you usually the one pushing for going out and experiencing things?”

She patted a hand against my stomach, like one does when a child doesn’t understand something. “It doesn’t matter what we do,” she whispered as she slid up and kissed my cheek. “If we’re together. And there are plenty of things we can do that don’t require us to go out.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Like what?”

“Well, we could make a meal and enjoy it without getting covered in peas,” she mumbled, moving to kiss my other cheek. “Or watch something approaching a grown-up movie, maybe a romantic comedy?” She kissed my neck.

My heartbeat was speeding up. “Those do sound nice,” I agreed.

“Or perhaps something we haven’t done in a good, long time,” she whispered in my ear, her breath hot against my skin.

“Oh?”

“Mmhm,” she murmured, mouth still next to my ear.

“Like what?” I asked.

She leaned back and flashed me the brilliant smile that had made me fall for her the first time.

I leaned back, sighing in contentment. Cady came over and sat on the bench next to me, her towel wrapped tightly around her body. Every muscle in my body felt loose and relaxed, and the steam only kept the warmth from the massages last longer.

“This was wonderful,” I said as she slipped her arm though mine. “How long has it been since we’ve done a couples date?”

“Probably since just after Twily’s wedding,” she replied. “If you don’t count the hot springs on our honeymoon.”

My face blushed as some of the things we had done on our honeymoon flashed through my mind. I was immediately glad that my skin already had taken a slight red tinge from the heat.

Not that it saved me from my wife. She aways knew, somehow.

“Mm,” she purred, tilting her head to catch my eyes. “Remember the first night?”

I nodded, smiling. “It was so peaceful,” I said, thinking of looking out the window of the cabin we had rented at the snow-covered mountains sparkle in the moonlight. “I almost didn’t want to leave.”

“I don't think you ever did,” she teased. “You still seem to wake up next to me almost two years later.”

“And for a good long time from now, I hope,” I said, kissing her forehead.

She nodded in agreement, then her face took on a slight worried cast. “Do you think we should check in on Gleam?” she asked.

“Cadence,” I said gently. “This is the third time you’ve wanted to call since we got here. We called before we left the house and again between the check in and the massage.” I rested my forehead against hers. “She was asleep, and Mom said if she saw our cell numbers on the ID again tonight she wasn’t picking up.”

My wife hung her head, the towel keeping her hair in place falling loose. “I know,” she whispered. “I’m just so used to her being there.”

“It’s one night,” I repeated, brushing the backs of my fingers across her cheek. “And while I miss her too, let’s not get wrapped up in how much we miss the little one.”

She looked into my eyes, a soft smile forming. “You miss her too, don’t you?”

I nodded. “Hard not to,” I admitted. “But I don’t think a couple hours without her is going to damage our reputation as parents.”

Cadence set the phone down, sighing. “You’d think once becoming principal I’d be able to hire a new dean of students without a lot of trouble.”

I buckled my belt and pulled my jacket from the cubby we had stashed our clothing in before beginning our spa date. “Trouble?”

“That was the school board,” she groaned, tucking her phone into a pocket on the side of her purse. “They shot down another recommendation I made to fill my old position. Sometimes I just want to throttle the stubborn lot.”

I chuckled. “They don’t always make bad choices,” I reminded her. “They did appoint you to take over from Cinch.”

She ran her hand through her hair, a frustrated look on her face. “That wasn’t a difficult choice.”

“No, I suppose not.” I sighed, then looked at her, an idea rising in my mind. “You ready to go?”

She nodded. “Yeah,” she responded, her face lightening slightly. “Have you got ideas for what’s next?”

“Yeah,” I grinned. “I think you’ll like it.”

“Sunshine sunshine, ladybug’s awake,” my sister called out.

“Clap your hands and do a little shake!” my wife concluded, bumping her hips into Twilight, both giggling over the childhood greeting. I saw Sunset sitting on the couch with a pad of paper and a pen, shaking her head.

I hung up our jackets as the ritual was done and walked over, throwing my arm around my little sister. “How ya doing?” I asked.

“Pretty good,” Twilight said, hugging me. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

“You too,” I said, then waved at Sunset.

Mom swept into the room a moment later, a platter with mugs steaming and smelling of cocoa. Setting it down on the table, she came over and kissed me and Cady on the cheeks, then narrowed her eyes.

“Worried about Gleaming, I take it?” she asked without preamble.

Cadence nodded, her cheeks coloring and I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, eh heh,” I admitted. “And it’s just not a good holiday without seeing those you love. That includes you and Dad, and Sunset.”

“Hey!” Twilight pouted.

“You too,” I smiled, seeing her cross her arms and puff out her cheeks in a pout.

I saw Sunset look at her and smile, Twilight’s eyes darting over to her before calming down. I envy that about those two, they seem to understand each other on a whole other level.

Must be all that magic they keep messing with.

Dad came in during the exchange with a sleepy Gleaming Bulwark in his arms. The second she saw me and Cadence, she woke up and started gurgling, a wide smile on her face.

“Oh, how’s Mommy’s little angel?” Cadence asked as she went and took our child in her arms. “Were you good for Gram and Grandpa?”

“She was better behaved than our children were,” Mom said, laughing as Twilight and I shrank down a bit. “Took a bottle and a nap, then tried to crawl.”

“She’s already trying to crawl?” I asked, feeling a bit of pride.

“Tried being the operative word,” Dad said. “She’s a little young yet, so she just kind of wriggled on her belly.”

“It was adorable,” Sunset said. “We took some video for you, by the way.”

I picked up a pair of mugs and was about to offer one to Cadence only to notice she was playing with our daughter, lifting her up and blowing raspberries on her belly, making her squeal with tiny laughs. I smiled.

All around me was family, three generations in one house, and even the strange relationship my sister had with Sunset didn’t detract from the love I could feel permeating the very air. I set a mug down and reached over to tickle my daughter’s stomach, feeling her laughs as she grabbed my finger and grinned.

Sometimes things are best with the ones you love.

Spoilers: Flash Sentry and Lemon Zest

I zipped up my cymbal bag and set it to the side, still humming the song we had ended our show with. I genuinely loved playing regularly, especially with the lineup in this band. We had a great bond and could read each other mid song, extending solos or moving immediately into the next song without stopping. I don’t think I ever went through sticks like this since the drum corp had been in existence at Crystal Prep.

I was reaching for the hard shells for my kit when I felt a hand cover mine. I looked up and grinned at Flash, his not-so-subtle smile bright as he lifted one of the shells.

“Want a hand?” he asked causually.

“You packed up already, Sentry?” I returned with a wink. “Sure.”

Drums were a strange dichotomy, instruments that you wailed on with sticks and mallets, but were incredibly delicate. I was very picky about who I let help me pack up or set up.

Flash was pretty much it outside of Pinkie Pie. Other drummers know how touchy we were.

“So, we still on for later?” I asked as I broke down my kit and set the toms to the side. “Or you want to wait until tomorrow?”

“I’m fine if you are,” Flash said as he collapsed my cymbal stands down and set them to the side on the dropcloth I tended to wrap them in. “I mean, it’s only eleven at night.”

I giggled as I set my bass drum in its shell. “Only,” I quipped.

He rolled his eyes. “For us, this is an early night,” he defended. “Remember New Years, when we were breaking down at four?”

“And going to bed at ten?” I purred, flashing him a smile. He blushed in return. He was so fun to tease, in both senses.

I cinched the strap up on the shell and turned to look at him, draping an arm over my knee. “Flash,” I said, looking at him. “When are you going to loosen up?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, rolling the stands up for storage.

“I can’t even make even a subtle joke without you getting all nervous,” I said, blowing a wisp of hair out of my face. “But we’ve been dating for a while and the most you’ve done is pecks on the cheek. You’re too tense, man.”

He frowned, turning to face me. “What do you mean?”

I sighed and went over to him, putting a hand on either shoulder. “Flash, you are one of those rare sorts,” I said, smiling softly. “A Knight-in-Shining beyond any motive beyond a good heart. But for once in your life, will you let your sense of nobility and morals relax for a night? It won’t kill you to kiss me on the lips, or letting me snuggle with you all night.”

His face was shading red with each word. “But it’s only been…”

I put a hand on my forehead, sighing. “Four months, Slick,” I groaned. “There are couples that have been married by now.” I leaned forward and set my forehead against his. “Mind telling me why you’re so dead set on taking things so slow?”

He sighed and sat back, looking down. “I don’t want to screw up,” he whispered.

I frowned. “What?”

“I’ve not got a good track record,” he said. “Sunset, then crushing on Twilight…both of them. I just want to make sure I’m ready. And then there are my parents.”

“Your parents?” I blinked. “What have they got to do with it?”

“They put on a good front,” he said, his hands curling into fists. “But if you look closely enough you can tell they don’t love each other. I’m surprised they haven’t divorced yet, with me being out on my own now.”

He sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, they love me, and I love them,” he closed his eyes. “But each other? I’m sure that maybe once they did. But they stayed together for me, I’m almost sure.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, shifting and rubbing a hand across his shoulders. “Maybe they just don’t show it the way others do?”

He chuckled ruefully. “Lemon, I’m twenty. My mother isn’t even forty. I can do the math.”

I couldn’t help it, the math was done immediately. “Oh….” I whispered.

“Yeah.”

I ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry about that, Flash,” I said as I put my forehead against his temple. “I’m in no hurry for that. But maybe, just maybe, you could trust yourself and me to keep a cooler head?”

“What do you mean?”

I took his chin in my hand and turned his face to mine.

And kissed him fully. I felt him relax into the kiss, his arms starting to go around me before he pulled away. I sighed and punched him in the shoulder.

“Dammit, Flash,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry,” he said, turning away. He got up and picked up the cymbal stands, not meeting my eyes as he went to deposit them in the van.

I was toweling my hair dry, eyes still bleary despite the stinging warmth of the shower when the doorbell rang. I frowned, not expecting anyone to come by today. Valentine’s Day was something I usually spent on my own, counting down the minutes to half-price chocolate day.

Looping my towel over my shoulders and making sure I had actually put on some sort of clothing respectable enough to open the door with, I headed downstairs. On the other side of the door was Flash, a sheepish smile on his face.

“Hey,” he said simply.

I took a step back, giving him room to step inside. “Hey,” I returned.

“Got a minute? I feel like we need to talk.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I might have overreacted the other night.”

I lifted a few wet strands of hair. “I’m sure not going to go out in the cold February weather anytime soon,” I quipped, smiling slightly. “Coffee?”

“Please.”

As the coffee maker gurgled and steamed, I leaned against the counter and looked at him. He was fiddling with his hands, not meeting my eyes.

I gave an exasperated sigh. “You’re an idiot, Flash,” I said as I pulled a pair of mugs from the cupboard. “Adorable, cute, and noble, but also an occasional idiot.”

He looked up at me with a confused look. “What?”

“Look,” I said, sliding a mug over to him. “I get where you’re coming from, but did you ever think that maybe you’re underselling my part in this?”

I leaned against the countertop, spitting him with my gaze. “I’m the first to admit that I love to tease you, and it’s fun because you’re such an upright guy,” I smiled. “But that doesn’t mean that that’s all I wanna do. Sometimes, I just want to sit on the couch and watch a movie and that’s all.”

He nodded. “I know,” he said. “I thought a lot about what you said the other night, and I think I’m worried that I’m not sure if what I think is love really is. I’ve felt more at ease with you than anyone I have before, but I’m not sure what that is.”

I smirked. “So what you’re saying,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Is you wanna know what love is.”

He burst out laughing with me. “Yeah,” he said between chuckles. “I want you to show me.”

I smiled at him and reached over to ruffle his hair affectionately. “Well, Slick,” I said, coming around the counter. “Today’s the day to find out, I suppose.”

He reached out as I went to move past hime and took my free hand, causing me to face him. I found myself kissing the man before I fully recognized what was happening. I felt his hand cup my face and the other slide around my waist.I slipped my free hand around his waist as well, trying to keep enough sense of self to not spill my coffee.

When we broke, I couldn’t help but lick my lips, a warm blush on my cheeks. “Well,” I said. “I guess you really did listen to me.”

He leaned forward and rested his head against mine. “i’ve been known to do that,” he said.

I smiled and booped him on the nose as I took another sip of my coffee. “Then buckle up,” I said. “Cause I’m going to give you a crash course on how to be happy with me.”

Winking, I leaned in and whispered “Spoilers: be yourself.”

Laid Back Meal: Adagio Dazzle and Sandalwood

I swished my hand in the water idly, the light mist blowing back against me. This fountain had a lot of memories for me, about a third of them sad.

But lately, more and more happy memories were cropping up, even if I didn’t live in Canterlot City proper anymore. At least once a year I wound up by this fountain waiting for a certain easygoing fella. He’s smarter than a lot of people take him for, but he can still be something of a lunkhead.

But he’s my lunkhead.

But this fountain sat in the middle of the park, and though everyone knew it was there, the hedges and topiaries surrounding it made for a rather great visual barrier to the exterior. It made it rather private, and that had suited my sisters and I rather well when we missed the water but didn’t have time, inclination, or funds to visit the sea proper.

It also made for a subtle - and private - location for a small picnic. I had brought the blankets and the enhancements to the scenery; four candles and myself. But I seemed to be missing…

“Been here long?” a mellow voice asked from behind me.

I turned smoothly so that I was laying along my side on the marble edge of the fountain, a smirk slithering along my face as I faced my husband’s figure, a wicker basket in his hand.

“Just long enough to consider going for a dip,” I purred, letting a hand drape across my hip to accentuate the swell from my waist.

Sandalwood’s eyes roved my figure and even after a few years of marriage, this unlikely guy still got my motor revving in a way that no one else in…well, ever, had. It’s strange that after a few years as more or less mortals, most of us had settled down. Aria was the most unlikely considering how far she had fallen after we lost our old Songs. I never pictured her with that fluffy pink baker.

But then, I never pictured myself running a B&B with this laid back guy either. Weird how things go, isn’t it?

“Well, if you do, you’ll have to spend the drive home sopping wet,” he teased with a gin. “Because that would be the moment our usual private spot becomes the hottest place in town. I know how you have trouble staying quiet in the water.”

“It was one time!” I growled. He would bring up the first time I swam in the waters of the cove by our bed and breakfast. I couldn’t help but sing as the waves crashed over me. I had also forgot that we didn’t quite transform in the water anymore. Sure, we had regained a lot of the powers we had lost - minor flight, being able to induce emotional states, and breath underwater - but we didn’t get the same benefits our former enemies got from their introduction to Equestrian magic. But Harmony, could we swim! It was almost like how it was in the old days, we my sisters and I were barely out of the hatchery.

“Twice,” he said, setting the basket down and starting to pull out covered plates. “Both times without so much as a swimsuit. Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

I slid down off the fountain to join him on the ground, taking the bottle of champaign from him and pouring it into the two cups he placed out.

“So, what are we celebrating this year?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “Just a regular Valentine’s Day? Or something else?”

He reached over and dropped a strawberry into my glass. “Just Valentine’s Day.” He took a bite from a strawberry of his own. “We come here enough on our anniversary.”

I nodded, smiling as I sipped my drink and caught the berry in my teeth. After clearing my mouth, I pulled the covered dishes away from the basket and revealed our dinner: various berries, fruits, and a few bits of fresh sushi. I smiled, but not my smug one. Though Sandalwood was a hardcore vegetarian, he had made sure to cater to my particular tastes as well.

And there, by the fountain where we had first met, we spent a relaxing picnic just in each other’s company. Not saying much, but speaking volumes about how far a person can come. A laidback meal with my best friend.

One among many.

Author's Note

Star of Night: Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy

"I don't want to,” she said from behind the locked door.

I sighed and leaned against it, my ears folding down against my head. “Shy, come on.”

“I said no, Sunset,” she said. “I don’t want them to see.”

I knew that at any point I could open the door with my magic. Or teleport inside. She knew it too. But she also knew that I wouldn’t. If she locked a door I didn’t have a key to, she didn’t want me on the other side.

“Fluttershy,” I started again. “It’s one night. And we’re going to the castle anyway. Nopony there cares about the transformation.”

I heard her take a hesitant step before falling silent again. I knew her fears. Tonight was a full moon, and the second Luna raised it she’d fall under her curse again. I didn’t mind, actually. I kind of liked the more exotic allure it gave her. Mentally she wasn’t much different and ever since I had proposed the changes were extremely mild, mostly physical in nature. But I knew she hated them.

“Tell you what,” I said. “We’ll go and if you want to leave before moonrise, we’ll leave.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly,” I said with a smile. “Stick a cupcake in my eye.”

The door unlocked, and Fluttershy looked up at me with a tiny smile.

“For you,” she said before leaning up to rub noses.

“You really went all out, Pinkie,” I said as she hopped over to me with a grin. “I like it.”

And I did. She had done up the main hall with red, white, and pink streamers and heart shaped balloons. A banner over the main stairwell wished all in attendance a “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!” with cheery letters only Pinkie could print.

“Thanks, Sunset!” she chirped as she fell in alongside Fluttershy and I. “So, how are you two lovebirds?”

I smiled and glanced at the Pegasus at my side, giving her a wink. She smiled in return.

“We’re doing just fine,” Fluttershy said in her calm voice as I felt a wingtip brush my ribs.

“Great!” the party pony exclaimed. “Wait here, I got something for you two!” And she dashed off.

I glanced at Shy and she caught my eyes. We shrugged in unison and sat down. We knew better than to go against Pinkie’s advice sometimes. Twilight had told me about Pinkie sense in my early weeks back.

She soon bounced back into the room with a pair of ribbons over her back. She looped one over both of our necks and smiled.

“There!” she proclaimed. “Now everypony will know you two are with each other!”

“Um, Pinkie,” Fluttershy begain softly. “Doesn’t everypony here already know that?”

“Yes,” she said, still smiling. “But this way it’s more fun!”

I glanced down at my ribbon, seeing Fluttershy’s cutie mark stamped on it next to mine. “Uh, Pinkie,” I began. “How many are at this dinner? I thought it was just the seven of us unless Starlight is back early.”

“Oh, that’s right!” the pink pony chuckled. “I forgot to tell you, Princess Luna is here to spend time with Twilight, and Moondancer finished her speaking thing in Canterlot early and came down too!” She turned and hopped her way towards the banquet hall. “I think Rarity might even have asked somepony over as well!”

I could feel the panic wafting off Fluttershy with every word our friend said.

“I’d like to go home now,” she whispered, wings sliding forward to cover her eyes as she crouched down.

“But you just got here, silly!” Pinkie blinked, then gasped. “Is tonight one of the nights?”

I nodded and took hold of one of her wings in my magic, moving around to kneel in front of her.

“Now, now,” I admonished with a small smile. “You made me Pinkie Promise to take you home before moonrise. The sun hasn’t even set yet, and you don’t want to let Pinkie down.”

Pinkie was giving us the biggest puppy eyes I’d ever seen in a pony.

“But, Princess Luna and Moondancer are here,” she stuttered. “And Rarity might have a date too, and I don’t know them! And Moondancer might know, but how would Luna react?”

I leaned forward and put my nose against hers and started humming a tune that we both knew. I saw her smile slightly and stand again.

“Maybe for a little while,” she hedged.

“I can deal with that,” I said, nuzzling her. “Besides, tonight, I’ll be looking at you.”

She blushed. “Like the moon through the tree?”

“You betcha.”

And we walked into the banquet hall together.

“I told you so,” I whispered to her later that night.

She folded her forelegs and turned away from me slightly. “I’m still not happy.”

I tilted my head and sighed. “We left before anything started. And tonight it’s really mild anyway.”

She looked at me, not quite meeting my eyes. “You know I’m not going to forget this, right?”

“I should hope not,” I smiled, lowering the apple in my magic and drifting it over to her, pulling it away again in a tease before letting her have it.

As she finished it, she looked away and then back at me as I began to gather the dishes.

“Sunset?” came her voice soft and delicate.

“Hm?”

“Would you mind singing it again? Just once?”

I looked at her and smiled. “Of course not. As many times as you want.”

I only knew a few of the words, but that was all that was needed. Something soft and light and flowing, so much like the mare across the table from me. Those were all the words she really needed to hear.

I see the moon, the moon sees me
shining through the leaves of the apple tree
Oh, let the light that shines on me
shine on the one I love.

I hear the lark, the lark hears me
singing from the leaves of the old oak tree
Oh, let the lark that sings to me
sing to the one I love,

Over the mountains, over the sea
back where my heart is longing to be
Oh, let the lark that sings to me
sing to the one I love.

She looked at me while I hummed the words I didn’t know, bits and pieces of Fluttershy peeking out from her curse, a tear in her eye. She mouthed a few words to me, and I smiled.

“I love you too, my little lark.”

Bonus

She just sat there, head against her locker.

Another year with no card, no flowers, not even a cheap candy bar from the vending machine. She’d even accept gum at this point.

Not that she needed such a sentimental bit of nonsense. She was just fine without it, as she had been last year. And the year before. And the one before that.

She considered for a moment that maybe she really did want it. She sighed and opened her locker and was shocked to find inside, hanging from a string that had been slipped into the slot at the top, a card.

She took the red envelope into her hands and looked at the front. It merely had her name, written in what was clearly a feminine hand.

Carefully, she opened the envelope. She had been victim to a glitterbomb once before and was not going to look like that again, valentine or no valentine.

But no burst of glitter belched forth, just a simple card. It bore no image, no words save the handwritten note within, in the same hand.

I heard that you don’t get these at this time of year, and I thought that I should fix that. Especially with what you did recently. I’ve been there.

No one should spend Valentine’s Day alone. Why don’t you come and join us tonight?

Trixie blinked back a tear or two, turning to lean against the locker as she reread the words.

Her first card, given freely, without the teacher making you include everyone in the class.

“So, what do you say? You in?” asked a voice from in front of her.

She looked up to find Sunset Shimmer leaning against a doorway, a soft smile on her face. Behind her were the six friends you always found her with, along with two other faces. The one with the green hair waved nervously while the other adjusted a pigtail with a soft smile.

Standing, she smiled.

“I suppose I can take a night off from practicing my tricks.”