Love Conquers All

Twilight Sparkle was riding on the train to Canterlot, as she did once a month. She put her head out the window and took in the fresh country air, it always exhilarated the mare to feel the wind in her mane and to hear the familiar soothing sounds of a  locomotive engine. Her eyes were drawn to the early evening stars, she just loved the way they twinkled in defiance of the sun's  weakened light. But, perhaps that was just the wonder talking.

She slowly drew her head back into the train car, her mane thoroughly tussled by the wind. The dull glow of the unicorn's magic fixed that problem rather quickly while her hooves opened the letter beside her. It had arrived early fairly early that morning and required her immediate and full attention. It read:

Dear Twilight,

While I know that you are quite busy with the assignment Princess Celestia has given you, I was hoping we could still have our collaboration meeting as per our usual social contract. I do hope i am not imposing.

With all due respect and reverence,

Star Shine

She always liked getting letters from her Canterlot Colleague, their collaboration meetings were always a pleasure. They discussed what they learned, what they thought, though Twilight enjoyed their philosophical discussions the most. Star Shine always brought up the most thought provoking questions and ideas, he was quite the intellectual.

She had met the colt a few months before she left Canterlot, he worked at the Royal Observatory and she had been curious about the cosmos at the time. They spent many nights together gazing at the stars and the constellations they made, He had told her everything there was to know about the stars and the space around them. Twilight had become quite fond of him during that time, as he had of her. The night before she left for Ponyville had been hard on him. He begged and pleaded that she not go, it wasn't until she explained that it was an assignment from the Princess herself that he caved. But, he made her promise to visit him every month for a little collaboration

So, every month for the past 2 and a half years, she had taken the train to Canterlot and visited him in the Observatory. Their meetings were usually at night, so they could gaze upon the stars as they used to do. Their had been a few occasions where the Princess of the night herself would join them in their discussions, those were truly fun times. There were other fun times without the regent of the night, the duo of scholars had even shared a kiss underneath the full moon. It had been Twilight's first kiss, and had made her heart grow fonder of the colt.

She had been lost in her thoughts when the whistle blew for her stop. The unicorn got out of her seat, grabbing the picnic basket she had packed with a meal along her way, and exited the train. There, waiting for her arrival, was Star Shine.

He was a handsome colt: His coat was akin to the early night sky, his mane was as white as the moon,and his eyes were a penetrating stone gray. The unicorn was around the same age as herself and his cutie mark was that of a Telescope in front of a field of stars.

"Ms. Twilight Sparkle, a pleasure to see you again." His voice was melodic, if not utterly hypnotizing. The colt was smiling softly at her, oh how she adored that smile.

"Mr. Star Shine, how are you on this fine evening?" Twilight trotted over to him and nuzzled the object of her adoration. He nuzzled back gently, his coat felt like the softest blanket ever made.

"I am quite alright, especially now that you're here." His horn glowed the same color as his eyes and lifted the picnic basket away from her, she let him, as she always did. "Shall we head to the observatory?"

"I think we shall." So away they trotted in the direction of the observatory. Along the way they made small talk. He asked her about her friends and how they were doing, she mentioned how strange two of them had been acting, and she asked him about his work. It was light, but it was much appreciated by each of them.

They reached the observatory in a little under half an hour, the usual time, then they made their way up to the top balcony where Star Shine had his own personal telescope. It was their spot. He sat the basket down and unpaked it: Blanket first, then the plates and sandwiches.

Twilight sat on the cushion that Star Shine had laid down prior to her arrival, as he always did, and turned her head towards the stars.Luna truly outdid herself tonight, the stars were brighter than Twilight had ever seen before, and they looked magnificent.

"So, Twilight, I do hope the short notice was of no inconvenience to you."  The astronomer sat across from her, waiting for her to take a bite before himself like a true gentlecolt.

"Oh no, Star Shine, it was fine. I do love having our meetings." Neither of them dared called them dates, for they weren't sure if they were quite ready to accept such an intimate stance on the other. "So, why did you call me up here?" She levitated the sandwich to her mouth and took a small bite.

"Well, I have some very exciting news from the Regent of the Night, herself. I figured that you would like to hear it before anypony else." The colt also took a bite of his sandwich.

"Princess Luna? What news would that be?"

"Well, she has ordered that an observatory be built in Ponyville." Twilight was quite surprised, though she didn't let it show on the outside, for that would be quite unbecoming of a lady.

"Oh? That is quite exciting. Now I will be able to gaze upon the stars properly." Twilight put took another bite of her delectable sandwich.

"That is only half of the story. She has chosen me to oversee the construction and the observatory itself once it is finished." Twilight was did her best from jumping up and enveloping her colleague in a long, and quite overdo hug. He would finally be close enough to see everyday, perhaps they could even drop the formalities and accept their feelings for one another.

"That is fantastic news, Star Shine! You'll finally have your own observatory like you always wanted!" She smiled brightly, but the colt only took another bite of his sandwich and nodded. "Aren't you excited?"

"Oh, I am. But, I was wondering if you know of a place in which I could stay while the observatory is being built. I would hate to trouble anypony with my sudden appearance in town"

"You can stay with me!" She quickly realized her outburst and covered her mouth. "Er, I mean...if you don't mind." Great She mentally chided herself. I'm starting to act like Fluttershy.

Star Shine only chuckled at the faux pas. "I would very much like that, yes." A very awkward silence followed,, it persisted for several minutes while the two ate their meal. When they were finally done, Twilight spoke.

"Star Shine..?" He raised his head and looked at her, his piercing gray gaze connecting with her own eyes. The look made her shiver, as it always did.

"Yes, Twilight?"

"Would..Well, i was wondering.." She was tripping over her words, and it made her angry at herself. She was usually so good with her words, but now they seemed to be failing her. "I was wondering if you would like to be my coltfriend.." She blushed at the last word, while Star Shine just raised her eyebrow.

"I was under the assumption I already was." His mouth drew into a slight smirk with every word, it grew even wider as Twilight's jaw dropped and her eyes got wider.

"W-What?"

"Well, we have these regular outings, we are affectionate at the start of each one, and we have kissed. I assumed that's when we started officially dating." His dark hoof reached over and pushed her jaw closed.

"B-But...why the formalities then? Why so..so..." She couldn't think of the right word, her mind was too rattled.

"Aloof? Because, Twilight, you were. I assumed that you wanted a strictly professional relationship. Nothing too serious."

"I-I..." Her brow furrowed and she smacked him playfully. "You mean colt. How dare you lead me along like that!"

Star Shine raised his hooves up in mock surrender as he chuckled. "I was just following your lead, my dear! I didn't mean to 'lead you along like that.'" Once she quit smacking him, he brushed off his coat. "I think you need to lighten up, Twilight."

She just glared at him, but she couldn't hold in the smile. "So, when are you moving to Ponyville?"

"Well, tomorrow actually."

"And you're just informing me now? What if I couldn't accommodate you?" She felt quite, well...used. Had he planned on just showing up on her doorstep tomorrow morning with all of his luggage and a smile?

"Don't be silly, Twilight. I knew you could accommodate me, even on such short notice." The colt stood up. "Now come here, I have something to show you." He trotted inside, leaving the mare to ponder his statements. It was true, she would have taken him in, whether or not she had the means or the time to do so, she just liked him that much. Deciding it was best not to dwell on it, she got up and followed him.

"Oh wait...it is back outside." She sighed, he always played these little games when he had a surprise for her, so she simply turned right back around and headed back onto the balcony along side him. "Oh, there it is." He pointed a hoof towards the sky. Twilight wondered what he could have possibly lost in the sky. When she looked up, her heart stopped and her eyes went wide.

Written in the sky with the stars themselves were four simple words.

'I love you Twilight.'

Those four words made the purple mare realize one thing, she wasn't afraid to love him back, she wasn't even hesitant.

"Like them? Princess Luna did them special, I had t-" He was cut short by hooves enveloping his form and lips meeting his own.

Twilight Sparkle was not a mare of action, but right now she was. As soon as she let all of her feelings sink in, she knew what she had to do. She spun around, pulled Star Shine into a hug, and kissed him. Though, this was not like the chaste kiss they had done before. This one was passionate, it was needed, it was reciprocated.

After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality had only been a minute, the kiss was broken and the two just held onto each other. Words were not needed, the embrace was enough for them both.

"Star Shine..?" She looked into the eyes of her coltfriend.

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle?" He smiled gently, though now his voice seemed all the more melodious.

"I love you too..."

--

Later that night, within the confines of Star Shine's room. (He had graciously let her use it, as he always did.) She started writing a letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned a valuable lesson. Love is not something to be taken lightly, it is not a decision you can force or make for yourself. It just comes to you. You can't choose who you love any more than you can choose what you're good at. When you know, you know. At first,

I was afraid of embracing it, I was afraid of the commitment, of the implications. So, I guess I learned something else as well. Love conquers all fears, all doubts, and will leave you at peace.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

The unicorn smiled and nodded. she saw a bright future ahead for her and Star Shine. A very bright future indeed.