Author's Note
For all of you that helped with my recent predicament, with all my love.
Absolutely Not
She came back into the castle, coat dirty, mane askew. Were she to hang her head any lower, her muzzle would be dragging against the polished floor. Everything about her was in disarray. Wings unpreened, coat matted, and the top of her horn blackened with soot.
Twilight Sparkle had always led an interesting life. From being the youngest accepted at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and one of few chosen to be private students of the ruler of all Equestria, she had come so very far. She had saved Princess Luna, defeated terrible dangers, helped in the redemption of several most vile beings, and - quite possibly the most notable - went from being a simple little bookish filly to a Princess in her own right, with a regality that suited her rather well. And shortly after being grown, her Castle began to send her - and her friends - across Equestria on Friendship Missions as she called them. And sometimes even beyond Equestria, though ghastly some had been.
And then, to the surprise of her friends, she began to woo one of the most lovely mares in all Equestria. If there was one prettier, it must have been Twilight’s sister in law, and she gets a pass for being the Princess of Love.
But to see that young mare looking so worn out and ragged, an air of dejection hovering over her as though put there by Discord, it made one's heart ache. It truly did. A travesty such as this could not go on. It simply would not be abided by.
So I got up, slowly trotted over and bent down so I could see those wonderful raspberry eyes. I could gaze forever into them and always find something new about them. About her. And my heart ached to see her eyes glassy and unfocused instead of alive with the vibrant glow she had when reading or laughing.
I would rather be the one in pain than her. I knew how to bear it better. You develop a thick skin when starting out in fashion. So many harsh criticisms and upturned noses, you learn to let it wash over you like water from a duck’s back.
Speaking of which, I simply must finish that coat for Fluttershy. What she wanted a water repellent coat for I’ll never know.
I saw my princess stop as she dimly recognized my presence. A small spark lit in her eyes and the corners of her mouth twitched into a tired smile.
“Hey, Rarity,” she said in a weary voice. She didn’t even lift her head, but I saw her wings twitch a bit at the sight before her. That was an encouraging sign, but I merely stared into her eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m so late,” she said. “But this mission was harder than I thought it would be, and-“
“No.” I said simply.
She blinked and straightened up somewhat. “But I’m just trying to tell you-“
“No.”
She huffed confusedly. She’s adorable when frustrated. Her cheeks puff up and her eyes threaten to go crossways. Sometimes, if the problem is especially vexing, she might even poke her tongue out.
“Rarity, I’m being serious!” She stomped her foot down and was finally standing fully upright. She still looked a haggard mess, but there was life in her eyes again. That fire was still there, even if she had to hold a leaf over it to keep it from going out.
“Twilight, darling,” I breathed, keeping my voice soft and locking eyes with her. “No. We’re not going to talk about it. I am going to draw you a hot bath, and while you are in said bath I am going to fix a pot of tea and some light refreshments.”
“And then you’ll ask me about my day, if I remember right,” Twilight mused.
“No.”
Her puzzled look almost had a tongue poke.
“Then what do you propose we do when I come down from the bath?”
“Well, we’ll have to see, won’t we?”
With a wink and a toss of my mane, I turned and made my way to the master bath, giving my love a coy glance to make sure she was following. Soon she was submerged in hot water and bathed in the aroma of lavender and jasmine bath salts.
I made my way to the kitchen and set the kettle on the stove, reheating the water I had used for my tea earlier. I know from the past that she may dilly dally. I was fine with it. I know tension when I see it and hopefully the hot water would ease it all away. And if it didn’t, well…
I had other methods.
Soon, the kettle was screaming for my attention and I started from my daydream, pulling it away from the stove and over to a tea service tray as I felt my cheeks burn. I set an infuser with several scoops of chamomile tea blend inside the china pot and poured the hot water into it. The soothing smell made me feel relaxed, like always. While the tea steeped, I pulled a few cakes that Starlight had made earlier in the day over and set them alongside the empty cups. I was pulling the infuser out when I heard the tell-tale gurgle of the bath draining. I glanced at the clock and felt surprised that nearly forty five minutes had elapsed since she had settled in.
“Dilly dally, shilly shally,” I murmured to myself as I arranged the service neatly. I was making my way back to the sitting room, a light tune running through my head. A few moments later, Twilight emerged, a wing held forward as she nudged a few feathers back into place.
“I needed that,” she sighed as I poured tea into each cup. She came to sit next to me and looked at me with curiosity.
“So, now what?” She asked with that childlike curiosity that I dearly loved in her. She went to pick up one of the cups, but I put a hoof on her shoulder.
“No,” I breathed. “There’s something you have to do first.”
She quirked an eyebrow at me, her grin tugging at her lips again.
“Oh?”
I nodded and tilted my head slightly.
“Kiss me like you missed me,” I whispered.
And she was more than happy to oblige me.
