Despite All Odds

When Twilight and Fluttershy had made it to the candy shop, they walked in to see Lyra on top of Bon Bon, both of them laughing loudly. Lyra had some kind of powder all over her body while Bon Bon was coated in chocolate.

“Er...should we come back later?” Twilight asked, resisting the urge to laugh along with the two on the floor.

“Fluttershy! You did it!” Lyra shouted, leaping off the candy-maker and onto the pegasus and sending powder flying off of her and onto the lavender unicorn and the yellow pegasus.

Fluttershy smiled and hugged Lyra as Bon Bon walked up and congratulated the two.

“Ya see? That wasn't too hard, was it Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy didn't say anything for a moment, then just nodded. “Yea, it kind of was.”

“That's how love usually works.” The mint unicorn laughed while Bon Bon lifted her off the floored pegasus. “I'm glad you were able to bring her back home Twilight.”

The mentioned pony nodded. “Me too.” She blushed as she pecked Fluttershy's cheek with a kiss, causing Bon Bon to smile affectionately and Lyra to grin widely.

“I told you! You two look SO cute together!” Fluttershy chuckled into her hoof while Twilight simply rolled her eyes and tried to hide the smile that was forming. As the group continued talking and laughing, they failed to notice the pony watching them from the window.

“Hmm...” Was all the mare said before turning and walking away, nearly bumping into a stallion headed toward the candy shop. The four ponies went quiet when the door bell jingled as the door opened. Twilight immediately scowled, but said nothing.

“Ahh, Twilight. What a coincidence that I might see you here. You always did favour those little fruit flavoured hard candies did you not?”

“What do you want Star Bright?” Twilight asked.

He chuckled, making Twilight want to retch. “My sweet tooth is acting up my dear Twilight Sparkle, so I figured I'd indulge myself and eat something less than healthy.”

As he began to browse the store's selection, Lyra quietly walked up beside Twilight and whispered, “This guy seems like bad news.”

“He is.”

Lyra nodded and went back over to Bon Bon while Fluttershy took the musical pony's place. “Isn't that the same stallion who interrupted us during the meteor shower?”

Twilight nodded. “Yea, I'll tell you about him later.” The whole time Twilight spoke, she never took her eyes off the male.

When he had finished selecting his sweets, he went to the counter and paid. As he walked past Twilight, he lightly flicked her chin with his tail and winked at her before walking out.

“UGH!” Twilight huffed before furiously rubbing her chin as if he had left a stain upon her coat.

“That guy seems like a HUGE jerk. Who is he Twilight?” Lyra asked, immediately in front of the other unicorn.

“His name is Star Bright. He was a student at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns like I was. However, we never really saw much of each other since I was more studious than I am now. Well, that and the fact that his talent has to do with astronomy. Anyways, there were a few times when he would deliberately search me out and spend time with me, despite the fact I told him I wanted to be left alone.”

As Twilight spoke, Fluttershy could feel her rising unease with each word that left her mouth. She moved closer and stretched her wing over Twilight and leaned her head against the mare's neck to offer a consoling nuzzle. Twilight stopped for a moment and smiled down at Fluttershy. “Thanks Fluttershy.”

After taking a few breaths, the lavender pony continued. “Well, eventually I sort of...developed a crush on him. He was very nice and I was quite a naïve pony. Eventually he somehow managed to trick me into dating him. This went on for at least...2 weeks before I overheard him talking to some of his friends.” All the ponies in the room saw that Twilight had begun to shake slightly in anger.

“He said that he just wanted to say that he had been the only one to...do THAT to me!” There was a confused silence at the vague statement made by the librarian. “He wanted to mount me, then brag about it.” Twilight elaborated. This earned a shocked gasped from the other three who each adopted a frown of their own.

“What a JERK!” Lyra shouted before turning to Bon Bon and said, “You are NEVER to do business with him again!”

Bon Bon politely pushed the musician away and said, “As much as I would love to do that, I can't. As long as he pays for what he comes in for, I have to take his business.”

“Well...then make him pay extra.” Twilight muttered. Even Fluttershy nodded at the statement.

“That, I can do.” Bon Bon grinned and the girls all laughed.

“This has been fun, but we need to get going.” Twilight said, turning towards the door.

“Alright. Oh! Before you go, here.” Bon Bon tossed a small bag towards Twilight, who caught it with her magic. “It's on the house, but only if you take good care of Fluttershy.”

“Yea! Cuz if you don't, we're gonna come after ya!” Lyra shouted winking at the other unicorn.

“Got it. I don't want wanna guess at what you two would do if I messed this up.”

Fluttershy smiled and finally spoke. “I wouldn't let them hurt you too bad.” Then, she leaned forward and planted her lips on Twilight's, shocking everypony else.

“F-Fluttershy...”

Lyra laughed aloud and clapped her hooves. “Woo! Go Fluttershy!” She then tackled Bon Bon to the ground and mirrored Fluttershy's action only...it was a bit more intimate than Fluttershy's kiss, as heard by Bon Bon's light moans against the mouth of her partner.

“Uhh...perhaps we should go now, huh Fluttershy?”

The pegasus in question nodded absently, her mouth moving like she was talking but the words simply lost their form. Twilight took one look into Fluttershy's eyes and she could immediately tell what was on her mind. So, before things got out of hoof, she grabbed Fluttershy with her magic and headed out the door, closing it and placing the “closed” sign on it with a smirk on her face and a blush on her cheeks. After a block or so, the lavender pony put Fluttershy down and allowed her to walk on her own.

“It's about 12:45 or so now. You think Rainbow is awake?”

“Why? Ya lookin' for me?” Both ponies on the ground flinched in fright at the unexpected voice behind them. They turned to find Rainbow Dash on the ground, rolling about and laughing loudly.

“Rainbow! That isn't funny!” Twilight said, a small frown already on her lips.

“I'm sorry, hehe, I just couldn't resist! Think of it as a welcome back present.” The prismatic pegasus said with a grin.

Her friends just rolled their eyes and Fluttershy looked around before speaking. “Where's Vinyl Scratch?”

“She's out shopping...I think. I dunno, sometimes it's really hard to read her writing and she left before I got up so now I'm just lazing around until I see her.”

As the blue flier spoke, Fluttershy took a step closer to Twilight and as soon as she did, the reaction was instant. “Whoa! You two are together now? Way ta go Fluttershy! Tell me, have you...” Dash looked around, her eyes shifty before drew her friends closer. “Have you done the bedroom romp yet?” Once again, Dash was on the ground and howling with laughter as her two friends nearly passed out from the amount of blood rushing to their heads.

“R-Rainbow Dash! That is NOT a q-question you ask so...so...CASUALLY!”

Twilight cried, causing the nearby ponies to stop what they were doing and stare at the trio. Fluttershy tried to speak, but her mouth would not let her do anything but stay quiet. After Rainbow had managed to regain the ability to stand without falling over laughing, she asked the two when they got back.

“We got back at around 9 in the morning yesterday.” Twilight answered easily. The athletic pony nodded before asking another question.

“You two talk to anypony else about your relationship?”

This time, Fluttershy answered. “We've talked to Lyra and Bon Bon, as well as Applejack...” She stopped for a moment and before she could continue, Dash cut her off.

“What about Rarity or Pinkie Pie? And you told Applejack first? Wow, that was kind of a gutsy move on your parts. I mean, there's absolutely NO WAY that she could've approved of your relationship.”

“Well...actually...” Three minutes later, everypony within a 2 mile radius could hear the sound of Rainbow Dash screaming, “SHE'S WHAT!?”

“She...has a marefriend.” Twilight said, lightly digging at her ear to make the ringing stop.

“Who is it? How long has she been dating this mare? Do I know her? C'mon, tell me already!” She had by this point began to lightly shake Fluttershy until the yellow flier was disoriented and dizzy.

“Uh...I don't think it's our place to tell you. Why don't you go ask-” Dash was gone before Twilight had finished her sentence, leaving a large rainbow streak across the sky. “Umm...Twilight?”

The unicorn looked at her marefriend and said, “Yes Fluttershy?”

“If we can, we need to go talk to Applejack too. She's probably beating herself up about revealing our relationship to...our friends.”

Twilight snorted at the word and said, “Friends? Huh...I don't know if I'd call them that since they made you cry, but you are right. Let's go ahead and get headed out that way; Rainbow isn't going to make it any easier to talk once she learns who she's dating.” They both laughed quietly as they made their way out of Ponyville and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Before the couple could make it to the orchard, they heard the shouting of the farmpony. “Now git! I don't wanna see you back here if it's just ta bother Spitfire!”

“Fine!” A moment later they say a rainbow streak across the sky.

“Oh my...” Was the only thing said between the two as they continued towards the barn. When they passed through the seemingly never ending field of trees, they saw Applejack bucking trees angrily as the apples shook off the trees with Spitfire trying to calm her down. “Applejack, it's fine, really. I mean, she is a Wonderbolts fan; it's expected she's going to react like that. You knew she would come here as soon as she figured it out or heard about it.”

“Ah know that.” Was the earth pony's short reply before moving to the next tree.

Spitfire sighed and looked up to see the pair of ponies walking towards them. “AJ, we have company.”

Applejack stopped in mid-buck and looked at her friends while the flaming pegasus landed beside her lover and waved at the two.

“Hello girls...” Applejack said, her eyes quickly directing themselves at the ground.

“Applejack-” Fluttershy had begun to reach out to her friend, but Applejack took a step back and took her hat off before looking at her friends.

“Ah'm real sorry about telling the others about you two bein' together. They just kinda...ambushed me with question after question and ah'm sure you know how bad I am with lyin'...”

Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other before moving to their friend and hugging her.

“That's why we're here. We aren't mad at you, in fact, we knew that you wouldn't be able to keep our secret if pressed. So you don't have to apologize.” Twilight explained.

“Are ya sure? I mean, it still wasn't right of me to just-” A hoof on Applejack's shoulder made her stop and turn to see Spitfire smiling warmly at her. “Just take the apology would ya?”

The orange earth pony chuckled and hugged her friends back. “Like I said, ah'm real sorry girls. But thanks for comin' all the way out here for me.”

“Anything for our friend, right Fluttershy?”

“Of course.”

The four mares smiled at each other before Applejack said, “So...it's us and Rainbow Dash against Rarity and Pinkie huh?”

Twilight hung her head and replied, “Unfortunately it seems that way. If only there was someway to have them understand that our relationships are just as good as a normal one...”

Later that evening, the basement of Town Hall was packed with ponies of all ages, sizes, and origins all trying to get comfortable. The earth ponies and unicorns all grumbled while the pegasi occuiped the small air space available. Every single pony had received a letter that had told them all to meet; to gather and talk about something very dire. One pony in particular chose to stand near the exit wrapped in a cloak to conceal her white coat, magnificent purple mane, brilliant azure eyes, and her three cut diamond cutie mark.

Rarity had been one of the first to arrive, but had decided that it would be best to hang back. She had been able to deduce from the various conversations she heard that everypony was confused about what this “dire situation” was. However, her own letter had explained exactly what was to be discussed this evening; the relationship of two mares. She had tried to find Pinkie, assuming that the party mare would be here herself but after half an hour, she had given up the search.

Her eyes were drawn away from the various ponies when she heard a loud stomp come from the stage at the far end of the building. There stood a pony cloaked entirely in a black cloak much like she was, but this cloak was specifically stitched to hide EVERYTHING while Rarity's own at least showed her hooves and part of her muzzle. Everypony was silent at seeing the pony suddenly materialize, as if stepping out from the shadows themselves.

“Mares and stallions...I have gathered you all here tonight for one reason, and one reason only.”

The gears in Rarity's mind began to turn as she tried to figure out who the pony was that had captured everypony's attention. It was hard to tell if it was a stallion or a mare simply due to the almost distorted quality of the voice and so Rarity couldn't tell to whom it belonged. The tone was that like a long forgotten friend that drew you to them, but at the same time made a pony want to keep their distance.

“The horror, no, the SHAME that has been spreading through our town. I'm talking of course, of the fillyfoolers.” As soon as the word was spoken, voices of various ponies cried out in anger. “I hear your anger my friends, and I share your distress. It is unnatural for two females to even consider being together and it most certainly is disturbing to think of it. However, as I said before, our fair town is host to such mares.”

Murmurs filled with hate spread like wildfire in the cramped room and with another stomp, all eyes returned to the pony on stage. While they continued to speak, Rarity noticed something. This pony had absolutely everypony, herself included, enraptured with his or her voice. It was the voice that would reach out to anypony and breed loyalty within seconds of hearing it. The kind of voice that ponies would rally around and die for if need be.

Rarity knew a lot of ponies from her line of business, but none could even come close to this pony's gift of speech. “So, it is with a heavy heart to tell you that, while they are beloved members of our community, they are to be PUNISHED!” The shout that punctuated the end of the sentence visibly sent shivers through every single pony that was at the meeting. Cries of agreement rang through the building and bounced around the room as cheer after cheer burst forth from the group.

Rarity managed to keep herself in check despite wanting to cry out with the rest of them. The pony on stage lifted a hoof and silenced them all. The dressmaker tried desperately to catch a glance of the coat colour of the mysterious pony, but to no avail; the cloak masked her foreleg in heavy shadows that clung to the pony like a filly who's mother was taking her to her first day of school.

“However, we cannot and I repeat, can NOT attack them openly.

We need to do this in a way that will win over the town; to make it seem like we were only trying to help them see the error of their ways.” The ponies in the crowd started to nod and whisper their approval of the plan. “Tonight was our first meeting, so of course I cannot assign you any jobs quite yet. So, we are dismissed for the night. I will send letters to you all when we are to assemble again, but until then, farewell.” Then, as if nothing happened, the pony turned and walked out of the door to her right.

It wasn't until the door shut that the group shook itself clean of the stupor they had been put in. They all began talking and conversing of what had just happened. Rarity on the other hoof, had left as soon as the other pony had. She still felt the shivers running throughout her body as the words of the mystery pony ran in her mind. She made it back to her home, then into her room where she discarded the cloak and leapt into bed and despite her giddiness, was asleep in moments and needless to say, it was the best night's sleep she had ever gotten.

After Fluttershy and Twilight had finished talking with Applejack, they headed back into town where they had dinner at a restaurant that Lyra and Bon Bon recommended near the outskirts of Ponyville that served anypony, regardless of sexuality. When they walked in, they saw that the restaurant was empty save for one other couple; a pair of stallions that neither of them recognized. The stallions smiled and waved politely at the mares, who in turn, waved back.

Seconds later, a lightish yellow pony with an orange mane and a cutie mark of three carrots cantered up to them. “Hello and welcome to Grass is Always Greener. I'm Golden Harvest and I'll be taking care of you this evening.” The pony set them at a table near the window and after asking what drink they preferred for the night, disappeared behind a set of double doors.

“Isn't that the pony who lives at the carrot farm by Sweet Apple Acres?”

Twilight asked after the mare had disappeared. “I'm not too sure. I've seen her in and around town a lot so I couldn't really tell you for sure.” Twilight nodded and the two continued their conversation.

A moment after Twilight finished telling a story about how she had managed to teleport into a building after only seeing the inside, Golden Harvest made her way towards the pair, two glasses precariously balanced on a tray on her back. When she got closer, Twilight took the cups in her magic and set them on the table.

“Um, excuse me, Golden Harvest?”

The pony smiled and said, “You can call me Carrot Top. That's what all my friends call me.”

Twilight smiled and asked, “Do you live on that carrot farm out by Sweet Apple Acres? I'm sorry if it seems rude to ask, it's just one of those things that would be stuck in my mind and leave me frustrated searching for the answer.”

Carrot Top laughed, making Fluttershy giggle at her marefriend's need for knowledge, even about something as mundane as where a pony lived.

“Nah, it's alright, and no. That's my parent's home now. I used to live out there, but I moved to town about...three years ago and I've been staying with a friend of mine since then.”

Twilight nodded with a smile. “Thank you.”

“Not a problem. Now then, have you two decided on what you wanted for this evening?” Both Twilight and Fluttershy looked down at the menu to choose one item out of the large list of food, each dish sounding more appetizing than the last. “Umm...I'll have the...alfalfa and honey soup with a side of toast please.” Fluttershy said, pushing the menu towards Carrot Top to collect.

“And I will have the Chef's Salad with extra ranch please.”

“Alrighty. One alfalfa and honey soup and one Chef's Salad, coming right up!” Carrot Top took the menus in her mouth and headed back into the kitchen.

While they waited, Twilight and Fluttershy made idle conversation about nothing in particular until the bell to the door rang, causing them as well as the stallions to turn. In the doorway was Octavia followed by a unicorn mare with a dark blue coat and a small waning moon cutie mark. The musician saw the two and walked over while her companion stayed quiet.

“Hello girls. How is your evening?” The earth pony asked, taking a seat at the table closest to her friends.

“It's been nice so far.” The yellow pegasus answered while looking at Octavia's companion.

“Umm...hello.”

The voice that answered surprised her. “Hello Fluttershy, and to you as well Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight's jaw hung in surprise for a moment before she spoke. “Princess Luna? Is that you?” Her voice came out as a whisper, figuring that the Princess of the Night was disguised for a reason.

“But of course, though it is a bit upsetting that my disguise was so easily seen through.”

Fluttershy smiled and said, “It wasn't so much the disguise as it was your voice.”

Luna nodded and looked at Octavia. “I told you I should've change my voice as well.”

“And mask the beauty the rides your natural voice? I think not my love.” The two leaned across their table and gave one another a small peck on the lips before settling back down, causing Twilight and Fluttershy to faintly blush.

“So what brings you two here? Just wanted to get away from Canterlot for awhile or is the food here just that good?” Twilight joked as her blush faded.

“Both of those, and simply to walk in the moonlight on the roads around Ponyville. Quite romantic if I do say so myself.” Luna said proudly.

As the four continued their conversation, Carrot Top had returned and served Twilight and Fluttershy their food and took Luna and Octavia's orders before disappearing once again. By the time the unicorn and pegasus pair had finished their food, the stallions were paying their bill and leaving, waving at the group as they walked by.

After Carrot Top had seen them off, she joined the group and added her own voice to the small cacophony as they all talked and laughed.

It was finally 11 when Fluttershy had gave a small yawn.

“Well, I guess we should be getting back home, right sweetheart?” Twilight blushed as the word left her mouth and Fluttershy just smiled.

“I guess we should honey.” Fluttershy said. Twilight's blush darkened just a bit, causing all the other mares to laugh at the exchange.

“How much is our bill?” Twilight asked, already reaching for the bag of bits she had with her.

“18 bits.” Carrot Top said, nearly making the lavender pony drop the bag.

“A-are you sure? Our meal surely would've been more than that.”

“Oh it was, but I like you two.” Carrot Top nodded her head to Fluttershy as she spoke to Twilight.

“I can't just under pay you, I mean-”

“It's no trouble, now go on.” Carrot Top pushed Twilight towards Fluttershy and laughed as their muzzles were inches apart, making them both a bit nervous.

“I say, give her a kiss!” Luna exclaimed excitedly.

“Yes, kiss her.” Octavia encouraged.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight looked her partner in the eyes and then closed her eyes as the pegasi's lips pushed themselves lightly onto hers. She felt that warm melty feeling pass through her as her friends gave a small cheer.

“I love you Twilight.”

“I love you too Fluttershy.” Their friends smiled and wished them a merry evening before they left to which they replied with the same wish and headed towards Golden Oaks Library with tails intertwined.