The Stolen Acorn: A RariTwi Exquisite Corpseby SigmasonicXChapters1 - SigmasonicX2 - Nonchalant3 - kits4 - Lingo5 - Undome Tinwe6 - Lofty Withers7 - Falk08 - SigmasonicX1 - SigmasonicXRarity looked at Twilight’s saddlebags, placed on a work table at Canterlot Boutique as the alicorn left to, ahem, powder her nose before the big date. Fastened shut as they were, the corner of a box slightly poked outside the top. From the size, shape, and texture, it was no doubt a jewelry box. It had to be a ring! It was definitely a ring, right? Four months of dating was faster than she might have expected from Twilight, but one also must consider their time as friends. And honestly, what else could it contain? Rarity waited a few seconds then enveloped the saddlebag in magic. She quickly unfastened it and pulled out the box. The unicorn softly said, “Now Rarity, you’re just checking to manage your expectations. It would be terrible for Twilight if you reacted more to a cereal box ring than the actual proposal. And if it’s an amazing ring, then you’ll spare Twilight of your heaving sounds when truly surprised. No matter what, I’ll give her a performance she’ll remember forever.” The box slowly opened. Rarity shook her head. “Oh but Rarity, must you really spoil Twilight’s surprise? She went out of her way to—” The box sprang open, revealing its contents. Rarity yelped and squeezed her eyes shut. “No, Rarity, don’t look! You mustn’t!” She opened one eye. The box contained a brown acorn. “Hmm.” With an eyebrow raised, Rarity levitated the acorn and examined it. It looked like an acorn. She sniffed. It smelled like an acorn. She licked it. Well, she wasn’t quite sure what uncooked acorn shells tasted like, but that was probably it. Was the ring inside, perhaps? Hoofsteps approached, and in a panic, Rarity closed the box and returned it to the saddlebag. Twilight walked into the room with a smile. “Alright, I’m ready to go. Shall we head out?” Rarity nodded as Twilight put on her saddlebags. “Absolutely! I’m looking forward to—” Her eyes darted to the side of her head, where she still held the acorn. Thinking quickly, she shoved it in her mouth. Twilight turned to her with a raised eyebrow. Rarity simply smiled and nodded. Shrugging, Twilight stepped through the Carousel Boutique door and pulled out a list. “First of all, we’re going to see Trixie’s show in front of city hall.” “Twixie’s schwow?” Rarity spat out the acorn and levitated it behind her right before Twilight saw. “I mean, Trixie’s show? I’ve grown fond enough of her since she reformed, but that hardly seems like the most romantic spot. Not for a special day like this.” Twilight blinked. “Special day? What do you mean? There’s nothing special! Unless you mean how it’s been 125 days since our first date, in which case, yes, that’s a pretty special number. It’s five cubed, after all.” She shifted her eyes. “Oh, darling, no, I didn’t mean anything by that! I simply meant any day with you is special.” She fluttered her eyelashes. Twilight rolled her eyes. “I feel like I should be worried you pulled that line out already.” She then smiled. “In any case, I can guarantee you’ll enjoy Trixie’s show. I hear she has something amazing planned. Now let’s go, so we can get good seats.” “Actually, dear, hold on a second!” Rarity looked around, then used her magic to put on a cream-colored sun hat with a blue ribbon. “There! How do I look?” “As always, you look amazing.” Twilight put a hoof to her chest. “Shall I compose a sonnet to describe you now?” Rarity giggled and waved her off. “No need, every moment with you is like a love poem. Now go on, like you said, we’ve dawdled long enough.” Twilight nodded and stepped outside. Once she was out of sight, Rarity quickly shook her spit off the acorn and shoved it under her hat. She trotted out to join her marefriend and greeted her with an innocent smile. They walked together in silence, enjoying the afternoon sun. Impromptu as it was, the sun hat was definitely the right choice. They made a turn and the sun was directly in front of them, making Twilight squint a bit. Rarity leaned her head against Twilight’s, so her hat cast shadow over one eye. “Need some help, darling?” Twilight blushed lightly. “Thanks, Rarity. Maybe we can share your hat for now.” Using magic, Twilight lifted up the hat and placed it in front of them, shading both of their eyes. Rarity felt the acorn shifting in her hair. She cringed, and right as it started to fall, she held it in place with her magic. A blue glow reflecting off the hat’s underside, Twilight looked at Rarity with bemusement. “What are you using magic on?” “Well, uh—” A scream came from down the road. “Twilight, Rarity, HEEEELP!” Pinkie Pie skidded to a stop in front of them, the alicorn and unicorn lifting a hoof in surprise. Before either could react, Pinkie said, “It’s Trixie’s show! The one with the wink wink say no more!” She loudly winked twice to demonstrate. “Well, you know, the manticore, and the hula hoop, and, well, just follow me!” Pinkie immediately zoomed away. Twilight looked at Rarity and shrugged. They ran after Pinkie, Rarity taking care to return her hat to her head and adjust the acorn. She sighed, thankful that Ponyville’s crises would be helpful for once. If nothing else, it should distract Twilight enough to return the acorn to its box. 2 - NonchalantAt least City Hall was fine. Rarity cast a critical eye over the scene. It looked like the majority of the audience had already had the good sense to clear out, but the manticore rolling across the ground had already caused enough damage regardless. “Oh no!” Pinkie, standing on Twilight’s back, was squinting at the unicorn helplessly waving her hooves around, unable to contain the disaster. “I told her that she should have used the hula hoop only while the manticore was on top of the carpet I got her!” She shook her head, dismounting from Rarity’s marefriend. Twilight, for her part, was sighing and taking off her saddlebags. “Alright. I think I know what we can do here. I’m gonna make my way to Trixie,” she said. “Pinkie? Watch my stuff.” Maybe it was Rarity’s imagination, but the way that she said that sounded far more… meaningful than usual. As the alicorn teleported over to the stage, Rarity swung around to her friend. “Pinkie, dear, I need something from those saddleba--” “Nope” Pinkie Pie danced out of her reach. “Twilight said I had to watch her stuff.” “Well, I know, but I’m her marefriend and…” The pink pony stopped her bouncing at a nearby storefront. “Rarity!” She gasped. “Stuff-watching is a sacred tradition. You’re not trying to sneak anything from these bags, are you?” Upon receiving no answer, Pinkie nodded sagely and slunk away, the jingle of the local markers-and-iceboxes salespony’s door marking her disappearance. Shaking her head and staring at the acorn she now levitated in front of her eyes, Rarity sighed. She tucked it more securely into her hat, securing it with the ribbon around the outside. Rarity ran towards the chaos, noting with surprise that there was even less screaming than usual for a Ponyville disaster. Luckily for her, the manticore was currently rolling across the far side of the town square, where she could now see its legs restricted by a bright silver hula hoop. She took the opportunity to run onto Trixie’s small stage, where Twilight was in hushed conversation with the stage magician. “Oh, thank Celestia you’re here, Rarity,” Trixie broke off her whispering, bowing her head. A head which, Rarity noted, was missing its signature hat. “As you can see, Trixie was preparing to start her great and spectacular show, and… well… the manticore didn’t get along well with the… you know.” She waved a hoof and sighed. “The only one who didn’t know this would happen was Trixie, it seems.” Twilight stared blankly at the performer. “The what? Pinkie didn’t say anything, and all I could get out of Starlight this morning was that you were working with forces beyond the control of all ponykind!” Trixie put her hoof to her face, then dragged it off and pointed towards the middle of the square. Everypony looked, and they saw… a parrot? “Uhhh, what’s the problem?” Rarity had never seen that parrot around town before, though she supposed she wouldn’t want to, what with its being surrounded by tatters of purple fabric. “I don’t see anything, Trixie. Is it behind the parrot?” Twilight looked even more confused. Trixie groaned. “No, it is the parrot!” She cried. Rarity ventured a step closer--to the edge of the stage. “Are you sure? It looks like it’s… dead?” Trixie dragged her back forcefully. “No! You’re wrong! It’s just resting!” She stopped, and looked at Rarity. “You have to believe me. It was like that just before it…” she paused and swiped the hat from Rarity’s head. “Why are you wearing this?” Even as Twilight, her brave and heroic marefriend, backed away from the lunatic who just went around snatching ponies’ hats as if they weren’t hiding important items they’d recently “liberated” from their marefriends’ belongings in them, Rarity sought to keep her composure. “Well, Trixie,” she began, “sometimes ponies like to look presentable, while keeping the sun out of their eyes.” The whole time she was fixated on the tell-tale bump in her hat’s sash that hid the acorn, praying that Twilight wouldn’t notice it. “If you wish to be presentable, you will thank Trixie for what she’s about to do,” the magician said before dramatically throwing the hat with her magic. Its roundness let the hat sail cleanly over the parrot, which suddenly snapped into action. In seconds, it had grasped the hat--easily three times its size--and flown away with the hat, the acorn, and possibly Rarity’s entire relationship in its talons. “Trust me,” Trixie crowed, “that was a lesson Trixie had to learn the hard way. You’re welcome.” With an inarticulate yell, Rarity leapt off the stage and chased after the parrot. She leapt over the manticore, which had by now quieted down and was mewling softly in the middle of Mane Street. Rarity looked into the sky, flaring out her magic to catch a lone, blue feather that was fluttering down towards her. The parrot’s flying was clumsy, but driven. The unicorn shook her head and sped up, ignoring her marefriend’s cries and Trixie’s nigh-apocalyptic warnings as she pushed her hooves to take her ever faster towards a line of trees in the distance. 3 - kitsRarity wasn’t panting. That was just not something ladies did. But she was certainly breathing with enthusiasm as she chased after the vile fiend of a parrot. Not for the first time today she dearly wished that Fluttershy were with her. Or rather that she were with Fluttershy. And Twilight. And that they were all at the spa. Rarity furrowed her brow, irritated over letting her thoughts wander from what important. The acorn and getting into Twilight’s saddlebags were all that mattered right now. Well, and Twilight herself. And Rarity supposed her hat was moderately important too. And— “Why didn’t you tell me there was a race going on?” Rarity nearly tripped over her own hooves as Rainbow Dash brought her train of thought to a grinding halt. She grimaced as a misplaced hoof splashed mud onto her coat. Priorities, she told herself. “Hello... Rainbow, dear,” she puffed. “I’m terri... terribly sorry, but...” Rainbow lazily waved a hoof as she rolled onto her back, her wings hardly needing to strain to keep up with Rarity’s allout sprint. “Yeah, yeah. You’re winning—awesome job by the way—and don’t wanna stop and chat.” “I’m not... racing!” Rarity tried very hard not to gulp air. She thought about what to say next. Just because her lungs were burning and just because Rainbow Dash didn't care about such was no reason to be barbaric. “I’m chasing after, tha- that bird. He has my hat!” “Oh.” Disappointment seeped from that single syllable, but as quickly as it had come, it vanished and Rainbow was once again sporting her cocky smile. “If it’s not a race, would you like a ho—“ “Yes!” Rarity gasped. She added a hasty “please” that was only just this side of polite. Rainbow’s smirk deepened and her eyes sparkled. “Alright then. One hat, coming right up!” With a salute, she shot ahead. Rarity only just kept herself from collapsing onto the ground. She wanted to, but she was already going to need quite a thorough cleaning just due to all the perspiration she’d worked up, not to mention the mud. Rainbow called over her shoulder. “Say 'hi' to Twilight for me. She was right behind you!” Rarity’s legs gave out. Twilight has followed her? Of course Twilight has followed her! What kind of pony wouldn’t chase after her marefriend when she inexplicably charged off into the forest. Not Twilight Sparkle, that’s who. Rarity felt tears welling in her eyes. Twilight would come and find out about the acorn and how Rarity had kept it secret and how she had lost it. And then their entire relationship would fall apart. She’d be forced into exile, doomed to spend the rest of her days in unfashionable robes trying to catch one last glimpse of Twilight’s smile. Where was a couch when you really needed one? Rainbow crashed down beside her, causing Rarity to give a squeak of alarm. “Gof eth!” Rainbow said around the hat in her mouth. There was no sign of the demon that had taken her hat in the first place. Rainbow transferred the hat to her wing, and grinned sheepishly. “Um, sorry about the, uh, sticky-outy part.” She proffered the hat to Rarity, who could see that the rim was indeed torn. But the ribbon... It was intact and the telltale bulge of the acorn drew her eye more strongly than a thousand diamonds. Rarity flung her forelegs around Rainbow Dash in a hug that would have done Pinkie proud. "Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash! You don't know what this means to me!" She took the hat, and immediately felt at the bump behind the ribbon. Yes, it was still safe. "Rarity!" Twilight called as she galloped into view. "Are you alright!?" Rarity opened her mouth to answer, when the parrot swooped in to snap at her hat once more. Time slowed to a crawl as Rarity yanked hard with her magic, trying to keep her hat from being lost once more. But the foul beast still bit down on the edge of the bow, and jerked it off of the hat as it once more climbed into the sky. "Ugh! You're a real jerk, you know that?" Rainbow shouted at the fleeing bird, but Rarity scarcely paid attention. Her eyes were fixed on the acorn, flung high into the air when the ribbon was ripped from her hat. Rainbow Dash knew she wasn't the smartest pony. Although she'd long ago discovered that smart ponies could also be awesome, she knew she would never measure up to the likes of Twilight Sparkle. But she was observant. Rarity hadn't cared about the hat being damaged. Rarity had cared about the weird bump under the ribbon. Rainbow squinted. It was a nut? An acorn? Whatever it was, Rarity was watching it like it had some new fancy dress inside. Like it had all the fancy dresses inside. Rainbow Dash was also fast. She bent low to the ground and shot into the air, intercepting whatever-it-was and catching it in her teeth. No problem for Equestria's fastest and best flyer. Once again she'd saved Rarity's day! She puffed out her chest and she floated to the ground. Smiling widely around the acorn, she provided the fanfare nopony else had seen fit to. Rainbow also knew what excited ponies looked like. She'd seen them often enough even before she'd become a Wonderbolt. And neither Rarity nor Twilight were excited. Rarity was hunched low, looking away from Twilight, her tail tucked close to her flank, Twilight's mouth was open as she stared laser beams first at the Rainbow's mouth, then at Rarity. What in Tartarus was going on here? "Hi, Dashie!" A pink blur slammed into Rainbow Dash. Three things happened. One, the saddlebags Pinkie Pie had—were those Twilight's?—flew open, spilling a ton of really boring looking egghead stuff over the ground. Two, Rarity and Twilight both dove for one particularly shiny item at the same time. And three, Rainbow Dash swallowed the acorn. 4 - LingoPinkie had never wondered what sound of two skulls clonking together would make, but now that Twilight and Rarity had demonstrated it for her, she was considering ways to replicate it for a comedy routine. In the same line of thinking, she was wondering what mish-mash of household objects would sound most like Rainbow Dash’s coughing. Before her musings got too far, her ear twitched and three vertebrae in her back realigned themselves. With no hesitation, she leapt into the air, executing a flawless corkscrew front-flip, and landed squarely behind Dash. Pinkie wrapped her hooves around her stomach and gave a solid squeeze. As she planned, her friend deflated like a bag-pipe, wheezing near-musically and expelling the acorn from her throat. Leaving Dash to recover, she retrieved the tree seed and wiped off any saliva. It was around this time that the unicorn and alicorn had recovered from their coconut demolition derby impression, rubbing sore foreheads and thanking the princesses that neither had been impaled by a horn. “That game was super fun, but I don’t think I’ll use it at my next Pinkie Party. Run Fast Then Dogpile could really hurt somepony!” Rainbow Dash shook her head, “I don’t think that was a game, Pinkie, but thanks.” “You’re welcome, Dashie! But if it wasn’t a game, then what were you all doing?” “Well it involves those two,” Rainbow said, pointing toward the two horn-heads, “so I have even less of a clue than usual. Something about a mean bird and that acorn.” Pinkie tilted her head, ears flopping against her poofy mane. “Other than growing into a great big tree one day, what makes it so special compared to any other acorn?” “I have no idea, but I’m going to find out.” Twilight supplied, climbing to her hooves and looking pointedly at Rarity, who was still scouring the ground for a certain shiny object. The contents of the saddle bags were strewn about everywhere, whatever she and Twilight had been diving for was lost in the ruckus. “What’s so special about it, Twi? And what’s Rarity looking for?” “I’m not sure. Maybe she lost her glasses?” “But.. she wasn’t wearing any?” “You’re right! They must be in the boutique somewhere. Why don’t you go look for them there?” And in the next moment, Rainbow Dash found herself standing in Rarity’s boutique, mouth still open in an attempt to question Twilight further. Darn lovestruck unicorns. Twilight turned to Pinkie next, her horn still smoking from the spell. “I’ll check at my place!” Pinkie cheered with a mock salute, hoofing Twilight the acorn and running off before she could also be poofed. Only once they were alone did Rarity reconnect with her surroundings, sheepishly looking up at her unamused marefriend. Her coat was splotched with mud and her mane disheveled. She was, in short, a mess. Twilight, on the other hoof, wasn’t even winded from the sprint. In her magic floated the acorn. With a wave of her horn, the contents of her saddlebags levitated up and held a slow orbit around her. She appraised each item, checking them for damage, and only one earned her attention. It was shiny and small and immediately recognizable. Why Rarity would be lunging for it would make sense. Why she would also be worried about an acorn, of all things, was incredibly perplexing. “So,” she started, gazing at her marefriend with a raised eyebrow, “mind filling me in? I’m a little out of the loop after you nabbed my bags and ran off.” “I’m sorry, darling, I was acting a bit like Rainbow Dash, not quite thinking things through. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if it wasn’t for that feathered menace!” “Dash?” “No, the bird she helped me chase for the acorn.” “This acorn?” It levitated between them. “Yesss, that one.” “Rarity, why in the world were you chasing a bird over an acorn?” “Over that acorn.” “Over this acorn.” She avoided Twilight’s gaze, rubbing her leg anxiously. “Because…” “Because?” “Because it came from the library…” “What?” Twilight took a step back, the objects held in her magic wavering for a moment before resuming their slow path. “Why? How did you?” “It was wedged in the roots above the map table, Fluttershy found it while dusting the other day. We confirmed with Applejack that it’s still a viable seed.” “What were you going to do with it? Rarity?” “I was thinking of planting it, getting it to grow into a new library for you. It may take a lifetime of waiting to get that large, but at least one of us will live to see it.” “Oh Rarity…” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Rarity brushed a bit of her mane back into place, striking a proud little pose. “Yes, I am amazing, you don’t have to say it… but don’t let me stop you from saying it anyways~” Twilight shook her head, smiling. Rarity will be Rarity. That just leaves the other item. “And this? What about this? How did this get into my saddlebags?” “I may have mistaken your bags for my own and slipped it inside. And when I realized my folly, I attempted to retrieve it from your bags, but when I alerted you I panicked.” “And in that panic, you dropped the bags. Which is why Pinkie had them.” “Indeed. Quite the detective you are, my sweet.” Twilight again presented the shiny object. “I don’t need to be a detective to know what this is, but why don’t you tell me anyways?” Rarity sighed, at ease with her fate. “That, my darling dearest, is…” And then the bird returned, ornery and filled with malicious intent. 5 - Undome Tinwe"So, while I was still living in the library, I did some research on its construction," Twilight said casually as they ran down the streets of Ponyville, weaving through the crowds in pursuit of their quarry. "Oh?" Rarity could only spare a glance at her marefriend — and, perhaps, maybe, hopefully, something more — before having to swerve to avoid a startled Octavia, who barely managed to avoid dropping her cello as the pair zipped past. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You aren't the type to reside in such a remarkable construct without investigating its origins. What did you discover?" The bird swooped right through the market, forcing Twilight and Rarity to navigate a path around the various carts set up around them. "Well, as you might expect, it didn't simply grow into that shape on its own." "Earth pony magic?" Twilight nodded. "It's an old technique, and not many ponies still know how to do it, but there's still a few books on the subject. I have one in the castle if you want to— whoa!" Ahead of them, the Flower Ponies screamed as the avian menace swooped down on their cart, the glittering prize in its claws brushing against the roses arranged into pretty little bundles as Lily, Roseluck, and Daisy collapsed into a faint. Fortunately, that allowed Twilight and Rarity to leap over their unconscious bodies as they continued their pursuit, thankfully exiting the market and its crowd. "I think I'll pass on that offer, dear," Rarity said once they managed to return to their chase in a more normal fashion. "But thank you, regardless. Still, I suppose this means that creating a new library won't be an issue?" "If the acorn you found in the Friendship Castle really is from the original tree, then yeah, we can grow another building from it like they did all those years ago." Twilight paused as they rounded a corner that Rarity knew led to a dead end. "Thing is, after my ascension, I started experimenting with channelling different types of magic in concert with each other." They were catching up to that damnable bird. Rarity could make out the general shape of the ring it held in its claws as its wings continued to flap powerfully, keeping it barely ahead of the two ponies chasing it. "That sounds like a fascinating avenue of study," she commented as she continued to run, trying not to think about what all this impromptu exercise was doing to her makeup and hair. "It is." Twilight agreed. "What was especially interesting was— ah-hah!" Her words cut off as she leapt into the air, her hooves barely grazing against the jewellery that the bird seemed so insistent on absconding with. "Oof," she muttered as she fell to the ground. There was no time to stop and make sure her beloved was okay. They had reached the end of this alley, and the bird was already angling upwards to make its final escape to where they — or at least Rarity — wouldn't be able to follow. The time to act was now, and Rarity put all her strength into her back legs as she pushed off and stretched as much as she could. Hoof met wing, and the started avian released its prize as it struggled to maintain its balance. The ring fell into Rarity's forehooves as she collapsed onto the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust she did so. She immediately brought the precious object close to herself, hiding it from the grasp of the fiend which screeched at her with the raw hatred that only such animals could muster before flying away in a huff. Rarity took a moment to admire the diamond she'd chosen for this piece before turning to see how Twilight was doing. Her marefriend had already gotten to her hooves and was galloping towards her with worry in her eyes. "Are you okay?" "Perfectly fine, though I suspect my immediate future holds a spa trip in store for me after we thank Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie for their help in retrieving the acorn from that ruffian," Rarity replied. "Anyways, you were saying something before that unfortunate interruption?" Her heart began hammering away in its chest as she remembered just what she held in her hooves, and she used the question to divert Twilight for the moment and collect herself. "Oh, right." It worked, fortunately, as Twilight returned to her lecturing mode. "What was especially interesting was how other types of magic could be woven into earth pony magic to accelerate its effects." Rarity froze. "You mean..." "Applejack probably won't like it," Twilight said, smiling warmly, "but I don't want to celebrate the opening of the new Golden Oaks library alone." Sadness tinged her eyes. "I know there's a lot we won't be able to do together, but I want to be able to share whatever experiences we can, and I don't want to miss out on a single opportunity with you." The love that shone from every part of her expression nearly brought Rarity to her knees as tears began welling up in her eyes. "Oh, Twilight..." she whispered, happiness bubbling in her heart. "I don't know what to say. I'm supposed to be the romantic one in this relationship." "Well, you could start by asking me the question I assume you want to ask," Twilight replied. "Unless I completely misread the reason why you have such a nice ring in your hooves." How could she ever deny her love anything? Rarity smiled as she sank down on one knee, holding up the ring with a hoof. "Twilight, my darling, dearest heart. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Three things happened at that moment. Twilight gave her reply. An unholy, inequine screeching filled the air, like the sound of a hundred birds crying out for vengeance. And the acorn in Rarity's saddlebag began to glow and vibrate. 6 - Lofty WithersThe sky darkened with wings overhead, but the acorn’s glow drew their attention. “Come on!” Twilight snatched the ring from Rarity, slipping it over her horn. Rarity watched the flock briefly before galloping after Twilight. “I can’t help but notice.” “This ring looks good on me?” “Yes, but no.” “Nopony is disturbed by the birds chasing us?” “They’re used to you.” They turned the final corner to the empty lot where the library once stood. “They’re not attacking.” Rarity stopped to breathe while Twilight slowed to study the birds. Some combination of becoming an alicorn and training for the Running of the Leaves had made her faster. “They’re waiting for something.” A deep jeer rang through the skies. The birds quieted while one called in response. The deep jeer sounded closer, and all the birds broke into a frenzy of flight and cries as they descended. “Hold them off,” said Twilight, taking the seed from Rarity’s bag and galloping to the hole. “I can’t maintain a shield while controlling the seed’s growth.” “Um, girls?” Rarity glanced at the new arrival. “Fluttershy! Please talk some sense into these birds.” She swatted a group away as they rushed Twilight, but another group swooped in to grasp unsuccessfully at Twilight’s horn before flying away. “Rarity! Try not to hurt them.” Rarity sighed. “Yes, dear.” Rarity turned to rejoin Twilight, but a large jay—easily twice the size of any other she’d seen—landed between them. “Stand aside, villain.” It squawked and leapt at her, grappling and scratching. She swatted and flailed, but it moved too fast. From the corner of her eye, she spotted another group swooping towards Twilight. “Oh no you don’t.” Bucking, she knocked the jay away, opened her saddle bag, pulled out a scarf, and grinned. “Try on my new winter lineup.” The bird spread its wings and squawked. Rarity scuffed the ground with a hoof. It leapt. She charged. She left it wrapped and tied in the scarf, chirping angrily. Another group broke from the flock, diving towards Twilight, but they scattered when Rarity tossed a hoof-ful of sequins into the air. Taking their new treasures, they retreated. “Hah!” Rarity shook a hoof towards the sky. “I’ve defeated your soldiers and your champion. Give up now. That ring is Twilight’s!” Six jays—each as big as the one she’d defeated—landed just beyond reach. “Oh for goodness sake. Alright.” She pulled a roll of double-stick tape from her bags and motioned them towards her. “Let’s do this.” The birds ignored her. She looked around. “Did Fluttershy talk sense into you?” She spotted Fluttershy getting an earful from another of the large birds. It didn’t seem to be going well. She turned back, doing a double-take as she spotted the new arrival standing amidst the others. It was as much larger than these jays as they were to the rest. And it had a horn. That was beginning to glow. Because of course. Rarity sighed. “I guess you’re some kind of blue jay alicorn. Alright, Prince. Let’s see what you’ve got.” With a flash of it’s horn, Prince shot her with a beam of light that knocked her back and down. Wincing, she rose with a mutter. “Try not to hurt the birds?” As she stepped forward, another blast struck, knocking her down again. “I. will. murder. that. bird.” She waved at Fluttershy. “Painlessly.” She whimpered when the third blast hit. “Maybe a little pain.” Prince Jay hopped towards her while the others encircled Twilight. “Keep your claws off my fiancée.” She gathered her magic, but it vanished with her concentration as a tremendous roar echoed through the street. All eyes turned towards the sound. “What now?” Cape billowing, Trixie made her glorious entrance upon the scene atop the back of a tyrannosaurus rex. “Fear not, Ponyville. The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to save you from…” She looked around. “A flock of seagulls?” Fluttershy looked up from her conversation. “Blue Jays.” “Whatever,” said Trixie. “Come, Boopsie! Defeat the avian menace. Crush, kill, destroy!” Fluttershy glared. “But don’t hurt them.” Trixie pulled her hat off her head, swinging it in frustration. “Oh come on.” Fluttershy pointed a hoof at her eyes then at Trixie, who just rolled hers. “Whatever.” She put her hat back on, standing on her hind hooves. “Come, Boopsie! Defeat the avian menace. Hug, stun, detain!” Rarity humphed as Prince ignored her to attack the dinosaur. She would’ve bet on the dinosaur, but Prince was rather agile, and the tyrannosaur had tiny little arms. While they fought, Rarity rushed to Twilight. Fending off Prince’s escort with a yard of cloth dancing through the air, Rarity focused on Twilight. “I’ve been thinking lately.” Twilight concentrated on the glowing acorn. “Mm?” “About mortality.” She gestured around them. “Not just because of this. Because you’re an alicorn, and I won’t live forever. But I was thinking, what if I could?” “With black magic?” Rarity perked up. “It can do that?” Twilight shot her a look that said, “Girlfriend, you did not just go there.” She blinked angrily. “No,” she lied, returning to her task. “Oh. Anyway, I’ve been considering estivation.” “Esti-what?” Rarity smiled. “There’s a word you don’t know the meaning of?” “Just because I read the dictionary doesn’t mean I am the dictionary.” Rarity caught a bird in her cloth, swung it around for momentum, and launched it towards the edge of town. It wouldn’t be back for a while, but the distraction had let two of the others get into her mane, tugging and yanking. “Not the coiffure!” She bucked and fought to get them out of her hair, drifting away from Twilight. Returning, she announced, “Short manes are in this season.” Yanking a foe from the air, she stuffed it into her slowly-emptying saddle bag, closing and buckling it swiftly. “And maybe feathers.” She sensed Fluttershy’s disapproval, but pretended to ignore it. “Estivation is like hibernation. Dormancy during a period of deprivation. When I’m deprived of your company, I’ll petrify myself. Eight hours a day while you’re holding court, and you’d have me for thirty percent more years.” “That’s a terrible idea.” “You needn’t agree right now. We can discuss later. When I get older.” She ducked, avoiding another attack. “If I get older.” The acorn’s hue shifted as Fluttershy approached, accompanied by Prince. “You have something that belongs to them.” Rarity humphed. “I most certainly—” The seed pulsed, blinding observers with a bright flare. “Back!” shouted Twilight, grabbing everypony—and bird—and dragging them away before they could react. The seed pulsed again, repeating with increasingly shorter timing until the final pulse also blinded everyone who wasn’t looking at it. The accompanying shock wave knocked them into a heap. Prince squawked. Fluttershy gasped. “Oh. No, little birdy—” “Little?” asked Twilight, raising an eyebrow as she stood. “That thing’s as big as a pony.” Prince squawked furiously. Fluttershy winced. “You shouldn’t have said that.” “Huh?” “He’s conscious of his weight. There there. I understand how hard it can be to control yourself sometimes. Why, I’ve got an anger management problem.” Prince seemed to laugh, holding his sides as he chirped in staccato, followed by more bird talk. Fluttershy slowly closed her gaping mouth. “Well I do. I don’t appreciate you belittling my struggles. I didn’t belittle yours.” “Can we get on with it?” asked Rarity. “I’ve got to take a bath and see a mane stylist before dinner.” Fluttershy nodded. She pointed first at Twilight then at Prince. “But be nice. Listen before you speak.” Twilight nodded. “Lay it on me.” “Well, it all started…” ——— “So as the final condition of the armistice, you must agree to never again sleep upon the bodies of their fallen brethren,” Fluttershy concluded. Twilight looked at Rarity. “What?” “Pillows. They mean feather pillows.” “Oh. Sure.” Rarity lifted a hoof to her chin. “But what about eider down? It’s harvested without harm from the shed down of ducks. If they can build their nests with hair and shiny things we discard, then can’t we use things they discard.” Attention turned to Prince. He turned to squawk with the advisors behind him before turning back and nodding. “Then it’s settled,” said Twilight. “I’ll write up the armistice and trade treaty. Rarity, help Mayor Mare throw together a signing ceremony in front of the new library. We’ll sign it, cut the ribbon on the library, and celebrate. I’ll have an announcement to make, too,” she said, touching her new ring. “I’m sure Pinkie would love to help with the party.” With a flash, Twilight summoned a scroll and quill and began scribbling. Fluttershy winced. The birds bristled. Rarity leaned over, whispering to Twilight. Twilight blinked. “That’s ridiculous.” She continued writing. “These are gathered after moult. Like eider down is.” She looked up at the crowd, who visibly relaxed as she spoke. “Although, I should probably add that in here. And a POW exchange. Trixie for that bird Rarity captured. Any other details we’re forgetting?” 7 - Falk0The dinner Rarity and Twilight had been planning for that evening didn’t happen, so to say dramatically. But nobody was disappointed, because a huge party took place instead. Well, actually, at first there was some necessary boring stuff before the festivity: explaining the situation to Mayor Mare, writing and signing the peace treaty, cleaning up the mess in central streets of Ponyville — which Rarity avoided by spending several hours in the spa and then getting a tedious talk about importance of social labor blah blah blah with Twilight. She was only trying to be stern, of course, and not quite successfully, because how could she be stern when looking on giggling Rarity who always adored such moments of her beloved one pretending to be strict and serious. Rarity had always liked fancy ceremonies, but that was quite extraordinary. Signing a peace treaty with a bird flock? Even following the international affairs procedures, though they weren’t a nation! At least, Twilight Sparkle enjoyed playing some game of silly jocular diplomacy, later even receiving a letter from Princess Celestia who admired the young princess’ political success and expressed regrets of not being able to participate in the celebration personally. Rarity still didn’t know, was it a joke or not? So, finally in the evening, the girls gathered together at the huge party that Pinkie managed to organize so quickly, among other Ponyville citizens. And not only them — Fluttershy predictably brought her new friends, those blue jays, too! The town solved another problem, ponies made some new friends, fun and joy floated in the air, Pinkie’s party was, as always, so… Pinkie-ish, and nobody except for a certain two thought there could be more, until Twilight asked for a minute of attention and made her announcement. The announcement. *** Rarity didn’t remember exactly what was greater. The storm of emotions, or the chaos of cheers, toasts, congratulations and tears of happiness. Having read countless romantic novels, Rarity has been anticipating this moment for her entire life. And now it felt so different, so different... In a much better way, of course. Not a book could express the palette of the feelings that were embracing Rarity’s soul. Surely, it couldn’t be compared to the overwhelming moment of their mutual confession, but, anyway, the engagement became the new level of their public relationship. In the end of the party Rarity and Twilight decided to spend some time just to themselves, so, after short farewells, they left the party and headed to the edge of the town to take a lone stroll around. The moon was already on its rise and soft dusk was giving up to the dark beauty of the night. The lovers strolled in silence, taking some rest after the frenzied party and enjoying each other’s silent company. Distant sounds of the festivity were heard, and the lights of the magnificent city of Canterlot shone from the slope of the Canterhorn Peak. Eventually Twilight turned to one of the small lakes that surrounded Ponyville. After they reached the shore, Twilight sat, then Rarity followed, still keeping the silence. A fresh breeze fluttered their manes. Princess Luna finally took over her nocturnal reign, spilling myriads of shimmering stars in the dark blue skies above. The moonlight was illuminating sleeping forests and fields, and the stars were flickering in the still surface of the lake. Before Rarity could say anything, Twilight asked, “Remember what you said earlier this day? I mean, about my immortality?” ‘’Well, of course, how can I forget?” “I’ve been afraid of this question since I became an alicorn.” Twilight went quiet and stared at gleaming water. They spent some moments in silence, and Rarity already started choosing words for further questions, but then Twilight continued. “Well, honestly, I have talked about this with Celestia. A lot. And, obviously, even she is powerless against such challenges. But she made me understand one most crucial and yet simple thing.” Twilight swiveled her head and met Rarity’s gaze. It was filled with confusion, curiosity, affection, and love. Everything. At the same time. And all her doubts washed away instantly as she spoke: “I don’t know what will come, but Celestia taught me to accept the most important thing. No matter what happens next, we will face it together.” Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but was immediately interrupted by Twilight, who reached Rarity and pressed her lips onto Rarity’s. They spend some time caressing each other, until Rarity interrupted: “Okay, okay, darling! Now I’m convinced all is going to be fine, but can we at least go have some sleep now? We had a rough day, didn’t we?” “Oops, you’re right, it must be quite late. But you know, this day was quite unusual — rare, I would say — so I got an idea about an interesting place where we can spend the night!” “Oh, darling, you don’t mean the new library, don’t you?” Rarity whined. ‘I do!” exclaimed Twilight, bursting into giggles. *** They were resting in private chambers of the new library. Moonlight lit the wide space of the empty room. The single piece of furniture was a mattress that Twilight Sparkle had teleported from Carousel Boutique. In normal circumstances Rarity would never agree to spend a night with such poor bedding, but now she didn’t care at all. Twilight Sparkle was reading a book she brought along, and Rarity was just laying by her side, admiring her beloved one and reliving dazzling events of the day. “Ahem, is this book even more interesting than me?” Rarity said finally, dramatically complaining. “Hush you, Rarity, how many times have you asked such questions?” Twilight smirked. Rarity playfully harrumphed and crossed forelegs over her chest, but her theatrical displeasure instantly melted away as Twilight turned her head and kissed Rarity’s cheek. Rarity lifted a hoof and playfully pushed the book out of Twilight’s magic. The bookish alicorn tried to put on an unamused look on her face, but shortly collapsed into giggles. “Okay, okay, Rares, let’s stop fooling around. And it’s about time to sleep.” “You’re right, we had a tough day, hadn’t we?” Rarity yawned, even not trying to cover her mouth with a hoof in a proper ladylike manner. “Sure! By the way, I have something interesting to show you tomorrow, but now — sleep!” “Wait, what do you—” “Hush, I’ll show it tomorrow! No objections!” Twilight interrupted. And then softly added: “Good night, Rarity. I love you.” “Good night. I love you too, darling.” Soon they fell asleep, cuddling each other under the soft veil of moonlight. 8 - SigmasonicXWith the morning light, the couple took a closer look at Ponyville’s new tree. “It’s kind of… odd looking, isn’t it?” Rarity asked, tilting her head. The tree was wide enough to fit multiple rooms, but it was still too short for an upstairs area. Branches shot out, but then sagged down, leaves forming in bunches mere feet above the ground. “Well, I wouldn’t say odd, really,” Twilight replied, “but it is different from the old library. I suppose we can’t expect it to be exactly the same.” She smiled, but her sigh exposed what could only be called disappointment. Rarity’s ears twitched at the noise, and she took another look at the tree, putting a hoof to her chin. “Well, perhaps we can spruce it up a bit. No pun intended.” Magic built in her horn and beams shot out at all the branches hanging low. With a pop, the leaves formed into the shapes of ponies. With a grin, Rarity turned to Twilight. “More glamorous already, don’t you think?” She was surprised to see Twilight staring at the tree, tears forming in her eyes. Mortified that she offended her, Rarity asked, “Darling, what is it?” Then she turned back to the tree and she saw it. The branches pointed toward the ground and ponies danced at their ends. “It’s… a carousel,” Twilight said. Tears too formed in Rarity’s eyes. “It’s our baby.” Twilight playfully scoffed. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I was thinking along those lines, yes.” Rarity stomped her hoof. “But Twilight! It’s a tree, and it’s a carousel, and—” Twilight laughed. “Rarity, I agree! You don’t have to convince me!” Rarity’s face scrunched up and tears welled up. “Oh Twilight!” Twilight broke into a big grin, squinting through blurry eyes. “Rarity!” The mares leapt into a hug, rubbing cheeks against each other and laughing. Nothing could break them apart… except for the approaching stomps and the roar of a mighty tyrannosaurus. They yelped and looked up, seeing the dinosaur above them. “Behold, soon to be married mares!” declared a blue mare leaning over its head. “Trixie is here!” “Trixie!” exclaimed Twilight. “Why did you bring that here? In fact, where did you get that in the first place?” Trixie huffed. “Trixie knows secrets that no mere mortal immortal alicorn can understand. And in any case, Boopsie is perfectly safe. She’s a vegetarian. Behold as she eats these strange pony-shaped leaves here!” The tyrannosaurus licked her lips and leaned over to a branch with her mouth open. Rarity gasped in horror. “Don’t touch our baby!” Twilight encased the tree in a barrier and Rarity blasted the dinosaur, making her back away with a groan. “Sheesh, fine!” Trixie said, rolling her eyes. “Perhaps Trixie should move on.” Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. “Actually, wait. You’re exactly who I was looking for.” Trixie flicked her mane. “Naturally. Though, uh, why?” Twilight smiled. “There’s still that thing I asked you to do yesterday.” “What, that? Still?” “She’ll still love it. Trust me.” “Alright, Trixie will be ready in five minutes, for Trixie is a miracle worker. Meet me in front of my wagon.” With a light kick from the unicorn, the tyrannosaurus strolled away. Rarity gave her fiancée a curious smile. “Oh my, what was that about?” Twilight winked. “You’ll see in five minutes.” At the appointed time, they came to Trixie’s wagon, watching junk fly out the door. “Bomb, bomb, a shrubbery, bomb, a copy of Self Defence Against Fresh Fruit, bomb,” listed off the magician. “Ah, here we go!” With a smile, she popped out of the wagon with a pendant. “Oh, you’re here.” Rarity had an excited smile, but when she looked to her fiancée, she saw she was pouring sweat. Trixie walked to the two, unaware of this. “So the way it was going to happen was that Trixie would do her amazing show, yadda yadda yadda, then Trixie would make two mares disappear. Ponies would think it was at random, but it would be you two. Then, using this thing and that horribly complex spell Twilight gave me—simple for Trixie, of course—I’d do this.” The magician’s horn glowed and Rarity was astonished by a blast of snow. She flinched and covered her face, only to feel no cold. She lowered her leg and found herself not in Ponyville, but on a palace balcony, looking over a fantastic snowy landscape. She glanced down and saw she was now wearing a beautiful blue dress. Rarity looked around in awe, but nothing amazed her more than the sight of her love in a purple dress. She smiled, but still her sweating persisted. “Twilight! Darling, this is amazing! It’s right out of a storybook!” The alicorn poured out, “You’re right, I actually took this from that book you said you liked and I did the magical calculations and I made this space inside a gem so we could explore it together and technically I could have just cast the spell myself but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to concentrate so I asked Trixie instead because I knew you probably wouldn’t talk to her before today—before yesterday, and from the way I’m acting now obviously that was the right choice and…” She took a breath. “Do you like it?” Rarity blinked, then put on an absolutely smitten smile. She touched the princess’s cheek and said, “I love it. But I can tell there was more you wanted to do than show me around.” She winked. Twilight paused, then with a bit of magic, lifted the ring from her horn. She took Rarity’s hoof in her own. “Rarity, will you—I mean, well, if you want, we could—I want you and I to maybe…” Rarity couldn’t help but giggle. “Twilight! I already proposed to you! And unless I misheard you over the birds and we had that party for a lark, you said yes. Why are you still so nervous?” Twilight smiled then looked away. “Well, yes, but, well…” After a moment, she gave the ring to Rarity. “It’s harder than it looks! You try it.” Rarity scoffed affectionately. “I just said I proposed to you already, silly! However, I’ll happily do it again.” She flipped her mane then took Twilight’s hoof. “Twilight, my dear. Will you—” She looked at her love’s gorgeous violet eyes. “Will you… uh… I mean.” Twilight laughed. “See!” Rarity snorted. “This is much easier after a grand bird chase.” With a smile, she slipped the ring back on Twilight’s horn. Twilight returned a bright smile that completely put her at ease. “So, my darling, where to?” “Well, I did spend a lot of time figuring out what the book’s library would look like.” Rarity couldn’t help but shake her head, her blissful smile refusing to leave. “Oh Twilight.” Resting her head in Twilight’s neck, they walked into the palace’s hallway.
1 - SigmasonicXRarity looked at Twilight’s saddlebags, placed on a work table at Canterlot Boutique as the alicorn left to, ahem, powder her nose before the big date. Fastened shut as they were, the corner of a box slightly poked outside the top. From the size, shape, and texture, it was no doubt a jewelry box. It had to be a ring! It was definitely a ring, right? Four months of dating was faster than she might have expected from Twilight, but one also must consider their time as friends. And honestly, what else could it contain? Rarity waited a few seconds then enveloped the saddlebag in magic. She quickly unfastened it and pulled out the box. The unicorn softly said, “Now Rarity, you’re just checking to manage your expectations. It would be terrible for Twilight if you reacted more to a cereal box ring than the actual proposal. And if it’s an amazing ring, then you’ll spare Twilight of your heaving sounds when truly surprised. No matter what, I’ll give her a performance she’ll remember forever.” The box slowly opened. Rarity shook her head. “Oh but Rarity, must you really spoil Twilight’s surprise? She went out of her way to—” The box sprang open, revealing its contents. Rarity yelped and squeezed her eyes shut. “No, Rarity, don’t look! You mustn’t!” She opened one eye. The box contained a brown acorn. “Hmm.” With an eyebrow raised, Rarity levitated the acorn and examined it. It looked like an acorn. She sniffed. It smelled like an acorn. She licked it. Well, she wasn’t quite sure what uncooked acorn shells tasted like, but that was probably it. Was the ring inside, perhaps? Hoofsteps approached, and in a panic, Rarity closed the box and returned it to the saddlebag. Twilight walked into the room with a smile. “Alright, I’m ready to go. Shall we head out?” Rarity nodded as Twilight put on her saddlebags. “Absolutely! I’m looking forward to—” Her eyes darted to the side of her head, where she still held the acorn. Thinking quickly, she shoved it in her mouth. Twilight turned to her with a raised eyebrow. Rarity simply smiled and nodded. Shrugging, Twilight stepped through the Carousel Boutique door and pulled out a list. “First of all, we’re going to see Trixie’s show in front of city hall.” “Twixie’s schwow?” Rarity spat out the acorn and levitated it behind her right before Twilight saw. “I mean, Trixie’s show? I’ve grown fond enough of her since she reformed, but that hardly seems like the most romantic spot. Not for a special day like this.” Twilight blinked. “Special day? What do you mean? There’s nothing special! Unless you mean how it’s been 125 days since our first date, in which case, yes, that’s a pretty special number. It’s five cubed, after all.” She shifted her eyes. “Oh, darling, no, I didn’t mean anything by that! I simply meant any day with you is special.” She fluttered her eyelashes. Twilight rolled her eyes. “I feel like I should be worried you pulled that line out already.” She then smiled. “In any case, I can guarantee you’ll enjoy Trixie’s show. I hear she has something amazing planned. Now let’s go, so we can get good seats.” “Actually, dear, hold on a second!” Rarity looked around, then used her magic to put on a cream-colored sun hat with a blue ribbon. “There! How do I look?” “As always, you look amazing.” Twilight put a hoof to her chest. “Shall I compose a sonnet to describe you now?” Rarity giggled and waved her off. “No need, every moment with you is like a love poem. Now go on, like you said, we’ve dawdled long enough.” Twilight nodded and stepped outside. Once she was out of sight, Rarity quickly shook her spit off the acorn and shoved it under her hat. She trotted out to join her marefriend and greeted her with an innocent smile. They walked together in silence, enjoying the afternoon sun. Impromptu as it was, the sun hat was definitely the right choice. They made a turn and the sun was directly in front of them, making Twilight squint a bit. Rarity leaned her head against Twilight’s, so her hat cast shadow over one eye. “Need some help, darling?” Twilight blushed lightly. “Thanks, Rarity. Maybe we can share your hat for now.” Using magic, Twilight lifted up the hat and placed it in front of them, shading both of their eyes. Rarity felt the acorn shifting in her hair. She cringed, and right as it started to fall, she held it in place with her magic. A blue glow reflecting off the hat’s underside, Twilight looked at Rarity with bemusement. “What are you using magic on?” “Well, uh—” A scream came from down the road. “Twilight, Rarity, HEEEELP!” Pinkie Pie skidded to a stop in front of them, the alicorn and unicorn lifting a hoof in surprise. Before either could react, Pinkie said, “It’s Trixie’s show! The one with the wink wink say no more!” She loudly winked twice to demonstrate. “Well, you know, the manticore, and the hula hoop, and, well, just follow me!” Pinkie immediately zoomed away. Twilight looked at Rarity and shrugged. They ran after Pinkie, Rarity taking care to return her hat to her head and adjust the acorn. She sighed, thankful that Ponyville’s crises would be helpful for once. If nothing else, it should distract Twilight enough to return the acorn to its box.
2 - NonchalantAt least City Hall was fine. Rarity cast a critical eye over the scene. It looked like the majority of the audience had already had the good sense to clear out, but the manticore rolling across the ground had already caused enough damage regardless. “Oh no!” Pinkie, standing on Twilight’s back, was squinting at the unicorn helplessly waving her hooves around, unable to contain the disaster. “I told her that she should have used the hula hoop only while the manticore was on top of the carpet I got her!” She shook her head, dismounting from Rarity’s marefriend. Twilight, for her part, was sighing and taking off her saddlebags. “Alright. I think I know what we can do here. I’m gonna make my way to Trixie,” she said. “Pinkie? Watch my stuff.” Maybe it was Rarity’s imagination, but the way that she said that sounded far more… meaningful than usual. As the alicorn teleported over to the stage, Rarity swung around to her friend. “Pinkie, dear, I need something from those saddleba--” “Nope” Pinkie Pie danced out of her reach. “Twilight said I had to watch her stuff.” “Well, I know, but I’m her marefriend and…” The pink pony stopped her bouncing at a nearby storefront. “Rarity!” She gasped. “Stuff-watching is a sacred tradition. You’re not trying to sneak anything from these bags, are you?” Upon receiving no answer, Pinkie nodded sagely and slunk away, the jingle of the local markers-and-iceboxes salespony’s door marking her disappearance. Shaking her head and staring at the acorn she now levitated in front of her eyes, Rarity sighed. She tucked it more securely into her hat, securing it with the ribbon around the outside. Rarity ran towards the chaos, noting with surprise that there was even less screaming than usual for a Ponyville disaster. Luckily for her, the manticore was currently rolling across the far side of the town square, where she could now see its legs restricted by a bright silver hula hoop. She took the opportunity to run onto Trixie’s small stage, where Twilight was in hushed conversation with the stage magician. “Oh, thank Celestia you’re here, Rarity,” Trixie broke off her whispering, bowing her head. A head which, Rarity noted, was missing its signature hat. “As you can see, Trixie was preparing to start her great and spectacular show, and… well… the manticore didn’t get along well with the… you know.” She waved a hoof and sighed. “The only one who didn’t know this would happen was Trixie, it seems.” Twilight stared blankly at the performer. “The what? Pinkie didn’t say anything, and all I could get out of Starlight this morning was that you were working with forces beyond the control of all ponykind!” Trixie put her hoof to her face, then dragged it off and pointed towards the middle of the square. Everypony looked, and they saw… a parrot? “Uhhh, what’s the problem?” Rarity had never seen that parrot around town before, though she supposed she wouldn’t want to, what with its being surrounded by tatters of purple fabric. “I don’t see anything, Trixie. Is it behind the parrot?” Twilight looked even more confused. Trixie groaned. “No, it is the parrot!” She cried. Rarity ventured a step closer--to the edge of the stage. “Are you sure? It looks like it’s… dead?” Trixie dragged her back forcefully. “No! You’re wrong! It’s just resting!” She stopped, and looked at Rarity. “You have to believe me. It was like that just before it…” she paused and swiped the hat from Rarity’s head. “Why are you wearing this?” Even as Twilight, her brave and heroic marefriend, backed away from the lunatic who just went around snatching ponies’ hats as if they weren’t hiding important items they’d recently “liberated” from their marefriends’ belongings in them, Rarity sought to keep her composure. “Well, Trixie,” she began, “sometimes ponies like to look presentable, while keeping the sun out of their eyes.” The whole time she was fixated on the tell-tale bump in her hat’s sash that hid the acorn, praying that Twilight wouldn’t notice it. “If you wish to be presentable, you will thank Trixie for what she’s about to do,” the magician said before dramatically throwing the hat with her magic. Its roundness let the hat sail cleanly over the parrot, which suddenly snapped into action. In seconds, it had grasped the hat--easily three times its size--and flown away with the hat, the acorn, and possibly Rarity’s entire relationship in its talons. “Trust me,” Trixie crowed, “that was a lesson Trixie had to learn the hard way. You’re welcome.” With an inarticulate yell, Rarity leapt off the stage and chased after the parrot. She leapt over the manticore, which had by now quieted down and was mewling softly in the middle of Mane Street. Rarity looked into the sky, flaring out her magic to catch a lone, blue feather that was fluttering down towards her. The parrot’s flying was clumsy, but driven. The unicorn shook her head and sped up, ignoring her marefriend’s cries and Trixie’s nigh-apocalyptic warnings as she pushed her hooves to take her ever faster towards a line of trees in the distance.
3 - kitsRarity wasn’t panting. That was just not something ladies did. But she was certainly breathing with enthusiasm as she chased after the vile fiend of a parrot. Not for the first time today she dearly wished that Fluttershy were with her. Or rather that she were with Fluttershy. And Twilight. And that they were all at the spa. Rarity furrowed her brow, irritated over letting her thoughts wander from what important. The acorn and getting into Twilight’s saddlebags were all that mattered right now. Well, and Twilight herself. And Rarity supposed her hat was moderately important too. And— “Why didn’t you tell me there was a race going on?” Rarity nearly tripped over her own hooves as Rainbow Dash brought her train of thought to a grinding halt. She grimaced as a misplaced hoof splashed mud onto her coat. Priorities, she told herself. “Hello... Rainbow, dear,” she puffed. “I’m terri... terribly sorry, but...” Rainbow lazily waved a hoof as she rolled onto her back, her wings hardly needing to strain to keep up with Rarity’s allout sprint. “Yeah, yeah. You’re winning—awesome job by the way—and don’t wanna stop and chat.” “I’m not... racing!” Rarity tried very hard not to gulp air. She thought about what to say next. Just because her lungs were burning and just because Rainbow Dash didn't care about such was no reason to be barbaric. “I’m chasing after, tha- that bird. He has my hat!” “Oh.” Disappointment seeped from that single syllable, but as quickly as it had come, it vanished and Rainbow was once again sporting her cocky smile. “If it’s not a race, would you like a ho—“ “Yes!” Rarity gasped. She added a hasty “please” that was only just this side of polite. Rainbow’s smirk deepened and her eyes sparkled. “Alright then. One hat, coming right up!” With a salute, she shot ahead. Rarity only just kept herself from collapsing onto the ground. She wanted to, but she was already going to need quite a thorough cleaning just due to all the perspiration she’d worked up, not to mention the mud. Rainbow called over her shoulder. “Say 'hi' to Twilight for me. She was right behind you!” Rarity’s legs gave out. Twilight has followed her? Of course Twilight has followed her! What kind of pony wouldn’t chase after her marefriend when she inexplicably charged off into the forest. Not Twilight Sparkle, that’s who. Rarity felt tears welling in her eyes. Twilight would come and find out about the acorn and how Rarity had kept it secret and how she had lost it. And then their entire relationship would fall apart. She’d be forced into exile, doomed to spend the rest of her days in unfashionable robes trying to catch one last glimpse of Twilight’s smile. Where was a couch when you really needed one? Rainbow crashed down beside her, causing Rarity to give a squeak of alarm. “Gof eth!” Rainbow said around the hat in her mouth. There was no sign of the demon that had taken her hat in the first place. Rainbow transferred the hat to her wing, and grinned sheepishly. “Um, sorry about the, uh, sticky-outy part.” She proffered the hat to Rarity, who could see that the rim was indeed torn. But the ribbon... It was intact and the telltale bulge of the acorn drew her eye more strongly than a thousand diamonds. Rarity flung her forelegs around Rainbow Dash in a hug that would have done Pinkie proud. "Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash! You don't know what this means to me!" She took the hat, and immediately felt at the bump behind the ribbon. Yes, it was still safe. "Rarity!" Twilight called as she galloped into view. "Are you alright!?" Rarity opened her mouth to answer, when the parrot swooped in to snap at her hat once more. Time slowed to a crawl as Rarity yanked hard with her magic, trying to keep her hat from being lost once more. But the foul beast still bit down on the edge of the bow, and jerked it off of the hat as it once more climbed into the sky. "Ugh! You're a real jerk, you know that?" Rainbow shouted at the fleeing bird, but Rarity scarcely paid attention. Her eyes were fixed on the acorn, flung high into the air when the ribbon was ripped from her hat. Rainbow Dash knew she wasn't the smartest pony. Although she'd long ago discovered that smart ponies could also be awesome, she knew she would never measure up to the likes of Twilight Sparkle. But she was observant. Rarity hadn't cared about the hat being damaged. Rarity had cared about the weird bump under the ribbon. Rainbow squinted. It was a nut? An acorn? Whatever it was, Rarity was watching it like it had some new fancy dress inside. Like it had all the fancy dresses inside. Rainbow Dash was also fast. She bent low to the ground and shot into the air, intercepting whatever-it-was and catching it in her teeth. No problem for Equestria's fastest and best flyer. Once again she'd saved Rarity's day! She puffed out her chest and she floated to the ground. Smiling widely around the acorn, she provided the fanfare nopony else had seen fit to. Rainbow also knew what excited ponies looked like. She'd seen them often enough even before she'd become a Wonderbolt. And neither Rarity nor Twilight were excited. Rarity was hunched low, looking away from Twilight, her tail tucked close to her flank, Twilight's mouth was open as she stared laser beams first at the Rainbow's mouth, then at Rarity. What in Tartarus was going on here? "Hi, Dashie!" A pink blur slammed into Rainbow Dash. Three things happened. One, the saddlebags Pinkie Pie had—were those Twilight's?—flew open, spilling a ton of really boring looking egghead stuff over the ground. Two, Rarity and Twilight both dove for one particularly shiny item at the same time. And three, Rainbow Dash swallowed the acorn.
4 - LingoPinkie had never wondered what sound of two skulls clonking together would make, but now that Twilight and Rarity had demonstrated it for her, she was considering ways to replicate it for a comedy routine. In the same line of thinking, she was wondering what mish-mash of household objects would sound most like Rainbow Dash’s coughing. Before her musings got too far, her ear twitched and three vertebrae in her back realigned themselves. With no hesitation, she leapt into the air, executing a flawless corkscrew front-flip, and landed squarely behind Dash. Pinkie wrapped her hooves around her stomach and gave a solid squeeze. As she planned, her friend deflated like a bag-pipe, wheezing near-musically and expelling the acorn from her throat. Leaving Dash to recover, she retrieved the tree seed and wiped off any saliva. It was around this time that the unicorn and alicorn had recovered from their coconut demolition derby impression, rubbing sore foreheads and thanking the princesses that neither had been impaled by a horn. “That game was super fun, but I don’t think I’ll use it at my next Pinkie Party. Run Fast Then Dogpile could really hurt somepony!” Rainbow Dash shook her head, “I don’t think that was a game, Pinkie, but thanks.” “You’re welcome, Dashie! But if it wasn’t a game, then what were you all doing?” “Well it involves those two,” Rainbow said, pointing toward the two horn-heads, “so I have even less of a clue than usual. Something about a mean bird and that acorn.” Pinkie tilted her head, ears flopping against her poofy mane. “Other than growing into a great big tree one day, what makes it so special compared to any other acorn?” “I have no idea, but I’m going to find out.” Twilight supplied, climbing to her hooves and looking pointedly at Rarity, who was still scouring the ground for a certain shiny object. The contents of the saddle bags were strewn about everywhere, whatever she and Twilight had been diving for was lost in the ruckus. “What’s so special about it, Twi? And what’s Rarity looking for?” “I’m not sure. Maybe she lost her glasses?” “But.. she wasn’t wearing any?” “You’re right! They must be in the boutique somewhere. Why don’t you go look for them there?” And in the next moment, Rainbow Dash found herself standing in Rarity’s boutique, mouth still open in an attempt to question Twilight further. Darn lovestruck unicorns. Twilight turned to Pinkie next, her horn still smoking from the spell. “I’ll check at my place!” Pinkie cheered with a mock salute, hoofing Twilight the acorn and running off before she could also be poofed. Only once they were alone did Rarity reconnect with her surroundings, sheepishly looking up at her unamused marefriend. Her coat was splotched with mud and her mane disheveled. She was, in short, a mess. Twilight, on the other hoof, wasn’t even winded from the sprint. In her magic floated the acorn. With a wave of her horn, the contents of her saddlebags levitated up and held a slow orbit around her. She appraised each item, checking them for damage, and only one earned her attention. It was shiny and small and immediately recognizable. Why Rarity would be lunging for it would make sense. Why she would also be worried about an acorn, of all things, was incredibly perplexing. “So,” she started, gazing at her marefriend with a raised eyebrow, “mind filling me in? I’m a little out of the loop after you nabbed my bags and ran off.” “I’m sorry, darling, I was acting a bit like Rainbow Dash, not quite thinking things through. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if it wasn’t for that feathered menace!” “Dash?” “No, the bird she helped me chase for the acorn.” “This acorn?” It levitated between them. “Yesss, that one.” “Rarity, why in the world were you chasing a bird over an acorn?” “Over that acorn.” “Over this acorn.” She avoided Twilight’s gaze, rubbing her leg anxiously. “Because…” “Because?” “Because it came from the library…” “What?” Twilight took a step back, the objects held in her magic wavering for a moment before resuming their slow path. “Why? How did you?” “It was wedged in the roots above the map table, Fluttershy found it while dusting the other day. We confirmed with Applejack that it’s still a viable seed.” “What were you going to do with it? Rarity?” “I was thinking of planting it, getting it to grow into a new library for you. It may take a lifetime of waiting to get that large, but at least one of us will live to see it.” “Oh Rarity…” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Rarity brushed a bit of her mane back into place, striking a proud little pose. “Yes, I am amazing, you don’t have to say it… but don’t let me stop you from saying it anyways~” Twilight shook her head, smiling. Rarity will be Rarity. That just leaves the other item. “And this? What about this? How did this get into my saddlebags?” “I may have mistaken your bags for my own and slipped it inside. And when I realized my folly, I attempted to retrieve it from your bags, but when I alerted you I panicked.” “And in that panic, you dropped the bags. Which is why Pinkie had them.” “Indeed. Quite the detective you are, my sweet.” Twilight again presented the shiny object. “I don’t need to be a detective to know what this is, but why don’t you tell me anyways?” Rarity sighed, at ease with her fate. “That, my darling dearest, is…” And then the bird returned, ornery and filled with malicious intent.
5 - Undome Tinwe"So, while I was still living in the library, I did some research on its construction," Twilight said casually as they ran down the streets of Ponyville, weaving through the crowds in pursuit of their quarry. "Oh?" Rarity could only spare a glance at her marefriend — and, perhaps, maybe, hopefully, something more — before having to swerve to avoid a startled Octavia, who barely managed to avoid dropping her cello as the pair zipped past. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You aren't the type to reside in such a remarkable construct without investigating its origins. What did you discover?" The bird swooped right through the market, forcing Twilight and Rarity to navigate a path around the various carts set up around them. "Well, as you might expect, it didn't simply grow into that shape on its own." "Earth pony magic?" Twilight nodded. "It's an old technique, and not many ponies still know how to do it, but there's still a few books on the subject. I have one in the castle if you want to— whoa!" Ahead of them, the Flower Ponies screamed as the avian menace swooped down on their cart, the glittering prize in its claws brushing against the roses arranged into pretty little bundles as Lily, Roseluck, and Daisy collapsed into a faint. Fortunately, that allowed Twilight and Rarity to leap over their unconscious bodies as they continued their pursuit, thankfully exiting the market and its crowd. "I think I'll pass on that offer, dear," Rarity said once they managed to return to their chase in a more normal fashion. "But thank you, regardless. Still, I suppose this means that creating a new library won't be an issue?" "If the acorn you found in the Friendship Castle really is from the original tree, then yeah, we can grow another building from it like they did all those years ago." Twilight paused as they rounded a corner that Rarity knew led to a dead end. "Thing is, after my ascension, I started experimenting with channelling different types of magic in concert with each other." They were catching up to that damnable bird. Rarity could make out the general shape of the ring it held in its claws as its wings continued to flap powerfully, keeping it barely ahead of the two ponies chasing it. "That sounds like a fascinating avenue of study," she commented as she continued to run, trying not to think about what all this impromptu exercise was doing to her makeup and hair. "It is." Twilight agreed. "What was especially interesting was— ah-hah!" Her words cut off as she leapt into the air, her hooves barely grazing against the jewellery that the bird seemed so insistent on absconding with. "Oof," she muttered as she fell to the ground. There was no time to stop and make sure her beloved was okay. They had reached the end of this alley, and the bird was already angling upwards to make its final escape to where they — or at least Rarity — wouldn't be able to follow. The time to act was now, and Rarity put all her strength into her back legs as she pushed off and stretched as much as she could. Hoof met wing, and the started avian released its prize as it struggled to maintain its balance. The ring fell into Rarity's forehooves as she collapsed onto the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust she did so. She immediately brought the precious object close to herself, hiding it from the grasp of the fiend which screeched at her with the raw hatred that only such animals could muster before flying away in a huff. Rarity took a moment to admire the diamond she'd chosen for this piece before turning to see how Twilight was doing. Her marefriend had already gotten to her hooves and was galloping towards her with worry in her eyes. "Are you okay?" "Perfectly fine, though I suspect my immediate future holds a spa trip in store for me after we thank Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie for their help in retrieving the acorn from that ruffian," Rarity replied. "Anyways, you were saying something before that unfortunate interruption?" Her heart began hammering away in its chest as she remembered just what she held in her hooves, and she used the question to divert Twilight for the moment and collect herself. "Oh, right." It worked, fortunately, as Twilight returned to her lecturing mode. "What was especially interesting was how other types of magic could be woven into earth pony magic to accelerate its effects." Rarity froze. "You mean..." "Applejack probably won't like it," Twilight said, smiling warmly, "but I don't want to celebrate the opening of the new Golden Oaks library alone." Sadness tinged her eyes. "I know there's a lot we won't be able to do together, but I want to be able to share whatever experiences we can, and I don't want to miss out on a single opportunity with you." The love that shone from every part of her expression nearly brought Rarity to her knees as tears began welling up in her eyes. "Oh, Twilight..." she whispered, happiness bubbling in her heart. "I don't know what to say. I'm supposed to be the romantic one in this relationship." "Well, you could start by asking me the question I assume you want to ask," Twilight replied. "Unless I completely misread the reason why you have such a nice ring in your hooves." How could she ever deny her love anything? Rarity smiled as she sank down on one knee, holding up the ring with a hoof. "Twilight, my darling, dearest heart. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Three things happened at that moment. Twilight gave her reply. An unholy, inequine screeching filled the air, like the sound of a hundred birds crying out for vengeance. And the acorn in Rarity's saddlebag began to glow and vibrate.
6 - Lofty WithersThe sky darkened with wings overhead, but the acorn’s glow drew their attention. “Come on!” Twilight snatched the ring from Rarity, slipping it over her horn. Rarity watched the flock briefly before galloping after Twilight. “I can’t help but notice.” “This ring looks good on me?” “Yes, but no.” “Nopony is disturbed by the birds chasing us?” “They’re used to you.” They turned the final corner to the empty lot where the library once stood. “They’re not attacking.” Rarity stopped to breathe while Twilight slowed to study the birds. Some combination of becoming an alicorn and training for the Running of the Leaves had made her faster. “They’re waiting for something.” A deep jeer rang through the skies. The birds quieted while one called in response. The deep jeer sounded closer, and all the birds broke into a frenzy of flight and cries as they descended. “Hold them off,” said Twilight, taking the seed from Rarity’s bag and galloping to the hole. “I can’t maintain a shield while controlling the seed’s growth.” “Um, girls?” Rarity glanced at the new arrival. “Fluttershy! Please talk some sense into these birds.” She swatted a group away as they rushed Twilight, but another group swooped in to grasp unsuccessfully at Twilight’s horn before flying away. “Rarity! Try not to hurt them.” Rarity sighed. “Yes, dear.” Rarity turned to rejoin Twilight, but a large jay—easily twice the size of any other she’d seen—landed between them. “Stand aside, villain.” It squawked and leapt at her, grappling and scratching. She swatted and flailed, but it moved too fast. From the corner of her eye, she spotted another group swooping towards Twilight. “Oh no you don’t.” Bucking, she knocked the jay away, opened her saddle bag, pulled out a scarf, and grinned. “Try on my new winter lineup.” The bird spread its wings and squawked. Rarity scuffed the ground with a hoof. It leapt. She charged. She left it wrapped and tied in the scarf, chirping angrily. Another group broke from the flock, diving towards Twilight, but they scattered when Rarity tossed a hoof-ful of sequins into the air. Taking their new treasures, they retreated. “Hah!” Rarity shook a hoof towards the sky. “I’ve defeated your soldiers and your champion. Give up now. That ring is Twilight’s!” Six jays—each as big as the one she’d defeated—landed just beyond reach. “Oh for goodness sake. Alright.” She pulled a roll of double-stick tape from her bags and motioned them towards her. “Let’s do this.” The birds ignored her. She looked around. “Did Fluttershy talk sense into you?” She spotted Fluttershy getting an earful from another of the large birds. It didn’t seem to be going well. She turned back, doing a double-take as she spotted the new arrival standing amidst the others. It was as much larger than these jays as they were to the rest. And it had a horn. That was beginning to glow. Because of course. Rarity sighed. “I guess you’re some kind of blue jay alicorn. Alright, Prince. Let’s see what you’ve got.” With a flash of it’s horn, Prince shot her with a beam of light that knocked her back and down. Wincing, she rose with a mutter. “Try not to hurt the birds?” As she stepped forward, another blast struck, knocking her down again. “I. will. murder. that. bird.” She waved at Fluttershy. “Painlessly.” She whimpered when the third blast hit. “Maybe a little pain.” Prince Jay hopped towards her while the others encircled Twilight. “Keep your claws off my fiancée.” She gathered her magic, but it vanished with her concentration as a tremendous roar echoed through the street. All eyes turned towards the sound. “What now?” Cape billowing, Trixie made her glorious entrance upon the scene atop the back of a tyrannosaurus rex. “Fear not, Ponyville. The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to save you from…” She looked around. “A flock of seagulls?” Fluttershy looked up from her conversation. “Blue Jays.” “Whatever,” said Trixie. “Come, Boopsie! Defeat the avian menace. Crush, kill, destroy!” Fluttershy glared. “But don’t hurt them.” Trixie pulled her hat off her head, swinging it in frustration. “Oh come on.” Fluttershy pointed a hoof at her eyes then at Trixie, who just rolled hers. “Whatever.” She put her hat back on, standing on her hind hooves. “Come, Boopsie! Defeat the avian menace. Hug, stun, detain!” Rarity humphed as Prince ignored her to attack the dinosaur. She would’ve bet on the dinosaur, but Prince was rather agile, and the tyrannosaur had tiny little arms. While they fought, Rarity rushed to Twilight. Fending off Prince’s escort with a yard of cloth dancing through the air, Rarity focused on Twilight. “I’ve been thinking lately.” Twilight concentrated on the glowing acorn. “Mm?” “About mortality.” She gestured around them. “Not just because of this. Because you’re an alicorn, and I won’t live forever. But I was thinking, what if I could?” “With black magic?” Rarity perked up. “It can do that?” Twilight shot her a look that said, “Girlfriend, you did not just go there.” She blinked angrily. “No,” she lied, returning to her task. “Oh. Anyway, I’ve been considering estivation.” “Esti-what?” Rarity smiled. “There’s a word you don’t know the meaning of?” “Just because I read the dictionary doesn’t mean I am the dictionary.” Rarity caught a bird in her cloth, swung it around for momentum, and launched it towards the edge of town. It wouldn’t be back for a while, but the distraction had let two of the others get into her mane, tugging and yanking. “Not the coiffure!” She bucked and fought to get them out of her hair, drifting away from Twilight. Returning, she announced, “Short manes are in this season.” Yanking a foe from the air, she stuffed it into her slowly-emptying saddle bag, closing and buckling it swiftly. “And maybe feathers.” She sensed Fluttershy’s disapproval, but pretended to ignore it. “Estivation is like hibernation. Dormancy during a period of deprivation. When I’m deprived of your company, I’ll petrify myself. Eight hours a day while you’re holding court, and you’d have me for thirty percent more years.” “That’s a terrible idea.” “You needn’t agree right now. We can discuss later. When I get older.” She ducked, avoiding another attack. “If I get older.” The acorn’s hue shifted as Fluttershy approached, accompanied by Prince. “You have something that belongs to them.” Rarity humphed. “I most certainly—” The seed pulsed, blinding observers with a bright flare. “Back!” shouted Twilight, grabbing everypony—and bird—and dragging them away before they could react. The seed pulsed again, repeating with increasingly shorter timing until the final pulse also blinded everyone who wasn’t looking at it. The accompanying shock wave knocked them into a heap. Prince squawked. Fluttershy gasped. “Oh. No, little birdy—” “Little?” asked Twilight, raising an eyebrow as she stood. “That thing’s as big as a pony.” Prince squawked furiously. Fluttershy winced. “You shouldn’t have said that.” “Huh?” “He’s conscious of his weight. There there. I understand how hard it can be to control yourself sometimes. Why, I’ve got an anger management problem.” Prince seemed to laugh, holding his sides as he chirped in staccato, followed by more bird talk. Fluttershy slowly closed her gaping mouth. “Well I do. I don’t appreciate you belittling my struggles. I didn’t belittle yours.” “Can we get on with it?” asked Rarity. “I’ve got to take a bath and see a mane stylist before dinner.” Fluttershy nodded. She pointed first at Twilight then at Prince. “But be nice. Listen before you speak.” Twilight nodded. “Lay it on me.” “Well, it all started…” ——— “So as the final condition of the armistice, you must agree to never again sleep upon the bodies of their fallen brethren,” Fluttershy concluded. Twilight looked at Rarity. “What?” “Pillows. They mean feather pillows.” “Oh. Sure.” Rarity lifted a hoof to her chin. “But what about eider down? It’s harvested without harm from the shed down of ducks. If they can build their nests with hair and shiny things we discard, then can’t we use things they discard.” Attention turned to Prince. He turned to squawk with the advisors behind him before turning back and nodding. “Then it’s settled,” said Twilight. “I’ll write up the armistice and trade treaty. Rarity, help Mayor Mare throw together a signing ceremony in front of the new library. We’ll sign it, cut the ribbon on the library, and celebrate. I’ll have an announcement to make, too,” she said, touching her new ring. “I’m sure Pinkie would love to help with the party.” With a flash, Twilight summoned a scroll and quill and began scribbling. Fluttershy winced. The birds bristled. Rarity leaned over, whispering to Twilight. Twilight blinked. “That’s ridiculous.” She continued writing. “These are gathered after moult. Like eider down is.” She looked up at the crowd, who visibly relaxed as she spoke. “Although, I should probably add that in here. And a POW exchange. Trixie for that bird Rarity captured. Any other details we’re forgetting?”
7 - Falk0The dinner Rarity and Twilight had been planning for that evening didn’t happen, so to say dramatically. But nobody was disappointed, because a huge party took place instead. Well, actually, at first there was some necessary boring stuff before the festivity: explaining the situation to Mayor Mare, writing and signing the peace treaty, cleaning up the mess in central streets of Ponyville — which Rarity avoided by spending several hours in the spa and then getting a tedious talk about importance of social labor blah blah blah with Twilight. She was only trying to be stern, of course, and not quite successfully, because how could she be stern when looking on giggling Rarity who always adored such moments of her beloved one pretending to be strict and serious. Rarity had always liked fancy ceremonies, but that was quite extraordinary. Signing a peace treaty with a bird flock? Even following the international affairs procedures, though they weren’t a nation! At least, Twilight Sparkle enjoyed playing some game of silly jocular diplomacy, later even receiving a letter from Princess Celestia who admired the young princess’ political success and expressed regrets of not being able to participate in the celebration personally. Rarity still didn’t know, was it a joke or not? So, finally in the evening, the girls gathered together at the huge party that Pinkie managed to organize so quickly, among other Ponyville citizens. And not only them — Fluttershy predictably brought her new friends, those blue jays, too! The town solved another problem, ponies made some new friends, fun and joy floated in the air, Pinkie’s party was, as always, so… Pinkie-ish, and nobody except for a certain two thought there could be more, until Twilight asked for a minute of attention and made her announcement. The announcement. *** Rarity didn’t remember exactly what was greater. The storm of emotions, or the chaos of cheers, toasts, congratulations and tears of happiness. Having read countless romantic novels, Rarity has been anticipating this moment for her entire life. And now it felt so different, so different... In a much better way, of course. Not a book could express the palette of the feelings that were embracing Rarity’s soul. Surely, it couldn’t be compared to the overwhelming moment of their mutual confession, but, anyway, the engagement became the new level of their public relationship. In the end of the party Rarity and Twilight decided to spend some time just to themselves, so, after short farewells, they left the party and headed to the edge of the town to take a lone stroll around. The moon was already on its rise and soft dusk was giving up to the dark beauty of the night. The lovers strolled in silence, taking some rest after the frenzied party and enjoying each other’s silent company. Distant sounds of the festivity were heard, and the lights of the magnificent city of Canterlot shone from the slope of the Canterhorn Peak. Eventually Twilight turned to one of the small lakes that surrounded Ponyville. After they reached the shore, Twilight sat, then Rarity followed, still keeping the silence. A fresh breeze fluttered their manes. Princess Luna finally took over her nocturnal reign, spilling myriads of shimmering stars in the dark blue skies above. The moonlight was illuminating sleeping forests and fields, and the stars were flickering in the still surface of the lake. Before Rarity could say anything, Twilight asked, “Remember what you said earlier this day? I mean, about my immortality?” ‘’Well, of course, how can I forget?” “I’ve been afraid of this question since I became an alicorn.” Twilight went quiet and stared at gleaming water. They spent some moments in silence, and Rarity already started choosing words for further questions, but then Twilight continued. “Well, honestly, I have talked about this with Celestia. A lot. And, obviously, even she is powerless against such challenges. But she made me understand one most crucial and yet simple thing.” Twilight swiveled her head and met Rarity’s gaze. It was filled with confusion, curiosity, affection, and love. Everything. At the same time. And all her doubts washed away instantly as she spoke: “I don’t know what will come, but Celestia taught me to accept the most important thing. No matter what happens next, we will face it together.” Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but was immediately interrupted by Twilight, who reached Rarity and pressed her lips onto Rarity’s. They spend some time caressing each other, until Rarity interrupted: “Okay, okay, darling! Now I’m convinced all is going to be fine, but can we at least go have some sleep now? We had a rough day, didn’t we?” “Oops, you’re right, it must be quite late. But you know, this day was quite unusual — rare, I would say — so I got an idea about an interesting place where we can spend the night!” “Oh, darling, you don’t mean the new library, don’t you?” Rarity whined. ‘I do!” exclaimed Twilight, bursting into giggles. *** They were resting in private chambers of the new library. Moonlight lit the wide space of the empty room. The single piece of furniture was a mattress that Twilight Sparkle had teleported from Carousel Boutique. In normal circumstances Rarity would never agree to spend a night with such poor bedding, but now she didn’t care at all. Twilight Sparkle was reading a book she brought along, and Rarity was just laying by her side, admiring her beloved one and reliving dazzling events of the day. “Ahem, is this book even more interesting than me?” Rarity said finally, dramatically complaining. “Hush you, Rarity, how many times have you asked such questions?” Twilight smirked. Rarity playfully harrumphed and crossed forelegs over her chest, but her theatrical displeasure instantly melted away as Twilight turned her head and kissed Rarity’s cheek. Rarity lifted a hoof and playfully pushed the book out of Twilight’s magic. The bookish alicorn tried to put on an unamused look on her face, but shortly collapsed into giggles. “Okay, okay, Rares, let’s stop fooling around. And it’s about time to sleep.” “You’re right, we had a tough day, hadn’t we?” Rarity yawned, even not trying to cover her mouth with a hoof in a proper ladylike manner. “Sure! By the way, I have something interesting to show you tomorrow, but now — sleep!” “Wait, what do you—” “Hush, I’ll show it tomorrow! No objections!” Twilight interrupted. And then softly added: “Good night, Rarity. I love you.” “Good night. I love you too, darling.” Soon they fell asleep, cuddling each other under the soft veil of moonlight.
8 - SigmasonicXWith the morning light, the couple took a closer look at Ponyville’s new tree. “It’s kind of… odd looking, isn’t it?” Rarity asked, tilting her head. The tree was wide enough to fit multiple rooms, but it was still too short for an upstairs area. Branches shot out, but then sagged down, leaves forming in bunches mere feet above the ground. “Well, I wouldn’t say odd, really,” Twilight replied, “but it is different from the old library. I suppose we can’t expect it to be exactly the same.” She smiled, but her sigh exposed what could only be called disappointment. Rarity’s ears twitched at the noise, and she took another look at the tree, putting a hoof to her chin. “Well, perhaps we can spruce it up a bit. No pun intended.” Magic built in her horn and beams shot out at all the branches hanging low. With a pop, the leaves formed into the shapes of ponies. With a grin, Rarity turned to Twilight. “More glamorous already, don’t you think?” She was surprised to see Twilight staring at the tree, tears forming in her eyes. Mortified that she offended her, Rarity asked, “Darling, what is it?” Then she turned back to the tree and she saw it. The branches pointed toward the ground and ponies danced at their ends. “It’s… a carousel,” Twilight said. Tears too formed in Rarity’s eyes. “It’s our baby.” Twilight playfully scoffed. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I was thinking along those lines, yes.” Rarity stomped her hoof. “But Twilight! It’s a tree, and it’s a carousel, and—” Twilight laughed. “Rarity, I agree! You don’t have to convince me!” Rarity’s face scrunched up and tears welled up. “Oh Twilight!” Twilight broke into a big grin, squinting through blurry eyes. “Rarity!” The mares leapt into a hug, rubbing cheeks against each other and laughing. Nothing could break them apart… except for the approaching stomps and the roar of a mighty tyrannosaurus. They yelped and looked up, seeing the dinosaur above them. “Behold, soon to be married mares!” declared a blue mare leaning over its head. “Trixie is here!” “Trixie!” exclaimed Twilight. “Why did you bring that here? In fact, where did you get that in the first place?” Trixie huffed. “Trixie knows secrets that no mere mortal immortal alicorn can understand. And in any case, Boopsie is perfectly safe. She’s a vegetarian. Behold as she eats these strange pony-shaped leaves here!” The tyrannosaurus licked her lips and leaned over to a branch with her mouth open. Rarity gasped in horror. “Don’t touch our baby!” Twilight encased the tree in a barrier and Rarity blasted the dinosaur, making her back away with a groan. “Sheesh, fine!” Trixie said, rolling her eyes. “Perhaps Trixie should move on.” Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. “Actually, wait. You’re exactly who I was looking for.” Trixie flicked her mane. “Naturally. Though, uh, why?” Twilight smiled. “There’s still that thing I asked you to do yesterday.” “What, that? Still?” “She’ll still love it. Trust me.” “Alright, Trixie will be ready in five minutes, for Trixie is a miracle worker. Meet me in front of my wagon.” With a light kick from the unicorn, the tyrannosaurus strolled away. Rarity gave her fiancée a curious smile. “Oh my, what was that about?” Twilight winked. “You’ll see in five minutes.” At the appointed time, they came to Trixie’s wagon, watching junk fly out the door. “Bomb, bomb, a shrubbery, bomb, a copy of Self Defence Against Fresh Fruit, bomb,” listed off the magician. “Ah, here we go!” With a smile, she popped out of the wagon with a pendant. “Oh, you’re here.” Rarity had an excited smile, but when she looked to her fiancée, she saw she was pouring sweat. Trixie walked to the two, unaware of this. “So the way it was going to happen was that Trixie would do her amazing show, yadda yadda yadda, then Trixie would make two mares disappear. Ponies would think it was at random, but it would be you two. Then, using this thing and that horribly complex spell Twilight gave me—simple for Trixie, of course—I’d do this.” The magician’s horn glowed and Rarity was astonished by a blast of snow. She flinched and covered her face, only to feel no cold. She lowered her leg and found herself not in Ponyville, but on a palace balcony, looking over a fantastic snowy landscape. She glanced down and saw she was now wearing a beautiful blue dress. Rarity looked around in awe, but nothing amazed her more than the sight of her love in a purple dress. She smiled, but still her sweating persisted. “Twilight! Darling, this is amazing! It’s right out of a storybook!” The alicorn poured out, “You’re right, I actually took this from that book you said you liked and I did the magical calculations and I made this space inside a gem so we could explore it together and technically I could have just cast the spell myself but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to concentrate so I asked Trixie instead because I knew you probably wouldn’t talk to her before today—before yesterday, and from the way I’m acting now obviously that was the right choice and…” She took a breath. “Do you like it?” Rarity blinked, then put on an absolutely smitten smile. She touched the princess’s cheek and said, “I love it. But I can tell there was more you wanted to do than show me around.” She winked. Twilight paused, then with a bit of magic, lifted the ring from her horn. She took Rarity’s hoof in her own. “Rarity, will you—I mean, well, if you want, we could—I want you and I to maybe…” Rarity couldn’t help but giggle. “Twilight! I already proposed to you! And unless I misheard you over the birds and we had that party for a lark, you said yes. Why are you still so nervous?” Twilight smiled then looked away. “Well, yes, but, well…” After a moment, she gave the ring to Rarity. “It’s harder than it looks! You try it.” Rarity scoffed affectionately. “I just said I proposed to you already, silly! However, I’ll happily do it again.” She flipped her mane then took Twilight’s hoof. “Twilight, my dear. Will you—” She looked at her love’s gorgeous violet eyes. “Will you… uh… I mean.” Twilight laughed. “See!” Rarity snorted. “This is much easier after a grand bird chase.” With a smile, she slipped the ring back on Twilight’s horn. Twilight returned a bright smile that completely put her at ease. “So, my darling, where to?” “Well, I did spend a lot of time figuring out what the book’s library would look like.” Rarity couldn’t help but shake her head, her blissful smile refusing to leave. “Oh Twilight.” Resting her head in Twilight’s neck, they walked into the palace’s hallway.
