Lunch Break was something that every student at Canterlot High looked forward too. A chance to get away from class for a little while, and to catch up with friends they might not have seen all day.
For the Rainbooms, Canterlot High's resident magical girls and heroes, the same held true. Only a few of them had a class with one another, and none of them all shared one class. So this was always a perfect chance to catch up.
Today was more unusual than most. Not that Twilight Sparkle was there with them. That they had grown used to in the short time the new transfer student had been at the school.
The fact her eyes though seemed a million miles away was new. They didn't even seem to be in this universe anymore, and Sunset had a good idea of where they were seeing at the moment.
Rarity though caught a different look in Twilight's eyes, and she smiled knowingly. "Someone seems to be in love. Badly too."
Twilight came back to earth with a crash as she blushed and slid down into her seat. "Is it that obvious?"
The girls nodded. "So, who's the lucky boy?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
Twilight shook her head. "She's not a boy. Or a stallion."
That got the girls' attention, as they shared a look. Sunset though began to get an idea of who it might be, but for now, she didn't say. "Do we know her?" She asked.
Twilight nodded. "You know her. Rather well actually."
That was another clue for Sunset, and judging by the looks the rest of the girls were giving her, they seemed to have an idea as well. "Does it have anything to do with your trip to Equestria?" Fluttershy asked, putting a hand on Twilight's arm. "We won't judge you for it."
Twilight smiled as she nodded and looked at Fluttershy. "Thanks, Fluttershy. And it does have to do with me going to Equestria. And what I did there."
Here, she reached down her shirt and pulled out what looked like a necklace that had a piece of a pearl held in it. "Princess Twilight gave this to me when I first got there. She said it's mine, and after everything we did, everything this did. I'm more than happy to believe her."
Sunset was shocked, to say the least. She recognized the Pearl Necklace and knew what it meant for Twilight to have it, let alone wear it. But she had never expected to see it now. "You're an alicorn. They're the only kind of ponies who can wear that, let alone use it."
Twilight nodded. "It was a shock to everyone in Equestria as well. I mean, they took it rather well all things considered. But it was still a shock to everyone."
Sunset could well believe it, and that was one of her questions answered, but she still had a few. "And Princess Twilight let you bring it back here why? Isn't she afraid of what could happen if someone steals it?"
Twilight gave her a look. "Why do you think I'm keeping it hidden? I don't know what it could do to anyone who might take it. I don't even know if I can use it here, let alone if someone else can. But I won't leave it in Equestria, and go back and forth if I ever want to use it."
The girls couldn't really argue with that, but they were becoming impatient. "So come on already!" Rainbow finally said, throwing her hands up in frustration. "What the heck did you do all weekend? And who's the lucky girl? Mare? Whatever."
Twilight giggled as she got a faraway look in her eyes. "Well..."
***
"... And by the time we returned to Ponyville, the necklace had returned," Twilight finished as her gaze seemed to come back to reality. Though she didn't seem to want too.
The girls meanwhile were in various states of shock, to say the least. Not that Twilight was into girls like that, but for the fact, she was now in a relationship with her pony counterpart. Something none of them had expected if they were being honest.
Rarity finally squealed in delight. "Oh, that is so romantic darling. A tropical island, and falling for the princess herself. What could be more romantic than that?"
Everyone rolled their eyes at that. "But why were you a mermaid? Does Equestria even have those?" Rainbow asked, looking at Sunset, who only shook her head.
"I mean. There used to be old sailor stories of what they called seaponies. But those haven't been told in a long time," Sunset replied. She too was curious as she looked at Twilight. "Mermaids though aren't a thing in Equestria. Humans have never existed there, so they can't."
Twilight nodded as she looked thoughtful. "I don't understand why I became one either. You could call what Twily became a seapony, I guess? We don't really know for sure."
"Twily?" Applejack asked with a knowing smirk, one that soon all the girls had as well.
Twilight clapped her hands over her mouth, mortified at what she had just said, as she slid further down her chair, and a roaring blush coming to her face.
"Ah! They already have pet names for each other!" Pinkie squeed as she pulled Twilight into a hug. "They grow up so fast!"
"Pinkie. I'm older than you," Twilight grumbled, as the girls giggled.
Sunset, while as happy for Twilight and the princess as the rest of their friends, and not maybe a little jealous, saw a problem going forward for the two of them. "How are you two going to make this work? Cross dimensional relationships are never easy. Just ask Flash."
Twilight nodded, as Pinkie let her go, looking thoughtful. "We are still trying to figure that out. I want to visit Equestria more often. Nopony has a problem with it, and I even have my own room in Ponyville now when I do visit."
She paused, as she suddenly remembered something Twily had said in the waters around Mount Aris on Saturday. "Um, that reminds me Sunset. Could I possibly use your journal too? If I can't always go to Equestria, I want to at least be able to write them."
Sunset blinked in surprise but smiled. "I don't see why not." She smirked. "Just try to keep it PG, please? I still have to use it, and I really don't want to have to read some of the saucy details between you and the princess."
That got another blush out of the nerdy girl, as the rest of their friends laughed. "Couldn't you get your own though?" Fluttershy asked.
Twilight nodded slightly. "Maybe. Princess Twilight was going to Canterlot today. She promised she would ask Princess Celestia either how to make one herself. Or if the princess could make another one."
Sunset nodded, remembering how it had been for her own journal. "If anyone knows how to do it, it's Princess Celestia. I think you're both in good hooves."
Twilight smiled, even as the bell for the next class rang, and the Cafeteria rang with the sounds of students grumbling back to class.
As she and the rest of their friends joined the throng, Twilight couldn't help but look to whatever the future might hold for all of them with a smile.
Author's Note
I admit that I made this its own separate story because it wouldn't have added anything to Dance of the Waters. Which is complete for those who don't know.
Right now, I have several ideas of where this universe could go next. But for the moment, they won't go anywhere.
