The first time it had happened had been on their second trip to the Crystal Empire. As they'd boarded the train, Rarity had noticed an extra weight in her bag, and upon looking inside, had found a book that she'd been certain she hadn't put in there.
She'd asked the most likely culprit to have snuck it in while she wasn't looking. "I just thought you'd appreciate a little light reading on the trip," Twilight had said innocently.
"Darling, I hardly think Synchronicity counts as light reading," Rarity had replied dryly. Still, she'd ended up reading it cover to cover, and then purchasing a copy for her own collection after they'd returned home, much to Twilight's delight.
After that, it had become a ritual of sorts between them. Every time they went on a trip, Twilight would plant a book in Rarity's things. "A little light reading for the road," she would say, no matter the length of the book.
"I'll admit, I had my doubts about Azure Edge, but it turned out to be a rather gripping read," Rarity said as she returned the book in question.
"I knew you'd like it!" Twilight replied with a wide grin. "I know you generally prefer more character-driven narratives, so I thought I'd give you an adventure that's still a romance at its core!"
"You know me so well." A warm smile played on Rarity's lips. "I am fortunate to be able to call you my friend."
"Me too, Rarity." There was an odd catch to Twilight's voice when she said that, but Rarity paid it no mind, her thoughts filled with an epic tale of love.
"Dense As Diamonds?" Rarity looked at the title of the latest book Twilight had packed for her. She'd been acting odd around her lately. Her hugs felt warmer and lasted longer than usual, and Rarity had caught her staring at her a little longer than usual a number of times. "I wonder what this story is about?"
A few hours later, she stepped into Twilight's train cabin and confessed her own feelings, and the rest of the trip was spent doing something much more intimate than reading books.
"You know, my dear, you could simply have asked me to move in with you if you wished," Rarity said on the way back from their trip to Las Pegasus.
"I know," Twilight replied, nuzzling her marefriend, "but this was more fun. And besides, Stay the Night is a great story."
"So it is." Rarity hummed in appreciation.
"So, what do you say?" Twilight asked nervously.
"Twilight, dearest, darling, sweetheart. When have I ever said no to you?"
"Arassë Nortistemindonessë?" Rarity pulled the book out from her bags and stared at its cover. "Darling, I hope you know I don't speak Deertongue."
"Don't worry, it's a translation." Twilight seemed much more excited than usual, and was putting out so much adorably nervous energy that Rarity has to resist the urge to sweep her up in a passionate embrace and kiss away those nerves. "Also, there's a specific reason I gave you that book. You'll see."
"Very well." Rarity began to read. By the end of it, she could hardly see the words through her tears, and when she raised her head to see Twilight's hopeful expression, there was only one answer she could give to the question she knew was coming.
"The Tarnished Crown?" Rarity eyed the book with a curious look.
"I know the nobles have been giving you some grief about marrying me," Twilight explained. "I hope that book can help make you feel better."
Rarity nodded and kissed Twilight. It didn't matter what was in the book, though she was sure that she'd enjoy its contents. The fact that Twilight cared so much about her already put her mind and heart at ease.
"Hmmph," Rarity grumbled to herself as she slammed the door shut on Twilight. "See if I ever forgive you for what you've done!" She couldn't believe Twilight had wronged her in such a way, and she was never going to speak to that mare again.
She reached into her bags to grab her comb to try to fix her disaster of a mane, and felt something hard and blocky instead. She pulled out the book and felt tears forming in her eyes.
"We Will Become Silhouettes." Rarity shook her head. "If you think this is enough to make me accept your apology, you can think again!" she exclaimed. Still, some part of her knew whose arms she'd be spending the night in.
"I'm worried," Rarity said as they boarded the train.
"Me too," Twilight replied, "but we can't let fear stop us from doing what's right."
"I know." There were far too many guards coming along with them on this "diplomatic" visit, and yet still too few, in Rarity's opinion. "Just, do be careful, will you?"
"Of course," Twilight promised. "Here, something to keep your mind off things until we get there." She floated over a book to her, which Rarity grabbed like a drowning mare clinging to a life raft. "I hope Long Road For Love is lighthearted enough to keep your mind off things."
The funeral had been beautiful.
Rarity had managed to hold it together for the ceremony, but now that she was alone in her room, she could let the tears flow freely. "Oh, Twilight," she whispered, "it wasn't supposed to be like this. You were supposed to outlive me, you immortal fool."
She glanced around their — her — bedroom, and saw a book on the table. Odd, but that hadn't been there before. She picked it up and found a note inside.
"Dear Rarity. If you're reading this, then things definitely haven't gone according to plan. I hope you can forgive me one day for not being able to grow old with you, but in the meantime, here's a little light reading to pass the time. Love, Twilight."
Tears continuing to stream from her eyes, Rarity flipped to the next page, and began to read the last story Twilight would ever give her. "What a fitting name for a final book," she murmured to herself. "The Last Train Home."
Author's Note
So, a bit of explanation for this one is probably in order.
When I first came up with the premise for the contest, the idea was to just have a bunch of generic book names that sounded vaguely relevant to each scene. Then, as a joke, I made one of them a RariLight fic. And then another, and then another.
The original version of this story had only fics by Monochromatic in it, since I was on a time crunch and had basically memorized her entire catalogue at the time. When it came time to expand and edit this for publishing, I thought it might be better to expand it out and turn it into a more general celebration of RariLight.
Also, for the record, these are the stories referenced, in order.
Synchronicity
Azure Edge
Dense as Diamonds
Stay The Night
Arassë Nortistemindonessë (A Deer In Canterlot) (Self-shilling is Valid)
The Tarnished Crown
We Will Become Silhouettes
Long Road for Love
The Last Train Home
