I Wouldn’t Trade Them for the World
Watching Rarity work was one of Twilight’s favorite pastimes. The noise and activity helps to calm her down when stressed, she gets exercise from the walk to the boutique, and she gets an excuse to stare at her marefriend.
Not that she needs an excuse. But plausible deniability is a virtue, as they say.
Rarity was currently sewing her initial designs for her new Spring line. Light-colored fabrics were stacked neatly on the table nearby. She pushed a piece of folded cloth under the needle, expertly maneuvering it to keep from wasting any thread.
It was hypnotic to Twilight. The rhythmic whirring of the machine as the needle’s repeated motions hastened and slowed at the press of the pedal under Rarity’s back hoof. The almost robotic attention with which Rarity tackled her task. Twilight was busy so often, she almost forgot what it was like to watch somepony else be busy.
Rarity shot her a glance, and a coy smile graced those soft features.
“What are you thinking about, dear?”
“Do I have to be thinking about something?” Twilight responded dreamily.
“No, but you always are.”
Rarity had her there.
“Stuff.”
“Stuff?”
“Yeah. Good stuff. Remember when I asked you out?”
It was a lazy day at the library. Twilight was working her way through a stack of paperwork that Mayor Mare had delivered to her, stating the need for “official recognition of the qualifications of our librarian” or some such. Rainbow Dash laid sprawled across the couch, a Daring Do book cradled in her hooves and a cup of hot chocolate that Twilight made for her on the coffee table. Rarity was browsing the shelves with Spike’s help.
Dash muttered under her breath constantly. “Yes, Yes! Take that, Caballeron. Up the vine… then do a backfli– Celestia, Daring Do is so cool.”
“I don’t know, Spike.” Rarity mused. “It doesn’t have to be a history book per se, it can also be something that draws a little historical influence. I’m trying to get inspiration, you see. That can come from anywhere.”
Spike gave a firm nod and began shuffling through books. The scratching of Twilight’s quill of the parchment in front of her ceased and – like she had just came out of a trance – looked around at the ponies (and dragon) who were with her. Rainbow was precariously taking a sip of her hot cocoa while trying not to stop reading and Spike was duck down into a shelf. Only Rarity was seemingly unoccupied, humming gently while scanning the titles in higher places.
Perfect.
“Hey Rarity?”
“Yes, Twilight?”
“Would you like to go on a date with me?”
Dash spewed her drink all over the library table as she fumbled her book onto the ground. Spike jerked upwards, hitting his head with a loud thud and a muffled, “Ow!” Rarity just looked at Twilight in shock.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yep.” Twilight made sure to maintain eye contact with Rarity as well as she could.
“Well then –” Rarity pouted “– I’m disappointed in you Twilight. You should know I expect something more romantic and memorable.”
Twilight levitated the paper she had been writing on. “Well, I’ve done the math” – Rainbow laughed from her place on the couch – “and based on the kinds of ponies you meet through your job and your natural aura of refinement, it’s a safe assumption that you’ve had plenty of misty-eyed confessions and grand gestures. Arguably then, the most memorable way to ask you out is to do the complete opposite of that.”
The other three occupants of the library were frozen, dumbfounded by what they were hearing. Rarity tried to look bothered. It wasn’t very convincing. She opened her mouth to speak but was beaten to the punch by Twilight.
“Although you’re right about that not being romantic. Hold on, let me amend my plan.” With a quick burst of magic, Twilight scribbled something else onto the parchment and turned to lock gazes with Rarity again. “Your eyes are beautiful,” she added, perfectly monotone.
Dash was now rolling around on the couch, tying herself into a knot trying to keep from bursting out laughing. Rarity squinted accusingly at the purple Casanova sitting behind the librarian’s desk.
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Twilight grinned. “It’s memorable,” she replied with a shrug.
Rarity marched straight over to the door and opened it but paused before exiting the library. She tilted her head back towards Twilight.
“Are you free Saturday?”
“I am now.”
That got Rarity to smile. “Be ready by six. I’ll pick you up.” With that, the seamstress closed the door behind her, giving Dash permission to finally break.
“Holy hay, how did that work?! And when did you get so smooth, egghead?”
“I had some time to practice.” Twilight looked over to the young dragon. “Sorry, Spike.”
He raised a claw. “No, you uh– you go get this whole uh… yeah, you’re fine. Um, good luck. Rooting for you.”
“Dear Celestia, do I,” Rarity groaned. “I was freaking out that whole time.”
“Because of my suave moves?”
Rarity giggled. “Yes, because of your ‘suave moves,’ darling.”
In retrospect, Twilight was very lucky that her plan hadn’t backfired that day. After so much time spent studying her friends’ schedules and planning an elaborate excuse to get Rarity alone with her in a restaurant, to throw out the entire process on a whim was stupid.
But hey, sometimes stupid works.
“I’ve always wondered what dastardly plan you had drawn out on that paper.” Rarity finished the stitch she was working on and levitated the dress over to a ponnequin to observe it.
“Oh, I’m sure you’d love to find out.” In truth, the paper was actually one of the documents Mayor Mare had sent. When Twilight stopped to write something on it, she was just signing her name.
“Say, Twilight. Do you remember that one time at Dash’s air show?”
Applejack’s orange coat hid blushing pretty well. But not well enough.
“I thought, uh… I thought there was goin’ be some of the colts an’ fillies down ‘ere. Not uhhhh… not –”
“Not two grown mares making out?” Rarity finished for her while Twilight looked on in horror.
“Yeah. That.” Applejack scratched the back of her head and pulled her stetson down a bit lower. “Not ta judge ya or none, but hidin’ underneath the bleachers is a bit…”
“Befitting ponies who are still in school?”
“Yeah, uh, that. Y’all two… y’all are, uh…”
“Beautiful marefriends who love each other very much?”
“Don’t say, ‘Yeah. That,’” Twilight added on quickly.
“Ye– uh.” Applejack froze like a deer in ditch lights. “Hhhhhow did this happen? When. When is a better… question.”
“Oh, it’s been a few months at this point. Right, Twilight?” Rarity molded her mane back into shape as she spoke.
“One hundred fourteen days. So yeah.”
“…Right.” You could almost see the smoke pouring out from the gears in Applejack’s head.
The three sat in silence under the bleachers in Ponyville Park, the occasional whistling from Rainbow speeding by being the only thing that cut through the oppressive discomfort of the situation.
“Soooo –” Rarity pointed a hoof between herself and Twilight “– we’re just going to get back to it if you’d like to watch.”
“No! No, I’m gay– good. I’m good. I’ve got a show to get back to, so y’all just go on back ta… it.”
Applejack stood stock still for a few seconds, glancing rapidly between the librarian and the fashionista, before bolting away.
“Ohhhhhh noooooo, why did you have to remind me?” Twilight buried her face in her hooves.
“Because it was hilarious, darling. And I’m halfway sure that we were poor AJ’s gay awakening.”
“Don’t say that.” Twilight was right there with Rarity, but it felt too weird to say out loud. “That’s not funny,” she managed to work out between laughs.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure it was a total coincidence that she asked Rainbow Dash out the next week. Imagine where she would be without us.”
“Not having to babysit Rainbow for ten hours a day?”
Rarity let out a little giggle-snort that Twilight thought was adorable.
“I suppose we should apologize to Applejack for that,” Rarity sighed.
“You think she’s busy today?”
The seamstress glanced over at the room’s clock. “Yes, I’d say she’s probably kissing Rainbow right about now.”
“Rarity.” Twilight launched into another fit of quiet laughter.
“I saw Rainbow Dash practicing her tricks over Sweet Apple Acres this morning. Do you really think that’s not the case?”
“Oh gosh, no, you’re probably right,” Twilight agreed. After a moment, she slid down her chair a few inches. “Ohhhhhhh, I just remembered Celestia’s reaction.”
It was one word. One little, innocent word that Twilight said without thinking. But Celestia noticed, and she latched onto it like a hawk.
“’Babe?’ I did not realize conversing with friends had become so casual in the modern century.”
Twilight never knew it was possible to sweat and freeze at the same time before this moment. Celestia knew. Twilight knew that Celestia knew. And Celestia knew that Twilight knew that Celestia knew.
Rarity stood by, severely unimpressed by Twilight’s monumental insight skills.
“Yeah!” Twilight squeaked out. “We’re really close friends and sometimes we refer to each other in… endearing ways! That can seem kind of, uh, implicative or, uh, rude. But we all know we love each other so no harm done! I also sometimes call Rainbow Dash, uh… feather brain?”
Celestia’s eyebrows rose. “Yes, that certainly is rude.”
“But she knows I don’t mean it! A-a-and she calls me ‘egghead’ a lot, you know? Because, you know, differences in, uh… intelligence.” Twilight wilted. “That sounded a lot meaner when I said it out loud.”
Twilight shrunk under Celestia’s steely gaze. Her mind was running at maximum anxiety, trying to find any way to escape what was coming.
Meanwhile, Rarity was getting tired of spectating this invisible battle of wills. She lightly coughed, trying to break up whatever was going on. Celestia’s eyes softened as she turned to her other guest, but Twilight stared at Rarity with undisguised terror.
“Perhaps we could get back to business?”
“Apologies. You are right,” Celestia stated as she stepped forward and placed a leg over Rarity’s shoulders. “Most important matters first. The banner that needs patching is right over here. Twilight, you don’t look well. Why don’t you stay here and take it easy?”
All of a sudden, Rarity knew why Twilight was freaking out. When she imagined “meeting the parents,” Rarity hadn’t considered her marefriend’s relationship with the millenia-old, nation-ruling, sun-wielding demi-god that taught her.
As she was led away, Rarity quickly thought up a list of all the reasons why she was a good choice for Twilight.
“So,” Celestia hummed casually. “You and Twilight?”
“Y-yes, Princess.”
“Oh, come now, Rarity. We’ve known each other for years, no need for formalities.”
The reassurance did nothing for Rarity. “O-of course, Pri– Celestia. As for Twilight, I c-care for her very much and we’ve been very open with talking to e-each other about what we expect and want and we’ve had very few bumps and –”
“Rarity.” The towering mare held up a hoof to interrupt Rarity’s worried rambling. “I’m sure you and Twilight are a perfect fit for each other.”
“Y-you are?”
Celestia nodded. “You are a mare who has a very clear vision of what she wants and how to achieve it. Twilight is not. Somepony with a little direction and the confidence to be themselves is exactly who Twilight needs.”
Rarity could feel her nerves settling. “Oh. Well –”
“As Twilight’s guardian, though, I will still be threatening you.”
“Oh.”
It was Rarity’s turn to shrink as Celestia lowered her head to be face-to-face with her.
“I’m sure you’re already aware, but Twilight is like a daughter to me. I’ve seen her grow, seen her hurt, seen her thrive. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure that Twilight lives a happy life. Does that make sense?”
Rarity nodded, unable to speak.
“Good. I hope you’ll understand what I mean when I say the pains of love cannot ever be healed. Not by friends, or family, or even a new partner. Twilight doesn’t deserve that. So if you ever think of doing anything to betray her trust and love, I will personally make sure that you learn what Equestria looks like from space.”
Rarity couldn’t prevent herself from trembling at the idea. “M-moon?” she managed to eke out.
Celestia smiled. “Someplace much further,” she said with a wink.
Rarity let out a long breath of air. “I think that was the closest I’ve ever come to dying.”
“Celestia wouldn’t –”
“From cardiac arrest, dear.”
“Oh, that’s fair.”
Rarity carefully finished pinning a new strip of fabric to the dress and removed it from the ponnequin. With a practiced elegance, the dress slid under the needle of the sewing machine and was perfectly lined up to begin. The needle didn’t move, however.
“You know, dear, there’s been plenty of times you haven’t been awkward that you can think about if you’d like.”
“I’m always awkward. That’s part of my charm.” Twilight used magic to flip her mane out of her face.
Rarity giggled at the gesture. “Mm, you’re right. Less awkward, I should have said.”
“Alright, I know you’re thinking about a specific incident. Out with it.”
“Welllll, do you remember when we went to Manehattan to see Dreammares?”
“The Royal Booth?” Rarity fluttered her lashes at Twilight. “You didn’t tell me we were going to be using your status to be getting good seats.”
“I’m not ‘using my status,’” Twilight protested. “I just figured– Well, the seats aren’t going to be used anyway and I wouldn’t want to take seats away from anypony else, and –”
“You were being thoughtful and generous.” Rarity interrupted. “My two favorite things.”
Twilight leaned over and gave her marefriend a peck on the lips. “Come on, let’s go sit down.”
As the two were climbing the stairs up to the box entrances, Rarity pressed herself up against Twilight. The sensation of their coats rubbing against each other as they climbed the stairs assured Twilight that she had made the right decision. Physical contact was one of Rarity’s tells – the little things that she did to indicate she was happier than usual.
“This will be the first time I’ve been in box seats,” Rarity whispered.
“Really? I’ve been in them before. Once. Celestia brought me to a play a long time ago, when I was still a new student.”
Rarity shook her head. “I’ve always wanted to. I used to dream that my prince would bring me to a show, and we’d sit in the top booth and not actually watch the play. Of course, a princess works too.”
“What’s the point of coming if you don’t watch the play?” Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “Also, you don’t have to whisper. We aren’t in the theater yet.”
Rarity gazed into Twilight’s eyes with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. Pity?
“Never change, Twilight.”
“I’ll try not to?”
The pair entered the theater’s Royal Booth and gawked at the view. Being the highest box, they had a perfect angle on the stage and orchestra pit. Rarity leaned against the railing while Twilight played with some switches she noticed along the wall. Most of them just turned on different lights in the booth, but one seemingly did nothing – the only thing that changed was the presence of a low humming when flipped.
“Oh hey, I think that’s a soundproofing spell. Built into the box itself. Fancy.”
Eventually, Twilight meandered over to the seats and took her place in the center chair. She had picked up a program earlier to read while they waited. By the time she was halfway through, Rarity still hadn’t taken her seat. Looking up, Twilight saw she was still standing with her front hooves on the railing, her ears swiveling to pick up the myriad conversations from the crowd, and tail swishing back and forth to show Twilight –
Twilight’s hoof shot up to cover her eyes. “Rarity, we’re in public.”
“Are we?”
“Yes.”
“Are we?”
“Yes.” Twilight dropped her hoof when she heard the taps of Rarity’s hoofsteps approaching her.
“Highest box in the theater, adjustable lighting, soundproof walls,” – Rarity crept closer as she spoke – “we might as well be back home in our own bedroom.”
“Rarity, we are not –” Twilight sputtered a bit before telekinetically flipping the soundproofing switch on.
“Ooh, that didn’t take much convincing,” Rarity purred.
“We are not having sex in the theater.” Twilight leaned as far back into her chair as she could. “That’s not happening.”
“Oh, daaaaarling.” Rarity began to drape herself over Twilight’s seated form. “Just think about how exhilarating it would be. Not even for meeee?”
“It’s not sanitary.”
“I don’t know, the floor looks very well sanitized, dear.”
“That’s not what I meant. Rarity, look. I realize now what I wasn’t picking up in the stairwell – and trust me, I’d love to – but I don’t think the thea– mmph!”
With a sudden upwards motion from the alabaster mare, the two were locked in a passionate kiss that Rarity broke first.
“That was all I needed to hear, darling.”
“I… sure do.” The urge to cover her face again was overwhelming, but Twilight knew that was the reaction Rarity was trying to elicit. She instead sat there, her face glowing brighter by the second. “Still trying to forget it.”
“Goodness, I didn’t think I was that bad.”
“No, I’m talking about the –” Twilight looked over at Rarity, who started the sewing machine back up with a devious grin. “Guh. I’m talking about the mess. Some poor pony had to clean up in there.”
“Well, I’m sure it wasn’t too big of a bother. Maybe they liked it.”
“Rarity, that’s disgusting.”
She said nothing, only grinning and continuing her work on the dress in her hooves.
Twilight leaned back in her seat and considered making some tea. It sounded lovely, but that would mean less time to admire Rarity.
“I think a lot about how lucky I am,” Twilight said. When Rarity just hummed in interest, she continued. “In general, of course, but also with you and just… I don’t know if you ever get the same feeling, but do you ever feel like you’re lucky you have the life you do?”
“I think that depends on what you mean, darling.”
“Okay so –” Twilight moved her hooves in front of her while she talked “– you know how sometimes I have those little moments of freaking out about how I’m not qualified to be doing… whatever it is I’m doing? And I’ve mentioned that the feeling gets really intense occasionally, but I always feel like that to some degree.
“The same applies to you. Well– I mean how I think about you. Because there’s no way the pony named Twilight Sparkle is even remotely in your league. It has to be luck, because if I had asked you out a minute earlier or a minute later, you would have said no.”
“That’s not true, Twilight.” Rarity had stopped sewing in the middle of Twilight’s statements. “I’d love you just the same, no matter when you asked me out.”
“I know. Really, I do. But despite knowing that in my head, it still feels that way. But when we do this… sorry I need a moment.” Twilight took some deep breaths and fought down the happy tears. “When we talk about things we’ve done, and laugh about silly things, and tease each other about stuff that’s happened… It really brings home the fact that it wasn’t just luck. And… and being with you makes me happy beyond words. I love you.”
Rarity slowly rose from her seat and trotted over to Twilight. Wrapping their hooves around each other, the two shared a firm hug.
“I love you too, Twilight,” Rarity whispered.
Eventually they pulled apart and Rarity returned to her seat, making a few adjustments to the fabric in the sewing machine before pressing the pedal.
They sat there for some time, the aura of silent togetherness that had been present only ten minutes prior returning. Until Rarity spoke up.
“On the topic of memories, do you remember the first time you stayed the night here, dear?”
Twilight fidgeted as she waited for the door to open. She knew Rarity liked to be dramatic, but even this had to be too long of a wait to answer a doorbell.
Just then, the door swung open. To Twilight’s surprise, Rarity was wearing a dress. A very beautiful dress, with strips of lace accentuating the main parts of the garment.
“Twiiiilight! Just the pony I was hoping to see! I’m so glad you came, darling.”
Stepping aside to let Twilight in, the librarian caught sight of the decorated interior of the boutique. Flowers and candles were placed around the main sitting room and mood lights had been strung up along the edges of the space.
Twilight sat down on the couch, where a steaming cup of tea was already awaiting her on the table.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say Sweetie Belle is at your parents’ tonight?”
“Wouldn’t you know it, you’re absolutely right!” Rarity sat down next to Twilight on the sofa and cuddled into her side. “Any other educated guesses, darling?”
“You are in some kind of mood, huh?”
Rarity sighed. “Can you blame me, dear? I haven’t been able to see you since last Thursday. And this commission has kept me from being all lovey-dovey like I want to be.”
Twilight winced at that. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for, darling. We are both busy mares, with even more busy schedules. That’s just the life of one of the most important ponies in Equestria and her marefriend, the princess.” She laughed at her own joke.
Twilight chewed on the inside of her cheek. They had just spent all this time thinking about good – or close enough to good – memories. Maybe… maybe she could do to add another one.
“I wasn’t apologizing for that.”
The sewing machine stopped as Rarity gave Twilight a confused glance. “What were you apologizing for?”
“For being the reason you don’t get any more work done tonight.”
A grin slowly spread across her marefriend’s face and she took her hoof off the machine’s pedal.
“Go on.”
With the signature flash of a teleportation spell, the Carousel Boutique’s workroom was suddenly empty.
Author's Note
I had a real good day last week and decided I wanted to write some romance-y fluff. Then this story came tumbling out.
I should have good days more often.
