Killing Time

Twilight lay silently in Rarity’s bed—in their bed—listening to her move about in the bathroom. After a few minutes, the bathroom light went out, and Rarity came into the bedroom, moving slowly.

Twilight smiled, ready to say hello, but Rarity’s eyes never left the floor. She seemed deep in thought. By the time she reached her nightstand and turned down her lamp, Twilight’s little plan to surprise her one last time had gone completely off the rails and she didn’t know what to do.

In the pitch darkness, Twilight held her breath as Rarity settled into her side of the bed and sighed. A wistful sound, Twilight thought.

Then everything was still. Twilight was sure her heart beating in her chest would give her away, but it didn’t.

She’d let it go on too long now. She just had to bite the bit and…

Twilight licked her lips and spoke. “Rarity?”

A twitch. After a moment: “Twilight?”

“Yes.”

“Darling.” Twilight could hear Rarity’s smile. “In case you were not aware, I am old and frail. Did you intend to give me a heart attack just now? Because you very nearly did, and I would have been so upset with you if that was how things ended between us.”

“In my defense, I didn’t think you could possibly miss an alicorn lying in your bed.”

“Yes, well,” Rarity struggled upright and reached over to ignite her bedside lamp again, bringing it around to get a better look at her bedmate, “I’m forced to admit my eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be, and—” She caught sight of Twilight and gasped. “Twilight, dear, what’s happened to you?”

“Just… time.” Twilight smiled softly. “Old and frail, you said? Maybe it’s not so surprising you missed the alicorn lying in your bed.”

Rarity reached out a hoof to ever so gently stroke her face. “My darling. I never thought… from how far ahead have you come back?”

“How old am I, do you mean?” She laughed quietly. “I’m not even sure anymore. You sort of… lose track, after the ten-thousandth year or so. Not more than twenty thousand, I think. Doubly hard to keep track, with all the time spent out of my own time. My personal chronology is less of a timeline and more of a time knot.”

“But so, you’re… you are…” Rarity looked down at the princess’s body, insubstantial and sylphlike beneath her quilt.

“Dying,” Twilight breathed. “Not long now. And if my calculations are correct, if I’ve timed it right, we should… go… together.”

“Oh, Twilight…”

“Never did forgive myself for leaving you here alone. Should have known better. But I’m here now.” Twilight looked up at her Rarity, bathed in lamplight, and smiled.

“I’d really thought I’d seen you for the last time. When I sent you off on your trip this morning, I… This is more than I ever could have asked for.”

“Except… except…” A frown creased Twilight’s brow. “I’m not her. Not your Twilight. She’s out there right now, and I shouldn’t be here, not really.”

“You are exactly where you should be,” Rarity said, gently but forcefully. She laid a hoof under Twilight’s chin and drew her up and leaned in and kissed her. Twilight hesitated a moment, frozen, but warmth spread through her and she closed her eyes, returning the kiss.

When they broke apart, Rarity put her forehead to Twilight’s and whispered, “You’ve always been my Twilight.”

A tear trailed down Twilight’s cheek. “I have.”

With care, they rearranged themselves, cuddling up together. They talked, and laughed, and kissed, and as the hours drained away the talking and laughing and kissing grew weaker.

At length, Twilight grew quiet, her eyes unfocused, and she sighed. “It’s almost time, Rarity. I can… feel it.”

Rarity nodded, and pulled back slightly, just enough to be able to see her. “I feel it too, dear,” she murmured. “Just a few minutes, I should think.”

“I’m so lucky,” Twilight whispered. “So very lucky. I love you, Rarity.”

“I love you, my beloved Twilight. This truly has been the best life I could have asked for.”

Twilight smiled weakly, her eyes drooping shut. “I don’t know what… comes next, but…”

Rarity waited for Twilight to finish, but she was silent.

“Twilight?” Rarity stroked her cheek with a hoof.

The alicorn let out a long, slow breath, and was still.

Rarity’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Oh, my Twilight.”

She exhaled and felt her own fire, whatever force animated her, truly start to flicker, guttering down. It almost felt like falling asleep.

Just at the edge of darkness, she became aware of some brightness, despite the lamp having gone out some time ago. She found her eyes had drifted shut of their own accord, and she managed to open them just enough to see Twilight’s form had changed.

She was glowing.

Pure, radiant, shimmering energy.

She… sparkled.

Rarity reached out for her, and her hoof passed right through her, awash in warmth and light. She felt bathed in love and wonder and contentment and peace.

Slowly, the shimmering sparkles faded, spreading out and dissolving into nothingness. She could just barely make out her quilt falling softly, gently, to the bed.

A smile crept across her face as her eyes drifted shut once more, and nearly soundlessly she murmured:

“See you soon.”