An early winter lunch
“We’ll have to visit your family, next time.” Twilight seemed cheerful, in a pleasant rather than exuberant sense, as she and Rarity sat outside a Ponyville restaurant on a pleasant winter afternoon.
Her calm contrasted Rarity’s intense emotions. This was the first Hearth’s Warming that she was spending with her marefriend’s family. While Rarity knew that Twilight always set apart time for her friends, she often spent Hearth’s Warming proper in Canterlot. A year ago, Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor had invited Twilight and their parents to the Crystal Empire. And after the Tree of Harmony gifted Twilight her delightful new castle, Twilight had confided to Rarity that Shining Armor and Cadence were encouraging Twilight to host the holiday at her place for once.
“Will you?” Rarity had asked a few months earlier, looking up from the tea she had been sipping, already planning to help with everything from the decorations to the planning.
Twilight had glanced away, and if she hadn’t looked so worried when she did so Rarity would have smirked (definitely) and blushed (possibly, just a bit). As it was, Rarity frowned a bit, and placed one hoof on Twilight’s. The frown turned to deeper concern when she saw Twilight’s pained glance towards the path that led to the ruins of her library: her eyes watering a bit, her ears turned downward.
“I don’t think I’m ready for that,” Twilight had stated simply and practically.
A clearing of the throat jolted Rarity to the present and she smiled quickly, laughing briefly but lightly at Twilight’s needlessly worried expression as she stared at Rarity.
“Sorry, darling, I was lost in thought,” Rarity easily smiled at her, and Twilight mirrored her smile cautiously.
“Is it a bad idea?” Twilight asked, one hoof rubbing quickly along one of her front legs.
“What?”
“Us visiting your parents next time?” The words came out hesitant and unsure, as if she was afraid of pushing Rarity into a prolonged reverie again.
Rarity choked a bit on the sip of tea she had taken.
“Never mind,” Twilight said hurriedly, lifting her sandwich in her magic but uncharacteristically hesitating before eating it.
“No, darling, it’s fine” Rarity said, suddenly feeling unease in addition to heady anticipation and unabashed fondness. “I haven’t spent Hearth’s Warming with my parents in some time. But perhaps that could be arranged in the future, to make it even, as it were.”
Twilight nodded, now chewing her sandwich, although her eyebrows were furrowed a bit as she studied Rarity. Rarity appreciated Twilight’s attention, but disliked the lull in conversation.
“At least I’ll finally be able to make it to the Hearth’s Warming Eve Winter Kindness Ball!” Rarity said eyes fluttering and front hooves tapping the table.
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,” Twilight said, finishing her first sandwich and starting her second.
“You will too,” Rarity encouraged, taking a delicate bite of her own sandwich.
“Hmmm,” Twilight hummed to herself for a moment, then shrugged. “I’ve gone to these a few times before as Celestia’s student. The last two years before I moved here, I helped plan it. Although, I do feel a little anxious about this one. I do enjoy it, but this will be the first time I’ve gone since I ascended. And while I used to enjoy being on my best behavior as Celestia’s student, and then the satisfaction of a job well done once I was on the planning committee, I don’t have either of those things now. It’s weird being a princess of the ball, instead of the Princess’s student.”
“I’ll help you find the fun it,” Rarity promised, her grin coming naturally to her face.
Twilight smiled back, and they ate in companiable silence for a while.
“I’m worried about my… responsibilities more than having fun,” Twilight admitted, some minutes after the waiter had placed their deserts on the table.
“I understand… not the circumstances but I daresay the essence of what you’re saying,” Rarity replied, moving her ice cream sundae to a shadowed part of the table. “But responsibilities and fun can coexist, as I know you know when you’re researching or lecturing.”
Twilight nodded, waiting until she finished the spoon of vanilla ice cream she had started before responding. Some ponies might have thought it too chilly for ice cream, but Rarity and Twilight knew that the best time for ice cream was when it acclimated you to the surrounding weather.
***
Hearth’s Warming Eve
Twilight Sparkle did not feel exhausted as she and Rarity finally reached the part of Canterlot where her parents’ house stood. The golden and stained-glass door stood as proud and private as ever and Twilight knocked as loud as she dared with Spike and Sweetie Belle sleeping on the backs of their respective family members.
Organized and compartmentalized as Twilight’s brain tended to be, she had been expecting her father or mother to answer the door. When Shining Armor answered the door, she had to squish her surprise down into a more modest expression of joy befitting a pony with a sleeping child on their back in a quiet area of Canterlot.
“Twily!” Shining Armor exclaimed, only for both Twilight and Rarity to shush him, Rarity almost apologetically and Twilight sharply.
“Sorry,” he said, his eyes widening as he noticed the sleeping children, and he ushered them away from the cold snow slowly covering the green stone streets of Canterlot.
Precisely eight minutes later, with coats put away and the children placed in beds, Twilight and Rarity sat with Shining Armor in the sitting room just by the front door.
“Okay,” Shining said with his easy smile and relaxed manner, “It’s a pleasure to have you here Rarity. I apologize that my sister never brought you here earlier.”
Twilight grumbled something in a whisper, but Rarity spoke audibly and faster.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be here, Shining Armor. Although this late meeting is no fault of Twilight’s.”
“Hey, just kidding,” Shining said, with a grin as easy as his smile. “Twi knows that I know she wasn’t holding back on purpose.”
“You didn’t tell me about your engagement until I was invited to the wedding,” Twilight said.
“Sure, bring that up again. You knew who I was marrying already, even if you didn’t know I was marrying her,” Shining countered.
Twilight felt she could have replied to Shining’s inadequate response fairly well, but she felt blindsided by the mention of marriage. Even though she didn’t want to, not without coming up with some response, she found herself glancing at Rarity.
Rarity’s eyes flitted between Shining and Twilight in a careless way belied by the characteristic sharpness of her eyes. She did not, on the surface, appear particularly offended or alarmed.
“Not that it’s needed, but let’s start over,” Shining said, prompting Twilight to turn her gaze back towards him.
“I’m sorry Rarity,” Twilight nuzzled Rarity briefly, neglecting to respond immediately to her brother. She knew Rarity was both nervous and excited to get to know her family better, and that Rarity had…expectations for her relationships. Siblings revisiting old quarrels and implied references to marriage long before Twilight or Rarity had discussed it was not on the list for this Hearth’s Warming visit.
Rarity gave Twilight a smile, hopefully meant to reassure, before turning towards Shining Armor. “As a sister myself, I understand that sibling discussions can get dicey.”
“I’m sure,” Shining said. Twilight winced, feeling a little unmoored at how disorganized, unsafe, and overly emotional the conversation had been, but she felt Rarity casually place her hoof over hers. Well, casual was never the correct word to describe Rarity, but the contact was comforting without drawing attention to itself. It anchored Twilight enough for her to catch the tail end of her brothers’ words, which she had apparently been missing. “How did you guys...” he hesitated, apparently unwilling or unable to label their relationship despite his willingness to bring marriage into the equation earlier.
Twilight didn’t flush as she recalled how her relationship with Rarity started. She did smile though, so softly and suddenly that she surprised herself. Smiling was a fitting response after all, as their relationship had started with quiet affection and mutual trust.
“This is in fact a perfect time to ask this question,” Rarity said to Shining, her smile genuine.
Shining didn’t respond with words, but he raised his eyebrows and nodded in an encouraging way.
“Wait!” Twilight said, then gave an apologetic wince at the others’ slightly alarmed expressions as they hurriedly turned towards her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Shouldn’t we wait for Mom, Dad, and Cadence?”
“Dad and Cadence are busy getting some last-minute things for the holiday,” Shining said. “And Mom had something come up all of sudden related to work. But it’s fine” he hastened when he saw Twilight’s eyes widen in concern. “It’s securely out of our jurisdiction. Probably the playing Canterlot politics version of whatever Dad and Cadence are doing anyway. She was more annoyed than anything else.”
“Besides,” Rarity said confidently. “I for one, can tell the story of how our relationship started several times within a day without tiring of it. If dear Shining Armor does not mind listening to it twice, I certainly will be glad to tell it as many times as needed.”
Twilight smiled when Rarity glanced at her, and the smile became a bit bigger when Rarity nodded at her.
“It’s a Hearth’s Warming story,” Twilight said.
When Shining shifted a bit in surprise, Rarity nodded excitedly, before catching herself and nodding with more careful dignity.
“When we did the play for Canterlot Castle,” Twilight explained.
“So, the lights, curtains, and action got to you,” Shining said jokingly to Rarity.
“Au contraire,” Rarity said.
“It was when we were practicing our lines and the stage blocking,” Twilight added.
“Twilight was so…inspiring with how she interpreted the characters,” Rarity gestured with her hooves as she spoke. “Crafting such intricate backstory that Princess Platinum became real to me.”
“Thanks” Twilight cut in, “But I only noted the little details Sacred Chronicles put in the script. And in Above Mortals: Monarchs of the Classical Age you can get a real sense of her values, if not her personality. Although it helps that I’ve done research in the Platinum Collection in the Unicorn Range Archives, since at least four of her surviving letters are kept there.”
“And there’s the second reason I fell for her,” Rarity continued, as Shining gave a simultaneously genuinely curious but lightly annoyed glance at his sister. “Twilight has a bewitching way of knowing you by paying careful attention to you, looking for things others would never think to. When she started to say things about me with the same care and passion she gives to her research, I knew I had finally discovered my true love.”
***
“Well, that’s charming,” Twilight Velvet said.
Rarity smiled in response as she sipped a bit of her drink. Twilight’s parents and sister-in-law had come back from their respective errands, and the adults had gathered for dinner with the children at a smaller table nearby. As she promised, Rarity was regaling them with the same story that she had told Shining Armor in detail. The conversation before the storytelling restarted had been small talk, perfect and perfunctory. Now that earlier dance of conversation had disappeared with the soup and salad. Now was the time for desert and drinks, for deeper conversation.
“Your cue, darling” Rarity said to Twilight, who after the initial excitement from seeing the rest of her family had become fairly sedate.
“My cue?” She asked.
“This is where you told me your side of the story,” Shining prompted, looking up from the cake he was eating.
“Oh, of course,” Twilight said, her tone shifting almost to one she used when lecturing. Rarity was neither offended or alarmed, Twilight had multiple lecturing voices. The voice she used now was closest to her “lecturing about friendship voice” as opposed to drier subjects, although to Rarity’s pleasure and satisfaction it was distinct even from that. “I was having trouble with my lines.”
“You had trouble memorizing something?” Cadence asked, sounding surprised not unkind.
“It was less that I was struggling to memorize something, and more that someone more important had caught my interest.” Twilight explained, with a smile towards Rarity.
Cadence grinned, Rarity gave an appreciative smile, and Twilight Velvet shifted the conversation.
“Now, I know you were one of dear Cadence’s bridesmaids,” Velvet said, with a nod towards Cadence. “But that was a onetime event. What is it that you like to do when you aren’t memorizing plays or acting as part of a wedding party?”
Rarity felt a mixed sense of relief and excitement at the question. Unexpected, but certainly manageable. She glanced at everyone else in the room. Night Light looked as interested as if he had asked the question instead of his wife. Cadence looked politely amused. Shining Armor was listening, if the subtle bent of his ears gave anything away, but was giving the most obvious attention to his desert. Twilight Sparkle had a surprisingly neutral face, although her eyes were alight with curiosity regarding how Rarity would answer.
“I own my own fashion boutique, and I am hoping to expand to multiple shops soon,” Rarity said.
Twilight Velvet looked a bit discomfited, lips pressed together, but Night Light said, “Enterprising. I do believe I’ve seen some of your work increasingly over the last couple of years.”
“You flatter me,” Rarity said, trying to compose the smile that had naturally burst at Night Light’s words.
“I never say something I don’t mean,” Night Light responded.
“I’m planning to open one here soon,” Rarity glanced at a window as if she could see the new building from there, even though she was in a residential area without any shops nearby and no intention of trying to put her shop in the residential area.
“And when you’re not managing your business, what do you do?” Twilight Velvet asked.
“Ah,” Rarity said, catching the meaning of Velvet’s original question. “I do love a good spa date. Also, anything that expands my mind. Galas and balls are especial favorites,” she paused, deciding against noting that she could not go to them quite as often as she would like with her myriad responsibilities and her home’s distance from the capital. “Museums are also nice.”
“There’s a new museum in the old Magnanimous place,” Cadence said. “Shining and I saw it a week ago, when it opened. It has the most charming architecture and artifacts from old Canterlot.”
“You should go there sometime,” Shining said, taking a break from his desert.
“I actually made it to the opening, although not for as long as I would have liked,” Rarity said. She felt pretty confident about how the conversation was going, although it occurred to her that Twilight had been fairly quiet. She likely wants me to get comfortable with her family without overshadowing our conversation. She gave Twilight a subtle glance, which Twilight responded to with a gentle and brief smile. Content that her guess was correct, Rarity turned back towards Twilight’s parents.
“You have honest intentions towards our little Twily, I’m sure,” Twilight Velvet said, with a smile.
When did I become the gentlepony or prince charming of the story? Rarity thought to herself, more amused than annoyed. “Why of course,” she felt her thoughts prompting her to consider all of the delicious ramifications of formalizing her relationship with Twilight, but managed to restrain herself. Instead, she decided it was time to show the same interest in Twilight’s family that they had shown in her.
Before she could ask a question, however, Night Light said, “I’m sure your parents wished you were at home with them right now. You are all,” his eyes moved easily between Shining, Twilight, and Rarity, “around the age when you forget all about your parents. Though of course, I’m sure you told them where and why you weren’t with them. We should invite them over next time,” he finished, although this last bit was clearly directed towards Velvet and he gave her a questioning glance.
“Or we could visit them,” Twilight Velvet said. “If it’s not too bold to invite ourselves.”
Rarity was glad that she was not in the midst of drinking or chewing when the conversation took this turn.
“I’ll ask them sometime,” she said easily, and that was that.
***
“Announcing her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle” shouted the herald at the door of the grandest ballroom in Canterlot. Twilight had, alarmingly, gotten used to the change in how she was announced. Either her past anxiety or a strict schedule had intervened, but the herald had thankfully also omitted to name any of her myriad other titles.
“Announcing Rarity, Element of Generosity,” the herald continued.
Rarity walked into the ballroom with the grace and confidence of someone born to do so.
When she reached Twilight, she stood as close as possible without actually touching her. She did so for the sake of appearances and court etiquette, especially considering that their relationship had not yet been announced or even gossiped about in elite circles yet. Twilight moved a bit closer to speak to Rarity. She did not plan for their shoulders to meet, at least not if anyone asked her later, but she was not opposed to the comfort it afforded her either. “What do you think?” Twilight asked, with a nod towards the grand expanse of the ballroom.
“Breathtaking,” Rarity said, her whisper elegant even in obvious delight. “The diamonds do make the most fetching snowflakes.”
“Princess Twilight” Princess Celestia said, her voice not disguising the relish she felt in calling her Princess Twilight. “And Rarity, I am glad to see you both.”
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight said, her ears drooping just a bit at Celestia’s partially amused, partially disappointed response to Twilight including her title.
“Princess Celestia, I hope you’re evening has been delightful so far,” Rarity said, lucky enough to still be able to call Celestia princess without it being considered a mistake.
“Today has been fairly eventful, but I have enjoyed every moment,” Celestia responded.
“Lovely dress,” Rarity complimented, prompting Twilight to look at Princess Celestia’s clothing for the first time that day.
It truly was a lovely dress, which Twilight could see now that Rarity pointed it out. The soft orange and gold with purple accents complemented Celestia’s coat and mane while evoking her colors. Or, at least, Twilight thought it complemented Celestia. She was never entirely certain of the whole color seasons methodology.
After that moment of concern, Twilight realized Celestia had already moved on to greet another guest.
“Are there any objectives you have today,” Rarity said, her voice light as a piece of paper that you hastily write a note on.
“Besides representing Equestria?” Twilight asked. “No, thankfully. Although, I wouldn’t mind having something else to do.”
“Excellent,” Rarity said. “We should dance together when the next waltz starts.”
Twilight nodded. She enjoyed dancing, and while she could have fun cutting loose on her birthday or for a favorite song, she also enjoyed the simple dances she did at Pinkie’s parties and the waltzes or ballets that dominated Canterlot with their intricate rules and storied histories.
“You’re feeling alright darling?” Rarity asked.
“Oh no, I’m fine,” Twilight said, giving Rarity her attention. Rarity was giving her a gentle look of concern. In her deep blue dress lightly decorated with gold and lace, she looked as elegant as a painting in a museum. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rarity asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
“It’s just been a pretty busy past day or two,” Twilight said. After dinner and opening Hearth’s Warming presents with Spike and Sweetie Belle per Twilight and Spike’s family tradition, they had needed to hurriedly prepare for the ball. Twilight shifted a bit awkwardly as if she wanted to say more, but some courtiers came to speak to her about an urgent matter.
***
Although Rarity had wanted to talk a bit more, she knew enough of court intrigue and Equestrian politics to know that Twilight’s time would be monopolized throughout most of the evening. While Twilight completed her princess duties, Rarity shifted naturally between supporting her and catching up with her connections among the elite.
Rarity prided herself on her ability to quickly shift focus among multiple ponies and factions at once, even when there was something larger at play. Still, it came as a surprise to her when Twilight politely interrupted one of her conversations to inform her that it was time for their dance.
Even as they danced together, Twilight’s careful steps leading them, Rarity knew she wanted to clear the air a bit before the end of the holiday trip. During the dinner with Twilight’s parents, she and Twilight had barely exchanged a word to each other. It had been easier for them to communicate with each other when they were only speaking to Shining Armor, but the conversation had prompted subjects such as marriage or how Rarity was barely more than an acquaintance to most of Twilight’s family. Although Rarity was more concerned about the latter than the former, she knew Twilight well enough to guess what might have concerned her most. But she also knew the value of staying in the moment. Accordingly, she gave herself up to the elegance of the music and the delicate nature of the accompanying dance.
There seemed to be something of answers just in the certain closeness she shared with Twilight as they danced.
***
“Gosh, I’m tired,” Twilight said, collapsing on the bed. They were in Canterlot Castle, relaxing after the ball.
“Too tired to talk?” Rarity asked, as she retrieved her sleep mask out of her luggage and placed it on the bedstand by her side of the bed.
“No,” Twilight said with a cheerful tenderness that contrasted the tired sigh underlying the words.
Rarity considered postponing conversation, but Twilight seemed alert enough.
“Does your family ever visit others families for the holiday?” Rarity asked, as she got into bed with Twilight and snuggled comfortably under her wing. She loved the neat, perfect fit, how they complemented each other so well even in what would be a mundane moment if it were other ponies.
Twilight shifted towards Rarity, her eyes alert now despite her previous sleepiness. “Sometimes we have to… or had to... visit other families for the holidays.”
“Cadence’s family was one of them, I suppose,” Rarity suggested and asked at once.
Twilight frowned a bit. “No, actually. Sometimes her friends would come over to our house.”
Rarity would have wondered more about this, but Twilight added, “I think growing up, Celestia was Cadence’s family though. At least by the time my family knew her.”
“Ah,” Rarity said, nuzzling the back of Twilight’s neck a bit. “Meeting Princess Celestia for the holidays must had been stressful.
“Maybe it would have been,” Twilight said in a thoughtful voice.
Rarity nudged her a bit, prompting Twilight to turn towards her with a slightly sheepish smile.
“It would have been stressful, for me at least. My parents were always calm and collected during events where they needed to talk to the Princess. Except for when I got my cutie mark, but that was because they were so excited for the opportunity I had been given.”
“And your brother?” Rarity asked.
“He would be too busy letting Cadence make him anxious to feel nervous about the Princess,” Twilight said with a small smirk and a gentle but fond roll of her eyes.
Rarity smiled, but noted, “You keep saying ‘would.’ So, you never met with Princess Celestia in regards to Cadence.”
“Not while I still lived in Canterlot. Although, at some point I spent so much time at the School for Gifted Unicorns, in libraries, and in my tower that it isn’t impossible that they had a dinner I wasn’t privy too. Besides, Cadence had been babysitting me for years before Shining Armor and her started a relationship. She was already part of the family in a way, and no one really wanted anything different or was surprised. Well, I guess I was surprised when I found out they were engaged, but that’s because my brother’s an idiot and couldn’t write a letter earlier.”
“Wasn’t his tardiness because of changelings?” Rarity said, stroking one of Twilight’s hooves even as she absently shifted on the bed.
“He knew he was marrying Cadence long before the changelings attacked,” Twilight countered. Then placing the hoof Rarity stroked on top of Rarity’s hoof, Twilight said, “You did great with my parents by the way. They like you a lot, and I think they are glad that you are here and that you… will be here. In the future.” Twilight’s voice became softer as she continued speaking, but her alert expression made it clear that it wasn’t because she was falling asleep.
“And,” Rarity continued, her own voice becoming gentler, though not necessarily softer, “If I may ask, are you okay with staying here?” There was a pause, and Rarity continued in a mostly controlled manner, “Not to speak with presumptions regarding anything. I merely wish to gain a better understanding of your…desires after hearing your family’s understandings.”
Twilight nodded a bit. Her throat felt stupidly and uselessly dry, but she had not brought any water with her in the room and did not feel inclined to call anyone to the room nor to leave to get something herself. “Of course. I know I want you here, with me. ‘Here’ being wherever we need to go, and ‘with me’ being, us together.”
Twilight looked searchingly at Rarity for a moment, but she was mostly intent on listening to Twilight’s words.
“Sorry that all the conversations shifted to either how we met or when we’re getting married,” Twilight rolled her eyes and nestled deeper into the pillows and blankets.
“I didn’t mind. I do enjoy telling our story Twilight. Besides, what else is there to talk about?”
“Other than our story?” Twilight asked, an incredulous note in her voice.
“Other than the past or the future,” Rarity responded, a bit of laughter spilling out with her words.
Twilight smiled in return, and then gently moved forward just enough to kiss Rarity. Rarity kissed her back, softly stroking Twilight’s mane.
A moment later, when the kiss was over, Twilight rested her head with a soft thud against Rarity’s shoulder. They passed the time in pleasant silence until Twilight broke it.
“Did you think I handled the ball well?” When her brief glance at Rarity revealed Rarity’s amused surprise, Twilight added with only a small wince, “Princess Celestia said I did well, but I trust your opinion. In addition to her opinion, of course.”
“Delightful, darling,” Rarity said.
“I know it’s silly of me to have anxiety about this when I’ve done similar things, albeit with a different role,” Twilight added in an apologetic tone.
Rarity, although she technically heard Twilight’s words, was too distracted by her own reverie to respond or to even think through them.
“Are you okay?” Twilight asked, briefly nuzzling Rarity’s shoulder.
“Ah, yes,” Rarity answered with a toss of her curls.
Twilight nodded and allowed the silence to fill the room again for about five minutes or so. Then Twilight said, “If your parents aren’t able to host mine next Hearth’s Warming and they also can’t make it to Canterlot, it’s okay.”
Rarity gave her a sharp questioning glance.
“You don’t need to feel pressured to do something thar’s uncomfortable for you, or that you want more time for,” Twilight elaborated, holding Rarity’s gaze.
Rarity’s mouth shifted to a bitter smirk that softened into a grateful smile. “If it is truly important to your family that they meet my parents soon, I’m willing to work towards that. But I appreciate it, Twilight. It does help to know you appreciate… well, that you respect any feelings and hesitations I may have regarding the matter.”
Twilight hugged Rarity, who snuggled as close to Twilight as she could while lifting the blanket to tuck them both in. A clock somewhere in the castle chimed, announcing it was midnight.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Rarity,” Twilight whispered in her ear.
“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Twilight,” Rarity murmured back. She knew that she and Twilight had much more to discuss, but the rest of the night was for restful comfort.
