My Fair Twilie (Book 2/3)

Chapters

Chapter 1 - The Dream
Chapter 2 - Dawn
Chapter 3 - The Date
Chapter 4 - Learning the Truth
Chapter 6 - Another Canterlot Wedding (Part 2)
Chapter 5 - Another Canterlot Wedding (Part 1)

Chapter 1 - The Dream

The party was a hit. Twilight was the guest of honor. As such, she gave a speech shortly after her arrival at Sugarcube Corner, informing everypony about her tragic accident and about her horn. Since she's a true-born unicorn, Twilight still possessed magic within her. There would always be essence inside her. But, without a real horn, she would be unable to release any externally, which is known quite well as the casting of a spell.

During the party, she began to learn how difficult this experience would be for her. She was so used to levitation that she actually tried lifting up bottles of soda into cups with her horn like she always did absentmindedly. It took her several moments of concentration to remember that she could not do that anymore, and she was forced to grab the bottle with her mouth, pour it manually, and set it back under the expectation to not spill anything on the tablecloth. She managed, but it seemed so laborous compared to the effortlessness of magic.

As the party went on, she became all the more discouraged when brainless tasks became challenges, including teleporting and opening and closing doors. She felt obligated to stay for the whole event, being the guest of honor and all. When the celebration finally ended, she offered to help Pinkie Pie clean up, but was reminded that she could not simply pick everything up and throw it all into a trashcan because she lacked magic. Pinkie Pie let her, but immediately, Twilight refused. She apologized, gave her farewell to her friend, and took off back for home.

When she got to the Library, she climbed the stairs to her balcony and positioned herself in front of her telescope. It was dark out - the party having lasted several hours - and the sky was now full of bright, twinkling stars, some of which were shaped in comparison to the stars on Twilight's flank. A smile had not been on her face since she arrived at the party, and staring at the stars was, to some surprise, not helping. Discouraged and wondering how she bathed considering she lacked a bathtub, Twilight climbed down from her balcony (very painfully) and limped into bed, pulling her blankets over her body. She closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning when she woke up, Twilight felt lethargic and limp. In her words, "I'm fine," meant "I don't need to go to the emergency room." Which was true. But her pain was undeniable. She was too weak to get up and tried to fetch a book with the magic of her horn, remembering that she was not a unicorn anymore moments later. She asked Spike to instead retrieve the book for her, informing him that she was incapacitated. He displayed his sympathy for her pain as he delivered her the book. Twilight appreciated Spike's sympathy, but also understood that no amount of sympathy was ever going to liberate her.

Twilight dove right into the book, reading nonstop until she got hungry, where she finally gathered the strength to climb out of bed, limp downstairs, out of the Library, to the restaraunt across the village, and then back to the Library after her meal.

She grunted as she eased herself back into bed. "AUHH! This sucks!" she exclaimed exasperatedly. "I'm not sure which is worse: the inability to cast spells, or the inability to move!" she thought about that. "The inability to move."

"I know it must be very painful, Twilight," Spike said calmly. "But it won't last forever. Sure you brutally landed on your hooves after you finished casting that spell which saved us all from King Sombra, but in a couple days, you'll be fine."

"I know that, Spike," replied Twilight just as calmly, her exasperation receded. "I've been sick before plenty of times. Just...not also powerless."

"I doubt that's helpful," Spike added, heading downstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To Rarity's."

"Why?"

"Um...just 'cause. I'll be back later."

Spike exited the Library.

Twilight collapsed in her bed.

"I'm so bored!" she whined aloud. "I can't practice or study magic, I can't go for a walk around Ponyville - I can't even move!" She started to weep. "I'm just a useless body of pony flesh!"

She turned over, pulling the covers back over herself. She cried for several more moments, until she had cried herself back to sleep, having spent much of her already limited energy on producing tears.

Her last dream was merely a blur to her. She hardly remembered anything that happened. But this dream: this dream stuck with her. It was clear and vivid, and felt so real she could not believe her eyes.

Her dream began with her waking up in bed - but she was not in her home. She had actually slept on a puffy, yellow cloud in the shape of a bed with no blanket. She looked around, to find herself in the middle of a vast, empty room constructed completely of puffy, yellow clouds. She took a look at herself. Same lavender coat. Same sparkly cutie mark. Same dark-colored mane. Same useless horn. But she also noticed that she had a pair of wings about the size of Rainbow Dash's.

"I must be dreaming," she said.

"You are correct," spoke an ominous voice, sounding much like Princess Celestia's.

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked, looking around. "Wh-where are you?"

"I am at my throne, Twilight. But this magical place allows me to communicate with you anywhere."

"Really? Well where am I? And why do I have these intrusive wings? I'm a unicorn. Unicorns aren't supposed to have wings! That was proven when I gave my friend Rarity wings and she almost plummeted to her death."

"You have wings because you chose to become a pegasus, Twilight."

"I never chose to be a pegasus! When did that happen?"

"When you came here, after you broke your horn. You hated being an earth pony with a horn, so you told me you wanted to be a pegasus when you got here, so I found you a nice place to live and gave you a pair of wings so you may experience being a pegasus."

"I don't want to be a pegasus! I want to be a unicorn, and unicorns are not supposed to have wings!"

"You don't like being an alicorn without magic, Twilight?"

"No, I don't! And for the last time, where am I?"

"You haven't figured it out yet? I know you're a very smart pony, Twilight Sparkle. I cannot believe it has taken you this long to figure out where you are."

Twilight took another good look around her environment. Everything - everything was made of clouds. She took off from her bed and flew to the entryway of her room, where she was able to further assess the perimeter. Everypony around her could fly or walk on clouds and those who were unicorns possessed unlimited magic, and nopony ever seemed to tire from anything.

It hit her.

"Am I in...pony heaven?" she asked the ominous voice.

"That you are, Twilight. I just knew you could figure it out."

"Wait! Does that mean I'm dead?"

"If that's what you believe."

Twilight freaked out. Her pupils shrunk. She began to prespire and tremble with fear.

"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! I can't be dead!"

"Well you are. But don't feel badly about it, Twilight. You're in a much better place than Ponyville. I don't know why you chose to be an alicorn if you hate having wings, but try out your horn - you're magic, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight calmed, somewhat relieved to hear that phrase which she could swear she heard before. She used her magic in an effortless attempt to remove her wings from her body. Sure enough, one zap later, and her wings were gone.

"I...I have magic?" she could hardly believe what she just witnessed.

"That you do. After all, there is almost nothing in Equestria you loved more than magic. So of course I gave it back to you when you died."

"But...I don't wanna be dead," said Twilight softly.

"I'm afraid it's not a matter of desire," replied the ominous voice.

"This is stupid!" she shrieked. "I don't wanna be dead just to be magical! I wanna live! I'd rather spend eternity without magic if it means I get to be with my friends in Ponyville!"

"If you want to be alive so badly, then why don't you just wake up?"

"Wha-?"

Twilight jerked herself awake, breathing heavily from the horrible nightmare she experienced. She did not moved until she calmed herself. Then she looked out her window: dawn was soon approaching. She had slept the whole day. She tried to levitate the book she had dismissed to the floor with her horn: no use. She was definitely awake now. Her body had healed well overnight, and she felt considerably less pain than the day prior. She was still physically limited and magically impaired.

But at least she was alive.

Chapter 2 - Dawn

Unable to sleep, Twilight, once again, tried to levitate the book with her horn, but failed. She leaned over the edge of her bed, and picked it up manually, continuing where she left off and reading until sunlight hit her pupils. It was finally morning, and late enough that everypony would be awake. She pulled the covers off of her, hopped out of bed one hoof at a time, and quietly headed downstairs and out of the Library, for Spike was still fast asleep at the foot of her bed.

Twilight felt little pain in her injured hoof as she strolled through town, on her way to Sugarcube Corner. She may not be magical anymore, but she was at least mobile. "Stupid King Sombra," she mumbled to herself. Several moments later, she arrived at the front door of Sugarcube corner, where a familiar figure answered the door.

"Hey, Twilight!" gaily greeted Pinkie Pie, genuinely smiling.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie," Twilight greeted back. "Notice anything different about me today?"

Pinkie Pie scrutinized her friend. "Um...your mane's a mess?"

"What?" Twilight looked upwards where she could see some of her bangs, and the filthiness of them. "Oh, yeah, I forgot to brush this morning." She faced Pinkie Pie. "Yes, I guess that is something different about me today, but that's not what I had in mind when I asked."

"Um...wait, hold on...don't tell me! I can do this! Don't tell me! I got this! I got this! I can do this! Don't tell me-! Okay, tell me."

"I'm walking again!" exclaimed Twilight.

"Oh! Yeah! Duh! How did I miss that?"

"Probably because you're as used to seeing me walk as you are used to seeing my mane combed."

"Yeah, probably. Wanna come in? I got all kinds of pastries I'm making for breakfast."

Twilight followed Pinkie Pie inside to a table.

"Already? It's first thing in the morning!"

"Oh, you don't know? I don't actually sleep at night like most ponies. I spend every night eating lots and lots of sugar, which keeps me energized throughout the whole day. And, by the time I would have my fall from all that energy, I'm in bed, eating more and more sugar. My diet's basically ninety percent pure sugar."

Twilight blinked twice, her pupils shrunken in her giant eyes. She made no reply.

"Just have yourself a seat - I'll be right back."

Twilight seated herself at a table in the Sugarcube Corner lobby. A few cups and a pitcher were present on the tabletop. She tried to pour herself a glass of the contents of the pitcher which were presently unknown, but, of course, had not accomplished anything. She poured the cup manually, revealing the liquid to be orange juice, as if ponies drink orange juice. She had a sip as Pinkie Pie came back out, a tray of fresh-baked pastries in her mouth.

"Mmm! Those look good!"

"Thanks!" Pinkie Pie seated herself across from Twilight. "So, what's it like being an earth pony now?"

"Not as much fun or exciting as a unicorn," Twilight replied, taking a pastry and eating it. "Well, unless you're you: always breaking the fourth wall, telling us about these fans and defying the laws of physics and whatnot." Twilight took another sip of orange juice.

Pinkie Pie looked perplexed.

"Never mind. I don't like being an earth pony."

"That's a shame. I find being an earth pony fun fun fun!"

"Pinkie, you were born an earth pony. You don't know what it's like to be able to cast spells, teleport, levitate objects..." Twilight poured herself another glass of orange juice. "Or even pour yourself a drink!"

"I can clone myself, slow the effects of gravity on my body, cram into small spaces, and reverse a confetti cannon!"

"See! There you go again - breaking the fourth wall!"

"What? What are you talking about?"

Twilight face-hoofed herself. "One of these days, Pinkie...one of these days."

Pinkie Pie did not speak. She simply smiled at Twilight for a moment. "Whee! A pastry!" she picked one up and ate it. "Say, have you met the newcomer of Ponyville?"

"Newcomer?"

Pinkie Pie swallowed her pastry and nodded. "Yeah. A new pony just moved into Ponyville. I haven't met him yet, but I heard he's moving in close to our homes." Pinkie Pie leaned in. "And I heard he's from Canterlot."

"Canterlot?" Twilight's eyes widened. "I'm from Canterlot."

"Yeah, so I guess he's very classy...kinda like Rarity. That's only my guess because I don't even know what being classy means!" That sentence did not remove Pinkie Pie's smile from her visage.

"Why are you bringing him up?" asked Twilight.

"I thought that maybe if you're bored, you'd like to meet him. I already know everypony in Ponyville, so I'm gonna go introduce myself later today."

"Well thanks for the invitation," Twilight rose to her hooves. "Maybe I'll stop by after I go brush my mane and take a bath."

Now cleaned, Twilight took a walk around town, subconsciously in search for the newcomer of Ponyville. During her journey, she caught side of a stallion using his horn to bring large, thin objects into his cottage. The building in which he was loading the objects had previously been uninhabited. Could this be the new pony? She approached the scene, quietly stepping up to his cottage. He had a coat as white as Rarity's, the shiniest teal eyes you could imagine, and a well-quaffed mane and tail of a hue of blue which was quite pleasing to the eyes. His cuite mark featured a paintbrush with some magenta paint on the tip.

He had his back turned at the moment, but when he turned back around, he noticed Twilight out of his peripheral vision.

"Well," he said, in a somewhat deep, delightfully masculine voice, "who do we have here?" Before Twilight could even answer, he continued, "My name is Dawn: spelled like the time of day; not short for Donnor."

"My name is Twilight Acorna Sparkle," began she, "and I would like to welcome you to Ponyville. My friends call me Twilight."

"Twilight Sparkle, euh?" repeated Dawn. "What a beautiful name for a beautiful mare." Twilight blushed as Dawn eyed her flank. "That's a very interesting cutie mark. What does it symbolize?"

"My special talent i- was magic."

"Was?"

"I lost my natural-born horn in a battle against King Sombra recently when I tried to save the world from utter destruction, and I haven't cast a spell since. The horn I have now is artificial."

"An artificial horn," Dawn scrutinized Twilight's horn. "I must say that is some craftsmareship: I would not have been able to tell the difference if I had not been told." He leaned back upright. "It is a pleasure to meet such a friendly and noble pony such as yourself, Ms. Twilight. Do come in." He started inside his cottage. Twilight hesitantly followed him to a rectangular wooden table set up off to the side of the room. The only other objects in the room were those large, flat objects Dawn had been carrying in when she arrived.

"What are those?" Twilight asked.

"Paintings I have done," replied Dawn. "I'm a painter."

"May I see them?"

"Oh, of course." Dawn used his horn to pick up one of the paintings and show it to Twilight. "You might recognize this young fellow."

The painting was undoubtedly Shining Armor, and looked like a picture had simply been taken and enlarged, the quality of Dawn's talent was simply that divine.

"Hey, that's my brother!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Ah, so he is!" Dawn put the painting away back with the others. "I just moved here from Canterlot. I painted everypony in Canterlot, and have desired to move onto new locations and new ponies. Your name did seem familiar when I met you. And now I know why: I met your brother and somewhere in that stack is also his wife, Princess Cadence." He paused. "Interesting story you were telling me about your artificial horn. I know I could never live a day without my horn. I don't know too much about all the fancier aspects of magic, but my horn is my life when it comes to painting. I could never be a painter if I had to carry my brushes with my mouth. If I, for some reason, were to lose my horn like that, I'd have to give up my career as an artist."

"I still haven't gotten used to not having mine," said Twilight. "A hundred times a day I try to levitate something, only to remember that I can't."

"I am sorry you had to be reduced to such a menial lifestyle."

"It's no so bad: it was for the sake of Equestria and everypony within its borders."

"Well there ya go!...May I paint you, Twilight, as my first subject since my arrival at Ponyville?"

Twilight's eyes shimmered. "You...want to paint me?"

"Well, sure! You're quite a photogenic pony, if I may say so, and you're the first pony to introduce yourself to me."

Twilight blushed again. "I'd love to, Dawn."

Dawn smiled. "Great! But I'm still in the process of moving in. Why don't you head on back home until tomorrow and come back tomorrow? I'll try to be ready to paint by then - well, unless you wanna stay."

"Stay? But aren't you moving in?"

"I am...but you're hardly an imposition."

"Can I help you move in?"

"Absolutely!"

Chapter 3 - The Date

"Alright," began Dawn, his canvas, a camera, and a few pencils and a pencil sharpener hovering around him in their blue auras as he followed Twilight out of town. "What do you want for your background?"

"Hmm..." Twilight surveyed the area, finally coming across Canterlot Castle in the distance. "Hey, how about Canterlot!"

"Perfect! Alright, stand right...there..." Twilight moved as Dawn put his equipment down. "...And move a little bit to the left."
Twilight did. "A little more...liiittle, more...aaaaaand...perfect! Right there! Don't move."

"I won't."

Dawn set up his canvas, seating himself in front of it, levitating a pencil over his head. He scrutinized Twilight.

"C'mon, Darling, you have such a beautiful smile. Show it to me!"

Blushing, a genuine grin grew on Twilight's face.

"Ah, much better, dear! Stay still. This will only take a minute." Dawn began sketching the lines of Twilight and her chosen background on the canvas with a pencil.

"What about painting-"

"Stillness, please!" ordered Dawn. Twilight returned to her position. "To answer your question, since I do not wish to keep you here posing for me forever, I sketch you all at once and take a picture to help remind me of the coloration. Then I take it home and paint it."

Twilight would nod in affirmation, but did not move since she was still posing for Dawn. He carefully sketched Twilight, drawing every line of her figure with the gentlest of stroke of lead from his pencil. "Almost done, now," he said. Several moments later, he had completed his drawing. He picked the canvas up with his horn and turned it one hundred and eighty degrees. "What do you think, Twilight?" asked he.

It was an immaculate reproduction of the scene. Every detail had thoroughly been drawn - even the tiniest of windows visible from afar on the Canterlot Castle.

"It's beautiful," she said

"It's nothing," said Dawn, though not sounding disappointed, rotating the canvas back. "And I still need to paint it." He lifted all his materials up with his magic and started on his way back to his studio; Twilight followed. "I'll have this baby painted over the next few days. In the meantime, you just wanna talk when we get back to my place?"

"Um, sure!"

The two returned to Dawn's cottage, most of his paintings hung up on the walls, and more furniture added to the otherwise empty environment; one could tell that an artist lived here, but was still moving in. They sat across from each other at Dawn's dining table.

"Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"I'm sure, Dawn."

"Alright," Dawn took a sip of a hot beverage contained within a mug using his horn. "So, you were saying you had friends here in Ponyville?"

"Yes. I have several, actually."

"Tell me about them."

"Well, there's Pinkie Pie, the energetic pink pony who can give somepony nightmares about how freaken pink she is. She's also a party animal and is the only pony capable of breaking the fourth wall."

Dawn shrugs.

"Then there's Rarity. She's a fashionista here in Ponyville. I think you'd like her a lot. She's a designer, which is also a type of artist, and Spike says that she's the most beautiful thing he has ever laid his eyes on. Of course he's a dragon, so can his opinion really be trusted?"

"Hmm. Hard to say," said Dawn.

"Then there's Applejack. She works with her family at their farm, harvesting and selling apples by the barrel. Every fall they sell their Equestria-famous apple cider to everypony. There's also Fluttershy, who is a total coward if you ask me, but she's very sweet and sensitive and extremely good with animals. Don't tell her, but there's a fanfiction I wrote about us being in an intimate relationship and doing it together because I think it could totally work between us."

Dawn blinked twice.

"Moving on, there's Rainbow Dash. She's the best flyer in Equestria. And she's also incredibly loyal to her friends when she needs to be, which I think is amazing considering that if she accidentally destroys something, the first thing out of her mouth was always, 'Twilight did it!'"

"Interesting," replied Dawn. "She sounds most hypocritical."

"Well, everypony's a hypocrite sometime or another. Applejack's the Element of Honesty and yet willingly lies to Pinkie Pie's face. Rarity's the Element of Generosity and totally snags everything for herself whenever possible (also a liar). Fluttershy's the Element of Cowardice- I mean Kindness and she threatened me when I played with her animal friends under her supervision. Pinkie Pie is the Element of Laughter and yet cries like a banshee at weddings. And all I have to say is...what's up with that?"

"Don't forget about yourself," Dawn added. "You're the Element of Magic, are you not? And yet you aren't even a unicorn anymore."

"Everypony's a critic," Twilight said.

"And about that...is that permanent?"

"Is what permanent?"

"The damage done to your natural-born horn."

"Oh. Well, as far as I know, it is. I don't think I can cast another spell in my life. I've already tried levitation two hundred times and I can't even move something let alone pick something up."

"That's a shame," said Dawn. "But you look just as beautiful without magic as you did with magic, I'm sure."

"Are you hitting on me?"

Dawn grew sheepish.

"You are hitting on me!"

"I...so what if I am?"

"Then it proves that you're attracted to me for one thing."

"Maybe I am," Dawn affirmed sternly. "I have been to all corners of Equestria and back, and never once have I laid my giant eyes on such a mare of divine beauty such as yourself, Twi-"

"And you're not gonna stop!" she exclaimed. "You hit on me without even thinking about it!"

"I don't understand how that is a bad thing!" Dawn exclaimed back exasperatedly.

"It's not!" roared Twilight.

"Then why are we shouting?"

"'Cause, I like being dramatic," Twilight calmed. "So...I guess you probably wanna ask me out, huh? But you haven't even met my friends yet!"

"I can meet your friends another time, I promise. First things first: I would love to take you out to La Belle Mare in Canterlot tonight. We can leave this afternoon if you accept."

"La Belle Mare?" inquired Twilight. "As in that super-fancy, high-class, French restaraunt in Canterlot?"

"That's the one."

"Oh, I could never afford-"

"Money is no object," smirked Dawn.

Twilight's eyes widened.

That night, Twilight found herself walking the brightly lit streets of Canterlot. She was dressed in no formal attire, for Dawn had mentioned that he wanted to keep this date as casual as possible, despite its romantic atmosphere.

Both the mare and the stallion ordered food they needed assistance pronouncing. Fortunately, each item in the menus included a description which illustrated what each food was so anypony can order accurately what they want.

"So," Twilight began after the server was hoofed the menus. "I hear you're from Canterlot."

"Indeed," answered Dawn.

"I am, too. I was born here, raised here, attended my brother's wedding here - I only moved to Ponyville recently for my studies."

"Twilight, that was over three years ago."

Twilight grew sheepish. "Oh...right."

"It doesn't surprise me that you're from here, though. Canterlot is notorious for producing true wonders of ponies - and they do not disappoint."

Twilight blushed again. "Stop it," she said with a giggle.

"I can't help myself, dear," continued Dawn. "It's just part of who I am. And I guess the truth is, I'm a total flirt."

"No kidding," laughed Twilight.

"I'm also proned to spontaneously asking life-changing questions for no clear reas- will you marry me?"

"What?"

"Sorry...I told you that about me."

"Yeah, half a second before you asked it."

"Can you forgive me?"

"Of course...but..."

"Yes?"

"Well, you never pulled that off before in any conversation we've had prior to this date. I have a feeling you've been holding out so you could ask me to marry you."

"Oh, it's much too soon for marriage, Twilight."

"I concur...Then why'd you ask?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you ask me to marry you?"

"I told you: spontaneous life-changing questions disease."

"I don't think it is."

"Okay, okay, you got me: I'm just nervous because I can't believe I'm on a date with you in Canterlot right now."

"Your orders," said the server, approaching the table with two silver platters looming over him, suspended in the air from the magic of his horn.

"Thank you," replied Dawn as the server set the platters down in front of the ponies and revealed their hidden contents.

"So, this...disease of yours? I think it's bullsquirt."

"It is," admitted Dawn. "I'm not schizophrenic. I'm just anxious."

"Why are you anxious?"

"Because I find you extremely attractive."

"Well I think I can say something to ease your anxiety, Dawn."

"Oh?"

Twilight leaned in over her dinner and whispered, "That's what I think about you."

"R-really?"

Twilight nodded as she reseated herself. "Of course...I'm just a little more subtle about it than you."

"Oh...I see..."

Twilight started to eat her dinner.

"Does that mean you're willing to mate with me?"

Twilight spat out her half-chewed meal out onto Dawn.

"Oops," she mumbled.

Dawn wiped the mess off his face. "It's my fault," he said.

"Maybe I was wrong," interjected Twilight. "Maybe you do have some crazy disease."

Dawn sighed. "I'm just sexually attracted to you is all."

"Dawn! Watch your mouth! This is a kid's show!"

"Was a kid's show, Twilight, was. Until somepony decided that being kiddie was too boring for his taste."

"Who? That guy?" Twilight pointed to a lone pony sitting at a table nearby about to dine on a salmon filet, when he lowered his fork in humiliation.

"No, not him; never mind that...it's just...I...I bucking love you, Twilight."

"You...you love me?"

Dawn nodded confidently. "Indeed I do. And I wanted to tell you that at a more romantic location: and what better place than the place of our births, hmm?"

"That is a pretty romantic gesture."

"I'm so glad you agree, Twilight-"

"Please," interrupted the mare. "Twilight is what my girls call me. Call me Twilie."

"Isn't that what your brother calls you?"

"Your point?"

Dawn blinked twice. "Sure thing then, Twilig- I mean, Twilie."

Twilight smiled.

"So...these girls...do they-?"

"No. Well, Applejack and Rarity did a while back, but that was because we were all trapped in my home together during a rainstorm and we only had the two beds."

"And you didn't object?"

"Why would I?"

Dawn laughed. "Good question."

"I pretended to be asleep for a while so I could lie awake and watch them sleep together. But then they started arguing and stuff, and that's when I told them both to just shut up and go to sleep. They didn't interest me anymore."

"I doubt they would...So...do you bear chemistry with these girls?"

"Conditionally," answered Twilight. "If you ask Pinkie Pie, we're all electric, but I don't think so in my perspective. We're all friends, sure, but for the most part, I don't think we're much more than friends. Close friends, sure thing, but certainly nothing that exceeds that level of intimacy."

"What about the fanfiction about you and Fluttershy?"

"Something to masturbate to- I mean- AGHH! It's just a fantasy."

"One which you wish to come true?"

"Not necessarily. I'm straight after all."

"That's debatable."

"I hardly think so."

"You just said you mastur-"

"That's just estrogen talking."

"Do you blame all of your irratic behavior on hormones?"

"Yup. Everything."

"Interesting."

"Just how you blame your insanity on a fictional mental illness."

"...Twilie, would you like to spend the night at my place? I've got a bed big enough for the two of us."

"Me too..." Twilight paused. "I can kick Spike out."

"Well, alright. Since I'm not completely moved into my place."

Twilight and Dawn started off back to the train station.

"Hey! You haven't paid for your meals!" roared an angry server as he charged towards the customer.

"Run," whispered Dawn into Twilight's ear.

The ponies ran as fast as their hooves could carry them until they were back on the train.

"Normally I don't like to skip out on the bill, but we hardly ate a bite of our food. I mean why pay for it?"

"Well it was served to us in ten seconds flat."

"Memes will get them nowhere."

The couple laughed as they were brought all the way back to Ponyville.

They reached Twilight's tree-house, now in the middle of the night. It was Dawn who used his levitation spell to move Spike and his bed - while he was still sleeping - to the balcony outside the second-story window of the Library. They then engaged in sexual intercourse until they found themselves asleep together, huddled in each other's arms.

Author's Note

It's rated Teen for a reason. While allowing the ponies (i.e. Twilight and Dawn) to engage in sexual intercourse for the sake of this story, I, by choice, do not wish to illustrate these actions graphically and instead leave it all to the reader's imagination. I think we all know what this looks like. I like to keep the out-of-show sexuality of the story to a minimum. Nevertheless, I do hope this omission does not interfere with your enjoyment of the story.

Chapter 4 - Learning the Truth

Spike awoke to the bright light of the morning sun.

"What? How'd I get out here?"

He looked around, then noticing Twilight and the mysterious stallion sleeping together in Twilight's bed. He hurried to the window and banged on it with his tiny dragon fists. The loud noises woke the sleeping couple.

Twilight rubbed her eye. "Wha...what's going on?" she asked. Her vision came into focus, and she saw Spike outside. "Oh, yeah," she crawled out of bed, approached the window, and re-opened it for her assistant. Dawn stretched as he awoke.

"Twilight! What the heck? Why was I outside? And-" Spike noticed Dawn getting out of bed. "Who in the hoof is that?"

"That's my..." Twilight pondered an appropriate term for the stallion. "...coltfriend, Dawn."

"Coltfriend?" asked Spike. "Since when do you have a coltfriend? When did you meet this guy? And...why were you sleeping together in your bed?"

Twilight put on a fake smile. Dawn approached the two.

"Morning, little one," said he, a smile spelled across his visage. "And morning to you too, Twilie."

Twilight turned her head. "Morning, Dawn." She turned back to Spike. "Spike, this is Dawn, my coltfriend."

"Pleasure," greeted Dawn warmly.

"Pleasure," replied Spike sarcastically. "Twilight, you know how I feel about you getting coltfriends without telling me first."

"No I don't!" Twilight exclaimed. "Dawn is the first coltfriend I've ever had."

"Okay then, let me tell you: I don't like you getting coltfriends without consulting me."

"Why do I need your permission to date who I want?"

"Because without my permission, you think you can just send me outside so you two can sleep together. I thought you were over with sleeping with other ponies, Twilight."

"With the girls, yes, but not for my new coltfriend, Spike."

"And why did you need to kick me outside to-" Spike figured it out. "Did you two...have sex last night?"

Twilight blushed visibly. "Maaaaaaybe."

Spike gasped. "Twilight!"

"Well, it's not my fault! I'm just sexually attracted to Dawn is all."

"Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome," mumbled Spike.

"Sexuality is not a symptom of insanity! My sexual activity has nothing to do with my inability to cast a spell."

"So it's coincidence?"

"Precisely, Spike. How dare you convict my love for Dawn as a product of my misfortune!"

"Spike..." began Dawn at last. "That was harsh." Dawn whispered something inaudible into Twilight's ear; she nodded.

"I may not be able to cast a spell," she said aloud. "But Dawn can!"

Dawn used his magic to open the window, and send Spike back outside, locking it on the inside.

Spike pounded against the glass.

"Care to apologize?" asked Twilight snidely as she came closer to the window so Spike could hear better.

"Yes!" Spike exclaimed. "I'm sorry!"

Twilight sighed. "Let him in, Dawn. I think he gets the point."

Dawn nodded once and proceeded to open the window, and even brought Spike down on his two feet before letting him go.

"Dawn and I are coltfriend and foalfriend - cayce?" asked Twilight darkly.

Spike nodded enthusiastically.

"Now then, Dawn, why don't I introduce you to my friends? I'm sure they'll be happy to meet you."

"Sounds most wonderful," replied Dawn.

"Dawn, this is Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack."

"My, my, my, you were not kidding about your palette of friends, Twilight. Aren't they just adorable?"

Twilight giggled. "Yeah, they are."

"So you're the Ms. Rarity," continued Dawn, approaching the pony. "Word on the street is that you are the most beautiful pony in Ponyville."

Rarity blushed mildly.

"Well, I must say, you do not disappoint," Dawn added, intentionally not calling Rarity more beautiful than Twilight. "You certainly are a handsome youngling to say the least."

Handome thought Rarity. Not 'charming' not 'lovely' not 'beautiful' not 'smashing?' Handsome.

"And the rest of you: cute as a bug's ear. All of you. Especially you two," Dawn pointed to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Both girls blushed.

Pinkie Pie bounced up to him. She instantly started wildly shaking hooves with him. "Hi hi hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!"

"I would've guessed," replied, trying to keep up with Pinkie's speed. "Your colors gave you away, dear."

"Welcome to Ponyville! What is your special talent? Are you seeing anyone? Happy as hell to meet you!"

"Thank you; painting; yes; pleasure to meet your acquaintance as well."

"I- Wait...did you just say you were seeing someone?"

"That I am."

"Who?"

Dawn put his arm around Twilight. "Ms. Sparkle."

"TWILIGHT!?" everypony gasped.

"It's just sex," Twilight protested.

"Sex?" Rarity asked. "But Twilight, you're just a teenager...in pony relativity: you shouldn't be having sex!"

"I don't care. I fell in love with Dawn, and I LET HIM HAVE ME!"

"Blech!" Pinkie Pie stuck out her tongue.

"C'mon, Dawn, let us be on our way."

They started away together, Dawn's arm still around Twilight.

"Twilight, wait!" Rarity hollered. She caught up with the couple. "May I speak with you for a moment...in private?"

"Is that ok, Dawn?"

"It is; just meet me back at my place when you're through."

Dawn continued off.

"Yes, Rarity?"

"Twilight, I'm not gonna lie to you: I am repulsed that you would engage in premarital sex...However, I am a romantic, and, as far as anypony's concerned, a sexual pony. If you're so in love with Dawn, Twilight, then do the right thing, make your parents proud, and marry him!"

"What do my parents have to do with-"

"Irrelevant. Marry him, Twilight," Rarity began her return to the group. "I would if I were you."

But doesn't the stallion propose asked the mare to herself. She shrugged and reported to Dawn's place.

"Bah! Don't look!" Dawn desperately tried to cover the painting he had just been working on when Twilight entered.

"What?" inquired his foalfriend.

"Oh, um...while you were talking with Rarity, I had taken the liberty of finishing the painting I started of you."

"That quickly?"

"I'm a faster painter when I'm, as they say, in the zone."

"I see...so...?"

"So what?"

"Is there going to be a presentation of your masterpiece?"

"Oh. Yes. Um...close your eyes, I want this to be mounted for display before you see it."

Twilight both closed and covered her eyes as Dawn lifted the painting using the magic from his horn and mounted it to a hook on the wall he was facing. He stood aside. "Ahem! I present to you, the lovely Miss Twilight Acorna Sparkle - in perfect reproduction!"

Twilight opened her eyes. Her pupils shrank with nothing but pure amazement as she gazed into her own eyes.

"Well, what do you think? You like?"

"I do...I...I love it, Dawn. It's...it's just beautiful!"

"I knew you'd love it."

Twilight ran up to Dawn and hugged him.

"Oh, Dawn...you're just so great!" Twilight gave him a kiss; he kissed her back on the top of her head, by her horn.

"Say, Twilight...are you busy tonight?"

"No, why?"

Author's Note

In case you couldn't tell from context, coltfriend is the pony equivalent to boyfriend and foalfriend is the equivalent of girlfriend. Since the terms "boy" and "girl" are applied, I decided to use the more youthful denotation of "mare" and "stallion." Plus, "stallionfriend" is just too freaken corny.

Chapter 6 - Another Canterlot Wedding (Part 2)

"You had to interject a nanosecond before I had confirmed their marriage? You couldn't have brought this up in a less suspenseful moment, sir?" asked the Princess, with a strong sense of disappointment and disgust in her tone.

"I'm sorry, it just did not occur to me," replied the former justice. "And when it did, I spoke out as immediately as I could."

"And if you hadn't, my most faithful student would have been able to marry the stallion of her dreams."

"She would be the wife in an unlawful marriage, Princess. Surely you could not stand to have that kind of blemish on your kingdom."

"You were the only pony in the audience who was aware of that law's existence. Even I had lost track of it because of its sheer age. That law is older than this building. Can't we refuse to follow it because it is so archaic, it no longer applies to present-day life?"

"Princess. You can't refuse to obey a law just because it's old: that's against the Equestrian Declaration of Foundation. And if you could, I wouldn't let you: also against the Equestrian Declaration of Foundation."

"Can't you just put your precious documents aside for two minutes to let me marry that couple out there?"

"If I let you marry them, then I'd have to let any heterotypical couple from this point forward. I am sorry, Princess Celestia, but I stand by the law. I have been my whole life, especially back as a justice."

"What justice? What would a justice do in Equestria?"

"Not important, Princess. But I stand by my rules."

The Princess sighed. "There has got to be something we can do."

"I'm sorry, Twilie," uttered Dawn softly.

"It's not your fault." Tears streamed down her lavender cheeks. "It's actually mine. If I were a true unicorn, we could get married."

"Hey," Dawn lifted Twilight's head with his hoof. "You should not blame yourself for this. You were saving everyone from annihilation. If anyone's to blame for this, it's that guy and his huge mouth."

Twilight sobbed. "Thank you, Dawn."

Dawn huddled near his bride and gave her a kiss.

Suddenly the doors flew open.

"Twilight Sparkle," said Princess Celestia. "We would like to have a word with you - in private."

Twilight kissed Dawn. "I'll be right back," she said.

"I know you will."

They hugged again, and Twilight proceeded down the stairs and through the altar to behind the large doors, leaving Dawn completely alone atop the steps.

He sighed.

"I am right about this not being Twilie's fault. It isn't her fault. But..." Dawn stared at the murals lining the windows of the altar. "But this doesn't mean that I'm helpless. I love Twilie. And I promise to always be there for her. Well...there's no better time like the present..."

Dawn closed his eyes. His horn started to glow, the white aura illuminating around his horn. The aura grew and grew, as a blinding light formed at the tip. There was a massive buildup of pressure and tension in Dawn's horn. And finally, a huge implosion. There was a powerful wave of white light which spread at a blinding speed through the altar. When the light dimmed, Dawn's horn was a nub.

The large doors burst open.

"What was that?" asked Princess Celestia, having taken notice of the literally magical event.

"The law says a unicorn can't marry an earth pony," hollered Dawn from across the silent altar. "I guess I no longer defy the law if I'm an earth pony."

"Oh, Dawn!" Twilight darted out and galloped across the altar, leaping into her groom's arms as tears of joy dripped from her cheeks. "But, Dawn-"

"I'd probably have to give up being an artist for the rest of my life since I no longer have my horn, Twilie. But if destroying my horn at the cost of my ability to use magic and paint forever is all it takes to marry you, then it's a small price to pay." Dawn hugged his bride, staring out into the distance to Princess Celestia.

"Princess, I believe we have vowes to pledge."

The Princess stepped across the altar, up the steps, and positioned herself in front of the couple. Twilight and Dawn wiped away their tears and stood abreast with genuine smiles over their faces as the Princess concluded their wedding.

"By the power vested in me by the Canterlot Royalty and as Princess of Equestria, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife."

Cheers.

Twilight and Dawn then kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

The ball was a huge hit, thanks to Pinkie Pie and her outstanding party-planning skills. Afterwards, Twilight and Dawn arrived on the train in Ponyville as they headed back to Dawn's place to spend their first night together as a married couple.

"I can't believe we actually did it," Twilight said.

"Me neither," replied Dawn. "But here we are: legally married. And all it cost me was my horn."

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay like that? I mean, what are you gonna do now?"

"Be your husband, of course. Since I'm no longer self-employed by means of my cutie mark, I can spend all day and night with you."

"Wow, really? But..."

"Yes?"

"Are you sure you can handle my friends?"

"Of course I can, Twilie. Your friends are tons of fun."

"Oh, good."

They continued for a long minute without talking.

"And what about your horn?"

"What about it?"

"You're not just gonna let it be a dud, are you?"

"Nah. Princess Celestia said she will arrange to visit Ponyville and synthesize a horn for me, much like she did for you."

"Are you ever gonna draw or paint again, Dawn?"

"I'll make do with my mouth...I just won't go into business or be very proud of anything I do," he laughed. Twilight laughed with him.

Another minute or so passed by.

"You know, I once read about this strange disease that occurs in ponies who were formerly unicorns and pegasi who are now earth ponies. Apparently they become so obssessed about not being able to fly or use magic that they just go completely insane."

"Eh, I'm sure it's just a myth."

The two laughed.

END OF PART 2

Author's Note

Heterotypical: in this case, a couple consisting of ponies who are two different types of pony.

Chapter 5 - Another Canterlot Wedding (Part 1)

As it turns out, Dawn invited Twilight Sparkle to sleep over that night, where they engaged in their usual festivities, until they found themselves huddled together under a warm blanket in Dawn's bed. Twilight laid her head against the soft pillow, her face illuminated by the candlelight of the candle Dawn lit when he turned out the lights. She was warm under the cozy covers, now becoming sleepy as she smiled a smile which looked like it would never fade from her countanence. Her eyelids were droopy, and she yawned.

"I have a surprise for you, Twilight," said Dawn softly.

Twilight made no reply, but simply stared into his large eyes.

Dawn turned over in the bed, retrieved the surprise, and beheld it in his hoof. In his grasp: a small, navy-blue box. Twilight recognized the object, and slowly propped her head up.

"Twilight Sparkle," began Dawn quietly. "Will you marry me?"

Twilight only nodded, and gave Dawn one last kiss before returning her head to the pillow, and silently drifting off to sleep.

Dawn blew out the candle and snuggled up next to his new bride.

"Goodnight, Twilie."

A high-pitched squeal of delight from the most pitchy pony of the group. "Félicitations, Twilight, félicitations!" gaily exclaimed Rarity.

"Thank you, thank you," said Twilight with much less enthusiasm. "I, too, am very glad that Dawn proposed."

"Does this mean we get to help you host your wedding?"

"Of course. Who else better but my own friends?"

Rarity squealed again. "I know the perfect wedding dress for you, Twilight! Ooh! I'll be at my boutique if anypony needs me!" Rarity darted off.

"Congrajiations, Twilight," said Applejack, gently shaking her hoof. "Course, ya prob'y got enough congrajiations from Rarity."

"I'm just delighted to hear that everypony's okay with me marrying Dawn."

"Oh, shucks, Sugarcube. It wasn't Dawn we had uh problem with, just ya havin' premarital sex is ahl."

"That's nice to hear...I wouldn't want my wedding or my marriage to impose on anyone."

"Ya'll have no complaints from me, Twi."

"Or me," said Rainbow Dash.

"Or me," added Pinkie Pie.

"Or me," mumbled Fluttershy.

Twilight grinned.

"So, wen's duh weddin'?"

"Soon," Twilight replied. "We're gonna start planning it today. The only thing I know for sure is that we're getting married where my brother married Princess Cadence, since we're both from Canterlot."

"Sounds mighty nice, Twilight. We'll leave you to work out the details with Dawn. C'mon, girls." Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all took off. Before they were out of sight, Twilight could hear Rainbow Dash asking, "I wonder if Rarity still has our old bridesmaids outfits."

Twilight strolled through town back to Dawn's place, where he was busy at work taking notes on what to do for the wedding.

"Do you know what that thing of flowers the bride throws to all the bachelors and bachelorettes after the ceremony is called?" he asked Twilight upon her entrance into his cottage.

"Um...a bouquet?"

"Really? Just a bouquet? There's no other real term for it?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Huh, interesting."

"So...have you made any progress since this morning?"

"We'll get married this weekend," answered Dawn. "I figured that will give us enough time to prepare. I sent a letter to Princess Celestia already informing her of the occasion, but I have not heard back from her yet."

"Wow, you've been productive!"

"I am the groom after all. Plus, I hear you worked your flank off for your brother's wedding: you shouldn't have to go through all that trauma again."

"There wasn't any trauma!"

"Oh?"

"Well, there was heartbreak and changeling overlords and genocide and imprisonment and turmoil and an uncanning fear of certain death and betrayl, but no truama - no truama."

"Hmm. Very well. I still wish for you to worry not about our wedding, Twilie. It's going to be a simple wedding. But we'll be sure to make each moment lasts us a lifetime."

A tear formed in the corner of Twilight's eye. She wiped it away.

"Are you sure about this, though?" she asked, coming to take a seat across the table from her groom.

"What ever do you mean, Twilie?"

"You know...about marrying an earth pony who used to be a unicorn and all?"

"Oh, that? Pfft! Twilight, I wouldn't care if you were an earth pony who also happened to be a blank flank: I love you for who you are, not for your magic prowess and lack thereof. You're the love of my life - my inspiration - and I want to marry you and spend my life with you. I can paint portraits of you, and you can study art and anything else Princess Celestia requests of you, and-"

"We can do all that stuff even without being married, you know, Dawn."

"Yes, I know that. But it is more romantic. And regardless, I still love you with all my heart, and I want you to be my bride, and then my wife - forever after."

Twilight blushed. "And I want you to be my groom and then my husband for the rest of my life."

"That is why we are getting married, Twilie."

Twilight rested her head on her hoof as she sat leaned against the tabletop.

"Then, why do I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach that this is a bad idea?"

Three days of planning passed, the weekend quickly encroaching. All the preparations were made as promptly as possible. Rarity still kept everyone's bridesmaid outfits, simply handing Twilight hers if she desired to keep it. She created a much more appropriate dress, for Twilight would be the bride. Since Dawn had no outfit of his prior, she also managed to find time to make him a dashing tuxedo to wear for the occasion.

As with the wedding of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, Applejack was in charge of all the catering and fares.

"Apple fritters again?" asked Twilight. "Didn't you make those when my brother got married?"

"Yes...they were delicious."

"But the same hors d'eouvers? Seems kind of redundant to me."

"Well wat do ya have in mind den, Twi?"

"I don't know...do you know how to make anything that's not derived from apples?"

Applejack grimaced. "I can make cupcakes. I know from watching Pinkie Pie."

"Great! Cupcakes! Do that!"

"Uh...al'ight, Sugarcube. Cupcakes it is."

Rainbow Dash, under her own volunteering, proposed that she perform a Sonic Rainboom when Twilight and Dawn complete their I-Dos.

Over the days, Fluttershy perpared her song-bird choir for the ceremony.

And, of course, Pinkie Pie handled the decorations and entertainment.

"Ooh! I hope I can get Vinyl Scratch back for the party!" she exclaimed, running off.

It was finally their wedding night, everything going as planned. With the sun still in the sky, the ceremony was initiated. Two guards who stood abreast to the doorway opened them with the magic of their horns, letting Dawn, now handomsely decked out in his tuxedo, walk himself down the aisle as he gave every pony he passed the most gleeful smile he had ever given anyone but Twilight herself. Once he was up the stairs, near Spike, Princess Celestia bowed her head. Fluttershy counted 1...2...3...4, and her song-bird choir began to tweet the "Here Comes the Bride" rhythm in perfect unison.

The doors were opened once more, and Twilight Sparkle herself slowly strolled down the aisle: the same smile upon her face as Dawn. Rarity made her wedding dress which seemed to be a well-crafted combination between her Grand Galloping Gala dress, her bridesmaid outfit, and an actual wedding dress. On her flank was the classic white wedding-dress style, she beared a headgear which resembled that of her bridesmaid outfit, and, across her breast was a design of white and light-blue stars. Thanks to Rarity's keen eye on fashion and style, she managed to make the whole outfit work.

"We are gathered here today to honor the marriage of Twilight Sparkle and Dawn..."

"It's just Dawn," he affirmed the Princess.

Princess Celestia nodded once. "The marriage of Twilight Sparkle and Dawn. Their love: undeniable. And their strength as a couple: indestructible. With the power vested in me as the Princess of Equestria and the head of Canterlot Royalty, it is with great honor that I hereby pronounce you husband and-"

"Wait just a darn minute!" cried out a pony in the audience.

An older-looking stallion stepped forth onto the carpet. Nopony seemed to truly recognize him, but his cutie mark was unmistakably a gabel. His special talent was undoubtedly in law.

Haven't we had enough ruined weddings? thought Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle has all the prowess of an earth pony. So she can't marry Dawn!"

"What?" Twilight and Dawn asked in unison.

"Sir, what ever do you mean?" asked the Princess.

The stallion stepped closer. "According to Equestrian law, earth ponies can't marry unicorns: only other earth ponies and pegasi. Moreover, alicorns can only other alicorns and unicorns, unicorns can only marry other unicorns and alicorns, and pegasi can only marry earth ponies and other pegasi. It's the law! I should know: I served in law enforcement for five decades."

"I don't ever recall that being an issue," mumbled Princess Celestia aloud. "But, it still supports Shining Armor's marriage with Princess Cadence." She cleared her throat. "What exactly is the nature of these laws?"

"To prevent the unncessary abuse of magic, of course. If two ponies - one a unicorn or alicorn and the other not - they can then take full advantage of the magic of their love and abuse their powers. The law was established shortly after Princess Celestia herself wielded the Elements of Harmony. It's an acient law - hardly ever used since most pony couples are of the same type of pony - but its validity stands strong."

"Is he right, Princess Celestia?" asked Twilight, a gleam of fear in her eyes.

"I'm afraid he is, Twilight...I'm sorry...but there's nothing I can do: as long as your horn remains useless, then you are legally unable to marry Dawn. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to speak with the gentlemare alone. Maybe I can reason with him. I'm sure there's a loophole somewhere. I won't let all this effort we put into your wedding to go to waste."

Princess Celestia stepped down the stairs.

"Sir, may I speak with you in private?" she asked as she walked along the red carpet.

"Of course, Princess," said the stallion, taking a slight bow as the Princess passed him. He then followed her out of the altar, the huge doors closing behind them.

Twilight turned to Dawn, tears already forming in the corners of her eyes.

"What are we gonna do, Dawn?" she whispered.

"I...I don't know..."

END OF PART 1