New Year's Eve

by Cedric Inuzuka

Rating: teen
Tags: Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 10767

The New year's eve ball where every dream can come true or every disaster can happen, let's see what this year's will bring us, tears of joy or tears of sadness ?

Rainbow is in love with a pony that doesn't suspect anything.
Twilight seeks her true love since her brother's wedding, but is blind to what might be.

Join these two mares and the rest of their friends for a New year's eve they won't forget easily and maybe for all the wrong reason.

Warning : Drunk Fluttershy in the first part.

Big thank to Darkho for the cover art
to Kidak,twilight-the-pony, M3lancholy for proof reading.
toEchriedz for editing

Published 2013-02-02 16:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-18 23:05:23 UTC

The day before

CHAPTER ONE:

The day before

Somewhere in Ponyville, near the Everfree Forest, stands a small cottage which belongs to a very particular Pegasus. What makes this Pegasus so special? Some would tell you that it's because she has the special talent to understand and talk to animals, even the big and scary dragons, while others would tell you because of how calm and kind she is, even in the face of disaster.

But today could be the day she throws all this out the window and tells her guest a few home truths. Who could be this guest? None other than the self-proclaimed 'Awesome One', the one and only, Rainbow Dash. But today, like many before, she didn't feel like bragging and boasting of how great she was, today she was more depressed than ever yet she shouldn't have been, she just finished valedictorian of the Wonderbolts academy, a bright future awaited her, a future this Pegasus wanted more than anything else, except that now she had it within easy reach, she knew that it wasn't what she really wanted.

No, she knew exactly what she wanted, or more importantly, who she wanted because, fillies and gentlecolts, our own Rainbow 'danger' Dash is in love.

When Fluttershy came back from her kitchen with a tray filled by a plate of cake and two cups of tea, the blue Pegasus was still watching the snow fall outside.

“Hum... Rainbow, I brought back the tea and some cake... If that's ok with you.” The yellow Pegasus spoke, putting the tray down on the table and giving a cup to her guest, who’d finally turned away from the blizzard, who took it.

“Thank you Shy. A hot drink is awesome when it's cold outside.” But rather than drink any, she preferred to look at her tea with a pensive look and after a little while, she sighed.

“Is everything alright? If you want to talk about it that is.” Fluttershy knew something was on her friend's mind and although this wasn't the first time she’d seen her so depressed, as far as she could remember the first time she’d seen her like that, it was six month ago, the day after the marriage of Applejack and Rarity.

“All is well, why wouldn’t it be? I'm going to be a Wonderbolt soon, my dream is within hoofs reach, and I've never felt so empty.” She finished in a whisper; a single tear escaped and began to run down her cheek, as several times before, Fluttershy took her friend’s hoof in her own.

“There, there.” She brushed the rainbow mane and tried to comfort her friend with soothing words. “It's not good to keep everything inside, why don't you tell me what's eating you up? If you don't mind... of course.” They remained like that for a little while before Rainbow finally nodded.

She removed herself from the embrace of her friend and resumed her place at the table, looking at her tea. “You don't have some hard cider, do you? Because I don’t think I'm drunk enough to tell you.” Surprisingly Fluttershy nodded, went to her kitchen and came back with two bottles of cider which she placed on the table, one in front of Rainbow and one in front of her.

“Whoa Shy, I was joking, but since you offered, I think that will help, bottoms up.” And in ten seconds flat, she finished her bottle. “Hum, this is some strong stuff you have here.”

“This was a special vintage from Applejack's cellar.” Fluttershy sighed and poured her remaining bottle into two glasses and gave one to her friend. “Please, don't drink it too fast.”

“Bwahahaahhahaha, don't worry.” She took her glass but didn't drink it, she played with it instead. “Where do I begin?”

“At the start, that’s always the best.”

“You're right; now let's see where it all began...”

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Summer Sun Celebration was going to be awesome! At least, that's what Rainbow Dash thought, with princess Celestia coming to Ponyville and, more importantly, the Wonderbolts performing at the celebration tomorrow. She was going to show them what she was made of, and for this she needed to practice more than ever, even if she had weather duty today.

She was flying near the ground to do her future signature move, The 180° backward rainbow turn, when something caught her eyes, it was purple, spoke with a small dragon and it was approaching at high speed, Rainbow would normally react immediately, but for some unknown reason, she couldn't move, much less look away from the purple unicorn before the inevitable happened, the Pegasus collided with the unicorn and they both ended up in a puddle of mud.

“Hehehehe, hum... ‘Scuse me? Hahaha” Rainbow said but in the inside she was panicking 'Why I am laughing? This isn't funny, fuck brain start working.' After a little while, she had an idea. “Hehehe, let me help you.” She flew away and brought back a cloud filled with water, leaping on top and jumping several times until the cloud was empty, she looked at the purple pony who was still below and what she saw took her breath away '*gasp* So beautiful, erf what I'm saying ? C'mon brain, it's time to wake up, please.' While Rainbow seemed calm and composed, inside, she was panicking, and when Rainbow Dash panics, she panics one hundred and twenty percent more than anypony else. “Hehehe, oops! I guess I over did it. Hum, ha, how about this?” She began to fly around the unicorn as fast as she could. “My own patented, rain-blow dry.” She finished, full of herself. “No, no, don't thank me, you’re quite welcome.” When she landed and looked at the unicorn who’s hair was in a sorrier state than Pinkie Pie’s, she tried to keep her laughter to herself, but eventually cracked and before she knew it, she was on the ground, laughing with the little dragon on her. “Bwahahahahaha.”

“Let me guess, you're Rainbow Dash.” The unicorn spoke for the first time and for the Pegasus, it was music to her ears.

She stood up, throwing the dragon away. “The one and only.” She couldn't believe it, had the purple unicorn knew her name? She flew toward the other mare and stopped just in front of her. 'She’s even cuter when I'm close.' She had to be sure. “Why? You heard of me?”

“I heard you supposed to be keeping the sky clear.” How those words hurt the Pegasus, she even recoiled and when the unicorn looked away, she flew toward the nearest cloud and turned her back to the other mare, at least she wouldn't see the first of many tears that Rainbow Dash will devote to the purple unicorn whom she’d learnt later was named Twilight Sparkle.

_________________________________________________________________________________

“Oh my, when I said from the beginning, I didn't know it was...”

“From day one, I fell in love with Twilight Sparkle. It might have been love at first sight or maybe when she first spoke my name.” The light blue Pegasus sighed again.

Fluttershy was shocked, she knew her friend wasn't well, but she didn't know that it had been so for this long. “But that means...”

“Two years, six months and ten days, still counting.” Rainbow took another sip of cider.

“But at that time you were with Gilda, you were with her since flight camp, I always thought...”

“Ah! Gilda...” Rainbow laughed without humor. “I've never been so happy to know Pinkie than the day she ran Gilda out of town. She saved me from an awkward break-up talk.”

“What? I thought you never broke up with Gilda?”

“Bah, since that day I haven’t had any news of her, which was as good as a break-up.” And to emphasize her point, she finished her drink.

“Two and a half years… you hide it well and I suppose a lot of things make sense now.” Fluttershy refilled her friend's glass.

Rainbow thanked her and asked. “Things? What do you mean by that?”

The alcohol gave the yellow Pegasus some courage and she began to tell of what she’d seen since Twilight had come to Ponyville. “Oh just some little details… like the best flier of Equestria always crashing into the library and rarely into other buildings or only whenever a purple unicorn is near.” She finished her glass and poured herself another dose of cider, then with a smug smile, a rare sight on the quiet Pegasus, she continued to speak. “You always tried to be near her, now that I know, I think it's cute." She giggled; the cider was beginning to take effect.

“You can laugh, I didn't know how to get her attention, but I always thought I had time because she didn't seem interested in romance.”

“This isn't like that anymore.” The not-so-quiet-anymore Pegasus pointed out.

“Yeah, after her brother and princess Cadance wedding, she began to search for her special somepony.” The future Wonderbolt sighed… again.

“That made one and a half year? I always wondered how she could never find somepony ?”

Rainbow started to laugh and calmed down after some time. “Hehehe, let’s say I helped a little with that.”

Fluttershy was puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

“For the last year and a half, I ruined every relationships of Twilights’. Oh and some dates too.” She said happily whilst finishing her drink.

Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe she’d finally lost it, but the only reaction Fluttershy had, was laughter, but not a discrete and quiet little laugh that would usually emanate from the quiet pegasus, this was one that came from the heart. Both Pegasi laughed for quite some time before, eventually, they calmed down. “You have to tell me how you were able to do it for more than a year ... if that’s okay with you." Even with alcohol, some things never changed.

“At the beginning, it was easy with my new job as a mail-mare...”

“So it wasn't because you needed more bits?”

“Of course not, you have to know that everything I’ve done for the last and half year, they were all for Twilight. For her I will do anything.”

“Except tell her the truth about your feelings.” Fluttershy remarked, looking at the empty bottle with some confusion.

Rainbow stared at her friend and said in a tone of resignation. “I would do anything for love, I’d run right into the heart of Tartarus and back, but I won't do that. No, I won't do that.”

Fluttershy asked herself if she was hearing a guitar playing in the background or if that was just her imagination. 'This cider is very strong but at least Rainbow is opening.' “You were saying with being a mail-mare?”

“Oh yeah! It was me who was responsible for delivering the mail on the side of Ponyville where the library is. I filtered her mail and eliminated a lot of pretenders. Simply, by accident, losing their letters or I changed the date of their meeting, a lot of stallions doesn't like to wait two hours, especially when it's raining on them.” She laughed a little and finished her drink, when she reached over to help herself to another glass, she saw that the second bottle was empty. “Hey Shy? You don't have some more stuff to go with this thing.” She was showing her empty glass.

“Maybe we should stop drinking…” Fluttershy said carefully, “Don't forget that tomorrow, we’re going to Canterlot for the New Year’s Eve ball and the train leaves early in the morning.”

“Bah don't worry! You want to know everything, right? You will need to get me drunker than this.” She finished with another laugh. “And if you have something stronger, bring it on.”

Fluttershy was torn between her desire to know what her friend had done and what the right thing to do was. Finally, and probably due to the alcohol which was in her body, she nodded and went into her kitchen to bring back her most alcoholic beverage, a bottle of cider from the Apple family which was going on twenty years old.

Rainbow whistled when she saw the bottle and she held out her glass that Fluttershy filled reverently, she smelt it and took a sip. “Oh yeah! This is exactly what I need.”

The yellow Pegasus poured herself a glass and took a sip. “You were saying 'and some dates', can you explain a little more?”

“I knew it wouldn't take much time for Twilight to realize that something was wrong with her courier, that mare is too smart for her own good, or mine...”

“Then, what did you do?” Fluttershy cut her friend's rant off, too eager to know the truth.

“Sheesh Shy… don’t you remember when she dated Big Macintosh? Even if that didn't last long, courtesy of the 'Awesome One', hehehe.” She finished with a little salute with her left hoof.

The yellow Pegasus put a hoof in front of her muzzle and gasped. “Oh my... What happened?”

“Oh nothing big, just that miss Smarty Pants happened to be sat on a bench during their walk in the park, they had a little fight and went their separate ways, they didn't even make it to the lunch part, bwa-ha-ha.” And like many times today, she finished her drink in one go.

“You’ve been a bad filly.” Fluttershy added with a smile.

“Yeah but everything’s fair in war and love. The best part was when I brought the doll back to Twilight; the hug was totally worth it.” She said with a melancholy look. “But Big Mac wasn't the worst, if I wasn't in love with her I would have approved.”

“Bad luck for him that you're in love with her then.”

“Hehe, at least he was better than Soarin, I admire his way to fly but come on, the moment his hooves touch the ground and he starts to talk, the magic is gone faster than a rainboom, and the worst part is that he believes he’s a gift for all mares, pfft loser, he was one that I didn't regret ruining his date with Twilight."

“Oh? What did you do this time?”

“I changed the hour of their meeting for Twilight then I lightly flirted with him until she arrived, I waited until she was there, and just before he gives me a kiss, I started screaming 'stop Soarin', no mean no, please somepony help me!’ at the top of my voice, I must have been pretty convincing because the next moment, he was thrown toward the exit surrounded by a purple aura. After a shouting match between them, he was flying toward Cloudsdale, his tail between his legs and me? I was invited to the library with a purple unicorn who pampered me, to be sure I was alright. I got the better end of the deal; I played the innocent victim at one hundred and twenty percent with something like 'I don’t think I can sleep alone tonight, please Twi'.' Hum, I shiver when I'm thinking back, her coat again my coat, that was the best moment of my life, but this was also the worst because the next day it was gone and it was built on a lie.” Rainbow sighed.

“And she never suspected you?”

“And she never suspected me or at least she never showed it.”

“That’s strange, I mean Twilight is one of the smartest ponies I know, and if you’ll excuse me, you're not the most discreet.”

“Hey, I was stealthy enough for stealing the daring do book from the hospital.”

“Enough for waking up Ponyville and... finishing in front of the... oh my...” Fluttershy understood and put a hoof in front of her muzzle. “You planned that, you woke up the entire town, just to show her that you liked her book and you have mutual interests. You know, normal ponies give flowers for showing their attractions. Why you must exaggerate everything you do?”

“Because she worth it and she is as far from normal as a pony could be.”

“In short, like you.”

“Yeah, like me.” Rainbow sighed again and looked outside, the night has fallen a few hours ago and the snow still continued to fall while a cold wind blew outside. “Shy, can I sleep here tonight? I'm too smashed to fly home. Please?”

Normally, Fluttershy would have replied an affirmative, but tonight wasn't a normal night and she had an idea. “Of course, on one condition, you have until the twelfth stroke of midnight tomorrow to confess everything to Twilight.” She finished with a smug smile.

“WHAT? NO WAY! I prefer to try my luck with the snowstorm, goodnight Shy'” The rainbow-maned Pegasus was already at the door when her friend, without shouting or even raising her voice, froze her with a single sentence.

“Or I tell her everything you did for ‘love’.” She finished her drink and watched Rainbow come back to the table and sit down.

“You don't give me a choice? There’s a word for that you know…”

“I think it's time you stop being a coward and face your fear.”

“I'm not a coward.” The blue Pegasus weakly replied.

“Sure you're not and tomorrow you will prove it at the New Year’s Eve ball.”

“Tomorrow...”

Earlier in the day, somewhere in Ponyville, or more precisely at the carousel boutique, two unicorns were discussing, at least one of them was complaining about her love life and the other one was listening.

“It's been almost two years Rarity. Two years of searching and nothing.” The purple unicorn was saying after she thanked her friend for the tea she brought from her kitchen.

“Oh darling, I'm sure you’re exaggerating a tiny bit.” The dressmaker answered while she took place in front of her guest. “Didn't you have a date with that Canterlot unicorn a week ago. What was his name?”

Twilight sighed and replied in an indifferent tone. “Carnelian Circlet. Please, I don't want to talk about him.”

“But darling, I’d love to hear about your misadventure.”

“Alright, alright, I will tell you. You remember that was a date arranged by my mother? Since I couldn’t find a special somepony, I asked for her help, I still regret it.”

“At least you learnt from your mistake before it was too late, unlike me." She finished with an empty look and a single tear flowed along her cheek, she wiped it with a white handkerchief and smiled to her friend. “But it is in the past, now I have you my darlings and I have 'ma chérie'” She said the last part with a brilliant smile.

Twilight was a little jealous of the happiness radiating from her friend, she wanted some for herself. “So I was telling you about my date with Carnelian Circlet...”

_________________________________________________________________________________

'It will be a good day’ Twilight was thinking while she trotted next to her date, a white unicorn with an azure mane, the nephew of Fancy Pants. He was a teacher at the magic school for gifted unicorns and she was wondering how she didn't meet him when she was younger. They had already exchanged some magic's theory by mail; she smiled when she remembered that some letters felt like they were wrote with his mouth and not by magic. 'Mother knows my taste well, he's smart, well-built but not overly muscular, I have yet to see if he's funny. Now let’s check the list, mane and teeth brushed? Check; a little touch of perfume? Check; a reservation for this fancy restaurant? Check; maybe tonight when we will say goodbye at my door, I will invite him inside and finally, I will check the box for the first kiss.'

“Hum Miss Sparkle? Are you alright? You're kind of red, are you sick?” The stallion asked with a hint of worry.

“Hum, no it's just I'm hot *cough* I mean it's warm today.”

“Yes you're right; we are blessed with a wonderful autumn.” He threw a charming smile and a wink toward the purple unicorn who could only answer by blushing.

'He's quite the charmer. Tonight I will finish my list, at long last, I will finish my list...’ Twilight saw the front door of the restaurant. “We have arrived, let's check our booking.” But before she could move, he stood in front of her. “What is it?”

“Nothing my lady, just let me open the door for you.” He made a little bow and opened the door with his magic, a light blue aura.

'A perfect gentlecolt, maybe a little too much but let's play along for the moment.' “Thank you, kind sir.” She thanked him and went inside.

When the couple passed the front door they were greeted by a server who led them to their table, Carnelian pulled her chair and waited she sat down before sitting down. The waiter took their orders and left them alone.

They had an appetizer and started a discussion on some theory when a green missile shot down the white stallion, Twilight was shocked and her mouth was wide open. It was only when a blue hoof waved before her eyes that she closed her mouth and looked toward the owner of the hoof, purple eyes met cerise. "Rainbow? What are you doing here? And what happened to Carnelian?" She was looking everywhere when, finally she found him, he was sprawled on the ground with a bump on the right side of his head.

“I think he’s out for the count and Tank is the winner.” The blue Pegasus raised the right front leg of her tortoise with a smirk.

“Rainbow, this is not the time for jokes.” Twilight said with authority, but a light smile graced her lips. She trotted toward her unconscious date and saw the damage he’d sustained, at the very least, he’d walk away from this with a concussion. “Care to explain me how your tortoise did that?” She was showing the bump with her right hoof.

"I think his flying device malfunctioned." And it seemed that indeed the device wasn't in tip-top shape since Tank couldn't keep a proper height.

“Strange, I just did the revision and he wasn’t due back for another two months. If you could wait a little, I will bring Carnelian to the hospital and I’ll repair Tank's flying device.”

“Let me help you, since it’s a little of my fault he's like that, can you wake him up with your magic ?”

“I can.” Twilight concentrated and a light purple aura encompassed the white stallion who woke up a few seconds later.

“Wh... What happened?” He tried to stand up but failed.

“You got hit by a tortoise.” Twilight answered.

“Very funny, I was hit by a flying turtle?” He asked with an incredulous tone.

“Hey buddy, she told you it was a flying tortoise and his name is Tank.” The Pegasus intervened while checking on her pet.

“I'm not your buddy, dirty ruffian; put a leash to your pet if you can't control it.” The stallion exploded and attacked verbally the blue mare.

“What did you call me?”

“A dirty ruffian, you should at least know who is your superior, cloud hugger.” He finished, proud of himself and stood up, wincing slightly. “Come Miss Twilight, we should leave this worthless pegasus to her turtle.” He said with a note of finality in his voice.

“I don't think so.” the tone of her voice was icy with a hint of danger on top. “You just insulted one of my best friends and showed me your true colors, you’re one of those ponies who think unicorns are superior to all other aren’t you.”

“But yes, we are.” He replied, confident he was right.

“I’ll give you until the count of ten before I send you back to Canterlot.”

“What?”

“One.”

“But...”

“Two.”

“If I was you, I would start to flee, buddy.” Rainbow added, smiling.

“Three, you are still here.” She began to charge her horn and a purple aura encompassed it. “Four.”

“Pfft, I accepted your mother's request because you were the personal protégé of Princess Celestia, and therefore I could brag that I nailed you, but when I look at you, bah, I deserve better.”

“Ten”

“What al...” He couldn't finish because like she promised, Twilight sent him back to Canterlot.

“And it’s tortoise!” Rainbow shouted after him, “What a loser.” The pegasus added. “It’s a good thing that you sent him away because he was two seconds to a flank kicking.”

“Hum, I could bring him back and enjoy the show if you wanted...”

“As you wish, Miss Twilight.” Rainbow bowed in front of her friend.

“Please Rainbow, this was cute the first time he did it but no more than that. I think we can go to the library so I can repair Tank's device.”

"Okay, lead the way, Miss Sparkle.” Teased Rainbow.

“If you don't stop, I won't let you get the next Daring Do which just arrived this morning and should be on the shelves tomorrow.”

“What? You should have started with that.” the Pegasus was already flying toward the library, leaving a unicorn with a tortoise in front of the restaurant.

“Ah Rainbow Dash, what my life could be without you? Quiet but boring that’s sure.”
_________________________________________________________________________________

“... And I finished the day with Rainbow, reading the last Daring Do together.”

“Oh my, darling that must have been an awful date.”

“The date was bad but that was a good day with Rainbow.” The purple unicorn said, smiling.

'And you still don't see it, poor Rainbow. Love is unfair.' “This was the last stallion of a long list.”

“Yes, one and a half years, but I'm still at the same level than the day I started searching for my special somepony.” Twilight sighed.

'Oh Rainbow, with what I'm going to do, you will own me a big one.' “Maybe you didn't search in the right place?”

“What do you mean?”

“Look darling, it's easy, take my example, at least the good part.”

“Huh?” Twilight didn't look convinced.

“I am a mare and 'ma chérie' is a mare too.”

“I know that you and Applejack have been happily married for six months, don't rub your happiness in my face.” Twilight said, grinding her teeth somewhat

'Patience Rarity, patience. She is a little lost and you weren't the smartest for knowing that you preferred mares. Let’s try to guide her. And I talking to myself, I'm going slightly mad.'

“What are you trying to tell me, Rarity ?”

'Oh dear, here come the question worth one hundred bits.' “What I trying to say is, that, maybe you like mares.”

“WHAT? NO... At least I don’t think so.” Twilight tailed off, confused. “How could I know?” she asked her friend with pleading eyes.

“Don't look me with those eyes; it took me a drama to understand so I'm trying to avoid that with you. Maybe you don't like mares, you just have the worst luck when it comes to romance.” 'And a determined but cowardly rainbow-maned mare on your tail.'

“How would I know for certain?”

“Only you have the answer, darling. Why you don't sleep on it and maybe tomorrow you will have your answer, you’ve been seeking for almost two years, you can wait a little more right?”

“Tomorrow...”

Applejack hadn’t had a good week, she was vomiting every morning and sometimes at night too. When Rarity asked what was wrong, she’d said she caught a cold by taking care of the farm. How she would have preferred this diagnosis than the one the doctor told her ten minutes ago.

She was walking aimlessly in the streets of Ponyville when she stood before Sugarcube Corner, she knew her new condition required more sugars than a normal pony, she entered and saw that only Pinkie Pie was at counter.

“Hello Applejack, I knew you will come.” The pink pony welcomed her friend ominously.

“How did ya know Ah was coming, Sugarcube?”The only answer she had was a rapid eye blinking from the party pony. “That’s right, ya Pinkie sense. How Ah could forget?” Applejack said, sighing with resignation

“Maybe because you’re expecting a happy event? Congratulations by the way!”

Applejack wasn't moving. “How in tarnation d’ya know this? Even Ah didn't twenty minutes ago.”

“Easy silly, first I had a dozy hoof, then knee twitch, then Ear flop, then eye flutter.”

“All right, ah understood now, but please Sugarcube, don't tell anyone before I do.” Applejack was nearly crying when she asked her friend who nodded.

“Off course silly, I pinkie promise you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She finished with her right hoof in her eye. “But I'm curious how you did it, since you and Rarity are both mares?”

“Erh sugarcube? Ya sure ya want to know?”Applejack blushed a dark red and like last time the answer was a rapid eye blinking. “Alright ah’ll tell ya...
________________________________________________________________________________

Greeting reader

This is a statement from the flashback team.

Following a technical problem of beyond our control, we can't show you the night of love between Rarity and Applejack where they tried a spell who gave stallion attribute to the unicorn.

And no this isn't because the writer doesn't know how to write a clopfic and doesn't want to make a fool of himself.

Also this isn't because he don't want to be rated mature since he was borderline with all the alcohol ingested between the Pegasi.

Thank you for your understanding as we go back to the present.

The flashback team

For a better past.

_________________________________________________________________________________

“... That was strange.” Applejack wondered.

“No I don't think so.” Pinkie countered. “So you will tell everypony tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Why?”

“Because silly, in two days I will throw a party for you, Rarity and your future apple, this will be a secret of course.”

“But tomorrow this is the New Year’s Eve ball and we’re leaving for Canterlot at the crack of dawn.”

“Everypony will be there, that simplifies everything, so tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow...”

Author's Note

It will be a fic about three chapters long (at least I hope).
As always, you are free to leave your opinion.

Edit : Thank to Kidak for editing this chapter
Edit 2 : Thank to M3lancholy for editing this chapter too.

Cédric

New Year's Eve (part 1)

CHAPTER TWO:

New Year's Eve (part 1)

It was late into the winter night, but Twilight Sparkle was surrounded by a pile of books. She was currently reading a romance novel about two mares, when the clock struck midnight. “This doesn't really interest me at all." She sighed as she closed the book, lighting her horn and magically smothering the lit fireplace. She put the books in their respective locations, but when the last book was set in place another one fell in front of Twilight causing her shriek in surprise. After checking if someone saw her, she looked at the book and read the title out loud. “'What Is Love?’ What a strange name for a book, and even stranger I don't remember owning it. Spike couldn't have ordered it since he's in Canterlot helping to prepare for the New Year's Eve ball." She felt a little sleepy; mechanically she looked at the clock, turning back to the book as she laid down on a soft pillow. Lighting her horn to restart the fire in the fireplace and began to read the book in front of her.

“What Is Love?...”

23 hours 45 minutes before the twelfth stroke of midnight

What is the best thing in the world?

For some ponies, it's having so many bits they can swim in them, for others it's when they fly,and for some it's when they sleep.

For Rarity, the best thing in the world is to feel the strong and protective hooves of her lover surrounding her during winter's cold nights. How long in the past had she wanted to feel them, to hear her southern accent whispering sweet nothings in her ears and telling her everything will be alright, but this was in the past.Now she has this and much more.She's been married to Applejack for the last six months and there isn't a day where she doesn’t show affection towards the farm pony.

A shiver traveled down the spine of Rarity as she tried to find some heat from her bedside partner, but her hoof only found emptiness where her wife should have been. Rarity's eyes snapped wide open in panic.

"Applejack?" her voice quivered. She searched the room and found it devoid of any presence but her own. “APPLEJACK!” she cried as she begun to hyperventilate. She tried to calm herself and after a few minutes, she was able to regain her normal breathing but the silence was interrupted by the sound of vomiting. Rarity heaved a sigh of relief and headed for the bathroom.

Inside she saw Applejack throwing up last night's dinner. “Ma chérie, how are you?” the only answers she got was a grunt and a dark look from her wife. “That was inconsiderate of me, ma chérie; forgive me. Here, let me help you.” She placed herself on the left side of Applejack, with her magic took Applejack’s mane out of her face, with her right hoof she massaged the belly of her lover and, finally, she used her left hoof to trace circles on her back.

“...feels good, sugar.” moaned the blond pony with a weak voice. “Ah'm sorry to wake ya up and...” She couldn't finish her sentence before throwing up yet again.

Rarity continued massaging and waited for the vomiting to stop. “Chérie, you don't seem to be getting any better, maybe we should stay here. I'm positive the princesses and our friends will understand.”

Applejack put her left hoof on Rarity's massaging one “It's ok, sugar. You spent a long time on the princesses’ dresses, an’ I know you need the ball to show off yer’ fancy stuff.”

The unicorn cheered and answered without a pause. “After what happened you know I care more about you then about 'my fancy stuff', never forget that ma chérie.” She tried to kiss Applejack, but the earth pony turned her head which ended up with a kiss on her cheek instead. She winced and hung her head.

Applejack saw the pain in her eyes. “Ah'm sorry sugar, but with ev’rythin’ ah threw up, ah have bad breath.” Rarity smiled silently, taking Applejack's face in her hooves and kissed her on the muzzle.

“You see ma chérie, I don't care about anything but you. You... who had saved me from a certain death, please... never forget that.” A single tear trickled down her cheek, with Applejack kissing it away and giving the white unicorn a tight hug. She stroked the mane soothingly and calmed her wife. “Are you sure that you are the sick one, ma chérie?” They stood in each other’s embrace, taking comfort in the hooves of their other half.

When Applejack heard a gentle snore, she chuckled and with infinite care took Rarity on her back then walked to their bedroom. Arriving at her destination, she placed her gently on the bed and put a blanket over her. She stood there a while, just watching the rising and falling of her lover's belly before joining her in the bed; she took the two front hooves of the unicorn and put them on her belly. ‘Inside sugar, there is a little piece of me and you. Tonight at the ball, I will tell ya, please...please...don't leave me. With this last thought, the orange mare drifted off to dreamland.

20 hours 32 minutes before the twelfth stroke of midnight

Twilight Sparkle danced, slowly moving in harmony with the music. Accompanied by a faceless and colorless pony, she enjoyed every second of the slow rhythm. As time went by, the unicorn grew more comfortable with her unknown partner, laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed happily and smelt a soft fragrance she couldn't recognize, but she knew she had smelled it in the past. Sometimes she thought she saw a pair of wings on his back, but the next moment they were gone. Another time it was a horn on his forehead, and finally it was all three at the same time. She also noticed that she was of the same size, a strange thing since she was always shorter than her many dates. The song was playing its last notes, Twilight withdrew her head to look at her partners face, who was still without any distinct feature. He gave her a little smile, another thing the unicorn knew she had seen before, but couldn't remember when. He began to lean down and she was moving to meet him halfway, her eyes already closed, her lips a little open and her heart ready to burst from her ribcage...

“Light...Twi...light....Twilight....Twilight Sparkle...” She heard her partner say her name louder and louder, but she didn't care. She was a millimeter away from the best thing ever. “TWILIGHT....stop trying to kiss me....” She opened her eyes, purple met azure, she was still a millimeter short from a muzzle but now it was one of her best friends. A white unicorn who was struggling with Twilight to stop her from kissing her.

“Rarity?” She removed her front hooves from her friend's face. “What are you doing here?”

The Rarity took the time to restyle her mane before answering. “After our discussion yesterday and knowing you darling, I had to check on you.” She used her magic on a handkerchief and removed a little drool from Twilight's muzzle. “Now, you will go take a shower while I make breakfast, darling.”

“But...” Twilight tried to talk but was silenced by a hoof.

“Hush now, shower first, we'll talk during breakfast.” She removed her hoof and went toward the kitchen, leaving the other unicorn alone with no other choice but going to the bathroom.

When Twilight finished refreshing herself, she descended the stairs and a slight odor of pancakes filled her nose. Following the smell, she entered the kitchen and saw two plates of delicious looking pancakes accompanied by two glasses of apple juice. Her friend was already seated in front of one plate and invited her to sit in front of the other. Twilight didn't wait to be asked a second time and took a place at the table. “Mmmmm, it smells really good, Rarity”

“Oh thank you darling, but wait to taste it before thanking the chef.”

Twilight took a little piece with her fork and tasted. The effect was immediate, even when she was in Canterlot she never ate anything as good as this. “It's very good Rarity, you could be a great chef.”

“I'm glad you like it,” Rarity answered with a smile. “Ma chérie says that too, but lately, she vomits everything I prepare.”

“Is AJ still sick?”

“Yes, she looks so tired and I feel so helpless not being able to help the most important pony in my life. Oh Twilight, it is so awful to see her like that. She told me the doctor said she would get better, but when I look into her eyes I can see the truth and can tell she’s hiding something from me. I know she’ll tell me when she's ready but...but...” Rarity couldn't finish her sentence before bursting into tears. Twilight stood up and took Rarity into her hooves. She tried to calm her friend but nothing seemed to work for appeasing the unicorn. “...I'm scared, I don't know what to do darling. Every night I ask the princesses to give me one more day with her. I'm not ready to let her go....”

“There, there.” Twilight began to stroke her friend's mane when she felt Rarity stiffen. “Sorry, I forgot...”

“It isn't your fault darling; I'm still trying to heal. Only ma chérie can touch me like that without me panicking.” The Rarity calmed herself and withdrew from the embrace. She wiped her eyes and looked at her friend with a smile. “Enough about me, tell me darling; who was it?”

“Who are you talking about?” Twilight replied while she sat down in front of her plate.

“Oh darling, did you already forget how you tried to molest me when I woke you?” The only answer she got was a light blush on the lavender cheek. “So who is the lucky stallion you're dreaming about?” Twilight tried to gain time by drinking her apple juice. “...Or were you dreaming about a mare?”

Twilight's eyes bugged out. The glass fell out of her hoof and shattered on the wooden floor. "Wh-what?" she spluttered, spraying her cider all over the white unicorn.

Rarity cleaned her face with her magic and without missing a beat, started firing question after question toward her friend. “Oh oh Darling, it seems I was right. Do I know her? Pegasus, unicorn, or earth pony? Older, younger? Come on Twilight; don't make me beg you for this wonderful piece of information.”

Twilight, for her part tried to catch her breath before answering her eager friend. “I don't know. It was a faceless pony without any color. Sometimes it had a pair of wings, then it was a horn or it was an alicorn. I remember it had my height, had a familiar odor and a dashing smile,” she finished with a little smile of her own.

“A dashing smile...” pondered Rarity. “I wonder what your subconscious is trying to tell you.”

“How should I know?”

“Sometimes Twilight, you try too hard.” Twilight opened her mouth to deny, but a white hoof stopped her. “Please darling, let me explain and after...you can try to deny anything you want.” When her friend nodded, she removed her hoof and began her explanation. “I’m sure with your near perfect memory you remember when, two years ago, you had provoked a riot because you were, and I quote, ‘tardy’ with your letter to Princess Celestia. Can you refresh my poor memory and tell me what the cause of the riot was, darling?”

It was with her muzzle down, ears flat on her head, and a weak voice, that Twilight Sparkle answered. “It was me, since I couldn’t find a friendship problem, I made one.” But it was with steel in her voice she said. “Because my friends thought I made a mountain out of a hill.”

“Oh darling, it's always cute when you try to be bitter about something we all forgave each other for...Unless you were lying?” Even the most venomous snakes couldn't have had as much venom as these words. “So darling, were you lying?”

“No, no, of course not...” Twilight's face glowed in a hue of pink. “...I know what I did was wrong and I'm grateful you have all forgiven me...” A little smile graced her lips. “I could never forget the night we spent together.”

“Didn't we do a sleepover at your house?”

“Yes, since Spike was leaving with the princess, Rainbow said all six of us should do a sleepover, this way I wouldn't be alone.” Twilight finished with a smile.

“Darling, can you refresh my memory of this night?” Rarity asked, even though she remembered the night perfectly.

“Of course. It started when Princess Celestia answered our letter and asked me to teleport Spike to Canterlot...”

“...I need Spikes help for royal business; Send him immediately. With love signed Princess Celestia.” Twilight finished reading her mentor's letter.

“If you give me fifteen minutes, I’ll be ready,” Spike told her while going to the bedroom preparing his travel bag.

“...Of course Spike, I’ll prepare the spell.” She could barely control the sadness in her voice.

The five friends watched Twilight trying to put on a brave face, but every one of them could see the sadness behind her eyes. A heavy silence reigned until Rainbow Dash did a little nod to herself and spoke up. “Hey, you know what could be awesome?”

Twilight turned toward her flying friend and with what she thought was a cheerful voice asked. “No, Rainbow Dash, I don't know what you think would be awesome, but please tell us.”

Standing only on her hind legs, with her chin proudly raised and gazing into the distance. “A sleepover with all six of us.” Whatever reaction she expected, the only one she obtained was a silence that was even more silent.

But it only took five seconds for Pinkie to react. “Oh, yeah yeah yeah, that’s totally a great idea, let me get my sleepover canon.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Your sleep...” Before she could finish her sentence, a loud bang was heard and six sleeping bags were aligned in front of the chimney. “...never mind darling.” She blew a part of her mane, that had shifted because of the blast, back into place. She used her magic to take out a pocket mirror and looked to see if her mane was back in place. “I think it's a fabulous idea, and you darling, what do you think about it?” She slightly tilted her mirror to look at Applejack's face.

The farm pony scratched the back of her head, looking for an excuse to not do the sleepover but when her eyes crossed those of Rarity, thanks to the mirror, and saw the threatening look she gave her, she knew she had no other alternative. “Ah course, how in tarnation could I miss a sleepover with you sugarcube.”

“Oh darling, I have the perfect idea for your mane. I will need your help, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy let out an 'eep’ of surprise. “I will take that for a yes.” A brush surrounded by a light blue aura was floating toward Applejack. “Now, come here darling.”

“Whoa there sugarcube, I didn't say yes.” Applejack slowly backed away until she saw the ceiling of the library. She had just stumbled onto Fluttershy who was behind her.

“Fabulous job, Fluttershy, you certainly do know where to place yourself to be of the utmost benefit.” Rarity jumped on the farm pony who was still on the ground, the brush between her teeth, and the battle was on.

Meanwhile Pinkie was in the kitchen, preparing some cookies, Twilight approached Rainbow Dash with a smile that made Rainbow's heart skip a beat. “Thank you Rainbow, you're right. A sleepover with everypony after what happened today is an awesome idea.” She finished her sentence by nuzzling Rainbow's chin.

The surprising sign of affection coming from Twilight shocked the pegasus, and like every other surprised pegasus, her wings rose up. 'Darn, not now. Okay Rainbow this is your chance, tell her how you have felt for more than a year now.’ Once her wings regained their positions, she nuzzled the unicorn back. “No problem, Twi. I couldn't let you down like that.” She looked into her friend's eyes and nearly lost herself in them. ‘Focus Dash. It isn't the moment to lose yourself in her beautiful eyes’ “Look Twi, I have something to tell you.”

“Of course, you can tell me anything, that's what friends are for, isn't it?”

“Friends, yeah....” Her ears fell back on her head and she took one last breath before jumping toward heaven or hell. “I think...no…” She shook her head. “I have...no...” She shook her head again. “I...no...” For a third time, the pegasus shook her head which began to worry Twilight. “Okay, I'm ready.” Rainbow took Twilight's face in her front legs. “Today you said I don't have to hide my feelings. Twilight Sparkle... I L...”

"Twilight, I'm ready whenever you want." A young voice cut Rainbow’s declaration.

“Good. Spike, get ready to be teleported in 5...4...3...2...1....” And with a purple bang, her assistant was sent to Canterlot. She turned toward her friend. “You were saying Rainbow?”

“Oh nothing Twi, it was a prank but Spike killed the joke.” ‘The next time I see the lizardI’ll kill him.'

“If you say so. You nearly got me, you were really convincing.” She trotted toward the pile of dust also know as Rarity and Applejack. “Please girls, don't break anything.”

“You have no idea, Twi.” Rainbow muttered while a single tear fell on the library's floor, another one Rainbow Dash devoted to Twilight Sparkle since she first met her.

“Why are you crying?” A voice asked behind her.

The daredevil turned toward the voice and saw her friend Pinkie Pie with a plate full of cookies. “Oh Pinkie. It's only dust, you know with everything these two move.” She showed the big ball of dust which consisted of Applejack, Rarity, and against her will, Fluttershy. “I got a little in my eyes.”

“Oki doki loki. Want some cookies?” She put the plate in front of Rainbow's muzzle.

“Smells good, lets see if they're as good as they look.” She took one and threw it in the air, when it fell; it landed directly into her wide open mouth. “"Hm," she crunched the cookie between her teeth. "This is good," she gulped down the rest of it.

“Thanks.” Pinkie moved toward the table in the center of the room and set the tray down before going to cheer on the makeover which had turned into a wrestling match between Rarity and Applejack. “Come on Applejack, use a sweet chin music on her. And you Rarity, put her in the sharpshooter.”

“No Pinkie, not you too.”Twilight pleaded with her pink friend.

“Why? Wrestling is fun, you never saw a match?”

“A long time ago, when I was a filly. My foalsitter took me to watch a show.”

“Oh lucky. Which one?”

“It was called 'Hoofamania’ or something.” In an instant she found herself nose to nose with Rainbow.

“What? You went to Hoofamania? Which one was it?”

“What do you mean which one? It was just a wrestling show, nothing more.” Twilight replied while stepping back.

Rainbow turned her head toward Pinkie. “Did you hear that, Pinkie? Just a wrestling show? Tsk, tsk, tsk egghead. Hoofamania is the granddaddy of them all...”

“The showcase of the immortals” The pink pony added.

“Where it all begins.” Fluttershy said.

“What? Even you Fluttershy?” Twilight was shocked.

“Oh yeah, I nearly forgot Shy. You were always a big fan of that stallion, what was his name?” Whatever the name Fluttershy gave, it wasn't loud enough to be heard. “Hum, did you just say Batousta? I didn't know you liked old stallions?” Fluttershy tried again but still wasn't loud enough. “ What? The Mock? You like them with too much muscle?” And finally at her third try.

“IT WAS THE HEARTBREAK COLT.” The pegasus shouted to the surprise of everypony.

Rainbow was the first to recover. “I remember now, your room was full of his posters.” A little smirk started to appear on her lips. “I'm sure one of them stole your first kiss.” The answer she received was to see her winged friend blushing and trying to hide behind her mane. “So Shy which poster was it ?” But when she turned toward Fluttershy, the pony had disappeared behind Twilight which was frankly not impressed. “Hehehe, It was a joke Twi. Shy knows I didn’t mean it.” It was Twilight's turn to smirk and her horn started to shine. Knowing the tell-tale of danger, Rainbow started to fly away, but too late, she was caught by a purple aura.

“So Fluttershy, what should we do with her?” Twilight asked while she played with her catch.

Fluttershy took the time to think. “When Rarity's done with Applejack, I'm sure she’sll love to try something with Rainbow's mane.”

“What? No!” Rainbow struggled against the magic of her friend, but it was useless because Twilight wasn't going to let her get away.

“But Rainbow, it's going to be so funny, you love to play prank on others, now it's your turn.”

“Please Twi, anything but a makeover.”

“Anything?” Twilight asked one last time.

“Anything!” Rainbow yelped as Twilight released her magical grip on her.

“Good, starting tomorrow you will help me with some research on pegasi. Now let's see who won between Rarity and Applejack.”

In the end, it was Rarity who won with the wall of Jericho and Applejack let her do a makeover. The six friends spent the night telling horror stories, to the dismay of Fluttershy who hid in her sleeping bag, and played many games. It was late when sleep finally came to visit them.

It was early in the morning, when the cold woke Twilight despite all her efforts to stay warm, but there was no fire in the chimney and the chattering of her teeth prevented her to think of a spell that could help her. It was so cold and she was so tired. She read that dying of cold was like sleeping but you never wake up, they never wrote how the shaking was painful and how it hurt when your teeth were chattering...

...Until it was no more. She was no longer cold. She opened one of her eyes and saw a blue wing hugging her, the shield made of feathers protected her against whatever the cold could send, she tried to turn a bit, but her shield hugged her tighter. “Got you covered Twi...”A sleeping voice told her and she did exactly what the voice said to her, she went back to sleep protected by Rainbow's shield of feathers, a smile drawn on both of their faces.

“...And that’s what happened.”

"I remember now, ma chérie was fabulous after the makeover." Rarity sighed. "It seems so far away."

"Yeah, my brother wasn't married and neither were you."

"I wasn't even seeing Applejack in that way."

"And it was only two years ago. Time flies..."

"By the way darling, you told me that Rainbow put her wing on you during the night."

A little smile appeared on Twilight's face. "Yes, it was the best blanket I could ask for, so warm and soft." 'It smelled good too. 'She added mentally.

"Tell me darling, did she do that often? Or was it just once?" Rarity was wondering if her friend, with all the knowledge she had, didn't know what the gesture meant for the pegasus and her kind.

"Oh she does that quite often when we are alone in the library during our reading sessions." Twilight answered innocently. "Or when she stayed at my home during last winter when her house collapsed because of the cold. Even my best comforter couldn't beat the warmth of Rainbow's wing."

"Last winter was the worst of everything." Rarity had a mournful smile while she remembered what happened during this winter. 'But after winter, spring is here with new hopes.'

"Do you remember what Pinkie told us the day before the first snow?"

"How could I forget something like that?"

"She was on her hind legs and was holding her front hooves on the handle of a huge sword. She took her most serious voice and told us 'brace yourself, winter is coming.'" The two ponies laughed together remembering this memory.

"I still wonder where she has been able to find that metal armor she was wearing." Rarity took a sip of juice before returning to the assault." Tell me darling, do you know what it means for a pegasus when they use one of their wings to hug another pony?"

"Of course, when a stallion uses one of his wing to hug a mare, it means he loves her and will protect her till death do them part. It was used like a silent proposal and if the mare accepts, she took one of her primary feathers and gives it to the stallion who will then put that feather behind one of his ears..." Twilight was in full lecture mode. "...In our days, this practice is still in use but less practiced, when a male pegasus uses one of his wings to hug a mare of any species, it still has the same meaning. It's only the answer that changes; a pegasus will still give one of her primary feathers; a unicorn will use her magic to link their two minds during a short moment; and an earth pony will take a lock of her mane and will give it to the stallion. Although the use of rings is more common but some ponies love to be traditional."

"I have the lock of ma chérie on my nightstand." Rarity couldn't forget how Applejack proposed, using the old earth ponies' traditions. "But tell me Twilight, what is mean when a mare hugs somepony with one of her wings ?"

"It's means nothing, it's just a friendly gesture."

"Oh really? Can you tell me why?"

"The book about the customs and traditions of the pegasi didn't say anything about the meaning of a mare hugging someone with her wings, the book said that only the stallion can start the courtship. You see, it can only be a friendly gesture."

'You are so smart and so naive sometime, Twilight.' Rarity finished her pancake then wiped her muzzle. "Darling, can you tell me how old that book was?"

"It was a very old volume that was written before the creation of Equestria." Twilight stated proudly.

"You know what is older than Equestria too?..." Without letting her the time to answer the Rarity continued. "...Narrow-minded ponies, especially in the old days. The book you read was good I'm sure, but it was written in an era when two mares loved each other. It was seen as a terrible thing to do. So of course they won't write about it."

Twilight's ears were flat on her head and she looked down on her plate, a half-pancake lying here. "So what it's mean when a pegasus mare hug another mare with her wings ?"

'Sorry darling, but I don't have the right to answer this question.' She looked around, searching for a escape when her eyes fell on the clock. "Oh my! It's already so late. Sorry Twilight, I have to wake ma chérie. Can you tell me what time we need to be at the station? "

Her chin and her ears perked. Twilight Sparkle went back to her lecture mode. "I sent everypony a schedule one month ago, don't tell me you didn't read it, you're worse than Rainbow sometimes."

"You sure know her pretty well." Her voice full of innuendo.

"What does this mean?" The lavender unicorn asked with a hint of warning. She was running short of patience with her friend's remarks.

"Nothing darling, nothing." With a simple spell Rarity took the cutlery and the plates to put them in the sink. "See you later."

"See you later Rarity. We meet at seven thirty, in front of the station by the way."

"Thank you darling." She left the library while gently closing the door.

Twilight looked at the clock and saw she didn't have much time left before leaving for the station.

16 hours 57 minutes before the twelfth stroke of midnight

It was exactly seven thirty when Twilight teleported herself in front of the station. She could see that she was the first to arrive. 'And of course, no one is here. I still wonder why I send them schedules if they don't follow them.' She sighed and looked around, she saw an empty bench. She moved toward the bench, placed her saddlebag behind it and sat down on it. 'Let's see, the train leaves in forty five minutes. That leaves me fifteen minutes before I go see why they are late.' Twilight's thoughts were stopped when two hooves were placed before her eyes.

“Guess who!” A cheerful voice, to which the hooves belonged, asked.

“Hum, since I know only one pony that plays this game, I’ll guess Pinkie Pie.” Both hooves withdrew and the pink pony was in front of Twilight.

“Ooohhh, you're good,” Pinkie Pie congratulated her friend before she put her saddlebag right next to Twilight’s, a couple of balloons escaping. “Hehehe, oops.”

“So Pinkie, what do you have prepared for tonight? Even Princess Celestia said nothing to me.”

“Of course silly, it's a surprise and Princess Celestia made a Pinkie Promise.”

To say that Twilight was shocked was a poor description of what she was feeling inside. Outside, she looked calm, only her eyes were wide open. “The princess made a Pinkie Promise?”

“Yep. Oh look its Applejack and Rarity,” Pinkie said, making a gesture of her muzzle towards the couple arriving.

The two mares were walking close to each other. When they arrived near the bench, Twilight could see that Rarity was helping Applejack to walk straight; she used her magic to put their bags on the ground and gently put her wife on the bench near the other unicorn. “Sorry for being late my dears but ma chérie is very tired today.”

“That’s not a problem. We’re still waiting for Fluttershy and Rainbow.” Twilight took the time to look at the sleeping face of Applejack. “Maybe you shouldn't have brought her? I don't think she’ll enjoy the ball.”

“It's not like I have a choice darling,” Rarity answered with a sad smile while she passed a hoof in the blond mane of her other half. “Since there is no way in Tartarus I will leave her alone even for a day, and she didn't want me to miss one of 'my fancy stuff'. We agreed the two of us will go to the celebration even if we leave before the countdown.” She kissed Applejack's cheek. “We are only missing the pegasi, I'm surprised Fluttershy isn't here.” Twilight and Pinkie nodded.

Twilight looked at the clock in front of the station and saw that it was a quarter before eight o'clock. “We don't have time, I will go to Fluttershy's cottage to see why she is late and send her to Rainbow's house.” She started to concentrate on her teleportation spell, but before she could finish a pony stood before her. “Pinkie?”

“I’ll go.”

“Why? You'll be too slow, the cottage is too far for you to be back in time. The train leaves in thirty minutes. "

“Trust me, I’ll be back in time.”

“No, I'm going." In a flash, Twilight Sparkle teleported to the home of her friend.

“Oh, it's not going to end well.” Pinkie's ears were flat on her head and her eyes began to water.

“Why do you say that?” Rarity asked with worry in her voice.

“I have a bad feeling.”

16 hours 14 minutes before the twelfth stroke of midnight

When the unicorn entered the house, she was assaulted by a strong odor of alcohol. She saw bottles of hard cider on the floor but no trace of her quiet friend. “Fluttershy? FLUTTERSHY?” The only answer she got was a carrot to her face, courtesy of a white rabbit. “Angel? Where is Fluttershy?” The rabbit used his right paw to point up at the second floor, but the moment Twilight tried to move forward he put himself between her and the staircase and made an X with his forepaws. “What? HNNNGG not you too?” She used her magic to remove him from the staircase. “Sorry but I don't have time to deal with you.” She continued to trot until she was in front of her friend's bedroom. She knocked three times. “Fluttershy? Are you in there?”

“Hnnn” A feeble voice replied.

“I'm coming in,” she said before she entering the room. She noticed the fact that it had two lumps under the covers. Twilight smiled a little, her friend wasn't so shy. “Looks like someone had a wild night, but you have less than twenty minutes to take a shower and be ready.” She moved to the corner of the bed and took the blanket between her teeth. “And now let's see who you’re sharing your bed with?” With a single stroke, she withdrew the cover. “Rainbow...”

Even if she didn't know why, Twilight Sparkle's heart broke.

16 hours 02 minutes before the twelfth stroke of midnight.

Author's Note

...And I going to hide inside a bunker.

I'm very sorry for a very late chapter 2. I hope you will like it.

I won't say when the next chapter is, because I don't know but one thing is sure I won't take another four month.