Author's note
DisneyPrincess, yes, Kessie is from the mentioned series; Now for the romantic part of the story.

Chapter 9: Love At Last?

The ballroom looks beautiful and decorated for the big date. At a door near one set of stairs, the fillies smile as Twilight came down them, wearing a dress that was designed and made by Rarity. The dress itself is purple with some light purple and light blue hooves with blue shoulderish pads and star decorations.

Once Twilight reaches the bottom, she looks up the other stairs to see the Demon Pony wearing a black tuxedo standing near the colts. His friends motion him on as he clears his throat and came downstairs.

The Demon Pony reaches the bottom now, now standing in front of Twilight. The two ponies smile as they bow and curtsy to one another. They then take upper hooves as they walk down the final steps to the dance floor. Applejack and Rarity are standing on side of the staircase with Nyx and the CMC; they are smiling as the Southern filly sings.

Applejack: Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends unexpectedly

In the dining room, Twilight and the Demon Pony ate their meals while JJB88 and Dexter plays the violin.

Just a little change

Twilight smiles as she got out of her chair and goes over to the Demon Pony, wanting to dance with him. The furry pony is nervous but got up to take her upper hoof.

Small to say the least
Both a little scared

The couple smile as they head to the main dance floor of the ballroom.

Neither one prepared,
Beauty an' 'de Beast

Twilight smiles as she prepares to dance with the Demon Pony who looks nervously at her. The creature has never danced before...but perhaps now is the time to do so.

Ever just 'de same
Ever a surprise

The couple begin to dance, doing so wonderfully and romantically. The Demon Pony grins as he glances over to Caramel, Soarin', Spike and Brian who gave approval smiles to their friend.

Ever as before, ever just as sure
As 'de sun will rise

The Demon Pony, getting more confidence, continues dancing with Twilight, falling more in love with her. For a moment, it looks like the cupids on the ceiling of the ballroom are moving, looking down in approval.

Tale as old as time
Tune as old can be
Bittersweet an' strange,
Finding yew can change, learning yew were wrong
Certain as 'de sun

Twilight smiles lovingly as she put her head onto the Demon Pony's chest, making the former nasty monster smiles. He felt warmth inside, even more so than usual. This feels so right.

Rising in the east
Tale as old as time,

The Demon Pony glances to the ones not dancing who smiles eagerly while giving the furry pony two thumbs up in approval.

Song as old as rhyme
Beauty an' 'de Beast

Soarin' and Rainbow dims the lights down softly as the song is coming to a close.

Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty an' 'de Beast

A pair of double doors leading outside open up as the couple goes outside. With a smile, Nyx spoke up with a yawn, "Good song, AJ."

"Thank yew. Apple Bloom, off 'ta bed wit' yew an' 'de other Cutie Mark Crusaders. Same 'ta yew, Nyx, go on." Applejack said as she kisses Apple Bloom on the forehead. "Good night."

"Same to you, good night, Sweetie," Rarity said while hugging Sweetie good night.

"Come on, let's go." Nyx said with a nod as she and the CMC leaves the ballroom to get some sleep. But Apple Bloom looks through the door, smiling happily to the happy couple. This could actually happen.

The Demon Pony and Twilight got onto a bench at the balcony outside, looking at the starry sky. The furry pony looks at the purple unicorn, holding one of her hooves while smiling. He can't believe that it would happen, but it did. He has fallen in love with Twilight and wants to confess his love to her.

"Twilight...are you happy here with me?" The Demon Pony asks Twilight hopefully.

"Yeah, I'm happy. Nyx is too, she is making so much friends here, a place where my little foal wouldn't be able to do so back home." Twilight said. Then she looks down in sadness as she herself remembers home...and her father whom the mare hasn't seem in quite a long time.

"Uh, Twilight; what's wrong?"

"Oh, I like it here but if only I could see my father again, if only for a moment. I miss him so much."

The Demon Pony felt guilty, remembering how he has made Dusk's departure: abruptly and without saying goodbye to his daughter. Of course, the furry Earth Pony remembers how Twilight promise that she can't leave the grounds...but then the Demon Pony has an idea. Perhaps there's a way to assure his love that she can see Dusk.

"There is a way that can happen." The Demon Pony said to Twilight, much to her surprise.

"Wait...you can do that?" Twilight ask the Demon Pony hopefully. "Please show me."

---

The Demon Pony takes Twilight to the west wing, this time he wasn't upset that she was there, frankly because the monster no longer feels ashamed or outraged of her being there.

The Demon Pony picks up the magic mirror and shows it to Twilight while saying, "Here, this mirror can show you anything, which is how I found you a few times before. Just wish for something and you can see it."

Twilight, given the mirror, uses magic to hold it while saying to the mirror, "I wish to see my father please."

Like before, the mirror glows as an image appear. Twilight gasps in horror as she saw Dusk. He is in the forest, obviously looking for her, Nyx and Spike. The male unicorn groans as he fell to his knees, coughing like mad. Poor Dusk, he's sick and must've been searching for days.

As the mirror image fades, Twilight gasps, "No! It's my father, he's sick! He must've been searching for Nyx, Spike and me for days! He could be dying and doesn't have anything to help! I got to do something, but what?"

The Demon Pony looks at the rose, there are now three pedals left on it. He sighs in sadness. The furry pony knew that there's only one thing left to do so that Twilight can save her father now.

"Now you, your daughter and your baby dragon may go to him." The Demon Pony said with a sigh. This announcement has surprised Twilight. Her former captor is allowing her, Nyx and Spike to leave?

"What, but I thought..." Twilight begins to speak in surprise.

"You three are no longer my prisoners, there's no reason for you to be here anymore..."

Wait, you mean...we're free? Oh thank you!"

Twilight prepares to go fetch Nyx and Spike so that they can leave to find Dusk. Of course, the purple unicorn turns and is about to give the mirror back to the Demon Pony but he stops her while saying, "Take it with you. That way, you can have a way to look back...to remember me."

Twilight's tears came in her eyes, the Demon Pony has allowed her to go; he is so kinder than he himself was before. The mare said, "Thank you...for understanding how my father needs me, Nyx and Spike."

"Twilight, I...I...oh, just go, please."

"...thank you. I will miss you."

Twilight sighs as she goes out the door, not wanting to look at the Demon Pony. Otherwise, she would not want to go and end up forgetting Dusk. The unicorn passes Caramel who came in, unaware of what occurred.

"Great work, master," Caramel spoke up, noting how the master's back is turned to him, "Gotta admit, I was doubtful at first but you proved me wrong...hee hee."

"I let her go." The Demon Pony explains in sadness, not wanting to look at Caramel right now.

"Yes, yes, of course you let her..." Caramel suddenly looks shocked as what the Demon Pony just said has hit him hard. He has let Twilight, the only one who could break the spelll, go? "Wait, what? You let her go; as in allowing Twilight to leave the castle along with her adopted castle and...but why?"

"Because...I love her."

"Well...I see. Okay, then...I better go tell everyone the sad news then."

Caramel leaves the room in sadness, leaving his master to sigh sadly. He knew that it was a hard sacrifice, allowing Twilight to go to help her father...but it was the right thing to do. The Demon Pony then begins to sing.

Demon Pony: No pain could be deeper
No life could be cheaper
No point anymore
If she can't love me

No hope she would do so
No dream to pursue
So I look to myself
Despise all the things I see

For I know that she cannot set me free
Let the world be done with me

---

"He did WHAT?" Most of the servants exclaims in shock and disbelief. Caramel has informed them what has happened to his friends. The Demon Pony has really set Twilight Sparkle free?

"Yes, it's true, I'm afraid, it's all true." Caramel said with a sad nod.

"They're going away?" Apple Bloom asks in disbelief.

"Even Nyx too? Oh man, she was our friend and now she has to go." Scootaloo said with a groan.

"It's not fair." Sweetie said, tears in her eyes. Why must things end up getting good, only for them to end up in a major downfall?

"Oh great, it's not fair!" Rainbow groans in disbelief. "He was so close too."

"Oh dear. This is really sad." Fluttershy said in sadness. "I cannot believe that after all this time, he has finally learn how to love..."

"Wait, that's it, he loves her!" Soarin' exclaims in hope. "That can break the spell, maybe everything wasn't for nothing after all!"

"No...'dat ain't enough, Soarin'. Twilight has 'ta love him in return." Applejack said with a sad sigh. The spell can only be broken if Twilight can love the Demon Pony back in return, him loving her isn't enough.

"Yes, and sadly, we're getting close to the last pedals." Rarity said in sadness. No one notice that the CMC are sneaking away, looking behind themselves before leaving the room; Looks like they are up to something.

"And now...it's too late." Caramel said in sadness.

"Man, this is not cool." Rainbow said in sadness as everypony looks down in sadness. Looks like this is end, they will remain little foals forever...

The Demon Pony, outside on the balcony, watches as Twilight, with Spike and a sad Nyx, on her back, galloping off from the castle. He then begins to make a neighing noise as if his heart is broken...it is.

Twilight can hear the Demon Pony's neighing but held back tears as she continues galloping off onward.

---

Twilight's group continues looking around through the forest, looking around as the older mare calls out, "Daddy? Papa, where are you?"

"Twilight, look," Spike gasps as he points at something. The two fillies turn and gasp as they finally found Dusk, face first in the snow and unconscious.

"Papa!"

The trio rushes over to Dusk and check on him. Nyx checks his pulse as she sighs, "Grandpa's still alive...but he won't be unless we get him back home, now!"

---

It took a while but Twilight's group has arrived back home with Dusk and goes inside the house. The older male unicorn needs medical treatment and quickly!

Unknown to the group however, there are two snowmen right next to the porch...that is shivering like mad. Soon they crumble like mad, revealing Dum-Dum and Boxco, blue skinned thanks to freezing. The two has been staying there all this time, but are lucky to still be alive.

"Hey, they're back!" Boxco exclaims with a shiver.

"Good thing too, I don't know how long my magic can keep us fed, keep us from freezing to death as well as allowing us to...'do our business'." Dum-Dum said with a cold nod. "Come on, let's get Boris!"

With that, Dum-Dum and Boxco rush off quickly. Boris is going to be thrilled to hear their news.

Author's note
Awww; Just when things are going so well between Twilight and the Demon Pony, the furry pony let her go to help her father. And things aren't going to be good once Boris appears again.

Nyx: I hate that guy!

Me: Right. In the next chapter, Boris and a mob appears to have Dusk committed with a threat that Twilight must marry the red colt or else. But when the heroine proves that her father isn't crazy, things got worse as Boris plays on the villagers' fears while planning on killing the Demon Pony, dragging poor Nyx with them. Read, review and suggest.

The dress worn by Twilight is the same one that she wore at the Gala in season 1.