The lavish and expansive architecture of Canterlot Castle sat vacuous and lonely around her. The cold, white stone was callous, the beautiful gold trim almost spiteful, and the elegant tapestries sickening; everything about the castle just sat wrong with her, reminding her of what she feared. The hallway Rainbow Dash sat in was empty—and had been so since she took a seat. It was the perfect place for her, since she didn’t want any company.

She tapped her hoof on the cushion of the couch, though it didn’t seem to help. She felt as though she was standing on the edge of a cliff, staring out into a void. She could feel herself teetering in eternal limbo. If she wasn’t careful, she could slip off that edge. Never before had she been scared of falling, but she knew that if she fell into the pit, she wouldn’t come back.

The subtle ticking of a clock hanging on the wall pulled her back to reality. Her eyes scanned the long corridor she was sitting in once more. The grey brick walls and elegant tapestries remained unchanged from the last time she looked. Dash stopped her tapping, and brought her hoof to her forehead. She felt as though her brain was actually buzzing inside her head.

The past few days had been a blur to her. So much had happened way too fast for her to keep up with it all. It was as though she was standing still as the world raced by her in slow motion. She had been there to witness it all, but when she tried to process what had happened, she was lost. In the wake of it, she was still trying to piece everything together.

She looked down at her other hoof, pressing a small felt box into the plush surface she was sitting on. Her heart sank as soon as she looked at the object. Dash picked it up and stared at it with a forlorn gaze. The little box she held in her hoof was her dreams for the future, but now it seemed as though those dreams wouldn’t come to fruition.

“Three months I’ve been planning this…” she muttered to herself. She leaned back a bit too far, and her head bumped the wall, but the dull pain didn’t even faze her. ”Three months,” she repeated. A groan escaped her as she dropped the box on the couch. Her hooves found themselves pressed against her forehead, drilling into her skin as hard as she could press them.

For what felt like the hundredth time since it happened, her mind played back over the past three months yet again. Ever since she and Twilight came back from Cloudsdale, she knew what she wanted to do. The sweat from the long days and endless hours of overtime came back to her. She could still feel the sweat trickle down her brow, the pain in her wings and back, the exhaustion seeping into every fiber of her being, all of that hardship for what sat next to her.

“I was excited at first, but now…” She stared at the ceiling of the corridor, her heart weighing heavy with uncertainty. Dash’s thoughts drifted to a few days back before it all changed. It was almost like she was watching herself from outside of her own body; she bolted around Fluttershy’s cottage, dodging the furniture as she chased down Angel. As she watched herself chasing after the rabbit, time slowed down, her wings beating ever slower until they finally came to a halt. She could see herself, but with one minor difference: on her haunch, instead of her own cutie mark, she had three pink butterflies. That small little mark made all the difference.

Dash sighed dejectedly. She was embarrassed to see herself act like such a fool. “How did I ever think I was supposed to take care of those stupid animals…” Just seeing her past self consumed by this lie made her jaw clench. Those three butterflies changed her entire outlook—who she thought she was. “It was weird…I woke up that day, and I went to Fluttershy’s house without even questioning it. It felt like it was my normal routine… “

Twilight had snapped her out of it. “If it hadn’t been for her…” The images in her mind raced forward at a blinding pace, and before she knew it, another scene was set before her. She was walking next to Rarity. Her cutie mark was back, but Rarity also had the same bolt of lightning on her haunch. “Twi figured everything out. All I did was just tell Rarity what she told me…”

She watched herself guide Rarity to the window of her friend’s boutique. Inside the window, Applejack could be seen slaving away at a sewing machine, where Rarity should have been. “Friends gotta help each other, huh…” She placed her hooves on the back of her head, leaning back into the couch. “I don’t think a friend could help me with what I’m feeling right now…” she softly said to no one.

Her mind fast forwarded again, and was now standing in the library with her friends, all gathered around Twilight. Dash winced. This was the moment that changed everything, the moment where she felt like she lost Twilight forever. All of her friends were happy to be back to their normal selves. Twilight was standing at a table, writing something down in a book. As she finished her sentence, Dash’s heart seized. In a bright flash, Twilight disappeared. Though she knew her marefriend would come back, the memory made the pain come alive once more. In an instant all of those emotions; the shock, the fear, the anger, the unbearable sadness—all of it ignited inside her heart once more, dragging it down deep into her chest.

Dash’s memory fast forwarded one last time. She and her friends were standing outside. It was already dark, and Dash still remembered those feelings tearing her inside. Suddenly, a flash of blinding light filled her vision. They all stared speechless as Twilight stood before them. Dash could still feel her heart jump in her chest at the sight. However, there was something different about Twilight. Suddenly, two wings burst forth from her sides, showing themselves to her friends.

Her memories faded, leaving her with the mental picture of Twilight—no longer a simple unicorn, but an amalgamation of the pony races—an alicorn. “She’s really a princess now…”

The streets outside were abuzz with the city of Canterlot celebrating the recent coronation. The soft roar of the crowd pulled Rainbow Dash back to reality. It had only been a few hours since Twilight was crowned, but for her, it felt like an eternity already. After the post-ceremony parade had ended, she slipped away from the festivities. It was a blur how she found herself in this particular hallway, but all that mattered to her was that there was no one around to bother her while she was thinking.

Dash ran her hoof over the box next to her. She could feel the fuzzy felt against her fur, a sensation that would usually drive her insane, but now, she was miles away. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she stared aimlessly at the wall ahead. “I should be happy for her…” As her hoof rolled along the surface of the small box beside her, it slipped, drawing her attention down. Her heart trembled in her chest every time her eyes fell upon the small box. “I should be happy for her, but…what about me? What about us?”

Dash picked up it up and flipped it open. Inside sat a small golden ring, the sight of which made her heart drop. A deep ache filled in her chest. She wanted to vomit. It was only a few days ago that the sight of this ring put the wind beneath her wings. When she first bought it, she was thrilled—more so than she had been in her entire life. It was the embodiment of her hopes, dreams, the life she wanted to have with Twilight. Her jaw clenched hard as she leaned her head back once more.

“Does she want to be with me anymore? Can she even be with me anymore? I don’t know what a princess does…What if she’s got to marry a prince or something? What about our kid?” But, she knew that there was no one around to answer those questions. The empty hallway sat silently, only reminding her of her loneliness.

Dash flipped the box closed. She tossed it callously beside her once more, and stared at the wall again. The horrid silence didn’t just stay in the hallway; it snuck inside her, and burrowed in her mind. It was as if her own mind was scared to offer her advice. The seconds ticked by on the clock above. At some point her eyes found themselves staring at it, entranced by the secondhand meticulously trekking across the clockface. Seconds became minutes before she realized it, and still the silence was uninterrupted.

Dash opened her mouth, preparing to say something—anything, but her thoughts were quicker. “I love her, but…” She hesitated. It was a thought she didn’t want to think. Her heart felt as though it would explode in her chest even at the notion. But before Dash could dismiss that terrible thought, a piece of advice her dad gave her when she was younger came to mind.

“Sometimes, if you love something, the best thing for it is to let it go…”

Another stinging pain flashed in her chest. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Why did she think that at that particular moment? She took a deep breath. “I love Twi…I can’t…” She stopped herself again. This whole situation wasn’t about her. Dash's gaze shifted back to the clock for a moment. “This isn’t about me…It’s about all of Equestria…”

“I love Twi, but…” she paused for a brief moment to swallow a lump in her throat, “if she can’t be with me…that’s…” She winced at the last word. Immediately, her heart felt like it was pierced. Her vision became blurry as tears started to form in her eyes. “If Twi want’s to break up after this…I just have to let her go…” Never before had she felt such a sensation tear through her. For a moment, Dash almost swore she felt her heart shatter, and every fiber of her being screamed out in agony.

The tears building in her eyes finally overflowed. She could feel her sorrow trickle down her cheeks. Even if she had to let Twilight go for the benefit of the country, she couldn’t force herself to do so—she wouldn’t. She could feel her soul crying out at the mere notion. After everything they had been through together, after all the struggles they faced, and how their love had blossomed through it all, she would rather die than let Twilight go.

Suddenly, the huge wooden door at the end of the hallway opened. Dash glanced over through her blurred vision to see Twilight walking towards her. “There you are.”

Dash wiped the tears from her eyes with one hoof and quickly snatched the small box next to her with the other. Before Twilight got too close, she tucked the container safely under her wing. “Hey…” she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

Twilight sat next to Rainbow Dash, a smile proudly on her face. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. You just disappeared after the parade.” She wrapped a foreleg around her marefriend, pulling her in for a hug. Once their shoulders touched, Twilight pressed her cheek against Dash’s and she let out a content sigh. Her new wing extended out, gently resting against Dash’s back in an embrace Dash had given her many times.

The pain in Dash’s chest melted away in that very instant. Her raging torrent of emotions quelled from the gentle embrace; Twilight’s affection was just what she needed.

Twilight pulled her face away from her lover’s with a confused look. She stroked Dash's cheek and felt it was a little damp. She looked into Dash’s eyes, searching, but the pegasus tried to avoid her gaze. “Were you crying?” Twilight asked in a concerned voice.

“N-no…”

“What is it, Dashie?” Twilight continued to probe. Her hoof gently stroked her marefriend’s back.

Rainbow Dash continued to stare down at the floor. She could feel that her eyes were still puffy from her tears, of which Twilight was clearly aware of. She wasn’t going to stop questioning her until Dash told her what was wrong. “How can I even tell her what I’m feeling?” she thought as she stared down at the cold stone floor. “Where would I even begin?”

She leaned over to Twilight’s side, head resting against her shoulder. It was a small way to show she wasn’t ignoring her. “Is she even thinking about this stuff? Am I looking too deep here?” She could feel Twilight’s grip on her tighten. “What if she does think we should break up…What about our kid…” Dash let out a dejected sigh.

Her gaze bounced to the corner of her eyes, catching a glimpse of her marefriend for a brief moment. Twilight was patiently waiting for her to speak, but Dash groaned in frustration at herself. “I-I don’t know…” she finally said, too confused to even start.

“Well, there’s something wrong, so just start talking, and we’ll piece it together from there,” Twilight said optimistically.

Dash gave a small nod before sitting up. “I guess I’m just…” She let out a desperate groan. “You’re a princess now…”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And, you have a lot more responsibility and stuff now.” Dash shrugged Twilight’s foreleg off from around her. “Just look at Princess Celestia and Princess Luna…They’re always doing stuff—important stuff for Equestria…”

Twilight giggled. “I’m not taking over for them. They’ll still be doing their normal duties.”

“You’re not taking this seriously!” Dash crossed her forelegs, and locked them in place. Her gaze quickly turned in the opposite direction from Twilight. It seemed as she was missing the point entirely.

Twilight sighed with a distant look on her face. “I’ve decided…” she paused for a moment. That pause stopped Dash’s heart in her chest. Her whole body went stiff as she waited for Twilight to finish. “I’ve decided I’m not going to let this change anything…” A small smile came across Twilight’s face as she spoke.

Dash turned to her with wide eyes. “What?”

“I’m not going to let this change anything about me. I’m still me, just with a pair of wings.”

“But what if you have to move into a castle, or live here in Canterlot?” Dash climbed off the couch and walked in front of Twilight, staring at her with desperate, pleading eyes.

“Princess Celestia promised me I wouldn’t have to do any of that.”

“B-but…”

“But what?” Twilight tilted her head to the side, expectantly. “What’s really upsetting you, Dashie?” she said with a calming tone as she placed her hoof on her marefriend’s shoulder. “It’s not that I’m a princess now...”

“Twi…do you…still want to be with me?” Her voice quivered as she spoke.

Twilight’s eyes went wide for a moment. “W-what?”

“Do you still want to be with me?” Dash raised her voice as she repeated the question.

“Is that what you’re so worked up about?” she blinked in disbelief.

“I mean, you’re a princess, and I’m a…” Dash looked down at the ground. “I’m a nopony…” she said in a low tone. Her ears fell flat as it left her lips, as though she was ashamed to admit it.

Twilight let out an almost hysterical laugh. “A nopony? You, Rainbow Dash, a nopony?”

“Yeah, right now at least…” Dash perked up for a minute to defend her pride.

“Right now, but what about the future?” Twilight teased.

“In the future? I’ll be a Wonderbolt, obviously!” Her eyes narrowed with determination.

Twilight smiled. “So, you’re going to be a somepony.” She stroked Dash’s foreleg with her hoof. She stared into her lover’s eyes as the realization slowly took hold as to what Twilight was getting at. “What does it matter if you’re not famous right now. I love you, and that’s what’s important.”

“But, don’t you have to marry a prince or something?”

“My brother wasn’t a prince when Cadance married him, Dashie…” Twilight rolled her eyes.

Rainbow Dash’s cheeks turned red. “I…kinda forgot about that…”

Twilight’s horn lit up, and her magic pulled her marefriend closer. She pulled Dash in for a hug, nuzzling into the pegasus’s messy mane. “Just because I’m a princess now, doesn’t mean I’m going to break up with you,” she said softly.

Rainbow Dash wrapped her forelegs around Twilight, returning her embrace. She nuzzled into her lover’s chest, deeply. The little conversation with Twilight made her heart finally relax for the first time since these thoughts popped into her mind. She felt at peace.

“It will take a lot more than a crown to get rid of me,” Twilight teased.

“I…I guess I kinda needed to hear that from you…”

“Was this what you’ve been worrying about? I know we haven’t had a chance to talk about this since everything happened. I’ve been busy getting ready with Princess Celestia and Luna, and by the time I came back, you were asleep…”

“I just got myself worked up over nothing…” Dash blushed.

Twilight placed her hoof on Dash’s head, softly stroking her mane. “Don’t do that anymore. If you need to talk to me about something, just do so,” she whispered softly.

Dash closed her eyes as she nuzzled into Twilight’s chest. Thoughts of the future all vanished, leaving her in the moment. All there was for her was herself and Twilight holding one another in a warm embrace. Her marefriend’s loving words brought a smile to her face as she buried herself in Twilight’s fur. “Marry me…” she murmured softly.

Twilight blinked a few times as her brain tried to make sense of the mumbled words. She pushed Rainbow Dash back, and looked into her face with a raised eyebrow. “W-What did you just say?” she asked, almost scared of the answer.

Rainbow Dash didn’t quite realize what she had just said herself. She shook the dopey look off her face as her mind started to register her own words. “I-I...uh…” Before she could even formulate another sentence, she became aware of the small box tucked under her wing. “No point backing down now…”

Her eyes narrowed with determination. “I mean it!” she said defiantly.

Twilight's gaze went from skeptical to shocked immediately. Dash nodded to her as she reached up under her wing with her hoof. Out from under the pegasus’s wing appeared the small box. As Rainbow Dash sat down to open it, Twilight fell back on her haunches as well. The sight made her jaw fall slack, and without even realizing it, her hoof slid up over her mouth to hold in her breath.

“Twilight…” Dash said, bringing her marefriend’s attention up from the box in her hoof. She opened it, revealing the small gold ring. “I’ve never cared about somepony so much as I do about you…” Dash hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around during her pause. “I-I had a big speech planned and everything…” she muttered to herself. After a few seconds of finding nothing around the hallway that might jog her memory, she sighed. Reluctantly, she looked back up to Twilight and rolled her eyes.

“I’ll just wing it,” she said with a small pathetic smile. “Twi, I’m nuts about you. Being with you for the past six months has just been awesome—so awesome that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No pony has ever made me so happy before, and I just want to make you happy and…“ she paused for a moment to swallow the building tension in her throat. “Will you marry me?”

The entire world fell silent in that very moment. Dash bit her lower lip as the seconds ticked by, holding her smile in eager anticipation. Twilight just continued to stare at her with wide eyes, completely frozen. It wasn’t unexpected though, such a big question would of course send Twilight’s mind into a tizzy. At that moment, Dash knew Twilight was struggling through all her thoughts, trying to come to terms with this sudden development. But, as much as the anticipation was killing her, she patiently awaited for Twilight's response.

After almost an entire minute, Twilight’s eyes blinked a few times. “Dashie…” she said softly. A tear started to form in her eye. Without any hesitation, she leaned forward, and planted her lips on Rainbow Dash’s. In a burst of passion, Twilight grabbed Rainbow Dash in a tight hug, catching the pegasus off guard.

It took a moment for Dash to catch up as to what was happening, but when she did, she wrapped her free foreleg around Twilight. The two kissed deeply, almost as if it was their first kiss all over again. After a short while, Twilight finally pulled away. “I’ve been hoping you would ask me this for so long…” She wiped the tear from her eye and she nodded. “Of course! Of course, I’ll marry you!”

Rainbow Dash jumped up, her wings buzzing. “Yes!” she cried out. Without even realizing it, she grabbed Twilight and hoisted her into the air with her. She spun Twilight around as she squeezed her tightly. They spun faster and faster, until Dash finally dropped Twilight back onto the ground, leaving her dizzy. Once Twilight was safely on the ground, Dash shot up into the air, and did a backflip. The pegasus landed as she came out of her flip, a huge grin on her face. She rushed back into Twilight, nuzzling her neck. “I knew you’d say yes, but it just feels so good to hear it, you know?”

Twilight shook her head in an attempt to get rid of her dizziness. She couldn’t help but laugh as Dash nuzzled into her neck. “Could I get a little warning next time?” she said as she placed her foreleg around her marefriend.

“Sorry...” Dash snickered.

Twilight levitated the small box from the ground where it fell in the moment of excitement. She held it up with a huge smile on her face. “I can’t wait to get this sized,” she said softly. “Although I really want to wear it tonight to the coronation dinner…”

“So, put it on.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Will it fit?”

“Try it...” Dash took a step back. She had a confident grin on her face which only intrigued her marefriend more.

Twilight levitated the gold ring out from the box. She looked over the dazzling surface, bewildered by the diamonds spaced evenly throughout. Just looking at it made her heart feel like it would leap out of her chest. Slowly, the ring, basking in the glow of Twilight's magic, found itself hovering just above her horn. Twilight let it slid down, until it came to rest at the base of her horn, snuggly. “It fits?” she asked, mildly amazed. “But how did you—“

“You’re a heavier sleeper than you realize, Twi.” Dash laughed to herself. “I had Rarity tell me how to get your ring size, and I did it while you were asleep.”

“This is perfect! I can wear it tonight then!” Twilight jumped in excitement.

Dash’s smile, on the other hoof, evaporated in an instant. “Are you sure?” she asked cautiously. “I mean, it’s your coronation dinner…” She wasn’t one to worry about things, but even she knew this could end very badly. With a ring on Twilight’s horn, everyone there would be asking questions. It was all too easy for the wrong information to slip.

Twilight’s smile turned sincere. “I know it seems like a lot to handle tonight.” Her eyes drifted downward. A bit of worry worked its way into her eyes as well. “But this is far more important to me than being a princess.” She pulled her marefriend in for a hug.

“I meant what about ponies asking you about it…” Dash muttered.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “I’m not ashamed of you, Dashie. Ponies will find out eventually, and I want everypony to know who my mare—” Twilight stopped herself. She could feel the smile on her face widening. “I want everypony to know who my fiance is.”

“But what if somepony finds out about your condition…“

“I’ll have a dress on, just like at my coronation. No pony will even know I’m pregnant.” She nuzzled into Dash neck.

Dash groaned. “I don’t know…“

Twilight laughed slightly. “I get that you’re worried, I am too. But I’m not going to let a little bit of worry ruin the greatest day of my life. And if anything, I think this will make ponies excited that another royal wedding is on the horizon.” She squeezed Rainbow Dash tightly.

Dash’s cheeks flushed red. “Y-you think?”

“Yeah,” Twilight said as she took a step back from her hug. Before she was too far away, Twilight placed a small kiss on her lover’s cheek, only making Dash blush further.

But just as her lips met Rainbow Dash’s cheek, the squeak of the hinges of the heavy wooden door at the end of the hallway cut the air. Twilight’s eyes shifted to the source of the noise, finding her friends and Spike on the other side. “There they are!” Pinkie called out from the group.

Twilight couldn’t help but smile as she turned to face them, Rainbow Dash standing next to her with the same look on her face.

Before they even stopped, Rarity had been the first to notice. “Oh my goodness! Twilight, is that—”

Twilight nodded.

“You have a ring on your horn!” Pinkie bounced up to Twilight, placing her hooves around the Twilight's head. She dragged her head down, so she could inspect her friend’s horn closely. Pinkie's eyes practically bulged out of her head as she looked the ring over. “This is—” she paused for a moment for what seemed like dramatic effect, “I have no idea what this is.” She let Twilight’s head go unceremoniously, causing Twilight to stumble back onto all four hooves.

“It’s an engagement ring!” Twilight said, rubbing her head.

“Wait!” She smiled widely. “You’re engaged? Rainbow Dash popped the question, finally?” She bounded high in the air, her voice jumping a few octaves as she asked.

Rarity placed her hoof over her mouth as she laughed. “I was wondering when you would, Rainbow Dash.”

“You knew?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How else would she have known how to get Twilight’s ring size?”

“This is great!” Pinkie appeared behind Twilight and Rainbow Dash in a blur, wrapping her forelegs around both their necks and pulling them in for a hug. “When I can throw the party? Is tomorrow good? Or tonight?”

Dash rolled her eyes. “At least let us tell our parents first, Pinkie.”

Everyone chuckled.

“I’m just so excited!” Pinkie let go of Twilight and Dash and bounced back over to her other friends.

“So, y’all are finally makin’ it official?” asked Applejack for confirmation.

Twilight nodded. She felt Rainbow Dash’s foreleg slide around the back of her neck and turned to her with a smile.

“Congratulations, you two,” Fluttershy interjected softly.

“I don’t get it. What’s going on now?” Spike asked, sliding down from Rarity’s back.

Twilight glanced to Rainbow Dash for a brief moment, catching her nodding for Twilight to continue. She looked back at Spike with a smile on her face. “Spike, I have something important to tell you.”

He looked up at Twilight with expectant eyes, waiting for her to finish.

“I know there have been a lot of changes recently between Rainbow Dash moving in and my coronation…” Twilight’s eyes drifted downward, looking past the present for a moment. The last six months of her life flash before her eyes in what seemed like an instant. With a content smile, her eyes drifted closed briefly. “But something wonderful happened.”

“What? What’s everypony talking about?”

Twilight took a deep breath. “Spike, Rainbow Dash asked me to marry her.”

He stared at her blankly for a short while after she finished. After a few blinks, the realization started to sink in as to what Twilight said. His head drifted downward and his eyes were darting everywhere as the implications started to become apparent to the young dragon. “You’re getting married?” he asked softly. A small tinge of fear stained his voice.

Twilight glanced up at her friends for a moment. They all looked at one another, questioningly. Twilight nodded when they all looked at her before placing her hoof on Spike’s shoulder. “Listen, Spike, we already talked about this. Nothing will change with you and I, remember?”

“I…” he started to speak, but his words left him. He looked back up at Twilight with tears starting to form in his eyes. “Yeah, but…What if you’re wrong…What if something does change?”

She only shook her head slowly. “Spike, what are you worried about? Everything will be fine."

“No, it won’t!” He looked back at her. She could see the fear dwelling deep in his eyes. The worry of what the future may hold was a lot for him to handle. All sudden, major changes instilled a sense of uncertainty, and Twilight knew that first-hand. “What if you guys decide you don’t want me living with you anymore…or…your foal is scared of me…Or…or…” he said on the verge of tears.

She gave him a soft, gentle smile. “It will be fine, Spike. This is just Rainbow Dash and I making our relationship official. We’ve already been living like we’re married,” Twilight said as she turned her attention to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus smiled back as she took a step closer to the two. “But you are right. It won’t be the same.” With her hoof, she wiped away the forming teardrop from his eye and pulled him in for a hug. “We’ll be a family. You, Rainbow Dash, myself, and our little filly.”

Twilight could feel a soft, feathery wing being placed around her back. “That’s right.” She looked up to see Rainbow Dash standing next to her, smiling down at Spike.

He stared up at both of them. “You guys mean it?”

“Of course.” Twilight tightened her grip on him.

“You guys are alright with having a dragon in your family?”

Twilight giggled a bit. “You’ve always been a part of my family, silly, and I don’t think Rainbow Dash minds in the slightest.”

Spike smiled and wrapped his hands around Twilight.

Author's Notes:

I wonder if Chrysalis will try and take Dash's place at the wedding...