For the first time since your arrival three long, impossibly life-changing months ago, the concern that you may be disappointing someone has crept into your mind. A decision has been made with the one emotion that, just a few months ago, would have seemed unthinkable: love. A new-found love for the woman who saved your life, who gave so generously and never asked for a thing in return. It all feels like it's happening so fast; a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, the result of being pulled into a romantic relationship as one-half of the most unlikely pairing this strange, yet oddly welcoming land may have ever seen. A friendly lunch here, a nervous date there, and before you knew it you were standing before her with one question hanging before you: "Would you like to move in?"

You'd told her "yes" as a spur-of-the-moment answer, but a few days have passed since then. Lots of time to think. Maybe too much time.

Your concern lies not with the fashionable mare -- you can't think of anyone better to spend your new life with -- but with one of her close friends, and the only other pony to take you in and put a roof over your head: Twilight. Over time you've become friends with the worrisome, hard-studying unicorn and her little dragon assistant, and for that you're infinitely grateful. But the thought of leaving your comfortable and familiar, if somewhat crowded, room on the second floor of her lilbrary and observatory has you questioning your decision to join Rarity at her Boutique. Maybe you're taking things too fast. Maybe you should spend a few more months getting to know Rarity better. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Mostly, you're concerned about hurting Twilight's feelings. She's been the pinnacle of care and comfort ever since that fateful day on the edge of the Everfree forest. She even helped you meet Pipe and his crew, without whom you'd be in a much worse situation than you are currently.

Thus, the thought of telling her that you're moving out to be romantically involved with one of her friends is not something you particularly enjoy. The logical part of your mind tells you that she won't mind, that she's happy as long as you're happy. She's not the kind of pony to up and abandon someone, regardless of circumstances. Or species. She'd never tell you 'no' or implore you to abandon your plans. So why is it on your mind so much?

The quiet creak of the library's door opening pulls you out of your thoughts, the familiar sound of soft hooves on the hard wood floor echoing up the curving staircase that leads to your room. You clutch your old army beret for comfort, holding onto it out of habit more than anything, even though you haven't worn it in over a month. Tonight, you've told yourself, you're going to break the news to Twilight. You can only hope she isn't hurt by it.

"Anyone home?" her voice calls out to you.

"Hey, Twi! I'm up here!" you answer, noticing that the light from your lantern has started to fade. You search around for the small bottle of oil to refill it as the sound of hoof steps fills the hallway.

"Hi," she says cheerfully, a small saddlebag hanging over one side of her back. "I wasn't sure if you were here or not, I didn't see any lights downstairs."

"Yeah, I kinda forgot to refill the lanterns," you chuckle. Your own lantern burns a little brighter as you fill it up, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. "How've you been?"

"Besides talking Fluttershy out of an emotional breakdown and Spike spilling tea on one of the books I was studying at the Royal Library? Not too bad." She laughs at your surprised reaction -- Twilight takes her books very seriously. You just hope Spike hasn't been turned into a cactus or something. "It's fine, really! I just cloned the pages with a matter duplication spell and replaced the binding, then cross-referenced the text with another they had as a backup! No problem at all." She smiles broadly at her own ingenuity, even though you're not entirely sure you understood what she said.

"It's not that complicated," she reassures you with a dismissive hoof wave. "You'd be amazed what you can learn if you sit around the Canterlot library for ten or fifteen hours at a time."

Ten or fifteen hours? Oh, god. You're not sure you could sit around one place for that long even if they offered free food being served by lingerie models. Spike must have been bored out of his mind. You're not sure how he copes with it sometimes.

"That's very...dedicated of you," you laugh.

"Well...sometimes I get lost in my studies. But enough about my day, how have you been? You look like you're ready to pace a hole in the floor. Don't do that, by the way. It takes forever to get it replaced..."

For some reason, imagining Twilight literally wearing a hole in the floor strikes you has surprisingly easy to do.

"I'm alright, spent some time after work hanging out with the guys. You ever been to this little dive off of Unity Park? Neat little place, good drinks."

"Can't say I have," she shrugs, "I'm not much of a drinker unless it's tea or coffee or something similar. Did I ever tell you about the time Applejack took us all out and I drank so much that I ended up giving everyone grass hula skirts on a whim?"

"You can do that?" you ask, a little puzzled.

"Yes!" she replies triumphantly. "Do you want one?! I can show you!"

"No!" You instinctively cover your midsection to avoid being fit with a decidedly silly skirt. "I mean, uh...no thanks, I don't think I have the figure for one." She chuckles and sits down beside you, floating a small something-or-other out of her saddlebag and levitating it beside her. "How much, exactly, did you have to drink to reach that point?"

"Two," she replies nonchelantly, taking a bite of what you assume if some kind of sweet biscuit or cookie. "Want a bite?" She snaps the cookie in half and floats it over to you.

"Uh, sure. Thanks." An inquisitive bite reveals it to be some kind of cookie with nuts, though you can't be sure which. "Two what, exactly? Two dozen? Two bottles of hard liquor?"

"No, just two."

"Two...glasses?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Of beer?"

"I, ah, don't have the greatest alcohol tolerance in the world..." she answers with an adorable blush. "Applejack offered me some of Granny Smith's moonshine, but I'm pretty sure if I drank that I'd be spraying fire from my horn by the end of the night. That reminds me: if you ever have Dash drinking with you, don't expect her to last long. Her metabolism is through the roof! A little alcohol doesn't just run through her system, it screams through it at high speed."

"I'll keep that in mind," you laugh, finishing the rest of your cookie. With the mood firmly relaxed you reach under the bed and pull out a large, wrapped gift, decorated with purple and pink ribbon. You've had to hide it for the last few days so Twi wouldn't find it. Hopefully she likes it.

"Oh, hey, I got you something!"

"Really?!" Twilight jerks back in surprise, an unmistakable look of eagerness in her eyes. "Is it the completed collection of Cortex Magis?! I've been trying to find it for months and it never shows up anywhere!"

"No, no, it's not a book. I think you've got plenty of those already."

"As if there's such a thing as 'too many books'," she giggles. "So...what is it?"

"Oh, something I think you've been wanting for a little while now. Go ahead, open it."

Twilight focuses on the package with a brief burst of magic, the carefully tied and measured wrapping getting shredded off in half a second.

"Heh heh, sorry. I've always wanted to do that." A plain, brown box sits in front of her, and you're glad to see her taking her time with it instead of hastily rushing through. The last thing you need is the contents getting chipped or scratched.

She gasps audibly at the present once it's fully revealed, carefully pulling it out in a cloud of sparkling, purple energy.

"You...you got me a new telescope?"

"That I did. I know it can't compare to the monster one you have in here, but I thought you'd like something a little nicer than what you have for when you're doing a little stargazing out in the countryside."

"That is so sweet of you," she says with a big, elated smile. "You didn't have to get me something so expensive!"

"Don't worry about it, I wanted to get you something nice for all the help you've given me. Besides the book collection, that is." You grasp the tube out of the air, turning it around to take a look at the features. "The magnification is roughly twice that of your old telescope. At least, that's what the guy who sold it to me said. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Something about 'a maximum resolution of two point seven arcseconds', whatever that means."

"Oh, wow! That's a lot better than my old one. See, the angle of view was really limited and the refraction wasn't quite right, so--nevermind, you probably don't care," she giggles. "Basically, that's a really good telescope. I-I don't know what to say! Besides, uh, thank you, that is."

"Of course! You're very welcome, Twi. Come on, bring it in for a hug." You put your arms out and embrace her with a laugh, overjoyed that she approves of her gift. "So! How about we give it a test drive? Whataya say?"

"Are you kidding? If we sit here for another minute I'm going to start bouncing up and down like Pinkie Pie! And nopony wants to see that." Well, you do, but you probably won't get to. Sadly. "Uh, not to say that I don't enjoy talking with you or anything, because I do! You're very friendly and you got me the telescope and all, and, uh...I should probably stop while I'm ahead."

You laugh and place a hand on top of her head, ruffling her mane. "So that's a yes?"

"Yes, definitely. I should probably put the thing together first, huh?" The myriad pieces float in front of her, a glint in her eyes that you can only describe as 'scheming'. You search through the discarded box and pull out a sheet of paper covered with confusing-looking instructions after just a few seconds.

"Hey, I think I...found...it. Oh." A newly-assembled telescope hovers in front of you, a satisfied smile crossing Twilight's face. "Well that was fast."

Twilight manages to look a little embarrassed at her own eagerness, though it strikes you as decidedly cute. "I've put a few together over the years..."

"So I can tell. Anywhere in particular you wanna head out to? I was thinking that big hill to the south of Ponyville."

Twilight rubs her chin with a hoof as she considers it. "Hmm...that could work. Light pollution is pretty low out there."

"Yeah, light pollution," you laugh. "If you think a few street lights here and there count as light pollution, you should see where I come from. You can't see a freakin' star in the sky on most nights."

"I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't see the stars, honestly. They're just so interesting! All of the constellations, and the big band of dust and stars cutting across the sky once it gets late enough...it's beautiful. Speaking of which, I could just teleport us out there if you like! Although, uh, I know the last time we attempted that you got a little sick...heh heh..."

You don't doubt Twilight's abilities as , arguably, the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, but you'd rather avoid another bout of nausea and vomiting if at all possible.

"That's alright, I think I'd rather just walk," you reply with a chuckle. "Besides, it'll give us time to chat and catch up. Maybe you can tell me another story about you and girls saving the day from something or other. How many times has it been, anyway? Six? Seven?"

"Exactly fourteen," she says matter-of-factly. "Well, fifteen if you count the time Trixie showed up again and placed the whole town under a glass dome."

"Wait, wait...a glass dome? Seriously? Oh, you gotta tell me that one."

"I don't know, it wasn't that interesting, really. I'm sure you wouldn't want to hear about me being banished from town and beating her at her own game and--" She looks over at you and smiles at your 'go on' expression. "Oh, fine. But I don't know if I'm the best at telling it. Come on, I'll go tell Spike we'll be back in a little while."

==========

The cool, night air of an otherwise hot summer day is a welcome relief as you head off to the south of Ponyville, passing by the Boutique along the way. Rarity wasn't anywhere to be found, but you didn't mind that much; it let you focus on talking with Twilight more. For all of her claims to the contrary, she's far better at telling a story than she'd let on. You'd heard of this 'Trixie' character before -- or rather, 'The Great and Powerful Trixie', as she apparently likes to be called -- but hearing about her spat with Twilight was entertaining to no end. Although, to be honest, you thought Twi and her friends were a little hard on Trixie the first time. Sounded to you like she was just putting on a show and dealt with hecklers as any showman would, but you couldn't say for sure without having been there.

The new telescope remained firmly tucked under your arm for the duration of the trip, which didn't stop Twilight from checking to make sure it was there every few minutes. You'd tried to reassure her that you're more than capable of keeping it safe, but trying to convince her to stop worrying about a new telescope is like telling Rarity to stop worrying about whether her dress matches her elbow gloves: it's not happening.

With the hill finally in sight after a nearly half-hour walk, you feel a second wind come over you. Maybe you're just happy to be there. "Hey, come on. I'll race you to the top. And no teleporting!"

"You wanna race me?" she laughs. "No offense, but ponies are a little more built for running than your bipedal form. Besides, I don't do much running. That's more AJ's style."

"I think you're just making excuses," you tease her, prodding her horn with a finger.

"Oh, fine. But if I win, you have to make the coffee when we get back."

"Deal." You stick your fist out and bump it against her hoof, already starting to limber up a little. You're fairly confident your long strides will give you an advant--

"GO!" Twilight shouts with a quick rearing back on her hind legs.

"Hey! That's not fair!" You take off after her a second later, focusing on her bobbing tail as you try and catch up.

"Did I forget to say 'ready, set' first? Must have slipped my mind!" She gives you a sly smile and picks up her speed, but you're just a tiny bit faster. A few seconds and you're right behind her. "You're supposed to let a lady win, remember? What would Rarity think?"

"I don't see a lady here," you reply, breathing heavily, "just an uppity unicorn...who thinks she...can outrun me!" Her horn starts shining a bright purple, casting a matching glow on the grass around her. "Hey! I said...no teleporting!"

"That you did," she answers with the same sly look. "But you didn't say anything about levitation!" The surge of magic cascades down from her horn and over her body, wrapping her in a sparkling sheen of energy. Slowly but surely, she starts lifting off the ground, stopping her running entirely after rising a good foot or more. "Oh what a shame, I guess you didn't think of that one!"

"I don't think so!" With a lunge you reach out and grab onto her tail, trying to get her to stop in place. She does...briefly. It's not more than a second or two before you feel a strange tingle starting to move up your body, the unmistakable sensation of magical energy flowing over you. "Twi, what are you doing?" She doesn't say anything, instead closing her eyes to focus. "Twi? You can--whoooa!" You're suddenly lifted off your feet, your arms and legs flailing helplessly in the air. "Ooookay, this feels a little strange..."

"Relax," she finally says with a warm smile. "I just had to account for your mass and inherent lack of a magical conduit." You finally come to a halt a few feet off the ground, hovering silently over the grass. With no sounds of foot or hoofsteps, you're struck by how quiet it is out here -- just the faint chiming of magic from Twilight's levitation spell, and the gentle breeze ruffling your clothes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you," she laughs, slowly hovering around you in a circle. "You okay?"

"I think so. Feels strange. Kinda neat, though. This is as close as I'm likely to get to flying."

Twilight turns around and begins floating the two of you the rest of the way, giggling as you momentarily hang upside-down with your shirt hanging over your face. "Don't try to fight it, or you'll just end up like, well, that. And you really don't have to be so modest, it's not like your exposed chest is going to cause anypony in town to lose their minds. Ponies are nude most of the time anyway, remember?"

"Yeah, but," you yank at your shirt, taking Twi's advice to stop struggling, "you have a coat to cover your modesty. I don't."

"I'd be willing to bet that Rarity is glad you don't," she teases you.

"Hey! That may be true, but, uh...I dunno, I'm not sure where I was going with that. Heh heh."

"Well if you're done being the comedian, we're finally here. Now, I'm just going to set you down gently, aaaand..." You put your foot down in preparation for landing 'gently', only to feel yourself get dumped into the grass instead. "Oops! Heh, sorry about that..."

"It's...bleh...alright." You wipe the dirt from your forehead and nose, finally taking a moment to stop and look around. It really is a nice view, with the distant expanse of the Everfree forest in front of you and the soft glow of Ponyville's street lanterns behind you. You can even make out the sweeping arches and columns of Cloudsdale, just barely. Best of all, the sky is perfectly clear and beautiful, a vast sea of tends of thousands of points of light. Luna's moon hangs just over the peaks of the Swayback mountains that mark the edge of the Equestrian border.

It's a place that feels very tranquil, maybe even a little idyllic. Back in your old life, you would have killed to be able to see the night sky in a place so clear. You'd have never imagined that you'd be staring up into that sky with an adorkable unicorn while toting a telescope in an entirely foreign world. Funny how things change.

"Alright, let's see how we set this thing up." You pull the folding tripod down, locking it into place with a small, adjustable screw. The telescope remains pointed skyward as you fidget with the settings, during which Twilight busies herself by pulling a small astronomy guide from her saddlebag. "Think I've got it...yeah, there we go. All set!"

Twilight practically beams with joy as she walks around the set-up telescope, taking a quick look through the viewfinder. "The lens is amazingly clear. Way better than my old one. Ooh, I wonder if Princess Luna knows of any astronomical sights I could look at! She must know that sky like the back of her hoof."

"Anything in particular you wanna look at?" you ask as you plop yourself down on the grass. The cool air is soothing and pleasant; you could probably lay back and fall asleep without too much trouble.

"Hmm..." Twilight flips through the book with a bit of magic until she settles on something that piques her interest. "Oh! I should have thought of this before. Now that I have a better telescope -- thank you again! -- I can hopefully get a look at Sertis. What do you think?" You shrug in response, not particularly familiar with Equestrian astronomy. "It's the planet closest to our own? Not ringing any bells?"

"Oh, like Mars. Gotcha."

"Mars?" she asks.

"Nevermind, not important here. So, how do we find this 'Sertis', exactly?"

"It should just be a matter of finding the proper constellation and cross-referencing it with the astronomical calendar for that object for this time of year. So if this is Summer's Sun it should be...carry the four...plus the time it takes to orbit...aaaand there!"

The telescope swings around as she focuses on it, abruptly stopping at an exact point. Sometimes, you swear she's just showing off. A broad smile only reinforces your suspicions, but it's just too damn cute to object to.

"Did I mention that I've done this before?"

"Once or twice," you laugh quietly. "Now, what's so exciting that I'm looking for?"

Your decision to pick up the telescope for her has proven to be a very good one, and you're glad to see her enjoying herself and taking a little time away from her somewhat obsessive studies. Incredible though her mind may be, she really could do with getting out and relaxing a little more often.

For over an hour you stare up at the sky and the numerous constellations, planets and distant clouds of gas and dust that make up just a tiny part of Equestria's night sky. You spent a good amount of time regaling Twilight with the story of how human kind first set foot on the moon, and of Neil Armstrong and his famous words. She listened intently and with absolute awe as you described the massive rockets that carried humans into space, and the harrowing missions that awaited them. Maybe one day, you speculated, pony kind will travel to their moon as well...and not just as an immortal Goddess. But that kind of technology is probably so far off that you'd never live to see it.

In return, you came to know basically everything Twilight knows about Starswirl the Bearded, a famous pony scholar and arcanist who first discovered and created so many of the spells that unicorns use to this day. It's an interesting parallel of your two worlds -- technology and magic. Science and living deities. Though, to her credit, Twilight seems to love science as much as any actual scientist you've ever met.

After a while you'd both decided to simply lay back in the grass and enjoy the night, chatting about the ponies you've met and the friends you've made since your arrival in Equestria. It was nice to just talk with a friend and laugh at the insanity that can be inherent to Ponyville, or Equestria as a whole. All in all, a wonderful couple of hours with the best company you could probably ask for short of the romantic kind.

Eventually, though, you work up the courage to tell her the news of your departure from her generous home. You only hope she'll take it okay.

"Hey, Twi?" you ask her as she looks up at the moon, quietly saying something to herself as she does.

"Hmm?"

"There's...there's something on my mind that I've been wanting to talk to you about for a few days. I just haven't been sure how to go about it."

She leans up on a foreleg and cocks an inquisitive eyebrow at you. "There is? Like what? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing wrong, exactly, it's just a little hard to explain. Umm...how do I say this..." you let out a long exhale and look into her purple eyes. Better to just get it out of the way. "I think I want to move in with Rarity. She invited me to do so a few days ago and I've been thinking it over like crazy, but I wasn't sure how to tell you, and-and I didn't want to hurt your feelings or anything or make you think that I don't appreciate all of the help you've given me or anything like that." You pause to catch your breath and try to gauge her reaction, but her eyes don't betray a thing. "You understand, right? You've been nothing but sweet and amazing and kind since that day that feels like so long ago, but things have become more serious with Rarity and I really think we can make it work, even though we're so completely different. At least physically. I know she's one of your best friends and all...I'm not just rambling, am I? I wanted to wait until things felt right to let you know."

Twilight doesn't say anything for a moment; her usually quick, sometimes frantic responses tend to get the better of her at times, but she's obviously trying to think of what to say before answering. She can take all the time she needs, you'd say.

"Wow...that was a little unexpected," she laughs nervously. "I, um...I think it's great that you've found some companionship in Rarity, and I know you two have been dating for a month now, but I still have to ask: are you sure you know what you're doing? One month really isn't much time to know somepony."

"I know," you answer truthfully. "And to be honest, I'm more than a little nervous about messing things up with her somehow...she's such a great girl and I care for her deeply, I wouldn't want to stumble over myself and end up saying or doing something hard-headed. She really is a lady, through and through, but once you get past that refined exterior she's very loving and warm. I mean, you've spent more time with her than I have. You know she's a great mare...just with a bit of a drama streak, heh."

"To put it lightly," she laughs quietly.

"But yeah, I've spent quite some time thinking about it, and I feel pretty confident in this decision. As much as I can be, anyway." You grasp her foreleg in your hand as you continue. "You are an amazing, super-smart, and very caring mare, and I feel eternally grateful for knowing you. You did everything in your power to get me home, even if it meant taking me to see the Princesses themselves. No matter what happens in this strange place, you'll always be my friend. Always."

Small tears start welling up in her eyes. If she starts getting emotional, you think to yourself, you're probably not going to be far behind.

"You'll always be my friend too," she says, wrapping her forelegs around you in a warm hug. "Oh gosh, you're getting me all choked up! Sorry," she laughs. "I can't say I was expecting you to announce that you're in a committed relationship with Rarity, but I'm happy that you've found some degree of normalcy here. Well, as much 'normalcy' as you can expect from Rarity, anyway."

"She's really something. I think if it wasn't for you insisting I get out more, I would have never taken the chance. So, thank you. For everything. Saving my life was a pretty good start." She giggles at your joke and adds, "any time."

"It's funny..." you say as you run a hand through her streaked mane. "Had circumstances been a little different, well...I might have fallen for you instead. You're an amazing girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you."

She blushes heavily at the statement, glancing away in embarrassment. "You don't have to say that, I'm sure you're just being nice."

"Really, I mean it. How in the world you're still single, I'll never know."

"I don't really have time for a relationship with my studies," she says. "Maybe after Princess Celestia is done with...whatever it is she has in mind for all these years...I can look into giving one a try. But thank you. That's very sweet." She leans in and kisses your cheek, smiling as she pulls back.

"Whatever happens with Rarity, you'll always have a place in my observatory if you need it. Or if you just want to get away from her drama for a little while." You laugh with her and put an arm around her shoulders, feeling her soft coat against your skin. "And if you ever have a question, about anything at all, you can always ask me. Even if I don't know the answer, I'll do my best to find out. Deal?" She sticks her hoof out, and you bump it with your fist before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek in return.

"Deal."

==========

"Look out belooow!"

With a heavy 'whump' a pile of snow lands not more than a few feet from where you're walking, splashing you with small clumps of flakes.

"Hey, watch it!" you shout up at the light purple pegasus with teal hair who is currently hovering above you. She's pushing a cloud more than twice her size, fully loaded with snow from the looks of it.

"Sorry!" she calls back, moving her cloud a few feet over and giving it a swift kick. Instead of coming down in a single clump the snow contained within gently sprinkles out, coming to rest in big, fluffy flakes that stick to the ground. Satisfied, she flies down and lands beside you. "Guess I hit it a little too hard. This is my first winter with the weather team..."

"It's fine," you reassure her. "Uh, sorry about snapping at you like that. Just startled me a little is all."

"No worries." She reaches up and messes with the large, pink bow in her mane as she looks you over. "Hey, I know you!"

"You do?" You can't recall seeing this particular pegasus lately, but then again, you see so many on a daily basis that it's hard to remember them all.

"Yeah! You're kind of hard to forget, what with being the only hairless monkey in Ponyville and all."

Hairless monkey? Well, that's technically correct if you stretch it a bit, you suppose, but still...you're not sure you'd put it that way. Or take it as a compliment.

"Uh, thanks? I think? I'm a human, actually."

"Oh. Well, close enough I guess. Anyway, yeah, I saw you last week. You were in Canterlot, right? At the Canterlot Creators show?"

You wrack your brain to try and remember her, but still draw a blank. "Yeah, I was there with--"

"With Miss Rarity! Oh gosh, she looked amazing! Personally, I liked her better than that showy unicorn that came on after her, the one with the red and yellow hair. Too much emphasis on silly sexuality, if you ask me!"

"Funny you should say that, Rarity thought the same--"

"Not that there's anything wrong with sexuality, of course," she continues, talking at what feels like a thousand miles per hour, "but there's a time and a place for it, and when you over-stylize it to sell fashion like she did, as opposed to Miss Rarity who just used a little playfulness to reinforce a unique mindset for her products, it just gets on my nerves, you know?"

"Oh, no, I agree entirely. Rarity and I--"

"Though I gotta say, that glowy stuff she had on her dresses was pretty neat. Does Miss Rarity use that, too?"

"Well she was going to, but it seems--"

"I was talking with my sister, Cloud Chaser, about it. She wasn't able to attend because she was exhausted from her weather duties from earlier that week, but she really wanted to go, so I told her I'd give her all the details. You probably don't remember seeing me, I was near the back and just had a simple-but-functional black dress on. Do you like black on light-colored pegasi?"

"Uhhh...from what I know of that sort of thing, it works pretty decently if you have--"

"Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I'm a big fan of Miss Rarity's! What with the fashion and the saving of Equestria and all that junk. Can you tell her Flitter says 'hello'?"

"Sure, I can do that." At this piont, you're just waiting for her to leave so you can go about your day.

"Awesome! Okay, well, I've stood around for too long and this snow isn't going to fall by itself, so I gotta get back to work. Oh, and sorry about almost burying you under an avalanche of snow and all that. Have a nice day!" With a burst of speed she unfurls her wings and zips back into the sky, flying off to presumably grab another chunk of cloud as her previous one continues to pour out its snow.

"Yeah...you too..." you say to empty air. You shrug and dismiss it with a laugh. "Pegasi."

Flitter's hazardous cloud is by no means the only one in the area -- in fact, half of Ponyville is slowly being covered by a blanket of thick, fluffy snow clouds, all unleashing a gentle downpour of snowflakes. In the ten minutes since you left the job site, Ponyville has received a thin sheet of white powder. By tomorrow morning you've no doubt that you'll be up to your ankles in snow, if not more. Just trying to get to work will be a real fun experience, nevermind actually working in it.

Rarity is standing outside as you approach the Boutique, a pink and white scarf neatly wrapped around her neck. A mug of steaming coffee levitates beside her as she looks up at the ever-widening clouds. She doesn't even notice you approaching until you call out to her.

"Hey, honey," you say cheerfully. Rarity turns to face you with a big smile, trotting the short distance to meet you in a loving embrace. "Did ya miss me?"

"Of course I did, darling! Really now, what kind of question is that?" she asks playfully as she clops a hoof on your shoulder. You answer her by leaning in and giving her a kiss, simultaneously grabbing the coffee mug from the air. "I never said you could have that, you know."

"Hey, it's cold out," you laugh, taking a sip of the coffee. Sweet, but not overly so. Just how she likes it. "Mmm. One day, we're gonna open a coffee shop. Just think of it: a nice cup of joe while you peruse the latest in pony fashion. I'm tellin' ya, babe, it'll rock Equestria. Just you wait."

"And let all of that liquid around my inspired designs? Think of the spills! That simply won't do." She gives you a wry smile as she pulls the mug back from your hand, adding, "although, I do like the idea of a one-stop Boutique. I still get half the credit for being present for the idea's inception, however."

"Of course." You chuckle and let her back down onto all fours as she warms herself with another small sip. "Looking at the snow, I take it?"

"Mm-hmm. I remember when they started setting the town up for winter last year; the snow was quite deep in places. I do believe they've taken steps to make the snowfall more even, but you never can tell. Perhaps this year you can actually enjoy it, hmm? I'd hate for you to miss out again."

Being pulled away for out-of-town work with Pipe and his crew wasn't something you were thrilled about last year, especially since it meant missing your first Christmas -- or Hearth's Warming Eve, rather -- in Equestria. The holiday pay was a nice bonus, but still, you'd rather have spent it at home with her. Pipe has reassured you several times that you won't be away this year, but that nagging thought is always there.

"Oh I'll be here, baby. I promise you that. Wouldn't miss it for the world." You lean down and give her a quick kiss for emphasis, getting a delighted smile in return.

"Fabulous! I'd hate to see you looking so down again." Rarity's scarf blows behind her in a sudden gust of wind, sending a shiver down your body; you should really start bringing heavier winter gear when you go out, you remind yourself. "Oh, my! What do you say we head inside before it gets too dreadfully cold out?"

Once you head inside you find the Boutique to be pleasantly warm. There's even most of a pot of coffee on the stove, which you gladly use to fill a mug for yourself. It's also the first time that you notice the extensive holiday decorations Rarity has placed all around, no doubt with Fluttershy's help. Shiny silver strands of garland hang from the walls, along with big, fresh wreaths of pine branches. Of course, Rarity being Rarity, there's a big banner of pink and purple fabric twisted into a loose braid, dotted with red bows and more branches.

"Oh, wow," you say aloud, genuinely impressed. "You put all of this up today, hon?"

"That I did!" she answers happily. "Well, Fluttershy and myself, that is. Took us several hours, but I'm quite pleased with the results. Isn't it wondrous? I thought we could stand to have some of that delightful holiday cheer to brighten up the place." You glance up from stirring your coffee to see Rarity levitating a small bundle of bright red berries, carefully tucking it into a wreath for some added color. "I suppose it goes without saying, but business was rather slow today. Not that I'm surprised; with the holiday so close most of my orders have been filled already. It's really a matter of the remaining few that want something more extravagant than the norm."

"Makes sense." You carefully hold your mug of steaming coffee as you make your way to the couch, sitting down with a sigh of relief. "Oh man, it feels good to sit down. You forget how much standing for eight hours sucks sometimes." The coffee is perfect, just like every other time Rarity's made it. You'd swear the girl has it down to a science. "Oh, hey, I nearly forgot: Flitter says 'hello'. She sure seems like she knows you."

"Flitter? Hmm..." she taps her chin with a hoof. "Ah! Of course. That attractive pegasus mare. Teal mane?" You nod an affirmative. "Yes, I've seen her around town a few times. Nice girl, if a bit talkative at times. What brought this about, exactly?"

"Just the small matter of nearly burying me under a mound of snow," you laugh. "Apparently she kicked a cloud too hard and unleashed a bunch of snow at once. Scared the crap outta me, I swear."

"Oh, you poor dear," Rarity says dramatically, putting a leg over her forehead. "My beloved lover was nearly the victim of a slight inconvenience! How tragic." She giggles as she steps over to the couch, still floating a coffee cup beside her.

"Yeah, thanks for the caring words, baby."

"Any time, darling." You look away to your coffee mug on the small table next to the couch as she climbs up onto your lap, sitting across you with her back to the arm rest. As soon as you turn back there's a small bundle of leaves floating over your head, dotted with tiny white flowers, held together with a festive red bow. "Oh, dear me! Would you look at that? It would seem that a bit of mistletoe has somehow managed to find its way over. How mysterious."

"Uh-huh. 'Myterious', I'm sure. Clearly you had nothing to do with this."

"Moi?" she asks with an adorable, dramatic flair. "Perish the thought, my love! However...since we're already here, I believe we should make the most of it. Don't you?"

You wrap your arms around her waist and pull her toward you with a smile. "I think that sounds like a great idea." Rarity tugs on your work shirt and leans in, meeting her lips against yours in a loving kiss. The small bundle of mistletoe falls to the side as she loses focus on it, though you doubt she cares much. She takes a moment to adjust her position, straddling your legs as she runs a hoof up your shirt and kisses your neck with a quiet giggle. A soft chiming fills your ears as you feel your belt starting to unbuckle itself, your zipper slowly--

knock, knock

"Mmm?" You look in the direction of the door, a little annoyed at the interruption.

"Forget it, darling. They can come back later." Rarity gently bites your lip for emphasis, immediately taking your mind off it.

Another knock, louder this time.

"God damnit," you mutter. Rarity looks disappointed as she slides off you, letting you stand up and fix your belt. "Sorry, honey. Hold that thought." A third knock from the door. Whoever it is, they're impatient. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be right there!" you yell out, but not before giving her a final kiss. You're not really in the mood for a door-to-door salespony, no matter how nice they are. You throw open the door before the pony on the other side can knock again. "Yeah?"

"Ah, marvelous! I was hoping you'd answer." You look down and are surprised to see Whip-Smart standing in front of you, a tasteful gray coat covering his brick-red midsection.

"Whip? Oh, hey. Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you." Now you feel a little embarrassed at being so short with him, though it's not like you could have known. You shut the door behind you to avoid letting the warm air out. "Uh, what's up? Did I leave without my hammer again? I'm always doing that."

"Nothing like that, no," he replies, shaking his white and silver-streaked mane. "I do apologize for bothering you so shortly after the work day has ended, but I wanted to get ahold of you as quickly as possible."

"Why, something up? It's nothing bad, is it?"

"No, no, I assure you the news is most joyous!" The small, rectangular glasses on his nose bounce as he looks back, unbuttoning a large pocket with a burst of silver magic. "I'm aware of the ongoing business agreement you have with my father, Aegis. I also know that you've been waiting rather patiently for quite some time! How you manage to do so is beyond me," he laughs softly. "So! To that end, I thought I would take it upon myself to deliver a message you've no-doubt been waiting for."

You gasp at the sudden realization -- is it really done? After all this time, has he finally finished working on it? You hadn't even given it a thought today.

"I believe this will explain things far better than words ever could." A small photo floats from his pocket, hovering just in front of you. You grab it out of the air timidly, as if it couldn't possibly be real. There, in vibrant color, is the smiling form of Aegis, the wrinkly corners of his eyes bunched up in a proud smile. Floating beside him is a stunningly beautiful gold and silver necklace, with a big, marquise-cut blue gem hanging from the bottom.

"Oh..." you say quietly, disbelief heavy on your voice. "Oh, wow...it's done. It's actually done." You look up from the photo, feeling like you're in a dream. "This is real? It's finished?"

"As real as the stallion standing before you," he laughs, pleased with your reaction. "I take it this is a cause for celebration?"

"Y-Yeah...yeah, definitely." You look over the picture again and again, taking in all the little details. "Whip, I don't know what to say. Thank you." You chuckle at your obviously strange expression of joy and disbelief. "When did this happen?"

"You mean completing the design?" he asks. "Just yesterday! Father thought you should know the good news, albeit after spending a day to make sure it was perfect. Judging by what I've seen of it, I'd say it's as close to perfect as such a thing could possibly be. So, I volunteered to deliver the photo to you. I imagine you weren't expecting such a thing, so let me assure you that the necklace is waiting for you at First Sight Jewelers. You may come pick it up at your earliest convenience!"

The initial shock worn off, you're suddenly overcome with joy at the news you've waited so many months for. "Whip, you are my freakin' hero!"

"Any time! Why, if such a thing were being awaited by myself, I would most certainly be--oh!" You interrupt his statement by lifting him partially off the ground, wrapping your arms around him in a big, manly bear hug.

"Wooooo! Hahahaaa! Oh, man, you have no idea how much of a relief this is! No idea! I fucking love you!"

"Ah, yes, well...I'm glad you're so excited!" he chuckles, taken aback by your sudden display of brotherly afffection. "I must say, I wasn't quite expecting that!"

"Heh, sorry," you laugh as you put him back down. "Just got a little excited there. Hope that wasn't weird."

"Not at all. Such a reaction is entirely acceptable, I'd say! So, should I tell father to be expecting you soon?"

You run a few timelines through your head, unsure of exactly when would be the best time to pick the engagement necklace up. You'd have to find some time to head out without arrousing suspicion, and then once it's home you'd have to make sure it's properly hidden where she'd never look...

"Probably some time in the next couple of days. I'm not one hundred percent sure, to be honest. You gotta understand, this is a little complicated. Can't have her finding it and such."

"I understand," he says with a nod of his head. "I'll be sure to let father know to keep it in safe storage until you show up. You should have seen his face when he announced he was finished! It's like the old war pony hadn't been so proud of a creation in ages! I dare say he's enjoyed it nearly as much as you will."

You take a deep breath to steady yourself and give the photo a final once-over, smiling at the beautiful necklace that will be in your hands in a matter of days at most. "Here, you can take this back with you. Wouldn't want Rarity to see it."

"Of course. Now, with that bit of joyous news delivered, I shall take my leave. I'm sure you've a nice, relaxing day planned out, hmm? Do me a favor and tell Miss Rarity I said hello, would you? We've only met briefly, but perhaps one day we can all have a bit of a get-together over brunch."

"I will. Thanks again, Whip. You've made my day. Hell, my entire year!"

"Any time, my friend." The photo levitates from your hand and back into his pocket, safely secured. "I shall see you in the morning for another day of lifting and hammering and such, hmm-hmm. Take care!"

You bump his hoof and slap him across the shoulder. "You too, man. Have a good one."

"That I shall!" With a curt nod he turns and trots off, leaving you standing in the entranceway. You take a few moments to let the reality sink in with a deep, relieved exhale. That's most of the worrying over with. All that's left now is popping the question itself. And finding the right time to do so.

Rarity is still sitting on the couch when you head back inside, sipping from your coffee cup. She gives you a sly smile as you walk back over.

"It was only fair that you share a drink me with in return." You plop back down on the couch, doing your best to hide your excitement for the good news. "Who was at the door, darling?"

"It was Whip-Smart. You know, that unicorn I work with who has the glasses? He wanted to let you know he says hello."

"Well that was nice of him," she says with a smile. "But I'm sure he didn't come all the way here just to pass on a friendly greeting. Goodness knows he could do that any time!"

"Oh, of course that wasn't it." You scramble to come up with an excuse and hope it sounds natural. "He just wanted to pass on some info from Pipe, is all. He, uh, said we should start wearing thicker jackets due to the snowfall. And cold. You know how it is." You carefully pry the cup from between her hooves, even as she arches an eyebrow at you.

"Really? He came all the way here to tell you to dress warmly? I would think that would be common knowledge."

"Some of the guys are a little...a little lacking. In common knowledge. For the cold." Smooth. "Nothing to worry about. Pipe's just looking out for us, that's all. He's a good guy like that."

"Hmmm..." Rarity eyes you suspiciously. You take the opportunity to take a drink of coffee. Just act natural. "Well, I suppose that does sound like him. Wouldn't want somepony to catch a cold."

"Right. Cold would be bad. Ahem." You finish your cup and set it aside, feeling some of the lingering excitement overtaking you. "Now, where were we?" You practically pounce on her before she can reply, pinning her to the couch by her forelegs. She yelps in surprise and delight, laughing loudly as you kiss her stomach.

"Oh! Not the stomach! Stop that!" You let out a laugh at her ticklish nature, grateful for being able to vent some of your delight from the necklace being finished. "You could at least tell me you're --ahhhaha!-- going to do so!" You lift your shirt over your head and toss it aside, smiling as she bites her lip in approval. "Really, now, if you're going to tease me and then expect a sudden shift in attitude, you might want to reconsider how you go about these things."

"Uh-huh. I think I can gauge your attitude just fine, baby." You run a hand through her mane and scoot higher up on the couch, pressing your bare chest against her soft coat. "You know why?"

She taps her chin with a hoof in dramatic thought before shrugging it off. "I haven't the foggiest."

"Because I love you more than life itself." You kiss her softly and add, "and because I know you too well."

"Damn," she replies, poking you in the shoulder. "I suppose that is a fairly reasonable answer." You put your arms under her and gently lift her up, meeting her for another, longer kiss. You're very aware of the fact that you're smiling brighter than you have in a long time, and apparently so is she. "Darling, are you feeling quite alright? You look as if you've been struck by an infatuation spell. Not that I'm complaining, of course. There's just...something about you that's different."

"I'm feeling just fine, honey. Believe me. Maybe I'm just looking forward to Hearth's Warming Eve."

Rarity runs a hoof over your cheek and smiles warmly. "As am I, love. I believe you'll quite enjoy it. And perhaps you'll even get to see me perform my simply impeccable rendition of Princess Platinum! Did I mention that Twilight is my patsy for the play? Not that I enjoy lording over her for the sake of entertainment, of course."

"Of course," you laugh. "I'm sure you just hate it."

"Consider it practice for the day that I become the most fabulous of rulers Equestria has ever seen! But in all seriousness, darling, I simply cannot wait to share the holiday with you and Fluttershy. I do believe my parents will be staying with us again around that time, as will Sweetie. I'll have to make extra coffee cakes! But that's for another time. For now, I'm more than content to lie here with you." She pulls you back into her for a passionate kiss, running a hoof through your hair as she does so. "While I would enjoy a late-afternoon tryst, darling," she says quietly as she rubs her nose against your own, "I'm afraid our bed is currently occupied."

You're a little surprised -- you'd never taken Fluttershy as a late sleeper, especially considering it's nearly four in the afternoon.

"It would seem Fluttershy was up most of the night for an emergency with a dreadfully wounded brown bear. The poor thing." You're not sure what could cause serious injury to a bear, of all things, except for another bear. "Manticore attack," Rarity answers. "Such misunderstood creatures. They're really not that bad once you get to know them, but I'm afraid their aggressive nature tends to get the better of them at times."

To be honest, you can't think of much worse to run into in a dark forest than a scorpion-tailed, bat-winged lion. That's three terrifying animals rolled into one!

"But anyway, yes, Fluttershy didn't get home until after you'd left for work, the poor dear. She was absolutely exhausted! She's been asleep ever since.

"I see...well, that's a little disappointing, but as long as she's comfortable I can't complain too much. Guess we'll just have to wait until later."

"So it would seem. I'll make it up to you, darling. Don't I always?"

"That you do. And very well, at that..."

"What can I say? I know what makes you tick, my love. Make no mistake: By tonight's end, you shall be groaning my name in ecstasy. Hmmhmm." You really wish you didn't have to wait until then. Really wish. You take a deep breath to calm yourself before sitting back up, letting Rarity lean against your shoulder.

"So...besides the thought of hot, sweaty love, how's the day been? I know you said it's been slow today, but I know you better than that, honey. You're always thinking of something interesting."

"Hmmm...mostly a few scattered customers here and there. Rainbow Dash dropped by briefly to invite me to a pet outting this weekend, one of my suppliers had a discount on sheer fabrics, aaand, ohhh...I may or may not have come up with a way to get back at Cashmere for out-right stealing my aetherweave idea."

Uh-oh.

"Ever since she had the gall to show me up last weekend, I've been trying to come up with some way of repaying the favor that would make the point a little more firmly than we've done in the past. No more poison joke, no more Pinkie Pie antics -- amusing though it was -- and no more stealing of suppliers with free gifts. Though I suppose the last one was a little more serious than the other two." She flicks a curl of hair out of her face as she speaks, her demeanor suddenly all business. Sometimes you wonder how can she shift from business to pleasure so quickly; no doubt it comes from years of experience in the surprisingly cut-throat world of fashion. "No, Cashmere is nothing if not stubborn. We must make our point known, and in a way that will get through her assuredly thick skull. We must show her that the Carousel Boutique is not to be trifled with!" She slams a hoof down against her foreleg for emphasis, looking up at you after taking a moment to realize how much of a theatrical display she's making. "A heh heh...in-in a manner of speaking."

"I'm sure. What could you possibly do that's a bigger statement than taking away a business that sells her the very materials she needs? I thought that was a pretty good hit."

"Oh it was," she says confidently, "but it wasn't enough, obviously. Thus, I figured it would be best to give her a proper bit of payback."

As much as you enjoy Scheming Rarity, the impending holiday and proposal has done a fair bit to change your mind about this sort of thing.

"Rarity, forgive me for asking, but...when is all of this gonna stop?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" she asks, looking a little confused by your question.

"I mean, when is the back-and-forth between you and Cashmere gonna come to an end? You've been at this for months now. She does something underhanded, you respond in kind -- albeit with less malice -- and the cycle goes on, over and over. How many times has she tried to screw you over? Four? Five? At some point it just needs to stop. I realize asking her to be mature about anything is next to impossible, but it's starting to feel less like business rivals and more like a couple of kids throwing mud at each other."

Her mouth hangs open as she searches for a response; she clearly wasn't expecting such an objection to come from you.

"I'm not sure if I would put it that way, darling.I'd love for her to just leave, of course, but you and I both know she isn't the type to give up easily. That's why I intend to make our thoughts on the matter very clear, even to somepony as dense as her. Why the sudden interest in finality?"

"Because," you explain with as much conviction as you can muster, "I just want to be able to focus on what's really important: You. The Boutique. Our life together. I love you, honey. You're the best god damn thing to ever happen to me. Cashmere just feels like this annoying wedge that's trying to drive itself between us. Unsuccessfully, of course, but you know what I mean. I just want to be able to live our lives without that bitch constantly breathing down our necks." You grasp her foreleg between your hands and stare into her big, azure eyes.

"It's time we put an end to this. Once and for all."