The shop was a blazing red with white trim. Lace ‘n Things looked like a Hearts and Hooves day card gone wrong. Of course, Aurora loved it, but I wasn’t really in the mood to shop for window shopping for things we weren’t going to buy. My heart was racing, thinking about what it could be that Rarity might construct, what it might look like and what it would feel like to fly high in the sky. For a moment I lost track of time and, when I glanced to my side, Aurora was suddenly gone. A quick look through the aisles of ribbons, bows, and threads afforded me her location and what she’d found.

“Look what I found!” she chirped as I approached, “Binder’s Thread! Now all we have to find is the needles.”

I nodded, “That’s great.” I said with a low tone, distracted still by thoughts of what it would be like to take to the clouds.

“Dear?” she asked, “What’s on your mind?”

That brought me back to reality, and made me feel a little guilty.

“Sorry, Aurora. I was just… imagining what it’s going to be like fly.”

Aurora smiled, flicking her ears a bit, “You’re going to love it. It’s every bit as amazing as I’ve told you.”

I nodded, “And if it doesn’t work?” I asked, “What if they don’t work?”

My blue-eyed, purple maned, Pegasus fiance nuzzled my neck once in reassurance, “Then we’ll find another way.”

But my mind was on the fact that we only had a week. I felt like it was barely enough time. If the wings that Rarity was planning did not work, then there would be still less time to find another way.

“Let’s go find those needles.” I sighed, setting off towards an aisle marked with a sign above it with the aforementioned on one of the lines that mentioned what was in the aisle.

Aurora and I looked around for quite some time, examining each and every needle case, every size. We looked in the aisles adjacent to the aisle that looked to hold the store’s only needles. There was nothing.

“Let’s go to a different store.” I suggested, “Time’s running out, and clearly they don’t carry a needle of this size.”

Aurora shook her head, “One second, dear. I have an idea.” she began trotting off towards the front desk.

I sighed, becoming agitated. Time was already short and we had wasted so much of it looking over and over at the same aisle. The sun was getting low already as well. We still had at least one or two things left on the list that I couldn’t quite recall.

“Aurora… come on, they don’t have the size we’re looking for.” I said as I rounded the corner to see her talking with a red and green maned, gold-coated mare.

The mare looked over at me as I cantered over to stand at Aurora’s side, “Actually, we do. It’s just not something that most ponies come in asking about.” she began to explain, “It’s actually a size smaller than the smallest traditional needle and crafted fr-”

“Can we see it now?” I interrupted, “We’re in a big hurry.”

The mare seemed rather perturbed at being interrupted and shot me a glance that showed it. Aurora crinkled her nose at me and frowned.

“That was rude.” she scolded, “You should apologize…”

I sighed, “Aurora, we’re really getting short on time. The sun will be setting in a few hours and we don’t-”

This time Aurora interrupted me and frowning as she did, “So, you’re going to be rude with me too when you’re short on time?”

I swallowed as Aurora turned her back on me to stand some distance away, “N-no. Of course not!” I stammered, “It’s just-”

“Then don’t you think you should apologi~ize?” she sung as she drew out the last word, smiling innocently in a way which I could not deny her request easily as she looked back at me.

I sighed heavily, “Fine…”

Aurora hopped a little bit as she turned and made her way back to my side, kissing me on the cheek, I saw her wings flutter a bit. She wasn’t mad at me, not as mad as I felt she should have been when I really thought about how I’d just acted.

The pony returned with the needle. It was so small, so fine, so long that it came in a gilded case. The shopkeeper pony practically shoved it at me with her magic. I hadn’t noticed before, but the shop owner was a Unicorn.

“Look, miss.” I began, “I’m sorry.”

The Unicorn looked at me, raising an eyebrow.

“I shouldn’t have been so short with you.”

“Apology accepted. It’s 150 bits, by the way.” she said abruptly, not smiling.

She was still perturbed about being interrupted.

Aurora took the lead, as we followed the Unicorn to the pay-counter. I shelled out the bits and then we were off. As we left, I made a gagging noise. Aurora glared at me and punched me in the shoulder. I just shrugged and grinned. She rolled her eyes as she retrieved the list from one of her pockets-that-everypony-actually-has-for-real, and unfurled it to read.

“Last two things… glue and Solution Powder…”

“Well… glue is something we can really get anywhere” I suggested, “But Solution Powder? Do we even know what that is?” I asked her.

Aurora ginned smugly, “No, we don’t she said, but I do.” as she pocketed the list again.

I made a rude noise before asking, “So how do you know what Solution Powder is?”

Aurora brushed up against me like a cat, going around my as she walked. I rolled my eyes a little and tried to ignore the obvious effect that it had on me.

“Well, how else do you think I get the stains out of everything you happen to drop food on?” she asked, a sly tone infiltrating her voice, “And the sheets, pillows, everything else…?”

She laughed, knowing full well what she was doing to me, “But mostly I had to carry some from one point to another on a delivery, and asked what it was when I got back to the office.”

I snorted, blushing and stepping back, “Stop it.” I said bluntly, “We can’t act like that out here, you know that.”

My fiance’ just laughed and walked off in a random direction. I followed.

“You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”

“And you’re going to get the town talking.”

“They don’t already? I’m not trying hard enough.”

“Aurora…”

She stopped and stood in front of me, “I know what I can and can’t do in public dear.” she said in a serious tone, “You, my love, need to lighten up a little.”

I sighed, saying nothing else as she turned and headed towards whatever destination she had us moving towards. I loved spending time with Aurora, and still do, but sometimes she pushed me and I had to swallow it for both our sakes. I did the same, too after all. I supposed that’s what loving someone meant, taking the good and bad and enjoying both. I started thinking again, about how I was acting. Maybe I really could have lit up a bit on the seriousness. Besides, with every step we took together we were one step closer to a possible solution to the issue of free-flight.

The thought made me smile a little, which Aurora caught just before we stopped in front of a new store.

“That’s it. Smile, dear.” she said as I came to stand next to her, “We’re almost done and after we drop off the supplies, we can go do something nice together.” she offered.

I glanced up at the sky, wondering, “Like what?” I asked before returning my eyes to my fiance’.

“Come on.” she motioned with her hoof.

Another store, another door, another purchase. It wasn’t the most glorious way to start an adventure, and certainly not the most fun way to spend a day, but it was something. A step, another step. A few more steps and I might be flying was how I saw it, but the in-between was insufferable, and if not for Aurora’s light guiding me on, I might never have realized my dream of flying.

Looking back, I feel like I should have paid more attention to her wants than I did.

As we stepped into our hopefully final store, I glanced up at the sign. “The Power Keg” it was called and I assumed it was a play on words. It was a Zebra store, one of the few that had recently popped up in Ponyville as a result of Zecora’s efforts to equalize her people from far away with our own. They were well received, especially after they learned of her involvement in stopping the Everfree forest from overtaking half of Equestria shortly after the Princess’ coronation.

At the time, however, I was not aware of the role Zecora had played, nor even who she really was, only learning of her after… Well… that comes later in the story. I was just that out of touch, so entering a shop filled with masks, vials, and strange ingredients set me somewhat on edge. The colors were earthy, dark and foreign to the usual palette of Ponyville’s usual. The room smelt of it as well and a lazy smoke covered the floor, presumably from the cauldron in the middle.

“Um… Hello?” I called out, “Anyone home?”

A deep, male voice with a heavy accent called back from some depth into the strangely ethereal place, “Home, I should say no. Work, I say yes. Welcome, my shop is open to you.”

Aurora spoke up first, “Hello Orodon.” she greeted, “How’s my favorite powder maker?”

“You know him?” I asked a little bit of jealousy creeping into my voice, “You never told me you knew any Zebras.”

“Indeed, my friend.” the voice called back again as a figure came out from a room at the back whose entrance was a well placed leafy-vine curtain. “Delivery, it is what she does. Frequently, her flights have come to my shop with orders to and from.”

Aurora walked about the shop, observing a few vials and beakers, “Orodon’s been a friend of mine for a while.”

“Interesting.” Orodon said as he became fully revealed in the light, “A bangle, then you are getting married?”

Aurora nodded, a small flit of her wings denoted her excitement as she held up her hoof, “I am, specifically to the stallion you see there. Introduce yourself, dear.”

Caught slightly off guard, I jumped a little and held out my hoof. “Air Ramp.” I offered.

Orodon was a big Zebra stallion. He was more black than white, making him look more like the tigers that I later learned lived in his land of origin. His hoof dwarfed mine as he held it out to greet me. I stared a little, caught myself and apologized.

“No,” he began with a smile, “It is not often that one meets a Zebra. Not often one of my size as well.”

Every movement made a ripple under the heavily muscled Zebra’s coat. I hate to admit it, but I felt pretty inferior at that moment.

Good it is that you are getting married.” Orodon began, “Longing is not decent a thing to keep in a heart.”

Aurora smiled, “I agree. But Orodon, we are looking for something specific today.”

“Oh?” he asked, adjusting something on a shelf with his hooves, “A seeking, and you come to me. A rarity it must be.”

“Funny you should mention that” I laughed a little, eyeing the Zebra.

Aurora continued perusing the shelves, picking up various things and examining them, “Yes, because it’s for Rarity herself that we’re here for.”

The Zebra tilted his head, “Rarity is a customer I often see, never has she sent run-ponies.”

“It’s for a favor.” I admitted, “We need Solution Powder.”

“Seekings as mystical as they are uncommon, then.” Orodon mused, “In the back there is some that I will retrieve. Wait here and I shall return.”

As Orodon went for the powder, I trotted up next to Aurora. She was looking intently at a fine, yellow dust. Her feathers seemed ruffled as she stared at the glass jar it came in.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

The startled pegasus jumped about a half a foot off the ground with her wingfeathers puffed out in complete disarray.

“N-nothing! Just… geeze, did you have to sneak up on me like that?”

She was blushing. Probably because she was embarrassed that I’d scared the feathers, quite literally, off of her as a few fluttered down to the ground. I hadn’t been sneaking, either.

“Dear, are you okay?”

The question only seemed to fluster her more.

“Yes, I’m fine. I was just looking at spices!” I raised an eyebrow which prompted another outburst, “Stop staring at me why don’t you?!”

I rolled my eyes and retreated, “Alright, alright. I was just worried… Sheesh.”

Thankfully it was only a short time after that Orodon returned from his store-room with the Solution Powder.

“Here, this is the mystic that you seek.” he offered it up on his… oversized hoof… “Use it wisely, for it is limited and cannot be used again once thrown or mixed.”

That got me thinking.

“So… what is it for?” I asked.

Orodon smiled, “It is a magical dust, something from deep in the desert, not far from my tribe. A solvent, a solver. It is for small problems.” he explained, “Little things. like cracks in huts, slightly overcooked meats, or broken animal traps.”

I opened the money bag that Rarity gave us, “So it does a little bit of everything?” I asked.

Orodon nodded, “Payment, it is a modest thing. About 1000 bits.” he said as I rummaged through the satchel, “Solution Powder, it can be mixed with other powders to create more effects. It is a powerful catalyst.

Once paid, Orodon smiled, “A stallion, a good one you have chosen, Aurora.”

I wasn’t sure I liked being judged, good or bad. That meant he knew more about me than I had ever told him which meant I didn’t know what it was he judged me by, for better or worse.

“He is.” Aurora said simply, and um… Orodon? How much for the jar of… well, that jar?” Aurora pointed to the glass container that she had been staring at so intently before. I raised an eyebrow and kept my mouth shut. She had been acting strange all day, and I was beginning to wonder even more what was going on in that usually wonderfully crazy blue-eyed pegasus head of hers.

Orodon stared at my fiance’ quizzically, “The substance, what is it that you desire it for?” he asked, “Knowledge, what of that jar do you know?”

“It makes for good spice when cooking.” she said, putting obvious emphasis on the two words, making me wonder, “Besides… It’s just in case.” she said with a warning tone.

Orodon shrugged, “Fairness, it is yours. But do be careful not to add too much, it could be more than you can handle.”

I was lost and confused but I felt it would be best to ask later. Clearly Aurora did not want to talk about it there, or then for that matter. Maybe it was for a prank or something. Pegasi were known for their pranks and, though Aurora rarely committed herself to one, it was not unheard of for her to pull a little joke on somepony every now and again. Paying with money of her own, no doubt from the package and mail route she had been working since shortly after we’d met, Aurora then pocketed the small jar and almost pushed me out of the store as Orodon waved with an amiable smile.

“What was that?” I asked after we were away from the Zebra’s shop.

Aurora shook her head, “It’s nothing. Just… let’s find some glue. I’m getting a little tired.”

It was not wise to press her. If Aurora wanted to tell me something, she usually came right out with it but, even after the years I’d spent with her, she still had a few mysteries about her that I did not fully understand and she was unwilling to talk about. It worried me sometimes, but… everything else about our relationship was fantastic. Who was I to dig any deeper than she would allow?

Even as I thought that, somewhere in the back of my head I felt some kind of regret. I shook it off as Aurora addressed me.

“Glue.” Aurora stated matter-of-factly, “Last thing on the list is glue.”

I nodded in agreement, “Craft store?”

A pink blur shot past us both, nearly knocking Aurora over.

“Did somebody say… glue?” a someone gasped exasperatedly, “You do know where glue comes from don’t you?”

“Um… isn’t it made from beeswax and tree sap?” I asked the voice.

The voice, apparently coming from a pink pony with hair like cotton candy, one who had somehow managed to wedge herself into a pile of fruit in a basket without disturbing a single one, laughed.

“No, silly. Glue comes from another world!” the pony declared as she disappeared back into the basket completely, “It’s not half bad-tasting either.”

Aurora giggled at the silly pony who, as strange as it seemed, had suddenly appeared… above my field of vision and upside down before falling to the ground and looking up at us both.

“And what then,” Aurora asked with an amused smile, “Does glue taste like?”

I was enjoying the show a little less than she. A lot was on my mind, more so after the way Aurora had acted in the shop.

“You don’t wanna know.” the pink pony insisted with a nervous smile, “My name’s Pinkie Pie, what’s yours?”

“Aurora Bright.” my fiance’ introduced herself, “And this is my soon-to-be-husband, Air Ramp.”

Pinkie Pie was instantaneously on her hooves and upright again at the mentioning of that.

“Ooooooh! Does that mean you two will be having a wedding soon?” she asked smiling bigger than anypony I’d ever seen smile before. “I was at a wedding once… it didn’t go well at first. There were some Changelings and some crazy queen who tried to take over the world…”

Clearly Pinkie Pie was an insane pony. Probably broke free of the mental institution somewhere up the road. She continued rambling until I interrupted her.

“Pinkie… was it?”

The pink pony nodded, “Yup, that’s my name. Pinkie Pie, Party Extraodinaire and singular member, CEO, president and benefactor of the Ponyville Greeting Committee. You haven’t heard of me?” she asked, seeming a little confused.

“No… but we’re night ponies more or less.” Aurora offered, “We tend not to be out during the day.”

“Oh, well that explains it.” she giggled, “I can’t be up ALL the time. I’d go crazy from sleep deprivation and start hallucinating or something. That only happened once, and oh man, you do NOT want to be chasing a floating cookie. Apparently, they taste like birds.”

I deadpanned, shook my head and tried to get her back on track.

“You said something about glue. Do you know where I can get some really quick?”

Pinkie Pie snorted and laughed. I frowned a little.

“Of course I do!” she exclaimed, pulling some from… a tree? “I keep some around all over Ponyville, just in case I need to glue the story back together.”

“Do what?”

“I’ve already said too much!” she hissed, chucking the glue into my hooves.

Aurora and I looked down at the small bottle before looking back up.

“Thank y-” Aurora began, but the pink pony was already gone.

Aurora and I looked around at the area surrounding us. It shouldn’t have surprised neither she nor I that a pony who could fit inside a fruit basket would also be as crazy as a fruit basket and disappear like one would at a party.

“That was… strange.” Aurora commented, looking at me with worry, “Do you… do you think we should just go buy some glue from somewhere?”

“Looks like a regular bottle to me.” I reasoned, glancing up at the evening sky, “Besides, we’re a little short on time as it is and I’m a little tired.”

The sun was setting. The oranges and reds that had graced us the morning earlier had returned, this time with a bit of purple. A hazy fireblaze that made me feel a little odd, in that for once I wasn’t working whilst it set, the splashes of color bouncing about and ricocheting across the cobblestone streets we walked upon. Clouds above floated as lazily about as I was beginning to feel. I yawned as the general tiredness often associated with being up all night, getting a few hours of sleep and then spending it all day running about, caught up with me with an unforeseen suddenness.

“Come on.” I said with a smile, “Let’s get to Rarity’s.”

Aurora’s wings flitted near imperceptibly wordlessly telling me that she liked the idea. It was not a long walk, but enough for silence to set in. Still, as far as silences were, that one was very pleasant. Aurora and I did not look at each other on the way back, instead simply starting forward and comfortable with the idea that we were next to one another. Such pleasantness was strange and simple, and very likely brought on by a lack of sleep and the fact that we’d been running about all day on a scavenger hunt for items we’d never encountered before. l was glad that we had run into so few hitches on the road so far. Sometimes life threw a bone to a pony or two, and such was the case that day. So, the only thing left was to walk in the door when we arrived at Rarity’s, drop off the stuff, then go out and do whatever it was that Aurora had wanted to do earlier.

“I’m tired.” Aurora sighed, “I say we go home after this.”

“What about going somewhere special?” I asked, somewhat disappointed that she wanted to go home, despite my own sleepiness.

“Well… we can do that tomorrow.” she asserted, “We have another six days before your vacation is over with.”

“Alright.” I agreed, “Home it is.”

It wasn’t long after that we arrived at the Carousel Boutique. The sun was still setting, and by then Aurora was leaning on me a little as we walked. We knocked on the door without thinking. Rarity came to the door a few moment’s later, letting us in.

“So darlings, how went the shopping?” she asked, “Find everything alright?”

Aurora yawned, “Y-yeah We managed to find everything.”

“Here’s the money back that you loaned us… or at least what’s left.”

Rarity poured the coins out on a nearby table and began counting. I took a look around. A new large table set in the back took up space where one had not been before. Strange symbols covered its edges, and from what little rudimentary knowledge I had of magic, I concluded that it was an enchantment table. Its workings were never something that interested me before, but now that I assumed that it would be necessary for the crafting of my new wings. Unfortunately for me, our time with Rarity was up and I would not have time to ask for an explanation, not that it would do me any good. I was an Earth Pony after all, not a Unicorn.

“Um…” Rarity mumbled before looking up at us both, “There seems to be more left over than there should be, dears.”

“Oh,” I pulled out the glue, “Someone named Pinkie Pie gave this to us.” Aurora eyed it silently, “I don’t know if you should use it.”

“Well, where did she get it?” the white Unicorn asked.

“I don’t know…” I mused.

“Well, Pinkie said she kept some around Ponyville just in case she needed to glue things together in an emergency or something.”

“Ah, well that’s Pinkie. It is most likely nothing. Now run along darlings, I have to get started.”

As we moved to the door Aurora and I turned back to wave, but Rarity was already busy with setting up for making what ever she had envisioned wings might look like. I hoped with all my heart that they would work, unable to contain my excitement. Except that I was tired and couldn’t bring myself to jump for joy or something. Aurora had gone mostly silent, as she often did when she was exhausted, and I found her leaning on me more and more as we headed home.

“Do you need me to carry you?” I asked, “I can.”

I yawned, making Aurora smile and respond sleepily.

“No, I think I’ll manage.”

A loud growling noise rumbled out from Aurora’s stomach.

“We haven’t eaten since lunch. Want to grab something before we get back?” she asked, seeming more awake now, “There’s a few stands still open.”

I laughed a little, “Do you think a stand will have enough food for both of you?” I asked.

Aurora turned red and punched my shoulder, “If you’re not careful I might just eat you instead.”

I stifled a laugh. She caught on.

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” she sighed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I said innocently, “To me, it seems you’re the one with your mind on stuff that you shouldn’t.”

I was knocked lightly into a wall by a pair of hips that I had become all too familiar with. Aurora just laughed as I stumbled.

“I suppose I deserved that.” I mumbled with indignity as Aurora gave me an apologetic kiss on the cheek.

Our hoofsteps eventually brought us to a small stand marked with the standard Sweet Apple Acres symbols and a young filly managing it.

“Hello AppleBloom.” I greeted.

“Howdy Mister Ramp!” she returned, “Come to buy some apples?”

I nodded, “Actually yes. How much for a bushel or two?”

Aurora was eying them hungrily, “Or three.” she mumbled.

“... or three.” I corrected myself. “My fiance’s pretty starved. We’ve been running around Ponyville all day and haven’t had a chance to eat since lunchtime.”

Applebloom pulled up a sheet of paper, a calculating machine and a pair of glasses. I wasn’t certain what for. She caught on that I was wondering what she was doing.

“Ah gotta look the part, Mister Ramp. It’s part of business, y’see.” she seemed to consult a clipboard before her eyes went as wide as saucers and she stared up at us both. “Wait, you two’re gettin’ married?” she asked.

I smiled, “Yep. We are.”

“What about flyin’?” Applebloom asked, “Aren’tcha gonna try to fly still?”

Aurora’s ears flicked, and she tore her gaze from the apples, “Of course he is. And I’m going to help him.”

“He ain’t good enough th’way he is?” Applebloom asked, “Why’s he gotta fly?”

I shook my head, “It’s not like that, AppleBloom. I just… want to.”

“Yer a wierd pony.” AppleBloom said, “But Ah like ya. You’ve been there for mah family fer years. ‘Sides, y’all two’re getting married.” her eyes sparkled, “It’s romantic ah’sides, you tryin’ to b’come a Pegasus for yer love.”

Aurora leaned on me, “It really is.” she said with a weariness that was uncharacteristic of her.

AppleBloom scrunched her nose my fiance’, “Y’better be good t’him. He’s a good pony. If’n yer not, y’all will hafta answer t’me and mah Sis.” she warned.

Aurora frowned, “I know he is, and I’ll keep that in mind.”

I could tell she was becoming agitated by the conversation and decided it was time to change the subject.

“AppleBloom, let’s get down to business.” I suggested.

The filly immediately changed her demeanor putting her hooves on the table with an authoritative thud, “Alright, what c’n Ah getcha?”

“Just three bushels of the best you’ve got.”

Applebloom punched in some numbers on the calculating machine and pulled a lever, sticking her tongue out of the side of her mouth when she did in a show of juvenile determination. A piece of paper with some numbers printed out of the top of it. She removed it and began looking down the list of what I assumed was the number-work that she’d punched in. Aurora’s stomach growled loudly, startling the filly.

“Whoa! What was that?” she asked.

Aurora didn’t answer, she just stood next to me blushing a bit.

I shook my head with a grin, “I told you, my fiance’ is hungry.”

AppleBloom looked over her glasses, which I assumed were fake, at Aurora, “Y’might want tah get that checked out, Miss.” she suggested, making Aurora blush even harder.

“We already have.” I told AppleBloom, “And if we don’t hurry, she might just eat your stand.”

Aurora glared at me. I was pushing my luck so I decided to stop joking around since she was clearly not in the mood. AppleBloom seemed to hurry up after that, even though she said that she didn’t believe that Aurora would eat the stand. The grand total turned out to be about a hundred-and-fifty bits, which to my surprise, Aurora shelled out very quickly despite my objections. She glared at me again when I tried to stop her, sending me a clear message. I knew not to get in her way for anything trivial when she glared at me like that. Aurora hated being hungry and it wasn’t worth getting in her way over a hundred-and-fifty bits. I took the bushels onto my back and thanked AppleBloom, who eyed Aurora warily as she waved at our departure.

The sun set before we could make our way home, but when we finally made it we both sat down in front of the couch behind the coffee table and began untying the bushel-bags.

“I’m not sure I like that filly.” Aurora grumbled.

I sighed, “AppleBloom and AppleJack are like sisters to me.” I told her, “But you know that. They’re just being protective.”

“They’re?” Aurora asked, the anger melting away and being replaced by an almost sad frown, “I thought it was just AppleBloom.”

I managed to get open the last bushel-bag and went over to the fireplace that was the centerpiece of our living room. I had stocked up on firewood earlier that year, and there was a small pile of firewood already set off to the side under the hearth as a result.

“No, I had a similar discussion with AJ too. She’s worried that you don’t think I’m good enough for you and she thought that the only reason I’m trying to become a Pegasus was a result of that.”

Aurora huffed, laying on the ground with her hooves overtop her head and clearly distressed by what I’d told her, “Am I treating you bad?” she asked, “Are you doing this because I don’t treat you like I should?”

I had just put a log on the unlit rack inside the chimney and set up the kindling underneath when I looked over to see her in such a state. I opened the flume without saying anything and lit the fire. Aurora moaned unhappily and covered her eyes. I made my way over.

“No.” I said simply as I a hoof on her back and gave it a rub, “I’m doing this because I want to.”

Aurora uncovered her eyes and looked back at me, there were tears building behind her lids “Are you sure?” she asked, the sadness and fear apparent in her voice, “I feel like I’ve been pushing you, especially after I told you what it’s like.”

“Come on.” I ordered softly, “Get on the couch, you always get emotional when you’re hungry. We’re both tired.”

Aurora heaved herself off the ground and I guided her onto the couch. Chucking an apple next to her, I smiled. She looked at me with those enchanting and, at the time doleful, eyes. I needed to reassure her.

“I am sure. I want to do this for us both. I’ve always wanted to fly, and I don’t want you to have to settle on the ground when I know you love the sky so much. I took a bite of an apple and settled in around her, “Besides… you’re the most amazing Pony I’ve ever met and I love you, Aurora.”

Aurora swallowed the little bit of apple that she’d nibbled off of what I’d tossed to her, “I love you too, Air…” she said as she nuzzled my neck and scooted closer into me.

I saw her eyes gaze at the bangle on her hoof. A small smile crept across her face, helping to dry the tears that never had a chance to escape.

Her warmth was comforting. As I rubbed her shoulders and sides in a massage, small and happy sounds lulled out of her mouth, letting me know that everything was going to be just fine. The rest of the night we spent there on the couch in firelight. Aurora eventually turned back into her normal, comfortable and happy self with a bit of reassurance and a full stomach. I had wanted to talk about what we would do the next day and what other possibilities we could pursue if Rarity’s wings didn’t work, but figured that it could wait after she fell asleep on the couch with me.