Twilight, in all her years, would never have thought of herself as a romantic by any means. Even so, she couldn't help but think that what she was experiencing was about as romantic as it could get. She and her lover, Flash Sentry, were not on some fancy date somewhere, or gazing into each other's eyes on a moonlit night. No, what they were doing was what most would simply call "mundane". And yet, to her, it meant so much more. All they were doing was lying together on a couch in Twilight's home, the Ponyville library. Just the two of them holding each other whilst lying on a piece of furniture. Few would ever call this romantic, but to her, it was all she needed.

The New Years celebrations that Flash had come down to Ponyville for had come and gone, and both had enjoyed their time together. There had been the usual festivities, fireworks and such, but to the two of them, what mattered most was that they spent it in each other's company. Now here they were, just doing what they could to relax after everything that had happened. Looking down at Flash's leg, she saw that his bandage was still there. She knew that he didn't like her to worry about him like she did, but she couldn't help it. Still, she'd been told it would only be a few more days before it cleared up, so that was something.

Her attention was then drawn to Flash himself, who was stirring from his lying position.

"I know it's impossible, but I could just lie here all day."

Twilight gave a small smile at that.

"Me too. But we both know that's not going to happen. My friends and I have a whole day planned ahead."

She stretched out her neck and nuzzled the side of his head with hers in an affectionate manner.

"You know, you're welcome to join us if you like."

Flash smiled back at her, appreciating the gesture, before replying.

"Thank you for the offer. But you know I don't like the idea of me cutting into the time you spend with your friends. I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Twilight considered that. Even though she'd like nothing better for her beau to mingle with her friends, Flash had always been adamant that she enjoy her time with them without him. Still, she appreciated that he was this okay with letting her have time with him not with her. He was always doing that, putting her needs above his own, something she appreciated a great deal from him. As for his previous sentiment, she shared it. The two of them could have just stayed here all day and it would have seemed like a full day to her. Love kind of did that sort of thing to her.

Unfortunately, she was then interrupted from her enjoyment from the feeling of Flash moving. Looking up at him, she saw that he was getting up from his position before sliding past her and standing up. Twilight looked at him with some mild concern.

"Flash? What is it?"

The stallion looked at her with an expression of nervousness.

"Well, um...there was something I was planning and I, you know, though that today might be a good time for it."

Twilight raised and eyebrow at that before she saw him move over to a small table near her front door, upon which was Flash's saddle-bag, which he'd brought with him from the Crystal Empire. He opened it up and began rummaging around while Twilight watched.

"I know it's here somewhere," he said.

Before he could find what he was looking for however, the two were interrupted by a new sound, this time a loud knocking on the door. Flash looked up from his bag and to Twilight, who shrugged her shoulders at him. Neither had expected to be disturbed today, so they had no idea who it might be. Sighing, Flash gave up on the search through his bag and moved over to the door. He turned the knob and opened it, revealing that the one's who had knock were, in fact, Twilight's friends. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were all on the other side with smiles on their faces.

Flash looked at each of them before speaking.

"Oh! Um, hello girls! Nice to..."

Sadly for Flash, he didn't have the chance to finish, as his mouth was shut by the sudden and swift hoof of Rarity.

"A pleasure to see you too, Mr Sentry. But, sadly, we have urgent business to speak to Twilight about."

Before Flash or Twilight could react, all of her friends suddenly barged past Flash, with Rainbow swooping up his saddle bag and shoving it into his hooves, followed shortly by Applejack getting behind him and starting to shoo him out of the house.

"Now don't y'all worry sugarcube. Y'all won't be by yerself today. I called on mah brother to see y'all around town while we talk things over."

Now outside the house, Flash turned to his left to see the massive form of Big Macintosh, Applejack's brother, standing nearby. The larger stallion was bearing a look of annoyance on his face, making it clear that this wasn't something he wanted any art of. Looking back inside, Flash looked past the group barring his path to Twilight, who was standing there completely taken aback by everything that was happening right now. Flash opened his mouth to speak, perhaps to protest what was going on, but he was swiftly silenced by Pinkie, who giddily waved him goodbye before slamming the door in his face.

The group turned to see their alicorn friend marching towards them, a look of sheer anger on her face.

"And what, pray tell, was THAT all about? Why'd you make him leave like that?"

The group all looked at each other, all too aware that they'd interrupted what was undoubtedly a tender moment between the two lovers. But even so, they knew that what they had to speak to her about could not simply wait. Rainbow stepped forward and was the first to speak.

"Well, sorry about all this Twilight, but Rarity here has some crazy theory about you."

The cyan-coloured pegasus looked down in an irritated manner at her white unicorn friend, who was now bearing the glances of all of them. She cleared her throat before addressing them.

"Yes, well, I wouldn't have put it like that, but yes. I have a suspicion about you, Twilight. About you and your beau."

Twilight, still angry, raised an eyebrow at that.

"You threw my colt-friend out just because of a suspicion? What could be so important that he couldn't be here to hear it?"

Rarity looked somewhat aghast at that.

"Well, darling, the matter is...how shall I say...not suitable to be discussed in front of him."

Twilight raised a hoof and smacked it on her forehead with exasperation.

"Okay, this is getting on my nerves. What is it you think is going on?"

Rarity, at this point, looked incredibly uncomfortable with actually having to come clean about what she and the others had gathered here for. She glanced at the other four mares, all of whom were now giving her looks of encouragement. Steeling herself, she took a deep breath before stepping closer to Twilight.

"Well, Twilight, I was wondering if you and Flash had...well...grown closer than normal?"

Twilight still looked at her with confusion.

"Closer how exactly?"

Rarity coughed a little before continuing.

"You know...experienced something new you've never done before?"

Twilight stayed silent, just waiting for her friend to just spit it out. Rarity though was clearly not used to discussing this matter with anypony, not even her closest friends, and her hesitance to just come forward about it was starting to irritate all of them. So frustrated with her beating-around-the-bush way of doing things, Rainbow just stepped forward, slapped a hoof over Rarity's mouth, and spoke herself.

"Oh for Celestia's sake! We want to know if you and Flash have done IT!"

Upon hearing that, Twilight took an immediate step backwards. In spite of all her efforts not to, her face became the brightest shade of crimson any of her friends had ever seen it be. It was impossible, she told herself. She hadn't told anypony, not even her own family about this, so how could these five possibly have discovered it? Looking at them, at their faces still clearly awaiting a response from her, the crimson in her face calmed a little, and she let out a sigh, knowing full well that she could not deceive them.

"Yes...we have."

Their faces all became one of shock as they turned to face one another, not quite believing what they'd heard. Although she was not ashamed of it, what her friends were asking of her was, in fact, true. She and Flash had indeed consummated their relationship. It was a few months ago, on the night before she left the Crystal Empire after visiting. She knew that would be the last day they'd spend together for some time, so she wanted to make it special. And while it had indeed been a close and intimate moment between them, it was not something she felt comfortable discussing with others.

Still, as she looked at her friends, she now knew that she'd have to. But even so, there was a question burning on her mind, which she then voiced to Rarity.

"How did you find out?"

Rarity gave a small smile before answering.

"Honestly, dear, I could tell on the morning we left the Empire. You had a kind of glow about you. And ever since there's been something different about you. A certain spring in your step. Plus, it can't have been coincidence that it all happened immediately after teleporting from out of nowhere with Flash by your side that morning".

Twilight silently cursed under her breath that her own subtle body language had betrayed her like that. Still, the cat was out of the bag now, and no way to get it back in. Looking up, she saw that Rainbow was the first among her friends to speak, her expression now changed into a more mischievous one.

"Well...?"

Twilight looked at her, confused.

"Well what?"

Rainbow let out a grunt of annoyance before she made herself clear.

"Well...how was he?"

And just like that, the redness came back to Twilight's face. Thinking back on it, Twilight tried to think about a suitable answer. Admittedly this was difficult as she'd never once had to actually converse about such a private and intimate moment before.

"I enjoyed it. It was...warm...and close. And being with him, being that close to him...it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced."

Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie all grouped together to let out a simultaneous "awww" together, while Rainbow and Applejack looked at them with mild disgust at that reaction. It was a scene that would have led to Twilight giving a small giggle, if it wasn't for the sheer awkwardness of this whole situation. Rarity broke away from the others, her eyes practically glistening as she spoke up.

"Oh! I can just see it now! Flash Sentry, the gallant Knight, meeting his beloved Princess on a high balcony, and carrying her in his hooves for a night of passion and romance!"

Twilight chuckled at that.

"No, nothing like that. I met up with him when I couldn't sleep. We...well, we danced together a little and I...kind of...asked him into my chambers afterwards. Then...well, you don't need to be a genius to figure out what came next."

Rarity looked a tad disappointed at Twilight's night wasn't quite the epic romance she was hoping for. Still, she was at least content that Twilight herself believed it to be a worthwhile evening, especially if some dancing was involved. The white unicorn looked away from her, her face a thoughtful one, and Twilight had no doubt that her friend was coming up with all sorts of wild and overly-romantic interpretations of the events Twilight had described to her, leading the young Princess to roll her eyes slightly at her. Once that was done though, Applejack was the next to speak.

"You sure it was all good? Granny used to teach me and Mac about this sort of thing when we were young'uns. Ain't their supposed to be some sort of, ya know, pain involved?"

Twilight's face became somewhat sour after hearing that. Morosely, she gave a nod to her, which Applejack returned with a look of understanding. It was true, and that had been the one bad note of her entire night with Flash. She'd read all about it, even been taught it by her parents, but it didn't quite prepare her for it when it finally came. She'd silently cursed it, that a mare's first time had to involve something as painful as the final "crossing the threshold", or so her mother used to call it. It was, perhaps, the most painful experience she'd ever had, and was quite glad in the knowledge that only her first time would ever inflict it upon her.

But then, a memory grew in her mind, and her face now bore a soft smile as she looked up at her friends, who'd been waiting patiently for her to continue.

"But...I know Flash didn't want that for me. He knew it was coming, just like I did. Before it happened, he actually asked me if I wanted to bring it all to an end, to stop what we were doing then and there. He said he didn't want to hurt me".

Her friends all looked at each other with surprise, perhaps taken aback that any stallion would be as considerate as that. But Twilight knew that Flash was, and she'd appreciated his offer a great deal.

"I told him to keep going. It felt bad, I won't lie. But I knew this would have to happen for me sooner or later. And I'm glad it was with him."

This time, even Applejack and Rainbow were being slightly taken in by how enamoured Twilight had been with the whole thing, even though this particular part of it was perhaps as undesirable as things could get. The young alicorn looked away from her friends, and was lost in the memory of that night. She knew her first time was not perfect, noponies’ would ever be. And yet, if given the chance, she would have gone ahead with it all over again. Flash had not come to her first. He'd waited. Even after all those months apart since their last meeting, he'd never once pushed her to go faster in this relationship than she wanted. He'd left the pace of their love be her choice, and hers alone. And so she'd chosen then and there to make that intimacy happen.

Smiling at her memory of the experience, she looked up at her friends.

"I would not have changed that night for all the world."

Her friends looked at her in turn before turning to face each other. Slowly, they all gained smiles on their faces, seemingly content with what they'd learned about Twilight's night with Flash. There were other questions, as one would expect. Whether or not her family knew was first and foremost, but none needed to really ask her to know the answer, that she'd tell them when she was ready, which they were all happy to agree to. Through it all, Twilight felt relief wash over her. She'd been worried that her friends might think less of her if they found out about this. That had clearly not been the case, and she was grateful.

The only thing that could have made this better was wishing that Flash had been given a tad more grace than simply being thrown out for this little "mare-talk". As such, Twilight couldn't help but think of how her poor colt-friend was occupying himself since last she saw him.

............................

In truth, the stallion hadn't really been doing much of anything, having been led pretty much around all of Ponyville by a bored and annoyed Big Macintosh. Still, he knew that Twilight's friends needed to say something important to her, so he wasn't about to deny them that. Eventually, after having seen about as much as anypony could see in this town, Mac finally just gave up and sat down on the edge of the fountain in the middle of town. From there he got out a carton of apple juice he'd been keeping in his own saddle-bags.

Joining him, Flash rummaged around his own bags, trying in vain to see if there was anything he could find to eat or drink. Sadly for him, he found nothing of the sort. Fortunately though. what he did find was exactly what he'd been looking for prior to being forcibly evicted from Twilight's home. He brought out the small object just as Mac noticed what he was doing, giving him a quizzical glance. Seeing this, Flash nervously hid the item behind his back.

"Oh, don't worry. It's just a little something for Twilight."

Big Mac stared at him for a moment before casually shrugging his shoulder and getting back to his juice. Flash didn't want anypony else to know about it until he was ready to speak about it to Twilight. And so, making sure his companion wasn't looking, he brought the item out from behind his back and, with a warm smile, looked upon that which he would soon present to his beloved filly-friend.

A small black box.