“There she is,” you cheer as Twilight clambers slowly down the stairs, a blanket dragging behind her. “Are you feeling better?”

“Not particularly,” she sniffs. “But I had to get up and do something or I was going to go crazy upstairs.”

“Oh, I’ve seen that enough,” Spike calls from the other side of the library as he shelves books. “Glad you came down before you blew up the castle, Twilight.”

Twilight narrows her eyes and glares across the library at her assistant. “Spike, why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”

Your ear flicks at the amount of edge in her tone, and flicks again as you hear a pile of books slam into the floor and Spike’s feet clomping quickly across the crystal floor on his way to freedom.

Twilight approaches the couch. You scoot over to give her some room, and she plops herself down unceremoniously, letting out a groan as she pulls her blanket tightly against her.

“How’s the paper?” she asks weakly.

“The writing has been coming along smoothly,” you respond optimistically. “I’ve also given some thought about where to submit it. I need just a couple more hours and I think it’ll be ready for you to review!”

Twilight glares stoically forward, snorting once as if to combat her congestion. “Can we date?”

You blink a few times and scrunch up your muzzle. “Wh-what was that, Princess?”

“I think I like you,” she explains raspily, craning her neck so she can face you. “Can we date?”

For a few seconds, all is silent; you can only hear your own heartbeat. Then, out of a sudden compulsion, you speak.

“YES, ABSOLUTELY!” you crow, immediately slapping a hoof over your mouth in embarrassment.

“Heeey, great,” Twilight slurs, settling into a more comfortable position. “That’s good news. You’re smart and cuddling on the train felt...right.”

“...I’d cuddle you now, it’s just-”

Twilight flaps a hoof dismissively at you. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, I’m sick.”

You cock a brow as you watch Twilight stare at the ceiling. “And this is for real? This isn’t some sort of febrile delirium?”

Twilight’s eyes widen suddenly and she blinks a few times before her eyelids droop again. “Uhhh, maybe it’s a little bit of delirium. But, I still mean it. When we get this paper published, I want you to stay in Ponyville. You can teach at the School of Friendship while I help you look for a better job. You’ll be an adjunct professor.” Letting her head flop to the side so she can look at you again, she smiles warmly.

You blink a few more times and smile back. “That sounds like a deal, Your Highness. I-I mean, Twilight.”

“No, ‘Your Highness’ works just fine now that we’re together,” she muses, turning her head to look back up at the ceiling. “Juuuuuuust fine.”

You smile a toothy grin at her silly ponderings before turning your attention back to your manuscript. After completing another paragraph, the magnitude of what had just occurred suddenly dawns on you. Dropping your quill, you whip around to look at Twilight.

She is fast asleep, her ailment causing her to wheeze slightly when she exhales.

You furrow your brow and look back to your paper. “Did I just...win?” you whisper to yourself. “Is this what finding true love feels like?”

You gaze back at Twilight, then toward your paper once more. Then you complete the cycle again. Then again.

“Maybe I need true love’s kiss to find out,” you consider, scratching the underside of your muzzle with a hoof.

That, however, could wait until Twilight was feeling better...and hopefully, no longer contagious.

GOOD ENDING 2

Next Chapter: Chapter 47 Estimated time remaining: 17 Minutes