Day and night, an eternal cycle that shall take place so long as the princesses retain their power over the celestial bodies. If fiascoes of an omnipotent nature do not happen to occur the dance of the moon and the sun will continue despite how much any certain pony would want a darker tan or a longer party.

Beneath a waning moon Twilight Sparkle and Spike had walked to their home, side by side, mist rising into the cool air from the heat of their warm breaths. No words flowed between the two, no threads of conversation, even as they climbed the stairs to their bedroom. Although Spike could have sworn Twilight kept stealing glances at him as he removed his clothes. Whatever reason Twilight kept blushing and turning away after each stolen sight was completely lost on the dragon.

'Must just be Twilight being Twilight, it's not like she hasn't seen me without clothes before. I'm not wearing anything, like, all the time. For that matter I don't think anypony ever is.' Spike thought to himself, making light attempts to wrap his mind around why Twilight would blush about seeing him take off a simple coat. He turned to face her, ready to raise the question when he caught the sight of Twilight's dress rising over the crests of her back hooves and dragging over her flank. The smoke that puffed from his nostrils and the feeling of a thousand butterflies forced Spike to turn on his heels and focus on unbuttoning his shirt. 'Question answered!' His thoughts flew forward as he desperately attempted to dispel the small clouds of soot that hung in the air.

Spike had sighed in resignation once he had finally gotten the constricting albescent cloth off of his body. He stared at the shirt draped over his claws, trying to let his mind focus on any anchor point he could find for himself when Twilight planted a kiss just below one of his ear frills. Spike's body jolted into the air a few inches, sending the shirt into the air before it sank back onto his head, the sight was too much for Twilight to withhold a chuckle. Spike looked up with a sarcastic smile and she responded with a subtle grin. "I had fun, Spike", she said, brushing the shirt off of his head.

Spike shrugged and closed his eyes, blushing beneath the sincerity. "Yeah", he chuckled nervously, "me too, Twilight."

Twilight turned away from her assistant, making headway towards her bed the same way Spike made for his. As the two were pulled beneath the caress of their blankets their thoughts were aflame.

Twilight riding the giddy thunderstorm of excitement she used to feel when she would perfect spells substantially above her level of abilities and Spike perennially questioning himself.

The night had ended with he and Twilight kissing and Spike had done more than Twilight would have. They had gone on a date, no matter how he looked at it their night out was irrefutably a date. However, at this point he just didn't mind. It wasn't the old normal, but for whatever reason he could come to accept this.

He and Twilight Sparkle had gone on a date. They cried together. They kissed and Spike was somehow not the surprised one in the end. Before he drifted into a tranquil sleep, Spike muttered, "I forgive you, Twilight."

After a dreamless hiatus from consciousness, Spike awoke to feel the sun pressing beams of heavenly light into his eyes through the oval window of his bedroom. The morning light cast shadows across the floor and lit up particles of dust that floated about the atmosphere, the juxtaposing sights blending perfectly as only the dancers of nature can. Sounds of Ponyville making its cheerful start into a bright new day seeped through an open window somewhere, giving the room a beautiful life of its own. The scene was an epitome of a perfect morning, a moment of frozen time that nocturnal beings could never hope to appreciate.

Spike personally thought it was rubbish and desired nothing more than five minutes of sleep. However, with a discontented huff, he swung his body out of the basket and stretched his spine out to the fullest length he possibly could. Once he was satisfied with the resounding chorus of pops that emanated from his limbering back Spike reached a claw behind himself and gave his rump a good scratch, completing his morning ritual.

With his routine completed, Spike set out for the kitchen. The responsibility of making breakfast had long ago become a pleasure for him. Sure cooking was considered a bit of a girly activity by the younger colts in town, but there were plenty of reasons Spike could enjoy it. He got wear his favorite apron, he could actually take pleasure in the fact that his claws were always busy with the chore, and the end result was always delicious. The kitchen was practically his inner sanctum, what with Twilight barely having any idea how to cook.

The thought of her somehow lighting a bowl of cereal on fire brought a smile to Spike's muzzle as he reached the library's main room. 'Twilight's great at magic, but she could barely tell a spatula from her horn of the had to.'

Spike, however, was quickly brought out of his musing state by the sounds of aggravated shouting and dishes clattering from the kitchen. After he firmly planted his face in his claw, Spike marched to the kitchen, knowing Twilight was attempting to cook breakfast. Whatever kind of responsibility or hunger took over the unicorn always exasperated Spike. If he ever overslept, which he apparently had, she tried to cook breakfast for the two of them. The results of Twilight's attempts were only rivaled by Rarity's younger sister, how Twilight could stand firm in the eyes of evil and simultaneously falter before frying hay strips Spike would never know.

Spike entered the kitchen to find Twilight standing amidst a pile of pans and ingredients that had no business in Equestria being combined. Twilight only responded to Spike's scrutinizing gaze with an embarrassed smile and nervous laughter. "I was trying to make omelets", she said, rubbing the back of her head.

Spike dropped his crossed arms and took his signature apron off its hook, smiling encouragingly at Twilight. "You didn't even light the stove did you, Twilight?" He asked with a laugh.

The unicorn stared downwards, hiding her embarrassment as Spike walked towards her. "I was only trying to make breakfast", she sighed. Twilight quickly brought her head back to attention when she felt a warm claw rest on her shoulder. The reassuring smile coming from Spike was enough to raise her spirits.

"I know, Twilight, I know." Spike said before placing both claws on his guardians back before giving her a gentle push. However, Spike's movement to clear the area was met with childish resistance.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Twilight asked as she shuffled to her hooves against Spike's shoving.

"Getting you out of the kitchen, Twi, we both know this is my job."

A miniscule argument rose between the two, but eventually Twilight was ejected from the kitchen. As Spike returned to the kitchen, Twilight swallowed her pride and set herself to the tomes lining the shelves of the library. She was steadily becoming engrossed by her favorite section of Modern Spellcasting, a brief essay on the theory of self-levitation, when a knock came from the door. Twilight looked between her book and the door, she quietly hoped the visitor would lose their desire to check out a book so she could continue her studies. Though when the knock came again, slightly more demanding this time around, Twilight exaggeratedly hoisted herself off the floor and made to open up the library.

Atop the small footstep stood a snow white unicorn, levitating a small bag alongside her head. Twilight barely had time to register that it was Rarity before the aforementioned mare took the opportunity to speak. "Twilight, I have come to apologize", Rarity declared, waiting formally for Twilight's response.

Twilight, however, was a bit shocked. Too stunned, in fact, to feel any residual scorn for Rarity's past actions. "You, uh, came to say what now?" Twilight jabbered, mentally kicking herself for not having a better prepared response.

Rarity sighed complacently before repeating herself, "I said I've come to say I'm sorry, darling." The brown bag made its way into an instinctive grasp of Twilight's magic before Rarity continued, "I've even brought these apology muffins to show my sincerity." With that, Rarity bowed slightly before Twilight in wait of a response.

Twilight herself was a bit taken aback, she honestly hadn't expected an apology, even she could admit to herself her actions were a bit harsh. "Rarity", she said a bit dazedly, "it's alright, I accept your apology."

Rarity's face shot up into a smile, satisfied with her forgiveness. "Truly, darling, you forgive me?" She cried a tad bit melodramatically.

"Rarity, of course I forgive you. In fact, I owe you an apology as well", twilight said, humbling herself as well. "What I did was cruel and unwarranted. I shouldn't have acted so irrationally." Twilight bowed her head ever so slightly only to have it lifted by Rarity's dainty hoof.

"Come now, darling, you were acting only to protect Spike. I would have done the same had I been in your shoes."

"I'm not sure, Rarity, I would have expected a roundhouse kick rather than forced teleportation from you", Twilight quipped mischievously.

"Oh hush, you", Rarity jibed with a smile as she bopped Twilight lightly on the snout. The resounding laughter that echoed between the two seemingly repaired the gap between them that had so recently formed. as the two stepped inside the library to continue their conversation. The two shared the designated apology muffins, speaking to each other calmly about recent events. Rarity was about to bring up what she had done with Spike, and his mentioning of Twilight prior to his fainting when an excited voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Twilight!" Spike shouted as he swung outwards from the kitchen, apron hung over his shoulder and a tray of small omelets resting in his claws. His gaze brought him to see Rarity sitting across from Twilight before he became slightly nervous. "Uh, Rarity, hey there", he said meekly, flushing a bit at the sight of her.

Without hesitation, Rarity's eyes shone before she turned to Twilight. "Darling, that reminds me, I need to apologize to Spike as well. Personally, if you don't mind."

Twilight felt a bit wary at her idea, but rescinded her worry to try and accommodate her friend. After all, things were the way they should be now, what could go wrong? "Um, sure, Rarity. Would you like me to leave the room or something?" Twilight asked as politely as possible.

"Actually, dear", Rarity replied, "I was hoping Spike would engage in a leisurely stroll with me. We do have a lot to talk about after all." At the end of her statement Rarity flashed a smile over to Spike, wanting to make the dragon feel comfortable with her.

The two mares stared at Spike as he contemplated his answer. He was nervous, but he had full right to be. Rarity knew how he had felt and then she had kissed him, aside from that he hadn't had any recent contact with her whatsoever. Spike glanced at Twilight, a sensation in his stomach telling him to stay in the library; however, the more he looked into her sapphire eyes he couldn't help but agree. "Sure, I'll go", he said confidently, making Rarity giggle a bit. Her laughter made him all the more nervous so, rather than blushing in front of the mares he cared more about in the world, he ran outside shouting, "I'll meet you outside, Rarity!"

Rarity turned to Twilight and smiled. "Well", she hummed, "I shall take my leave of you, darling. I'll be sure to have him home coherent this time."

As Rarity trotted towards the door Twilight called after her. "Just don't steal him away from me while you're gone, Rarity." Twilight couldn't help her instinct to put a threatening breath into her joke, even knowing it was rude to judge her friend after she had accepted her apology.

At hearing Twilight, Rarity turned around smiling with her snout slightly in the air. "It's not stealing if he comes willingly, Twilight", she quipped before exiting the library. The quiet slam of the oaken door and Rarity's jab filled Twilight with a sense of worry. However, when she ran to the window, Twilight saw that Spike and rarity had already began to make their way into the streets of Ponyville.

Twilight stepped back towards her book with a sigh of resignation, hoping she was fretting over nothing like usual.

The two shared their own section of a pathway leading into the central park of Ponyville, passing small talk around as they trotted along. Spike almost lost sight of Rarity when she made for a bench secluded under a blooming magnolia tree. "This will do", she said, making herself comfortable as Spike watched stoically before she patted her hoof in the space nearest her. "Come now, Spike", she said, beckoning towards him.

Spike sat down beside Rarity, visibly nervous against her calm and cheerful demeanor, trying to predict what would happen to him. "So, uh, what did you want to talk about, Rarity?" He asked, looking up to the pristine mare before him.

"First off", she sighed, "I want to apologize for being so brash. It was very unladylike of me to be so forward." Spike was opening his mouth, ready to reply when Rarity shushed him by pressing the edge of her hoof to his snout. "Let me finish, darling." Spike blushed and closed his mouth, waiting for Rarity to continue.

"I suppose I should explain myself as well, Spike." Before she went on, Rarity glanced tenderly at Spike. All of his attention was on her, making him resemble a knight waiting for orders. Just the thought made Rarity's cheeks feel a tad hot before she turned to stare out into the park. "Spike, when I heard your confession I was plagued by a flurry of emotion. I won't lie that I had possessed the previous notion that you were infatuated with me, but I wasn't expecting to overhear a confession of outright love. Honestly, darling, something so mature and romantic can really knock a mare off her hooves." She smiled, letting her right fore hoof stroke across Spike's shoulder. "The whole experience made me, oh. How should I put this?" She questioned, searching for the proper answer to her rhetorical question. "It nearly made me go through a mental breakdown, Spike", she said laughing. Her sudden happiness made Spike smile and laugh along with her.

"Sorry about that", Spike chuckled, "you kind of weren't supposed to hear me."

"Oh, Spike, what's a confession without the mare you so desire hearing you?" Rarity questioned, a flirtatious smile playing across her lips.

"Hopeless?" Spike jokingly asked, returning the smile. Earning him a light knock atop his head.

"Goodness, darling, spare me some of your charm or I'll literally fall head over hooves for you", Rarity chuckled, not noticing the nervous expression that took over Spike.

'Fall for me?'

"Spike", Rarity called, "to be honest I'm not sure if that's true."

"Huh?" Spike looked back towards her. Noting the distant smile on her face as he followed her eyes into the winding paths of the park.

"Spike", Rarity sighed, "I'm not so sure I can fall anymore. I don't see how I didn't before. Within the week of meeting me you became my willing assistant any time I called on you, for that matter, you eventually became my hero."

"Rarity", Spike stammered, "I'm not all that. Honest!"

Rarity turned to face him, giving his cheek a stroke, paying particular attention to the frill of his ear. She smiled at how his body shook under her ministrations. 'My dear Spikey-Wikey must be ticklish. How could I afford to not know this?' "Stop being so modest, darling", Rarity cooed, "you're practically a knight in shining armor. What stallion would fight canines ten times his size alone to save a mare, hm?" Spike started to stutter, but Rarity interrupted him. "What colt wouldn't stop trying to please a girl who made him take out her trash and stuck needles in his rump?"

Before Spike could react, Rarity had shifted herself and had pulled Spike into her embrace. He lay atop her, muzzle resting in the crook of her neck as she continued humming directly into his ear frill. "Could anypony else say that they literally conquered the monster that lay in their heart at the memory of the one they love?"

"Rarity", Spike whispered, muffled by Rarity's coat.

She cut him off by biting his frill gently with a giggle, pulling him closer as his body rocked with flustered laughter.

"Rarity!" Spike yelped between fits of laughter. "What the hay are you doing?!"

The alabaster unicorn laughed as she flipped the two so that she lay on top of Spike, careful not to crush him. Between her giggles, Rarity tried to speak to the dragon beneath her. "I know, I know, should have asked shouldn't I?" She inquired with a smile, leaning dangerously close to Spike.

Spike turned slightly away from her, stealing glances back at her as a deep blush took over his cheeks. "Well", he stammered, "I didn't mind, but a little warning would be nice next time."

Rarity smiled down at him, leaning forward to nuzzle his warmed cheeks. "You know, Spike", she whispered, "if you were to confess directly to me I would be able to tell you how I felt."

At that Spike's eyes shot open and the tumult in his stomach returned. he thought of Twilight, of Rarity, of himself. Memories of the previous night flew into his mind, filling him with a faint warmth, but he couldn't deny the love that had stayed with him for so long. All of the uncertainties weighed down on Spike; Twilight's feelings for him, his torch that still smoldered for Rarity and her throwing a wrench into his gears. he didn't repeat himself and pass out, however, Spike ignored the swarm of butterflies in his stomach and began to speak. His voice was quiet, almost blending in with the breeze that ran through the white flowers and green leaves of the tree. Yet it was noticeable enough for the pair sharing the bench in the center of the park.

In the same way Spike latched onto the sense of rightness that he felt under the moon with twilight, he latched on to the burning flame that had stayed in his heart since his arrival in his new hometown.

"Rarity, I love you."

For a moment, Spike couldn't hear anything aside from the sounds of autumn. The break quickly ended before he heard Rarity's voice, just as gentle and scared as his had been.

"I love you as well, Spike", she whispered, placing a tender kiss on his cheek. Her lips trailed up, brushing slightly against his scales before they found their purpose against the corner of his mouth.

Rarity didn't press herself into the kiss, nor did Spike. the two only lay together, pressing kiss after kiss upon the others lips.

With each kiss, each sensation of long delayed success and elation, there was also a sinking feeling in Spike's heart.

Two mares chased after him and both had caught him, all because he had let them. he went with their wishes, never able to make his own decision. The love for Twilight burned beneath the love for Rarity, filling Spike with a half ignored dread.

Above the spectacle that played out in the park, above Twilight Sparkle worrying over a novel in the library, the sun floated listlessly in the sky.