“Hello?” Twilight entered the bakery, closing the door behind her. “Pinkie?”

Mrs. Cake came out from the kitchen, a few boxes balanced on her back. Given the cart that was loaded outside, and all the catering supplies, they seemed to have a big order going on. “Hi there, Twilight! Pinkie's upstairs with the twins. Thank you for coming by! Pumpkin's really missed you and has looked forward to seeing you!”

Twilight smiled at the earth pony before she used her magic to levitate the boxes into a much bigger one. “No problem, I'm always glad to come and spend some time with Pinkie and the twins. Pumpkin's really been learning a lot with her magic, I noticed.”

“She has a great teacher, no wonder!” Mr. Cake remarked as he came up beside his wife to load the box. “I don't think we could have asked for a better mentor, eh, Cup?”

Mrs. Cake giggled and shook her head. “Not at all, dear. You do a great job at it, Twilight! Thank you.”

“Oh, you're welcome! But I have to thank you all as well for giving me a chance to help teach her!” The unicorn beamed, heading toward the stairs.

“Have a good evening, Twilight! And thank you again!”

“No problem! Have a good evening!”

Twilight waved to the Cakes before she headed upstairs. Sure enough, as she expected, they were in the twins' bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, so she pushed it open with her hoof and peered in. Pinkie was setting up a few board games to play, while Pound Cake was doing some practice flying over his bed and pillows, and Pumpkin Cake was practising levitation. When she made her presence known, the twins and Pinkie looked up, all of them smiling.

“Hiii, Twi-Twi! There you are! Right on time!” Pinkie waved at her.

“Master! Master!” Pumpkin eagerly trotted over to her. “You're here! I'm so happy to-” The filly paused then, taking a sniff as she came closer to Twilight. That was when her light blue eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she raised her head to look up at her. “-you've had sex!”

“Wha?!” Pound was so surprised by this that he fell down onto his bed in mid flight.

The room went quiet then. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Twilight's jaw had dropped practically to the floor, as did Pinkie's, as neither of them could speak a single word. Pumpkin, meanwhile, was staring up at her mentor with shock and curiosity, before a funny look came to her eyes. Twilight had no clue what to make of any of this. How did Pumpkin know? How did Pumpkin even know what sexual intimacy was? Many questions buzzed in her mind, but the shock of Pumpkin's outburst now being known to the other members present in the room was slowly overtaking her.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before a grinning Pinkie bounded over to her.

“Ooooohhh!! You've had sex, Twilight?! I knew it! I knew something was up! My Pinkie Sense made it clear that something big had happened, and it especially felt strong when you came in this morning!” The pink earth pony exclaimed excitedly, making dramatic gestures. “Twi-Twi, this is wonderful! You've become a mare!”

Managing to calm down, Twilight stared at her friend with confusion, “Um, Pinkie... I am a mare.”

“I know that, silly! Physiologically, yes! But now that you've popped your cherry, you really became a mare!” Pinkie giggled, nudging her. “So, tell me! Who's the lucky pony you made sweet love with?”

“Uh...” Twilight bit her lip, unsure. “It's not...something I want to talk about, Pinkie. And please, no parties, either. I don't want this to get around.”

As much as Pinkie looked a bit sad, she nodded and smiled. “I understand. I won't, then. If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you. And I of course Pinkie Promise not to tell anyone! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” She made the familiar gestures for it.

Relieved, the lavender unicorn managed to relax herself a bit more, “Thanks, Pinkie. That means a lot. I just...I need time to think about it, to really take it all in, you know?”

“Okey-dokey-lokie!” Pinkie said amiably, hugging her warmly, and then pulled back. “Now you sit tight, I'll go downstairs and get some treats!”

“Oh, sure,” Twilight managed, watching her friend leave the room.

Pumpkin poked her gently, looking up at her, “Master... It was... with Ascentia... wasn't it?”

It was a wonder Twilight didn't faint right then. Pumpkin not only knew she'd performed coitus acts, but moreover who she shared them with. How was she going to explain this to her now? What was she going to say? Lying wasn't exactly the best idea, nor was it in good taste. But she also wasn't even sure how to confirm the filly's suspicion.

Exhaling, the lavender mare managed to gather her thoughts before she faced her charge.

“Pumpkin...how did you know about all of that?”

“About sex, or about you and Ascentia?”

Twilight bit her lip, then just gave in. “Everything.”

“Well,” Pumpkin dug her hoof into the floor a little bit. “Mommy showed me and Pound-”

“Pound and I,” Twilight corrected.

“Sorry. She showed us a book about foal birth, which also talked about how they're made. Because she wanted us to know the truth and not have us think it was magic or the stork or something,” the filly explained.

That made sense. Twilight could see now that Mrs. Cake wanted her children to be educated about how sex and pregnancy worked so that they would know it better ahead of time. Considering that they were going to be heading to school in the fall, it was likely going to be brought up among their peers. Most especially when they were older. Having “the talk” with your children wasn't easy, but it was a good thing to learn, if for nothing else than being aware of the consequences.

“You're lucky. My parents decided to tell Shining Armor and I that we were born from the stork,” Twilight giggled, shaking her head, “It wasn't until I started studying to get into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns that I discovered biology. I was not thrilled that they lied to me.”

Pumpkin giggled, “I guess Mommy wanted to avoid that with Pound and me.”

“Looks like it,” She said, “Now, how did you know who I'd had sex with?”

“Master... everyone would probably know,” Pumpkin replied.

“What?!” Twilight asked, bewildered.

“The way you and Ascentia interact, and the way she values you above most other ponies,” Pumpkin explained, shrinking down at Twilight's outburst, “The others make jokes about how you two are probably sleeping together. Princess Cadance and Prince Armor suspect you two are actually together.”

Twilight's brain froze for a moment. Not only was she the subject of jokes about her sex life, but they were actually right about her. Was she that obvious?

“I won't lie to you, sweetheart. Yes, Ascentia and I... had gotten intimate, so to speak. For the most part, it was just to experiment, and even...well, it was about sharing it with someone I trusted. That's all.”

“Ohhh...” The orange-yellow filly nodded, looking satisfied. But then she looked up at Twilight with confusion. “Wait. How do two mares do it? ...How did you and Ascentia do it? Don't you need a stallion?”

“Er...” Twilight's face turned bright pink. She hadn't expected that to come up, but given how curious Pumpkin could be, it was no wonder. Now she really had no idea how to explain this, not without going into graphic detail she was sure even Pumpkin would be uncomfortable with. “Pumpkin, it's really not something you'd be comfortable hearing. I understand you're curious, that's perfectly normal. Even I had similar questions when I was first learning more about...well, two ponies of the same gender making love. But it's not something I can get into. However, I will say that you don't need a stallion and a mare in order to make love. If you want to conceive a foal, then yes, you do have to be male and female. But in an overall sense, it doesn't matter what gender you are.”

As expected, Pumpkin pouted childishly, “Oh come on, Twilight! You can't just say something like that and expect me to sit on it with no information! That's like telling me half of a math problem's answer. Just tell me! I can handle it!”

“Pumpkin, I am not giving you instructions on how to have sex with mares,” Twilight said in a final manner, “And I'm certainly not telling you how I had sex with a Goddess. Some things you just figure out on your own.”

This was when Pinkie came back, balancing some bowls on her back, head, and holding a tray in her mouth. Relieved from the subject, Twilight patted the filly's head over her bow and went to help Pinkie out. Yes, she wasn't in the clear just yet, all things considered. But hopefully a better setting and atmosphere would make for an easier discussion about certain topics at hoof.

She just hoped that she would be ready to discuss them.

“Time for scary stories!” Pinkie announced some time later, clapping her hooves. “Let's gather 'round!”

“Oh boy!” Pound said excitedly, placing his pillow on the floor and sitting on it. “I like scary stories!”

“They're lame!” Pumpkin dragged her pillow along the floor, sitting herself in a circle next to her brother.

Twilight chuckled, sitting down next to Pumpkin and Pinkie. “They might not be realistic, sweetheart. That's true. But they're a lot of fun and can really get you going.”

The filly gave a shrug, “I guess so.”

Pinkie took a flashlight, testing it a couple of times to make sure it worked before she turned to the circle. “Okay, now let's begin! Twi-Twi, because you're our guest of honour for the evening, you should go first!”

“Me? Well, okay!” Twilight took the flashlight with her magic, holding it in her hooves. “Lights, please!”

The lights were turned off, Twilight turned on the flashlight, and held it under her face. Pinkie, Pound and Pumpkin all stared at her with wide eyes, anticipating the tale she would tell.

“All right...the story I'm about to tell you guys...is the legend of a creepy pony... A pony so fearful, it's said that not many survived being stalked by him. This pony is known as the Slender Mane.”

“S-Slender Mane?” Pumpkin spoke up. “That sounds like a pony with thin hair!”

“It may sound simple, but there's more to it... Slender Mane is a very ominous mystery,” Twilight said in a low voice just above a whisper, “All that we know is that he wears a suit, appearing to be a pony... But is completely inpony. He's not only monstrously tall, taller than the Princesses, with very long limbs... He's even said to have multiple limbs, kind of like tentacles.”

“Oooohh, that's so scary!” Pinkie said with wide eyes, munching on popcorn.

“Slender Mane also has one distinct element of him. He has no face. No visible facial features. Nothing. No one knows why he has no face. But they say it makes him scarier, more mysterious this way. That you can't attach a face to this creature would only add to how disturbing it is.”

“W-What does he do?” Pound's voice was beginning to tremble.

Twilight smirked, “Nopony knows. Some say he stalks his victims, to the point that they feel anxiety, paranoia, fear, and personality change. Some say he kills them. Others say he eats them. But nopony knows for sure... Some have said he makes them go crazy, and they instead take their own lives to escape it... There are some that say the Slender Mane chooses his victims... Most especially in a psychological link...so he always knows where you are. Some say that he can only be seen by who he chooses. It's all a big mystery...”

“Is...that supposed to be scary?” Pumpkin was clearly trying to mask how scared she was getting.

“Where does he usually lurk?” Pound wanted to know.

“Nopony knows. They say he's been sighted in the Everfree Forest...others say he'd been seen in many areas across the country...even beyond Equestria's borders!” Twilight declared dramatically, raising a hoof up. “Night or day, he comes out! There's no escaping...he's probably everywhere...wherever you go, he'll follow... He could appear at any time, at any-”

A dark shadow fell over them, causing them all to look up. Only to see a tall, shadowed figure standing over them, completely faceless. Pumpkin was the first to scream while Pound wailed and hid under his pillow.

Pinkie screeched before jumping into Twilight's forelegs. “IT'S SLENDER MANE!! EVERYPONY RUN!!!”

Twilight, however shocked, aimed her flashlight at the figure directly. Sure enough, she was right.

“Hello, Ascentia.”

“Hey guys.” Ascentia said, coming more into the light and sitting down with them.

“Hellooooooo!” Pinkie said excitedly, jumping off of Twilight. “Nice to see you, 'centia! That was a good one! Almost as scary as Princess Luna playing Nightmare Moon!”

Pumpkin, having also recovered from being afraid, smiled widely and scampered over to the Val'Kyr. “Hi, Master Ascentia!” She then climbed into her lap, curling up and snuggling against her.

Twilight giggled at the sight, as did Pinkie, who smiled brightly. Ascentia in turn smiled down at the filly before gently stroking her mane.

“Hello there, Pumpkin. It's nice to see you again.”

“You're just in time! We were telling stories!” Pound said excitedly.

“So I heard...” Ascentia cast her gaze to Twilight.

“Lights!” Pinkie said, taking the flashlight and turning it off. “Since it's almost bedtime for you two, we're going to tell one last story!”

“And what story is that?” Twilight asked.

“I had to ask.” Twilight muttered.

Said unicorn was surrounded by a pile of toy building blocks, a plastic tiara on her head, along with a pink, frilly cape around her shoulders. Pinkie, along with Pound and Pumpkin, were now setting up blocks and other such toys for a makeshift town setting.

“All right, so here's the story! You're Princess Twilight Sparkle, and you were kidnapped by an evil Queen!” Pinkie declared. “And you, Ascentia, are the brave and fearless knight set to rescue her!”

Ascentia looked at the plastic toy sword she was given and shrugged. “All right.”

“And I'm the evil Queen!” Pinkie donned a dark purple cape, a plastic crown, and a toy fantasy staff. “What do you think, audience?”

“This is girl stuff!” Pound said, sticking out his tongue.

“It's for babies!” Pumpkin shook her head. “But I definitely have to see this!”

“Then make it so!” Pinkie said, waving her cape dramatically. “Action! Muahahaha! I'm the eeeeevil Queen bent on dominating all of Equestria! And then...THE WORLD!!”

“Um, what am I supposed to do?” Twilight asked.

Breaking character, Pinkie turned to the unicorn. “Beg for help, plead for mercy, and try to convince me not to go through with my evil plans, silly!”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but played along anyway. “Um...oh no, I'm trapped here...someone help me...I'm so scared. Oh please, Evil Queen, don't do this,” she said in complete deadpan. It just wasn't quite the same as when she was a filly and used to play these fairy tale games with her brother and Cadance.

At least Pumpkin and Pound were amused. Even Ascentia was cracking a smile at her delivery.

“Now you, Knight Ascentia, is where you come in to vanquish the evil!” Pinkie said, getting back into character. “Muahahaha! Nothing can save you now, Princess! You're my prisoner forever more!”

“Unhand her, vile beast.” Ascentia spoke in a deadly tone, pointing the plastic sword at Pinkie. “I will give you one warning. Release the Princess, leave this land and never return, and you shall be spared of my knightly wrath. But should you decline, then you will regret it. Immensely.”

Pinkie looked stunned, as did Twilight. Shivers ran up her spine, amazed at how much Ascentia was playing this straight. Pound and Pumpkin looked equally amazed, now watching intently with wide eyes. If there's one thing this creature was good at, it was sounding cool. Twilight made a mental note to ask her to tell the story of Nightmare Moon next Nightmare Night.

Of course, it wasn't long before Pinkie recovered and came back into character. “You speak foolishly, Knight Ascentia! But you shall not overtake me, for I am the Evil Generic Queen of this land! Nothing will stop me in my domination of Equestria! Then, THE WORLD!! Muahahahaha!”

“You said that already.” Twilight deadpanned.

“Silence, prisoner!” Pinkie yelled.

Eyes narrowed, Ascentia growled, “Fine then,” and without another word, thrust the plastic sword against Pinkie, as if stabbing her.

The earth pony stood on two legs, clutching her chest, her toy staff falling to the floor. “You have vanquished me! How dare you!”

Ascentia smirked, “If you had spent more time formulating your plans into action rather than monologuing about them, you could have prevented this.”

Giggling, despite it going against character, Pinkie then dramatically twirled, and fell to the floor. Playing dead. Ascentia pantomimed wiping off the blood from the toy sword, and sheathed it. She then went to the “Princess' Tower”, knocking over a few blocks.

“Princess Twilight, I am the brave Knight Ascentia. I have come to save you from your imprisonment. You need not worry of the Evil Queen any longer,” she said, and bowed.

Amused as she was, Twilight rolled her eyes. “Um, yay. Thank you for saving me, brave knight.”

It didn't stop there, as Ascentia then reached over and picked up Twilight, as if she were a bride. Pinkie, cracking an eye open, began to laugh at the sight. Pumpkin and Pound were holding their hooves over their mouths, trying to stifle their laughter.

Twilight felt weird, yet, oddly comforted. Even if she was being held in a strange kind of manner she'd never had before, outside of her family.

“What are you doing?” She asked, both in and out of character.

“Rescuing you, of course.”

“I can walk myself. Put me down!”

In a strange moment, Ascentia just smiled, stuck out her tongue, and said, “Make me.”

Pinkie burst into hysterics, as did Pumpkin and Pound, to which they were now rolling on the floor. Twilight was just baffled, staring at the woman with a wide-eyed, weirded out look. Despite that it was hilarious to not only see Ascentia playing along with childish games, but also acting childish, it was still kind of weird.

“Oh, all right...take me away from the tower and...to...wherever we have to go.”

“To Canterlot, of course!” Pinkie said between giggles. “Where Princess Twilight belongs!”

Twilight rolled her eyes again, “All right...off to Canterlot, O Brave Knight.”

Stepping away from the blocks, Ascentia took a few steps forward, right over to the makeshift city of Canterlot. There, she placed Twilight down on the chair that was serving as a throne.

“You have been returned to your rightful home, Princess Twilight,” Ascentia said in-character, bowing. “Should there be anything more I can do?”

“Uh...I don't think so...you can, well, go now, if you want...thank you for saving me? I'll give you gold?” Twilight gave a sheepish smile.

“No no no!” Pinkie stepped up, shaking her head. “You're doing it wrong! The Princess takes the Knight and they get married!”

“But, Pinkie, shouldn't they go out to dinner first?”

“Twi-Twi! Stay in-character!”

“Oh, fine.” Twilight rolled her eyes, clearing her throat, “Uh...brave knight, as I am grateful for your heroic deeds across the land, I wish to bestow my hoof upon you in marriage and make you my Princess.”

Pinkie, Pound and Pumpkin all giggled. Ascentia merely nodded and patted Twilight's tiara.

“All right, Princess Twilight. As you wish.”

“Good! Now it's time for the big wedding of the century!” Pinkie announced, doning herself in fancy robes and a pair of plastic lens glasses. “Gather 'round, everypony!”

Pumpkin looked over to her twin, then then back at their aunt/big sister figure. “Um...we're the only ones here.”

“Sillies, you just pretend! Now, 'centia, you kneel over there! You're the groom! Twi-Twi, since you're the bride, you stand over there!” Pinkie said, pointing to these directions.

Ascentia did so, kneeling down on the floor. Twilight walked over to the nearby wall, as if ready to walk down the aisle. Pinkie set up, holding a book in her hooves, right along a makeshift altar.

“Dum dum de dum, dum dum de dum...” Pinkie hummed the traditional wedding march. “No, that's too boring! Um...let's try another theme! Hmm.... Dum dum dum dum de dum dum de dum...”

“That sounds sinister.” Twilight remarked.

“You're right, Twi-Twi! Let's just stick to tradition!” She began to hum the traditional tune as an eye-rolling Twilight walked toward them. “Twi-Twi! Smile! It's your wedding day! Brides aren't supposed to look bored!”

Twilight gave a big, toothy grin. “This better?”

“Yes! Proceed!”

The unicorn came up next to her “groom”, and sat on her haunches as Pinkie went to work with the proceedings.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today in matrimonial union of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the brave Knight Ascentia! With a tough journey ahead, may they forever keep their love from going astray! Now then, Princess Twilight, do you-”

“Pinkie, you're forgetting a lot of things, including the vows.” Twilight pointed out.

“Shush!” Pinkie booped her nose.

“But-”

“Shush!”

Rolling her eyes, Twilight remained silent. Ascentia chuckled as she hid a smile behind her hand.

“Now then, before I was interrupted... Princess Twilight, do you take this woman to be your wife? Forever and ever and ever and ever?” Pinkie grinned.

Sighing, Twilight nodded. “I do.”

“Do you, brave Knight Ascentia, take the Princess to be your wife? Forever and ever and ever and ever?”

“I do.” Ascentia shrugged lightly, nodding.

“Great! Then I pronounce you two wife and wife! Mrs. And Mrs. Sparkle! ...Or Mrs. And Mrs. Kortai??? I don't know! Mrs. And Mrs. Whatever! Kiss the bride!” Pinkie closed her book, grinning.

“All right.” Ascentia kissed Twilight's cheek.

“What was that? What is she, your grandmother? No! This is how you kiss!” Pinkie trotted over to the unicorn, took her face in her hooves, and kissed her tenderly.

“Mm?!” Twilight's eyes went wide, her cheeks turning bright pink. Her entire form was frozen, even her legs refused to work. A shiver coursed up her spine as she felt the soft, tender lips of her friend along her own. They tasted like candy and some kind of baked good she couldn't place.

“Whoa!” The twins both said in unison, wide-eyed.

Pinkie pulled away after a few moments, giggling. “There we go! But nonetheless, you guys are married now! Hooray! It's party time! And by party time, I mean bedtime!”

“Aw, come on!” Pound complained, pouting. “We're not tired!”

“Yeah, this is too fun!” Pumpkin crossed her forelegs.

“No.” Pinkie said firmly. “It's late and past your bedtime, you two. We let you stay up so we could have silly fun like this, but now, it's time to go to sleep.”

The twins continued to grumble, but were now getting up and heading over to their respective beds. Pinkie tucked in Pound, while Twilight tended to Pumpkin.

“Thanks for coming again, Master Twilight, Master Ascentia...” Pumpkin yawned a bit, smiling. “Tonight was so fun.”

Twilight smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “I'm glad you had fun, sweetheart. I'll see you soon.”

“Goodnight, Pumpkin. It was lovely to see you, too. Be a good girl.” Ascentia gently stroked the filly's mane.

“G'night...” Pumpkin yawned, smiling sleepily as she settled into her bed.

“Hey! What about me?” Pound pouted.

Laughing, Twilight went over and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight to you too, Pound. Don't think I forgot you.”

“Nor did I.” Ascentia conquered, gently tapping his nose and then ruffling his hair. “Goodnight, Pound.”

“Night, Twilight, Ascentia, Aunt Pinkie...” Pound yawned, rolling over.

“Goodnight, you sillies! C'mon ladies, we'd best let them sleep!” Pinkie whispered, turning out the light.

Twilight followed Pinkie out the door, as did Ascentia, then the door to the twins' room was closed for the night. They went back downstairs, where Pinkie bid them farewell as she went to do some last minute cleaning in the kitchen before the Cakes would come home. The two left, heading out into night.

Most of the walk back to the library was fairly quiet, what with neither of them having much to say. Or at least, that's what Twilight was assuming. She wasn't even sure what to say at this moment. The elephant in the room was poking her, but she tried to ignore it.

“That was quite fun,” Ascentia remarked, interrupting her train of thought, “I had not done such a thing in a long time.”

Twilight smiled a bit, glad for this being a good topic to go on, “Me neither. I used to play those kinds of fantasy roleplaying games with my brother and foalsitter when I was a filly. I used to always play the damsel Princess, Shining Armor would be the brave knight, and Cadance would be the evildoer... Sometimes we switch places, it was a lot of fun.”

“I'm sure it was,” the woman said, glancing down at her, “You sure seemed reluctant to play.”

“Oh...well, I guess I felt kind of silly. Especially since you were there to see it.”

Ascentia shook her head, “You don't have to be embarrassed, Twilight. It was silly fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. Not even at your age.”

“I guess there isn't. But where I come from, if you're not ladylike at a certain age and partake in childish activies, you're pretty much shunned,” Twilight sighed. “I kind of got used to that attitude at first.”

“What a shame. Embracing childish enjoyment is a good thing.”

“Yeah, I've realized that ever since I first came here to Ponyville.”

The two fell silent once again, but this time it didn't feel as awkward as before. Twilight exhaled, looking up to the star-studded sky for a few moments. The questions from earlier that day still remained. What was going to happen now? She knew she couldn't avoid the subject forever, but she just didn't know what more she could say about it.

“You've been uneasy today, Twilight. It's because of last night, isn't it?” Ascentia spoke up, breaking the silence once more. Given her tone, it was more of a statement than a question.

Sighing, the unicorn gave a little nod. “I'm just...not sure what to do about it.”

“You don't have to do anything, Twilight. Nothing you don't want to do.”

Twilight looked up at her companion for a brief second, then up ahead again. “I know. I guess, well, since I never really did this before, I don't know how to proceed or how it all works. But, well, you know, for what it's worth... I don't regret it.”

The Val'Kyr smiled. “I know. I don't, either.”

A sense of ease overcame the lavender pony, most especially since they had now just come up to the library. Twilight opened the door and went inside, to which Ascentia followed.

“Do you...want to stay here, tonight?”

“If you wish for me to.”

“I'm asking if you yourself want to.”

“I do want to. But it's up to you.”

Twiligh rolled her eyes, “Give me a straight answer!”

Ascentia chuckled, “All right. Yes, I would. I'll keep watch for the night.”

“Okay.” Twilight placed her forelegs on the woman's shoulders and nuzzled her face. “...Ascentia?”

“Yes, Twilight?”

“...Can I kiss you again?”

Ruffling her mane, the woman nodded. “You don't need to ask.”

The unicorn stuck her tongue out, and then pulled it back in as she leaned in to touch their lips in a kiss. Twilight trembled lightly at the feeling, relaxing more into it. Her hooves ran along the long, dark red tresses, feeling its softness, while at the same time, coarse and rough. It was an odd sensation to feel in someone's hair, and once Twilight felt Rarity would find absolutely nightmarish. She made a mental note to bring Ascentia there tomorrow.

A warm feeling overcame the studious mare, a feeling of comfort and safety. It felt so nice to be close together like this. As if it were perfectly natural.

'Maybe...maybe we can work this out... Maybe we can...be friends with benefits...' Twilight thought, as she further melted into the kiss, moaning softly when Ascentia brushed her lips with her tongue. Pulling back, she smiled at her, “Come upstairs.”

A loud squeak, muffled by the library walls, caught the attention of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy as they drifted overhead.

“Did you hear that?” Rainbow asked, looking down at the tree that her friend lived in.

“What?” Fluttershy asked, following her gaze.

“It sounded like... OH!” Rainbow laughed, elbowing Fluttershy in the side playfully, “I think Twilight has someone over.”

“I don't get it,” Fluttershy asked, “Why is that funny?”

Rainbow zipped a circle around her, “I mean she has someone OVER over.”

“Oh... my...” Fluttershy whispered, realization catching her in an instant.

“I wonder who she's got in there,” Rainbow pondered out loud, before flying down to the second story balcony.

“Rainbow, wait!” Fluttershy called out, flying down toward her, “We shouldn't peek on her!”

“Why not? I gotta see this!” Rainbow whispered to her. There was also the matter that Twilight had peeked in on her, but she didn't tell Fluttershy that.

Fluttershy surrendered, but returned to the sky. Even if Rainbow wouldn't respect Twilight's privacy, she still would. However, Rainbow returned five minutes later, wide eyed but otherwise expressionless.

“What happened?” she asked.

“You were right,” Rainbow whispered, “I shouldn't have peeked. Let's never speak of this again.”

Author's Notes:

This chapter was definitely fun to do. :D Most especially the story parts, they were just so silly. The ending bit, I didn't actually add that. Bhaal did, and it was just too hilarious. Poor Dashie... See you all next time!

And yeah, I know the twins are older in this, but it kind of worked out better that way. Plus, this story was in development hell since before the season three finale, so do forgive me. XP