Chapter 1: Date Night Dilemma
Notes:
I had originally planned on doing this as a colab with the creator of the ship, but our schedules made working together a task in itself. This story is based on "Chaotic Order" by Cartuneslover16 on DeviantART. I didn't like how that story was made, and this is me righting the wrong that story felt. So, a few characters will be mentioned here and there from that story, but this is strictly focused on Mordecai and Twilight's journey as a couple.
Chapter Text
It was just past noon in Ponyville. Inside a small jewelry shop, Mordecai stood over a glass display case, carefully examining each ring. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he weighed his options, taking his time.
Near the entrance, Rigby leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and clearly over it.
He groaned. “Dude, how long does it take to pick out a stupid ring?”
Mordecai didn’t respond, too focused on the shimmering rows in front of him. Rigby groaned louder and threw up his hands.
“This. Sucks.”
They had been in the shop for over thirty minutes, and Rigby's patience was officially dead. Just as he was about to complain again, Mordecai pointed to a particular ring.
He turned to the jeweler. “How much for this one?”
After making the purchase, Mordecai and Rigby climbed into their cart and headed off. The afternoon breeze passed quietly around them, but the mood in the vehicle wasn’t exactly peaceful.
Rigby sat slouched in his seat, arms folded, frowning.
Mordecai glanced at him. “What?”
Rigby shook his head. “You’re turning more and more into a girl every day.”
Mordecai shot him an annoyed look. “How is getting a proposal ring ‘girly’? It just means I’m ready to take the next step—with the right girl. Or… the right pony.”
Rigby scrunched his face. “Yeah, but like... isn’t it too small for her hoof?”
“It’s not for her hoof. It’s for her horn,” Mordecai explained. “Twilight told me her brother and his wife wore rings on their horns when they got married.”
Rigby blinked. “Brother?” A pause, then his eyes widened. “Oh, right! Shining Armor. Totally forgot about him. Wouldn’t he, like, kill you for trying to marry his sister?”
“Nah,” Mordecai said with a shrug. “Shining Armor and I are cool. Twilight’s parents are on board, too. They even gave me their blessing.”
As the cart rolled toward the park, Mordecai let his mind wander back to where it all started—the day he and Twilight first became something more than friends.
FLASHBACK
Hours after the mountain incident, Mordecai, Rigby, and Benson lay in hospital beds. Mordecai and Benson had just come out of surgery for their injuries, while Rigby sat upright in his bed, a cup of ice chips clutched in his paws to soothe the swelling from the poison ivy he'd somehow gotten in his mouth.
Mordecai groaned softly as he stirred awake. The sterile scent, the beep of machines, and the tight brace wrapped around his torso reminded him where he was—and why. His back throbbed with pain, a sharp reminder of their disastrous trip.
He turned his head gingerly and froze.
Twilight was resting her head on the edge of his bed, fast asleep.
“Twilight?” he croaked, voice raspy.
Her ears twitched, and she stirred. When she saw him awake, her face lit up. She smiled and immediately nuzzled the side of his head, gently but affectionately. Mordecai blushed.
She pulled back slightly. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Still dazed, he blinked. “Wha—how did—?”
“Pops came by and told me what happened,” she said, her voice soft. “I was already worried about all three of you, but... when I heard about your injury, I had to come.”
That hit him right in the chest. He wanted to reach out and touch her face, wipe away the tears forming at the corners of her eyes—but the back brace made even a small movement feel impossible. She saw the effort in his eyes and leaned in to nuzzle him again.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.
Twilight smiled again, but concern still lingered in her gaze. “What were you guys doing on that mountain, anyway?”
Mordecai gave a tired chuckle. “Pops wanted Benson to prove he could trust me and Rigby. I guess this was supposed to be our big chance.”
Twilight gave him a look—the blank, unimpressed kind she reserved for things that were predictably dumb. The kind of look that said, Yep. That tracks.
Mordecai laughed weakly. “I know, I know. We screw things up a lot. But not everything we do is on purpose. Still… I guess it took Benson getting blinded by bee stings and us all running from angry mountain spirits in a sacred burial ground for him to finally trust us.”
Twilight blinked. Then she chuckled. “You guys go through the weirdest things.”
“No argument here.”
Without warning, her horn lit up. A soft glow passed over Mordecai, and almost instantly, the pain in his back lessened. He blinked in surprise.
“I didn’t know you knew recovery spells,” he said.
“I read a lot,” she replied with a playful smirk. “I figured I’d learn one or two just in case. But you should still take it easy for a few days—I wouldn’t want you to re-injure yourself.”
He nodded seriously. “Got it.”
As she turned to leave, Mordecai suddenly blurted out, “Twilight—wait.”
She turned back, curious.
“Would you, uh… wanna go on a date sometime?”
He didn’t know where the nerve came from—maybe it was the drugs, maybe it was the pain, or maybe it was just her being there—but he said it.
Twilight smiled, cheeks pink. “When your back isn’t sore anymore, I’d love to.”
She left the room, and Mordecai let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
From the bed next to him, a voice piped up. “So, you finally asked her out.”
Mordecai turned to see Benson awake, his face still puffy but a little less swollen from the bee stings. He was grinning.
“It’s about time,” Benson added.
Mordecai blinked. “You knew she was here?”
“She’s been sitting there for hours,” Benson said. “She was really worried about you.”
Mordecai glanced at him, then noticed Benson pointing at his own chest.
“She used the healing spell on you too?” Mordecai asked.
“Yeah. She wanted to make sure she had it down, so I volunteered to be her first test subject.”
“What about Rigby?”
Benson shrugged. “Didn’t need it. He’s been working through a bucket of ice chips. He’s fine—just annoyed.”
Mordecai chuckled, eyes drifting back to the door Twilight had just walked through. A date. With Twilight.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
END FLASHBACK
A year had passed since their first date, and Mordecai and Twilight had been inseparable ever since. Whether it was watching movies in the park, having picnics in Equestria, trying out fancy restaurants, dancing under the stars, or reading side-by-side at her place, it didn’t matter what they did—being together was what mattered most.
Mordecai felt lucky. Not just because Twilight was amazing, but because her parents actually liked him. On one visit, they even told him stories from her foalhood—like how she wore a glittery princess gown on her first day studying under Princess Celestia. Twilight had groaned in embarrassment, but Mordecai had just smiled. She was adorable, and those stories only made her more so.
Eventually, it was his turn.
Introducing Twilight to his parents made him way more nervous, especially his mom. His dad was chill, but his mom? She had tapes of his childhood. All his awkward years. And she had compiled them into one humiliating highlight reel she called “Mordy Moments.”
Still, Mordecai figured it was only fair. Twilight had let him in on her childhood stories, even the embarrassing ones. If she could survive hearing about her tiara-wearing days, he could stomach the footage of him failing at his first bike ride or trying to sing to a stuffed bear.
To his surprise, his parents adored Twilight. His mom was especially taken with her, praised her for being smart, sweet, and respectful.
And then she’d added, “Plus, she’s a real cutie.”
Twilight had blushed. Mordecai had blushed harder. And the worst part? His mom was totally right.
Later that day, after dinner and a few too many "Mordy Moments," his mom winked at him and said, “She’s a real keeper, Mordecai.”
He chuckled awkwardly. “Thanks, Mom. I’m glad you and Dad like her.”
“Oh, we more than like her,” she said. “Just let me know when the wedding’s happening.”
Both Mordecai and Twilight flushed deep red.
At the time, neither of them had said anything about marriage.
Well—maybe one of them had been thinking about it.
Three days had passed since Mordecai bought the ring, and he was finally feeling confident enough to pop the question. He climbed into the kart, opened the glove compartment, and gently placed the ring box inside.
He had everything planned—well, almost everything.
There was still one big problem: he and Rigby were still banned from Carrey O’Key’s Karaoke.
And unfortunately, Twilight had brought it up on their last date.
They had just finished watching a movie at the park—something they loved doing together. Sure, they enjoyed dinners out, quiet reading nights, or exploring Equestria, but nothing beat movies under the stars.
This one had been a musical. Mordecai caught Twilight humming along, even softly singing a few lyrics. He’d joined in too, tapping his foot and half-dancing in his seat. It was cheesy and fun—exactly their kind of night.
As the credits rolled, Twilight turned to him.
“Hey, Mordecai,” she said, “didn’t you once mention a karaoke place in town?”
Caught off guard, he blinked. “Uh... yeah. Carrey O’Key’s Karaoke. It’s a pretty cool place.”
She looked into his eyes. “Can we go there on our next date?”
His stomach dropped. He hadn’t told her about the ban. He and Rigby had... well... caused a bit of chaos there. The fight over the videotape hadn’t exactly ended well. And if the Park crew had seen what was on that tape...
He swallowed and nodded before he could stop himself. “Sure... sounds fun.”
Twilight smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Awesome. I’ll see you next weekend!” And with a pop of magic, she teleported out the window.
As the last sparkles faded, Mordecai groaned and buried his face in his hands.
“What did I just do?”
A voice came from the doorway. “You just promised a date at the place you're still banned from.”
Mordecai looked up. Rigby was standing there, arms folded, wearing the smuggest grin imaginable.
“So…” Rigby said. “How are you gonna fix this?”
Chapter 2: Love in the Spotlight
Summary:
In this heartfelt and surprisingly comedic chapter, Mordecai finds himself navigating both legal drama and emotional uncertainty as he prepares for a special night with Twilight. A karaoke date becomes far more than just music and lights—it’s a test of character, trust, and love. As plans unfold and voices rise, Mordecai and Twilight come face-to-face with memories, revelations, and a spotlight that reveals more than just talent.
Expect banter, bold moves, and a performance that might just steal more than the show.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The next day, Mordecai called up Rocky. The two had gotten close over the past year, mostly from how often they hung out with Twilight. She always had good advice—and wasn’t afraid to call him out.
He told her about the upcoming date and how Twilight wanted to go to a karaoke bar.
Rocky was all for it—until he mentioned the catch.
“I’m still banned from the only karaoke bar in town.”
There was a pause on the line.
“Why’d you get banned?” Rocky asked. “Did you start a fight? Burn the place down?”
Mordecai groaned. “No! None of that. Well… the fight happened after I got banned.”
Rocky perked up. “Ooooh, details?”
“Not happening,” he cut in. “Rigby and I tried to get a videotape back from the owner. Long story. I’m not telling you what was on it.”
Rocky huffed. “Aww, come on! That’s no fun.”
She let it go, for now.
“Okay, so why wouldn’t the guy give you the tape back?” she asked.
“He said he wanted to keep it as a promotional thing for the bar.”
Rocky was quiet for a moment. “Did he make you sign a video release form?”
Mordecai blinked. “No. Why?”
“Because,” she said, “by law, anyone using footage of people for promo has to have a signed release—especially if you two are the focus. If there’s no paperwork, he had no right to use it. Let alone ban you for trying to get it back.”
Mordecai paused, thinking it over. “We destroyed both tapes. Ours and his. And he never asked again after that.”
Rocky sounded surprised. “That’s it? Then you’ve got a case. No paperwork, no footage, and no legal ground for a ban. You could threaten a lawsuit and walk right back in there.”
The realization hit Mordecai like a ton of bricks.
“You’re right!” he said. “Rocky, that’s genius. I’ve gotta make a call!”
“Anytime,” Rocky said, grinning into the phone. “And good luck with the date.”
They hung up, and Mordecai immediately grabbed the phone book. His fingers flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for.
Time to call a lawyer.
Mordecai arrived at Carrey O’Key’s Karaoke alone. The building looked the same, gaudy lights, neon sign, faint echo of a terrible cover song inside.
Carrey himself stood outside, arms folded. When he spotted Mordecai approaching, he narrowed his eyes.
Mordecai didn’t flinch. He had a plan.
He stopped a few feet away and said evenly, “Carrey O’Key.”
Carrey grunted. “What do you want?”
Mordecai rolled his eyes. “Nice to see you, too. Business treating you okay?”
“Just dandy. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve got plans with my girlfriend this week,” Mordecai said, folding his arms. “She wants to come here. For karaoke.”
Carrey chuckled coldly. “A date? How sweet. But there’s just one problem—you and your friend are still banned from my place.”
Mordecai shrugged, unfazed. “On what grounds?”
Carrey threw his arms up. “Let’s see, how about stealing my tape? Or starting a fight on my property? I should’ve sued you for all the damages you’ve caused.”
Mordecai took a deep breath, staying calm. “None of that would’ve happened if you’d just given us the tape.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Carrey snapped. “You gave me permission to use the video. Ban still stands.”
Mordecai sighed. “Didn’t want to do this… but you leave me no choice.” He turned and called out, “Okay, lawyer dude, you can come out now.”
From behind a nearby tree, a thin man in a wrinkled blue suit stepped into view, adjusting his tie with exaggerated flair.
“Hello,” he said, “Lionel Hutz, semi-retired attorney at law.”
Carrey blinked. “Wait—Lionel Hutz? The incompetent guy from Springfield?”
“Formerly incompetent,” Hutz said confidently. “These days, I know my way around a courtroom. Mostly.”
Carrey crossed his arms, skeptical.
Hutz cleared his throat. “My client, Mordecai, has explained the situation to me, and frankly, your ban is... legally flimsy. He asked for a video you recorded of him and his friend. You refused to return it.”
Carrey cut in. “They gave me verbal permission! I have them on tape!”
Hutz smiled. “Perfect. May I see this tape?”
Carrey blinked. “What?”
“You claimed they gave consent on video,” Hutz repeated. “So—let’s see the tape.”
Carrey started to sweat. “Well... I don’t exactly have it anymore.”
Hutz turned to Mordecai. “Do you have a copy?”
“Nope. Ours was destroyed. Accident at home.” Mordecai didn’t elaborate. No need to mention Rigby breaking it in half over his leg.
Hutz turned back to Carrey. “So... both copies are gone. Interesting. Were there any others?”
Mordecai shook his head. Carrey remained silent.
“And did you have them sign a video release form?”
Carrey’s eyes darted away. “...No.”
Hutz beamed. “No tape. No paperwork. That makes this the easiest case I’ve ever had.”
He stepped forward dramatically. “Mr. O’Key, we could take this to court. You’d lose. Miserably. I’d see to it that your business gets shut down, and you’d never work in karaoke again. Or…”
He leaned in.
“You could lift the ban. No lawsuit. No scandal. No awkward depositions where you cry in front of a judge. Just... let it go.”
Carrey glared at Mordecai, grinding his teeth. But he knew he was trapped.
He exhaled sharply. “Fine. Mordecai… you and your friend are no longer banned.”
Mordecai exhaled, relieved.
Carrey muttered, “As an apology... You can sing whatever you want. Free of charge. For a year.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and stomped back inside.
Hutz watched him go, then let out a long breath. “Whew. I didn’t think he’d take my threat so seriously.”
Mordecai raised an eyebrow. “Wait—you thought he’d call the bluff?”
“Oh, no,” Hutz said. “Legally, you were solid. I just haven’t been on the winning side of anything in a long time.”
Mordecai laughed and extended a hand. “Thanks again. What do I owe you?”
Hutz waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll bill you later. Just go propose to your mare friend.”
Mordecai grinned. “I will.”
After a week of anticipation, the night had finally arrived.
Mordecai had told himself over and over that he was ready—but now, standing outside Twilight’s treehouse, ring in the glove compartment and nerves in his chest, he wasn’t so sure.
He knocked and waited, trying to steady his breath.
The door creaked open, and instead of Twilight, he was greeted by a familiar little face.
“Hey, Mordecai,” said Spike.
“Hey, dude,” Mordecai said, bumping fists with the baby dragon as he stepped inside. “How’ve you been?”
“Not bad,” Spike said, closing the door behind him. “Twilight’ll be down in a minute—she wants to look good for you.”
Mordecai smiled, his heart skipping a beat. “No rush.”
Trying to fill the silence, Spike added, “Twilight and I visited her parents a couple of days ago.”
“Yeah? How’d that go?”
“Pretty good,” Spike said with a shrug. “It’s always nice seeing them... but they pulled me aside to talk. Big topic.”
Mordecai’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had a feeling.
Spike leaned in and whispered, “Is it true? You’re planning to propose?”
Mordecai’s eyes darted around the room—just in case. Then he whispered back, “Yeah. I’ve got the ring and everything. You didn’t tell her, did you?”
“Of course not!” Spike said, offended at the idea. “Her parents told me not to breathe a word to her or her friends.”
Mordecai exhaled in relief. “Thanks, Spike.”
“No problem,” Spike said, smiling. “Honestly? I’m glad it’s you. She’s been so happy this past year. Happier than I’ve ever seen her.”
Before Mordecai could reply, the soft click of a door upstairs caught their attention.
A moment later, Twilight appeared at the top of the stairs.
Mordecai turned toward her and forgot how to blink.
She was wearing the same midnight-blue dress he’d given her years ago. The one that sparkled like starlight. Her violet coat shimmered in the low light, and her mane—pulled into a ponytail and tied with the blue ribbon he’d also given her—moved gently as she stepped down each stair.
That ribbon had meant something back then. It still did now.
When she reached the bottom, Twilight beamed at him and pulled him into a hug.
“I missed you, Mordecai,” she said softly.
His heart fluttered. They’d only been apart a week, but hearing her say it—seeing the love in her eyes—it hit differently tonight.
“I missed you, too, Twi,” he said, holding her close.
“Okay, okay, break it up,” Spike cut in, playfully shoving them toward the door. “Night’s still young—go enjoy it.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Spike flopped onto his bed, grabbed a comic book, and sighed.
“I thought they’d never leave.”
The drive to town was relaxed, filled with easy conversation as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Twilight caught him up on the latest happenings with her friends—how Fluttershy had been working on becoming more assertive. Apparently, Pinkie and Rarity said she’d taken it too far after attending one of Iron Will’s seminars, but thankfully, Fluttershy found her own way to be confident without turning into a bulldozer.
“Oh, and I got a package in the mail yesterday,” Twilight added, eyes lighting up. “Haven’t opened it yet. I’ve been looking forward to tonight too much.”
Mordecai smiled, loving the way her voice carried that little bounce when she was excited. He told her about his own week—how chaotic it was, how much prep he did—
Then he froze.
“Crap,” he muttered under his breath.
He suddenly pressed down on the gas a little harder.
“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, concerned.
“I, uh... just remembered I forgot to... check something.”
When they pulled up to Carrey O’Key’s Karaoke, the lot was packed. A line wrapped around the building. Inside, the lights flashed, the music thumped, and Mordecai’s stomach dropped.
I didn’t make a reservation. She’s gonna think I flaked. Or cheaped out. Or both.
At the entrance stood the same bouncer from last time—tall, burly, and very much someone Mordecai remembered being thrown out by.
As they approached, the bouncer spotted them.
“Mordecai,” he said with a grin. “You finally made it. Carrey’s been expecting you.”
Mordecai blinked. “Wait... he was?”
Then it clicked. Of course, Carrey would roll out the red carpet—he couldn’t afford another run-in. Keeping Mordecai happy was now part of damage control.
The bouncer—Carl, Mordecai remembered—gestured for them to follow. He led them past the line, through the velvet rope, and into one of the VIP booths. Plush seats, a private screen, and sleek menus waited for them.
Twilight smiled and looked around, impressed. “You really went all out for tonight.”
Mordecai, still slightly dazed, chuckled nervously. “Heh. Yeah. No trouble at all.”
He didn’t mention the lawsuit. Or the ban. Or Lionel Hutz.
Twilight opened the menu and flipped through a few pages. Her smile dimmed as she glanced at the song prices.
After a pause, she lowered her menu. “We don’t have to sing if it’s too expensive. I don’t want this to be a burden on you, Mordecai.”
Mordecai looked up, surprised. “Wait, what?”
“I mean... I do want to sing,” Twilight said softly, “but these prices are kind of steep, and you’ve already done so much…”
He stared at her—her genuine concern, her gentle honesty—and felt a pang of guilt.
She deserved the truth.
If he was really going to ask her to marry him... no more secrets.
Mordecai lowered his menu and looked Twilight in the eye.
“Actually… we can sing as much as we want. For free.”
Twilight blinked. “What? Seriously? How’d you pull that off?”
He hesitated. “Well… the truth is, I was banned from here for a while.”
Twilight raised a brow. “What did you do?”
He raised both hands defensively. “It wasn’t exactly what I did. The owner was just being... unfair.”
Her stare told him she wasn’t buying the deflection.
Mordecai sighed. “Okay, okay. Rigby and I came here once and sang ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It.’ We got way too into it... and we kinda trashed the Park workers during the performance. On stage. With a full crowd watching.”
Twilight’s jaw dropped. “Mordecai!”
“I know, I know! It was dumb. We didn’t mean to hurt anyone—we just got caught up in the moment. When we saw the playback, we hated how we came off. So we destroyed the tape. We didn’t want Benson and the others to see it.”
Twilight’s expression softened.
“I get it,” she said. “That sounds like something you’d regret. You care about your friends too much to mean that kind of stuff.”
Mordecai nodded. “Yeah. They’ve become like a second family. But that wasn’t the end of it.”
He leaned forward, elbows on the table.
“They saw the karaoke tape case and got curious. They wanted to check this place out, just for fun. Carrey wouldn’t give us the original tape and banned us on the spot. So we broke in to destroy it... And, yeah, that caused a fight.”
Twilight winced. “Yikes. Okay, that explains it. So, how did you fix all of this?”
“I talked to a lawyer. Turns out, Carrey had no legal grounds to use the video—no release forms, no surviving footage. Once we pointed that out, he dropped the ban and even offered us unlimited songs for a year.”
Twilight lowered her eyes, guilt creeping in. “You went through all that... for me?”
Mordecai reached across the table and took her hoof gently.
“You wanted to come here. That’s all I needed to know.”
Twilight’s eyes shimmered, her cheeks turning rose-pink. “Mordecai…”
He glanced back down at her menu and spotted something that gave him an idea.
“How about we do a duet after I sing a song?”
She tilted her head. “A duet?”
He smiled. “Yeah. Gives you a chance to find something fun, and I’ll start us off.”
He got up, grabbed a request slip, and made his way to the bar where Carrey stood.
“Song number’s right here,” Mordecai said. “Also... thanks for tonight. My girlfriend’s picking our duet now.”
Carrey nodded, silent but respectful.
“Oh—and if you want,” Mordecai added, “you can use this performance for promo. No paperwork needed.”
Carrey blinked, stunned. “Are you serious?”
Mordecai smiled. “Yeah. Twilight’s got a beautiful voice. You’ll see.”
Moments later, Mordecai stepped onto the stage. The spotlight hit, and he waved to the crowd. Microphone in hand, he took a breath.
“This one’s for my girlfriend,” he said. “She means the world to me.”
The music began—slow, dreamy, ethereal.
Mordecai stood under the spotlight, clutching the microphone with both hands. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them… locking onto Twilight.
And then, he began to sing.
“So long… I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long…”
His voice was quiet at first, almost uncertain. But there was weight in every word, like he wasn’t just singing. He was remembering.
Twilight’s ears perked up as the melody floated through the room. She knew the song, but something about the way Mordecai sang it made it feel different. Personal.
“When you love someone… yeah, really love someone…”
Mordecai wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t trying to impress the room. His tone stayed soft, earnest. A little cracked at times, like he was holding back more than just nerves.
And Twilight felt it. All of it.
The awkward missteps. The old scars. The heartbreaks that came before her. And how—despite all of that—he still chose to love again.
“I’ve been waiting for a girl like you… to come into my life…”
Her breath caught.
Every time his eyes flicked toward her—nervous but sure—she could feel what he meant.
By the time the bridge hit, Twilight wasn’t just listening. She was feeling every word.
“There’s nowhere on Earth that I’d rather be… than holding you tenderly…”
She blinked fast, trying not to tear up in public.
And then, like that… the final note faded.
The room exploded in applause, but Twilight barely heard it. Her eyes stayed locked on Mordecai, watching as he stepped down from the stage and walked back to their booth.
He sat across from her, blushing slightly. “Was that... too much?”
Twilight shook her head slowly, her voice soft. “No... it was beautiful.”
He smiled, a little breathless with relief.
Carrey took the mic again, thanking Mordecai for the “incredible performance,” but neither of them was listening now. In that moment, they were in their own quiet spotlight—hearts still echoing the words he had just sung.
Mordecai looked down at his drink, still blushing.
Twilight hadn’t said anything more after “beautiful,” but her gaze hadn’t left him.
Finally, she broke the silence.
“Did you mean every word of that?” she asked softly.
He looked up. “Every single one.”
Twilight leaned in across the booth, her expression warm and just a little overwhelmed.
“I didn’t know how much you were holding in. That song…” Her voice caught for a second. “You sang it like it was written for us.”
Mordecai smiled gently. “It kinda felt like it was.”
She laughed—a quiet, watery sound. “It’s funny. I read about love. Studied friendship. Wrote papers on emotional development in couple dynamics…”
He smirked. “Sounds like something you’d do.”
“But nothing—nothing—prepared me for how it feels to actually be loved like that.”
She reached across the table and took his hand in her hoof.
“And if you hadn’t sung it, I don’t think I ever would’ve known how deeply you felt.”
He squeezed her hoof.
“I didn’t know how else to say it,” he admitted. “But I needed you to know.”
She nodded. “I do.”
With other customers now rotating through songs, Twilight picked up her menu again. She flipped through a few pages, half-focused—until one title caught her eye.
She paused, then smiled.
She remembered one of their movie nights—the two of them curled up together on the couch, popcorn between them, both humming along without realizing it. It had been one of their favorite nights.
Twilight looked up at Mordecai and gave him a quiet, knowing smile.
“I think I’ve got one,” she said.
He nodded. “Yeah?”
She nudged her head toward the stage. “Sing it with me?”
They stepped onto the stage together, and the crowd murmured, recognizing the soft, orchestral opening.
Mordecai’s heart pounded again—but this time, not with fear. This time… he wasn’t alone up there.
Twilight’s voice came first—soft, clear, luminous:
“All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in…”
She glanced at him—just once—and it was like her heart was answering everything he’d just sung.
“Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see…”
He picked up the next line, voice gentler now than it had ever been:
“All at once, everything looks different
Now that I see you…”
They sang together, in perfect harmony:
“And it’s like the sky is new…”
Twilight’s eyes shimmered under the lights, and Mordecai didn’t look at the crowd—not once. He only looked at her.
It was like they weren’t performing.
They were telling their story.
“All those days, chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur…”
Twilight’s voice trembled slightly—but not from fear. From feeling.
“Everything was different
Now that I see you…”
Their voices met in perfect unison.
“Now that I see you…”
The final note lingered, soft as starlight.
Mordecai reached out and gently cupped Twilight’s cheek, his touch tender, steady. She leaned into it instinctively, her eyes shimmering in the stage light.
For a moment, the room was silent. Not out of disinterest, but reverence.
Then, thunderous applause.
But neither of them heard it.
Not really.
Their world had already gone quiet, made smaller and brighter by the look they shared.
Mordecai leaned forward, forehead resting lightly against hers.
And in that stillness, they both understood:
This was their light.
Notes:
Hopefully, these songs will be a new addition to the MordeTwi song library.
Mordecai singing "I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner made the most sense, especially with the emotional journey he's been through.
Mordecai and Twilight's duet is "I See the Light" from Tangled.
I hope you all enjoyed the song choices between them.
Chapter 3: Moonlight and Diamond Rings
Summary:
After enjoying their time at the Karaoke bar, Twilight and Mordecai enjoy a little window shopping before Mordecai suggests they go to his favorite part of the Park. Will he step up in this big moment?
Chapter Text
Mordecai and Twilight lingered at Carrey O’Key’s Karaoke a little longer, enjoying the lingering glow of their duet. The crowd had loved them—cheering, clapping, even calling for an encore. They danced together to a few of the other songs, their laughter light and easy. Twilight’s voice had enchanted the crowd so completely that Carrey asked her to sing the final number of the night. She accepted with a smile, and her solo closed the evening on a magical note.
Later, under the soft hush of night, they wandered through the quiet streets of the City. Shop windows were dark, doors closed for the evening, but the peace between them buzzed with warmth and memory.
Mordecai kept sneaking glances at her. Twilight was peeking into closed shops with that same curious gleam she always had—like every window held a new wonder. Her eyes sparkled, her violet coat still faintly catching the light. She was glowing. And Mordecai felt it all over again—how lucky he was.
As they passed a familiar boutique, a memory nudged him: that time he’d told her she looked like a “Ms. It.” It had been dorky, awkward, and totally sincere.
And looking at her now?
She still was.
His fingers twitched—not in his coat pocket, but as if they wanted to reach for the little box.
But it was still in the glove compartment. Waiting. Like he was.
He swallowed, trying to work moisture back into his throat. “Twilight?”
She turned to him with a soft smile. “Yes, Mordecai?”
He hesitated under her gaze.
“I… uh… I want to show you something. My favorite spot at the park.”
Twilight tilted her head, curious. “Any special reason?”
He gave a small, nervous shrug. “No big reason. I just thought you’d like it.”
She studied him for a second, curious, but trusting.
“I’d love to see it.”
The moon had already risen as they arrived at the lake in the park. The water shimmered silver under its glow.
Unseen by the couple, Muscle Man and Rigby crouched in the bushes nearby, spying with unblinking intensity.
“Remember,” Muscle Man whispered, “the loser of this bet wears a diaper for a whole month.”
Rigby grinned. “Hope you like baby powder, ‘cause nothing’s gonna happen.”
Muscle Man raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, whoa, bro. What makes you so sure?”
“C’mon, man. He couldn’t even get a kiss from Margaret. You think he’s gonna ask Twilight to marry him?”
Muscle Man peeked through the leaves. “I don’t know, bro. Kinda looks like he’s gonna go through with it.”
Rigby’s head snapped up. “WHAT?!”
He pushed aside a branch and sighed in relief. Twilight was laughing at something Mordecai said, leaning against him like it was just another perfect night.
“See?” Rigby muttered. “False alarm.”
Muscle Man snorted. “That was just the warm-up. Get ready, bro. Any minute now.”
“Pfft. Whatever.”
They shifted for a better view, staying hidden.
Back near the lake, Mordecai checked his phone and sighed loudly. “Ugh! Sorry, I gotta take this.”
Twilight blinked. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Rigby saw another scary movie. Probably needs someone to talk him down. Won’t take long.”
He walked toward the golf cart, posture calm, but inside, he was anything but.
In the bushes, Rigby fumed. “I did NOT call him!”
Muscle Man gave a quiet chuckle. “Way to sell it, bro.”
At the cart, Mordecai opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small black box. The ring. He stared at it, heart pounding.
“Do it. Just do it,” he whispered. “You’ve been planning this for months.”
He slid the box into his pocket and took a deep breath.
No turning back now.
Turning back toward the lake, he saw Twilight gazing at the water, her violet coat glowing in the moonlight.
He paused.
Maybe now isn’t a good time...
What do you mean by ‘not a good time’? This is as good as it gets!
He started pacing in a tight circle behind the cart, running through his doubts. In the bushes, Rigby pointed in validation.
“HA! There it is! He’s pulling a Mordecai! Get those diapers ready, Muscle Baby.”
Muscle Man raised a fist, then froze as a sharp slap rang through the air.
Twilight turned, startled.
Mordecai stood tall, hand against his cheek.
“Ugh… mosquito,” he said quickly. “Be right over, just sending one more message.”
Twilight smiled and turned back to the lake.
Mordecai dropped his hand, letting the sting settle him.
You love her. She loves you. Don’t punk out.
He took one more breath and stepped forward.
In the bushes, Muscle Man and Rigby held their breath.
He wasn’t backing down.
The moonlight shimmered on the lake as Twilight admired their reflection on the water’s surface. She turned to Mordecai with a soft smile. He returned it and sat beside her.
Twilight rested her head on his shoulder. “I can see why you like this spot.”
“Yeah,” Mordecai replied. “It’s nice and quiet, and that lake always has the best moon reflection. It helps me think.”
She nuzzled his shoulder gently. “I can tell.”
He hesitated for a moment, then started, “Hey, Twilight… do you remember when we all thought Discord had kidnapped you?”
Twilight’s eyes widened in alarm, and she started to speak—but Mordecai gently placed a finger on her lips.
“No, Twilight,” he said quickly. “I’m not breaking up with you. And this isn’t about anything bad.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she blushed, a little embarrassed. “Oh…”
He lowered his hand. “What I was going to say… is that that moment scared me more than I ever admitted. For all the jokes, I was terrified.”
She tilted her head, giving him space to speak, her expression soft with curiosity.
“I read all those books about Discord,” he said. “About what he was like before being reformed. I kept thinking he’d taken your horn, or cast some awful spell on you, or… something worse.”
He flushed slightly at the last part. Twilight’s eyes widened, not realizing until now how deeply that event had rattled him.
“And I hate to admit this,” Mordecai went on, “but... I was jealous, too. I let that cloud my head, even though I knew better.”
Twilight blinked—memories stirring of her talk with Abjay, teasing that Discord was “dreamy,” and the brief uncertainty that followed. She smiled faintly, recalling how far they’d all come, including Discord.
“I didn’t want to be jealous,” Mordecai continued, “but you meant so much to me already. I knew, even then, that you weren’t just a friend to me.”
His voice softened.
“And now, after everything we’ve been through this past year… I don’t just hope you’ll stay in my life. I need you in it.”
Twilight’s heart was racing. Her eyes shimmered.
Mordecai took her hooves in his hands, and her breath caught.
“No one makes me happier than you, Twilight. And if you’ll let me… I want to spend the rest of my life making you just as happy.”
She was too stunned to speak.
He let go of her hooves, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the small black box.
Twilight gasped, her hoof flying to her mouth. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
Hidden nearby, Muscle Man and Rigby froze—one with giddy triumph, the other with his jaw hanging open in disbelief.
Mordecai knelt on one knee.
“Twilight Sparkle,” he said softly, opening the box to reveal a golden ring topped with a light blue diamond. “Will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down Twilight’s cheeks. Her heart was full to bursting.
She thought of all the moments—when she felt unworthy of love… when she had nearly given up hope… and how Mordecai was the one who lifted her out of that darkness. Every memory, every laugh, every gesture of care led to this moment.
The park. The moonlight. Her best friend, her partner… on one knee before her.
He had always put her first.
He had always seen her for who she was—and never asked her to change.
She wiped at her tears, but they kept falling, glowing under the light of the moon.
She had never felt happier.
From the bushes, Muscle Man silently pumped his stomach in victory. Mordecai had done it—he'd popped the question.
Rigby, however, refused to give in. “Doesn’t mean anything if she says no,” he whispered, arms crossed.
Muscle Man smirked. “One month not enough for you, bro?”
Rigby narrowed his eyes. “Double or nothing. If she says yes, I’ll wear a diaper to the wedding on top of the month.”
They shook on it, eyes locked, and turned their attention back to the couple.
Mordecai’s heart thundered. Twilight still hadn’t said anything. He told himself to stay calm, to give her space, but the silence was stretching on forever.
Then she whispered it.
“…Yes.”
He looked up. Twilight’s eyes overflowed with joyful tears.
“Yes!” she cried, launching herself at him and wrapping him in a hug. “Yes! Yes! I’d love to marry you!”
Mordecai grinned wider than he ever had in his life. He slid the ring onto her horn, hands shaking slightly. It glinted softly in the moonlight, a perfect fit.
Twilight flung her forelegs around his neck, and he lifted her off the ground in a spin. They both laughed, breathless and overwhelmed.
As the spin slowed, they held each other close, foreheads touching.
And then, they kissed.
A soft, sweet kiss—full of emotion, history, and all the things they didn’t need to say aloud anymore.
Back in the bushes, Rigby was frozen in shock. Muscle Man barely kept it together, grinning ear to ear.
When the kiss ended, Mordecai rested his head against hers. Twilight beamed at him—but then her eyes widened with sudden realization.
“Oh my gosh! I have so much planning to do! I need to choose the best mare, plan the catering, find the perfect dress—”
Mordecai gently set her down, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Breathe, Twi,” he said with a laugh. “Let’s figure out a date first. We’ll talk about the rest tomorrow. Tonight’s for us.”
She nodded, a little sheepish. “Right… sorry. You’re right.”
Mordecai swept her into his arms and carried her back to the golf cart. Once inside, the two drove off into the night—engaged, glowing, and happier than ever.
As the sound of the cart faded, Muscle Man exploded with laughter.
“Ohhhhh!!! I told you, bro!! He did it! And she said yes!” He slapped Rigby on the back. “You gotta wear a diaper for a whole month! And at the wedding! Ha-ha-ha! I hope the groom doesn’t mind his best man waddling down the aisle in pampers!”
Rigby didn’t say a word.
He just sat there, stunned.
He’d been wrong. Mordecai had done it.
And Twilight really said yes.
The bet was lost—and sure, the humiliation would come—but in that moment, Rigby didn’t care.
Because deep down… he was happy.
His best friend was getting married.
Chapter 4: From One to Another
Summary:
Love, heartbreak, and destiny collide in this pivotal chapter. As Twilight reflects on how her bond with Mordecai first began to shift from friendship to something deeper, an unexpected turn of events forces them to confront feelings left unspoken. Their connection takes new shape—only for life to throw them both into situations neither could have imagined. Between magical mishaps that upend her friends’ lives and a transformation that changes her own forever, Twilight must rise to a challenge greater than any she’s faced… all while balancing the joy and uncertainty of an engagement that has everyone talking.
Chapter Text
It was early morning at the Golden Oak Library.
Spike was curled up in his bed, snoring softly. Upstairs, Mordecai lay fast asleep in Twilight’s bed, also snoring — a rare sight for anypony who knew them.
Why was Mordecai in Twilight’s bed, you ask? Simple: she hadn’t wanted him to drive home exhausted. After arriving in Ponyville, he practically collapsed. The stress of planning his proposal — and the emotional weight of actually going through with it — had taken its toll.
Twilight, on the other hoof, was wide awake.
She’d tried sleeping, but her excitement refused to let her rest. She sat at her desk, practically vibrating with energy, flipping through a collection of wedding ideas. The fact that she could finally talk about this with her friends made her giddy. Telling them she was engaged? That thought alone made her heart flutter.
Her gaze drifted to the engagement ring sitting delicately on her nightstand. She lifted it with her magic, holding it aloft as a soft, fond smile touched her lips.
“Mordecai, you don’t know how happy you’ve already made me.”
The memory echoed gently in her mind, bringing warmth to her cheeks.
She sank back into her chair, thinking about everything that had brought them to this point, before they had even become a couple.
FLASHBACK
It was the night of the meteor shower. Twilight had set up her telescope on the balcony of the Golden Oak Library, buzzing with excitement over the rare celestial event. She wasn’t with Mordecai, Rigby, Eileen, or Margaret this time — but from Ponyville, she still had a perfect view.
From what she’d heard, this particular shower would come close to the atmosphere, and to her delight, the meteors streaked vividly across the sky, trailing bright ribbons of light. Eileen had been right — they were beautiful. Twilight took careful notes through her telescope, watching intently as they burned through the upper atmosphere like sparks from a divine forge.
When the show finally ended, she gave one last glance at the starlit sky, tucked her notes away, and went to bed smiling.
The next morning, she got a surprise visit.
Mordecai arrived at the library without warning, greeting her with his usual lopsided grin. They took a walk through town, casually chatting, mostly about the meteor shower. But then Mordecai brought up the main event.
“It was weird,” he said. “One minute Margaret and I were watching the shower, and the next… we were trapped in this weird crystal prism thing. Then this meteor guy shows up and calls himself the ‘Guardian of the Friend Zone.’ Said I hadn’t made my move — so we got stuck there.”
Twilight blinked. “A Guardian of the Friend Zone?”
Mordecai chuckled, shrugging. “I didn’t think it was real either. But I figured if that’s what it took, I had to act fast.”
She tilted her head, curious. “So… how’d you get out?”
“I told him — if I had the chance, I’d make my move with Margaret. And when he gave me the green light, I walked over to her… and kissed her.”
Twilight stopped walking.
The words hit her like a miscast spell. Mordecai turned back when he noticed she wasn’t beside him.
“Twilight? You okay?”
She blinked at him, stunned. “You and Margaret… kissed?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, a little sheepish. “Yeah. We’re dating now. Got outta the ‘friend zone.’ Finally.”
Twilight stood frozen for a moment, her mind spinning.
“That’s… that’s—” she faltered, unsure what to say.
Mordecai gave her a puzzled look.
“That’s… great,” she finally said, forcing a smile. “I knew you had it in you.”
His grin returned, and he stepped in to hug her. The gesture made her cheeks warm.
“Thanks, Twilight. Seriously. Everyone else thought I couldn’t do it. But it’s good to know I’ve got a friend like you who believed in me.”
The word friend cut more than she expected.
She returned the hug stiffly, voice softer now.
“Yeah… what are friends for?”
The walk home felt... different.
Twilight kept pace beside Mordecai, nodding along as he talked, her smile practiced and pleasant. But inside, something felt off. For as long as she could remember, she’d known about Mordecai’s crush on Margaret. She even supported it — encouraged it. But now that it had finally happened... it didn’t feel right.
She didn’t want to worry him. So she smiled.
When they reached the Golden Oak Library, she waved goodbye with her usual cheer, shut the door behind her...
...and bolted up the stairs.
Spike, half-drowsing in the main room, blinked in surprise. He quickly followed her.
“Twilight?” he called, padding into the bedroom. “Is everything okay?”
She was sitting on her bed, staring blankly at the wall.
“I... I don’t know, Spike.”
He stepped closer, brows furrowed. “Did Mordecai do something?”
She shook her head. “No, he didn’t do anything to me. He just... told me that he and Margaret are dating now.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “Whoa. He’s dating Margaret?”
Twilight turned to look at him, something sharp in her expression. “You say that like it wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Spike scratched his arm sheepishly. “Well... I mean, you don’t sound all that happy about it.”
Twilight forced a brittle laugh. “Me? Not happy? Come on, Spike, I’ve never been happier for him! He’s had a crush on Margaret for ages — even with all the so-called boyfriends she’s had. He finally made it happen. That’s great, right?”
Spike didn’t answer. He just studied her quietly.
He’d seen it — the way Mordecai and Twilight clicked. So had the rest of their friends. Twilight had always brushed it off, but Spike was beginning to realize something she hadn’t admitted to herself.
He sat down beside her.
“Twilight,” he said gently, “are you... Jealous of Margaret?”
Twilight blinked. Her eye twitched.
“Jealous? Jealous?! Me, jealous? Ha! Why would I be jealous?” She got off the bed and began pacing. “Mordecai’s my friend, Spike. We talk. We connect. I know what he wants out of life. I know his goals. His dreams. Why would I be jealous of some random coffee shop girl?”
She huffed and turned again, her frustration spilling faster.
“Yes, she’s gorgeous. Yes, she works across from him and probably smiles a lot, and he’s told me how beautiful she is a thousand times, but looks aren’t everything! You need substance! A real connection! From what I’ve seen, she doesn’t get him — not like—”
She stopped.
Her voice cracked.
Tears welled in her eyes as the wall broke. “She’s going to break his heart. I know she is. And just thinking about it... It makes me so mad. So mad that he could get hurt. And now—”
Twilight sat down hard, hooves over her face.
“I-I am jealous,” she whispered. “Why do I feel like this? I should be happy for him. I am happy for him... but I’m also not. What kind of friend does that make me?”
Spike stood up and crossed the room to her, placing a claw gently on her shoulder.
“I think,” he said softly, “you just answered your own question.”
She looked up at him, eyes rimmed with tears, her cheeks beginning to flush.
Spike gave her a quiet, reassuring smile.
“I don’t think you and Mordecai are just friends anymore. I think... You fell in love with him somewhere along the way.”
Twilight’s breath hitched.
The idea hadn’t even occurred to her — not clearly, not until now. But hearing it out loud...
It hit harder than she expected.
Spike removed his claw and stood back. “I’ll give you some space.”
With that, he quietly left the room.
Twilight stayed in her room, curled up on the bed, her mind a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite untangle — not yet.
Twilight had spent days mulling over her conversation with Spike. No matter how she tried to frame it, her reaction to Mordecai and Margaret’s relationship spoke volumes — volumes she wasn’t ready to accept.
“No way,” she muttered to herself one morning. “Mordecai is just a friend. I was just being… an overprotective friend. That’s all. Friends look out for each other, and that’s what I was doing.”
She almost believed it.
Until Mordecai showed up.
“Hey, Twilight,” he said with a cheerful smile.
Her heart fluttered. She waved, trying to play it cool, her voice catching in her throat. She invited him inside. No way was she risking anything coming out in public.
They spent the day catching up in her library. Mordecai, as usual, did most of the talking — recounting his latest date with Margaret in vivid detail. Twilight tried to focus, tried to listen, but her thoughts drifted. The way his eyes lit up when he talked. The casual way he sat on her couch, as if he belonged there. All the music, the jokes, the sketches he’d shared with her over the months...
She was seeing him differently.
And she couldn’t stop smiling about it — until she heard him say:
“I’m gonna make things official with Margaret tonight at Steak Me Amadeus.”
Her smile vanished.
Her heart dropped.
Mordecai leaned back, content, completely unaware. “But enough about me. How’ve things been for you?”
Twilight swallowed the lump in her throat. She fought to keep her composure — but it was getting harder to fake a smile.
“I’ve... been all right,” she said carefully. “Actually, one of my friends is going through something personal.”
“Oh yeah?” Mordecai asked, sitting up a little. “What’s going on?”
“Well... she might be falling in love with somepony,” Twilight said, cautiously testing her words. “But the problem is... he’s already dating somepony else.”
Mordecai’s interest deflated. “Yikes. That’s rough.”
“She didn’t know what to do,” Twilight continued. “She asked me for advice, but... I didn’t have an answer. Romance really isn’t my thing.”
Mordecai scratched his neck and said, “Well... if I were you? I’d tell her not to interfere. If that stallion’s happy, she should be happy for him. Even if it hurts. I mean... I’ve been there.”
He trailed off, suddenly thoughtful. His smile faded.
Twilight didn’t press. She was too busy absorbing what he’d said — every word echoing like a quiet punch to the chest.
She knew what he meant. And she knew what she had to do: let go. Even if it hurts.
Silence settled between them. Each lost in their own thoughts — Mordecai with his regrets, Twilight with her ache.
A buzz broke the moment. Mordecai glanced at his phone: a reminder about his dinner reservation.
“Well, I'd better head out,” he said, getting up.
He made it to the door, then paused.
“Oh — tell your friend something else,” he added, hand on the doorknob. “Sometimes... things don’t work out. And if they don’t, she should be there for him. He’ll need someone to help pick up the pieces.”
Twilight blinked, stunned by the unexpected tenderness. She felt her face flush.
“Mordecai,” she called as he reached the door.
He turned.
Twilight hesitated, torn.
She smiled. “Good luck tonight.”
He smiled back. “Thanks.” And with a wave, he left.
Twilight watched him go, walking slowly up to her window just in time to see the golf cart disappear into the distance.
A quiet weight settled over her. Somehow, she had a feeling... this might be the last time she’d ever see him the same way again.
Later that night, Twilight sat at her desk, trying to lose herself in a book — anything to take her mind off Mordecai. But the words blurred. Her thoughts kept drifting back to him.
She sighed, blinking back tears. “I guess this is what they mean… if you love someone, you have to let them go.” Her voice cracked. “Easier said than done.”
Wiping her face, she forced herself to keep reading — until a knock echoed from the front door.
Wiping her eyes again, she trotted downstairs and opened the door.
She froze, seeing who was on the other side.
“Mordecai?!” she gasped. “What are you—?”
She trailed off when she saw the look on his face. His shoulders were slumped, eyes dull with sadness.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I know it’s late, but can I stay here for a bit?”
Without hesitation, she nodded and stepped aside to let him in.
They sat together on the couch. “What happened?” she asked.
He didn’t look at her. “I asked Margaret to be my girlfriend,” he said flatly. “She said no.”
Twilight blinked. “What? Why?”
A flare of dark magic shimmered along her horn, barely contained. Mordecai didn’t seem to notice.
“She got accepted into her dream college,” he muttered. “She said long-distance wouldn’t work.” He buried his face in his hands.
Twilight’s anger melted into a deep ache. She walked quietly to the kitchen and returned with two sodas. She handed one to him.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” she said gently.
He nodded without speaking. His silence said everything. Twilight watched him, heart twisting — this was exactly what she had feared. And now he was sitting here, broken.
She wanted to reach for him. To say something comforting. But she didn’t know what would help, so she simply drank her soda alongside him, giving him the quiet he needed.
When they finished, Twilight stood and took his hand in her hoof.
“Come on,” she said softly.
He blinked, unsure.
“You helped me once, Mordecai,” she said, leading him upstairs. “Let me return the favor.”
He hesitated at the door to her room, but she gently nudged him toward the bed.
“No arguments,” she added.
With a reluctant nod, he lay down. Exhaustion overtook him almost instantly.
Twilight returned to her book, but she couldn’t concentrate. Her eyes kept drifting toward the bed — toward him.
He twitched in his sleep, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
She quietly closed the book and walked over. Sitting beside him, she wiped his tears away and gently rubbed his head with her hoof.
He settled under her touch.
She considered placing a kiss on his forehead — but stopped herself. Not yet. Not tonight.
Instead, she stayed beside him, watching him breathe. Guarding his rest.
She yawned, eyes heavy, and eventually curled up on the mattress nearby, falling asleep beneath the soft glow of the moonlight.
The next morning, Mordecai stirred awake and blinked a few times, adjusting to the soft sunlight filtering through the window.
Twilight was asleep beside the bed, curled up with her head resting on the mattress, snoring quietly. A small smile crossed Mordecai’s face.
He reached out and gently tapped her head. She stirred, blinked a few times, and looked up at him with a sleepy smile.
“Morning,” she yawned.
“Morning, Twi,” Mordecai replied, stretching his arms with a groggy grunt.
His stomach rumbled.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Whoa… did you eat anything yesterday?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t really get the chance to.”
She got to her hooves and tugged at his hand. “Come on. I’m sure Spike already made breakfast.”
Sure enough, Spike had gone all out.
A towering stack of pancakes sat in the center of the table, with a few already dished out onto three plates. Mordecai, Twilight, and Spike sat together, chatting lightly as they ate, letting the syrup and warmth fill in the emotional gaps left from the night before.
By the time they’d cleared their plates, all three were full and a little drowsy. Spike yawned and disappeared upstairs, muttering something about needing a nap.
Mordecai leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed. “Man… I could sleep for another ten hours.”
Twilight watched him for a moment, then got up and took his hand again.
“Come on,” she said with a soft smile. “Let’s go for a walk. You’ll feel better after moving around a bit.”
Mordecai blushed slightly at the gesture, but didn’t argue. He stood up, still holding her hoof as they stepped outside together.
At the Park House, Benson paced through the hallway and opened the door to Mordecai and Rigby’s room — only to find it empty.
He frowned and drew a breath, clearly about to yell when Rigby strolled in, unbothered, eating a microwave burrito.
“Rigby,” Benson said, arms crossed. “Where’s Mordecai?”
Rigby casually replied, “Oh yeah, right. He wanted me to give this to you.”
He handed over a folded note. Benson opened it and read the quick, scribbled handwriting:
“Taking a few days off. Long story. Steak Me Amadeus didn’t go well.”
—Mordecai
Benson sighed, his expression softening.
He’d been hard on Mordecai and Rigby for a lot of things over the years… but heartbreak wasn’t something to punish. He remembered his own history — the breakups, the quiet regrets.
He folded the note and said quietly, “I’ll allow it.”
Mordecai and Twilight returned to the Treehouse. Spike had just woken up from his nap, but before he could say much, Twilight handed him a list and sent him out to run some errands—wanting a little time alone with Mordecai.
Once Spike left, Twilight picked out two books and handed one to Mordecai. Their earlier walk seemed to lift his spirits a little, and she figured reading would keep his mind off the breakup. They sat quietly together, the familiar comfort of pages turning filling the silence.
After some time, Twilight got up and returned with two drinks. She handed one to Mordecai, who sighed and stared into the bottle.
“You feeling any better?” she asked softly.
“A little,” he replied. “Thanks for all this, Twilight.”
She smiled gently. “It’s no trouble at all. You helped me when I went through this… with Red. I don’t think I ever really thanked you for that.”
He chuckled quietly, rubbing his thumb along the side of his bottle. “I just did what any friend would do.”
“No, I must’ve been a total mess when you found me at the Park,” Twilight said with a little laugh, though her eyes softened with memory.
Mordecai nodded, the smile fading to something more thoughtful. “Yeah… You were at a low I didn’t expect to see you at. It was hard to watch. You’re usually so strong… Seeing you like that hurt.”
Twilight blushed faintly and leaned her head against his shoulder, nuzzling him. Mordecai went stiff for a moment, caught off guard by the affection, then smiled again.
“So… are you really over Red now?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “You helped me move on. You were there when I needed it most.”
Mordecai nodded, glad to hear it—but his smile still looked a little hollow. Twilight picked up on it immediately.
She turned her gaze away, suddenly shy, but spoke with sincerity: “I know how hard this is for you. I’ve been there. It’s painful. But I promise, Mordecai… even if it takes time, you’ll move on. And when you do, I’ll still be here. Just like you were there for me.”
That hit Mordecai. He turned to look at her, seeing how sincere she was. All the times they’d spent together came rushing back to him—how easy it was to talk to her, how natural it always felt.
Without thinking, he draped his arm around her side. She blushed again as he pulled her closer.
“Thanks, Twilight.”
She could only nod, the warmth from his touch making her heart flutter.
They sat like that in comfortable silence. Mordecai finished his drink, and Twilight looked up at him, cheeks still tinged pink. Something stirred inside her—an impulse, quiet and strong. She leaned in and gently kissed him on the cheek.
Mordecai blinked in surprise.
Twilight pulled back quickly, suddenly flustered. “I-I’m sorry, Mordecai. I don’t know what came over me. I know you're going through a breakup, and I shouldn’t be—mmph?!”
He didn’t let her finish. Mordecai leaned in and kissed her full on the lips, cutting off her apology.
Twilight’s eyes widened in shock as he gently pushed her down to the floor, deepening the kiss. Her heart leapt into her throat, but as the initial surprise wore off, she melted into it, eyes fluttering closed. Her forelegs wrapped around him as his arms pulled her in close. They held each other tightly, caught up in the moment they hadn’t expected—but both wanted.
Then—
Click.
The front door opened.
Spike stepped inside with bags of supplies and froze mid-step.
“Oh boy,” he muttered, blinking. “Did I come back at a bad time?”
The kiss broke. Mordecai and Twilight stared at Spike, faces red as tomatoes. Neither said a word as the tension in the room thickened.
Then Mordecai looked back at Twilight, panic creeping into his face. She opened her mouth to say something—to do something—but he was already scrambling to his feet.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he blurted, rushing past the door and out into the street.
Twilight called after him. “Mordecai, wait—I—!”
But the door closed before she could finish. Her ears drooped. She stared at the door for a long moment, then whispered to herself, “…I enjoyed my first kiss.”
Spike awkwardly placed the bags down. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I didn’t know you were going to… y’know.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, Spike, it’s not your fault. It’s mine. I was trying to help him through his heartbreak, but I crossed a line. I wasn’t being what he needed… I wasn’t being a friend.”
She buried her face in her hooves.
Spike stepped over to her and placed a claw on her shoulder. “I don’t think it’s that simple. But… maybe he just needs time to figure things out.”
Twilight sniffed, then nodded slowly. “Yeah… maybe.”
With nothing more to say, she quietly went upstairs, hoping a good book might help her forget the feel of Mordecai’s lips on hers.
Time passed after the kiss.
Twilight hadn’t visited the Park, just in case Mordecai was still sorting through his breakup with Margaret. Pops kept her updated with letters and occasional visits, letting her know that Mordecai seemed to be doing better thanks to Rigby and the others. But even with the news of his improvement, Twilight held back. She didn’t want to risk reopening emotional wounds—his or her own.
She told herself it was for the best. Mordecai needed space. Time. She had to respect that.
Then, one afternoon, frantic knocking echoed from the front door of the Golden Oak Library.
Twilight trotted downstairs, opening the door to find Pops—panic plain on his face.
“Pops? What’s wrong?”
He wrung his hands. “Miss Sparkle, I don’t wish to alarm you, but Mordecai, Benson, and Rigby… they’re in the hospital. There was an accident in the mountains—”
That was all she needed to hear.
Before he could say another word, Twilight’s horn flared, and she vanished in a burst of magic.
She appeared at the Park entrance and sprinted toward the hospital. Her heart pounded, her breathing shaky.
“Mordecai… please be okay,” she whispered, eyes misting over. “Don’t you dare die on me.”
She didn’t know the details, but she feared the worst. After everything they’d been through—and everything left unsaid—losing him now would be unbearable.
When she arrived, the front desk nurse told her Mordecai was in surgery for a shattered spine. She was guided to a recovery room where Benson and Rigby were already being treated.
The sight of them made her gasp. Benson had both arms in casts, his eyes swollen shut from bee stings. Rigby lay nearby, his cheeks puffed from a terrible allergic reaction—he couldn’t even speak.
Twilight bit her lip, heart sinking deeper. She sat in one of the nearby chairs, eyes on the door. She whispered, more to herself than anyone else, “I should’ve visited the Park more often…”
A low groan startled her.
“Twilight?”
She turned and saw Benson blinking at her.
“Benson? You’re awake?” she asked, surprised.
“Wish I wasn’t,” he muttered, wincing. “These bee stings are killing me…”
“I can help with that,” she offered. “If you want, I can use a healing spell to reduce the swelling and speed up your recovery.”
“You know healing magic?” Benson blinked—well, tried to.
She smiled. “You’d be surprised how much reading I get done in a day.”
Twilight approached his bed and lit her horn. Concentrating carefully, she cast a gentle healing spell over his arms and face. A faint glow surrounded him, and within moments, the swelling in his eyes receded, and some of the tension left his posture.
He opened his eyes fully for the first time and exhaled in relief. “Wow… thanks, Twilight. That’s the best I’ve felt since the accident.”
“I’m glad it worked,” she said, returning his smile. “It’s a new spell. First time trying it on somepony else.”
She was about to sit down again when the door opened.
A team of doctors and nurses wheeled in Mordecai, unconscious and strapped into a back brace.
Twilight’s breath caught in her throat.
“Is… is he going to be okay?” she asked the lead doctor, her voice trembling.
The doctor nodded grimly. “It was a bad break. His spine was shattered in multiple areas, but we managed to stabilize and repair it. He’s lucky to be alive.”
Twilight fought back tears. Her hoof hovered near her heart.
“He’ll need plenty of rest,” the doctor continued. “But I’m sure with a devoted girlfriend like you, his recovery will go smoothly.”
Her cheeks flushed bright red. “Oh—I’m not—”
But he was already gone, the team disappearing through the door as quickly as they’d arrived.
She turned back to Mordecai, her heart swelling as she looked at him—bruised, bandaged, but breathing.
She walked slowly to his bedside, pulled a chair close, and rested her head on the mattress beside him.
“I’m here,” she whispered. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
As the room fell quiet, Twilight closed her eyes, and sleep finally took her—her hoof still lightly resting over his hand.
One week after the hospital visit, Mordecai had fully recovered—thanks in no small part to the healing spell Twilight had used. To thank her properly and finally talk about what had been lingering between them, he invited her on their first official date.
They went to a quiet, upscale restaurant in Canterlot. Given all the times he’d visited her in Ponyville, Mordecai thought a classy setting would be fitting. Twilight wore the yellow dress Rarity had made her for her birthday, while Mordecai donned the suit he still had from his Blondecai phase. The two made quite a pair.
They were seated at a balcony table overlooking the city—perfect not only for the view, but for a bit of privacy.
After placing their orders, a hush fell over them. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable… but it was weighty. They both knew the kiss needed to be addressed. But who would say it first?
They each took a breath and said in unison,
“About the kiss—”
Both stopped, blinking in surprise.
Mordecai gave a soft chuckle. “Sorry. You go first.”
Twilight nodded. She kept her hooves folded, nervous but determined. “Mordecai… before the accident, and before we stopped seeing each other for a bit… I kept thinking about that kiss. I wasn’t sure how you felt about it, especially after everything that happened with Margaret, but there’s something I want you to know.”
He listened carefully, watching her.
“That kiss… it was my first.”
Mordecai’s eyes widened. “Wait—really? I was your first kiss?”
Twilight nodded shyly, blushing. “Yes. And I just… I want you to know that I enjoyed it.”
Mordecai looked stunned for a second—but then softened. A light blush touched his cheeks, and he rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.
“I… wow. I didn’t expect that. Honestly, Twilight, I’m honored. And… I’m sorry for how I ran out on you that night.”
Her ears lowered. “I thought maybe I made you uncomfortable.”
He shook his head quickly. “No! Not at all. I liked the kiss.”
Twilight’s eyes lit up.
“It was just… the timing,” Mordecai continued. “It felt too soon. I was still healing from the breakup, and I didn’t want you to feel like… like a rebound.”
Twilight chuckled softly, her nerves easing. “Yeah… I kind of figured the timing wasn’t ideal.”
Mordecai nodded. “But still… it meant something. It wasn’t just… heat of the moment stuff. It stayed with me.”
Twilight's heart fluttered at that. Her smile was subtle, but full of warmth.
Even with the kiss out in the open, an awkward tension still lingered—especially on Mordecai’s end. Twilight noticed the way he blushed, his eyes darting as if something more weighed on his mind. She gently took his hand in her hooves, making him stiffen slightly in surprise.
Looking into his eyes, she asked softly, “If there’s more you want to tell me… please. I feel like the kiss isn’t the only thing that’s been on your mind.”
Mordecai let out a slow breath, steadying himself. He met her gaze.
“Yeah… there is more. And honestly, I never thought I’d get the chance to say this. But… before I dated Margaret—before any of that—I kinda had a crush on you, Twilight.”
Twilight blinked. Her eyes widened. “Y-you had a crush on me?!”
Heat bloomed in her cheeks. Her mind reeled, flipping through countless memories: Mordecai’s visits to Ponyville, the way his eyes lingered on her when he thought she wasn’t looking, the way Muscle Man or Rigby would crack jokes about her being his girlfriend. How did she not see it?
She buried her face in her hooves. “Oh my gosh. I must have been such an idiot not to notice…”
Her heart raced, a flurry of emotions swirling through her. Maybe her feelings hadn’t been so one-sided after all.
“The real idiot was me,” Mordecai said, a small, sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “I always thought you were beautiful, Twilight. But I hesitated. I figured you’d attract a dozen guys way better than me.”
She peeked out from behind her hooves, her blush deepening. “Mordecai… I’ve never done any of this before. No boyfriends. No dates. That kiss we shared? That was my first.” She giggled nervously. “I’m as inexperienced as a pony can get.”
Mordecai chuckled, clearly charmed by her honesty. Her nerves only made her more endearing.
After a moment, Twilight grew serious. “If you had a crush on me all that time… why didn’t you say something?”
He leaned back, looking up for a second, then sighed. “I was still figuring out how I felt about Margaret. I thought there might be something there… but that didn’t work out. And after the breakup, I didn’t want you to feel like a rebound, because you mean so much more to me than that.”
Twilight’s eyes shimmered, touched by his sincerity.
He continued, “When you kissed me… all those feelings I had for you came flooding back. And I realized… they never went away. Not really. That moment… it helped me move on. It made me see what was right in front of me.”
Twilight didn’t wait for another word. She teleported across the table and kissed him—full of passion, full of certainty.
Mordecai stiffened in surprise—but only for a second. Then he melted into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her as their kiss deepened. The rest of the world fell away.
Their server stepped onto the balcony with their food, only to immediately retreat after catching a glimpse of the scene. No way was he going to be that guy.
Eventually, the two pulled apart, breathless and glowing.
Twilight gave him a playful smile. “I hope that clears up any confusion.”
Mordecai could barely speak. He simply nodded, then cleared his throat. “So… do you wanna give us a shot?”
Twilight stroked his cheek. “I’ve never been more certain of anything, Mordecai. I’d be proud to be your girlfriend.”
He smiled wide. “And I’d be proud to be your boyfriend.”
Then, quieter, more tenderly, Twilight added, “There’s just one more thing I need to say. You mean a lot to me, Mordecai. And I want this to work… I really do. But if it doesn’t… I don’t want to lose you.”
He gently cupped her cheek, drawing her closer. “You’ll never lose me, Twilight. I promise.”
He kissed her again, and this time, she couldn’t hold back the tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.
END FLASHBACK
Twilight sighed in contentment, still glowing from the memory of their first date—and every moment that followed. It was hard to believe that all of it had led to this: Mordecai proposing to her the night before.
Lost in thought, she didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind her until she felt a familiar pair of arms wrap gently around her waist. She gasped in surprise, then laughed, leaning back into the embrace.
Mordecai kissed her cheek and said, “Good morning.”
She giggled. “Morning. Did you just wake up?”
“Yeah,” he said, letting her go with a stretch. “I was supposed to head out sooner, but I overslept. I'd better get to the Park before Benson blows a gasket.”
“You'd better hurry, then,” Twilight said with a smile.
He grinned. “I’ll be back later tonight.”
She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Still smiling, Mordecai waved and headed out the door.
Once he was gone, Twilight turned her attention to the package she had received earlier. Lifting it with her magic, she opened the box and found a note and a very old book inside.
Unfolding the letter, she immediately recognized the elegant penmanship: Princess Celestia. Twilight’s eyes lit up as she read.
“My dearest Twilight, enclosed is a very special item—Star Swirl the Bearded’s personal book of spells. On the final page lies an unfinished spell that Star Swirl never completed. I believe you are the only one who can.”
Twilight’s heart fluttered. A spell Star Swirl himself couldn’t complete? Her curiosity burned with excitement as she flipped to the final page. Her eyes scanned the spell and, unable to resist, she read it aloud:
“From one to another, another to one. A mark of one’s destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.”
A sudden pulse of magic rippled through the room. The Elements of Harmony—resting in their protective case—glimmered as the spell’s unseen power touched them. Five of the six elements flickered, subtly shifting in hue.
Twilight blinked, confused. The spell hadn’t rhymed, hadn’t followed traditional meter, and most importantly… hadn’t made sense.
“Well… that was strange.”
Yawning, she set the book aside. Staying up all night had finally caught up with her. She made her way upstairs for a quick nap, unaware that the spell she had just cast would set the course for a destiny far greater than she imagined.
Back at the Park, the usual chaos was already brewing. All the workers had gathered on the front steps of the house for a morning meeting. Rigby stood awkwardly in the center—wearing a diaper—while the rest of the crew laughed mercilessly.
Benson tried to compose himself between chuckles. “Rigby… why are you wearing a diaper?”
Rigby crossed his arms. “You’ll see in a minute.”
Just then, Mordecai pulled up in the golf cart.
Benson's smile faded into a mock scowl. “Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.”
Mordecai winced. “Sorry, I’m late. I was… with Twilight last night.”
Muscle Man grinned. “Ooooh! I bet you and Twilight got to—”
Mordecai cut him off. “No! Nothing like that.” He cleared his throat. “But I do have an announcement.”
The group quieted as Mordecai took a breath.
“Last night, I asked Twilight to marry me.” A pause. “And she said yes.”
A round of cheers erupted. Muscle Man whooped, Skips smiled, and even Benson cracked a rare grin. The crew gathered around to offer congratulations, back slaps, and bro-hugs. Even Thomas looked genuinely happy.
Mordecai smiled through it all—until he caught sight of Rigby hanging back… in a diaper.
“…Dude. Why are you wearing a diaper?”
Back in Ponyville, Twilight awoke from her nap still glowing with happiness. Being engaged didn’t even feel real yet—but she couldn’t wait to tell her friends.
Stepping outside, she was immediately drenched by a sudden downpour. She sputtered, soaked, and scowled up at the sky.
“Rainbow Dash! That’s not funny!”
But instead of laughter from above, she heard a sheepish voice nearby.
“Terribly sorry, darling… I’m afraid I’m not very good with the thundery ones.”
Twilight turned, stunned. Rarity stood below the storm clouds, her horn glowing as she clumsily tried to shift a thunderhead with her magic. Even more bizarre—her cutie mark had changed to Rainbow Dash’s lightning bolt.
“What in Equestria…?”
Twilight quickly returned home and woke Spike. “Something’s wrong,” she said, dragging him along. “Really wrong.”
They set out to check on the others, and what they found left Twilight speechless.
At Fluttershy’s cottage, Rainbow Dash, now bearing Fluttershy’s trio of butterflies, was trying—and failing—to wrangle the animals. The critters hissed and snapped, utterly rejecting her attempts to connect.
At Sugarcube Corner, Fluttershy, adorned with Pinkie Pie’s balloons, tried hosting a party. Her timid behavior made it fall flat. Guests left confused or annoyed, and some foals even cried.
On Sweet Apple Acres, Pinkie Pie, wearing Applejack’s apples, struggled with the farmwork. She could barely plow a row without veering into chaos. Even the irrigation system refused to cooperate, and the orchard, untended, had begun to wilt and blacken.
And finally, in Carousel Boutique, Applejack, now marked with Rarity’s diamonds, tried her hoof at fashion. The results were well-intentioned, but disastrous. Threads tangled. Fabrics clashed. Her spirit visibly sagged with every stitch.
Earlier that morning, Twilight had already witnessed Rarity attempting weather duty. Her artistic weather patterns, while creative, had resulted in some ponies suffering from both frostbite and sunburn on the same day.
At each stop, Twilight’s heart sank further. Her friends weren’t just struggling—they were miserable. But worse than that, they believed this misery was their true calling. Their cutie marks had spoken… and they were trying to follow them, no matter how wrong it felt.
Back at the library, Spike looked at her, wide-eyed. “What’s going on? Why is this happening?”
Twilight's eyes scanned the room and landed on the spellbook.
Star Swirl’s spell.
She snatched it off the table, flipping to the final page. Her heart dropped.
Then she looked at the Elements of Harmony resting in their glass case. Their colors were all wrong.
“This is my fault,” she whispered. “I must’ve cast that spell earlier… and it changed their destinies.”
Spike leaned over her shoulder. “Isn’t there a counterspell?”
She flipped through the book with growing panic. “There isn’t one! Star Swirl left it unfinished!”
“What about the memory spell you used when Discord messed everything up? Could that work?”
Twilight shook her head. “It’s not their memories that are missing. It’s… who they’re meant to be. Their purpose.”
She closed the book and slumped upstairs, weighed down by guilt. Rain pattered gently on the windowpane as she stared outside, unable to shake the ache in her heart.
Spike crept into the room behind her. She didn’t turn, but she knew he was there.
“To think… this morning, I was just happy being engaged,” she murmured. “But if my friends aren’t themselves… none of it matters.”
Spike placed a claw on her shoulder. “Come on, Twilight. These are your friends. If anyone can fix this, it’s you.”
His words settled over her like sunlight cutting through clouds.
“You’re right,” she said, standing tall. She looked at the photo of her and her friends above the fireplace—their smiles frozen in time. “They mean more to me than anything.”
Suddenly, a blinding light surrounded her. Spike shielded his eyes, confused.
Twilight blinked, heart racing. She felt something click into place—a new idea sparking into life. “I’ve got it! I know how to fix this!”
“You do?!” Spike asked, his voice hopeful.
Twilight nodded, already racing downstairs. She grabbed the glass case containing the Elements of Harmony and opened it, placing her own element on her head.
“I can’t just remind them who they are,” she said. “But I can show them what they mean to each other. The friendships they’ve built—that’s where their true selves are. That’s how we bring them back.”
She passed the box containing the rest of the Elements of Harmony to Spike. “Come on!”
Together, they rushed out the door, their first stop clear in Twilight’s mind.
Fluttershy.
After finishing his shift, Mordecai left the Park and started the drive to Ponyville, just as he had promised. He was in a good mood the entire day, his thoughts filled with Twilight. With one hand on the wheel and a soft breeze tugging at his feathers, he began to hum a tune—one he’d been working on quietly in his head for a while. As the trees blurred past the road, he sang aloud, smiling to himself:
Twilight, you're my shining star,
Guiding me, no matter how far.
Your wisdom and your caring heart,
Illuminate my world right from the start.
So let this song be my serenade,
For the love we share, no barricade,
Twilight, you're the one that I adore,
Forever and always, I'll cherish you, that's for sure.
From Ponyville to the skies above,
You've shown me the power of love,
Your friendship and your magic fill my days.
You've taught me lessons, made me grow,
In your presence, my spirits glow,
I'm captivated by your gentle ways.
So let's embrace this wondrous ride,
Side by side, our love can't hide,
Through trials and triumphs, we will soar.
With you by my side, I'm never alone,
Together, we've built a love we've known,
Twilight, you're the one that I adore.
He kept singing softly as he drove, occasionally mumbling new lines he wanted to add later. The song was unfinished, but then again, so was their story.
One by one, Twilight helped her friends rediscover who they truly were.
She started with Fluttershy, helping her reconnect with her gift of understanding and caring for animals. Then Rainbow Dash remembered her role in managing the skies, quickly dispelling the storm clouds over Ponyville. Rarity reclaimed her creative spark, returning to the art of designing fashionable clothes with confidence and flair. At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack resumed her role as the dependable farmer, restoring the orchards and bringing life back to the land. And Pinkie Pie, once again the heart of every party, filled Ponyville with laughter and joy, reminding everypony why her smiles were contagious.
After restoring harmony to her friends' lives, they all embraced in a heartfelt group hug. Twilight beamed, overjoyed to see her friends whole again. But then something struck her—the final line of Star Swirl’s unfinished spell echoed in her mind:
“A mark of one’s destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.”
She gasped aloud. “The spell!” she cried.
Breaking from the group hug, Twilight galloped back to her home, leaving her friends calling after her in confusion.
Once inside, she grabbed Star Swirl’s spellbook and turned to the last page. She floated a quill over and, with a deep breath, wrote the missing final lines aloud:
“From all of us together, together we are friends.
With the marks of our destinies made one, there’s magic without end!”
As soon as she added the final period, her Element of Magic began to glow. Magic surged through the tiara, activating the remaining Elements of Harmony. Beams of magical energy shot toward Twilight, surrounding her in a brilliant, swirling light. She lifted off the ground, eyes wide—but she didn’t resist. She embraced the light as it enveloped her.
When the light faded, her friends rushed into the library—only to find a scorch mark on the floor, shaped like Twilight’s cutie mark.
She was gone.
Mordecai arrived just as night fell, humming softly as he pulled up in the golf cart. But the moment he spotted a strange light descending from the sky, he hit the brakes and shielded his eyes.
The brilliant light touched down near the library, and as it faded, he saw a familiar silhouette.
“Twilight…?” he murmured.
As the light vanished completely, his eyes widened in disbelief. There she stood, wings unfurled—Twilight, now an Alicorn.
The ponies gasped. Rainbow Dash tackled her in a hug, shouting, “Twilight! You’re my new flying buddy!”
Rarity blinked in awe. “Darling…you’re an Alicorn!”
Pinkie Pie jumped into the air, confetti exploding from nowhere. “Alicorn party!!”
And Fluttershy smiled softly. “Wow…you look just like a princess.”
Just then, Princess Celestia descended from the sky. Her voice was calm but proud.
“That’s because she is a princess.”
Mordecai ducked out of view, heart racing.
“A princess?! Twilight’s a princess now?!” His thoughts spun, struggling to keep up.
Twilight caught sight of the golf cart and dashed toward it, recognizing who had arrived.
“Mordecai!” she called.
He nearly jumped as she threw her hooves around him in a hug. “Twilight—what happened to you?” he asked, still stunned.
The rest of her friends approached as Twilight pulled back, laughing.
“It’s a long story,” she said. “I’ll tell you everything soon.” Then she turned to her friends and Celestia. “I’m glad you’re all still here. Before all of this happened… I had something I wanted to announce.”
Mordecai blinked. “Wait… you didn’t tell them yet?”
Twilight shook her head. “There wasn’t time.”
She held out her hoof, and her engagement ring glimmered under the moonlight. Gasps erupted around her.
Rarity’s voice was the first. “Is that what I think it is, darling?”
Twilight nodded, beaming. “Yes. Last night, Mordecai proposed to me—and I said yes!”
Rainbow whooped. “So not only are you a princess, but you’re getting married?! That’s so awesome!”
The group erupted into cheers and congratulations, but Mordecai stood quietly, still trying to process everything. He smiled, proud and overwhelmed, as he looked at Twilight, his fiancée, his princess.
The next day, Canterlot glittered with celebration.
A grand coronation was held in honor of Twilight Sparkle, the newly crowned princess of Equestria. Dressed in regal finery, she stood tall on the balcony of the palace, the golden sun casting a glow across the gathering crowd. Her voice rang clear as she addressed them all.
“From the day I first came to Ponyville, I was a student. But what I found was more than knowledge—I found friendship. And from those friendships, I discovered who I really was. I would not trade a single moment of this journey. Today, I stand before you not only as a princess but as the pony you’ve all helped me become.”
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Inside the palace ballroom, the celebration was in full swing. Ponies danced, laughed, and shared in the joy of the occasion. Twilight, surrounded by her friends, glowed with happiness.
At one end of the room, Mordecai and the rest of the Park crew blended into the crowd of Canterlot guests. Rigby, trying to maintain dignity in slacks over his infamous bet-lost diaper, attempted to show off his moves on the dance floor. But Muscle Man, never one to let things slide, was one step ahead.
The music kicked into high gear, and the two launched into a dance-off. Amid wild cheers and stomping hooves, Muscle Man spun, then—in one swift move—pantsed Rigby.
Gasps turned to laughter.
Rigby froze. Muscle Man leaned in with a sly grin and whispered, “A bet’s a bet, bro. Doesn’t matter where we are.”
Meanwhile, at a quieter table off to the side, Mordecai sat with Benson and Skips. Plates of untouched cake sat before them, but Mordecai’s eyes weren’t on the party. He stared at the dance floor without really seeing it.
Twilight’s coronation had ended. She was now seated beside her friends again, all of them glowing with excitement. Laughter rang from her side of the room. Mordecai, though, remained still.
Benson exchanged a glance with Skips. Then he leaned forward and asked, “Mordecai, is something bothering you?”
Mordecai blinked out of his daze. “Huh?”
Skips chimed in, his tone gentler but knowing. “Your fiancée just got crowned princess of Equestria, and you haven’t said more than two words to her. Why aren’t you over there with her?”
Mordecai glanced toward Twilight. She was beaming—radiant in her new royal stature, laughing beside Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. His eyes softened... then dropped to the engagement ring on his finger. He rubbed it absently.
“I just thought…” he muttered, “she should enjoy this moment with her friends.”
Benson and Skips shared another look—this one less patient. Mordecai’s words felt thin.
Skips pressed again. “You’re not having second thoughts… are you?”
Mordecai didn’t answer. He stood, brushing imaginary dust from his pants, and walked away without looking back.
At that moment, Pops arrived at the table, balancing a plate with a comically large slice of cake. He stopped short, watching Mordecai’s retreating form with concern.
“Is something wrong with Mordecai?” he asked, gently setting his plate down.
Benson sighed. “He’s probably just got the pre-wedding jitters. He’ll snap out of it.”
But Pops didn’t look reassured. He sat slowly, staring in the direction Mordecai had gone. Across the room, the party continued, but an undercurrent of unease lingered in the air.
Unnoticed by the group, a figure near the entrance had overheard their conversation. Shining Armor, Twilight’s brother, narrowed his eyes.
His gaze followed the door through which Mordecai had exited.
His protective instincts were already rising.
Chapter 5: Worthy
Summary:
As the joy of Twilight’s coronation gives way to new responsibilities and greater scrutiny, Mordecai faces challenges of his own, not from monsters or park mishaps, but from questions of belonging. Pulled into unfamiliar territory and tested in unexpected ways, he must prove not only his strength but also his heart. Meanwhile, bonds are forged, doubts are confronted, and love is measured against the weight of destiny.
Chapter Text
Mordecai took the cart and quietly slipped away from the coronation celebration. The cheers and music faded behind him as the weight of Skips’ question echoed in his mind: “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
He hadn’t answered, maybe because he didn’t know how to.
Back at the castle, Shining Armor had been making his way through the party crowd, eyes scanning for the blue jay he'd overheard Benson and Skips talking about. He had planned to confront Mordecai — to size him up, to ask what kind of stallion (or bird) proposes to a princess and then vanishes from her side.
But the cart was already gone.
Shining Armor frowned, turning to head back inside, only to see Twilight approaching him.
“Where’s Mordecai?” she asked, a trace of concern in her voice. “He loves these kinds of celebrations. It’s weird that he’s not here.”
Shining hesitated for only a second, then gave a soft, practiced smile. “He said he was tired. Didn’t want to take away from your big day. Said he’d check in later.”
Twilight relaxed a little. “Oh, yeah. He did seem tired last night. I was going to announce our engagement to Equestria today, but… there’s no rush. I don’t want to do it without him.”
Shining Armor blinked. “Wait… what?”
Twilight chuckled and gave him a sheepish look. “I was planning to surprise you. Mordecai already asked me to marry him. And I said yes.”
She tilted her head slightly, showing off the ring on her horn.
Shining Armor stared at it, his expression unreadable. He had assumed the proposal would happen at the party, not that it had already happened. His eye twitched before he masked his reaction with a smile.
“I’m… really happy for you, Twily. Congratulations.”
Twilight hugged him tightly. “Thanks, B.B.B.F.F. I knew you’d be happy to hear this.”
He hugged her back, even as his mind swirled with questions.
Unseen by either of them, a royal guard nearby had overheard every word. As the party wound down, he moved swiftly to inform the others — the new Princess of Equestria was engaged. And to someone outside of Equestria's royal circle.
The news spread quickly. And the eyes on Mordecai were about to multiply.
The next day, the news spread like wildfire across Equestria: Princess Twilight Sparkle was engaged.
Whispers that had started the day Mordecai bought the ring were now impossible to ignore. What once sounded like a rumor was now a headline-worthy fact. Word even reached the Crystal Empire, carried by a breathless guard to Princess Cadance herself. She froze for a moment, processing the news, then smiled widely.
Her favorite foal-turned-sister-in-law… engaged.
Elsewhere in the castle, a new recruit was settling into his quarters. An orange pegasus with a spiked blue mane, Flash Sentry had just been assigned to the Empire’s royal guard. He’d barely finished unpacking when a sudden burst of noise from the hallway drew his attention.
“You heard the news?” one guard whispered excitedly.
“Straight from Shining Armor and Twilight,” another replied. “He smiled, sure — but I can spot a fake one from a mile off.”
“Can you blame him? It’s his sister.”
Flash blinked, frozen.
"Sister?" he muttered aloud, just before tripping and crashing to the floor.
The others turned toward him.
“Who’s this guy?” one guard asked.
“The new recruit,” their leader replied, waving it off.
Flash scrambled upright and saluted. “Flash Sentry, sir! First day on the job.”
The lead guard chuckled and slung a foreleg around his shoulder. “Well, welcome to the chaos, kid. Come on, we’ll introduce you to the prince and princess.”
Back in Ponyville, Twilight woke up still basking in the afterglow of the coronation. A warm breakfast from Spike, sunshine through the windows, it was shaping up to be a perfect day.
Until she opened the front door.
Flashbulbs. Shouts. Reporters. A wall of noise.
“Princess Twilight! Is it true you're already engaged?”
“When were you planning to make it official?”
“Who is he, Princess?!”
Twilight stood frozen, eyes wide.
Spike stepped forward, claws raised. “That’s enough!” he barked. “Princess Twilight doesn’t owe you anything right now — now scram!” He slammed the door shut and yanked down the window shades.
Twilight blinked, still dazed. “You could’ve handled that a little better,” she said gently.
Spike crossed his arms, scowling. “I know, but come on, Twilight. Day one as princess, and they’re already tearing into your personal life? That’s beyond rude.”
She sighed and sat on the couch. “I can handle questions. What’s bothering me is how they even found out about the engagement. You, our friends… and Shining Armor. And I know he wouldn’t tell anypony without asking.”
One month had passed since Twilight’s coronation and engagement.
With her new royal duties as Princess of Equestria piling up, Twilight barely had time to breathe, let alone plan a wedding. The guilt weighed heavily — she hadn’t even discussed any wedding details with Mordecai yet. Every time she tried to find a moment, something new came up: meetings with dignitaries, magical ceremonies, scrolls upon scrolls of paperwork.
To make things worse, the paparazzi had been relentless. They bombarded her with questions about her engagement, desperate to confirm the identity of her mysterious fiancé. Twilight refused to comment publicly — not until she and Mordecai could address it together. She wanted to share this moment with him, not through headlines or gossip, but as a couple.
Meanwhile, back at the Park, Mordecai’s life had been anything but calm.
In just a month, he and Rigby had fought a Timenado that dragged a young version of Skips into the present, survived an invasion of full-grown geese, and watched Benson accidentally destroy a signed Bruce Rock guitar, sending them on a frantic replacement quest. Then came the chaos of the Crash Pit, a painted Benson portrait ruined by Rigby, and even more weirdness that only Mordecai and Rigby could attract.
Through it all, Twilight was always on his mind. He’d meant to visit her sooner, but one emergency after another kept getting in the way. Now that things were finally calm, he loaded up the cart and made the drive to Ponyville.
As he pulled into town, the familiar sight of the Golden Oak Library made him smile. In front of the treehouse stood Twilight and her friends, chatting casually. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she took to the skies and flew straight into his arms, wrapping him in a hug that said more than words ever could.
Mordecai laughed, hugging her back tightly.
“I missed you, too,” he said.
As they pulled apart, Twilight smiled brightly. “Come on,” she said. “We were just heading to the train station.”
Mordecai followed, glad to finally be by her side again — even if he didn’t yet know where they were going.
Mordecai and Twilight walked side by side, catching up and laughing over the stories they hadn’t had time to share. The joy of simply being together again made every moment feel lighter.
They arrived at the Ponyville Train Station, just in time to see Fluttershy off, who was heading out to observe the Breezies. As Fluttershy’s train disappeared in the distance, another train pulled into the station — this one glistening like crystal.
The royal fanfare began with three sharp trumpet blasts.
Princess Cadence stepped off the Crystal Empire train, flanked by two guards — a crystal pegasus and an orange pegasus Mordecai didn’t recognize. Twilight bowed on instinct, but Cadence laughed and waved it off.
“We’re sisters-in-law, Twilight. You don’t have to be formal with me.”
Cadence then turned her attention to Mordecai. She studied him for a beat, then smiled. “So, you’re the one I’ve been hearing so much about.”
Mordecai blinked. Had he even properly met Cadence before? Maybe at the coronation, but it was all such a blur. He rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. “Uh… yeah. I guess I am.”
Before he could say more, Cadence stepped forward and hugged him. Mordecai tensed from surprise, but the gesture was warm, sincere.
“It’s so nice to finally meet the one who’s made my sister-in-law so happy,” she said.
Relieved that nothing awkward was happening, Mordecai relaxed a little. “I do my best. Work’s been crazy, but I’m looking forward to spending more time with her now.”
Just as the words left his mouth, Twilight winced with realization.
“Actually… Mordecai, we’ll have to catch up later.”
He blinked. “Wait, what? You said you had time now.”
“I do,” she replied, “but Cadence and I already planned some one-on-one time. We haven’t had a visit where Equestria wasn’t in danger.”
Mordecai thought back to the stories she’d told him, the changeling invading the wedding, the Crystal Empire, and King Sombra’s return. Yeah… she had a point. He nodded. “No worries. I get it.”
Twilight hugged him. “Thanks for understanding.”
“You’ve told me how much Cadence means to you.”
Cadence, watching their exchange, perked up with a new idea. “Mordecai, since Twilight and I are having sister time, why not spend a little quality time with Shining Armor?”
Mordecai’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
Twilight grinned. “That’s a great idea! It’ll give you two a chance to bond.”
Mordecai let out a nervous laugh. “Yeah… sure. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.”
He started toward the train, but Twilight stopped him. “Wait!” She teleported a case of soda in front of him. “You left this last time. I figure Shining Armor won’t mind sharing it.”
He picked it up with a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
With that, Mordecai boarded the train, sitting alongside the two guards. As it pulled away toward the Crystal Empire, he sat quietly, unsure of what to expect.
The ride was quiet, just Mordecai and the two guards. The crystal pegasus said nothing, eyes fixed forward. Across from him, the orange pegasus sat with a book in his hooves, reading intently.
Trying to make small talk, Mordecai said, “That’s an interesting book you’ve got.”
The pegasus looked up, surprised. “Oh—thanks. I’ve been reading it in my spare time. Princess Twilight recommended it when she last visited the Crystal Empire.”
There was a soft fondness in his voice when he said her name.
Mordecai raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, letting the conversation drop. The pegasus returned to the book, his gaze lingering on a portrait of a character inside.
The train arrived at the Crystal Empire Station, its crystalline exterior gleaming under the sun. Mordecai stepped off, taking in the glittering scenery with awe. Everything sparkled—from the buildings to the streets—like the entire city was carved out of gemstones.
The two royal guards who had traveled with him led the way toward the towering Crystal Castle.
As they reached the castle doors, Mordecai hesitated, gripping the soda case in his hands. One of the guards knocked.
Moments later, the large doors opened.
Shining Armor stood in the entryway. His gaze immediately locked onto Mordecai. There was no greeting—just a quiet, unreadable stare. The guards saluted and stepped aside.
Mordecai, doing his best not to sweat, lifted the soda case slightly and said, “I brought soda?”
Shining Armor glanced at the box, then raised an eyebrow. “…Good man. Come inside.”
Mordecai exhaled in relief and followed him in.
The Crystal Castle was even more majestic on the inside. Sunlight passed through stained glass windows, casting colorful rays across the walls. Mordecai took it all in with wide eyes.
“Wow,” he muttered. “This place is awesome.”
Shining Armor smirked slightly as he led the way to the throne room, where he took a seat in one of the crystal chairs. Mordecai followed, setting the soda case down between them and offering a can.
Shining Armor accepted it with his magic. “Thanks.”
They cracked open their drinks. An awkward silence followed, fizzing only interrupted by the occasional sip.
Finally, Shining Armor spoke.
“So… what brings you here, Mordecai?”
He shrugged. “Cadence’s idea. Twilight said they’d be spending the day together, and Cadence suggested you and I hang out.”
Shining Armor nodded, sipping his drink again. “Figured as much.”
Another pause. Mordecai glanced around at the intricate carvings and the shimmering banners lining the walls.
“So, what’s been going on since the Empire returned?”
Shining Armor leaned back. “A lot of catching up. The ponies here were frozen in time for over a thousand years—adjusting hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to bring them up to speed on pretty much everything.”
Mordecai blinked. “That’s… heavy.”
“Yeah,” Shining said, then smirked. “But it’s not all doom and gloom. I’ve been coaching our athletes for the Equestria Games.”
“The what now?”
“The Equestria Games. Big event. Sort of like your world’s Olympic Games, I guess. I’m helping the Crystal Empire get a team ready to compete.”
He stood up and motioned for Mordecai to follow. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Intrigued, Mordecai grabbed his soda and trailed after him, unaware that this would be the first real test of whether he belonged in this world—or by Twilight’s side.
As they stepped into the Crystal Stadium, Mordecai’s jaw dropped.
The sheer size of the arena—and the glint of polished crystal bleachers reflecting the afternoon sun—made his feathers fluff in amazement.
Shining Armor noticed and smiled. “We’re in talks to host the next Equestria Games. First one since the Crystal Empire returned.”
“That’d be awesome for the Crystal Empire,” Mordecai said, still in awe.
They walked the perimeter as Shining Armor coached his athletes. Mordecai sat in the stands, but after a while, his eyes glazed. He shifted in his seat, trying to focus, but it was clear: he was bored.
Shining Armor noticed. “Hey, Mordecai—come down for this next one. Might be more your speed.”
Mordecai hopped down to the field. “What are we doing?”
In answer, Shining Armor levitated a suit of armor onto Mordecai. He stumbled a little under the weight.
“Uh… what’s going on?”
“We’re running jousting drills,” Shining said, grinning. “Figured you might like to try it.”
“Jousting?” Mordecai blinked. “You’re serious?”
Shining Armor levitated a lance over and floated it into Mordecai’s hands. “Just hit your opponent’s shield. That’s all there is to it.”
Mordecai stared at the lance, then at the ponies. “You sure I don’t need… like, a mount?”
Shining Armor smirked. “Nah. Just run. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”
Gulping, Mordecai took his mark. Across the field, a crystal pony prepared for the charge.
The whistle blew.
Mordecai sprinted forward, lance shaking in his grip. As he neared his opponent, instinct kicked in—he angled his strike just right and slammed the lance into the shield with surprising force.
WHAM!
The crystal pony went flying.
Even Shining Armor blinked. “How the…?”
A beat passed. Then cheers erupted.
The athletes ran to Mordecai, shouting questions.
“Where’d you learn to hit like that?”
“Were you a knight in your world or something?!”
Mordecai chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Uh… no, but thanks.”
Mordecai continued practicing, taking hits and giving them back. He got knocked down a few times, but always got back up.
Then the crowd gasped.
Shining Armor was suiting up.
Mordecai stared. “Wait, what? You’re my next opponent?”
Shining Armor adjusted his helmet. “What does it look like?”
“I thought you were coaching!”
“I gave the team a break,” he said with a grin. “Now they get to watch the fun.”
Ponies hurried into the stands, whispering and nudging one another. Even the castle guards showed up to watch.
As Mordecai tightened his grip on the lance, Shining Armor locked eyes with him. “Don’t hold back. I won’t.”
“…Great,” Mordecai muttered under his breath.
The whistle blew.
They charged.
CLANG! Shining Armor’s lance connected first, sending Mordecai tumbling backward across the field.
The crowd erupted in cheers—but they only got louder when Mordecai stood up again, coughing and brushing off dust.
“I underestimated you,” Mordecai said, grinning through the pain. “Not making that mistake again.”
Shining Armor smirked.
Round after round, they clashed. Sometimes Shining Armor struck true. Sometimes Mordecai sent him reeling. Dents appeared on both their shield plates. Sweat poured down their faces. Still, they kept going—fueled not by rivalry, but something more honest.
Respect.
Finally, both collapsed to the field.
The crowd expected another charge.
Instead, the two dropped their lances.
Shining Armor breathed hard. “I think that’s enough.”
“Yeah,” Mordecai said, lying on his back. “We should definitely do this again.”
Shining Armor stood and blew his whistle. “Back to training!”
As the athletes returned to the field, Mordecai pulled off his helmet, wiping his brow.
Shining Armor turned to him, his voice lighter. “Hey… want to help me coach the rest of the day?”
Surprised, Mordecai blinked. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”
He didn’t say it aloud, but in that moment, something shifted between them.
This wasn’t just Twilight’s brother anymore.
And Mordecai wasn’t just the guy who proposed.
They were starting to become something else—
Brothers.
With the day’s training complete, the crystal ponies left the stadium brimming with confidence. Mordecai and Shining Armor stayed behind, catching their breath as the last echo of hooves faded.
Mordecai pulled off his helmet and wiped his brow. “Phew. That was fun.”
Shining Armor turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Okay, seriously—how did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Knock out the whole jousting team. Including me.”
Mordecai chuckled. “Let’s just say... I’ve dealt with a few wild things back at the Park. Including Death Bear.”
Shining Armor blinked. “Death Bear? Wait... Twilight mentioned that once. I thought she was exaggerating.”
“Nope. That happened. I was saving a friend.”
Shining Armor tilted his head. “Girlfriend?”
Mordecai raised a brow, surprised by the question. “Nah. My best friend’s girlfriend.”
Shining Armor studied him for a moment, then smiled, quietly impressed by the selflessness.
Back in the Crystal Castle throne room, the two relaxed with cans of soda. Mordecai slouched into the couch, still toweling his feathers.
He took a sip. “So... what do you think Twilight and Cadence are up to right now?”
Shining Armor smirked. “Knowing Twily, I’d say they’re—”
He paused mid-sentence, as if something hit him. His expression darkened ever so slightly.
“You good?” Mordecai asked, noticing the shift.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” Shining said quickly, taking another drink. But his eyes lingered on the floor. He made a mental note: Talk to Cadence later.
Mordecai leaned back. “Whatever they’re doing, I’m sure they’re having a good time. Twilight was really looking forward to just... hanging out.”
Shining Armor nodded but stayed quiet.
Then, after a pause, he turned to Mordecai. “Twilight told me you were seeing someone before the two of you got together.”
Mordecai blinked. “Wait, she told you that?”
“Yeah. She was trying to act okay with it,” Shining said, voice calm but firm. “She said she was happy for you... But I know my sister. It tore her up.”
Mordecai looked down, his soda can suddenly heavier in his hands.
“She never showed it,” he said. “Twilight always supported me. Even encouraged me to ask Margaret out. She believed in me when no one else did... not even Rigby.”
He shook his head slowly.
“I guess I thought... if it worked out with Margaret, Twilight would’ve wanted to hear how it went. I didn’t know it hurt her.”
Shining Armor let the silence hang, watching Mordecai carefully—not to judge, but to understand.
“Margaret and I weren’t a couple, at least, not officially.”
Shining Armor leaned back. “So... if you and Margaret weren’t a couple, what happened?”
Mordecai sighed. “I was ready to make it official. Took her to a nice place back home, had the whole speech planned. But that same day, she told me she got accepted into her dream college.” His voice softened. “She broke the news during the date—said she couldn’t be my girlfriend and ran out crying.”
Shining Armor nodded, his tone sympathetic. “That must’ve been rough.”
“It was,” Mordecai said with a faint smile. “Messed me up for a while... but Twilight helped me through it.”
Shining Armor smiled. “That sounds like her. Always there when someone needs her.”
But Mordecai’s expression faded. He looked down at the empty can in his hand. Shining Armor noticed.
“Something wrong?”
Mordecai hesitated. “Sometimes... I wonder if Twilight made a mistake.”
Shining Armor blinked. “What do you mean?”
Mordecai looked up, guilt tightening his brow. “I’m happy for her. She deserves everything. But now that she’s a princess... I feel like I’m nothing. Just a guy from a park. Compared to you, to Cadance, I—I don’t measure up. What if I’m holding her back?”
For a moment, Shining Armor said nothing. His initial impression of Mordecai—some flake who didn’t deserve his sister—flashed in his mind. But after spending the day with him, jousting, laughing, seeing how he thought more about Twilight than himself...
He saw something different now.
“You’re putting way too much weight on the royalty thing,” Shining Armor said.
Mordecai rolled his eyes. “Says the captain of the royal guard.”
Shining Armor chuckled. “Fair. But when I proposed to Cadance, she didn’t care about any of that. Honestly, I think she was more excited about getting Twilight as a sister-in-law.”
“Seriously?” Mordecai asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah,” Shining said, smirking. “Gave me an edge over the other stallions chasing her, too.”
Mordecai grinned. “Twilight never mentioned that part.”
“Probably for a reason,” Shining said with a shrug. Then he turned serious. “But look—Twilight talks about you all the time. And not just casually. You make her happy in a way I haven’t seen since... well, maybe ever. You’ve been there through her highs and lows. Even when it hurt, you did what you thought was right. That means something.”
He sat beside Mordecai, his voice softer. “You were with her before she became an alicorn. You didn’t fall in love with a princess. You fell in love with Twilight. And she fell in love with you. That’s what matters.”
Mordecai’s chest tightened—not in anxiety, but relief. He remembered her kiss, their first date, and the promise he made that night: You’ll never lose me, Twilight. I promise.
A smile crept onto his beak. “Thanks, Shining Armor.”
Shining Armor bumped his shoulder. “You’re welcome... brother.”
Mordecai stared at him. Brother. That word hit deeper than he expected. But before he could respond, the throne room doors swung open.
Twilight and Cadance entered, followed closely by a floating magic bubble. Inside it, Discord was curled up, green with spots and looking miserable.
Mordecai blinked. “What’s Discord doing here? And why does he look like a moldy grapefruit?”
Twilight sighed, clearly annoyed. “It’s a long story.”
Discord chuckled weakly. “You know me—always full of surprises. Achoo!”
It was late, and after Discord’s phony illness disrupted the day, Twilight was too drained to make the trip back to Ponyville. With some time off from work, Mordecai chose to stay behind and keep her company. Shining Armor and Cadance offered them one of the guest rooms in the Crystal Castle, which they gladly accepted.
Discord, however, was not so lucky.
After his antics, Twilight banished him to a separate room. He tried to protest, but one look at her furious glare shut him up instantly. Mordecai flinched, too—that glare could curdle milk. Twilight slammed Discord’s door shut and marched to their room, still fuming.
Once inside, she sighed and sat heavily on the bed, rubbing her temple. “He faked being sick... and ruined my day with Cadance.”
Mordecai sat beside her, his voice soft. “Sorry, Twilight.”
She exhaled again. “Cadance said she still had a good time, but... I don’t know. She might’ve just said that to get under Discord’s skin.”
Mordecai thought for a moment, then said, “Maybe. He’d deserve it. But has Cadance ever lied to you before?”
Twilight paused, then shook her head. “No.”
“Then she meant it,” he said simply. “I know how much you love sticking to a plan, but... sometimes, unplanned stuff turns out better. I wasn’t expecting to spend the day jousting with Shining Armor—but it ended up being awesome.”
Twilight smiled, her frustration softening. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
She leaned into him and wrapped her forelegs around him. “Thank you, Mordecai.”
He returned the hug, holding her close. The stress of the day melted away in the quiet comfort between them. Within minutes, they were both nodding off, the exhaustion finally catching up.
Curled up together on the bed, they drifted into sleep, peaceful, warm, and side by side.
Chapter 6: Where it All Began — Save the Date
Summary:
With their engagement now public, Twilight and Mordecai face new challenges—unwanted attention, family expectations, and the ever-growing weight of wedding planning. But amid the chaos, they find themselves looking back to the first sparks of their story, remembering where it all began. As they settle on a date that truly means something, love, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia remind them both why they chose each other in the first place.
Chapter Text
Shining Armor walked them to the castle gates. As they stepped outside into the crisp morning air, Twilight glanced around and frowned slightly.
“Where’s Cadence? I wanted to say goodbye before we left.”
Shining gave her a warm smile. “Don’t worry, Twily — she had a great time yesterday. She’ll be sorry to miss you.”
Twilight relaxed, nodding. “Good. I know she wasn’t feeling well for most of the day.”
Shining Armor added with a slight smirk, “Yeah… she’s also very tired.”
Twilight nodded, missing the undertone. “She did have to use that anti-sickness barrier most of the day yesterday. And pulling Discord’s carriage through the sky wasn’t exactly light work. Makes sense, she'd be exhausted.”
The implication might have flown over Twilight’s head, but Mordecai caught it. Thanks to years of hanging out with Muscle Man, he knew exactly what Shining Armor was hinting at — and wisely kept his mouth shut.
Before the moment could turn awkward, the train bound for Ponyville rolled into the station with a loud hiss of steam. Twilight turned to her brother and wrapped him in a hug.
“I’ll see you at the wedding, Twily,” Shining Armor said warmly.
“We’ll see you then, B.B.B.F.F.,” she replied with a smile, pulling back and boarding the train.
Mordecai lingered a moment longer. “It’s been great hanging out with you, Shining Armor. We’ll be—”
Shining Armor pulled him into a hug mid-sentence, catching Mordecai off guard.
“Take care of her, brother.”
Mordecai smiled and returned the embrace. “You know I will, brother. We’ll see you at the wedding.”
They stepped apart, and Mordecai boarded the train. He and Twilight gave Shining Armor one final wave as the train pulled away, bound for home.
The train ride home was quiet, wrapped in the soft lull of wheels clacking against the tracks. Twilight sat beside Mordecai, still a little bummed that her day with Cadence hadn’t gone as planned. But despite Discord’s chaos, she smiled to herself — it had still been a good day.
Without a word, she rested her head on Mordecai’s shoulder, emotionally drained but content.
Eyes closed, she murmured, “So... you and Shining Armor had a good time yesterday?”
Mordecai smiled softly. “Yeah. We really did.”
A small smile played across her lips. “I’m glad the two of you got along. That means a lot to me.”
He glanced down to see she’d already fallen asleep, her expression peaceful. Without speaking, he wrapped his arm gently around her and leaned his head against hers. The rhythm of the train soothed him, and before long, he drifted off too.
The screech of brakes jolted them awake as the train rolled into Ponyville Station. They stretched and stepped off the train — only to be met by a wall of flashing cameras and shouting voices.
“Miss Sparkle! Are the rumors true?”
“Is that the ring?”
“Who's planning the wedding?”
“Have you picked a honeymoon spot?!”
Twilight flinched at the sudden burst of noise and light. Mordecai instinctively moved in front of her, shielding her from the crowd.
“Yes,” he said firmly, raising his hand. “Twilight is engaged. And I’m her fiancé.” He held up his wedding band, letting the cameras get their shot.
The photographers and reporters leaned in even closer.
“When’s the wedding?”
“Who’s officiating — Celestia or Luna?”
“Did you really fall for a princess, or is this a political move?”
“What do you even see in her?”
That last question cut through the noise like a blade. Mordecai’s smile dropped.
He stepped forward. “That’s none of your business,” he snapped, his voice cold. “And we’re done answering your questions.”
They kept pressing. Another shouted, “Is it true she turned you into a bird once during a fight?” followed by a round of laughter and flashes.
Twilight’s horn lit up in a flash of magenta. In a blink, they vanished.
They reappeared inside the Golden Oak Library, just as several of the paparazzi reached the doorstep and began banging on the door. Twilight slammed it shut with her magic, sealing the lock.
Outside, the noise continued to grow until a very familiar voice rang out behind the crowd.
“What’s all this about?”
The ponies turned to find a pale, ill-looking Discord slinking down the road, wrapped in a scarf and levitating a box of tissues.
“I’m pretty sure they just answered your questions,” he said, his voice stuffy. “Maybe write your article... and stop badgering ponies who clearly want some peace.”
He paused, then sniffled. “And you might want to leave before I…before I… AHH-choo!”
A blast of green mist sprayed across a cluster of reporters. They immediately doubled over, groaning. The rest of the crowd screamed and bolted, galloping off in a panic.
Inside the library, Mordecai and Twilight watched from the window, thankful to see the paparazzi had dispersed.
“Consider that my apology for yesterday,” Discord wheezed.
Twilight sighed and nodded. “Apology accepted. Now go back to Fluttershy before you get half the town sick.”
Discord nodded and vanished in a swirl of sickly sparkles, presumably teleporting back to Fluttershy’s cottage.
Mordecai watched the spot where he had disappeared. “He can be really annoying most of the time,” he muttered, then added with a half-smile, “but when it counts, he shows up.”
Twilight gave a tired chuckle. “Yeah... most of the time.”
The two made their way into the living room, still shaken from the chaos outside. Mordecai glanced around — and his eyes landed on the coffee table cluttered with parchment, wedding catalogs, and a calendar pinned with circled dates and scribbled notes.
He scratched the back of his head. “Oh yeah... we still haven’t figured this out yet, have we?”
Twilight gasped softly and blushed. “I meant to put all that away before we left! I got so caught up talking with Rarity about the dress, the catering, the colors... I guess I got ahead of myself.”
Mordecai smiled. “You’re fine, Twilight. Honestly, I figured you’d be the one doing most of the planning.”
Twilight giggled, then paused, eyes drifting to the calendar. “There’s one thing I haven’t figured out yet — the date.”
Mordecai raised his brows, a little surprised. “Really? That seems like something you’d have planned first.”
“I know,” she said, a bit sheepishly. “I wanted it to be something special. Something that meant something to us.”
He nodded, thinking it over. After a moment, he said, “Well... what about Hearts and Hooves Day?”
Twilight blinked, puzzled. “Why Hearts and Hooves Day?”
A sly grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Wait... is this so you’ll never forget our anniversary?”
Mordecai blushed, caught off guard. “No…well. Okay, maybe that’s a small bonus, but that’s not why I thought of it.” He glanced down, then met her eyes. “It was around that time when we first met.”
Twilight’s smile faded into something softer. She tilted her head, curious. “You mean... that day during the concert?”
Mordecai nodded. “Yeah. The day you saved Rigby and me from those unicorns.”
FLASHBACK
It was supposed to be a simple errand.
Mordecai and Rigby were downtown hunting for a replacement speaker for the Park’s Valentine’s DJ night. Benson had told them not to go into the back alleys near the edge of town, but Rigby heard rumors of a “magically enhanced bass booster” sold at a discount by some underground unicorns.
So of course, they went.
What they didn’t expect was a gang of shady unicorns — all muscled-up, spiky-haired, and pumped with magical ego — cornering them behind a dumpster, trying to sell what looked like cursed protein powder and enchanted rave glasses.
“You bros wanna lift your party game or what?” the lead unicorn sneered, his horn sparking with a neon glow.
Rigby leaned in and whispered, “Dude... I think that one’s levitating his own eyebrows.”
Before Mordecai could answer, one of the unicorns shoved him against the dumpster wall.
“You ain’t leaving until you buy something, bro.”
Just as one of the unicorns charged up a glittering horn, a blast of violet magic slammed him back into a pile of trash bags.
“Hey! Leave them alone!”
Everyone turned. A lavender unicorn stood at the alley entrance, her mane slightly wind-tossed, her horn glowing bright.
One of the unicorns scoffed. “Who invited the study group?”
Twilight Sparkle took a careful step forward, keeping her eyes on the gang. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I do know the expanded version of the pinpoint paralysis spell — so please don’t make me use it.”
There was something in her voice — not arrogance, but absolute certainty. The unicorns hesitated.
Then she added, a little less confidently, “Also, I already filed a report with local magic enforcement, so... you’ll probably want to go.”
That did it. The lead unicorn let out a grunt and motioned for his crew to follow. They vanished in a flash of rainbow-colored smoke and frustrated hoof clops.
Twilight let out a breath, then turned to the two wide-eyed figures still huddled behind the dumpster.
“Are you guys okay?”
Rigby blinked. “Are you some kind of... magical superhero?”
Twilight flushed. “Oh, no! I’m not even from around here. I’m just here with my friends for the DJ Pon-3 show. But those unicorns have been bothering ponies all week — I couldn’t just walk away.”
She gave a small, apologetic smile. “Sorry if that was too much. I get a little intense when people are in danger.”
Mordecai finally found his voice. “No, that was... actually kind of awesome.”
Twilight chuckled lightly. “Thanks. You really should be more careful in alleyways marked with a ‘Class B Spell Zone’ sign. Didn't you see it?”
Rigby looked to Mordecai. “See? I told you that sign looked suspicious.”
Twilight stepped closer, her horn glowing gently. “Come on. I’ll teleport you somewhere safer. No offense, but this alley doesn’t seem like your scene.”
They reappeared outside the venue, where the bass thumped through the pavement and the lights pulsed through stained glass windows. Posters for DJ Pon-3's Hearts and Hooves Day set plastered every wall.
Twilight smiled. “Well... you’re here now. Might as well stay for the show. My friends and I got a group pass. I’m sure we can sneak you in.”
“Uh... thanks,” Mordecai said. “Seriously.”
Inside, the room vibrated with energy. Magical lights shot across the ceiling as ponies danced in bright, flashing clusters. Mordecai and Rigby stayed close to the wall, watching the crowd — until Twilight joined her friends in the center and introduced Mordecai and Rigby to them. The two joined in the dancing, enjoying the concert together with Twilight and her friends.
It wasn’t long before he spotted her. Dancing.
Not well.
Her hooves flailed. Her rhythm was questionable. At one point, she tried a spin that nearly knocked her into Fluttershy. But she didn’t care.
She was laughing.
Eyes closed, head bobbing wildly, Twilight Sparkle was absolutely feeling it.
“She dances like a malfunctioning blender,” Rigby chuckled.
Mordecai said nothing. He just smiled.
Because there was something honest about it. No performance. No pretense. Just a dorky unicorn dancing like no one was watching.
He didn’t feel anything yet, not really. Margaret was still on his mind.
But as he watched Twilight spin and stumble and laugh with her friends, something sparked — quiet and small, like the first pop of static before a storm.
END FLASHBACK
They sat in peaceful silence for a while longer, the emotional weight of the moment still lingering in the air like the last notes of a song.
Eventually, Mordecai stood and adjusted his hoodie. “All right... I should head back and let the others know we’ve set the date.”
Twilight followed him to the door. The warm afternoon light spilled through the windows, casting a soft golden glow on the floor.
She walked him out, stopping just shy of the porch. “Thanks again, Mordecai... for everything.”
He smiled. “Hey, I didn’t do much. You saved Rigby and me from unicorn street thugs. I’m just trying to catch up.”
She stepped closer and gently leaned her head against his chest, closing her eyes for a brief moment. He instinctively rested his hand on her mane.
“Don’t be late,” she said, stepping back.
As he climbed into the golf cart, he gave her a mock salute. “You got it, future Mrs. Mordecai.”
Twilight raised a brow, a playful smirk forming. “Dork.”
Mordecai grinned as he turned the key. “Says the mare who alphabetized her wedding plans by font weight.”
Twilight stuck out her tongue. “You loved it.”
“I did,” he called back as the cart rolled forward. “Still a little dorky, though!”
She watched him disappear down the road, the hum of the golf cart fading into the warm breeze.
Twilight lingered at the door a moment longer. The day had been exhausting, emotional... and perfect.
She stepped inside, quietly closed the door, and leaned her back against it, looking up at the ceiling with a soft, wistful smile.
“How did I get so lucky to have such a wonderful fiancé like you, Mordecai?” she whispered.
And in the quiet stillness of the library, her heart felt full.
Signal792 on Chapter 1 Sun 03 Aug 2025 06:56AM UTC
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natedeanmaan on Chapter 1 Sun 03 Aug 2025 09:51PM UTC
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Signal792 on Chapter 1 Tue 05 Aug 2025 12:58AM UTC
Last Edited Tue 05 Aug 2025 01:00AM UTC
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natedeanmaan on Chapter 1 Wed 06 Aug 2025 01:46AM UTC
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