For Love of Another Pony

Spike looked over all the boxes stacked around their home of so many years. He sighed. "So, we're finally leaving Ponyville, huh?"
Twilight Sparkle was lying next to him. "Yes. ...I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"Hm?"
"I mean...this was your home too."
"It's all right, Twilight. I mean, I...I got over that crush on Rarity years ago."
"Mm."
"And when Apple Bloom told me that...that she was, well, you know... I was sad, sure. But seeing her walk down the street, with those two girls...she's happy. And I'm happy for her."
"...so, I should just...give it time...?"
Spike shook his head. "No. I understand that it hurts. We've been growing apart from the others for a while now." Even though he had only grown a centimeter since they had first arrived, his eyes looked weary. "And sometimes, you need time by yourself to sort through your feelings."
Twilight quietly laid there. "...like those about Dash and...and..."
Spike laid a hand on her neck reassuringly. "And Pinkie. ...we can always write. Dinky's been doing a good job of delivering the mail since her mom retired."
Twilight nodded, tearing up. "...I should probably write that into my last report. Ponies...change."
Spike nodded. "Maybe, but not now." He patted her gently, then walked away. "I'll let you say goodbye to the ol' library. I'll be outside if you need me." He left, leaving the door open to the evening air.
Twilight Sparkle sniffed, her eyes moist. She thought she knew Pinkie... She thought they had something special. ...typical Twilight. Always THINKING. Never looking, never really knowing...
A book floated into the air, gleaming with her aura. It shivered, then smashed into a wall. One by one, methodically, the pile of books was rammed into it. Her eyes were shut tight, leaking saline.
"Um...Twilight?" She opened her eyes to see a pink and yellow blur. Slowly, it resolved itself into the familiar pegasus who rarely flew.
"...I'm sorry that you had to see that, Fluttershy."
"...It's okay. I understand." She shuffled over to her and laid by her side, tucking her legs beneath her. She met her eyes.
Twilight recalled the first time the two of them had been able to maintain eye contact for more than a minute. It was shortly after Angel's funeral, in this same room. Fluttershy had been a wreck. She had gotten the scholar by herself here, and started pouring out the words she had been unable to say by the open grave: the story of how she had raised him since he was born, how she didn't know if she could go on without him, how she felt so very alone, even among her friends... Twilight had cried then too. Words, her constant companions, were failing her. What could she do? Instinctively, she hugged her close, neck to neck, for a timeless moment.
The stinging in her eyes brought her back to the present. Fluttershy still gazed into her eyes, tearing up as well. Sparkle rubbed her eyes with a hoof. "I...I don't nee...need your..."
Fluttershy shook her head. "You do. I needed you...just, let it out." So her friend, choked slightly with sobs, told her what had happened at the Wonderbolts show. When she finished, no words passed between them.
Then, blushing ferociously, the shy pony leaned towards her and licked up her bitter tears. Twilight blushed as well, blinking in confusion. "Fluttershy, why are you...?"
"I...want your pain to be mine too. ...I want us...to be closer...than...than close friends. I..." Her words faltered. "...sorry. Enough about me." She turned her head away, her own tears dripping down.
Then Twilight's tongue swept her cheek clean. Her blue eyes widened. "Me too."
Spike watched their first gentle kiss through a window, with a devil-may-care grin. "Ponies change all right. Friends sometimes drift apart...but some blossom into something more." He waved along the Pegasus stallions harnessed to the moving carriage. "Get outta here! We ain't movin'!" He laughed. "Not now. Not EVER!"