Archive of Our Own

Admire Groove was always the first to notice when Still in Love was experiencing some sort of trouble. Even when Still didn’t want to admit it.

“What’s wrong?” Aruv murmured softly, wrapping her arm around Still’s middle from behind. The smaller mare had just returned to bed after getting up for the third time that night. Aruv knew this because she had been roused from her own fitful slumber whenever Still left. Aruv had never quite been the same since Still had disappeared all those years ago. She found herself waking whenever Still did, only able to fall back asleep when her partner was safely at her side again.

“Hmm? It’s nothing,” Still answered, though Aruv didn't believe that. First, Still had gone to the kitchen for some water, then had excused herself to the bathroom for several minutes. Aruv wasn’t sure why Still had gotten up for a third time, though she could hear the smaller mare’s soft and almost imperceptible footsteps as she paced up and down the hall.

Still hadn’t meant to be deceptive with her answer. In fact, she was trying to convince herself that she was fretting over nothing. It had been just two days since she had gone to the city alone so that she could pick up a very special piece from the local jeweler. A custom-made necklace with a golden heart, and inside it was a sizeable blue diamond. Instead of a chain, it was attached to a red ribbon lined with gold thread. A replica of the adornment that Still had showcased on her racewear in her prime. Such a token was one of the most precious gifts one mare accept from the other. It served as a symbol that her eyes wouldn’t just follow her rival’s form on the turf, but everywhere else as well. Still intended to give this necklace to Aruv: her precious partner and the umamusume with whom she shared the brightest spark during their racing days.

At first she had been excited to give such a thing to Aruv, along with a vow that Still would devote herself to Aruv over any other person. The night she returned home, even though there were plenty of opportunities to show Aruv this necklace, Still couldn’t bring herself to do it. In many ways, her current life felt like a fantasy from one of her favorite romance novels. Aruv was always there, caring for her, making sure that she was never wanting for any sort of attention. And Still was only too happy to return Aruv's gestures in kind.

Despite that, neither of them had ever brought up the notion of such a long-term commitment. Maybe they didn’t need to, Still pondered, as they were already so close. However, the fact that Still didn’t know Aruv’s feelings about it scared her. Still didn’t want to make Aruv feel obligated to accept anything from her, nor did she want to be turned down entirely. And now she couldn’t ask Aruv’s opinion about getting married, or even bring up the subject idly by herself, without potentially giving herself away.

So for now she found herself stuck, hoping that the topic would come up naturally. It wasn’t the most sustainable plan, but Still reasoned that it would at least give her a little to work up the nerve for an actual proposal. A week, perhaps, at most.

If she could handle the physical symptoms, such as an aching chest and a roiling stomach, for that long.

There was also Aruv, of course. Still could feel the other mare's eyes boring into her back without even seeing Aruv’s face.

“Are you sure? Nothing on your mind?”

“Please don’t worry,” Still tried to reassure the other mare, finding her hand in the dark. “It’s just an upset stomach, I think.”

That wasn’t a lie at all, and perhaps Aruv sensed that, because she seemed to relax against Still. “Hmm. I could make you some tea,” she spoke next to Still’s ear, giving the back of it the lightest of kisses. Despite everything, this familiar gesture comforted Still immensely.

“Thank you,” Still said with a little sigh, turning around in Aruv’s arms to face her. “But I believe I can sleep it off.”

“You don’t seem very tired,” Aruv countered.

Still didn’t have any rebuttal for that, looking away from Aruv’s eyes as her ears went back. “Sorry that I keep disturbing you…”

Aruv examined Still’s face for a few more moments, cupping Still’s cheek with one hand. Aruv's hands were always somewhat cold, but the coolness felt soothing against Still's face in this moment, and the smaller mare found herself nuzzling against it out of habit.

“It’s alright,” Aruv said. “Actually, I’m a bit restless too.”

Still’s ears swiveled around inquisitively. “Oh? Any reason for that?” Still almost felt guilty for asking, considering how she was the one keeping something from Aruv. Even more so with the possibility that she herself was the cause for Aruv's unease. Aruv had always been so blunt with her feelings, and when she wasn’t… she was usually upset about something. Perhaps even irritated.

Aruv suddenly rose into a sitting position, and Still fell back against the mattress with a small squeak. “It’s probably nothing,” Aruv said, turning away from Still as she stood up. “I think I might go for a walk. It’s nice outside.”

Aruv’s tail thrashed around as she walked over to their shared closet, grabbing the dark blue jacket that she had worn since their school days and shrugging it over the t-shirt she always slept in. Still sat up in bed as she watched Aruv, ears pinned back completely as she brought her knees to her chest.

“O-oh, okay…” she said quietly as she looked downward, though her heart was already sinking seeing Aruv's tense body language. Now she really was worried that she had slighted Aruv, all because she couldn’t get her fears under control.

Then Aruv’s face was right in front of hers, and Still’s eyes widened in surprise as she met her beloved’s gaze again.

“I’d like it if you joined me,” Aruv said softly, with one of her small smiles that never failed to make Still's heart melt. Even after years of being together, Aruv’s invitations were always unassuming, as if Still would do anything less than jump at the chance to be in her presence. Relief and affection flooded over Still in an instant.

“But if you’re not feeling well-”

“I’m well enough, truly,” Still told the other mare, grinning back at her. “I wouldn’t want you to go for a walk at night by yourself, anyway. It could be dangerous.”

"How thoughtful of you," Aruv huffed goodnaturedly, reaching out to pet the top of Still’s head, an action which made Still’s tail start swishing around behind her. “Just don’t blame me if it wears you out.”

“You fret too much,” Still replied, zipping up Aruv’s hoodie for her. The taller mare startled at the gesture, making Still chuckle. It was then that Still realized she had been on the verge of asking Aruv to marry her for a long time now, especially in moments like this. When Still would adjust Aruv's collar, or pull the taller mare gently by the sleeve, under her parasol with her when the weather turned bad. Or when Aruv would grab something on the top shelf that was just out of Still's reach for her, or take Still's hand to lead her through a crowded place when Still became too overheated or otherwise overwhelmed. The moments where they both stared at the other with such endearment, as if they were the only two beings in the world. Even when they were simply rivals, neither of them could take their eyes off the other. Perhaps their fate to be dedicated partners was sealed then. And if that were the case…

“I-I would have remembered to do that,” Aruv said, her face flushing.

“I know,” Still said warmly. “I just enjoy helping you.” And then, because she couldn’t resist, she grabbed the edges of Aruv's hood and pulled the other mare into her. Their lips met and Aruv hummed softly as her eyes fluttered closed, her hand caressing the back of Still's neck to draw her closer. Still smiled against Aruv's mouth, enjoying this silent affirmation that Aruv had no ill feelings toward her. Not that she often did... hardly ever in fact. But after years of being scorned for her strength and possessive tendencies, or oft forgotten because her quiet demeanor, Still's heart had become quite sensitive. 

“We should go,” Aruv said once they had separated. “Before it gets too late.”

“Let me change into something warmer,” Still replied, as she was currently clad in only a cami top and shorts.

Aruv nodded, excusing herself to the bathroom. As Still threw on a sweater and a full-length skirt, she stared at her pillowcase for a long moment before reaching her hand inside. She took the small box she found there and slipped it inside her pocket, feeling its weight like a heavy stone.

xXx

The air was chilly outside, but Aruv had been right about how pleasant of an evening it was. The full moon looked breathtaking in the sky, surrounded by so many twinkling stars. The two of them lived in a small house in the countryside, which they purchased with some of the winnings from their careers. They both appreciated the solitude, the lack of light pollution that allowed them to gaze upon the sky’s beauty unmarred. A few minutes away from their home was a sprawling flower field containing tulips in varying shades of red, pink, and white. It was one of their favorites places to go together, and a place where Still normally enjoyed a sense of comfort.

However, she could barely even focus on the journey there, her mind racing as she considered how she might propose to Aruv. The taller mare was walking a few feet in front of her, stopping every so often to glance back at Still or the moon above them. It was on one such instance that Still bumped into Aruv and lost her footing, too immersed in thought to stop herself. Fortunately, Aruv’s reflexes were sharp, and she reached out to grab Still’s arm before she could trip.

“Careful here,” Aruv cautioned Still, and Still’s heartrate quickened as she got a look at Aruv’s face full of concern for her. For a moment, all Still could do was stare, taken aback with how beautiful Aruv looked against the deep blue of the night sky. And the way Aruv handled Still like glass, gently pulling her upright and looking her over to ensure that she hadn’t hurt herself. When Aruv was satisfied, she reached for Still’s hand, and the contact snapped Still back to her senses. She allowed Aruv to guide her down the path, letting her tail wrap around Aruv's lightly while stealing glances at the taller mare’s face. Aruv was blushing, as she sometimes did when they held hands or tails, even after they had done so countless times. Knowing that Aruv’s feelings for Still were so strong hit her especially hard in that moment, considering the words that she wanted to say so badly.

Words that were getting harder to contain with each step they made.

“Sorry,” Still said after a few moments, trying to keep her voice from wavering. “I got distracted.”

Aruv squeezed Still’s hand, pulling her a little closer to her own body in a protective gesture. She then looked both ways before her eyes rested on Still again. “I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Still replied, looking ahead of them at the flowers before exhaling to calm herself. “I was only thinking. You know I’m… really happy that we made it to this point. Despite everything.”

Still’s journey as a racer in particular had been full of many dramatic highs and lows, so low that she had needed to desert Aruv for a few painful months while her rival finished out her career on her own. As much as Still longed to find the same joy in racing as her peers, as well as her precious partner, that crimson side was unrelenting nearing the end of Still’s career. Constantly taking over and pushing her body beyond its limits, sometimes leaving Still near comatose for days after a race. It got to a point where Still couldn’t bring herself to burn out entirely. Not even for her trainer, who had mattered the most to her back then. Not wanting to disappoint them, stealing herself way seemed to be the only option. 

Still worried that she would be completely forgotten, perhaps even criticized by those who had once believed in her, or the friends she had managed to make. To her surprise, Aruv had been the first one to greet Still when she finally returned. Aruv had done her best to keep Still’s memory alive with everyone. Still had been even more surprised to learn how much Aruv cherished the memories between the two of them, even when they hadn’t always seen eye to eye. It was because of this that they had both been able to rekindle their relationship so fast and fall even deeper into each other's worlds than before.

To be one of those fortunate umamusume who found their soulmate in their rival… Still had never dreamed it would happen to her. But they had ended up here anyway, their racing years far behind them, hardly a day spent without the other since Still’s return. The thought of going back to a life without Aruv now seemed impossible.

“I haven't always been the easiest to handle, I know that. But you've never grown tired of me... or seen me as a burden. I hope you know just how much our time together has meant to me..." she had to pause and exhale, as she could feel herself becoming emotional. "I just… never want it to end.”

Aruv stopped walking, as now they were right in front of the field and its ocean of flowers. But instead of looking at them, Aruv turned around to face Still, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you talking like that?” she asked in a quiet voice. “And acting so weird. You’re starting to worry me.”

She let go of Still’s hand. The smaller mare could now see how tense Aruv was, her tail flicking rapidly from side to side. Still didn’t know if what she wanted to say would make the situation worse or better. In any case, she couldn’t delay them any further.

“You would tell me, wouldn’t you?” Aruv questioned Still, her voice lilting higher than usual in her distress, ears falling slightly. “If there was something… if you were really sick, or-”

“Oh, Aruv, it’s nothing so severe,” Still rushed to console the other mare, so moved by Aruv’s concern that she feared she might tear up in her current state. Aruv didn’t look very convinced, especially considering Still's worried face. Aruv could never bring herself to rest in such situations. And Still was the same, her heart currently aching at Aruv’s distraught expression.

“Although… you asked me earlier if there was something on my mind,” Still started, then took another deep breath before speaking again. “I think it’s about time that I told you.”

She tried to kneel down in the traditional stance, but both of her knees buckled and she ended up falling forward onto them. Still winced momentarily as she hit the ground, and Aruv’s long ears went up in shock.

“H-hey! Are you alright?” Aruv asked, stepping closer to Still with a sense of urgency now, as if she meant to pick her up. But Still shook her head, smiling as best as she could.

“I will be,” Still said, looking up at the mare before her. “Aruv, you’ve never kept anything from me. Despite having every reason to be guarded. And you love me…” her cheeks started to flush here, “for all that I am. Even the parts of myself that I want to hide. But…just like each of those…”

Still reached into her pocket, hand slightly trembling as she withdrew the box she was carrying there. She briefly looked at it, her heart hammering in her chest, then back at Aruv with a timid smile. “I can’t hide this from you any longer.”

She opened it, and Aruv’s eyes widened in recognition at the necklace inside, its diamond sparkling as it reflected the light of the pale moon above them.

“Do you know what this is?” Still asked tentatively. "And... what I intend to ask you?"

“...Yeah,” Aruv said, swallowing, her mouth slightly agape. She was clearly too stunned to speak, so Still continued, now feeling a little calmer with her secret out in the open.

“All I’ve ever wanted was somewhere to belong. And I think that place… might be with you. Forever.” Still looked down shyly, worried that she was coming off as too presumptuous. It was a long time to ask of anyone, and Still knew that she had not always been the most present herself. Both physically and mentally, such as when her mind was wrapped in the embrace of her alter ego. She knew that Aruv didn’t fault her for such a thing: the other mare was actually quite fascinated with that part of Still. But even so, her crimson side had often led to a lot of misunderstandings between them.

“These words are actually… very difficult for me to say,” Still admitted. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m worthy of you, considering the mistakes I’ve made.” She looked back up at Aruv, exhaling a little shakily. The other mare’s eyes had softened, but she said nothing, hanging on Still’s every word.

“I’m sorry for disappearing all those years ago. And I’m sorry I couldn’t run with you until you retired,” she managed, a lump forming in her throat. That was perhaps her biggest regret, leaving her destined partner. It had only been a few races, but umamusume were already on borrowed time in that regard. Every mile, every step had to be cherished together…and Still had ultimately deprived Aruv of enjoying that period of their lives to the fullest.

She shook her head, determined to keep herself together as Aruv looked on. “I can’t take any of that back now. But this,” she said, holding up the box a little higher, “This is my promise that I’ll never leave your side again. Will you accept it?”

Aruv was silent after Still spoke those words, shoving her hands in the pockets of her hoodie while she stared at the necklace, then back into Still’s wide red eyes for a moment before looking towards the ground. As a gentle wind blew past them, Still let out a breath she had been holding, a little embarrassment setting in as she wondered if she had misjudged their situation. Then she heard Aruv’s voice and her heart skipped a beat.

“I… don’t know what to say,” Aruv said finally, and Still looked toward the ground now, not wanting Aruv to see the panic on her face. She started to withdraw the box as her mind raced with how to handle a potentially poor outcome, then stopped as Aruv bent down, touching Still’s shoulder gently.

“Because I thought…I would be the one to make you a promise tonight, Still in Love.”

The use of her full name caught Still off-guard, prompting her to look at Aruv’s face again. Then she watched with amazement as Aruv took a box of her own, slightly larger than Still's, from the pocket of her jacket. The taller mare sank to Still’s level on one knee, and Still’s hands started to tremble again, so hard that she nearly dropped the necklace she was holding to the earth below.

Aruv flipped the box in her hand open, revealing a chunky gold ring with a dark blue bow attached to it. Still would know that accessory anywhere: she saw it every time she had raced against Aruv, marveled as it caught the light on sunny days when they ventured out together, glanced at it on their bathroom vanity most mornings. It was smaller than the one Aruv herself usually wore, obviously customized for a fit that would accommodate the smaller size of Still's own ear. The smaller mare gasped as tears welled up in her eyes, and Aruv smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry, I’m… not as good with words as you are,” Aruv said with a sigh, though she had the beginnings of a smile on her face. “But if I could say…” she trailed off, and Still reached for Aruv’s hand.

“Clearly you were intent on telling me something,” she said with a breathy laugh. All of the tension seemed to leave her body in an instant, replaced with a fondness for Aruv that made her nearly too dizzy to keep herself steady. “Let me hear.”

Aruv closed her eyes for a long moment before opening them again, looking straight into Still’s. “For the longest time, I thought I knew what love was. Something that hurt. Something that goes away eventually. I didn’t need it… until I found you. Even after that, I know that it took me so long… too long to understand it completely. But thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for…loving me,” she managed, her voice cracking a little. Still squeezed Aruv’s hand to calm her, though Still wasn’t doing much better herself, wiping at her eyes with one of her sleeves. She couldn't let herself cry just yet. She wanted to see Aruv’s face clearly, wanted to remember this moment forever in her mind’s eye.

Aruv recovered quickly, giving her head a hard shake, though Still could see that her two-toned eyes were glassy now. Aruv smiled despite this as she went on. “And I would be… even more thankful if you would-”

A bat flew out of the tree above them and Still startled, jolting upward and falling against Aruv. The taller mare caught Still but lost her balance, tumbling backward into the patch of flowers behind them. Aruv hissed as she landed square on her tail, but forgot the pain almost instantly as soon as she looked up and saw Still’s face directly in front of her own. That captivating stare which once lit a fire of resentment fused with passion within her, hardening Aruv’s resolve to take Still down on the turf just as she had done to so many other promising contenders. Looking at Still in this moment, that flame was stronger than ever: only now it was stoked with Aruv’s desire for Still's affection, her safety, her happiness. A desire so strong that she struggled to find the words to even express it. Even now, years after accepting that like Still, she was also someone who craved love and was capable of receiving it, and an abundance of it at that…Aruv could scarcely believe it.

Then Aruv heard that soft voice, pulling her back in like the breeze that swept around them, like it had done countless times. Sweet and filled with adoration, reminding Aruv that all of her feelings… all of Still’s feelings, too… were very real.

“If I would… what?” Still asked, panting softly, her hands lightly gripping the front of Aruv’s hoodie.

“Stay with me,” Aruv answered immediately, and she had barely gotten the words out before Still leaned down, capturing Aruv’s lips in an eager kiss. Aruv hugged Still tightly against her body, returning every kiss that her beloved showered upon her, before Still parted with a shaky giggle. She lifted herself up, placing one hand on the ground to Aruv’s left and cupping Aruv’s cheek with the other.

“Oh... yes, I’ll stay,” Still said, and now a few tears actually were falling from her eyes. “I’ll marry you, Admire Groove.” The words made Aruv’s heart practically leap out of her chest, a warmth spreading throughout her body that was almost overwhelming. A huge grin on her face, she reached up to wipe some of Still’s tears away. Still gladly let her before taking the other mare's hand in her own and kissing the back of it. 

“I want to wake up next to you each day, and watch the stars with you every night,” Still said, her tail swishing behind her in pure bliss. “I want to make sweet things with you during every holiday, read you books when you can't sleep, and walk beside you in the park every year to look at the cherry blossoms… and I’ll push you on the swings whenever you like.”

“Hey…” Aruv flushed with a little embarrassment. “I only asked once,” she grumbled, though she couldn't stop grinning.

It had been more than once, as they both knew, but Still wasn’t going to argue that fact right now. There were more pressing things to say, things that up until this point she had only written in her diary, fantasizing about the day she would say words to Aruv.

“But above all else,” she continued, “I want you to know that your heart will always be safe with me. I’ll protect it from anything that brings you sadness. Just like you’ve done for me. I swear that.”

Despite the tender tone of Still’s voice, there was an underlying intensity that made Aruv’s breath hitch. She stared back up at Still for a few minutes, nodding slowly before rising, flipping Still on her back in one swift motion. She did so gently, pinning Still’s wrists above her head as she hovered over her. Whenever Still managed to take her breath away in moments like these, Aruv found herself always wanting to return the favor. Perhaps a leftover impulse from their days embroiled in intense rivalry.

It certainly worked. Still gasped for just a moment before she relaxed, her eyes slightly dilated now as she adjusted to this familiar position. She found herself growing a little needy for Aruv’s lips again, her tongue, to feel her lover’s touch and be devoured by it… if such a thing were possible, Still would let Aruv take her very soul between her teeth.

“And I swear,” Aruv spoke, her eyes trained on Still’s, “that I’ll keep watching over yours. But… can I ask you for one more thing?”

“Name it, my love,” Still said in a near-whisper, slowly blinking up at the mare above her.

“Don’t ever question whether you’re worthy of me,” Aruv said firmly, and Still’s eyes widened. “I would have waited lifetimes for someone like you.”

And then Still felt herself overcome with emotion again. She was often unable to believe that anyone could value a creature like her so much, even with all her flaws and bouts of weakness. Especially someone like Aruv, whose strength seemingly never faltered, even with all the trauma she had endured. And yet here Still was, completely captive under both Aruv’s grasp and her devotion.

“Okay,” Still agreed, blinking a few times to keep her tears away. “Then I’ll make this one the best you’ve ever had.”

“Hmph,” Aruv huffed with a smile, leaning in close. “The way I see things… you already did.”

She leaned down and started kissing Still again, each one lasting several moments as Aruv poured all of her love onto Still. The smaller mare writhed happily under Aruv, mewling as she melted into her. Eventually Aruv rolled over onto her side, and Still wrapped one leg around Aruv’s to bring their bodies closer. On the bed of flowers they deepened their kissing, hands roving under clothes to grope at bare skin, making delighted gasps as each touch spurred them to lay further claim on what was now eternally theirs.

They came up for air but didn’t leave the other’s embrace, hugging each others’ arms tightly as their breathing slowed. Still’s eyes opened first, gazing upon Aruv’s face in the light of the full moon, something which used to cause her so much pain. Some years ago, she would have given anything to never see the moon in this phase again, as much as she admired it. Under it now, in the company of the mare she adored… Still thanked the goddesses that they could both enjoy it together.

Aruv ducked her head to nip at Still’s neck lightly before burying her face in Still’s auburn mane, inhaling her scent deeply. “How are you feeling now?” the mare asked when she pulled away, crystalline eyes glinting at Still.

Still sighed, gently caressing both of Aruv’s cheeks with her hands. “I’ve never felt better.”

Another gust of wind swept past them, a bit stronger this time, buffeting Aruv’s long ears. She shook them with a snort, then extricated herself gently from Still, standing back up. “Let’s run back, then,” she said with a grin, surveying the path back to their house. “It’s been too long.”

She reached down to take Still’s hand, then paused when she saw Still’s face fall ever so slightly. In truth, the thought of running made Still a bit nervous. Afraid that her primal instincts would take over and push her to unbearable physical extremes. Even the mere mention of it made her blood start rushing, and she could feel a familiar red haze lurking in the back of her mind. It made her body shake momentarily.

Even so, she found herself wanting to share this moment with Aruv, to feel the joy in running that most umamusume felt. After all, the two of them would only be running for the other now. This is the part they don’t tell you about choosing a rival. The part that you’ll only experience if you choose to follow your partner past that final finish line. Running with no trophies at stake, no potential titles to be won, no stopwatches ticking down, no crowd to drown out the breathing of your companion, no other umamusume to get between you… the high is so much sweeter. For those two lucky umamusume, the dance becomes theirs and theirs alone.

Both Aruv and Still had been prolific runners, and thus had exhausted the brunt of their abilities during their careers. They couldn’t race as often as they liked anymore without risking severe injury. And that was precisely why such times had to be savored.

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Aruv started, for she had been aware of Still’s complicated relationship with running for quite some time. She began pulling her hand away, only to be caught off-guard when Still took it delicately in her own.

“No, it’s okay,” Still said, now smiling again as Aruv helped Still to her feet. “I can run.”

Aruv’s ears stood straight up, though she couldn’t stop her heart from beating wildly with excitement, her tail thrashing back and forth with eagerness. Seeing this alone, Still knew she was making the right decision.

Even so, Aruv stood her ground, not letting go of Still’s hand. “You’re sure?”

Still couldn’t help but be moved by the fact that Aruv, who wanted to run with Still so badly, was determined to keep her own desires under control. And it was this that helped give Still strength to resolve herself to her choice. Even if that other girl were to appear, full of rage and ugliness after being kept dormant for so long, Still wouldn’t let that influence flood her so easily. How could she, when Aruv had just overwhelmed her senses with something much more wonderful: a confession of everlasting love.

Back when Aruv had tried to appeal to Still during their second Queen Elizabeth race together, such a love had been in its infancy, and Still couldn’t see it past her crimson visage. Now that she had been with Aruv for so long, experienced her love as it only continued to grow… it felt more vivid and powerful than anything Still could experience under her scarlet shroud.

In fact, with the knowledge that Aruv had pledged to stay beside her for the rest of her days, Still felt she could do anything tonight. Even run to the ends of the earth.

“I’m sure,” Still said softly, but her voice was brimming with confidence. “I’m not scared anymore,” she said, kneeling down to pick up the box with her new ear ornament inside. "Not with this. Will you put it on me?"

Aruv complied immediately, and Still felt another burst of warmth radiating in her chest as Aruv clinked the ring shut around her ear. Then Aruv turned around so that Still could bestow her with the new necklace. Still cinched the ribbon tightly, then swooned a little as the taller mare turned around to face her again. The ring on her ear may have been a great comfort to her in this moment, but seeing Aruv clad in Still's own signature red thread evoked an even greater feeling of strength within her.

Aruv gave her beloved another lengthy kiss, just in case she needed more courage. Then she shook out her arms and assumed a starting position, giving Still a challenging stare. “I'm counting on you not to hold back, you know.”

Still felt that familiar tingling feeling in her head as she let out a devilish little giggle, wrapping her arms around herself. So she was there, Still thought, even after all these years. But Still was prepared for this. She took a deep breath before returning Aruv’s gaze, red eyes alight with a mutual passion, her voice perfectly even as she responded. Perfectly Still.

“For you, Aruv… I would never. Not before, not now.”

The corners of Aruv's mouth slowly turned upward. “Then show me.”

Then Admire Groove and Still in Love bolted into the next leg of their journey together, side by side.