Manehattan Mare

Chapters

Departure
Warm Welcome
The Messy Bedroom
Cloudy Night
Thunder Struck Out
Pass the Cutie
Blue Eyed Mares
Tension All Over
Twitch a Stitch
Good Enough
Sister Zoned
Titter Tatter
Dramatization [+Recap]

Departure

Ecstasy: an overwhelming feeling of happiness or joyful excitement. My father was pretty old fashioned, and to him there was absolutely no way my name could ever be misconstrued as something sexual or perverse. Nonetheless, growing up with a name like Ecstasy really affected the mare I grew up to be. In the place I lived for most of my life, my friends started calling me Exie, and it stuck ever since. I don't mind at all, Exie has a nice ring to it, and it sounds better when ponies call out that name in bed.

"Ecstasy, yes! Oh, Ecstasy, harder! Bite me, Ecstasy!" Total mood kill, right there.

These days, not many ponies know my real name, and I doubt my old friends remember me at all. I've never been one to make friends easily; well, permanent friends, anyway. I can make a friend wherever I go, but I won't want to see them again after the sun rises. I've been pretty independent ever since I left my home in Canterlot and moved to Manehattan. I never had a strong figure of parental guidance in my life, but I found something like that when a nice mare took me in off the streets and gave me a job. Her name is Cashmere, and she helped me get my life together; she gave me a purpose. And now she gave me a huge opportunity to prove myself. I won't let her down.

I've heard rumors about this place I'm going—Ponyville—and how apparently that's where some really good friends that save the world or something live. They had something to do with stopping the Changeling raid on Canterlot last year, but I don't have any solid details. I wonder what they're like, and what they'll think of me. I hope there are some cute ponies down there looking to hook up, otherwise this is going to be a really dull couple of months in the rural fields of Nowhere-Land...

A young, light peach colored mare with a deep scarlet mane merrily trotted down the quiet early-morning streets of Manehattan. Black thigh-high laced up boots hugged her hind legs, while short black leg-warmers with teasing tears adorned her front ones. She chomped on a large carrot as she went, her deep blue eyes sparkling in delight. As she made her way downtown, traffic began to pick up while various ponies made their ways to work. Subconsciously aware that some ponies may be eying her, she began swaying her hips as she stepped and teasingly whipped her tail from side to side.

"Hi, Exie," a young blue mare called out from across the street. "How's it goin'?"

Exie paused and looked the mare over, one eyebrow involuntarily raising. "Uhm. Good, you?"

"Great! I miss you ya know. We should hang out again soon, it's been like, forever. Still have my address?"

"Of course I do, but it's at home. Give it to me again and I'll head over to your place when I get off work." Exie smiled and closed her eyes, desperately searching her mind for a memory.

The young blue mare beamed and skipped across the street. Exie dug through her bag and produced a small notepad containing many more addresses. She flipped to a blank page and held it up to the mare, whose long blonde mane fell over one eye as she wrote.

"See ya soon?" The young mare fluttered her wings and sensually ran her tail beneath Exie's chin as she carried on in the opposite direction.

The young earth pony grinned and tilted her head as she watched her mysterious friend's curvy blue flank fade into the crowd that now filled the sidewalks. "Huh... Who are you?" she whispered.

She shook her head and continued down the street, nearing her destination. It wasn't uncommon for her to forget about a random one-night-stand, so she paid it little attention. As she arrived at her place of employment, Exie unlocked the front door to Sew Fine, a seasonal store that sells adult oriented Nightmare Night costumes and accessories. She pressed past the glass door and locked it behind herself, then dropped the keys into her black saddlebag.

"You here yet?" she called out, still chewing on her carrot.

"Yup," a feminine voice sounded from behind the dressing rooms.

Exie smiled and trotted in her direction, flipping her long messy bangs to one side. She glanced around at the shelves and racks displaying all the latest and hottest costumes of the year. Her eyes found themselves locked on a glossy pair of leather boots with sparkling chrome buckles lining the sides.

"Exie! Chop chop." A tall gray unicorn with a light blue mane stepped out from behind the fitting rooms, pressing past a draped tarp. "Are you sure you can handle this? It's a big deal ya know..."

The young earth pony scoffed and rolled her eyes, snapping out of her trance. "You're joking right? Of course I can handle it. I'm a pro."

The older mare gazed down at her with a wide skeptical eye. "You've been working here for five years now, and I trust you Exie. I just need to be sure you're gonna stay focused down there in Ponyville. Running your own shop isn't as simple as managing a few workers here. You're gonna have to hire a staff, meet with the building's contractor, set up inventory according to corporate standards, and manage all the-”

"Shhhh," Exie placed a hoof to her boss' mouth. "I'll be fine, Cashmere."

She then reached up and hugged the older mare, who sighed and put on a soft smile. "I know you will be kiddo. Make me proud." She pat her on the head and turned to a pile of boxes. "The cargo carriage is set to leave first thing in the morning, seven A.M. sharp. Don't be late. We can't afford any delays in Ponyville. Sew Fine's gotta make a good impression on the nice, impressionable citizens."

"I'll handle it. Ponyville's gonna have one hell of a Nightmare Night with me around. Just wait, you'll see." Exie closed her eyes and nodded with confidence.

"You'd better, or you're gonna be jobless when you get back." Cashmere smiled nudged the little mare away. "Now help me pack this stuff up."

With the flick of an ear, Exie did as she was told, and began to work.

***

Twilight Sparkle stood next to Pinkie Pie outside an empty building on the edge of Town Square. "Sew Fine? Opening September the first. That's in just over two weeks, and all they have is a sign? Somepony's going to be pretty busy when he or she finally shows up."

"Sounds like fun!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"Pinkie, how does setting up a store on tight schedule sound fun?" Twilight tilted her head and shrugged. "It sounds stressful."

Pinkie Pie pressed her face against the glass and widened her eyes, gazing into the empty darkness. "What kind of store is it? Hmm?"

"Well judging from the name, it's a clothing store. I remember seeing one in Canterlot a few times around Nightmare Night. They sell costumes, I guess." Twilight placed a hoof to her chin and looked the building over. "I also recall being invited to a party held at one of these stores. I never went, but I think it was a rather obnoxious event."

"Ooh, a party? Now I know this place is gonna be great!" Pinkie leaned back and squealed. "And it looks like Rarity's gonna have some competition."

"Whoa!" Rainbow Dash fluttered down from a nearby cloud, her eyes reflecting the excitement in her voice. "Is this what I think it is?!"

"What do you think it is?" Twilight asked sarcastically.

Rainbow Dash joined Pinkie, peering in through the tinted glass. "It's a Sew Fine! They sell all the coolest Nightmare Night things. I'm gonna have so much fun this year! You ready to prank, Pinkie?"

"No!" Pinkie shouted. "Don't prank Pinkie, prank..." she glanced around nervously, spotting a nearby pony. "Prank Junebug!"

Rainbow smacked herself with a hoof and shook her head. "That's not what I meant... I mean, do you want to join my prank team this year. Together we'll scare the cutie marks off of everypony!"

"Sounds great!" Pinkie beamed.

"Perfect. You two have fun, I have some reading to catch up on." Twilight turned away and rolled her eyes.

"Typical Twilight," Rainbow nudged Pinkie with an elbow. "Too busy being an egghead to have fun. You know, I was gonna have you join my team too."

"As tempting as that offer is, I'll have to decline. I'm sure the town will have more than they can handle with just the two of you," Twilight explained with a calming sigh.

"Fine. Will you at least come to the party then?" Rainbow pouted and asked in a flat, insincere tone.

"Party?" Twilight turned back and shrugged. "What party?"

Rainbow threw her hooves into the air and fell to the ground, then spoke as if she were being forced to explain the most obvious thing in the world. "Every year on Nightmare Night, Sew Fine hosts the biggest and best costume party around. They always have to coolest bands in the area perform live, and everypony has a blast! It's for adults only, too. The last time I went to one of these things... You don't wanna know..."

Twilight frowned and nervously kicked at the ground, noticing Rainbow Dash's smug grin. "I think that sounds like a bit much for this small town, but we'll see how it goes. Looks like you have some competition as well, Pinkie."

"Are you kidding?!" Pinkie ecstatically shouted. "I'm gonna offer to help throw the biggest Nightmare Night bash in the history of Ponyville!"

"Alright!" Rainbow hopped up and bumped hooves with Pinkie.

"That's very thoughtful of you Pinkie. I'm sure the pony in charge will need all the help they can get. We'll be sure to make the staff of Sew Fine feel welcome. I can't wait to browse, I love decorating." Twilight attempted to peek into the window as well. "I have a good feeling about this."

***

As the evening fell, Exie yawned and stretched her limbs. "Phew. All done, right?"

Cashmere looked over the stacks of boxes packed into the back of a hauling trailer, a hoof to her chin and a wide, concerned eye. "Well I sure hope so... We ain't gonna have time for a trip back."

"If we forgot anything, I'll just improvise and make do." Exie leaned up and stretched her back. "So... I should really get some sleep soon if you want me up at seven."

"You're right. I'll clean up, you head on home. Good work today kiddo." The Manehattan mare gave a nod of approval and waved her employee off.

"Thanks. See ya!" Exie chirped as she skipped out the front door.

The young mare glanced over her shoulder, ensuring she wasn't being watched, then she pulled the notepad from her saddlebag. She read over the address, then hesitantly stepped in the blue pegasus' direction. With a deep, calming breath, she narrowed her eyes and forced her hooves to carry her down the street, and glanced back at the store with a pang of guilt in her stomach as she rounded the corner.

Only a few blocks away, she hastily trotted towards the mare's home, growing more excited by the second. She began to think about the mare once again, wondering when they had met before. She recalled most of her partners vividly, replaying various sleepless nights over and over in her mind. No matter how hard she thought, the blue pegasus remained a mystery.

Stopping at a tall apartment complex, she pressed her hoof to a buzzer and waited. Seconds later, the front door clicked open. Exie trotted in and made her way upstairs. A slurry of excitement and nervousness stirred up in her stomach as she neared the door. Even if she wasn't, it felt to Exie as if she was meeting a new mare for the first time. She lifted her hoof and tapped on the dark brown door.

A moment later, the cerulean pegasus answered, her long blonde mane falling over her chest. "Come on in! Glad you made it."

Exie smiled and stepped past the mare. "Me too."

"So, you missed me too, then?" The pegasus asked with a bright, hopeful smile.

Exie eyed the floor and cleared her throat. "Well, I have to be honest. I have no idea who you are. I've tried and tried, but I can't remember ever meeting you."

The pegasus tilted her head back in a small fit of laughter. "Silly me. Of course you don't recognize me. Wait here."

Exie grinned and scratched her head as the mare trotted into the other room. She tilted her head and waited, then took a seat a large, plush sofa.

"Remember now?"

Exie gulped and felt her cheeks grow hot. The pegasus stood in front of her wearing a skintight set of black stockings and a glossy black corset loosely fastened around her waist that was attached to a hot pink and black tutu. Topping off her look was a small black masquerade mask, and a single blue feather adorning it.

The young tan mare laughed under her breath. "Last year's Scared Sexy party at Sew Fine... Sassaflash."

"I knew you'd remember me. I hoped you come visit, but I'm sure a mare like you has a full plate, am I right?" she asked as she took her mask off.

Exie swallowed a lump in her throat as the sexy pegasus wiggled out of her skirt and corset. "How could I forget you? You were the sexiest mare at the party... well, second sexiest."

Sassaflash raised her eyebrows and seductively stepped towards Exie, who grinned with anticipation. "Second only to you, right?"

"In all seriousness, you do look really, really... really good. Even without the outfit," Exie said as she licked her lips, looking over the mare's perfectly sender body and full, round flank.

Sassaflash blushed and averted her gaze. "That means a lot coming from you... That night at the party was so unexpected, and so amazing. Not a day or night goes by that it doesn't cross my mind at some point. I was watching you since the moment I arrived, and when you spotted me I felt my heart stop. You truly showed me the night of my life at that party. I'm glad you're here now..."

Exie reached forward and pulled the pegasus onto the couch overtop of her, immediately locking lips. Sassaflash's long, silky yellow mane fell across Exie's warm, blushing cheeks. Her teeth playfully tugged at her friend's lips as she tilted her head and parted her own lips further. Her tongue slid out from its resting place, prodding for a way into other mare's mouth. The earth pony arched her back, thrusting herself up between her friend's legs as they kissed, their tongues now sliding across one another in a passionate exchange of saliva.

Sassaflash leaned up and stared into Exie's sparkling blue eyes. "So..." the pegasus placed a hoof against Exie's cheek. "Let's go to bed?"

Exie nodded and caught her breath as the pegasus slid off the sofa and stepped towards the hallway. She lay still for a moment, her heart blissfully kicking at her chest. She placed her front hooves over her eyes and tried to fight back the wide, goofy smile she knew she was wearing. All the while her heart pumped pure bliss through her veins, causing her smile to grow wider.

"You coming, or what?" Sassaflash called out from her bedroom.

Exie shot straight up and headed towards the hallway. She accidentally kicked the corset as she trotted, then shook her head and swallowed her joyful emotions. She had a mare to satisfy.

"'Bout time you showed up. I thought you got lost," the pegasus teased.

Exie shook her head and placed her front hooves on the mare's thighs. "Nope, I just couldn't decide if I was gonna take these off of you or not."

As the earth pony began gently tugging at the stockings, Sassaflash nudged her hoof away. "Nope. You first."

She scooted back and gestured for Exie to join her, who chuckled and hopped onto the bed. Sassaflash pressed onto Exie's chest, laying her down against the pillows. She gazed into the young mare's glistening blue eyes, then noticed her rosy cheeks and deep, uneasy breaths. The pegasus spread her wings and leaned down, nuzzling Exie's warm neck. Her lips gently grazed along the soft tan coat, and made their way to her ear.

Sassaflash let a deep, hot breath pour out over Exie's sensitive ear, sending chills coursing through her spine. She nipped at the tip, then kissed down her cheek and neck, stopping at her chest. With her eyes closed, the pegasus pressed her muzzle against Exie's warm chest and opened her mouth, slightly dampening her coat with the flick of her tongue as she kissed, moving lower.

Exie gasped as her friend's tongue made contact with her stomach, and joyous tingles echoed throughout her entire body as the sexy blue pegasus brushed her lips across her thighs. Sassaflash bit down on the top of Exie's boot and tugged at it, feeling the laces slowly sliding apart.

She leaned up and grabbed onto the boot, pulling it off teasingly slowly, sensing the warm, soft inner leather brushing across Exie's leg. She tossed the boot over the side of the bed and grabbed onto the other one. Exie pulled her leg back, helping slide the boot off.

"Happy?" Exie asked in a cracked, breathy voice.

"Mhm," the pegasus nodded and touched her muzzle to the swooning mare's lower stomach. "You are so hot, Exie. I really did miss you. That night was-"

"Shhh..." Exie pressed down on Sassaflash's head.

The pegasus grinned and kissed her stomach, inching down her pelvis and thighs. Exie closed her eyes and tilted her head back in anticipation, sinking into the plush pillows. Sassaflash wiped her muzzle and crawled over Exie, her eyes narrow and a loving smile spread across her face. "I work better when I'm not confined to a fitting room, you know."

Exie chuckled and rolled onto her side, pulling the mare down with her so that their muzzles were touching. "I do too..."

Sassaflash wrapped her hooves around Exie's neck, pulling her close as their lips met. Exie ran her hoof down the mare's side and flank, then slowly slid it between her thighs.

"Hey... I..." Exie cleared her throat and shook her head.

"You okay?" Sassaflash leaned back and widened her concerned eyes.

Exie took a deep breath and calmed herself, the thought of the morning coming so soon screaming in the back of her mind. "Yeah, but uhm, do you mind if I sleep here tonight?"

The pegasus shrugged and smiled. "I kind of assumed you'd be sleeping here tonight."

"Aw never mind... I can't anyway. The thing is, I have to be somewhere really early in the morning, and it's a long walk from here, and I don't have bits for a carriage... Ugh, sorry for ranting. I just didn't think about this before I came over." Exie sighed and hopped off the bed, picking up a boot.

Sassaflash huffed and sat up. "Wait! What, are you leaving?"

"I'm sorry. I'll get you next time, and I promise it'll be worth the wait."

As Exie began sliding her boot on, the pegasus fluttered off the bed and yanked it away. "No no no... I'll give you all the bits you need, and you'll get me right now."

The young earth pony shrugged and threw on a devilish grin. "Whatever you can spare should cover it."

"Just give the cab driver a bag of thirty bits and he'll rush you anywhere in town." The pegasus pulled open a drawer and tossed a sack of coins towards the devious little redhead.

"Perfect." She dropped the bits into her boot and stood up. "Now then..."

Sassaflash hopped back onto the bed and bent over, wiggling her backside in the air. "Ready when you are."

Exie rubbed her hooves together and licked her lips as if she were about to dive into a delicious meal. "I hope so. You're gonna love this."

***

As the sun peeked over the horizon, Exie stood at the front door to Sew Fine, slightly shivering in the cool autumn morning breeze. Her saddle bag was unusually heavy, being weighed down by a pouch of bits she didn't really need.

"Right on time. I'm glad you're being responsible about this. I'm counting on you..." Cashmere took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I snagged some start up money too, just in case anything goes wrong." Exie smiled proudly.

Cashmere narrowed her gaze and crossed her hooves. "Exie, you better not be on the street corners again. You could get hurt, and it ain't worth it, ya hear?"

"Oh, stop it. That was a onetime thing, and I won't do it again... I promised you... and... and I won't break a promise. Not to you." Exie lowered her ears and looked down, her voice flat and dry.

"Chin up, kiddo," Cashmere smiled and lifted the young mare's chin. "Where'd you get it then?"

"I ran into some mare and figured I could swindle her. It was fun." Exie looked up in time to see two stallions latching harnesses to themselves, ready to pull the large carriage to Ponyville.

Exie hopped into the back with the equipment and merchandise, snuggling up in a small cozy space between boxes. "I'm gonna catch some Z's now..."

Cashmere smiled knowingly at her exhausted little manager-to-be. "Good luck, Exie..."

Warm Welcome

I'm never sure how to act when I meet new ponies. Sometimes I try to force myself to be a mare I think they would like, because I'm not all that interesting on my own. I can figure out what any mare or stallion is thinking, and use that to my advantage. I'm an excellent sales-pony, and I'm always sure to get the upper hoof on any negotiation. But when I think about it, that's no way to go about making friends. I'm afraid I'm going to be lonely in Ponyville, and if I can help it, I'll make a friend or two so that I don't end up cruising taverns just for the sake of company. I don't want to be the town slut, but... I am what I am.

Bump, Bump.

Exie opened her eyes and yawned as the trailer rolled over a rough, unpaved country road. The young mare leaned up and got a better view. She was entering the small town, passing by small folksy house after small folksy house. Her ears drooped as she entered the business district, noting only a small bakery that showed promise of meeting another pony.

Coming to a stop, she hopped down and looked the two stallions over. They were both exhausted, and she considered offering a tip, but couldn't seem to get past their stubbly cheeks and less-than-appealing physiques. "Thanks guys. Go home now."

She turned away and looked at the empty building reserved for her shop, a woeful sigh falling across her lips. The building next to hers then caught her attention.

"Quills and Sofas?" Her eye twitched and Exie shook her head. "Seriously... kill me now."

She sighed and unlocked the front door to her empty building. Propping it open, she looked back at the trailer of crates and felt her ears fall flat. Shoulda kept those movers around...

With a deep breath, she hoisted the first crate onto her back and carried it inside. Each step brought her closer to exhaustion, until she finally dropped the heavy box and caught her breath. She glanced back with a woeful groan, eyeing the dozens of heavy crates still to go.

She trotted back to the trailer and steeled her nerves. "Come on, Exie. No time to waste!"

"Well, howdy!" An orange earth pony called out from across the street.

Exie jumped and placed a hoof over her chest, her eyes wide. "Oh! Hi!"

"Name's Applejack. You must be new 'round these parts." The friendly mare tipped her hat and trotted over to the cargo. "Looks like ya got yer work cut out for ya."

Exie narrowed her eyes and forced a fake smile. "Yes... Yes, I do. So, if you'll excuse me..."

"Say, I wouldn't mind lendin' a hoof if you'd be willing to do me a favor in return." Applejack smiled and hopped into the back of the trailer, nudging boxes to test their weight.

"And what would that be?" Exie asked bemusedly, almost fearing the answer.

"Oh nothin' much. Just introduce yourself and tell me whatcha got goin' on here." The earth pony chuckled and held her hoof out to the young mare.

Exie tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so you're going to help me unload this cargo for... nothing in return? I can toss you a few bits, if you want."

"No need. Consider this your welcome to Ponyville. You still gotta tell me your name, that's just good manners."

Exie reached up and touched her hoof to the mare's in front of her. "My name is Exie. I'm from Manehattan, and I'm here to open up a store called Sew Fine. We sell Nightmare Night apparel and accessories."

Applejack forcefully shook the little mare's hoof and pulled her into the wagon. "Pleasure to meet ya, Exie. I saw you carryin' that big 'ol box all on yer own, and any hard workin' mare is good in my book."

Exie grinned and pulled her achy hoof away. "So, you wanna be friends?"

"Shoot, I thought you'd never ask." Applejack nodded her head leaned against a crate.

"So, do all the ponies around here share your accent?" Exie asked, hoisting another box onto her back.

Applejack lifted one as well, carrying much more easily than the little mare beside her. "Nah, it's just the Apple family with our accent. I'll show ya around town when we're done here; maybe introduce ya to the rest of my friends, too, if ya'd like."

"Hmm," Exie tossed the box down and caught her breath. "Sounds good, but I... Huh... I kind of have a lot of work to do here, though. So maybe I'll tour the town with you tomorrow."

"Gotcha. Work comes first. I'll meet ya here first thing in the mornin' so we can get a jump on everypony before they get too busy. So, you're runnin' the whole store, all on your own?" Applejack headed back to the cargo and lifted another box while Exie slowly followed behind.

"Uh-huh. I plan to hire a couple ponies within the next few days to help out though. Know any pony in need of some extra bits?" The young mare took a deep, calming breath before biting down on a rope handle and dragging a box across the ground.

Applejack leaned up and thought for a moment, removing her hat and scratching her head. "Uh... Not that I can think of, unless you wanna hire my lil' sis, but she can be more trouble than she's worth."

Exie dropped the rope and looked Applejack over, noting her strong, independent posture and well toned body. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you are one good looking mare."

Applejack cleared her throat and glanced away. "Aw shucks. You don't look half bad, yourself. That's a strange getup you're wearin' too, but it looks good on ya. You sell it in this store?"

"Not exactly," Exie left her crate and wiggled her flank as she trotted past the blonde mare. "We do sell similar things, but my boots are a cut above your typical Nightmare Night store merch. See?"

Applejack gulped as Exie stretched her hind leg in front of her face. "Looks mighty fine, if ya ask me."

The little redhead trotted in a circle around Applejack, then wrapped a foreleg around her neck, running the tip of her other hoof in circles around her chest. "Look, Applejack, you're clearly a million times more fit than I am, and I'm afraid I'm going to die if I lift another box. Would I be too much trouble to ask... to ask for more help?" Exie fluttered her lashes before turning to face the ground.

Applejack blushed and stepped backwards, her hooves slightly wobbly. "Well of course I'll help. That's what... uh, friends are for, right?"

"You're so kind," Exie stretched her back and legs out, pressing against a crate. "I can't wait to meet the rest of the ponies here."

Applejack's eyes trailed up and down the mare's back and legs, then swallowed a large lump in her throat. She hurried and rapidly carried the rest of the boxes into the building one by one, beads of sweat forming over her brow.

"Whelp, all done. Lemme know if' ya need help with anything else - I'm gonna head on home now." The earth pony forced a wide smile and cantered off down the street.

Exie giggled at the sight and smacked her own flank. "You go girl."

She shut and locked the front door, then began unpacking the boxes and crates one by one. The building already had most of the fixtures needed to set the store up, including clothing racks and wall shelves. Exie quickly and fluidly sorted through the boxes, starting to separate and organize sections as she went. She placed fake blood and fog machines off to one side, sliding them down a shelf as she tossed costumes onto racks according to gender, age, and theme.

As she opened a large crate, she found several tall window posters. Gathering them up, she turned to hang them but immediately dropped them with a startled squeak.

A blue pegasus with a rainbow mane stood outside with her face pressed against the window. Exie frowned and trotted to the front door.

"Can I... help you?"

"Nope, just watching you set the place up." The pegasus grinned and nodded.

"Well, could you not? It's kind of... weirding me out." Exie explained as she trotted back inside.

Rainbow Dash let herself in and began rummaging through boxes. "This is so awesome! I can't wait for this place to open up!"

Exie scratched her head and couldn't help but laugh. "What do you think you're doing? You can't just come in here and go through my stuff."

"Oh... Sorry... Heh, I guess I got a little excited." Rainbow Dash dropped a hoof full of miscellaneous items and placed her hooves inconspicuously behind her back.

Exie rubbed a hoof against her chin and looked into the cerulean mare's deep magenta eyes. "How would you like a job? You seem to love this place, so it'd be fun."

Rainbow Dash fluttered into the air and thrust her hooves up high. "Yes! Does that mean I'll get a discount?!"

"Mhm," Exie nodded and dug out a clipboard. "You get twenty percent off, and you'll make... four bits per hour."

"Sweet, I'll have to work around my weather team duties, but I have plenty of free time." Rainbow Dash grabbed a pen and signed the application. "All done?"

"Well, I'm going to interview you now and make sure you're qualified for the job," Exie explained, "so take a seat. This won't be long."

Rainbow Dash nodded and sat on a crate across from Exie, who looked at a blank piece of paper in a notebook, pretending to read.

"First, would you consider yourself to be a friendly, approachable pony?" Exie asked, looking into the mare's eyes.

Rainbow nodded and breathed over the tip of her hoof. "Definitely. Everypony I meet loves me and can't wait to talk to me."

Exie giggled and made sure Rainbow Dash saw her eyes run up and down her body. "I can see why."

The pegasus turned away and scratched the back of her mane, then Exie asked the next question. "What would you consider to be your greatest quality?"

Rainbow Dash laughed and looked upward. "That's a tough one, since I have so many awesome qualities."

"Clearly not modesty," Exie added.

Rainbow Dash felt her confident bubble pop and lowered her ears, somewhat embarrassed. "Heh, yeah... Well, I'm natural born leader, and I get things done quickly and effectively."

Exie began drawing little hearts and rainbows on the otherwise blank page. "Good. One more question..."

Rainbow Dash nodded and Exie narrowed her gaze, staring deeply into the pegasus's eyes. "Can I trust you? I have a lot riding on this, and I need a mare I can rely on to help me get things done."

Rainbow Dash stood up and approached the young mare, raising her hoof to touch hers. "I give you my word; I'll be here when you need me, and I'll do my best!"

Exie smiled and nodded. She looked into the young pegasus' eyes again, reading sincerity. As Rainbow Dash gave into curiosity and opened another box, Exie's eyes and mind began to wander. She looked over the mare's attractive, messy mane style, her chest and wings, then her eyes slid down to her perfectly fit and slender stomach. She couldn't help but eye Rainbow's well sculpted haunches and thighs, and most of all her alluring round flank.

"Hey! Are you... checking me out?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow and crossed her hooves. "It's okay, I've been known to have that effect on ponies."

Exie shook her head and trotted up to the mare. "Hah, yeah... sorry. You're not quite what I expected. I couldn't help but stare a little."

"What did you expect?" The pegasus asked as she continued sorting through the box.

Exie scoffed and shook her head. "No offense, but I thought this place was gonna be just a bunch of muddy roads and bucktoothed donkeys. Now every mare I run into looks like a freakin' fitness nut, getting me all flustered. Uh, again, no offense."

"None taken," Rainbow Dash said as she puffed her chest out. "Not all the ponies around here are as great as me, but I have some pretty great friends I could introduce you to."

"Well, if they're half as stunning as you, then I'll love them." Exie winked, knowingly stroking the proud mare's ego.

"Yeah, half as great as me sounds about right." Rainbow laughed and looked towards the door. "They're really cool ponies though, you'll definitely like them. By the way, who else did you run into?"

Exie shrugged and tossed the rest of her box of clothing onto the appropriate racks. "Some nice mare who helped me unload my cargo. Apple-something. Great body, wears a cowboy hat."

"Applejack?" Rainbow snickered and leaned down in front of Exie.

"Yeah, that's right. You know her?" Exie asked.

"Psh, do I know her? She's one of my best friends." Rainbow leaned in closer and whispered, "She's really hot, but I don't think she swings that way."

"Ha," Exie raised an eyebrow and crossed her hooves. "Oh, yes. She most certainly does swing that way."

Rainbow Dash skeptically tilted her head and frowned. "No way. I've been dropping signals for years, and she never responds. Come on, the only way she could pass this up is if she was straight."

Exie looked the mare over in agreement. "You have a point. I'd jump on you the second you invited me to. But I'm still a hundred percent sure she definitely reacted to my flirting in a positive way. So, you have feelings for that mare?"

"Nah, she's just my best friend, and I'm not looking to be tied down." Rainbow Dash blushed and shook her head, taken aback by the forwardness of the young mare. "You... You really think I'm that attractive?"

"I do." Exie lowered her eyes and bit her lip. "Sadly though, I'm unable to fraternize with employees."

"Oh..." Rainbow Dash looked to the floor and thought for a moment. "So, what would happen if you did... fraternize?"

"Well," Exie grinned and nodded towards the back of the building. "Nothing, as long as no one tells."

Rainbow Dash gulped and looked up and down Exie's neck, chest, and legs, her eyes fixating on the torn leg-warmers. "I... I have to go! Please don't fire me!"

The pegasus darted out the front door and disappeared into the sky. Exie sighed and continued setting up the shop, angry with herself. "Damn it Exie... Take it easy..."

* * *

Rainbow Dash flew into Twilight's library window, knocking several books over as she fluttered to a small couch.

"You know, there's a door..." Twilight grumpily levitated the books back to the desk in front of the window and huffed, glancing back at the clearly troubled pegasus. "Was there something on your mind?"

Rainbow inhaled deeply and pressed her hooves into her eyes. "Twilight... Can I ask you something?"

"You just did," the unicorn teased as she took a seat next to her friend. "You can talk to me about anything Dash, you know that."

"Okay," Rainbow took a deep breath. "... What would you do if Celestia came onto you?"

Twilight frowned and leaned back. "What?!"

"You know, like... came on to you?" The pegasus nudged her fiend, raising her eyebrows.

"No, I get it. But I can't imagine why you'd possibly ask me that. What's going on?" Twilight asked.

"You're the smartest pony I know. I just don't know what to do. My new boss was hitting on me, and I think she's pretty hot, but I can't just go on breaking rules and being with her. Right?" Rainbow asked, hoping for a loophole.

Twilight Sparkle giggled and suppressed her blush. "Okay I get it now, but I honestly don't know what you should do. Either you have to report your boss to her superiors, or just go through with it. Or quit. No matter what you do, your job won't last much longer if you tiptoe around her advances. It probably won't last if you accept them either."

Rainbow Dash tilted her head and considered her position. "How long would it last?"

Twilight frowned and shook her head. "I can't possibly know."

"Okay. Thanks Twi! You're the best friend a pony could ask for!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she darted back out the window, knocking the freshly stacked books back over.

"Get back here and pick those... up..." Twilight groaned and re-stacked the books with a forceful burst of magic.

* * *

Rainbow Dash pushed through the front doors of Sew Fine in time to see Exie's young, slim body stretched out as she placed a box on the top shelf. The pegasus raised her eyebrows as a devious grin slid across her face.

"I'm back."

Exie nodded and stepped down, reaching into another box. "Good. That was your break. Back to work then; we still have quite a bit of setting up to do. You can get things on the high shelves more easily that I, so pick through those boxes and fly all the bundled decor to the top. Thanks."

Rainbow Dash dropped her grin and glanced around, noting how well the setup was turning out. "Hey, I like watching you put things on the top shelf."

"Hmm..." Exie hummed as she smiled and began assembling a frightening lawn figure.

The frustrated pegasus lifted a box of decorations to the top shelf and began lining them up. "So, are you always this big of a tease?"

Exie scoffed and dropped a plastic skeletal limb. "Hey, I'm not the one who rejected you and ran off."

"What? I didn't reject you! I just had to... take care of something first." She hastily emptied the box and fluttered down. "You're the one who's rejecting me right now!"

"I'm not rejecting you, I'm just trying to get this work done!" Exie shouted.

"Well if neither of us is rejecting the other, then what are we doing?" The pegasus asked, her voice lowered.

Exie shrugged and shook her head. "Look Rainbow Dash, I think you're crazy sexy, and I'm having a really hard time resisting you... I just don't want to be the town slut that everypony comes to looking for sex. I was like that in Manehattan, and..." she took a deep breath and looked down. "I guess old habits die hard."

Rainbow Dash nodded and turned away. "You have a point, I mean, we did like, just meet. It would be pretty sleazy of both of us to just... hook up now."

"We don't even know anything about each other," Exie added.

"You're right. Let's get to know each other a little better then, as friends." The pegasus spit onto the bottom of her front hoof and held it out to the little mare, her eyes closed and smile wide.

Exie tilted her head in confusion, then shrugged. She grabbed onto the blue hoof, eyeing the saliva sliding down its center, then licked it up in one wide-tongued stroke.

Rainbow Dash cringed and scooted away. "Whoa! What was that?!"

Exie blushed and shrugged, wiping her mouth with a coy smile. "I thought you wanted me to."

"No, you were supposed to bump my hoof with yours... I guess it's a Ponyville thing. I thought everyone did it." Rainbow wiped her hoof on her chest, then looked down at the slippery mess and sighed.

"Oh, and here I was thinking you were sharing a fetish with me or something. Huh. My mistake," Exie said, watching the flustered pegasus as she continued unpacking boxes.

"What the heck kind of fetish is that? I hate ponies touching my hooves..." Rainbow glared and stomped, her ears flat.

"That's a shame, because it looks like you take good care yourself. I've seen mares with pretty nasty hooves before, and that's pretty much my biggest turnoff. Especially hooves with removed horseshoes, gag." Exie trotted up to the pegasus and lifted her leg, rubbing the tips of their hooves together. "Are you sure you don't file these? They're so smooth."

Rainbow glanced side to side, then lowered her eyebrows. "Sure, I file them, but that's because I've got to be smooth all over to maintain maximum speed!"

Exie breathed onto the blue hoof, then polished it with her soft, black leg-warmer. "I can appreciate a mare taking care of her body, and it really shows with you. Every inch of you is in top condition. You're like a... a supermodel, or something."

Rainbow grinned, loving the words Exie pumped straight into her egotistical mind. "I am in great shape, aren't I?"

"Mm, hmm." Exie squeezed up Rainbow's forelegs, chirping a giggle as she ran her hooves over her sleek muscles. "You have to let me work out with you. I can't fly, but I can keep up with whatever you can do on the ground."

Rainbow Dash scoffed. "We'll see about that. Meet me tomorrow morning and I'll walk you through my routine."

"Sounds great, but I can't." Exie lowered her ears and kicked at the floor. "I'm... meeting Applejack so she can show me around."

"Applejack, huh? Well if you decide you'd rather loosen up with me, I'll be at the pond. Don't let AJ fool you; she's a top-notch athlete, but she's pretty dull sometimes." Rainbow Dash wiggled her flank and trotted to the door.

"Leaving already?" Exie dropped a box of fabric and tilted her head.

Rainbow opened the door and glanced back over her shoulder. "Yup. Catch ya later. Can't wait to get to know you a little better."

"Me neither," Exie muttered as she stared forlornly at the pegasus dashing out of sight. "I can't wait to meet your friends..."

The Messy Bedroom

I believe it's true that there's some good to be found in the hearts of even the worst ponies. I'm far from innocent, but I wasn't always like that, and even now there's some goodness inside of me clawing its way to the surface. At one point in time I was a young girl ready and willing to take the world, the darker side of life completely unknown to me. It's hard to say when I became the mare I am today, but I feel like I'm finally climbing out of this pit of bad habits I've spent the past few years of my life in. If I can stop myself from being such a slut, then maybe I'll make a real friend or two.

Exie rolled her pile of blankets up and sat them beneath a counter, a groggy yawn escaping her chest. She stepped towards the tall glass windows of her shop and gazed into the purple morning sky. Too early?

Stifling another yawn and shaking her head, she headed back to her sleeping area and slid her boots on, then began stroking her sloppy mane down to its usual, messy look. She lifted her saddlebag over her shoulder and trotted up to the windows again. With her teeth, she pulled her leg-warmers over each of her front hooves, then continued slightly adjusting and rotating them until she felt they were absolutely perfectly placed.

Tap. Tap.

Exie glanced up with a start to see Applejack standing face-to-face with her. She smiled and breathed onto the glass, fogging it up before she unlocked the door and headed out. "Wow, I guess you really did mean first thing in the morning, eh?"

"Well, shoot. I didn't expect to see ya here so early. I was gonna swing back by in about an hour after I dropped this here batch of apples off at a friends house. I figured you'd still be home, sleepin'," Applejack explained as she threw a strap connected to a cart of apples around her back.

Exie blushed and glanced back towards her bedroll behind the front counter. "What can I say? I'm an early bird."

"I like that. Gettin' up early is a sign of a dependable, hard worker. I think you and me are gonna get along just fine." Applejack playfully bumped Exie's shoulder with a hoof, causing her to stumble.

The young mare rubbed her sore joint and frowned. "I hope so..."

"How about you tag along with me while I deliver this? I could introduce you a good friend at the same time," Applejack suggested.

Exie looked up and thought for a moment. "Okay, or maybe I could meet Rainbow Dash at the pond... wherever that is. She wanted to work out with me, and since you're busy..."

"Heh, well if by 'work out', you mean watch Dash brag about how great she is at everything. Come on, the pond is on the way, anyhow. I'll take ya there after we drop these apples off."

Exie nodded and followed Applejack closely. She looked around at all the large, green trees, noticing their leaves slightly reddening as fall crept over summer. She took in a deep breath, the crisp, clean country air flooding her lungs. A soft smile eased across her face as they reached the top of a small hill and the sun warmed her cheeks. Her eyes gazed out over the sparkling terrain dotted with glistening morning dew.

"Y'alright, sugarcube?" Applejack glanced back at the awestruck mare with a knowing grin. "Sure beats the heck outta the city life, don't it?"

"It's beautiful," Exie said as she took in the sights.

"Ya know, I spent a small amount of time in Manehattan once. I was just a little filly back then, but I remember what it was like. You know what I missed the most about Ponyville while I was stayin' up there?"

"What's that?" Exie asked, turning to look Applejack in the eye.

"The stars. Out here in the country, stars fill the sky like nowhere I've ever been. I love relaxin' on the porch, just watching stars shoot across the sky when I'm alone. What did you think when you saw 'em last night?" Applejack asked as she carried on down the hill and towards the forest near the bottom.

Exie lowered her ears and shrugged. "I didn't really think to go out and look. I stayed working on my store until I had to sleep. I didn't leave all night."

Applejack glanced back at the young mare, their eyes meeting. "You got a place to stay?"

Exie quickly nodded and caught up to Applejack, walking by her side. "Yup. I've got everything I need: the floor and a bedroll."

"Well, if there's ever anything I can do to help," Applejack offered as she pulled the cart up to a homely tree-cottage.

"That's mighty neighborly of ya," Exie teased and stood next to the mare as she tapped on the door. "I think I'll be fine."

Applejack chuckled and tapped on the door again. It began to creak open, then a turquoise eye shrouded by long strands of pastel-pink mane peeked out. "Uhm..."

The friendly orange mare pulled the door open and gestured towards Exie, who stood with an amused grin. "Fluttershy, I'd like you to meet Exie. Exie, Fluttershy."

"Hello." Exie smiled and tilted her head, spitting on her hoof and holding it up to the shy little pegasus.

Fluttershy ducked away and slowly closed the door with an inaudible squeak.

"Huh, that didn't go well." Exie frowned and wiped her hoof on the ground.

"Did Rainbow Dash teach you that?" Applejack groaned and tapped the door again. "Open up, Fluttershy, she's new 'round these parts."

Exie blushed and shrugged. "Yeah, she did. I thought it was how you guys let each other know you wanted to be friends."

"No, it's more like... sealing a deal, or... somethin'." Applejack shook her head and giggled.

Fluttershy inched the door open again, her heart pounding in her chest as she slid a small pouch of bits onto her porch. "Th-thanks for the apples, Applejack..." Then she slammed the door shut and pressed her back against it, sliding down as she hyperventilated. "Please go away...! Please go away...!" she almost inaudibly begged, squeezing her eyes shut.

Applejack forced a chuckle. "Heh. Well, she ain't always the most social of mares. Let's go check in on Rainbow Dash." The mare snatched up the sack of bits and headed back down the trail.

Exie followed close behind as Fluttershy carefully eyed the two leaving her property. She let out a deep sigh of relief, then went out to collect her apples.

A few moments later and Exie couldn't help but speak up. "So, uh, I was kind of thinking about something last night, and had a question. Do you think I should take off these boots and stuff? I don't want to make a bad impression, since... I mean, I know I probably look weird, or..." Exie ran a hoof down her face and groaned.

Applejack frowned and looked the mare over. "Nah. If you like wearin' those boots, then wear 'em. I ain't about to take my hat off for nopony. It's a part of who I am, and I can't really picture you without that city-girl getup."

Exie nodded and smiled, reassured. "Thanks, Applejack."

"Don't mention it, sugarcube," Applejack said as she heard a faint growl.

Exie immediately blushed and lowered her ears. "Know anywhere we can get some breakfast?"

Applejack glanced down the road leading to the pond, then towards town. "What about... Aw heck, she's probably just sleepin' on a cloud somewhere anyway. Follow me and I'll show ya to the best bakery in town—my treat!"

Exie laughed and quickly shook her head. "No no no. It will be my treat, I have to insist. After all the help you gave me yesterday, it's the least I can do."

Applejack bumped her friend's ribs and picked up her pace. "Well, I ain't one to argue with free grub!"

Somewhere not far away, Rainbow Dash lay with her front hooves lazily dangling off the edge of a small cloud floating over the pond. She flopped onto her back and huffed with a grumpy frown, then let out a deep, overdrawn yawn. Moments later and she was snoring with her mouth wide open.

* * *

Ding! Ding! the bell to Sugarcube Corner rang out as the two mares trotted in.

Poof!

Exie jumped and shielded her face as confetti rained down upon her. An impossibly pink mare with a ludicrously curly and somehow pinker mane hopped in circles around the startled little mare, singing with a bright, shining smile.

Welcome, welcome, welcome—

A fine welcome to you!

Welcome, welcome, welcome—

I say, how do you do?

Welcome, welcome, welcome—

I say, hip hip hurray!

Welcome, welcome, welcome—

To Ponyville today!

The pink mare stopped to face a rather baffled Exie before glancing to Applejack. "Well? Aren'tcha gonna introduce me to your friend?!"

Applejack shook her head and blinked several times, snapping herself back into focus. "Uh, of course. Pinkie, I'd like you to meet my newest friend, Exie."

"Nice to meet you, Pinkie," Exie hesitantly offered. She blushed and lowered her ears when she noticed other ponies in the bakery giggling at her.

"Nice to meet you too!" Pinkie squeaked.

Exie made eye contact with Pinkie Pie, who stood in her way with a wide smile. The Manehattan mare raised an eyebrow and frowned, noticing the mare's less-than-exemplary physique. She eyed her plump belly, untoned haunches, and her, large, yet voluptuous flank. She then shook her head and tried to step around the pink pony.

"Have you ever been to Sugarcube Corner before!? What am I saying, of course you haven't! Because if you had, then I'd definitely remember you and your weird clothes. But then again, I remember everypony in Ponyville—I'm friends with all of them! Don't you want to be friends too!?" Pinkie asked with starry, hopeful eyes.

Exie furrowed her brow and glanced around the bakery at all the strangers waiting for her response. There was something decidedly off about this pink mare; she scoffed and shook her head. "Doesn't being friends with the entire town kinda sound ridiculous? I mean, sure, it's a small town, but there at least a thousand ponies in this town. You probably aren't actually friends with each and every one of them."

Pinkie took several steps back and tilted her head. "Nu-huh—I am friends with everypony..."

"Right. Well, it was nice meeting you." Exie shrugged and looked at Applejack with a cocked eyebrow.

The orange mare nervously scratched her mane, repositioning her hat. "Well, okay then! How 'bout breakfast?" Applejack led Exie to a display case of freshly baked pasties.

"Ooh! You look like you need a nice cupcake with my super special super sweet frosting! Yum!" Pinkie hopped over the counter and pulled out a tray of sparkling green cupcakes. To Exie, it looked a bit like what happened in your nose after you accidentally inhaled glitter. She fought to repress memories from kindergarten as Pinkie boasted, "I topped them with shiny sugar sprinkles myself."

Exie held back a grimace and shook her head. "Thanks, but I was just gonna get a coffee cake, and some coffee."

"Oh..." Pinkie lowered her eyes and pulled the bland looking treat out from the display case. "That'll be two bits," she said with a sigh.

"Wait, I'm also buying whatever Applejack wants." Exie nodded and brushed herself against Applejack, who closed her eyes with a soft smile.

"I'll take two apple fritters and a pint a' apple juice."

Pinkie nodded and dropped the treats onto the counter. "Four bits please, and if you two have a seat, I'll bring your drinks in a moment."

Applejack felt a pang of sympathy as she watched Pinkie speak in an unusually calm demeanor. The usually hyperactive mare suspiciously eyed Exie as she and Applejack took their seats and began to laugh and talk. One eye slowly closed, the other carefully focusing on the rude, unfriendly mare. She determined something had to be done. Hopefully, unlike the last time something like this had happened, it wouldn't end up hospitalizing an entire flock of geese.

* * *

"... and then Rainbow Dash started lickin' the spilled cider right off the dirt!" Applejack said before breaking into a small fit of laughter.

Exie covered her mouth and chuckled, small crumbs from a big bite of her crumbly cake bouncing across the table. "That's crazy! She likes apple cider that much? Why don't you just give her some?"

"She'd like that." Applejack rolled her eyes and scoffed.

Exie raised her eyebrows and swallowed her mouthful of cake. "Yeah she would... Heh, I didn't take you as the sex-joke type."

"Say what now?" Applejack swallowed hard and weakly grimaced. "Oh! Yeah... That wasn't a sex joke. I was bein' serious. I've got no say in the matter; Rainbow has to get in line and follow the rules like everypony else. It's just that Pinkie Pie here always gets in front of the line and usually gets way too much and we run out too soon. I was thinkin' about a limit rule, but..."

"A limit?!" Pinkie interrupted as she sat the drinks on the table. "That sounds like a terrible idea. Because then—"

"Then you wouldn't be able to hog it all to yourself?" Exie interjected.

"I really like Sweet Apple Cider," Pinkie Pie opined with a shrug.

Exie frowned and nodded. "Cool."

Pinkie furrowed her eyebrows and looked into Exie's eyes as she stared her down, then she threw on a bright, cheery smile. "Well, anyways, I was gonna throw you a 'Welcome To Ponyville Party' and introduce you to the whole town! It'll be here at Sugarcube Corner later this afternoon! Are you excited?!"

Exie shook her head in near disbelief. "Actually, I'd rather not meet the whole town in one day, that would be pretty pointless, don't you think? Applejack has already offered to introduce me to her friends. That'll be more than enough, thanks."

"Oh..." Pinkie's ears drooped and she nodded. "Okay then."

Exie looked to Applejack, nodding towards Pinkie who was still awkwardly standing there. She then looked up at Pinkie with a crooked frown, and gestured back towards the front counter.

"Let me know if you need... anything else." Pinkie lowered her eyes and left the two mares to their conversation.

Applejack felt her heart splitting in two as she watched Pinkie Pie woefully step away. "Hey, Exie, I know Pinkie can be... uh..."

"Annoying?" Exie suggested.

"Well, in a word, sorta. Her personality ain't for everypony, but she's my friend, so could ya please, y'know...?"

"Lighten up?" Exie sighed.

"Exactly. You're bein' a might rude, and I know I don't know you all that well, but it seems unlike you." Applejack lifted her second treat and bit into it with a smile. "I mean, you've been awfully polite and respectful towards me."

The light-peach mare rested her cheek on the table and shrugged. "I know, I know, but something about her just really bugs me. She feels fake, like I'm looking a front, or façade. I guess I just get a bit defensive when I can't read a pony. She seems selfish, and just... I'm sorry, I don't know her, but I can't help it. I'll be nicer to her from now on."

Applejack shrugged and chugged her juice. "Well, give 'er time; she'll grow on ya."

Exie halfheartedly nodded and looked away. "So. How about we go pester Rainbow Dash?"

"Nah," Applejack said as she rolled her eyes. "Rainbow Dash finds you. We could search for hours, and she could be anywhere."

"Hmm. I see." Exie thought for a moment and placed a few bits on the table. "Show me around town, then? Where do you live anyway? You, like, grow apples, right? You have an orchard?"

Applejack eyed the bits with a guilty frown. "Uh, yeah. My family owns Sweet Apple Acres: the best apple orchard around. It gets to lookin' somethin' spectacular around this time of year."

"Oh, because of the autumn?" Exie asked.

"Come on, I'll show ya." Applejack stood up and headed out the door, offering Pinkie a smile as she went.

Exie followed close behind and glared at Pinkie on her way out, those wide, overly cheerful eyes and that huge, seemingly forced smile digging at her nerves. She shook the strange mare off her mind and cantered up to Applejack's side. "So, how long have you lived in Ponyville?" Exie asked, glancing around at the scenery.

"My family's lived here ever since the town was founded. So what about you? Is this gonna be your new home?" Applejack chucked and continued down the trail towards the acres, spotting the Carousel Boutique at the end of the block, and a white unicorn carrying a bag of fabric in her aura.

"I actually plan to move back to Manehattan after Nightmare Night. There isn't much for me here," Exie said as Applejack came to a halt.

"Well, that's too bad. Hopefully you'll visit. Anywho, there's one more pony I'd like ya to meet right quick."

Her attention caught, the white unicorn lowered her bag and greeted her friend. "Oh, good morning Applejack. Eh, who's... this?"

"Rarity, I'd like ya to meet my new friend, Exie." Applejack confidently nodded towards the little mare.

Exie gulped and felt herself begin to choke up before speaking. She blushed as her eyes washed over the most beautiful mare she'd ever had privilege of meeting. She felt her heart skip a beat as Rarity's mane fell across her chest, the curly ends bouncing while she batted her long, glamorous lashes. The deepest, most alluring blue eyes in the world locked with her own for a moment, and chills shot up her spine.

"H... hi. Nice to... meet you," Exie stammered dumbly.

Rarity looked her over, unimpressed. "Pleasure. I have to ask, darling: wherever did you get those—" she hesitated just long enough to make Exie even uneasier "—lovely boots?"

Exie turned around and stretched a leg out, her heart racing as she hoped to make herself attractive. "Oh, these old things? A good friend of mine made them for me."

Rarity stood there, silently watching Exie for what felt to the light-peach mare like an eternity, before she smirked and looked away. "Well then, I have a lot to do today, so if you'll excuse me. Nice meeting you, Exie."

"See ya later!" Applejack reached over and pulled Exie down the road.

The infatuated earth pony sighed and shook her head. "She was—is absolutely gorgeous..."

"That's Rarity."

"Wow. How is it a mare like that ends up stuck in the middle if nowhere? She should be on the cover of magazines. She's amazing. Come to think if it, all of the ponies I meet around here are in some way or another outstanding. She's really something special though." Exie hummed as she walked, an image of Rarity painted in the back of her mind. She kept this behavior up for who-knew how long, since Exie had lost track of the time, only snapping out of her thoughts when Applejack said something.

"We're here!" Applejack rolled her eyes at Exie and stifled a groan.

Exie opened her eyes and looked out over the acres from atop a small hill. She found herself breathless as she stared into the valley surrounded by a seemingly endless orchard of apple trees. Humbled, she cracked a smile and looked over at her friend.

"You live here? This place is amazing."

Applejack smugly tipped her hat. "Sure do. I knew you'd love this. Come on and I'll show you 'round the farm."

Exie followed the mare to the front of the farmhouse, where a young filly with a deep pink mane and soft yellow coat sat doing her homework. The little filly bit down on her pencil and grumbled.

"Y'alright there, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, leaning over and eying the paper. "Ah, fancy mathematics, huh? Good luck with that, Sis. Oh, and say hello to my new friend, Exie."

"Hiya!" Apple Bloom shouted with a warm, welcoming smile, leaning up from her school work. "I'm Apple Bloom."

Exie knelt down and scrunched her eyes. "Hello there—you're just the cutest wittle thing I've seen all day! Yes, you are!"

Apple Bloom cringed and scooted away. "Uh... thanks?" She looked to her big sister and shrugged.

"I'm guessin' ya don't spend a lot of time with little ones," Applejack stated with a crooked grin.

Exie blushed and scratched her head. "Not usually... I'm sorry, Apple Bloom. I guess you're older than I thought... How old are you?"

"Eleven," the proud little filly said as she lifted her nose. "How old are you?"

"AJ, I could use a little..." A large red stallion cringed as he attempted to pull a stack of hay bales too tall through the barn doors, wincing as the top wobbled. Exie, though, didn't really notice the stallion, her attention rapt to Apple Bloom

"Aw heck. I'll be right back."

Exie nodded absently as Applejack cantered to her brother's rescue. As she looked at the filly's paper, a thought came to mind. "Math, huh? Having trouble?"

Apple Bloom nodded. "You know much about this stuff? I'm stuck and I have to turn this in tomorrow."

Exie looked down at the problem and lowered her eyebrows.

Solve for c:

c³/9 = 3

"So where are you stuck?" Exie prodded.

"I'm not sure how to figure it out. I put some guesses in as c, but they're all wrong," Apple Bloom explained.

"Well, what divided by nine equals three?" Exie asked, drawing a line on Apple Bloom's worksheet. The little filly shrugged cluelessly. "Okay, well what's nine multiplied by three?"

"Twenty-seven," Apple Bloom quickly answered. "Oh! Of course... Silly me. Twenty-seven divided by nine is three. So what cubed equals twenty-seven?" Apple Bloom shot the paper a puzzled frown while Exie shrugged with a knowing smile. The filly closed her eyes and thought for several moments. "Oh, I got it!" She then continued filling out the equation with a sigh of relief, then jumped up and hugged the mare next to her. "Thanks, Exie!"

Applejack stood behind the two with a warm smile. "That was sure kind of ya. Looks like you made a new friend all on yer own."

Exie nodded and smiled as Apple Bloom packed up her completed assignment and frolicked off to play. "She's absolutely adorable."

Applejack nodded and placed a hoof on Exie's shoulder. "Glad ya think so. Now, I've got a few chores to tend to 'round the farm. You're welcome to hang around here and do whatever you'd like, and don't be afraid to come visit the farm any time. You're always welcome and I'll be here to help with anything you need. Shoot, if you feel like it, you can even rent out our guest room it you get tired of sleepin' on the floor."

"Guest room?" Exie tilted her head and grinned. "How much?"

Applejack glanced back at her brother, who was lining the orchard with empty bushel baskets for the fall harvest. "I can spare a few more minutes. Let me show you the room, and we'll negotiate. I'm sure Granny Smith won't mind if you stay for a while."

Exie followed her friend into the farmhouse, her attention drawn to a creaky wooden rocking chair supporting a snoring old mare. Applejack declared, "That there's Granny Smith." Exie flattened her ears, startled by Applejack's loud voice. "Aw, don't worry. Granny never wakes up from her naps." Applejack chuckled and led her to the stairway.

Exie took a deep breath, a heavy pit in her stomach as she glanced around at the warm, comfortable home. Her eyes then landed on Applejack's rear, following her upstairs bringing back memories of her teenage years. The welcoming mare pushed open a small squeaky door and held her hoof out, inviting Exie in.

"Not bad!" The young mare hopped onto the bed and stretched out. "Comfy."

"Glad ya like it. If it were up to me, I'd let ya stay for free, but that ain't gonna fly with Big Mac and Granny Smith. We could always use extra bits around the farm," Applejack explained.

"Oh no, I'm happy to pay. You've been great to me, and you hardly even know me. Thank you so much, Applejack. I'm so glad to have met you. I'd be lost here without you." Exie lowered her eyes and stepped towards the mare. "I've really never met a pony like you."

Applejack gulped and backed up against the door. "Well, shucks, Exie. I... I'm just bein' myself."

"I know... You're beautiful, and so gracious." Exie tossed her saddlebag onto the floor and placed her hoof on Applejack's cheek, her deep blue eyes twinkling as they slowly closed.

Applejack's heart pounded in her chest, her breath taken away as the slender, elegant mare leaned in closer, their muzzles nearly touching. Exie shifted her weight onto her back hooves, arching her back as her warm forelegs reached around the blonde mare's neck. Their lips brushed together, and Exie pressed forward.

Applejack closed her eyes and fell into the moment, her hat falling to the floor as the two mares stumbled backwards against a small hutch, knocking over a stack of paper and writing utensils, their lips remaining locked in a passionate kiss. Exie twirled herself and friend around and pushed her against the bed, sliding her tongue deep into Applejack's mouth before leaning down and biting her neck.

Applejack tilted her head back as Exie climbed over her onto the bed, all the while kissing and sucking on her sensitive skin. The experienced city-girl kissed down her chest, flicking her tongue out across her lower stomach. The young mare sighed and rested her head on Applejack's thigh, then put on a bright smile and slid off the bed.

"Mmm," she hummed, licking her lips as she pulled the bag of bits from her black, faux-leather bag. "So, I'll take it. What do I owe you?"

Applejack caught her breath and laughed, resting against the unmade bed. "Wowee, little missy. You kinda... took me by surprise there."

"I'm sorry about that, but I couldn't help myself." Exie batted her lashes and bit her lip, her long crimson mane falling over one eye. "I just had to kiss you..."

Applejack looked the mare up and down, her coyness setting a fire in her chest. "You sure helped yourself, alright. Not that I mind, really."

Exie grinned and looked up into her friend's emerald green eyes, as she began to sensually step towards her, her shoulder blades high and her hips swaying. As she reached the farm-girl, Exie ran a hoof down her neck and chest, stopping at her stomach.

"You should go help your brother. I'll talk to you about the bills later. I'll clean up this mess, and maybe catch a nap." She smiled and urged the mare off of her bed.

Applejack stood up and nodded. "You're right... I can't just leave him out there right now. I'll see ya later, and... Exie?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell Rainbow Dash." Appejack frowned, snatching her hat up off of the floor.

Exie put on a forced a smile and looked down. "I won't."

As Applejack shut the door and headed down stairs, Exie hugged onto her pillow and squeezed it tightly. She bit down on her tongue and attempted to snuff out her sudden urge to cry. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are perfect for each other— don't get in the way...

She blinked several tears from her eyes, then kicked her boots off before becoming drowsy. She swallowed her sudden burst of emotion like a hoofful of glass and sobbed herself to sleep, certain she had just ruined her chance of having a true friend. Certain even more of an opportunity lost, and thoroughly irked that her libido had gotten the better of her. Again.

Cloudy Night

I wonder if other ponies ever do or think the things that I do. I wonder if I'm the only mare in the world who intentionally cries herself to sleep. Am I the only one in the world that locks herself into dire situations with no hope to come out clean, and do I do it on purpose? Do I like the pain I cause, or do I like knowing that I'm capable of doing so? I'd never really thought about those things until now, and I'm beginning to believe that my time here in Ponyville will unveil some answers. Maybe the pain'll even out, or hell, maybe I'll fall in love with somepony. Unlikely...

I don't think I'm the type of mare capable of falling in love; at least, not true, unending love. I'm a go-to girl, a pony meant to be used for a sliver of happiness. I can show another mare what it means to be desired, and I can show a stallion what it's like to be unbound and without regret. If I can be a light in the dark, then so be it. I'd gladly trade my body for the happiness of somepony I care about. It's a win-win situation, usually.

Exie stretched her limbs and let a deep yawn into the air as she unlocked the door to Sew Fine and trotted inside. Before she caught her breath, she placed her hooves over her mouth and inhaled deeply, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Achoo!" she sneezed, stumbling backwards.

Shaking her head, she fanned her hoof in front of her nose, spotting an infinite number of dust-motes drifting through the bright afternoon sunlight. She trotted through the veil of dust towards the back of the store, where she flipped a switch to activate the central fanning system. As the air circulated, the haze lessened, and Exie took a deep, relieved breath.

"That's better," she mumbled as she grabbed a broom and cleaned empty boxes and crate splinters off the floor.

"Knock knock!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she pressed through the glass doors, her ears lowered and her gaze averted.

"Hi there," Exie said, clearing her throat and leaning the broom against the wall. "So, ready to get some work done today?"

Rainbow scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Sure..."

Exie gulped, swallowing a lump in her throat. "Um... something on your mind?"

"Oh, not much. Just the fact that you left me hangin' all morning!" Rainbow shouted as she fluttered up to the redheaded mare.

"I told you I was going to do things with Applejack today, because, you know... she asked first," Exie explained with a nervous grin. "I didn't realize it mattered so much to you. I'm sorry, Dash."

The pegasus crossed her hooves and cocked a brow. "Psh, I don't care. I just didn't think you'd pick Applejack over me."

Exie scowled and flattened her ears, a glint of rage flashing in her eyes as she ground her teeth. "For the last time, Applejack asked me to go with her first! Why are you being such a bitch to me about this? Is this how you make friends? Huh?"

Rainbow Dash looked away and cringed. "Whoa... I was just giving you a hard time... I was actually just napping all morning at the pond like I usually do. You know, boss, swearing at your employees is pretty unprofessional."

The flustered young mare placed a hoof to her forehead and groaned, falling backwards into a pile of empty cardboard boxes. "Come on, I've had a rough day. I'm sorry, alright?"

Rainbow Dash chuckled and fluttered up to collapsed mare laying on her back, legs limply spread. "I'll let it slide this time, but call me a bitch again and we're gonna have a serious problem." She reached down and helped her boss to her hooves. "So what's got ya so worked up today anyway? Applejack make you kick trees or something?"

Exie brushed herself off and lowered her eyes, a heavy pit sinking into her stomach. "Not exactly... But I wanted to ask you something, so let's just forget what happened when you showed up and start over."

"Okay," Rainbow Dash agreed, shrugging as she landed face to face with the mare. "What's up?"

Exie cleared her throat and brushed Rainbow's messy, multicolored mane from her face, then placed the tip of her hoof on her chest, running it in tiny circles. "I know I asked before, but I have to ask again: how do you feel about Applejack?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head and recoiled. She lifted her hoof and opened her mouth to speak, then shrugged and fell to all fours. "I dunno. What are you asking, exactly?"

Exie raised an eyebrow and blatantly looked over Rainbow's chest and legs. "You know... I mean, it's obvious you want to rock her world, but is that it? I mean, if that was the case then surely you'd have done it by now, right? I get the feeling that there's more to it. I know you two are friends, but... friends do it sometimes. Why haven't you?"

"Eh." Rainbow huffed and scratched the back of her mane. "I just don't think she really wants to. I mean, I still think she's straight."

"I made out with her. Like, hard," Exie said, looking the pegasus straight in the eye. "She's definitely into mares. If you want that, you better go for it. Or... I just might take her for myself."

Rainbow furrowed her brow as Exie circled her, her soft red tail running beneath her chin. Standing pressed up against her side, Exie wrapped a foreleg around the pegasus' neck, pulling their cheeks together. "Would you mind?"

The pegasus spread her wings, pushing Exie away. "You do whatever you want. But if you hurt her..." She turned around and glared into Exie's eyes, her lip quivering. "It won't be pretty."

Exie grimaced and stepped back, her ears flattening. "Easy—I don't really want to be with her, but it's obvious how much you care. You two would be good together."

"Why don't you just mind your own business?!" Rainbow Dash snapped, striking a defensive stance as if ready to strike.

"Whoa! You need to loosen up." Exie brushed the mane out of her face and trotted up to Rainbow Dash. "Let's go get a drink and talk, my treat. There's not much left to do here until we open for business. I'll need a lot more help then."

Rainbow Dash bit her tongue and took a breath. "Heh... Sorry about that... So, a drink, huh? Ponyville is pretty dry, and the only pub is pretty dull."

"So. How about you and I liven up the joint, huh? It'll be fun, and we can become better friends like we talked about, remember?" Exie led the pegasus to the front door and held it open with a bright smile.

Rainbow Dash shrugged and followed the excitable mare out into the late-afternoon air. She trotted to Exie's side and nudged her in the right direction. "It's this way. Where you goin'?"

Exie giggled. "I'm just following the road to town, I figured it'd be that way somewhere."

"It's at the edge of town, in this direction," Rainbow Dash explained as she trotted ahead down the dusty road.

Exie quickly followed and brushed herself up against Rainbow's side. "So tell me more about yourself."

The pegasus tilted her head as she trotted. "Uh, what do you wanna know?"

"What's you're favorite way to pass the time when you have nothing to do?"

Rainbow stopped and placed a hoof on her chin. "Huh... I like hangin' out by the pond. You know, like relaxing after work, or swimming. I like to race too. If you ever wanna have a race, I'm down."

Exie's smile slowly vanished from her face as she took in her Dash's innocent answer, an epiphany flooding her mind. With a sharp, rueful sigh, she looked down at her front hooves, and thought about how she would have instinctively answered the same question.

"You okay?" Rainbow asked, turning back to face the sulking mare.

"Yeah, of course." Exie snapped a smile back onto her face and trotted ahead. "So, now you ask me something."

"Okay," Rainbow muttered as she bit her lip and looked up in thought. "Alright! Who would you rather get it on with—me, or Applejack?"

Exie blinked, a knot growing in her throat. "What? I... That's a weird question... You're weird."

Rainbow reared up and crossed her front hooves. "Oh, okay—little miss sexy-boots is too scared to answer a question, huh?"

"Yeah! I'm scared that you'll beat me up if I don't pick you," Exie closed her eyes and nervously scratched her head.

"Oh! So you're saying you'd pick Applejack then." Rainbow scowled and scrunched her mouth.

Exie raised her hooves defensively and forced a smile. "Hey now, I didn't say that..."

"I don't get it... Why do you like her so much anyway? You barely know her." Rainbow Dash turned her back and fell to all fours, her ears and wings drooping. "I'm supposed to be the... the one everypony wants."

Exie lowered her eyes and thought about the mare in front of her. It was obvious to her that Rainbow Dash was full of pride and confidence, and when something challenged her, she could only aim to conquer that challenge, even if it was her closest friend. She must have hated the thought of losing, and the more ground her opponent gained, the weaker her self esteem became. The situation wasn't just a competition to her—it was a game. Exie cracked a smile and trotted up behind Rainbow Dash, placing a hoof over her back, certain of how to restore the mare to her usual, confident self.

"I think I'm starting to get you. I'm actually starting to understand what's going on between you and Applejack too. You're a complicated little bunch up in this dull little town, aren't you?" Exie chuckled and pulled Rainbow Dash into a friendly, one-leg hug.

The pegasus reluctantly accepted the gesture and turned to hug the mare back, letting her front hooves limply fall over Exie's back as she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ponyville can be pretty exciting sometimes... Just wait until some freak accident wipes out the town. It happens at least twice a year."

Exie skeptically scoffed and glanced around the peaceful town, now tightly holding onto the stubbornly unenthusiastic pegasus. "Be quiet and hug me."

Rainbow groaned and accepted the situation, a large part of her embracing it as she closed her eyes and buried her muzzle against Exie's neck, pulling her tightly. She took a deep breath, admiring the strange, yet enticing scent wafting from her coat. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shared a warm, almost intimate moment with a mare she hardly knew. "Uhm... Why are we hugging?"

"Shh." Exie grinned widely as she ran her hooves up her friend's back, sliding them beneath her wings up to the back of her neck, pulling tighter as she went. She pressed herself forward, grinding her warm, peachy chest up against Rainbow's. "Do you wanna know my answer to your question?"

Before Rainbow Dash could respond, Exie pressed her lips against hers. A sharp pain of regret pierced her heart as she parted her lips and kissed the beautiful mare in front of her, but she pressed on. She flicked her ears and slid down to her hooves. The sun was setting behind the hilltops, shining its bright orange light across the countryside. Rainbow Dash's deep magenta eyes glowed in the light as she looked into Exie's glistening blue ones.

"Let's skip the drinks, I'll treat you later. I wanna go somewhere where we can be alone..." Exie put on a mischievous smile and licked her lips.

"What happened to us getting to know each oth... Forget it, I'm down." Rainbow Dash nodded and pointed to a clearing veiled by a small group of evergreens. "Let's just go over there."

"Look, I've been trying to hold this back all day with Applejack, and now here you are being irresistible. I'm aroused and want to get some already..." Exie then cringed and shook her head at the clearing. "But not there. How about we go back to your place, or something?"

"What's the matter? Scared of a little dirt?" Rainbow playfully grinned and swatted Exie's flank with her tail.

The young mare jumped and rubbed her haunch. "I just don't really feel like being covered in pine needles."

"Well, you can't come to my place because I live in a cloud. Well... Eh, never mind. Let's go to your pace instead." Rainbow Dash nodded with a wide, eager smile.

Exie gulped and ducked away. "Uhm, I'm kind of renting out Applejack's guest room..." she confessed, realizing the pegasus would find out eventually anyway.

Rainbow Dash immediately snapped her teeth and turned away. "So? Afraid your little crush will find out that you prefer me? It's your room, you can do what you want in there."

Exie placed a hoof on her forehead and took a deep, relaxing breath. "You know what? You're right. Let's go rub it in Applejack's face when we're done, but I don't want to do it there, because..."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Because what?"

Exie chuckled and looked into the mare's eyes, her head tilted down as she bit her lip. "The thing is... I'm really loud, and I get really into it, and I don't want to be like that around Apple Bloom."

Rainbow Dash felt her cheeks get hot as Exie stepped closer to her.

"You don't mind if I'm loud... do you?" the Manehattan mare asked, her eyes locked on Rainbow's as she stepped towards her like a tigress moving in on its prey.

The pegasus wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and put on a sheepish grin. "Okay, we better just go back to the shop then. Let's hurry?"

Rainbow Dash took Exie in her front legs and kicked off the ground with her wings spread wide, a plume of dust whirling into the air in her wake. Within seconds she landed into a skidding halt, sliding inches away from the front door. Exie fell to her hooves, shaking.

"Warn me next time! Okay?!" she shouted with wide, terrified eyes, her heart about to explode in her chest.

The cocky pegasus chuckled and gestured towards the door. "Lighten up; you know you liked it. Now, let us in."

Exie shook her head with a smile and rifled through her saddlebag for her keys. She pulled them out and dropped them onto the ground, her hooves still shaky.

"Smooth... Need me to get that for ya?" Rainbow teased, leaning up against the building, coolly gazing off into the distance.

"I got it." Exie huffed and forced herself to relax, calming her nerves as she unlocked the door. "Get in here before I change my mind."

Rainbow happily hopped into the store behind the flustered mare. Exie pulled her bedroll out from beneath the counter and spread it across the floor. "Boots on or off?" she asked, slowly pulling the black leg warmer off her front hoof.

Rainbow Dash gulped and flapped her wings. "Can I take them off for you?"

Exie nodded and laid back onto her pillow as she stretched out her hind legs. Rainbow Dash stepped over Exie, ignoring her boots and placing a hoof on her cheek. As the young mare opened her eyes, another stinging pain whipped her heart as she met the gorgeous cyan pegasus' gaze. She reached around Rainbow Dash's neck and pulled her down into a deep kiss, their tongues immediately meeting.

Rainbow Dash rested her body on top of Exie's, wrapping her front legs around the mare's head. She flicked her tongue into the young earth pony's mouth, gently sucking at her bottom lip as she pulled away and went back in without hesitation. As she aggressively swirled her tongue around Exie's, she widened her mouth and lapped her tongue, letting their saliva mix freely.

Exie looked up with her eyes mostly closed and deep blush burning on her cheeks, all her feelings of regret no longer existent. "Wow, Dash... you're the best kisser I've ever been with. Don't stop..."

"I am a great kisser, aren't I?" The cocky mare grinned and leaned down, biting Exie's neck.

The young redhead arched her back, pressing herself against her lover as a wave of tingling pleasure coursed throughout her entire body. Exie tilted her head towards the source of her pleasure, involuntarily forcing the mare away with her shoulder as she giggled. Rainbow Dash flicked her tongue at the mare's ear, then leaned up and slid herself down Exie's body, resting her muzzle on the bit of her thigh that was teasingly exposed above her boots.

"Ya know, Dash, I bet you'd look really sexy in my boots. Try 'em on." Exie licked her lips and propped herself up with her front hooves.

Rainbow chuckled at the thought and nodded. "I look really sexy anyway. These boots might make me too sexy."

Exie slightly shrugged and giggled like a little school-filly. "You're right, you are definitely the sexiest pony I've ever seen."

The pegasus oozed confidence as she beamed. She smugly gripped her friend's boot and slid it down off of her leg. Exie recoiled as the cool air enveloped her scarcely exposed leg, sending a chill up her spine. Rainbow Dash stuck her front leg into the boot, reveling in the lingering warmth. She then removed her leg, and held the opening of the boot up to her muzzle, taking in a deep whiff.

Exie chuckled and covered her mouth. "You're an odd one."

Rainbow Dash shrugged and tossed the boot over her shoulder, then quickly yanked the other boot off. "What can I say? I like boots."

"Oh, that's right!" Exie leaned forward and pushed Rainbow onto her back. "You have a hoof thing to work out."

"A what?" Rainbow widened her eyes and tucked her legs in. "I already told you that I don't like ponies touching my hooves. Especially my back hooves."

Exie rolled her eyes and crawled between the mare's legs, sitting up as she lifted a blue thigh against her chest. "Can I touch your hooves?" she asked, her eyes wide and radiating seductive innocence.

Rainbow Dash failed to contain her blush as a nervous pit flooded her stomach. "Hold on..." She squeezed her eyes closed, then took a deep breath and relaxed her muscles.

Exie felt the mare calm herself, and took that as her cue to begin. She rubbed her body against the leg as she kissed up its length, flicking her tongue against the base of her hoof. Rainbow Dash pressed her front hoof over her eyes, mixed feelings along with growing anticipation swirling around in her chest as she bit her lip. Exie kissed the tip of her hoof and brushed her muzzle across the center.

"If you're gonna, then just do it already..." Rainbow huffed and readied her body for an unexpected sensation.

Exie winked at the impatient pegasus and aggressively nipped at the tip of her hoof. Rainbow leaned her head back down and closed her eyes, hiding her embarrassment. The kinky young mare pressed her mouth against the hoof as she kept her eyes closed and stuck her tongue out. Rainbow gasped and cringed at the strong, tickling sensation that followed. Exie grinned, detecting the mare gently jerking back and then relaxing again.

She stuck her tongue out further, swirling it around the sensitive center of her hoof. Rainbow Dash shuddered and opened an eye to see Exie clearly enjoying herself with a wide smile as she licked. "You're really into this... aren't you...?" Dash gasped as she placed her front hoof on her forehead, trying to restrain her unnecessary anxiety beneath a rapidly growing sense of pleasure.

Exie shrugged and winked again. "I'm just really into you," she said before swashing her tongue sloppily all over and around her friend's soaked hoof.

Rainbow didn't respond; she let a small moan escape and immediately covered her mouth, her state of arousal growing exponentially as the licking carried on.

"Dash, you taste great, you smell great, you look great: everything about you screams perfection. You seem like a rough-around-the-edges kind of mare at first glance, but you're not. You're... just perfect." Exie sighed and lowered her eyes, a lustful aura welling up in her chest. "I want you so bad."

"I'm right here." Rainbow grinned and raised her eyebrows. "Come get some."

The feisty redhead licked her lips and dropped her friend's leg, sliding herself back down between them. She kissed her friend's stomach and scooted lower, a deep, hot breath spilling out over her groin. Rainbow Dash quivered in anticipation, and Exie prepared to do what she loved most. She looked up across Rainbow's chest and made sharp eye contact as she stuck her tongue out.

"Eh..." Rainbow raised and eyebrow, eager to get things started.

Exie stared into her eyes as a warm string of saliva dripped down from the tip of her tongue, sliding down between the mare's already moist lips. Rainbow smiled at the tingly sensation to follow, and she rested her head back against the pillow.

"You better not fall asleep when I'm done with you..." Exie said with a crooked smirk, before lowering her muzzle against the pegasus' crotch.

Rainbow chuckled and raised her legs, resting her back hooves into Exie's shoulders. "Don't worry, I never leave a friend hangin'."

***

Apple Bloom sat merrily drawing out a list of plans sure to earn her a cutie mark. "What happened to your friend?"

"Huh, I wonder when she's gonna be gettin' back," Applejack pondered aloud as she cleared the dinner table.

"Me too!" Apple Bloom added excitedly. "Can we stay up late tonight and play games?"

"Heck no, you got school in the mornin'." Applejack crossed her hooves and stared down at her little sister. "And I don't want you botherin' our guest all day, neither."

"Aw, come on, Sis. Can we at least stay up a little late? Big Mac's havin' a little fire by the barn for when Braeburn's train gets here later, and Fiddlesticks is gonna be here too. Can't we at least introduce Exie?" Apple Bloom pleaded.

"I know what's goin' on. And I already planned to." Applejack sighed and pulled her little sister into a hug. "Come on, let's clean off this table, then we can go check in on her at the shop. She could probably use a little help with something. I get the feelin' she's bitten off more than she can chew with this whole runnin'-a-shop-all-on-her-own thing."

***

Rainbow Dash slurped up a slurry of jizz and saliva, panting to catch her breath as Exie straddled her face. "You... You've got some serious endurance..."

The young mare ran her front hooves through her sweaty red mane, her heart racing. "You too..."

Rainbow pulled Exie down onto her side and scooted up to her, who then instinctively pulled her into a cuddly hug and kissed her. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and parted her lips, swapping fluids between mouths yet again.

"Hey, Exie, you know what I like about you?" she asked, wiping her mouth.

"My cool mane style?"

"Exactly. I also like that you're not afraid to get dirty in bed," Rainbow added.

"Or, in this case, on the floor." Exie giggled and rolled on top of the pegasus, dragging her tongue down her chest. "Ready to go again?"

"You know it."

Thunder Struck Out

To me, sex is nothing more than a passionate connection between two ponies. I can learn a lot about a mare from the way she moves beneath the bed sheets, or from the expressions she makes as she quakes with pleasure. I wonder what ponies learn about me during those moments. I hope I'm as good a love maker as I think I am, and I hope I'll never be forgotten. I remember all the ponies that made an impact on me, the ones that gave me every ounce of passion they had to give. I live for those moments of bliss, of pure unrelenting... ecstasy.

I only wish such things weren't considered wrong or taboo. So what if I want to spend the night with a beautiful stranger? I love the way it feels to long for them when I'm lying alone in bed the next night. I love knowing that I'm fully capable of attachment, and if they walk back into my life, I'll gladly reconnect. A cute mare could make me feel truly admirable, and dapper stallion could make me feel secure. I could break both their hearts, then I'll smoke myself a cigarette, take a swig of Neighgermeister, and start the whole process over. A circle of sex, love, tears, and pain... the story of my life.

Exie slid her long, jet-black boot onto her leg, winking at Rainbow Dash as she did so. The pegasus licked the tip of her sticky hoof and rubbed it against her chest, gazing down at the sultry little mare on the floor.

"Hey, Exie... don't tell anypony about the hoof thing, okay?" Rainbow Dash asked, her eyebrows lowering to a threatening level.

Exie casually waved her friend down and smiled. "Hey, you can trust me, alright?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head and chuckled. "You better hope so, for your sake."

Exie furrowed her brow and tightened her thigh-high's laces. Just as she raised a hoof to scold her friend, a tap at door caught her attention. She turned in time to see Applejack and her little sister standing outside the shop. Little Apple Bloom pressed her face against the glass with glee while the older mare stood awkwardly shifting her weight with a twisted frown.

Exie trotted up to the door and pushed it open. "Hello, Applejack! What brings you here?"

The farm-mare peeked her head into the building and gently nudged her sister away, noticeably taking in a whiff of the post-sex scent filling the stale air. "Uhm... Am I interruptin' somethin'?"

Exie blushed nodded towards her ventilation system on the ceiling. "Sorry, this thing is pretty crappy, it keeps squeaking and shutting itself off. Rainbow Dash and I were just getting a little... better acquainted," she explained, smiling at Apple Bloom through the glass.

"I see..." Applejack cleared her throat and stepped back outside. "I can check that fan out for ya tomorrow. Sounds like a loose belt to me."

"That'd be great. You're a great friend, Applejack." Exie kissed the mare on the cheek, then dug a small pouch of bits from her saddlebag. "This should cover my first month, right?"

The farmer gulped and bounced the heavy little bag on her hoof. "Definitely..."

"Come on, Dash!" Exie nodded outside, and the pegasus quietly fluttered outside before Exie locked the door. "Wanna come see my room?"

Rainbow landed next to Applejack and scratched her mane. "Sup, AJ?"

"Uh... let's talk. Excuse us, Exie." Applejack grabbed onto Rainbow Dash and hastily led her down the street, where she began quietly discussing something.

The Manehattan mare giggled and leaned down towards Apple Bloom. "Never grow up, kid. You're to cute to ever be like us."

The little filly proudly puffed her chest out and grinned. "I can't wait to grow up!"

"Whoa... No... What did I just say? Huh?" Exie crossed her hooves and shook her head. "Why are you in such a hurry to grow up anyway?"

"'Cause I can't wait to get my cutie mark! And Applejack says gettin' it is part of growin' up," Apple Bloom explained with a confident smile.

"Okay, I get it. But you don't have to grow up too much, too quickly, ya know? I mean, well... I don't know what I'm saying. I like you, though, because you remind me of myself at your age. Want a present?" Exie smirked and unlocked the door to her shop.

"You bet I do!" Apple Bloom cheerfully exclaimed.

"Wait here," she said as she headed into the building before searching the walls. "Aha!"

Apple Bloom fidgeted with an excited grin as Exie returned with a plastic wrapped package. "What is it?"

"Open it up and find out, ya little goof ball." Exie smiled widely and tossed the package to the silly little filly.

Apple Bloom's eyes gleamed as she tore the plastic away with her teeth. Wrapped around cardboard packaging were two black legwarmers with three shiny metal studs lined up the centers. With the utmost sense of enthusiasm, Apple Bloom slid the clothing onto her front hooves. "How do they look?"

"Hot!" Exie shouted, then covered her mouth and blushed. "Eh... I mean, 'cute'. Don't tell your sister I just said that," Exie said as she nervously glanced over her shoulder.

Too preoccupied to care about anything anypony said, Apple Bloom confidently strutted around in a circle, her eyes closed as she stretched her front legs out and smiled.

"The hay are you wearin'?" Applejack asked, glancing at Exie with a look of disapproval.

"Relax, AJ, we should all wear what makes us happy, right?" Exie asked as she snatched the hat off Applejack's head and put it on.

Apple Bloom nodded and held her front hoof up to her sister. "I love 'em!"

"She loves 'em," Exie reiterated.

Applejack lowered her head and sighed. "I have to admit, they do look kinda cute on ya."

Rainbow Dash covered her mouth and snickered. "You actually look really good in AJ's hat, too, Exie."

Applejack gritted her teeth and snagged her hat back. "Come on, I have some more ponies to introduce ya to, Exie."

"Ooh! Let's hurry before Cousin Braeburn gets there!" Apple Bloom quickly galloped ahead as Exie laughed.

"Cousin Braeburn, huh?" Exie asked, raising her eyebrows at Rainbow Dash. "Is he cute?" The cerulean pegasus pretended to gag herself, and immediately nonchalantly put her hooves down and glanced away as Applejack turned around.

The farm mare glared at the pegasus and shook her head. "Exie... I, uh..." AJ fumbled. "We need to talk when we get back to the farm."

"Ooooh," Rainbow Dash teased.

Exie chuckled, shrugging. "Am I in trouble?"

"Not yet." Applejack picked up her pace to keep her little sister in sight as the sky grew darker beneath a veil of thick clouds.

Exie slowed down and kept Rainbow Dash by her side as Applejack trotted up the hill. "So... what did you guys talk about? Was it about me?"

Rainbow Dash frowned and scratched her mane. "I shouldn't really..."

"Hooves."

Rainbow sighed and leaned in closely. "She told me that she wants to... I mean, she wants... look, it's not really my place. Go ask her yourself. I don't even know what to say anyway."

Exie grinned and placed a hoof on her chin. "You two should rut."

"What?" Rainbow Dash stopped in her tracks and flattened her ears. "Are you into watching or something?"

Exie marveled at the thought and nodded. "You two? Yes, I could watch you all day. But that's beside the point. I think there's a lot of sexual tension pent up between you guys, and you should lock yourselves in a room and let it all out."

"No." Rainbow Dash fluttered into the air and glared down at Exie. "Just mind your own business already... AJ has something to tell you."

As the pegasus flew out of sight, Exie winced and carried on up the hill. She hurried to see Applejack silhouetted by a bright orange glow. The mare stood strong with her muzzle to the sky as small plumes of smoke billowed up above her. Exie hesitated, her steps slowing as she neared the mare.

"Ah, there ya are. Where's Rainbow?" Applejack pranced up to the trouble young mare and wrapped a foreleg around her neck.

Exie grinned and shrugged. "Uhm, she just flew off. I don't know where."

"Well, ain't that just like her. C'm'ere and meet my cousins." Applejack waved to the two ponies standing about a large burning stump. "That there's my cousin Braeburn, he's a bit of a joker so watch yourself around him. And next to him is my other cousin, Fiddlesticks."

"Howdy!" The dirty blonde stallion tilted his hat and winked at Exie.

"Hello," Exie giggled and waved the tip of her hoof, then turned to the yellow mare with a long blue mane falling over her shoulder. "Hello to you, too."

The country mare bowed her head and smiled back. "And what's your name, suga?"

"Oh! I'm Exie." The young mare waved again and blushed. "So what are you guys doing out here?"

Bic Mac raised his eyebrow and leaned back against the barn, then Applejack took a deep breath and shot Braeburn a harsh glance. "Well, Exie," Applejack said, clearing her throat. "We're havin' a little get together. This was a bit of a surprise visit, so we're workin' out the sleeping arrangements. Normally, Braeburn and Fiddlesticks here share your room when they pass through."

"Oh... Oh! That's no problem at all. I'll just crash back at the shop. No biggie." Exie casually waved her front hoof around and smiled.

"Nonsense! Y'already paid for the room, so it's yours whenever you need it. I was just thinkin' maybe you and Fiddlesticks could bunk up for the night since they're leavin' tomorrow. Braeburn can sleep on the couch." Applejack took a deep breath as her eyes darted back and forth between Exie and her young, admittedly attractive cousin.

"Sounds good to me!" Exie pranced across the yard and placed her hoof on her cheek, standing in front of her roommate.

"Aw man. I gotta sleep on the couch while Fiddlesticks gets to bunker down with a cute little redhead?" Braeburn kicked at the ground in defeat. "T'ain't fair..."

Exie raised her eyebrows and leaned towards the stallion. "Hey now, I won't mind too much if Fiddlesticks wants to trade."

Apple Bloom piped up with a wide, shining smile. "I'm a cute little redhead!"

Exie covered her mouth and giggled. "Yes, you are."

"I think it's about your bedtime, l'il missy." Applejack forced a smile and lifted the filly up, carrying her inside.

"Aww! But I don't even feel tired!" Apple Bloom protested as she was carried indoors.

"I want one..." Exie's eyes sparked as she watched the little filly leave her sight.

"A foal?" Fiddlesticks scoffed. "Not me."

"No! Hell no! I meant a cute little sister. I just have this snot-nosed little brother that I can't stand," Exie explained.

Braeburn chuckled and wrapped a foreleg around his cousin's neck. "Aw, come on, I'm sure he ain't so bad. We apples are all about lovin' our families, maybe you should give 'im a chance."

"You... Never mind. You're right. Whatever. So, what's up with you two? Are you, like... incestuous or something? You are cousins, right?" Exie asked, a naughty grin growing across her face.

Braeburn and Fiddlesticks each glanced at the other, then scurried away from each other. "No!" they shouted in unison.

Big Mac chuckled from the side of the barn, and Exie released a sigh of disappointment. "Darn. Well, I guess I can still ask: how about we all three share the bed?"

Braeburn glanced over Exie's body, then he looked over at his cousin and groaned. "Nah... I'll be on the couch. I'm actually a bit tired from the train ride over. Probably gonna go get settled in now." The earth pony stretched his limbs and yawned, then offered Exie one last smile before trotting away.

"I already put my stuff in your room. Hope ya don't mind." Fiddlesticks nodded towards the upstairs window.

"Not really my place to mind. I don't mind anyway." Exie took a seat on a log by the fire and warmed her front hooves.

The yellow mare took a seat next to her and sat down her small violin case. She popped the case open and pulled out her worn, quaint instrument.

"Oh. You're a musician. Play us a song." Exie clapped her hooves and grinned.

Big Mac huffed and trotted around the barn into the darkness.

"Sheesh, somepony needs to help that boy loosen up." Fiddlesticks mumbled as she began tightening her strings.

"Tell me about it. He's been giving me mean looks ever since I showed up," Exie said, shaking her head.

"Don't pay no mind. He's a grumpy one sometimes." Fiddlesticks closed her eyes and ran her bow across two strings, producing a soft resonating harmony as she carefully guided her hoof up its neck.

Exie wore a soft smile as she relaxed, the somber tones of the gentle instrument gracing her ears. A distant roar of thunder echoed across the orchard, and Exie sighed. "I was hoping to see stars tonight."

"Why tonight?" the violinist asked, running her hoof up and down routine scales.

"Oh, right. I'm from Manehattan, and I've never seen a clear country night sky before. Applejack says it's amazing." Exie stared up into the clouds with a crooked frown, the occasional flash of lighting shining in her eyes. "Just my luck."

The southern mare grimaced at the flickering sky and took a deep breath. "Maybe tomorrow, then. Keep yer chin up, there are worse things than a cloudy night." Fiddlesticks grinned, ignoring the faint roars of thunder as she struck three sharp, staccato notes before playing a folksy tune, tapping her hoof.

"Hey, you're really good. I wish I could play something. I can barely even sing." Exie leaned down and marveled at the southern mare's fine precision.

"Been playin' my whole life. Had this fiddle since I was a blank flank." Fiddlesticks chuckled and abruptly stopped playing. "How 'bout you give it a shot?"

Exie laughed and shook her head. "I wouldn't know where to begin."

Fiddlesticks got up and stood behind Exie, placing the violin in her hooves. She reached around her, adjusting its position and guiding the nervous redhead's front hooves. "There ya go, now nice 'n' easy. Run the bow over the strings."

Exie pressed down on the strings and bit her tongue as she carefully guided the bow, producing a shrill, discordant sound. Just then, a loud crackle of thunder tore through the sky and raindrops began dotting the ground. Fiddlesticks shrieked and quickly snatched up her instrument, following Exie as she laughed and headed for the safety of indoors.

Applejack and Braeburn each snickered at the two mares as they darted into the front room. The cowboy tilted his hat respectfully before offering Fiddlesticks a cocky smirk, laying across the living-room sofa. "What's the matter? Scared of a little rain?"

"No! You scared a' gettin' hit upside the head with a fiddle?!" Fiddlesticks frowned and stomped upstairs.

Exie caught her breath, scratching her head. "She okay?"

"Dang it, Brae!" Applejack scolded. "Why you gotta pick on her like that, huh?"

"Aw, shucks. She knows I'm just foolin'. Heck..." The country colt huffed and lowered his hat over his face. "I'm goin' to sleep..."

Applejack sighed at her couch-dwelling cousin's behavior, then she quickly turned her attention to Exie. "So let's have a quick chat," she said, nodding towards the kitchen.

"I'm listening." Exie choked on the bulb of nervousness welling in her throat as she followed the mare into the other room. "What's this all about?"

"Listen up. First thing's first: Rainbow Dash is off limits." Applejack narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow.

Exie cocked her neck and frowned. "What? Why?"

"'Cause I said so," Applejack snapped. "I got my reasons, and they ain't none of your business, but if you wanna be my friend, then Rainbow Dash is off limits."

Exie kicked the wooden floor and groaned. "Fine... but I still wish you'd tell me why."

"Look, it's just... I don't know, okay? I don't want you messin' with her. I don't want anypony messin' with her. Anytime somepony is flirtin' with or touchin' her, somethin' about it ticks me off, and I know it ain't how a best friend should act, but-"

"Hey. Shh. Don't worry about it. I'll just be her friend then with no sexy strings attached. It's all good. So, anything else?" Exie took a deep breath and pat her friend on the back.

"Heh, sorry 'bout that. This has just been really eatin' away at me lately, and when I saw you two..." Applejack sighed and lowered her ears. "Thank you, Exie. I know you must like her a lot, and it means a lot to me that you're willin' to put up with... this."

Exie nonchalantly tossed a hoof in the air and threw her head back. "Hey! Don't mention it! You've been great to me, so this is really the least I can do. So what about us? We kissed pretty hardcore this morning. Will I get anymore of that? Or is this Rainbow Dash thing getting serious?"

Applejack chuckled and stepped forward, wrapping her front hooves round the young mare's neck and pulling her close. Exie closed her eyes and smiled wide, returning the hug as their muzzles pressed together. The farmer let a rueful breath slip through her nostrils, her mind racing. "Exie, I don't know what that was earlier, but it felt fun. That sorta behavior ain't exactly smiled on in this house though. So... we can't just... You know what I'm tryn' to say to you?"

"I get it. I also get the impression that your brother's kind of a stick in the mud, is that what this is about?" Exie asked, her muzzle still pressed up against her friend's.

Applejack rolled her eyes and bit her lip. "I dunno about him, but he made it clear he don't like you all that much. Don't worry about it though, 'cause I like you a lot. I liked kissin' you too. The rest of my family? They wouldn't like us kissin' so much."

"You know I'm probably gonna fuck your cousin, right?" Exie teased. "I think she'll like it too."

"Mhm. Good luck with that one. " Applejack playfully nudged Exie away and backed up against the kitchen counter.

Exie dropped her smile and tilted her head. "What, you mean you don't think she'll want to? She was pretty flirty outside."

Applejack shrugged and brushed a patch of errant flour from her coat. "I really don't know. What I do know is that she's a real hot head, shortest temper I've ever seen. So just try to... not push 'er buttons." The mare then yawned and stretched out her limbs. "I'm gonna hit the hay. You two have... fun, I guess. If she kicks ya out, I'll leave my bedroom door open for ya."

Exie quietly laughed to herself as the gorgeous blonde mare turned and headed towards the stairs. "Oh, and Exie, whatever happens, please be quiet. I don't wanna have to answer strange questions from my little sister in the mornin', alright?"

"Gotcha." Exie paced a hoof over her chest and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Applejack. Goodnight."

The strong earth pony winked before walking up the steps, her hips sensually, yet involuntarily swaying as she went. Exie glanced back into the living room at the sound of the stallion snoring away, then giggled as she trotted up to her bedroom. She inched the door open, quietly stepping in and coyly watching the ground as she shut the door behind herself.

"Hey." The yellow mare brushed the deep blue bangs out of her face as she stared out the window into the endless rain.

Exie took a seat next to her and smiled. "You okay? I was afraid I was about to witness a murder down there."

"Hehe," the mare laughed and looked over at Exie. "Brae just knows how to rile me up. He may as well be my little brother."

"I can relate, then." Exie smiled and nodded.

"I love 'em to pieces though..." Fiddlesticks grinned, losing herself in her memories.

Exie scratched her still damp mane and leaned back on the bed. "No offense, but why'd you get so mad? I didn't think what he said was a big deal, not really anyway."

Crackling lightning struck the ground nearby, piercing the walls with its sharp, roaring thunder, slowly fading into a deep, distant rumble. As the rain pelted into the side of the farmhouse, Fiddlesticks shook in terror, clinging onto the young mare sitting next to her.

"Oh. I get it—you're afraid of thunderstorms."

Fiddlesticks wiped her brow and blushed. "I always have been, and Braeburn knows it. I didn't realize this one was gonna be so bad..."

"It's not that bad. And to be honest, I used to be really afraid of lightning too," Exie admitted, beginning to blush herself.

Fiddlesticks smiled, then cringed as another bright white flash lit up the night sky. She flinched and squeaked at the loud boom that followed. Exie widened her gleaming eyes and wore an adoring smile. "I'm sorry, but watching you is absolutely adorable."

"Well I'm glad my fear makes you so happy!" the mare snapped, then crossed her forelegs with a disdainful huff.

"I didn't mean to upset you. I just think you're really cute." The redheaded mare offered a sincere smile.

"Yeah yeah. I'm sorry for yellin'. I'm just a bit self conscious I guess." Fiddlesticks shrugged and pouted her lip. "You really think I'm cute?"

Exie rolled her eyes, then scooted further back on the bed and untied the tops of her boots. "Help me out?"

Fiddlesticks turned and faced the mare, a sudden burst of blush flooding her nose as she eyed Exie's leg stretched out towards her, the top of her black boot undone. She nodded and grabbed onto the boot, giving it a swift tug. It smoothly slid off of the mare's leg, then the southern mare repeated her actions with the other boot. As she set them on the floor, Exie let out a deep yawn.

"Mmm, thanks, Fiddlesticks. I'm gonna try and get some sleep." Exie sprawled out atop the blanket and arched her back. "Do you prefer being on top or beneath?

"Uhm... I," Fiddlesticks stuttered, then giggled nervously. "What are you askin' me?"

Exie lifted the blanket and raised an eyebrow. "Beneath or on top of the blanket? I usually sleep on top when it's warm out, but I know some ponies insist on covering up. Somepony's got a dirty mind."

"Hey! That ain't fair. You made what you said sound dirty on purpose. You're the dirty-minded mare here. Not me." Fiddlesticks stated accusingly.

"Well it's chilly out, so I prefer bein' on top, and beneath the blankets." Exie winked and pulled the blanket over herself, causing Fiddlesticks to lose her balance.

"Oh my..." The southern mare fell onto her stomach and laughed, then joined Exie beneath the covers. "You like one night stands then? I ain't never really done nothin' like that before."

"A mare's gotta have some fun now and again, don'tcha think?" Exie winked and rolled onto her side, facing her roommate.

"Definitely." Fiddlesticks bit her lip and closed her eyes, a nervous rock sinking into her stomach. "You're used to this, aren't you..."

Exie lowered her ears and glanced away. "I've been with my fair share of mares before. How about you?"

Fiddlesticks shrugged and smiled, wrapping her hooves around Exie's neck. Just then, a sudden flash briefly illuminated the entire room, and the yellow mare squeezed her eyes shut, curling herself up and bracing herself for the thunder that was sure to follow. Exie covered her mouth and began to laugh.

As the thunder faded, Fiddlesticks gritted her teeth, her cheeks glowing red. "Stop laughin' at me!"

Exie snorted and pressed both hooves against her face. "I... I can't help it. You're just too cute, and funny."

The quick tempered Appaloosian shoved Exie off of the bed. "Out!"

Exie wiped a mirthful tear from her eye as she laid flat on the floor and caught her breath. "Wait..." she chuckled. "I'll stop... I'll stop..."

Fiddlesticks cringed as a gust of wind howled, and Exie began to crack up yet again.

"OUT!"

Regrettably still chuckling, Exie waved the mare down. "Okay, okay. I'm going... No need to wake everypony up."

Exie jumped as the door was slammed behind her, then it opened again, each black boot loudly falling in front of her hooves. She flung them over her back and let out a deep sigh. "Goodnight..."

As she spotted Applejack's partially open bedroom door, a wave of relief washed over her. With a warm smile, she quietly entered. The beautiful blonde mare was fast asleep, and Exie carefully climbed into the bed, wrapping her forelegs around the mare, warmly pressing her chest against Applejack's back. She took a deep breath, then felt her heart skip a beat as the mare snuggled up against her in her sleep.

With a painful sigh, Exie closed her eyes. I hope you know just how lucky you really are, Rainbow Dash.

Pass the Cutie

I don't know if there's a real difference between true love and a one night stand. I'm mean, sure, there are the obvious differences, but that isn't what I mean. One lasts longer, and one hurts a lot more, but while it's happening, they feel the same. I tried the whole love-me-forever thing more than once. Both times I was stabbed in the back and left completely on my own with no one to turn to. That doesn't matter... What does matter is how it felt before that happened. It's amazing how another pony can make me feel like the luckiest mare in the world, like I'm worth more than it. They gave me that feeling, like a morphine-drip being fed into my veins, and their eyes were my buttons for an extra burst of bliss.

It's strange to think about how much of myself I was so quick to give away, and how I would have killed and died for a pony that tossed me aside like a used condom. I've always been kind of a slut, I suppose, but trying to have a real relationship with somepony I loved, only to be cheated on pushed me deeper into the lifestyle. So much deeper. I forgot who I was, just bouncing from bedroom to bedroom, fucking my broken heart away. I used to tell myself I'd never try to fall in love again, but I want to so badly. I want to be that lucky mare who tries so desperately to devote herself to another. I want to have a pony devote herself to me, too. I just want that familiar feeling of happiness to last forever instead of a few hours on a lucky night.

But Ponyville has a way of reminding me who and what really I am.

Exie stretched her legs and yawned before wrapping them around Applejack, who lay facing her, quietly and peacefully sleeping. She reached forward with a soft smile and pulled the southern mare close to her, gently placing a kiss on her lips. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she looked over the orange mare's gentle smile, her charming white freckles, and her messy blonde bangs falling over her face.

The soft bed and warm bedroom enveloped her body, which felt to her more like home than another mare's bedroom. Looking at Applejack's soft cheeks, she gently brushed the mane from her face and smiled wide. The orange mare grinned in her sleep, nuzzling her friend. "Quit it... Dash..." she mumbled.

Exie's heart ripped in two as she flinched away. She slid off the bed and matted her mane down, then forcefully shoved her legs into her boots. Adjusting her slit leg warmers, she quietly trotted to the bedroom door and slipped out. The mare then opened up her own bedroom door and trotted inside. To her surprise, it was empty, and otherwise just the way she had left it aside from a note on the nightstand.

Exie quickly snatched it up and read over it.

Dear Exie, I'm sorry for kicking you out if your own bedroom, but you had it coming when you laughed at me. Maybe next time you'll show me a little more respect and we can get to know each other better. See ya soon.

~ With love, Fiddlesticks

The mare rolled her eyes and tossed the note onto the floor. She stomped out of her bedroom and headed downstairs, quickly making her way past the snoozing old mare and outside. With a disdainful huff, she plopped down onto the porch and slumped against the side of the home, her cheeks resting on her front hooves.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted from the cloud top she rested upon. "Sup?"

Exie looked up the see a multicolored mane dangling over the edge of a plush white ball of cotton in the sky. "Are you spying on me or something?"

"What?!" The pegasus snapped to attention. "No! I just always hang out around here. This is the only place as peaceful as the pond for naps n' stuff."

Exie giggled and pat the wooden floor next to herself. "I was just kidding. Come over here and talk to me."

Rainbow shook the mare off and leaped over the edge of the cloud, gently gliding onto the porch. "Hi."

"Applejack told me you were off limits to me. She also said that she hates seeing you flirt with other ponies. I know you think it's none of my business, but AJ is my friend too now—for certain values of the word—and I'm really starting to care about her." Exie leaned over and paced her hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "You need to either let her know you want to start something serious with her, or let her know that you just want to stay friends. This middle ground between the two is tearing her up inside, and I think she's very hurt and confused over her mixed emotions."

Rainbow Dash frowned and lowered her head. "Why do I have to do it? She's the one with problems..." The pegasus crossed her hooves and flattened her ears.

"Yeah, right. You both have problems. You need to work them out as soon as possible too, because I don't want to be some wedge stuck in between you two, and I definitely don't want you two blaming me for your issues." Exie stood up and took a deep breath, her grin falling into a crooked frown. "I was laying in bed with her this morning, don't ask why because it's not what you think. Anyway, I kissed her, and she cuddled me and whispered your name. Trust me Dash, there's something there that you don't want to pass up."

The pegasus grinned and puffed her chest out. "She really said my name in her sleep? I guess I really am her dream mare, eh?" She winked and bumped Exie.

The earth pony rolled her eyes and laughed. "You really are. So go catch her and make her yours."

"Okay." Rainbow Dash stood up and headed towards the front door.

"Wait. I think she's still sleeping," Exie said, glancing back.

"Then I'll just go wake her up."

"Wake who up?" Applejack covered her mouth and yawned from the other side of her screen door. "Apple Bloom! Y'all best be ready!"

Rainbow Dash gulped and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "Hi, AJ. Wanna chat?"

"Sorry, Sugarcube, I'm about to walk Apple Bloom to school," Applejack explained. "Wanna come with?"

"Hey, I don't mind taking her if you guys want to talk. Just point me in the right direction." Exie stood up and smiled.

Applejack hesitantly scratched her head, then shrugged. "Well, if you're sure."

"Sure as... uh, rain? Is that the expression? Yes, I'm sure it's no problem." Exie giggled, her eyes lighting up as Apple Bloom pressed through the screen door. "Hey, guess what!"

"What?!" The little filly adjusted her saddlebag and trotted up to Exie.

"I'm gonna walk you to school. Cool, huh?" The mare nodded with a smile.

Apple Bloom chirped out in delight as she skipped to Exie's side. "Yes! I can't wait to introduce ya to my friends."

Applejack tapped her hoof and shook her head. "Better get a move on, or ya ain't gonna have no time. You're already runnin' late!"

"Oops! Let's get going then." Exie smiled and glanced down the road, at a complete loss.

"Don't worry! I know the way." Apple Bloom merrily hopped down the path and Exie closely followed.

"Behave yourself!" Applejack took a deep breath and waved her sister off.

"I will!" Exie shouted from the gate.

The excited little filly rushed along, making her way into town with great haste, carefully dodging the many rain puddles covering the road. Exie kept her pace and frowned, becoming somewhat winded. She trotted in front of the eager filly and slowed her own. "Sheesh kiddo, why the rush? Are you really that late?"

Apple Bloom looked back, ensuring her sister was nowhere in sight. "No, I just wanted to get away from AJ. Looky here." The filly dug into her saddlebag and pulled out her leg-warmers, sliding them on. "Applejack said I can't wear 'em to school. Can you believe it?"

Exie her lowered her ears and looked over her shoulder. "Uh... shouldn't you listen to her?"

"Heck no! These are nice, and I should wear what I want," Apple Bloom protested.

She chuckled and looked down at the stubborn filly, a familiar image from her youth finding her. "You're right. Who am I to tell you what to do? Just keep this our secret, okay? Your sister can't know that I know you weren't supposed to wear those, or she won't let us hang out anymore."

Apple Bloom nodded before carrying on down the road, the school visible at the end of the street. As they went, Exie began to recall buildings and road signs, her sense of direction finding a foothold. As they reached the end of the road, Apple Bloom reached back and hugged her older friend.

"I'll see ya later, okay?" The filly turned and trotted towards the entrance.

"I'll meet you here, okay? What time do you get out?" Exie asked, waving.

"Three o'clock. See ya!"

As the filly raced inside, the school bell rang, a horde of foals lining up to enter behind her. Exie turned and faced a familiar bakery at the other end of the road. With a growl in her stomach, she approached the shop.

The bell above the door chimed as she pressed through, and an irritating pair of blue eyes locked onto hers. "Hiya! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!" the pink mare shouted from behind the counter.

Exie felt as if she had swallowed her tongue, a bitter taste of resentment in her cheeks. She looked down and turned away, pulling the door back open and stepping outside with her eyes on the ground.

"Oomph!" A purple unicorn stumbled backwards as she bumped into Exie. "Excuse me," she said, brushing her coat off.

Exie blushed and stepped aside. "Sorry about that."

"Don't mention it..." the unicorn narrowed her eyebrows as she trotted inside.

"Oh, hey! Do you know of a different place I can get a bite to eat and a cup of coffee in this town?" Exie asked with a coy smirk.

The lavender mare placed a hoof to her chin with a puzzled frown. "Not that I can think of, no. Why not here? If you don't mind me asking."

Exie shrugged and casually glanced inside. "Heh... I guess here is fine."

The unicorn tilted her head, more bewildered than ever, then turned away as Exie followed her inside. The Manehattan mare trotted up to the display case of baked goods and eyed the fresh treats.

"Hello ,Twilight! How ya doin'?" Pinkie Pie asked, leaning against the counter and smiling wide.

"I'm just a little tired after a busy night. I just want a sweet bun and a coffee." Twilight dug through her bag and pulled out two bits, dropping them onto the counter.

"Comin' right up!" Pinkie Pie hopped over the case and pulled out the treat. "Fresh coffee is brewing as we speak. What can I get you, Exie?"

The redheaded mare swallowed a pit of guilt as the mare she unreasonably disliked addressed her with kindness and a smile. She dug through her bag as well, dropping a few bits onto the counter. "I just want..." She sighed and looked over at Twilight Sparkle, who was patiently standing behind her. "I want two cinnamon rolls, and a black coffee as well."

"Small wait on the coffee, and that comes up to five bits, not four, but don't worry about it!" Pinkie slid the coins off of the counter and placed them into the cash register, then quickly returned with two paper-wrapped treats. "Enjoy."

Exie cracked a smirk and nodded. "I really don't mind paying the extra bit."

Pinkie rested her cheeks on her front hooves and leaned over the counter. "After that tip you left last time, I should give you this meal for free."

"What, five bits? That's pretty much a standard amount to tip. Don't you rely on gratuity for income?" Exie asked.

Twilight Sparkle smiled and giggled to herself before trotting away and taking a seat at a table near the window. Exie shot the unicorn a quick glance of disapproval, then turned back to Pinkie Pie, who was staring at her like a foal stares at a superhero.

"What?" Exie asked, her voice taking a harsh edge.

"Nothing," Pinkie replied, holding her gaze and goofy grin.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Exie furrowed her eyebrows and pointed her razor sharp eyes straight into Pinkie's.

The party pony smiled even wider, then took a deep breath and sighed. "I would, but I'm afraid you'd be mean to me again."

Exie lowered her ears and sighed, glancing around to ensure nopony was paying attention to her. "Listen, I'm sorry about before. I won't be mean."

Pinkie Pie beamed in delight. "Okay! Well, I was thinking, and I know you don't want to meet the whole town, and I saw you with Applejack and she said she was introducing you to her friends! Well, all of her best friends are also my best friends. There's Twilight Sparkle, who's sitting over there, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity! That's only four other ponies, which isn't even close to the whole town! So what if I throw a private party here tonight after the bakery closes, and I'll only invite them! It's perfect!"

Exie cringed and flattened her ears, certain the other ponies in the bakery were staring at her back as Pinkie Pie shouted. Twilight Sparkle perked her ears and returned to the counter with a skeptical stare.

"Pinkie, is this the mare you were telling me about?" Twilight asked, looking Exie over.

"Mhm." Pinkie nodded and tilted her head towards the kitchen. "Coffee's ready!"

Exie cowered down, sliding to the floor. "What did she say about me?"

Twilight reached down and helped the mare to her hooves. "She said you were oddly rude to her, which, just between you and me, is... understandable, at times. Pinkie Pie can take some getting used to. I couldn't stand her when I first met her, but now she's one of the most important ponies in my life. Give her a chance and I'm certain you'll like her too. From what I've heard, you've already become somewhat close with Applejack?"

Exie shrugged and slid her treats into her bag. "I suppose, for certain values of the phrase 'somewhat close'."

"Have a seat and I'll bring your drinks right over." Pinkie shooed the two off and trotted back into the kitchen.

Twilght led the way to her table, and Exie followed. As they took a seat, Twilight Sparkle raised an eyebrow and crossed her hooves. "What brings you here, Exie?"

The mare slid into her seat and pulled the still warm, wrapped treats from her bag. "I'm opening up a shop down the block. Everything is pretty much good to go, but I still need to find a couple more employees. I have one, and a good idea for a second one, but she might be too young."

"Oh? Well there's an advertising board at the post office where you could hang a Help Wanted flyer. Could help." Twilight shrugged.

Pinkie Pie sat two empty mugs down on the table and began filling them with fresh, piping hot coffee. "Careful with this."

"Thanks," Exie said as she began to carefully sip from her cup. "Oh, and Pinkie..."

"Yes?"

Exie looked up into her wide, sparkling blue eyes and nodded. "Let's do the party thing. I'd like to meet your other friends."

"Yes!" The party mare thrust her hoof into the air and hopped around in a circle. "Be here at eight tonight! We're closing early for the occasion!"

Twilight Sparkle smiled and tilted her head as the excitable young mare pranced back into the kitchen. "That was nice of you. Pinkie Pie may be strange, but she means well, and she'll be the best friend a pony could ask for."

Exie nodded, a bubble of pride growing in her chest. "I really would like to get to know you guys better. Rainbow Dash and Applejack haven't said much."

"Oh, you know Rainbow Dash too?" Twilight asked as she used her magic to open up a small cup of cream for her coffee.

Exie nodded, her eye twitching as Twilight continued opening cream cup after cream cup. "Yes, she's actually the pony I hired to help out. She was just so excited about a Sew Fine coming to Ponyville, I had to offer..."

"So..." Twilight Sparkle covered her mouth as her cheeks began to glow red. "Oh my..."

"What...?" Exie raised an eyebrow, then began to laugh. "Oh great. What did she tell you?"

Twilight shook her head and couldn't help but laugh herself. "She came to me for advice. I didn't know what to tell her. She was asking about... you know..."

Exie wore a look of disbelief as she took another sip of her drink. "Wow... she asked for advice? That makes sense. She fluttered off then came right back with a huge burst of confidence. I can guess that was thanks to you, then?"

Twilight slowly nodded. "You can..."

"I like the way you think, Twilight. But I'm not doing anything with Rainbow Dash or anypony else around here." Exie glanced out the window and sighed blissfully. "Rainbow and Applejack are pretty much the perfect couple, and I think they're getting together literally as we speak."

The unicorn shrugged and poured another cream cup into her coffee, it now filled to the rim. "Yeah, those two definitely have a lot of chemistry. It took me a while to really pick up on it though. How'd you find out so quickly?"

"I guess I'm just used to noticing those things." Exie took a deep breath and swallowed her remorse. "So, wanna tell me about your other friends?"

***

Late in the afternoon, the school bell rang dismissing the students of Ponyville elementary. Apple Bloom slowly made her way outside, her nose to the sky as she took in the crisp autumn breeze. Her closest friends trotted by her side as they reached a fork in the road.

"Those socks are really cool, Apple Bloom. I can't wait to get myself some." Scootaloo enthusiastically nodded as she stepped down the road.

"Me neither!" Sweetie Belle added. "We'll see ya later Apple Bloom. Bye!"

"See ya!" Apple Bloom waved her friends off as they trotted down the road towards their respective homes.

The young earth pony then huffed as she glanced around for Exie, then, feeling alone, she began trudging towards Sweet Apple Acres.

A young filly chuckled and trotted up behind the lonely earth pony. "Look what she's wearing!"

A small gray filly covered her mouth to contain her laughter. "What, are you trying to get a cutie mark being a stripper?"

"Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon... I'm not in the mood for your bad attitudes today. Please just go away." Apple Bloom ducked her head and carried on down the road.

"Aw, what's the matter, blank flank? Did you finally realize that those leg-warmers are hideous? I'm surprised your redneck sister let you out of your rundown little house in those." Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes and glared down at the sulking little filly.

"Hey!" Exie stomped up to the two bullies and stared down at them. "You little punks picking on my friend? Go on! Get outta here before you make me mad or somethin'!" She huffed and snarled at the two fillies, who immediately turned tail and ran off.

"Exie, that was great! You sure showed them! Did ya see the look on their faces?! Priceless!" Apple Bloom jumped up and gave her friend a quick hug.

"Hey, what are friends for?" Exie returned the hug with an adoring smile.

Apple Bloom widened her eyes and stepped back. "Ya know what? You just now reminded me of my cousin Babs. She talks like the way you just talked when you were yellin' at those two."

"Oh! Is she from Manehattan, too? I'm not originally from there by birth, but they rub off on you after a while. Sometimes it just slips out," Exie explained.

"Oh..." Apple Bloom pretended to understand.

"There ya are, Sis." Applejack and Rainbow Dash trotted side by side down the trail. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's okay. I decided to come meet her here anyway just in case you two were a little busy." Exie winked and pat Apple Bloom's head. "So, you two look closer than ever. I don't mind walking this little one home if you two want to go spend time together. Oh! And there's going to be a party for me tonight at eight down at Sugarcube Corner."

"Glad to hear you made peace with Pinkie. We'll definitely be there." Applejack tilted her hat and winked.

"You got that right." Rainbow Dash grinned and bumped Applejack's flank. "So... since Exie is cool with dealing with Apple Bloom, wanna go finish up our little chat?"

Applejack glanced down at her sister, who was beaming with confidence as she hugged Exie's foreleg. She smiled and nodded towards the pegasus. "Hey, Exie, would ya mind keepin' an eye on Apple Bloom for a bit? I'm tryin'a work some serious stuff out with Rainbow Dash. You know... like what we talked about last night."

The Manehattan mare grinned and teasingly raised her eyebrows. "Ooh. Have fun you two. And sure, I'll have the little cutie help me straighten up around the shop. We'll make a game out of it. I expect that one bit in full, too."

"Sounds like a crummy game." Apple Bloom frowned.

"Sounds good, bye!" Rainbow Dash gently shoved her southern friend down the road towards the acres, flicking a single bit in Exie's direction.

Applejack chuckled and and made her way up the hill and out of sight, Rainbow Dash rubbing against her the whole way. Exie then looked down at Apple Bloom and smiled. "So, what do you like to do for fun?"

Apple Bloom glanced back at her flank and shrugged. "I normally like crusadin' for my cutie mark, but... I guess we could do whatever you wanna do."

"Crusading? That's a weird way to put it." Exie raised and eyebrow and giggled.

"Oh, well I call it that because me and my friends are in a club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Apple Bloom explained.

Exie's eyes lit up with glee. "There's a whole club of you adorable little things? Can I join it?"

Apple Bloom circled the older mare and frowned. "We normally only let blank flanks join, and you already got your cutie mark."

"Lame." Exie giggled and trotted towards her shop entrance a short way down the road. "Come on. Let's go see what we can do for fun until your sister is done."

"Okay!" Apple Bloom chirped out in delight. "Maybe I can have another present, too."

"Don't push your luck, kiddo. Maybe you can work for the things you want." Exie teased as she unlocked the door and held it open.

Apple Bloom trotted by with a frown and lowered ears. "I ain't old enough to get a real job yet, and my sister won't pay me for workin' on the farm. How's a filly my age s'posed to earn bits?"

Exie scoffed and shook her head. "When I was your age, I earned a lot more coin than I do now. It was a lot more fun, too, but when I got older I couldn't secure any more clients, and I ended up getting a real job."

"Wait... You're tellin' me I could earn more bits than a shopkeeper?" Apple Bloom grinned.

"Well, I was about a year or two older than you when I started, and that's actually how I got my cutie mark. Funny story actually. It was my first time with a grown mare. I had run away from home and met a nice lady who took me in and told me I was full of potential—wait... I can't tell you this story." Exie blushed and shook her head. "Sorry, I'm not used to... innocence."

Apple Bloom stood up and stomped the floor. "No! You've gotta tell me your story! If you were even older than me when you got your cutie mark, then that may be what helps me get mine!"

"Hey, kid, you can't just copy what I did. Everypony's different, and you'll get it in your own way when you're ready. Nopony told me how to get mine; I just fell into it," Exie explained as she looked down and bit her tongue.

Apple Bloom trotted up to the mare, placing her black-clothed forelegs on Exie's lap. She then looked up at her with wide, gleaming deep orange eyes. "Please, Exie... You just gotta help me."

The older mare looked down into the filly's eyes, her heart shattering. "What... Come on. Your sister will kill me if I tell you!"

Apple Bloom's eyes watered beneath her unrelenting, heart wrenching gaze. "Please..."

Exie sighed and felt her heart skip a beat. "Fine... But this stays our secret, got it?!"

"Got it!" Apple Bloom wiped her faux tears and took a seat with a bright smile.

Exie shook her head and smiled herself. "Okay, I'll tell you! Sheesh. Remember that we're two different ponies though, so don't go trying this with your little friends." The mare gulped at the thought, a tingling sensation trailing up her spine. "So anyway... The nice lady took me in. There were actually other filly's my age there, but I was still the only blank flank. I didn't know what the place was at first, I didn't even know what sex was yet, not really anyway. The lady's name was Shipper, and she ran the place. After I slept and ate, she told me it was time to earn my keep."

"Did you have to sweep? I hate sweeping..." Apple Bloom interrupted.

"No... I didn't have to sweep. We had maids for that. Now shush, silly. Moving on... I had no idea what was in store for me, but I wanted to help out, and more than that, I wanted to belong. So when the time came, I was sure to do my best. She took me to a room down the hallway we weren't normally allowed to go down, and she placed a hoof on the door and told me that if I was a good girl, then I could stay. She then said that good girls always do as they're told, and opened the door. I walked into the room and felt more nervous than ever. There was a mare sitting on the bed, and she patted it and told me to go sit down. I did as I was told, sure to be a good girl. I learned what it meant to give to get, to trade... myself... for what I needed..." Exie froze as a painful lump clogged her throat.

"Then what? How'd you get your cutie mark?" Apple Bloom asked at the edge of her seat.

Exie took a deep breath, a somber smile cracking across her face. "I did as I was told... Apple Bloom. Listen to me, you don't want a cutie mark like mine. You can be happy with your friends, and you don't have to regret things like I do. Who gives two shits about a cutie mark anyway? Go play your little games and just enjoy life. If trying to get a cute mark is what makes you happy, then have at it, but don't ever feel bad about what you don't have, because one day you'll have it all."

The little southern filly smiled and nodded. "Okay, but I still want to know how ya got your cutie mark."

"I told you: I did as I was told. Give it a try." Exie grinned and looked over the little filly.

"I dunno. I do as I'm told pretty much all the time 'round the farm," Apple Bloom said with a skeptical frown.

Exie waved a hoof and shrugged the filly off. "Pffft. It doesn't count with family. Take it from a mare who got her cutie mark that way."

"Okay, I be a good girl too. Tell me what you want me to do, Exie." Apple Bloom began adjusting her black leg-warmers, her light red mane falling over her shoulder.

"Alright." Exie softly smiled as she looked up and down the young mare's body. You'd have been a serious earner... she thought with a deep sigh. "Go sweep up those crate splinters and all that dust."

"Aww. I hate sweepin'!" Apple Bloom protested.

"You want your cutie mark or not?" Exie asked, crossing her hooves.

The young filly sighed and trudged over to the broom, standing on her back hooves as she began sweeping up the mess. Exie smiled and leaned back, memories from her younger days flooding her mind. She watched the innocent young mare running the broom back and forth across the floor. She stood up and trotted up to Apple Bloom, gently taking the broom away from her.

"You really are a good girl, Apple Bloom. Want to earn some bits?"

Blue Eyed Mares

Innocence is something I sometimes have a hard time wrapping my mind around. I see these little fillies hopping around this quiet, peaceful town, and it really makes me wonder who I'd be if I grew up here. This town, these ponies, and even the pub all wreak of purity, while I feel I'm corrupting every bit of it with each step I take. Even the sexual ponies here just seem to bleed out this oblivious, wide-eyed carefree attitude like the worst thing in the world is having a friend get mad at you. The innocent ponies here would do well to keep away from me, but I can't help the fact that I want a taste. It doesn't sit right with me when I think about changing the way another sees the world.

I've already started getting 'looks' from other ponies, like they already know everything about me, like I'm just here to cause problems. They don't get it, and they can't be bothered to trot a mile in my boots. Where I'm from, the places I go, sleeping with a pony the night you meet is normal and perfectly acceptable. There's nothing wrong with it in my eyes, but here... well, I know there are rumors going around about me. I'm mean, honestly, what else is there to do around here? I'm just glad I met Rainbow Dash and Applejack, those two seem like they're okay with my behavior, for certain values of the word 'okay'. I just wish everyone was willing to accept me for who I am. I wonder if anyone else could understand that this is simply who I grew up to be. It's a piece of where I'm from, and I don't want to, or feel that I should have to change.

The Flats of Canterlot compared to this place are a joke, a cruel, sick, violent joke. The Palace City above the summit was like looking up at a perfect utopia from a pit of grimy mules and broken dreams. My father always told me that we'd live up in Palace City one day, but... well, that never happened.

Through my innocent eyes, my father's word was golden, and I believed him with all my heart. But that innocence of mine was short-lived. My mom brought another mare into our home and fucked her on the couch while I was sitting and coloring. I'm pretty sure they were both on ecstasy, but I had no idea at the time. My dad sent my mom away, and now she lives on some idiotic cherry plantation in Dodge Junction. She wants nothing to do with me these days, she hasn't talked to me since the day she left.

My dad grew depressed, he hit me, sent me to my room, stopped sending me to school, all while under the influence of alcohol and who knows what else. After about a year of being locked away, he changed my life forever. He told me I look just like my mom, then he kissed me... and... I just... After what happened to me, I finally ran away from home in the middle of the night, finding my way to Manehattan, and leaving my innocence behind.

Rainbow Dash dragged her tongue across the tip of her front hoof before letting all her limbs fall limp against her closest friend's soft, warm bed. Applejack rested her head on Rainbow's chest, gently smiling as she listened to the pegasus' rapid heartbeat.

"That was amazing, Dash. Phew." Applejack wiped her brow and took a deep, exhausted breath. "You must have, uh... a lot of experience, right?"

The colorful mare shrugged and stared up at the ceiling, stroking her friend's soft blonde mane. "I've been around the block one or twice, but, AJ, you are the best I've ever had." Rainbow Dash gulped and closed her eyes, a twisted frown forming.

Applejack giggled and cuddled her friend, wrapping both front legs around her. "Exie, right..."

The pegasus gulped harder and tilted her head up. "What?" she asked, a nervous pit in her stomach.

"I said Exie was right. We did need this. I'm glad I finally did it, Celestia knows I've been wantin' to." The earth pony sighed and kissed the mare's chest, gently reaching around her warm, slender body.

Rainbow let out a deep sigh and smiled, she then raised and eyebrow and opened one eye. "Wait. Why were you talking to the princess about this...?"

Applejack rolled her eyes beneath closed lids and chuckled. "Easy, Dash. It's just an expression. One that I guess we shouldn't use no more since we actually know 'er."

"Yeah..." Rainbow shook her head. "So. About the elephant in the room." She sighed. "You said you avoided... this because you were scared that it would mess up our friendship. Now what?"

Applejack lowered her eyes and leaned up to face her best friend. "I'm still scared of that happenin', but... I like the way this feels. What'll we tell our friends?"

"I know," Rainbow chuckled. "Let's just make an announcement at Exie's party."

"Okay, but that ain't exactly helpful. What should we say?" Applejack sat up and placed her hoof on her new lover's thigh.

"Easy, we don't say anything. We'll just make out for like, a full ten seconds. Then they'll get the picture and be totally jealous of us." Rainbow Dash fluttered off the bed, a devious glint in her eye.

Applejack blushed and shook her head. "I beg your pardon, Rainbow, but I'm not gonna do that."

"Aw, why not? It'll be fun." The pegasus pouted and slumped to the floor.

"Well, 'cause it ain't good manners to steal the attention at a friend's party. We'll just have to tell 'em as it comes up when they start noticin' on their own. Who we're seein' in our private lives ain't nopony's business but our own anyhow." Applejack nodded and pulled her friend to her hooves. "Now let's get ready for that party."

***

Exie stood leaning against a clothing rack, a small sack of bits resting on the bottom of her upturned front hoof. She watched the small yellow filly in front of her sliding her little black sleeves on, a glint of light sparkling at the tip of one of the chrome studs. Her heart pounded in her head as she watched her every move, each individual muscle contracting beneath an independent, conscious mind. "You're beautiful, Apple Bloom. Never let anypony tell you otherwise."

The filly smiled and nodded. "Thanks!"

"Here, you've earned these." Exie tossed the small sack of coins towards the filly, who clumsily attempted and failed to catch them.

The pouch held shut as it clanged against the concrete floor, and Apple Bloom immediately snatched it up. "Wow, I really earned these just by..."

"Yup! Now remember, what happened is our little secret, got it? Your sister can know when I decide to tell her, which may be never because I'm afraid she'll beat me to death." Exie nervously chuckled, a shameful pit in her stomach wiping her smile away. "Oh boy... what have I done?"

Apple Bloom tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Is what we did wrong? Am I gonna get in trouble?"

Exie quickly shook her head. "No! Definitely not. What I did with you was wrong, but you can in no way be held responsible. You're just a kid so laws don't really apply to you. I'm not sure if the laws here in Ponyville are different than those in Manehattan, but I could have gotten in huge trouble for using you up there."

"Why?"

"Well... I guess kids aren't allowed to work because they're too young to understand how not to be taken advantage of. I mean, we can tell Applejack all about you helping out around the shop, and she'll probably even be proud of you, but tell her I paid you for it, and that's a different story. You're a good little worker though." Exie trotted up to the filly at patted her on the head.

Apple Bloom closed her eyes with a smile. "I am? Does that mean I can work here all the time?"

Exie cringed as a chill shot up her spine. "How about you just wait and we'll see what happens? I'm thinking about opening my shop up a bit early since we're pretty much good to go, and maybe I can get Applejack to let you hang around."

As the excited little filly rapidly nodded, Exie looked through her glass doors into the darkening sky. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "Let's get out of here. I'll walk you home, 'kay?"

"Okay." Apple Bloom trotted up next to her and nuzzled her chest before taking the lead, her small bag of bits carefully tucked into her saddlebag.

Exie smiled as the filly merrily cantered up the road towards the farm. She watched her, so carefree and untroubled, much unlike her own younger days. As they reached the hilltop, she waved her little friend off, watching as she pushed through the screen door. With a deep breath, Exie looked over her shoulder back towards the center of town.

"Party time..." she quietly muttered, a vague sense of anxiety lingering over her shoulders. With a quick canter, she made haste to the bakery. Reaching the doors just as the sun was setting, she shook her head and pushed them open.

"Welcome to your party!" Pinkie Pie shouted from behind the counter.

Exie's ears fell flat as she looked around. The walls were lined with balloons and colorful streamers, a generic fun-sounding song filled the air, and a large overly frosted cake decorated the center off the room. Pinke popped up next to the dumbfounded mare and sprinkled confetti over her head. She then forcefully blew into a party-blower, causing it to unroll and press into Exie's cheek with an irritating high-pitched squawk.

"Surprised?" the enthusiastic mare asked, her wide, expectant eyes sparkling beneath the bright lights overhead.

Exie forced a smile, a pit of regret sinking into her stomach as she looked up at the unfamiliar eyes watching her every move. "Yeah... I'm surprised all right."

"Yes! Now come on in! Have you met the others yet? Well you met Twilight, duh, but how about Rarity and Fluttershy?" Pinkie dragged the hesitant mare across the room.

Exie swallowed her tongue and eyed the floor, the very tips of Rarity's front hooves in her field of vision. Her heart began to race, then she blushed and forced a smile. "Hi... I met, well, we... we were introduced to, uh, by Applejack. Introduced to each other by Applejack, I mean."

Rarity raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yes, dear, of course. How could I forget?"

Exie shrugged and scratched her head. "Right... stupid." She gulped and rapidly waved her hooves back and forth. "Not you! Me, I'm the stupid one. Wait..."

Pinkie Pie covered her mouth with both hooves to contain her laughter. "Pff... So how about Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus waved with a knowing smile as Exie squeezed her eyes shut and gulped hard.

With a deep breath, Exie turned to face the yellow pegasus. "Hi. Fluttershy, right? I briefly saw you the other day, but we didn't really have a chance to... meet, technically."

"I'm sorry about that... Sometimes I just get so, so nervous," Fluttershy explained.

"That's alright, I suppose. I know how you feel." Exie smiled nervously and waved at Rarity, who tilted her nose up and trotted away towards Twilight Sparkle, who sat at a table, sipping from a cup.

"Are you okay?" Pinkie Pie asked as she placed her hoof on the gushing mare's shoulder. "You look like you're gonna be sick? And we haven't even started the cupcake eating contest."

"She's not sick, Pinkie," Fluttershy quietly attested. "I know that look: she's shy. Oh! Not that's it's... any of my business. I'm sorry." The pegasus ducked back beneath her mane, looking up with apologetic eyes.

"I'm not shy!" Exie looked over the pastel pink mane at the gorgeous, perfectly curved and very well-groomed unicorn. "She's just so... intimidating."

The front door's bell rang out as two mares trotted through the front door of the bakery, both of whom Exie recognized, Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"Hiya AJ, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie rushed in between the two and hugged the pegasus. "Glad you could make it."

Applejack frowned and eyed the pink mare with a warning glance. "Shucks, thanks for havin' us over, Pinkie. While we're here, uh, me and Dash have somethin' to tell y'all."

The other six ponies in the room each stared quietly at Applejack as Pinkie Pie forcefully shoved the needle off the spinning record, creating a raspy screech. The southern mare gulped as she tried to hold onto at least a vague sliver of confidence. "I uh... I just wanted to make a quick announcement to kill off the need for rumors... and, uh, whatnot."

"Out with it already!" Exie called out from the back of the room, winking knowingly at the pair.

Rainbow Dash leaned into the cowgirl and pulled their muzzles together. As they locked lips, the room fell even more awkwardly silent, the only sound being the smacking of two pairs of lips.

"Woooo! Nice!" Exie clapped her hooves and cheered, effectively breaking the silence.

Twilight Sparkle nodded and tapped the table as Pinkie resumed paying the record. "Glad to see you two so... close," she said, glancing to Exie with a smirk.

The redheaded mare trotted up to Twilight and leaned on the table with seductive poise, Rarity's dazzling blue eyes grating against her peripheral vision. As she leaned, she tilted table, then instinctively leaned off if it, causing it to forcefully fall back into place and spill Rarity's drink into her lap.

The white unicorn's cheeks glowed red as she jumped up with a huff. "I knew this was a bad idea!"

Pinkie placed her hoof on the record needle, ready to cut it short if necessary. She then eased away with a frown as Rarity trotted towards the door and Exie slumped down to the floor beneath the table.

"Pinkie Pie, thank you for the party, but I really must be going." Rarity trotted out the door without s second glance.

"She bucking hates me... I'm such an idiot..." The usually confident mare pressed her hooves into her eyes and fell onto her back.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack each leaned down and peeked under the table. As the pegasus chuckled, she poked Exie's boot and grinned. "No way! You have a crush on Rarity?"

"No," Exie grumbled, sitting up and slouching back. "I just think she's really, really... really good looking."

"Well, duh! Rarity's like the hottest mare ever. Everypony around here knows that," Rainbow Dash explained as she received a disgruntled stare from her new lover.

Fluttershy timidly lifted a hoof to add her two bits. "I think she's pretty, too," she said, but went unnoticed.

"Mmmm, I like candy. I like Rarity too. I just wish I could be candy. I wonder what flavor she'd be, or what kind of candy she'd be. Oh! I know! She would definitely be a marshmallow. A super soft, sugary, delicious marshmallow... Yum..." Pinkie Pie fell onto her back with her tongue licking her lips. "I'd just gobble her up."

"You and me both, sister." Exie giggled and looked up in thought.

"Are we all seriously going on about how attractive our friend is?" Twilight Sparkle piped up, raising questioning eyebrow.

"And how sweet she is," Pinkie added.

"I'd date her in a heartbeat." Exie shrugged and smiled.

Rainbow Dash laughed and fluttered backwards. "Yeah right! You'd blow it the second she looked at you; you're a sucker for her."

Exie shook her head with a soft smile. "I know, but I'd try it anyway. I'm not usually like that around... well, around any pony at all. She's really something else. I can't believe the way she knocks me out... I guess I kind of have a thing for blue eyes, too. She's really just the whole package though."

Rainbow Dash landed next to Applejack and gave her a peck. "Rarity may look good, but I've got the whole package right here."

The southern mare smiled widely as her girlfriend leaned in and locked lips yet again. Exie glanced over at Pinkie Pie in time to see her smile fall into a puzzled look before her attention drifted to Twilight overtly yawning.

"Wow," the unicorn muttered before yawning again. "I'm getting pretty tired. I should head out soon. Sorry I have to leave so early, but I was up really late last night... studdying," Twilight said to Pinkie, answering her question before she'd even asked.

"Oh... alright." Pinkie smiled and waved her friend off. "Take some cupcakes with you!"

As the lavender mare trotted out the door, she took a couple cupcakes with her in her aura of magic. Rainbow Dash leaned back and wiped her mouth, her chest sensually rubbing up against her partner's.

"So." Exie casually whistled and glanced around a second time.

Pinkie watched the two with wide, glistening eyes and a crooked frown, then abruptly smiled as a soft black sleeve rested on her shoulder. "Hey, you alright?"

"Of course I am! Aren't you?" Pinkie enthusiastically asked. "Wanna play a game or something?"

A vague pang of disconcert stuck Exie's stomach as she looked at Pinkie's smile; something about it just seemed forced. She nodded and smiled at Pinkie. "Sure."

Exie lifted a long narrow un-inflated balloon off of the counter and smiled. "I feel bad for the stallion that needs this," she teased.

Pinkie Pie smiled and took the balloon. "Why? Balloons are fun."

Exie shook her head as Pinkie stuck the rubber in her mouth and stretched it out, then she puffed into the balloon and quickly inflated it, using her tongue and teeth to tie a knot at the end. She then began twisting and folding the inflated object until it took the shape of a bald, tailless pony.

"Wow, nice tongue action," Exie remarked. "So, are you, like, a clown or something?" Exie took the nearly weightless object and bounced it on the tip of her hoof. "This thing's neat."

"I could teach you," Pinkie Pie offered, holding a balloon up to the mare.

Exie nodded and took it. "Alright! Let's do it."

The Manehattan mare stuck the balloon into her mouth and blew into it as hard as she could, but failed to inflate it. She blushed and caught her breathe then tried again, her cheeks glowing red as she squeezed her eyes shut and puffed with all her might. "I think it's... broken..." she said, huffing to catch her breath.

"Bahaha! Nice one, Exie!" Rainbow Dash fell onto her back in a fit of laughter.

"I'd like to see you do it!" She huffed, slamming the balloon onto the table. Pinkie Pie giggled and lifted it up, wiping the saliva onto her chest before sticking it into her mouth. Exie raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Hey, it helps if you stretch it out first." Pinkie demonstrated, pulling on the rubber before quickly inflating it.

"I'm just gonna go now..." Fluttershy quietly mumbled, yet again unnoticed as she tiptoed around the publicly affectionate couple, who were each locked in tongue swashing battle.

The party pony let the air slip out, then she held it out in front of Exie, who snatched it up on the tip of her hoof. She looked over the open end of the balloon and noticed the shiny wetness left behind from Pinkie's mouth. She then looked the mare straight into her deep blue eyes and sucked the balloon's wet end into her mouth. The party pony didn't react at all, she sat waiting expectantly, her smile holding fast.

Exie rolled her eyes and shrugged, then took a deep breath in through her nose before forcing the air from her lungs into the balloon, rapidly inflating it. "I did it!" she shouted, all the air slipping out of the rubber.

Pinkie Pie beamed and thrust her hooves into the air. "You did! But you forgot to tie the end..."

Exie looked at the saggy material resting on her hoof and groaned. "Okay, I'm tired of this."

Both mares looked over their shoulders as they heard faint moaning coming from the stairway. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were nowhere to be seen, and Exie gulped hard as she watched Pinkie's smile slip away yet again.

"Hey, let's take a walk." Exie nudged the young mare towards the door.

Pinkie nodded and exited the bakery. "I'm glad the Cakes aren't here, or I might get in trouble."

"The cakes?" Exie asked with an amused grin. "What cakes?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Cake. They own the bakery and let me live there in exchange for working." Pinkie Pie smiled and nodded. "I'm lucky to have them."

Exie stopped walking and scoffed. "Wait a minute... You what?"

"I..." Pinkie frowned, confused. "I just help bake and work the register. Oh, and help clean up when we close."

"And they don't pay you?" The Manehattan mare crossed her hooves and narrowed her gaze. "That doesn't sound right to me."

"If ya wanna get technically, the money I do earn would go right back to them anyways, so it's not like they don't pay me, just that it sort flows all circle-like," Pinkie cheerfully stated.

The city girl scoffed again and shook her head. "I guess it's not really any of my business to pry too, too deeply in that matter. But speaking if things that aren't my business—what's the deal with you and Rainbow Dash?"

Pinkie froze in place and looked at the ground. "Nothing. Why d'ya ask?"

"Don't lie to me. I saw the look you were giving her. I've seen that look a thousand times over... I've given that look my fair share if times too." Exie placed a hoof on the pink pony's back and offered a comforting smile.

Pinkie Pie took a deep breath and plopped down onto the road. "I like her. She's, you know."

"She's what?" Exie leaned down next to the mare and offered an ear to hear a pained mare out. "Tell me, and I'll listen. Sometimes it's good to have somepony to talk to, and I won't judge you."

Pinkie looked up into Exie's nearly matching blue eyes. "I just really, really like her. She's the only pony I ever met that I always want to be around. And she's... she's also..."

Pinkie began to cringe, her words cut off by rising anxiety and short breaths. Exie wiped a single tear from the mare's cheek and leaned over her lap. "Hey, don't worry. It'll be alright. Keep talking, tell me what you're trying to say."

Pinkie took several deep breaths and nodded, still sniffling as she tried to recompose herself. "She's also the only pony that doesn't give me dirty looks for being myself. She makes me feel good about myself, when I always try to make other ponies smile and feel good. We became friends a few years ago after she avoided me for most of our lives, since then, I've never felt closer to anypony."

Exie nodded and reached up to touch her cheek. "I know what it's like to be hated just for being who you are, and I know how good it feels to have a mare like Rainbow Dash accept you. Pinkie, I'm sorry for the way I treated you before. I'm not used to mares like you, at least, not quite like you."

"It's okay. My friends say that I take some 'getting used to'. It's not your fault for not liking me. I'm just not all that likeable, all the time. I learned that over the past couple years... I can't explain it, but ponies only really like me in small doses, even my closest friends feel that way sometimes. You should see the looks they give me, but I can't help it; it's just who I am, and I don't want to have to change. I'm glad that, for the most part, they accept me for who I am. I can't really ask for more." Pinkie Pie giggled and shook her tears away. "Who am I kidding being jealous over Applejack? I love AJ and Dashie! I should be happy that they're happy."

"I really think I know how you feel, about the whole acceptance thing. I'm not the most acceptable pony either, at least not when I leave my comfort zone. I accept you, Pinkie." Exie grunted and crossed her hooves. "I guess as far as Dash and AJ go, if I were you... I'd do anything I could to tear them... Huh... Never mind."

"So it looks like you got used to me." Pinkie grinned and poked the mare laying across her legs on the forehead.

Exie blushed and closed her eyes. "I'm a friendly mare. You just struck me the wrong way when we first met, but I think you're pretty cool. Thanks for the party by the way."

Pinkie nodded and gently urged Exie to get up. "I'm glad you liked it, but it wasn't much of a party."

As the two stood up side by side, they continued walking down the night road, stepping out from beneath a veil of trees. Exie stopped in her tracks and looked up into the sky, her heart sinking into her stomach. Trillions of brilliantly glowing and twinkling lights speckled the night sky.

"It's beautiful..." Exie said as she stared blankly into the starlit sky, her stomach fluttering as she gulped. "I had no idea..."

Pinkie nodded and joined the mare, looking up into the cosmos. "No moon, and it's a really clear night. Perfect for star-looking."

"Isn't it star-gazing?"

"Yup," Pinkie chirped, wrapping a foreleg over the starstruck mare's back. "Silly."

Exie looked over at the set of blue eyes staring back at her, spotting the infinite array of stars reflected through Pinkie's wide, shimmering eyes as she slowly closed them and inched forward. The cream-coated mare lifted her sleeved hoof to Pinkie's cheek and tilted her head, leaning in closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, Pinkie Pie pulled away. Exie opened her eyes and frowned with a hint of blush.

"I'm sorry... Is everything alright?" Exie asked, a lump clogging her throat.

Pinkie Pie nodded and shrugged. "Yes..."

"So did I misread your signals?" Exie dropped her hoof from Pinkie's cheek and grinned in embarrassment. "I thought you wanted to kiss me. My mistake."

"Signals? I didn't give any signals." The pink mare frowned.

Exie tilted her head and raised a hoof, wearing a skeptical expression. "No, no, I'm sure you did. You touched me, or, made physical contact, then you looked into my eyes and closed them, then you even leaned forward. Those are pretty obvious kissing signs."

"Oops. I didn't mean to. I just did that stuff without thinking about it." Pinkie Pie giggled and flicked the long poofy mane from her face.

"Wait, but you aren't really supposed to think about it. Just doing it means you really did want to kiss. Why'd you stop?" Exie lowered her eyes and shook her head. "Oh. Wait. You guys are all about like, not kissing on first dates or whatever."

Pinkie blushed profusely and stumbled backwards. "We're on a date?!"

"Whoa..." Exie covered her mouth and laughed. "No, I was just saying—wow, I've never seen you get embarrassed before. Even the kissing thing. What's wrong with dating anyway?"

Pinkie nervously giggled and sat down. "Dunno."

Exie shook her head and trotted off the road, falling onto her back in the soft green grass. Pinkie Pie followed her and knelt down beside her. "I guess I didn't kiss you because I've never kissed another pony before. That's bad, right? You don't think that's bad, do you? I'm way too old not to have kissed a pony but I guess that's okay because it just means I'm a real catch, at least that's what the Cakes say, but that's probably not true since my best friends all seem like catches too but they kiss each other all the time and have sex in my bed! But I couldn't even begin to know how to have sex with a pony because I can't even—"

"Hey, settle down." Exie scowled at the mare and crossed her front hooves. "I don't even know what you're talking about, but I think you should just roll with everything and be happy that you're not all used up and unloveable like me."

"You're unloveable?" Pinkie Pie widened her eyes and tilted her head.

Exie smirked and looked back at her, noticing how genuinely confused and concerned the innocent mare seemed to be. "I'm not being serious... At least I hope not, anyway. I mean, everypony wants to be loved, right? That's what makes life worthwhile—knowing that you'll get that feeling of pure, joyful bliss one more time. I can't help that I'm always chasing after it."

Pinkie nodded and rolled onto her back, laying next to her redheaded friend as they each watched the sky. A brilliant streak of light cut through the darkness between the stars, and Exie widened her gleaming eyes. "Wow... I've never seen a shooting star before."

Exie looked over at the pink mare next to her, her wide blue eyes matching her excited smile. Pinkie Pie felt her heart flutter with joy, and she couldn't help but smile herself. "That's what I live for."

"Shooting stars?" Exie giggled.

"No, smiles. You have a nice smile, too." Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and nodded.

"Thanks, and so do you. That shooting star... I mean, come on." Exie sighed with a blissful smile as she faced the sky once again, hoping for another spectacle.

Pinkie chuckled and shrugged. "They're pretty. I like pretty things."

"You're pretty," Exie added. "And I like you."

Pinkie bit her lip and stifled her laughter. "I like you too."

"I was thinking about something just now. This is the first time I've seen a shooting star, it's also the first time I've ever laid in grass. Now that I think about it, it's even the first time anypony's ever thrown a party specifically for me just because. Not counting lame birthday parties that I was too young to remember. They don't count anyway since it was just me and my parents."

Pinkie chuckled and rolled over to face the mare. "I'll throw you a birthday party. When is your birthday?"

Exie took a deep breath and shook her head. "Doesn't matter."

Pinkie Pie opened her mouth to press further, but instead sighed and lowered her eyes. "You're experiencing a lot of things for the first time tonight, aren't ya?"

Exie nodded, grinning as she faced the mare lying next to her. "Not only that, but I'm experiencing them all with you."

Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and recalled every signal that the experienced mare had mentioned earlier. She took a deep breath and inched forward. Exie grinned even wider before leaning closer, meeting the mare halfway. As the tips of their muzzles touched, Exie whispered.

"First times stay with you forever."

Tension All Over

Sometimes I wake up in shivers in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. I always have this strong strong sense of fear when I do, and I look around the room, just certain something is trying to hurt me. It's embarrassing when I'm not alone in bed, and I have to explain myself like some kind of mental case. It's the hate and the fear festering in my subconscious memories. Repression isn't a cure for post-traumatic stress, but instead simply an animal instinct to keep me moving forward. Waking up and facing the humiliation of being pitied is still preferable to waking up in tears, alone.

I woke up alone last night. I knew Applejack was only across the hallway, but some combination of fear and pride had kept me from getting out of bed, not to mention the fact that Rainbow Dash was probably there too. I just stayed there hugging my spare pillow and staring at the vague, pony shaped shadows near the wall. I'd have given anything for Applejack to happen to want to come check in or something. Truthfully, more than anypony else, I wanted Pinkie Pie to be there with me. Even at my worst, I'm certain she could have made me smile.

Exie rested in her bed, tightly clutching her pillow. She yawned as the dim orange rays of light beamed out over the horizon, and she shoved the soft cushion onto the floor. With a deep huff, she slumped off of the bed and lazily slid her boots onto her weary hooves. The groggy mare wiped her eyes and made her way downstairs, where she eyed a slowly brewing coffee pot. A big red stallion sat at the kitchen table, watching the carafe fill one drop at a time.

"Hey. What time does Sugarcube Corner open up?" Exie asked, her voice dry and cracky.

"'Bout six. Should be open now." Big Macintosh avoided making eye contact, his gaze fixed on the coffee pot.

"Cool, thanks. Tell your little sister I said hi, and that I'm sorry for not taking her to school." Exie shoved past the screen door without a response, letting it loudly bounce shut behind herself.

The cranky mare wiped her eye again before yawning, her head aching and her stomach rumbling. She watched the road as she trotted into town, her mind wandering, fixating on the previous evening. Reality began to blur as she thought, and she carried on down the street listlessly, her mind elsewhere.

She leaned in towards Pinkie Pie, their muzzles touching, and her heart fluttering like a filly with a crush. Blissful pain flowed through her body as she smiled, pressing forward. The pink mare wrapped her forelegs around Exie's neck, their bodies pressed tightly together forming a single aura of warmth between them.

"First times last... forever?" Pinkie asked, her lips a mere inch away from her friend's.

Exie nodded and tilted her head, parting her lips and moving in. Pinkie Pie swallowed hard before gritting her teeth and accepting what the other mare offered. Their lips touched, and Pinkie's heart erupted. Her limbs fell limp for several moments as their lips remained interlocked in curious passion. She lifted her back leg over Exie's haunches and pressed against her flank, pulling her closer.

They each hugged and pressed themselves against one another, grinding intimately as they kissed. Exie parted her lips further, sucking Pinkie's bottom lip into her mouth and letting it gently slide between her teeth. Feeling bold, the young party pony flicked her tongue out, almost tentatively. Exie tasted her inexperience, and placed her hoof on Pinkie's cheek as they shared tongues. Pinkie kissed sloppily and greedily, saliva trailing down her cheek and onto the grass. She heavily inhaled through her nose, her heart racing and her body tingling.

Exie smiled widely and pulled away, deeply gazing into Pinkie Pie's stunning blue eyes. The pink mare stared back at her friend with a goofy, blissful smile of her own. "Exie, you were right. Kissing feels really good."

"I knew you'd love it. Honestly, we're designed to love it." Exie ran her hoof down Pinkie's chest and rested it on her thigh. "There are a lot of hormones and chemicals and stuff involved that work together to make this kind of affection feel great. It's happiness at its finest, purest form. It's love."

Pinkie Pie slowly let her smile slip away, looking up at the mature mare with gleaming eyes. "Love?"

Exie smacked herself in the face, snapping back into reality. Looking up, she pushed through the bakery doors and trotted up to the register. Pinkie Pie stood behind the counter, resting her cheeks on her front hooves with a giddy grin.

"Pinkie, can we talk?" Exie lowered her ears and glanced to an empty table behind her.

The party pony nodded and noted the empty bakery. She skipped around the counter and locked the front door, glancing back at the clock before flipping the sign to 'closed'. "Okay. Let's go upstairs and chat."

Exie nervously gulped as her friend stepped up the stairs, turning back and winking as she went. As they reached Pinkie's bedroom, she stopped and looked into Exie's eyes, her own fluttering partially closed as she grinned even wider. "So, Exie, is this about what I think it's about? You know, about what we talked about?"

The redheaded mare bit her lip and averted her gaze, spotting an open bathroom door down the hall. "Uhm, I need to use your restroom. Be right back."

Pinkie Pie frowned, then shrugged and trotted into the bedroom as her friend shut the bathroom door behind herself. Exie turned on the sink water, splashing it into her face as she stared into the mirror. "What did you get yourself into... You can't break her heart, Exie. You can't."

"Well I call it love. Other ponies call it a crush, or infatuation, or whatever else. All that matters is that this is the happiest feeling in the world. Just laying here with you like this is amazing, kissing you is amazing. Don't you feel great right now?" Exie brushed her muzzle against Pinkie's and lightly pecked her cheeks and lips.

The pink mare closed her eyes and drifted off deeply into the warmth of another mare, her heart racing with excitement. "It does feel great. Want to..." the young mare glanced around, then whispered into Exie's ear. "Want to go back to your place and... do it?"

The Manehattan mare shrugged, still smiling like a little schoolfilly as she kissed across her friend's muzzle. "We could. I'd like to... to..." She gulped hard and began to frown. "Wait, Pinkie, I... uhm. Crap..."

Pinkie Pie leaned up and rested on her elbow, her smile absent com her face. "What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes wide and glistening.

"I don't know." Exie cringed as she looked down between Pinkie Pie's legs. "Have you ever, like, played with yourself?"

Pinkie Pie blushed deeply and glanced around. "That's silly, Exie. Why do you want to know? Are you one of those weird ponies that like to watch?"

"Pinkie, I would love to watch you play with yourself... Like, you don't even know. Can we go do that?" Exie bit her tongue and smiled pleadingly.

Pinkie Pie stood up and shook her head. "It's okay, Exie. You don't have to lie to me. I know I'm not as pretty as other mares around here. I'm chubby and my mane's a mess, but I like myself anyway."

"Whoa-ho-ho there Pinkie Pie. I never lied to you... I may have before but whatever it was, it doesn't matter anymore. Sure you've got some plumpy hips and a bit of a belly, and, uhm, your mane is kinda frizzy. What kind of shampoo do you use?" Exie asked, scratching her chin and shaking her soft, silky ponytail back and forth.

Pinkie Pie frowned and looked down at her hooves.

"Wait! Ignore those things I just said! What I'm trying to say is that you're still really cute. Actually, those things make you even more adorable. Like, you're somepony's kid sister or something, like a... like a fantasy thing. Oh my god what am I saying? Look, I don't want to have sex with you because you're a virgin. Okay?"

"But..." Pinkie's lip quivered as she began flattening her mane down. "But what about when you said that we felt love?"

Exie gently pushed Pinkie Pie's bedroom door open and winced as the naive little mare laid sprawled out across her bed, one front hoof propping up her cheek and her other one resting on her hip.

"Stop it, Pinkie. We should chat." Exie trotted up to her and sat on her bed, scooting her pink hooves over the edge.

Pinkie leaned up and nodded with a goofy grin. "Okay."

Exie sighed and placed her hooves over her face. "I shouldn't have talked to you the way I did. I manipulated you into wanting to have sex with me, and I don't have any strong feelings for you. I think you're beautiful and really fun to hang out with, but I don't want to give you the wrong impression. I don't want to end up breaking your heart."

"Exie, that's just silly. You're silly. Silly filly." Pinkie covered her mouth and giggled.

"What? What's silly about what I just told you?" Exie narrowed her eyes.

"You don't have be so worried about stuff. Just say what you mean. Can we kiss more? I liked kissing, and I know I don't love you, that's crazy talk. We just met! I love kissing you though," Pinkie explained as she leaned forward, puckering her lips.

"Okay fine. And... I can't believe I'm saying this, but no more talk about sex, at least not for a while. Deal?" Exie smiled and leaned back onto the bed as Pinkie climbed over her.

"Deal. But I just had a fun idea that you might be okay with." Pinkie winked and raised her eyebrows, and Exie gulped.

***

Rarity begrudgingly crossed her forelegs as two beautiful spa ponies applied an exfoliating paste to her back hooves and began rubbing. "I'm telling you dear, I knew that mare was trouble from the moment I spotted her. And it's no surprise that she's the owner of that dreadful... Sew Fine shop," she spat the name out with the utmost sense of disgust.

As a soft blue mare with a gentle pink mane preened Fluttershy's left wing with a small wooden comb, the pegasus took a deep breath and shrugged. "She seemed... I guess, nice."

"Nice?!" Rarity shouted as an earth pony with a blooming lotus for a cutie mark poured a ladle of water over hot stones, filling the room with a plume of steam. "Are we talking about the same mare here? Have you seen Apple Bloom prancing around town in those ghastly leg-warmers? This morning, my dearest, most precious sister asked me to make her a pair of black socks. Socks! This mare is a bad influence on top of everything else!"

Fluttershy ducked behind her mane and frowned. "Oh my... I'm so sorry, Rarity."

"Sew Fine is the tackiest little establishment to spring up from the slums of the worst city. The first of which opened in Fillydelphia, I might add."

"Oh dear." Fluttershy covered her mouth and glanced down at Lotus, who was adamantly polishing her lower hoof with an oiled towel, then the two shared a mutual shrug.

"We need to get rid of her before the whole town becomes a bunch of poorly dressed scamps." Rarity pouted her lip and huffed.

Fluttershy nodded, then shook her head laying down on a soft cot in the relaxation room. "But don't you always complain that you have to make so many costumes each year? Maybe this could help... lighten the load."

Rarity placed a hoof to her chest and gasped. "Fluttershy! You can't expect the good ponies of this lovely town to settle for a... for a lower standard! Nightmare Night is a time when one can show off their innermost brilliant styles and tastes in fashion that one couldn't on any other day. With this... Exie around, Nightmare Night will stop being fashionable! Ponies will all be wearing mass factory produced sexual outfits and... and cat ears! It's too awful, I can't bear to imagine it!"

Flinching at her friend's overly dramatic shouting, Fluttershy lifted her hoof to offer a suggestion. "Well, Rarity, if this really bothers you so much, maybe you could just stay inside my cottage with me and pretend we're not home. Like I do every year. Then afterwards Exie and her store will be gone. Right?"

"Oh Fluttershy, I only wish it were so simple. The horrid truth is that Sew Fine will plague our town every year from now on." Rarity sighed and fanned her face with a front hoof. "Aloe dear. Fan please."

The spa pony slowly wagged a leaf over Rarity's body, who took a deep breath an cleared her throat. "Unless of course, her business doesn't do well enough to turn a profit. Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Fluttershy?"

"You'll..." The timid pegasus gulped and recoiled. "You'll sabotage her?"

"Fluttershy!" Rarity gasped.

"... Sorry," the shy pegasus squeaked.

"I'd never lower myself to such an unladylike act of brutishness. No. I'm a fashionista, a designer of haute couture, and I will defend this town from the crime against fabulosity that is Sew Fine in the only way I know how." Rarity proudly lifted her nose and placed a hoof to her chest. "These ponies want a sexy Nightmare Night? Then I will give them a sexy Nightmare Night done properly, and you, my dearest, closest friend, Fluttershy, are going to help me."

The pegasus gulped and hid her face behind a wall of silky, pastel pink mane, her heart beginning to race. "I can't help. I'm sure that there's a different pony much better suited for the job. I don't know anything about being sexy... I mean, except for the things you told me about. Oh... oh my... No no no, this won't work. I'm sorry Rarity."

"Trust me, love. You're the perfect pony for the job. Just relax." Rarity took a deep breath and leaned back on her cot, glancing over to the open door to the steam bath. "Aloe, Lotus, I think my friend and I are going to require your special services this afternoon. I'm terribly stressed as of late."

"Oh, I'm fine!" Fluttershy blushed and closed her legs.

"Nonsense my dear. It's my treat, I insist. Unless you truly, honestly don't want to. In that case you're welcome to go, but bits are no issue, and I do enjoy it when you receive the service with me." Rarity leaned back and relaxed her limbs as the spa twins shut the doors and lowered the curtains.

Fluttershy looked down at the two ponies dimming the lights and flipping signs. "Well... Okay."

"Want to hold my hoof?" Rarity smiled softly and reached out to her friend, who bashfully blushed and smiled as their front hooves interlocked.

The spa sisters glanced to each other and mutually nodded, trading places and approaching the mares in front of them.

***

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZT

Pinkie pie leaned up and wiped her slobbery mouth, panting for breath, then shook her head and hopped off of Exie and rushed downstairs. The other mare laid blissfully in bed, her body numb and her hooves laying limply over the edge of the bed. "... Where'd ya... go?"

Exie leaned up with a wide, goofy smile and chucked, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering around like a swarm of lovesick parasprites. She fell back onto the bed and ran her gloved front hoof down her stomach and between her legs, turning and burying her muzzle into Pinkie Pie's pillow. "Mmmmm..." she hummed as she took a deep whiff.

The party pony pranced downstairs with the widest smile she could have worn, her heart racing and her body tingling. She headed into the kitchen and silenced the large oven, grabbing a pot holder with her teeth and pulling out a batch of freshly baked treats. "Mmmmm..." she hummed as she took a deep whiff.

A sudden tapping noise stole her attention as she carried the tray to the display case. Two mares stood outside with eager faces as the aroma drifted through the door. Pinkie hopped over the counter and unlocked the front door, welcoming her close friends in. Rainbow Dash trotted in behind Applejack, then received a tight hug from her affectionate pink friend, who ran her hooves up and down her back.

"Howdy." Applejack rolled her eyes and pushed the two apart. "Ya know that I'm datin' Rainbow now, right?"

Rainbow Dash frowned and tilted her head. "Pinkie, you smell... different. What have you been doing?"

Before the baker could respond, Exie trotted downstairs and yawned, her mane messy and her coat ruffled. "Hey there guys."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eye and glanced back and forth between the two mares. "Exie, come have a chat with me outside. AJ, go get us some breakfast."

Exie gulped beneath Rainbow's harsh voice, then stepped past Applejack, who shrugged with a worried frown. As the two stepped outside, Rainbow led her to the corner of the building.

"Dash, what is this about?" Exie asked just before the pegasus shoved her against the side of the establishment.

"The hay do you think you're doing? Huh?! You can't mess around with Pinkie, alright?! She's not like other mares and you're gonna mess her all up!" Rainbow quietly shouted, ensuring her unstable friend didn't hear her as she forcefully placed a hoof on the mare's chest.

Exie frowned and smacked Rainbow's hoof away. "You can't tell me what to do. There's nothing wrong with Pinkie, and we're both adults capable of making our own choices."

"Pinkie was a virgin! Damn it, Exie. You can't just go around sleeping with the whole town and expect nopony to end up pissed at you!" Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth and stomped the ground. "Pinkie Pie wasn't supposed to..."

"Supposed to what? Get involved with a slut like me? And I don't like you talking about her like that. Just because she's different doesn't mean she doesn't deserve the intimate affection of another pony. You know, the only pony I've had sex with since I've been here is you. And you threw yourself at me an hour after we met, so don't judge me. As far as Pinkie goes, I just kissed her because she had her heart broken by you, and I wanted to take her mind off of it." Exie bit her lip and shook her head. "Dash, I really like her, but I haven't and I don't pan to take things any further..."

The pegasus scoffed and shook her head. "And what do you mean 'she had her heart broken by me'?"

"Okay, maybe heart broken is a little strong, but she was really torn up over you and AJ, because she wanted you." Exie raised an eyebrow and placed her hooves on Rainbow's shoulders. "But you're great with AJ, so no second thoughts. And if you ever shove me again, you're fired."

"I'm sor... pushin...mmm," the pegasus mumbled, glancing back towards the bakery.

"I accept your very humble apology." Exie rolled her eyes and stepped back towards the bakery. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I think it's cute that you're looking out for Pinkie Pie like this, but you should take it down a notch. I want to be your friend, but will me kissing that cute little mare really cause us problems?" Exie looked back over her shoulder with a woeful frown.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and flattened her ears. "Don't... hurt her."

"Forget about it. I already planned to not hurt her." Exie flipped her ponytail back and forth as she trotted back into the bakery.

Rainbow followed close behind, spotting Applejack nibbling an apple fritter with lowered eyebrows. "Ya done?"

The pegasus nodded and trotted up to the table, snatching up her breakfast and taking a big bite. "I'll explain later."

Exie leaned over the counter and rested her cheeks on her hooves, one back leg lifted as she puckered her lips. Pinkie Pie gracefully carried another tray of baked goods to the display case, leaning back and giving Exie a quick peck on her way.

"Would ya look at that... Exie's goin' through all of us, huh?" Applejack chuckled and took a greedy gulp of orange juice.

Rainbow Dash frowned and tapped the table. "No, she's stopping at Pinkie. The other three would never go for her, especially not Twilight."

"You mean, especially not Rarity? That unicorn's got somethin' against her, and she down right refused to talk to me about just because she knows we're friends." Applejack dropped her smile and looked up in thought. "Huh, kinda rude actually, even for her."

Rainbow Dash chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "Unlike us, Rarity doesn't like a challenger stepping on her turf. She's the queen bitch around here, and she wants Exie to know it."

"I beg yer pardon, Dash, but I don't think that's it. Maybe Rarity just doesn't like her boots. That's the impression I got when they first met. Not to mention the fact that Exie's kinda klutzy around her, and you know how judgmental Rarity can be sometimes." Applejack shrugged. "We've had our share of... not seein' eye to eye," Applejack said as got distracted by high-pitched giggling while Exie and Pinkie took turns poking the tips of each others' noses between kisses.

"Anyway, I always hear about you two fighting, but you always seem cool when I'm around." Rainbow Dash flicked the bangs from her face and grinned. "Speaking of Rarity, I had this crazy idea earlier, if you're ever feeling adventurous..."

"No." Applejack glared across the table as she slowly chewed her food.

"Fiiiine," Rainbow groaned. "Keep an open mind though."

Applejack scoffed and flicked her hat down. "Yeah right. This is Rarity we're talkin' about. Even if I did want to do what I know you're talking about—which I don't—she'd never agree to it anyway. She's so formal and traditional, I doubt she'd even be comfortable talking about such a thing, much less actually doin' it."

***

Rarity lay panting, Fluttershy laying tightly pressed against her side as Aloe and Lotus each wiped the mares clean and nodded to each other. "That'll be the usual fee. Leave the rolls on the cot, and enjoy the rest if your day."

Rarity laughed quietly to herself as she stroked Fluttershy's mane. "Aren't those two just the greatest. Now come with me."

Fluttershy covered her mouth and giggled, her cheeks flushed and body still quivering. "I just did..."

Rarity slid onto her hooves and glanced back with a raised eyebrow. "Oh you." She reached forward and helped her friend off the small cot they shared. "I'm being serious though, Fluttershy. We have quite a bit of work to do if we're going to compete."

Fluttershy looked down and fell behind her mane yet again. "About that... I appreciate you wanting my help, and I'm grateful for the... services, but I'm afraid I won't be able to help you. What do you need me for anyway? Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll just mess it up."

"Absolute nonsense. Don't you worry about a thing, darling. I really need your help with this, because honestly I'm just so pressed for time. The Nightmare Night season has already started, considering the holiday is next month." Rarity reached forward and pulled Fluttershy's head against her chest, deviously stroking her mane as she contemplated the days to come. "We're going to revolutionize not only Nightmare Night costumes, but all of late-autumn fashion. Carousel Boutique? Say hello to The Boutique Horrifique. A temporary name change, of course."

***

"So Pinkie, wanna help me throw a 'Grand Opening' party in a few days? It'll be fun!" Exie asked as she nuzzled her friend from the other side of the counter.

"I'd love to! Throwing parties is kind of my thing ya know," Pinkie said as she merrily swayed her hips.

"So I've heard. And I'm going to help with this, because we have to really cater this thing to the interests of the potential customers. That means no foal games or confetti." Exie widened an eye and smirked.

"Gotcha. Speaking of catering, we cater." Pinkie Pie pulled a small pamphlet from behind the counter and opened it up. "You get a discount if you promote the bakery with a banner at your event too. Win win, am I right?!" Pinkie winked and bumped her friend with an elbow.

"Yeah cool. Let's set it up. Hopefully the short notice is okay." Exie smiled as Pinkie nodded.

"This is gonna be the best grand opening party ever! And this time I really will invite the whole town!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"And this time it'll make sense to." Exie nodded and turned back to face the other two mares in the room. "You guys coming too? Oh, Rainbow, I could use your help. Can you be there?.

"Count me in," the pegasus said as she saluted her employer and Applejack nodded.

Exie took a deep breath and leaned against the counter. "This is gonna go perfectly, no matter what."

Twitch a Stitch

I remember the first time I had sex. I also remember the first time I wanted to have sex. Above all, I remember the first time I made love. These moments each drastically changed the way I saw the world, and the experience of making what I believe to be true, passionate love changed what sex with friends means to me.

During my free time in the brothel, I read a lot. We had a room that sorta served as a library. There was a collection of school textbooks along with a small variety of novels. I shared a bedroom with six other fillies, and I didn't always get along with them, so reading was a nice little escape. There were these romance novels that I was obsessed with, mostly because of the way they described being in love. From those books, I learned that there was something more to life than I knew, and I tried to find it in my roommates and my clients.

Needless to say, I was a naïve little girl back then, and nothing I thought I felt was real. But there was one young mare that I think could have been perfect for me. She was the cutest little thing, about six years younger than me, but so mature. She was covered in freckles, and I took to calling her Speckles. I miss that filly so much, but I think she's happier in the life than she'd be out here. She loved her work, and she was damn good at it.

I think my time here in Ponyville has opened my eyes to a new horizon. It's difficult for me to relate to the ponies here, but when I do connect with them, it's like nothing I've experienced before. Pinkie Pie has shown me a side of myself I thought was dead. I never imagined that I could care about some pony's feelings this much, especially not one I hardly know, and especially not one I hated only a few days ago. Tonight is third night in a row we've slept together, and I'm proud of myself for not rushing into having sex with her. I never thought I could do it; before Pinkie, I've always had sex on the first night I spent with a pony, but here I am on my third. It gets harder not to every night, and at some point I know it's going to happen.

I can feel it building up inside of me. There's a pressure in my chest and stomach every time I kiss her, and I know she feels it to. I feel bad for, I guess, lying to Rainbow Dash, but I can't help the way I feel. It's like I'm trapped in my own romance novel with Pinkie, the tender virgin. I'm the incredibly sexy and amazing love maker, and Dash is the scorned love interest trying to tear us apart. Heh, if this is going to happen naturally, I'm not going to stop it. In fact, at this point I can't wait for it to happen... naturally.

What'll happen afterward is what scares me. I can't let myself hurt her. Not her. There's Rarity, Speckles, Fiddlesticks... would I be able to say no to any of them? I'll have to... I just don't know if I can help myself. I don't think clearly around any of them... but I absolutely need to control myself. For her sake.

The moon cast its dim, off-white glow across the quiet rooftops. A chilly breeze rolled through the town, creeping its way into Rarity's open bedroom window. Fluttershy shuddered and closed the window while Rarity carefully ran a piece of black fabric through her sewing machine.

The yellow pegasus stretched her limbs and yawned. "I'm getting a little sleepy."

The unicorn lightly nodded as she carried on. She pulled the fastened fabric away and levitated a pair or scissors in her aura, biting her tongue as she carefully snipped at the edges. Patting around her messy desk, Rarity grabbed a sewing needle and leaned in closely, carefully stitching along the seams. "Darling, be a dear and come take a look."

Fluttershy nodded and stepped towards the magically suspended garment. She narrowed her eyes and closely inspected the embroidery, then nodded with a smile. "It looks great, Rarity... but..."

"But what?" The unicorn gritted her teeth and twitched. "What is it? Tell me. Is it too revealing? Would you care to try it on and let me judge for myself?"

"Oh, it's fine. The problem is... Well you see, it's just that, and I'm not saying it's bad, because it's very good, but the thing I'm trying to say is that, well..." The pegasus tilted her head and took a deep, deep breath.

Rarity stamped her hoof and groaned with high-pitched whine. "Fluuuutershy, please. I need your help. You're a knowledgeable seamstress, for whatever reason, and your second opinion is of the utmost importance to me."

"Okay." She nodded and gulped. "Here goes... I'm going to tell you, but I don't want you to feel embarrassed. I know what it's like to make an embarrassing mistake, and it feels just awful.."

Rarity smacked herself in the face and glanced at the clock. "Dear, it's well after midnight."

With yet another deep breath to steel her nerves, Fluttershy nodded. "You misspelled 'Horrifique'... There should be two... R's. Not one."

Rarity lifted the piece of clothing up and looked inside the collar where she had embroidered the tag with her establishment's brand name. "Oh, it appears I did. Not a problem, however. I can just make a new tag. Simple error... Anything else to add?"

Fluttershy shook her head and smiled. "No, I think it's perfect. I love it."

"Thank you." Rarity removed her red glasses and rested her head on her piles of fabric. "I think this is a good start. We've made quite a bit of headway these past few days, and I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so much, Fluttershy."

The pegasus blushed and softly kicked at the ground. "It was my pleasure. I didn't do much anyway. You should be proud of all the work you did."

Rarity smiled and trotted up to her closest friend, pulling her into a warm hug and patting her back. "Don't sell yourself short. You're a big part of The Boutique Horrifique now."

"Will I come back and help some more tomorrow? I really need to get back and check on the animals before bed though." Fluttershy sighed as she returned the hug. "I had fun today, even though it was hard work."

Rarity fell to all fours and nodded towards the font door. "Allow me to walk you home. It's the least I can do."

"I'd like that... If you don't mind." Fluttershy faced the floor and looked up into her friend's brilliant sapphire eyes with alluring coyness.

"It will be my pleasure, dear."

***

Exie lay on her back staring at the ceiling, her hoof gently stroking a poofy pink mane as she grinned. The snoozing pony warmly snuggled against her friend, hugging her tightly as she slept. She gently nudged the sleeping mare, causing her to quietly stir and stretch her limbs. Exie placed a hoof on her chest as her heart fluttered, biting her lip and closing her eyes at the overwhelmingly adorable sight.

"Pinkie?" she whispered. "You awake?"

"Hmm?" The pink mare covered her mouth and yawned. "No, are you?" she muttered.

Exie scratched her head and giggled. "Yes."

Pinkie's eyes slowly inched open and she smiled, leaned up and kissing her friend. "Mmm. Me too..."

"I was thinking about something..." Exie swallowed her tongue and brushed the messy mane from her face.

Pinkie ran the tip of her hoof in circles around Exie's chest, still groggy. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"

"You." Exie chuckled and placed a hoof on Pinkie Pie's cheek. "And us."

"Us?" Pinkie asked, raising her eyebrows with a slick grin.

"I can't sleep, but I almost never sleep well anyway. Laying here with you feels amazing though, Pinkie, and I was thinking about what I said before. About the... the virgin thing."

Pinkie Pie frowned and slumped down. "Ya know, there's a way to make me not a virgin anymore, then you won't have to worry about it."

"Yeah, but that's not the problem. A few days ago Rainbow Dash warned me not to mess with you, and she was really mad at me when she thought that we had done it. After I told her we just kissed, she didn't seem mad anymore," Exie explained.

"Aww, that's Dashie. Always looking out for her friends." Pinkie Pie smiled and patted Exie on the head. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it. We're responsible grown mares and I can talk to Dash if she gets her feathers in a ruffle."

"Okay, Pinkie. Then I guess it's my turn to let you take the lead." Exie relaxed against the pillow and ran her hooves down Pinkie's back. "We can do anything you want to."

The pink mare smiled widely and leaned down, her lips brushing against Exie's ear as she whispered, "Anything?" She kissed her cheek and pecked down the top of her muzzle. "I wanna kiss you some more."

"You can kiss me anytime you want..." Exie took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Pinkie's lips touched hers.

"Okay. Can I kiss you here?" she asked, tenderly nipping at Exie's neck. "And here too?" She planted another kiss on her chest, inching lower.

"Anywhere you want." Exie bit her lip, her breaths short and her heart kicking at her ribs.

As Pinkie's lips ran down the mare's stomach, she relaxed her body and spread her back legs, the pink pony on top comfortably laying in between them. Exie chewed on her tongue as she quivered with anticipation, each peck from her friend sending another pulse of pleasure coursing through her entire body. "Pinkie, wait."

The party pony sighed and rolled her eyes with a rueful grin. "What is it? Should you go first?"

Exie quietly laughed and leaned up. "We can't do it here, because I want our first time to be like, crazy awesome, and we have to be quiet here. Can we go back to your place? I don't want us to hold anything back."

Pinkie Pie sighed and plopped down onto her stomach. "No, because we have to be quiet there too 'cause the Cakes got home yesterday. And Pumpkin and Pound are light sleepers."

"Damn. Well... I like to walk Apple Bloom to school, then by the time I get back Big Mac and AJ are always doing random apple harvesting things outside. Granny Smith never wakes up from her naps, and even if she was awake she can barely hear anyway. We could do anything we want then." Exie nodded, her front hooves holding Pinkie's.

"That sounds perfect. Except... I have to get back to the bakery and start the ovens in the morning. I work the morning shift because I'm responsible... I can't let Mr. and Mrs. Cake down." Pinkie sighed and flattened her ears.

Exie looked down in defeat. "Then this afternoon is my grand opening party. That'll last all day, too."

Pinkie Pie winced as she looked over her friend's sad, disappointed face. "Hey. It'll be okay. We can just wait until it feels like it'll be perfect timing. Like a good surprise at a surprise party, sometimes you just gotta wait for it. Sometimes for a really long time because other things keep distracting your friend and she takes forever to finally show up. But when she does get there, the waiting doesn't matter, because it was so worth it to see how happy you just made her."

Exie shook her head with chuckle. "You really amaze me sometimes, you know that? You're absolutely right too. We've waited this long, so we may as well wait a little longer. You already make me happy anyway."

"You make me happy too." Pinkie Pie rested her head on Exie's chest, listening to her heartbeat.

The Manehattan mare hugged onto her friend, suppressing the all too familiar urges rising in her stomach. She closed her eyes as Pinkie breathed across her chest, and she gently stroked her mane as they each slowly drifted off into sleep.

***

Apple Bloom strutted across the playground with her nose to the sky. She paused and stretched out her back leg as she pushed the mane from her forehead with a cloth coated hoof, glancing over her shoulder back at her two closest friends. "So? What'd y'all think?"

"Awesome!" Scootaloo cheered as Sweetie Belle rapidly nodded in approval.

"You looked amazing! Spectacular! Splendiferous!" Sweetie proclaimed. "I can't wait to get mine. You just have to teach us your style."

Apple Bloom beamed with pride. "Thanks guys! I've been practicin' in the mirror to perfect my new style. Y'all ready to head on down to the shop? Today's the big day!"

Each filly nodded in agreement before heading down the road towards Sew Fine. As they totted, Apple Bloom spotted her favorite bright red mane and sprinted ahead. "Exie!"

"There you are, ya little cutie." Exie playfully ruffled the filly's mane and picked her up, lifting her onto her back. "Brought your friends, huh? Cool."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood quietly, smiling and nodding. Apple Bloom stood on Exie's back, placing her front hooves on her friend's head as she peeked over. "Ah, that's right. You haven't really met them yet. Well, this here is Exie. Exie, that's Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. They're my best friends."

"Nice to meet you two," Exie said as she looked upward towards her little friend. "You three are welcome to come hang out in my store, which I really need to get back to. So let's go."

"Okay!" the two fillies on the ground shouted as they skipped ahead.

"Giddy up, Exie!" Apple Bloom teasingly shouted as she pointed down the road.

The older mare smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but you better hold on tight!"

Apple Bloom gulped as Exie lunged forward, galloping full speed down the street. The filly tightly clung to her friend's back, her forelegs locked around her chest. Leaving Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle in the dust, she came to a skidding halt, a plume of dirt and dust in her wake as she slid across the unpaved road. She stood beneath the large banner hanging above her shop's entryway welcoming every resident to the Grand Opening celebration.

"Phew! That was fun." Exie caught her breath and laughed.

"Let's do it again!" Apple Bloom shouted as she hopped onto the ground with a wide, sparkling smile.

Exie looked back in time to see the other two fillies catching up, merrily prancing along as she brushed errant scuffs of dirt from her boots. "Yeah, definitely. I could use the exercise. I'll run you home after the shop closes up. 'Kay?"

"Okay." Apple Bloom hugged the mare's front legs and pressed her cheek against her chest. "You're the greatest."

Applejack watched from inside the building with a crooked frown while Rainbow Dash haggled with potential customers. Exie led the way in as the fillies dispersed behind her, rummaging across the shelves and through clothing racks. Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle stood near the back corner of the building, chatting.

"Your store seems to be doing well," Twilight noted as Exie approached the two.

The shopkeeper glanced around at the many ponies happily looking at the shelved decorations and accessories and nodded. "Yes, surprisingly so. I didn't think the ponies would be so interested. I kind of took this town to be somewhat anti-Nightmare Night."

"Oh no. Definitely not. It's actually one of the more festive holidays we celebrate here. Princess Luna even came to visit us a couple years ago. We love it here." Twilight Sparkle lifted a book in her aura and flipped it over. "By the way, I found this book but it doesn't have a price on it."

Exie took the item and read over the cover with a chuckle. "Ha, yeah this isn't really for sale. It's just for show, like... I guess it goes by the cash register. Eh, you can keep it if you like it."

"At first I didn't like it, but after skimming through a bit it seems pretty informative on urban legends and monsters. I wouldn't mind adding it to my library." The unicorn smiled and reopened the book, reading over the table of contents. "You sure I can't buy it?"

"Nah, just take it. It isn't worth anything to me anyway, and no one ever pays attention to them. We have like twenty copies back in Manehattan. If you enjoy it, it's yours. Consider it a thank you gift for being so welcoming." Exie reached forward and touched hooves with Twilight, who smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Exie. That was very generous of you." Twilight Sparkle bowed her head and turned to leave. "I'm going to head out now. Good luck with your store."

"Thanks!" Exie waved the unicorn off as she trotted past Rainbow Dash and lifted a black and purple cupcake in her aura of magic.

Pinkie Pie smiled and leaned into Exie, warmly nuzzling her for a moment. "Look how happy everypony is to be here. I think today was a huge success."

"I couldn't have done it without you," Exie modestly stated. "Thanks for the help, sweetheart."

Pinkie tilted her head with a wobbly grin. "You're welcome."

Rainbow Dash glared down at three fillies as they placed their packaged items on the counter. "That'll be six bits, and don't think you three can try and talk me down, because I ain't goin' lower than five bits! This isn't a negotiation!"

"Okay!" Apple Bloom dumped five golden coins from her small pouch of bits and smiled expectantly.

Rainbow Dash didn't break eye contact as she slid the coins into the register and bagged the two items. "Have a nice day..."

Exie made her way to the counter as the three fillies skipped out if the store. "How we doin'?"

"Awesomely, of course." Rainbow Dash puffed her chest out and tapped the register. "Ponies sure do love this stuff. And I spotted a few things that I wanna buy too as soon as I can get outta here."

Exie nodded and leaned on the counter. "Great. I just want you to stay a little while longer until it dies down some more. Then you'll be free to come and go as you please."

Rainbow nodded and placed a hoof to her chest. "Gotcha."

Exie's heart skipped with pride as she looked around at all the cheerful citizens doing their shopping. She glanced back towards the back of the shop where several colorful mares stood eying the more adult oriented costume displays. With a smug grin she stepped up behind them and placed her front hooves on the counter. "See anything you like?"

A soft yellow mare with a two-toned dark pink mane nodded and pointed to a sign depicting a black leather saddle with a miniskirt attached. The saddle was lined with a thick fuzzy pink band and came with complementary cat ears. "That. I wanna be a cat for Nightmare Night."

"Nice choice. You're gonna be the sexiest cat in town. Do you want a pre-fitted costume or custom sizes?" Exie reached beneath the counter and pulled out the packaged costume.

"Uhm... I'unno." The rosy-maned earth pony shrugged and smiled. "What's the difference?"

Exie placed the saddle and accessories on the counter and pointed to the dressing room. "I'm guessing this one will fit you just fine, but some ponies prefer the feel of custom fitted merchandise. We're all a little different after all. Try this on and we'll talk. Anyone else need to see something?" she asked with a welcoming smile.

A gray pegasus stood quietly near the corner, one eye looking over the potential selections while the other absently drifted off. Exie trotted to the other end of the counter, leaving the other mares to browse. "Hey there. Would you like to try something on?"

The blonde pegasus shrugged and tilted her head, then began to speak with an overt deficiency. "I usually make my own costume because buying them is expensive. These aren't too bad, though. I just don't know what to get. I wanna be something pretty."

Exie swallowed her urge to wince and nodded, her eyes darting between the other mare's, unsure which one to look at. "Yeah well... How about," she stumbled over her own words as she looked back towards the display. "There's that really cute pirate one. Comes with an eyepatch and everything. Everything you need to... to be a pirate. A cute pirate. Arg."

The gray mare giggled and nodded. "I like it. How much?"

Exie leaned down behind the counter and pulled the costume in question out, plopping it down on the counter. "It's twenty-eight bits. I'm guessing you won't need a custom fit since this is pretty flexible material."

The pegasus reached into her bag and pulled out a paper note representing twenty bits along with a few loose golden coins. "Oops. Can you make change?"

"Yeah," Exie replied, eyeing the twenty-four bits sitting on the counter. "Um..."

The gray mare stared at Exie with one good eye and a smile, waiting expectantly. Exie scratched her head and glanced around at all the other preoccupied ponies behind the pegasus. "You know what? I almost forgot about the Grand Opening discount. This is only twenty-four bits today. I'll bag this for you, and you're good to go."

"Oh. It's my lucky day!" she cheered as she picked up the bag with her teeth. "Mphmmff mmfphfm," she said as she turned to walk away.

"Have a nice day!" Exie laughed and shrugged before shaking her head and tossing the bits into the register.

A mare named Roseluck trotted up to the counter and dropped the saddle onto the shelf. "Do you have a smaller size? This fits me a little loosely."

Exie shook her head and repackaged the item. "Nope, that's it. I guess you're too slender for your own good." Exie winked.

"Oh my." Roseluck blushed and fanned herself with her front hoof.

"Well then! We have two options. I can fit that one by lining it with extra padding, or take your measurements and create a new one that's form-fitted. The first option is the cheaper of the two. Custom fit will run you about forty-five bits. What matters is how it'll look on you when it's done. The price will be worth it, though, I guarantee it." Exie nodded and resisted the urge to mimic her cash register's noise.

"I think I'll take the form fitted one. I think I'll be using this more than just one night each year." The mare winked and giggled.

"I hear ya. And this thing is gonna look really good fitted to you. You've got a nice, curvy back. Very attractive." Exie licked her lips as she hooked the sale.

Roseluck raised her eyebrows and blushed. "Thank you. So when do you take my measurements?"

"Just sign your name on this clipboard on the line that marks the time of day you want to come in tomorrow. See how it works?" Exie pointed to the mostly blank paper with various lines containing each hour of the day at the end.

As the earth pony nodded and began to write, Exie looked up at the pink mare glaring at her from across the room. Rainbow Dash glanced between the two and covered her mouth with a smug smirk. Exie flattened her ears and bit her lip. "I'll see you tomorrow and get started on your outfit as soon as I can."

Roseluck nodded and turned to leave, swaying her hips as she trotted past Pinkie with a cocky grin. The party pony frowned and trotted up to Exie, leaning on the counter with a straight face.

"Were you flirting with her?" she asked, her voice soft and saddened rather than angry.

Exie quickly shook her head and swallowed hard. "No, Pinkie. I was just trying to butter her up for a sale, and it worked. This is how I do things around here, but I promise that I'm all yours, okay?"

Pinkie Pie put on a wounded smile and nodded. "Okay." She reached down and cupped her marefriend's hooves. "It's just that I didn't see you buttering Derpy up. Just sayin'."

Exie pulled away and looked down. "I feel terrible about that. I shouldn't have treated that pony differently, but I couldn't help it. The last thing I want to do is take advantage of her. I even gave her a discount because I think she was confused about... like, how money works or something."

Pinkie sighed as guilt welled up in her chest. "Don't feel bad. Derpy looked really happy about whatever you said to her when she was leaving. She's a sweet mare and I consider her a good friend."

"Hi, Pinkie. Great cupcakes!" Two young stallions interrupted with cheerful smiles and indulged in the sweet baked goods as they browsed. "Cool shop too, Miss."

"Thanks. And I'm Exie." The shopkeeper nodded and pointed around the store. "Let me know if you have any questions."

"Uhm... I have a question..." A shy yellow pegasus blushed and peeked her head up above the counter.

"Oh, hi there, Fluttershy. What can I help you with?" Exie leaned over the counter and smiled warmly.

Fluttershy stood upright and took a deep breath. "I was wondering how if I could get you to make me a custom fitted, full-body catsuit with symmetrical silver thread embroidered vertical slits on each flank, and a full set of four fitted, sized boots to perfectly hug each thigh and haunch with glossy leather exterior and chrome buckles running up the length of the boot with two and a half inch heels. If you wouldn't mind too terribly much."

Exie tilted her head and chuckled. "No, I definitely cannot do that one myself. I'm a pretty novice seamstress, but I can send that order into Manehattan to a professional. It'll take a week or so, and I'll have to look through a catalog to quote you a price. Full leather boots are going to be pricy, though."

"That's fine. Please place the order as soon as possible. I can pay upfront. I can pay extra to..." Fluttershy paused and looked at something tucked into her saddlebag. "I can also pay extra to hurry the process... If that's possible. I understand if you're busy. You know what, never mind. Regular pace will be perfect. I don't want to be a nuisance."

"Actually, you'll probably be her first big order. Overnight delivery costs more, but it'll cut a few days off your wait. And that's not a problem for us, it's the delivery pony's problem." Exie winked and laughed.

"Oh my. I'd hate to be a problem..." Fluttershy ducked her head and sighed.

Exie skimmed over her catalog as she calculated the price. "They like money. It's no problem. Anyway, that outfit is going to be... expensive. Are you sure the catsuit needs the slits?"

"Yeah, Fluttershy! This costume sounds unlike you. I thought you hated Nightmare Night anyway. Ooh! Are you gonna join the celebration and get free candy?! I love free candy! And we can play pranks. Me and Rainbow Dash have a prank team going! But you can't be in it because it's just us. Unless you want to! Do you want to?" Pinkie beamed a bright smile before hopping over to the front counter and continuing her excited conversation with Rainbow Dash.

Exie shook her head and flipped through the pages. "The boots will be two-hundred-seventy-five bits, and the catsuit will be an even hundred. I'll take your measurements now and hurry this along since you're ready to pay... If that's isn't too much."

"Okay." Fluttershy pulled out an already signed check and filled in the price and store name while Exie skeptically watched.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash, I have a task for you," Exie called out.

The pegasus zipped over to the counter and saluted the mare. "Hi, Shy."

Pinkie giggled as Exie hoofed over the check and a few pieces of paper. "Go deposit this and hurry back."

"Can do!" Rainbow snatched up the papers and darted out the front door.

"Step behind the counter and take off your bag please." Exie pulled out a measuring tape and stretched it out, taking a quill in her mouth.

Fluttershy stood with her eyes closed as the shopkeeper ran the tape across her body and wrapped it around her stomach and limbs. She blushed deeply as Exie reached between her legs to get her proper haunch measurements, then squeezed her eyes shut to fight back the heat growing beneath her tail.

"All done." Exie leaned over and wrote down the final numbers. "I assume each thigh is the same size."

Fluttershy nodded and shrugged. "Well... better safe than sorry. Right?"

Exie raised an eyebrow and glanced to Pinkie, who had hopped out the front door after Rainbow Dash. "Okay, I guess."

The junior seamstress took the tape back in her front hooves and leaned back down, a sense of unprofessionalism creeping up her spine. As she reached in between Fluttershy's legs to measure her left legs, she felt the heat wafting onto her upper front leg. She gulped and slipped the tape up higher, her leg rubbing against Fluttershy's groin.

"Okay all done!" Exie scurried backwards and immediately forgot the measurements, just jotting down the same numbers from the other legs.

She folded the measurements up and stuck them into an envelope along with the costume details. Just then, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash trotted through the front door. "All done boss lady. Looks like this place cleared out, huh?"

"Yippee," Exie nonchalantly looked up and away as she tapped her hoof. "And thanks for your order, Fluttershy. Check back in in about a week and it should be here for you."

"So. Can I go or what?" Rainbow Dash glanced at Pinkie with a disgruntled head shake.

Exie nodded and glanced at the clock. "Six hours, right? Here." She took the bits from her back counter register and placed them in a small sack. "Take these."

Pinkie Pie watched with a subtle sense of envy as her friend took the income and headed out. She swallowed her negative feelings and turned to Exie. "So... you sew?"

"A bit. I've been learning from the best for about four years now, so I know my way around a sewing machine well enough to do simple orders and fittings. Full customs like Fluttershy's are above my skill level. I send them to my boss, who happens to be the owner of this whole franchise." Exie nodded towards the costume selection where a sewing machine sat next to bundles of fabric.

Pinkie Pie looked around the shop, noting that it was completely empty and the sun was setting outside. With a smile, she turned towards the door and trotted up to it, twisting the lock and flipping the sign to closed. Exie raised her eyebrows and puffed her chest out. "Hey, you. It ain't closing time yet."

"Umm, yes, it is." Pinkie Pie winked and stepped towards her friend with lowered eye lids and a sultry smile.

Exie signaled her friend over with the flick of her hoof as she pulled her old bedroll out from beneath the counter. She spread the light blue blanket out and spotted a small puddle stain, then blushed and flipped it over. She fell onto her back and spread her legs as Pinkie hopped over the counter. She climbed overtop of Exie and tilted her head, parting her lips and leaning in closely.

Their lips met, and each mare sank into the other, their hearts fluttering as if it were their first kiss all over again.

"Is this perfect timing?" Exie asked with flushed cheeks and a gorgeous, loving smile.

Pinkie Pie nodded. "It has to be... I've never seen you smile like that before."

Exie closed her eyes and tilted her head back as her lover kissed her cheek and wrapped her legs lovingly around her neck, their cheeks warmly brushing against each other. Exie fought back her urge to laugh as her heart erupted with pure, overwhelming joy and happiness.

"Well, Pinkie Pie... I've never felt this happy before."

Good Enough

It's strange to have been lying in bed with my hooves over my chest, alone, but still so happy just to be thinking about her. I know in my heart that Pinkie is just the type of mare for me. It's the way she likes to laugh and play, and how she isn't afraid to just be herself and say anything that's on her mind. At first I couldn't stand the way she seemed so fake and I hated that I couldn't get a read on her, but it turns out that she's just a genuinely happy pony who's satisfied with her life. She has a sense of purity that I'd kill to have myself. She's like a beautiful little filly trapped in a grown mare's body with the way she sees the world, how she only cares about helping others feel happy. Compared to her, what am I?

Yesterday, on the floor behind the adult costumes counter, I almost made love to her. I was so ready, and I know for certain that she wanted it too, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I feel like she deserves better than me, like I'm just going to end up being the mare that teaches her how to be a good bedroom partner, then she'll run off with someone else and find true love. I can't even begin to imagine how I'll react once that happens, but I don't want to think about that. I'm all too familiar with the pains of having your heart broken, and I know my relationship with Pinkie isn't going to last forever, so if I have to suffer to let her walk away unscathed, then so be it.

Tonight I'm happier than I've been in so many years, and that's all I can allow myself to think about. The moments I get to spend with Pinkie are worth every tear I'll shed when she leaves, and I'm just grateful to have had privilege to share some love with her. Honestly, what more could I ask for? And how much less do I truly deserve?

A tall blue unicorn placed a hoof to her mouth, a deep yawn slipping from her lungs. She stepped outside and trudged towards her mail box, dragging her fuzzy pink slippers as she went. With a spark of light green magic, she levitated a bundle of letters from the box and turned back to head inside, skimming over her mail along the way. One letter stood out, and she tilted her head with grin.

"Always the impatient one, Exie," she muttered as she closed her front door and glanced to her calendar, noting that the store had opened several days early. With a scoff, she tore the envelope open and pulled out the special order. Her eyes widened and she shuddered as she considered the work to come. Enclosed were extra bits, the order requesting rush delivery. "These kids and their lack o' patience... I oughta... Grr, I got yer rush delivery right here!" she shouted as she smacked her front hooves together.

"Um... You okay?" a small, deep pink pony asked, startling Cashmere.

"Yeah, yeah..." Cashmere rolled her eyes and trotted into her workroom, the little blonde mare following close behind. "I just don't get why your friend thinks I'm the one that's gotta take all the orders or whateva around here. I shoulda retired like three years ago or somethin'. Ya know?"

The young mare scoffed and nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. Like, where I work, they're always like, 'hey Speckles, clean up around the place! Speckles, wash your sheets! Blah!' I miss Exie."

"Well she ain't here. And kid, you don't know nothin'. Talk to me when you run your own business that you built from the ground up with nothin' but a single bit and a lot o' grit. You make beaucoups of money layin' on your back. Not impressed. Now if you're gonna stay here 'til Ex gets back then at least make yourself useful and fetch me my eyelets and twill tape!" The bitter old mare grumbled as she unwound a sheet of faux leather, glancing back at the young freckly mare with harsh disdain.

Speckles glanced around at several shelves holding a varying array of seamstress' supplies, her mind blank. She shrugged and shook her head. "Nah. I'll just go chill in the other room and wait. How long 'til she gets here?"

Cashmere ground her teeth and pointed towards her front door. "She ain't comin' back anytime soon! If you wanna see 'er then go to Ponyville! And good riddance to ya, ya little twerp! There's the door!"

"But... Exie said I was welcome to stay here anytime, and you did too. No takesy-backsies." Speckles stuck her tongue out and squeezed her eyes shut.

"How 'bout ya takes your backside and scram!" Cashmere stomped up to the little mare and slammed her workroom door shut. "Sheesh... these kids are gonna be the end of me. I'm too old... I miss you too, Exie," the old unicorn sighed and stepped towards her sewing station.

Speckles frowned and plopped down on the livingroom sofa. She reached over and grabbed onto a picture of Exie that was sitting on the side-table. Her eyes widened with her smile as her heart fluttered with joy. "I hope you think about me as much as I think about you..."

***

"She's all I think about. Ever!" Exie placed her hooves over her chest and leaned backwards onto her cash register. "Rainbow Dash, I swear... I really have strong feelings for Pinkie. I think I... I might be falling for her."

The cerulean pegasus placed her hooves on her hips and glared down at Exie. "You know what I think? I think you're in too deep with this uncool little crush thingy, and Pinkie gets way too into things too. I smell a disaster waiting to happen, and when you break my best friend's heart, our friendship will be over!"

Exie smiled warmly and rolled off of the cash register, resting her elbows on the counter and her cheeks on her front hooves. "It's really sweet that you care about her that much. Don't worry, Rainbow Dash, because I'll beat myself up a million times worse than you ever could if I hurt that amazing little party pony. I miss her like crazy right now, and she's only been at the bakery for an hour. This feel incredible.

The pegasus skeptically fluttered back to the front register and took a deep breath. "Well this is boring. We've been here forever and we haven't gotten a single customer yet."

"Give 'em time. They'll show up later. You can go if you want." Exie casually huffed on her front hoof and polished it against her chest. "I'm not paying you just sit around anyway. If you're going to hang out, at least tell me things about Pinkie."

Rainbow Dash cautiously ducked and eyed the store walls, her ears lowered. "Okay... What kind of things?"

Exie looked up and away with a goofy grin while twirling the tip of hoof around in her mane. "Hehe, I dunno. You've known Pinkie Pie for a long time, right?"

"Yeah, a pretty long time. We've been friends for at least four years now. I've known her longer than that though." Rainbow Dash shrugged. "What do you wanna know?"

"You know, just tell me what you think I should know. Pinkie isn't exactly straight forward about what she dislikes, so maybe you could tell me." Exie raised her eyebrows and nodded.

Rainbow Dash fluttered over the front register and landed on the opposite side of Exie's counter. "Okay, for starters Pinkie Pie hates it when ponies break Pinkie Promises."

"Okay? What's a Pinkie promise?" Exie asked.

"It's like a super serious promise. No pony breaks a Pinkie Promise," Rainbow Dash explained.

"What's the difference between that and a regular promise? I wouldn't break any promises." Exie shook her head and raised an eyebrow. "What else does she dislike?"

"Frowns, sadness, meanness... anything negative, really. I think she dislikes cumquats... or maybe she likes them? Hmm..." Rainbow placed a hoof to her chin and squinted.

"Well this sucks. Tell me better things about her. I mean, come on. There has to be something funny or cute that you can tell me about her. She's too funny and cute for there not to be." The mare smiled dreamily as she thought about her marefriend.

"Cute?" Rainbow scratched her mane and shrugged. "I don't know... This one time she put on a fake mustache, that was cute."

Exie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Applejack tells way better stories than you."

***

"Rarity, I ever tell ya 'bout the time I got in a fight with Mrs. Bumblefly?" Applejack placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder as she glanced down at the two fillies behind her.

Rarity rolled her eyes and frowned. "You're talking about the time she told you not to wear your hat anymore, right?"

Applejack nodded and patted her sister's head. "Darn tootin'. You shoulda seen her face when I told her heck no. Heh, she looked more surprised than a porcupine in a balloon factory. I got not wearin' it in class, but it ain't no pony's business but my own what I wear at home. I may not be too fond of my sister's new accessory, and I'm havin' a hard time gettin' past it, but the fact of the matter remains that what our sisters are wearin' ain't hurtin' nopony, and if it makes 'em happy, so be it."

Sweetie Belle hopped up and smiled as widely as possible. "It makes me super duper happy!"

"Me too!" Apple Bloom joined in.

Rarity winced as she looked over her younger sister's thick black spike studded choker. "But... but it's so tacky! Oh Sweetie Belle, why?" She bit her lip and took a deep woeful breath. "Does it really make you happy?"

The little white unicorn rapidly nodded. "Mhm!"

Applejack smiled reassuringly and tipped her hat. "It's probably just a phase anyhow."

Rarity leaned down and hugged her sister. "Very well then... But my offer is still on the table. I still think a nice pastel green bow would look much nicer with your pretty eyes."

"Thanks!" Sweetie Belle turned and hopped out the front door with Apple Bloom following close behind.

Applejack shook her head with a grin, quietly chuckling. "Oh the joys of sisterhood."

"Tell me about it..." Rarity sighed. "I've been so busy lately preparing for this year's Nightmare Night, I suppose the stress just got the better of me for a moment. I didn't mean to snap at poor Sweetie Belle, but I couldn't help it. Thank you for helping... I just hope she doesn't want to wear that awful thing permanently."

"My pleasure, and uh, I know how ya feel." Applejack rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I think after a bit of bein' little rebels they'll forget all about those silly outfits."

Rarity glared into the distance and snapped her teeth. "If that horrid little shopkeeper wasn't here then this never would have happened..."

"Whoa there l'il missy. I know you don't think too highly of her, but she's awfully friendly if you give 'er a chance," Applejack explained.

"She's awful alright..." Rarity scoffed.

"That ain't very neighborly of ya. What's got you so worked up anyhow?" Applejack asked.

Rarity took a deep breath and slowly paced to her plush red sofa. She quickly glanced back and made sharp eye contact with her friend, placing a hoof to her forehead and dramatically striking a pose, one hind leg stretched out with her nose tilted up. "Applejack! You of all ponies should understand. How did you feel when those horrible, yet mildly attractive entrepreneurs began offering a cheaper, lower quality machine made cider in an attempt to steal your business?"

The apple farmer looked down and gulped. "Pretty angry, I guess."

"Didn't you love the thought of beating them at their own game and proving that you're the best apple cider maker in town?" Rarity asked, her eyes intensely burning as she gazed over her empathetic friend.

"I know exactly what you mean... Rarity, you're the greatest seamstress I've ever had the pleasure of meetin', but honestly I don't think Sew Fine is gonna be much competition. Everypony around here already knows you're the best there is." Applejack stood upright and reached out to touch her friend's hoof. "Not to mention that Exie isn't tryin'a run you outta business neither. She's a nice mare and you should go talk to her about this. Maybe you two could work together somehow."

Rarity widened her eyes and covered her mouth as she gasped. "I most certainly think not! Please, my dear friend, Applejack, try to understand."

"Yeah yeah. I just feel a bit bad about the situation is all. I'll bet you two could really hit it off if there wasn't something like this business wedged between you. It's a shame, really." Applejack turned towards the door and took a deep breath.

"A shame or not, I will do what must be done... I do suppose it's rather unfair of me to judge Exie so harshly. She just rubbed me the wrong way when we met, then I found out about her store, and..." Rarity shook her head and looked up as Applejack glanced back to make eye contact.

"Come over to the store and meet Exie. For real this time. Take a break from all of this and see the store for yourself. It's mostly just cheesy decorations and little accessories anyway. Don't feel so threatened, Sugarcube." Applejack winked and nodded towards the door.

Rarity hesitantly stood up from behind her desk and took heavy steps to her front door. She let her ears droop as a pit of anxiety flooded her stomach. "Must I really?"

"You ain't gotta, but I'd appreciate it if ya did." Applejack led the way with a confident grin.

Rarity huffed and closely followed. "Fine..."

Exie rested her cheek on her forelegs, half asleep as Rainbow Dash carried on.

"And then I swooped down at lightning speed! Before I knew it, boom! A sonic rainboom exploded across the sky! Then my cutie mark appeared." Rainbow Dash proudly wiggled her flank.

"Cool..." Exie rolled her eyes. "I get it, you like telling stories about yourself."

The front doorbell chimed as two mares entered, and Exie sat straight up, excited for a customer. Her ears drooped and her heart sank into her stomach as her eyes met with the beautiful white unicorn across the room.

"Oh hey guys!" Rainbow Dash called out with a cheerful grin.

Applejack trotted up to her marefriend and planted a kiss on her cheek, who glanced to Exie with a raised eyebrow. "Hey boss lady, I'm gonna skedaddle for a while since this place is dead anyway."

Exie cringed and rapidly shook her head. "Rainbow..." she whispered. "Can't you help her first?"

"What, Rarity? That's just one customer. Sheesh, I can't do everything around here. I'll be back in like an hour." Rainbow glared and grabbed her lover by the elbow, who blushed as her marefriend dragged her out of the shop.

Exie smacked herself in the face as she slowly slumped down behind the counter. Rarity quietly browsed the store, rolling her eyes and scoffing at the cheap accessories. Exie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Come on Exie," she quietly whispered. "You're not allowed to act like this anymore. What would Pinkie think?"

"Excuse me." Rarity peeked over the counter down at the little redhead.

Exie swallowed her tongue and slowly stood up. "Hhh... h."

"... Well then. I was hoping to look at one of your costumes. The corset with the pink stockings please." Rarity pointed to the image on the wall behind Exie.

"Oh... O-okay. Of course you can have it. See it. You know." She blushed profusely before rapidly ducking beneath the counter and hyperventilating. Stop it Exie! STOP IT! "Here you are." She placed the packaged costume on the counter and slowly backed away.

"Am I able to open it up?" Rarity asked, eyeing the small white button holding the package closed.

Exie nodded. "Yeah sure. Also, you can try it on too even."

Rarity looked over at the dressing room and took a step towards it. "I presume I can just go in?"

Biting her tongue, Exie nodded. As soon as Rarity was out of sight, she smacked her face against the counter and dry sobbed. "What's wrong with me?" she quietly squeaked. "I'm broken..."

The unicorn pulled the garment from the package and cringed at the plastic, factory scent that stained it. She fanned her muzzle before unfolding the corset and examining its finer details. She stifled a condescending chuckle at the sight of three clasp rows for adjusting the size, then took a deep breath and shook her head as she lifted it in her magical aura. With great ease and fluidity, she began clasping the corset shut behind her back as it hugged her body. Then, with a devious smirk, she called out, "Exie, darling, would you be a dear and help me out in here? I'm having trouble reaching the lower clasps."

Exie's heart stopped beating as she stumbled backwards. Sweat formed over her brow and she bit down on the tip of her hoof. "I... Are you sure?" she asked with a broken, cracking voice.

Rarity giggled as she pulled the stockings up over her thighs. "Quite sure, love. Maybe I should just keep trying on my own."

Exie nodded and took a deep relieved breath. "Yes! Definitely."

"It's just so snug and taking me forever to do this one little clasp at a time. I'd love a bit of assistance," Rarity called out in a sultry tone.

Exie once again felt herself succumbing to her overwhelming anxiety. "Doesn't she know about Pinke?" she muttered to herself. Suddenly her eyes popped open and she smiled widely. "Okay, but I'll need you to come out here because I don't want to leave the store unattended."

Rarity shrugged and pulled the curtain open, trotting out into the light with hot pink stockings and a tight black corset. She stepped in front of Exie and turned around, touching her nose to her front hooves, the last few claps on the corset still undone. The Manehattan mare reached forward, her limbs heavy and shaky as she attempted to latch the hooks.

"What is this costume supposed to be anyway?" Rarity asked.

Exie carefully latched the final clasp and scurried away. "It's a... a bunny. There should be bunny ears in the package too..."

Rarity strutted around, admiring her own perfect body through the open dressing room mirror. "This isn't too awful. The material is cheap and the stitching is sloppy, but it's a decent design overall, and I can appreciate that."

Exie nodded and smiled, her eyes shut and her breaths fast and shallow. "You look good in it too."

Rarity warmly smiled and leaned over the counter. "Darling, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were quite taken by me."

Exie rapidly shook her head. "Not at all! I mean, you're really pretty, or beautiful... you're gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I think you're... Wait. I can't say these things! Rarity, you're seriously messing with my head right now. I can't focus when you're around and I'm in love with Pinkie Pie! I don't want to do anything to hurt her..."

"What?" Rarity stepped backwards and tilted her head. "What did you just say?"

"I'm with Pinkie Pie and I don't want to hurt her. I'm afraid that you're going to... I mean, I'm afraid I couldn't say no if you..." Exie pressed her hooves into her eyes and began to take deep, deep breaths.

Rarity rapidly unlatched the corset and plopped it down onto the counter, then she slid the stockings off and dropped them next to it. "You're dating Pinkie Pie? And I'm rather certain you just said that you were in love with her."

Exie shrugged and stepped backwards. "I am dating her... Last week I would have been all over you. I mean, you have got to be the most insanely sexually attractive mare I've ever seen. I can't think that way."

Rarity frowned and shook her head. "My apologies. I've noticed the way you act around me and thought I'd have myself a bit of fun by teasing you. I hadn't realized you were taken. That just goes to show that I don't talk with Pinkie Pie nearly enough these days."

"Why did you come here?" Exie asked.

"My dear friend Applejack insisted I give you a chance. Do you know what I do, Exie?" Rarity frowned and placed her front hooves on the counter as she refolded the costume and put it away.

The young earth pony shook her head and shrugged.

"I'm a dressmaker. More than that, I'm a designer. Nightmare Night means a lot to my business, and I can't help but feel a little defensive towards something that threatens it. I can't say that I dislike you personally, Exie. You're very cute, in the way that a filly with a crush on an older mare she can never have is cute. I think I'd enjoy having you as part of my group of friends, but the fact remains that we're competitors during a crucial time." Rarity flattened her ears and leaned forward with a scowl. "I believe I'm the superior seamstress here, and I'm going to do my best to outclass and outmatch this store as long as you're selling costumes."

Exie flinched and hid behind her bangs. "... Okay. I'm sorry. It really wasn't even my choice to open this shop here. I'm just doing what I'm told. Also, costumes are our biggest income around here. I couldn't remove them."

"I understand, and I respect you for holding your ground." Rarity turned away and trotted towards the door. "Take good care of Pinkie Pie, and be a dear and tell her I said hi."

"'Kay." Exie lowered her eyes as Rarity strutted out of the store like the beautiful mare she was. "Good luck..."

***

Late in the following afternoon, Cashmere wiped her brow and carefully focused as her needle ran silver thread through a finely embroider trim. "Ah, all done. Looks damn good too if I don't say so myself. Hey! Squirt, get in here!"

Speckles stomped off the couch and wiped her groggy eyes, her long blonde mane falling over her face. She pushed the workroom door open and glared at the older mare. "What now?"

"Heya kiddo. How would you like to get outta my mane already and go see your good pal Exie? Huh?" Cashmere asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I'd love to! Yes! Yes let's do it!" Speckles hopped up and down with joy.

Cashmere grinned deviously and pocketed the extra bits for rush delivery. She took a few from the pouch and sat them on the table. "Here's the deal: you take this package to Exie, then you see Exie. And don't come back."

"Deal!" The young mare snatched up the package and turned towards the door.

"Hey!" Cashmere smacked herself in the face. "You dense or somethin'? Sheesh, listen up. Take these bits and hop on the express train to Ponyville. Exie is on Mane and Third, right by Town-square. Got it?"

"Okay!" Speckles returned for the bits then rushed out the door.

"You mess this up and Exie will never forgive you! You'll be dead to her!" Cashmere shouted.

Speckles gulped and looked down, eyeing the package. She took a deep breath and carried on down the street, her heart fluttering as she pictured herself lunging into Exie's arms and spinning around before falling into a field of endless honeysuckles. "Mmm, honeysuckles," she muttered.

***

"You'll never guess who stopped by yesterday." Exie stuffed her face with a overly sweet neon blue cupcake and glared. "I can't believe I forgot to tell you," she said with a full mouth.

"Ooh! Lemme guess! Umm... Was it Applejack?!" Pinkie asked with wide, hopeful eyes.

Exie swallowed the sugary mess and wiped her face. "Yeah, actually she did stop by too. But she does everyday because Rainbow Dash is always there. It was Rarity."

"Oh shoot!" Pinkie huffed. "Do I still kinda win for being kinda right?"

"Sure, claim your prize." Exie puckered her lips and leaned across the table as Pinkie quickly met her half way for a loving peck. "No, but I was going to tell you about how weird she was being. She was trying to mess with my head and give me a hard time about selling costumes. I almost feel like a drug dealer trying to sell on her turf or something, and she wants to like, break my legs."

Pinkie Pie thought for a moment and brushed it off. "Rarity's the only clothing peddler in this town, back off sister."

Each mare shared a giggle and gazed into each other's eyes, reaching out and touching hooves. "Pinke... I... I didn't like your cupcake very much, but I ate it anyway because I like you a whole lot."

"That's okay. I'm glad you tried it for me." Pinkie sighed lovingly and tilted her head with a warm smile.

Exie stood up and stepped around the table, giggling as she rubbed her muzzle against Pinkie's. "You're my super cute 'n cuddly extra special somepony."

"You're my sweet and tasty warm and snugly cuddle buddy," Pinkie said as she closed her eyes and wiggled her nose against Exie's.

"Ew gag!" Apple Bloom pretended to dry heave as she trotted by with her closest friends.

"Oh hello girls," Exie greeted them as Pinkie hopped up and behind the counter. "Enjoying your outfits?"

"Sure are!" the three shouted in unison, Apple Bloom casually showing off her black leg warmers with gleaming chrome studs, Sweetie Belle tilting her nose up to better reveal her sensual leather choker with a shiny golden buckle, and Scootaloo fluttering her wings as she stretched out a black socked hind leg, her stockings laced up the back with hot pink ribbon.

"Lookin' good!" Pinkie shouted with a complementary smile. "So what can I get you three?"

Exie smiled proudly as she watched her favorite little filly dump her last three bits on the counter to treat her friends. She then looked up at Pinkie Pie who gave them a discount on their favorite snacks, the town's kindness always finding a way to fill her heart with warmth.

Tears welling up in her eyes, she whispered, "I never want to leave..."

Sister Zoned

I had trouble sleeping last night. I couldn't stop worrying about Rarity and everything that's been going on lately. I've got Rainbow Dash on my back grinding me about Pinkie Pie every single day, and it's really getting on my nerves. I mean sure, I get that she cares, but enough is enough. Sometimes I daydream about closing my shop and running away with Pinkie. I have this fantasy that we just get on a train that never stops, and we just laugh and kiss and play forever in our private room while we get to see all of Equestria. The only problem is that Rainbow Dash keeps ruining it with her angry skepticism, snapping me back to reality with her incessant shouting.

I can't wait until Pinkie spends the night with me again, I really treasure the private time we get to spend together. Day to day it feels like Pinkie and I are against the world. I guess that isn't true now that I think about it, it's more like the world is telling me to back off because I'm in over my head. It's always, "Hey Exie, you better not hurt Pinkie." It'd be nice to hear one of them be worried about how I feel, but I know if Pinkie and I split up, as much as it'll tear me apart, I'll be on my own here. My feelings for Pinkie have really proven more problematic than I could have imagined. I guess it's all worth it when it's just the two of us together, but I'm getting scared.

Apple Bloom shuddered in the early autumn breeze as she walked by Exie's side. "Whoa. Chilly today, huh?" Exie asked as they approached the schoolyard.

"Mhm. I'm gonna need a new black scarf to match my gloves. I'll see ya later!" Apple Bloom jumped up and gave her friend a quick hug before galloping off to class.

Exie nodded with a smile and turned back towards her shop, preparing to open up for the day. "I wish she was my sister... I want a little sister." Exie sighed and pouted as she went.

As the store came into view, she gazed up into the early morning sky, disappointed when she failed to catch a glimpse of vivid color. "Rainbow?" she called out, her own distant echo the only reply.

She sighed and unlocked the door, flipping her 'closed' sign around and switching on the lights. Taking a deep breath, she coughed and pounded on her chest, fanning the dust from her face. With a groan, the flustered mare stomped over to the ventilation unit's switch and flipped it back and forth, creating a deep growl in the ceiling. She hung her head in defeat, then decided to take Applejack up on her offer.

In the mean time, she pulled a fan from the storage closet and pointed it upwards toward an opened window, creating a bit of circulation in the stale building. Satisfied, she triumphantly placed her hooves on her hips and nodded. Then another thought entered her mind. She considered the scarf that her little friend needed and headed to her workstation to check out her supplies.

"Nice!" Exie grinned and stretched out a thick sheet of black cotton fabric from a spool. She estimated the appropriate length and began to cut using a large straightedge cutting board, slicing a one by three yard sheet.

She doubled the fabric over and ran it beneath her sewing machine, carefully hemming one edge. The groggy mare yawned and shook her head as she went, flicking her long red bangs to one side. With one edge sewn down she flapped the fabric straight across her table. Her eyes wandered over to her miscellaneous drawer and she began rummaging through for supplies, spotting mismatched metal studs and various scraps of valuable material worth saving.

"Ooh, that'd be cute!" Exie excitedly pulled out a container of glossy black eyelets and a long spool of scarlet lace. She then returned to the black sheet of cloth and stretched out a measuring tape with her mouth, marking every three inches with a pin. She then measured the width of the fabric and doubled up the pins directly in the center.

Digging through her messy shelf of equipment, she spotted what looked like a hole punch. It clipped onto one hoof and she loaded a small black ring with sharp strips of metal folded out from beneath it onto the device and placed the fabric between its clamp. The marking pin slipped through the hole in the device as she pressed it against the table, squeezing it shut. It snapped closed, and when she let up, the black ring was tightly secured to the fabric with a small ring of cloth successfully punched out.

She smiled as she looked down at the several dozen pins to go. "Ah, a labor of love."

***

Twilight Sparkle sat in Sugarcube Corner at her usual table, watching the autumn leaves skid across the sidewalk. She opened up half a dozen creamer cups before dumping them each into her coffee, filling the mug to its rim. "Pinkie Pie, are you okay?"

The cheerful pink mare skipped over to her friend's table and wiggled her flank. "I'm better than okay! I'm utterly ecstatic," Pinkie giggled. "You get it? 'Cause Exie's name is Ecstasy."

"Yeah I get it, but I'm a little..." Twilight took a deep breath and put on a worrisome frown. "I care a lot about you Pinkie Pie, because you're a great friend and a huge part of my life. I just hate the thought of you getting hurt."

"Oh don't worry about that, silly. I'm not in any danger of being hurt," Pinkie casually explained.

Twilight skeptically smirked and shook her head. "I don't know, Pinkie. I'm no relationships expert, but I've read my fair share of books on the science of love, and I think I may have learned a thing or two about our basic animal instincts."

Pinkie widened her eyes and tilted her head. "Huh?"

"Do you mind if I watch you and Exie interact while I take some notes? I have a few ideas and theories I'd like to observe." Twilight Sparkle ducked behind her mug with adamant, serious eyes.

"Sure, I don't mind at all." Pinkie closed her eyes and leaned forward across the table. "What ideas ya got?"

Twilight glanced around the empty bakery and sipped her coffee. "I think you two are experiencing something called Neurotic Attachment. Essentially you're obsessed and addicted to one another. You do things like gaze into each other's eyes and kiss, which release a potent hormone that fills you with the emotions we associate with love, called oxytocin. This hormone is what links and bonds you two. Since Exie is your first love, the experience is going to be stronger for both of you, because you'll be releasing extra hormones through your saliva and other bodily fluids that Exie may come into contact with. After a few times of sharing your bodies in whatever way, you'll form neuron links that trigger at the very thought of your partner, and fill you with smaller doses of those same chemicals. Is any of this making any sense to you?"

"Nope!" Pinkie Pie proudly stated.

"Well... the point is that you're bonded with Exie through chemical doses and what's otherwise a hormone designed to make you two love each other. Like any chemical and its effects on our bodies, you'll become tolerant, and the sensations will dull in time. It's that point in time that I fear you might end up getting hurt," Twilight explained as she reached out to Pinkie.

The party pony swallowed her smile and slumped into her chair. "How long does it take?"

"On average about four years." Twilight frowned and looked away. "Hey, Pinkie. I'm sorry. I'm very happy to see you so head over heals for a pony that shares your feelings. Let me do the worrying, you should enjoy what you have."

Pinkie forced a smile and nodded, her heart kicking at her ribs. "I don't want to lose her... but, but what about Mr. And Mrs. Cake? They've been together for a long, long time and still love each other!"

Twilight Sparkle tilted her head with a soft smile. "And who's to say that you won't end up just like them. I certainly hope you stay this happy for the rest of your life. No matter what happens, Pinkie, I'll be right here by your side, because I love you in my own way."

Pinkie Pie stood up and pulled Twilight into a tight hug. "I love you too, Twi!"

The lavender unicorn closed her eyes and rubbed up and down her friend's back. "Don't let my thoughts get you down. We should go visit Exie's shop when you get a chance."

"Sounds like a plan." Pinkie genuinely smiled and looked around the empty bakery. "I might be able to go as soon as the Cakes wake up 'cause it's pretty slow today."

"I'll meet you there." Twilight Sparkle stood up and finished off her creamy drink. She then paused and looked down at the table. "Pinkie, why don't you like to be tipped?"

Pinkie Pie immediately giggled. "Because then I might fall over! Silly."

Twilight rolled her eyes and frowned. "You know what I mean."

Pinkie Pie shrugged and trotted away. "I dunno. I just feel like seeing ponies happy is more than enough for me. It feels weird taking anything extra just for being friendly. I'm nice to everypony in the bakery because I like to be, and not because I want anything for myself."

Twilight Sparkle lowered her eyes and nodded. "That's very noble of you. I feel like you deserve more." The unicorn levitated a few extra bits onto the table and smiled. "You're very appreciated, Pinkie. This is how I want to show it today."

The baker widened her eyes as her friend headed towards the exit, her gaze fixed on the extra coins. She galloped to Twilight's side and pulled her tightly into a hug. "Thank you. I appreciate you too!"

"I know you do." Twilight Sparkle patted her back and headed out. "Come over as soon as you can, but don't rush. I really feel like I need to have a chat with Exie myself first."

Pinkie Pie nodded and watched her friend walk away as a young couple trotted towards the entrance. "Good morning! Come on in!"

***

Exie carefully focused as she slowly slid a strip of gleaming faux leather beneath her razor sharp straightedge. She bit her tongue, dragging the strip along the board, determined to keep the edge perfectly straight.

Dind Ding, the doorbell chimed as Twilight Sparkle entered.

Exie jerked her body with a start, bumping the top of her leg against the blade. "Ouch!"

"Oh my. I'm terribly sorry, and I certainly didn't mean to startle you. Are you alright?" The concerned unicorn trotted up to the wounded mare and examined her cut.

A small stream of blood trickled down Exie's foreleg as she fought back tears. "Oh no! It hurts so bad! Am I gonna need stitches?! Owweee!"

"Settle down. It's just a little nick, and you'll be fine with a bandage." Twilight levitated a small strip of discarded black cotton and inspected it. "Do you have running water in here?"

Exie nodded toward the back of the store and sobbed.

"Wait here." Twilight Sparkle trotted into a bathroom and dampened one piece of fabric, rolling her eyes with a grin as she returned. She took Exie's foreleg in her front hooves and held her steady as she removed her leg-warmer. With a deep breath, she carefully wiped the area around the cut with the warm, damp cloth. Finally, she used her magic to tightly wrap another errant strip of fabric around the wound, causing Exie to wince. "There. Just change that in a few hours and make sure to use an antiseptic to clean the area to avoid infection. If you're feeling gross, just lick it."

Exie cringed and tucked her leg in. "Lick it? I thought... like, bacteria and stuff is in your mouth."

Twilight Sparkle condescendingly smiled and shook her head. "There's literally bacteria on every inch of our bodies. There's also an enzyme that can be found in your saliva called lysozyme. It's known for attacking the cell walls of many harmful bacteria and can greatly reduce the risk of infection..." the unicorn explained trailing off as she blushed. "So what did I interrupt?"

"Okay then Doc." Exie raised an eyebrow and returned to her leather strip, sighing as she realized it was ruined. "I was making a scarf for Apple Bloom, and I wanted to add this leather strip beneath a set of laced ribbon that I think would look adorable, but I kind of cut it short when you walked in."

Twilight frowned. "I'm so sorry about that."

"Oh it's not your fault it's so quiet in here. I was so absorbed in trying to cut this thing straight and all in one piece that just about anything could have startled me. It's close enough though. Only a few inches shy of where I needed it." Exie nodded and chopped the strip, laying it out across the scarf to be. "Thanks for patching me up."

"That's not a problem. It's the least I could do for my best friend's girlfriend." Twilight widened an eye and grinned.

Exie nodded and fastened the strip down between the rows of eyelets with pins, then ran it beneath her sewing machine. "You heard? Are you here to warn me not to hurt her too?"

Twilight detected the angst in the mare's voice and cleared her throat. "No of course not. I'm sure you get enough of that from Rainbow Dash. No, I'm here to thank you for making Pinkie Pie happier than I've ever seen her before. And that's really saying something because she's always been the happiest mare I've ever known."

Exie smiled, her eyes still focused on the machine and scarf. "It's really my pleasure, Twilight. Pinkie is like a dream come true for me. I love her."

"That's just great. I'm so glad to see that you two are so into one another. May I ask why, though? I'm curious because you two didn't exactly get along at first." Twilight leaned on the desk at watched the mare work.

Exie dropped her smile and picked up her pace. "I misjudged her, and I feel bad enough about that. After I took your guys' advice and gave her a chance, I really came around."

"That's a bit of an understatement." Twilight Sparkle chuckled.

Exie stopped the machine and looked up. "Yeah it is..." she said with a giggle.

Twilight gently smiled and tilted her head. "Who's the scarf for again?"

Exie bit her tongue as she reached the second edge, the strip tastefully sewn down. "It's for Apple Bloom. She was shivering this morning on the way to school, so I decided to whip this scarf up for her to keep her a bit warmer."

"Well that's very generous of you. With the things I've seen those fillies running around with lately, I'm sure she'll love it," Twilight Sparkle said with confidence.

Exie pulled the nearly completed scarf off the table and twirled it around her neck. "How's it look?"

Twilight noticed the many empty rings and tilted her head. "Needs something."

Exie sighed and flopped it back onto the table. "Yeah yeah. I have trouble lacing things sometimes. I wish I was a unicorn. All the best seamstresses are unicorns. Do you know how hard it is to lace up a pair of boots with just your teeth and hooves?"

Twilight Sparke frowned and lowered her horn. "If you'd like, I could help you lace it up."

The young seamstress shook her head with a determined grin. "I'd rather do it myself. I need to get used to it if I want it to get easier," she explained as she bit down on the scarlet ribbon and carefully fed it through the eyelet.

"Spoken like a true artist. I wouldn't be surprised if you mastered it with that attitude. Now if only I could get Spike to be so willing to improve in his areas of opportunity." Twilight giggled and covered her mouth.

Exie continued slowly lacing the ribbon through the scarf, struggling to keep it from twisting and rolling. "So why are you here? Just visiting? You're welcome to try something on if a costume interests you."

Twilight looked over Exie's head at the many posters depicting models wearing suggestive outfits. "Oh my. These aren't really my kind of costumes. Plus, I've already drawn plans to make my own costume. I'm going as Sir Sparkbottom the Great."

Exie cocked her eye and scratched her head before continuing her work.

"The founder of the First Century Counsil of Collective Magical Archives?" Twilight bluntly stated.

Exie blushed and shrugged.

"The creator of the Resonation Vibrometer?" Twilight said expectantly, Exie's apologetic eyes focused on her scarf.

"Ugh! Doesn't anypony care about... oh never mind..."

Exie stopped lacing and looked Twilight over. "You sure you don't want to look at something? It's just us in here, and I never get a customer before noon. Not yet anyway."

The lavender unicorn gulped as she looked back up, her eyes being pulled to the same costume every time she swept the board. "Um..."

The seasoned salesmare trotted around the counter and looked over Twilight's slender, untoned physique and placed a hoof beneath her chin, patting her chest. "Twilight Sparkle, I must say that you have a great body that you shouldn't be afraid to show off on a night like Nightmare Night. It's when we all get to really let loose and be wild until the sun rises and brings about another normal day."

"I do like dancing. I've been working on a new routine that I'm sure will wow everypony when I get the opportunity to show it off!" Twilight rapidly nodded.

"Alright, let's see it. Show me a few steps and it'll help me get an idea or two for your ideal costume." Exie stepped back and placed a hoof to her chin.

Twilight closed her eyes and bit her tongue, wiggling her body to loosen up. "Okay, I'm imagining music now."

Exie bit her lip and snickered at the nerdiest mare she'd ever seen. Twilight kicked out her back legs one at time as she stepped in a circle in time with her front legs, swaying her head and hips as she went. Exie fought back tears and swallowed her tongue to prevent herself from laughing.

"Okay okay! That's great." The mare covered her mouth and snickered, desperately fighting back laughter. "Phew! How about that."

"Pretty good, huh? I've been reading up on rhythmic stepping and the origins of dance. I combined a few of my favorites to make my own new dance that I think is great so far," Twilight explained.

Exie wiped a tear and nodded. "I'm pretty impressed, but I think I might be able to help you improve on it. You see, I studied dancing too. I learned a lot by going to popular clubs and parties in the city, and maybe those newer, modern dance styles will be great additions to improve what you already have."

Twilight skeptically tilted her head and shrugged. "Okay. I appreciate the help, and I'm always willing to learn what I can."

"Now then! There's still the matter of your costume. Sure, with your dancing I doubt anypony will care about any old costume you're wearing, they'll be too mesmerized by your slick moves. But! With the perfect costume, your dancing can be even further amplified and even more beautiful than ever. I want you to get a costume from here and dance at the store's Scared Sexy party on Nightmare Night." Exie trotted back up to Twilight and circled her, gently brushing along her sides with her tail. "A pony like you who isn't afraid to tear up the dance floor is a pony I'd like to call a friend. Now tell me what you think of this."

Twilight curiously watched as Exie skipped around her counter and dug out a packaged costume. "What is it?"

Exie opened it up and stretched it out. "This, my friend, is your new dance partner. While you're wearing this, not only will all eyes be on you admiring your graceful steppage, but you'll be the hottest mare at the party. You've got the body, all you need is the style. Most mares are too prudish to wear this, but a bold dancer like yourself will definitely be right at home in it."

Twilight's eyes widened as she looked up at the model on the poster. "You want me to wear that?"

Exie nodded. "Yes, and I don't recommend this costume lightly. I really believe you can pull it off though. Go try it on and see how you feel in it."

Twilight hesitantly took the costume and trotted into the dressing room as Exie grinned and continued working on the tedious lacing at hand. She narrowed her eyes as she carefully guided the ribbon through each eyelet, approaching the end. Finally finished, she used her teeth to help tie the tip off before tucking the remaining ribbon into the middle layer beneath the laced face of the scarf. She stood up and slung it around her neck, twirling around carefree as she stepped towards the dressing room.

Ding Ding, the bell chimed, startling Exie and causing her to trip.

A small pink mare with a glowing blonde mane trotted into the store, a package balanced on her back. Exie leaned up and rubbed her sore chin before making eye contact with her old friend. "Speckles?!"

"Exie!" The young mare dropped the box and darted towards her idol.

The Manehattan mare stood up and spread her front legs as her young friend collided with her, each mare spinning around in a tight, warm embrace. Exie lifted the small earth pony up with her front hooves and kissed her cheeks. "What are you doing here?!"

"I missed you so much that I had to come see you!" Speckles shouted.

Exie squeaked out in delight. "How'd you find me?!"

"Cashmere sent me with a box!" she explained nodding towards the package.

Exie sat her friend down and trotted up to the box, reading over the label that was never postmarked. "That cheap old coot..."

Twilight Sparkle peeked her head out through the dressing room curtain and cleared her throat. "Ahem. Excuse me, Exie. Would you mind telling me what you think?"

The shopkeeper nodded and patted Speckles on the head as she headed to the dressing room. She closed the curtain behind herself and looked Twilight over with a reassuring smile. "Wow, if I weren't taken, I'd have you right here on the dressing room floor."

Twilight blushed and casually wagged her hoof. "It does look rather provocative, but in a good way."

"A very, very good way. I hope you're looking to turn some heads, because this outfit literally suits you very well." Exie chuckled and resisted the urge to swat Twilight's exposed flank.

"Well, it actually figuratively suits me well..." Twilight corrected. "And, I love it!"

Exie rolled her eyes and rubbed her hoof down Twilight's foreleg. "You're sexy, that's what matters. And if you love this, then just wait until I make you the form fitting version that will blow your mind. I was thinking of adding some things to it as well, so you can be a sexy Sir Sparkbottom the Great.

"That's a great idea. I bet these open chest areas would be perfect for a frilly collar to hang down." Twilight noted as she twirled around.

"You know what? You may be right. But you should just give me a picture and your plans for your other costume, and I'll whip you up something you're sure to love!" Exie bumped Twilight's shoulder and grinned.

Suddenly, the curtain flew open, startling the two mares. Speckles stood outside the dressing room with a straight face and a raised eyebrow. "Who's the hotty?"

Twilight blushed and covered herself. "Occupied!"

Exie nervously blushed and scooted her friend away. "Sorry Twilight, I'll give you some privacy."

The two city girls scurried away from the curtain and the older mare nudged Speckles against the counter. "Hey you little squirt! You can't just barge into dressing rooms and stuff. This isn't the brothel and mares here like privacy."

"Privi-wha? I was just seeing what you were doing in there. I miss you Exie. Let's do something fun!" The young mare hopped up and down.

"Shh. I miss you too, but you need to take it down a notch. Later tonight I'll introduce you to the most fun and exciting mare in the world. You're going to love her, she's so cute and funny... Oh hey, here she is now." Exie smiled widely and waved as her lover trotted through the front door.

Pinkie Pie rushed to the other side of the room and pushed herself between the two. "Oh I missed you!" she said as she nuzzled and kissed her lover.

Exie grinned and kissed her back, first on the cheek then on the lips. Feeling dizzy with her eyes partially closed, she let out a deep, drawn out breath, bliss flooding her lungs. "Speckles, I'd like you to meet the love of my life, Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie Pie placed her hooves over her chest at the endearing words and purred. "Aw, Exie! I love you too." The two then came together, their lips locking as Speckles watched in utter disbelief.

Twilight Sparkle exited the dressing room with the costume neatly folded and put away, her eyes attempting not to stare at the display of passionate affection in front of her, and failing. She then glanced down at young mare who appeared to be hopelessly crushed, her ears flat and her eyes glistening with sadness. "Hey, Exie... I'm just gonna leave this here... I'll talk to later about the outfit."

Exie turned away from Pinkie's lips, giggling as the party pony began nibbling on her neck. "Okay Twilight. Come back whenever you're ready." She leaned into Pinkies playful nips and blushed. "Quit it! That tickles."

Twilight cleared her throat and nodded towards the defeated young mare before turning and trotting out the front door. Pinkie let up, out of breath and her face flushed. "I can't wait to sleep with you again tonight..."

Exie glanced down at her little friend, a pang of guilt striking her heart. "Is that tonight? Wow, this week flew by. I'm so glad you don't have to work on weekend mornings anymore, I love spending all morning with you in bed."

"I hate going to sleep alone..." Pinkie Pie frowned and placed her hoof on her lover's cheek.

Exie tilted her head and smiled, running her hooves down Pinkie's sides. "Sweetheart, you're never alone, because I'm always in your heart..."

Speckles felt her eye twitching and stood upright. "What is happening? Exie?! Is that really you? What happened to you?! What... What's wrong with you?!"

Pinkie Pie flinched and giggled. "Oh, hello. I'm Pinkie Pie, and... welcome welcome welcome to Ponyville. A nice welcome to... you? Hehe. Welcome to town."

Exie nodded. "I guess she doesn't feel like singing."

"Are you even listening to me? I asked you a damn question! Exie, I don't feel good." Speckles cured up and hugged her back legs.

"Awwww. I think she's sick." Pinkie Pie leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. "I like her!"

"I like her too. She may as well be my little sister. I took care of her since she was just a little blank flank." Exie reached down and pulled Speckles to her hooves.

"Sister? You don't eat your sister ou-"

"Oh you!" Exie blushed and covered the young mare's mouth.

Pinkie Pie frowned and raised her eyebrows. "Exie... I have to go, but now I really, really don't want to."

"Why do you have to go, sweetie?" Exie asked, pouting. "I don't want you to go either. I hate it when you go, you know that."

"I promised that I'd go back in a few minutes. I'm on a break." Pinkie Pie looked down at Speckles and felt her heart slip into her stomach. "I'll see you tonight, right?"

Exie detected the tension between the two mares and kissed Pinkie on the forehead. "You'll see me all night, cutie."

Pinkie Pie giggled and kissed her lover once more before turning away and trotting outside. Exie immediately glared down at her little friend with a snarl. "Dang it, squirt. What's wrong with you? You can't tell ponies about what we did back home... I mean, in the place. Just don't mention any of it! Ever!"

Exie stormed back towards her sewing table and rested her face against the desk. Speckles winced and looked up with wide purple eyes, tears forming. "But I thought you loved me."

"I do love you, you're my best friend, and you mean the world to me. Come here, you little twerp." Exie smiled softly and opened her hooves as Speckles crashed into her for another loving hug. "I really missed you, kiddo. How have you been?"

"I've been miserable without you. These past couple of years have been the worst, and I don't want to go back. Please let me stay with you, here. I need you to take care of me like you promised you would." Speckles widened her eyes and stared into Exie's, her lip quivering.

"What happened? Is Mistress being mean?" Exie pried, stroking the young mare's mane.

Speckles nodded. "Yes! Like, you don't even know. She loved you! She doesn't give a crap about me. When you left she stopped even trying to pretend she didn't think I was garbage. She always puts me on the block and makes me do the crappy, cheap ass clients. I never want to go back."

Exie glared into the distance and hugged the little mare's head, still stroking her soft blonde mane. "Don't worry Speckles, you can stay here with me in Ponyville. This shop can be your new home for now. I've got a bedroll and everything. Oh! You can work here too! I'll be your boss and we can hang out everyday, it'll be awesome just like the good 'ol days, right?"

Speckles wiped her tears and smiled widely. "Yes! Best idea ever!" She leaned up and kissed Exie on the lips.

The older mare squeezed her eyes shut, her lips locked with her young friend's. She attempted with every muscle in her body to fight, and as Speckles' tongue began to slip into her mouth, she shoved her away. The young mare stumbled backwards and tripped over a crate of sewing supplies, falling onto her back as its contents spilled across the floor. Exie covered her mouth and began to hyperventilate. "Speckles! Are you alright? I'm so, so sorry!"

The young mare grimaced as she wobbled to her hooves. She kicked the mess across the floor and stomped up to Exie. "You're gonna treat me like this too?"

"Hey. Come on, I'm sorry. You know I'm with Pinkie though!" Exie covered her face and sniffled.

"So?!" Speckles brushed herself off and huffed. "You said you loved me! You said I mean the world to you. It's not like we've never done it before anyway."

Exie sighed and placed her hooves on her friend's shoulders. "Sweetie, we don't live in a brothel anymore. Pinkie Pie will be very upset if you keep trying to kiss me and stuff. We're friends, and I love you like a baby sister. I want to look out for you and take care of you."

"Crud. Sister zoned..." Speckles looked up with teary eyes and a grin, and hugged her mentor. "I'll be good, Exie. I promise."

Rainbow Dash shuddered, her heart on fire as she watched Exie and her friend from outside the shop. "I knew you'd screw it all up..."

Titter Tatter

Everypony makes mistakes. There's not a single pony in the world who will live a full life and not have regretted something, and honestly, a life without regrets is a life not lived. I've made my fair share of terrible decisions, and I try to learn from those mistakes. Of all the pain and misery I've put myself through, I can't say that I'd take it back, no matter how badly I wish I could. The truth is that I've learned and grown since then, the pain I've been handed has sculpted my point of view and my way of life so that I can be the pony I am today.

I'm not always proud of who I am, but this past week has been the happiest I've been by far. Falling in love changes the world, and there's nothing I'd rather do than spend every waking moment I can with this wonderful creature who's fallen into my life. As time goes by, I'm become more and more certain that I want to try and make this thing with Pinkie last forever. I know I'm her first, and that fact alone should mean we're doomed to fail, but I have to believe that we have a chance. I want us to have a real shot... but what's truly difficult, maybe too difficult, is trying to believe that I deserve to keep her to myself.

Pinkie Pie is so soft, and so warm. Her gorgeous blue eyes make me melt, and her kisses are like adorable little butterflies fluttering against my cheeks. Being with her is surreal, and it's so hard wrap my mind around it.

I never could have imagined that Ponyville would hold a dream come true.

Exie lifted the completed scarf off of the floor, patting the dust from it. She slung it over her shoulder and trotted up to the package lying in the middle of the shop.

Ding Ding, Rainbow Dash stepped into the shop, startling Exie as she shook the cool air from her coat.

The redhead jerked upright and dropped the box. "That's it. We need to figure out how to make that thing quieter."

"Maybe you should just stop being so jumpy. Something on your mind?" Rainbow asked as she slowly paced to the front register.

Exie shrugged and shook her head. "Not really, no. Oh but I'm glad you're here! Would you mind showing my friend Speckles here the ropes while I run a few errands?"

The small pink mare stepped out from behind the counter and waved at Rainbow Dash. "Hello!"

"Yeah I don't think so. I didn't sign up to be a babysitter," Rainbow Dash protested.

Exie giggled as she watched her little friend grow flustered. "Rainbow, she isn't a baby. I just need you to tell her how to be as good a staff member as you. We'll need an extra set of hooves when business starts to pick up. I've also got a shipment of stock that should be rolling in soon, and we can have her deal with it." The older mare winked and turned towards the door.

Rainbow Dash fluttered up to the little pony and ruffled her mane. "How old are you anyway?"

"Older than you," Speckles said, sticking out her tongue.

Rainbow Dash skeptically widened an eye and shook her head. "No way... Really? Wait, you don't even know how old I am!"

"Yeah-huh, Exie told me. So shouldn't you like, tell me how to work or something?" Speckles asked, rolling her eyes and messing with items hanging on the shelves.

"How did Exie know? That little..." Rainbow glared into the distance before gasping and darting across the store. "Hey! Don't mess with that!"

Speckles reached up and touched a skeletal lawn decoration, tilting it backwards. Rainbow Dash smacked her hoof away and snarled. "Leave stuff alone! Do you know how long it took me to put this thing together?! Go sit in the corner until Exie gets back. I don't feel dealing with you right now."

The little mare stumbled backwards and pouted. "... I've heard that before."

Rainbow Dash looked away and cleared her throat as the freckled mare slowly stepped away. Speckles took a deep breath and rested her head on the back counter, grimacing as she looked at the mess of sewing supplies strewn across the floor. She rubbed her sore knee and recalled being forcefully shoved away, tears welling up in her deep purple eyes.

"Hey..." Rainbow Dash muttered. "You alright?"

Speckles nodded and looked away as she wiped her eyes. "Don't look at me..."

The pegasus chuckled and shook her head. "Seriously? You're so childish. Why are you even here, why don't you just go home or something?"

The small blonde mare lost control of herself and slid to the floor behind the counter, burying her face in her hooves as she sobbed. "I am home!" she cried, gritting her teeth. "You go home! We don't need you here!"

"Yeah right! What would you do if a customer walked in right now?! Cry all over her?" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "I'm the only one that knows how do anything around here."

"You were supposed to teach me! What did I do to make you mad? I'm sorry I touched your skeleton..." The little mare peeked up over the counter and bit her lip.

Rainbow Dash huffed and swallowed hard. "I saw what you and Exie were doing. You two are gonna break my best friend's heart, and I want you gone!"

"Oh my god. That? Seriously, that's why you're being so mean to me? Didn't you see Exie throw me across the room because of that? No, your precious little Pinkie Pie is gonna be fine..." Speckles lowered her eyes and ground her teeth. "If you don't want to teach me, then get out. Me and Exie don't need stupid pegasuses acting all high and mighty anyway."

Rainbow Dash scowled and turned away. "Fine! I'm outta here until Exie sends you back where you came from!"

"Good!" Speckles shouted as the pegasus stomped out the front door and zipped into the sky. "Good riddance!"

The door slowly squeaked closed and the little mare gulped, swallowing her confidence. She turned around and trotted into the middle of the store, eyeing the pony skeleton decoration displayed in the center of the store. The little pony fidgeted and pressed her muzzle against its cheek, glaring. She then placed her front hooves on its back and forced it down before stomping on it. Small bits of plastic bounced across the concrete floor as she stomped and kicked, decimating the decoration.

She lifted up its cracked and busted body, tossing the ribcage down onto the concrete floor and smiling widely as it fell into an array of scattering pieces. Speckles began to giggle as she destroyed the plastic skeleton, out of breath and her soft mane in tangles. "Good going, dumb pegasus."

With a devilish grin, she lifted the skull with her teeth and tossed it into a shelf.

***

Exie tapped on the door to Fluttershy's tree cottage, shivering in the early afternoon breeze. She tightened her scarf as she waited, warming her chest with the thick cotton.

"Oh, hello." The door creaked open and Fluttershy smiled. "What brings you here, Exie?"

"I've got your order here. I figured since I know you, it'd be cool if I just ran this over personally." Exie lifted the box from her back and held it out.

Fluttershy nodded and took it, casually setting it down inside and blushing. "Thank you. I appreciate it..."

Exie stood still for several moments before shrugging. "Well? Aren't you going to try it on and let me know if everything is the way you wanted it?"

Fluttershy winced and quickly shook her head. "Uhm... no. I'll tell you later..."

"Oh you. Don't be so shy. I'm a professional costume pony, thingy. So you don't need to be self conscious around me," Exie explained.

The timid pegasus bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I need to... I have to wait..."

The shopkeeper giggled and tilted her head. "Oh alright. At least take it out of the box and look it over. I'm actually curious myself."

"Um, alright." Fluttershy stepped aside, allowing Exie to enter. "I'm sure everything is just fine, but if you want to see it..."

Exie eagerly watched as the pegasus carefully pulled the box open and removed the packing paper with her teen. She then lifted a glossy black boot from the box, its chrome buckles gleaming in the sunlight as Exie's wide, glistening eyes stared at the most beautiful boot she'd ever seen.

"It's nice..." Fluttershy said, her heart sinking into her stomach as she imagined wearing it.

"Nice? It's better than nice. May I see it?" Exie asked, reaching out for the beautiful legwear.

Fluttershy nodded and scooted the box across the floor. Exie lifted the boot and sniffed the fresh leather, flicking the mettle buckles with the tip if her hoof. She rubbed down the side and admired the fine deep stitching. "I love these! Wow, Fluttershy, I'm totally jealous of you. I can't wait to see you try them on."

Fluttershy cringed and shook her head as Exie smiled expectantly. "Oh my... I can't right now. But I promise that when I do wear them, you'll get to see."

Exie wore a straight face, tightly holding onto the boot as she raised an eyebrow. "Why can't you try it on now? If you don't mind me asking."

Fluttershy averted her gaze and bit her lip. "I... Uhm... I have to help somepony find a pet. So if you'll excuse me." She opened the door and forced a smile, slinging a bag of bird-feed over her shoulder.

Exie frowned and stood up, blinking several times before skeptically stepping outside. Fluttershy followed with the large bag on her back, shutting the door behind herself and heading around to the backyard. The sound of fillies giggling caught her attention, and she decided to investigate. A smile quickly formed across her face as she spotted Apple Bloom scratching a small white kitten behind the ears.

"Having fun, girls?" Fluttershy asked as she carefully filled a bird feeder with a bag various seeds and nuts.

"Sure are!" Scootaloo replied, fluttering her small wings and eyeing a majestic falcon that sat perched atop a much too small birdhouse.

Fluttershy clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, and the large bird of prey spread its wings and glided down, perching itself on the end of the pegasus' outstretched leg. "That's a good girl. Who wants a snack?"

"Shreee!" the falcon screeched, nodding his head.

"Come on then you little cutie." Fluttershy thrust her hoof upwards as the falcon took flight, then she led the way to a small barrel behind the chicken coupe. She flattened her ears and glanced back to Exie with a crooked smirk. "I hate this part."

The earth pony tilted her head and shrugged. "What part?"

Fluttershy turned back to the barrel and removed the lid, sticking her head inside and removing a large, plump prairie dog, which she tossed into the air. The falcon swooped down and clasped onto the creature with its razor sharp talons, carrying it to a bare tree branch before crushing its spine with a powerful beak. "Poor little thing... It's okay though, because he was meant to die."

Exie gulped as her stomach churned. "He was?"

"Yes. He was," Fluttershy said as she looked over the many creatures scurrying around at the bottom of the barrel, clawing their way towards the light. "You see, these little guys were bred to be food. It's sad, but necessary..."

The Cutie Mark Crusaders each caught up to Fluttershy with wide smiles. "That was awesome!" Scootaloo shouted. "Did you see how he snatched it right out of the air?! I want that pet!"

Fluttershy smiled softly and rubbed the little orange filly's head. "It's a she. Her name is Flitterbug. She's a big responsibility too, so I hope you're up to the task if you take her... I'd hate to see her have to come back, because I just know she's dying for a new home to call her own."

"Wait a minute!" Exie stamped her hoof and shook her head in disbelief. "Isn't that thing a viscous wild animal? It's dangerous. Right? I mean... Right?!"

Fluttershy hung her head and sighed. "I'm afraid Flitterbug isn't wild anymore. I found her in the forest as a little hatchling with two broken wings, alone and barely alive at all. I nursed her back to health, and she never left. She was abandoned by her mother, or... maybe her mother was... I don't know why she was left alone, but she's running purely on instinct when she eats. Otherwise she's just a big softy."

"Can I change her name?" Scootaloo interrupted.

Fluttershy looked up at the feasting bird with a crooked frown. "Uhm..."

"I was thinking Turbo Hawk!" Scootaloo shouted.

"Uh... I don't..."

Sweetie Belle shoved herself between the two pegasi and pressed her muzzle against Scootaloo's. "You can't call her that. She's not even a hawk. She's a falcon, and Turbo Falcon sounds dumb."

"How about..." Apple Bloom placed a hoof to her chin and looked up in thought. "Oh! I know! Call her Neck Breaker! 'Cause she breaks necks."

"I'll call her Falcon Bomb!" Scootaloo announced. "Yeah. That's cool."

Exie snickered and took a step back. "So doesn't it hurt when that thing lands on your leg?"

"No. I'm used to it and well callused from dealing with animals all my life, but Scootaloo will have to adjust. Poor thing," Fluttershy explained.

Exie thought for a moment and scratched her head. "What about those leather glove things. What if she had one of those?"

"You're right. I should get her one, but I'm a little short on money right now... you know." Fluttershy blushed and glanced towards her front door.

"Right. Your big order. You know, I wouldn't mind making something nice for her. I mean, I did already make this scarf for Apple Bloom, and it wouldn't be fair to her friends if I gave her a gift in front of them like that." Exie looked over at the three fillies running around in circles beneath the large raptor. "Hey Apple Bloom! Come here for a sec."

The little redhead nodded and rushed to Exie's side, jumping up and hugging onto her. "Howdy!"

"Look what I made for you." Exie took the scarf off of her neck and wrapped it around her little friend's. "You look so cute!"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo each trotted to Apple Bloom's side, circling her as they beamed. "That totally suits you!" Scootaloo stated, nodding confidently.

"It's great. You're so lucky!" Sweetie Belle added.

"Hey now you two, don't think that I just planned on giving a gift to my favorite little earth pony, her two best friends should get something too. I was thinking of making you a nifty little saddle that your new pet can land on, Scootaloo, right?" Exie pat the little orange pony's head and smiled. "And what would you like, Sweetie?"

"That'd be awesome!" Scootaloo shouted as the little white unicorn tilted her head.

"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like a set of fuzzy black booties to keep my hooves warm and toasty when it gets colder outside." Sweetie Belle nodded and bumped hooves with Scootaloo.

Exie nodded and widened her deep blue eyes as she watched the three return to their carefree frollicking. "Aren't they just precious?"

"Mhm." Fluttershy nodded. "I adore those three, but they sure can be a hoofful sometimes."

Exie turned to face the pegasus with a cocky smirk. "So, you seem less shy than before."

Fluttershy immediately blushed and ducked behind her mane. "I... Yes well..."

Exie laughed and placed her hooves on the mare's shoulders. "Hey now, I didn't mean to bring it up. I'm sorry. But anyway, I gotta go now."

"Oh... okay then. Bye." Fluttershy slowly waved the tip of her hoof as Exie turned around.

"Can I come over tomorrow and watch you try that outfit on?" Exie asked, then blushed and gulped. "I mean... you know what I mean... to make sure you like it and stuff."

Fluttershy nodded and took a deep breath. "Yes. You can come... come... uhm, tomorrow, come over and I'll wear it for you."

Exie flicked her bangs to one side and raised an eyebrow. "Can Pinkie come too?"

The yellow mare quickly nodded with squinted eyes before turning away. "Yes. I'm gonna go do this now... Bye."

Exie giggled as the flushed pegasus rushed over to Scootaloo, who was tormenting a small bunny. She took a deep breath and watched Fluttershy cuddle the terrified rodent, a thought piercing her heart. She looked down at the grass and kicked at a dandelion, sending its white seeds floating across the ground. Is Pinkie... my last one?

***

Rainbow Dash entered Sugarcube Corner, stomping over to an empty table and sitting down, plopping her chin onto her front hooves. Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow and grinned, hopping over the counter and skipping up to the table, resting her cheek on its surface and looking into Rainbow's eyes.

"Hey Pinkie..." the pegasus huffed, not blinking.

"Hi there, Dashie. Why so blue?" she asked, snickering.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Aw, why you cyan? Get it? Cyan? 'Cause you're sighin', and you're blue... Hmm, I don't really think you're so much cyan as you are cerulean. What do you think?" Pinkie tilted her head with a smile.

"I'm not in mood, Pinkie," Rainbow stated, taking another deep breath.

The giddy party pony lost her smile and took a seat next to her friend. "Wanna talk about it?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged and leaned up. "I don't know what to say. I'm just worried about you and..."

"Exie..." Pinkie rolled her eyes and bit her lip. "I know. You and everypony else in Equestria seems to think that it's your business who I'm seeing. Well news flash Rainbow Dash! I'm an adult! I'm not your little sister! I'm not a little filly! I can look out for myself!" Pinkie Pie smacked the table with watery eyes.

Rainbow Dash gulped and let her wings fall limp as Pinkie braced herself for the expected lash back. The pegasus stayed quiet, her eyes shifting back and forth between Pinkie's, her heart sinking into her stomach. She shook her head and stood up, dragging her wings as she headed toward the door.

"Dashie... Wait, I'm sorry." Pinkie stepped towards her, but the pegasus carried on, glancing back with a look of betrayal in her eyes before shutting the door behind herself.

Pinkie Pie began to take deep breaths, fighting her quickly rising tears. She galloped to the staircase and shouted, "I have to go! I'm sorry!" She then turned and rushed out the door, chasing after her best friend.

Rainbow Dash saw her approaching and spread her wings to take flight, but before she kicked off, the pink pony tackled her to the ground.

"Stop it! I'm sorry Dash, please..." Pinkie said with tears in her eyes as she stood over her friend. "I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just that all of my friends have been doubting me and Exie, and I just... it hurt."

Rainbow closed her eyes and nudged Pinkie off of her, then stood up with flattened ears. "Maybe they don't trust her for a good reason. Maybe she's not the kind of pony you should trust, Pinkie. I saw her kissing another mare today..."

Pinkie Pie smirked and shook her head. "No you didn't."

Rainbow lowered her eyebrows and gritted her teeth. "Yes I did! I wouldn't lie to you about that!"

Pinkie swallowed hard, her heart racing and the world spinning around her head. "You're lying. I don't believe you..."

"Fine! Don't believe me then. See if I care!" Rainbow snapped her teeth and jumped into the air, zipping off into the distance.

Pinkie Pie cringed, her legs weak and wobbly. She stepped backwards before plopping down onto the dirt road, her mane flat as her tears dotted the ground beneath her. Her lip quivered, and she shook her head violently as she bit down on her tongue. "There's no way..."

Pinkie pressed her hooves into her eyes and sobbed at the thought, her innocent heart cracking. She looked around, noticing the lack of ponies as she sat crying in the middle of the road by herself. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and thought of Exie, and how they laughed and cuddled together only several hours ago. She struggled to breath beneath her flowing tears, the thought of her newfound bliss coming to an end cutting deep into her heart.

The mare stood up and galloped down the street at full speed towards Sew Fine, determined to find out the truth for herself.

Dramatization [+Recap]

Previously on,

Manehattan Mare

"Of course I can handle it. I'm a pro."

The older mare gazed down at her with a wide skeptical eye. "You've been working here for five years now, and I trust you Exie. I just need to be sure you're gonna stay focused down there in Ponyville. Running your own shop isn't as simple as managing a few workers here. You're gonna have to hire a staff, meet with the building's contractor, set up inventory according to corporate standards, and manage all the-”

"Shhhh," Exie placed a hoof to her boss' mouth. "I'll be fine, Cashmere."

"You're always welcome and I'll be here to help with anything you need. Shoot, if you feel like it, you can even rent out our guest room it you get tired of sleepin' on the floor."

"Guest room?" Exie tilted her head and grinned. "How much?"

Applejack glanced back at her brother, who was lining the orchard with empty bushel baskets for the fall harvest. "I can spare a few more minutes. Let me show you the room, and we'll negotiate. I'm sure Granny Smith won't mind if you stay for a while."

"I think I'm starting to get you. I'm actually starting to understand what's going on between you and Applejack too. You're a complicated little bunch up in this dull little town, aren't you?" Exie chuckled and pulled Rainbow Dash into a friendly, one-leg hug.

The pegasus reluctantly accepted the gesture and turned to hug the mare back, letting her front hooves limply fall over Exie's back as she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ponyville can be pretty exciting sometimes... Just wait until some freak accident wipes out the town. It happens at least twice a year."

Exie skeptically scoffed and glanced around the peaceful town, now tightly holding onto the stubbornly unenthusiastic pegasus. "Be quiet and hug me."

Applejack snapped. "I got my reasons, and they ain't none of your business, but if you wanna be my friend, then Rainbow Dash is off limits."

Exie kicked the wooden floor and groaned. "Fine... but I still wish you'd tell me why."

"Look, it's just... I don't know, okay? I don't want you messin' with her. I don't want anypony messin' with her. Anytime somepony is flirtin' with or touchin' her, somethin' about it ticks me off, and I know it ain't how a best friend should act, but-"

"Hey. Shh. Don't worry about it. I'll just be her friend then with no sexy strings attached. It's all good. So, anything else?" Exie took a deep breath and pat her friend on the back.

Dear Exie, I'm sorry for kicking you out if your own bedroom, but you had it coming when you laughed at me. Maybe next time you'll show me a little more respect and we can get to know each other better. See ya soon.

~ With love, Fiddlesticks

Apple Bloom trotted by with a frown and lowered ears. "I ain't old enough to get a real job yet, and my sister won't pay me for workin' on the farm. How's a filly my age s'posed to earn bits?"

Rainbow shook her head. "So. About the elephant in the room." She sighed. "You said you avoided... this because you were scared that it would mess up our friendship. Now what?"

Applejack lowered her eyes and leaned up to face her best friend. "I'm still scared of that happenin', but... I like the way this feels."

"I was thinking about something just now. This is the first time I've seen a shooting star, it's also the first time I've ever laid in grass. Now that I think about it, it's even the first time anypony's ever thrown a party specifically for me just because. Not counting lame birthday parties that I was too young to remember."

Pinkie Pie opened her mouth to press further, but instead sighed and lowered her eyes. "You're experiencing a lot of things for the first time tonight, aren't ya?"

Exie nodded, grinning as she faced the mare lying next to her. "Not only that, but I'm experiencing them all with you."

Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and recalled every signal that the experienced mare had mentioned earlier. She took a deep breath and inched forward. Exie grinned even wider before leaning closer, meeting the mare halfway. As the tips of their muzzles touched, Exie whispered.

"First times stay with you forever."

"I'm a fashionista, a designer of haute couture, and I will defend this town from the crime against fabulosity that is Sew Fine in the only way I know how." Rarity proudly lifted her nose and placed a hoof to her chest. "These ponies want a sexy Nightmare Night? Then I will give them a sexy Nightmare Night done properly, and you, my dearest, closest friend, Fluttershy, are going to help me."

Fluttershy stood upright and took a deep breath. "I was wondering how if I could get you to make me a custom fitted, full-body catsuit with symmetrical silver thread embroidered vertical slits on each flank, and a full set of four fitted, sized boots to perfectly hug each thigh and haunch with glossy leather exterior and chrome buckles running up the length of the boot with two and a half inch heels. If you wouldn't mind too terribly much."

Pinkie Pie nodded. "I've never seen you smile like that before."

Exie closed her eyes and tilted her head back as her lover kissed her cheek and wrapped her legs lovingly around her neck, their cheeks warmly brushing against each other. Exie fought back her urge to laugh as her heart erupted with pure, overwhelming joy and happiness.

"Well, Pinkie Pie... I've never felt this happy before."

Speckles frowned and plopped down on the livingroom sofa. She reached over and grabbed onto a picture of Exie that was sitting on the side-table. Her eyes widened with her smile as her heart fluttered with joy. "I hope you think about me as much as I think about you..."

Exie rapidly shook her head. "Not at all! I mean, you're really pretty, or beautiful... you're gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I think you're... Wait. I can't say these things! Rarity, you're seriously messing with my head right now. I can't focus when you're around and I'm in love with Pinkie Pie! I don't want to do anything to hurt her..."

"What?" Rarity stepped backwards and tilted her head. "What did you just say?"

"I'm with Pinkie Pie and I don't want to hurt her. I'm afraid that you're going to... I mean, I'm afraid I couldn't say no if you..." Exie pressed her hooves into her eyes and began to take deep, deep breaths.

Rarity rapidly unlatched the corset and plopped it down onto the counter, then she slid the stockings off and dropped them next to it. "You're dating Pinkie Pie? And I'm rather certain you just said that you were in love with her."

"Speckles?!"

"Exie!" The young mare dropped the box and darted towards her idol.

The Manehattan mare stood up and spread her front legs as her young friend collided with her, each mare spinning around in a tight, warm embrace. Exie lifted the small earth pony up with her front hooves and kissed her cheeks. "What are you doing here?!"

"I missed you so much that I had to come see you!" Speckles shouted.

Exie sighed and placed her hooves on her friend's shoulders. "Sweetie, we don't live in a brothel anymore. Pinkie Pie will be very upset if you keep trying to kiss me and stuff. We're friends, and I love you like a baby sister. I want to look out for you and take care of you."

"Crud. Sister zoned..." Speckles looked up with teary eyes and a grin, and hugged her mentor. "I'll be good, Exie. I promise."

"Oh my god. That? Seriously, that's why you're being so mean to me? Didn't you see Exie throw me across the room because of that? No, your precious little Pinkie Pie is gonna be fine..." Speckles lowered her eyes and ground her teeth. "If you don't want to teach me, then get out. Me and Exie don't need stupid pegasuses acting all high and mighty anyway."

Rainbow Dash scowled and turned away. "Fine! I'm outta here until Exie sends you back where you came from!"

"Good!" Speckles shouted as the pegasus stomped out the front door and zipped into the sky. "Good riddance!"

The door slowly squeaked closed and the little mare gulped, swallowing her confidence. She turned around and trotted into the middle of the store, eyeing the pony skeleton decoration displayed in the center of the store. The little pony fidgeted and pressed her muzzle against its cheek, glaring. She then placed her front hooves on its back and forced it down before stomping on it. Small bits of plastic bounced across the concrete floor as she stomped and kicked, decimating the decoration.

She lifted up its cracked and busted body, tossing the ribcage down onto the concrete floor and smiling widely as it fell into an array of scattering pieces. Speckles began to giggle as she destroyed the plastic skeleton, out of breath and her soft mane in tangles. "Good going, dumb pegasus."

With a devilish grin, she lifted the skull with her teeth and tossed it into a shelf.

Rainbow closed her eyes and nudged Pinkie off of her, then stood up with flattened ears. "Maybe they don't trust her for a good reason. Maybe she's not the kind of pony you should trust, Pinkie. I saw her kissing another mare today..."

Pinkie Pie smirked and shook her head. "No you didn't."

Rainbow lowered her eyebrows and gritted her teeth. "Yes I did! I wouldn't lie to you about that!"

Pinkie swallowed hard, her heart racing and the world spinning around her head. "You're lying. I don't believe you..."

Pinkie stood up and galloped down the street at full speed towards Sew Fine, determined to find out the truth for herself.

_________________________________________________________________________

I'm never sure how to feel about 'friends'. I know the word, and I know what it means to have a friend, but sometimes definitions and sheer savvy mean nothing to me. I just don't feel it. I don't feel anything. Sometimes when I see a friend, I think to myself that I would have no problem never seeing them again for the rest of my life. I wonder when that feeling of disconnect began to plague my heart, and I wonder what affect it's had on my life.

Growing up where I did, I never really had the opportunity to make a permanent friend. We were often moved to different areas of the city depending on our age, looks, personality and skill levels. Every friend I've ever had has been taken away from me for one reason or another, all except for one. There's one pony in my life who's been there since I was young, and only one. Though our lives have gaps, she's been the only constant. Of everyone I've met, I don't know if I could see Speckles walk out of my life. As for everyone else? Good riddance.

Here in Ponyville, everyone seems so tightly interwoven and up each other's asses that I can't have anything between any of them to strictly call our own. Everyone else has something to say or has their two bits to toss into middle of it. I could never imagine being that mare myself. Sometimes I think it would have been better if I had just kept to myself and not bothered with any of this. I want to believe that falling for Pinkie makes it all worth it, but I don't know if that'll be the case a year from now. What's going to happen once I return to Manehattan? Will she come with me? I don't believe she will, and I don't believe we'll last once we separate. I feel that the end is inevitable and that I've been hiding it from myself this whole time. I don't want to believe that, but what else is there to believe?

A large part of me realized this from the beginning, but I wanted so badly to be able to cling to the joys and bliss of being newly in love. Just like I find myself disconnected from friendship, even more so do I sometimes find myself disconnected from love. It comes and goes, these feelings of inadequacy and impeding separation, as well as the desire to be left alone to cry. It can't be healthy to think this way, to want something so badly, yet to feel almost addicted to the pain and anticipation of being pushed away. Only when I find myself alone with my thoughts do I think that way, and when I'm with... her, they vanish and are replaced with pure happiness. Maybe I should find away to just never leave her side again... What a strange life that would be for me.

What do I want out of life? That's a question I should be able to answer, but it's a question that so frequently changes that I can't help but believe that there is no answer to it at all. Yesterday I found myself head over hooves for a beautiful pink mare and wanted to spend the rest of my life by her side, and today I feel sickeningly worried that I'll never get to experience the blissful pains of new love again, and not only that, but the looming fear of being forced apart by a wide variety of circumstances, ranging from her uptight friends to me simply going home next month.

Maybe they were right about me after all. Maybe I am just going to break an innocent girl's heart. Maybe I am in over my head with her, and maybe I really don't deserve her love.

Who am I kidding? Of course I don't.

Exie stood in the mirror and admired her herself from her bare legs to her short, messy ponytail. She winked at herself and swatted her flank, then blew a kiss to a filly that watched her from the bed at the other end of the room.

"You look so good, Exie." A young blonde filly beamed with delight as her mentor strutted her stuff.

"You don't look too bad yourself, kiddo." Exie trotted up to the bed and nuzzled the filly.

Just then, the bedroom door opened and a tall purple unicorn stepped in, her body sweaty as she caught her breath. She trotted to the sink and splashed cold water across her face, then began to shiver. Exie jumped to her side and placed a hoof over her shoulder which was immediately smacked away.

"Stop! Don't touch me right now... please." The unicorn swallowed the urge to cry and took a deep breath.

Exie cringed and nodded, then stepped back.

"It's your turn to go see him. He wants a younger mare now." The unicorn shuddered and hid her face. "I'm sorry it has to be you. I wouldn't wish it on anypony."

"Let me do it!" Speckles climbed off the bed and trotted to the door. "I'm not scared, and I'm sick of him making you two cry. I can handle anything..."

"I don't think so." Exie stood in between the filly and the bedroom door. "You are not doing this on your own. You're still too young. Too innocent."

"You really feel that way, Exie?" A gray mare stood behind her in the doorway. "Maybe it is her turn then. We can't have such quaint notions filling your pretty little heads, now can we? Come now, Honey Glow, or Speckles, whichever you're going by now. It's time for you to forget all about that... innocence, was it?"

"Mistress, wait!" Exie turned around in time to receive a swift slap to the face.

"You will not raise your voice to me, child. Go. Rest. This is your duty, and if you refuse to obey me, then you will leave this place." Mistress gave a sharp nod before guiding Speckles out of the bedroom and down a long, dark hallway.

As the bedroom door latched shut, Exie stood silent. Her eyes darted back and forth along the floor, seemingly looking at nothing. She winced, then began to sob. A purple hoof rested on her shoulder, and she clung to it. "I hate this place..."

"So leave."

"Not without her... I won't leave her here alone."

Fluttershy carried the box containing her costume in her teeth as she approached the Carousel Boutique. She dropped the package and let herself in, then gently scooted it across the floor.

"Hello? Rarity?" she called out.

The white unicorn in question stepped into the open with a midnight-blue sheet of fabric laying across her back and a string of thread in her mouth. "What is it, Fluttershy?" she muttered.

"Oh, well, if you're too busy, I can always jus—"

"Is that the costume? And the boots?!" Rarity interrupted, spitting out the thread and rushing over as her cloth fell to the floor.

She snatched the box away with her deep blue aura of magic and hastily pulled the boots from within. The tip of her hoof ran down the edge of the boot, and she eyed her own reflection in each of the dozens of thoroughly polished chrome buckles. "This is absolutely pristine. I... I don't know if I could have done it better myself. And this isn't exactly the easiest of materials to work with, either."

Fluttershy smiled and tilted her head. "So Exie did a good job?"

"She wishes." Rarity scoffed. "There's is absolutely no way that novice crafted such a fine piece of work. No, definitely not. There is a master seamstress working behind the scenes for that company. One with likely even more experience than I, and that spells trouble."

Fluttershy dropped her smile into a worried frown. "That sounds... bad."

Rarity took a deep breath and shook her head. "Well, perhaps not so much trouble as it does spell competition. I don't believe we have too much to worry about. I'm just going to have to take things another step up! That's all!" she said with a twitch in her eye and a strand of mane suddenly curling out of place.

"Well, I was also wondering why we bought this stuff in the first place. It was pretty expensive, you know," Fluttershy added.

"And that, my dear, is why I paid for it. I had to see for myself just what level of quality Sew Fine is capable of producing, and they met my expectations, if not slightly exceeding them," Rarity explained as she looked over the black suit and examined the silver-embroidered slits. "This couldn't be better... Try it on."

Fluttershy's muzzle turned brick-red and she shook her head. "I... can't."

"You must!" Rarity insisted.

"I can't!" Fluttershy squeaked and squeezed her eyes shut.

Rarity widened her sparkling sapphire eyes and pouted out her lip. "But Fluttershy," she whined. "It's measured specifically for you. I need to see how it fits you."

With a deep and drawn out breath, Fluttershy lowered her ears and whispered, "Okay."

"Yes!" Rarity cheered. "First slip into this leotard and then fasten on the boots."

Fluttershy groaned internally as she puffed a strand of mane from her face. She reached into the box and pulled the stretchy one-piece suit over her head, and then tucked each leg through the appropriate opening. After she inserted her final leg into place, she wiggled her haunches and stretched her body until the fabric all conformed to her body. "Wow. It almost feels like I'm wearing nothing all," she noted just before catching a glance of herself in a mirror, then recoiled and choked.

"A perfect fit." Rarity stepped around her friend and noted the three slits sensually revealing a glimpse of each of the pink butterflies on each side of her flank. She then levitated the boots next to her. "Now these, love."

Fluttershy silently nodded and slid her legs into each of the four boots one by one. The front two were shorter and more easily slipped into place, while the back two were nearly twice as tall. She sat on the floor and struggled to push her hoof to the bottom of the boot.

"Here, allow me," Rarity offered as she pushed the boot against her friend's hoof, smiling and looking her in the eye as she felt it reach the bottom.

After each was all the way up, Rarity began buckling each of the chrome buckles until the boots were stylishly secured. "Voila!"

Fluttershy stood up and stepped in circles as she watched her own reflection through a full-body mirror. She stretched out her leg and felt the strong material bending with her joints, then she fluttered into the air and let them hang. "They're... they're very nice."

"You look simply marvelous, darling." Rarity stood beneath her and gently urged her to the floor. "Do you feel okay in this?"

Fluttershy surprised even herself with a confident nod. "I do. I know it's not really... well, it's not me. But it feels nice to be wearing something so, well, nice." She giggled and blushed, still eyeing the finely crafted and expensive apparel that adorned her petite body.

"This suits you well, Fluttershy. And it will also suit what I have in store for you—for us—very well. Perfectly, in fact." Rarity pressed her cheek against her friend's and snickered. "Go ahead and undress now, dear. We need to keep this outfit in top shape for Sew Fine's Nightmare Night party."

Fluttershy nodded and hesitantly began to unbuckle her boots. "I wonder what Exie would think of me in these."

***

Exie merrily walked towards her shop with pep in her step. The sublime quality of the boots danced around in the back of her mind, and she sighed as she glanced back at her own worn boots. "Hmm, maybe I should order some new ones..." Her thoughts were cut short by an unexpected glimpse of pink.

Pinkie Pie stood with her face pressed against Sew Fine's front window and her tail pointed straight out.

"Pinkie Pie?" Exie called. "What are you doing?"

The party pony shot her gaze at Exie with fire in her eyes. "You! I need to ask you a thing!"

"A thing?" Exie giggled. "What's up?"

Pinkie Pie darted towards her marefriend and pressed their muzzles together. "Are you having a secret back-alley affair with Speckles?!"

Exie, taken aback, tilted her head and blinked. "I'm not having an affair at all, Pinkie."

"Oh really?!" Pinkie Pie widened a skeptical eye and pressed it against Exie's face. "Because Rainbow Dash said that she saw—"

"Whoa whoa. Hold up. Rainbow Dash has been on my case about you ever since we started dating to begin with! I'm so sick of this petty, childish drama between all of you guys. Listen Pinkie, I would never have an affair, okay? I have no idea what she could possibly even be talking about, and I'm about to have it out with her. I mean come on! Really? An affair with Speckles... Oh..." Exie gulped and shook her head.

"Oh what?" Pinkie pried, her eyes less angry and growing more curious.

"Okay. Let's go sit down inside for a bit. Listen to me, Rainbow Dash probably saw something stupid and is just jumping at the chance to sabotage us. Let's take some deep breaths, and like, just chill for a bit. Alright?" Exie offered a reassuring hug and patted her lover's back.

Pinkie Pie sighed and nodded as she took several deep breaths. "Okay. I'm sorry I yelled at you. So, what happened?"

"Come inside and we'll talk." Exie smiled and led the way to the shop's entrance.

As Exie pressed her door open, she dropped her jaw and gazed out over the plastic mess littering the floor. She then spotted Speckles curled up in a tiny ball, crying in the corner. "What happened?!" she demanded.

Pinkie Pie covered her mouth and widened her eyes as the sobbing filly wobbled to her hooves, a drop of blood trailing down her muzzle.

"That rainbow pony got mad at me for kissing you, and she shoved me down and broke stuff. Exie... I'm so scared," Speckles said as she sobbed uncontrollably into her hooves. "Please don't let her hurt me."

Exie shook her head in disbelief. Her eyes glistened and her ears drooped, then Pinkie placed a comforting hoof over her shoulder. "Rainbow Dash did this? Really?"

Speckles nodded and sobbed heavily while Pinkie Pie glanced down at her own scraped foreleg. "Exie," Pinkie said as she leaned in front of her. "Rainbow Dash was really mad about you... kissing this girl. She even shoved me off of her and I scraped my leg up because of it. I don't know what happened, but I never woulda thought that Dashie could hurt a filly. I also never woulda thought that she could shove me like she did earlier. I don't know what to do..."

Exie gently wiped her marefriend's reddened leg with her soft leg-warmer, then looked up into Pinkie's eyes. "I'm sorry about all of this. I'm sorry to you too, Speckles. If I had known that Rainbow Dash was capable of something like this, then I'd never have left you alone with her. I'm so, so sorry."

Speckles looked up from beneath her long blond mane and bit her lip. "Please get rid of her. I don't want to see her again. I'm afraid she'll hurt me again if she found out I told on her..."

Exie shook her head and lowered her eyes. "Don't worry. We won't be seeing her in this shop again anytime soon."

Speckles jumped up and smiled widely, then rushed to Exie's side and wrapped herself around her forelegs. "Thank you!"

"Are you okay?" Exie asked as she wiped the blood from the young mare's mouth. "Did she hit you?"

Pinkie Pie skeptically frowned and stepped back.

"Yes. She kicked me and then destroyed that skeleton in front of me, and said that I'm lucky that she didn't do that to me." Speckles buried her muzzle in between Exie's legs and sniffled.

"I can't believe this happened." Exie rubbed her young friend's sore lip and kissed her forehead.

Pinkie Pie sighed and shook her head. "I feel funny... I think we need to talk to Twilight Sparkly about this."

"Why her?" asked Exie.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. "Twilight is super duper smart, and she understands things about ponies' minds that we would never think of learning to understand. She gets inside of your head with her brain and reads your thoughts like a dusty old book," Pinkie explained.

Exie finally broke a smile amidst the dramatic scene and took a deep breath. "Come on, Speckles. Let's get you cleaned up."

Pinkie Pie nodded and held her shaky grin as she swallowed the millions of prying questions spinning around her head beneath her aching heart. She couldn't help but ask just one. "Exie, is this girl my romantic competition?"

Exie laughed and shook her head. "Not even anywhere near that. She just didn't realize I was in a relationship when she gave me a kiss earlier. It was nothing, but still, I won't let it happen again. I'm sorry if Rainbow exaggerated things to hurt you. That mare has some personal issues she needs to work on."

Pinkie Pie nodded and wiped her brow. "So... I guess I should really get back to the bakery. I'm glad nopony got hurt. At least not really hurt. Not anymore hurt than just a kick to the face, even though that sounds bad. Maybe she had it coming, but that still doesn't excuse such violent behavior. Or does it? Nope, definitely not. Maybe, though."

Exie frowned and glanced back to Pinkie Pie, who turned tail and trotted out the front door. "You're really stirring up trouble, kiddo."

"Mhmm," Speckles giggled. "I don't mean to. I guess I'm just a drama-magnet or something?"

"Consider yourself lucky. I'd have guessed a kick from Rainbow Dash would have done a lot more than just bust your lip. Be happy you still have all your teeth." Exie faked a casual laugh and swallowed a lump in her throat. "I think you should go back to Manehattan and stay with Cashmere until the season is over."

"No!" Speckles shook her head violently back and forth. "I won't! Please, Exie!"

The Manehattan mare sighed and pulled her young friend's head against her chest. "Fine... Just lay low until I can get this all worked out then. I don't need anypony else getting hurt."

***

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth as she ranted. "We have got to get that little twerp outta here!"

Applejack rolled her eyes with a condescending chuckle. "Come on, Dash. It sounds to me like you're just bein' jealous that you ain't gettin' all the attention 'round the shop no more. That's no reason to go causin' a whole heap o' fuss. Look, just take some time and get to know the kid a little. I'm sure you, her, and even Pinkie Pie will all get along famously if ya just take it one step at a time, and no threats or goin' crazy!

"But Applejack!" Rainbow shouted. "I can't get along with her. I just know something bad's gonna happen if we keep her around. She already ruined Pinkie's stupid little fake relationship."

Applejack rolled her eyes and glared at her friend. "Now who's to say that their relationship isn't any more real than our own? Just 'cause you think of Pinkie like a kid sister, don't mean you own 'er."

"I never said that I own her. I just think everything that's going on ever since Exie showed up is a load of crap! I thought it was cool at first, but lately it's just too much." Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves and plopped down on her rear.

Applejack closed her eyes and shook her head. "Well then you must think that we're a load of crap too then, since use gettin' together is at least half Exie's doin'."

"You know I didn't mean that..."

"Well maybe you should rethink things before you decide somethin's set in stone fact. You're a good friend, Dash. Heck, sometime's you might even be too good a friend. All I know is that you'd never turn your back on a friend, and whether you like it or not, you made friends with Exie. You've gotta meet 'er in the middle, for your own sake." Applejack reached out to comfort her marefriend with a soft hoof on the shoulder and a kiss to the cheek.

Rainbow Dash leaned into her lips and smiled. "Maybe you're right. Speckles or whatever just rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to beat her down after the way she talked to me, plus seeing her all over Exie was infuriating. I think I should go talk to Pinkie before everything blows up..."

"Maybe you're right. And maybe I should come with, just in case." Applejack offered, being the voice of reason that she was. The two then began to walk side by side towards the shop.

Rainbow Dash stopped in her tracks. "Uh-oh..." she said as she jumped into the air and disappeared in a multicolored flash.

"Wait up!" Applejack shouted and chased after her.

***

Exie rubbed her temples after she finished sweeping a small pile of broken plastic bits into a dustpan. She groaned and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "This blows... I don't know how I'm gonna replace Rainbow Dash."

"Who says you need to replace her at all? You've got me now." Speckles beamed and grabbed the dustpan, then emptied it into a garbage pail. "See how helpful I am?"

"You sure are..." Exie shook her head and moped. "I really liked Rainbow, too. She was becoming a friend."

Speckles frowned and shook her head. "Remember what we used to say back at Mistress's place?"

Exie slowly nodded and looked down at her younger friend, then they both spoke in unison.

"No strings attached. Neither inside, nor out."

"But this isn't the brothel, Speckles. We should be allowed to make friends now, don't you think?" Exie asked.

Speckles smiled and closed her eyes. "I'm your friend. Don't get greedy."

Exie shrugged and tossed the broom against the corner, and her eyes lit up with an epiphany. "So, I just had a great idea. I met a little filly that sorta reminds me of you. I bet I could get her sister to let her do stuff around here. I'm not sure how top notch of a sales pony she is, but you might have fun teaching her a thing or two."

Speckles rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Nah. I think the two of us can handle this shop on our own."

Exie glared and crossed her gloved hooves. "Listen up. I'm in charge here and I'll make the decisions. If I'm losing Rainbow Dash to keep you, then you're gonna have to deal with training a replacement. You still need to be trained, yourself. This is a huge pain and I need you to be on my side. We're a team, alright? And I'm the captain."

"Got it." Speckles saluted her idol and gave a stern nod. "Who is this filly?"

"You'll like her. She reminds me of myself at her age. So full of energy and excitement. She's also willing to do pretty much anything. Really, the only difference is that she just wreaks of innocence." Exie gazed off into the distance with starry eyes.

"Gag." Speckles stuck her tongue out. "Don't worry. I'll rip that sappy innocence right out of her in no time at all."

"Whoa there, kid. Don't do that. Innocence is a good thing and you should appreciate the fact that you get to be around it," Exie scolded.

"But what about you? Aren't you ripping the innocence out of Pinkie Pie? She looks pretty innocent to me. You're not innocent at all." Speckles winked. "So how does that work?"

Exie sighed and slumped down to the floor. "I don't know how or why we're doing anything, but it's really none of your business. Dealing with all of her friends has been enough of a headache, and I don't want to hear it from you now. Is it too much to ask for you to just be supportive?"

Speckles smiled and trotted up to her friend, then wrapped her forelegs around her neck. "No. I'm sorry. I was just wondering, is all... I'll be supportive from now on."

"Thank you. That means a lot. I'm glad I don't have to be going through this on my own anymore. I'm glad you're here, too." Exie returned the hug and closed her eyes.

Speckles licked her lips and grinned. "I'll always be here for you, Exie. Always no matter what..."

Exie lay clinging to a pillow on her small bed and a heavy pit of worry weighing down her stomach. She took quick shallow breaths as she held back her tears and kept her eyes fixated on the bedroom. As soon as it moved, she shot upright and widened her eyes.

A small blonde filly stepped into the room. Her lip was cut open and a drop of blood dripped down the side of her face beneath her eyebrow. Her eye was black and blue, and she wiped the blood from her muzzle.

"What did he do to you?!" Exie and the purple unicorn rushed to the filly's side and held her tightly.

Speckles choked as she attempted to speak. "I... He got mad at me for not being Exie, then he hit me. I told him to stop but he just kept hitting me and hitting me."

Exie felt her heart boiling, and she stood up to stomp out the front door. In her way stood an older gray mare.

"Well, it looks like the innocence was taken from this one in quite a brutal way, no?" Mistress chuckled and shook her head. "Don't worry. Her wounds will heal."

Exie huffed and shook her head. "So this is what it's come to? You let stallions beat us? I... I want to leave! And I'm taking Speckles with me!"

"Be quite. I'd never have allowed him in here had I realized what he was capable of. You know that! He's been dealt with properly and won't be heard from again. Calm yourself, girl." Mistress stepped out into the hallway and let the door slam shut.

Speckles grinned. "See? I took care of the problem for you... We never have to leave now."