The Diamond and the Butterflyby ANgrantANChaptersPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3PrologueFluttershy clasped her head and ruffled pink mane tightly in her hooves as she hunkered down beneath a table whose cloth had already been torn away in the panic now consuming the restaurant. How could this have gone so wrong? Oh, Fluttershy, you’re always making a mess of things! I should’ve just let Rarity have her nice date and be happy for her! This is all my fault! Almost a dozen mice scurried along the floors in blind terror, much akin to the classily-dressed nobleponies fleeing and screaming in fear. Rarity had long since left, keeping pace with her date, who had first initiated the cascade of shrieking and scrambling. Fluttershy covered her face; all of it was her fault. It was her fault that her little critters were scared and loose. It was her fault that Rarity’s date was ruined. It was her fault that everypony else’s night had been ruined. Just when it seemed that the fiasco had finally reached rock bottom, it went right back into freefall. The ornate front doors were blasted off their hinges by a powerful buck from the hooves of a Royal Guard. On cue, his comrades flooded in, focused on a single goal entirely: Finding the perpetrator of this failed attempt on Prince Blueblood’s life. Once the room had finally been cleared of ponies and the last of the mice had been dispelled from their hiding places and shooed outside, a pair of imposing guardsponies approached Fluttershy, still hiding under Rarity’s table. “You there, miss, are you okay?” Fluttershy released only a fearful “Eep” in reply. She further shielded her face behind her mane and forelegs, afraid and fully aware of what would come next. To Fluttershy’s infinite fortune, however, her prediction was incorrect. The two guardsponies gingerly lifted her out from under the table, letting her stand on her own four hooves and allowing her a full view of the once-pristine dining establishment, now turned into little more than a ransacked obstacle course of chairs, utensils, food, and everything in between. “It’s okay, miss. We’re going to get you out of here and you can go home. We’ll find out who did this, in time. Follow me” One of the guards waved a hoof for Fluttershy to follow. She hid her face behind her mane, but she was not swallowed in terror as before. In fact, she hardly feared the repercussions of possibly being found out as the one who released her critters into the restaurant. What she feared now, though, was the possibility that Rarity could never love her now. Once outside, she flopped down on the grass as far away from the other patrons as possible, wallowing in her abject failure. Rarity would find out, no doubt about it. Rainbow Dash floated down to her friend, hovering in front of her and sporting an expression of worry and empathy. “Don’t worry, ‘Shy. It’ll all turn out fine... I’m sure of it.” Fluttershy sighed and shook her head. She was the face of a pony whose will was broken. “No, Rainbow.... It won’t turn out fine.” Chapter 1"The usual!" "The usual" meaning the Deluxe Package, Ponyville Spa's most expensive and in-depth treatment available. For any normal pony, making that kind of treatment their usual would cause their bits to disappear in a month's time. But Rarity was no normal pony. No, she was on the cusp of being the premier dress maker in all of Equestria! Her works, few and far between on account of the time and care put into each one, were the highlight of every important ball or event, and any mare wearing one of Rarity's dresses enjoyed limitless attention without hardly lifting a hoof. Like all other ponies, Aloe and Vera appreciated how exquisite Rarity's works of art were, and at one point joined the masses of Equestria in quiet sorrow that they could not hope to afford them. The downside to Rarity's newfound successes was the sharp price increase, given that there was a large enough market of nobles elated to buy even at such inflated prices. But Aloe and Vera would not stay forever in this fiefdom of misfortune, for Rarity herself would make her two favorite spa ponies their own custom dresses, free of charge. It was only fitting that the two would grant her unlimited access to the best of the spa's treatments in return. Aloe smiled and nodded at her biggest repeat customer before whisking herself away to prepare with Vera. Fluttershy offered Rarity a warm, friendly smile, just like every other week's spa day. Rarity was fashionably late, and fashionable doing it. At least, in Fluttershy's eyes she was. To Fluttershy, Rarity was always fashionable. She had that air of grace and sophistication and... Confidence. It never ceased to bring a smile to the pink-maned mare when her close friend entered a room, or introduced herself to somepony new. Waves of charisma rolled off of her in her every action, and to Fluttershy, as she would put it, it was quite nice. But recently... She found herself thinking that maybe it was more than just nice. But now was not a time to think about that. "Darling! It's so good to see you! I quite regret my schedule being as cramped as it is, but shooting up the ranks of Equestrian high society is no easy job. But, of course, there must always be time for my dearest friends. Tell me, Fluttershy, how have you been? Why, It's been... Two weeks, hasn't it?" Rarity prattled on and on, as she usually did whenever she'd been away for extended periods of time. Fluttershy would say a little about her day, and then Rarity would talk about hers, not sparing a single detail. The two mares liked it that way. Fluttershy maintained her warm smile, filled with joy that Rarity was doing so well. "Oh, nothing really big or important. With Twilight training to be a princess in Canterlot, I've been really busy taking care of all the animals." She paused, and to her surface came the greatest amount of anger one could realistically expect from Fluttershy, which amounted to little more than furrowed brows and a less friendly tone. "A real bad bug has been going around in the forest, and I have to make sure all the critters are okay." Rarity sighed. "Oh, darling, our dear Twilight will be back soon enough to help. I certainly hope so, at least. I made a new dress for her to wear as a princess, and I'm eager to see how she looks in it." Fluttershy had seen that dress. Rarity showed it to her before she left for Canterlot two weeks ago, and in line with the yellow mare's expectations, it was absolutely divine. Whatever Rarity had been up to in Canterlot must've been so significant that it temporarily shoved the rest of her memories aside. Fluttershy found it understandable. After all, Rarity was an important mare with important business! "I hope she comes back soon! I-I mean, once she finishes all her training and feels up to it, that is. I wouldn't want to rush her." Fluttershy ended that sentence sheepishly, ever aware that putting her own needs in front of the needs of her friend would be mean and selfish. "Of course, darling, it certainly can't take-" Rarity was cut off by the appearance of Aloe's head popping out from behind the spa's bead door. "Miss Fluttershy? Miss Rarity? We're ready for you." Rarity shot up with enthusiasm and trotted through the beads, pausing only to make sure Fluttershy was following her. As the pair of mares always did when they had their spa day, they had facial masks zucchini slices applied to their faces. Rarity's covered the entirety of her face, whereas Fluttershy opted instead for a single dollop of cream on either cheek. To her, the spa was less about looking beautiful and more about talking with Rarity, even though she wondered at times why Rarity would need a spa treatment to look beautiful at all. Once the two had gone through some few treatments, they were led to the sauna. Rarity adopted her usual "dramatic" pose on a pair of cushions while Fluttershy humbly sat down on her stomach and curled up her legs beneath her. "So Rarity... What's been going on in Canterlot? I'm sure only good things." Fluttershy did not ask purely out of curiosity as a friend. She too was interested in the world of fashion, though not nearly as well versed or involved as her purple-maned companion. Rarity began her exposition with a dramatic mane flip. "Oh, Fluttershy, you would not believe simply how fan-tastic it has been. Hoity Toity and Photo Finish have signed on as sponsors of my new line of dresses, and you would not believe the response it has been getting! Everything I've made on that line has been flying off the racks just as quickly as I can sew them!" Rarity paused for a dreamy sigh. "And this next part is even more fantastic, I assure you!" Fluttershy cocked her head in curiosity. "That's great, Rarity! But what could be better than that? I mean... Um... You're so successful now." "Oh, do you remember that uncouth Prince Blueblood?" Fluttershy nodded for her to continue. "It seems that he's changed! He came by to see me in the palace, and he was such a gentlecolt! The only thing that was really the same was how handsome he was." Rarity's next words were hardly even a whisper. "And you know what?" Fluttershy shook her head, both curious and excited, "What?" Rarity brought her forehooves close to her chin and shook her head twice or thrice in excitement. "He asked me out on a dinner date with him!" Fluttershy's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "I know, isn't it amazing? He's changed, I tell you! Wahahahah!" The vanilla mare couldn't hold back her trademark giggle. "Oh, I'm finally going to have my own wonderful Prince Charming... Ah... Life is perfect, darling. I have my friends, my dresses, fame, and soon, the most handsome prince in all of Equestria!" Fluttershy should've felt nothing but the purest joy for her friend's good fortune. But there was not unmolested elation and excitement at this news, for there was also a pebble of despair resting deep in her stomach. She felt ashamed of it, but no amount of will could banish it, and it would soon grow to be much greater than a mere pebble. No. She couldn't feel like that when one of her closest friends in the entire world was in the midst of such happiness. Fluttershy wasn't that kind of mare, and she knew it. All the rest of the day, she would talk and laugh with Rarity, secretly trying to banish that pebble of despair from her gut. But it would not be banished. Nay, with each attempt to see it cast out, it would feed and grow just a little bit bigger. And Fluttershy could not live with that. Chapter 2Fluttershy took in a deep breath of the cool Fall air. She never indulged much in the spa’s services past the sauna, but there wasn’t a mare in Equestria that wouldn’t feel refreshed after a day at Aloe and Vera’s little place. She extended her somewhat flimsy wings as far as could be extended and wiggled their tips, and took her right front and back left legs off the ground, stretching. After a few moments, she switched to her other two legs. Rarity gave Fluttershy’s tail a playful flick with her own as she giggled at her friend’s post-spa routine. “Darling, you’ll simply stretch the relief out of you one of these days!” Fluttershy flashed her a bashful smile. “It helps me clear my head. But I mean… If you really think it’s a bad thing…” Rarity defused her concerns with a chuckle. “Oh, darling, I jest, I really do.” Good. If there was one thing Fluttershy wanted to do at this point, it was clear her head. She couldn’t believe herself how she felt some twang of disappointment at her friend’s fantastic news. Rarity was about to trot off to her boutique, likely to busy herself with dressmaking for the rest of the day, but she stopped mid-step and looked back with an expression of concern present in her features. “Fluttershy? Is something wrong?” Oh no! Rarity saw right through me, and now she’ll know all about such a meanie I am on the inside about her being asked out by Blueblood! “N-no, Rarity! Everything’s fine! I mean… Why wouldn’t it be?” One could swear Fluttershy was actually the Element of Honesty by how bad a liar she was. Rarity offered an understanding smile. Isn’t she mad? “Fluttershy, I appreciate that you’re concerned about me getting into something harmful, but I really do think Blueblood’s changed! Everypony in Canterlot shares the opinion, I promise.” Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief. So her best friend didn’t know how mean she was. “But… If it’ll make you feel better, I’d be happy to have you over at my boutique tomorrow night to meet him when he drops me off from our date. How does that sound?” The prior moment’s respite flooded out of the softly-colored Pegasus. “Y-you don’t have to do that for me, Rarity. I’m sure you totally know what you’re doing!” Rarity did not seem to accept this as a decline to her invitation, instead trotting over and placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder and giving her an understanding smile. “Oh, my dear, don’t worry a bit about this. Why, what kind of friend would I be if I let darling Fluttershy worry herself half to death for my sake? No, It’s perfectly fine. You can come over tomorrow night at… Ten… Yes, ten’s when he will drop me off. You can meet him, and you can see how wonderfully he’s changed.” Rarity was right. Fluttershy was just worried about her friend, that was all. She knew that was it, and meeting Blueblood would clear everything up, just as Rarity said. “O-okay, Rarity. I’ll come by your shop at ten tomorrow. “Alright, darling. Until then, I bid you adieu.” With a little flourish, Rarity finally left for her boutique. Fluttershy trotted home on the neglected cobblestone path that was the “road” between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. The whole time, she ruminated over how she felt about Blueblood. Well, obviously, Rarity is a great judge of character. She would never do anything that wasn’t thought out and sensible. As her friend, I was concerned about the prince being some nasty trickster, but Rarity’s smart. When I meet Blueblood, I’ll see how kind and polite he’s become, and all my problems will just melt away. Fluttershy sighed, and though alone, anypony watching would notice the wistful glint in her sea blue eyes. Rarity deserves somepony nice like a prince. She works so hard all the time on her dresses and now she’s going to be the pony that everypony knows, just like she should be. And she doesn’t even really need her dresses in the first place! They’re wonderful, but she’s beautiful too! I wish I was that pretty and talented. I’m happy for her. I mean… I should be happy for her. No, I am happy for her! Oh, Fluttershy… The sullen mare didn’t bother to lock the gate behind her when she slipped into her front yard and the brick path to her door. If any little critters needed help, they’d need some way to get to her. She could never just keep them out! Fluttershy got right to work with Angel’s dinner when she entered her home. The poor little guy had been aching for a big vegetable soup for weeks, but all the things he wanted in it weren’t in season! Entire days went by where he whined for his soup, so the kindly mare couldn’t help but go out and order the ingredients he wanted from far-away lands. It had slipped her mind that very morning, but she now had everything she needed to make Angel’s soup. After almost an hour of careful cooking and preparation, she rang a tiny triangle to get Angel’s attention. “Angel Bunny! Your soup’s almost ready!” He showed up in the blink of an eye, already tapping his foot impatiently on the kitchen table. “Don’t worry Angel, just one thing left.” Fluttershy covered her nose with one hoof before chopping up the next ingredient. “Two heads… Of Stinkrot.” Fluttershy muttered to herself, her eyes darting to the cookbook propped up against a pot. Stinkrot was only grown in the distant eastern mountains in Griffon lands, and a single head took two years to grow. In fact, a few heads could buy a farmer one of Rarity’s best dresses. It tasted like death and smelled exponentially worse unprepared, but cooked in a soup, Stinkrot could make even the worst recipe a work of art. The pegasus wasted no time tossing the two heads of repulsive vegetable into her simmering pot of soup prepared just for her little bunny friend. To her surprise, though, the smell remained. She looked into the package of Stinkrot she was sent; There had been a mistake! She had been sent an extra head on accident. The pink-maned mare sighed. She’d just have to deal with it later. In moments, Angel’s perfect dinner ready to serve. Fluttershy poured a puny rabbit-sized bowl of soup for her favorite pet, but the moment she turned around to present it to him, he shook his head in dissatisfaction. “Oh… Of course! Of course you want more than that!” Fluttershy went back into her cupboards and withdrew what she called a “big bunny” bowl. It was nearly the size of the mare’s head, and naturally, Angel always preferred his food in a big bunny bowl filled to the brim. “Here you are, Angel. Just like you wanted it.” Fluttershy sported a motherly grin as her pet ravenously devoured his corrected portion. “So… Angel Bunny… Tomorrow I’m going to meet Rarity’s new coltfriend.” Angel rolled his eyes in total disinterest. “I-I don’t mean to bore you, it’s just that her coltfriend happens to be Prince Blueblood.” Angel made a little “yuck” noise. “Oh, Angel, don’t be like that! He’s changed! Don’t you think it’s the least bit exciting that Rarity finally gets her Prince Charming?” Angel shook his little bunny head and hopped off to find something interesting to. Fluttershy sighed and went outside to check on the food she’d left out for all her animal friends. Of all the bulk meals that had been lined up, only a handful remained. The sick little critters were eating, and they’d surely be fine until tomorrow. Fluttershy smiled, and went back inside, resigning herself to sleep for the day. She curled up in bed after saying goodnight to Angel and her little mouse pets. Chapter 3Threads of sunlight peeked in between the spaces of the blinds, coating the pegasus with warm rows of welcoming light. She stirred, allowing her wings extension half-way from her body and lifting the blankets off her form. On cue, the early birds of her menagerie of pets pawed at the door or planted their sad faces against the windows. Fluttershy smiled, gracefully casting her blankets aside with her wings and half-gliding, half-hopping out of bed. Her morning was like most others. Eat breakfast, brush her teeth, preen her feathers, feed Angel, then feed the rest of her animals. For the most part, everything went according to the routine, barring a peculiar incident where her tame mice escaped from their cages and tore open bags of cereal. That had been a mess most difficult to clean. By the time her floors were free of breakfast debris and her animals were all fed their generous morning portions and assorted medications, it was already nearly time for lunch. For Fluttershy, lunch had become little more than an abstract concept most days, due to the unpredictability of her critters' needs. But ever since three or four months ago, every Thursday's lunch was an entrenched plan. Since Twilight's ascension to her newfound status of Princess of Friendship, the non-royal Elements left without Twilight for the duration of her training in Canterlot brought themselves closer to each other, making up for the temporary void left by the lavender alicorn. Fluttershy, particularly affected by Twilight's absence, arranged with Rainbow Dash to have lunch each Thursday, except for the first Thursday of the month, reserved for Rainbow's Wonderbolts training. Fluttershy departed her unassuming abode with naught but a lone saddlebag slung over her back. Various forest animals accosted her for attention on the winding path into town, and as always, she could not help but spare a few moments to pet, scratch, or massage them to their heart's content. The cream mare finally trotted into town at least fifteen minutes behind schedule, but she had quite the reputation - albeit understood and forgiven - among her friends for tarrying on account of her forest critter pals, so Rainbow had brought with her the latest Daring Do adventure tale. Dash reclined lazily between a chair and the front wall of Sugarcube Corner against a backdrop of faux-frosting near some outdoor seating. She held the book over her face by her hooves, eagerly turning the page every minute or so. Her wings were draped over the table and off the edge of the chair. Her attention under the firm arrest of Daring Do's escapades at Lake Bajklop in Sibearia, she was wholly oblivious to Fluttershy's approach. The quieter of the two took the utmost care not to unnecessarily disturb the other, speaking out in a nigh-inaudible voice, "Umm... Rainbow? Rainbow Dash? Hello?" The polychromatic mare flipped another page. "Rainbow, I'm here for our lunch date." No reply. The situation was growing desperate. While it pained her to admit it, Fluttershy realized that she would have to get loud if she were to break Rainbow's trance. "Rainbow!" She yawned, and flipped to the next page. With all the care in the world, Fluttershy drew closer and leaned over the table, prodding her friend gently in her right foreleg. Rainbow collapsed from her precarious recline in a panic, her arms and wings scrambling fruitlessly to right her before she hit the ground, her book falling lightly upon her face. At least she didn't lose her page. "Rainbow! I'm so sorry," Fluttershy squealed and hovered to the other side of the table to help her friend up. "It was an accident, really! I'm so so so so so sorry!" The pink-maned pony grabbed the book in her mouth and placed it on the table before plucking a single feather from her wing and inserting it as a makeshift bookmark. Rainbow groaned and lifted herself out of her predicament, tossing aside the chair that once rested on her chest and blowing strands of her mane from out of her eyes. Fluttershy pulled her to her hooves and carefully dusted her coat. "Are you mad at me?" Fluttershy inquired sheepishly, hiding an eye behind her wave-like mane. "Pfft," Rainbow waved with her hoof and giggled. "Don't sweat it, Fluts. I should've heard you coming. Any flier worth their salt can detect somepony coming a mile away," she gave her relieved friend a once-over. "But I think you're an exception. You might be the most impossible to notice pony in town. Hay, maybe even all of Equestria!" Fluttershy smiled, and the two friends sat down. "I'm just glad you're OK, Rainbow. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt one of my friends." "Hah! Don't sweat it! It'll take a lot more than some fall to hurt me!" Pinkie materialized seemingly from nowhere. Knowing her nature, of course, that could very likely be the literal truth. "You mean like the time you had that crash landing and then Twilight taught you how to read books higher than a 4th grade level at the hospital? Or when you ran into Applejack's farm and had to get a cast on your arm? Oh! Or do you mean the time that you stubbed your hoof and you had Applejack take you to the hospital? Oooooooorrrrrr, do you mean when the time when I heard you moaning and groaning and then I checked it out and you and AJ were there you said you sprained your ankle femur or something and that Applejack was helping you and that I should just go home-" Pinkie took a moment to breath, and ponder. "You should really thank Applejack sometime. She's been helping you a lot!" "Hi Pinkie." Fluttershy grinned at her overactive friend. She folded her forelegs on the table, pretending to ignore the blush and stutter of the pony across from her. "Is there anything good for lunch today?" The moment it left her mouth, Fluttershy seemed to realize what a horrendous insult she had accidentally levied on her dear friend's home and place of work. "Not that anything you have for lunch is bad or anything. It's always good! Everything's good! I'll just have the... anything." In the meantime, Dash seemed to have collected herself. "Uhh... I'll just have what Fluttershy's having too. The, uhh... the anything, that's it." Their waitress and friend smacked herself in the head playfully. "Du-uh! You guys must be like, starving! I'll go get those anythings for you guys lickety-split! Faster than a greased racepony riding on lightning downhill in the summer with roller-blades and a propeller and some butter and some more grease!" As quickly as she had appeared, Pinkie disappeared once more into Sugarcube Corner, liable to emerge with absolutely anything on the menu. "That's our Pinkie." Rainbow stated plainly. "That's our Pinkie." Fluttershy agreed. For a few moments, they sat in silence, taking in the quaint atmosphere of the town center at noon. The streets were bustling, but only just. The kind of hustle and bustle that lest you know it's an active town with active ponies all going about their business, but only just enough so that it's comfortable and familiar to walk around. You couldn't go ten feet without coming across somepony you know. "So... Rainbow, how has your day been?" "Pretty awesome. All my days are always awesome always, but today has been particularly awesome. Daring Do's new book got released this morning and I was first in line to get it. She goes to Sibearia to find an ancient amulet underneath Lake Bajklop, but it turns out that Ahuizotl's brother has got some big army and they want to use the amulet to take over Crineigha, and that's about as far as I've gotten so far." "It sounds exciting. How many pages have you read?" "I dunno! I may read, but that doesn't make me some egghead like Twilight. You know me better than that, Fluts!" Rainbow's cream-colored friend seemed to take a scant amount of amusement at this statement. "But what's up with you? Got anything on your mind?" Fluttershy didn't need to think about her answer. The little pebble in the pit of her stomach shook in its rut. "I was actually thinking about Rarity recently." Author's Note And y'all thought I was dead like Germany in the 20th century or something.
PrologueFluttershy clasped her head and ruffled pink mane tightly in her hooves as she hunkered down beneath a table whose cloth had already been torn away in the panic now consuming the restaurant. How could this have gone so wrong? Oh, Fluttershy, you’re always making a mess of things! I should’ve just let Rarity have her nice date and be happy for her! This is all my fault! Almost a dozen mice scurried along the floors in blind terror, much akin to the classily-dressed nobleponies fleeing and screaming in fear. Rarity had long since left, keeping pace with her date, who had first initiated the cascade of shrieking and scrambling. Fluttershy covered her face; all of it was her fault. It was her fault that her little critters were scared and loose. It was her fault that Rarity’s date was ruined. It was her fault that everypony else’s night had been ruined. Just when it seemed that the fiasco had finally reached rock bottom, it went right back into freefall. The ornate front doors were blasted off their hinges by a powerful buck from the hooves of a Royal Guard. On cue, his comrades flooded in, focused on a single goal entirely: Finding the perpetrator of this failed attempt on Prince Blueblood’s life. Once the room had finally been cleared of ponies and the last of the mice had been dispelled from their hiding places and shooed outside, a pair of imposing guardsponies approached Fluttershy, still hiding under Rarity’s table. “You there, miss, are you okay?” Fluttershy released only a fearful “Eep” in reply. She further shielded her face behind her mane and forelegs, afraid and fully aware of what would come next. To Fluttershy’s infinite fortune, however, her prediction was incorrect. The two guardsponies gingerly lifted her out from under the table, letting her stand on her own four hooves and allowing her a full view of the once-pristine dining establishment, now turned into little more than a ransacked obstacle course of chairs, utensils, food, and everything in between. “It’s okay, miss. We’re going to get you out of here and you can go home. We’ll find out who did this, in time. Follow me” One of the guards waved a hoof for Fluttershy to follow. She hid her face behind her mane, but she was not swallowed in terror as before. In fact, she hardly feared the repercussions of possibly being found out as the one who released her critters into the restaurant. What she feared now, though, was the possibility that Rarity could never love her now. Once outside, she flopped down on the grass as far away from the other patrons as possible, wallowing in her abject failure. Rarity would find out, no doubt about it. Rainbow Dash floated down to her friend, hovering in front of her and sporting an expression of worry and empathy. “Don’t worry, ‘Shy. It’ll all turn out fine... I’m sure of it.” Fluttershy sighed and shook her head. She was the face of a pony whose will was broken. “No, Rainbow.... It won’t turn out fine.”
Chapter 1"The usual!" "The usual" meaning the Deluxe Package, Ponyville Spa's most expensive and in-depth treatment available. For any normal pony, making that kind of treatment their usual would cause their bits to disappear in a month's time. But Rarity was no normal pony. No, she was on the cusp of being the premier dress maker in all of Equestria! Her works, few and far between on account of the time and care put into each one, were the highlight of every important ball or event, and any mare wearing one of Rarity's dresses enjoyed limitless attention without hardly lifting a hoof. Like all other ponies, Aloe and Vera appreciated how exquisite Rarity's works of art were, and at one point joined the masses of Equestria in quiet sorrow that they could not hope to afford them. The downside to Rarity's newfound successes was the sharp price increase, given that there was a large enough market of nobles elated to buy even at such inflated prices. But Aloe and Vera would not stay forever in this fiefdom of misfortune, for Rarity herself would make her two favorite spa ponies their own custom dresses, free of charge. It was only fitting that the two would grant her unlimited access to the best of the spa's treatments in return. Aloe smiled and nodded at her biggest repeat customer before whisking herself away to prepare with Vera. Fluttershy offered Rarity a warm, friendly smile, just like every other week's spa day. Rarity was fashionably late, and fashionable doing it. At least, in Fluttershy's eyes she was. To Fluttershy, Rarity was always fashionable. She had that air of grace and sophistication and... Confidence. It never ceased to bring a smile to the pink-maned mare when her close friend entered a room, or introduced herself to somepony new. Waves of charisma rolled off of her in her every action, and to Fluttershy, as she would put it, it was quite nice. But recently... She found herself thinking that maybe it was more than just nice. But now was not a time to think about that. "Darling! It's so good to see you! I quite regret my schedule being as cramped as it is, but shooting up the ranks of Equestrian high society is no easy job. But, of course, there must always be time for my dearest friends. Tell me, Fluttershy, how have you been? Why, It's been... Two weeks, hasn't it?" Rarity prattled on and on, as she usually did whenever she'd been away for extended periods of time. Fluttershy would say a little about her day, and then Rarity would talk about hers, not sparing a single detail. The two mares liked it that way. Fluttershy maintained her warm smile, filled with joy that Rarity was doing so well. "Oh, nothing really big or important. With Twilight training to be a princess in Canterlot, I've been really busy taking care of all the animals." She paused, and to her surface came the greatest amount of anger one could realistically expect from Fluttershy, which amounted to little more than furrowed brows and a less friendly tone. "A real bad bug has been going around in the forest, and I have to make sure all the critters are okay." Rarity sighed. "Oh, darling, our dear Twilight will be back soon enough to help. I certainly hope so, at least. I made a new dress for her to wear as a princess, and I'm eager to see how she looks in it." Fluttershy had seen that dress. Rarity showed it to her before she left for Canterlot two weeks ago, and in line with the yellow mare's expectations, it was absolutely divine. Whatever Rarity had been up to in Canterlot must've been so significant that it temporarily shoved the rest of her memories aside. Fluttershy found it understandable. After all, Rarity was an important mare with important business! "I hope she comes back soon! I-I mean, once she finishes all her training and feels up to it, that is. I wouldn't want to rush her." Fluttershy ended that sentence sheepishly, ever aware that putting her own needs in front of the needs of her friend would be mean and selfish. "Of course, darling, it certainly can't take-" Rarity was cut off by the appearance of Aloe's head popping out from behind the spa's bead door. "Miss Fluttershy? Miss Rarity? We're ready for you." Rarity shot up with enthusiasm and trotted through the beads, pausing only to make sure Fluttershy was following her. As the pair of mares always did when they had their spa day, they had facial masks zucchini slices applied to their faces. Rarity's covered the entirety of her face, whereas Fluttershy opted instead for a single dollop of cream on either cheek. To her, the spa was less about looking beautiful and more about talking with Rarity, even though she wondered at times why Rarity would need a spa treatment to look beautiful at all. Once the two had gone through some few treatments, they were led to the sauna. Rarity adopted her usual "dramatic" pose on a pair of cushions while Fluttershy humbly sat down on her stomach and curled up her legs beneath her. "So Rarity... What's been going on in Canterlot? I'm sure only good things." Fluttershy did not ask purely out of curiosity as a friend. She too was interested in the world of fashion, though not nearly as well versed or involved as her purple-maned companion. Rarity began her exposition with a dramatic mane flip. "Oh, Fluttershy, you would not believe simply how fan-tastic it has been. Hoity Toity and Photo Finish have signed on as sponsors of my new line of dresses, and you would not believe the response it has been getting! Everything I've made on that line has been flying off the racks just as quickly as I can sew them!" Rarity paused for a dreamy sigh. "And this next part is even more fantastic, I assure you!" Fluttershy cocked her head in curiosity. "That's great, Rarity! But what could be better than that? I mean... Um... You're so successful now." "Oh, do you remember that uncouth Prince Blueblood?" Fluttershy nodded for her to continue. "It seems that he's changed! He came by to see me in the palace, and he was such a gentlecolt! The only thing that was really the same was how handsome he was." Rarity's next words were hardly even a whisper. "And you know what?" Fluttershy shook her head, both curious and excited, "What?" Rarity brought her forehooves close to her chin and shook her head twice or thrice in excitement. "He asked me out on a dinner date with him!" Fluttershy's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "I know, isn't it amazing? He's changed, I tell you! Wahahahah!" The vanilla mare couldn't hold back her trademark giggle. "Oh, I'm finally going to have my own wonderful Prince Charming... Ah... Life is perfect, darling. I have my friends, my dresses, fame, and soon, the most handsome prince in all of Equestria!" Fluttershy should've felt nothing but the purest joy for her friend's good fortune. But there was not unmolested elation and excitement at this news, for there was also a pebble of despair resting deep in her stomach. She felt ashamed of it, but no amount of will could banish it, and it would soon grow to be much greater than a mere pebble. No. She couldn't feel like that when one of her closest friends in the entire world was in the midst of such happiness. Fluttershy wasn't that kind of mare, and she knew it. All the rest of the day, she would talk and laugh with Rarity, secretly trying to banish that pebble of despair from her gut. But it would not be banished. Nay, with each attempt to see it cast out, it would feed and grow just a little bit bigger. And Fluttershy could not live with that.
Chapter 2Fluttershy took in a deep breath of the cool Fall air. She never indulged much in the spa’s services past the sauna, but there wasn’t a mare in Equestria that wouldn’t feel refreshed after a day at Aloe and Vera’s little place. She extended her somewhat flimsy wings as far as could be extended and wiggled their tips, and took her right front and back left legs off the ground, stretching. After a few moments, she switched to her other two legs. Rarity gave Fluttershy’s tail a playful flick with her own as she giggled at her friend’s post-spa routine. “Darling, you’ll simply stretch the relief out of you one of these days!” Fluttershy flashed her a bashful smile. “It helps me clear my head. But I mean… If you really think it’s a bad thing…” Rarity defused her concerns with a chuckle. “Oh, darling, I jest, I really do.” Good. If there was one thing Fluttershy wanted to do at this point, it was clear her head. She couldn’t believe herself how she felt some twang of disappointment at her friend’s fantastic news. Rarity was about to trot off to her boutique, likely to busy herself with dressmaking for the rest of the day, but she stopped mid-step and looked back with an expression of concern present in her features. “Fluttershy? Is something wrong?” Oh no! Rarity saw right through me, and now she’ll know all about such a meanie I am on the inside about her being asked out by Blueblood! “N-no, Rarity! Everything’s fine! I mean… Why wouldn’t it be?” One could swear Fluttershy was actually the Element of Honesty by how bad a liar she was. Rarity offered an understanding smile. Isn’t she mad? “Fluttershy, I appreciate that you’re concerned about me getting into something harmful, but I really do think Blueblood’s changed! Everypony in Canterlot shares the opinion, I promise.” Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief. So her best friend didn’t know how mean she was. “But… If it’ll make you feel better, I’d be happy to have you over at my boutique tomorrow night to meet him when he drops me off from our date. How does that sound?” The prior moment’s respite flooded out of the softly-colored Pegasus. “Y-you don’t have to do that for me, Rarity. I’m sure you totally know what you’re doing!” Rarity did not seem to accept this as a decline to her invitation, instead trotting over and placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder and giving her an understanding smile. “Oh, my dear, don’t worry a bit about this. Why, what kind of friend would I be if I let darling Fluttershy worry herself half to death for my sake? No, It’s perfectly fine. You can come over tomorrow night at… Ten… Yes, ten’s when he will drop me off. You can meet him, and you can see how wonderfully he’s changed.” Rarity was right. Fluttershy was just worried about her friend, that was all. She knew that was it, and meeting Blueblood would clear everything up, just as Rarity said. “O-okay, Rarity. I’ll come by your shop at ten tomorrow. “Alright, darling. Until then, I bid you adieu.” With a little flourish, Rarity finally left for her boutique. Fluttershy trotted home on the neglected cobblestone path that was the “road” between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. The whole time, she ruminated over how she felt about Blueblood. Well, obviously, Rarity is a great judge of character. She would never do anything that wasn’t thought out and sensible. As her friend, I was concerned about the prince being some nasty trickster, but Rarity’s smart. When I meet Blueblood, I’ll see how kind and polite he’s become, and all my problems will just melt away. Fluttershy sighed, and though alone, anypony watching would notice the wistful glint in her sea blue eyes. Rarity deserves somepony nice like a prince. She works so hard all the time on her dresses and now she’s going to be the pony that everypony knows, just like she should be. And she doesn’t even really need her dresses in the first place! They’re wonderful, but she’s beautiful too! I wish I was that pretty and talented. I’m happy for her. I mean… I should be happy for her. No, I am happy for her! Oh, Fluttershy… The sullen mare didn’t bother to lock the gate behind her when she slipped into her front yard and the brick path to her door. If any little critters needed help, they’d need some way to get to her. She could never just keep them out! Fluttershy got right to work with Angel’s dinner when she entered her home. The poor little guy had been aching for a big vegetable soup for weeks, but all the things he wanted in it weren’t in season! Entire days went by where he whined for his soup, so the kindly mare couldn’t help but go out and order the ingredients he wanted from far-away lands. It had slipped her mind that very morning, but she now had everything she needed to make Angel’s soup. After almost an hour of careful cooking and preparation, she rang a tiny triangle to get Angel’s attention. “Angel Bunny! Your soup’s almost ready!” He showed up in the blink of an eye, already tapping his foot impatiently on the kitchen table. “Don’t worry Angel, just one thing left.” Fluttershy covered her nose with one hoof before chopping up the next ingredient. “Two heads… Of Stinkrot.” Fluttershy muttered to herself, her eyes darting to the cookbook propped up against a pot. Stinkrot was only grown in the distant eastern mountains in Griffon lands, and a single head took two years to grow. In fact, a few heads could buy a farmer one of Rarity’s best dresses. It tasted like death and smelled exponentially worse unprepared, but cooked in a soup, Stinkrot could make even the worst recipe a work of art. The pegasus wasted no time tossing the two heads of repulsive vegetable into her simmering pot of soup prepared just for her little bunny friend. To her surprise, though, the smell remained. She looked into the package of Stinkrot she was sent; There had been a mistake! She had been sent an extra head on accident. The pink-maned mare sighed. She’d just have to deal with it later. In moments, Angel’s perfect dinner ready to serve. Fluttershy poured a puny rabbit-sized bowl of soup for her favorite pet, but the moment she turned around to present it to him, he shook his head in dissatisfaction. “Oh… Of course! Of course you want more than that!” Fluttershy went back into her cupboards and withdrew what she called a “big bunny” bowl. It was nearly the size of the mare’s head, and naturally, Angel always preferred his food in a big bunny bowl filled to the brim. “Here you are, Angel. Just like you wanted it.” Fluttershy sported a motherly grin as her pet ravenously devoured his corrected portion. “So… Angel Bunny… Tomorrow I’m going to meet Rarity’s new coltfriend.” Angel rolled his eyes in total disinterest. “I-I don’t mean to bore you, it’s just that her coltfriend happens to be Prince Blueblood.” Angel made a little “yuck” noise. “Oh, Angel, don’t be like that! He’s changed! Don’t you think it’s the least bit exciting that Rarity finally gets her Prince Charming?” Angel shook his little bunny head and hopped off to find something interesting to. Fluttershy sighed and went outside to check on the food she’d left out for all her animal friends. Of all the bulk meals that had been lined up, only a handful remained. The sick little critters were eating, and they’d surely be fine until tomorrow. Fluttershy smiled, and went back inside, resigning herself to sleep for the day. She curled up in bed after saying goodnight to Angel and her little mouse pets.
Chapter 3Threads of sunlight peeked in between the spaces of the blinds, coating the pegasus with warm rows of welcoming light. She stirred, allowing her wings extension half-way from her body and lifting the blankets off her form. On cue, the early birds of her menagerie of pets pawed at the door or planted their sad faces against the windows. Fluttershy smiled, gracefully casting her blankets aside with her wings and half-gliding, half-hopping out of bed. Her morning was like most others. Eat breakfast, brush her teeth, preen her feathers, feed Angel, then feed the rest of her animals. For the most part, everything went according to the routine, barring a peculiar incident where her tame mice escaped from their cages and tore open bags of cereal. That had been a mess most difficult to clean. By the time her floors were free of breakfast debris and her animals were all fed their generous morning portions and assorted medications, it was already nearly time for lunch. For Fluttershy, lunch had become little more than an abstract concept most days, due to the unpredictability of her critters' needs. But ever since three or four months ago, every Thursday's lunch was an entrenched plan. Since Twilight's ascension to her newfound status of Princess of Friendship, the non-royal Elements left without Twilight for the duration of her training in Canterlot brought themselves closer to each other, making up for the temporary void left by the lavender alicorn. Fluttershy, particularly affected by Twilight's absence, arranged with Rainbow Dash to have lunch each Thursday, except for the first Thursday of the month, reserved for Rainbow's Wonderbolts training. Fluttershy departed her unassuming abode with naught but a lone saddlebag slung over her back. Various forest animals accosted her for attention on the winding path into town, and as always, she could not help but spare a few moments to pet, scratch, or massage them to their heart's content. The cream mare finally trotted into town at least fifteen minutes behind schedule, but she had quite the reputation - albeit understood and forgiven - among her friends for tarrying on account of her forest critter pals, so Rainbow had brought with her the latest Daring Do adventure tale. Dash reclined lazily between a chair and the front wall of Sugarcube Corner against a backdrop of faux-frosting near some outdoor seating. She held the book over her face by her hooves, eagerly turning the page every minute or so. Her wings were draped over the table and off the edge of the chair. Her attention under the firm arrest of Daring Do's escapades at Lake Bajklop in Sibearia, she was wholly oblivious to Fluttershy's approach. The quieter of the two took the utmost care not to unnecessarily disturb the other, speaking out in a nigh-inaudible voice, "Umm... Rainbow? Rainbow Dash? Hello?" The polychromatic mare flipped another page. "Rainbow, I'm here for our lunch date." No reply. The situation was growing desperate. While it pained her to admit it, Fluttershy realized that she would have to get loud if she were to break Rainbow's trance. "Rainbow!" She yawned, and flipped to the next page. With all the care in the world, Fluttershy drew closer and leaned over the table, prodding her friend gently in her right foreleg. Rainbow collapsed from her precarious recline in a panic, her arms and wings scrambling fruitlessly to right her before she hit the ground, her book falling lightly upon her face. At least she didn't lose her page. "Rainbow! I'm so sorry," Fluttershy squealed and hovered to the other side of the table to help her friend up. "It was an accident, really! I'm so so so so so sorry!" The pink-maned pony grabbed the book in her mouth and placed it on the table before plucking a single feather from her wing and inserting it as a makeshift bookmark. Rainbow groaned and lifted herself out of her predicament, tossing aside the chair that once rested on her chest and blowing strands of her mane from out of her eyes. Fluttershy pulled her to her hooves and carefully dusted her coat. "Are you mad at me?" Fluttershy inquired sheepishly, hiding an eye behind her wave-like mane. "Pfft," Rainbow waved with her hoof and giggled. "Don't sweat it, Fluts. I should've heard you coming. Any flier worth their salt can detect somepony coming a mile away," she gave her relieved friend a once-over. "But I think you're an exception. You might be the most impossible to notice pony in town. Hay, maybe even all of Equestria!" Fluttershy smiled, and the two friends sat down. "I'm just glad you're OK, Rainbow. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt one of my friends." "Hah! Don't sweat it! It'll take a lot more than some fall to hurt me!" Pinkie materialized seemingly from nowhere. Knowing her nature, of course, that could very likely be the literal truth. "You mean like the time you had that crash landing and then Twilight taught you how to read books higher than a 4th grade level at the hospital? Or when you ran into Applejack's farm and had to get a cast on your arm? Oh! Or do you mean the time that you stubbed your hoof and you had Applejack take you to the hospital? Oooooooorrrrrr, do you mean when the time when I heard you moaning and groaning and then I checked it out and you and AJ were there you said you sprained your ankle femur or something and that Applejack was helping you and that I should just go home-" Pinkie took a moment to breath, and ponder. "You should really thank Applejack sometime. She's been helping you a lot!" "Hi Pinkie." Fluttershy grinned at her overactive friend. She folded her forelegs on the table, pretending to ignore the blush and stutter of the pony across from her. "Is there anything good for lunch today?" The moment it left her mouth, Fluttershy seemed to realize what a horrendous insult she had accidentally levied on her dear friend's home and place of work. "Not that anything you have for lunch is bad or anything. It's always good! Everything's good! I'll just have the... anything." In the meantime, Dash seemed to have collected herself. "Uhh... I'll just have what Fluttershy's having too. The, uhh... the anything, that's it." Their waitress and friend smacked herself in the head playfully. "Du-uh! You guys must be like, starving! I'll go get those anythings for you guys lickety-split! Faster than a greased racepony riding on lightning downhill in the summer with roller-blades and a propeller and some butter and some more grease!" As quickly as she had appeared, Pinkie disappeared once more into Sugarcube Corner, liable to emerge with absolutely anything on the menu. "That's our Pinkie." Rainbow stated plainly. "That's our Pinkie." Fluttershy agreed. For a few moments, they sat in silence, taking in the quaint atmosphere of the town center at noon. The streets were bustling, but only just. The kind of hustle and bustle that lest you know it's an active town with active ponies all going about their business, but only just enough so that it's comfortable and familiar to walk around. You couldn't go ten feet without coming across somepony you know. "So... Rainbow, how has your day been?" "Pretty awesome. All my days are always awesome always, but today has been particularly awesome. Daring Do's new book got released this morning and I was first in line to get it. She goes to Sibearia to find an ancient amulet underneath Lake Bajklop, but it turns out that Ahuizotl's brother has got some big army and they want to use the amulet to take over Crineigha, and that's about as far as I've gotten so far." "It sounds exciting. How many pages have you read?" "I dunno! I may read, but that doesn't make me some egghead like Twilight. You know me better than that, Fluts!" Rainbow's cream-colored friend seemed to take a scant amount of amusement at this statement. "But what's up with you? Got anything on your mind?" Fluttershy didn't need to think about her answer. The little pebble in the pit of her stomach shook in its rut. "I was actually thinking about Rarity recently." Author's Note And y'all thought I was dead like Germany in the 20th century or something.
