The Summer Sun Celebration came and went as eventfully as any ever had, contrary to Sweetie and Fluttershy's predictions.

Fluttershy and each of her friends had been shocked to lose the Elements of Harmony. Both Fluttershy and Twilight had taken for granted that the Elements would be there to help their bond with Rarity remain strong through the trial ahead. Now, however, in spite of their determination to remain close as friends, as the time for their talk approached and their nerves got the better of them, both mares wished they still had the binding power of the Elements between them. The date had been set, and they held to their plan, regardless. When Rarity came by to discuss Twilight's loft décor, Twilight would take the opportunity after they'd finished to invite her friend to tea and, hopefully, prepare the mare before all three came out with it.

Twilight and Rarity started with the usual pleasantries.

“I'm just glad the celebration and everything to do with plunder seeds is finished.” Twilight said, clearly relieved, yet, it seemed to Rarity, still oddly anxious.

The off-white unicorn agreed emphatically. “I suppose now we'll be busy trying to find out what's inside of that mysterious box the Tree of Harmony sprouted,” Rarity suggested.

“That does seem to be about it. Other than that and preparing for the Equestria Games, it looks like I actually might have more free time than I did before Princess Celestia concluded my studies beneath her, though I imagine that can't last long with my incoming royal duties ... whatever those will be,” the young princess pondered.

“Certainly, Darling! And we'll be right here for you, like always, to do our part as your friends,” Rarity beamed.

Twilight smiled anxiously, sipping at her tea, and took a deep, calming breath before continuing. “There's something else as well,” she started seriously, piquing Rarity's curiosity, “just as important, I think, though, well, not quite as ... public. I mean,” Twilight took another steadying breath, “I have something very important I've needed to discuss with you and ... this is going to be difficult. I'm not quite sure how to say it.”

Rarity's eyes became wide as she finished sipping at her own cup telekinetically then placed it down. “Whatever it is, Darling, you can tell me. You know you can trust me.” Rarity grimaced in spite of her effort to reassure Twilight, remembering her unsuccessful attempt to convince Sweetie to do the same.

“Yes. I know. You really are a true friend, and that's why we want to tell you, but, what we have to say may still upset you. Please, try to hear us out, wait until we've finished explaining before you make any final decision, is all I ask,” Twilight pleaded.

“We? Who is we?” Rarity looked confused and surprised.

“Please, hold on a minute. Don't move, and I'll go get them.”

“Very well.” Rarity nodded, now very curious.

In the main library, Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle had met and embraced with simple hellos. Though eager to be with each other, the ache as they kept their distance seemed more manageable thanks to the many words of love and affirmation they'd exchanged over the past several days. Now that the moment had come to share their secret with another, however, the memory of that sweetness was a bit faded.

At their normal spot, they rested and waited for Twilight to call for them.

“So,” Sweetie broke the silence, “are you as nervous as I am?” She laughed anxiously.

Fluttershy attempted a smile, her mouth twitching, but failing to sustain any mirth. Her eyes shifted from the foal to the room, unfocused, and she nodded silently.

An awkward silence fell between them.

“Thank goodness the forest is back to normal. You and the others are heroines again. ... Isn't that the,” Sweetie paused to count, “seventh time for you?”

Fluttershy tried to think of how the foal might have arrived at that number. “S-seventh?”

Sweetie nodded. “I was thinking, last Summer Sun Celebration, when the giant dragon was napping, when Discord escaped, the time you saved Spike and Rarity falling after Spike stopped being big, the wedding at Canterlot, the time Trixie came back to Ponyville, and, now, this year's celebration. ... Oh! And the time you saved me and the others from the cockatrice, of course. So that's eight!”

Fluttershy couldn't help but blush and smile at her admirer despite her nerves, flattered that Sweetie had kept track. It felt good knowing Sweetie thought so highly of her. “Oh, I see. Well, I don't know how much I really helped at the wedding, and, most of the other times, I couldn't have done anything alone,” Fluttershy admitted modestly.

“But they couldn't have done it without you either, so those times still count, even if the wedding doesn't,” Sweetie insisted, then paused before looking down, blushing at the embarrassingly mushy sentiment, and adding, “a-and ... you saved my heart from being lonely.” Her eyes shifted up, her muzzle still downturned, to see Fluttershy turn a deeper shade of pink. “So that's still eight.” Sweetie smiled adorably, happy to see she'd managed to help her fillyfriend relax a little.

Their conversation only lasted a little bit longer before Twilight appeared from her loft, and Fluttershy felt her anxiety return, greater than before.

Only a few minutes had passed since Twilight left to fetch the others and review their planned explanation briefly. Hearing their approach, Rarity looked as Sweetie Belle appeared at the top of the steps, followed closely by Twilight.

“Sweetie?” For a moment, Rarity looked and sounded even more surprised than she'd been at Twilight's request to hear her out. As it dawned on her that she must be about to learn what her sister had been keeping from her, understanding and deep interest trumped her surprise.

The foal's ears folded back involuntarily. “Hi, Sis.” Sweetie approached the table that Twilight had summoned, not only for tea, but for that meeting.

Twilight waited at the top of the stairs as, slowly, behind them, Fluttershy followed. “Fluttershy?” Rather than surprised, Rarity's tone and expression were perplexed.

The yellow mare said nothing, but appeared more stressed than Rarity had seen her in quite some time, which, Rarity thought, was saying something. Fluttershy looked steadfastly at the floor, pupils small, legs weak and trembling slightly as she walked.

“W-what is this about, exactly?” Rarity felt her own nerves on end at her friends' behavior.

The three took a seat with Rarity, Twilight sitting across, Sweetie on Rarity's right, and Fluttershy on her left across from Sweetie Belle.

“What we have to tell you, we won't stop you from telling others, but we hope that you'll keep it a secret if possible,” Twilight looked deliberately at Fluttershy, “for all our sakes. I'm going to put up a shield to protect from eavesdroppers if that's okay with you,” Twilight directed her gaze again at Rarity.

The white mare nodded, both worried and confused. A moment later, Twilight had cast the familiar set of spells, and Rarity observed the shield, reminiscent of the dome that had once been around Canterlot. Closing her eyes, inhaling, then exhaling, Twilight gave herself one last moment to calm and collect her thoughts.

“Two weeks ago, at the Princess Summit in the Crystal Empire, I noticed, there seemed to be something bothering Fluttershy,” Twilight began. “I didn't know it at the time, but what was bothering her was something she'd struggled with secretly ever since she was very little, something she's hidden, and hidden well, from everypony, even her closest friends.” Twilight paused to see Rarity's eyes widen again. “My first clue to what it was was back when the six of us were talking about me and Flash Sentry. I saw Fluttershy look unhappy from the corner of my eye. It was only for a second at first, but, as I kept my eye on her discreetly to make sure, I was surprised to see it again, repeatedly, throughout our conversation. Naturally, as soon as I had some spare time, the day after we'd come back to Ponyville, I paid her a visit to check on her.”

Twilight looked to Fluttershy who looked up from the table, back at Twilight, and nodded. Reluctantly, she turned her focus to Rarity and swallowed.

“I-it was the day after Sweetie Belle and you had an argument,” Fluttershy's voice was weaker and softer than usual, though still easily heard across the table in the unnatural quiet of the shielded room. “I was expecting S—Sweetie Belle to come by early, as you knew, and was surprised when Twilight, instead, was the one at the door knocking. We ... got to talking about what had been bothering me. U-usually, it wasn't that bad, well,” Fluttershy corrected, “I mean it didn't usually bother me so much ... usually. Partly, I was ... feeling lonely, but, the other part, th-the main part, I couldn't bring myself to tell Twilight. Still ... I wanted help. I c—cried, and Twilight and I agreed that if I needed to come to her, then I should do it as quickly as possible, for whatever reason.”

Fluttershy swallowed and inhaled shortly, letting out a distressed half-breath. “I should have gone to Twilight much sooner, I ... I was such a fool.” Fluttershy cringed and, looking into Rarity's eyes, her own welled up with tears. “No matter what my intentions were. I shouldn't have risked ... s-sorr—” she choked and struggled to finish.

Rarity reached out to her, troubled, wanting to help.

“It's alright,” Sweetie Belle spoke up before Rarity could, comforting Fluttershy. “It was my fault equally,” she spoke boldly to the room, then prepared herself and faced her sister. “Fluttershy told me ... she loves me ... and I decided that I love her back.”

The room was still for a moment.

“Y-you mean—” Rarity started, wide-eyed, brow furrowed with concern.

“In love, I mean.” Sweetie paused a moment, and her bold demeanor wavered. “We ... had sex once, sort of.”

Rarity's eyes popped. Her jaw dropped involuntarily for a moment. “A-ah—y-you w—” Rarity halted, unable to speak coherently. The elegant pony shut her mouth. Her eyelids fluttered several times in succession while her friends held their breath for her response. Blinking wasn't enough to save her eyes from the discomfort of being forced wide with astonishment, so the mare forced them shut. Her jaw clenched and brow furrowed once more.

“You—” her voice trembled slightly “—you aren't joking, are you?” her tone was threatening.

The three ponies looked worriedly at each other and back at Rarity. “No,” Sweetie answered.

“What,” Rarity's tone was sharp now, “do you mean by 'sort-of h—had sex?'”

Sweetie Belle gulped and her ears folded. “W-well ... I—Fluttershy and I finished working outside after she confessed and I accepted and everything ... and we finished lunch a-and started ... k-kissing, but, when we started to get into it, we stopped, and then—”

“Please,” Rarity finally managed to open her eyes and look irritatedly at Sweetie Belle, “get to the point.”

“She was napping,” Sweetie quickly obliged, “and I was resting on top of her, and ... I went between her back legs, and,” Sweetie's eyes watered, her expression guilty, “I did some things b-because I was curious, and—” her voice quavered meekly, and she sniffled “—and I, well ... it felt good just ... doing things.”

Rarity ground her teeth and looked at Fluttershy, whose attention was turned wholly toward Sweetie Belle, her expression agonized. “Y-you—” her voice shook “—you didn't wake up and stop her?” Rarity inquired abruptly.

Fluttershy startled at being addressed suddenly, but recovered, and, swallowing, answered as bravely as she could manage, though her voice still shook. “I woke up w-when sh—she started touching, but ... no. I didn't s—stop her.”

“Why—not?” Rarity hurled each word like a well-aimed dagger.

Fluttershy cowered, her eyes glistened, and, looking across from her momentarily, seeing Sweetie Belle watch her in such a weak and wretched state, the pegasus felt humiliation deeper than any she could remember. Some heroine she was, thought Fluttershy. Tears welled. She tried to answer, to be brave, but it was useless. Instead, the pitiful mare hid her face and broke down in soft, high-pitched wails.

Rarity's expression turned for a moment from angered to pained at the yellow pony's despair. Not able to bear feeling both disgust and sympathy at the moment, Rarity turned away toward Sweetie Belle, and, when seeing her sister's agony at the sick mare's plight proved not much better, Rarity stood, turned both herself and her chair about, and sat with her back to the three ponies.

Sweetie started to rise to her hooves, but Twilight bade her stay. Instead, the princess herself went to Fluttershy's side, wrapped the little pegasus in her forelegs, and stroked her back soothingly. Twilight wished she could promise it would be alright. The best she could do instead was to summon a tidy stack of handkerchiefs to the table and softly promise, “I'm here.”

A minute later, Fluttershy wept still, but more softly, and Twilight still held her. Sweetie shifted uncomfortably, unable to sit without fidgeting. Rarity fumed silently except for the sound of heavy breathing, giving her all to establish and maintain a controlled exterior. When Rarity had calmed herself somewhat and heard Fluttershy's sobbing cease, she stood and turned back to face the others. One deep but tense breath later, she looked again directly at the cradled pegasus.

“I have many questions,” Rarity began, “and I'm willing to make the time to hear the answers.” Rarity's expression softened very slightly as Fluttershy dared to look back at her. “Please,” her tone was much softer than her eyes, sounded more hurt than angry, “help me understand.”

Fluttershy looked anxiously at Rarity and nodded. She turned to Twilight as the purple pony released her and stepped back. With a small smile she thanked her and apologized. “I've caused everypony so much trouble.”

Sweetie Belle bit her tongue against telling her she'd been more than worth it.

“I'll do my best to answer your questions, Rarity. Thank you,” Fluttershy's gratitude was heartfelt, “for giving me ... I mean us, a chance to explain. Twilight's been helping me ... ever since that day, to come to terms with my ... my problems. You see, when my head had finally cleared, I went to her as fast as I could, and ... I told her everything that happened, and, just when she was about to go check on Sweetie Belle ...”

“Just a second, please,” Rarity interrupted, her tone polite but cool, and looked at Twilight who'd returned to her seat. “You knew about all of this ... two weeks ago?” Rarity's voice was even, but the accusation was crystal clear.

Twilight swallowed, and her ears laid flat against her head. “Yes.” The princess made no excuses.

Rarity nodded coolly. “Continue, please,” she requested to the mare on her left.

“I-it's really not Twilight's fault we waited 'til now to tell you, Rarity,” Fluttershy attempted to excuse her. “I—I mean ... it was me who made her promise, no, swear, not to tell anypony. I'm sorry, really. I was—even though it's no excuse, I was just so afraid,” Fluttershy pleaded for Rarity to understand.

“It was Fluttershy,” Twilight interjected, “who not only wanted it kept secret, but also, when she'd come to grips with her situation a bit better, wanted to let you in on the secret.” She attempted to shed a more favorable light on the pegasus.

“Y-yes,” Fluttershy admitted, looking at Twilight then back at Rarity, “but I'd have been lost, never come to that point, without Twilight.”

A moment passed as Rarity silently contemplated everything. Twilight couldn't disagree, though she wished Fluttershy might have let her draw away some of their friend's anger.

“Fine,” was all that left Rarity's mouth, emotionless. Partially lidded, almost apathetic eyes, concealed what the guilty pegasus feared must be dangerous thoughts beneath. Rarity's gaze pierced her, waiting for her to continue.

“Mm—” Fluttershy shuddered and swallowed. “So ... Sweetie came as Twilight was about to leave and, we convinced Twilight and promised that, if she'd h-help us, we wouldn't risk spending any more time together alone ... w-without her ... until we could be certain it would be ... alright.”

Rarity's gaze pierced Twilight suddenly with renewed intensity.

“Please, explain how—” Rarity paused to swallow her reaction “—what ... 'alright' means.”

“O-old enough—” Twilight said nervously, wanting to appease Rarity. There was no seeing past the facade she'd constructed for herself to tell whether it worked “—or,” Twilight continued even more nervously, “prepared fully, and, if at all possible, with both your parents' and Celestia's blessings.”

Rarity was silent for several long moments, considering.

“Prepared?” Rarity's tone became cautious.

“Educated a-a-and,” Twilight's nerves began to get the better of her. She took a calming breath. “Educated ... thoroughly ... and, with supervision, given limited experience, guided to know safe and respectful ... i-intimacy.”

Rarity's eyes widened once more in spite of previous efforts to contain herself. She coughed and shut her eyes for a moment, regaining control.

The silence of the next minute felt thick. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth a number of times, wanting to say anything to break the tension, but too afraid to let it out. Each failed attempt, she thought, was just as well. It wasn't her time to speak. Stick to the plan, she thought. Twilight focused feverishly on what to do in every likely situation that could arise until she began compulsively to branch out into the unlikely. Fluttershy managed only short slow breaths, and was quickly beginning to feel lightheaded.

Rarity opened her eyes. Her brow furrowed sternly, and she inhaled deeply. “Alright.”

For a few seconds, nopony breathed.

“Alright?” Twilight inquired.

Fluttershy began to swoon. “First,” Rarity responded, “tell her to breathe.” Rarity gestured to the mare on her left whose eyelids now drooped, her gaze losing focus.

Twilight's attention turned toward Fluttershy. “Flu?—Oh! Fluttershy! Breathe!”

The pegasus inhaled sharply, sounding as though she'd been under water for too long. She nearly fell off her seat, but caught herself by the edge of the table and proceeded to gulp air for several seconds until her head finally cleared. When she'd settled again, Rarity continued.

“I was saying, alright. I won't tell anypony.”

The three ponies let out a great collective sigh.

“What's done,” Rarity choked back her disgust, “is done. I insist, however, that Sweetie Belle and ... Fluttershy,” she forced out the pony's name, “not be near each other until I,” the unicorn's chin raised, “am satisfied that it is 'alright.'” She nearly spat the last word at Twilight. “Understand?”

To Rarity's surprise, neither Fluttershy nor Twilight said anything, but looked to Sweetie Belle. The foal cleared her voice. “I wrote something that I'd like to share now, with you, Rarity.” Sweetie looked at her sister, waiting for a sign to continue.

The older sister looked skeptical. “Sweetie Belle ...” Rarity started. There were at least a dozen things she wanted to say. She wanted to caution her; there were, she thought, no words that could change her mind on what she'd just said. She wanted to soothe the foal, let her know that they'd get through this. She wished she could scold the filly for protecting the sick pony who had used her. Rarity wanted to instruct her, clear her mind of whatever false information she'd been fed, to heal and take care of her. She wanted the filly to know she loved her, even if she had made a poor decision, getting caught up in such a horrific situation. “You wrote this without any help?” Rarity asked.

Sweetie shook her head, but didn't elaborate.

“Go ahead.” There would be time later, Rarity decided. Now, it seemed, she should honor the request to listen. Though the outlook was bleak, the generous mare hoped that what they might say could still take away some of the sting of betrayal, of fear she felt. She'd only scratched the surface of what she wanted to know, in any case, so she might as well receive the message.

Sweetie withdrew several sheets of lined paper.

“Dear Sister,” Sweetie read.

“I'm writing this now with the help of two ponies who respect and love you almost as much as I do. This comes from all of us, but, more than anypony else, it comes from me.” Sweetie looked up earnestly at Rarity for a moment before continuing. “Our bond as sisters is very important to me, so, when I say that, as your sister, I need your support, I worry that, if you can't support me, I'll be very hurt.”

“I know that you must feel hurt already. This last week, you tried to help me with what I was going through, but I didn't trust you enough to say what it was.” Sweetie looked up with tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Sis.”

Rarity looked back with a quivering lip and shimmering eyes. For a moment they locked onto each other's gaze. Sweetie took a breath before turning her attention back to the paper and pressing forward.

“I hope you can forgive each of us, especially Fluttershy. She says that fear was no excuse to treat you like she did, going behind your back to be with me. She wishes she could tell you this herself, but thinks that, in the moment, it will be too hard.” Sweetie paused, giving them a moment.

Rarity looked angrily at the table and her eyes glistened more. Against her impulses she looked up at the pegasus. Fluttershy looked from the side, chin downturned, ashamed, almost cringingly, at Rarity. Tears leaked from her eyes, and she sniffled, dabbing at her face with a handkerchief. Turning to face the offended friend, Fluttershy managed to nod her confirmation.

At the sight, Rarity's scowl turned into pain, and tears suddenly flowed. She helped herself quickly to one of Twilight's handkerchiefs to keep her makeup from running as much as possible.

To Tartarus with those impossible eyes! Fluttershy's eyes, she thought. As a pony inclined to aesthetics, to notice beauty in others, and having known Fluttershy for years, Rarity knew the power her eyes held better than any of their friends. They would do more than intimidate the most powerful beasts and sway the immortal being of chaos. Fluttershy's eyes would tempt angels and demons alike to abandon their cause. It was only worse that the full potency of her gaze was never unleashed intentionally. If it were, thought Rarity, then she could at least be angry at her for that, but it wasn't, and she couldn't. Though she tried stubbornly, the troubled friend couldn't stay angry at the penitent pegasus.

“I,” Rarity hicced, “I thought we were never going to hide our feelings from each other after the whole modeling thing—but—there was this—the entire time,” Rarity grieved, sobbing. “I—I would have understood—if only you'd trusted me.” Rarity took a ragged breath. “It still doesn't change that ... I can't approve of what you did, or what you'd have wanted to do, w-w—with Sweetie Belle, but I could have at least been there for you, tried to help you move past it, or wait, perhaps, until she was, well ... the right age.”

Fluttershy wore a mixed expression, one of grief and pain at missing the support of her friend and at having hurt her, of relief that Rarity now no longer seemed angry, and of fear that the understanding the noble unicorn offered her simply wasn't enough, despite her good will. “P-please, Sweetie,” though she addressed the filly, Fluttershy's gaze rested still on Rarity, “keep going.”

Sweetie nodded.

“We're telling you about it all now because we know that any relationship between me and Fluttershy, especially after what's happened, can't go on without hurting our relationship with you unless ... unless we somehow make it right. You, sister, hold my first romance, the only romance I'll ever want, in your hooves.” Sweetie looked over the pages she held at Rarity, eyes glimmering sadly.

“I beg you to give me a chance to show you I can be responsible and committed with love, not all at once,” Sweetie failed to hold back a brief emotional sigh, “but please, please,” Sweetie peeked with pained eyes at Rarity with each request, “let Fluttershy and me be together, safely, with your and Twilight's and others' help if we need it. I admit, we made some mistakes. Please, Sis, don't let that, and don't let my age ruin your faith in me to choose the right path for love. In all of Equestria, I don't think there's any other pony more caring, kind, and willing to love me than Fluttershy. I know I'm little and don't know as much as you or Mom and Dad, which is why I need all the support I can get.”

“If you'd still keep us apart, even though I'm sincere, I have no choice but to honor your decision. If you'll give us a chance, though, I feel ...” Sweetie put down the written message and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath.

The sisters looked at one another, each conflicted just as deeply for her own separate reasons.

“Rarity, I feel like Fluttershy is my destiny as much as any special talent will be ... and to keep me from that destiny, well ... you know how much that will hurt, but, if you let us be together, you know how happy it can make me and Fluttershy both.”

Rarity kept the now-spotted handkerchief at her eyes magically and levitated another with which to blow. The sound echoed next to her softly from Fluttershy. The pegasus hadn't taken her eyes off Rarity. Meanwhile, Twilight looked with deep concern at all three of her pony friends.

“I—” Rarity hesitated. It was impossible, Rarity thought, yet after such an honest, simple, yet stirring request from Sweetie and her friends, she felt bound once again to concede partly. Impossible, but ... she thought. The best way for Rarity to carry out her duty as a big sister was fraught with uncertainty.

“What about you, Princess?” she softly addressed the silent purple mare.

Rarity meant only respect. Twilight had authority, and she'd clearly exercised it. Rather than treat her as a friend, Rarity accepted with grace that Twilight treated her as a subject, favoring Fluttershy's secrecy over her right as family to know. The betrayed sorrow in the white mare's voice and the detached title sent sharp pains through Twilight's chest. To Twilight's conscience, it felt like Rarity had finally arrived at the accusation she'd dreaded. Et tu, Princess?

“I'm ... I'm really sorry too, Rarity.” Twilight apologized, pained, her voice unsteady. “I never wanted to hurt our friendship. Even though the only way I could earn Fluttershy's trust was to swear secrecy before she'd tell me what happened, I rationalized letting the secret continue without trying to convince her, for everypony's sake, that telling you was the right thing to do. I told myself I was doing the right thing, keeping their relationship alive and secret, when I saw Sweetie wanted intimacy and was willing to work hard for it ... but, actually, I fear I may have conceded too much too quickly.”

Twilight took a deep breath, steeling herself for the next crucial confession. “I saw Sweetie's devotion, maturity beyond her years, and I agreed to ... allow them ... to ... kiss ... privately on several occasions, but only for a hoofful of minutes at a time and only as long as I felt they would do nothing more,” Twilight lamely excused, grimacing. “A-and ... I ... I chaperoned a date for them.”

As shocking as Twilight's full involvement in the ordeal was to Rarity, she was past anger. It wouldn't have done her any good anyway to show the rage she'd felt initially. Between Fluttershy's meekness and Sweetie's innocence, however corrupted they may or may not be now to her mind, Rarity didn't have it in her to hold either's illness or naïveté against her. As for Twilight, Rarity had always counted herself lucky to be so very close to such an influential young Canterlot mare, but, perhaps, she thought, that closeness had been overestimated. Perhaps Twilight had changed more than she thought. Perhaps their friendship was at its end. Rarity let her handkerchief fall, weak, heartbroken, and tears quickly left gray streaks down her face.

She could resist the princess's endorsement, but what would come of it except worse heartache and shame for her misguided sister and Fluttershy? However painful it was to see her friendship replaced with servitude and her choice in the matter of her sister's innocence stripped from her, Rarity realized now that her only option was to let herself be subjected.

As it stood, Rarity acknowledged that Twilight never wanted to hurt their friendship and believed she was sincere when Twilight admitted their secrecy was wrong. No doubt, the princess believed she was doing the right thing by enabling the foal's continued corruption under her protective royal care, but the young ruler's conscience clearly still bothered her. It seemed clear to Rarity that, now, Twilight sought relief by asking for her support. To Rarity's dismay, she wasn't sure she could give it, even as a last token of their dying friendship.

Of all the things Twilight could ask for, was there anything more repulsive and damaging? Probably, yes, but to Rarity, at that moment, bound to respect her princess, suddenly and unexpectedly oppressed, it was the worst possible thing she could imagine. Rarity sat with a far off look, her handkerchief forgotten, eyeliner running down her cheeks. The ponies near her waited hyper-anxiously for her response.

“W-wh—what is it you want from me, Your Highness?” Rarity's chin turned down, and her ears flattened. She looked fearfully, despairingly, down at the spots her tears now made on the table. Anything but more of her sister's innocence, she pled silently.

“P-please, Rarity!” Twilight felt desperate to hear her name used. “What I want most is to be your friend, not your princess!”

Rarity looked up slowly, less afraid, but still wounded. “Why, then?” she asked. “Why did you let this happen?” Rarity looked mournfully at Sweetie Belle, her sister, robbed of the innocence of her foalhood. “How could you encourage it if you wished to remain my friend?”

Sweetie Belle recognized pity in her sister's gaze. Her face scrunched tearily in response, irritated at feeling underestimated for her age once again. “Wait a minute,” Sweetie interrupted. “Let what happen, exactly?”

Rarity was taken aback slightly by the sharpness of the foal's tone. “Sweetie, I ...” Rarity stopped, uncertain how to explain.

“You act like Twilight's done something terrible, but all she's done is help!” the filly squeaked. “That's more than you're doing right now.”

“Sweetie, Dear,” Rarity wore a look of deep concern. “I know that you think that, but—”

“But nothing!” the foal intercepted, falling into habits she learned from arguing at home. “Did you even listen to what I wrote for you?”

Rarity grit her teeth. Of course she had, every word. “You wrote it with their help!” She indicated Twilight and Fluttershy. “You've been brainwashed into believing that what's happening is alright, but it's simply not!” All appearances forgotten, any hint of dramatic show abandoned, Rarity's tone was racked with grief.

“It is so! I know it because I feel it! I'm—not—brainwashed!” The accusation stoked Sweetie's indignation.

Rarity grit her teeth again, and shut her eyes angrily. “This,” Rarity turned her gaze accusingly to Twilight, “is what a dictator does to her subjects, not her friends. Where else could she have gotten such wild ideas?!”

Twilight would have answered if not for Sweetie's objection. “If it's so crazy then explain to me, why can't a filly like me be in love, want romance, even have a fillyfriend?”

“Because!” she strove with the filly, “You're just too young, Darling!” Rarity genuinely wished she could make her understand.

“What does that matter?! Why is age important?” Sweetie wasn't making her case any stronger, but was too angry now to notice.

Fluttershy bit her lower lip anxiously, watching. Before it could escalate further, Twilight stepped in. “Girls! This isn't helping!” Twilight called for them to cease fire.

Rarity stared daggers once again at Twilight. “Oh! And you want to help?! I'm seeing the disaster your help has left.”

Twilight felt hurt, but only for a brief moment. This, she realized, wasn't how a subject spoke to a ruler. Maybe, then, this was progress. She let herself hope it was.

“You! You're impossible!” Sweetie squeaked and fumed.

This, Twilight realized again, suddenly, was how sisters argued, and an idea came to her just then. It hurt to do it, but she dared to try. “Sweetie Belle,” Twilight made her tone stern, “let me handle this.” Twilight's tone and expression softened toward the foal. “Trust me, please.”

Twilight shut her eyes and tuned in to what she'd been carefully controlling thus far: fear, rejection, sorrow, humiliation. Her eyes watered uncontrollably, and tears began, finally, to roll down her cheeks. “Rarity,” Twilight looked across the table resentfully, “do you have any idea how hard this is for us? How hard it is for me? It's not about whether things are a disaster, because, with or without my help, they'd still be a disaster!” her voice elevated.

Rarity looked shocked. She'd never been yelled at by Twilight like this before. She didn't have to take it, least of all from her. “I'd like to leave now ... with Sweetie Belle,” Rarity's tone was mostly regulated but firm.

Twilight's eyes grew wide for a moment, panicked at her idea backfiring, until she remembered something. “Nnno!” Twilight folded her forelegs and raised her snout petulantly.

Rarity let out high pitched noises of incredulity. “What do you mean, 'no!?' What happened to wanting to be my friend, not my princess, Your Highness?! Rarity flung the title like the insult it would have been to any other pony.

“I'm not finished talking to you!”

“Talking to me?!” “You promised—” “More like throwing a tantr—” “—until we'd fully expl—” “—any way a Princess should act?!” The two shouted over one another. Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle both sat on the edge of their seats, unable to look away. Each beginning to doubt whether Twilight had really thought this through.

“Twilight! I refuse to be held captive here. If you've any semblance of loyalty to our friendship, any decency at all, you will let—us—leave!” she stated emphatically.

“Fine!” Twilight shouted. “If you're so intent on leaving, then just try! I dare you!”

Rarity started to boil. Her cheeks puffed and glowed. Her lips pursed, holding back every unladylike choice word she wanted to throw at Twilight. It—was—on.

Rarity rose to her hooves and turned about. “Sweetie Belle!” the white mare snapped before clearing her voice and lowering her volume. “Come with me now, please.”

Sweetie Belle looked worriedly at Twilight. To the filly's surprise, Twilight nodded, smiling, and winked. Sweetie Belle rose, confused yet trusting, and went to Rarity's side. Together the two approached the magical barrier.

When Rarity was only a few paces away, she held out a hoof to tell Sweetie to stand back, then switched to bring her other hoof forward and test it. At first, she pushed carefully. It hummed softly, vibrating lightly against her hoof, then became quiet. Harder she pushed, and it yielded a little, stretching subtly like an elastic bubble. The humming intensified. Rarity lowered her hoof again, assessing the barrier with grim determination.

Backing herself up and turning her back hooves toward the shield, Rarity focused, trying to remember how she'd seen Applejack perform the motion. A moment later she raised her hind legs up together, and thrust them, as evenly as she could manage, with as much force as she could muster, into the translucent purple wall. She was met with a much louder hum, and her hooves rebounded, bounced, forcing her to catch herself narrowly to avoid falling. It had been a test mostly, in any case, she thought, and she turned around to aim her horn at it next.

Focusing, Rarity's horn glowed as she cast the most powerful piercing spell she knew. A sharp bright cone surrounded the tip of her horn. With this technique she'd managed to cut through solid diamond, adjusting them to use in her dresses and accessories. The white mare set the sharp point against the shield and pressed with all her strength. It yielded as before, this time with a high pitched noise like singing crystal glass, but, no matter what angle or measure of force Rarity used, it wouldn't break.

Rarity combined the sharpness of the cone with the full heat of her ironing spell, next. When that didn't work she tried as many other things as she knew, from freezing and shattering to experimentally attempting to teleport a quill to the other side, never mind that she'd never mastered pony teleportation. The barrier seemed impervious.

Despite knowing it was useless, Rarity began summoning objects from across Twilight's loft and hurling them against the shield. Sweetie Belle ducked as a cacophony of humming ensued, and, after a minute, the room was left silent except for heavy breathing, in a state of disarray. Chairs, scrolls, quills, teacups, and pillows lay on the floor next to their target. Thank goodness the bookshelves were outside of the shield, thought Twilight, or her books would have surely seen casualties.

Rarity collapsed back onto her haunches, panting. After several moments, she grit her teeth again, stood, and turned abruptly to march back to the table, her eyes still wet, her mane in uncharacteristic shambles. “You want to talk?” Though she spoke softly, fury seeped from each word. “Then talk Princess Twilight Sparkle, because this may very well be the last time ever that we do.”

Now fully absorbed in the role of a stubborn sister, Twilight hid the sting she felt behind her best impression of the showmare Trixie, a supremely smug facade and a, “Hmph!”

“Do you like my shield?” Twilight gloated.

Rarity said nothing, but her eyes became slits. Twilight pretended to admire one of her own hooves. The act started to feel good, to stroke her own pride, she realized, and she had to remind herself she'd already accomplished her goal.

“Even after the caster is disabled, that shield will hold up temporarily to a massive army of ravenous sharp-toothed magical creatures throwing themselves full force into it.” Twilight looked up seriously at Rarity. “You know what I'm talking about, I assume.”

Still the same glare.

“It was specifically designed to keep out, not only an army, but a being potentially on par with Celestia for magical strength. Unfortunately, it didn't account for her cunning. Of course, I added the noise cancellation and mirage effect for privacy purposes, and that weakens it, honestly, at least the mirage does.”

Rarity's expression didn't budge.

“It has one weakness, if you can call it that, while the caster is in control, a perfect exception to allow only friends that know the counter-spell to enter or exit, however, it's no easy task to perform. The key to penetrating is something of which Chrysalis and her hive are completely incapable as beings that absorb love and emotion. You see, the only way to enter or exit without completely destroying the barrier is with intense altruistic emotion.”

Rarity began to think Twilight had gone off the deep end. She slumped, bored and irritated, and her eyes rolled at the know-it-all's explanation, wondering whether there could be a less appropriate time for it.

“Two unicorn guards are normally required to open it. You saw that yourself at Canterlot. What you didn't see is that those guards switch out hourly due to exhaustion at the potency of the magic required for the counter-spell. ... Can you imagine my surprise, Rarity,” Twilight, made sure she had the mare's attention, “when, on the day I first cast this shield to hear Fluttershy's confession, before I'd added any mirage to weaken it, and, in my anxiety, increased its potency to approximately 90 times the strength of the one surrounding Canterlot—being an alicorn and dealing with a much smaller area, this was easy enough,” Twilight justified to show she meant no exaggeration “—can you imagine my surprise,” she repeated, “when Sweetie Belle fell through it, almost on accident?”

Rarity looked at the purple mare with skepticism, still unsure where she was going with this.

“At first, I thought the noise cancellation spell had weakened it, that maybe, in an anxious fit, Sweetie Belle chanced to breach the boundary with an uncontrolled magic burst, but, after quite a bit of testing, I came to realize, if anything, noise cancellation only made the shield more pliable, tougher to break through for any creature alone. I was baffled until I realized that the only way Sweetie could have entered was to actually have exploited the shield's one weakness.

“There was no way though, I thought, and I went from being baffled to incredulous,” Twilight continued, “Surely, Sweetie Belle had never learned the counter-spell nor could the magic burst I noticed from her, however powerful, open the shield like she had without completely destroying it. Even Celestia wouldn't have been able to cross that boundary without the counter-spell times 90, and that would have been slightly difficult, even for her, I dare say.

“After careful consideration, I decided Sweetie's magic burst was only a coincidence. The real answer to how she did it lay in the root of the magic. Emotion ... and not just any emotion, completely selfless emotion. The counter-spell is actually a mind and heart purifying spell plus a desire enchantment on the caster herself. In order to cross the barrier, essentially, all you need is pure, unfettered, honest and true love for any pony or object on the other side.

“Anything less, however, even the tiniest impurity, bit of selfishness, or will to do harm, depending on the power put into the shield, will cause the shield to absorb the force used against it and become stronger while the caster controls it. The power put into the shield mostly only boosts the sensitivity per surface area—the required purity and desire to pass through, not the actual strength against being broken—and thus the need for greater effort at casting the counter-spell to expel fear and doubt, selfishness, and pride, leaving only love, unless ...”

Twilight looked admiringly at the foal next to Rarity. Rarity looked as well, hoping she might believe what she guessed now that Twilight was about to say. “... somepony could be completely pure without magic—brave, selfless, and full of love for somepony on the other side, wanting to see her. ... A foal might have exactly that kind of purity, I thought, but that kind of devotion? It seemed incredibly unlikely to me at the time.” Twilight looked again at Rarity. “There is no other explanation, however. Sweetie Belle was unquestionably in love with somepony in this loft that day, and it certainly wasn't me.”

Rarity considered the proof Twilight had given her. “How do I know you're not making this up?”

Twilight let out a sad, tired sigh. “I really am sorry I didn't suggest we involve you, delay somehow before making such important decisions about Sweetie kissing ... and dating. It's not easy, coming to grips with what I've found through countless hours of research, through long hours of meditation and pondering, and, most importantly, through observation.”

Twilight looked briefly at Sweetie Belle then at Fluttershy. Each sat quietly. Sweetie Belle looked longingly at Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked downward with a deep shade of pink across her muzzle and tears in her eyes.

“If it had been easier, the answer clearer to what we should have done, then maybe I'd have avoided that mistake. I was distracted and too afraid, too worried about losing one of my friends, to judge rightly. It's no excuse, and I hope that you'll forgive me, Rarity, with time, if not right now. Sincerely, truly, I,” tears and ragged breathing stopped her for a moment, “please still be my friend. I—” another ragged breath “—I can't deny what I know to be the truth, and why would I make up something so outrageous, lie to a pony I care about, one of my best friends?”

What faint hope Rarity still had to keep her royal friend and restore her sister's honor rekindled with newfound reason to believe. Rather than sink into despair, the wanting mare chose to accept what evidence had been offered, in spite of everything. Her expression melted, her lip quivered, and she swallowed. “Then ... it's really true?” not some sick manipulation on anypony's part. Momentarily forgetting every other implausibility, she looked down in wonder at Sweetie next to her. “My sister ... is in love.” She tested how the statement felt leaving her, listened experimentally to it. “My sister is in love.” Realization began to dawn on her as the foal nodded. “My sister is in love?!” Surprise lit her features, and she looked across the table at Twilight, then at Fluttershy. “... in love with—with one of my best friends?! With Fluttershy?!” she gasped. “My sister,” she stopped herself, turning again to Sweetie. “You are in love with her, aren't you?” Rarity checked to make sure everything hadn't just been a dream or a nightmare.

Sweetie Belle nodded again, a little freaked out by the mare's reaction.

“My sister is!—” she nearly rejoiced, but stopped, suddenly, as the full reality of it came back to her, and horror replaced joy. “Wait! Sweetie Belle ... is in love with Fluttershy ... and Fluttershy loves her back ... a-and they—th-they've had sex.” Her shock was gone, her tone somber.

Rarity's mouth hung open as she looked at each of her friends and at Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy looked wide-eyed at Rarity, relieved to be called a best friend but too afraid to hope for more. Twilight watched, relieved as well, though still slightly concerned, and Sweetie Belle stared up procaciously. “Glad you finally caught up, Sis.” Scootaloo's influence showed in Sweetie's dry wit, in her half-lidded stare, and half-smile.

“But,” Rarity turned back to Twilight. Despite how much she wanted to believe, her doubt persisted. “You said the shield wouldn't let any impurity through. Are you saying that lust is ... altruistic?” Rarity looked uncertainly for an explanation.

Twilight shook her head.

“Lust is, by nature, selfish and blocked by the shield. I think ... it's possible Sweetie avoided lust because, well, technically, she's still a virgin, of sorts ... at least, in the sense that she's never been, um ... brought to finish, by anypony, even herself.”

Rarity was struck, her cheeks showing a bit of color suddenly.

“Of course, love is potent and can overpower even lust when both are present,” Twilight continued to explain, “but, at such an early stage in their relationship, even with maturity beyond her years, it would have been unlikely—” she stopped when she realized Rarity was paying no attention to her. Rarity needed little convincing for the sake of their friendship and her desire to believe that Sweetie's innocence remained unspoiled. Twilight still thought it a shame that magical theory should be so readily ignored, but didn't complain, given the circumstances.

The older sister whispered something in the filly's ear, and she whispered something back, the two shooting furtive glances at Fluttershy who, realizing they were talking about her, shrank in her seat a little.

Rarity sat up straight with a couple of delicate high-pitched coughs to clear her voice. “I see,” Rarity said. “Well, as much as I fear what this might mean, I admit, it looks like the situation is far more complicated than I originally thought.”

“D-does that mean?—” Fluttershy finally spoke up but left the question half-formed.

Rarity looked back, her eyes still full of concern, but with a smile and a nod.

“Yes, Fluttershy.” Her voice carried traces of both worry and joy. “As Sweetie Belle's older sister and usual caretaker, knowing that she's truly in love with you, not led by any foalish whim or passing fancy, but by destiny itself, and trusting you,” her tone became solemn, “to take care of and full responsibility for her ... I still have reservations, but ... I choose to support your future union.”

Fluttershy fainted.

When Twilight had cast a reinvigorating spell to rouse Fluttershy and the pegasus regained her faculties, she practically bolted through the air to sweep up Sweetie, squealing in surprise, into a joyful celebratory hug. Before anypony could have stopped it, there'd been an ecstatic pegasus mare and unicorn foal kissing mid air in front of one scandalized older sister. Fluttershy returned from bliss and her eyes snapped open at the sound of a cough. Landing, she apologized.

“Oh, Rarity, I know it's shocking to see ... me and your sister of all ponies,” Fluttershy continued to apologize, “I'm sorry. I just got carried away. I think you must know how much your blessing means to us!”

“Thank you, Sis! Oh, thank you!” Sweetie interjected and would have hug-tackled Rarity if she weren't still clinging to Fluttershy.

“Thank you!” Fluttershy echoed.1

“My hooves are tied, really, while it's true love.” Rarity looked sentimentally at Sweetie Belle for a second, then fretful at the couple. “However ... I'm still not certain. Just because your love is genuine a-and you intend to someday join, I assume ... in matrimony.”

“As soon as we can!” Sweetie exclaimed happily, squeezing her mare as tightly as her small forelegs could and pressing her cheek against her.

Fluttershy was more wary of the uncertainty in Rarity's 'however,' but continued to hold her foal, melting at her wide smile.

“Y-yes. ... And, even if you both share an attraction ... I don't know if Sweetie should be involved ... physically anyway, so young. ... Love and lust, well ... they are different.”

Rarity was having a hard time just watching the couple's continued embrace. She turned instead to look at Twilight. “I'm afraid there's so much I thought I knew now being called into question, that I ... I really don't know what to think or say.” She shot a sideways glance uncomfortably at the pair. “I just—with so much at stake, how are you so sure, Twilight?” Rarity's eyes sparkled, begging for some explanation.

Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. “I'm not.”

“But you ... you chaperoned them? You've let them be intimate at some level, and ... and you ... aren't sure?” Rarity was further distressed. Her eye's went wide, flicking back to the couple again.

“I'm not sure,” Twilight repeated, shaking her head, “but, I promise you, I'm being as careful as I feel I should be, all things considered.” Rarity's eyes still darted anxiously to the clinging couple. Twilight's horn lit, and two chairs that had been thrown returned to the table. “Let's return to our seats,” Twilight looked to the couple then back at Rarity, “and I'll explain as best I can.” Fluttershy and Sweetie understood the reason for the queue and each grimaced at the fact that their celebration may have been premature. Reluctantly, they parted again, and Rarity relaxed a bit.

“There are a number of reasons I've supported Sweetie and Fluttershy, but let me start back where we left off,” Twilight felt it important not to skip anything. “When Fluttershy first came to me for help, all I knew was that something was very wrong. I persuaded her,” Twilight broke off emotionally. “Rarity,” Twilight's eyes glistened, “I owe it to you to be completely honest. ... I was panicked. Fluttershy was beyond any kind of fear or anxiety I'd seen in her before, and, to make matters worse, she still couldn't bring herself to tell me. I did the only thing I could think of that might help her. I swore unconditional secrecy, and I assured her, when even that wasn't enough, that Friendship would see us both through. I was one hundred percent serious, and I'm still serious. I'll never speak a word of any of this to anypony she doesn't involve. ... Of course, it wasn't much of a relief when I found out she'd come to me after a sexual incident with Sweetie Belle,” Twilight looked to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy swallowed, her pupils small. She looked back, frozen for what she knew was coming. “Fluttershy confessed that she'd lost her faculties,” Twilight put it as delicately as possible at first. “She admitted ...” There was a tense pause, “she almost forcibly raped Sweetie.”

Rarity gasped, horrified. The sideways glances she'd given the yellow mare suddenly became full eye contact. “You—” she recoiled “—but you didn't?” She leaned back toward Fluttershy but had no real expectation for a response. Rarity turned again instead to Twilight. “Almost?” Confusion tinted her complete shock.

“Angel managed to get in the way long enough for Fluttershy to come to herself, and that's when she flew here.” Twilight looked sympathetically toward Fluttershy, who, remembering to breathe, took a deep, shaky, breath. “By now, I think you've understood ... Fluttershy is ill.” Twilight was full of grave sympathy.

Fluttershy couldn't look up, but felt three sets of eyes on her.

Sweetie Belle wouldn't hold her tongue at the sight of her suffering anymore. “I knew it was wrong, but I did what I did anyway!” Sweetie Belle blurted. “Fluttershy didn't do anything but kiss me. She didn't ask me to start doing what I did, and when she woke up, I—I kept going because I wanted to!” Sweetie's pain at seeing the pegasus's intense shame caused her to tear up once again. “It's not her fault!” she championed. “She stopped before anything happened to me! I don't blame her for losing control for a minute, and, even if she is s—sick, she didn't hurt me.”

The foal wanted desperately to save her heroine from the torment of that fateful moment's consequences, but relief seemed impossible to deliver. She looked across at the mare, and, though Fluttershy finally dared to look up at Sweetie, her chin remained down and the sorrow in her eyes wouldn't dispel. At her filly's distress, the shy mare managed, however, with one more deep breath, to speak.

“I'm accountable.” She stated surely to Sweetie. “My family had its problems while I grew up, just like many other ponies' did, and I chose this way to comfort myself.” Her voice became softer, and she looked into space through the table. “What was once, maybe, not a big deal, grew. First it was just experimenting, harmless crushes, and games with others ... then it was r-regular m-masturbation. ... It became a habit ...” her voice softened again, “and, eventually, it grew into a habit I couldn't break. Often, now ... it's an obsession I can't stop thinking about and barely control sometimes.” She raised her chin finally and looked again at Sweetie Belle. “It's true,” she spoke with what she hoped sounded like courage. “The pony you love is sick in the mind, and a little in the heart. Even though you've helped me a lot, Sweetie ... I can't expect you to cure me, and you shouldn't expect it either, Sweetheart.” Fluttershy faced Twilight. “Neither should you, Twilight, though you've helped me most of all.”

Finally, she turned to Rarity, just able to reign back both fear and shame enough to speak clearly. “I understand completely if you don't trust me.” She gulped and bit her lower lip.

“Fluttershy,” Sweetie gasped and leaned toward her, one hoof on the table between them.

“I don't trust me.” Fluttershy finished anyway.

“Fluttershy!” Sweetie repeated, upset now that, surely, she'd ruined their chances.

“Sweetie Belle,” Fluttershy looked despondently at the foal she loved. “I—” the tears she'd held back since she fainted, leaked once more “—I'm sorry.” Her apology came out a whisper, and, though she wished she could say more, she dared not attempt to, certain she'd only wind up stuttering through sobs. Instead, she lowered her face to the table and cried quietly into a fresh handkerchief. The least she could do was try not to be noisy.

Sweetie Belle let her head slowly fall with a soft thump against the table, already mourning the inevitable loss of her sister's support.

Twilight looked on, wishing she could provide the cure Fluttershy spoke of, but knowing that, at this point, it wouldn't make things much better. The plan had been to inspire Rarity reason to give Fluttershy a second chance. Unlike Sweetie, Twilight felt the pegasus's admission actually helped her case. Now, Twilight would do what she could to show how. She prepared herself to finish her explanation.

“I think it's important to consider—”

“Stop,” Rarity interrupted Twilight. “This ... this is more than I ever imagined I'd hear.” Her voice was tense. Rarity couldn't stand breaking twice in one day. “I need some time to ... to think,” she struggled.

Hearing the stress in her friend's voice, and knowing how it felt firsthoof, Twilight nodded. “That's fine, of course, but, before you go, Rarity, I'm sorry about, well, ehmm—”

“I understand why you refused to let me go before,” Rarity spared Twilight finding the right words, “a-and I'm sorry too ... for my brutish behavior.” She magically lifted most of the items she'd thrown back to their places. “And, Fluttershy,” Rarity waited until the mare looked askance at her from behind her hooves and handkerchief. “Darling, we're still friends ... all of us are,” she looked at Twilight who smiled gratefully, then back at Fluttershy. “Whatever happens, your secret is safe.” Rarity sighed. “As for you, dear sister,” she faced her precious charge, “please don't think I'm against your love if I need some time to think and if I ask you to spend some time apart from Fluttershy.”

Sweetie looked up, relieved, but not much. She sighed, disheartened. “So what else is new?”

The generous mare stepped toward Fluttershy and offered her a light rub between her shoulders. Fluttershy found the strength to stand and accepted a hug. Finally, Twilight escorted Rarity and Sweetie Belle to the shield, leaving each of them with a hug of her own as they exited her loft. Rarity set no specific time to talk again, and Twilight wouldn't press her for one.

Fluttershy continued to cry.

In spite of knowing the true magnitude of Sweetie's love, now that she'd finally heard Twilight's explanation, and despite having done her best to be honest and brave to honor that love, Fluttershy felt more empty and alone and scared than ever.

Twilight went back to her and sat with her, taking her under her wing.

Author's Note

Last revised 6 February 2015
- for style, voice, and detail

Original Note:
This chapter breaks 100k words and puts us clear of the superstitiously-laden number 13. Now if only I could bring myself to go back and fix every ellipse in the first part... So tedious.

Revised 2/5/15 for style, voice, and detail.
Edit (7/31/14) : Thanks to Setokaiva and TheGreatEater for proofreading.