“Canterlot Garden? Hmm ...” Rarity considered, but quickly doubted. “Even if there's nopony else there, and I highly doubt that would be the case ... the travel time would cut into what you'd actually get to spend together—” Rarity paused to find the correct thread for her next stitch “—not to mention, ponies would probably ask why we went out of town for half a day.”

“Oh, yeah.” Sweetie looked a little disappointed, but continued to think while her sister sewed, sitting in the main work room at Carousel Boutique not long after closing time. “Maybeee—Oh! Oo-oo!—the south swimming hole!”

The mare held her place while she considered again. “The swimming hole ... at the beginning of Summer? You know that it will likely have visitors, even if it is farther and less popular than the other ponds.”

“That's okay!” the filly countered. “I mean, I knew that Canterlot Garden might have other ponies too, but ... we're not trying to kiss the whole time, like last time.”

Rarity let out a small, surprised horse noise.

Sweetie continued, not noticing. “I just want to talk outside for once, and it would be fun to go swimming together!” The thought caused her to bubble with foalish energy.

“You kissed the entire time ... on yo—your first date?”

Sweetie reacted with momentary shock that she'd let that bit of information slip before grinning sheepishly. “Relax, Sis. Twilight was there the whole time, and ... I really didn't mean the whole time, just ... most of the time.” This didn't ameliorate their situation much to the older sister. Sweetie laughed nervously at her expression. “B-besides ... we're not going to do that this time, remember?”

Rarity let out a groaning sigh. “I love them both, but, really, they ought to have taught you better decorum.”

Sweetie raised a confused eyebrow. “Wasn't it too late to worry about acting lady-like after ... after that day at the cottage?”

Rarity blinked. “I see your point. ... Still,” she persisted, “it's never too late to start practicing ladylike behavior. I can understand Twilight, perhaps, having been more concerned about hiding you and curbing any ... outright lewd behavior, rather than make sure you acted sensibly, but Fluttershy ...” Rarity knew the pegasus had been brought up to know better. “I suppose that's another of her self-control issues.” The mare's lips formed a tight, uneven frown.

Sweetie became quiet, but looked gloomily at the floor. A moment later, Rarity noticed the lack of verbal response.

“Oh,” Rarity realized softly at the filly's crestfallen expression. “Sweetie, I'm ... I'm sorry.”

Sweetie's eyes shimmered up at her sister. “You don't think she's a good special somepony.” Sweetie stated simply.

Rarity opened and closed her mouth, then bit her lower lip before finally speaking. “That's, well—” she stopped. “I know you love her, Sweetie, and I know that she's a wonderful pony.”

“But ... you still don't think she's good at being my special somepony,” the little filly repeated.

“Well, now ... I didn't say that, did I?” Rarity replied.

Sweetie sighed. “No. But you don't like it when I talk about being with her.”

Rarity hesitated, drawing in a tense breath. “It's ... fine.” She remained tense for several seconds before suddenly releasing the breath she'd held back. “Okay,” Rarity admitted. “It's not all fine, but,” the elder sister locked eyes with the hurt filly, “I don't mean that I disapprove of her as your special somepony; I promise. I really do mean to help you both. The idea that my ... baby sister is already in that kind of relationship is still ... so new to me, and, I suppose, Mother and Father didn't really, um ... teach me—didn't prepare either of us to feel very comfortable with the subject of intimacy.” Rarity suddenly felt oddly left behind as her own younger sister seemed more at ease talking about the specifics of courtship than she. “There is propriety to worry about,” she defended, “but we do have to be open about these things, now, if it's going to work,” she recognized.

Rarity set aside her sewing and removed the eyeglasses she wore for stitching. Setting herself to face the foal, she took a deep breath and exhaled. Sweetie looked back, comforted that her sister seemed to genuinely want to help.

“Sweetie,” Rarity started, “I know how confusing it can be for a young filly, who's still cultivating herself, to learn the differences between what behavior may be considered couth and uncouth.” The mare's mouth twisted as she thought how to phrase what she meant. “There were times ... in my own foalhood, when that confusion—the fear that I might have made a mistake or might not know what to do in some situation—caused me to doubt ... whether I was good enough, whether I might never come to realize my dreams.”

Rarity's expression was one of far off contemplation, but refocused tenderly on her little sister. “I know your dreams aren't my dreams, but, Precious Heart, if I make a fuss, it's only because I care. If I seem ... hesitant or a bit hardheaded at times, I hope you'll know that I still love you. I don't want you to feel too self-conscious to come to me with anything, big or little, scary or ... or even uncouth—understand?”

Sweetie nodded seriously.

“Good.” Rarity smiled, satisfied. “Then ... is there anything you'd like to ask me or just talk about, about Flu—” just for good practice, Rarity lowered her voice and avoided the name, “—about your special somepony, that you've kept back for any reason or been too embarrassed to discuss before now?” The invitation was tender, as was her expression.

Sweetie shifted uncertainly. Twilight had taught her so many things already, mostly the facts and consequences of sex and relationships and how to prepare. Fluttershy herself had shown her an example of the shame that came with doing what everypony else said was wrong, whether or not it felt good. Sweetie thought of the secret promise Fluttershy had made to take her away, regardless of that shame, if she asked. “N-not really, but ...” Sweetie started, “why ... why does it have to be so hard?” Her small brow furrowed, and she frowned. Why shouldn't they just run away like she wished they could? “Why can't we just ...” the filly's eyes watered, and her voice shook, “just be happy, already?”

Rarity rose to step forward and pull the filly into a warm hug which Sweetie returned readily, needily. For what seemed like a long time, the two sisters rested quietly in each other's embrace until Rarity broke the silence.

“If it weren't hard sometimes, we would never learn how rare, how strong, and how precious true love is,” the older sister answered and sighed at her own romantic misadventures. “Happiness ...” thought Rarity aloud, “happiness doesn't just come whenever we want it to. Happiness is earned with hard work and tears sometimes. Sometimes we get lucky, and we're happy without as much trouble, but that kind of happiness doesn't usually hold the same worth or last as long as the kind that ... that you and she will have, if you keep working at it patiently.”

Looking up, Sweetie smiled in spite of the droplets that had formed in the corners of her eyes, and Rarity smiled back. “You really think so?” Sweetie asked.

Rarity nodded. “I certainly do, and I'm very proud of you, little sister.” Rarity's words and smile quickly reassured the young foal. “What would harmony mean, after all, without knowing a bit about chaos?”

Discord drew a sip of tea through a winding crazy straw across from Fluttershy in her cottage's living room with a lazy expression.

As she settled into her own cup of tea and cucumber sandwich, Fluttershy smiled at her draconequus friend. “So, how have things been since Twilight reported the, um ... plunder seed incident?” the mare guessed there might have been some trouble for the reformed spirit of chaos when Celestia had been informed of what was behind her kidnapping.

“Oh, you know. More or less ordinary.” The last word left his mouth with distaste. “Although, I suppose it hasn't been all bad.” An impish grin plastered his face. “At least I got to see her royal sun-shininess's reaction when she found out it had been my plunder seeds that captured her and the other blue one.”

“Was she ... upset?” Fluttershy's concern showed, but she didn't seem to fret, trusting that Princess Celestia was more than mature enough to handle the revelation.

“Oh, the look on her face!” He let out an amused laugh. “She might have known that the Tree of Harmony was getting weaker,” the spirit of chaos was blasé before again becoming excited, “ but she had no idea that it had been me behind it!” Suddenly, a large gold star sticker appeared on Discord's serpentine body.

Fluttershy was caught off guard. “She was—but—” the little mare stammered, confused “—she ... knew?”

“Oh, yes,” Discord explained airily. “You remember when I said the seeds should have stolen the tree's magic and captured the princesses thousands of moons ago?”

Come to think, she did remember now. Fluttershy nodded, still confused.

“Well, apparently, the reason that the tree lasted so much longer than I'd expected—” Discord's minor annoyance shown briefly as a small, crude replica of the tree appeared in front of his face before he shooed it away to hover close by instead “—is because Princess Celestia had been feeding it her own magic ever since she'd noticed.” A puppet of the princess flashed into existence near the small model tree, flailing and spinning ridiculously of its own accord. “Said she'd needed to keep the Elements of Harmony available in case Equestria needed them. Unfortunately for her, the fact that she gave part of her magic to the tree left her a bit weak on the day of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding.” The corners of Discord's mouth twitched upward as he watched a black changeling queen puppet fall from nowhere, squashing the puppet Celestia, and he sighed. “Shame I had to miss out on such excellent chaos.”

Fluttershy raised a stern eyebrow, at which Discord froze momentarily, and the toy figures vanished. “W-well,” he laughed dismissively, “of course, it all worked out in the end.” Discord drew a long gulp of tea through his straw, which, to Fluttershy's momentary surprise, now formed a series of heart-shaped loops.

“It did turn out alright,” Fluttershy allowed, “but only because Twilight was there to rescue Princess Cadence, no thanks to Queen Chrysalis.” Fluttershy amended. “But ...” she returned to her previous thought, “if Princess Celestia knew about the Tree of Harmony, I mean, if she was taking care of it, why did it suddenly ... how did the seeds suddenly take over?”

“I didn't ask.” Discord shrugged, but, seeing the look of curiosity on the mare's face, he ventured to speculate. “I suppose ... Celestia took into account the fact that you Element bearers were strong enough each, individually, to save her some of her power. By now, I suppose you know, the tree draws its energy from the Elements of Harmony.” Gem-like versions of the cutie marks of Fluttershy and her friends flashed into existence and orbited above her guest's head. “But, what you might not know is that it also takes some of its energy from you element bearers.” Colorful, pointy looking versions of the six bearers flashed into existence, scattered about Discord's immediate person, engaged in various activities, with a thin strand of bright energy connecting each one to her respective element. “I have a gift for knowing how magic moves, you might say.”

Again, the illustrations vanished, and a smile that seemed to be more knowing than questioning spread across the ancient draconequus's features. “I don't suppose anything happened to one of you, not long before the whole debacle?” The confidence in his eyes caused Fluttershy to tense, and she thought immediately of what it might have been. “Something that, say, Princess Celestia might not have expected?”

Feeling her nerves get the better of her, Fluttershy took a deep breath. “W-well, there was, um ... Starswirl's unfinished spell. We were all really down while our destinies were mixed up.”

“You think Princess Celestia wouldn't have expected that, after sending that little book to Twilight herself?” Discord raised an eyebrow.

“I—I guess she would have.” Fluttershy gulped, and Discord leaned in closer. “I, um ... I guess I ... just don't know what went wrong?” The timid mare grinned nervously, ears folded under the weight of her ancient friend's piercing gaze.

“Well, be that as it may,” Discord suddenly leaned back to kick his hoof and claw up onto the coffee table between them, “there are no worries now, I suppose. You're all getting along so nicely, it seems.” The serpentine friend helped himself to a cucumber sandwich, and Fluttershy relaxed. “Good thing, too,” he spoke with a mouthful before swallowing. “Without the elements to keep you together, your friendships certainly don't need any more tests, do they?”

Discord's harrowing little reminder that her friendships seemed to no longer be strengthened by the mystic power of the elements wasn't something that Fluttershy took lightly. The quest to open the mystery box might unite them for now, but there was no telling what might happen if and when they discovered its secret or what might happen, rather, if it never opened. Already, nearly a week had passed since Rarity's decision, and, if she were going to tell her friends as planned, thought Fluttershy, spurred on by Discord's remark, it had better be sooner rather than later.

Knowing that her friend had the day off, the shy but determined pegasus had arrived at the cloud home of Rainbow Dash just an hour ago that morning after breakfast, under the pretense of delivering a treat for Tank, and asked if Rainbow felt like playing some board games. It wasn't often the speedy showoff took time away from training and work just to play board games without visiting a sick friend or being grounded by some injury. Fluttershy was the rare exception.

“Oh, my.” Fluttershy took a hit, the strategically placed pieces on her hidden side of the board all marked with small, lightning bolt-shaped pegs. “You found my seagull! That's the last one,” the mare gracefully admitted her defeat.

“Hah! I win again!” the rainbow pegasus pony gloated shamelessly, and Fluttershy smiled happily, taking more satisfaction from her friend's victory than she thought she ever would if she herself won. Fluttershy usually liked Rainbow Dash best when she saw her happy that way.

“Congratulations, Dashie.”

“Wanna play a different game?” Dash inquired, satisfied with having won three out of three matches of Weather Ponies.

“Um, sure, but ... Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow hmmed while putting away the strategy game. “First ... c-can we talk a little?”

“Yeah, sure thing.” Rainbow looked up curiously from the beat up game box. “Figures you'd wanna talk. You don't usually visit my cloud home.”

Fluttershy had caught a number of concerned glances throughout their games from the light blue pegasus. It seemed likely Rainbow knew something had been on her mind ever since she'd arrived. “I—I'm sorry. I should visit more often.” Fluttershy frowned.

“Pff!~ Don't worry about it. I know you like to keep your hooves on the ground ...” Dash fell back, relaxing into her cloud chair, “though I do think you're missing out.” Fluttershy grinned again. “So, what's on your mind?”

Fluttershy took a calming breath. This wasn't so bad, she thought, not nearly as bad as it had been with Twilight, mid-crisis, or with Rarity. Fluttershy shuddered. Beside knowing that Rainbow was probably her most loyal friend, she'd had time and experience to prepare herself mentally, and, this time, there was no pressure to tell her friend immediately, nor receive her complete approval under penalty of forfeiting her love. Fluttershy had discussed the matter of telling their other adult friends with Sweetie, Rarity, and Twilight, and they'd been more than willing to help her, but, the yellow mare decided, considering their history, this particular conversation was one she wanted to have alone.

The yellow mare swallowed. “I'm not sure how to say this,” she began, “so, I guess, I'll start by saying ... you've always been a really great friend. ... Ever since flight camp, I've really admired your confidence and how you've always stood up for what you feel is right. I've been honored to have you and our other friends by my side through thick and thin, but you've been there the longest, and I feel like I owe it to you, now that I've told two of our other friends already, to let you be the next to know.”

Rainbow watched and listened, her eyes grew wide, and her expression changed to one of keen anticipation. Sitting upright, she nodded encouragingly, “Yeah?”

“Rainbow Dash, I'm ... secretly in love—” the azure friend's eyebrows raised, and her eyes widened more “—e-engaged to marry somepony ... somepony you know,” Rainbow's jaw dropped, “but, if word got out who, they might be taken away from me.”

The blue pegasus looked about as surprised as Fluttershy expected she'd be. “You ... you actually proposed to her?!” Rainbow was stunned.

Wait, what? “W-wait. I—'her?'” Fluttershy stammered.

“And, you're telling me she said, yes, and Twilight and Rarity approved?!” The speedy pegasus's incredulity seemed to know no bounds.

“N—ye—but—but, Rainbow, stop!” Everything seemed to be spinning, and the yellow mare couldn't help but wish she were planted firmly on the ground rather than feel herself swaying in Rainbow Dash's cloud home.

Fluttershy rubbed her eyes and shook her head. Once she'd finally accepted that she wasn't dreaming, she looked back, baffled, at the smug, rainbow-maned friend. “So ... Sweetie Belle, huh?” Rainbow's inquiry came out more glib and ever-so-slightly critical than questioning. A skeptically raised eyebrow confirmed she had mixed feelings.

“How did you ...” Fluttershy wondered whether Rainbow could suddenly read minds? No, that didn't make sense.

When Fluttershy didn't finish her question, Rainbow answered anyway. “Visits to the library, secret notes, aaand whatever was going on last week.” Rainbow sounded uncertain. Fluttershy simply gaped. “I visited, you know, but you were so out of it I doubt you even remember.” The yellow pegasus could only vaguely recall Rainbow's recent visit. “It seemed like you were doing really well before. I saw that exercise routine of yours, and that had me thinking you were you were pretty alright, I mean ... but then ... you had us really worried.” Concern shown in Rainbow's eyes.

Fluttershy took a moment to catch up. “U-us?” She looked more stressed at the realization that others might know.

Rainbow nodded. “Pinkie too. Applejack was too busy last week. Says she's been making up lost time 'cause she was distracted before, but she didn't want to say why.”

“B-but ... Pinkie knows about—about everything?”

Seeing Fluttershy fret, Rainbow hurried to clarify. “No! I meant she was worried 'cause you were a zombie surrounded by ghosts, or something like that, at least according to her.” The blue pegasus's eyes rolled.

“But, if you know, maybe there are others.” Fluttershy worried. “You noticed us leaving notes and ...” Fluttershy rubbed her front hooves together anxiously, “visiting the library.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn't worry too much about that,” Rainbow dismissed. “Some of the other weather ponies might have seen it, but they wouldn't figure out anything unless they knew you like I do.”

“Wha—how?” Fluttershy repeated. “I've always hidden that ... that I, um ...” the nervous pony's voice lowered to a whisper, “like foals.”

Rainbow sighed. “It's ... not important. Let's just say, Sweetie is the only one I figured it could be when you said you're secretly in love.”

Well, that made sense, thought Fluttershy. She began to relax. “You ... you're not upset?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Nuh-uh.” The sky blue pegasus brought a hoof to her chin while she considered how she felt. “Surprised, maybe, but not upset.” Rainbow let her astonishment show again. “And you still got me stumped, not only how you got Sweetie to say yes, but Twi and Rarity to agree!” Seeing the yellow pony's puzzlement and her mouth open as if to question, Rainbow Dash explained impatiently. “You said you told two of our friends, and you said 'engaged.' That didn't leave a lot of options.” When Fluttershy appeared to be on the same page finally, Rainbow continued. “So!? How the hay did you do it? I never thought they'd let that sort of thing—I mean, foal-fooling—fly like that ... Miss high-society, especially, and with her kid sister!”

Fluttershy took another calming breath. “Well, actually, um ... Sweetie proposed, sort of, not me ... but I did say I love her first ... and Twilight was the first to help us. She really made it possible for Rarity to see our side and the engagement become official, but ... none of it has been easy. Last week,” Fluttershy swallowed just thinking about it, “I was waiting for Rarity, giving her some time after Twilight, Sweetie, and I told her, um ... about our relationship.” Fluttershy felt it better not to jump straight into details.

“Proposed to you?” Fluttershy nodded, and Rainbow considered for a moment. “Guess I'm not too surprised. You've got a way with younger kids.” Rainbow paused, seeming to reflect. “I guess not knowing if you'd get to ...” Rainbow looked uncomfortable saying it, “be with her would explain the major moping. Did Rarity have a heart attack? What did you tell her?” Rainbow wasn't wont to ease into the subject. “Did Sweetie Belle and you ... y'know?” Rainbow made a face that betrayed her lack of shared taste in Fluttershy's romantic interests, despite her curiosity.

Feeling awkward, Fluttershy looked down. “Rarity was ... really upset. We told her—” Fluttershy's gaze shifted momentarily up at her friend, cautiously checking. She'd handled everything better than Fluttershy had hoped, so far “—told her that ...” the yellow pony shut her eyes and pushed through the scariest part, “we had sex, once.” After a moment, she opened one eye to check that nothing had gone horribly wrong. When she saw that Rainbow Dash looked unsettled, but not upset, her other eye opened, but she only managed to look down again, grimacing at the table between them.

“Sorry,” Rainbow Dash confessed. “I don't mean it like I'm angry or anything,” she looked apologetically at the other pegasus, “but I was kind of afraid you'd say that.” A heavy silent moment passed between them, and Fluttershy, looking up again at Rainbow, felt guilt weigh on her for the umpteenth time. “Why couldn't you have, y'know ... waited ... not just for Rarity's sake, but your own?” Rainbow looked as though she might add more, but, seeing Fluttershy's remorse, held her tongue.

“I should have waited,” Fluttershy admitted. “Rarity managed to forgive me, but, what I did affects all of us as best friends. Can you forgive me too?”

Rainbow Dash smiled sympathetically. “Sure, Flutters. Water under the bridge.”

Fluttershy lifted her head with a relieved smile and fluttered to her friend's side to hug her. “Thank you, Dashie.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Rainbow returned her embrace. “Just promise me you won't make me listen to any of the more personal details ... unless you absolutely have to.” Rainbow smiled nervously.

Fluttershy actually managed a light laugh and a sigh. “You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that.”

“And ...” Rainbow's smile faded, and she tightened her embrace subtly. One of her hooves stroked the back of Fluttershy's head once gently, and her voice became uncharacteristically tender, “don't scare me like that again, okay?”

Author's Note

Last revised 22 March 2015
- for style

This chapter unlocks the Mane 6 tag for this story. Sorry, Rarity-tag!

Thanks to Setokaiva for pre- and post-editing.

Sources 'n Stuff:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/4/4/1333548711318/Battleship-board-game-001.jpg
https://derpiboo.ru/643177/