To readers who finished Chapter 5 before 28 January 2015,

This chapter and Chapter 6 were split during revision. This chapter contains nothing new to the story.

How could she begin to explain? Was now the time to tell the whole truth? What was the best course of action to take now with Sweetie Belle?

Being able to cry with Twilight helped significantly to relieve part of the stress. As Twilight lay next to her, wing still wrapped around her on the purple mare’s star patterned bed, she imagined how it could be if the young princess knew everything and still loved her as a best friend. Without being able to bring herself to actually confide in her friend, however, imagine was all that Fluttershy would do.

The distraught pegasus tried to calm herself. No matter how supportive Twilight was, Fluttershy didn’t want to burden her more than she felt necessary. She had already cried with her once earlier that day. If this kept up she might surpass Rarity as drama queen. Fluttershy feared rejection enough already without being considered overly emotional and reactionary. Beside, even though Twilight wasn’t the type to ever take her friends’ concerns lightly, thought Fluttershy, it wasn’t fair to expect so much of the already overburdened pony.

For better or worse, Fluttershy barricaded her pain once more and repressed the aching sorrow enough to enable her to speak. “I—” her breathing stuttered still. “I’m sorry to do this again, Twilight.”

Twilight wished her friend weren't sorry. “Don’t be. Please, Fluttershy—I’m here to help you.”

“I’m ... just so—ashamed.” Tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

“There’s no shame at all in relying on a friend.” Twilight’s conviction showed, even though her tone was soft.

That must be true, thought Fluttershy, but, “It’s—it’s not just that ... unfortunately.”

“Can you ... tell me what it is?”

Fluttershy turned her head to face Twilight directly. From her baggy eyes to her slightly untidy mane, the pegasus looked pitiful. Fluttershy didn’t speak, but her eyes told a story—glimmered faintly. It looked to Twilight like the life in them was struggling to keep hold, like Fluttershy was fighting ... and losing against something.

Twilight swallowed back her own tears. Something had to be done, but, unless she could get Fluttershy to open up to her, there was nothing she could do short of watching the pegasus night and day to figure out what was the matter. By Celestia, she would do it, if necessary, but it would be better for Fluttershy, thought Twilight, if they could trust each other instead.

The purple mare deliberated, but only for a brief moment. The correct choice was obvious.

“There are sometimes some things that we don’t ever want anypony to know about ourselves, and, sometimes, that’s alright. ... There are other times, when trusting somepony, even though it’s hard, is the only way to make things better.” Fluttershy looked away and back nervously, fear contracting her pupils.

“Hold on a second, please.” Twilight Sparkle shut her eyes and focused, and, as she did, her horn pulsed with a familiar purple aura that glowed brighter until it reached a climactic flash. The room and everything in it except for the bed on which they lay suddenly appeared to be tinted purple. Looking carefully, from floor to ceiling, Fluttershy saw a layer of magic like the shield around Canterlot during Cadence’s wedding, enclosing the normally open loft.

Twilight’s horn lit once more, and suddenly the shield blurred, causing everything outside of it to lose significant detail. Though only a subtle change, all ambient noise ceased as well.

“Nothing we say can be heard outside of this shield, Fluttershy ...” the next part came with a bit of difficulty for the faithful student, “and I Pinkie promise ...” Twilight performed the ritual gestures then looked beneath her unshielded bed quickly and lowered her voice unnecessarily before continuing, “even if Princess Celestia were to ask me and you confessed right now to treason, to ponyslaughter, or to ... foal fiddling, I won't tell a soul without your permission.” Fluttershy wondered at Twilight’s last guess, but didn’t flinch. Her defenses in this single aspect of her life had been hardened with years of shame and fear.

The pegasus heaved a tired sigh. She couldn’t disbelieve Twilight. Fluttershy’s confidence in the mare had never before been broken, and never had she heard the purple pony be anything but reverent toward her mentor, yet now Twilight was as sincere as the yellow pony had ever seen her. It astonished her to hear such a commitment from one of the most loyal ponies she knew.

The yellow pony’s ache to be accepted nearly overwhelmed her as she recognized new hope. “Twilight”—the pegasus’s tone grew more tense with her body—“it’s more than just a secret. Could you—would you be willing to keep a secret if you knew, not just who I am right now, but who I want to become ... even if who I want to be is somepony most others will ... look down on or shun completely?”

Fluttershy felt herself grow ancient for a second, like she would wither to dust and be blown away. The feeling frightened her. In the back of her mind she knew she’d just as well turn to dust if she had to stay alone forever. If nopony would accept her, she must face the end of her hope to find love and innocence in the the foal she now ardently desired, or, though unlikely, she must find a new hope and rebuild herself to be somepony more acceptable, somepony less herself.

“What if ... the only way I believed you could help me more than you already do ... was if—” Fluttershy cut herself off, angry that she would even consider asking her friend to go so far. “N-no, Twilight. You already do so much for me—for all our friends. I ...” Again part of her fought to remain isolated, yet, as Fluttershy faced the loneliness, tears welled up. She hardened herself, holding them back with effort for her friend’s sake, but she remained torn. “I ... I want to tell you, but, please, I have to know before I can say exactly what my trouble is ... because, I know you’ll keep your word, and I can’t expect you to keep a secret that will hurt you without some way to ... vent. I can’t—” she fought back another wave of tears “—can’t poison you with my problems.” Fluttershy thought of the turmoil Twilight had gone through just to keep her hatred for modeling a secret. “What would you do, Twilight, if I had killed somepony? How would you deal with that?” Fluttershy’s eye’s pled to know she could rely on her friend.

Twilight thought quietly.

Minutes passed, and it seemed as though the magical mare was at a loss. As Fluttershy began to lose hope that there could be a way for her friend to bear the burden she asked, a powerful magic welled up and sparked within Twilight.

“Friendship. Friendship will find a way.” The adept unicorn paused to allow her conviction to sink in. “Even if our friends can’t know what’s happening, I believe that you wouldn’t do anything on purpose that would betray them ... even if you’d murdered somepony. And, well, even if you did betray our friends,” the thought brought tears to Twilight’s eyes, but she couldn’t rule out anything, “although I couldn’t betray them with you, I also would never betray you, and I would trust that, if I kept your secret, you’d let me rely on you for support. Your friendship,” Twilight concluded, “would be how I’d find the strength to press forward. I believe in you—in us—to lift each other up in the toughest of situations.”

After what felt like an eternity of suffering, hope burst through Fluttershy’s doubt. With her friend’s words, the barriers that Fluttershy had built and fortified for so long heaved and groaned and, finally, against all of her stifling fear, within the quiet calm and safety of Twilight’s purple shield, the fearful pegasus felt her inner walls collapse mightily.

“T-Twilight—” Fluttershy wept, and so much pain dissolved in tears that were no longer bitter, but grateful beyond any effort she could make to express. “Thank you—I can’t thank you enough——” The two embraced at length, and, though the pegasus's burden was already so much lighter, Fluttershy trembled still, thinking of what must come next. She held Twilight well after both had lost track of the time, as though it might be the last time she'd know her kind embrace, and Twilight reciprocated with warmth and patience to spare.

The insecure mare held her friend until she could no longer force herself to impose on the regal unicorn's tender sympathy, and, at last, she faced her fear head on with the promise of her closest friend to assure her that, whatever happened, she wouldn't have to be alone any more. Fluttershy sat back, shaking slightly still. She met Twilight's gaze with her own frightened eyes, inhaled, and ... squeaked incoherently.

“I'm ... sorry, Fluttershy. What was that?”

Shrinking back into her withers, Fluttershy took another breath, and, straining to force out the words, she managed in a voice so tiny that it needed no shield to hide it. “F-f-foal ... S-Suh-S-Sweetie.”

Twilight's expression momentarily betrayed her surprise. How could she have been right?! But as quickly as she reacted, her features became both more sympathetic and more anxious with understanding. “D-d'you mean that ... you and Sweetie Belle—” Twilight swallowed nervously. “Did you, uhm ... touch her?” Twilight ended the question in a half whisper.

The pegasus sniffled once. With what she thought would be the hardest part behind her, she hoped to feel a little better. Instead, she just felt lightheaded. “S-sort of. N-n-not really. ... Worse.”

“Can you ... tell me what happened?” Twilight's confusion shown through her worry a little.

Fluttershy breathed deep and sighed. She had been holding her breath without realizing, and the sudden intake of oxygen helped clear her head. “S-she—I ... told her I love her ... and that ... I wanted us to be together a-as very special someponies. ... I ... talked to her about ... about—” she swallowed her shame “—how I felt ... a-about s-sex, and, well ... we kissed, at first, a-and ...” Fluttershy felt a slight dizziness in addition to her anxiety, for which she closed her eyes and paused momentarily. Twilight only looked back at her friend with astonishment.

“I stopped things before they went any further than that, at first ... but Sweetie, uhm ... she ... at lunch she surprised me w-with another kiss, and I ... I didn't hold back as well that time. I still only k-kissed her, but then she and I agreed that we wanted to try m-m—more than just kissing. So, we went to the couch—” Fluttershy's breathing was extremely shallow “—but, then she changed her mind—” her breathing quickened “—except I fell asleep.” Her lower lip trembled. “I—I didn't feel her move, and then ... then she was curious, I guess. S-she—a-and then I ... let her—we ... we ...” Fluttershy trailed off, barely keeping herself from fainting at the stress of the incomplete confession.

Twilight took a calming breath. “Alright. We can get through the details on that last part in a bit, but, first, is Sweetie alright? How did you leave her?”

Fluttershy took a much needed deep breath and released a shuddering sigh. “She needs somepony to talk to. S-she probably doesn’t want anypony except you to know after the conversation we had about ... other ponies not approving. She—I—” she stammered. “She was crying, and then I almost ... I ... alm—” The pegasus’s eyes grew distant, and she didn’t finish.

Fluttershy’s odd reaction didn’t bode well, and Twilight now felt panic rising up. “You almost what?” Her tone was more urgent now.

“I ... almost ... raped her.”

Nothing could have prepared Twilight for this revelation. She clung to the word “almost” like a life preserver. She had no time to come to terms with the fact that one of her closest friends, least likely of any pony she knew, struggled with predatory instincts of that nature. Now she had multiple fires to put out. Her ability to prioritize kicked in.

Fluttershy came back to her senses somewhat, and, through the growing pain in her stomach, she watched Twilight process what she’d told her. The look of disgust and, most prominently, betrayal were hot knives to Fluttershy’s already ragged insides. She forced herself to dwell on the agony they induced and believed she deserved far worse.

Twilight’s tone was soft and almost monotone, deep disappointment audible, twisting the blades. “S—” Twilight sighed involuntarily at the feeling of being so let down by her friend and lowered her gaze from Fluttershy’s despondent expression. “Stay here, please, Fluttershy. I’m going to check on her n—”

An abrupt humming noise like a rubber band guitar interrupted Twilight. The two turned their attention to its source to see a small blurred form where the staircase would be if it weren’t shrouded by the shield. A small white hoof knocked urgently, producing further vibration, and Twilight rose to greet the would-be intruder. As Twilight set hoof on the magically shielded floor of her bedroom loft, however, something quite unexpected happened.

From the other side, a small white unicorn reared up, pressed her hooves against the shield, and, with a surge of magic, quite unanticipated, she let herself into the protected space. Sweetie Belle tumbled forward with a squeaked, “Woah!” Looking around, she saw the two mares she’d hoped to find, Twilight, gaping, and Fluttershy, as she’d feared, looking much worse for wear on the night-patterned bed next to her astonished friend. The little filly regained her hoofing and galloped, panting, to the bed.

“Fluttershy!” She attempted to catch her breath briefly. “Oh, Fluttershy, I’m so sorry!” Her words came out in a rush, fearing that it might be too late. “Twilight, please don’t do anything rash! Fluttershy didn’t do anything, and I really love her, and even though I’m much younger I can handle being together with her, and I know it’s been less than a day since we became very special someponies, but I really want to marry her and you’re the only one who can help us. Oh, please help us, and don’t make us stay apart, Princess Twilight. Please!” Fortunately, the filly’s pleas were heard only by the three ponies present, the shield having closed itself back up immediately after she entered.

“Wh—How?!” Was all Twilight managed to say until she shook her head to clear her mind. “Never mind how you got past the barrier. Sweetie, are you alright? Fluttershy told me—she said you might need help and I was just about to—”

“I’m fine, really!” Sweetie Belle answered, but she had already turned back to address Fluttershy.

The pegasus looked down at Sweetie Belle with large glistening eyes. “Sweetie Belle, I—” any apology she felt she could offer seemed woefully inadequate. To even speak the words, I'm sorry, too soon seemed like an affront. “You don’t have to be sorry. I started everything, after all.” Fluttershy glanced between Twilight and the pony she desired. Twilight looked on, perplexed by the little filly next to her.

“That’s not true, though! If you want me as your special somepony, Fluttershy,” Sweetie mustered her courage, “I deserve equal responsibility. I”—her voice trembled—“may not have as much experience and ... I’m not saying I wasn’t ... really scared earlier,” the little unicorn sniffled, “but I did something I knew was wrong b-because ... I didn’t want to wait until we were ready. ... Please, Fluttershy, accept my apology and say you’ll still be my very special somepony.”

Though obviously self-conscious in front of the lavender third party, Sweetie seemed to be coping much better than Fluttershy at the moment. Still, the kindhearted pony wouldn’t forgive herself. Regardless of her own guilt, the yellow mare was both awestruck and relieved to hear Sweetie speak wisely beyond her years. With a sigh, the emotionally worn pegasus conceded.

“O-of course, Sweetie.” Fluttershy smiled and nodded at Sweetie Belle. “You’re right, and I do forgive you, and I hope that ... if you can, you’ll also forgive me? The way I acted is inexcusable, and—” Fluttershy’s eyes watered “—I’m doing what I can to get help to control myself so that will never happen again.” Fluttershy looked at Twilight then back at Sweetie.

The little filly would have leapt onto the bed to hug Fluttershy except for present company. Instead, she made do by returning her smile and nodding vigorously. As she’d watched, Twilight’s initial anxiety transformed to minor relief followed by increasing incredulity, constantly mixed with an underlying deep concern.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy focused at last on their silent audience. There was no point holding back any more, and Sweetie Belle deserved an answer to her questions. Fluttershy echoed the angel foal’s previous request. “It’s ... so much to ask of you, I know ... and you’re already handling so much, but ... c-can you help us? Would you be willing to believe that such a ... different couple can make it and be happy together,” Fluttershy sighed again, “even with a pony as ... as muffined-up as me?”

Things had shifted from disquieting to surreal for the purple librarian in the short minute that she’d watched the mare and foal make amends. “I ...” The pony paused much longer than either Fluttershy or Sweetie Belle felt comfortable waiting. “I honestly don’t—how ... how can I justify it? What would her parents—what would Rarity say?!” Twilight spazzed out just a little before regaining her calm and trying to keep her tone gentle with the two. “It was one thing knowing you were ... involved, but to—to tolerate and even support it? Am I understanding you correctly?!”

Fluttershy nodded fearfully, and Twilight began pacing and pondering all the implications. What Fluttershy had said about keeping the secret of who she wanted to become started to make more sense. Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy each turned their focus to each other, exchanging looks of deep concern. Finally, unwilling to stay separate from Fluttershy any longer, Sweetie Belle intruded upon the bed to lay next to her. Twilight’s attention was drawn to the movement, and she watched as the two made contact. Her stomach turned and her first instinct was to separate them. The perturbed expression she wore as she glared reflexively at the two getting friendly on her bed caused both onlookers to fold their ears back anxiously. Secretly, Fluttershy was glad that Sweetie dared to cross the line that she couldn't, regardless of the agitation it caused Twilight, and she slid her tail very discreetly next to Sweetie Belle's. The contact was deeply soothing to the mare and reassuring to Sweetie. Twilight shut her eyes tightly and reigned back her displeasure with an exasperated sigh before resuming her pacing.

After watching their friend pace for half a minute, Fluttershy's thoughts turned to the foal beside her, showing increasing signs of panic as she thought of what Twilight’s current reaction meant for their immediate and extended future. “Twilight?” Fluttershy dared to interrupt her. “You'll still keep our secret like ... like you promised, won't you?”

Both she and Twilight knew the answer. Twilight met Fluttershy's gaze which then shifted to Sweetie Belle, and Twilight, too, looked at the foal, understanding. Despite her fears, Twilight couldn't stay mad at either of them. She exhaled the anger and betrayal she felt. “Your secret is completely safe with me.” Twilight smiled, but the bags forming underneath her eyes clearly indicated that this was no light task. Sweetie thanked her emphatically, and the following minutes ticked by with Twilight’s continued pacing until, finally, she arrived at a temporary solution.

“Alright. ... Fluttershy, you want my help to control your ... urges. Sweetie Belle needs some serious education, and both of you—” Twilight tensed, holding back any judgment she felt to keep her tone neutral as she finished the sentence “—want my help to ... be together. Does that seem r—accurate to both of you?”

Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle nodded. Before either of them could ask how, Twilight approached them, her expression changing from neutral concern to distress.

“I'll do everything I can to help with the first two, but, for the last one ... I need some time to think and do research, and ... can I please rely on you—” Twilight looked meaningfully at Fluttershy “—both of you,” her gaze turned to Sweetie, “to ... spend some time apart while I wrap my head around all of this?”

Sweetie watched to see Fluttershy nod immediately. “O-okay Twilight, but ... for how long?” Sweetie's eye's pled, and Twilight melted a little inside.

“Just until I know how ... or whether it's even possible that we can go about this, um ... safely.”

Sweetie looked confused. "Safely? You mean without other ponies knowing?"

"Well, partly, maybe. ... You see Sweetie," Twilight felt out of her element, despite being admittedly well-read, "there's a reason that what you and Fluttershy did—want to do," she cringed to think about it, "is taboo." Sweetie listened intently. "Usually, well, when a grown-up admits to being with or gets caught with a foal ... d-doing the kind of thing that the two of you have done—though I don't know yet exactly what happened between you—it can leave a young pony confused about healthy boundaries. And when you don’t have healthy boundaries, well, it means you can either be taken advantage of, or you may wind up feeling like ... like you can’t trust anypony, or sometimes both. In any case, friendship becomes more difficult. The relationships that keep us strong and happy, even family bonds, risk being damaged.” Twilight paused to let the lengthy answer sink in. “I’d like to make sure I’m clear so that we’ll be on the same page. Is there anything you’d like me to explain?”

Sweetie concentrated hard on her next question while Fluttershy looked a little confused next to her. “I don’t really understand why having a very special somepony when I’m little can make having other friends hard, and I thought ‘boundary’ meant a line between two areas. ... I get why staying out of each other’s space is important, but why did you say ‘healthy boundaries’ and why would they be ... confusing?”

Twilight forgot to feel anxious for a split second, impressed. “Those are very good questions! You must do well in class,” Twilight praised.

Sweetie was flattered. A small smile appeared on her mouth in spite of the situation. Now that Twilight had calmed down it seemed to Sweetie that Fluttershy had done the right thing in trusting her to help.

“There are different kinds of boundaries,” Twilight explained. “Beside the usual ones we use to mark out the space around us, there are social boundaries for how we act with one another that help us to trust or not trust other ponies. For example,” Twilight pointed with a hoof at a star on her bed. “Let’s say this is you. Without any social boundaries anypony can come right up to you and say hello, shake your hoof, or ask you how your day is going. This is good, really, most of the time, right?”

Twilight checked to see that Sweetie was with her, and saw that both she and Fluttershy seemed to be intrigued as they nodded.

“Well, what if somepony, say, somepony you really don’t know, came up to you and wanted to kiss you? Without any boundaries you’d have nothing to say no and stop it from happening. Most ponies, however,” Twilight created a small magical bubble around the star, “will say no because they feel that kissing is something too special to do with a stranger. Does that sound right to you?”

Twilight waited for both ponies to nod. “Good. That’s an example of a healthy boundary—saying no to somepony you don’t know who wants to kiss you because you want to save it for somepony special, that is—but what if you didn’t know any better, and you’d been taught that kissing anypony is okay?” The bubble disappeared.

“It wouldn’t be special any more,” Sweetie chimed in.

“That’s correct! Also, your friends and family would worry about who you’ve been kissing, and, if you have a special somepony, maybe they’d feel less special, like you don’t care about them as much. Without any boundaries at all, what if a crazy pony came up to you and asked to kiss you, but they ended up biting you?”

“I see what you mean now,” Sweetie responded.

Twilight nodded encouragingly. “On the other hoof, let’s say that somepony you trusted comes to your boundary and asks to kiss you. You can open up and let that pony into your boundary if you trust them to treat the kiss as special as you do, but if either of you then chooses to kiss another pony, it can hurt the other's trust, except in special circumstances like family, maybe,” she amended.

Twilight waited for her friends to process. When both returned her eye contact, she continued.

“If your trust is hurt very badly by somepony, then, if you don't know any better, you may feel like your kisses aren't special any more because you gave away your kiss to somepony who didn't respect you in the end.” Twilight's illustrative bubble faded and flickered. “Or you may decide that nopony at all is worth trusting and be lonely.” Twilight's weak translucent bubble suddenly turned solid and opaque before vanishing.

“Because you're very young, Sweetie, you may not know any better. Even if I were to try and teach you now about the consequences of being in a-a ... sexual relationship, what you learn from me or Fluttershy might not be enough to impress ... just how super special it is, because that kind of understanding only comes with years of experience to ponies who've grown up with and learned healthy boundaries. Without any way to know whether a foal is ready for sex, except that they reach—they become older, the ponies who know better and care about you will almost definitely become upset if they find out somepony has crossed that boundary with you.”

Sweetie Belle understood now, but she didn't like it. Again she was being labeled for her age. That in itself wasn't so bad, she thought, except that this time it felt especially unfair, keeping her from being with Fluttershy.

Twilight and Fluttershy both watched the foal's change in demeanor as she fought to accept that this was just how things were. The small unicorn sighed.

“I agree to keep my distance from Fluttershy until you feel it's safe, because I trust Fluttershy, but, Princess Twilight,” she thought she should use the title out of respect in light of what she was about to say, “I think ... even if other foals are like you said ... and, maybe, even if I'm like that too, it still feels wrong to be separated from my very special somepony.”

Twilight sighed, feeling sorry for the little unicorn, and Fluttershy dared, with a pained expression, to finally extend her wing to comfort her very young, very special somepony. Twilight felt no will to object to the tender act. “For what it's worth, Sweetie, it feels bad to me too right now, but I care too much about both of you to run the risk, and ... I promise you both, Sweetie, Fluttershy, I'll make my research as quick as possible.”

Fluttershy's gears had been turning. “Twilight,” the soft pegasus spoke, “maybe ... could Sweetie and I both come in together in a few days when you're here, just to read and talk together maybe? Or,” she added quickly, “i-if you're worried that might still not be safe for us, maybe something ... something else?”

Both unicorns brightened at this idea. “That's a great idea, Fluttershy.” the winged unicorn agreed. “In fact, you two should come in as often as possible ... when I'm here, of course. You can help me research, and I can give both of you some appropriate books on the subject to read and, when there's time, to discuss!”

It didn't sound like cuddle time by any means, but the new couple wasn't picky. Their smiles made it clear that they accepted the compromise.

Mid-afternoon passed into late afternoon as Twilight set temporary boundaries for their future visits, and, amid much embarrassed stammering and blushing from all three of them, the studious purple mare collected the finer details of the day's events and their history together prior from both ponies. As Fluttershy began to describe what led her to nearly lose control of herself back at the cottage, Twilight stopped her and thanked her.

“We'll get more into that at a later time,” when Sweetie wasn't around, Fluttershy inferred, and she was grateful for that. “It sounds like you were really in deep, though. What made you stop and come here, Fluttershy?”

“An-Angel.” Fluttershy stammered.

“Sorry. Did you say ... an angel?” Twilight looked confused.

“Oh s-sorry! I meant Angel Bunny.”

“Oh of course!” Twilight chuckled briefly.

“I think he really was an angel,” Sweetie added softly. The memory produced an aching sensation in her head and stomach. Fluttershy, watching the filly, shivered and wept.

“I'm so sorry, Sweetie,” Fluttershy sniffled and held back her sobs.

Sweetie Belle nuzzled her fillyfriend's shoulder. “I'm okay now, Fluttershy, and it wasn't really your fault, anyway.”

Fluttershy shook her head.

“Equal responsibility, remember? Though I think it's less blame than I deserve.” The kind mare nuzzled the filly in return.

Twilight was pained to see her friends admit their shame, but she felt it important for their sakes to finish the accounting of what happened. “What was going through your mind before it stopped, Sweetie Belle?”

The filly winced at the memory. “I ... was scared. I thought, maybe ... I lost Fluttershy as my friend, and then when I felt her hoof moving toward my ... my spot, I,” Sweetie shuddered and closed her eyes. Several seconds passed and the filly struggled, reliving the terror.

“You were scared, and Fluttershy had changed,” Twilight repeated, “and she was touching you or about to touch you? Could you move away?”

“I don't—m-maybe, but ... I couldn't stop looking at her stare,” the filly breathed shallow and tense, “a-and then she was over me.”

Twilight nodded, her expression clearly agonized, but Sweetie was too wrapped up in the memory to notice. The princess pushed a little more. “What were you thinking when you noticed her hoof moving?”

Sweetie took a shuddering breath. “I ... I thought,” she looked up at Fluttershy with all she felt plain on her face, “you wanted to hurt me there because of what I did.”

Through her tears, Fluttershy denied it. “No! No, I couldn't do it! I—” Fluttershy's breathing was nearly panicked “—I wouldn't—I ...” she struggled to clam herself, “I mean, I—I wanted t-to make you feel ... what I f-felt, and ... what I'd felt was ... good, b-but ... but I wasn't in my right mind. Oh, Sweetie! I should never have even thought about forcing you—a-about touching y-you without your permission!”

“B-but ... your stare? Fluttershy,” Sweetie Belle looked down and back up at her friend as she considered looking for answers that she knew would only cause her more pain. “I-it was my fault,” Sweetie finished sadly.

“I'll find a way to make it up to you. I'll—I'll explain why I acted that way as soon as I can, but ... Sweetie, I'm sorry. I can't right now. I don’t really know how. It’s ... complicated.” Fluttershy’s eyes were apologetic. The two nuzzled each other once more.

“I'm alright. Please, Fluttershy, I don't want to see you sad.” Fluttershy stopped her tears at the filly's request and smiled halfheartedly, but she couldn't hide the pain in her eyes.

“Thank you both for telling me.” Twilight was moved by the exchange. “It means a lot that you trust me, and I think you're both very strong to face what happened.” Twilight cleared her throat of emotion before moving on. “So Angel interceded.” Twilight paused and wondered at her subconscious's choice of wording. “What did you do then, Fluttershy?”

The pegasus sniffled. “I, well ... I used the ... stare on him as well, but, thankfully, Angel wore a blindfold, a-and he blocked m-me from ... from Sweetie Belle.” Fluttershy still didn't want to believe she was culpable. Though it caused her great distress, she hid her emotion as best she could for Sweetie's sake. “I realized I was making a terrible mistake and ran to the door ... and I told Sweetie she could go when she wanted before I flew here,” Fluttershy finished.

Twilight nodded. “Sweetie, what happened after Fluttershy left? How did you know Fluttershy was here?”

“Well, I looked around the cottage and at the edge of the forest, but then I remembered Fluttershy talked about how you might be able to help us. ... At first, right after Fluttershy left, Angel stayed nearby for a little, and I stopped crying, a-and then he disappeared for a minute, and he came back and gave me a ... a posy with daffodils and ... pink tulips.” Sweetie looked distant and trailed off a little at the end before blinking away whatever distracted her and refocusing. “I don’t know if he meant it that way, but it made me realize that I should go ... find the pony I love.” Sweetie turned her gaze toward Fluttershy who, even with bags under her eyes, visibly blushed at the confession.

“I love you too, Sweetie.” She choked a little at the end, and the sudden warmth dispelled much of the shame she’d felt from recounting what happened. Fluttershy secured her wing more tightly around the Elysian foal and was suddenly extremely grateful that they would be able to spend time safely together while Twilight tried to find a way to help them. Not seeing each other while their relationship was still newborn really would have been unbearable.

With that, Twilight decided to bring their session to its conclusion. There was still a lot to discuss, even without having started her research, but she thought it best not to overdo it. Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle gratefully accepted the invitation to stay longer and begin reading what Twilight assigned them.

Fluttershy’s focus on As a Mare Thinketh was broken often as she peeked at Sweetie who stared, red-faced, at the pages of A Filly’s Guide to Herself. The yellow pony imagined what the filly could be reading and what she might be thinking.

When evening came, Spike provided the group with dinner, shortly after which Fluttershy had to return home for the remainder of her work before it grew dark. Sweetie remained a bit longer, finishing her book, and asked Twilight a few questions in private.

Her reading had described how the penis enters the vagina, but, being a book for fillies, it left out parts about how colt anatomy worked. She was particularly curious about how the male member managed and maintained its rigidity. Overall the book was very thorough, and, whether it had been Twilight’s intention or not, Sweetie Belle felt much better prepared for when she and Fluttershy would be ready as a couple—she continued to hope it would be soon. Twilight’s answers to her questions were satisfactory if a bit over-technical.

When Sweetie returned to her sister’s boutique (her second home for all intents and purposes), she recounted what the three ponies at the library had rehearsed regarding the day’s activities. “Fluttershy taught me a lot about plants and flowers.” Rarity thought little of it, but she thought she saw the filly blush a little.

Her story included as much of the truth as possible while leaving out anything that would raise suspicion. The tricky part had been Twilight’s excuse to ditch flight training with Rainbow and Scootaloo. They’d settled on Fluttershy needing urgent help to research a cure for Bucky the goat’s sudden illness, the details of which Twilight left to Fluttershy to fabricate.

The day had ended well for all its bumps and turns. ...

That night, Sweetie Belle lay in bed once again, thinking about everything that had happened and might happen. She had actively resisted the urge to explore her filly parts, despite the intensely pleasant sensation she remembered from earlier. Something told her that what Fluttershy had said about sexual feelings changing a pony was true, and she didn’t want to risk complicating things further.

Her thoughts lingered at last on Fluttershy’s mental break, what it meant, and how she felt responsible until, finally, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Upon arrival at her cottage, Fluttershy had given Angel Bunny extra special treatment, which he accepted warmly and without hesitation. With all her chores finished, the exhausted mare finished her day tucked in bed with the book she’d taken home lying open where it had fallen next to her, and she, too, finally drifted to sleep.

Meanwhile, in Golden Oaks Library, Twilight’s night had only begun.

Author's Note

Last revision published: 28 January 2015
- for punctiation and flow
- split into 2 separate chapters.

Original Note for chapters 5 & 6 combined:
This one took a bit longer than other chapters, but it was more emotionally harrowing and a bit longer after all.
So yeah.

I might take 2 extra weeks (about a month total) before I post the next chapter if I decide to participate in the foalcon group's crackship writing contest. We'll see right?

In the mean time, if you wouldn't mind, please let me know how you think (if you think) my writing has improved and if any problems have persisted through the latest chapter.

As always, thanks for reading and commenting folks!

Edit - 12/31/14 : Revised for punctuation, flow, and voice.