Magic flickered, reflected in a mirror and in also in the eyes of a beautiful unicorn.
A final stroke and a bit of rubbing and the last remnants of bags were hidden beneath a fine layer of makeup.
Rarity set down the utensils and let out a sigh.
It was difficult, but finally, all remnants of the earlier tears were covered and even the earlier bloodshot eyes had their old luster back.
No more reddened cheeks, swollen muzzle or smeared mascara.
Beauty restored: Check.
A look towards the clock.
Six, sharp.
It was time to lose Spike’s affection forever.
*Don’t, Rarity!* the unicorn thought sadly *It had to come sooner or later and it has been nice until now. But you can’t lead him on like that… Now when there is this secret between you! And not when… when…*
Only biting down hard on the inside of the cheek could suppress another onslaught of tears.
Rarity inspected the reflection in the mirror again: She looked fabulous, there was no doubt about it.
Her coat was glistening white that made pearls blush with envy. Hair that cascaded from her head and spiraled in a perfect way. A tail that could make any stallion turn his head on the street.
Only the smile… the smile that once won the heart of a little dragon. That smile would not come.
If it just had not been for the last few days. If things had been different. If Spike hadn’t talked done everything in his might to talk her into going on a date with him.
If he hadn’t been such delightful company and a perfect gentledrake.
If he wasn’t everything a mare could ask from not just a stallion, but from something she had dreamed of since she was small: from a prince.
“Time for the fairy tale to end…” Rarity stated grimly and focused her magic on the object that lay on her drawer: The fire ruby.
She had taken it out of the necklace, which fit her so incredibly well and polished it to perfection.
Today, she would give it back.
The sound of a knock on the door echoed through the boutique and it sounded to Rarity as if the firing squad had just presented their rifles.
“Coming!” she said with forced cheerfulness and turned to go. Time to face the bullets.
Rarity had refrained from putting on any clothes and even kept her makeup on the casual side. But the fit earlier had forced her to go all out. The naked truth was not supposed to be pretty, but a lady could pretend.
Lady
How much she loved this word.
Spike was wearing a black vest with a hoofkerchief in the pocket. The one that made him look so incredibly mature and smartly dressed. He was also sporting a huge grin that instantly turned to a dreamy gaze, as soon as the door revealed the target of his deepest affections.
“Good evening, Spike.” Rarity said softly, forcing herself to be as chipper as possible “Punctual as expected. Come in, we have much to discuss.”
The dragon snapped out of his stupor and nodded vehemently. “Sure, Rarity. Thank you for the invitation.” He answered happily.
Rarity nodded and turned to go inside. She remained quiet as she led him through the boutique and towards the kitchen. Spike was beyond happy about the sudden invitation but as he was following his princess through the dark room, he felt a strange shiver running down his back. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t put his claw on what it was. Maybe he would have had more than a slight feeling, had he seen the mannequin behind the curtain. The one that had several huge tears and most of its stuffing torn out.
I the kitchen, a kettle of tea was bubbling and two cups were waiting to be filled. Though they didn’t manage to demand attention as much as the brown cardboard box on the table. It contained all his gifts to her, with the fire ruby on top like a worrying cherry.
Rarity, ever the perfect host, prepared the tea silently.
The dragon accepted the cup thankfully, well aware that its content was exactly to his taste after the way through the cold evening air.
“So… what is it you wanted to talk about?” Spike asked with a bit of tension in his voice. He felt less and less secure.
“Spike…” Rarity started and let out a deep sigh. For a moment she just stopped talking and looked at him, as if forcing herself to speak. After seconds that felt like days, she finally managed to continue. “Spike. It is time for me to end this.”
“What?” the dragon asked surprised.
“Over the last few years, you have been a wonderful part of my life.” Rarity continued, feeling her cheeks and eyes burn “Early, I figured out that you had a crush on me. At first, I convinced myself that It was simply childish infatuation and that you would soon find a new target or grow tired of adoring me. But you kept going. And then, you gave me the fire ruby, chose a life among ponies over a life among dragons and did so much more.” The unicorn gave the dragon a pressed smile “I grew fonder of you by the day and soon, the little compliments stopped being just a little petting of my ego and became more… they made my heart leap.”
Spike blushed and opened his mouth, but a soft hoof was placed on his lips.
“And this is where the dream ends and reality has to rear its ugly head.” Rarity continued with a kind of relieved despair. Once you put your head on the chopping block, you might as well relax and enjoy the fact that the wood is not too hard and you didn’t catch a splinter. “Spike, I care about you deeply. I care about you so much that I can no longer go on like this. I can no longer watch you having these feelings for me without knowing the truth.” She closed her eyes and held back few tears “A sad and ugly truth that I have kept from almost all of our friends.” Rarity shook her head and looked deep into Spike’s eyes. “But I have one… no, I beg of you, do this for me: Listen to all I have to say. Judge me, hate me, but let me finish, please.”
Somewhere in the speech, Spike’s jaw had dropped. Rarity knew? She cared about him? She had a terrible secret? He didn’t need to think about it. “Everything for you!” he said firmly.
It earned him a soft smile. “Spike…” Rarity began with a soft voice “Only Sweetie Belle, my parents and Fluttershy know what I am about to tell you. Only the ponies closest to me are to know this.”
“Your secret is safe with me, Rarity!” Spike answered valiantly. Whatever it was Rarity would tell him, he would take it to his grave.
Rarity nodded and tears began glistening in her eyes. Partially because of how happy he made her but mostly because she knew that he would never make her this happy again. Not once he knew.
“Spike…” she began carefully “I was not born a mare.”
The young dragon literally froze. He had mentally prepared for anything. ANYTHING! And now she was just pulling his leg. In a moment, Pinkie would jump out of that box and they would all have a good laugh.
“25 years ago, my mother gave birth to a beautiful little baby. But there was one thing wrong with the baby. It was not a filly. It was a colt.” Rarity continued sadly. “Of course, at the time, nopony imagined that that would one day become a problem. But at some point in his life, that colt understood that nature had made a mistake. He was very different from his fellow colts. He had been born with the soul of a filly. And no matter what his parents, his friends or his teachers said and did, he knew that he would always want to be a filly and one day a mare.” Finally she felt two hot trails roll over her cheeks and almost blurted the last sentence out “Spike. That was and still is me!”
“Bububububububuub--- BUT you are Rarity! The most beautiful unicorn in Equestria!” Spike almost yelled back “The paragon of female beauty! The best fashionista know to ponydom!” he shook his head violently “You… you can’t be a guy!”
Rarity forced a smile through the tears. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that.” She said sadly “Twilight and equally smart ponies would probably call it subconscious overcompensation or something smart like that. But I know that I am a mare… I feel like one and I don’t pretend! Would a stallion have a fainting couch? Would a stallion spend endless hours of his life in front of a mirror, trying to look perfect?” She paused for a very short moment “Would a stallion pray to every single star, every night of his life that he would wake up a mare?” Rarity shook her head and sobbed “But every day, I wake up in this… this alien body!”
“But… you…” Spike stuttered “Stallions have… You…”
“It is a rather elaborate illusion spell.” Rarity explained calmly “Too complex for me to cast, so I had it woven into the scrunchy, I use for my tail.”
“So… that little band on your tail makes you look the way you are?” Spike asked and earned a glare.
“Rigorous and precise exercise, a careful diet and hours in front of my mirror are responsible for what you see before you!” Rarity stressed and held her head up with pride “The band merely disguises my… my stallionhood.” She let out a sigh and wiped her tears away with one hoof “As much as I want to take the credit, but I am luckier with this body than most others of my… misfortune. It has always been feminine enough to work with. Even my voice… my puberty was good to me in this regard. It took me a while to master it, but it takes me basically no effort to sound the way, I do.”
“Unless you get all excited or angry… then it goes all scratchy.”
“It does?” Rarity asked confused but quickly shook her head “Anyways… yes, it is not too difficult to keep my voice from betraying me.”
The shock had slowly left Spike and confusion had taken its place. “But… at the Gala! What made you think that prince Blueblood would…”
“Wouldn’t it be the perfect end to the fairy tale?” Rarity asked dreamily “After a life of misery and torment, the handsome prince finds his princess. But when her terrible secret is revealed, he takes her to his aunt and princess Celestia, with her endless magic, simply lightens up her horn and the princess is free of her flaw… but alas, Blueblood was no prince and when I stayed in Canterlot, Celestia explained that even she cannot correct a mistake made by nature itself. I am trapped in this body of mine… no magic known to ponydom can change it. Not even Zecora with all her potions or modern Equestrian medicine can cure me of this curse.”
Spike swallowed. This was wrong. Rarity was pouring her… his? Heart out. And all he could do was sit here. Maybe he could find out what others thought? “Your family… how did they take it?” the dragon asked carefully.
“Better than most, worse than few…” Rartiy answered sadly “Mother was very understanding. Maybe she sensed that something was amiss during the pregnancy. Maybe she saw the signs in my early years. I am not sure. Father took a little longer. He loves me, but he has yet to accept that he was cheated out of having a son. Luckily, he is stallion enough to find the blame with fate and not with me. Sweetie Belle… she is wise beyond her age in some regards. She understands that her older sister is cursed and that it is something that should remain with the family.”
Spike looked at the table and swallowed. Realization was slowly setting in: This was not a joke, a prank or anything like that. Rarity, his Rarity, the peak of female grace and beauty was apparently serious in her claims. Awkwardly, he scratched the back of his head, trailing his spikes, not daring to look at her.
“I understand that you must be abhorred…” Rarity said softly, her lip trembling with bottled up emotion.
Spike looked up. No, it was not like that. He felt betrayed to some degree, but not revolted. “I… I just don’t know what to say.” He answered slowly “Or what to think…”
“I’m sorry, Spike.” The unicorn sobbed as another burst of tears came. “But please! It was not an act! I don’t act the way I do because I want to fool anyone! The Rarity you know is me! I am a fashionista, the element of generosity, sometimes a drama queen and inside, deep inside, I am a mare! I just wasn’t born one! And if there was a way to turn myself into one, I would in an instant!” The torrent of tears won and Rarity began sobbing loudly. “I’m so sorry!” she cried between the sobs “I am so horrible! You deserve a princess! I wanted to reject you! I wanted to spare you the dashed hope! But every time you complimented me, every time you looked at me with those loving, longing eyes, I felt so wonderful! You made me feel like the princess, I always wanted to be and I abused your affection! I am sorry, Spike! I am so sorry!” The sobbing and blubbering pile that used to be a unicorn slouched onto the table and softly whispered more and more apologies.
Spike bit his lip. He hated seeing Rarity cry. He hated seeing the pony he cared so deeply about suffer. Slowly, he got off his seat and slowly moved towards the crying unicorn. The little dragon sighed deeply and slowly wrapped his arms around the pony’s neck.
Rarity let out a sharp breath a trembled under the touch, unable to say anything but a few sobs and insecure whines. Almost against her will, she embraced the small dragon back and rested her cheek on his temple.
Spike closed his eyes and felt his eyes moisten. It felt so right. He was comforting the pony he loved. After all this time of teasing and small displays of affections, that he had treasured like other dragons would treasure a hoard, he was finally embracing Rarity. He was touching that wonderfully soft, pristine coat and it felt even better than he had imagined. He could feel those perfectly hooficured and elegant legs hold him close and firm. And he could feel her hear heart beet somewhere beneath his cheek, which was pressed against a wonderfully soft chest.
Could this really be wrong? Was he really embracing a stallion right now?
And even if: Did it make her coat any less soft, her hooves any less gentle or her beauty any less stunning?
As the sobs slowly died down, Spike let go and took a step back.
Rarities eyes were swollen and her mascara was smeared. Still, she looked beautiful to him.
“Rarity.” Spike said softly looking at the unicorn with concerned eyes. “Please, remove the hairband…”
“What?”
The dragon bit his lip and focused all his courage. “I care about you, Rarity. And I want to know how you really look. Even if this is not the body you want or need, it is the one you have. I… think I deserve to see it after everything I have done for you…” he finished.
Rarity lowered her gaze. She was not used to such harsh words from her Spikey-Wikey. But what had the cursed pony expected? Slowly, a magical aura formed around the small and often overlooked band that held her tail in place and pulled it off.
The change was so subtle, is barely visible. A slight change on the curve of the hip was all, Spike noticed at first. But after looking a bit closer, he could see the appendages that betrayed a pony’s sex.
He had to admit, it seemed wrong. Seeing this wonderful, feminine beauty with the attribute of stallionhood between her hind legs.
Slowly, he took a step forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Still soft.
Still sent a tingle down his spine.
Yet…
The dragon let out a sigh and looked the unicorn in the eyes. “Kiss me…” he muttered softly.
“What?”
“You kissed me before!” Spike said gently “Kiss me again, please! I want to know if it is as you say! If you really are no longer the Rarity, I love!”
Rarity nodded and placed a soft kiss on the dragon’s cheek. It was not as sweet and affectionate as they had been before, but the unicorn’s state was far from chipper and grateful right now.
Still, Spike felt his cheeks burn slightly. He didn't collapse in a pile of hearts, as he had done before, but he felt his heart quicken as the soft lips touched his scales.
They hadn't become coarse or rugged.
The dragon swallowed and let out a soft sigh. “I… I… I need some time.” He said softly. He was just too confused right now. “I am not disgusted. I still care about you… I still feel for you… but the idea that you are… that you… you know.”
“Believe me, I do.” Rarity answered sadly.
“Just give me a few days to think and some time to ponder…” he added and averted his gaze. He sighed. “I need to think and figure this out.”
The unicorn nodded softly and returned the band to her tail. “I wish I could be the princess, you deserve.” She added sadly.
Spike didn’t answer. He didn’t have an answer. He just gave the unicorn before him another hug and let her bring him to the front door. He rejected taking the gifts back halfheartedly and left with his head hanging. His mind was racing and he knew that he had to figure this out, no matter how long it took.
Author's Note
This is based on a post in the Sparity forum and I had to write it down. What Spike did for Rarity and what will happen next are purposefully kept vague. Probably not my best work, but sometimes, you have to write what you brain demands.
Fluttering with the Truth
It was a dark and stormy night.
No, rather, it would soon be a dark and stormy night.
Not that this occurred to two ponies, who were currently busy inside a very distinct, very unique and very new carousel-shaped boutique in the town of Ponyville.
One, a vanilla-pudding colored Pegasus was holding an incredibly adorable, small kitty and slowly dripping drop after drop of worm-medicine into its mouth. Young Opal, curious cat, that she was, had eaten the wrong thing and gotten herself a few uninvited guests and it was a joy for the animal caretaker of Ponyville to ensure that those guests would leave quickly. The cat was, after all, her best friend’s.
The other pony, an alabaster unicorn, was busy lifting crates and mannequins with her magic and putting them away. It was mostly tedious work, necessary, since the unicorn in question had gone a bit overboard ordering fabrics, replacement mannequins and other items, not expecting the Equestrian Postal service to deliver not only on time, but all at once.
“I can’t thank you enough, Fluttershy.” Rarity, fashionista and future element of generosity, said after putting another mannequin away. “I don’t know what my baby did to deserve this fate, but I am so grateful that you are helping her!”
Fluttershy, still holding and softly stroking the kitty, put the pipette down with her mouth and smiled back. “It’s noting Rarity. Poor Opal should be fine soon.” She nuzzled the kitty with her cheek “Right, Opal? And don’t eat stuff you find outside anymore! Only what mommy Rarity gives you, you hear?”
Opal gave a loud mew and stuck out her tongue, disgusted by the medicine, but happy about the affection she received after every drop.
“Right, Opal! Mommy provides all you need!” Rarity stressed dramatically “You don’t want those horrid, disgusting parasites, right?”
“Oh, don’t be so harsh, Rarity.” Fluttershy answered softly “Those worms just want to live too…”
“They can live wherever they want, as long as it is not in my Opal!” the alabaster unicorn answered and stomped her hoof down to punctuate the issue. “My baby is not available housing!”
The soft spoken pegasus couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s outburst. Ever since she had moved to her small cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville two years ago, Rarity had been a wonderful and generous friend.
Their first meeting had been a tad scary, though.
Fluttershy had just moved in with her new friends (all of them animals) and set up the chicken houses. Admittedly, Fluttershy was not the kind of pony to go around without at least some grooming, but her new friends were hungry and she needed to get them something to eat, so she had ignored the straw in her tail, the fact how messy her hair was and the dirt and dust on her coat.
What she couldn’t ignore was the loud shriek that tore through her flesh and bone and would have sent her straight into the air, if it hadn’t been for her heavy saddle bags. Seconds later, a white and purple blur had seized her, demanded to know where she lived and told her, she would come over later to “serve the will of fashion”.
That later turned out to be a very nice afternoon of getting her hair done, her tail straightened and a relaxing cup of tea and conversation. Rarity had been entranced with Fluttershy’s elegance and gentle demeanor and the pegasus enjoyed the open politeness of the fashion loving unicorn.
Their tea parties had become more and more regular and ever since Lotus and Aloe had opened a spa in Ponyville, the two mares got together weekly to enjoy an afternoon of being groomed and treated well.
Two years had come and gone and now, the two mares were as close as two mares could be.
The pegasus gave Opal a final drop of the nasty medicine and finally closed the bottle. “You have been very brave, Opal!” she said, snuggling the kitty, who mewed proudly. “Now you can go and play with your mousy. Your rubber mouse, not Mr. Mousy who lives in my wall.”
The kitty mewed defiantly and jumped off the pegasus to run for her toy with gusto.
“Your hoof with animals is incredible, Fluttershy. Opal can be a bit of a rough kitty sometimes, but she is so gentle when you are around.”
“It’s no big deal…” the pegasus smiled back and waved a hoof.
“Can I offer you a cup of tea? You have been talking to the poor dear all the time, your mouth must be terribly dry.” Rarity offered as Opal zipped past her.
“That would be very kind.” Fluttershy admitted with a smile.
“Just take a sea, darling, the kettle is as good as on!” Rarity giggled and left the room.
The yellow pony did as offered, relaxing and letting out a long breath. As much as she loved taking care of animals and living amongst her friends, getting out and a bit away from all the noise and often bickering was nice.
It didn’t take Rarity long to return with a kettle and two cups with saucers and soon, the two ponies were engaged in a lively conversation about Rarity’s great plans for a new line for fall.
“I do like subtlety from time to time, but autumn is such a wonderful occasion to go all out with colors!” the fashionista explained happily. “Leave motives and chestnut earrings and maybe something like a nice grape brooch! Oh, so much possibilities!”
“That does sound pretty…” Fluttershy admitted softly but eagerly. The creativity and drive of the fashion pony did impress her every time.
Suddenly a strange glint appeared in Rarity’s eyes. “And it will be, because you will become the first to own a dress of this line!”
“I will?” Fluttershy asked meekly.
“Oh, yes!” the fashionista agreed eagerly and finished her tea. “Come, drink up, we have to take some measurements! I will make you a brand new dress of my line as a token of gratitude for taking such good care of my little baby! It’s the least I can do1”
“That is nice, Rarity, but I can’t accept that.”
“I insist, Fluttershy! I have so much spare fabric and more than enough time at hoof!” the unicorn pressed on and stepped closer to Fluttershy with gleaming eyes “Please, you would look so great in gentle green! Maybe a few blues to accessorize. Or maybe a red or two… not too much, though, it would clash with your mane… unless we put it up with a slightly bigger pin! Oh, I feel the ZONE approaching!”
The soft spoken pegasus had no more chance to react. She was literally grabbed by the fashionista and dragged her out of the kitchen and into the working area.
Fluttershy gasped softly, as Rarity set her down and told her not to move, while she grabbed a measuring tape with her magic.
The tape snaked out and around Fluttershy’s barrel, making the pegasus shiver for a second.
“Wait…” Rarity muttered in surprise “That can’t be right… Darling, would you spread your wings for a second?”
The pegasus obeyed and the unicorn gasped. “Incredible! Darling, your wings and you hair obscure it, but you have a model’s measurements.” Rarity stated. A hint of envy stung her for a moment. What would she give for such a body? Quickly, she pushed the thought aside. “Hm… something slimming and maybe wine red and you’d have to fight the bachelors off with a stick.”
“Then I don’t want it!” Fluttershy gasped and pressed her body flat on the ground.
“Oh, you don’t have to, my dear! I’m just teasing.” Rarity giggled and gently stroked the pegasus’ shoulder. “Then just a-“
Rarity was interrupted by a loud thunderclap.
“Goodness! Was a storm scheduled for tonight?” the unicorn asked with confusion.
Fluttershy looked up. “Yes, but not before seven.” She said quietly and turned towards the next clock. “Oh dear, I have completely overlooked the time! It’s already half past seven! I have to get home before-“
Another lightning struck and within a heartbeat, hard, heavy rain began falling.
“It starts to rain…” the pegasus finished.
“Oh dear, there is no way I let you walk outside in this rain!” Rarity stressed “If you go outside now, you’ll end up soaked to the bone!”
Fluttershy let out a soft whine, which made Rarity raise her eyebrows. “Is it about your friends, darling?” she asked carefully.
“Erm… no… not really.” The pegasus answered awkwardly “I knew that a storm was coming and made sure everything is secure and ready, so I could spend more time with Opal. I just…” she stopped herself. She couldn’t tell Rarity that she was horribly afraid of thunderstorms. So much that she couldn’t sleep through them without her Teddybear! It was much too humiliating! “I just would prefer going home…”
“I’m sorry, dear, but I can’t allow this!” Rarity stressed as another thunderclap tore through the sky. “I have more than enough place!” She stopped herself and looked at the stuffed place “Well, if we huddle up a bit, we have…” she admitted sheepishly.
Fluttershy bit her lip softly. “If you say so, Rarity.” She added. “Thank you for the hospitality.”
The evening came and the two ponies continued to take measurements and Rarity quickly drew a few sketches to give Fluttershy a broad picture. But as the storm refused to become calmer or less scary to the yellow pegasus, they soon decided to call it a night and go to bed. Even Opal was hiding in her basket, clearly uneasy with the weather.
Here, they faced a problem. Both the guest room and the living room were filled with the deliveries from earlier and Rarity felt bad about having Fluttershy sleep in the sales area, where she was basically on display for anyone who happened to walk by.
“We could just share your bed.” Fluttershy offered carefully and looked to the side. “We are both mares, right?” Maybe if she had Rarity close, she could ignore the thunder and the lightning.
For a second, Rarity became paler than usual. “Right…” she answered quickly and smiled as chipper as possible. It was just one night, right? No big deal!
Luckily her bed was big enough for Rarity to scoop to one side and keep a lot of space between herself and Fluttershy. She would just keep her magical scrunchie on and sleep through the night. Taking measurements on the pegasus had proven yet again that she was hardly into other mares. She envied their beauty and wished, she had a body like them, but she did not desire them. Or maybe it was because Fluttershy was such a good friend? Maybe she would bare her secret to the meek pegasus at some point. Deciding against using her sleeping mask tonight, the unicorn relaxed and closed her eyes.
Rain drummed against the windows and the roof.
A fork of lightning raced over the sky and white light filled the room. An earth shattering thunder roared and even the usually brave fashionista gasped at the loud sound. What were those weather ponies thinking? Had they allowed that wall eyed pegasus to line up the thunderclouds?
Lightning flashed again, but before the next thunderclap followed, Rarity could swear, she heard a sob from the other side of the bed. She shifted around to face the other pony, but yet another loud thunderclap shook the house and before Rarity could react, Fluttershy jumped and wrapped her fore legs around the unicorn’s belly. A teary cheek was pressed against her chest and sobs followed the next heavenly growling.
“Fluttershy?” Rarity asked in surprise but the only answer were sobs and gasps, following the growling outside.
The pegasus was clinging with a strength to the unicorn that went beyond what her small frame implied. Rarity tried to push her away, Fluttershy kept holding onto the unicorn.
This was bad!
No matter how much Rarity disliked her anatomy and how well the scrunchy hid it, it was still there! And biology dictated that when you rubbed that anatomy against something like feathers or a soft coat, like Fluttershy was doing, said anatomy reacted.
“Fluttershy, let go!” Rarity hissed and fought harder. And she had been so proud not to feel as much as a twich, when she had taken Fluttershy’s measures.
But the pegasus just let out several sobs and squeezed tighter. Another lightning cracked the sky and thunder shook the town. Fluttershy yelped loudly and buried her muzzle in Rarity’s chest.
“Fluttershy! I beg you! Let me go!” Rarity hissed louder and pushed against the pegasus head. But that just made her slide down on her body. AND THAT WAS NOT HELPING!
“Fluttershy! Please! In the name of Celestia! Let me go!” Rarity wailed, desperate and filled with shame. Was this the punishment for deceiving the pegasus for so long? Two years of friendship, gone in an instant, when Fluttershy would feel something invisible poke her.
But suddenly, the pegasus spoke. “I’m sorry, Rarity, but I can’t!” she whimpered “I am so afraid of thunderstorms! I never talk about it and I never mention it, because I am so ashamed, but I am so afraid! I know that it is a silly thing to keep a secret and I should have been honest to you, but I was too scared that you laugh at me, like they always did back in Cloudsdale!”
Those words struck Rarity hard. “Fluttershy…” the unicorn quietly said “You… you are not the only one with a secret.” She felt her eyes sting with tears and gently padded the pegasus head “Please, you need to let go… I have something to confess as well and I can’t let you touch me any longer until you know!”
Fluttershy calmed a little from Rarity’s gentle padding and let go. Luckily, the thunder had calmed down and gave the two a few calmer moments.
Rarity’s horn flickered and the light went on. The unicorn scooped back until there was a reasonable bit of distance between herself and the pegasus. “Fluttershy…” she said slowly and as calmly as possible. “When you said that we were both mares, I was not entirely honest with you.”
The meek pegasus only raised her eyebrows questioningly.
“You see… goodness… how to put it.” Rarity said loudly, feeling lost. “Let me start anew: I beg of you as your friend. What I will tell you now has to stay between us. Only my closest family knows this about me. You… you are my best friend and I think it is only right if I share it with you as well.” The unicorn bit her blip and swallowed “But please, even if our friendship doesn't survive this confession, please tell nopony!”
Fluttershy nodded meekly and a few strands of her hair slipped before her face. Was Rarity going to confess being into mares? Maybe she was into her! Goodness, how awkward! Rarity was a wonderful friend, but Fluttershy couldn’t imagine having a relationship with her! She became more and more nervous, but barely managed to let the unicorn speak.
“I am not sure how to say it.” Rarity continued slowly “I am not… I am… Oh, goodness!” Frustration won over and she blurted out “Fluttershy, I was not born a mare!” She closed her eyes and managed to appear calmly as she continued “I… I was born with the body of a stallion, but I never felt and acted like one. I am a mare inside, but no matter how feminine I feel or behave, I still have the anatomy of a stallion.” The unicorn averted her gaze, awaiting a storm of indignity.
Silence followed.
Finally, an almost inaudible voice broke it. “Erm… but… but you are so… beautiful and feminine.” Fluttershy said very quietly.
A sad smile crept on Rarity’s face. “Thank you, darling.” She answered softly “I assure you, it is not an act. I am the Rarity, you have known for two years. I don’t pretend and I don’t even need any magical means to change my appearance… well, besides for the absolute obvious…”
“And you… you don’t feel like being in the right body?” Fluttershy inquired.
Rarity nodded grimly “Yes. It is as if there had been some mistake at my birth. As fate had chosen poorly.”
Now it was Fluttershy, who looked away awkwardly. “I… I can kind of relate… at least a little…” she said very slowly.
“You can?”
“I… I am a pegasus.” Fluttershy answered softly “But I am afraid of heights. I am very bad at flying. I am afraid of lout weather and especially stormcloud.” She gave a pressed smile “In Cloudsdale, they always taught us how we pegasi are the heirs of a proud tradition of athletes and warriors. But I am weak and defenseless.” She let out a sigh “Its nothing compared to what you must go through, of course. But I just want to say that I won’t judge you.”
Rarity felt her eyes tear up. “Oh Fluttershy!” she cried “Had I known, I would have told you from the start!”
The two ponies hugged each other and Rarity sobbed softly into Fluttershy’s shoulder.
“Rarity… erm… just one thing.” The pegasus asked after a short while.
Rarity looked up, her eyes bloodshot and swollen.
“Erm… you are not… like… into me? Are you?” Fluttershy asked as carefully as possible.
A deep blush invaded the unicorn’s face. “Oh… äh… sorry, darling.” Rarity answered awkwardly “I love you as my best friend and I envy you for a body, I wish, I had…. But I am not really… into mares.” She admitted. “I guess, I am a filly in this way. I despise my own form, but the thought of a kind, princely stallion admitting his love to me… it makes my heart beat faster.”
The pegasus sighed with relief. “Thank goodness. I was worried that I completely missed the signs and that I had to reject you now and that it would be horribly awkward in the future!”
Rarity let out a soft laugh, but quickly turned serious. “Me being born a stallion won’t make things awkward?”
Fluttershy gave a small smile. “Erm… you see… it is much more common than you may expect.” She said with a bit of a blush “Even my animal friends are a bit unconventional from time to time. Like this nest you made for the swan couple last winter wrap up. It was for a very nice pair of guys. They don’t even need a nest for eggs, but they wanted one so badly, I couldn’t refuse them. I guess these things are more complex than one might expect…”
Rarity was about to answer when another lightning cracked outside and Fluttershy tensed with the following thunder. “Rarity…” she said, shaking heavily “Would you mind if I cuddle against you? I am so scared!”
“And you don’t mind me being a…”
“No, you are my dear friend and nothing can change that!” Fluttershy stressed quickly.
“Thank you…” Rarity answered, her eyes tearing up again. “You can hug me all you want.”
Fluttershy nodded and after Rarity turned off the light, the pegasus cuddled against her from behind.
The unicorn closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the platonic embrace. When had she last allowed anyone this close to her? Just being appreciated by a friend who knew the whole truth? She could not remember, but it felt nice.
“You know..:” Fluttershy said after a few moments of calming down. “This does remind me a bit of that book, you borrowed me a month ago.”
Rarity let out a giggle. “It does have a bit of a cheap romance novel setup.” She admitted.
Or a crappy fanfic.
Author's Note
*Edit* I had some connection issues, so this took a bit.
This chapter is a lot less dark and less devastating to Rarity. I tried, but Fluttershy is just such a nice pony, I couldn't get her any more outraged. (Remember, this is pre-Gala, pre-Iron Will Fluttershy)
Also, halfway through, I realized, that I was basically setting up a clopfic... too bad this didn't happen, right?
So, enjoy my unsubtle brainwashing and comment, if you feel like supporting the Hypnodave!
