Simply Synchronized

Fluttershy paced in her kitchen with a worried expression on her beautiful face. She had been doing this for over thirty minutes nitpicking at every little detail for her soiree. She had intended for it to be a small party for her, Octavia, Rarity and maybe Twilight Sparkle if she could get her head out of the books long enough, but her darling lover had taken the liberty of inviting more people. The peaceful afternoon tea party she had planned became a “serious rager” as Dash’s friend put it.

Did they have enough food and drink, what about alcohol? No, Dashie had stocked up on that earlier today. Was the house clean and presentable? Angel better not leave any presents for guests to find…How about the curtains, did they properly match the decor? All these thoughts swam in her head like frenzied sardines and there seemed to be no end to them.

Propped up against the marble counter next the frantic woman, Rainbow Dash sipped on a bottle of beer acting as cool as an ice cube with a happy grin. She was used to Fluttershy’s pre-party jitters by now and found them rather endearing, but tonight’s party was different. There was someone she wanted to impress and if everything went according to plan Fluttershy would have herself a new friend. She was just happy to see the shy woman coming out of her shell even if it was just a baby step.

“Chill-out, Flutterbabe, Octavia’s going to love what you have planned.” Rainbow said in an encouraging tone. She had warned Octavia ahead of time about her girlfriend’s severe anxiety issues, but was pleasantly surprised when she understood. “You left nothing to chance, the barbecue is going to be awesome!”

Cyan eyes fell upon concerned violet and quickly softened, the fear in them dissipating like a receding wave. Fluttershy stopped her pacing and walked up to Rainbow Dash asking for a hug. The latter put the bottle aside and eagerly opened her arms. Fluttershy stood a head taller than the other woman, but that had been the norm since childhood and neither minded except when it came to reaching the top shelf where the cookies were hidden.

“Oh I hope so, Dashie…” Fluttershy nuzzled her face into her lover’s hair. She took a deep breath inhaling Rainbow’s familiar scent and relaxed. “I really like her, she’s so fascinating.”

Despite how it sounded the lovers knew Fluttershy’s interest in the cello player stopped at friendship. The animal lover had always enjoyed classical above all other forms of music, and now she had a chance to get to know someone who lived for the art. Fluttershy had never heard a cello in person before the shelter’s annual fundraiser, but that evening brought tears to her eyes. Rainbow Dash’s reward that night was enough to dub the musician a Goddess by her book.

“Can we go over the checklist one more time pretty please?” Fluttershy’s pleading pout was making Rainbow struggle.

“Really? It’s half an hour before party time and you wanna do that now?”

“Please?” Groaning, Rainbow took a swig of her beer and nodded her head. This was going to be hellish. “Yay!”

“Alright let’s get this over with.” With Fluttershy still in her arms, the daring athlete cleared her throat. “Food and drink?”

“Check.”

“Snackies?”

“Checkers!”

“Okay, how about… hm, cups and stuff?”

“Of course.”

“Toilet paper?” Fluttershy gave dash a stern look. “R-Right… um, how about, uhh… babe, I-I don’t know what else we need. AJ and I just need video games and cider to last us the night. Maybe a bag of chips or two.”

“Alright you make a good point, I’m being silly aren't I?” Shaking her head, Rainbow disagreed and kissed her girlfriend. “But are you sure we aren't missing anything?”

“Hm,” Dash’s lips curled into a devious grin as a pleasant thought came to mind. “I know something that isn't on the list.”

Panic shot through Fluttershy's fragile in an instant. “What is it!? Oh I knew I forgot something...”

“You haven’t tasted the rainbow in quite sometime, if you know what I mean. And I've been such a good little pony.”

The two looked at the microwave clock, it read 7:38pm; the party started at eight. Rarity and her entourage would be fashionably late as usual, Twilight Sparkle was most likely a no show, and Octavia…

Fluttershy broke the stagnant silence. “If anyone shows up in the next ten minutes, we can pretend we didn't hear the doorbell. Deal?” Fluttershy had a deep blush on her cheeks, one that she was she wouldn't fade until much, much later.

“I love you!”

Dropping to her knees, slender hands trailing sensually down Rainbow’s body, Fluttershy made quick work of undoing Dash’s belt and zipper. Dash licked her lips and breathed in deeply steadying her nerves. Fluttershy looked up at her anticipating lover and smiled coyly, she didn't have much confidence in her technique, but if it was what her Dashie wanted who was she to say no especially after she had been so patient with her throughout the day.

“I love you, too…”

The time melted away leaving them alone in their own little world. Nothing else mattered--Ding-Dong-Ding-Dong-Ding-Dong… DingDongDingDongDingDongDingDongDingDongDingdongDingDong

“Pinkie Pie, stop pressing the doorbell you’re going to break it!” Octavia’s voice rang out like a crystal through the preoccupied couple’s home. “Pinkie Pie, if you push that button one more time, I am no longer responsible for my actions--don’t, don’t you dare.”

“Ding-Dong!” this time Pinkie’s shot out in time with the annoying chime.

Rainbow’s lip quivered in disappointment as Fluttershy abruptly pulled away. The quieter of the two stayed on the floor wiping their mouth with the base of her thumb motioning for the other get the door. Reluctantly Rainbow pulled her shorts back up and stomped towards the door grumbling profanities Fluttershy would scold her for later.

She opened the door putting on the best fake smile she could muster and greeted her friends. “Come on in guys,” she said through gritted teeth. “We've been waiting for you!”

“Hi, hi Dashie!” Pinkie beamed as she hopped giddily into the house, “Honey, I’m hooome!!”

Octavia chose to be a touch more civilized than her companion and entered with grace. “Do forgive Pinkie Pie for her excitement.”

“Eh, it’s okay… she does this every time she stops by. Last time she actually managed to break the thing.”

“Oh on Earth--actually on second thought, I’ll leave that to the imagination.” The musician carefully took note of Rainbow Dash’s pink bunny slippers and giggled. “I take the missus has a no shoes in the house policy?”

“Huh?” Octavia pointed down. “Oh, well yeah normally, but tonight is party night so she expects us all to be going between the backyard and the den. Feel free to keep your shoes on, or if you’d like we have some slippers you can borrow.”

“I’d like to keep my shoes on if you don’t mind. Fuzzy bunnies don’t exactly suit my image, but they suit you very well. So dapper, Dash.”

“No problem at all, only person I’m forcing the slipper rule on is AJ. Who knows what kind of shit she’s stepped in.”

“Who now?” Octavia asked with interest.

Waving the question off, Rainbow closed the door and led Octavia through the house giving her a quick tour. It was a large for a two person home, but it felt lived in, very homey if that made any sense. It had four bedrooms, two functioning as offices; a basement as well as an attic; two bathrooms, one in the main floor and the other in the second close to the master bedroom. It was all done with a rustic flare that seemed so Fluttershy. The earth tones varied from room to room giving it variety, it felt as if you were taking a quiet stroll through the countryside.

A small portion of living area was probably the only exception to the decor. It was home to Rainbow’s “second baby”, a 70” HD plasma television and home theater set up. How the wall mounting managed to hold such a behemoth firmly in place confounded Octavia to no end. On each side of the TV were tall bookshelves that nearly touched the ceiling. The uppermost shelves displayed adorable bobbles and knickknacks as well as photos of family and friends, while the lower shelves held an impressive collection of video games. Beneath the TV and sandwiched in between the towering bookshelves was another black shelving unit with video game consoles and remotes. Octavia grimaced at the hypothetical sum of the display, but that was where Rainbow Dash’s influence end.

“I feel like I’m walking through a forest…” Octavia happily breathed in. It was faint but she could tell they used incense.

Chuckling at her friend, Rainbow explained, “Fluttershy and I used to live in buttfuck no where back when we were kids, we used to play in the woods all the time. I grew to love the city and she stayed the same, so when we were deciding on a place I figured we might as well meet halfway y’know?”

“Ah, big house in the city with a cottage feel. I like.”

“Wait till you get a load of the back yard,” Dash laughed. “It’s a zoo out there.”

In the kitchen Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy moved around like busy bees while chatting and snacking. A veggie platter was on the kitchen island surrounded by different dips all labelled. It had snap peas, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots all arranged into a neat circular pattern. Beside the vegetables was another platter filled with cheese slices, crackers, pepperoni, and beef jerky. Rainbow ran for the jerky as soon as she noticed them.

“Please be teriyaki, please be teriyaki!” she chanted before the first bite. “Oh sweet teriyaki get in my mouth!”

“Glad you like your treat, sweetheart.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” Rainbow threw an arm around Fluttershy and gave her an over exaggerated kiss on the cheek. “You’re totally awesome, love you!”

“Make sure to save some for the crusaders and AJ,” Fluttershy warned. “We only have another bag left.”

“AJ can get her own jerky!”

“Who is this AJ fellow?” Octavia quipped. She moved towards the vegetable platter and pulled out a baby carrot. “I keep hearing about him.”

“Applejack is the most dependable person you will ever, ever meet!” Pinkie exclaimed. “She works on an apple farm outside of the city with her family.”

“Eh, she’s not that awesome…” Rainbow huffed. “She’s alright though… I guess. Wears a cool hat.”

Octavia listened to the other women talk about Applejack while she enjoyed her carrot. They all had a very high opinion of her despite Rainbow’s weak protests.

“Fluttershy, that carrot tasted amazing! Where do you buy them?” Octavia asked as she pulled another from the pile.

“I buy them from Applejack’s farm, in fact most of the fruits and veggies we have here are from her farm.”

“I have never tasted a carrot so sweet before.”

“Wait till you try their apples, she should be bringing some for tonight.” Fluttershy said with a smile. She reached for a celery stick and popped it in her mouth, the sound of the crunch causing her adorable smile to grow wider.

Pinkie’s head darted out from the fridge with a heavily frosted cupcake balanced on her curls. “You've been eating those celery sticks like chips, Fluttershy, save some room for cupcakes!”

“Before you two got here I caved into my sweet tooth. Ate… a whole bag of skittles, just trying to even it out.”

Rainbow Dash fought her hardest not to laugh.

The science teacher’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her demeanor turning a complete 180 degrees. “There’s always. Room. For. Cupcakes.”

“R-Right… woohoo… Cupcakes, yay.”

“Oh Pinkie Pie, you never change.” Rainbow chuckled still trying to calm down from her hysteria.

“So when is everyone else arriving?” Octavia asked nonchalantly, checking her watch she noted it was a quarter past. “The invitation was for 8pm correct? Oh I hope we weren't too early…”

“Nah you and Pinkie arrived right on time--speaking of which, how did you two get here? Don't tell me you like Pinkie drive.” Rainbow had found her beer and hopped onto the counter using it as a seat. Fluttershy looked like she wanted to tell her to get down, but decided against it and went back to preparing.

“I drove. Pinkie and I live fairly close together. We had lunch and watched a movie before heading here. Speaking of which I left something in the car, so if you’ll excuse me I’ll be right back.”

Octavia navigated herself through the stunning household and out to her car. It was black Lexus sedan her parents gave to her for her eighteenth birthday. She would have preferred a cheaper, less eye fetching vehicle, but one cannot be picky when it came to gifts. She popped open the trunk and and pulled out a pink gift bag sporting flared out wrapping tissue. It was bad manners to attend a dinner party empty handed after all.

A large red pickup truck covered in mud pulled up behind her car. Three children jumped out from the cargo bed and ran across the lush lawn and into the house slamming the door behind them. Octavia closed her trunk while she eyed the mysterious vehicle carefully. A tall, sun-kissed woman with long blonde hair exited from the driver’s side and opened the door to the passenger’s side.

Rarity stepped out carefully with the aid of the stranger. She wore a simple outfit consisting of daisy dukes, brown calf length leather boots, and a red plaid shirt matching the other woman’s; she had it tied around her midriff exposing her toned belly. Around her neck was a plain yellow bandanna that drew your eyes away from her ample bosom and brought her face into focus. Rarity’s hair was straightened and swept to the side framing her delicate features perfectly.

It didn't take long for the bright-eyed woman to notice her and jovially call out her name.

“Octavia, darling, it is so good to see you again!” Rarity sashayed her way to the cellist, making sure to add extra sway in her hips, and enveloped her in a warm embrace. “I see you come bearing gifts as well.”

“Of course, it would be rude not to.”

“A woman of class, I like that.”

A large, burly man who resembled the unknown woman hopped out after Rarity and closed the door. He trotted to the back and jumped onto the bed with ease and hoisting up a large bushel of red apples in a crate. The woman waited on the ground and took the apples from him. She let out a sharp whistle and tilted her head towards the door.

“Ya mind, sugar cube?”

Rarity waved goodbye and made her way to Rainbow Dash’s front door and opened it. The burly man walked up to Octavia and tilted his hat in a simple greeting.

“Eeyup,” he said before following after the others into the house.

Octavia surmised the blonde woman was the famous Applejack everyone had been raving about. She seemed very nice and down to earth, but you can never judge a book by its cover.

“Are you coming in or are you going to just stand there?” Rarity giggled.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Octavia rushed up to the door and thanks the seamstress. “Sorry about that, I spaced out for a bit.”

“Never you mind, just hurry in so we can so we can start chatting! I love my dear AJ, but all she talks about is apples.” sighing heavily, Rarity rubbed her temples. “I need my girl talk, gossip is my life’s blood. And you are tonight’s topic, my dear.”

“Oh dear,” Octavia chuckled nervously. “I’m afraid I’ll bore you all tonight, I’m very sheltered if you haven’t noticed.”

“Every lady has her secrets, and I intend to get every juicy droplet out of you.”

“Joy…”

The party seemed to be in full swing now judging by the noise. Truth be told this was Octavia’s very first casual get together. All the parties she had attended growing up were all social events that involved greeting her parents’ business partners, relatives, and investors. She could feel the difference in the atmosphere, it was lively and warm. This was definitely a party filled with close friends.

In the living room Rainbow Dash sat in a chair with one of the children, while the blonde woman and man took up the spacious couch, and beside them sat the two other children sharing the love-seat. They all stared at the large screen intently, a video game of sorts was running with the child on Rainbow’s lap holding the controller. They were all hollering instructions and laughing. And in the kitchen Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy busied themselves preparing for dinner. By the looks of it they were going to have an old fashioned barbecue. Another experience she had missed growing up.

Octavia didn't know what to do other than stand in the doorway watching. The party had split into two distinct activities and wasn't sure which side to take. Her instincts told her to follow the giddy women, but at the same time she was curious to find out who the children and the southerners were. Luckily someone was kind enough to notice her plight.

“Howdy there, don’t suppose we met. The name’s Applejack!” the southern bell proudly introduced herself. “An’ the big guy next ta me is ma big bruther, Big Macintosh. Y’all can just call ‘im ‘Big Mac’ fer short. He don’t talk much, but he’s a real sweetheart wit a heart ‘o gold.”

“Eeyup!” he grinned broadly without looking away from the screen.

Approaching the couch, Octavia gave the woman a warm smile, “How do you do, Applejack and Big Macintosh. My name is Octavia Melody, and it is a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Ah so yer the jelloist,” Applejack grinned unaware of her mistake. “Rare’s been talkin’ ‘bout you all week. Darn near talked mah ear off last night.”

“Cello.” Octavia’s smile faltered, but she regained her composure in a second. “I play the cello, though after spending time with Pinkie I've started to call it that myself. You can imagine the surprised faces of my ensemble.”

“Beg yer pardon, ma’am, meant no disrespect. Honest.” Applejack titled her hat in apology. “The only instruments I know of is the banjo ‘n the guitar.”

“The cello isn't the only string instrument I can play. If you would like maybe we can play together sometime.”

“Yeehaw! That sounds mighty fine ta me, maybe RD’ll join us with her drums.”

Octavia gasped in surprise, “I didn't know you played an instrument, Rainbow Dash!”

“Eh, it isn't really my thing, but sure I’ll join you guys. Scoots, watch your left there!” The rainbow haired woman held onto the children’s shoulders shaking her playfully when the screen showed a ‘You Are Dead’ scene with continue yes or no at the bottom. “Lemme show you how a pro does it.”

“Oh can it, RD, give that there doohickey to me or Big Mac. Let us have a shot at it.”

“Eh… fine. But five bucks says you guys both lose in ten seconds flat.”

“Yer on partner.”

“Eeyup!”

Ding-Dong

The door bell chimed alerting the guests. Octavia opened the door revealing a fresh faced Twilight Sparkle without a book or paper in sight.

“Hello, Octavia, wonderful evening we’re having tonight.”

“Indubitably. I’m glad to see you managed to make it.”

“Pulled an all nighter last night, but I got everything done.”

“Very commendable of you, but I hope you at least took a nap.”

“Don’t worry, I’m used to long nights. I’m assuming Fluttershy and the others are by the kitchen?” Twilight walked in and greeted everyone in the living room before going to the kitchen. “Hey girls look who made it!”

“Twilight!” they all exclaimed in unison.

Feeling slightly left out, Octavia followed the studious woman. She had barely stepped out for more than a couple of minutes, but the kitchen seemed completely different. There was barely an inch of counter space left and the poor hostess seemed to be getting lost in all of the chaos. She weaved between her friends and stepped out into the backyard.

“Feeling alright?” Octavia asked.

Looking over her shoulder, Fluttershy nodded her hair and said, “It was getting a little hectic in there. I needed a bit of air.”

“It certainly has gotten lively.” Raising the gift back into the air, Octavia handed it to Fluttershy whose cheeks tinted. “Please accept it, I have a feeling you’ll love what’s inside.”

“You didn't have to, but thank you so very much.”

A slight moment caught Octavia’s attention as she took her first step into the back yard. It was breath taking to say the least. Colorful plants and bushes lined the edges of the yard in a beautiful display. In the far left corner was a mighty oak tree holding a dozen brightly colored bird houses. And next to it was a small stone pond with a fountain in the middle; a turtle lounged in it happily without a care in the world. To the right was a medium size, fenced in chicken coop. How many lived in it was a mystery, but out in the open were two of the fluffiest chickens Octavia had ever seen.

“So cute…” Octavia murmured.

Fluttershy traced her gaze to the coop and giggled. “I see you've noticed my pets.”

“Y-Your pets?” Fluttershy proudly nodded. “I've never heard of having a chicken for a pet before.”

“Oh I also have a darling little bunny rabbit named Angel, he’s somewhere here hiding with the rest of his friends. I also have a few snakes, bats, birds, and mice.”

“Excuse me, but did you say s-snakes?”

“Mhm, oh please don’t worry. They’re all very gentle and friendly.”

“What about the turtle?”

“That would be Dashie’s pet.” Fluttershy folded her hands behind her and giggle sweetly, “His name is Tank and he’s a tortoise to be exact.”

“Interesting…”

Nobody else seemed to worry about the missing critters, so Octavia decided it was best to go with the flow. When in Rome they say.