"- actually a desperate shortage of sequins in Manehattan at the moment," said Rarity. "The crystal ponies have taken a real shine to them, if you'll pardon the pun." She sipped demurely at her tea. "This is really good, Fluttershy, where did you get it?"
"Oh, it's Nipponese Ginkgo Biloba," said Fluttershy. After last time, she'd taken pains to research an obscure enough tea that nopony would be able to call her out on it. "A friend of mine from Cloudsdale gave it to me as a birthday gift. I only use it for special occasions. Twilight really liked it too," she added.
"Yes, Twilight does love her tea, doesn't she?" observed Rarity. "So what's the occasion?"
"Huh?" Fluttershy asked.
"If you only use it for special occasions, what's the occasion?" Rarity asked, allowing her cup to float freely as she gestured grandly with her forehooves.
"Oh! Well, I mean, for special occasions, and... well, you're my best friend, Rarity, I like to... do nice things for you."
Rarity smiled. "Oh, you really don't have to, darling. I shan't complain, though." She leant back in against the couch. "It's a lovely day, isn't it? Rainbow Dash has really outdone herself." She squinted out the window. "I even think she's made a double rainbow out there. Wouldn't you say that's a double rainbow?" she asked, pointing at an arched shape in the distance.
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes and looked curiously at where Rarity was pointing. "Um..." she gazed at it curiously. "Rarity, that's... that's not even a single rainbow. That's a bridge."
Rarity furrowed her brow in surprise. "Really? My goodness, I really do need to wear my glasses more often. My apologies."
Fluttershy giggled. "That's quite all right, Rarity." She gulped her own tea calmly. "Why do the crystal ponies need sequins? Aren't they... naturally shiny?"
"They are, but it's more about light than shine, darling. Crystal ponies have the wonderful property of being able to express an item of clothing from both sides - not just the outside but the inside too! A sufficiently ingenious designer, one who doesn't mind embracing, shall we say, a more dangerous way of thinking, can use that to create looks that us opaque ponies can only dream of!" The unicorn's eyes were shining with rapt excitement, hardly regarding Fluttershy at all. "And hence, sequins. I regret that I did not, myself, discover their wonderful interaction with the crystal form; that achievement goes to somepony with a far greater eye than I."
"Oh, Rarity, your eye is... um... really... good," Fluttershy said, realising this didn't exactly ring true with her earlier inability to distinguish a river crossing from a rainbow.
"In any case, the crystal ponies went wild over it, and the result has been quite an explosion in the fashion world. Herds of designers are heading to the north to become part of Crystal Chic." She sighed. "I do wish I could, too... but I simply can't leave Ponyville. I have too much to do here." She put a hoof on her cheek and frowned. "If only I had access to a crystal pony who could model for me... but I don't think I've ever seen any venture far from the Empire. It's such a shame."
"Mmmmmmm," said Fluttershy sadly. "Although..."
Rarity's ear swivelled. "Go on, darling."
"Oh... it's nothing."
Rarity smirked, knowing Fluttershy far too well to let her get away with that. "Go on, darling. I'm sure it's a great idea."
"I was just thinking... what if Twilight knows a spell to turn a pony into a crystal pony?"
Rarity clapped a hoof to her chin. Then her eyes widened. "That's a wonderful idea! I have no idea if such a spell exists, but it's worth finding out!"
Fluttershy blushed. "It would be nice to be a crystal pony again. I loved the way we all looked."
"Fluttershy, I would host a week's worth of Crusader sleepovers for the chance to be a crystal pony again," said Rarity. "This is absolutely worth pursuing. Thank you."
Fluttershy smiled, her eyes taking a quick look at Rarity's empty cup. "How are you feeling?"
"Hmm? I'm feeling very well, thank you," said Rarity.
"Oh, good," said Fluttershy. "Could you... could you raise your hoof a moment?"
"Hmm?" Rarity said, lifting a forehoof. "What for, dear?"
"Oh, I just... never mind," said Fluttershy quickly. "It doesn't matter."
Rarity gave her a bemused smile. "Fluttershy darling, you know you can tell me anything, don't you?"
Fluttershy nodded. "I can tell you anything."
Rarity's ears gave a sharp flick. "I'm glad to hear it," she said. "Are you going to finish your tea?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy. "I'll finish it." She lifted her cup and drained the rest of her cup, then relaxed back in her chair once more.
"Hmmmmmm." Rarity rubbed her chin tentatively. "Fluttershy darling, do you still have that pink gala dress I made for you a few years ago?"
Fluttershy tilted her head curiously. "Um, pink dress? The one you made me was green, Rarity." She giggled. "Pink wouldn't really highlight my mane and tail properly. I think you're mistaking it for the dress we made for you?"
"I made you a pink gala dress," Rarity said. "It wasn't green."
"You made me a pink dress for the gala, not a green one," said Fluttershy. "Oh, I'm sorry, you're correct, Rarity. It was pink. It's in my wardrobe, would you like me to get it for you?"
"No, that's fine, darling. How long do the effects of the Sacumi brew last?"
Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Well, the amount you've drunk should make you obedient for about three hours."
"I see. And what if, instead of drinking the brew as you believed, I had been quietly tipping small portions of it of it away while you weren't looking, including into your teacup?" Rarity asked.
"Well, it depends how much you put in," said Fluttershy.
A few moments of absolute silence descended on the cottage as the significance of Rarity's question sank in. Fluttershy blinked several times in disbelief.
"Rarity, did you give me some of your tea?" she asked, feeling slightly nervous.
Rarity nodded curtly. "I did, yes. I think I managed to get about a quarter of it into your cup. So, how long will you be under the influence, about half an hour?"
"I believe so," said Fluttershy. "Rarity... I... I meant for you to drink it."
"I know," said Rarity heavily. "Oh, Fluttershy, you really have messed up, haven't you girl?"
"I've really messed up," Fluttershy repeated, somewhat alarmed. "Rarity, I... I... I don't know what to do now. I didn't expect this to happen. You were s-supposed to drink that tea, and then I'd -"
"Yes, you're going to tell me exactly what were planning to do," said Rarity. "But first, you're going to brew up some more, and drink it."
"I'm going to make some more of the Sacumi brew, and drink it," said Fluttershy. "Then, I'm going to tell you everything I was going to do to you."
Fluttershy's mind was whirling as she walked to her kitchen, Rarity following behind her, and took down the box containing the Sacumi leaves. Oh my goodness. I've really messed up here. I'm in trouble, deep trouble. She poured some pure, clear water into her kettle and set it on the stove, then began rinsing her teapot in the sink.
"Where did you get it, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked, standing back in the doorway. "And how did you know about it?"
"I read about the Sacumi plant in a book I inherited from my grandmother," said Fluttershy, drying the teapot with a teatowel. "I asked at a Canterlot market where I could get some, but I was told it was illegal. The book didn't say that it was."
"Depending on how old the book is, it may not have been illegal when it was published." said Rarity. "How did you get hold of it?"
"A pony overheard me asking about it. He said he could get me some for a very reasonable price."
"And you trusted a complete stranger?" Rarity groaned.
"He was very nice. I went back to him a week later and he sold me the box for one hundred bits."
Rarity sighed. "Fluttershy, you are lucky he didn't use the potion on you."
"I'm lucky he didn't use the potion on me," said Fluttershy, adding the leaves to the teapot.
Rarity shook her head. "No, never mind that. So you bought the box. Why? What were you planning to do?"
"I planned to invite Rainbow Dash over for tea, but give her the Sacumi brew instead. When she became obedient, I would then have sex with her."
There was a very long pause. Rarity knew exactly what she'd just heard, but was having trouble accepting that those words had just come out of the mouth of the pegasus in front of her. "You're... serious," Rarity eventually said.
"I am serious," Fluttershy repeated.
"No, no... is that true? You were really going to force her into... into sex with you?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy, her eyes wandering nervously as the kettle reached a roaring boil. She lifted it off the stove and poured it into the teapot, the water instantly turning a deep reddish brown as the leaves mingled.
"Wh- I... why?" Rarity demanded. "How could you?"
"I'm afraid of relationships," said Fluttershy simply. "I want to be close to ponies, but I'm always too scared. It's very frustrating for me. I want to have sex like any pony else, like Rainbow Dash or Pinkie or you, but I'm terrified to ask anypony."
Rarity pressed a hoof to her brow, feeling an ache coming on. "So... you were going to drug and rape Rainbow Dash."
"Yes," Fluttershy admitted. "I would have made her forget the whole thing, so that she never knew what I did."
Rarity closed her eyes and sighed. This was very difficult to take in. She didn't want to hear any of it, but she knew that Fluttershy couldn't be telling her anything but the absolute truth at this moment. "Have you used the brew on anypony?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy. "Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie. Applejack. Twilight."
Rarity was agog. All of their friends... and she'd narrowly missed becoming the fifth item on Fluttershy's victim list. "You did rape Rainbow Dash?"
"No," said Fluttershy.
"You didn't?"
"I didn't. I didn't have sex with Rainbow Dash," said Fluttershy. "I kissed her and snuggled her. I really wanted to have sex with her, but I felt very bad about it. Rainbow Dash is my oldest friend. I love her. It didn't feel right to do that to her."
"Well, that's something," said Rarity. "And that's all you've been doing?"
"No," said Fluttershy. "One week after I gave Rainbow Dash the potion, I invited Pinkie Pie over for tea. I gave her the potion too. I wanted to have sex with her. Pinkie is so fun and happy and full of energy, I thought it would be easier to have sex with her and be a lot of fun."
"But it wasn't, I gather?"
"It wasn't easier," said Fluttershy. "I hugged her and kissed her like I did with Rainbow Dash. Pinkie was very fun to snuggle with. She's so lively. I made her stand in the middle of my bedroom and masturbate until she came."
"Oh my goodness," said Rarity. Her view of the innocent, demure pegasus was crumbling like a chalk cliff into the sea. "But you didn't have sex with her, I take it?"
"No," said Fluttershy. "We cuddled some more. Pinkie gave me advice on how to have sex with mares. Then I made her forget everything we had done, and sent her home."
Rarity let out a deep breath. "Continue."
"Two weeks after Pinkie, I invited Applejack to my home for tea. I gave her the potion. This time I didn't want sex. I only wanted to have her hold me in her big strong forelegs. I love when she does that. But... there was something about her. She was so innocent. She smells so good. I couldn't resist her. I took her to my bedroom and asked her to pleasure me. She wrapped her forelegs around my waist and squeezed my rump tight, and put her tongue in my vagina. It felt so good -"
"Enough!" Rarity shrieked. "That is way over the line, Fluttershy!"
"That is way over the line," Fluttershy said. "I'm in a lot of trouble, aren't I?"
"That remains to be seen!" said Rarity grimly. "And Twilight? Did you have her perform any sex acts with you? Do not give me any details."
"I made Twilight perform a sex act on me," Fluttershy admitted, taking a tea strainer and pouring the brew into a cup.
"Let that cool a little before you drink it," said Rarity. She took the cup in her blue telekinetic glow and had Fluttershy follow her into the main room.
"I'm scared, Rarity," said Fluttershy, staring at the unicorn. "I think I'm in serious trouble. What I've done is illegal and very wrong."
"I'm glad you realise that, Fluttershy," said Rarity, looking back with worry. "Drink the potion, please, at your own pace."
"I'll drink the potion," said Fluttershy, pulling it to her lips and taking a sip.
"I'm not sure I want to know what your plans were for me," said Rarity, her lips curling in disgust. "Were you going to do to me what you did to Twilight and Applejack?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy. Rarity grimaced, feeling like her heart had been stabbed. "I was going to wait for you to become obedient. Then I was going to make you come upstairs and lay on my bed, and pleasure me while I pleasured you. I wanted to taste your cum -"
"Ugh, okay, enough," said Rarity, holding up a hoof. "My goodness. I just... I don't know what to say, I really don't. I never expected this of you, Fluttershy. Never in a million years."
"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy.
"Well, I believe that, at least."
"I would have made you forget. You would never have known."
"That does not make it okay!" Rarity snapped, glaring at her. "Be quiet and drink up, as quickly as you safely can. We're going to see Twilight."
Fluttershy nodded, and took another gulp of the warm brew.
Fifteen minutes later, Rarity was barely paying attention to where she was going as she cut through the streets of Ponyville. Her mind was whirling with all that Fluttershy had told her.
Her friend - her best friend - was a serial rapist.
The sentence just didn't fit together properly in her mind. That it was Fluttershy just made this all the more confusing, like she'd stepped into some alternate dimension where everything she knew and understood was wrong.
Fluttershy was dutifully following behind her, as she'd been told to do. She was happy to obey Rarity's orders, of course - she couldn't not be - but she was beginning to feel dread at the looming sight of the Friendship Palace as they neared it.
"Rarity," Fluttershy asked, "What's going to happen to me?"
"I don't know, darling. Twilight will decide. You're going to tell her everything."
"I'm going to tell Twilight everything," Fluttershy said.
They didn't speak any more until Rarity approached the castle doors. Two guards stood there, a recent addition to Princess Twilight's entourage - but they stood aside as the mares approached, recognising both members of the Council of Friendship, and allowed them to take the winding stairwell to the upper deck.
Rarity hoped that Twilight would be alone - she didn't want to turn this into a scene, which it would certainly become if Rainbow Dash or Applejack heard of this. She was in luck; the alicorn was in the Throne Room, sitting on her own throne with a pile of books in front of her, and one floating in the air next to her head.
"Oh, hi Rarity, Fluttershy," said Twilight, giving them a welcoming wave. "I wasn't expecting you today." She frowned, and summoned her schedule in a flash of light, unrolling the scroll in front of her. "I didn't forget something, did I?"
"Well... as it happens..." Rarity sighed. "Twilight, I have a deeply serious matter to bring to your attention. Can we speak privately?"
Twilight looked taken aback by Rarity's stony expression. "Of course." She ignited her horn, and the doors to the Throne Room gently swung closed. "Sit down, please."
"I'll sit down," said Fluttershy, but Rarity stopped her.
"No, Fluttershy. Stand in the middle of the room, please," Rarity requested.
Twilight blinked as Fluttershy complied, standing on the central star in the middle of the throne room. "What's wrong?"
"I don't really know where to begin," said Rarity, standing next to Twilight's throne. "Twilight, are you familiar with the Sacumi plant?"
Twilight thought for a moment. "I don't believe I've heard of it, no."
"It's not widely known. It's also very, very illegal. The plant's leaves contain some kind of substance which, when ingested, induce a state of complete suggestibility in a pony, similar to the effect of a hypnotic trance."
"Uh huh...?" said Twilight. "Go on."
"While under the effect of the Sacumi plant," Rarity continued, "a pony will do anything you tell them to, and believe anything you tell them to. Without question. You could tell Fluttershy the sky was fuschia with goldenrod stripes, and she would have no choice but to accept it as true."
Twilight nodded. "Wait... Fluttershy?" She turned to regard the pegasus in the center of the room. "Are you saying Fluttershy has eaten some of this Sacumi plant?"
"She drank a brew made from the leaves," said Rarity. "But there's a lot more to this, and I'm afraid this is going to be very hard to hear. Fluttershy has been using the Sacumi brew for... how long, darling?"
"Two months," said Fluttershy. "I've had a box of Sacumi leaves for about a year, but I only started using it two months ago."
"Using it?" Twilight blinked. "What for?"
"Fluttershy has been... my goodness, I really don't know how to say this," said Rarity, feeling herself sweat a little. "Fluttershy used the brew on a number of ponies to make them compliant. Once they were under the influence, she... took them to her bedroom."
Twilight felt her mane prickle. "Please don't tell me what I think you're telling me."
"Fluttershy, please describe what you did to Pinkie Pie in your bedroom," Rarity asked.
"I snuggled and kissed Pinkie Pie on my bed," said Fluttershy. "I made her stand in the middle of my room and hoof off. She climaxed and came on my floor. I wished that I had put a mat down first."
Twilight's mouth was wide with horror. "This is... this is a joke. Rarity, this is either the greatest prank ever, or -"
"It is not a joke," said Rarity. "I'm so sorry, Twilight. But this gets worse. Fluttershy has done this to several ponies, not just Pinkie. She blanks their memories so that they never remember visiting her."
"I can't believe it," said Twilight flatly.
"And you're one of them," Rarity finished.
"I... wait. What," said Twilight in disbelief. "Rarity, you've got to be pulling my tail."
"Ask her," said Rarity. "She can't tell you anything but the truth."
Twilight gave Fluttershy an intense stare. "Fluttershy. Is it true? Did you... what did you do to me?"
"I invited you to my cottage a week ago for tea," said Fluttershy, responding immediately, but there was no mistaking the panic in her eyes. "I -"
"I remember that," said Twilight. "We had a nice long chat for a couple of hours, then I left."
"We had a nice long chat for a couple of hours," repeated Fluttershy. "Then you left."
"No, no, no," Rarity said hurriedly. "Twilight, she's completely suggestible. Anything you say to her, she'll accept as the truth. She's just parrotting your words back to you. Ask her to tell you what she really did that day."
"Okay. Fluttershy, disregard what I just said. Tell me the truth. What did you do while I was there?"
"I invited you to my cottage for tea. I made a brew from some Sacumi leaves. I gave it to you. I told you it was an exotic tea. You asked me what it was. I lied to you. I pretended that I didn't know. I waited for you to finish drinking the brew."
Twilight's eyes widened. "I really don't remember that at all," she said to Rarity. "I remember her making me some tea, but it was just normal, regular tea. She never said anything about an exotic tea." She turned back to Fluttershy. "What happened after I drank the brew?"
"You became obedient. I was very happy. I find you the most physically attractive of all my friends." Paying no heed to Twilight's blush, she continued. "I asked you to sing me a song to calm my nerves. You sang The Hymne of Seasons Gonne. I loved it. You sang it beautifully. I was surprised that you knew it."
Twilight shrugged. "I read a lot. Continue."
"We snuggled on my couch for a while. I made you wash up the cups we had used, then I made you come up to my bedroom. I made you lay on my bed. I groped you with my hoof. You enjoyed it."
"Twilight... I can go if you -" Rarity began, but Twilight raised a hoof to silence her.
"No. Stay. Fluttershy, continue."
"I put my cunt to your mouth and told you to pleasure me. You obeyed. You licked me deeply. It was wonderful. I came in barely a minute. I felt ashamed that I came so quickly. You swallowed my cum."
Rarity gagged, as Fluttershy continued blithely. "We snuggled and talked about sex. You were so nice to me. I took you to my bathroom and made you warm some towels for me while I showered. Then I watched you shower. I loved watching you and touching you while you were showering. I told you how to clean your wings."
"Wait. That, I do remember," said Twilight. "We were discussing wing hygiene, and Fluttershy mentioned how to clean wings properly in the shower. But that was during our chat. All this stuff she's talking about, I honestly have no recollection of. Fluttershy, continue."
"You dried yourself. I brushed your mane. You talked about a human called Flash Sentry. You said he gave you goosebumps."
Twilight's eye widened hugely, her cheeks flushing red, but she didn't interrupt, and allowed Fluttershy to finish.
"I made you forget everything we had done, except for me telling you how to clean your wings. I made you think we had just had a long chat. I kissed you and made you forget that too. I told you to leave. You left." She stopped talking, her eyes wide and forlorn.
Twilight was silent for a good two minutes. Rarity couldn't think of a good place to interrupt.
"This is serious," Twilight eventually concluded.
"Are you... are you alright, dear?" said Rarity, clasping Twilight's hoof gently. "Take a while to collect yourself. This is a big shock."
"How long is she going to be like this?" Twilight asked.
"About two more hours, I believe," said Rarity. "I forced her to drink more of the brew so that she would remain compliant."
"You... what?" Twilight said incredulously. "Rarity, why? Fluttershy's already in serious trouble for this, and you've gone and done it too? How am I supposed to justify that? Using a mind-controlling substance on another sentient being is illegal!"
"Ahem," said Rarity. "Firstly, Twilight, she was using it on me. I tricked her into drinking it herself. And I needed her to be able to explain herself to you, because honestly, would you believe this if I told you? I can still hardly believe it myself! And besides, you can hardly take the high moral ground here."
Twilight blinked. "What?"
"If it's wrong to use a mind-controlling substance on a pony, then surely it's also wrong to take advantage of them in that state, as you and I have both done. Don't misunderstand me, I am completely behind you in doing so."
"Yes, but... okay, look, let's not worry about that for the moment. Deal with Fluttershy first."
"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy. "I shouldn't have done what I did."
"Understatement of the century," said Twilight, glowering at her. "Fluttershy... what you've done is... I don't even know how to express it. It's absolutely inexcusable."
"What I have done is absolutely inexcusable," Fluttershy agreed.
"I really don't like talking to her like this," Twilight whispered aside to Rarity. "It could be dangerous for her."
"What do you suggest? We could wait a couple of hours for the effects to wear off, but then, you may never get the truth from her. I assume you aren't going to use the brew again," said Rarity.
"Goodness, no," said Twilight. "We need options. Besides you and me, does anypony else know about this?"
"Unless Fluttershy has told somepony else, no. The secret is entirely within this room."
Twilight began thinking, a pained look on her face. Rarity scrutinized it carefully, with a good idea of what the alicorn was considering.
"I..." Twilight shuddered. "No. No, I can't. That would make me no better than her."
"I know what you're thinking," said Rarity. "I considered doing exactly the same before bringing her here. How easy it would be just to wipe clean Fluttershy's mind of all this, hmmm?"
"Very easy," said Twilight. "We could do it now, and end this with no fuss."
Twilight stood up and walked sadly over to the drooping pegasus. "How would that sit with you, Fluttershy? We could make you forget you ever did anything wrong."
"I would like that," said Fluttershy, staring at the polished crystal floor sadly. "I feel so ashamed of what I did. I can't bear the guilt. I want to forget everything. I want to be a good pegasus again."
"The problem goes deeper than that, however," Rarity said. "I refuse to condone Fluttershy's actions in any way, but she acted mostly out of fear. Fluttershy is afraid of social situations, but like all ponies, she was born with... well, a sex drive. I believe her inability to secure partners frustrated her enough to resort to... this."
"The fight-or-flight response," said Twilight. "Fight for sex, or fly in fear. I can sympathize, I guess, although that doesn't come close to justifying her actions."
"I'm not saying it does. What I'm saying is that wiping her memory may not be enough, because she'll still have the same problem. She'll probably just do this again, or maybe something worse."
Twilight frowned. "Are you asking me to alter her personality? Because that doesn't sit right with me at all."
"Nor I, but I'm just trying to consider all our options."
Twilight began pacing around Fluttershy. "If we tell the authorities - well, I guess you already have, technically - then Fluttershy is definitely, definitely going to jail, probably for a long time. I don't want that, but the law demands it. If I don't bring Fluttershy to justice, then I'm putting myself above the law, and that's wrong."
"I disagree," said Rarity. "You are a Princess. You have royal fiat."
"'Royal fiat' is another word for despotism," said Twilight.
"Twilight, you are the Princess of Friendship, and this matter solely concerns the members of the Council that adjourn in this very room. I believe you have every right to handle this situation on your own."
"So you think we should keep the secret, erase Fluttershy's memory, and pretend it never happened?" Twilight asked.
"There may be other options," said Rarity. "At the very least, we must tell the others. They deserve to know and they deserve to have a say. Then, we can decide."
"Agreed," said Twilight. "That doesn't give us much time, though. I'll go round them up."
Rainbow's mouth hung open in disbelief, a look that Rarity was rapidly becoming familiar with today. The rainbow pegasus looked around the throne room at her colleagues, then back at Fluttershy, who was still shamefully standing in the middle of them all.
"This is sick," she said, wheeling on Twilight. "A sick joke! She doesn't know what she's saying! She's... been drugged, you said so!"
Applejack was holding her hat in her hooves, trembling a little. "Y'all believe her?" she said quietly.
"Applejack, I was there," said Rarity. "I made her concoct a second batch of the brew and drink it. And I know what Sacumi looks and smells like. What you are hearing is the purest truth."
"How do you know about Sacumi?" Twilight asked curiously. "It's illegal. How could you ever have come across it?"
"Eheheh," Rarity laughed nervously. "I was a student once, Twilight."
"So was I."
"I was a little more adventurous than you," said Rarity, smiling with gritted teeth. "In my foolhardy adolescence, I tried more than my fair share of substances. A friend and I experimented with Sacumi, and I will never, ever forget that experience. Luckily for my sake, I was permitted to remember it."
"Fluttershy," said Rainbow Dash. "Would you really have... raped me?"
"Not the first time," said Fluttershy. "I couldn't do it."
"But... now?"
"Yes," said Fluttershy immediately. "I still want to. I love you. I want to pleasure you and for you to pleasure me."
Rainbow bit on her hoof, screwing her magenta eyes painfully. "I love you too," she admitted. She glared at everyone else around the table. "Yeah, I'm admitting it. Bite me. I've always loved Fluttershy. But... this... this is just... oh, Fluttershy, what the fuck have you done?"
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight snapped furiously. "This is a place of harmony! I won't have that kind of language in here!"
"Oh, for Celestia's sake," Rainbow shot back. "If we're gonna be talking about rape and... and mind control, can I get at least one swear out, Twilight?"
"She just wanted to have relationships like a normal pony," said Pinkie. "I mean, that's gotta be tough. Wanting to be close to somepony and being too afraid? That's practically a disability!"
"Are you really trying to justify rape, Pinkie?" Rarity asked. "Would you like to present your argument to the victims?"
"Don't bring me into this," Applejack growled, as Rarity's gaze fell upon her. "Ah agree with Pinkie."
"You what?" Rarity's eyes boggled. "Applejack, you understand what rape is, don't you?"
"Don't you dare patronize me," said Applejack, her eyes glinting dangerously. "Ah know what she did to me. It ain't right, course it ain't. But she coulda done a whole lot worse. By her own admission, she kept out of our private lives. She coulda had me spill mah guts out, but she didn't. She respected us. An' she never once wanted to hurt us."
"That is a terrible argument," said Rarity. "Of course she could have done worse. That fact does not change her immoral actions one bit. She is a rapist."
"I am a rapist," Fluttershy echoed sadly.
"Enough," Twilight said firmly. "Ultimately, this is going to have to come down to a vote. We've got three options that I can see. Option 1: we turn Fluttershy in to the authorities. She'll almost certainly go to jail, probably for several years. Option 2: we make Fluttershy forget about all of this. She won't remember anything she did to any of you, we'll take away her Sacumi, and we'll also discourage her from ever mind-controlling or raping anypony ever again."
"You can't do that to her," Dash said flatly. "That's as bad as what she did."
"Ah agree, but it's the cleanest way to solve this horrible mess," said Applejack. "''sides, it's what she wants."
"Those memories are a part of who she is," argued Dash. "Taking them away is like... like cutting out part of her brain."
"Dash, she did the same thing to you. To all of us," said Applejack. "Are ya still you?"
"You know that's not the point!" Dash glared. "Fuck this. If you're going to screw with her head then I'm not having any part of it."
"You will stay," Twilight insisted, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Yeah, I'm not a mind controlled puppet, so, no. I'll do what I want," said Dash, glowering back.
"There's one more option," said Twilight. "Option 3: we do nothing. There won't be any cover up. We let the potion run its course. Fluttershy will regain her freedom, and we'll all know what she did, but that's all. Nopony knows what she did but us, and we all agree not to tell anypony else."
"I, um... if I h-had a vote, I wouldn't vote for that option," said Fluttershy, managing to phrase an objection. "I don't think I can live with the shame."
"I vote for that," said Dash immediately. She looked at the others for assent. "Nopony else? You really wanna mess with her head?"
"We want to do what's best for Fluttershy," said Twilight.
"I'm surprised at you," said Dash angrily. "Never thought you were a cheater, Twilight. Isn't this, like, totally a friendship problem here? One of your friends has done something wrong and you're just gonna wish it all away with a spell? You know that's not right."
"Dash, there ain't nothin' right about this whole thing," said Applejack. "No matter what we do it ain't gonna be right. Ah jus' wanna do what's gonna cause the least hurt."
"Yeah, except for one thing," said Dash, regarding the yellow pegasus. "She deserves to hurt."
"Y'aint makin' sense," said Applejack, shaking her head sadly. "You said ya loved her. Now y'wanna hurt her? Make up yer mind."
"Yeah, see, here's the thing, Applejack. Life does hurt," said Dash. "Surprised you don't know that, seeing what happened to your parents..."
Applejack leapt for her faster than even Dash could react. The rainbow pegasus suddenly found a pair of furious orange hooves wrapped tightly around her neck, and began punching them to little avail.
"Applejack! Stop that at once!" Twilight demanded.
"Ah can't believe you're bringing that up now..." Applejack hissed, squeezing Dash hard as she struggled, trying to kick back without success.
"Let her go! At once!"
Dash let out a horrid wheezing chuckle. "How about we take away those nasty memories from you, huh? Make you forget all about them? Won't you be so happy - nnngh!" she gasped as Applejack began crushing her neck.
A pink glow enveloped Applejack and bodily wrenched her away, then held her suspended a couple of inches off the floor for good measure.
"Ah swear... Ah'll kill her..." Applejack growled, flailing in the air and glaring furiously at Dash, who was coughing and massaging her throat.
"How about we don't talk about murder in a room with a highly suggestible pegasus, huh?" said Twilight. "Are you going to calm down?"
"If Dash shuts her trap, sure."
"I'm not gonna," said Dash, standing up and brushing her dishevelled mane. "Don't you idiots get it? This is the best option. Fluttershy gets punished, nopony has to do anything wrong - hay, we don't have to do anything at all. We all win."
Tears were starting to fall from Fluttershy's eyes. "Dashie... I know I can't ask you to reconsider... but I want you to know that I really, really, really prefer option 2."
Dash ignored her. "Enough of this horsecrap. Let's vote. I'm voting for 3."
"Me too," said Rarity. "It's the most honest option."
"Most honest option is slinging the gal in a dungeon," said Applejack sullenly, the pink aura around her fading as Twilight set her back on her hooves. "But I ain't gonna do that to her. Fine, I vote for 3."
"Me too," said Pinkie.
"And me," said Twilight. "Okay, it's unanimous. Good."
Fluttershy was sobbing. "I wish I h-had a vote."
"You'd still be outvoted, darling," said Rarity. "We're sorry."
"Oh, I am not sorry," said Dash. "I meant everything I said, Fluttershy. You totally deserve this."
"I deserve this," Fluttershy sniffed.
"And that doesn't mean I've stopped loving you," Dash added. "But I'm not letting you get away with this. So here's what we're gonna do. When your head's clear again, we'll talk. We'll talk about all your problems. We'll fix them the right way."
"When the potion has worn off, I'll talk with you about my problems," said Fluttershy.
"I'm also going to confiscate and destroy your Sacumi leaves," said Twilight. "Do you have any other illegal substances I should know about?"
"I have two jars of crocinus powder," said Fluttershy.
"That one's an aphrodisiac," said Twilight. "Not so bad in the scheme of things, but I'll take those too." She stood from her throne and ruffled her wings. "I think we're done here. You should all get back to work. I'm going to take Fluttershy home and make sure she's okay."
"I'm n-not okay," Fluttershy wept. "I'm a horrible rapist. None of you will ever trust me again. I've ruined everything."
"Fluttershy, you've made a mistake. A big mistake. Probably the biggest you'll ever make," said Twilight sternly. "But that doesn't mean we're going to stop being your friends. If we've lost our trust in you, it's your own fault, and you'll have to work hard to get it back. But we're here for you. We're here to help you through it. It's what we do." She put a reassuring hoof on the pegasus's shoulder. "Come with me. Come back home. Show me everything you shouldn't have. I'll get rid of it. We'll help you make a fresh start."
"I'll come home with you and show you all my illegal possessions," sniffled Fluttershy.
"I'm coming too," said Dash. "Fluttershy, I'm staying with you tonight, okay? I want to keep an eye on you."
"Okay," Fluttershy whispered.
Twilight sighed, turning to the others. "I guess you all should get back to work, if you can. I can't blame you if you all want to take the rest of the day off."
The mood was low as they exited the castle, Twilight and Dash escorting Fluttershy by wing as the rest of them trotted out sombrely. Even Pinkie wasn't bouncing as usual.
"Applejack... are you going to be okay?" Pinkie asked worriedly.
"Course Ah am," said Applejack gruffly. "What d'you want me to say? Ah'm happy one o' mah best friends drugged an' took advantage of me while Ah couldn't do nothin' about it?"
"We just want you to know that we're here for you, darling," said Rarity. "And if you want to talk about it -"
"Ah don't want to talk about it," Applejack snapped.
"I know, but... we're the only ponies you can confide in on this matter," said Rarity. "I know your instinct is to bottle things like this up. All I'm saying is, if it gets too much, if you need a friendly face to talk to about it, come and see me, or Pinkie, or whomever you're most comfortable with."
Applejack glared at the ground. Then she sighed deeply. "Yeah, fine, Ah might do that. It's just hard to take in, y'know? The weirdest thing is, Ah don't feel angry at Fluttershy. Ah know Ah should, but Ah jus' feel sorry for her instead. How's that work?"
"I feel sorry for her too," said Pinkie sadly. "If only she'd just asked me!"
Rarity raised a brow at the party pony. "Are you saying you'd have bedded her if she'd only asked?"
"Well, duh," said Pinkie. "Of course! Wouldn't you?"
"No!" said Rarity, aghast. "Fluttershy's my friend!"
Pinkie looked blank. "And..."
"What Ah think Rarity's tryin' to say, is that y'don't have sex with somepony jus' because they ask for it," said Applejack.
"Well, not everypony, obviously," said Pinkie, "but Fluttershy? Sure! It'd cheer her up so much!"
"Okay, I'm learning far too many things that I didn't want to know today," said Rarity, rolling her eyes. "Yet by all accounts, Pinkie, she couldn't bring herself to do it with you even when you were under her control," said Rarity.
"Well, that's not my fault," said Pinkie. "She went about it all wrong, and now she's made herself even unhappier, and that's really sad." She stared up at the receding silhouettes of the three winged ponies, now just a speck in the distance. "You know, I'm sure Mr and Mrs Cake'll let me have the rest of the day off, and I'm sure you two will let yourselves have the rest of the day off too. It's still a nice day. Why don't we have a picnic and unwind?"
"Ah dunno," said Applejack. "Ah feel like kickin' some trees pretty hard right now."
"That's probably a good reason not to," said Rarity. "We could all do with some time just to clear our heads."
Applejack sighed. "Probably yer right. Tell yer what, Ah'll throw in a keg o' cider. Might cheer Dash up at least. Figure Ah owe her an apology."
"I'll get my picnic supplies!" said Pinkie.
