Demons and Desires

by No Crow

Rating: mature
Tags: Human, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Rarity, Romance, Sex
Length: 18782

Despite months of silently pining for the one girl she knows is out of her reach, Twilight cannot help but follow her to one of Blueblood's parties anyway. The only question is, will she find what she's looking for?

Despite months of silently pining for the one girl she knows is out of her reach, Twilight cannot help but follow her to one of Blueblood's parties anyway.

The only question is, will she find what she's looking for? Or will Rarity choose someone else without ever considering her?

A small one-shot that got drastically out of hand relating to a RariTwi College AU I have going on with a couple of friends. Inspired by the song "Never Look Away" by Vienna Teng.

Cover art provided by the incredibly awesome Palolabg.

Published 2015-03-23 01:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-03-23 16:48:14 UTC

Demons

Demons and Desires
by Monochromatic

Detect my sudden existence on your sonar

You feel the echo

~

Somebody ought to corrupt you on the dance floor

And take you home

Twilight had no choice but to accept when she’d been invited to Blueblood’s party in a private nightclub. Even though she hated everything about him, going to his party was the only way to get him to stop calling her an antisocial bookworm. Assisting to the party also meant spending time with her friends, specifically a certain fashionista. If she was there, Twilight was willing to stomach Blueblood for any amount of time.

Midnight had long since passed, but no one seemed intent on leaving. Multicolored beams of light cut through the darkness, illuminating the couples completely lost in each other's eyes as they danced the hours away. The lone girl looked on from the sidelines, standing in a spot where the music was actually at a decent volume. She who so loved to dance, even if she wasn’t very graceful at it, suddenly found herself… shy. It might be because the rather suggestive song blaring out the speakers needed to be danced with another, and she didn’t have someone to dance with.

Or maybe it was because she couldn’t dance with the person she wanted.

And so she stood by, awkwardly sipping the mixture of alcohol and liquids known only as ‘Pinkie’s Brew’. ‘Don’t drink it too quickly, Twi! Don’t wanna end the party early, right?’ Pinkie had warned her with a teasing smile, and Twilight listened and behaved. If anything, the single most undeniable proof that she was not drunk was the fact that she was standing there, forlorn and stiff, instead of being in the dancefloor with her.

Twilight had seen her about thirty minutes ago.

The unspoken beauty queen of Canterlot University, and Twilight would venture to say perhaps even of the entire country. She had been transfixing to Twilight, watching how she danced with an impossible blend of perfect class and shameless allure. It was as if her every step, every move and every glance was an unabashed flirtation, but no one was daring enough to respond in kind — least of all Twilight. It didn't matter that they were close friends, dancing with Rarity so intimately was something she didn’t dare do, no matter how badly she wanted it.

The beauty had been dancing with a senior in the middle of the dancefloor. Some lucky guy who was too busy being completely enamoured by her to try and keep up. Others around them had moved away to give them space, and though they were still swaying to the beat, they were all glancing towards the same spot.

After all, when Rarity danced, everyone watched.

They watched because her beauty was bewitching, and because she could have anyone she wanted whenever she wanted. She knew it, too, and she reveled in the idea that she held that much power. A power she never abused and had, in Twilight’s opinion, wasted on that awful Blueblood.

All of a sudden, Rarity stopped dancing with the guy. She turned towards where Twilight had been, and their eyes met from across the threshold of music, lights, and dancing. Twilight offered her a hesitant friendly smile, as one as socially awkward as she was prone to do, but Rarity did not return the gesture.

Instead, she bit down on her lip, and if Twilight didn’t know better, she’d have sworn Rarity was giving her the exact same look guys and girls had been giving Rarity herself. It almost felt to Twilight as though Rarity had undressed her with but a smouldering gaze alone. She almost had to look away, but a couple of guys moved in front of the beauty, and she was lost to Twilight’s sight.

And so, Twilight had spent the last thirty minutes wondering if her friend had flirted with her, or if maybe she’d had a bit too much alcohol. Then again, it wasn’t possible that she’d been drunk on Pinkie Brew for a month, since Rarity had been sending little obvious signs for weeks now: stolen glances during class, teasing smiles during study sessions, and hugs that lasted a minute more than what could be considered friendly.

Twilight hoped it wasn’t just wishful thinking.

A million thousand thoughts rushed through her mind. They went by while she watched couples dance so close to each other, and an alarming majority of her thoughts painted pictures of Rarity and her in those same and even more daring positions. They were almost tempting enough for her to go looking for Pinkie and ask for a stronger drink. Maybe a shot of tequila, and a shot of courage while she was at it.

“Ah, Twilight,” said a voice that sent chills down her spine and made her grip her glass a bit tighter. So much for avoiding him.

Withholding a groan, Twilight turned around, smiled and decided to put on an enthusiastic front. Rarity had made peace with him, and since that was the case, so should Twilight. Or, at least, she should pretend she had. “Oh, hi, Blueblood.” It was hard to fake enthusiasm towards someone you hate.

The business major smiled, swishing around the martini he was holding in his hand. “I’m pleased to see you here, Twilight,” he drawled, and Twilight knew he was lying through his whitened teeth. There was a twinkle in his eye, pointing to that martini not being the first and probably not the last he’d had that night. “I barely saw you at parties when Rarity and I…” He paused. “... were still together.”

If Twilight didn’t know better, she might have thought that pause was remorse. “Oh, well, Rector Celestia was a bit more strict with homework last semester,” she replied, taking another sip from her beverage — which, incidentally, was disappearing at an alarming rate since Blueblood’s appearance.

Her reply had obviously pleased Blueblood, nodding his head slightly in approval. “You were so kind to make Rarity go through with those study sessions after our breakup,” he continued, sighing and closing his eyes. “The poor girl. Broken without me, of course.” He turned to Twilight and smiled. “Thank you, Twilight.”

By this point, Twilight was tipsy enough to consider throwing him her drink if she still had any. Instead, she settled on looking him straight in the eye and saying: “I didn’t do it for you, Blueblood,” she replied with an icy voice that would have made Rarity proud.

Despite this, Blueblood smiled. “Ah, still angry at me though Rarity has forgiven me?” He laughed and drank from his martini. “You’re a good friend, Twilight.

“And you were always the friend of Rarity’s I liked best,” he informed, smiling at her in a way she found to be very condescending. What, did he expect her to revel in his unwanted approval? Right. “Being Rector Celestia's personal student. Shame Rarity didn’t have more friends like you, instead of that oddball Pin—”

Aaaaaand that’s where she drew the line.

“Oh my!” she interrupted, looking towards the bar in the distance. She looked inside her cup and placed her free hand over her mouth, scrunching her eyebrows. “I’m almost done with my drink, but I just remembered someone mentioned there wasn’t any vodka anymore! Too ba—”

“Huh... while you certainly have many flaws...I never took you for a heavy drinker," Blueblood interrupted, raising his eyebrow at her. He then smiled thinly and glanced at the bar. "Not to worry. I can assure you this place won't run out of drinks unless they'd like for my family to have them permanently closed before tomorrow morning." He smiled at her and raised his martini glass towards her. "Nothing like having power!"

Twilight couldn't bring herself to smile or laugh as she resisted yet again the urge to roll her eyes and groan. Pretentious jackass, she thought to herself. "Well, in that case, I better go serve mysel—"

"She is a great dancer," he said suddenly, and Twilight didn't have to ask to know who he was talking about. For once, she agreed wholeheartedly with something he'd said. He took another sip of his martini and looked towards the dance floor. "How they all looked at her. Perhaps I shouldn't have let her go so easily."

This time, Twilight was not able to hold her tongue. "She broke up with you, Blueblood," she reminded icily. "Remember?"

Blueblood smiled and shook his head. "Ah, she thinks she did, but it was over long before she even knew. I was just waiting for the right moment to break it to the poor girl, but she did it herself. She wasn't right for me, you know? I think she knew it too." Every word that came out of his mouth, every syllable laced with poisonous contempt, as if he had been so kind with Rarity — forget throwing her drink in his face; Twilight wanted to punch him instead.

"Now, however, she's changed! I must thank you Twilight. Truly, you did wonders with her!" he continued, smiling at her as if helping her friend had been a personal favor to him. "I think I ought to give her a second chance."

"A second chance?!" Twilight snapped, no longer caring to hide her complete disgust for Blueblood. As if Rarity would ever think of going back to him. What, now that she was completely over him and back into her own projects, suddenly she was appealing again? "You give her a second chance?! She's not interested in you, Blueblood!"

“Oh?” he said, offering a sickeningly amused smile. “And I suppose she’s interested in you, then?”

This took Twilight by surprise, and she was furious to see her reddening cheeks tell more than she wanted that jerk to know. “Wh-What’re you talking about?” she stammered, gripping her glass tighter and swallowing hard when he let out an amused snort.

“Oh, come now, Twilight! Don’t play dumb with me. I do hope Celestia taught you to be smarter than that.” He shook his head and smirked at her, as if she was a naive little nuisance. “Don’t think I didn’t notice while I was dating Rarity, not to mention the way you reacted after we broke up. The way you gawked at her like a lovesick puppy; quite embarrassing, to be frank.”

“I— I wasn’t gawking!” Twilight sputtered.

Blueblood snorted. “Ah, undressing her with your eyes then? Pining perhaps? Whichever it was, it certainly made you look pathetic enough.” He took another sip of his drink before continuing. “Admittedly, you are a far better candidate than most of the university, but you shouldn’t get your hopes up. Rarity is interested in someone who can provide stimulating conversation and take her to only the best of places, not someone who’ll help her pass her geography test.

“Better face it, Twilight. You’re far too plain and frankly nerdy to appeal to anybody, least of all someone of Rarity’s calibre. Besides, you can’t hope to win against me.” He stuck his nose in the air and turned towards the bar. “Now, excuse me while I get myself some more refreshments for myself and Rarity.”

Twilight had never been happier to see Blueblood’s back. She balled her hand into a fist and gritted her teeth, doing her absolute best to forget everything that prick had told her. She found, however, after a minute or two, that it was hard to forget. With a sigh, she took the last of her drink and wondered if maybe she should go for more. Her eyes drifted towards the dance floor, unconsciously looking for Rarity, but her search was unsuccessful. Maybe she ought to go find Pinkie or Applejack instead.

“Ah, here you are, darling.”

Twilight felt her heart skip a beat and once more did her grip around her glass tighten. She turned around and found the beauty of the hour walking towards her, lips curved into a soft smile. What really held Twilight’s attention, however, was Rarity’s dress. It was one thing seeing Rarity from afar, and it was another thing entirely being able to look — or gawk, rather — at her up close.

She looked like like a godsend. A literal angel; if angels wore black.

The dress she wore was nothing like Twilight’s uninteresting blue dress.

Rarity’s dress was made of the blackest shades of night and hugged her every curve, leaving little to the imagination. Silk and mesh wrapped around one shoulder, looping around to cover her breasts and descending upon her hips. It left her back very, very open and one shoulder exposed. The silk stopped midway on her thighs and Twilight could see the mesh covering just over the inside into her legs. She quickly snapped her eyes up and got caught into the smoothness of Rarity’s uncovered shoulder, then her neck… her jaw…her lips...

She bit her lip when she imagined the softness of Rarity’s own. She caressed Rarity’s cheeks with her eyes, and finally made contact with Rarity’s own. She noticed her friend’s eyes were twinkling from the alcohol in her system, and she doubted the drink in Rarity’s hand was her first, or even second or third; despite the fact that 'a lady never drank more than she could handle' as Rarity so elegantly put it, she did, on occasion, overindulge.

“I saw my delightful ex boyfriend was talking to you,” Rarity noted, glancing in the direction where Blueblood had disappeared to. Twilight was almost proud of the amount of sarcasm dripping off the adjective Rarity used for him. Rarity threw her a sympathetic smile. “I hope it wasn’t too awful.”

Twilight smiled thinly. “It was delightful.” She couldn’t hold back a sigh and looked away. All of the things Blueblood had said still… stung. She knew he was trying to get under her skin but—

“Well, darling, if he said any delightfully unpleasant things, then I hope you know not to pay attention to anything he says, don’t you?” Rarity said, offering a reassuring smile.

Twilight smiled back and nodded. “I know.” It was impressive how a single reassuring word from Rarity made Blueblood’s claims seem less valid, less truthful. She just had to focus on Rarity, and it would be alright, wouldn’t it? “Besides, I also have delightfully unpleasant things to tell him, too, you know?”

Rarity put her free hand over her mouth to try and muffle her giggling, and Twilight could do naught but smile at the sight.

God, she loved Rarity’s laugh, and she loved being the one who made her laugh. What wouldn’t she give to hear that laugh every day? Cuddling on a couch, watching a silly movie, and whispering silly (and perhaps slightly inappropriate) things into her ears— With a shake of her head, she stopped her mental fantasies from distracting her of the real fantasy standing in front of her.

“I know you don’t really approve of me coming to Blueblood’s parties, but it has been almost a year,” Rarity said, taking a sip of her drink. “And I think we’re all more mature than to hold grudges, are we not?”

Twilight hugged herself with her free arm. “I just…” she drifted off, letting her mind go back to months ago. “I really hate him, Rarity… Really, really, really hate him…”

How Rarity had stopped going to her fashion design workshop because Blueblood had told her she needed to stop that. How he’d constantly criticize her ‘wasting’ her time designing clothes for charity events, and then would turn around and show it off as if he was the generous one. How she had started doing badly in classes after she broke up with him, to the point where Twilight had somehow managed to talk her into agreeing with the idea of nightly study sessions to get back on track. How the first few sessions had ended with Rarity crying into Twilight’s sleeves over that self-entitled jerk.

“I know, darling, but it’s over now,” Rarity said, smiling sympathetically at Twilight before downing her glass and continuing: “It really is. I promise. I just came here today to put an end to this.” She suddenly got closer and lifted Twilight’s chin. “Besides,” she continued quietly, “You being here makes it so much easier.”

Twilight’s cheeks went quite red, words escaped her lips, and she could feel a storm of butterflies in her stomach. When Rarity took back her hand, Twilight cleared her throat and looked towards the dancefloor where drunken couples stumbled about. “So, are you tired of dancing?” she asked.

Rarity let out a haughty laugh, looking at the dance floor as well. “Moi? Don’t be ridiculous! It’s only one in the morning. Ask me that that in four hours, and maybe I’ll consider saying yes.” She chuckled, letting her smile pull at the corners of her eyes. She then turned back to Twilight and raised an eyebrow. “The more important question tonight is... what have you been doing here for the past half hour all by your lonesome.”

“Me? Uhm… You know, just taking a little break,” Twilight stammered, trying to take a sip from her empty glass. “Just waiting for the DJ to put on songs you can dance to without the need for, uhm, somebody else…” Of course, just as she finished her sentence, she immediately regretted it. Smooth, Twilight. Now she’ll think you hate dancing like that. Why don’t you tell Rarity her dress is hideous next?

Her frustration towards herself only increased when Rarity frowned and turned back to the dance floor. She looked at the people dancing in shamelessly intimate ways for the longest time until she said, “Odd. I would have thought you of all people would like to dance with a partner. Especially considering your love of knowledge.”

Before Twilight could question her, Rarity turned to look at her and once again the smouldering gaze from thirty minutes ago had returned. “After all, you can learn so much about someone just by dancing with them.”

“Y-You can?” Twilight asked, losing her nerve when Rarity took a step towards her and nodded.

“Oh yes,” Rarity breathed, circling her, admiring her as if Twilight was one of the mannequins she used for her dresses. “And goodness, do I so love learning that way. You can learn how shy they are, for instance” she continued, closing the distance between them and stopping briefly to trace the edge of Twilight’s arm with her fingertips, “by observing how comfortable they are once you dance closer.”

The brief contact sent a jolt of electricity coursing through Twilight. A catch in her breathing, a quickening of her pulse. Time slowed, and Twilight knew only of Rarity now. No music permeated her bliss, and no lights interrupted her vision.

It had to be the alcohol in Rarity’s system making her act like this. There was no way she would be doing things like that while sober, would she? And if Twilight hadn’t taken that Pinkie Brew, she probably wouldn’t be standing there gawking, either.

“Most of all, you can easily find out how innocent they really are.”

Rarity stopped in front of Twilight and glanced back towards the people dancing. “See that? Being close enough to each other you can feel their breath on your neck?” She turned back to Twilight and lifted her hand to brush away Twilight’s bangs. “So close you can almost feel the eyes of your partner all over your body?”

Her fingertips slowly started going down Twilight’s face, stopping at her cheek without ever breaking eye-contact. “Being so lost in each other you can see their every demon and desire in their eyes?” Her hand descended even more and traced Twilight’s jawline, leaning in ever so slightly, her breath splashing on Twilight’s slightly parted lips. “Every touch so electrically charged that a single kiss in the midst of it all might be lethal? That’s not dancing, darling.”

She bit down on her lip and gently lifted Twilight’s chin again.

“That’s corruption.”

Any words Twilight had to offer had long since settled in her throat. Was this a dream? No, not even the sandman’s sleep could be that cruel, to force her to wake up from that at any moment. For a second, Rarity leaned in even more and Twilight’s eyes widened and closed as she nervously waited for the lethal kiss Rarity had mentioned.

But it never came.

Instead, Rarity pulled away and sighed dreamily. “A shame you don’t want to dance with anyone, Twilight. I’m sure no one here would hesitate to take you home with them.” She winked before turning around and walking off. “Now, where is that Trenderhoof? He still owes me a dance.”

Twilight watched her go, hips swaying in rhythm with the music. For a second, she pictured that guy from before brushing his hands over Rarity’s body. The idea was disgusting.

“W-Wait, Rarity!”

She went quiet after that, embarrassed by her own hasty outburst.

Rarity stopped dead in her tracks and looked back with a sly smile. “Yes~?” she asked, turning her smile innocent while fluttering her eyelashes. Despite her best attempts, she still looked more alluring than the look she was going for. Then again, it was impossible for anybody to look innocent while wearing a dress like that one.

Twilight realised that she may have been staring again, but she was much more interested and excited about the faint blush on Rarity’s cheeks. Does that mean she…

She tried to reply, but the words wouldn’t come to her. Rarity’s earlier descriptions of dancing resonated in her mind, and she found herself blushing crimson at realizing she wanted to ask Rarity to do all of that with her. Rarity waited, waited, waited and for a good minute Twilight still didn’t say a word. It wasn’t until Rarity turned away, apparently ready to leave, that Twilight felt her mood dip considerably.

Good going, Twilight. You’ve managed to screw up again.

“Rarity! Darling~!”

Twilight didn’t know who had called out, but Rarity turned away with a little sad smile. Twilight watched her make her way to the bar where three other girls welcomed her with open arms and fake kisses to the cheek. After that, Twilight found herself moving to the bar as well, if only to get more alcohol. She didn’t want to remember tonight.

As she made her way, she noticed Rarity watching her from the corner of her eye while engaging in trivial conversation with the three girls. The moment Twilight put her hands on the counter, several feet away from Rarity, the latter turned away from the girls and flashed the bartender her most dazzling smile, immediately drawing him to her.

“Drizzle, darling, I think I've had too many Mai Tais. Perhaps I ought to try something new tonight?" She tapped her index finger against her lips, humming as she thought what to order. On the back wall, behind Drizzle Shot, was a large menu listing out the names of over fifty types of drinks. After a minute of looking, Rarity glanced at Twilight, offered her the ghost of a smile, and without breaking eye-contact, asked: "I think number seventeen sounds absolutely delightful."

"A 'Sex on the Beach' coming right up," Drizzle clarified as he started serving peach schnapps, completely unaware of the crimson blush that appeared on Twilight's face at his words.

Rarity simply continued looking at Twilight, taking a step towards her. "Would you like to try it, darling~?" she asked, her smile increasing at Twilight's deepening flush. "Drizzle." She turned towards the bartender. "Be a dear and make that two number seventeens, if you please. One for the pretty lady over there, with the pink streak in her hair."

When the two drinks were made and each had their own, Rarity took another step towards Twilight. She took a long sip of the drink, and when she put the glass down, she made a showing of licking her lips. Twilight watched, mesmerized, so focused on Rarity’s sensuality that she almost missed the smile at the tail end of the little display. There was no doubt, Rarity was waiting for her to try her beverage, so she quickly lifted it to her face to hide the blush that had almost certainly made its home on her cheeks.

“Exciting isn’t it?” Rarity asked when Twilight almost choked on her drink. It was quite a bit stronger than anything she’d had so far, and Twilight imagined she could feel the alcohol rush straight to her brain, impairing her decisionmaking process and generally reducing her overall thinking capacity.

She could do little but nod, trying not to fixate on the way Rarity’s lips moved as she spoke. The more she failed at not looking at them, however, the more she wanted to feel them pressed against her own; to taste the sweet and tangy drink from somewhere other than her glass. “Rarity…”

She hadn’t even realized she’d whispered the name out loud until Rarity took another step closer, lifted her drink and took another slow sip. When she was finished, another step was taken towards Twilight and Rarity put her glass down right next to the other.

“Yes, Twilight?” she asked breathily, her fingers brushing around the rim of Twilight’s glass. For a brief second, the delicate fingertips traveled down the glass and brushed against Twilight’s hand, still gripping the glass as if her life depended on it.

It would be quick, to just lean in and kiss her. Twilight had enough alcohol in her system to feel daring enough to do it, and even if she wasn’t daring enough, a single taste of those lips would make it all worth it. In that moment, she had forgotten about all the people in the night club; all the staring, the whispering, and everything else was gone, gone, gone. All that remained was Rarity and how much she liked her, and how good she looked, and how badly she wanted that lethal kiss mentioned earlier.

“Rarity, dearest! There you are!”

And just like that, to the sound of the single most unpleasant voice in the world, the illusion was shattered into a million fragments. Twilight subconsciously stepped away from Rarity, and she hated herself for it, and hated how deep Blueblood’s words cut. Rarity simply offered a tired smile before, in one swift motion, downing half the remain of her drink and turning around with a beautiful smile.

“Blueblood, darling! Here I am, indeed!” she greeted, smiling at him even though he deserved nothing of the sort, and especially less from her.

Was it wrong for Twilight to be upset at Rarity for still being kind and polite to Blueblood after what he’d done to her? Could she really say she was only ‘looking out’ for her as a ‘good friend should’, or was it really only jealousy blinding her from being rational about it? Then again, with what Blueblood had said, there really wasn’t much to doubt about the nature of his intentions.

Blueblood looked completely different than he did a while ago. His cocky and irritating attitude had all but vanished, and now before them stood the Blueblood who, in a way much like Rarity, could charm whoever he wanted whenever he wanted. The difference, of course, was that Rarity did it to get donations for her charity events, whereas Blueblood did it to get better grades.

“Dearest, I must say you look ravishing tonight,” he drawled, the martini swirling around his glass as he nodded approvingly at Rarity’s outfit. “Your own design, I assume?”

Rarity smiled widely, looking down at her dress. “But of course! I only bring my very best designs to your parties,” she replied, taking another sip of her drink and smiling. Was she flirting with him? Surely not. She wouldn’t… would she?

Blueblood laughed and winked at Rarity. “I should hope so! You are one of my favorite designers,” he continued, unaware of the three girls behind Rarity who were now glaring daggers at her.

Twilight rolled her eyes at his blatant lies, and she found herself upset to see Rarity was still smiling brilliantly at him. Was she actually flattered by him? She couldn’t honestly believe this guy was being serious! After all he had done to her?

The three girls’ glares grew colder still when Blueblood moved his index finger in a circular motion. “Come now, give us a twirl,” he prompted, then took a step back and what followed nearly made Twilight sick.

The absolutely delighted giggle from Rarity; how she immediately twirled around on the spot like a flustered schoolgirl; how she acted the exact same way she had when the two of them were together; how people would call them the fairy tale couple. Twilight forced herself to stare at her drink. Just the thought of them getting back together…

“Twilight, what do you think?”

She looked up to find Rarity looking back expectantly, smiling as she waited for Twilight’s opinion. “I…” Twilight’s eyes wandered down Rarity’s body, and though the sight made her feel a thousand different things, she found that words to express those feelings were hard to come by at that moment. “You, uhm… You look great,” she finished lamely, and winced when Blueblood let out a loud scoff.

“That’s it? Honestly, Twilight, you have no sense of fashion whatsoever. Dearest, you look fabulous, more than fabulous really.” He smiled brightly. “You look marvelous, amazing, a brilliant diamond in the rough backdrop that is this establishment.”

Twilight bit down on her tongue, glaring at Blueblood. That slimey good for nothing...UGH! Even in her mind she couldn’t quite find the words to properly express how much she loathed the way Blueblood slithered through life and still managed to wrap everyone around his fingers like it was nothing.

Nevertheless, Rarity still smiled at Twilight. “I’m glad you like it, darling!” she said sincerely, taking her glass again and leaning back against the counter. “I was hoping you would…” For a fraction of a second, Rarity’s innocent expression flickered to a seductive looking glance, and Twilight could only blush.

She opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of Blueblood loudly clearing his throat caught the attention of everyone in the vicinity, hers included.

“You know, I rather feel like dancing, don’t you?” he asked Rarity, glancing back at the drunken crowd dancing about in the distance. “The night is still young!”

Rarity smiled and took a sip of her drink. “Goodness, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of dancing!” She turned to Twilight and smiled. “What about you, darling? You’ve yet to take a step on the dance floor…” She fluttered her eyelashes and the innocent smile reappeared. “It does make one feel like joining...” She drifted off and glanced at the dancefloor, past the distinctly annoyed looking Blueblood.

Blueblood cleared his throat again and extended his hand towards Rarity. “Rarity, dearest, I think we shou—”

He didn’t finish his sentence before words escaped Twilight’s mouth that hadn’t had the courtesy to stop by her mind first to ask for permission. “Wait!”

It felt like every single eye in the club was aimed at her, and even the music seemed to have slowed. She could feel her heart in the back of her throat but for some reason couldn’t bring herself to swallow it down.

“What do you want, Sparkle?” Blueblood sneered, hand still lifted towards Rarity.

“Rarity promised to dance with me, at least once,” Twilight replied, sounding a lot more confident than she really felt. A big part of her mind rebelled, but was muted, smothered, by the blanket of alcohol.

“Indeed I did!” Rarity immediately and cheerfully exclaimed, shifting every pair of eyes from Twilight to herself in a heartbeat. She smiled at Blueblood. “I am a woman of my word, I’m afraid. Maybe some other time, Blueblood, darling!” Before he could protest, she grabbed Twilight’s hand and dragged her off to the dancefloor without so much as another word, and Twilight, to her own surprise, didn’t resist. Did she really just go along with me? I never... she never... Am I really, finally, going to dance with her?

Every step they took towards the dancefloor seemed to indicate that she would, and yet, on the inside her brief surge of alcohol instilled confidence vanished. I can’t dance in front of all of these people! I’m not... I can’t... Rarity, please, save me from this!

Rarity looked back at her with such a dazzling smile, that she was sure her silent plea had not been heard. Three more steps. Two. One. And then she was there. Or rather, they were, all eyes of the club on them while Rarity started swaying to the beat that apparently hadn’t gone anywhere.

Seeing Rarity dance was one thing, but feeling her dance, was an entirely different thing altogether. Twilight instantly understood what Rarity had meant when she had called it ‘corruption’. Every part of her urged her body to move along with Rarity’s, to shape itself according to the demands of the beautiful succubus that pressed against her like the concept of shame did not exist. It lasted but an instant, and yet felt like an eternity before she woodenly tried to mimic Rarity’s moves, and even that didn’t last long.

“Out of the way, nerd. There’s no way in hell that Rarity promised something like that to the likes of you! Get lost and let me show you how a real couple dances!”

Twilight was only vaguely aware of the voice, but that changed quickly when something grabbed a hold of her shoulder. She was given a rough shove away from Rarity, and before she even saw Blueblood taking her place, several dancers got in the way and ended up pushing her off the dance floor. She only managed to see Rarity throw Blueblood a furious scowl at his rude action.

“Twilight!”

She was barely cognisant of Pinkie calling her, and as much as she wished she could, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Rarity and Blueblood to look at Pinkie when she reached her. “Hi, Pinkie,” were the somber, hollow words that left her lips.

“What’s the matter?” Pinkie asked, certainly having noticed Twilight’s sour mood. “Why the sad face? Too much Pinkie Brew?”

“It’s nothing,” Twilight replied simply.

Nothing because, just like that, she was once more a girl — a nerd, to be technically correct — standing on the sidelines, while the woman of her dreams danced away with… him.

Rarity grimaced and looked over at Twilight with an apologetic smile while she gently tried to push the very drunk Blueblood away from her. To Twilight, it felt more like Rarity was saying sorry. Sorry because poor little Twilight was too nervous and anxious to even dance for five minutes, and was somehow glad for Blueblood’s interruption, terrible though it was. I should leave, she thought miserably, watching as Blueblood pulled Rarity closer and snaked an arm around her waist. She wanted to ask Pinkie to go with her to the bar for several more drinks, but she found she couldn’t budge.

It was like some sort of sick masochism to stand there and watch them dance, although dancing might have been too charitable a word. Blueblood drunkenly hoisted Rarity around against her will, then suddenly smiled and let his hands slither down, headed directly to… Twilight instinctively balled up her hands into fists, her eyes widening.

No... He’s not going to…

With horror, she watched as his lips curved into a sickeningly satisfied smile when his hand reached Rarity’s derriere and squeezed. While Twilight lacked any fighting experience whatsoever, it didn’t stop her from making a move to walk over and start practicing with Blueblood’s face. Or, she would have if Rarity hadn’t literally beaten her to the punch.

The entire room went silent save for Blueblood’s wheezing as he fell to his knees, clutching the spot on his stomach where Rarity had punched him. Twilight knew her friend had taken self-defense lessons before, but she had never known how strong she was.

The music had stopped for real this time. No doubt because the party’s host was indisposed, and a circle had formed around the two. While everyone seemed to be focused on Blueblood, Twilight and Pinkie were watching their friend. Oh no, Rarity…

“Don’t touch me!” Rarity yelled, drawing all the attention to herself before turning around and rushing out of the room, the clacking of her heels and Blueblood’s wheezing the only sounds in the room.

It felt to Twilight as if time had stopped, and it only started back up again when Pinkie took her by the hand. “Come on!” she said, pulling Twilight away towards the spot where Rarity had run off to. She stopped when Twilight pulled her back. “Twilight! What’re you doing?!”

“I’ll go after her, Pinkie,” Twilight replied, receiving an anguished stare from her friend. “Please, I can handle it. You just stay here, find AJ, and make sure that creep doesn’t go after us when he gets back up.”

That seemed to work for Pinkie. “Oki-doki!” she exclaimed, nodding seriously and turning towards the spot where Blueblood was still wheezing about. Rolling up the sleeves of her dress, she stomped her way over to him. “I’ll make sure that jerk can’t get up. Nobody touches my friends without their permission!”

For about half a second, Twilight worried about what her excitable friend might do to the creep, but then she realised that she couldn’t care less and instead worried about Rarity. She ran towards the entrance, only to find out that it was raining. What was more, Rarity hadn’t had a coat when she came in.

Twilight rushed over to the coat check and grabbed her coat and umbrella. After putting on her coat, she opened the umbrella and ran out. It was dark and cold outside, and the rain made it hard to see anything beyond a few feet. “Rarity!” she called out, walking away from the establishment as quickly as she could. She called a few more times to no avail before biting down on her lip.

Where could she have gone?

Her apartment was on the other side of town, and it wasn’t safe or healthy to walk alone at night, even less so with the rain pouring down like it was. She dug her hand inside her purse, took out her phone and dialed Rarity’s cellphone number from memory. “Rarity, come on,” she whispered after the sixth time that Rarity’s voicemail greeted her.

With a frustrated sigh, she shoved her cell-phone back into her purse and continued her search. Minutes later, she went around the corner of the street and relief washed over her at the sight of Rarity quickly walking in the distance. The relief then left just as soon as it had come, replaced instead with worry.

“Rarity!” she called, running over to her friend, who only looked back for a second before promptly looking away and continuing her angered walk. “What do you think you’re doing?” she scolded gently when she reached her friend, who made no effort to slow her pace.

“Going home,” Rarity replied in a voice colder than the night air. “Isn’t it obvious?” Her soaking hair was pressed against her, her make-up was running down her face, and she was shivering badly. Twilight couldn’t tell if she was shaking because she was cold or furious — probably both. “Is there anything you want, or have you just come to remind me of my misery? Have a laugh at Rarity, I bet. Ha ha ha!”

Yep, she was definitely furious.

“Rarity, I realize you’re upset, and it’s understa—”

“If you came here to lecture me, Twilight,” Rarity hissed, her clacking heels accentuating every word, “Then I suggest you give up now and leave me alone to wallow in my misery.”

Twilight couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. “Rarity, your house is almost two hours away by foot! Don’t be ridiculous.” She grabbed Rarity’s hand and gently said, “Please, Rarity, it’s freezing and you’re not wearing a coat. Let’s take you somewhere warm before you get a cold, or worse, hypothermia.” She didn’t like the idea of Rarity being sick in bed, so she decided she’d still give her some cold medicine just to be sure.

“Hah! You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going back there, Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity scoffed, finally stopping if only to turn around and glare daggers at her friend. “I’d rather—” She looked around and spotted a bench on the side of the street — “sit there and get hypothermia than be anywhere near that despicable scum ever again.”

Twilight shook her head. “No, Rarity, I didn’t mean—” she sighed and pulled on Rarity’s arms a little more insistently. “My apartment is five minutes away. That’s the place I was talking abo— R-Rarity?”

She cut herself off when her friend quietly walked away towards the bench, half dragging Twilight along for the ride until the latter let go of Rarity’s arm. Without a care for ruining her already soaked dress, Rarity sat down, crossed one arm and used the other to cover her face with her hand. She was shivering even harder now that the warmth that walking had provided faded with every raindrop.

Twilight quickly made her way over to her, and gently prompted: “Rarity… Please, you’re going to get sick...” When Rarity made no signs whatsoever of moving, Twilight sighed and sat down besides her on the wet bench so they’d both be under the umbrella. Might as well keep Rarity sheltered from the rain as much as she could. “Alright, then,” she murmured, getting to work on unbuttoning her coat.

“I hate him, Twilight...”

Said a little more softly, Twilight wouldn’t have heard Rarity’s whisper. She looked up from her coat and turned to Rarity. The latter was looking down at her hands folded on her lap, and Twilight saw several teardrops run down from her eyes and fall down onto her hands. It broke Twilight’s heart to see her like that, and it only fueled her seemingly neverending shared hatred of Blueblood.

“I hate him so much,” Rarity continued in a whisper, closing her eyes and balling her hands into fists. “This… This night was supposed to be different. I was going to make it special, and then he… he…” She gritted her teeth and buried her face in her hands. “Oh, how I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.”

“Rarity?”

When she looked up from her hands, Twilight smiled at her and invited her to share half of her coat. It didn’t take Rarity even a second to scoot over and bury herself against Twilight. She sniffled a bit when Twilight wrapped her arm around her, making sure to cover Rarity with as much as she could of the unbuttoned coat.

“Should have kicked him,” Rarity muttered, snuggling against Twilight for warmth. “I knew I’d found my stilettos today for a reason...”

“A stiletto kick?” Twilight laughed softly, shaking her head. “I’m sure you’d have been thrilled to sit in court and convince the judge that the stiletto stab wounds on Blueblood aren’t yours, right?”

“Who said I’d plead not guilty?” Rarity replied, before finally treating Twilight to a few choked up but nonetheless precious quiet giggles. She let out a long sigh and looked up. “I’m cold. Is your apartment still available?”

Twilight smiled. “If you’re done with ‘wallowing in your misery’, then yeah,” she said, giggling when Rarity rolled her eyes. She got up and took off her coat, draping it around Rarity’s shoulders. It would be cold for a while, but at least she wasn’t wearing a dress that lacked an entire side of cloth. “Come on,” she said, holding the umbrella over Rarity’s head and waiting for her to get up. “I’ve got a heater, and some warm chocolate milk with your name on it.”

Even cold as she was, Rarity managed to look indignant. “I am not a child, Twilight.”

“Okay, so you don’t want the chocolate milk. I have tea, or coffee, or just something to make you warm.”

Rarity smiled. “I never said I didn’t want the chocolate milk... Just that I’m not a child.”

Much to Twilight’s surprise and pleasure, Rarity then stepped under the umbrella and linked both her arm and hand with Twilight’s. Twilight’s heart fluttered at the contact, and she held on tight to Rarity’s hand as they made their way out of the park and towards the apartment complex in the distance.

Author's Note

In the darkest hour of the night, when there is naught a sound but that of my own unsteady breathing, a voice in the depths of my soul quietly says in an anguished voice: "Maybe I write too much RariTwi..."

And moments later, after the question has settled and the silence returned, when my doubts and insecurities begin to claw at my heart, a second voice within me quietly replies: "There is no such thing as too much goddamn RariTwi, you hack."

Desires

"So if you're out there in the cold
I'll cover you in moonlight.
~
If you're a stranger to your soul
I'll bring you to your birthright

Twilight’s apartment was by no means as luxurious as Rarity’s, but she liked it well enough. It was of a decent size, small but not too small; it was cozy and homey, which was perfect for studying, or reading curled up against the window on a warm summer afternoon. She suspected Rarity liked the place too, considering their studying sessions always took place at Twilight’s, normally at Rarity’s insistence.

“We got here safely, don’t worry,” Twilight said to Applejack over her cellphone, locking the front door. “Thanks for making sure that sleazeball didn’t come after us... Pinkie did what? Where did she even get a megaphone? You got a video of it, right? ... Um, yeah, I think it might be better to call her tomorrow. She seems better, but I’m not sure she wants to talk about it yet... Alright... Send me a text when you get home safely, and please tell Pinkie to do the same. Bye!”

She hung up her cellphone and turned from the door. “Hot chocolate it is, then?” she asked, entering the living room where Rarity was waiting. Unfortunately, her friend was still shivering from the cold and seeking warmth from the now wet coat in vain. “Uhm, maybe I should get you a towel and dry clothes first, though… Come on, sit down.”

She left Rarity in the living room while she darted into her room.

The first thing she did was look in the bathroom for a clean towel. Once she found one, she slung it over her shoulder and moved to a closet in her room. She opened a drawer and took out a clean shirt, and then spent a minute trying to no avail to find jeans that looked... well, cuter than her usual fair so Rarity wouldn’t have to share in her lack of fashion sense. Well, she’ll make it look cute, she thought, resigning herself and picking some utterly normal pair of jeans and leaving her room to join her friend.

“Here. I think we’re around the same size, so these jeans sho—” Twilight trailed off, the end of her sentence getting lost in the flurry of sensations stirring inside her at the sight she was greeted by in the living room.

She’d be lying if she said she’d never dreamt of watching Rarity take off the pesky clothes that hid her perfect body, but she never actually thought she’d see it happen for herself. With her back to Twilight, Rarity languidly peeled away the tight dress that had been hugging her figure. Part of her wondered if Rarity’s disrobing was slow on purpose, while the rest of her tried to remember how breathing went. In, then out, right? Whichever way it worked, the sight was truly breathtaking. From the small of Rarity’s back, which had endured stares the entire evening, down to her well-formed derriere, covered only by lacy black underwear, and those long shapely legs that seemed to go on forever... Twilight wondered if it was strange for her to want to trade places with the dress.

It wasn’t until Rarity turned her face around towards her that Twilight realized staring was generally considered to be a bad thing. Face flushing, she looked away quickly and presented the towel. “Uh, h-here you go!” she stammered, taking a step towards Rarity and blindly waving the object around until Rarity took it from her.

“Thank you, darling,” Rarity said with a giggle.

Twilight nodded, clutching the shirt and jeans to her chest while trying very hard not to peek at Rarity. She failed magnificently, unable to help but glance at Rarity’s near nakedness several more times. Could she really be blamed when Rarity was taking her sweet, sweet time? When Rarity asked for the clothes, and Twilight hastily provided them, she decided she should allow her friend some privacy and took off for the kitchen.

When she stepped inside, she took a moment to lean against the counter and wait until her heated blush faded away. Focus, Twilight, she thought, turning towards the counter and pulling out a box from inside one of the cupboards. She took out two packets of hot chocolate, and then went over to the refrigerator for the milk.

“Twilight, can I borrow some of your make-up remover?” a voice called.

“Yeah, it’s in the bathroom!” Twilight called back, placing the milk down on the counter. Opening the cupboard again, Twilight admired her selection of multicolored mugs and after a moment of contemplation, she picked the white mug for herself and the purple one for Rarity. She could already taste the warm coco in her mouth.

Once she’d poured the milk and chocolate powder into the mugs, she put them in the microwave and punched in the appropriate heating time. Maybe I should get us some cookies? she wondered, opening the cupboard where she stored most of her snacks. To her disappointment, she only had salted crackers. Pinkie had devoured all her chocolate cookies during last week’s study session.

The ding of the microwave alerted her to the milk being done, and when she retrieved the mugs from the microwave, she took a step back to admire her handiwork. Sure it wasn’t the best drink one could get, but she was pleased with herself for making something that had turned out nicely. She turned around, intent on checking up on Rarity before she continued, only to bump into her friend who had snuck up behind her. “Rarity! I didn’t— how long have you been standing there?” Twilight blurted out before taking a good look at Rarity.

Even in a simple white T-shirt and a pair of slightly smudged pants, Rarity was a sight to behold. Her thighs were quite obviously a size bigger than Twilight’s, as the jeans struggled to contain all of her. The T-shirt was having similar problems, and it was only then that Twilight realised that she hadn’t even offered Rarity a bra. Then again, Rarity was a busty girl, whereas Twilight… not so much, so she couldn’t have even offered one in the first place.

You just wanted to see what she would look like without one, the treacherous part of her mind whispered, but she shook the thought away and smiled. “You look great...” she said belatedly. “Are the clothes comfortable?” was added as an afterthought, but she still managed.

Rarity scoffed. “Hardly. I don’t have any of my make-up, these pants keep riding up on me, and my underwear and bra are still wet, darling.”

Twilight blushed and ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh, uhm, sorry...” she said hastily, not wanting to imagine how uncomfortable Rarity must be. “Would you like to, uh, put them in the dryer for a few minutes? You can use a bathrobe in the meantime?”

Rarity sighed theatrically and waved her hand in a dismissive motion. “No, it’s alright. I’ll just have to live with it,” she said, turning around and leaving the kitchen.

Twilight watched her leave before looking back to the mugs. She grabbed the white one and took a sip of the chocolate. Perfect. Not too warm, not too cold, just right. Satisfied, she took the other mug and went back into the living room, where Rarity had already thrown herself on the couch.

She was fidgeting around, no doubt trying to get comfortable in the tight jeans. She eventually settled with resting her back against the armrest, propping her legs up on the couch and bending them a little so she’d almost be curled up into a ball.

This Rarity — insecure without her make up, or imposing clothes, trying to hide how she felt — was so very different from the Rarity she saw every day. Different from the Rarity she had seen in the nightclub earlier. Twilight loved all sides of her, but the Rarity from the nightclub had made her seem small and insignificant by comparison; this Rarity made her feel like she was allowed to be; like the bookish, nerdy, Twilight Sparkle might actually have a chance at something more than friendship with the beauty queen.

“Here you go,” she said, handing over the mug to Rarity, who gratefully accepted and drank some of the delicious sweet liquid. She seemed to relax a bit now that she’d had something warm to counteract the cold from before, and Twilight wondered if perhaps she should have brought a blanket. “I can turn up the heater or bring a blanket.” she offered.

Rarity shook her head and yawned. “That won’t be necessary, Twilight, but thank you.” She went quiet for a minute and then looked at a nearby clock hanging on the wall. “Would… it be alright if I stayed the night?” she asked, turning back to Twilight. “I don’t think there are any buses at three in the morning, and…” A faint blush decorated her cheeks. “I’m not so keen on walking back home in the rain.”

Twilight giggled. “Yeah, I didn’t think you would be. My bed will probably be more comfortable for you to sleep in, though.” When Rarity raised an eyebrow, Twilight immediately processed her own words, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of red. “Wait, I mean, not with me! Not that I’d mind, of cour—” Rarity’s eyebrow went higher still, and her lips curved into an amused smirk. “W-Wait, no, that came out wro— You can sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch! That’s what I meant!” She laughed nervously and quickly took a sip of her chocolate, trying very hard to ignore Rarity’s giggling.

“That’s alright, darling. I wouldn’t want to intrude on you like that, so the couch is perfectly acceptable for me.” Rarity took another long, slow sip of her chocolate and sighed when her lips left the rim of the mug. She offered Twilight a hesitant smile. “But are you going to bed now, or…?” She looked away from Twilight and towards the empty spot on the other side of the couch.

Though it was phrased as a question, and Rarity might have felt insecure enough to actually mean it as one, Twilight knew there was only one choice both she and Rarity wanted her to make. Rarity needed company, certainly nothing more, and Twilight would give her all she wanted, and everything more if… if Twilight were only so lucky Rarity would ever ask for more.

Without another word, Twilight sat down on the other side of the couch, propping her legs and bending them sideways, so she’d be facing her friend. “I can stay up a bit longer,” she reassured, doing her best to swallow down a yawn. “I think the rain did a pretty good job at waking me up.”

Silence settled between the two, no other sound except for the distant raindrops falling against the window, the occasional shifting of Rarity on the couch, and the beating of Twilight’s heart. Whenever she opened her mouth to say something, she’d realize the words she’d wanted to say were stilted, awkward, nervous, and nothing like the words that should naturally flow when addressing a good friend.

Did Rarity still count as a friend when Twilight’s heart had already pushed her into a higher position without care for the painful consequences? Her brain analyzed every mistake she’d made so far, every clumsy and unwitting way she’d revealed her feelings only for Rarity to be completely oblivious. Or worse, embarrassed and sympathetic towards Twilight’s silly crush. Her mind went back to her earlier blunder when she’d offered Rarity her bed to sleep in.

Other friends had slept over before, and when Twilight always suggested they sleep in her bed instead, it had never crossed her mind that they’d misunderstand her intentions. And yet, with Rarity… Ugh. Was some part of her psyche desperately sending hints in the hope that Rarity would reply in kind? Even if it was likely that she never would?

It was like reading a book.

It was like reading a book with a bad ending over and over, and over and over clinging to the hope that the ending would somehow change, that the ink would somehow shift, that the beautiful girl would fall for the awkward side-character and not the dashing, charming main character.

Maybe it was time to throw away the book.

“What a mess.”

Twilight looked up, snapped out of her pessimistic thoughts. Rarity was looking away, towards the window and the night behind it, hands curled around the purple mug, and Twilight didn’t have to ask to know what she was talking about.

“I wish you had said no,” she continued, and now Twilight had no idea what she was talking about.

No towards what? Dancing? With how that had gone, it was pretty much as if she’d said no, wasn’t it? Twilight felt herself blush at the memory of how she’d completely ruined her own chances, and how she let Blueblood push her away and… that speech Rarity gave… That was the only thing that didn’t match up, the only thing that for a brief moment made Twilight feel Rarity wanted her as badly as she did.

“When I called you Tuesday to ask if you were going, I wish you had said no,” Rarity clarified, still looking away towards the window.

“And leave my best friend to go by herself?” Twilight said, hiding her insecurities under a blanket of playfulness.

“I wouldn’t have gone if you hadn’t.”

Rarity’s admission completely caught Twilight by surprise. “Y-you wouldn’t? Why not?”

“Because...” Rarity began, biting her lip in that painfully adorable way she always did when something was difficult for her. “Because I’ve come to rely on you, I suppose. If you hadn’t pushed me to be better after what that slime did, I doubt I would’ve been as confident as I am now.”

Yeah, I’m a great teacher, now if only I could learn from my own lessons, Twilight thought bitterly. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad that it happened,” she said, drawing another raised eyebrow from Rarity. “I mean... not that I wanted Blueblood to... do what he did, but at least now you know what kind of a creep he is.”

Rarity took a sip of chocolate. “A creep I dated for almost a year,” she said, letting out a bitter laugh.

Twilight didn’t know how to reply. At least it was only a year? At least you didn’t fall for it a second time? At least he only felt you up once?! It felt like any comfort she could give would be hollow at best, and downright depressing at worst. “At least it’s over now, right?” she ventured, feeling even worse when yet another bitter laugh came out of Rarity’s lips.

“I suppose, though it’s a shame it took me so long to realize I was nothing but a trophy for him. A pretty girl to flaunt at other people, to make him look better.” Another sip of her chocolate. “I wager he loved his ferrari more than he ever loved me.”

It made Twilight sick to think how much of an effect Blueblood still had on Rarity. It was like a flashback to those first study sessions where Rarity couldn’t even focus, and where Twilight’s lectures on the history of fashion design were answered with a hollow “What did I do wrong?”

In that respect, she really had gotten a lot better.

“I was blind. Or maybe, I just didn’t want to see what a creep he really was,” she continued, looking towards the mug in her hands. There was a moment of silence and she sighed. “I wish I could say I didn’t know what I saw in him, but…” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Actually, I wish I could warn all the other girls who think he’s ‘like, oh my gosh, a tooooootal dreamboat’.”

Twilight giggled at Rarity’s impersonation. “Yeah, well, we can organize a university assembly for the cause. Or maybe we could call it a charity event, or even a PSA.”

Rarity finally let out a proper, adorable giggle and looked at Twilight. “You know, I do love organizing charity events.”

She seemed to be in higher spirits, and Twilight relaxed at having successfully cheered up her friend. Even a small smile and giggle was infinitely better than the gloomy, bitter expression from a few minutes ago.

“You never liked him, did you? You always saw what I refused to see,” Rarity suddenly said, watching Twilight carefully, her head tilted to the side. “Then again, I don’t think you’ve ever liked the opposite sex in that way, either.” She paused to take another sip of chocolate, watching as Twilight’s cheeks grew redder by the second. “I saw little signs here and there when Blueblood and I were dating. It wasn’t until our study sessions began that I was sure.”

Twilight’s heart was beating so wildly, there was no way Rarity couldn’t hear it. Had she really been that obvious? “I-I, uh, well… I…”

Rarity simply smiled, still observing Twilight. “Then again,” she said slowly, taking all the time in the world while Twilight could only cling onto every syllable for dear life, “I admittedly... explored that area before dating Blueblood, but it wasn't until recently that I found out my door really swings that way.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, her grip around the mug tightened, until she was sure it would shatter from the force she was exerting upon it. She couldn’t believe her ears, and quickly convinced herself that she must have heard wrong. Because there was no way that Rarity could look so calm, so utterly nonchalant about having made such a confession.The only logical explanation was that she hadn’t made any confession at all, and Twilight had finally gone bonkers.

She needed to be sure.

“W-Wait, wha—”

“Do you really consider me your best friend?” Rarity suddenly asked, almost timidly.

And just like that, the topic of conversation was swiftly changed, and Twilight’s question hung in the air, unfinished and unanswered.

“You said before that I was your best friend,” Rarity continued, now oddly subdued. “Did you mean it?”

“Well... yeah. I mean, Fluttershy and Applejack are good friends, as is Rainbow, and Pinkie is friends with everyone... but you’re the one that, accepted me for who I was?” She rubbed the back of her neck, cursing herself for not knowing the right words to express how much she really cared about Rarity.

“You mean, I’m the only popular kid that didn’t treat you like a nerd.”

Twilight winced. Put that bluntly, it really made her friendship with Rarity seem… less, somehow. “Maybe at first!” she said quickly. “But then, when you uhm...”

“Dumped Blueblood.”

“Right. When you dumped Blueblood, you felt terrible, and sad, and angry and everything else... but you still accepted my help, even though you hadn’t asked for it.”

Rarity let out a humorless giggle. “You were very insistent that I let you help me.”

Twilight looked down at her mug, not sure of what to say. At any other time she would have insisted that helping Rarity by getting her grades back up was great, and had been its own reward, now she wasn’t so sure anymore. Then again, she hadn’t know any other way to really help. Sure, she could have offered to go the mall, or the spa with Fluttershy, or other such things, but she had never really cared for them in the same way Rarity did. Books were the things she knew best.

It hadn’t been about Rarity getting her grades up, not really. It had been the only thing she could think of doing to give Rarity to focus on, other than Blueblood. More than that, she hadn’t really expected it to work as well as it had, or for Rarity to keep coming to her for advice after she had gotten over the break-up. It had all gotten so complicated, and now she was treading water in a place she wasn’t familiar, or even completely comfortable with.

“I just thought...”

Rarity leaned in and booped her nose with a finger. “Shush. I never said that it was a bad thing. It was just what I needed, and I... I realise I never really thanked you for it.” She leaned back against the armrest and smiled. “Maybe I should have offered to give you dance lessons. Then I wouldn’t have found you watching from the sidelines earlier tonight.”

Twilight couldn’t lie and say she wouldn’t have loved to have dance lessons with Rarity, if only because it meant they’d be dancing like they did before… he arrived. She found herself thinking back to that moment before they left for the bar, and just the memory was enough for all kinds of feelings to stirr up inside her.

“I thought you were exaggerating with the… description you gave of dancing, but…”

Rarity let out a dreamy sigh and slumped backwards on the couch. “Not even a little bit, darling. If you must know what I saw in Blueblood back then, it was that he embodied some of what I described. A devil-may-care attitude that implied that limits did not exist for him.” Rarity sat back up with a frown. “Of course, I didn’t know then that he had no limits anywhere.”

“S-so... you would have... given me dancing lessons? Even with everything you said about it being ‘corruption’ and everything?”

“Had I known you’d be interested? Yes, I would have.” Rarity leaned forward with a seductive smile. “Of course, general dancing lessons are quite different from what I described, but if you want we could work on that as well.” She tilted her head to the side. “We could start now if you’d like. The night is young, and I can’t say I’m tired anymore.”

Twilight swallowed hard. Did she dare accept?

“Alright,” she finally replied, receiving an excited grin in reply. She watched as Rarity put her mug down on the floor, swung her legs around, stood up with a hop and clapped her hands together. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Twilight could feel excitement bubbling up inside her.

“Join me, darling?” she prompted, extending her left hand down towards Twilight, inviting her to join her. She waited until Twilight put down her mug and delicately took her hand before pulling her up from the couch with a delighted giggle. Twilight stumbled for a moment until Rarity steadied her by using her right hand to hold onto Twilight’s hip. “Now,” she said, snaking her right arm around Twilight’s back and bringing their bodies close together. “Shall we tango?”

Twilight blushed at their close proximity, very aware of Rarity’s fingers tracing circles on her back. “Isn’t tango kind of advanced for a beginner?” she asked.

Rarity only smiled. “Tango is only as hard as you make it, darling. Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”

“But what if I make a mistake? What if I step on your toes, or make us fall or something terrible like that?”

“Then we get up and try again. That is after all what learning is about, is it not?” Rarity smiled gently and strengthened her grip on Twilight’s back a little. “Come along now, left foot back, left foot forward, right foot back... very good.”

Slowly, Rarity started guiding Twilight around the room, dancing along to the beat of Twilight’s frantic heart, and Rarity’s own soft and entrancing voice. “You’re my mirror, Twilight,” she whispered, their faces torturous inches apart.

“I’m your mirror,” Twilight repeated, copying every one of Rarity’s moves, her every breath, her every smile. Her hand slung from Rarity’s shoulder, and she could only carefully try not to make a mistake, not to ruin everything like she had hours before.

“Tango is something you feel,” Rarity continued, her fingers intertwining with Twilight’s. A dance of slow and fast steps took place between them, but to Twilight it felt as though time had slowed down; as if every touch lasted a lifetime. Rarity smiled and for a second, for a brief delirious second, Twilight thought she was going to kiss her.

Instead, she whispered, “It’s being synchronized, knowing your partner so well you can effortlessly predict their next movement as if…” Her hand lowered on Twilight’s back, and her lips parted for a second, so close to Twilight’s a single inch would join them. “As if you were the same person.”

And then, Rarity twirled her around and widened the distance between them. Unlike the graceful twirls Rarity had performed at the nightclub, Twilight’s were awkward and broken. Though when she saw Rarity’s playful, amused smile, she found she didn’t care that she wasn’t the most graceful of dancers.

In one swift motion, Rarity pulled Twilight back towards her and grinned, placing her hand again on Twilight’s back.. “Dizzy already, darling? My, my, my, did I overestimate you?”

Twilight giggled and rolled her eyes. “I’m not that much of a beginner, Rares,” she complained, slinging her arm around Rarity’s shoulder and trying not to intrude too much on her friend’s personal space — as much as it was possible while dancing.

Rarity giggled, as well. “Honestly, with how far away you’re standing, I wouldn’t know,” she scolded, using her hand to gently pull Twilight’s closer to their previous position. “You’re dancing with me, Twilight, not near me.” She sighed dramatically, changing the direction they were dancing in. “Am I that atrocious without my make-up?”

Twilight nearly fumbled up her next step, cheeks glowing brightly. “Of course not! It’s just... I didn’t want to… intrude?” she offered awkwardly. “Especially after how Blueblood… you know… I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Rarity’s expression softened for a fraction of a second before becoming teasing. “But you, my darling, are not him,” she reminded, taking back her right arm if only to lift Twilight’s hand from her shoulder and place it on her hip. Brought even closer still to the now furiously blushing Twilight, she snaked her arm around Twilight’s back and giggled. “Shall we continue?” she asked, inching her face closer to Twilight’s.

Twilight nodded, unable to coax words out of her throat. It was hard to be eloquent when her brain had turned to mush, and a storm of butterflies raged through her stomach. Rarity didn’t seem to mind her friend’s silence, and instead seemed rather amused by it, smiling in a adorable way as she took the lead once again.

“The key with following,” Rarity continued, “Is to flow with your partner, and feel their weight. Feel where it’s going, where it is between every step. Hold them close.”

Her instructions were swiftly followed, Twilight swallowing down her shame and curling her arm around Rarity’s waist. “Like this?” she asked hesitantly, trying her best to still try and learn something despite her brain going haywire at the contact with Rarity.

“Mh-hm…” Rarity murmured, stifling a giggle at Twilight’s sudden hasty apologies for almost stepping on her. She slowly lowered her hand down Twilight’s back, her fingertips brushing against Twilight’s dress, and stopped at Twilight’s waist. The distance between their bodies was minimal as they slowly danced around the room, all but each other faded from their minds. “However, in order for you to understand your partner so well, to really be one with them, you need to trust them. To be able to rely on them...” Rarity’s voice fell to a whisper, and her grip around Twilight’s waist tightened. “...Like I’ve come to rely on you.”

They were like a photograph, completely still, completely frozen in that moment, the act of dancing as forgotten as the rest of the world save for each other. Even Twilight’s thoughts, her feelings, her breathing, her heartbeat seemed to have slowed down with the unspoken knowledge that she didn’t need to worry or be scared anymore.

Rarity closed her eyes and let out a long breath of relief. A breath of relief Twilight realized she might have been holding for as long as Twilight had been holding hers.

“Twilight?”

Twilight replied by leaning in so their lips would brush. Funny, wasn’t it? How many times had she dreamt of this moment in the past year, in the past month, in that same day? How long had she told herself it would never come to pass? The fact that she couldn’t even try to guess a number said a lot, but now that it was happening, now that it was real, she didn’t feel in a hurry to close the distance between their lips. She wanted to remember that moment; the moment before everything changed, before the calm was replaced with excitement, before nothing else mattered but the woman in her arms, and before she found out for a fact if the endings of books could be rewritten.

“Do you trust me?” Rarity breathed, her lips moving hypnotically, drawing Twilight further in.

She realised that, while she hadn’t trusted Rarity enough before this moment, she certainly did now. The realisation, and her growing desire propelled her forward, and an instant later her lips connected to Rarity’s. The kiss felt almost exactly how she had imagined it would. Rarity’s lips were warm, and pliable, yet firmer than she had anticipated. It was weird to think of her as having a ‘taste’ but she did. Rarity’s lips tasted like strawberries and... and like Rarity; indescribable and all the more attractive for it.

Having found her mark, Twilight slowly let her eyes drift closed. She’d seen enough, right now she wanted to feel what it was like to kiss someone; what it was like to kiss Rarity. Her ears and sense of touch were treated to a feast as well when her friend slightly moaned into the kiss, and gripped Twilight’s back more tightly, pulling her in even further.

She was only too happy to oblige, pausing in her kissing only to stifle a yelp when Rarity let her legs go slack, which deposited the both of them onto her couch, leaving her on top. She had a brief moment of panic when she realised that she hadn’t thought her actions through; that she could alienate Rarity in an instant if she made a stupid mistake. Until one of Rarity’s hands snaked up to her neck, and pulled her into a deeper kiss.

Twilight stiffened just a smidgen when she felt Rarity’s tongue brush across her lips, softly probing for a way to join in on the fun, which she swiftly complied with. Taking the tango lesson to heart, she opened her mouth and let her tongue dance with Rarity’s. It felt a little strange at first, as the dancing had done, but she quickly began to feel more secure and happy with their newfound dancing.

Rarity moaned again, wrapping her legs around Twilight’s pelvis while her other hand struggled with the zipper to Twilight’s dress. At any other time, Twilight would have been worried about her clothing, especially during something so intimate, but now, she only wanted there to be less between her and the woman she loved. Less of everything, be it clothing, space, or barriers in her mind that would hold her back from enjoying what Rarity had to offer.

When Twilight broke their frantic kiss, Rarity whined piteously. “Twilight...” she breathed, panting for breath while Twilight tapped her legs. Her eyes were still closed, and once more she bit down on her lip in a worried way. Why was she worried? Because of how abruptly Twilight had ended the kiss? “Twilight…” she said finally, eyes still closed. “Darling… if you don’t wan—”

The sound of a zipper being pulled down, and Twilight’s lips awkwardly finding a spot on her jaw, silenced her voice and any of her doubts. They both wanted this, and after more than a year of dancing around one another, they would finally do so together.

Twilight sat on top of her, one leg on each side of Rarity, her dress lowered all the way to her waist, and she fumbled with opening her bra from the front. Even though she’d done it innumerable times before, the nerves and anticipation made the clasp difficult to work with. Her fight against her bra came to a halt when she felt Rarity put her hand on her naked waist. The contact sent an electric chill across Twilight’s body, which ended up showing as a bright blush on her cheeks when she looked down at Rarity.

Rarity looked back at her with a completely smitten smile, her other hand busy tracing circles with her fingertips on Twilight’s abdomen. “Need some help?” In a slow motion, she traced a line upwards towards the bra, giggling when Twilight shivered, and then gently hooked her finger around the clasp and pulled Twilight down for a kiss. Once Twilight had returned to her rightful place, Rarity sucked on Twilight’s lower lip while… while…

“Dear lord, what is wrong with this?” she mumbled against Twilight’s lips, fumbling with the clasp of the bra, and frowning when Twilight giggled.

“I thought you were gonna help me?” Twilight said playfully, kissing Rarity again after she whined piteously. God she’s cute. She giggled again and pressed her forehead against Rarity’s. “It might be easier if you use both hands.”

Rarity silenced her with another wonderful kiss, but even that couldn’t disguise her frustration with the bra. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that Rarity managed to get it open. Twilight’s bemused smile disappeared as her earlier nervousness found a reason to return. Rarity merely deepened the kiss and tightened her hold on Twilight’s pelvis, as if she was afraid that Twilight would evaporate the moment she let go. Her other hand was fruitlessly trying to get rid of the bra now that the lock had disappeared.

Twilight wondered if Rarity could feel the frenetic beating of her heart, when she finally let go, and moved both hands up along her stomach. She lightly brushed past her ribs and came to rest just underneath Twilight’s breasts before ever so gently pushing against, and then slipping under the bra. Twilight sucked in a breath and whimpered softly, for which she was rewarded with another kiss while Rarity slowly, but surely, took off the bra.

Twilight's first instinct was to cover her breasts with her hands, not wanting to expose herself. Rarity responded by taking one of her hands and placing a kiss on it. Twilight watched as she did the same with the other hand, and then shyly draped them around Rarity's back. There she was, imagining she could feel Rarity’s eyes as they roved over every inch of exposed flesh. Rarity’s hands returned, covering Twilight’s breasts now that she wasn’t doing so herself. “You’re beautiful, Twilight,” she said, smiling gently.

Twilight’s ears burned, but she nevertheless smiled back. “I... uh... thanks, I guess...”

Rarity did not respond. She seemed mesmerized and moved again only when Twilight shifted her weight a little. Her left hand drifted down, always caressing Twilight’s skin until Rarity reached the rest of her dress and softly tugged at the fabric that hid everything below the waist. That was one thing that Twilight thought she should do herself, untangling her fingers from behind Rarity’s back and lifting her dress over her shoulders.

She didn’t dare look at Rarity now, embarrassed both for her nakedness, as well as for the dark blue underwear with stars and books pattern she was still wearing. Her breasts felt cold and neglected when Rarity’s other hand moved away, only for her heart to spill over with emotion when Rarity cupped her chin and smiled before kissing her again. “Don’t hide, love. Don’t be embarrassed. You are beautiful.”

She all but squawked when Rarity suddenly pushed her over, and got up. “W-what the—”

Rarity silenced her with a finger to the lips, followed by a soft giggle as she flitted to the center of the room and began stripping off the jeans she was wearing. Her waist was evidently smaller than Rarity’s, and she had a lot of trouble holding back a giggle while Rarity struggled a little. It only lasted for a short while, however, and when Rarity continued as though nothing funny had happened, she resolved to do the same.

It felt like her heartbeat sped up even more — if that was possible — when she caught the first glimpse of the black underwear that Rarity was wearing. The poor thing was so small that it hardly covered anything at all, and she knew that it was the only underwear Rarity had bothered with. She was only dimly aware of rubbing her own legs together while Rarity stalked forward. Her movements reminded Twilight of a big cat; graceful, powerful, and above all, enticing.

The roles were reversed when Rarity straddled her stomach, leaning forward to place a tiny kiss on her nose before lowering herself a little and planting a more serious one on her lips. Twilight couldn’t help but be vividly aware of their legs brushing against each other, and how only a thin layer of white cotton separated their breasts.

“Still nervous, love?” Rarity asked softly, soothingly brushing Twilight’s hair with her fingers. She sought out Twilight’s hand with her other hand and interlaced their fingers.

“No,” Twilight replied, shaking her head which quickly turned into nodding. “Yes... I... yes...” she said weakly.

Rarity squeezed her hand. “Do you want to stop here? It’s perfectly al—”

“No, I want to,” Twilight replied almost instantly, leaning up to kiss Rarity. It was a way for her to recover a measure of control, a way to reassure the both of them. She took a deep breath and squeezed Rarity’s hand in turn. “B-But if I make a mistake or h-hurt you or—”

“If either of us makes a mistake, then we’ll just have to slow down and try again, won’t we? We’re learning together,” Rarity interrupted her, smiling reassuringly. She then giggled and fluttered her eyelashes. “Besides, it’s understandable to be nervous. I’d be nervous too if my first time was with me,” she said haughtily.

Twilight half rolled her eyes, half giggled. “Gosh, you’re so full of yourself,” she said, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her chest. It was okay to make mistakes, and wouldn’t be the end of the world. It was all about trust, and she trusted Rarity.

She knew she was blushing furiously, but it no longer bothered her as much. Maybe it was because it was no longer out of embarrassment, or perhaps because — now that the fear had been diminished — she actually felt more excited. She lowered her hands and let her fingers skirt around the lower edge of the shirt, tugging at it timidly. It probably wasn’t necessary, but she wanted Rarity’s permission before she tried to take it off.

Rarity gently got up from on top of Twilight and sat back on the couch, pressing against the armrest and motioning for Twilight to go ahead. She tried to go slow, the same way Rarity had, but found it hard to bring up the patience needed. The compromise she came to was a kiss to Rarity’s navel, and then one just above it. She continued, until a soft whine from Rarity pressed her on and swallowing down any shame, she helped Rarity take off the shirt.

Nothing could compare to the sight before Twilight once the tee-shirt had been taken off and flung to the side. It was beyond her wildest dreams, and all she could do was breathe a soft, “Wow...”

It wasn’t as though she had never seen a naked woman before. in magazines or the internet — hell, she’d seen Rarity’s naked backside a few hours ago — but this was different; this was the woman of her dreams, and the reality of her surpassed any dream.

And then it was taken away from her.

For all her experience and talk about Twilight not having to feel shy about her body, Rarity’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she acted the same way Twilight had not ten minutes ago. She crossed her arms and hid her bosom behind them.

“Rarity?” Twilight asked, leaving her hands on Rarity’s sides, just below her ribs. She didn’t have the guts to do the same thing Rarity had done, but that didn’t mean that she was completely hopeless.

“I’m sorry, love,” Rarity replied, showing her a pained smile. “I thought I’d gotten used to people staring but...”

Twilight nodded, smiling reassuringly. “But it’s different," she ventured, going from her own feelings moments ago. "Right?”

Rarity opened and closed her mouth to reply, hugging herself tighter before sighing. “In so many words... yes.”

“I think it’s because...” Twilight hesitated. All she had was conjecture and baseless arguments, not at all what she usually tried to convince somebody with, but she had to try. “It’s because you’re in love. Not that fake love that people in school talk about all the time but...” her sentence petered out and she made a hopeless gesture with her left hand.

Rarity swallowed and nodded, taking Twilight’s hand in her own, and then moving the other out of the way so it no longer formed an obstacle.

“Wow...” she said again.

For once, Rarity had no remark, reassuring or otherwise, and Twilight realised that Rarity had not only shed her clothing, but much more importantly, had shed her aura of impenetrability, leaving her more completely bare than she had possibly ever been.

“Well?” Rarity asked shyly “What do you think?”

“I think you’re beautiful, too,” Twilight replied, resisting the instinct to gawk like a five year old at a candy store . “Of course, people tell you all the time, so you probably knew that already,” she added with a wan smile.

Rarity shook her head. “You hadn’t.”

Twilight was shocked. Overwhelmed by how much her opinion meant to Rarity. Just the fact that Rarity was worried about what she thought. It felt akin to… to the beautiful bright sun, timidly asking a simple flower if it shone brightly enough; or perhaps to a rose who’d taken away its thorns and asked if it was still beautiful, knowing it was at its most vulnerable state. Of course she cares for your opinion, you idiot! Just because she acts confident doesn’t mean that she’s never insecure!

Even though she hadn’t, Twilight felt as though she had made a mistake. One she would have to atone for with everything that happened hereafter. “Well, I have now. I think you’re the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life.”

Rarity’s winning smile told her that she had chosen the correct way to handle it, but the kiss that followed would have made it clear, even if she hadn’t. Rarity didn’t stop there, however, and when her lips latched on to the tip of Twilight's breast while the other was softly caressed by Rarity’s fingers, all she could do was moan. The feelings stirring within her were only heightened at the crashing realization that it was Rarity who she was sharing that moment with; the impossible woman who she'd feared she’d never have was now there in her arms, gently exploring her body with skillful mouth and fingers.

After a few moments, Rarity moved up and kissed the crook of her lover's neck. The furiously blushing Twilight buried her fingers inside Rarity's hair, biting down on her lips to try and stifle the little noises coming from her mouth at the tantalizing contact of their naked upper chests. While minutes ago she would have backed away out of sheer embarrassment, now she wanted the exact opposite. Rarity was intoxicating to her, like an addiction she never knew she had until now. She could only put her hand on Rarity's back and hold her close both out of scorching love and inextinguishable desire.

"Rarity..."

Twilight's little moans prompted Rarity's hand to teasingly descend on Twilight's body, leaving a trail of chills that remained even after the delicate fingers had moved on from the sensitive skin. Rarity's fingers finally reached the rim of Twilight's underwear and played both with the edge of the garment and the speed of Twilight's thundering heart. "May I?" she asked coyly, giggling when Twilight tried to keep her nodding not so eager. The moment had arrived, and they were both ready for it. "You will tell me if I hurt you, won't you?" Another hasty nod with a reassuring kiss. "And you kn—" An even hastier nod. "But you didn't let me fin—"

"R- Rarity, please, just do it alr—"

What would have been the ending of Twilight's sentence became a sharp intake of breath and little pleased noises when Rarity's fingers explored very sensitive skin. It didn't help that Rarity's kisses had become deeper, or that her other hand had decided on exploring every other inch of Twilight's body. Every rational thought Twilight had, such as how it all had to be a very vivid dream, quickly became incoherent when Rarity fingers started rubbing in circular motions, when her kisses reached Twilight's neck, when her other hand toyed with delicate breasts, when her fingers in Twilight's nethers descended and inserte—

Twilight's mind went blank except for carnal desire for Rarity. Her barely contained noises became barely muffled moans as Rarity's fingers did things to her that had to be illegal somewhere considering how good they felt. If she wasn't busy not caring, Twilight would have been embarrassed at how her body instinctively moved to force Rarity's fingers even deeper in. Thankfully, she was lucky that Rarity got the hint and complied to her request.

"Rarity," she tried saying, only prompting Rarity to try harder to render her completely inarticulate. "F-Fuck..."

Twilight felt Rarity giggle against her neck, and seconds later a kiss was placed on her lips. "Well, I don't condone your horrid language, darling," Rarity said, fluttering her eyelashes, "but that is what I'm doing to you, yes."

Twilight would have rolled her eyes if she wasn't otherwise occupied trying to cope with the sparks of unabashed pleasure — and slight pain — shooting all over her body. One fraction of her mind couldn't help but think how unattractive she must have looked with messy hair, red face and body glistening with droplets of sweat. However, Rarity's little smile as she obeyed her half-moaned "go faster" demands was enough for Twilight to know her physical appearance didn't matter.

Even when Rarity was doing the exact same things Twilight had done to herself times before, it felt wholly different and infinitely better when it was Rarity doing it. If she was in complete control of all her senses and every part of her brain, she’d have easily explained that it was like when you tried to tickle yourself. The brain knows your movements and negates the ticklish and pleasurable sensations. Since she wasn’t the one exploring herself, the movements were unexpected and therefore pleasant.

And yet, though Twilight’s brain offered a rational and scientific explanation, her heart protested and insisted it was because it was Rarity doing that, it felt so incredibly good. How she knew what felt good, how she knew just where to explore, how to move... It had to be her and not Twilight, especially when Rarity was so perfect, and beautiful, and incredible, and funny and... everything.

As Rarity's speed increased, Twilight felt herself reaching the edge faster by the second. It was like a pressure building up inside her was at bursting point, and she couldn’t hold it in anymore. "A-Ah, R-Rari—" Her voice was silenced when Rarity kissed her immediately, using her lips as a muffler to the long moan that culminated Twilight's wave of rapt pleasure. Even after Twilight had come, Rarity continued her ministrations at a gradually decreasing pace right up until the area became far too sensitive for Twilight, and she reached down to gently pull up Rarity's hand.

Interlacing their hands, Twilight considered laying back until her breathing steadied, but she instead leaned forward and forced Rarity to a lying position so she could lie on top of her. The side of her face was pressed right above Rarity's breasts, and she counted sixty of Rarity's quick heartbeats before letting out a pleased and long sigh.

Rarity lifted her hand not covered in Twilight's juices and lovingly ran her fingers through Twilight's hair. "So, what is our beloved judge's final verdict?" she asked.

"Wow… I just…" Twilight replied with all the eloquence and verbosity of someone who was expected to graduate from english literature summa cum laude. "Wow..."

It felt like even though she had the dictionary practically memorized, she couldn't find words to string together a sentence describing the bliss she felt. All she could hope to do was express her feelings by making sure to return the favor and more, if she could. She lifted herself and crawled up to offer Rarity a grateful thank-you kiss. "Your turn?" she asked, even if she didn't really mean it as a question, because she wanted to make Rarity happy possibly even more than Rarity herself did.

When Rarity blushed and nodded, Twilight bit down an excited smile and sat up on her knees, backing up on the couch and motioning for her lover to sit up. Rarity did as told, sitting up straight and splaying her legs apart, if only because Twilight gently coaxed them open so she could kneel in between. When Rarity blushed, Twilight only offered a reassuring, smitten, smile before then admiring Rarity's body and trying to figure out what to do first.

Her eyes landed on Rarity's underwear, and she subconsciously licked her lips, only realizing she'd done so when a furious blush blossomed on Rarity's face. She herself blushed at realizing the implication of her actions, so she leaned in and kissed Rarity. "Maybe next time?" Though she did want to one day venture into that area, she wasn't sure she wanted to go there just yet, and judging by Rarity's nod, Rarity wasn't quite that ready either.

She lowered her face and nibbled Rarity's neck, eliciting from Rarity little noises of pleasure that somehow made Twilight feel all hot and bothered again. It made Twilight’s heart flutter to hear the mix of giggles and soft moans in reaction to her kisses, and they made somehow made her like Rarity even more than she already did — which admittedly was more than a lot.

With her lips occupied, her hands took the chance to explore the rest of Rarity. Like a paintbrush on canvas, she brushed her fingertips across Rarity’s soft skin and made a note of everything; of every curve, of every little spot that made Rarity giggle or shiver in pleasure, of how warm the skin was, and of how it was all for her to explore and love.

Gosh, people really do think sappy thoughts when they’re in love.

Her fingers traced down Rarity’s breasts until they reached the coveted last piece of clothing on Rarity’s body. She suddenly found herself a bit shy to proceed, but she felt a hand place itself on top of her and gently nudge her on. That action alone prompted Twilight to swallow down her shame, and as if Rarity’s confidence had transferred over to her, she decided she’d tread where Rarity hadn’t. Twilight went back to kissing Rarity’s lips before taking hold of her underwear with both hands and sliding it off.

Her cheeks felt very hot, and she stopped for a moment just to give Rarity time to object if she so desired, but when Rarity only kept kissing her, she took it as a sign to continue. Moving back along the couch, Twilight carefully continued sliding the underwear from off of Rarity’s body. Twilight focused her sight on the black piece of clothing, too embarrassed to look at Rarity or at what had been uncovered by the extraction of Rarity’s undergarment.

The moment the underwear slipped off Rarity’s feet, Twilight finally looked up and the underwear dropped from her hands. Rarity had closed her legs and a light blush decorated face, but she made no attempt to hide her private area from Twilight’s sight. It felt to Twilight as if her heart would beat out of her chest at any moment, and her cheeks turned at least ten different shades of red as she tried and failed to articulate some kind of response.

“It’s cute,” Rarity said all of a sudden, an affectionate smile on her face when Twilight looked up. “It’s cute how you’re embarrassed, yet I’m the one who’s stark naked.” She shifted a bit and held her breath visibly when Twilight gingerly placed her hand on one of the bare legs. “Actually, how come you’re still wearing yours? It’s hardly fair!”

“You didn’t try taking them off,” Twilight replied absentmindedly, looking back down at Rarity’s lower body and slowly sliding her hand up Rarity’s leg and towards her thigh. She busied her mind with trying to remember every detail she’d ever read about sex, every little tidbit that might help her make Rarity as blissfully happy as she had made her.

“I didn’t think you’d actually let me,” Rarity replied in a huff, no doubt treating the distracted Twilight to an indignant look. “I simply thought you…” Her voice trailed off, and suddenly the only sound Twilight could hear was that of her own frenetic heartbeats as her hand reached Rarity’s thigh.

Twilight boldly slid her hand down towards the inner section of Rarity’s thigh, action which was made easier when Rarity parted her legs ever so slightly. As much as she tried focusing on her slowly moving hand, Twilight’s eyes kept darting towards her target, and it didn’t help that Rarity’s little anticipating whines only made her want to increase her speed.

“I-I still think it’s unfair,” Rarity continued with a slight stammer, probably nervous at seeing how close Twilight’s hand was of her body’s most private section. “I mean, if you’re not embarrassed, then it’s… it’s o-only fair that y-you take off yo—” Her sentence dissolved into a sharp breath now that Twilight’s fingers had reached their target.

Twilight rested her fingers on top of Rarity’s nethers before biting down on her lip and curiously probing with two fingers. “What’s the matter, Rares?” she asked suddenly, looking up and offering a smirk at the furiously blushing woman. Her fingers still exploring Rarity, Twilight leaned in so their lips would brush. “Cat got your tongue?” she asked breathily, tentatively starting to rub her fingers in a circular motion and giggling when Rarity’s eyes shut close and she let out a barely audible moan.

It was fascinating to have so much power over someone, doubly so when that someone was Rarity. The more she probed around, the more that was explored, the more Rarity would try and fail to keep her noises anywhere near ladylike. She focused on Rarity’s clitoris, rubbing at a quick pace, for what felt like an eternity while she gathered up the courage to venture downwards.

While her hand was occupied, she left a trail of kisses down Rarity’s mouth, her jaw, her neck. In a way much less tame than Rarity had been, she sucked at the skin of Rarity's neck, likely leaving a hickey that would see Rarity wearing sweaters for weeks. She delighted in the moans her combined actions were provoking. Was it bad for her to take delight out of the very loud proof of how Rarity wanted her? Of feeling proud of how she, simple plain Twilight, had the beauty queen of the university desperately moaning her name with every touch? She finally moved her fingers down, hearing Rarity hold her breath in anticipation until Twilight delicately probed with one finger.

Using Rarity's moans to gauge the effectiveness of her motions, Twilight tried her luck with adding a second finger. Unfortunately, she wasn’t as experienced as she’d have liked, so when Rarity hissed out in pain, Twilight froze up. “R-Rarity, are y—”

“It didn’t hurt,” Rarity quickly said, cutting off Twilight’s apology before she’d even had the chance to formulate it. “Y-You’re doing fine, love,” she added, and even though some part of Twilight darkly insisted Rarity was lying, she nodded and continued.

She wanted to try her luck with yet another finger, as well as adjust her rhythm, but their current position made it all a bit awkward to manage. It seemed Rarity felt the same way too, because she suddenly took hold of Twilight's arm and squeezed.

"Tw-Twilight, maybe I should sit on your la--" Her sentence became a pained moan, but she didn't need to finish for Twilight to try and guess what she wanted.

Hoping it wouldn't kill the mood too much, she took back her hand and sat properly on the couch, her legs dangling off the edge. Rarity blushed brightly when Twilight threw her an expectant look, but she nevertheless crawled over and sat on Twilight's lap so they'd be facing each other, her arms wrapped around Twilight's neck. Twilight was grateful that Rarity immediately kissed her before any awkwardness could settle, and as the kiss got deeper, she once again let her fingers take their place in her friends private area.

Since Rarity was now doing her the favor of holding on, Twilight's other hand was free to wander about Rarity's body. Their new position allowed Twilight to insert her fingers even deeper inside Rarity, and she used the fingers of her other hand to stimulate Rarity's clitoris. Her combined actions must have been doing something right if the expletives Rarity said were anything to go from.
"And you complained about my language," Twilight teased, grinning at how Rarity could somehow still manage a glare despite Twilight's actions on her body.

With every passing second, Rarity seemed to lose more and more of what was left of her usual grace and composure. Her kisses became wilder and deeper, her noises more carnal and desperate, her demands for speed became louder, and her hip thrusts more pronounced. Just the sight of it was enough for Twilight to know she wanted to see that as much as she could; to see Rarity so shameless, so confident, and so bare of every insecurity and doubt.

Rarity suddenly tightened her grip around Twilight's neck, wordlessly announcing the fact that she wouldn't last much longer. Though Twilight would have loved hearing her name being moaned desperately for hours on end, she knew Rarity would not be so keen on the idea of being left on edge much longer. Besides, that wasn't the last time they'd be in that same position again, was it?

"Twi-Twilight," Rarity whined until lips pressed against hers silenced her.

In the same way Rarity had done for her before, Twilight used a nice and long kiss to muffle Rarity's finishing moans while she increased her pace and finally brought Rarity over the edge. She held on with her other hand, trying to keep Rarity steady as she rode out the last waves of pleasure. Once Twilight had taken back her hand, a breathless and furiously blushing Rarity leaned against Twilight, pressing their foreheads together and closing her eyes as she tried catching her breath.

Twilight wanted to immediately bombard her with questions — had she liked it, did it hurt, what could she do better next time, would there even be a next time — but she suspected Rarity wouldn't be in the mood to talk just yet. After a few minutes of listening to Rarity's slowly steadying breathing, she suddenly found two mesmerizing blue eyes staring back at her.

"Hey," she said simply, smiling widely at Rarity.

Rarity lifted her hand and brushed her fingers on Twilight's cheek. "Hey," she replied, giggling softly. "That was lovely." She closed her eyes and sighed. "It was more than that, really. It felt… It felt..."

"It felt right?" Twilight ventured, and smiled smittenly when Rarity nodded slowly.

Rarity smiled and whispered, "It felt right."

And next time… it'll feel even better…

Twilight didn't really like waking up early, but it was hard not to feel happy when her alarm clock was the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard — plus, the rays of sunshine filtering in through the window also helped in coaxing her awake. Yawning and stretching herself, her eyes fluttered open and she turned around on her bed to find Rarity sitting against the headboard, looking at her nails while talking on her cell phone with someone. Rarity's hair was disheveled and she was still devoid of makeup, but Twilight thought she looked better than ever. It was still mind boggling to her that she was now in such a position that she was allowed to wake up next to Rarity. She also noticed tight white tee-shirt once again covered Rarity's body, and for a second she was disappointed it was there.

"Fluttershy, I really— I don't think he— Darling, frankly I couldn't care less what he intends on doing, and you shouldn't worry about it," she reassured. She noticed Twilight had woken up and smiled, lifting her hand to brush back Twilight's bangs. She blew Twilight a kiss before continuing to reassure Fluttershy of her safety against Blueblood's potential revenge.

After a few more minutes, Rarity said goodbye to Fluttershy and hung up her phone. She looked down to find still Twilight staring back at her with wide eyes. "Good morning, darling," Rarity greeted, smiling brightly at the other woman. "Yes, I am still here, and no, you are not dreaming. What were the two other wishes you wanted me to grant you?"

Twilight would have rolled her eyes, but she was floating in far too much bliss to care about Rarity's teasing. She used the bed sheets to cover her still naked chest before sitting up and snuggling up against Rarity, leaving a shy good morning kiss on her cheek. "Morning."

"Sleep well?" Rarity asked, stifling a yawn.

"Mhm," Twilight replied simply, her mind too busy processing the fact that she wasn't dreaming to come up with a more elaborate reply. "I like being awake better, though."

Being awake was so much better because it meant it was real, and she wasn't dreaming. It meant the beautiful woman in her arms was real, real, real, and that she was completely and totally Twilight's, just as Twilight belonged wholly and completely to Rarity. When she let go of her girlfriend, Twilight lied back down on the bed and let out another blissfully happy sigh.

"Well, now that you have, we better get going. It's nearly midday already," Rarity replied, running a hand through her hair in an attempt to brush it. She then grabbed the covers of the bed and nonchalantly pulled them off her girlfriend. "Come on, while we're still young and beautiful."

The moment her chest was uncovered, Twilight shrieked and quickly hid back under the cover. "Rarity! I'm not wearing anything!" she chastised, blushing brightly.

Rarity blinked at her, raising an eyebrow for a split second before gasping theatrically and covering her eyes with her hands. "Oh goodness! What was I thinking, uncovering you like that? Why would I ever want to see you naked ever again?! What an awful sight! Dreadful! Terrible! Horrend—"

"Oh very funny, Rares."

Rarity uncovered her eyes and tugged on the covers hiding away Twilight's body. "In fact, let me look again just to be certain that it is indeed an awful sight." When Twilight did roll her eyes, Rarity only laughed and lied down next to her, intertwining their hands in the process.

"Fluttershy and the girls want to have lunch later today at three," she informed. "I said yes for the both of us. It's only midday so we have a bit of time left before we'd have to leave."

Twilight nodded slowly. It made sense the others would want to know the details of what happened after she and Rarity left the party, but… do we want them to know yet? She lied down on her side and faced Rarity. "Rarity… Are we going to tell the girls that… you know… "

Rarity looked at Twilight for a moment. "Well… They're our best friends, darling, and I don't think they deserve to be kept in the dark about this. Not to mention I'm positive they would support it." She frowned and squeezed Twilight's hand. "Why? Would you like for us to keep this under water for a while?"

Twilight immediately shook her head. "No, no!" she exclaimed, leaning in to kiss Rarity quickly before continuing, "I just… I thought maybe you would..." Twilight admittedly hated how she still felt insecure even after what had happened, but one night with Rarity wasn't going to take away all her insecurities.

But, fortunately, Rarity was willing to help her through it.

"Twilight, darling, why on earth would I not want the whole world know I'm dating you?" she scolded, shaking her head playfully. "For that matter," she continued, snuggling up to Twilight and kissing her on the nose, "how could I stop myself from telling everyone that I'm dating the most beautiful, wonderful, smartest, kindest, and all around magnificent person in the whole world?" Before Twilight could even blush, Rarity pulled her in for a hug and smothered her with quick kisses. "I'm afraid I won't even be able to stop myself from following you around college at all hours like a hopelessly smitten kitten."

Twilight giggled, her heart fluttering in her chest. "That sounds more like me, to be honest."

Rarity merely hugged her closer and sighed, leaving Twilight to feel like nothing could go wrong ever again. She made sure to hug Rarity back as tightly as she could, both for the irrational fear that she'd somehow leave and because she wanted her to be as close as she could be. After what felt like a blissful eternity of holding each other, Twilight spoke up again.

"Hey, if we dance again… Can I try being the lead?"

"Darling, I thought that was implied," Rarity replied.

"Huh?" Twilight blinked a few times and looked down at the woman in her arms. "It is?"

"Of course." Rarity looked up and offered her best and most dazzling smile. She then leaned in to kiss Twilight and whispered, "After all, I'll follow you wherever you go."

Twilight sighed, resting her forehead against Rarity’s. “That sounds nice,” she whispered, feeling as if her life had become that much better now that she had someone as perfe—

“So, since we have time, how about round two?”

”Oh my god, Rarity.”

Author's Note

Well here we go. Now that I have officially published NSFW, I excitedly await my badge of ascending to the final stage of being complete rarilight shipping trash.

Please forgive my obvious inexperience writing NSFW, as well as my inability of not completely smothering everything I write with tons of fluff.

Thanks to Karrakaz, Annuska, Greki and Sam Cole for proof-reading and editing.