Lust

A bit of scratching in my left ear. I feel a rhythm of sharp pricks make its way across my chest, then I feel that same scratch in my other ear. The pricks reverse their journey a moment later, and once again, the scratch in my left.

A few more treks across my chest later, I reluctantly open my eyes. Though they are still clouded and out-of-focus, I can make out that while the shades are closed, the modicum of light coming through the windows tells me that it is early morning. I let out a luxurious yawn and blink a few times to clear the rest of the sleep from my eyes.

When I open my eyes again, I can clearly see the bird in front of me who woke me up. He's sitting on my breastbone now: a small green bird with a rather effective set of pony-waking claws and ear-scratching beak. I smile drowsily and whisper quietly, "Thank you, Ellipsis." He bobs his head and hops up and down a few times in response.

Given that I've been sleeping here more and more often, it's nice to know that the animals here have gotten used to me and respect my preferences. I've learned to appreciate the sanctity of sound like a certain other pony over the past year-and-a-bit, and I like maintaining some level of quiet so that I can hear them, even in the mornings. Especially in the mornings. My alarm clock has been retired for a long time now, but it seems I've found a new one. Perhaps when I return to the Boutique, I'll bring Ellipsis with me.

I roll over slowly in the bed, forcing Ellipsis to take to the air and loose a flurry of wingbeats to avoid getting squashed. As the pony beside me comes into view, I smile. It's a sight I've seen dozens of times before, but I enjoy it each and every time. Fluttershy is sleeping soundly, her soft breaths in and out making a gentle, warm breeze that tickles my coat.

Fluttershy and I are in something of an "official" romantic relationship now, and every day with her has been an absolute joy. Ever since she introduced me to the wonders of meditation, we've been growing closer than we ever had before. But about two months ago, I discovered her romantic feelings for me by accident.

It was a horrible week for the two of us when I isolated myself from Fluttershy to assess my own feelings. There was sadness, anguish, and pain pervasive the day we reunited . . . but it did have a happy ending. Our relationship is a complicated one, and it has been through a lot, but at the very least, I can finally put a proper word to it now: love.

I love you, Fluttershy.

I smile for a few more moments, reminiscing on the memories before setting my eyes on Fluttershy again, who is still sleeping peacefully. I take a good, long look at her beauty. She has such a voluminous flowing mane, and she has that slender, well-proportioned figure that even professional models strive for. She has long, graceful, and soft wings, and of course, there are her well-shaped haunches that trace a line down to her lithe and muscular legs . . .

I blink twice, getting bored. I opt to wake Fluttershy up.

Yes, her beauty is one I can acknowledge and respect, but it's not really one that I can love, in the same way that I can't love it in Fleur de Lis, or Sapphire Shores, or any other mare. No, it's the unlimited kindness, empathy, and compassion in Fluttershy's heart that captured my own.

By definition, I am a heterosexual that ironically loves a mare. Our relationship is a complicated one.

Shaking off those thoughts, I nudge Fluttershy gently with my nose, hoping to wake her up silently. I breathe lightly and take in her characteristic scent of crushed pine needles, a bouquet that always hangs around her and can only be had by living next to nature for years on end. It’s a subtle but pleasant scent that no perfume in the world could replicate. I dig my nose a little deeper into Fluttershy’s chest.

I continue to nuzzle until she wrinkles her snout and frowns just slightly. She groans lightly and brings a hoof to rub at her eyes. Her mouth opens wide as she yawns big and slow. When she closes her mouth and takes away her hooves, I finally get to see her soulful cyan eyes.

I greet Fluttershy with a smile as I do every day I sleep at her home. "Good morning, sweetheart," I whisper to her. I kiss her gently on the cheek.

Fluttershy yawns and rubs her eyes again. She returns my smile with a lovely one of her own and whispers back, "Good morning, Rarity." She opens her hooves in an invitation for a hug.

Accepting it, I wriggle closer to her. Once I'm within her grasp, she closes her hooves and wings around me. She nuzzles her cheek into my neck and takes a deep breath through my mane. I use specialty unscented shampoos nowadays; Fluttershy doesn't like artificial odorants. I reciprocate the hug as best I can, bringing my hooves around her midsection to hug it tenderly. I give Fluttershy another light peck on the neck, breathing the pine needles in her mane.

We stay there for several minutes, simply enjoying each other's presence. Fluttershy's breaths tickle the side of my neck, warm and moist. Her hooves press into my back, massaging the muscles there in little circles. Her wing lies above me, and even on this summer day, I can appreciate the warmth that it lends: soft, downy, and covered with love. I would take her wing over any blanket on any day. Her chest is pressed against my own, and our hearts seem to beat in time with each other’s, both marching to the same tempo of mutual affection.

Just because her beauty is not exceptionally alluring to me does not mean I don't enjoy her hugs and kisses. All of us six friends share hugs on occasion, but the ones I share with Fluttershy mean so much more. They speak of an emotional connection so special that I've not made it with any other pony. Fluttershy is a decent kisser, but she is a marvelous hugger. Even before we found love in each other, I've always found that I enjoyed Fluttershy's hugs like nothing else.

Eventually, Fluttershy breaks the hug, and I reluctantly do the same. She says quietly, "I'll go make breakfast, okay?" Fluttershy pecks me once on the cheek before rolling away from me, off the bed. "Come down when you're ready." With that, she silently pads out of the room.

I stay motionless on the bed for a time, staring at the door. Without Fluttershy in the room with me, it feels lonely. It doesn't take long for me to decide to wake up properly and finally get off the bed. After stretching to banish the rest of the drowsiness from my body, I deftly fold up Fluttershy's blankets with my magic and place them at the foot of her bed neatly. Hers is a bit smaller than mine, and it could fit two ponies only if they were rather friendly . . . but of course, she and I have absolutely no qualms with this arrangement.

I head to Fluttershy's bathroom and wash my face with cold water. I open my mobile makeup kit—though, given that it has a near-permanent home on Fluttershy’s bathroom counter, it’s not really "mobile" anymore. I only put on a light coat of facial powder and eyeshadow this morning; with the plans we have for this evening, I'll have to reapply it later, anyway. I close my eyes and put on my eyelashes with a bit of magic. Taking a hairbrush in my aura, I run it through my mane and tail, removing the knots and minor tangles that formed during the night. Though there is perfume among my spread of makeup, I opt not to put it on, as I have done since Fluttershy and I have gotten together. I give myself a final inspection: tail, fetlocks, eyes, cheeks, mane? Nodding in affirmation, I put away the makeup and exit the bathroom.

Before heading downstairs, I go back to the bedroom to retrieve one more item, lest I forget it before I leave. On the bedside table, lying on top of Fluttershy's own pendant that I gave her some time ago, I see my own piece. It is not the most extravagant or expensive piece of jewelry I own, but the moment that Fluttershy gave it to me, it became my most precious. As I reach out my hoof to touch it, I think back to the day she gave it to me:

"A visit to the spa is such a fantastic way to prepare for one's birthday; wouldn't you agree?" I ask, relaxing back into the tub.

"Oh, yes," Fluttershy replies, snuggling up next to me and resting her head on my shoulder. "Twilight's having your birthday party in her castle, right?" Her eyes are closed, and there’s a serene smile on her face.

"Mhm. Pinkie Pie wanted to invite the entirety of Ponyville to my party, but I think, for a day as personal as today, we don't need all of them. After all, I have my friends—" I kiss Fluttershy on the forehead "—and my very special somepony."

"Mmm . . ." Fluttershy’s moans blissfully and leans into me a bit more. "I love you too, Rarity." She idly kisses me back on the cheek.

I shake my head and smile deviously. "Oh come now, sweetheart; I'm sure you want more of—" I take Fluttershy's face in my hooves and kiss her fully on the lips. "—this, right?"

Fluttershy’s eyes snap open in surprise. When I release her, I see the silly grin and burning blush that have grown on her face. That answers my question.

I chuckle into a hoof before climbing out of the tub and saying, "Come, darling. Let us not be late for my own birthday party. There will be plenty of time for kissing afterwards." I reach my hooves down to help Fluttershy out of the tub. Once she’s out, I retrieve my bathrobe and turn to walk to the reception desk. Noticing that she’s not following me, I look back, only to see her at her saddlebags apparently digging around for something. "Er, Fluttershy," I say, "there's no need to take out your own bits. I'm paying, remember?"

Fluttershy doesn’t respond and continues to search in her bags. Quirking an eyebrow, I walk closer to her. "Fluttershy?”

She emerges a moment later with a small box in her mouth. She places it on the ground in front of me. "Um, my gift is kind of special, and I wanted to give it to you first," she says, crossing and uncrossing her forehooves and shyly pushing the box closer to me. "Happy birthday, Rarity. I love you."

"Oh, you shouldn't have!" I exclaim. "Your love is gift enough for me. But thank you very much, Fluttershy. I love you too," I say, lighting my horn to open the box. I gasp and bring a hoof to my mouth when I see inside of it an almost-familiar sight.

Inside of the box is a near-spitting image of Fluttershy's own pendant. Same design, same golden chain, same platinum head. The only difference is the pink beryl morganite that crowns the necklace, contrasting with the diamond that accents Fluttershy's own. It’s of a rather unique tetralobular cut, making the gem appear almost like a pair of butterfly wings. More than the pendant itself, though, is what it represents.

I raise my head and lower my hoof slowly. I look to Fluttershy, my eyes wide and my jaw agape. "F-Fluttershy, you couldn't have . . ."

She nods and smiles, another pink blush blooming on her face. "I did. I had Twilight and Princess Cadance help me with the enchantment. After the gift you gave me, I had to make you one just as special, too."

Slowly, the shock on my face wears off and is replaced with a warm and appreciative and slightly misty-eyed smile. I lean forward to give Fluttershy a long hug. When I release from her, I slowly reach out my hoof to touch the gem on the pendant . . .

A wash of new sound comes over me: the rhythmic thump of my own heart, the squirrels scratching on the floor downstairs, the chirps of birds half a mile away . . . Tenfold enhanced hearing most definitely broadens one's horizons, and I have Fluttershy to thank for the gift. With the nigh-identical pendants we both have now, we are—quite literally—a matched pair. More than the jewelry, more than the enchantment, that was the most wonderful gift that Fluttershy gave me that day.

With my hooves, I pick up the pendant and clasp it around my neck. I sit down, close my eyes, and smile, losing myself momentarily to the new universe of sounds that has opened up to me. Since I've declared my love for Fluttershy, our meditation sessions together have not only become more intimate, but also more enlightening. It is incredible how much one can glean from sounds that come from—

"Rarity?"

"Gah!" My eyes snap back open as I hear a sound I wasn't expecting to hear. I look behind me and see Fluttershy there, looking concerned. How did she even make it up here without me noticing? I should have heard her hoofsteps or wingbeats at the very least.

"Are you alright?" she asks, putting a hoof on my shoulder. "What were you doing?"

I shake off the thoughts. Turning around to face her, I say, "Nothing important. Just thinking about you, I suppose." I smile wryly to myself. "And how much I love you."

"Oh!" Fluttershy puts a hoof to her mouth and laughs a little, her giggles sounding with the pure, virgin tones of an ocarina. Another beautiful sound. "Well, breakfast is ready now. We should go eat," she says, padding off silently—silently!—out of the room and down the stairs.

I stay motionless for a few seconds, putting a hoof to my pendant. Somehow, Fluttershy knows how to walk so quietly that I can't hear her even with enhanced senses. I step forward to follow after her, wincing at the sharp, loud sounds my hooves make as they impact the hardwood floor. Over the years, I have learned a model's walk, but it seems that even that is no comparison to Fluttershy's twinkle-hooved gait.

I make it down the stairs and to the living room. Very rarely does another pony outshine me in elegance, but Fluttershy's hoofsteps make mine seem positively brutish. I blunt my hoofsteps with a discreet bit of magic, making a mental note to ask Fluttershy about how she walks at some point. Sweetheart, you shock me more every day.

I sit down on a cushion in front of the low table where Fluttershy's breakfast lays. She's prepared two bowls of cinnamon oatmeal and—of course—two cups of chamomile. Fluttershy sits down on the cushion next to me. I smile to her and say, "Thank you, sweetheart." She smiles back to me, and we begin to eat.

Porcelain-on-porcelain sounds as we pick up our utensils: I with magic, she with a delicate wingtip feather. I spoon a bit of the oatmeal into my mouth. Bland, but not overly so; the cinnamon provides a bit of zest to the porridge. I sigh in contentment and lean on Fluttershy's side. Exactly how I like it.

"So," I start, "are you excited for our first real date?"

Fluttershy puts her teacup down. "Oh, yes. B-but a little bit nervous." Fluttershy flicks her eyes down then looks back at me. "How big is the restaurant going to be, Rarity? I'll be wearing a dress, and . . ." Fluttershy shuffles a little closer to me. "I don't want everypony looking at me." She looks down and shivers a little.

I take my head from Fluttershy's side and shake my head from side to side. "No; La Sorellanza is an exclusive formal Italian restaurant, but it's not too large, and I think you'll like the atmosphere. I would have reserved a private table for the two of us, but alas, they have no private tables." I hide a frown before looking at Fluttershy again and smiling. "Fear not, sweetheart. I've informed the restaurant staff that a guest gentle and shy as a skylark will be coming this evening and that they will have to answer to me and my upholstery contract with them should you not enjoy yourself." I nuzzle Fluttershy gently under the chin. "And I will be there the entire time with you. You have nothing to worry about."

Fluttershy's mouth curls into a small "o" before she leans into me and extends a wing to wrap me with. She closes her eyes and murmurs, "You didn't have to do all that for me."

"Of course I did, sweetheart," I say without hesitation, leaning back into her and snuggling into her soft downy wing. "You are more than worth it. Our last few months together have been incredible, and I will have nothing less than an incredible date with you as well."

"They have been incredible, haven’t they?" Fluttershy whispers in that soft voice of hers. She brings a hoof under her wing and massages my back lightly with it. I purr in response. "And I've loved every moment of it," she breathes. "Do you remember a couple weeks ago, when . . ."

My eyes drift closed, brought into relaxation by Fluttershy's soothing sounds. It will be a splendid day when I can fall asleep, just like this, in your arms. Your light and nearly silent breathing reveals a shy and demure mare, but the incessant and strong beat of your heart underlays unbreakable strength. Your voice is so polite, so considerate, so . . . beautiful. I woke up not but a few minutes ago, but the combination of your breath, your voice, and your heartbeat is doing its very best to lull me to sleep once again . . .

"Rarity? Did you hear me?"

"Hmm?" I open my eyes and stare at Fluttershy dreamily. I blink a few times before regaining my senses. Fluttershy is looking at me worriedly. She's stopped stroking my back, and her wing is folded back into her side. I sit up straight and shake my head vigorously. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I suppose I just lost myself for a moment." I smile, a little embarrassed. "You have that effect on me sometimes. Could you, pray, repeat what you just said?"

Fluttershy only smiles and puts her wing over my back once again. "I asked you what you were going to wear for our date."

I happily snuggle back into Fluttershy’s wing, nudging it on to my shoulders like a cloak. "Ah, well, this is our first one, so I had to make something custom for just this occasion. My dress is . . ." I trail off and look at Fluttershy. I grin conspiratorially. "You know what? How about we just surprise each other tonight? I don't know what you're going to wear either, mind. Think about how exciting it will be when we see each other for the first time, bedecked in dresses that will stun the world! So romantic!" I put a hoof to my forehead and mock-swoon.

"Um . . . yes?" Fluttershy says, looking a bit perplexed.

I pull back the dramatics and shake my head once again. "Sorry. I just think you should see the dress for the first time with your own eyes. I want to impress you my outfit, and I am sure you will do the same with me." I look back to our breakfast, half eaten. "So how about we finish breakfast here, and I go back home so we can both prepare for our date? We will rendezvous at La Sorellanza, say, half an hour before sundown?"