Lust

We lean on each other in a post-meal trance. A "food coma," as Pinkie Pie would so bluntly put it. Our plates lay in front of us, cleaned of what was certainly the best dinner we have shared together. If this experience hasn't done it for me yet, the food has certainly ensured that our first date will remain special in my mind for a long time.

I snuggle deliciously into Fluttershy's warm wing. They may not be as strong or fast as Rainbow Dash's, but I would take these over hers any day. They're always perfectly preened, and they're smoother than the silk she's wearing. Fluttershy willing, I would love to fall asleep under nothing but her wings tonight . . .

I frown. Fluttershy would normally have me entranced under her wing by now, but for some reason . . . I can't quite completely relax. Maybe it's because of the noise, or the extra smells, or the pair of eyes that are locked on me—wait, what?

I obviously can't see those eyes, but I can sense the weight of scrutiny on my body, presumably taking in the dress I wore only for Fluttershy. Those eyes may be staring at her as well. My frown deepens. I don’t normally mind eyes on me, but whoever decided to gawk at Fluttershy and me while we were apparently unaware is in for a rather nasty surprise.

I crack open one eye just a bit to spy at my surroundings without making it seem like I am. There are obviously no ponies in plain sight that can look at us. The ponies I can see through the shielding line of foliage aren't looking at us either. There's nopony by the kitchen peeping out. I turn my eye to the pony closest to me. Sure enough, I see Fluttershy, wide-eyed, staring at my body as if she wanted to consume it.

I open my eyes fully and sit up straight. "Why are you ogling me?" I ask.

Fluttershy quickly breaks out of her own stupor and starts apologizing profusely. "Oh my goodness, Rarity, I'm sorry," she babbles in a panicked tone. "I just still don’t understand how you can be such a beautiful and sexy and perfect lady and I couldn’t help but stare at you and I'm so sorry I'll never do it ag—"

I interrupt her ceaseless words with a hoof on her lips. "Because you know that I'm all yours, right?" I say. The frown I was carrying on my face is replaced with a warm smile.

"A-ah?" Fluttershy seems taken aback, at a loss for words. Silly sweetheart. I chuckle lightly and continue speaking.

"I love you, Fluttershy. Now and forever. I will give everything I can give to see you happy. You have no need to ogle me at a distance because if you ever wish for anything from me, least of all my affection, you need do naught but ask . . ." I kiss her paralyzed lips and try to infuse life back into them. Whether she wanted that kiss or not in the first place doesn’t matter much now; when she regains her awareness, she starts enjoying the kiss immensely. She returns the kiss in turn, thrusting her tongue into my mouth. After a few moments, we separate, and I murmur, "You need do naught but ask, and—" I smile conspiratorially "—your goddess shall provide it for you. Your wish is my command."

"Oh! R-really?" Fluttershy squeaks in astonishment—or perhaps excitement. I smile knowingly and nod slowly. I would deny her nothing; whatever her question, the answer is "yes."

". . . Oh my goodness, R-Rarity," Fluttershy moans with a happy smile on her face, swaying back and forth as though she were drunk on ambrosia. And given that I've finally acknowledged the flattering epithet she likes to use to describe me, she may as well be. Celestia would damn me for acknowledging it, but if it pleases her . . . I sigh in contentment and start rubbing her back.

"Enjoying yourselves, ladies?" A familiar voice sounds. I look up to see Fresco standing in front of our table, a small smile on his face. He steps forward to take the empty dishes away.

"Very much so, Fresco, thank you," I say. Fluttershy remains silent, a drunken smile on her face, her eyes fixed on me. She seems so stunned by my previous quip that she is still swaying back and forth now, entirely unaware of everything besides my existence.

"May I interest you in some dessert?" Fresco says, revealing a small dessert menu to us.

"Yes, thank you." I look over the menu quickly, deciding on what Fluttershy and I would like, seeing as she seems unable to respond right now. "Hmm . . . I believe I shall have the Tartufo, and Fluttershy shall have the rice pudding."

"As you wish," Fresco says with a bow. He takes the dessert menu back and walks into the kitchen, dirty plates and our orders on hoof.

I return my attention to Fluttershy. She's still looking at me dreamily as if I really was a goddess. "Fluttershy?" I ask.

No response. Even though her ears are open, she doesn't seem to be listening. She's mouthing something over and over, but I can't read what it is.

I put a hoof to my chin, trying to think of a way to bring Fluttershy back to Equestria. I think back to what got her into this state. "Hmm . . ." I muse. Well, it got her in it; it should be able to get her out of it. I take Fluttershy's head in my hooves and kiss her full-on on the lips.

The clouds in her eyes leave instantly. Within moments, she takes my head with her hooves and kisses back, more aggressively than any of her kisses prior. She separates for just long enough to catch her breath. Her eyes are ravenous, and her breaths are heavy. "Anything . . . goddess . . ." she moans, though whether it was directed to me or not, I don't know. Before I can respond, she drives forward again so insistently that I nearly topple over. I can barely keep up. Whatever came over my sweetheart to become this . . . aggressive?

And yet, as quickly as it began, it stops. Fluttershy stiffens against me and snaps back to her cushion, forelegs crossed in front of her defensively. I open my mouth to ask her what's wrong just as Fresco returns from the kitchen and puts two small plates on the table. Fluttershy watches him with wary eyes as he walks away to the front of the restaurant. I look to her, concerned. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she says quietly, tensely. It's Fluttershy's non-answer that reveals no more information to me than if she said nothing at all. But I think I can guess what's bothering her. I stroke her back comfortingly.

"Okay," I say cautiously. I look to the desserts Fresco brought for us. Mine is a pair of ice cream scoops, both topped with a shell of melted chocolate. Fluttershy's is an off-white and sweet-smelling concoction served in a wine glass. I take a bite of my own dessert: sweet, cold, and delicious. Just as I'm about to take a second bite, I look back to Fluttershy. She's fidgeting, her eyes flicking between me and the rice pudding. "Fluttershy?" I ask again.

"Rarity, do you think we could leave . . . now?" she asks back in a breathy voice, shuffling her hind hooves.

"Er, yes, we could. But why?" I say with concern and not a little bit of confusion. Such an odd request.

"I just really, really want to ask you something, and I can't wait any longer." Her eyes flick left, then right. "But not here."

I look at my own dessert, half-eaten. A moment's contemplation. ". . . Alright. I guess we're not having dessert then. Come along, sweetheart." I get up walk to the podium in the front of the restaurant, Fluttershy in tow. I'm appeasing Fluttershy's request, but that doesn't mean I know entirely why.

When we make it there, Fresco looks up from his schedule. "Finished already?" he says.

"Not quite," I respond. "We just decided it was getting late, and we wanted to go home. It's nothing against the restaurant or its food, mind; our visit was delightful." I answer Fresco's unasked question. "I'll have the check now, please."

"Er, yes, of course." He writes a few figures on a carbon-copied scroll and gives it to me, quoting the price of our meals. I retrieve a checkbook from a hidden pocket of my saddle and write out the required amount. Thank goodness Fluttershy is still distracted by whatever she wants to discuss with me; she didn't have to see the number I wrote on the check.

Fresco takes the check, attaches to the bill, and tears off the carbon copy to give to me as a receipt. He bows formally and says, "Thank you for visiting La Sorellanza this evening. Please have yourself a pleasant night. I look forward to serving you again."

"Of course, Fresco," I say, shaking his hoof.

The moment we leave the restaurant, Fluttershy starts walking briskly back home, and I follow her. The sun has gone under the horizon, and the last vestiges of sunlight are beginning to fade from the earth. The sounds of the day are waning, slowly being replaced with the sounds of nocturnal animals and their activity. The air is calm and the sky is clear, save for a few dark clouds. Tonight would be a fantastic night to meditate together, but I don't think that's on Fluttershy's mind right now. She loves her quiet time, but she wouldn't leave a date early just to ask to meditate.

I start walking faster to catch up with Fluttershy. On any other night, we'd strolling slowly, taking in the sounds, leaning on each other for support, sharing the occasional kiss . . . but not this night. Fluttershy is intent on getting home as quickly as possible, and only then, it seems, will I get answers.

Perhaps if I didn't love her as much as I did, I would be exasperated at her odd behavior, but right now, I'm just concerned. What is it that Fluttershy is so intent on telling me that she couldn't wait a few more minutes to tell?

Once we make it inside the house, I ask, "Alright, Fluttershy. What is it that you so desperately need to tell me?"

"I . . ." Fluttershy rubs her hind legs together again. "I want to . . ." Fluttershy groans in frustration. It seems that the confidence and aggression she had at back at the restaurant has momentarily left her body.

I get closer to her to lend her my support. "Slowly, Fluttershy. Take your time. I'm listening." I rub up against her side in an attempt to calm her down, but it doesn't appear to be doing much. I try nuzzling her cheek next, but the moment the bridle on my face touches her skin, she gasps sharply as if burned. I move away. Now I'm very concerned. "Sweetheart, what is the matter?" I ask beseechingly.

Fluttershy starts fidgeting again and looks down. She rubs her hind legs together. "Y-you said I could ask you anything, right?"

"Absolutely," I respond as emphatically as I can. If my contact won't comfort her, maybe my words will. I can feel the tension in the air. "I love you, Fluttershy. There is nothing you could ask that would alienate me."

That seems to do something. The nervousness in Fluttershy's face subsides just a little. She closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths to gather herself. She's mouthing the words that I just said to her over and over like a mantra. I wait patiently for Fluttershy to regain her nerve.

It takes over a minute for her to open her eyes again, but when she does, they are directed straight at mine. The emotions in her eyes are equal parts determination, apprehension, and one more I can't read. She speaks in a quiet but determined voice:

"I want to make love with you."