Up in the Clouds, Down to Earth

Throbbing music, laughing ponies, dancing and smiling and singing everywhere. Perhaps there aren't any Princesses visiting as special guests this year. But that clearly isn't stopping this from being the social event of Ponyville for months in either calendar direction.

Rarity looks out over the crowd, a pleased smirk on her face. Sure, deep blue eyes pick out things many ponies would never notice – a conversation with a perfect opening for an entrance here, a lovely wallflower waiting for a compliment there, a dance in need of an extra set of legs and thusly a perfect place to display her beauty and grace.

Her eyes narrow as her smile grows. So what if her element is supposed to be generosity? It's times like these when she wonders if a pony can have more than one.

"A lovely event," she says, surveying Ponyville's town hall, filled to bursting with partying ponies. "Just perfect. I can't think of a better opportunity for..." She turns her head left and then right, searching for the yellow pegasus that was just at her side. "Fluttershy?"

A squeal gives her friend away. Rarity turns and finds Fluttershy crouched low, trying to sneak away as apologetically as possible. Again.

And the hem of her dress, the dress that Rarity spent hours agonizing over and stayed up half the night to finish on time, is dragging along the floor. Again.

"Oh, your dress!" Rarity rushes to fuss over the sleek folds of Fluttershy's skirt. "Honestly, Fluttershy."

"I'm sorry!" Fluttershy snaps to attention as Rarity smoothes the fabric out with her magic – then a quick tug, a small smoothing out, and perfect again.

"Are you quite sure you're comfortable with this?" Rarity asks.

Fluttershy bows her head, staring at some point off to the side. "...No."

Before Rarity can turn her concern into words, Fluttershy jumps in with a few.

"No, I want to try!" She stomps one hoof delicately, giving Rarity a determined little glare. "I can... I can do this!" She takes a few deep breaths, gulping air and blowing it back out adorably.

"I know you can," Rarity says. She raises one foreleg and almost reaches out to touch Fluttershy, to give her a reassuring little pat on the sleeve. But she stops inches away.

Fluttershy stares down at Rarity's raised hoof, then up at Rarity, confused and showing it. Rarity throws her hoof back down where it belongs.

"I'm so proud of you!" she says instead. "Finally, finally, doing something about this. Why, it feels like we've been talking about him for ages."

Fluttershy seems to ignore her, darting her eyes around the crowd, searching for threats. "I can do this..." she mutters. "I can... okay. Okay. What do I do?"

Rarity smirks, just a little.

How is it that I'm the one mentoring my friends in love? Again?

Not that she doesn't enjoy it.

"Well... first thing's first. We shall have to find him." Rarity looks around herself, but her eyes catch sight of a very different pony with apples on their flank. "Actually," she says, "There's something else I have to take care of first."

"What?" Fluttershy's eyes go wide, terrified of any surprises.

"Don't worry, it's nothing," Rarity says. "I'll be right back... just stay here. Right here. Please?"

Fluttershy nods timidly, folding her forelegs around each other. Rarity lets out a pleased little sigh, and not just because of how well Fluttershy is showing off her handiwork with that pose.

She could have any pony she wanted. Equestria is lucky she's so shy.

"I'll be right back." She starts to walk away, pausing and checking over her shoulder every few steps. Fluttershy is still there each time, strangely enough. Satisfied, Rarity dives into the crowd.

She swims her way through it with ease – even where ponies don't make way for her, she manages with pure force of poise. It's a little harder this time, though – the town's usual live band and birdsong has been replaced this year with that... club music so favored by the young foals these days. She can even catch glimpses of the DJ here and there, and of course Pinkie Pie is right there with her at the table, waving and bobbing her head to the beat and directing the party with invisible skill.

She keeps going, paving her path with polite smiles and a trail of "pardon" and "excuse me." Twilight is off somewhere to her right, with the lovely local schoolteacher, of course. They don't see her – lost in their own world for the moment. Which is fine. More than fine.

As long as they're showing off my dresses.

Which they are, and very well at that.

Lovely set, that one.

It's hard for Rarity to fathom being more pleased with one's self. Unless what she's about to do pans out, even a little bit. Then she truly will be calling herself a miracle worker.

She ends up on the other edge of the party – strangely enough, she doesn't catch a glimpse of a certain large, handsome red stallion. But she does see his little sister.

Applejack is at a table near her stand, taking a break. Well, from the empty bins on her stand it's probably more accurate to say finished for the night. She's sitting with Rainbow Dash, both of them nursing a beer and yelling at each other over the music with easy grins.

Rarity halts – Rainbow Dash is about to leave, she's finishing her beer and flapping her wings impatiently. Hearing either of them is impossible, but Rarity can read the word Pinkie on Dash's lips, if not see it in her eyes.

Rarity hovers in the crowd, waiting patiently. Best to tackle Applejack alone, one on one. No telling what could come out of Rainbow Dash's brash, insensitive mouth. Waiting, waiting, and...

Gone. Applejack turns to her as Rarity emerges from the crowd.

"Evenin' Rares!" Applejack raises her bottle, the goofiest of smiles on her face.

Rarity grimaces on the inside – wide pupils under heavy eyelids, slight flush on the cheeks, smile that won't go away. She had hoped to do this before Applejack got into any drink, but clearly she underestimated Ponyville's hunger for Sweet Apple Acres' products.

Or maybe she got started earlier?

Rarity shakes her head. No, Applejack wouldn't drink on the job. Ridiculous.

"Good evening, Applejack. I was hoping I could talk to you about something."

"This here is one hell of a shindig, ain't it?" Applejack takes a long, joyous swig from her bottle. "Sold out in an hour. An hour. Whooo!"

"Well, congratulations!" she says, meaning it despite her goal. She tries again, raising her voice over the beat. "I need to talk to you!"

"Yeah?" Applejack pats the seat next to her, all down-home charm. "What can I do you for?"

"It's about your brother," Rarity says, uneasily settling down next to the earth pony.

Applejack's shoulders slump. "...Alright, what'd he do?" she says, rolling her eyes.

"He hasn't done anything, as far as I know. That seems to be the problem, actually."

Ugh. Tactful, Rarity. Tactful.

Well what else is there to do about it? She's not sure how Applejack and Fluttershy have existed so closely for so long without this coming up, but if the two of them really are this oblivious...

Oblivious? Or surrounded by friends who KEEP them that way?

"What are you on about now?" Applejack says, blinking rapidly.

Rarity snaps back to the present. Game face, mind sharp.

For Fluttershy!

"I want to ask you about your brother," she says, very deliberately.

Applejack stares at her, her mouth hanging open a little. Just barely hinting at the coming scowl. "Huh. So, uh... what're you askin', exactly?"

Rarity poses most formally, a diplomat delivering an important ultimatum. "Well... your brother is a fine, upstanding stallion of Ponyville, is he not?"

Applejack snorts once, clearly bemused. "I s'ppose. Don't see why you gotta gussy him up with words like that. He's just Big Ole' Mac."

"Indeed, he is... Big Ole' Mac." Rarity looks away, punctuating with as much disdain for the words as she can. "Macintosh seems like quite the gentlecolt, and if it's not too much to ask I'm wondering if..."

"Oh no!" Applejack shakes her head, waving her bottle around menacingly. "Not this again! No way, no how!"

"Excuse me?" Rarity doesn't have to try to act incensed. "I've never once bothered you about him!"

"Pfffft!" Applejack rolls her eyes hard enough to send her head swaying. "Oh, darling, I was just dying to know if your brother is seeing anypony special," Applejack says, in an eerily perfect imitation of Rarity.

Rarity's jaw drops – she hates when she forgets that Applejack can do that. "That was for gossip purposes!"

"Yeah, sure. And this one –" Applejack waves her bottle at where Rainbow Dash was sitting, looking only momentarily surprised to see an empty seat. "...That one was on my case about him for months. MONTHS."

Rarity gathers herself with practiced ease – Applejack may have her usual self, but Rarity is at least sober and sensible. "And why exactly do you discourage any of your friends from getting... familiar with your brother?" she asks, adding in a lower, wry voice, "...she asked, knowing she would not get a straight answer."

"Because!" Applejack barks, prompting a here we go again nod from Rarity. "He's my brother! And y'all are my friends, and... and..." Applejack pauses to wrestle with her own throat, deciding ultimately to douse it with beer instead. She gulps and gasps and almost burps, wiping at her mouth with a foreleg. "No."

"No?"

"No." Applejack adjusts her hat, nodding with an air of finality.

Not that Rarity would ever admit it, but Applejack truly is daunting once she really digs her hooves in. Rarity's eyes soften, and she starts to...

No! No, for Fluttershy!

"Why. Not?" she asks, not even flinching for a moment.

Applejack scowls at her, taking a territorial sip of her beer. "I don't gotta explain a thing," she says.

"Well then," Rarity stands with a dramatic sweep of her simply exquisite dress. "Since I have not been supplied with any sensible reason not to –"

"You are NOT." Applejack stomps one hoof, loudly.

"Applejack." Rarity glowers down at her, scolding her, feeling bigger than the other mare for once. "This is ridiculous. Your brother is a grown stallion. An adult. He is allowed to have relationships."

"Yeah, but..." Applejack paws at the back of her neck.

"Is there something wrong with him? Is he secretly some sort of villainous slob?"

"Rarity..." Applejack growls.

"Of course he isn't. He's a perfectly fine colt. And if one of your friends – your friends – isn't good enough for him, then who ever will be?"

Applejack freezes, all the anger, the pride, the stubborn – the Applejack – draining from her face. "It ain't even about..."

"Now," Rarity cuts her off. Somehow, she's won this round, she can feel it. "If one of your friends is interested in him, I think he at least has the right to know it. And if that interest is mutual...?"

Applejack just glares up at her. But it's pretty toothless.

"Exactly." Rarity can't contain a bit of smug.

Applejack, struck speechless! Applejack, of all ponies! Ha!

She wants to revel in victory, to stay and enjoy Applejack's face. But she has to claim her prize. Rarity turns to leave.

"I..." Applejack raises an empty hoof, angry and hopeless. Lost.

Rarity pauses, waiting for whatever churlish nonsense will surely come pouring out her friend's mouth. But nothing comes.

"Good." Rarity nods once, then she does leave. She catches Applejack falling back into a simmering glare, downing the rest of her beer out of spite. Rarity pretends not to see, walking away with her nose high and proud in the air.

She glances back. Applejack is still glaring daggers at her.

Oh, let her glare. As long as she stays out of the way.

She shakes her head, even as she smiles, still wondering. Protective, she can understand – she doesn't like to think about it, but one day...

Sweetie Belle has to grow up sometime.

And if any colt thinks they're getting near that filly without Rarity grilling him first, they can just...

Natural. Natural feelings towards one's siblings. But this thing with Applejack is ridiculous.

Rarity pauses on her way back to Fluttershy. What could it possibly be?

Perhaps all those old jokes about Apple bumpkins weren't so...?

No. No, no, no. She shakes her head. A mean, cruel stereotype – she has nothing but respect for the Apple family, truly. It's sort of touching, in a way, Applejack looking out for her brother so. But in this case, it's getting to be counter-productive.

Fluttershy is waiting obediently, right where Rarity left her.

"Is everything... okay?" she asks, trembling for an excuse to abandon the plan.

"Marvelous. Just marvelous." Rarity throws the last of her smug looks back through the crowd. The dragon is slain – the princess may claim her prince! "How are you feeling?" she asks Fluttershy.

"Um... nervous."

Rarity can't help but smile. Someday, hopefully soon, she won't have to see her best friend trembling under her own anxiety like this. All she needs...

A safe place. A rock. Confidence, born from the love of a good pony.

She looks at Fluttershy – Fluttershy, glancing to and fro, jaw set in a tight little grimace of worry. She looks at Fluttershy, and sees what could be. What should be.

Rarity rests a hoof on her friend's shoulder, staring into her eyes. To show her, somehow, what she sees.

"Don't worry," she says. "Please? Everything's going to be just fine."

Fluttershy nods weakly, then a little less weakly, then tentatively something that could be close to being called sure. "What do I... what do I do? What do I say?"

"Oh? Haven't we practiced enough?"

Fluttershy blushes, immediately and furiously.

• • •

"Why hello there, you charming young filly!"

Fluttershy raises an eyebrow at her.

"Oh, yes, of course... ahem. Howdy!" Rarity says instead.

"Oh, um... hi." Fluttershy can't quite meet her eyes, even when it's just Rarity playing Big Mac, wearing a folded bolt of cloth for a horse collar.

"I must say, you are just the most... er..." Rarity clears her throat again. "That is to say, why... ain't you just the... hmm... ah! Purdiest!" She raises a hoof in triumph, elegantly elocuting the mangled word. "Yes, purdiest! You are the purdiest mare I've ever seen!"

"...Thank you, Rar– um, Mac." Fluttershy rolls her eyes, obviously embarrassed.

"Would you like to... go out to dinner with me?" Rarity bats her eyes at Fluttershy in a most un-Mac like way. "Spend an evening talking and dancing and end it all with a long walk under the stars, pouring out your hopes and dreams while I patiently listen?"

"Uh...?" Fluttershy winces back, her wings drooping.

"Ah, right..." Rarity trails off, stroking a hoof at her chin. "I'm Macintosh. Um... do... something, with me? Something like... I don't know, watch pigs wrestle, or drag stumps through mud. With my sister. Yes, something sweaty and farmy and... and animals! Animals will be there!"

"Oh!" Fluttershy's eyes light right up. "I'd... I'd love to!" she says breathlessly.

"You would? Why, apples in an apple barrel, I'm in love!" She takes Fluttershy up in her arms, leaning into her, swooning. "Marry me, you perfect mare!"

"Rarity?"

Rarity plants a loud, theatrical kiss on Fluttershy's cheek.

"Rarity!" Fluttershy says, just barely getting it out through a severe case of giggles.

• • •

Rarity snaps back to the present.

Hmm... perhaps my portrayal of Macintosh was a bit...

Over the top?

Never!

"It will be different this time," Rarity explains.

"D... different?"

"Why yes! I'll be there. If you start to feel nervous, like you can't say anything? I'll be right here to help you." She tightens her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder, pulling in close to her, their own private corner of the party.

"Help me?" Fluttershy wonders aloud.

"Of course! I can keep the conversation going. I can say nice things about you, like, 'Macintosh, did you know Fluttershy is an expert with animals of all kinds?', and he'll say something like, 'Is that so? That is so interesting!', and I'll say, 'Why, yes, she's very modest about it, but it's true! Isn't that right, Fluttershy?', and you'll say...?"

She leans in towards Fluttershy, eyebrows waiting.

Fluttershy squeaks out an inaudible set of almost-words, bowing under her mane.

It's adorable.

"Yes, that! Exactly!" Rarity crows. "He'll be smitten in seconds! I wouldn't be surprised if he proposes by the end of the night!"

"Pro...pose?" Fluttershy's eyes go huge, quivering in the chaotic lights of the party.

"Oh, just a figure of speech." Rarity waves it off, like it never happened. "Now, we just have to find him."

Rarity catches, just for the briefest split-second, Fluttershy's eyes darting somewhere to the side. She turns to follow them, and there he is, just barely glimpsable through the crowd of partying ponies.

"Aha!" Rarity says. "You're better at this than you thought, Fluttershy."

Well, he is rather easy to pick out, actually.

Because he's tall, of course. Easily a head taller than most ponies. Rarity briefly wonders how she missed him before.

"Alright, Fluttershy, this is it. Like we practiced. Brave. So, so brave," Rarity growls, hugging Fluttershy tight.

"Now?!" Fluttershy gasps.

"Well..." Rarity falters. Mac is ambling along, nodding his head enough as he walks to pass for dancing. Smiling like a big, goofy dog.

But he's surrounded by ponies, in the thick of the party.

"Hmm." Rarity scans the room, her eyes focusing on a table full of punch bowls and decimated platters, remarkably empty of ponies. "There!"

"Drinks?" Fluttershy says, as Rarity drags her across the room. "Rarity I don't drink you know I don't drink please oh please..."

"I know," Rarity says, wishing just a bit that her friend would accept some liquid courage. "Trust me."

She sets Fluttershy next to the table, and then poses herself, two stunning mares on display in hoof-crafted finery.

Fluttershy looks around frantically. "What are we doing?"

"We are waiting." Rarity holds herself haughtily. "The drinks table is the crossroads of a party. He's sure to wander nearby eventually."

Fluttershy nods. They wait. Rarity can't help but see the nervous tapping of Fluttershy's hooves on the floor, the slight tremble in the pleats of her skirt. The poor girl is terrified.

Of what? Oh, of what?

It's so heartbreaking. She's so close, it could be so simple and she would be so happy... Rarity huddles in close to Fluttershy again, resting against her side. She can feel the rapid beat of Fluttershy's chest slow down, feel her breaths even out and grow longer.

Fluttershy turns to her, and their eyes meet. "...Thanks," she mouths.

Rarity just smiles back. All in a days work.

Movement. A certain red stallion is plodding their way, and he is quite the sight, Rarity can't help but think. Without that silly collar on, his thick shoulders and neck flex quite pleasingly under his messy, short mane.

Oh, Fluttershy. Good eye, as always.

"Alright, this is it!" Rarity says. "Are you ready?"

"No!" Fluttershy says between short, gasping breaths.

"Fluttershy!"

"Yes! Okay! Yes!" Fluttershy gasps, her eyes wild. She mouths I can do this a few times, then freezes completely as Big Mac draws near.

He walks up to the other end of the table, just far enough away to be polite, not even glancing their way. Rarity watches as he begins poking around what remains of the table, feeling the stiff board of Fluttershy next to her.

He glances up – with the darkness of the room mixed with the occasional flash of the light show, it's hard to tell which of them he's looking at.

He smiles. He nods.

Rarity pretends she just noticed him, and nods back. She turns to Fluttershy – who is pointedly staring off to the side.

Rarity nudges her with a hoof, discreetly. She may as well be kicking a wall. "Good evening, Macintosh!" she calls out.

Mac's head snaps up from eyeing the snacks – he starts to smile at her, but a dark cloud passes over his eyes. He checks over both his shoulders before it's gone, and he's all easy smiles again. Quite easy, in fact – Rarity would guess he's a drink or two in. Perfect! Just enough to loosen his tongue, hopefully.

"...Ladies," he says, stepping just close enough to talk – to be polite. Not too close.

She can hear him, clearly. Thankfully, the food is against the far wall from the dance floor, not being overwhelmed by the music. "Quite the event, isn't it?" Rarity says.

"Heh, yeah. Some kinda party," Mac says, looking out over it, and quite pleased by it.

Rarity grimaces. Not exactly the wittiest orator, is he?

Oh, stuff it. Fluttershy likes him. Do it now, DO IT.

"You remember my friend, Fluttershy?" she says, turning on maximum charm and pointing it directly to her side. Meanwhile, her rear hoof is nudging Fluttershy like it's getting paid to do so.

"'Course I do!" Mac smiles right at the mare in question. "Evenin'!"

Fluttershy stares back at him, a huge-eyed statue. Her face is blank – not even the slightest tic of movement around her mouth.

"Uh... enjoyin' the party?" Mac says uneasily.

Rarity doubles her nudging. Fluttershy doesn't move, staring right through Mac.

"Aha! Ha, of course she is!" Rarity says, much too loudly. "She is such fun at parties, you know! Why, whenever we have our get togethers she is the life of the dance floor. So graceful!"

Fluttershy squeaks in anguish, low in her chest – nopony hears it, but Rarity feels it.

"Is that right?" Mac looks quietly pleased to hear it.

Rarity feels Fluttershy's wings snap against her. They're already shut, but they're straining to tense closed harder against themselves.

"Indeed it is!" Rarity scrambles, now desperately jabbing her friend's back leg. "She's so modest, though. She's never really shown off at one of these big events." She pauses, wondering if she's pouring it on too thick. "Isn't that right, Fluttershy?" she adds, woodenly.

Fluttershy's lips tremble and quake – there's a storm brewing in her eyes, concentrated points of terror lasering out into thin air, stopping for nothing.

"Uh...?" Mac raises a hoof, looking unsure if he should talk or not. "...Y'alright, Fluttershy?" He turns to Rarity. "Is she alright?"

"Oh she's fine!" Rarity grins like a mannequin, tapping morse code against Fluttershy's leg.

SAY SOMETHING -STOP- ANYTHING -STOP- FOR THE LOVE OF CELESTIA

"Maybe you wanna sit down? Get some fresh air or somethin'?" Mac looks around, his eyes searching for a cushion or a chair...

...and in the split second he's looking away, there's suddenly emptiness at Rarity's side. She almost falls over, catching herself slightly less than gracefully. Mac turns back to them – her, now, alone – and looks quite puzzled.

"She'll be right back!" Rarity says, willing herself not to look around frantically. "Uh... I..."

Diversion!

"Just a bit parched! Poor girl!" Rarity takes a quick, deep breath. "Would you mind pouring us some punch?"

"Sure!" Mac says, as if nothing's amiss. Rarity watches him as he slowly, in that deliberate earth pony way, lays out three cups and grips the ladle in his mouth...

There, back turned. She whips her head left, right, up... no Fluttershy anywhere, nothing but a few stray yellow feathers, leading...

The tablecloth reaches down to the floor, a lacy white thing with gold ribbon borders. Checking double-sure that Mac isn't looking, she lifts a bit of it with her magic and pokes her head under.

Fluttershy is huddled there in the dark, shaking and holding her front hooves to her head.

"What are you doing?" Rarity almost yells.

"Hiding!" Fluttershy whispers, not opening her eyes.

Before Rarity can express her thoughts on the subject, she feels striking green eyes on her rump. She pulls her head out from under the table and Mac is looking at her, holding the rim of a cup in his teeth, looking more befuddled than ever.

"Aheh! Ahem. Excuse me!" She takes the offered cup with her magic, levitating it before her. "Thank you. Just... uh... checking out the decorations."

"Decorations under the table?" Mac raises an eyebrow. "Fancy," he says, looking impressed.

Rarity squints at him.

He MUST be... joking?

He sits on his rump, taking his cup and cradling it in his forehooves. "Is yer friend okay?"

That remains to be seen, honestly.

"Just fine!" she says instead. "She'll be right back. Thank you oh so much for the..." She sips at her punch, almost gagging. Of course – Pinkie made it. If the sugar doesn't kill you, it'll kill any other flavor in there.

Mac seems to like it. He gulps down quite a bit, draining the frilly pink drink from his cup with a hearty smile.

"So... what about you?" Mac says, nodding out towards the party before them.

"Excuse m- what?" Rarity says.

"Not gonna lie, all that dancin' talk's got my hooves wantin' to move," Mac drawls.

Rarity squints at him even harder.

Of course it does you big, handsome dolt, that's why I said it!

"'Course I ain't much for showin' off, either," he says, taking a wistful last sip of punch.

AAAAHHHHH he's so PERFECT for her!

Rarity's mind races, she glances around for something, anything. She finds nothing. Very well, she doesn't need real things.

"Is that Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie kissing?" she says, pointing away from the table with her hoof.

"Huh?!" Mac turns automatically.

Rarity shakes her head as she dives under the table.

Stallions. Too easy.

A few moments of grunting, pulling, and breathless curses later, and Mac turns back to see Rarity and Fluttershy next to him again.

"Well hey there!" Mac smiles, that same lazy, easy grin. He puts his cup down and holds a fresh one out, offering it to Fluttershy. "Punch?"

Fluttershy doesn't even look at it – she's frozen again, staring at some point a few feet behind Big Mac.

"Oh! Very kind of you, but," Rarity nudges the cup back to him, whispering in name only, "she doesn't drink, actually."

Mac nods and shrugs, like it's not even a thing. He gives the table a quick once-over. "Can I get you somethin' else? Ain't much left, looks like."

Rarity instantly thinks of a half-dozen possible responses, were she in Fluttershy's horseshoes.

Oh, but this party is getting to me anyway. There's a lovely little all-night cafe just around the corner. Fancy a walk?

Fluttershy just quivers in place. It's an improvement over not moving at all, at least.

"Fluttershy?" Rarity says, willing herself not to grit her teeth. "Would you like anything?"

A low hum escapes Fluttershy's lips, slowly building into a pained squeak. Her front legs try to scramble backwards, but her back legs hold still, trapping her in a stumbling little mess of legs.

"...Uh?" Mac stares at her, perfectly balancing concern and confusion.

"Fluttershy?" Rarity says, much less politely. The squeak coming from her friend is building, in pitch and volume, winding up like an engine running itself to collapse. Rarity and Mac both lean away a little.

"IHAVETOGOGOODNIGHT!" Fluttershy yells suddenly.

Rarity's jaw drops. Fluttershy is above her, shooting up into the air like a –

"Wait!" Rarity jumps after her, barely rising a few inches off the ground. Her flailing hooves catch nothing but air. "Fluttershy!"

Gone, nothing but a few stray feathers left. Rarity looks around frantically, mussing up her mane – it's hard to see up in the rafters of the tall, vaulted building, past the racks of lights set up for the party.

"Huh... never seen her fly like that before," Mac says, staring up to where the yellow pegasus disappeared.

"She's just shy!" Rarity gushes. "Uh... very, um... concerned about her animals! Yes! Her poor animals back at her cottage!"

Mac looks at her with a cocked eyebrow, and Rarity sees plenty of words in his eyes.

Y'know, I ain't half the fool you think, they say to her.

"Don't think yer friend likes me too much," he says instead.

Rarity gives him the most deadpan of looks.

Oh. Nevermind, then.

"Honestly, Macintosh, she really wanted me to introduce you two," Rarity says desperately.

"Introduce?" Mac guffaws. "Shoot, I've met Fluttershy. We're practically neighbors, like. She stops by the farm all the time."

"Then perhaps you should talk to her," Rarity says sharply.

"Aw... I..." Mac bows his head, the most adorably manly bashful she's ever seen. "I don't wanna bother her."

Awwwww!

Rarity's heart melts just a little.

Tall, handsome, AND a sensitive side?

Apparently, Fluttershy really can pick them. Rarity gives him a fresh look, appraising the big red colt like a fresh delivery of fabric. A stoic, manly, muscled bolt of fabric, sporting two breathtaking emeralds with depths hiding... well, who knows what?

He raises his head, looking back at her. She turns away instantly, milliseconds from being caught.

He's perfect!

For Fluttershy!

Ahem... yes. Yes, for Fluttershy.

She looks up, squinting into the shadows in the rafters.

"I don't see you out by the Acres too often," Mac says.

"Who me?" Rarity lets out a bemused little chuckle, but she's making a show of hardly listening.

"Makes sense, I guess. All I ever hear from AJ is how busy you are at your, uh... your store, what'sit –"

"My Boutique," Rarity says, still not looking.

"Right, yeah! Boutique." Mac chuckles, clearly amused by the dainty little word. "Boutique. AJ says you make some of the prettiest things she's ever seen."

Rarity jolts, dropping her search instantly. Now she's very much listening. "Applejack said what?" she asks gleefully.

"Says you make fine clothes," Mac says dopily, riding just a bit high on the party.

"Did she now?" Rarity gets a clever little smile, just a bit cruel.

Oh, this is too – NO. No, Fluttershy!

"I'm sorry, Macintosh, would you excuse me?"

He nods and bows a little, leaving that as a goodnight. Rarity dashes away as quickly as politeness will allow, back to searching the air above.

He's nice. A nice guy for Fluttershy. If she would just TALK.

Rarity fumes and grumbles, stomping her way around the edges of the party. It was perfect. This was perfect! A more golden opportunity had never been blown more completely!

Now now, calm, caaaaaaaaalm... this is Fluttershy, you know how she is.

Deep breaths, controlled steps. Why is Town Hall so damnably tall? Why is it so damnably dark up there? If she only had a pegasus to go take a look...

Oh, where is Fluttershy when I need her?

Rarity pauses, amazed at her own foolish head.

Right. Rainbow Dash?

She glances around – no sign of the other pegasus. Probably connected to the not-conspicuous-at-all absence of Pinkie at the DJ table.

Hmm.

She tries to think, picturing the tall, hollow tower of Ponyville Town Hall, the sloped roof ringed with a line of –

Windows!

She rushes for the door, and as luck would have it, almost trips over Fluttershy the moment she gets outside.

"I'm sorry!" Fluttershy says instantly, holding her hooves up. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm..."

"It's alright! It's alright, Fluttershy, really," Rarity says, reaching out to take Fluttershy in one arm. "It's fine, we can just regroup for a moment and then try ag–"

"No!" Fluttershy bats her arm away. "No, I can't!"

"You... ca– Fluttershy, no! You can! You can do this!"

"NO!" Fluttershy flares her wings out, backing away from Rarity, panting with adorable rage. "I don't want to!"

Rarity stares at her for a full second – she had thought at least that part was solid. "...What?!" she gasps.

"I don't want to!"

"I heard you, and that is absolute poppycock."

"I don't want a boyfriend!" Fluttershy yells breathlessly. "I... I have my animals and my friends and I am busy and happy!"

Rarity gathers herself up, trying to match Fluttershy's sudden imposing presence. "Fluttershy, I know this kind of thing can be... scary," she says, trying to remember the last time she felt nervous talking to a colt. Nothing comes right away. "But it's nothing compared to all the brave things you've done before. Macintosh is hardly a dragon, after all."

"He doesn't like me!"

"What?!" Rarity startles back. "That's ridiculous, you haven't –"

"He doesn't like me! He won't like me!" Fluttershy says, trembling and dry-sobbing down at the ground.

"You – he – what?" Rarity stammers. "He'll love you, honestly. Who wouldn't?"

Fluttershy glares at her, one of her rare moments of smoldering fury. "Lots of ponies."

"Has Macintosh ever been anything but nice to you?" Rarity says.

"No!" Fluttershy yells, but not in answer. "No, no, no, stop it!"

"I will not!" Rarity says primly. "This is your dream, and I want to help –"

"No!"

"Fluttershy..."

"NO!"

Rarity hears the doors open behind them, but doesn't look. "Just... just calm down, please..."

"I... said... n–!" Fluttershy stops at the edge of the last word, staring in horror past Rarity's shoulder. Towards the doors.

Rarity looks. Big Mac is frozen in the doorway, one hoof hovering mid-step.

"Uh...?" he says, slowly backing away. "Sorry. Beg yer pardon. I'll just... uh... yeah." He backs away, letting the doors close on their own.

Rarity turns back, sighing and speculating as to how this could have gone more poorly. How much did he hear?

She opens her mouth to reassure her friend, but stops cold the moment her eyes settle on-target. Fluttershy is staring at the doors, lips trembling and huge eyes spilling over. She looks despondent. Crushed, completely crushed.

"No! No, Fluttershy, calm down!" Rarity says, stepping close, trying to wave her down with a foreleg. "See? He likes you! He's interested, he was looking for you!"

Fluttershy slams her eyes shut, shaking her head and bracing herself against tears. She mumbles something incoherent, shakily backing away, out of Rarity's reach.

"Wait!" Rarity rushes forward, triggering the opposite of her intended effect.

Fluttershy turns and darts for the sky, her gentle wings flapping with purpose. Rarity dives and misses, landing unceremoniously in the smooth dirt around Town Hall. She looks up and lights her horn, grabbing a chunk of pink tail and holding on tight.

Fluttershy slows down, but only a little. She sobs and flaps and strains, Rarity can feel smooth hair slipping through her glowing grasp, pulling much harder than her magic can deal with.

"Wait! Please!" Rarity yells, just as she loses her grip. She grabs again in panic, bunching up a few folds of skirt with her horn, but immediately lets go. It would've torn in an instant, anyway. She knows her own work.

Fluttershy disappears into the night at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash nod in appreciation, leaving echoes of choked sobs behind.

Rarity stares after her for a few moments, just lying there in the dirt looking up at indifferent stars. She's often felt – more or less always, really – bad for her friend, and then more bad for feeling bad for her. As if Fluttershy was some kind of invalid, a thing of pity.

Fluttershy isn't like that. Fluttershy deserves more than that, more than her own complexities would let her dream of. More even than Macintosh could ever give her, maybe.

Oh, but he could give her quite a lot... can you imagine?

She tries not to, but then to her horror she does. Macintosh and Fluttershy, snuggled together tightly under one of Fluttershy's grandmotherly quilts, nuzzling and smiling and... and... moaning, and...

Wrapped up in his thick arms, feeling his hard... body against her.

She writhes against him, as if she didn't mean to, and he takes her like the studly prince he is, a little rough maybe but sweet and gentle all the while, putting it all together into an exquisite...

STOP that. Right. This. Instant!

Rarity blinks a few times. She sighs loudly, picking herself up and carefully dusting off her dress.

How to mend this? What to do?

She deserves that dream. Sure, everypony does, but Fluttershy... Fluttershy deserves it more than anypony Rarity can think of.

Why? Of all ponies, why the sweetest, kindest, most gentle pony Rarity knows? Why should it be so hard for her to find love and happiness, when all around her all kinds of ponies just stumble into...?

The doors open again.

"I'm just so happy with you," Twilight says, leaning against Cheerilee as they walk out together.

"Stop it," Cheerilee says, smiling like she doesn't want Twilight to stop ever.

"I love you so..." Twilight trails off, just a little lost in a blushing drunk haze. "So much. "

"I know, sweetie." Cheerilee nuzzles her tenderly, even while holding her up a little. Rarity detects some tender whispering in there somewhere, and then it's no surprise when Twilight lets out a quite naughty little giggle.

"Hey! Rarity!" Twilight stands up on her own hooves more, finally noticing the white unicorn three feet away.

Rarity feels herself glaring at her friend, narrowing her eyes and powerless to stop it. Twilight and Cheerilee stare back at her, obviously, damnably concerned. Of course.

"Everything... uh... okay?" Twilight asks.

"...Oh, just shut up," Rarity says.