Oleander moaned into the cushioned table underneath her. It wasn't intentional, however Lotus was a paragon of her craft.
It caused Oleander's thoughts to shift while this majestic pony was fixing the aches in her grey furred back.

Lotus the blue pony with pink hair. Besides the palette change it was difficult to see the differences between the sisters.
This bothered Oleander quite a bit. Noticing these small details is how she did so well at home.
It was the small differences between a kick, a slap or the usage of magic. The difference of being food to predators or not.

Rarity had power here. The talent to make dresses and set them at whatever price she wanted.
This power got her bits, the currency of Equestria. This power was used to purchase this spa service for herself, Fluttershy and Oleander.

Then her mind drifted back to home about 13 years ago.
The Order of the Horn shun Oleander's choice. However it was her choice to make.
They gave warnings that her soul was become food to Fred, that she would lose control of her magic.
She had seen Fred's mind and purpose, they did not. Becoming Fred's food was never on his mind. It was a symbiotic relationship.

They both needed each other. If Oleander died, Fred would become a inanimate book again. His ever seeing large glowing eye would not look as bright and full of energy when his bindings were opened.. He wouldn't be able to become a mass of shadow with that cool looking demonic skull at the end. Aww, she loved hugging him in that form. He was kinda warm with her magic flowing in him. In return he shared his power, his abilities.

Losing control of her magic was even more absurd. It was a part of her that was similiar to her horn, eyes, hooves and tail. They don't get out of control when properly exercised.

The only reason they said these things about her was because of books, of tradition. Choosing to follow tradition and morales from unicorns that were long gone. Life is for the living, if you can't make you own decisions then you might as well be a sheepkin from those other stories. Apparently they were also followers and never lead.

However Pom made her own choices. She had a destiny as well, her life a testament to that. She was living proof that books were wrong at times. Of course they were, they were written by living beings that had their own flaws and skills. Pom's puppies also had a sort of symbiotic relationship with Pom. They were her guardians, her protectors against the predators. She was like a parent or maybe a queen. Looks are deceiving, though they look cute... those things are Pom's weapon. Oleander was in shock the first time she seen them fight a predator. It was grisly, maybe barbaric but at the same time their motions were beautiful. They were a painter artist, the body of Pom's choosing was the blank canvas. And that paint, the warm dark blood of the the predators.... it conveyed so much about life.

Ah Lotus was done, and trying to get her attention. Time to go to the steam room? Ok, lead me there.

"Oh darling you look so rejuvinated. This trip was defiantly a good idea." stated Rarity. After awhile she talked with Fluttershy about fashion and animals and Equestria in general. The way they cared about each other, was this love? Love was often the vessel to create families. However friendship was a non sexual form of love. It was something Oleander only shared with Fred. He was waiting for her at the front desk. He was her partner in the dark arts, somebook she was proud to call friend.

Author's Note

However friendship was a non sexual form of love.

The exception to this being "BEST FRIENDS" in Ponyville of course.