Heated

Much like the morning of the day before, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy managed to make it out of the room, resisting temptation for one more hot lay in the bed. (They did, however, finish where they left off while in the shower) They proceeded to the dining hall, joining their friends for breakfast, despite that their friends had already eaten by the time they'd gotten there.

This time, they had also checked themselves in the mirror in order to see the “glow” they seemed to have. Fluttershy explained that she read in a book of biology that having sex was great in five ways for your coat, especially considering that sweating is oftentimes a factor. Most of all, sex made a pony glow, as if a in heavenly way, which had been why they were glowing the day before.

“It even wards off aging, and is good for your mane!” She had said.

However, due to the fact that Twilight was in fact well-read, that would mean she was more than likely to catch on that something was up. The same was with Rarity, since she was an expert on beauty care, and more than likely knew about how sex worked.

Fluttershy had gone to a castle maid, requesting some makeup they could use to conceal the glows they had. Not that she told her that, of course. The maid complied, and brought back a basic makeup kit with an assortment of cosmetics and colours for them to use. For the next fifteen minutes since receiving it, they went to work on touching themselves up with makeup, especially some concealer and toner. Fluttershy then applied some mascara and a light coat of lip gloss onto Rainbow Dash so that it would further distract anypony from the glow she had. Not enough to drastically change her appearance, but enough to enhance her looks.

Unfortunately, it made it hard for Fluttershy to look away from her. It had been apparent since Rarity's little fashion show of their Gala dresses, and the night of the Gala itself, that Rainbow Dash really did clean up nicely. She could look gorgeous if she wanted to!

Before leaving, they even ran through a checklist to make sure they looked less suspicious than the day before.

“Okay, me first!” Rainbow Dash glanced in the mirror once more, then back at her best friend. “Mane messy?”

“Check. No more than usual,” Fluttershy nodded. “Um...shake it a bit, just for good measure.”

“Right!” Rainbow Dash did so, messing her mane just a bit. “Face clear?”

“Check, the glow is subdued.”

“Makeup?”

“Check. We can still use our experimental cover story.”

“Got it! No hickeys?”

“Check. You checked at least three times in the mirror.”

“Smell okay?”

Fluttershy sniffed her, and smiled. “Check. You smell like the soap and shampoo. Not an ounce of sweat.”

“Okay, good,” Rainbow Dash exhaled with relief. “So I don't look a thing like I just had sex, right?”

“You look like you just got out of bed, washed up, and put on some makeup,” Fluttershy confirmed.

“Awesome! Now you!”

“Right, yes. Okay...my mane looks all right?”

“Check! Brushed it for you twice, same for your tail.”

“How about the glow?”

“Check. I think we put on two layers of toner for that! ...Um...” Rainbow Dash stood back a few more feet. “Yep! Can't notice it from a distance.”

“All right, good. My own makeup?”

“Check. A little messy, but that's because I did it for you! That'll be one complete truth.”

“True. My coat?”

“Check! Looks the same as it always does!”

“No hickeys?”

“...You did have one, but I managed to cover it up with concealer! Besides, your mane can hide it. So, check!”

“Okay...do I smell all right?”

Rainbow Dash came closer and sniffed her. “You smell awesome, Fluttershy! Nopony would think twice. Check on that, too!”

“Great!” Fluttershy smiled then. “Now that we've made sure we're prepared, shall we go?”

“Yeah, oh! We'll have to be careful of our wings again...they seem to go nuts when we're aroused.”

“That's true...should we tie them down?”

“And get our friends suspicious?”

“You're right...”

“So, you two overslept again?” Twilight queried, eyebrow raised. “And...Rainbow, are you wearing makeup?”

“Uh-huh!” Rainbow Dash said around her mouth full of food. Earning a reproachful look from Rarity, she swallowed. “I mean, yeah! Fluttershy got some from a chambermaid, so she offered to put some on for me! Heh, don't I look awesome?”

“I must say, Rainbow Dash, it certainly is refreshing to see you take pride in your appearance for once,” Rarity praised. She then turned to Fluttershy, raising her brow. “Fluttershy...darling, your makeup application is very off!”

“Rainbow put it on for me...” Fluttershy explained sheepishly.

“That explains it,” Rarity groaned, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, I did!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Hey, could've been worse! I could've made her look like a clown!”

Spike snickered from where he sat. “That'd be hilarious! Then she'd be Clownershy!”

“Clownershy!!” Rainbow Dash parroted, and burst into laughter once again, pounding her hoof on the table. “What a circus act that would be! Hey everypony, come and see the great Clownershy, the quiet timid clown!”

“Ooohh! I like that, too!” Pinkie Pie joined in laughing. “It's Clownershy time!”

Spike, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were now collapsed in fits of laughter, soon joined in by Applejack. Twilight rolled her eyes at their silly antics, while Rarity looked on with mild disgust and annoyance, and Fluttershy looked sheepish, yet amused.

“Darling, surely you're not going to take that!” Rarity turned to Fluttershy again.

“Lighten up, Rarity, it's all in good fun!” Rainbow Dash managed between laughter.

“Well...it's okay...it's all in good fun...and I suppose there's no problem with making fun of myself...” Fluttershy smiled a bit sheepishly.

“Hold on, Ah got it!” Applejack spoke up, and then pulled off a Fluttershy look. “Oh no, all them ponies are lookin' at me...Ah'm so scared...Ah'm Clownershy...the shy timid clown...an' Ah can't do this...sorry everypony...Ah gotta go hide now...”

Her silly impression of Fluttershy (with an accent) only made Spike, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie burst into even more laughter. Much to the dismay of Twilight and Rarity, of course.

“Real funny, AJ! But I can do one better!” Rainbow Dash stood up on her chair, waving her curled up forelegs in a pathetic manner, looking all sad and shy. “No no...I can't perform like this! Everypony's looking at me! Ah! My shadow! It's so scary! Ah! The wall! It's coming to get me! Ee! No! Get away from me, plastic ball! It's all so scary! Help meee!” She let out pathetic wails of despair. “But that's where I come in! I'm Rainbow Dash, and I'm going to save you, Clownershy, from the eeeevil circus!”

“Now the circus is evil?” Twilight snorted. “And now it's a story? About you, coming in to save the day?”

“Quiet! It's getting good!” Spike whispered amidst amused chuckles.

“Well, then Ah'm the Evil Circus Leader!” Applejack stood up on her chair, waving her hat. “You ain't never gonna take one o' mah performers! They're mah prisoners! Ferever!”

“I don't think so, Evil Circus Leader! You're in for it now, because I'm Rainbow Dash! The most heroic, fastest flier out of Cloudsdale...no! I'm the heroic Wonderbolt!” Rainbow Dash did a quick little flip.

“Then Ah'm not just an Evil Circus Leader, Ah'm also...the strongest pony in Equestria an' I'm gonna knock ya down!” Applejack declared.

“I'm also full of magical powers!”

“An' Ah'm a champion polo player!”

“And I'm a champion volleyball player!”

“An' Ah'm able ta twirl a lasso!”

“Don't forget me!” Spike stood up too, holding his spoon. “I'm Spike, the evil dragon set to take over this circus!”

“And I'm a magical cupcake!” Pinkie put in.

“Um...help me?” Fluttershy giggled.

Twilight turned to Rarity, holding a hoof to her mouth in a secretive gesture. “How did this turn from the possibility of Fluttershy in clown makeup, to making fun of Fluttershy...to this?”

“I wouldn't know even if I tried to explain it, darling!” Rarity agreed.

“Haha! I saved her!” Rainbow Dash was now up in the air, holding a giggling Fluttershy in her forelegs bridal style. “The Princess has been rescued!”

“I thought she was an imprisoned circus clown forced to perform against her will?” Spike pointed out.

“Oh,” Rainbow Dash realized. She looked at Fluttershy, grinned, then laughed. “Well, she's a Princess now! She has been all along, and that's why the Evil Circus Leader kidnapped her!”

“Who's a Princess now?” Princess Celestia entered the dining hall, smiling with delighted amusement. “Are you telling stories?”

“Um...it's best if you don't ask, Princess,” Twilight said sheepishly.

Celestia raised an eyebrow, then cast a glance toward Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in their current state. She giggled behind her hoof. “I see. Well, my little ponies, I hope I'm not interrupting. I only wanted to make a brief announcement to you all.”

“Go ahead, Princess, we're listening,” Twilight smiled. She cast a reproachful look to the two Pegasi.

“Heh...sorry,” Rainbow Dash set Fluttershy down, and both of them returned to their seats.

“Tomorrow night, my dear sister Luna is planning to set forth meteor shower. That is why she was regretfully unable to attend the Gala, for she had wanted to prepare for it. It's for a new set she has wanted to try, and she is hoping that you will all see it if you choose to,” Celestia explained. “I believe she wanted to bring forth her recent return with something quite grand!”

“Wow! A meteor shower!” Twilight exclaimed with excitement. “And Princess Luna is putting it together? That sounds wonderful! We'd love to see it!”

“I completely agree, I'm certain it will be simply divine!” Rarity beamed.

“Then I think I can speak for all of us, we'll be there!” Twilight nodded to her friends, who all nodded and made confirmations of her claim.

“Fantastic, I am very glad to hear that. This means very much to Luna, and I think it would be wonderful if all of Equestria could share it,” Celestia smiled, before she turned to go. “I do wish I could stay and chat, but I have to make this announcement, and return to my duties. However, if you need anything, please let me know. Have a wonderful day.”

“You too, Princess! We'll see you later!”

The Princess smiled more, and then excited the hall. Excited chatter then emitted from the gang and Spike, all eagerly recounting their plans for the day, and what they would do the next day following in order to pass the time until the meteor shower.

“They're playing Fiddler On The Roof at the theatre tomorrow! We have to go see it!”

“I'd love to see that, for certain, darling!”

“Then I'm in, too!”

“A boring musical play? Count me out!”

“Um...I'd like to see it...”

“Ah wouldn't mind checkin' it out, sugarcube!”

“Oooh, I just LOVE plays! I'm in!”

Twilight chuckled then. “Wow, so that's all of us minus Rainbow again. Gee, what a surprise.”

“Honestly, Rainbow Dash, do you have no class?” Rarity said haughtily.

“Well excuuuuuuuse me, Princess!” Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out. “In case any of you forgot, plays and musicals aren't my thing.”

Fluttershy giggled, knowing a little too much more than the others did.

“So if you won't go, fine,” Twilight shrugged a little. “Just thought it'd be something nice we can all do together. Since we'll all be back to our routines in Ponyville.”

A groan escaped the cyan Pegasus. “Fine! You can stop that side-order of guilt-tripping, thanks!”

Applejack snickered, winking at Twilight. “Works ev'ry time, Twi.”

“I'll say!” Twilight giggled behind her hoof.

“Yay!” Fluttershy cheered. When the conversation died down, she leaned toward her friend's ear. “You can sit with me if you want...and if you get bored...I'll help you find a way to keep entertained.”

A grin spread across Rainbow Dash's face. “All right, Fluttershy! I'm game.”

From across the table, a knowing smile was plastered on Pinkie's face as she winked at them. It made both Pegasi uncomfortable, but at least Pinkie was keeping her promise, and was even okay with their little “understanding” as it were.

Later that morning...

The rainbow trails streaked across the sky in her wake, as the blurring sky-blue form swiftly danced across the sky in flight. In, around, under and over the few clouds remaining she went, a true vision of undeterred beauty of the flight.

Fluttershy didn't once tear her gaze from her best friend as she majestically soared the skies like an eagle. At times she flipped about, spun around, dove low, and then rose up higher. She herself sat on a cloud far above the grounds of the majestic mountain city, just watching Rainbow Dash fly about and performing her tricks. Her heart seemed to soar along with her as she further absorbed the daredevil Pegasus. If not for her own meagre flying, she would have just loved to have been up there with her, flying as fast and gracefully as she did. For them to perfect together in perfect synchronizing harmony, as if they were just one pony, the perfect pair of stunt performing partners.

How amazing that would've been, even if just to keep up with her.

Up in the air, Rainbow Dash soared freely as ever, just loving this wondrous freedom. It was even interesting with a different landscape below her; the mountainous, glorious city of Canterlot, coupled with the mountain itself, and then the wide open fields down below that stretched out far as the eye could see. Equestria at its finest, and it was only part of it. Every now and then, she looked down to the array of clouds were Fluttershy sat, observing. Just as ever before. She smiled, flying upward again. The wind blew in her mane and tail, coursing over her body in a rush, the clouds formed and broke all around her, before she changed course. She few downward yet again, going fast, and down past the array of clouds she went. Just nearing the ground....

Before she flew back up again, and landed on the clouds near Fluttershy, hidden from view from the city far down below.

“So, was that awesome or what?” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“You rock, Rainbow Dash! Woohoo,” Fluttershy cheered softly.

“That's it? That's as loud as you're getting? Oh, come on!” Rainbow Dash pouted, but was obviously saying it in a more teasing tone. She smirked then, approaching her. “'Cause I seem to recall you being pretty loud last night and the night before...”

Fluttershy blushed heavily, giggling. “R-Rainbow Dash!!”

“Unless you need me to refresh your memory?” Rainbow Dash advanced on her, sitting down in front of her.

“Well...I don't think a little reminder would hurt...” Fluttershy said coyly.

Chuckling, the cyan Pegasus brought a foreleg around her, holding her close. “True, or maybe a long, elaborate reminder would help, too.”

Feeling bold, as well as a pinch of daring, Fluttershy giggled and then tackled her friend into the clouds. Rainbow Dash laughed hard, as did Fluttershy, before they started to roll around like a couple of fillies tumbling about. If anything, it reminded them of the old days back in Cloudsdale, when Rainbow Dash would tackle-hug Fluttershy and they'd roll around like crazy, and sometimes vice-versa when Fluttershy just wanted to have some fun and pin her little friend. They both giggled, laughed, and rolled around happily, feeling as carefree as ever.

Eventually, they came to a stop when Fluttershy had Rainbow Dash pinned beneath her. They giggled, nose-kissing each other.

“Takes you back, doesn't it?” Rainbow Dash smirked playfully. “Back when we were fillies, how you sometimes got the drop on me.”

“Of course I remember,” Fluttershy said fondly, smiling as she settled on top of her. “We always had such silly fun doing this.”

“And now look at us! I think our filly selves would freak out!”

“Hee...I know my filly self certainly would!”

Chuckling, Rainbow Dash gently brushed aside some of Fluttershy's mane as she looked at up her with a fond, sweet smile. Despite the messy application of makeup present on Fluttershy's face, she still did manage to maintain her soft, unbridled beauty. How was she not aware of just how pretty she was? Sure, as a passing observation, maybe, but nothing like this. But more than that, just the sheer warmth and comfort she felt in sharing a moment like this with her. Had it been anypony else, even their friends, Rainbow Dash would've felt severely vulnerable and uncomfortable. She adored her friends so much, and would be forever loyal to them, as well as enjoying some fun times with them...but to be as closely intimate with them like she was with Fluttershy right now, it didn't sit well.

Fluttershy just had the strangest affect on her, or on anypony. She was coming to realize just how relaxed and comfortable she could get with her, how she could be more emotional and vulnerable around her, to show her softer, sensitive side with her. It felt pretty good. She didn't feel exposed at all. Fluttershy just somehow managed to bring out that side of her with ease.

Then there was this. To think she once thought that sex, with anypony, was simply a matter of consent and that was it. But now having experienced it with somepony she trusted, somepony she cared about, it just seemed all the better. Going from hardly ever thinking of it at all to enjoying it with Fluttershy was quite a feat she never thought possible. It was even safe to say that she was quite sexually attracted to her, to say the least. The way she smelled, the way she held herself, Rainbow Dash had to fight off feeling aroused some of the time, especially right now. Whatever Fluttershy did to make her so appealing, she fully enjoyed it.

Who would've thought that the shy, soft-spoken, slow-flying Fluttershy would have such sex appeal, and arouse her so much? One would think somepony as fast and daring as she herself was would be enough to set her off. But no, she came to find Fluttershy so appealing in that way, it surprised her, but she welcomed it. Sharing all of this with her was probably one of the best things that ever happened in her life. If she could go back in time, she wouldn't change a thing.

Aside from maybe thinking of this earlier, but that was another story.

“What are you thinking about?” Fluttershy queried, smiling curiously.

“Just you,” Rainbow Dash gently ran her hoof through the blossom-pink strands of her mane.

A soft blush settled on Fluttershy's cheeks at her response, “Awww...Rainbow... how did you get so sweet?”

Laughing a bit, Rainbow grinned. “When I was born, my mom dunked me in a barrel of sugar!”

Familiar with her sarcasm all too well, Fluttershy smiled and gave a soft laugh. Rainbow felt her heart flutter at the sweet bell of her laughter. But then again, seeing Fluttershy happy, even laughing, was just a heart-fluttering joy in itself, to be sure.

“Oh, Rainbow...what's gotten into you?” Fluttershy smiled, snuggling into her neck a bit with affection. “You've become so affectionate!”

Blushing a little, Rainbow realized she was right. She was no stranger to being nice and affectionate to Fluttershy, especially in Fluttershy, but there had been rougher moments that seemed like they didn't quite get along. Mostly on her end, though. But even since the night of the gala, after having gone to comfort her when the night was over, Rainbow Dash could see just how much she had grown to feel a lot more comfortable with being nice and sweet to the creamy yellow pony. When they were fillies, it was apparent, and now, many years later, even after some tougher times, it had become all the more apparent.

Once more, she couldn't help but welcome it.

“Can't help it, I guess!” Rainbow Dash laughed, holding Fluttershy close. “Something you do or say brings it out in me!” To further add to the statement, she kissed her on the snout in a brief peck.

It really was safe to say that their friendship had grown quite a bit in the past couple of days, to be sure.