A Pair of Rare Shies

by shortskirtsandexplosions

Chapters

First: Breakfast
Second: A Walk In the Park
Third: Horny Things
Fourth: Bathing Beauties
Fifth: Ice Creamed
Sixth: Playing Hoofsies

First: Breakfast

"I have a gift for you, darling."

"A gift? Oh Rarity, you didn't have to."

"None of that, now! It's... just as much a gift for me as it is for you, in all honesty."

"Oh?"

"It may seem a bit silly at first, Fluttershy, but I trust that you will find it most fitting."

"'Fitting?' Is it a dress?"

"Mmmm-heeheehee... no. But it suits you nonetheless."

"Now I am curious."

"You won't be for long. Now close your eyes."

"Just what kind of a gift is this...?"

"Hehe... a very thoughtful one, I assure you! One that comes from the heart!"

"If it was 'thoughtful,' wouldn't it come from the mind?"

"Don't go mincing words, darling. I'm not dating Twilight, now, am I?"

"Heehee..."

"I swear, if you weren't so positively radiant..."

"I-I'm sorry, Rarity. I'll play nice. You want me to close my eyes, now?"

"Yes."

"For... uhm... f-for how long?"

"...not very long. Just close your pretty eyes, and stay perfectly still."

"Okay... do I have to hold out my hooves?"

"Only if you desire to. Now... eyelids closed. There's a good filly."

Fluttershy complied, smiling.

Seconds passed.

At last, when she felt almost like saying something...

...a soft pair of lips made contact with hers.

And as the warmth spread through Fluttershy's body from her muzzle to her chest to her heart...

...a very surprising thing happened.

She didn't flinch.

And by the time she started processing the gravity of what was pulling her forwards, she found herself reaching back—with both forelimbs and wings. Embracing. Caressing.

Somewhere between the tender squeaks, she knew...

There was no going back.

She couldn't have been happier.

Weeks later, Fluttershy was still smiling with her eyes shut.

She felt the soothing touch of satin as she sleepily nuzzled a lump of pillows and bedsheets—all smelling of vanilla fabric softener...

...and her.

Fluttershy smiled deeper. Just as the first foggy thoughts of morning wafted through her mind, the pegasus felt a gentle, loving tug to her scalp, accompanied by a hypnotic sweeping sensation.

One eye peeled open, then the other. Fluttershy spotted dainty shadows flittering across the bed's headboard. Then an eloquent voice rang against the familiar acoustics of Carousel Boutique's upstairs bedroom.

"Good morning, dearest," Rarity exhaled in a sing-song tone. "And do forgive me." Fluttershy felt more soft tugs to her scalp. The sweeping sounds of Rarity's brush filled the spaces between waking words. "I simply could not help myself. Not that I truly had to, I-I suppose. Your mane truly is to die for. So consistent and manageable..."

Fluttershy stifled an undainty yawn, continuing to lie on her tummy as Rarity brushed her mane. "Mmmm... I don't mind."

"Well, of course you would say that."

"Honest!" Fluttershy muttered against the pillow case. "I don't. It's okay. Brush to your heart's content."

Rarity sat beside Fluttershy and a mountain of tangled sheets. With gentle telekinesis, she stroked Fluttershy's pink bangs straight and straighter. "Must be quite the exercise dealing with all of this on your lonesome."

"Mmmmm..." Fluttershy shut her eyes, enjoying the rhythmic motions through her mane. "One hundred strokes on either side... morning and night..." She wriggled slightly. "Sometimes noon."

"No wonder you don't let Aloe or Lotus touch it when we do our weekly visits to the Spa." Rarity licked her lips, delicately navigating her way pass a tangle. "They're underqualified for such a work of art!"

Fluttershy giggled into the mattress.

Rarity raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "What?"

"'Our weekly visits,'" Fluttershy murmured in a breathy tone. "Is... uhm..." She squinted one eye open. "...is that even going to be a thing anymore?"

"Why, of course, dearest!" Rarity remarked, breathily. She paused in brushing to stare down at the other mare. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Be... b-because I would very much like to keep going with you to the spa every week." Fluttershy gulped. "If that's okay."

Rarity smiled. "It's the veritable highlight of my existence! It always has been! Why should things be any difference since... well..." She giggled inwardly, leaning in to nuzzle the back of Fluttershy's head. "...you know."

"Heeee..." Fluttershy cooed. Her wingtips lifted slightly, the feathers dancing. "I know I-I don't exactly go for the full pony pedi every time we go."

"Don't you mean all of the times?" Rarity smirked, leaning back. "Ah!" She gasped, brushing faster. "Good heavens! I almost messed up your mane!"

"But... but I like being there with you," Fluttershy continued, murmuring. "It's so nice and peaceful just... hearing you talk while we both enjoy a warm rinse." She closed her eyes, draping limply against the bedsheets once again. "Mmmmfff... although this is nice toooooo..."

"Hmmmmm... I'm inclined to agree." Rarity winked as she finished off the other side of Fluttershy's pink mane with soothing brush strokes. "I'd say it's high time you had the magic touch."

"The cl-closest I could get to relaxing in the morning is having Angel brush my mane," Fluttershy said, stifling another lazy yawn. "And you know how temperamental he can be—" Her eyes popped open. "Oh. Oh my goodness!" She sat up, nearly knocking Rarity off the bed. "I... I need to get back to the cottage! All of my animal friends! They'll go hungry if I don't give them their regular morning breakfast!"

"Now relax, Fluttershy—"

"They'll..." Fluttershy nibbled on her fetlocks, eyes moistening. "Th-they'll think that I-I've abandoned them! Oh, the poor dears—"

"Fluttershy, it's okay." Rarity grasped the mare's shoulders. "It's only seven-thirty."

"It... it is?" Fluttershy blinked out the sunlit window. "I... I could have sworn it was later!"

"Would I let you sleep in on something so important?" Rarity winked. "I know how much you care for your... mmmm... wildlife companions." She cleared her throat. "Fear not. You have plenty of time to feed them today."

"Oh..." Fluttershy relaxed, slumping onto her side. "Oh thank goodness. I half expected you to be so exhausted you'd let us sleep past noon. Especially after last night—" Her pupils shrank, and a deep blush overcame her muzzle. "Mmmm..." She curled inward, limbs and chin and all.

Once more, Rarity let loose a high-pitched giggle. She leaned in to nuzzle the mare. "Oh, how I do adore that rosy tinge that takes over your golden complexion." She shared a bold wink between them. "You only have yourself to blame for last night, by the way."

"Errm..." Fluttershy tried hiding behind a lock of pink hair, but it was too neatly brushed. She bore a crooked smile instead. "S-sorry."

"Don't be." Rarity smiled. "I certainly got my exercise. Oh! Speaking of which!" She hopped off the bed and trotted across the room.

"Hmmm?" Fluttershy tilted her head up. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing's the matter!" Rarity trotted back, levitating a tray with a warm plate and an even warmer bowl. "Unless, of course, you have a dislike for a warm, tasty meal!"

"Huh? Wait, is that...?" Fluttershy sniffed the air, then was overwhelmed by a foalish grin. "Did you make me grilled cheese?"

"That I diddddddd!" Rarity sang, standing bedside with the floating tray. "The picture perfect recipe for the adorable filly still residing inside you."

"Oh, Rarity! You remembered!" Fluttershy giggled. "My older sisters used to make this for me all the time."

"Now sit up, dearest!" Rarity said, telekinetically fluffing the pillows behind Fluttershy as the pegasus rested against them. "Or else you might spill something!"

"Tomato soup?!" Fluttershy grinned as the tray was rested on her lap. "Squee! This... this is so wonderful! They go so well with one another!" She dipped a corner of the grilled cheese sandwich into the broth and took a tiny bite. Her ears instantly drooped as her eyelids fluttered shut. "Mmmmmmmmmm... goodness..." Another bite, and she sighed dreamily. "Oh Rarity, you are far... far too good to me."

Rarity smiled, batting an eyelash. "Only because you're so good to be good to!"

"I swear..." Fluttershy managed to speak between more bites. "...the last time a pony ever treated me this marvelously—" She froze all of the sudden, her eyes locked in place. Gulping the last morsel down, she calmly placed the rest of the sandwich back on the plate and squinted across the bed. "Rarity, what do you wish to ask of me?"

"Huh?" Rarity smiled wide—although her muzzle twitched ever so slightly. "Why, what ever d-do you mean, dearest?" Her voice cracked.

"Your voice is cracking, Rarity," Fluttershy said in a dangerous monotone. "You don't sound like Sweetie Belle unless you're attempting to hide something."

Rarity gulped.

"Be honest with me, Rarity." Fluttershy cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowing. "It's what we agreed on when this all began, isn't it?"

"Mmmm... " Rarity flinched delicately. "Please d-don't use the stare."

"Be straightforward and I won't have to."

Rarity gulped yet again. "Alright. I... I was in such a happy mood this morning that I woke up early... a-a-and I had this most delightful thought." She cleared her throat. "More like a proposition."

Fluttershy folded her forelimbs above the tray. "I'm listening."

"Simply that..." Rarity leaned against the mattress. She fluffed her mane while avoiding Fluttershy's gaze. "I do so enjoy having you as my special somepony. Just... how marvelous would it be to share that ecstasy with our friends!"

"Rarity..." Fluttershy sighed. Instead of frowning, she fidgeted, gazing towards the walls of the room. "We've... we've b-been through this." She gulped hard, fighting the urge to shiver. "I... just don't think I'm r-ready to share this with our friends, no matter how special it is."

"And I know that dear—"

"It's not b-because of you!" Fluttershy bit her lip. "Just... I-I'm afraid of how awkward it will feel for the whole world to know that I'm dating. All the teasing and the words said behind m-my back just m-makes me want to curl up into a little ball. Plus I don't want the other girls to feel strange or left-out because what you and I have is something beyond friendship that they can't relate to. And... and the last t-time I had a special somepony, it was before I came to Ponyville and..." She clenched her eyes shut, sighing. "...oh goodness, here I go rambling about it all over again."

"Nopony's asking you to do so, Fluttershy," Rarity said, resting a hoof on her shoulder. "And I don't want to come out with our relationship right away—"

"Y-yes you do..." Fluttershy sniffled. "You absolutely hate keeping things secret. I must be such a burden to you over this—"

"Now don't go putting words in my muzzle," Rarity said, her expression briefly stern. "There is absolutely nothing that I am ashamed of concerning you and me. Nothing."

Fluttershy exhaled, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry, dearest." Rarity bore a tender smile. She rubbed Fluttershy's shoulder as she spoke. "And—for what it's worth—I too do not enjoy the idea of revealing to the others just how close we've been these last few weeks. At least not yet." She shuddered, glancing aside. "Rainbow Dash, no doubt, would tease us... just because she's Rainbow Dash. Applejack and Twilight would just be confused. Knowing Pinkie Pie, she'd immediately throw a party and then all of Ponyville—nay—Equestria would know on her terms and not ours."

"Then..." Calming down, Fluttershy stared at Rarity directly. "Just... uhm... what are you proposing?"

"Hear me out." Rarity smiled, clasping Fluttershy's hooves with her own. She stared into the other mare's eyes as she spoke softly but firmly. "While I would much prefer living in a world where all of our friends and family know of our glorious affair."

"Heehee..." Fluttershy snickered, nearly snorting. "I'm sorry... 'affair'."

Rarity winked. "Yes. Quite absurd. Ahem." She squeezed Fluttershy's hooves again. "While I would much rather the whole world know that we are a couple, I think that what we have right now is precious. Because it is just us... each other. So why not embrace it!"

"What do you mean?"

Rarity tilted her chin up. "What I propose is an endurance trial. Well... that's a rather brutish way of titling it. Think of it more like an exercise."

"What kind of exercise?"

Rarity smiled. "One month. Let us keep this secret for one month." She waved a hoof towards the sunlit window. "Let us make an adventure out of this relationship! Let us learn about one another! Love on one another! Cherish one another! Struggle with one another! And then... once an entire month has expired... then and only then shall we reveal ourselves to our closest companions." She exhaled, gazing softly upon her lover. "For will we not—by then—be properly prepared for whatever might come our way? Come Tartarus or high tide?"

Fluttershy gazed aside, trembling slightly.

Rarity blinked. "Is... is that not fair, you think?"

"It's fair..." Fluttershy murmured. "But... I suppose there isn't much that's fair about my fears." She gulped. "Or sensible. But... but still..."

Rarity nodded. "Your concerns are important to you. And I understand, dearest." Her eyes twinkled. "I will not compromise your reservations."

"You shouldn't h-have to be the one who compromises all the time," Fluttershy said woefully. "Especially for an awkward mare like me." A soft sigh, and her eyes lifted up to meet Rarity's again. "Let me think about it?"

"But of course!" Rarity nodded. "Absolutely! It was a proposition, after all."

"Heehee..." Fluttershy smiled. "And for a moment there, I thought it was a different kind of proposition."

"Uh!" Rarity leaned back, a hoof over her chest as she gasped. "After only a few weeks?! Do you take me for some kind of hussy, Fluttershy?!"

"No-o-o-ooo..." Fluttershy broke into giggles. "My goodness, Rarity!"

"Heeheehee..." Rarity leaned in, rubbing noses with the mare. "I do so love you, dearest."

"Hmmmmmm..." Fluttershy smiled, her eartips turning warm. She blurted: "I love you harder."

"Mmmf..." Rarity bit her lip. "Going to have to work on that one."

"Sorry..."

"Don't be." Rarity pointed. "Finish your meal. I know you want to."

"Okay."

"Then...!" Rarity skipped across the bedroom. "We can return to your place so you can feed your animal companions!"

"Mrmmmfff..." Fluttershy swallowed some more grilled cheese. "Where are you going?"

"To freshen up!"

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "Don't you prefer doing that after you're around my forest friends?"

"I'm freshening up at the thought of freshening up later!"

"Heeheehee..."

"Angel? What did you do with the lettuce leaves?" Fluttershy asked, her voice throwing across the cottage.

A little white fluffball hopped over, tugging at her tail. Angel pointed his paw at a nearby table where a bowl full of tender greenery rested.

"Oh! There it is!" Fluttershy suppressed a giggle. She stopped pouring dry food into a dish and trotted over. "I swear. I'm getting distracted lately." She hummed to herself. "I wonder why."

Ferrets, pigeons, tortoises, badgers, and other small critters congregated in the middle of the cottage's living room. Fluttershy shuffled among the skittering current of fur and scales and feathers, depositing samples of food in key spots. She hummed a few more notes and paused to lean down and nuzzle a squirrel or two.

"Heehee... I sure hope I didn't make you all wait too long." Fluttershy winked. "Mommy Fluttershy was off on... uhm... a 'mini vacation.' I guess I'm having a lot of those as of late. Ehehehehe..."

The pegasus spread some more food around and looked up.

"Rarity? Have you seen Mr. Whiskers?"

Silence.

Fluttershy winked. "Rarity?"

"Over h-here, d-dearest!"

"Hmmm?" Fluttershy looked over. She blinked. "Rarity... what are you doing on my table?"

"Uhhhhm..." Rarity gulped, shivering as she stood on the very tips of her fetlock in the center of the living room table. "I... uhhh..." She squirmed, inching away from the edges of the furniture, all the while nervously eyeing the wildlife circling and surging around her on the wooden floor. "...I just couldn't help but notice how... incredibly ravenous all of your... ulp... little friends are. Is..." She pointed pensively at a wandering ball of fuzz. "Is that thing venomous?"

"No, Rarity." Fluttershy smiled dryly. "Chipmunks are not venomous."

"... ... ...are you absolutely certain?"

"If you're uncomfortable inside my cottage during feeding time, you don't have to be here." Fluttershy pointed at the side door. "There's a lovely patio with some cool shade. You can wait out there and I'll join you shortly! I promise!"

"No! I... I-I volunteered to assist you with this endeavor and..." Rarity stomped her hoof down. "...that is what I intend to do—gaah!" She winced as the table teetered from her gesture. Uprighting, she shuddered and said: "Alright, then. Mr. Whiskers. Uhm..." She looked around, her pale cheeks blushing slightly. "I don't suppose you could be a tiny bit more specific."

"Heeheehee..." Fluttershy hoofed Angel some celery and trotted over to the table. "Rarity, come down from there. It's going to be alright." She smiled reassuringly, holding a hoof up. "There's no one who lives in or around my home who could be a danger to other ponies."

"Are... are you sure?" Rarity took the mare's hoof. Nevertheless, she clung to the pegasus, staring at the floor and wincing. "I'm suddenly afraid that I might be allergic."

"Oh?" Fluttershy cocked her head to the side. "To what?"

"Anythingthatmoves!" Rarity blurted, squeaking. "Oh! That one has quills on it! Look at my flank! Are there any needles stuck in it?"

"If there were, I'm sure you would feel it by now."

"Not if they were barbed with... erm... numbing poison!"

"Porcupines don't work that way."

"They came from Everfree, yes? Perhaps they've never seen a unicorn before! They could be frightened out of their pointy little minds and excrete anything!"

"Rarity, honestly. If this is how you'll be around my animals all the time, you'll never relax whenever you visit here." Fluttershy sighed, patting Rarity's back. "Maybe we should stick to spending time at the Boutique."

"Huh? No!" Rarity tilted her head up, legs locked. "Perish the thought! I'm a grown lady! I can surely handle the presence of animals!" She gulped. "Even... the intensely scratchy... itchy ones..." She gnashed her teeth. "...that drool."

"Oh Rarity. Mr. Whiskers doesn't drool."

"That's Mr. Whiskers?" Rarity blinked. "I must say. The name doesn't exactly suit him."

"He's going through cancer treatment."

"Oh." Rarity cleared her throat. "I suppose that explains it."

"I really, truly think you would be a much happier pony if you learned to relax around wildlife." Fluttershy brushed her bangs back in thought. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "I know just the thing!"

"Hmmm? What, pray tell? A lobotomy?"

"N-no, Rarity." Fluttershy giggled. "You just need to get outside more."

"Yes, but... outside is so..." Rarity shuddered. "...exterior."

"Tell me. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Well..." Rarity inched away from a random, wandering iguana. "I have two dresses to work on for high-paying clients. Buttttttttt... I should be able to get them done in time to clear up my afternoon! I figured I would invite you over for dinner and a movie. Why?" Rarity blinked. "Are you thinking of something else?"

"That I am." Fluttershy nodded. "How about a walk in the park?"

"The p-park?" Rarity blinked. "Just you and me? Without the girls?"

"It would be a first, don't you think?"

"Huh..." Rarity tapped her chin, smiling into the distance. "Come to think of it, it would." She suddenly squinted. "But... but wouldn't somepony see us and think—"

"—that we're just two perfectly amiable friends spending some quality time with one another." Fluttershy smiled. "Besides, I think a stroll in the great outdoors would do wonders for you."

"But... b-but..." Rarity leaned from one pair of legs to the other, grimacing. "It all sounds so... so hot and... and sweaty and..."

Fluttershy nuzzled Rarity close. "Pleeeeeease? You will enjoy it. Besides..." She kissed Rarity's ear, then breathed: "You haven't had a dislike for sweating lately."

Rarity paled. After a massive gulp, she stammered: "I shall bring my sundress!"

"Yaaaaaaay..."

Second: A Walk In the Park

Fluttershy trotted up to the front door and—as practiced—rang the bell once and then a second time after three full seconds had passed. She leaned back, exhaling... waiting.

Not long after, the entrance to Carousel Boutique opened. Rarity stood in a simple light-blue dress with white laced accents.

She smiled.

Fluttershy smiled back. "Ready?"

Rarity nodded. Her horn glowed as she lifted a sky-blue parasol, opening it. "Ready."

The two stood side by side, then trotted across town for Ponyville Park.

"You're looking beautiful as ever today, dearest," Rarity said, occupying the right side of the path.

Fluttershy trotted along the left side. "Says the mare wearing a pretty blue dress."

"'Pretty?'" Rarity lifted one rear leg, showing off the plain skirt. "This is 'simple!' Just like you suggested."

Fluttershy giggled. "Only you would consider something so delicate and ornate to be 'simple.'"

Rarity tilted her chin up. "Are you insulting my assessment of my very own fashion?"

"You made this?" Fluttershy blinked. "But... I-I've never seen it before!"

"That's because I stitched it together just last night for this very occasion!"

"Oh Rarity..." Fluttershy sighed. "You didn't have to do that."

"Don't be ridiculous! This outdoor afternoon stroll means a lot to you, does it not? Thus, it means an awful lot to me in like turn!"

"I really hope you didn't lose any sleep over it."

"Not at all! Besides... I was... mmm... bound for an anxious evening anyways."

Fluttershy looked aside. "Did you have nightmares anticipating the sunlight and sweat?"

Rarity nervously twirled her parasol. "Mmmm-maybe. Even still..." Rarity cleared her throat, trotting along with a flounce of her skirts. "It's worth it just to make you happy, dearest."

Fluttershy bit her lip hard.

Rarity blinked. She looked nervously aside. "Is something wrong?"

"N-no. I'm... uh... I'm fine."

"Something is bothering you!" Rarity exhaled. "I can see it! Please do tell me, Fluttershy. I hate to imagined you worrying so."

"Well... it's... it's just a little thing..." Fluttershy gulped. "I... I-I almost feel silly mentioning it."

"Nothing's silly between us anymore, dearest." Rarity winked. "Or selfish for that matter."

Fluttershy blinked.

"Ah!" Rarity pointed with a grin. "I beat you to it! Now... ahem..." She smiled elegantly as the two continued trotting over a green hill. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"Uhm..." Fluttershy fidgeted, avoiding Rarity's gaze. "Is... is there a reason why you stopped calling me 'darling?'"

Rarity's eyes twitched. "I have?"

"Mmmm... yes. At least... it seems that way..."

"Since when?"

"Since... you know..." Fluttershy gulped. "...the day it all started... the day we kissed."

"Huh..." Rarity gazed at the nearest line of trees, contemplating. "How strange. I hadn't even noticed."

"Instead... you've been calling me 'dearest.'"

"Oh! Oh yes, I... I have, haven't I?" Rarity giggled delicately. "Eheheh... about that..."

Fluttershy looked over. "Is there a reason?"

"I suppose an explanation is in order." Rarity twirled the parasol some more, her horn glowing. "It's... it's always been something of a silly little fantasy of mine."

"Huh?" Fluttershy blinked. "What has?"

"Oh, nothing." Rarity waved a hoof, then fluffed her mane. "Only that... ahem... one day, when I met my prince charming... or princess charming... I'd call her 'dearest.'" She sighed dreamily. "Her and only her."

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Oh... oh wow, Rarity, that's..."

"I-I wouldn't address you as that in front of our friends, of course." Rarity clarified. "We do have an agreement, after all. And when you're ready—"

"I... I never thought of it that way." Fluttershy glanced off. "Huh." Her ears drooped slightly. "I'm... I'm sorry. That must be very, very special for you. Forget I said anything."

"No. None of that, now. Let's be honest with each other!" Rarity looked over. "Do you find it 'forced?'"

"No. Not at all." Fluttershy smiled tenderly. "I think it's absolutely precious and I'm happy that you've shared the meaning with me."

"But you prefer I'd call you 'darling.'"

"Well..."

"Do you?"

Fluttershy looked aside. "It's just that... I've always... liked the way you called me 'darling.'"

"But I call everypony 'darling,' deare—erm... darling." Rarity smiled nervously.

"Yes. But somehow... whenever you called me 'darling,' it always felt..." Fluttershy's cheeks blushed as she smiled. "Nice."

"Nice?"

"Erm... nicer?" Fluttershy winced slightly. "I don't know. I always imagined it as though you treasured my company a bit more than the others."

"Only because I have treasured your company a bit more than the others!"

"Heeeeee..." Fluttershy teetered in her walk slightly. She quickly regained her balance, trotting closer to Rarity. "But... uhm... really. I mean it. Every time I've heard you say 'darling' around me... even if it m-might seemed overused to the others..." She sighed. "It just... sends shivers up my spine. And I-I normally don't like shivers up my spine. But these are good shivers. Rarity shivers." She hid behind a dangling lock of pink hair. "Oh goodness, this sounds so silly."

"Not at all! I think..." Rarity smiled, eyes twinkling. "I love it! It gives me new insight on how you must have felt around me all these years!"

"But 'dearest' means so much to you. Please... call me that as much as you like. I'm honored to mean so much to earn it."

"But not if you like 'darling' better?"

"Heaven help us..." Fluttershy moaned softly. "I'm already making you split hairs over the smallest things."

Rarity giggled. "How about this." She winked. "I shall call you 'darling' and 'dearest' in equal turn."

"Oh gosh—"

"I mean it! I'm good at keeping quotas! Maybe not as good as Twilight, but this is a different matter! Our matter."

"Just whatever you do, don't call me 'Flut-Flut.'"

"Pffffkkkt!" Rarity nearly gagged. "What in Celestia's name—?!"

"What my siblings used to call me at dinner time," Fluttershy suddenly grumbled, glaring across the grass. "I... mmmm... never truly cared for it."

Rarity stopped dead in her tracks just so she could press a hoof to her heart. "I swear, on my Boutique and the entirety of my dress-making empire, that I shall not ever call you 'Flut-Flut' for as long as I live."

"Promise accepted."

"Egads, though..." Rarity looked like she was about to vomit. "Who on earth could possibly come up with such a garish name?!"

"My sister."

"... ... ...which one? You have—like—a million of them."

"Best that you don't know," Fluttershy said. "I don't want you going on a rampage of passive-aggressive vengeance during a family reunion in the future."

"What kind of a mare do you take me for?!?"

"... ... ..."

Rarity cleared her throat. "Alright... fair enough." She fluffed her mane. "I... suppose I will end up meeting them someday."

"Mmmm..." Fluttershy nodded. "Someday."

Rarity smiled. She leaned into Fluttershy as they walked. "Sooooooo... somepony likes me calling her 'darling,' hmmm?"

Fluttershy sighed happily.

"Is that true, darling? Yes?" Rarity tilted her head up, kissing and nibbling beneath Fluttershy's ear. "Darling? Darling? Darling?"

"Heeheeheeeee—" Fluttershy stumbled sideways, waving her wings. "Rarityyy!"

"You call that protesting?!" Rarity nuzzled Futtershy's head again. "Darrrrrrling?"

"Guh! I-I thought you were the one who was supposed to suffer heat-stroke! Not me!"

"Don't be silly!" Rarity trotted gaily along. "I'm doing absolutely wonderfully!"

An hour later, Rarity slumped up against a lamppost.

"I am..." She panted. "...doing..." She sweated. "...absolutely terribly!"

"Oh Rarity." Fluttershy stood before her, sad-faced. "No need to put yourself through all this. Let's head back to the Boutique."

"No. Not on your nelly!" Rarity stood up straight, fanning herself with a pale hoof. "I just... n-need to catch a second wind, is all!"

"You're sweating all over the place," Fluttershy said. "It's making your bangs droop."

"Eeep!" Rarity's eyes watered. "It's m-making my bangs droop?"

"Errrm..."

"Just... just breathe... just breathe..." Rarity paced in tight circles, nearly dropping her parasol. "It's only sunlight... nature's life preserver." A gulp. "So long... as the perspiration... doesn't soil the dress..."

Fluttershy squinted. "Uhhm..."

"Not another word!" Rarity squeaked, limbs locking in place. "I. Shan't. Move. A muscle. Until. The sweatdrops. Evaporate!"

"That could be a long time, Rarity."

"Even still!" Rarity clenched her eyes shut, trembling. "M-must persevere!" She stood in place, panting. Then—out of nowhere—a gentle, cooling breeze picked up. "Mmmmm..." She cooed, her muscles beginning to relax. "Oh, that feels positively delightful." Her nostrils flared. "And... lavender scented?" Her eyes opened. "Oh!" She held a dainty hoof to her chin. "Fluttershy!"

"Yes?" Fluttershy stood perpendicular to the mare, flapping her wings briskly, creating the breeze. "Is... is this okay?"

"It's more than okay!" Rarity smiled crookedly. "But no need to stress yourself out on my behalf!"

"It's not a problem. Honest!" Fluttershy smiled, taking even breaths between wingflaps. "And it's not like I'm actually flying. That might put some stress on me."

"I swear..." Rarity sighed through a grin. "...you are such a doll. The most gentle pegasus that ever existed."

"Heeheehee..." Fluttershy flapped her wings harder and harder. "...if only to hear you compliment me like that."

"Alright, that'll do, Fluttershy." Rarity winced. Her eyes crossed as the wing-powered breeze pushed her backwards, teetering. "That'll do! That'll do!" Thwump!

Fluttershy winced, locking her feathers in place. "Uhm... whoops?"

"Now that I think of it," Fluttershy said as she and Rarity walked down a hill on the far side of the park. They passed a pond lined with flowers. The air above then echoed with birdsong. "I probably should have worn a dress too. For your sake."

"Hah!" Rarity smiled. The sun had gone down, casting the earth in a calm shade. She shouldered her folded parasol with casual grace. "As if I have any regrets feeling fabulous!"

"Still..." Fluttershy cleared her throat, glancing beyond the path. "Somepony might think—"

"I'm always dressing fashionably." Rarity said with a wink. "Whether in the company of friends or honey-voiced lovers."

"Heehee..." Fluttershy nodded. "Alright. I suppose that is true."

"Though I do regret not fashioning a dress for you, Fluttershy."

"It's okay. You're always sewing stuff for me—"

"That doesn't mean I wish to stop!" Rarity pouted. "I just figured that it would be imposing and... well... you seem content to trot around outside in your birthday suit."

Fluttershy winked. "It's always season for that in Ponyville, Rarity."

"True... but your natural beauty exceeds all else."

"Heehee..."

"I'm serious! Deadly serious! Why... behold!" Rarity aimed her glowing horn off the path. She plucked a lily from a flower garden and levitated over. "Stand still." Very neatly, she stuck it into Fluttershy's mane, just behind her ear. "Viola!" She leaned back, sighing dreamily. "Awwwwwwww... I wish you had my eyes right now, darling. You are so very gorgeous! Especially in your own element!"

"Hmmmm..." Fluttershy smiled, blushing slightly. "You're too kind, Rarity, and I'm really flattered. But... no offense..." She reached up and gently plucked the lily from her mane. "I-I'm just not in the mood to have aphids in my hair right now."

"Aphids..." Rarity blinked blankly. "...in your...?"

"See?" Fluttershy stepped closer, holding the flower up so her marefriend could see. She pointed at several tiny scurrying insects. "This time of year, they're quite rampant—"

"Oh blessed Celestia!" Rarity blanched, teetering backward. "Ew ew ew ew! I... I had no earthly idea—!"

"And I bet if I pulled the petals even wider..." Fluttershy licked her lips, then smiled. "Ah! I thought so! Hello there, little spider babies!"

"Guhhhhh!" Rarity did a prissy jig in place, trying to keep her hooves off the ground. "Goddesses, spare me!"

Fluttershy chuckled. She gently laid the flower—and its occupants—to rest beside a throng of bushes. "That's why—whenever I purchase flowers for you—it's at a Ponyville vendor such as Roseluck's or Daisy's. They're always guaranteed to be washed and free of insects."

"Mrmmmfff... goodness..." Rarity teetered, near-faint.

Fluttershy smiled, patting her shoulder. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I..." Rarity gulped. "...I think I need to sit down."

The two rested side by side on a park bench, watching the sun set.

"Favorite color...?" Fluttershy tapped her chin in thought, her eyes scraping the forest's treeline beyond the park. "That would have to be green."

"Hmmmm..." Rarity softly kneaded the lace material of her folded parasol. "But of course it is."

Fluttershy smiled. "It makes me think of life... photosynthesis... and the circular relationship of all things in this world. Such a hopeful... promising color."

"I never heard it explained so eloquently before," Rarity said. "I'll have to keep that in mind."

"And yours?" Fluttershy peered over. She lazily rested her chin over crossed hooves, staring at Rarity's figure. "What is Lady Rarity's favorite color?"

"Egads..." Rarity exhaled, fanning herself. "That's loaded like a cannon!"

"Heehee..."

"The first thing that comes to mine is a royal blue. However... blues serve their best purpose at ballroom dances. Pink, on the other hoof, is very soothing... but utterly garish at important social functions. Yellow is a delightful little underdog that deserves more of a spotlight, but is very difficult to accessorize with... except when it comes to you, of course. I love accessorizing you."

"Of course." Fluttershy smiled.

"Nnnngh..." Rarity fidgeted. "It's such a complicated question for a fashionista! Oh, dearest, you must be positively sick of me rambling and fumbling to come up with a single answer!"

"That's alright." Fluttershy winked. "I love each and every one of them."

"Even if... I-I'm not the biggest fan of green?"

"So long as it's not a hair color."

"Precisely."

"Then I can live with it." Fluttershy breathed. "Next question."

"What is..." Rarity thought... thought some more. "...your favorite song to dance to?"

"Uhm..." Fluttershy's ears drooped. "...promise not to laugh at me?"

"I'll do my best."

"You... you know that one song by the stallion from Outkolt?"

"Uhhhhhhh..."

"...the one where they all sing 'Hay-yaaaaaa' in the chorus?"

"... ... ... you mean 'Hay-Ya?'"

"Yeah..." Fluttershy hid her face. "That."

"Snkkkkkt..." Rarity contorted her muzzle to keep from giggling.

"Please don't hate me..."

"No. No hate," Rarity wheezed. "Ahem..." She smiled. "Well somepony enjoyed listening to the radio during high school!"

"Heeheehee..." Fluttershy blushed. "Uhm... college, actually."

"Oh right! I forget you're almost a year older than the rest of us!"

"Yeah." Fluttershy nodded. "I could have stopped by to crash your Senior Year prom." She cleared her throat. "But... uhm... th-that wouldn't have been very nice."

"In hindsight, I almost wish you did." Rarity rolled her eyes. "I went out with this atrociously meatheaded cretin by the name of 'Jaunty Stride.'"

"Oh!" Fluttershy nearly burst out laughing. "Goodness!"

"I know, right?" Rarity sighed. "I wanted to dance to Whinny Houston over the auditorium's speakers, and all he wanted to do was... go mingle around the punch bowl and talk with other would-be athletes about 'hoofball this' or 'hoofball that.'"

"Heeheehee..."

"I suppose it was his name that threw me for a loop." Rarity breathed, staring down the path. Her eyes caught a pair of figures shuffling slowly across the park. "I figured him for a gentlecolt... something princely—by public school standards. Alas, I was wrong."

"You were wrong and a half."

"Well said, darling!" Rarity smirked. "It took me years to live that down!"

Fluttershy giggled for a few more seconds, then breathed calmly. A thoughtful expression crossed her eyes as she glanced at the seat of the bench between them. "Rarity...?"

"Yes, love?"

"Did... did you find yourself attracted to stallions most of your life?"

Rarity exhaled. "More accurately... I found myself wanting to."

Fluttershy glanced at her sideways.

Rarity returned with a sly smile. "In youth as well as into adulthood, I've always... always wanted to live up to my name. And seeing as there is only one stallion for every six of us..."

"Uhm... I think the actual national ratio is one to eight."

"All the more poignant." Rarity waved a hoof. "I thought it would make me more special... more of a stand-out mare to be paired with someone... with something so unique." She gulped. "I imagine that sounds so terribly... terribly superficial. And it is. I... I know that now... but it took me a long time to get here." She frowned. "A time fraught with multiple embarrassing circumstances... compromising the integrity of myself—not to mention the sanity of my friends, and a few self-respecting stallions who didn't know any better. I mean... has Applejack ever told you the stress I put her through over that whole 'Trenderhoof' fiasco?"

"She... doesn't talk much about things like that." Fluttershy shrugged. "All I know is that she was never interested in the stallion. In fact... I don't think she's very much interested in mares either."

"Well, one thing I knew for certain, I was very much interested in love. I just... always assumed I could somehow mold and shape that love... much like I design a dress. But..." Rarity shook her head. "...little did I know that true, amorous feelings cannot be artificially produced. It's something that comes from the heart."

"And other places," Fluttershy said with a wink.

"Yes, well, I came very... very close to sacrificing both for the sake of image." Rarity gulped. "Of course, through the years, I gradually opened up to what I needed and desired the most. My objects of affection switched from macho to debonair to handsome to gentle... growing softer and softer through the years until I realized..." She leaned in to nuzzle Fluttershy's nose. "...I only truly wanted the softest."

Fluttershy's teeth showed beneath a cheeky grin. "You m-make it sound like d-destiny."

"Well, we both know the truth." Rarity winked. "It was an epiphany... a sign that I didn't have to pretend any longer." She smiled, her voice a bit wavering. "The rarest and most precious treasure is none other than the one thing you're meant to have and hold in one life to live." Her voice squeaked as she sniffled. "Oh Fluttershy, wh-what would I-I do without you?"

"Shhhh... shhhh..." Fluttershy leaned in, nuzzling Rarity. She heard hoofsteps and saw the reflection of two figures in Rarity's glossy eyes. "Somepony's coming."

"I-I know..." Rarity gulped a lump down her throat. "I saw them trotting up over the—" She swiftly silenced herself.

"Good afteroon, dears," spoke an elderly pony. A smile rested across her wrinkly face as she trotted shoulder-and-shoulder with another old mare. "Enjoying the sunset?"

"Oh, that we are!" Fluttershy said in a warm, energetic breath. "Isn't it just beautiful?"

"A beautiful day for a pair of beautiful ponies," said the other pony.

"Awwwwwwww..." Fluttershy smiled rosily. "That's too kind. Thank you."

"You both are looking quite magnificent yourselves!" Rarity said. "I especially love your scarf! It matches the emerald in your eyes!"

"Doesn't it?" One mare leaned back, adjusting the article in question. "She bought it for me," she said, nudging her companion. "Last year's Hearth's Warming gift."

"Eh..." The other waved a hoof, speaking in a raspy voice. "Got it at a discount. Barnyard Bargains sale."

"It was from the heart and I love it," uttered the first. "Besides... it matches my eyes, says the mare in the resplendent sundress!"

Her companion made a face. "She hates it when I talk about how much I save on gifts," she spoke in a low tone as if it couldn't be heard. She smiled through her wrinkles. "You never know. Helps to be prepared for anything, in this day and age."

"Oh, I know!" Fluttershy nodded with a smile. "With mean creatures like Tirek and Queen Chrysalis wandering around, you can never be too careful! But it seems as though you both know how to look after one another."

"Eh... wouldn't be nice ponies if we didn't. Besides..." One turned towards the other, nuzzling her gray mane. "...the rotten varmint makes it hard for me to hate her."

"Heeheehee... come on, now..." The other hissed back, nevertheless smiling. "Not here..."

"Where you headed to at this hour?" Rarity asked.

"Ohhhh... we went out for a bite to eat, but then the weather was just so warm and inviting that we thought... mehhhhhhh... to Tartarus with it!" One waved a hoof. "Walkies!"

"Heehee!" Fluttershy smiled. "I love that. 'Walkies.'"

"Yes." One elder rolled her eyes. "She treats it like she's walking the dog."

"The way you growl and grumble, might as well be."

"Mmmm... you're lucky I love you so much."

"It's your fault."

"Well, I hope you both enjoy the rest of your stroll," Flutershy said. "It was very... very nice meeting you."

"Oh! Well... a pleasure meeting you two as well!" The two trotted along, smiling. "You need to get me more scarves, dear! It's a compliment magnet!"

"Told you! A real bargain!"

"Ugh! Don't you start that again!"

"I mean it!"

Rarity and Fluttershy watched as the two trotted off. Once a minute of silence had settled in, Rarity looked at Fluttershy.

"Psssst..." She leaned in, motioning towards the path. "That's why I gave up on stallions. If those weren't mares, we'd have endured nothing but fish stories and flatulence!"

"Snkkkkt..." Fluttershy nearly keeled over. "Rarityyyyyyyy..."

"I mean it, darling!"

Rarity merely giggled and kissed the pegasus on the cheek.

Crickets sang.

Only a faint glow of sunlight illuminated the west horizon.

Rarity and Fluttershy trotted side by side.

They took their sweet time, allowing the stars to appear, one by one.

Carousel Boutique loomed in the distance.

Rarity hummed quietly to herself, gazing at the cottages of Ponyville as the windows lit up.

Fluttershy stared at the ground. A smile remained plastered to her face as her ears echoed with the chuckles of the two old mares. Eventually, she spoke up.

"Rarity?"

"Hmmm? Yes, dearest?"

"... ... ...do you expect to be happy like that so many years from now?"

Rarity took a breath. "I aim to be happy tomorrow morning. I figured the rest should go like clockwork."

Silence.

"I... I've been thinking..." Fluttershy spoke through a warm smile. "...about what you proposed yesterday."

"Oh?" Rarity looked up.

Fluttershy nodded. After a brave breath, she said, "I'm game."

Rarity blinked. "You... you want to go through with it?"

"One month of keeping our secret sounds as good as any other month... so long as it's spent with you."

"And when it's over?" Rarity smiled. "Then... would you be willing to come out with our relationship?" Her teeth glistened in the blossoming starlight. "Before our friends?"

Fluttershy gulped. "I shall do my best... and I might need a teeeeeny tiny bit of coaching." An exhale. "But yes."

"Oh, smashing!" Rarity hopped, her four legs waggling. When she came back down, she cleared her throat and spoke in a calmer, more eloquent tone. "Ahem... that is... I'm glad that we could come to this mutual agreement, for the sake of our future and our friends' feelings."

"Same here."

"So then! Uhm... thirty days from tomorrow!" Rarity smiled. "Sound good?"

"No."

Rarity pouted. "No?"

Fluttershy spoke firmly. "Thirty days from yesterday. After all... that was when you made the proposal."

Rarity stared at her.

Fluttershy gave a sly wink. "I'm trying to take a courageous step."

"Mmmm... I see the grilled cheese accomplished something."

"Heehee... yes. Yes it did."

Rarity leaned in, kissed Fluttershy, then nuzzled her cheek-to-cheek. "I'm so proud of you for giving this a shot, darling."

"Really?"

"But of course!" Rarity grinned. "I promise you that you won't regret it in the end!"

"And..." Fluttershy's teeth chattered as she fidgeted suddenly. "What... what if I have a panic attack a-and want to ch-change my mind at the very last second?"

"Well..." Rarity shrugged. "...even if it comes to that... we could always elope to Dream Valley!"

"Heeheeheehee!" Fluttershy giggled wildly. "It w-won't c-come to that, Rarityyyy."

"You sure?"

"Honest!"

"You can be quite cowardly!"

"I'm a big brave pony! I swear!"

"Mmmmm... I guess we'll just have to put that to the test..." Rarity quickened her pace. "Riiiiiight after I put my shower soap to the test."

"Awww... Rarity..." Fluttershy fumbled after her. "And you were doing so well!"

"That was before you quickened my heart rate and made me smell myself! Ugh!"

"It's your fault!"

"Horses for courses, love!"

Third: Horny Things

"Fluttershy, darling..." Rarity cooed, half of her limbs draped off her bed. "I really must be getting up for work—"

"Heeheehee—not yet!"

"Mmmmmff..." Rarity grumbled and smiled at once. "Honestly, dearest—"

"J-just wait!" Fluttershy crawled out from under a cavernous set of sheets. She propped herself above the unicorn as Rarity laid on her back. "I have to see something," she said, smiling.

"Do you not already see it?" Rarity wryly smirked, her forelimbs curled before her chest. "It's an insufferable amount of bed-hair, and all because we decided to let you stay overnight. Usually I put my mane in curlers, so I'm sorry for how unkempt it must appear—"

"Heehee... hush, silly pony." Fluttershy reached in, tilting Rarity's bangs back. "It's not your hair."

"Then..." Rarity blinked. "What is—?"

"Shhhhhhh..." Fluttershy leaned in, squinting. "I wanna see it up close."

"See what?" Rarity squinted. "You mean my horn?"

"It's... so... shiny..." Fluttershy's eyes glistened as her lips pursed.

"And sharp." Rarity gulped. "I mean it, darling. Be mindful of yourself. Many young unicorn siblings have to endure eye surgery on account of—"

"I'll be safe! I promise!" Fluttershy tilted her head sideways, gazing at the structure sticking out of Rarity's skull. "I can almost see my face in it!"

"Well..." Rarity bore a brief, proud blush. "I am quite good at polishing it on a regular basis."

"You really do that?"

"It's all part of regular unicorn hygiene, dear," Rarity said. She pointed upside-down at her vanity in the morning light. "I have some horn polish right over there—"

"Really?" Fluttershy gasped. "Oooh! Let me do you this morning!"

Rarity laughed, her legs curling. "Do... hahah... do you even hear yourself half the time, Fluttershy?"

"I mean it!" Fluttershy grunted, reaching off the bed, licking her lips and straining to reach the vanity. "When was the last time you had somepony else polish your horn for you?"

"Erm... when I was in grade school. My mother..." Rarity's eyes narrowed, staring straight into Fluttershy's chest. "Mrmmff... really, darling, I can do it myself—"

At last, Fluttershy grasped the canister. "Let me at least help you this time! Please? It's the least I can do for your hospitality."

"Ahem..." Rarity avoided her gaze, smiling playfully. "You... m-more than reciprocated last night, dearest—"

Pop! Fluttershy plucked the lid loose. "Oooh!" She shivered slightly. "Hehe... such an intoxicating smell!"

"Well, most horn polish is meant to be fragrant. Doesn't that make sense? The bloody thing's residing directly above my olfactory senses, after all..."

"So, run me through what needs to be done."

"Fluttershy—"

"So I will do it right!" Fluttershy paused to give Rarity's a loving peck on the forehead. "Then I will be out of your hair—er... horn!" Her turquoise eyes sparkled. "I promise!"

Rarity gazed at her... and eventually caved. "Unnnnngh..." She rolled her eyes. "Oh, alright."

"Yaaaaay."

"St-stop doing that!" Rarity fanned herself. "You know what effect that has on me."

"So..." Fluttershy stuck her hoof into the canister. "How much should I gather? Is it like applying ointment on a pig?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Sorry." Fluttershy blushed. "Animal caretaker. First analogy I could think of." She cleared her throat. "You do know that pigs are twice as clean as any sapient equine—"

"Right. Whatever. First of all." Rarity pointed upside-down. "You'll want to gather a liberal amount on your fetlock. About two dollops will do—"

Gunk! Fluttershy raised a hoof that was dripping with perfumed goop. "Like this?"

"Uhhhhhh..." Rarity blanched, her ears drooping. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Her eyes flicked between the slimy scoop and Fluttershy's innocent smile. A gulp, and the fashionista wheezed, "Sure, darling! Now... uhm..."

"Which part of the horn?"

"Start from the base and swipe upwards," Rarity said. "If you do it the other way, then there's a greater risk of the material sliding off and collecting in one's eye."

"Uh huh..." Fluttershy gently stroked Rarity's horn, applying the ointment in a smooth coat. "And that's a bad thing, right?"

"It's most preferred that it doesn't happen," Rarity said. "This one time in middle school, I got up in a hurry. My hooves slipped and... well... I couldn't read magazines for a week."

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy briefly frowned while stroking Rarity's horn. "That had to have been awful."

"Yes." Rarity sighed. "And it was the anniversary month of Cosmarepolitan too. Alas..." She writhed slightly. "N-not so fast, dear."

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Fluttershy winced. "Does it hurt?"

"No. Just... don't want you splashing the lotion elsewhere."

"Soooooooo..." Fluttershy stroked the horn slower and slower. "You don't feel anything?"

"I'm afraid not, dear."

Fluttershy tapped the very end of the horn. "Not even that?"

Rarity giggled. "What are you even doing?"

"You know..." Fluttershy smiled. "The tip isn't as sharp as I thought. Heehee... I bet I could nuzzle it and still not be hurt—"

"Don't you try it!" Rarity frowned. "I'm not even remotely close to joking!"

"I read you loud and clear, Rarity."

"Bad things have been known to happen around the tips of horns," Rarity said. "Ever heard of Prince Blueblood's infant niece?"

"Uhm... no..."

"And the Royal Family would like to keep it that way." Rarity cleared her throat. "You have no idea how many times I've... h-had to bandage my posterior from making the horrible mistake of standing in front of Sweetie Belle in queue lines at Trotts Berry Farm."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh..." Fluttershy nodded. "Is that why you came back from Spring Break last year wearing long skirts for a full week?"

Rarity sighed. "Yes," she eventually admitted.

"Heeheehee..." Fluttershy smiled, continuing to stroke the mare's horn. "It's looking even shinier!"

"Thank you, dearest."

"Hmmmmm..." Fluttershy squinted. "One... two... three..."

Rarity blinked. "What are you counting?"

"Heehee! The rings!"

"Rings?"

"Erm... the lines..." Fluttershy motioned circularly with her hoof. "You know... the grooves that go around and around?"

Rarity giggled. "It's all one groove, when you think about it, darling."

"Yes, but... it's so pretty and... and swirly."

"Heehee.... I would certainly hope so."

"How... uhm..." Fluttershy fidgeted, still stroking. "The coat's pretty thin now. How will I know when I'm done?"

"Let me find out." Rarity licked her lips and—

Flash! The horn glowed, causing Fluttershy to gasp.

—Rarity exhaled. "Seems just about perfect! Thank you, Fluttershy!" She smiled. "You see, there are small crystal granules in the polish that are capable of enchantment. One's leyline can sense if they're collected too thickly on one's horn—"

"Do that again!" Fluttershy exhaled.

"Hmm? What?"

"Make your horn glow!"

"But you've seen it glow, darling."

"But not up close!"

"Unnnff..." Rarity rolled her eyes and smiled. "Suit yourself." She channeled magic into her horn again.

"Heeeeeee..." Fluttershy smiled. She rested her cheek on the bed, her bedazzled eyes reflecting the glowing horn. "It's soooooo pretty..."

"Thank you. I've... lived with it all my life."

"I adore the color," Fluttershy cooed. "It matches your eyes."

Rarity squinted aside. "It's a few shades lighter, darling."

"Even still!" Fluttershy sat up again, pointing. "It's like a little piece of you being made manifest in the world! Even when you pick up things!"

"It's a trick we learn to identify ourselves—"

"You mean you learn to make it that color?!" Fluttershy's jaw dropped.

"Why, of course! What did you think?"

"I imagined it happened naturally!"

"Magic isn't an extension of one's eye color, darling. We learn in magic kindergarten to master the spectrum. It's a very simple spell, really."

"That's so..." Fluttershy smiled, her wingtips twitching. "So incredible!"

"Mmmm... indeed. Take this for instance..." Rarity bit her bottom lip and concentrated.

Swirly blue and black colors strobed up and down the grooves of her horn.

Fluttershy giggled like a filly and clapped her hooves.

"Mmmfff..." Rarity exhaled, panting slightly as the glow stopped. "That's... one that... we used to do a lot at recess." She winked. "It's good at angering squirrels... mangy little tree rats."

"That's so adorable! I didn't know you could do that!"

"Wow." Rarity blinked. "You must be smitten if you ignored my snide remark on forest rodentia."

"Just how many spells do you know?"

"Oh... goddess..." Rarity's muzzle scrunched as she stared up at the bed's canopy. "Sometimes I forget half the time. Not as much as Twilight, of course."

"Of course."

"Let's see... uhm..." Rarity fidgeted, thinking hard. "There's color spells... illumination spells... master level illumination spells..." She smirked aside. "That's how I perform the light displays at my fabulous runway shows."

"Heehee! You're right!"

"Then—of course—how could I forget the jewel-finding spell. That's how I found my cutie mark."

"Do all unicorns get their cutie mark from performing their first spell?"

"Oh! Hardly! Many of us do numerous spells before we earn our marks. Take Sweetie Belle, for example. She got a cutie mark from doing a high-hoof with her friends." Rarity sighed. "...I'm still trying to get over that one..."

"Well, I think you've got the shiniest, prettiest horn," Fluttershy said, leaning down once again to admire the thing up close. "And you perform the shiniest, prettiest spells."

"Heehee... well naturally you would think that."

"I mean it! Your fabulosity goes a long way!" Fluttershy touched the sharp tip once more. "And the more I look at it... it's sooooooo cuuuuute..."

Rarity cleared her throat. "I'd... rather settle for 'beautiful,' in all honesty."

"That too." Fluttershy pressed the horn, then let go. She gasped as it vibrated to a stop. "Oh goodness! It wobbles!"

"Yes, Fluttershy." Rarity chuckled in a dull tone. "It wobbles."

"I... I-I thought it was attached to your skull, or... or—"

"Goddess, that would be dreadful!" Rarity exclaimed. "And it would certainly give neurosurgeons the run for the money!"

"So, it's... cartilaginous, or—?"

"Partly, I suppose." Rarity cleared her throat. "I'm no biology major, but I was always taught that a tough outer shell—like keratin—protects the inner alicornia, the latter of which—of course—is the enchanted material responsible for transferring synaptic commands into mana generation."

"If the horn is made of something like keratin, does that mean it can grow back?"

"You mean if the horn broke?"

"Exactly."

"Indeed." Rarity smiled. "You see... nature isn't always cruel."

"That makes me so happy..."

Rarity giggled. "What? Do you think I'm going to be ramming my horn into any brick walls soon?"

"N-no..." Fluttershy nevertheless gulped. "But it makes me happy. I can worry about you a little bit less, now."

"No... horns are durable things," Rarity said. "I learned that from my father."

"Oh dear." Fluttershy placed a hoof over her muzzle. "Dare I ask?"

"He had a unfortunate accident with a pair of hedge clippers one day—"

"Oh!" Fluttershy writhed all over. "Ow ow ow ow ow!"

"Hehehe—the stallion recovered. But it took a few months for the horn to grow back fully. During that time... erm... he had to file for temporary magic disability. It was quite stressing—seeing as he was an avid hoofball player... at least in the amateur leagues. So he switched to being a spectator and... never left the stands since, really."

"Is that why he gained so much weight?"

"What?"

"Ahem." Fluttershy coughed, then leaned in towards Rarity's forehead again. "So... uhm... magic spells." She tapped the sharp tip again. "Do you just... think and then spells happen?"

"It's... a bit more complicated than that."

"How so?"

"Well... it's like having a fifth limb, really."

"A... fifth... limb?"

"Oh come now, Fluttershy." Rarity smiled. "Imagine how I must feel around pegasi. Those wings of yours are like extra limbs, but you don't see my mind getting blown at the notion!"

"Yes... but wings and feathers are all physical things."

"Magic is no less real. It's only that it's unseen."

"I suppose that's an interesting way of thinking of it."

"It's the only way of thinking of it," Rarity said. "Unicorns are all taught to feel around them with their magic... to treat the sense like an extra hoof! Only... a great deal more delicate and precise. For instance..." She aimed her head off the bed.

A jar of perfume lifted off the vanity.

"What do you see, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Uhm..." Fluttershy looked over. "A jar of expensive Vanilla and Chamomile spritz floating in the air."

"Please, Fluttershy. You were practically drooling over it earlier."

"Oh!" Fluttershy giggled. "That lovely color of yours! It's... enveloping the jar."

"Precisely." Rarity let loose a calm breath and placed the jar back down. "Consider that illumination as an extension of myself. It's surrounding the perfume bottle in much the same way as your wings might grasp a saddlebag or... or a pair of hooves lift a book."

"So... y-you're gripping it?" Fluttershy blinked. "With your own aura?"

"That's one way of putting it. Once we have the object in our 'grip,' we then proceed to lift and manipulate... like one might flex a muscle! Precision and strength varies from unicorn to unicorn."

"Sooooo..." Fluttershy tapped her chin. "...for a brief moment there, you were basically surrounding the bottle with yourself."

"In a manner of speaking, that's almost entirely accurate!"

Fluttershy grinned. She held her forelimbs out. "Do me."

Rarity blinked. "Huh?"

"Heehee..." Fluttershy blushed slightly. "Please?"

"I... don't exactly understand the request, dear..."

"Enchant me like you just did the bottle."

"Erm... no offense, Fluttershy..." Rarity bit her lip. "But I'm not entirely sure I could lift you."

"And I'm not asking you to. Just enchant me for a quick moment. Please?"

"Very well." Rarity rolled over until she was on her belly and aimed across the bed. "This might take a few seconds..." She breathed... breathed... concentrated... and—

Fl-Flash! A bright blue aura surrounded Fluttershy.

"Heeeeeee!" Fluttershy tossed her mane and tilted her chin up. "You're hugging meeeeeeeee!"

Rarity blinked, then broke into giggles. "Heeheehee... I... I-I suppose I am!"

"Yaaaay! Magic hug!"

"Oh..." Rarity squinted. "I can do much more than that—"

The blue light concentrated on Fluttershy's soft yellow tummy. The mare yelped, flinching all over. "Guh! St-stop! That... I-I'm ticklish!"

"Mmmmmm... don't I know it..."

"Heehee—Rarityyyyy!"

"Aaaaaand..." Rarity's forehead tensed. "Mmmff..."

Fluttershy's eyes bugged as she found herself lifting up off the bed by a good two feet. "Oh goodness! Oh m-my goodness!"

"Nnnnngh-guh!" Rarity's horn flashed, the light going out entirely. The mattress flounced from Fluttershy landed back down. "Heheh... c-can't say I didn't try."

"Oh wow..." Fluttershy sat up right, tangled with the duvet. She blew her pink bangs out from in front of her face. "You almost h-had me flying for a second there!"

"Darling, you're always flying," Rarity panted.

"Yes. Hehe... but that time it was extra special because you were hugging me at the time."

"I assure you, Fluttershy, if we ever go flying together, I'd be hugging you the whole time." Rarity gulped, still catching her breath. "Out of sheer terror, no doubt."

"I'll... try to keep that in mind."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh..." Rarity swiped her forehead and frowned at the moisture collecting on her fetlock. "Now look! You made me sweat."

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"I've got sooooooooo much work to do today!" Rarity rolled over again, feignin faintness with a hoof draped over her pale forehead. "Ohhhhhhhh Fluttershy. At this rate, your adorable curiosity is going to be the death of my fashion career!"

"I... thought you didn't have a client for over five hours."

"Even still!"

"Heehee... oh Rarity..." Fluttershy crawled over. She kissed the mare's forehead. "You're not that sweaty." She felt the mare's muzzle. "Nothing that a refreshing shower cannot fix."

"Which is precisely why I wanted to wait before applying the horn polish—" Rarity suddenly found her lips pursed. "Mrmmfff... Fluffdrshhhh?"

"Heeeeee!" Fluttershy pressed Rarity's cheeks together. "Omigosh! Omigosh! Rarity, your cheeks are soooooooo squishy!"

"Mmmmff... smsshhhy?" Rarity's ears drooped.

"And your fuzzy ears too! Heehee... you're like a marshmallow!" Fluttershy leaned in to rub noses with her. "My adorable glamorous marshmallow!"

"Mmmfff... Fwfffdsshhyyyy..."

"My little marshmalllowwwwww..." Fluttershy hummed as she nuzzled-nuzzled-nuzzled her close. "Aaaah-aaah-aaah—"

"Grnnghhf—Fwwwdssshhy!" Rarity flailed, protesting as the two tipped over. "Duh beddfh!"

"Aaaaaaie!" Fluttershy yelped at the last second, and the two went plunging to the floor with the loose comforter rippling after them.

THWUMP!

Fourth: Bathing Beauties

"And it was at that point that the zebra cleric took it upon himself to say, 'No, correction, you are the one who is in possession of chicken mouth!'" Rarity said, smiling.

"Heeheehee..." Fluttershy giggled, sitting beside the mare inside the tiny, wooden cubicle. Steam rose from a bed of hot coals, filling the bath house with a relaxing warm mist that soothed and cleaned their pores. "Oh Rarity. No matter how many times you share that one, I still do not get it." She smiled, eyes thin, warm. "But I find it cute all the same."

"I will most certainly never understand why."

"Because you said it. And everything you say sounds lovely."

"Awwww..." Rarity adjusted the towel wrapped around her mane. She sported a fuzzy white terry cloth robe bearing her initials, as did Fluttershy. "Now you're just being flattering."

"Mmmmmm... maybe I can't help it."

"One of these days you're going to have to explain precisely why you are smitten with me," Rarity said. "Unless—of course—it's my money."

Fluttershy had to suppress a giggle once more. "You aren't exactly what I would call Filthy Rich."

"Mmmmmm..." Rarity squeaked, fidgeting where she sat. "I have a swiftly growing entrepreneurial empire, darling!"

"Oh, but of course!" Fluttershy bit her lip, glancing away. "I-I didn't mean to suggest you weren't successful. I'm sorry."

"No no—none of that!" Rarity waved a dainty hoof. "For what it's worth, I'm quite pleased you don't envision me as a bits before beauty kind of mare."

"If you ask me, you're rich at heart," Fluttershy said. "From your cutie mark to your dazzling eyes."

"Yes, well..." Rarity tucked a few purple bangs back beneath the towel. "I've often thought that if I spent my entire free time searching and digging up jewels, then I'd probably be a great deal richer than I am now."

"Hehe... really?"

"Alas..." Rarity exhaled. "I find my days better and more enthusiastically spent in the process of making dresses." She winked. "It's one thing to feel rich at heart, but one absolutely must feel fabulous as well! They're two halves of the same ruby, so to speak."

"I see." Fluttershy smiled, brushing her bangs aside. "I really admire your work ethic. It stands out among the rest of Ponyville."

Rarity stifled a laugh. "Oh! Dearest... can you truly, honestly say that when we both live in the same town as Applejack."

"Applejack is a wonderful pony," Fluttershy said. "But she does what she does out of loyalty. You do what you do out of ambition." She adjusted the sleeves of her robe. "That... is a great deal more courageous, I believe."

"How so?"

"Well, it's like taking a leap of faith every day. And you know how mesmerized I am by ponies who can do a hop, skip, and a jump."

"Indeed."

"Applejack's chosen a path that will support her family and friends. But you?" Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "You take risks. You explore the mysteries and opportunities of life, pushing to make yourself known in every household. I find that very brave." She gulped. "Not to mention something I would absolutely love to emulate someday."

"Awwwwwwwww..." Rarity leaned across the steam to nuzzle her. "Well, you are most certainly welcome along for the ride."

"Heehee... I know it." Fluttershy's cheeks went red. "The fact that you include me in your modeling makes me feel very... nice."

Rarity smiled, rolling her eyes. "There you are—once again in love with that undying word."

"Mmmm... and special too, I suppose." Fluttershy swallowed. "Th-that I can share the center of your world for even a little bit while you aim for the horizon."

"Well, I wish to be rich and fabulous at heart." Rarity fluttered her eyelashes. "I find that rather difficult to do without you, darling, now that I've had a taste of the finer beauty of this world."

Fluttershy giggled.

"Oh, goddess..." Rarity fanned herself. "...if only we weren't in a public establishment right now."

"Shhhhhh..." Fluttershy's ears drooped as she glanced nervously at the door. "Don't even pretend, Rarity."

Rarity laughed. "Relax, darling. I would never... ever put you in such an uncomfortable situation."

"I know. And I'm glad." Fluttershy took a deep breath and smiled timidly at Rarity. "I... still need help relaxing in some areas."

"If you insist." Rarity looked up and down. "I must say... you look positively scrumptious in that robe."

"Huh?" Fluttershy fiddled with the sleeves. "In this?"

"Mmmmmmm..." Rarity smiled intoxicatingly. "Like a fuzzy angel fallen into my presence."

"It's... Rarity..." Fluttershy broke out, snickering. "It's just a robe. You've dressed me in far, far prettier things..."

"I suppose it's the simplicity of it," Rarity said. "The way the collar and sleeves match your eyes." She smiled brilliantly. "The way it makes me want to hold you really close and snuggle-wuggle-you-all-uppppp..." She said this while rubbing her cheek against Fluttershy's.

Fluttershy protested with breathy giggles. "Rarity! Pleeeeeeease..." She hissed, looking over her shoulder. "Remember what you said about—"

"Cannot help it, darling." Rarity leaned back. "Please, say something to distract me before I lose control and do something unladylike."

"Uhm. Okay." Fluttershy cleared her throat. "So, this morning, Angel threw up on the living room rug again."

Rarity grimaced hard. "Okay, maybe not that distracting."

"Since he had eaten celery with his carrots, the strings had tangled up and given the regurgitated material an appropriate consistency, allowing for easy clean-up—"

"Ew ew ew ew ew!" Rarity flinched heavily. "Oh, Celestia, what have I unleashed!"

Fluttershy laughed. "I'm s-sorry..."

"I'm going to need three dozen more baths for every word!" Rarity grimaced, looking paler. "Ohhhhhhh... what's wrong with me?!"

"I'm sorry." Fluttershy said, nevertheless smiling. "For what it's worth, I adore the fact that my animal friends trust me so closely that they let me clean up after them so."

"I'll n-never understand your enthusiasm over getting messy!"

"It's not about getting messy, Rarity. More than anything, caretaking for animals is about the opposite."

"Yes, but you still have to get your hooves soiled, you poor dear!" Rarity pouted. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes I wish you were a unicorn—only so that you wouldn't have to get so physically deep in the mire!"

"It's nothing like that, Rarity," Fluttershy said in a softly chiding tone. "And—no offense to you—but I wouldn't trade being a pegasus for anything."

"Even with as much as you detest to fly?"

"I think having feathers makes me more appealing to my animal friends," Fluttershy said. "I come across as more... more..."

"Beautiful?"

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "The word I was looking for is 'natural.' I can relate to most fowl, and mammals." She shook her head. "There aren't many magical creatures who dwell in the forest near my cottage. Plus, being a pegasus means I have to get in close with them, which allows us to bond on a very sweet, gentle, personal level."

"But of course." Rarity nodded. "I'm sorry, dearest. I did not mean to undermine your race nor your possession."

"I know that, Rarity." Fluttershy smiled. "And, if you're so concerned about me getting dirty... well... I do believe there's a magical solution to that."

"Oh?" Rarity blinked. "Like what?"

"Well, quite simply, you can come on over to the cottage and help me sometime!" Fluttershy winked. "I certainly wouldn't mind having your spells around the house so I can take care of the animals more swiftly!"

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Rarity fidgeted in her robe.

Fluttershy winked. "Is... is that asking for too much?"

Rarity clenched her eyes shut, shuddered... then relaxed with a long sigh. "Fluttershy..." She opened her eyes, smiling calmly at her. "Anything to make you happy." A gulp. "I'm game."

"You're certain?"

"If... you w-wouldn't mind my borrowing your bath immediately afterward." Rarity bit her lip. "For... an hour... maybe two."

"Heeheehee... it's a deal!"

"Alas..." Rarity nuzzled the mare again. "The things I do for love." Her eyes blinked. "Erm... you did wash up after taking care of your bunny rabbit this morning, yes?"

"Rarity, we're in a bath house right now!"

Rarity squeaked, "Well, it's the thought that counts, darling!"

And Fluttershy laughed.

Fifth: Ice Creamed

"Hmmmm..." Rarity reclined on Fluttershy's sofa, levitating a bowl of ice cream. She spooned some sugary vanilla into her mouth, smiled, and draped her head towards the floor. "Mmmm-heeheehee... oh Fluttershyyyyyyyy?" She sang, grinning from ear to pale ear. "Knock knock..."

"Here you go, Angel," Fluttershy said, hoofing the rabbit a pair of carrots. "Share them with Mr. and Mrs. Mouse." She squinted menacingly across her cottage's living room. "Shaaaaare."

"Knock Knock, Fluttershy!"

"Uhm..." Fluttershy busied herself with a bag of feed while several ducks congregated around her fetlocks. "Who's there?"

"Hmmmmmmm..." Rarity took another bite of ice cream and smiled giddily. "Cutie-poo."

Fluttershy fed the birds, then reached for a bag of oats. "Cutie-poo who."

"You!" Rarity grinned. "That's cutie who, cutie-poo!" She curled up, cradling the bowl of ice cream to her fuzzy belly. "Heeheeheehee!"

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Fluttershy blinked, awkwardly trying to toss oats onto the floor for a pack of squirrels and badgers.

"Mmmmmmm..." Rarity took another bite, dangling her hoof over the side-rest of the couch. "Mmmmmm-knock knock."

"Don't be too greedy, my little friends!" Fluttershy said, her voice wavering with a modicum of stress. "Mommy Fluttershy has plenty of food to go arou—"

"Knock Knock, darling!" Rarity sang.

"Rarity, please, I'm trying to feed the—"

"Knock knock!"

"Guh... who's there?"

"Flutter butter."

"Flutter butter who?"

"Flutter butter come over here and flutter pet her!" Rarity curled and uncurled like a windsock, giggling like mad.

"Pfffft... whaaaa—?" Fluttershy smiled over her shoulder. "Rarity, what's gotten into—?"

"Fluttershyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy..." Rarity stuck a spoon of vanilla into her mouth, suckling and savoring the dessert. "Mrmmmmmm... noggf noggf!"

"Rarity, I... heehee... I have a lot to do and you're not—"

"Noggf noggf!"

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." She paused knee-deep in a sea of fur and fuzz to face-hoof, then looked up. "Who's there?"

Rarity swallowed the ice cream and pulled the spoon from her mouth. "Snuffle fu," she said upside-down.

"Snuggle fu who?"

"You!" Rarity's horn glowed, tugging Fluttershy towards her. She rubbed the mare, cheek-to-cheek. "Teach me snuggle fu, you!"

"Buhhhh! Snkkt—Heehee! Rarityyyyyy!" Fluttershy shoved and protested. At last, she flapped her wings, hovering out of Rarity's reach. "Really, now! I have to—"

"Mmmmmmm?" Rarity's eyes sparkled as she licked the spoon in her grasp.

"Have..." Fluttershy blinked, her cheeks flushing red and redder. "Have... to... t-to..."

"Mmmmhmmmmmmmmm...?" Rarity's painted eyelids lowered as her tongue slurped, snaked, and twirled around the curves of the spoon. "Mmmm-mmm-mmm?"

Fluttershy gulped. "...fluff the b-bunnies... feed the clams. Er... I-I mean fish... lots of fish in this creek outside—"

Smack! Rarity released the spoon from her mouth and fluttered her eyelashes. "Knock knockkkk!"

"Rrrrgh... Rarity, pleeeeeeease please please let me finish my chores so that the animals won't hate me and then we can cuddle. I promise. Pinkie promise!"

"Heeheehee... knock knock!" Rarity's tail twitched left and right like the arm of an upside down grandfather clock. "Knockity knock knock!"

Fluttershy closed her eyes, sighed, and did her futile best to keep a straight face. "Who's there."

"Boo!"

"... ... ...boo hoo—?"

Rarity pulled Fluttershy in again. "Don't get sad! Get saddled!" She nuzzled the mare's belly. "Who's a pretty purse of snugglebumps? Hmmm? Who is?"

"Pffft! Rarity!" Fluttershy batted at her with feather-soft fetlocks, all the while giggling like mad. "Don't... d-don't pull out the 'purse of snugglebumps!'" She gasped and laughed. "You know how m-much that makes me melt all over!"

"Chuuuuuu..." Rarity kissed and kissed Fluttershy's tummy. "Looks like I'm carrying you down the runway, snugglebumps!"

"Heeheeheehee—stop!"

"Then say the magic worddddddd!"

"I... I..."

"You haven't said it yetttttt!"

"Ohhhhhhhhh..." Fluttershy deflated, cradling her body softly into Rarity's embrace. "This is the last time I offer you ice cream at the cottage."

"Hmmmm-hee-hee-hee..." Rarity kissed and nuzzled her way up to Fluttershy's ears. "Is it realllllly?"

"Eeeeeeeee—yay! I mean!" Fluttershy puffed her cheeks out. "Yes! No! No! No more ice cream! You turn... e-evil!"

"I heard a 'yay' in there!"

"No, I didn't—"

"Is my purse of snugglebumps full of 'yays'?" Rarity pretended to look down into Fluttershy's mouth. "Oh goodness! Look at all of them rattling around in there!" She nuzzled Fluttershy's ear again. "Better let them out before they spoil!"

"Ack! Heeeheee! Rarity! Nuuu—!"

"Hmmmm? Where are they?" She playfully nibbled right under Fluttershy's ear.

"Guhhh—yay yay yay!" Fluttershy's eyes widened and she slapped a pair of hooves over her own mouth.

Rarity laughed in victory.

"Mmmmmm..." Fluttershy curled up into a yellow ball while Rarity cradled her on the couch. "...youalwaysknowhowtomakethathappen."

"I'm a fast learnerrrr..."

"Well, could you learn to help me feed the animals—yay!" Fluttershy gnashed her teeth. "Stopit!"

"Heeeeeeeeehehehehe!"

Fluttershy sighed, ultimately smiling as she draped herself in Rarity's grasp.

Meanwhile, across the foyer, the animals all stood still in mid-munch. The critters' beady eyes reflected two joyful shapes, one white and the other yellow. Eventually, they exchanged glances, shrugged, then returned to their food dishes.

Sixth: Playing Hoofsies

"Hmmmmm..." Rarity sat at a table in Sugarcube Corner. She squinted through her bifocals, staring at a sheet of paper while levitating a pencil in her telekinetic grasp. "Mmmmmmm..." She took a sip of coffee, exhaled, and tapped the pencil to her chin in thought. "'Orange Opulence...'" A beat. "No..." Her brow furrowed. "'Sunny Saddles.' Mmmm... no, not good either..."

She tried scribbling down a name, licked her lips, then groaned.

"No no no!"

She scratched the words out with great vengeance.

"Mrmmmnnnghhh..." She growled melodically before sighing. "How am I expected to open a Carousel Boutique branch in Fillyda if I can't even come up with a proper name!" She clenched her eyes shut, sat perfectly still, and finally blurted: "'Rarity World!'" A blink. "Blast!"

"Hey there, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie hopped up, followed by two other ponies. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Oh, hi, Pinkie Pie." Rarity smiled. "Hello, Twilight." Her eyes twitched... and she sighed dreamily. "Good afternoon, Fluttershy."

"Mmmmm..." Fluttershy smiled coyly, balancing a tray of muffins on her flank. "Good afternoon to you too, Rarity."

"Indeed... it is quite a delightful one," Rarity cooed.

"You didn't answer my question, Rare-Rare!" Pinkie stuck her tongue out.

"Oh! Uhm... I-I was endeavoring to come up with a name for my Central Fillyda branch of Carousel Boutique."

"Wow, Rarity!" Twilight exhaled. "I didn't know you were expanding to Southern Equestria!"

"It's simply hypothetical, darling. Nothing that can't be delayed for another time." Rarity scooted over in her bench. "Do sit down. The three of you! I would absolutely adore some... ahem... friendly company."

"Great!" Twilight sat next to Pinkie Pie. She grinned across the table. "I could certainly use a bit of relaxation. Fluttershy and I spent all day in the library. She helped me me create a taxonomy key of local Everfree wildlife."

"Oh really?" Rarity's eyelashes batted as she looked at the pegasus in question. "Isn't that rather generous of the kind dear?"

Fluttershy stifled a giggle, sitting across from Rarity. "I found it quite enjoyable." She smiled bashfully. "Besides, I think the rest of Equestria deserves to have an educational tool for observing and classifying rare cases of fauna."

"You don't say..."

"Yes!" Twilight beamed, levitating a muffin off of the tray. "Did you know that Ursa Majors have more in common with celestial Capricorns than mammalian species of bear?"

"That's... something I did not know!" Rarity chirped.

"Hehe! Yes!" Pinkie Pie grinned wide. "When it comes to Everfree trivia, Fluttershy's knowledge is unbearably superior!"

The other three mares glared at her.

"What?" Pinkie blinked. "Okay, so I slept in today."

"Quite alright, Pinkie."

"Would you like a muffin, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked.

"Why, I would be delighted, darling."

"Try the blueberry," Twilight said, munching on her own treat. "Mmmmmm... it's absolutely scrumptious."

"You said it, Twi!" Pinkie blinked. "That's because I baked it with extra 'Mmmmmmmm!' today!"

"Heheh..." Rarity nodded. "If you insist."

Fluttershy scooped up a blueberry muffin in her wingtips and leaned over the table. "Here you go, Rarity."

Rarity reached for it with a dainty hoof. "Much appreciated—"

In shifting her weight, Fluttershy's lower hoof inadvertently brushed up against Rarity's leg.

"Oh!" Rarity gasped, her body electrified. The muffin fell from a great height. Rarity caught it in a magic field before it could splatter across the table.

'S-sorry!" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Erm..." Rarity gulped a lump down her throat. She still trembled from the touch.

"What are you sorry for, Flutters?" Pinkie asked, blinking.

"Uhhhhhhhhh..." Fluttershy looked at her, then at Rarity.

Rarity silently glanced back.

With an innocent smile, Fluttershy leaned back in her seat. "Nothing!" she squeaked.

Silence.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie smiled at Twilight. "So, Twi-Twi! What are you gonna do with your new animal guide? Huh? Huh?"

"Oh, where do I begin?!" Twilight grinned between muffin bites. "I've always been obsessed with physics, chemistry, and astronomy... with a dash of history and sociology here and there. But zoology?! That feels like a fresh new field of scientific possibilities to me! And utilizing Fluttershy's keen intellect into the subject matter only makes it all the more fresh and appealing..."

While Twilight spoke on, Rarity glanced across the table.

Fluttershy glanced back. She hid her face slightly behind a lock of mane hair.

Rarity cocked her head aside. She nibbled into her muffin before giving Fluttershy a reassuring smile.

Fluttershy exhaled. She glanced at Twilight... smiled... then glanced at Rarity again.

Rarity blinked, arching a curious eyebrow.

Fluttershy pretended to stretch. Her body shifted in her seat and...

...Rarity felt a hoof brush up against hers once again.

"...!" Rarity sucked her breath in. She locked eyes with Twilight, struggling to pay attention to the mare's rambling speech.

"...was always Moondancer's expertise. Although Minuette graduated with a minor in animal biology. She always loved dissecting cats... for some reason. Twinkleshine claims that Minuette has a box of feline teeth at home that she keeps under her bed pillow, but I think that's just a story she made up to keep stallions from hitting on her. Twinkleshine is overprotective like that..."

Rarity breathed in and out. She stared across the table.

Fluttershy brushed her bangs aside. She avoided Rarity's gaze... all the while smiling coyly.

Rarity inhaled sharply. While grinning in the direction of Pinkie and Twilight, she shifted her lower body. Reaching her rear hoof out, she gently caressed Fluttershy's fetlock under the table, playfully giving the ankle a swat or to.

Fluttershy coughed to mask the jolt her body experienced.

"Bless you," Twilight said, then continued merrily. "So, long story short, if I study hard enough, I might be able to sit in on Moondancer's next symposium on the subject of exotic constellatory creatures. I'll be sure to ask that my new taxonomist key be presented to those in attendance. Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is very open to new and progressive means of scientific exploration, after all..."

Fluttershy inhaled and exhaled. Her yellow coat took on a red blush. She tried to hide it behind her mane hair, but failed. Trembling slightly, she glanced across the table.

Rarity returned the look with a smirk. She nibbled suggestively on her muffin, all the while wagging her eyebrows.

Fluttershy bit her lip. With a stern twerk of her muscles, she flexed her tail beneath the table. The silky pink follicles stroked across Rarity's cutie mark... then tickled their way towards Rarity's inner thigh.

"Ah!" Rarity gasped, dropping her muffin to the table with a clatter. "Goodness!"

"And if I play my cards right, I may actually get to see the insides of a walrus cadaver's stomach—" Twilight froze in mid-blink, gawking at Rarity. "Rarity? Are... are you alright?"

"Uhhhhh..." Rarity blushed and fidgeted. "Uhhhhhhm..." She gulped hard, then smiled delicately. "If you would excuse me. I... erm... n-need to use the little fillies' room."

"Uhm... sure thing!" Twilight smiled. "When nature calls! Heehee! Get it? Because it's topical to the conversation I've been—"

"Yes. Quite. Ta-ta." And Rarity dove out of her seat and trotted briskly across Sugarcube Corner.

"Uhm... I... er..." Fluttershy smiled sheepishly, slithering quietly out of her chair. "I think I need to go... uh... t-too..." She gave a gentle wave, then hobbled after Rarity.

Twilight's head turned as she watched the two mares disembark. "Huh..."

"You know what they say about two mares who have to 'powder their nose' at the same time," Pinkie cooed.

Twilight looked at her. "No. What?"

Pinkie smirked. "They've got really, really tiny bladders!"

"... ... ...oh." Twilight blinked.

"But hey." Pinkie shrugged. "I didn't invent the rules." She looked across the table, gasping at the tray. "MUFFINS!" And she pounced, causing blueberries and crumbs to fly towards the ceiling.

When Fluttershy entered through the swinging door of Sugarcube Corner's bathroom, she nearly bumped muzzles with Rarity.

"Eeep!" She hobbled back, trembling.

"What was the big idea of that?!" Rarity wheezed.

"Erm..." Fluttershy leaned back with a nervous smile. "Care to be more specific?"

"All of that!" Rarity huffed and puffed, her white cheeks blood-red. "I'd expect that sort of behavior from an incorrigible street hussy! But not from a well-manner'd mare like you!"

"You... uh..." Fluttershy brushed a lock of pink hair aside. "...you were quick to reciprocate, Rarity."

"That's not the point!" Rarity hissed. "For a mare who's so insistent that we maintain this... this thing of ours a secret, you're rather eager to... to..."

"Hmmm?" Fluttershy stared up at Rarity with bright, turquoise eyes. Her muzzle scrunched and unscrunched.

"To..." Rarity's red cheeks took on a rosier complexion. "You're..."

"Yes, Rarity...?"

Rarity gulped. "Oh darling... you know what happens to me when you wiggle your nose like that..."

"Heehee..." Fluttershy's eyelashes danced. "What about it?"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh..." Rarity slumped forward until she hugged the mare close. "Goddess help me." She rubbed noses with the pegasus. Then, in a raspy voice: "Five minutes?"

Fluttershy nodded. "Five minutes."

And the first of many... many smooches ensued.