Rarity's Rehabilitation

“No… no… oh, goodness no. Rarity, what were you thinking?”

The fashionista kept muttering to herself, shifting on her feet idly as she scanned her wardrobe. While she had a lovely night’s sleep, it had also led to her sleeping in. Even though she was on vacation, this went beyond what was acceptable for a mare like her. Almost 10 AM, and she had not even picked out her outfit for the day, much less put it on and finished grooming herself.

A sweet scent tickled her nose, which reminded her that Fluttershy had started making breakfast. There was no more time to waste. Sighing, Rarity reached into her wardrobe and picked out a blue one-piece dress, a more modest design compared to her usual elaborate outfits, and she used her magic to put it on swiftly. She then walked in front of her mirror, which thankfully came with the room (she would hate to have had to bring her own), and inspected herself from all angles.

The dozenth deep sigh left her lungs since she woke up that morning. This still was not right. The dress itself was absolutely fabulous, a perfect choice for the day, yet she was not comfortable in it. Normally, she would put it on without magic just to feel the thrill of the fabric fitting onto her body, daydreaming about the impressed looks she would get from everypony around, but today, the sensation stopped being pleasant.

She could feel every nagging detail -- the points where the fabric restricted her arms’ movement, the tightness around her waist, and so on. None of this bothered her before. Quite the opposite, they showed that the dress behaved as it was designed. But today, she felt like she longed for something… different. Her eyes lost focus as she stared into the mirror, and she could faintly hear a soft voice cooing in the background, but could not quite make out what it said.

“Hmm…” She blinked and glanced in the direction of her friend’s room. “Fluttershy? Did… did you say something, darling?”

No response came, though if she moved closer to the door and listened closely, she could just about hear Fluttershy quietly humming to herself as she worked in the kitchen. Rarity huffed and trudged back in front of the mirror, frowning as she looked herself over. She tried walking back and forth, stretching, even a slow waltz, but no amount of motion could convince her senses that the dress felt good.

No. This won’t do either.

Her hand was already reaching for the buttons before she even willed it to. Glancing down, she stopped her limb and bit her lip, a small shudder passing through her. What on Earth is going on with me? she thought. I adorethis outfit. Why… why can’t I just...

She sighed again and slowly took the dress off, grumbling to herself the whole time, yet feeling a rush of relief once the fabric no longer met her skin. After unceremoniously dropping the dress to the floor, she dug through her pile of clothes, desperately seeking something that would work. Her eyes eventually got caught on a simple, faintly yellow blouse, and she found a matching skirt that only reached down to her knees. She walked back in front of the mirror, grimacing as she saw her reflection holding the items.

Okay, don’t be silly, Rarity. You are definitely not wearing this.

But despite her misgivings, one glance at the dozens of outfits she had already rejected convinced her to at least give it a try. She held her breath and carefully stepped into the skirt, pulling it up inch by inch as though she were trying to avoid letting it touch her skin. Once she fastened it around her hips, she pulled the blouse over her head, eyes clenched shut as she cursed herself under her breath. After a few moments of hesitation, she risked peeking at the mirror.

The view was… average. Simple. Nothing to write home about. Truth be told, Rarity herself had dressed like this several times, though only when she was home alone and had audience to try and impress. On top of that, making dresses was far more convenient in a simple outfit, as demonstrated by that one time she tried to do an “open boutique” event back home. Five finished dresses in, and her corset had decided breathing was unnecessary. It was only thanks to a miracle that she did not faint in front of the crowd.

Rarity shook her head. Why was she thinking of such sour memories right now? She inspected her reflection and was surprised to find that the clothes felt comfortable. Not quite the best she could do, as the nagging feeling still lingered, but it was tolerable now. A smile tugged on her lips, a sense of liberation floating in her mind, and her hands started to wander across her figure.

No! She smacked herself. What are you thinking, you insolent filly? She frowned at herself in the mirror. The dress was an absolute joke. Simple? Average? Do any of those words even come close to describing ‘Rarity’ to you? No, this is unacceptable. I won’t have it.

Harsh thoughts, yet no action. She spent the better part of a minute struggling with herself, feeling bad every time she merely thought of taking the outfit off, and feeling deeply ashamed every minute she spent wearing it. The debate was cut short, however, when a soft knock came on her door.

“Rarity?” Fluttershy’s voice could barely get through the walls. “Um… I don’t mean to rush you, but… breakfast is ready. Come and get it while it’s hot~”

“Oh!” Rarity nearly jumped, something her friend’s voice never get her to do. “Oh, yes, my apologies, Fluttershy. Heh-heh…” Her own voice came out rather meek compared to her usual bombastic tone, and she cleared her throat reflexively. “I’ll be right there!”

There was a brief pause. “Okay then.”

Rarity casually approached her line of carefully arranged shoes, but her foot stopped just before her big toe could touch the edge of her first choice -- a white pair of high heels. She winced as though she had stepped on a jagged rock, and she looked down to see her leg trembling, unable to move any closer.

“Nnngh… oh for heaven’s sake…” She could barely comprehend it. These were her favorite shoes, yet the very idea of having to wear heels set off a revulsion in every muscle, tendon, and bone in her legs. Gritting her teeth, she forced the issue anyway, fitting her feet into the heels and fastening the straps.

Though there was no burning sensation, which she half-expected to feel at this point, the sense of wrongness persisted all the same. She tried taking a few steps, and while she did not stumble, she definitely did not feel comfortable. Everything felt forced, the pose and gait required by the heels in particular, even though that was the whole point.

The faint voice tickled her ears again. She frowned and glanced at the door, but judging by the noises that seeped through, Fluttershy was clearly back in the kitchen. Besides, it seemed quite preposterous that her friend would be fooling around like this. I need to get better sleep… she thought, shaking her head as she glanced out the window. In a better place…

Like with the shoes, a sense of wrongness dawned on her, this time coming directly from her conscience. Don’t be like that. You promised your friend that the two of you would enjoy yourselves, yet here you are, ruining it for both her and yourself. Though she tried to roll her eyes and brush it off, the tension growing in her chest would not relent until she consciously conceded that it was wrong to be thinking this way. No, she would make the most of this vacation, strange place or no.

She tried on another pair of shoes, a more modest version with shorter heels, but every step she took still felt awkward in them. Grumbling, she experimented with a few more, and at one point considered abandoning footwear altogether. A chill went up her spine as she imagined the cold kitchen tiles meeting her bare feet, and she found herself staring at the door longingly. With a huff, she turned away and looked in her wardrobe again, retrieving a pair of slippers. They were the best compromise she could manage: the straps and bottom covered very little, letting the air tickle her exposed toes, but there was still a thin layer between her soles and the ground.

Though an odd tingle remained in her feet, Rarity persisted, turning her choices into a rebellion of sorts. For the sake of the occasion, and especially her friend, she would allow for a less sophisticated outfit, just this once. But under no circumstances would she sacrifice her fabulousness. If she had to go simple, she would make it work. Smirking at her reflection, she checked for wrinkles in her outfit one last time before heading out the door, making her way to the kitchen to the left of Fluttershy’s bedroom. “Comiiing~”

Bright colors and a faint sizzling greeted her as she entered the kitchen, and she noticed Fluttershy stand in front of the counter, humming to herself while she prepared a few pieces of toast. The moment the scent of baked eggs reached Rarity’s nostrils, her stomach gave a brief yet audible grumble. Fluttershy turned around and gave a knowing smile, making Rarity’s cheeks flush. “Oh my,” the pegasus said. “You must be hungry.”

“Absolutely famished, darling,” Rarity replied. She took a seat at the table on the opposite side of the small room, right next to the window. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Oh, it was no problem.” Fluttershy approached the table and set down a plate with four slices of toast stacked on it, moving it next to the other dishes and cutlery already laid out for both of them. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make any more. We… seem to have run out of bread.”

“I see…” Rarity’s cheeks flushed even more, and she lifted the kettle even higher while pouring herself a cup of tea, as if trying to hide her face.

Fluttershy blinked in confusion. “Rarity?”

“I, um… I should be the one to apologize.” Rarity gave an embarrassed chuckle. “I woke up during the night and felt unbelievably hungry, so I came here to make a sandwich… and then another… and another…”

“Oh?” Fluttershy giggled while she went back to the stove and retrieved the eggs. “That’s okay. Did it help, at least?”

“Yes, I survived, heh-heh~” Rarity spread some butter on her toast and took a sip of her coffee. “Whatever was in that incense or pipe or what was it… I guess it builds up an appetite.”

Fluttershy returned to the table and took off her apron, revealing the outfit she wore underneath. She had put on a white shirt and a brown knee-length skirt, and to Rarity’s relief, both were the proper size. There were a few oddities present, such as the mesmerizing patterns subtly woven into the fabric of the skirt, and the material of the shirt that looked like it had been sewn out of tissue paper rather than actual fabric. The fashionista in her did a finger gun gesture at her own temple, while on the outside she felt an odd urge to fiddle with her own outfit.

The two of them chatted away idly while they finished breakfast, with Rarity doing most of the talking, and Fluttershy nodding politely and smiling whenever her friend paused. Occasionally, she would say a thing or two as well, but she was known to be a pony of few words, and Rarity was never one to mind. She adored a polite audience, after all.

There was something strange this time, however, and more than once Rarity trailed off, staring at her friend. Fluttershy was paying very close attention, but not like a friend that politely pretended to listen to Rarity’s banter, as she would have noticed that. At the same time, she could tell that Fluttershy’s curiosity was piqued by something other than the latest pieces of gossip. It was subtle, but the signs were there, and Rarity had an eye for such things.

Fluttershy had eyes of her own, however, and her gaze often wandered down to look at Rarity’s constantly shuffling feet. The smile of the pegasus sometimes widened briefly as well, leaving Rarity baffled until she realized that her own voice had gone peculiarly soft again. The red on her cheeks refreshed each time, and she gulped or cleared her throat, playing it off as a morning oddity.

“Ahem. Well…” The fashionista gave a deep sigh and glanced out the window, smiling as the warm rays of the morning sun caressed her face. “I do believe we have a lovely day ahead of us.”

“Mmhmm.” Fluttershy nodded with a smile. “By the way, I had a wonderful idea.”

“Yes?”

“Remember how you were a little uncomfortable in the crowd yesterday?”

Rarity chuckled and waved it off. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Fluttershy. I’m sorry if I acted rude. It was just a lot to take in, and I--”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, that’s okay, you don’t need to apologize. I get nervous when I’m in crowds all the time. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Um… well…” Rarity stared at her friend oddly. It was unlike Fluttershy to give this kind of reassurance, but at the same time, it did make sense. Rarity remembered clearly how Fluttershy struggled to cope with her brief stardom as Photo Finish’s top model, and now it seemed the fashionista herself was going through a similar experience. She nodded and returned the smile. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

“Mhm.” Fluttershy took a sip of her tea. The exotic, flowery scent tickled Rarity’s nose, and upon seeing the drink catch the unicorn’s attention, Fluttershy poured a cup for her friend. “But I know a perfect way to solve that.”

“Really?” Rarity sampled the tea, and she gave a low hum as the warm, fragrant mist made her head swim for a moment.

Fluttershy nodded. “I found that what makes me the most nervous is when I think about ponies recognizing me. It’s harder to be me when ‘me’ just gets scared.”

“Tell me about it…” Rarity sipped her tea again, one hand clinging to the table a bit more tightly, lest she start to sway on her seat. “I once decided to go incognito to a Canterlot dinner party. You wouldn’t believe how much less nauseating and more honest the gentry is when they don’t know you as a celebrity. So what do you propose?”

Fluttershy chuckled. “Well, if being Rarity is what makes it hard to mingle, then maybe we could both go incognito.”

“Incognito?” Rarity gave a meek giggle of her own. “I’m not ashamed of who I am, darling.”

“Of course not. But you are conscious of your image, right?”

“Well, that goes without saying.” Rarity shuddered. “Brr… just imagine if the paparazzi caught me out there, attending such an uncouth festival.”

“Then it’s the perfect plan.” Fluttershy reached out to grasp Rarity’s hand gently, and the mare twitched slightly in response. “You won’t have to worry about ponies talking about it. They’ll only see a regular mare wanting to relax and have fun, not Rarity herself.”

Rarity leaned back rubbed her chin, humming thoughtfully. “You know, that… isn’t a bad idea…”

Fluttershy held onto her hand and smiled wider. “Trust me, it’ll be fun. I could go under an old alias I used. ‘Jessamine’, a girl as free and fearless as the wind.”

“My, that’s a charming name.” Rarity blinked. “Wait… you mean you’ve done this before?”

Fluttershy did not even falter, as though she had not heard the question. “And you could be… hmm… ‘Jade Vine’. How does that sound?”

“Jade… Vine?” Rarity glanced down as her friend’s grip tightened slightly and guided her hand back to the steaming mug. Puzzled, Rarity lifted the cup to her lips and took another sip of the tea.

“Mmhmm~” Fluttershy looked deeply into Rarity’s eyes as the warm haze filled her head again. “The gem of the festival, the goddess of beauty and tranquility. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Rarity gave a dreamy smile, eyes going half-lidded as she kept drinking the hot tea. Her friend’s words still left her quite perplexed, but her voice was so delightfully silky, much clearer than her usual meek mumbling.

“Mmm… okay,” she muttered. “Let’s do it.”

“Wonderful~!” Fluttershy waited patiently for Rarity to finish her tea, after which she got up with surprising swiftness and headed for the door, the dazed unicorn trailing behind her. She opened the front door, and Rarity hummed again as the warm outside air washed over them, tickling her exposed feet. Her eyes trailed down, and she noticed Fluttershy’s bare feet next to her own barely covered ones, which shuffled in response.

“Shall we head out then, Jade?” Fluttershy asked with a knowing smile.

“Hm?” Rarity blinked and glanced over, a small blush on her cheeks. “Oh! Oh yes, of course. Lead the way… Jessamine.” The two giggled and headed down the street.

By noon, the heatwave descended upon the town in full force, making the air itself waver slightly if one stared off into the distance. Fortunately, the duo from Ponyville kept mostly to whatever shade they could find among the houses as they made their way toward the edge of town, where the quaint houses were gradually replaced by banners, stands, and various tents that housed amenities for the festival. In the distance, one of the bands had already hit the stage, playing a mostly straightforward tune with plenty of odd textures.

The crowd got thicker the closer they got to the heart of the festival. Rarity kept up an eager smile, but inside she was a maelstrom of emotions. Her ladylike instincts screamed at her almost non-stop, complaining about everything she laid her eyes on, every noise she heard, and pretty much anything her senses picked up, her feet in particular. She averted her gaze from any reflective surface, lest her mind scold her for how she looked as well. Her hands kept fiddling with her mane, which Fluttershy had insisted on re-styling a little to “be more convincing”. Rarity’s trademark curls were still present, but just barely, as most of her purple locks had been straightened out, giving her mane a wavy appearance at best as it hung around her shoulders.

Oddly enough, however, her internal struggling had no more telltale signs on the outside. She had to brush past loud colts stinking of alcohol, squeeze her way through a group long-maned stallions thrashing about and braying in an awful attempt to sing some horrid tune, and avoid stepping on some giggling ponies sitting in a circle, half-obscured in a mist that smelled vaguely familiar. She knew she should have been revolted, yet at no point did she even feel the urge to grimace. Every sensation just made her more and more curious and excited, mostly because she could not believe that it was possible to feel this way under such circumstances. Rarity gave an awkward chuckle, a sense of adventure welling up inside her. She glanced at Fluttershy, as if seeking advice, but the timid mare merely smiled in response.

Of course, emotions were not the only thing she had to cope with. Her dress and her shoes brought troubles of their own. Even the slightest breeze could make her yelp as it touched the exposed parts of her skin, and while the cool gusts of air helped deal with the heat, they also reminded her just how ridiculously sensitive she was. The heat and the informal outfit she wore must have had something to do with it, but she could not be sure. It was hard enough to even think when she was busy resisting the urge to flinch every time she took a step. Her feet shuddered and stumbled constantly, which she tried to play off as having trouble navigating the crowd. Every stone, ditch, pebble -- every single uneven surface sent jolts up and down her spine, which her slippers could just barely dampen. Still, it was not as bad as back in the town, where the cobblestone streets forced her to bite her tongue to keep her voice in check.

“Look here, Jade,” ‘Jessamine’ said and pointed to their right. Her voice was louder and more assertive; still gentle, but far from meek. It was the voice of a mare who was relaxed in the knowledge of what she wanted. “I think you’ll like this~”

Rarity took a deep breath to calm herself down. Yes, that’s it, she thought. Don’t forget. You are Jade Vine right now, and she does not shy away from this place. She turned to where Fluttershy was pointing and gasped as she saw a stand overflowing with gems and jewelry of all kinds. Stepping right up to it, she let her eyes trail over the shiny display, most of which she brushed off as cheap glass trinkets, albeit crafted with admirable skill. Toward the more expensive half of the table, however, she found genuine stones and precious metals, some of them rarities that the Canterlot elite could have trampled each other for. “Oh my,” she said, finally getting her hanging jaw to move. “These are quite… erm…” She cleared her throat, quickly replaying in her mind the lingo she had picked up from the festival goers along the way. “You’re right, Jessie. Their vibe is perfect. And the cuts, the refractions… they’re astronomical~”

A chuckle rang out from nearby. “Well that would be really strange, fellow wanderers of the world.” A tall stallion with dark green mane and silver coat emerged from under the shadow of a large tent behind the stand. He reached out, gently running his fingers along the hanging trinkets, making them sway before Rarity’s eyes. “These gems all came from the earth, so none of their vibe is from the stars.”

He lifted a particularly large ruby, holding it up to Rarity’s snout. The closeness made her cheeks flush slightly, especially when she caught a whiff of his grassy, yet predominantly male scent. “That’s right,” he went on. “Just another offspring of Mother Earth.” Rarity looked up at him, eyes struggling to focus on his features amidst the dazzling display of jiggling jewels. “Though, if you look into them, sometimes you could swear you can see galaxies in there…”

Fluttershy giggled. “Oh yes. There is no beauty in the cosmos that the earth doesn’t already have.”

“Too right, dudette~” He smiled at her and turned back to Rarity. “And I see you have an eye for gems, my dear. Found the one that resonates with you?”

“Oh! Um…” She blushed and let out an awkward giggle, realizing that she had been staring at him the whole time. Her gaze quickly darted to the nearest clump of gems on the table. “One moment, dearie~”

While she inspected the jewels, she had to admit to herself that she would have preferred to keep staring. The stallion’s bright green eyes were gems in their own right, radiating a soothing light that set off a warmth in her belly, not to mention her cheeks. In fact, his entire body emitted a subtle glow, characteristic of crystal ponies. This was contrasted by the darker color of his facial hair - a tidy moustache and soul patch. In general, his features were clean and well cared for, which was at odds with unkempt and rugged clothes. A dirty and somewhat worn tank top hugged his well-toned upper body, and his jeans had seen better days, though a few islands of blue fabric still showed among the layers of dust. All in all, he was far from a dream stallion, but that just made him all the more appealing. A “diamond in the rough”, both in looks and apparent strength -- and in a way, literally. Rarity could not deny that she was a sucker for the stone.

Lost in thought, she found herself staring at her own reflection in one of the flat, polished obsidian disks. The mare who stared back toyed with a stray lock of her mane, her white fingers, hands, neck, and face devoid of any added colors or pieces of wealth. She bit her lip, realizing that her morning frustrations had made her forget about yet another detail. It all felt so bare. So natural. So very much unlike Rarity. Then again, she was Jade Vine right now.

She blinked, remembering where she was, and gave a wide smile. “Hmm, let me see.” She picked out a pair of silver earrings, appropriately housing jades, and held them up for the stallion to see. “Oh yes, these are totally in harmony with me.” She tried them on, her ears tingling slightly as the rings snapped into place. “Mmm… and this ruby… I can feel the fires of the mountains still glowing in it.” She picked up a ring with a red, square-shaped gem in it and slipped it onto her right middle finger.

The stallion nodded in approval and held up a necklace and a pair of bracelets. All three were devoid of gems, but they were made of gold, and the festoon of the necklace was an ensemble of elaborate shapes woven together. “Try these. Your karma speaks, and this is what it needs~”

The three of them chuckled, and Rarity took the bracelets, slipping them onto her wrists. When she reached for the necklace, however, the stallion pulled it away, his smile widening a little. She raised an eyebrow at him, and the moment her hands lowered, he held it out again.

“Oh… sorry~” She gave an embarrassed smile and leaned forward, allowing him to put the necklace on. He leaned closer as well, his green eyes and his smile filling her vision. His warm, faintly rugged hands brushed against her cheeks and neck as he carefully slipped the chain under her mane. It sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, and she closed her eyes, giving a barely audible hum as his warm breath tickled her face. Moments that felt like minutes ticked by, but the clasp eventually clicked into place, and he leaned back, though one of his hands lingered, his fingers gently brushing one of her wayward purple locks out of her face.

“There we go,” he said and held up a mirror. “Have a look. Witness yourself be a testament to Mother Earth’s beauty~”

“Oh my…” Rarity stared at her reflection, barely recognizing herself in the first few moments. Her face was completely relaxed, almost looking sleepy, her eyes half-lidded and lips curled into a dazed smile. On any other day, she would have spent the whole time scouring her reflection for any signs of imperfection, and indeed her mane could have looked better. But at this moment, the slight unkemptness in the purple strands only added to the image, having a natural beauty of its own.

She lifted her hand, her fingers hovering close to her half-open lips, which brought the ring and one of the bracelets into view. The gems, the gold, and her own eyes created an ensemble of radiance that made her coo in awe. If she did not know it was her own face, she would probably have felt burning envy for the mare who could get away with stunning looks through such simple means.

The stallion chuckled, making her blink and turn back to him. “No need to thank me,” he said. “I just help these blessed children out of their cradles of stone.” He nodded his head at a pickaxe leaning against a pole behind him. His hand gave her mane another gentle caress. “Name’s Andesite, though you can just call me Andy. And what’s yours, precious?”

“M-My, uh… Ra--” She coughed and shook her head. “Er.. Jade Vine~”

“Jade Vine?” He glanced at Fluttershy and gave a knowing smirk. “Mmm… bodacious.”

Seeing Fluttershy give a wink in response, Rarity blinked in confusion, but the exchange was too brief, and her attention was almost entirely consumed by the stallion before her. “Hm? Oh, um… yes, absolutely, heh-heh~” She twirled one of her locks between her fingers and shifted her weight back and forth on her feet. “So… how much will it be?”

Andy waved it off. “It’s on the house for today, Jade. If you’re not happy with it, you can bring it back, and we can find something else.”

Rarity gasped. “Are you sure? I mean…” Her hand clumsily fidgeted with her bag. “I’m pretty sure I have enough--”

A hand came to rest on her shoulder, and she nearly gasped as she turned to look, only to find Fluttershy standing beside her. “Don’t be silly, Jade,” she said. Her other hand gently grasped Rarity’s own, pulling it away from her bag. “Andy here made such a nice offer. Let’s take him up on it, hmm?”

Rarity could only babble for a few moments, puzzled by how strong Fluttershy’s grip felt, even though she was not acting forcefully. Eventually, she nodded and shakily waved goodbye to Andy, barely managing to say his name before scurrying off with her friend. Fluttershy remained by her side, one hand on her shoulder as she leaned into Rarity with a contented sigh.

“He was so nice, wasn’t he?” she asked.

“Yes, he was…” Rarity muttered. It took her a while to realize that she was blushing all the way to her ears, and she quickly took a few deep breaths to regain her composure. Her brow furrowed slightly. “And familiar, somehow.”

Fluttershy giggled. “Oh, we might have run into him yesterday. We visited quite a few stands, remember?”

Rarity looked away and huffed, crossing her arms. Try as she might, she could not banish the red from her cheeks fully, nor could she get Andy’s handsome visage out of her head. “Yes, probably…”

“Oh goodness!” Fluttershy was all but jumping with joy, her wings fluttering from excitement, as she pointed to the noticeboard. It had been placed next to the gate that led to the area containing the stages, and a list of all the performers for the day had been hung up. “The Thankful Departed are playing today. Jade, we have to go see them!”

Rarity resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and instead she yelped when Fluttershy added extra emphasis by grabbing her shoulders and giving a little shake. “Whoah! Alright, alright! Calm down, Jessamine.”

Fluttershy gave a coo of delight and immediately took Rarity’s hand, dragging her into the crowd that streamed in and out through the gate. A steady flow of fresh spectators trickled in, while those already too exhausted or intoxicated stumbled out to get some room and fresh air. Rarity tensed up, barely able to restrain a yelp, when she found herself rubbing up against dozens of rag-tag youngsters that each carried about ten different scents, to say nothing of the fashion disasters they wore.

Her cheeks puffed, slightly reddening, and she did her best to squeeze past them and keep up the pace with Fluttershy. Unlike her friend, the pegasus seemed capable of gliding through the throng as though she were just a faint summer breeze. The music got louder and louder, at first just a cacophony of bands mixing together, after which the dominant noise alternated depending on which stage they got close to. Fluttershy guided them toward the largest one at the far end of the festival grounds,

They approached the stage, Fluttershy taking the lead and tugging Rarity along, who was visibly shaken by the crowd, though she did not make a fuss outright. Bit by bit, she was able to calm down enough and actually take a look around without suffering a stroke, only to find that many of the ponies returned her gaze. It unnerved her at first, until she noticed something peculiar. Her memories of the previous day were hazy at best, but she did recall getting confused looks at best when she waltzed about in an elegant dress, holding her nose high. Now here she was, tiptoeing awkwardly while wearing a much simpler outfit and all this, admittedly, wonderful jewelry, and dazzled heads turned after her from all around, jaws dropping in awe.

Rarity gave a small chuckle and felt an irresistible urge to smile. In a way, it was all quite flattering. Any appreciation of her looks gave her a sense of success, and she could almost picture the whole thing as a fashion show. Yesterday, she chose the wrong outfit, but today, she was the star sensation. Not much of a surprise, considering how most of her “competition” was unkempt mares showing all the wrong signs of having partied for two days straight, not to mention a severe lack of taste. On one side, she saw bundles of braided mane that put Tree Hugger to shame, swaying around within thick clouds of smoke, their eyes bloodshot. On the other, she saw spiky manes, spiky clothes, and just spikes all over the place, along with various other metal decorations pierced through places she preferred not to think about.

Needless to say, she offered some pleasant variety for those accustomed to the above sights. After a while, however, the attention started to outgrow its welcome. Some of the onlookers, especially the stallions, seemed perhaps a bit too pleased with how Rarity looked, and she had overheard one too many catcalls. Before long, she was the one pushing Fluttershy to hurry up.

Their efforts eventually got them all the way to within a few paces of the front row. Rarity breathed a sigh of relief that the song currently playing was a calm and melodic one. There was no insane thrashing to worry about, and instead she watched curiously as dozens around her raised lighters above their heads and swayed back and forth, staring at the band onstage with what she could only describe as reverence. Wondering what could be so spectacular, she turned her attention to the stage.

To call it a mess would have been a little harsh, as it was certainly fitting compared to the rest of the festival, but it was definitely no Canterlot Opera House. Worn banners hung from all over the frame, all sorts of words and odd symbols crudely painted onto them, most of them screaming about “love” and “peace” and other nonsense. The band’s equipment was littered with cups and bottles, most of them empty, and many of them tossed there by the audience, though the band was eager to add to the pile as well. The musicians themselves were a quartet of young stallions wearing rags, some only bothering to cover their lower half. Their manes were long and somewhat unkempt, and they all wore euphoric expressions as they calmly played their tune.

The most captivating among them, however, was the singer. Rarity stared in awe at the figure who calmly stood on center stage, tapping his foot slowly to the beat. Unlike the others, who were lost in their own little worlds as they played, he kept his eyes on the audience, as though he were staring into a roiling sea with little motes of light drifting on its surface.

Fluttershy wrapped an arm around Rarity’s shoulders and leaned close to whisper in her ear. “That’s Prim Horizon,” she said. “The voice of a whole generation~”

The stallion waited for the instrumental section to reach a brief crescendo, and once it piped down, he breathed in slowly, closed his eyes, and leaned close to the microphone before him. An odd tingle ran down Rarity’s spine as he heard his warm voice fill the air, and she shifted her weight on her feet, unconsciously following the beat.

“Together, my friend
We’ll march toward the end…

Forever ascend
Until we reach the end…”

The stallion paused briefly after the first few lines, letting his gaze drift over the crowd once more. He kept his eyes open as he sang the next line, and at one point it focused right onto the duo just behind the front row. Rarity could have sworn that he flashed them a smile, and she felt blood rush to her cheeks again. The singer closed his eyes again, and while the mare’s anxiety grew, she could not look away.

“The end for all our sins, my friend
The end to give us light, we send
We’ll see each other’s souls again
And all who read will know, the end.”

As the song progressed, something inside clicked, though she could never explain what it was. Until now, all the random sensations she felt were meaningless noise, but the subtle melodies and the oddly strung-together lyrics drew her a path through the cavalcade. A strong, spicy, and even somewhat familiar scent filled the air, making her head feel a bit lighter, and she noticed faint clouds drift up from the crowd. The stage lights no longer hurt her eyes, merely added to the mesmerizing vibe she got from the music. She felt an instinctive urge to lift her arms, not unlike the ponies around her, while she listened intently to every word the singer uttered.

More than once, she noticed Horizon’s gaze pass over her, pausing for a moment each time. She was quite sure he was toying with her, but what bothered her more was how he knew he could, and why she reacted at all. Unlike Andy, who was a gentle soul that saw a gem in Rarity, Horizon represented fiery passion behind a calm, smug expression. He was an incubus, staring down from his throne at the mare who ventured into his domain, and with every minute spent listening to his song, he tempted her more and more to release the demoness in her soul.

A few minutes later, though it may as well have been hours, the music slowed down and finally came to a halt with one last, loud chord. “Thank you!” Horizon said with a grin. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, arms raised while they chanted his name. Rarity blinked, slowly coming out of her daze to realize she was clapping with her hands over her head, grinning from ear to ear. She glanced to her side to see Fluttershy smirking at her, and she puffed her cheeks, the blush on her face persisting.

The band quickly got a sip or two from their drinks, and Horizon cleared his throat. “This next song is dedicated to the lovely angel before me.” Rarity’s eyes widened as he looked directly at her. “She’s lit a fire in me, so how about I do the same for all of you?”

The crowd roared in response, while Rarity curled up, turning bright red. She relaxed somewhat when she realized that nopony aside from Horizon had singled her out, and she risked a peek above the ponies before her. The stallion onstage was still looking at her, and his grin widened as their eyes met once more. He winked and lifted a hand, gesturing for his bandmates to start the next song. The drummer tapped the beat, and they kicked off a much more dynamic tune.

“If you knew whatever’s true
Maybe I could never lie
Girl it’s all the same to you
So everyone should hear the cry...”

Everypony around her began to move, giving her just a split second to react before the currents started tossing her about. It was far from violent, the music made ponies dance rather than shove each other around, but it was definitely chaotic. She felt gentle tugs and pushes from all around, while her hands and eyes desperately sought her friend. Occasionally, she would get a glimpse of yellow feathers and a pink mane, and she could hear Jessamine’s laughter, but they could never quite cling together.

Rarity was quite panicked at first, dreading the possibility of getting lost on her own in this wild place. But before long, her anxiety slowly dissolved in a warm, euphoric cloud that settled onto the crowd. Rather than struggle, she tried to follow the currents, letting them guide her body, make it sway and shift to the rhythm of the song. She closed her eyes and smiled, letting the world fade out around her. Moments later, a familiar giggle came from beside her, and she turned to see Fluttershy reach out and pull her into a hug. The song ended not long afterward, letting the mare come off her high, and she gasped for breath, only just now noticing how winded she was.

“Everything alright, Jade~?” Fluttershy said.

“Huh?” Rarity blinked and gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just… a little worn out, that’s all.” She fanned herself, feeling sweat trickle off her forehead, and her whole body felt like it was under the midday sun, despite it being close to dusk by now.

“I understand. It’s really warm today.” Fluttershy gave her a reassuring rub on her sides. “If you feel like it, I know a place we could go and relax for a while.”

Rarity lit up at the idea almost immediately. “Really?” She returned returned the hug. “Yes! By all means, let’s go!”

Fluttershy giggled. “Don’t worry, Horizon has this effect on a lot of ponies. You can get used to it~”

The fashionista nodded and calmly followed her friend out of the crowd, occasionally glancing over her shoulder at the band onstage. She blushed again as she saw Horizon’s eyes trailing her, though she no longer felt embarrassed. A different emotion altogether, but definitely not something that made her want to curl up. It was quickly forgotten, however, when they emerged from the thick of the crowd, and Rarity froze as her toes bumped into a clump of grass. Alarm bells went off in her head as she glanced down and saw her bare, dirt-stained feet on the trampled soil of the festival grounds.

Somehow, she had managed not to scream. Her heart ached for her slippers, as it would for any of her clothes, and she dared not imagine what kind of fate they met under the feet of the throng. But even worse was to imagine what lay ahead of her. Either she could learn to fly -- or teleport -- in a matter of minutes, or she was about to give her virgin soles a firsthand experience with Mother Earth.

Before she could even begin to contemplate this, Fluttershy took her hand and led her onward. “Don’t worry, it’s not far away~” Rarity yelped, instinctively rising to her toes, and she stumbled after her friend, chewing on her lower lip to hold back her outbursts.

The journey was harrowing, to say the least. Harrowing, that is, for some ponies, though Fluttershy seemed like she could even dance her way across a field of thorns on fire. She hummed one of the Thankful Departed tunes to herself calmly while she led the two of them along a path through the nearby woods, practically skipping with excitement. Rarity, on the other hand, was ready to collapse. Not from exhaustion, but from the insane abuse her feet suffered, making their journey feel ten times longer than it really was. She could not fathom how they were this sensitive, but with all the sensations bombarding her, she could not even hope to think about it.

Not that she felt pain, or at least never too much. She just about managed to tiptoe her way off the festival grounds, doing her best to ignore the amused looks she got as every other step made her yelp or squeak. As soon as they reached the first of the trees, however, she had to plant her feet firmly on the ground, otherwise she had no way of keeping up with Fluttershy. Her heart raced, and her eyes stared at the path non-stop, no matter how much the pegasus tried to point out the beauty of the forest. Every leaf on the ground looked like just another hiding spot for roots and stones, the first of which felt like lightning had somehow struck her from below, and toward the end she was deathly afraid of them lurking in her path.

About the only consolation she had was that she had not lost any of her jewels during the concert. The last thing she needed was to look into Andy’s handsome face again and watch it go sour as she announced the loss of his gifts. But fate, it seemed, was more kind to her than that. To her immense relief, the path soon opened up, and the ground cleared as well, becoming flat and soft soil for her to walk on. Her soles still tingled, but they did not scream, and the clarity thus gained allowed her to take in the sight up ahead. A large, circular pond lay before them, surrounded by the woods on all sides, though there was a short clearing between the water and the trees. The surface of the pond was as smooth as a mirror, with neither debris nor wind disturbing it, and by reflecting of its colorful surroundings perfectly, it made the sight all the more vibrant.

The water itself was supplied by a stream on the far side of the pond that came down from a nearby hill, and the sound of it gently trickling along the rocks mingled with the soft singing of the birds. Several clumps of white flowers grew near the shores, emitting a scent that, when combined with the aroma of the forest, was more sweet and subtle than any perfume money could buy.

“Oh my stars…” Rarity’s jaw dropped, and she could not even speak for a few moments, her eyes wide as they took it all in. Even the aching and tingling in her feet had all but faded away. “Fluttershy... this is wonderful!”

“Hmm?” Fluttershy turned to her with a playful chuckle. “Who is Fluttershy?”

Rarity snorted and rolled her eyes. “My mistake. Ahem.” She put on a more relaxed and phased out voice. “This is a radical place you brought me to, Jessamine~”

Fluttershy nodded and, without another word, calmly started undressing herself, much to the bafflement of her friend. Confusion then became shock as Fluttershy casually removed even her underwear, and after a brief stretch and a deep breath, she made her way to the edge of the pool. Her feet made a soft rustling noise as she reached the cobbled shore, followed by the gentle sloshing of the water around her legs as she entered, not stopping until she was waist-deep.

Glancing over her shoulder, Fluttershy gave her friend a teasing smirk. “Well?” Her voice was a far cry from the shy companion Rarity knew her as. Were she to close her eyes, she could convince herself that she had been joined by some mystical, seductive dweller of the pond. “Come on in, Jade. The water is fine~”

Rarity gulped, tearing her gaze away from Fluttershy’s delicate figure above the water’s surface, and turning it down upon her bare feet. She tiptoed forward and paused at the edge of the cobbles, where she slowly undressed as well and took a few deep breaths, staring at the obstacle lying before her.

For heaven’s sake, she thought. Pull yourself together, Rarity!

With great anticipation, she willed her muscles to move and lifted her right foot, giving a low hum as her sole reluctantly had to give up on soft, damp soil. Her foot trembled a little, but she shook her head and bit her tongue. She lifted her head to smile at Fluttershy, moments before she took the first step.

“Eep!” Rarity nearly fell over, her entire body convulsing from the sensation that rode up her spine. It felt like dozens of fingers pressed up into her foot, rubbing firmly each time she moved it a fraction of an inch, hitting every single soft spot at once. At the same time, her nerves felt almost unnaturally sensitive, the tiniest pebble setting off its own intense jolt that rode up to her brain, making her body thrash and shudder along the way.

“Nnngh!” Rarity stumbled forward inadvertently, turning her gait into an ever-growing feedback loop of stimulation. Her hopes of getting used to the sensations and feeling them lose intensity were buried in the various squeaks, yelps, and groans she let out, which got louder with every subsequent step. Amidst the various jolts, tingling, buzzing, and cold and warm waves rushing up and down her body, she struggled to at least keep her balance, while she could just barely muffle her vocal outbursts by chewing on her lip. “Mmmph!”

Fluttershy hummed contently as she watched her friend stumbling around, slowly approaching the edge of the water. Not that she found the desperate struggle itself amusing, but rather she felt a strong sense of pride seeing the mare try to stand her ground bravely, even as her bare, virgin feet were assaulted by an opponent that looked so puny, yet proved to be devastating.

At the same time, however, she could not deny getting a hint of impish delight from watching someone give up on footwear for a change, only for their pampered feet to succumb to such a simple obstacle. Soon enough, the squeaks and moans became dominant among Rarity’s outbursts, and her cheeks turned bright red, thighs clenching as the jolts she experienced began to focus on a spot in between. She picked up the pace, praying silently that the pool would be her saving grace.

“Gyahh!” Her foot landed, and she winced as several smooth, round pebbles wedged between her toes. A shiver rode up her leg and played her spine like a string before making her gasp and shake her head. She all but skipped toward the pool during the last few paces, only to pause, eyes wide, as her feet entered the warm water. “W-WahahAA!”

She nearly doubled over, giving a low moan, while her feet squirmed as the water seemed to make them tingle all the way to the bones. Cold water would at least have overtaken the other sensations and numbed her to the torture, but the pond just seemed to soften her up even more. By some miracle, she managed to wade her way further in, and she gave a groan of relief when the cobble finally gave way to soft mud.

“Well done, Jade,” Fluttershy reached out to rub her friend’s shoulder once she managed to catch up. “There, isn’t it better~?”

Rarity hugged herself and breathed rapidly, her cheeks bright red as a subtle tingling persisted between her thighs. “Ohh… gosh… mmm…” She shuddered and slowly bent her legs, letting the rest of her body descend under the surface. The warm water embraced her, washing away any of the dirt and sweat tainting her skin, and she gave a deep sigh of relief as the muscles in her limbs began to relax. “Ohhh yess…”

She spread her arms and legs, letting the water carry her weight as she lay on her back, only her face remaining above the surface. The wide opening in the canopy above gave her a clear view of the evening sky, with the first of the stars joining the moon on its nightly arc. She took deep breaths, smiling as it filled her lungs with the almost dizzying aroma of the flowers around the pond, and she closed her eyes, quietly humming a tune she heard recently. With her ears underwater, the notes had a strange, dull sound in her head, almost making her giggle.

A few droplets of water landed on her forehead, making her flinch and open her eyes again, just in time to see Fluttershy’s fingers press against her horn. Rarity let out a soft gasp, only for a finger to press against her lips and keep them closed. “Shhh...” Fluttershy cooed. “Just relax~”

It was easier said than done, and it took all of the unicorn’s self-control to not start instinctively paddling with her arms and legs, let alone trying to stay completely still. She stared wide-eyed at her friend, who simply smiled and moved her fingers ever so slightly, rubbing the tips along Rarity’s smooth appendage.

“Nngh…” A buzz ran down her horn, straight through her brain and down her spine to coil through her tail and, presumably, spread throughout the lake and travel all the way to the core of the Earth. And to top it off, it was anything but unpleasant, with even more to come. “F-Flutter--grfh… Jessamine!” Her voice was barely a strained squeak between rapid breaths.

Fluttershy simply hushed her again, her fingers gently moving up and down Rarity’s horn, occasionally circling it or giving a very faint scratch. Her other hand stroked the mare’s chin and trailed downward after a while, her fingertips tracing her neck and shoulder, moving tantalizingly close to her chest. The pegasus kept humming one of the band’s tunes while she leaned closer, staring deeply into Rarity’s eyes.

“Wh...whahuh?” Rarity blinked rapidly, and she tried to speak, only to be cut off by a low moan as Fluttershy’s hand reached her breasts and gave a gentle squeeze on one of her mounds. Her thumb circled on one of Rarity’s nipple gently, while her other hand wrapped around Rarity’s horn, the thumb there rubbing the tip. The appendage buzzed again, even emitting a few tiny arcs of light near the top. Rarity arched her back, giving a low groan, and she was about to lose control and sink when Fluttershy calmly pressed against her side, keeping her afloat. She breathed a sigh of relief, then squeaked again when Fluttershy’s hand on her breast trailed further down, slipping across her belly.

“Relax, Jade.” The pegasus leaned even closer, her warm breath washing over the squirming mare’s face. “Just relax. Float. Enjoy~”

“F-Fluttershy…” Rarity shuddered, her entire vision now filled by her friend’s beautiful, turqoise eyes. Her mouth opened and closed, breathlessly mouthing the words she tried to say. “Fluttershy, wha--mmph!”

She tensed up all over, instinctively pressing tighter against her friend to avoid sinking. Her eyes slipped shut as warmth flooded her mouth, accompanied by a heavenly sweet taste. Her tongue rubbed against something wet and moving, and the two began a slow struggle, while their lips embraced as tightly as the mares they belonged to. They gave muffled groans, tasting each others’ breath and sharing their own. Warmth pooled on Rarity’s cheeks, but oddly enough, she felt calm all of a sudden, as though everything were normal, and she were in control.

Moments later, she squeaked, eyes wide as she felt something rub between her thighs. The tingling in her nethers flared, and she arched her back again when Fluttershy’s fingers sought out her slit and pressed against them. A surge shot up her spine, almost making her throw her head back ecstatically, were it not even more pleasant to stay locked in the kiss. Instead, she rewarded Fluttershy with a low moan into her mouth, while her legs all but turned to jelly, even as they weakly tried to close over her crotch.

Fluttershy giggled and pushed her fingers deeper, eliciting another moan from her friend. The lack of hesitation was shocking, and from anypony else, it might have felt appalling, but right now it just made Rarity feel all the more subdued. She could be as tough as a rampaging minotaur at times, but at this moment, she might as well have been a helpless breezie in Fluttershy’s palm.

To a mare so used to being dominant, this should have been unthinkable. But her friend did not even give her the chance to think. Her index and middle finger slipped in, slowly rubbing back and forth, exploring her inner walls. A damp sensation appeared in her nethers, independent from the water surrounding most of her body. Fluttershy gently broke the kiss, letting Rarity get a breath of fresh air. Her thumb pressed on a sensitive spot above the mare’s slit, and as a fresh wave of pleasure rode up to Rarity’s brain, the pegasus leaned further and pressed her tongue against the side of her friend’s horn.

“O-Ohhh my... g-gosh…” Rarity’s eyes crossed, and her mouth hung open, letting out a groan that sounded almost guttural. Everything went dull, swirling about in the warm water that flooded every inch of her, dampening thought and amplifying sensation. Her nose was flooded by Fluttershy’s sweet scent, her taste filled her mouth, and her insides clenched as her friend’s fingers pushed even deeper. Her fingers and toes curled up and released non-stop, which was the most coherent action she could perform while struggling to delay the inevitable. The pressure inside grew, making her moans louder and more frequent, until they at last reached a peak, just as Fluttershy wrapped her lips around the tip of Rarity’s horn.

The mare cried out, or at least tried to, as she was already out of breath. Her nethers clenched around the invading fingers, coating them with warm juices, while she twitched and shuddered all over, mind going blank from the intense climax. She very nearly blacked out, the fear of which was her only tether to consciousness. Still, her orgasm was far from short-lived, and she feared she may indeed have passed out along the way. By the time her vision refocused, and she was able to control her breathing again, she found Fluttershy standing upright, licking her lips and smiling triumphantly as she looked down at her.

“It’s okay, Jade,” Fluttershy cooed. She helped Rarity stand on her own feet again -- not a small feat, as her legs may as well have detached themselves and floated away -- and hugged her from behind, nuzzling her neck. “Just breathe. That’s it. Breathe~”

Breathe she did. That was pretty much all she could do. She closed her eyes and practically went limp, only her chest rising and falling. She lost track of things, with only vague images coming into focus. She saw herself leaning on Fluttershy as they climbed out of the pool. She found herself lying on the soft soil, staring dreamily at her friend as she walked along the edge of the water and leaned down to collect some of the white flowers. The sight reminded Rarity of their scent, which now felt stronger than ever. Warmth pooled on her cheeks when she saw that Fluttershy was still naked, the water on her skin glistening in the moonlight.

Maybe she is a sprite from the pond after all?

Rarity had almost drifted off by the time Fluttershy returned, helping her up and leaning her on the pegasus’ shoulder to keep her steady. A bouquet of the white flowers were in her other hand, bringing a hint of their intoxicating scent along for their journey. Rarity could faintly feel the uneven ground poking at her feet, but it just made her giggle and stumble a few times.

“Oh! Ohh, heh-heh… mm…”

“Everything alright, Jade?”

“Ngh… enough… name’s Rarity, heh…”

“Mmhmm~”

As they left the woods and reached the edge of town, however, Rarity’s head cleared up enough for her sensitivity to return. The warm ground gave way to cold cobbled streets, making her bite her lip as she awkwardly walked across them, struggling to hold back every little yelp and groan that threatened to come out. Even her fatigue had all but vanished, thanks to the intense sensations running up and down her spine, which instead threatened to make her collapse every few steps. Were it not for her friend’s support, she could not have imagined getting all the way back to their apartment, and still the journey was a strain on their friendship by the time they reached the front door.

“Nngh… s-slow down, Fluttershy!” she blurted out between gasps for breath.

“It’s okay.” Fluttershy wrapped a wing around her friend and caressed her shoulder. “Shhh. Calm down. We’re almost there.”

Rarity groaned in relief when her feet touched the soft carpet within. In reality, it was somewhat rough and probably dusty, but it was currently heaven compared to the pavement outside. The ordeal had left her a gasping, shuddering, blushing mess, her thighs clenched from the tingling between them, which made it difficult to even walk. She lifted her head to look at the door to her room, longing for the soft bed within, as well as the miracle of footwear.

To her surprise, Fluttershy instead guided her toward the opposite door. In her awkward state, Rarity was in no shape to struggle, beyond a groan of concern. “Fluttershy… mmm… where are we… ngh…”

Her friend hushed her softly again as she opened the door and led Rarity inside. The faint remnants of the sweet aroma from last night tickled her nose, and as soon as the light came on, the colorful interior was now dizzying to look at. Everywhere she turned her gaze, she found colors blurring together, sometimes even moving at the edges of her vision. The cushioned floor under her feet, while relaxing, was starting to feel like quicksand, sucking her right in. She moaned again and clenched her eyes shut, leaning into her friend, who gave a small chuckle and led her onward.

Within moments, Rarity found herself lying on the dais, her head resting on some pillows Fluttershy had placed under it. Rarity groaned and squirmed a little, not daring to open her eyes, lest the odd decor make her world spin again. Moments later, her ears twitched as she picked up on commotion, and she lifted her head slightly to risk a peek, focusing her eyes on Fluttershy, which made the disorienting effect from her surroundings just about manageable.

The pegasus walked around the room, lighting a rather impressive number of candles, and even a few incense burners. She then turned the lights down, replacing the more solid illumination with an almost ethereal glow. The room was far from dark, but it made clear outlines nearly impossible to see now, while the incense intensified the aroma, further wearing down Rarity’s senses. Fluttershy then retrieved a few things from a nearby cupboard, and she turned around with a soft smile, returning to the dais with a familiar device.

Rarity stared in bafflement at the hookah, which Fluttershy calmly set down and prepared for use. She crumpled what looked like white flower petals in her hands, stuffed them into the bowl on top of the hookah, placed some foil over it, and lit a piece of coal on top. Rarity tensed up a little as her friend sat down beside her, and she tried to sit upright, only to feel a hand gently settle on her shoulder and push her back down. Her mouth opened to let out a series of awkward mumbling, until Fluttershy placed a finger on it and chuckled again.

“Don’t worry, Jade.” Their eyes met, and a chill ran down Rarity’s spine. There was something strange in her friend’s eyes, though she could not fathom what it was. It was the same friendly face she saw almost every day, never suspecting anything behind it, but today it almost made her mane stand on end. “You’ll feel better soon~”

Rarity groaned as her head returned to the pillows. Her suspicions flared, demanding to know what was the meaning of this, but they almost immediately clashed with her rational mind, which scolded her for even entertaining the idea that her friend was up to no good. Still, despite all the coos and pets on the shoulder, she found it difficult to relax as Fluttershy presented a familiar device and moved it toward the unicorn’s snout.

“F-Flutter--mmph...” She bit her lip, ears flicking as the mask engulfed her mouth and nose, after which Fluttershy carefully fitted a strap around the back of Rarity’s head to keep the device attached. Oddly enough, while it was a bit more difficult to breathe, the air that came through was clear, only slightly tainted by the scent of the mask itself.

“Shhh, just breathe,” Fluttershy cooed. Her hand caressed Rarity’s side, making her relax somewhat. “Everything will be alright~”

Rarity looked away, finding it awkward to keep staring at her friend, but the rest of the room quickly discouraged keeping her eyes open. She then felt a soft tug on the tube attached to the mask, and her eyes widened as a wave of warm smoke washed over her mouth and nose. She breathed it in before she could react otherwise, and a low groan came out of her as she felt a strong sense of vertigo, coupled with all weight vanishing from her head. The confusion allowed her to breathe in again, which promptly removed weight from the rest of her body. Her heart picked up the pace as the pillows felt like they were swallowing her again, but eventually the sinking feeling stopped, and she felt like she was floating just above the edge of the water.

Almost like… back at the pond… where…

A hand touched her cheek, making her half-lidded eyes blink, and she faintly felt another tug on the mask. Cool, fresh air filled her lungs, allowing her to rediscover gravity. Her eyes were a bit heavy, but she managed to focus her vision again, only to see that her friend no longer stood over her.

“H-Huh?” Her heart skipped a beat, and she tried to lift her head, but her body was trapped in the goo she felt herself floating in. For a moment, she even felt dread that moving around might make her sink deeper, but she dismissed the thought as preposterous. In the corner of her left eye, she noticed movement and weakly turned to look, staring in confusion as her friend knelt beside her, a few colorful strips of fabric in her hand. Before Rarity could speak, Fluttershy reached in and gently grabbed her friend’s wrist, guiding her arm under her back. She repeated the motions for Rarity’s other arm, and once her hands were against each other, she took one of the strips of fabric. The unicorn tensed up as she felt it wrap around her wrists, eyes widening as she stared at her friend.

“Mghm!” She wriggled in place weakly, her voice muffled by the mask. “Fluttershy, wha--”

Fluttershy merely smiled and leaned in, nuzzling her friend’s belly. Her snout nudged Rarity’s blouse out of the way, allowing her to place a kiss near the struggling mare’s belly button. Rarity shuddered, cheeks flushing brightly, and she was too caught up in the scene to notice the fabric tighten around her wrists. Fluttershy then lifted her head with a chuckle and, just before her friend could struggle again, reached out to turn a small valve on the hookah.

“Ohhh… mmm…” Rarity’s eyes twitched and became half-lidded as the sweet, thick smoke flooded her airways again. Her body fidgeted, arms now securely bound behind her back, the cushions making sure her weight did not press down on them and strain her joints, while the bonds held just tight enough to keep her wrists in place. She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, unable to comprehend this act, at least not while she was breathing in fog that lifted her toward the stars.

Moments later, sobriety rushed back with a wave of fresh air, and she forced her eyes open, just in time to see Fluttershy move toward her legs with a wide smile. Rarity moaned in protest, but her friend simply hushed her as she placed the unicorn’s ankles and knees side by side, then promptly tied a cute bow around both. While Rarity focused on making her legs squirm and struggle, Fluttershy gave her another dose of the hookah’s fumes, making her float in a docile state while she moved to retrieve something else.

Rarity stared at the ceiling, unable to look away from the mesmerizing decorations while the smoke tied her down. Worse still, bit by bit, it seemed to make her more responsive to stimuli. The moment Fluttershy turned the valve again, she tried to squirm against the bonds, only to gasp and shudder as the slightest motion made half her body rub against the cushions, the strips of fabric, and even herself, and any contact with any point on her skin sent a surge of pleasure rushing up to her head.

“Nnngh…” The familiar tingling between her thighs returned, and she clenched them, which just made it stronger. In her confusion, she tried to look at her friend again, praying she would offer a good explanation for all this. Fluttershy gave a warm smile and approached the mare, holding something in her hand. Rarity’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, and she tried to keep the hand in her field of view as Fluttershy knelt behind her head. Looking up, she stared into the pegasus’ loving expression, and for a moment, she managed to smile under the mask as well, giving a low hum of contentment as her friend caressed her cheeks.

The serene moment did not last too long. Fluttershy lifted her other hand, and Rarity finally got a clear look at the object between her fingers. Despite the increasing vertigo, sensitivity, and the lack of proper response in her limbs, she immediately started to squirm again, now almost able to nudge herself slightly, while she shook her head and moaned in protest.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” Fluttershy cooed, caressing her friend’s cheek. Her other hand slowly moved the ring toward Rarity’s horn. “This is all just to keep you safe. Now relax~”

For a moment, Rarity found herself puzzled by the gems along the outer edge of the ring, as well as the patterns etched into the gold itself. Both seemed oddly familiar, and even what she would call beautiful, were it not currently headed for perhaps the most precious part of her body. Her horn fizzled, unable to light up properly with the panic and lingering haze in her head.

Just as she managed to at least channel enough magic into the appendage and create a consistent blue glow, the ornament touched the tip of her horn, making her twitch in response. A shiver ran through her body, and she groaned as the ring slid down, feeding her own magic back into her body, intensifying all the stimulation she felt before. Fluttershy kept hushing her and caressing her cheek, then leaned in to give Rarity’s forehead a kiss, just as the ring pressed against the base of her horn and firmly tightened into place.

Rarity tilted her head back, eyes crossing as she gave a low moan. Her growing arousal and lack of focus made her push further surges of magic into her horn, only for the ring to buzz slightly each time, feeding the energy right back into the rest of her. By the time she broke out of the loop, she was gasping for breath and sweating, feeling incredibly warm all over, a damp sensation forming between her legs.

“Mmnnghmm…” As her vision finally managed to focus, she looked up at Fluttershy again, her expression showing confusion and desperation. The pegasus merely smiled in response, giving her friend’s ear a quick scratch.

“Hmm?” She tilted her head slightly. “Would you like some more~?”

“Mm… hmm?” Rarity blinked, and she tried to shake her head, but Fluttershy had already reached over to the hookah. “Mmm! Mm-mmm…” She tried to hold her breath, but with her thirst for air from before, she already got a solid whiff of the fog, which then compelled her to take another, and another, until she was floating again.

Seeing her friend’s body relax again, Fluttershy moved both her hands to Rarity’s ears, gently kneading and scratching them. She leaned over her friend and stared into her eyes, waiting for the panic to dissolve from them entirely. Soon enough, they lost focus, and Rarity let out a low hum, a dazed look settling on her face once more.

“Does this feel good, Jade?” Fluttershy caressed her friend’s cheek, while her other hand flipped the valve again, replacing the fumes with fresh air. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Mmhmm~”

“Mmm…” Rarity’s eyes managed to open properly again, and she tried to slowly shake her head, brow furrowing slightly. “My… name isn’t… Jade…” she mumbled. “I’m… Rarity… ohh!” She tensed up as Fluttershy wrapped her index finger and thumb around her horn. Her magic surged in response, making the ring vibrate and feed it back into her. She gasped as what felt like fingers began to prod her belly, rubbing it to the same rhythm as Fluttershy’s fingers on her horn.

“But it feels good, doesn’t it?” the pegasus whispered. She leaned closer, her warm breath caressing Rarity’s face. She blushed when the same warmth washed over the rest of her body. “Don’t you love this?”

“Wh-What are you--” Rarity’s eyes widened, only to go half-lidded again when Fluttershy flipped the valve, and the dizzying vapor filled the mask. “Mmm… ohhh…” She squirmed lightly as the pegasus introduced a third finger to her horn and moved them back and forth.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to always feel this good?”

“Mm…” Cool, fresh air filled her lungs again, letting Rarity rise to the surface of her mind again. Each time she sank into the warm and happy haze, however, she felt herself get more and more heavy. Her instincts told her not to let go, but the burden just seemed to grow, and all for what? Her eyes met Fluttershy’s own, and she nodded hesitantly. “Mmhmm…”

“Good girl,” Fluttershy said. Her fingers squeezed a bit more, and Rarity moaned in response, feeling those same fingers rub along her sides firmly. “I can help you, Jade.”

“Mmm?” Rarity finally connected it. She did not understand it, nor did she really want to. Fluttershy’s fingers did not just tease her horn. Each time they touched a new spot, Rarity felt the phantom fingers caress a new part of her body. And as the pegasus discovered every sensitive point, she gradually began to focus on them. A thumb went near the base of Rarity’s horn, and she tilted her head back, moaning as she felt pressure on her crotch. A quartet of fingers danced along the side of the appendage, and she giggled from a naughty tickle on her belly.

Fluttershy leaned closer, her eyes and loving smile filling Rarity’s vision. “You trust me, don’t you?”

Rarity gulped, feeling herself become tiny under the visage and the voice, even though neither displayed blatant power. Trust her? But what was she doing? Yes, she was her friend, but why was this happening? If only I could have some more of the happy stuff… No! That was not right! But it would help so much...

As if reacting to her thoughts, she felt the warm, sweet fumes tickle her nose again. While her mind protested, her body eagerly drank the intoxicating substance, letting her sink into bliss. Her eyes lost focus, but somehow Fluttershy’s face remained clear in her vision, her voice sounding all the more resonant. For a moment, it even seemed to have an echo in her skull.

“You trust me because we’re friends, and good friends help each other~”

“Mmmm…” Rarity gasped as she got fresh air again. Her body tensed up as she realized just how much all the sensations had aroused her. She groaned and wriggled, the movements making her aware of the binds again. Her heart and breathing accelerated, and she tried to tear her gaze away from her friend’s face. Something did not feel right about it, though she could not hope to explain what. What could indeed be menacing about a friend’s smile and kind words?

She shook her head, trying to banish those thoughts, and her limbs struggled a little more intensely. Closing her eyes did not help, as it set off a strong sense of vertigo, as if the whole room were spinning. She then tried to look anywhere but straight up, but the room’s vibrant decorations were all the more disorienting. If she tried to focus on one spot, she could almost see everything around it subtly shifting around. Holding her breath, she hesitantly returned her gaze to Fluttershy, and an odd sense of relief settled on her.

“Worried about these, Jade?” Fluttershy chuckled softly and petted Rarity’s head. “It’s okay. Relax. Shhh…” Leaning in, she planted a soft kiss on the tip of the mare’s horn, eliciting a low moan from her. Her struggling ceased, and she returned to simply squirming from the pleasure coursing through her body.

“Wh-Wha… why… nngh… ohhh...”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, Jade.” Fluttershy gave tiny kisses along Rarity’s horn, each one making a different body part twitch in response. “You just need them to keep you safe while you change~”

Rarity clenched her eyes shut again, and her brow furrowed as she shook her head. “Mm… change?”

“Mmhmm,” Fluttershy mused. “Change. Just like when you put on new clothes. You change.”

“Ohh…” Rarity opened her eyes again. Unable to look away, she instead tried to focus on mental images and ignore what was outside. Yes, clothes, she thought. Dresses. Fashion, my passion.

“Do you know why you wear clothes?” Fluttershy asked. Her dexterous fingers gently ran through Rarity’s mane.

“Mmm… mhm?” The question threw off Rarity’s train of thought. She had made countless clothes during her career, but no such philosophical dilemmas ever came to mind. She simply thought they were things of beauty, and that was that.

“You put them on to be who you need to be.” Fluttershy emphasized each point she made with a shift of her fingers on Rarity’s horn, occasionally assisted by a nuzzle or even a kiss. “You change yourself to be who ponies around you want you to be.”

“Mmmm…” Rarity opened her mouth, attempting to speak. She did not even realize the mask was no longer on her face, letting her moan openly when she felt a particularly naughty finger spiral around her belly button and inevitably squirm its way in. She would have loved to offer a rebuttal to Fluttershy’s argument, but she could not even think of one, let alone say it.

Fluttershy gave a reassuring coo as she watched her friend struggle. “Don’t be shy about it. It’s perfectly natural.” Her eyes remained locked on Rarity’s own, only blinking a few times, always providing a firm anchor for the unicorn to return to.

“But… I don’t… ohhh…” Rarity’s breathing picked up, and she eventually tilted her head back, giving a low moan, while her whole body tensed up. A bright blush formed on her cheeks as the wet sensation between her thighs skyrocketed. The ring around her horn buzzed, intensifying her release as it fed her own magical bursts back to all her sensitive spots. “Nnnngh…”

“Everything in nature changes all the time.” Fluttershy did not seem fazed at all by her friend’s climax. Her smile widened somewhat, and she continued the monologue and the gentle teasing without pause. “Seeds become flowers, caterpillars become butterflies… and they’re all beautiful.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Just like you are.”

Rarity moaned again, her sensitivity after her climax making even the gentle breeze of a whisper on her face set her entire body off. It felt like there were fingers all over her body, taking turns in tormenting her, always switching the moment she started getting used to one. The pleasure she felt was almost mind-numbing, and her body begged her to just sink deeper into it, rather than keep clinging to things she could not even explain, for reasons she did not know.

“You’re going to change too, Rarity.”

“H-Huh?” Rarity blinked, surprised to hear her own name again. With how Fluttershy had been using the pseudonym so much, the two were starting to get fuzzy in Rarity’s head. She stared up, feeling small yet again as the pegasus’ wide eyes engulfed her vision.

Fluttershy responded with another kiss on the mare’s horn, followed by a very short lick. “Relax. Trust me, you’re going to love this. Everyone will.”

Rarity’s eyes rolled back for a moment, and she arched her back, her nethers clenching from a warm, moist sensation riding along her entrance. Already worked up from her previous release, the pressure in it was dangerously close to a second one, and perhaps countless more afterward.

“It’s okay. I understand. It’s hard.” Fluttershy broke eye contact briefly and nuzzled her friend’s cheek while whispering into her “It’s not as simple as putting a dress on. But if you help me, I can make it feel wonderful~”

Rarity’s hands gripped the cushions that she rested on, shaking from the effort. She very nearly moaned in relief when Fluttershy’s visage returned to her sight, as it was her only brace amidst the mental and physical turmoil. Deep inside, a faint voice told her that something was really very not right, but she longed for an end to all this chaos, and it felt ludicrous to suspect her own friend.

“You just need to let go.” Fluttershy leaned in, planting a kiss on Rarity’s lips. The mare weakly tried to return it. “Help me help you, Rarity.”

A smile tugged on Rarity’s lips, and she moaned, managing to relax despite the constant stimulation all over her body. There was some sort of radiance in her friend’s eyes, not visible, but rather almost tangible. Every word the pegasus spoke set off vivid mental images in Rarity’s head, even as she could still faintly see the room in the corners of her vision. Is this what her Stare looks like?

“Embrace the pleasures Mother Earth offer you, and let me make you into Jade Vine, one of Her most beautiful gems.”

Her thoughts drifted back to when they were at Andy’s gem stand, and she looked upon her reflection in a mirror. It was harder to see this time, but she could still make out those beautiful gems, and the mare wearing them looked no less pretty. A small chuckle bubbled up from her, which earned her another kiss from Fluttershy.

“Imagine yourself at the pond.” The image shifted, and indeed they were back at the edge of the pool, both of them naked. “Remember what you saw and did today. Who you were. Those things are in the water, keeping it warm and clean. They are waiting for you.” The moonlight reflecting off the water wavered slightly, as though something had disturbed the water from underneath.

“Take my hand, Rarity. Walk with me into the pond.” She felt a hand take her own and lead her toward the edge of the water, even though she knew her arm was still bound behind her back. “Nothing but moon and starlight. It’s just you and me… and Mother Earth holding us in her arms~”

They stopped once they were waist deep, and Fluttershy’s hands pressed on Rarity’s shoulders gently. The unicorn lay on her back and let the water carry her weight. Her legs pressed together, and her arms were folded behind her back, letting Fluttershy hold her above the water. The pegasus leaned over her, removing the last of the dissonance between real and imaginary. Rarity’s awareness expanded, and she felt something swirling below, slowly rising toward her body.

“Relax, Rarity,” Fluttershy whispered. “Let it happen. Feel the Earth’s blessing fill your entire being and give you new life.”

Her heart raced, and she breathed rapidly as the warm mass caressed her back. It settled onto her like a warm blanket from below and slowly began to spread to the rest of her body. Her eyes widened, staring right into Fluttershy’s own, and she felt a sense of falling right into those two dark pools that reflected her body, floating in the pond in the moonlight. Her mouth opened slightly, and she let out tiny gasps, feeling a strange “pressure” on her mind. It was faint, almost like fabric fitting tightly over one’s body.

The warmth flowed up around her back, engulfing her legs and making them clench as it slipped between her thighs. Her cheeks flushed, twitching from the sensation flowing over her face, and her eyelids fluttered as they went half-lidded, then closed entirely, with her own calm visage the last thing she saw before everything went dark. She went completely still, the tight sensation fading in her head, but not quite leaving things the way they were, though she was no longer conscious enough to comprehend that.

Fluttershy smiled, her hand stroking her friend’s cheek, and she leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips, tasting the final deep sigh that Rarity gave that night.