Rarity's Rehabilitation

by Dark Avenger

Rating: mature
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity, Romance, Fluttershy, Sex, Anthro
Length: 21827

Despite its success, Rarity's career has left her a nervous wreck. Fluttershy decides to help by showing her friend a new way of life, full of joy and relaxation.

Ever the drama queen, Rarity is going through a period of complete emotional turmoil, which Fluttershy learns of during one of their regular spa sessions. Seeing that her friend needs help, she suggests they go on vacation together. Someplace where they can relax, forget about work and all the other tedious parts of reality, and just enjoy life to its fullest.

Flutterhy's choice of location and event, however, is a bit too primitive and uncouth for Rarity's tastes, even if she respects the idea of being closer to nature. Still, Fluttershy is determined to help her friend find peace, even if it means giving her a new perspective on life.

Rated "Mature", but nothing hardcore happens (most of it is cuddling and hypnosis). Tagged as "Romance" but is closer to "Friendshipping".

Cover art is me having photoshopped together pieces of these two pictures: (link) (link)

Published 2016-08-05 16:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-11-24 22:19:22 UTC

Aroma Therapy

Fluttershy hummed softly, her snout buried in the magazine in her hands, while her eyes slowly weaved back and forth as they traced the tiny script of the article. Glancing up for a moment, she took note of the handle positions on the clock on the far wall. The tiniest of frowns appeared on her face, and she gave a more thoughtful hum.

Strange… Rarity tends to run a bit late, but not this much.

As if on cue, front door of the spa burst open, the sudden motion making the pegasus jerk in her chair, snapped out of her calm reverie brought on by the incense and the ambient music playing from the overhead speakers. She peeked over the top of the magazine, watching a white unicorn mare with purple, elegantly-curled mane stomp her way inside. Fluttershy would have recognized her immediately, were it not for the gloomy and almost hateful expression on her face.

“The usual,” Rarity growled. Her bitter tone made the yellow pegasus bite her lower lip. Her friend had apparently hit another low point, which meant plenty of outbursts were to be expected. Not a pleasant thing to go through, but Fluttershy was not about to shy away from a friend in need.

“Hello, Rarity…” she said and gave an awkward smile. “Is everything--”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine!” Rarity huffed and shook her head. “No problems at all. Let’s just go. I’m in a hurry.”

The spa ponies rushed to her side, looking rather tense themselves as they smiled and gave their usual greeting banter. Rarity grumbled and followed them into the chambers ahead, Fluttershy tiptoeing after them. She smiled at Aloe as the mare brought out a small tub for her to step into, letting the soapy, warm water soak her bare feet and remove any dirt she might have picked up on the way here.

Her friend, on the other hand, did not bother to be so graceful. She all but tore off her elegant heels and the socks underneath, both of which looked uncharacteristically simple. In fact, to someone who knew the mare well enough, all of Rarity’s garments, while still expensive and exquisite, looked as though she just threw something on in order to leave her boutique and be barely presentable. Lotus Blossom gave an awkward chuckle, trying to act casual while Rarity stuck her legs into her own tub, making some of the water spill out.

“Lovely day we’re having, isn’t it?” the spa pony asked.

“Delightful…” Rarity said through gritted teeth.

“Yes, um…” Fluttershy added. She gave her friend another worried glance. “It’s... very nice.”

“Mmhmm~” Aloe nodded in agreement. “Perfect day to just sit back and relax.” As the mares finished soaking their feet, she opened the door to the next chamber. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything.”

The pair stepped inside, their now spotless feet leaving wet footprints on the tiles inside, which were kept warm by the underfloor heating. They headed toward the changing booths to the left, while the spa ponies prepared the sauna. Despite the comforting music and the sweet scents filling the interior, Fluttershy could no longer relax. Her thoughts constantly revolved around her friend’s distress while she removed her one-piece green dress and exchanged it for a bathrobe. The source of Rarity’s ire seemed to be a recent event, based on past experiences. She would be rather volatile for a short time, then calm down just as easily. The only question was what exactly set her off, and what Fluttershy could do to help.

Stepping back outside, she almost flinched when Rarity gave her a bitter glance, already having changed despite her more elaborate outfit. “Shall we?” the mare asked in an impatient tone. Fluttershy gulped and nodded meekly.

An awkward silence persisted through their entire sauna treatment, making the ten minutes they spent in there seem to stretch into ten hours. Fluttershy stole glances at her friend’s face, only to look away again when the frown was still there. It did not feel right to push just yet. The mud mask afterward was just as tense, though at least it concealed the fashionista’s gloomy expression, as it set off an ache in Fluttershy’s chest every time she saw it. Her legs rubbed together nervously, and when it was time to head for the massage tables, she decided it was best not to stall any longer.

“Rarity,” she said. “Um… are you sure you’re alright?”

Rarity paused, one hand already on the table, and turned to give a look that nearly made Fluttershy hide behind her mane. It practically screamed “did you seriously need to ask that?”, but the mare never spoke. Her hands curled into fists and trembled, and she opened her mouth, glaring at the pegasus, who did her best to stay firm and not look away. Finally, the unicorn gave a deep sigh and hung her head.

“No, Fluttershy. I am not okay. I am very not okay and won’t be for the rest of my LIFE!”

Her outburst made both the spa mares, and even the masseur behind Rarity’s table take a step back, glancing at each other in confusion. Only Fluttershy stayed still, the pain in her friend’s voice giving her all the courage she needed to do so. She even took a step closer, carefully reaching out to place a hand on Rarity’s shoulder.

“Calm down, Rarity. Just tell me what’s going on.”

Rarity snorted and rolled her eyes, waving it off, though she did not tear herself away from the friendly caress. “Oh, darling, it really doesn’t matter. It’s so ridiculous that I shouldn’t even be complaining.”

Fluttershy shook her head softly. “But it’s not. I can see how worked up you are. Did something go wrong in the boutique?”

“Wrong?” Rarity gave a mirthless chuckle. “No, the boutique is going just fine. Better than ever. Business is booming. Everypony wants to buy Rarity’s amazing new dresses.”

Fluttershy glanced at Aloe and Lotus, who nodded and quickly stepped out of the room, the masseur in tow. She turned back to her friend and squeezed her shoulder lightly, not saying a word, but letting her know she was listening.

“My dreams all came true, it seems.” Rarity muttered. “And I can’t stand them now.”

Fluttershy leaned a bit closer. “Oh, Rarity, don’t say that. Is it the work? Too much?”

“No, not at all.” Rarity chuckled again. “Work? I remember what that used to be like. Actual work. Not a silly desk job.”

“What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes again. “My ‘colleagues’ in the industry are living the dream, while I get to sit back and do nothing important.”

“Colleagues?”

“Coco Pommel, bless her soul, she has wonderful talent, and now that she’s got her own boutique running, she made partner with me and sells my dresses in Manehattan. We exchange letters all the time, all I need to do is give some business advice. Runs like a charm.”

“Oh…”

“And Sassy Saddles too. Runs the business just fine, sticks to my vision and adds her own flair, and the dresses are almost flying out the door. A hundred orders every day! We had to hire workers to handle the loads.”

“Oh…”

Rarity groaned and leaned onto the table, burying her face in her arms. “And me? All I have to do is sign a few papers, smile at a few parties, and do nothing. The last dress I ever touched was Rainbow Dash bringing me a shirt she ruined. A shirt! And it was the wrong color for her too...”

Fluttershy lifted her other hand, resting them on Rarity’s shoulders and rubbing gently. “Shhhh~” she cooed. “It’s okay. It’s alright.”

Rarity shook her head. “No, Fluttershy, it’s not alright.” She lifted her head slightly and sniffled, tears showing in the corners of her eyes. “I just got a letter from Canterlot. They want to see my latest fashion line, and I’m still picking them out from the ones I made months ago. I don’t even feel inspired anymore.”

The pegasus hushed her again, her hands rubbing a bit more firmly. The caress elicited a small groan from the fashionista, and she arched her back ever so slightly.

“Hmph…” She sighed again. “Is this it, Fluttershy? I’ll just be a pretty face for magazines, while my passion is handed out to others?”

“I’m sure you can still find your passion, Rarity,” Fluttershy whispered. Her hands traveled down the unicorn’s back, making her give another groan of relief. “You’re just going through a phase. It’ll pass.”

“Mmmm…” Rarity bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder at her friend. “You think so?”

The pegasus nodded with a smile. “Mmhmm~” Their gaze met, Fluttershy staring happily into Rarity’s puffy eyes, which the spa had no hope of undoing so far. “You’re the best dressmaker I know. It would be wrong to take that away from you. I’m sure Coco and Sassy would help if you told them.”

Rarity blinked and looked away. “Hmm… maybe…” She let out the breath she had been holding and nearly went limp on the table, her friend’s hands gradually turning her into putty. Even a smile started to tug on her lips. “Mmmm…”

Fluttershy noticed the mare’s reaction and moved closer, this time giving a soft caress along the top of her head. “Rarity?”

The unicorn hummed to herself contently, taking a few moments before she replied. “Yes, darling?”

“What do you say I give you the massage this time?”

“Oh…” A tiny blush formed on the mare’s cheeks, and she gave a small chuckle. “Well, uh… I’d appreciate it very much, but… what about--”

“Don’t worry about me.” Fluttershy gave a small chuckle of her own. “I’m relaxed enough. You look like you really need it though.”

Rarity smirked and pushed herself up again, though only until she could climb onto the table fully. Without skipping a beat, Fluttershy moved next to her and continued kneading and caressing her friend’s back. As her fingers traced along Rarity’s skin, seeking out every tense spot -- along with those that reacted more than others -- Fluttershy leaned a bit closer to her head.

“Rarity?”

“Hmm?” The mare did not even lift her head this time, having all but melted into the table.

“I think I have an idea.”

“Mmm…”

“You need a vacation.”

“A vacation?” Rarity chuckled, genuine humor in her tone this time, which dissolved the last of the ache in Fluttershy’s chest. “Please, darling. I’m practically on vacation right now, and you’re saying I need even less work?”

Fluttershy hushed her with a gently squeeze around her waist, her thumbs pressing in near Rarity’s spine, eliciting a low moan from her. “No, of course not,” the pegasus said in an innocent tone. “I just think you need a few days off. Get refreshed and think things through.”

“Hmm… yeah, that… does sound like a good idea, but…”

“Tell you what…” Fluttershy’s hands wandered close to Rarity’s hips, squeezing and kneading along the way, but they kept a respectful distance from the private areas. “I’ll even go with you. I know the perfect place we could visit.”

Rarity gave another chuckle between her moans of pleasure. “Thank you so much, Fluttershy. Hmmm… well, I’ll think about it, alright?”

The pegasus hummed in agreement, a tiny smirk appearing on her face, while her hands upped their efforts. The unicorn closed her eyes and went limp, feeling like a puddle of warm goo from the heavenly treatment.

“Really?”

Those were the first words to leave Rarity’s mouth ever since she got off the train. Until then, she had been holding her breath mostly, in part due to the rather “intense” scents radiating off certain members of the crowds she had to wade through. A great mass of ponies streamed back and forth along the dirt path leading away from the station, which was little more than a concrete platform and a few benches in the middle of nowhere. In an empty field right between two perfectly civilized towns, to be exact. Still, Fluttershy clearly instructed her to get off the train here, so the unicorn fought her way through the ocean of equines toward her goal, where the pegasus promised to meet her.

I wonder what kind of ‘surprise’ she’s preparing, Rarity thought. Can’t imagine why she couldn’t join me for the train ride.

The noon sun blazed overhead, heating up anything out of the shade almost to their boiling point, despite the efforts of several weather teams trying to gather clouds to keep those on the ground safe. The air itself was difficult to breathe, which also served to keep the mare from speaking. She paused for a breather, eyes focusing on a small hill in the distance, a tall oak tree at the summit, where Fluttershy promised to join her. Taking a deep breath, Rarity hefted her suitcase and adjusted her outfit -- a short-sleeved yellow blouse, a matching long skirt and wide hat, the latter of which was her sole saviour from the merciless sun overhead -- and she set off once more.

The climb to the summit was agonizing, and more than once her feet nearly tripped over her own skirt. Muttering curses, making sure to keep them ladylike at the same time, she stumbled her way to the top and dropped her bag, sweat dripping off her forehead as she gasped for breath. Leaning against the tree for a minute, she closed her eyes and gave silent thanks to whatever being that was merciful enough to grant her this source of shade. Her eyes then wandered back to the crowd, and she followed the long stream of ponies to their ultimate destination. She saw a large, fenced-off area, with a wide gate on its closest edge, a colorful sign above it that read “NOVA GROOVE FESTIVAL” in multicolored letters.

So it was that Rarity muttered her first words of disbelief.

Having been blinded by frustration and the heatwave until now, she finally got a good look at the crowd, not to mention where they were headed. The vast majority of ponies were youngsters, some barely entering their teens, as far as she could tell. It was difficult even for her fine eyes for detail, as many of them wore clothing that seemed more fitting for vagabonds who have been on the road for decades, and their manecuts and overall hygiene fared no better. Thankfully, there were a good number of properly dressed ponies as well, some she could even call elegant, but overall the “dress code” seemed rather lenient, to put it lightly. While they marched toward the gate peacefully, excluding a few who kept jumping in excitement or running back and forth, she could tell from their faces that there was plenty of energy waiting to explode from every single one of them.

As for the festival grounds themselves, they needed but a glance to reveal what was in store for her. There was a large stage at the far end, random noises occasionally rising above the murmuring of the crowd as the techs were setting up the equipment and testing it out. Once past the gate, the path split in three directions. Stores, food courts, and bathing areas lined either side of the paths, plenty of commotion going on in them already. Further in she could see a whole forest of tents, with more being set up every minute as the festival’s audience grew.

What in Equestria did that mare drag me into? Rarity thought.

As if on cue, she heard a familiar voice call out her name from behind. For a moment, she thought Fluttershy was shouting to her from afar, but the sound of footsteps on grass indicated the pegasus was much closer. Rarity turned around, ready to break into a series of complaints, only to go slack-jawed as her eyes landed on her friend’s outfit.

Fluttershy jogged up to her with a wide smile on her face, wearing a checkered shirt that was at least two sizes too big for the mare, and a pair of jeans that had probably seen better days a decade ago. She even had a pendant on that Rarity had never seen her wear. It was a ring of metal with a thin bar down the middle, two additional bars meeting it at an angle from below.

“There you are, Rarity,” she said. “Sorry I couldn’t go on the train with you. Had to come early to make some arrangements.”

“I… see.” No matter how awkward or rude it might have been, Rarity could not tear her gaze away from the outfit. Her friend did not seem to mind though. “Fluttershy, darling, I trust your judgement as a friend, but… I really can’t believe you talked me into this.” She pointed to the commotion behind her.

“Oh, that?” Fluttershy chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Today’s only Day Zero. No concerts yet, though we could take a look before it gets fully packed.”

“Heh-heh, of course.” Rarity faked a smile and carefully reached down to pick up her bag. “I don’t suppose there’s anything else to do around here?”

The pegasus gave a knowing smile and nodded, pointing behind her. “I’ve got it all figured out. There’s a quiet little town nearby. We could stay there for now if you want. Got us a room for the week too.”

“Oh? Wonderful!” It took quite a bit of restraint from Rarity to not mention how relieved she was. The last thing she needed was to even think about having to set up camp in that mass migration zone below. She hefted her bag and nodded her head toward the houses in the distance, which she could almost hear calling to her. “Shall we?”

“Ahhh, this is much better~”

The white mare permitted herself a little stretch as they sat down outside a cafe near the main street. The town barely lived up to the title, consisting of less homes than half of Ponyville, but in the middle of this deserted region, it might as well have been Canterlot itself, for all Rarity could care. She inspected the fabric of her elegant dress -- which she had changed into the moment they arrived -- looking for any traces of dirt or wrinkling.

Fluttershy, on the other hand, remained in the same outfit. She took a sip of her tea the waiter brought out for her, and she smiled at Rarity, who finally showed signs of proper relaxation. The unicorn smiled back, sipping her coffee and going on and on about the stroll they recently made through the place. It was fairly quaint, had very few stores, and she wondered aloud how any businesses could survive in it.

Her answer soon arrived in the shape of a group of youngsters, whose clothing and loud chatter immediately gave away where they came from. Rarity’s serene expression turned into a bemused frown as she glanced at them. The colts giggled as they walked into the nearby store, eyeing the various beverages that most of them were too young to even take a whiff of. The clerk seemed to agree, at least until the colts opened up their pockets.

“Tch…” Rarity shook her head. “I swear, children these days…”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Fluttershy toyed with a strand of her mane innocently. “They’re just having fun.”

“Fun?! You saw how young they are.” Rarity huffed and crossed her arms, lowering her voice. “Ugh, I can even smell what they’re carrying. I just hope I never catch Sweetie Belle doing this before she’s of age.”

“Mmhmm…” Fluttershy looked away, still bearing that innocent, almost cheeky smile. It seemed as though something was at the tip of her tongue, but she hesitated to say it.

“What?” Rarity titled her head and stared curiously.

“Have you ever tried it?”

“Tried what?”

“You know…” Fluttershy leaned closer and whispered. “That.”

“What ‘that’?” Rarity blinked. “Do you mean…?”

Fluttershy nodded, which made Rarity’s frown deepen.

“No. Never.” She turned away, holding her snout high. “I can’t believe you’d even assume that.”

The pegasus chuckled softly. “Come on, Rarity. We were all young once, right?”

“We still are, you know,” Rarity said in a bemused tone. They both sipped their drinks and sat silently for a while, watching the youngsters emerge from the store, heavily laden with various containers of fluids. To the unicorn’s surprise, less than half of them involved alcohol.

“Well, we came here to relax…” Fluttershy said. “So… maybe you’d like to try some new things?”

Rarity gasped at the mere implication, and she flat out refused, despite Fluttershy’s gentle nudging, adorable pouts, and glossy, wide eyes for added effect. They danced around the issue for a few minutes until Rarity decided they should take a walk and “get all that nonsense out of their heads”. It proved to be less calming than she had hoped, however, as the town soon showed just how many of its businesses thrived off the festival-goers. Dozens upon dozens streamed in from the path that led back to the enclosure, the numbers growing until it became a continuous stream of hungry ponies coming in, and well-encumbered ponies heading back, while the town itself bustled with activity, the locals rushing to satisfy the eager visitors with food, drinks, and even entertainment.

The unicorn barely tried to hide her frustration as her peaceful haven was overrun, though she soon turned her attention to Fluttershy, who not only seemed to enjoy the commotion, but was even taking part in it. She waved back at the colts who cheered for her, said a few words to some mares wearing outfits rather similar to her own, and at one point even stopped at one of the stands that had been set up, looking with awe at art pieces that Rarity could only describe as “someone tossing buckets of paint into a tornado”.

She rolled her eyes and got out her purse to buy one of the bowls for the pegasus, and she did her best not to retch as the vendor smirked and placed the misshapen, oddly colored thing into her hands. Rarity quickly handed the bowl over to Fluttershy and dragged her away, hanging her head to hide the smile tugging on her lips when her friend giggled and hugged it against her chest. Seeing her friend so happy was more than enough comfort to put up with any annoyance.

They wandered around for a while longer, Rarity’s expression settling on a mildly bemused look, while Fluttershy kept trying to find things to cheer her up. They tried the local cider, ate brownies, listened to a street musician, and bought a few more souvenirs. It was all very tedious for the fashionista, whose pulse was only kept from falling to zero by the effort to keep her dress safe the whole time.

“Mmm, thank you so much, Rarity,” Fluttershy said as they left the main street, having decided to call it a day. “Tonight was amazing.”

Rarity sighed. “You’re welcome, Fluttershy.”

“Aw, chin up.” The pegasus smiled and gave her friend a gentle caress on her back. “You saw they were nice ponies, right?”

“Yes, I suppose so…” Rarity could indeed never come across any who were repulsive outright. Uncouth, perhaps, but nothing she could not handle. She hummed from the pleasant caress and gave her friend a weak smile in return. “I’m just glad you’re enjoying it.”

“We should both enjoy it,” Fluttershy said. Still keeping her hand on Rarity’s back, she led the way to a small two-storey apartment near the edge of town, “Rooms for rent” written above the door. The unicorn smiled and closed her eyes, already daydreaming about the hot bath and soft bed that waited in her room.

“Hmm, in fact…” the pegasus added, pausing in front of the door. “Want do one last thing tonight?”

“Hmm?” Rarity turned to look as she reached for the handle.

Fluttershy smirked innocently. “Just a little bit of fun. I promise you’ll like it.”

Rarity gave a puzzled look and returned the smile as she opened the door. “Uh… well, sure. Why not?”

“Great! Meet you in my room in ten minutes.” Fluttershy stepped into the corridor and hurried off to the door on the left, while Rarity headed for her own room on the right. She found it odd that the pegasus had even arranged separate rooms. The extra privacy was not unwelcome, but the six of them had gone through plenty of sleepovers with shared beds already, not to mention she found Fluttershy to be the least difficult roommate. Rarity chuckled to herself as she retreated to her room, wondering what Applejack would do if she ever learned of the mare’s thoughts.

The white mare shifted her weight on her feet in front of Fluttershy’s door, her hand almost reluctant to reach for the handle. She could never explain to herself why the idea of joining her friend for the evening event made her nervous. Perhaps it was just the frustrations of the day still lingering inside her, coupled with the mystery of what awaited her beyond the door.

Sighing, she reflexively made one last adjustment to her clothes. Her thin, white silk pajamas, which had the slightest hint of purple, were rather modest compared to her outfit in the afternoon. The only decoration was the outline of her own cutie mark stitched onto the middle of her top, as well as the sides of her leggings, right above their real counterparts. A pair of fluffy slippers adorned her feet, brushing together for the dozenth time in the past minute.

Clearing her throat, Rarity lifted her hand and gently tapped the door. “Fluttershy? May I come in?”

For a few moments, there was no response, and the mare assumed her friend must have gone to sleep. She was just about to shrug and turn around when a familiar, soft voice answered.

“Yes, please do.”

Okay… Pull yourself together, Rarity.

The instant she cracked the door open, she froze, nose wrinkling at the wave of incredibly strong scents rushing out to meet her. It reminded her of the incense used at the Ponyville spa, only a hundred times stronger, and the smell itself was more… exotic? She opted not to try and comprehend it now, lest she spend the whole evening in the doorway.

Stepping into the room, she was once again stunned as her eyes got their first look at the interior. Unlike the plain walls of her own chamber, occasionally dotted by a vase, some flowers, or a still life painting, Fluttershy’s room was a dizzying spectacle of colors and shapes. The dominant colors were various shades of red and orange, mostly brought on by the carpets on every inch of the floor, and some even draped onto the walls. They depicted wild patterns, or images that Rarity recognized as iconography from a Far Eastern civilization. Pots littered almost every flat surface, filled with either multicolored gems glittering from candles placed around and on top of them, or gently smoldering incense that formed an aromatic cloud in the room that was almost thick enough to see.

At the heart of it all, sat upright with her legs crossed on a dais made of cushions, was Fluttershy, dressed in the same checkered shirt as before, though now she added the rest of the “accessories” to complete the image. Several locks of her hair had been tied into elegant braids, bracelets and colored strips of fabric adorned her forearms, necklaces that resembled prayer beads hung from her neck, and a pair of sunglasses rested on her nose, the small black circles well below her eyes, making them more aesthetic than practical. She wore a pair of jeans with tassels hanging along its length, and a green headband kept her mane out of her face, with a familiar circular symbol at the center. Her feet, as always, were bare, though at the moment they were tucked away beneath herself.

The pegasus took a deep breath and smiled, her eyes slowly opening until they were half-lidded. A dreamy look was on her face as she exhaled. “Welcome, Rarity,” she said. Her soft voice resonated with the thick cloud of incense and bright colors, almost dizzying to the unicorn. “Please… come on in.”

Rarity stumbled forward, her feet reacting before her brain could. “Oh my,” she said with an awkward chuckle. “I’m… assuming you wanted to make yourself at home?”

Fluttershy smirked and gave a short hum. “Something like that.”

The unicorn’s eyes kept wandering about as she walked in, the vibrant colors and strange shapes bombarding her vision non-stop, while the air seemed all the more thick and dizzying as she approached her friend. She paused upon reaching the dais, raising an eyebrow at a strange device next to the seated pegasus. It was a tall, thin vase-like vessel, its wavy outline forming a pattern that was already baffling to look at. Water could be faintly seen occupying the bulbous container on the bottom, while a chunk of coal burned dull red on a thin membrane of foil pulled over the top of the device. She could not see what was underneath, but the intense aroma it bled was indication enough.

“Have a seat.” Fluttershy gestured to the spot before her, the device lingering to their left like a strange third party.

“Hm?” Rarity looked down, feet shuffling from the sight of the fine cushions. She took a hesitant step forward, cringing a bit as the bottom of her slippers sank into the soft fabric. Somehow, it felt wrong to keep her feet covered, but she did not bother with it now. A long sigh came from her as she lowered herself and pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them while her eyes fixed on the smiling pegasus.

“Good.” Fluttershy nodded in approval. Her hand reached out to her side, gently picking up the end of a tube leading out of the exotic hookah. “I’m glad you decided to join me, Rarity.” She placed the tip to her lips and closed her eyes, inhaling slowly and deeply. The water in the device roiled for a few seconds, and when the hose came away, it left a trail of thick vapor.

Rarity nearly jerked at first, not even having noticed Fluttershy’s hands until now, making their motions feel all the more sudden. She then watched, completely baffled, as her friend held her breath, keeping the warm vapors in her lungs and throat before slowly letting it all out, releasing a fine mist from her nostrils with a low, content hum. The unicorn half-considered leaning back as the vapors inched toward her, and the slightest whiff sent a shiver down her spine from how intense it was.

Before she could say anything else, Fluttershy opened her eyes again. “You looked a little tense today,” she went on. Her voice was even more silky and dreamy now.

“O-Oh? Haha…” Rarity smiled awkwardly, her hands fiddling with each other. “Well…”

“Don’t worry, it’s alright,” Fluttershy said. “You’ve had a rough time lately. It will take a while to pass. I just thought I’d help you.”

The white mare tilted her head to the side. “Really? How so?”

Fluttershy chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s just a bit of relaxation… like a spa session.”

“Mmm… well, that doesn’t sound so bad. What do I do?”

“It’s simple. Ever used one of these?”

She pointed to the hookah next to her. Rarity squirmed a little on her flank as she glanced at the object, and she shook her head. “What on earth is it?”

“A special water pipe.” Fluttershy took another long sip from the tip and let out a fresh cloud of smoke, her eyes unblinking as they seemed to stare off into the distance. “Mmmm… that dash of perfume made it sooo much better…”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, and she chuckled. “Sorry. Anyway…” After checking the coal on top of the device, she took hold of the pipe and removed the piece at the tip. “I’d like you to try it.”

Rarity’s gaze alternated between Fluttershy and the object, her face showing bafflement and even slight unease. “Just think of it as aromatherapy before a massage,” Fluttershy went on. The last word instantly made Rarity light up.

“A massage?” She chuckled. “Well that I could definitely use, darling.”

“Good.” Fluttershy set down the mouthpiece and pointed to a small pile of cushions opposite the exotic device. “Now... lie on your back, please.”

Rarity nodded and crawled over to the cushions, her body tingling slightly from the strange, not quite unpleasant aromas teasing her senses. She cast another glance at the hookah as she lay down on her side, her eyes following the hose to the crude tip. “Will I really have to use that… thing?” She grimaced slightly at the idea of using it to draw smoke into her lungs.

“Hmm?” Fluttershy smiled when she realized what troubled her friend, and she swiftly unplugged the mouthtip. “Oh, I see. Hmmm… If it’s alright, we’ll use this instead. Should make it easier the first time.” Reaching behind her, she produced a small, mask-like object that she attached to the end of the tube. She then fiddled with the hookah, adding a small handful of herbs before she gently moved over to Rarity’s side, holding the end of the hose at the ready.

Rarity’s breath quickened for a moment as she rested her head on the cushions and looked up. Her friend’s smile helped her calm down a little, but she still felt rather tense as Fluttershy showed the mask to her. It vaguely resembled the kind she could see in a hospital for patients who needed oxygen, or were about to undergo surgery. When that mental image made her even more nervous, she quickly closed her eyes and thought of the massage analogy instead. Giving a deep sigh, she smiled, imagining herself lying on a bed, her masseur getting ready to release every bit of tension in her aching body.

“Relax, Rarity~” Fluttershy cooed and gently placed the mask over her friend’s face. “Just relax and breathe deeply.”

“Mmmm…” The white mare hesitantly inhaled, and she could hear the water in the hookah roiling softly as her lungs drew the air through it. She gave a small grunt of surprise as an intense aroma flooded her nose and trickled down her windpipe, setting off a faint tingling every inch of the way. It was an odd mix of herbs, flowers, and spices -- not all of them sweet-scented, though the sensation was still mesmerizing. She felt the strange, warm cloud filling her chest, and she instinctively kept it in for a while before breathing out, the vapor escaping through the sides of the mask.

The moment she exhaled, a large weight seemed to release from her body along with the vapor, making her give another hum of surprise. Her head, in particular, felt light as a feather, while the cushions under her seemed to be drifting away, letting her float freely.

“There you go,” Fluttershy whispered. “Just breathe.”

Rarity obliged, taking two more long whiffs of the hookah. By the third one, she started to groan, the sense of weightlessness and drifting now strong enough to make her dizzy. Her friend quickly removed the mask, letting her get a clean breath while the pegasus massaged her temples gently. The dose of cool, fresh air washed away her vertigo, letting her sink back into a warm haze.

“Rarity?”

“Mmmm…” Rarity smiled softly, feeling a strange urge to giggle. “Hmm?”

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy used her thumbs to rub behind her friend’s ears lovingly.

The unicorn hummed again and fidgeted in place, letting her giggles bubble to the surface. Her friend responded by stroking her cheeks and cooing to her to keep breathing calmly. The dreamy smile stayed on Rarity’s face as she sank deeper into the cushions.

“I feel… funny… mmhehehmm…”

“That’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “Just stay calm and relax.”

“Mmm…”

“Are you relaxed, Rarity?”

“Mmm… yes.”

“Comfortable?”

“Mmhmm…”

“Good.” Her hands were like a soft breeze, gently caressing the unicorn’s forehead. “You’re comfortable and relaxed… and happy.”

“Mmm…” Rarity smiled and gave another giggle. “Happy.”

“Hmm… are you happy, Rarity?”

“Mm… hmm?”

Fluttershy rubbed the mare’s ears again, compelling her to open up even before she knew what was asked of her.

“Well?”

“Y-Yes…” Rarity’s voice wavered slightly.

“Sure about that?”

“Why… do you ask?”

Fluttershy used an innocent, yet all too knowing tone. “You didn’t seem too happy to me today.”

“Mmm…” Rarity shifted a little, no longer seeming quite so comfortable. The pegasus quickly soothed her worries with a few quick tickles along the mare’s horn.

“What’s wrong? You can tell me. I’m your friend~”

“Um…” The unicorn’s cheeks flushed.

“You can trust me, Rarity. Just relax and tell me.”

“Yes…” Rarity bit her lip. “Today... wasn’t the best.”

“There you go.” Fluttershy leaned in and kissed her friend’s forehead, making the prone mare shudder. “You felt odd among the others, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

“It’s alright. This is your first music festival, after all. I was pretty shy too.”

“Oh…”

She ran her fingers through Rarity’s elegant purple locks. “It takes a while to fit in. But don’t worry, you’ll figure it out.”

“Oh?” Now Rarity sounded curious, as though a great secret she never heard of before was about to be revealed to her.

“You just need the right attitude, that’s all. I’m sure there’s plenty of things you can enjoy here, once you look around enough.”

“Mmm…”

With careful and calculated motions, Fluttershy scooted over to Rarity’s side, making sure not to nudge the mare and risk snapping her out of her calm reverie. Her hands slid along her neck, arms, and sides, caressing gently and sending pleasant shivers throughout the unicorn’s body.

“Hmm… your outfits are lovely, as always~”

Rarity gave a small chuckle at that. “Mmm, thank you, Fluttershy.”

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Hmm?”

“Picture yourself in today’s outfit.”

“Mmm…” The mare’s brow furrowed for a moment as she concentrated, after which she cracked a smile again as her exquisite clothes appeared in her mind’s eye. “A fine choice, hmm?”

“Yes.” Fluttershy ran her hands along Rarity’s arms. “Now, focus with me. Feel your wonderful silk blouse hugging you. Isn’t it nice~?”

“Ohhh yes.”

“Every detail so lovely and elegant… but…”

Rarity’s smile faded, and she gave a curious hum. Another tingle passed through her as Fluttershy gently rubbed her belly and hips.

“It’s lovely in every regard... for a formal occasion. But here? Doesn’t it… I don’t know, stand out?”

“Mmm…” Rarity frowned slightly, now picturing herself standing in the crowd, her outfit glaring among the simple, often quite ragged clothes of the other festival goers.

Without skipping a beat, Fluttershy caressed the sensitive points she had previously discovered, while she leaned close to whisper into Rarity’s ear. “It doesn’t fit in that well. But… that doesn’t mean you can’t dress nicely, like you always do.”

The compliment, along with the expert hands of the pegasus, managed to catch the tension building up inside Rarity at exactly the right moment, and she sunk back into the cushions, humming softly in agreement.

“Perhaps something more simple could work?” Fluttershy went on. “Still beautiful, but… modest. Hmm~?”

Her fingers danced along Rarity’s thighs now, making them twitch and squeeze together slightly, her feet curling up and squirming.

“Oh, that skirt was amazing too. So smooth… so bright… so daring. Hmm… I think you could go further, though.”

“Mmmf… h-huh?”

“Something more bold? There’s no reason you should be ashamed of what you wear, now, is there?”

Rarity chuckled at the mere idea. “Of course not, heh-heh.”

“Good. The festival is no Gala. A lot of ponies, a lot of dirt… you may end up needing something more, hmm… robust? Tough and bold, to show everypony that you’re not shy of what you wear.”

Even as the words echoed and floated around in Rarity’s head, Fluttershy gave her no time to catch up. She smiled and kept tracing curled lines along her legs, all the way down to her friend’s ankles. There she gave an “ooh” of curiosity, followed by a hum that almost sounded disappointed as she gently massaged the mare’s feet through the slippers.

“Hmf… always so delicate, aren’t you, Rarity?”

The unicorn blushed again, giving a small chuckle of embarrassment.

“I know you have standards… but aren’t heels are a little too much for this place?” A pair of fingers from each hand slipped into a gap between the straps of the slippers and Rarity’s feet. The unicorn twitched in response, blushing even deeper.

“Maybe…” she muttered.

Fluttershy smiled widely as she began to caress her friend’s skin directly. A second pair of fingers slipped in. “You can’t imagine how liberating it is. The touch of grass and soil and stone against your feet.”

“O-Ohh…”

The fingers started to tug slowly. Rarity yelped as the footwear slipped off a few inches. “Mmm…” Fluttershy gave a deep sigh of contentment. “I swear, sometimes I can almost feel Mother Earth’s heart beating.”

The unicorn couldn’t even reply with words now. Her knees rubbed together non-stop as Fluttershy casually tugged the slippers off her feet and nudged them aside.

“Over the years, it’s always been fascinating to me. Every place has its own… texture. Doesn’t matter if it’s soil, sand, or even a paved street. Once I find it, I feel truly connected.”

“O-Ohhh...”

“It might be like how you handle your fabrics. Every one of them feels different, right? Mmm… you just have to let your feet touch the Earth, and you can feel it too.” Fluttershy leaned in, her warm breath washing over Rarity’s toes, making them curl up.

“Ahhh~”

“Would you wear gloves when you touch something beautiful, Rarity?” Those wonderful hands embraced her feet, fingers gently pressing into the soles. “Do you cover your hands when you deal with your wonderful outfits?” Their warmth made her bones turn to jelly, even though the rest of her body felt like it was on fire. Despite these sensations, the words trickling into her head met a solid boundary.

“Well…” Rarity shuffled in place and breathed a little faster. “What if… it was dirty?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.” Fluttershy remained calm the whole time, her voice showing nothing but gentle affection, and even approval, despite Rarity’s resistance. “But your feet are of the Earth. Would you say they are dirty?”

Her hands started to move back and forth, massaging Rarity’s feet softly. The muscles within tingled, almost making her moan out loud from the waves of relief and pleasure she felt.

“Hmf… of course not.” Rarity scrunched her face, her red-tinted cheeks puffing from the mere implication that any part of her was filthy. Her expression made Fluttershy struggle to hold back her giggling, lest it broke her friend out of her trance.

“There you go. But then… does that mean you think the ground is dirty?”

The mare shrank at that, heart skipping a beat as she feared that she might have offended her friend. “Well… no, but…”

“Earth is the source of all the beauty we have. All your friends, all that you love. Would you ever refuse my embrace? Would you want to put something on first, to put something between us?”

Rarity squirmed, an odd sense of guilt washing over her. “N-No…”

“Good~” She playfully wiggled her fingers on Rarity’s soles, causing her to moan openly. Her face showed immense relief washing over her. There was forgiveness, and she was eternally grateful. “The Earth doesn’t refuse you either. Why should you refuse Her?”

“Hmmm… mm...”

“Rarity?”

“Y-Yes… you’re right.”

“Good girl.” She rewarded the mare with a gentle squeeze on her toes. “Now… lie on your belly, please~”

Rarity gave a low groan, her dreamy smile still on her face as she very slowly rolled over, her friend helping her along. Once in place, Fluttershy gently began to rub her shoulders and back while she hummed a soothing melody.

“Feel the Earth against your face, Rarity,” she cooed. “Your belly… your legs… your hands…” She took Rarity’s hands and turned her palms to face down, fingers spread out. “Embrace Her as She embraces you~”

At all times, Fluttershy kept one of her nimble hands on Rarity’s back, making sure to keep caressing and kneading the mare while her other hand “guided” her friend. The pegasus kept to small nudges here and there, and Rarity complied without hesitation. She let out a small giggle, cheeks flushing, as Fluttershy’s hands reached her flank and gave a couple of firm squeezes.

“Relax, Rarity,” Fluttershy said with a smile. Her hands rubbed her friend’s ample curves, loosening every bit of tension in her muscles and making her groan in relief. “Relax. Feel the Earth and embrace Her. It will feel wonderful.”

By the time Fluttershy reached Rarity’s thighs, the unicorn had gone completely still, snoring quietly. The yellow mare had to stifle a giggle at how, even in her sleep, Rarity insisted on being graceful. She finished the massage and got up, retrieving a blanket for her friend. She then snuffed out the hookah and opened a window, letting in some fresh air before lying down on the dais again and curling up. She smiled, catching a glimpse of her friend drift in her dreams before her eyes slipped shut.

A Sound Decision

“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.