Forever and Always

Chapters

2

Rarity

Isn’t she just the most precious pony there ever was?

Rainbow Dash is napping on my bed again. It’s always a delightful surprise to find her there. She wears herself out with all that practicing she does, which of course I find very admirable. One must hone one’s craft to be successful.

Now, here she is all windtossed and on my bed dozing. Perfectly adorable. I’d like to give her a quick kiss and a nuzzle, but it will wake her. So, I simply use a bit of magic to pull a light blanket over her and silently leave the room.

In my inspiration room, I’m working on a new garment for Sapphire Shores. She has been a wonderful client. I am especially excited about this garment, because it isn’t a costume. While I love designing show pieces for her, this party gown has been an absolutely delightful change of pace. She is such a wonderful pony, and it is fun to try and design to an entirely different part of her personality.

As I work, I think about Rainbow Dash. I confess that I was entirely unaware that she had any romantic feelings for me at all when I asked her out on our first date. In truth, I was entirely unaware of my own feelings at that time. The date invitation was simply the result of having been given two VIP tickets to a Wonderbolts event from Fancy Pants (he is such a wonderful friend) complete with background access, and knowing there wasn’t a single pony in all of Equestria that would enjoy attending more than Rainbow Dash. So, I asked her to attend as my guest. After several endearing rounds of “OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh” and a rainbow whirlwind that thoroughly ruffled my mane, darling Dash engulfed me in a hug worthy of Pinkie Pie.

It wasn’t until the next day that she asked me if it was a date. I hadn’t intended the invitation in any romantic sense, and I told her so. I expected to enjoy the performance, of course, but my purpose in attending was networking; all the very important ponies would be there. Rainbow understood naturally, and actually seemed to relax a bit in knowing that I wasn’t making some sort of overture. For just a moment I considered being hurt at her relief, but it would have been all pretense, and that simply isn’t necessary between friends.

I did ask her if I could design some sort of outfit for her. Truthfully, I already had a few possibilities in hoof before I asked. She acquiesced with the stipulation that said garment be anything but a dress, which was rather convenient since I had not even dreamed up a dress for the occasion. Formal attire would have been all wrong for the event. Once I had her permission, I couldn’t possibly have stopped myself from producing all three of my ideas.

The first was a very edgy piece. I’d been dying to make something like it for months. A sleak vest in black with rainbow accents that only revealed themselves once the wearer was airborne. The second was a little more prep and polish. A blazer with a popped collar in Wonderbolt Blue with yellow lightning bolts running from shoulder to just past a pegasus’ wings. The final piece was a fangirl’s dream. A simply jersey shirt with the Wonderbolt’s insignia and their slogan, “Altius volantis—Soaring higher!" centered in bold print beneath.

While athletic wear certainly isn’t my preferred focus, but it is invigorating to delve into from time to time. With Rainbow Dash for my muse, the design process was surprisingly organic. Not easy per se, since I was working against my own tastes, but enjoyable nonetheless. The construction aspect was a thoroughly frustrating but invigorating challenge. Functionality is always a consideration in fashion, of course; but it’s an entirely different beast in casual wear for athletes. It took a bit of research, as well as some trial and error, to get the perfect blend of fashion, functionality, and wearability.

I invited her to lunch at the boutique a few days prior to the event. I purposefully neglected to mention that I had finished her outfit. I wanted to surprise her.

I had the three garments arranged in a half circle just inside the large window that Dash prefers to use for her entrance. I wish she’d use the door like a civilized pony, but then she wouldn’t be Rainbow Dash. I misjudged her usual landing spot, and she nearly crashed into the vest display. She was bemused at first, nearly disappointed. She couldn’t see the vest for what it was. So, a quick pop of magic and the garment was on her.

“Please fly over to this mirror, so I can check the fit darling.” I knew she just needed to see it in flight, and once she did there was another round of “OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh” and another bone crunching hug.

“It’s so awesome!!!!” She had said. “And it fits perfect!”

“How is it about your wings?” I asked. “I tried shaping the wing holes and seams a little differently in hopes that you wouldn’t have the same restrictions you’ve mentioned with some of the other garments I’ve made you.”

She gave her wings an adorable little flap, and I just managed to get the zipper pulled up in the front before she flew out the window. Some clothes are made for the runway. Some clothes are made for the camera. I made that vest for that pony to go flying in (her looking fabulous was, in this case, a mere bonus); and seeing her in that moment….the joy on her face….that was the instant I fell head over hoof for her. Of course, I didn’t realize that at the time.

She landed back in the shop coming through the same window, and having adjusted her landing to avoid the potential crash. She was breathless and beautiful. She fluttered across the room and took me by the hooves, spinning me around. She spoke so fast and animated. All in one breath she said, “Rares is just so cool. It’s like I’m not wearing anything, or like I’m wearing a flight suit. I think it actually cuts down on resistance, so I’m even faster. I flew through market street, and Flash Bulb got an amazing pic of what it looks like from the bottom. He waved me down so I could it. Thankyouthankyouthankyou. I didn’t even know you could make something like this, but- DUH! I worried you were going to make me some dumb girly whatever, but now I’m not just going to be the most awesome pony at the party, I’m going to look like the most awesome pony at the party! Thankyouthankyouthankyou”

We were both dizzy and out of breath when she finished, and we toppled in a giggling heap onto the chaise lounge I barely had the presence of mind to pull over magically before we fell.

Once I regained my composure I said, “So, that one will do. Would you like to look at the others?”

“There’s more?” She had asked like a child that had just been given everything they ever wanted only to be offered a world full of things they didn’t know they wanted as well.

“Of course there’s more, darling. Although the vest is the show piece, so I doubt you’ll be as exuberant about the others.”

In a flash she was gone across the room looking at the Blazer and the shirt. Her eyes bouncing back and forth between the two with wonderment.

“Can I try them on?” She was reverent, almost sheepish, about it.

“Of course dear! They are yours after all, and I do want to make sure they fit. Although, I used the same measurements for these that I used for your vest, so there’s no reason to think they won’t. Still, I would like to see them one you before you take them out in public.”

I used my magic to unzip the vest and lift it off her. I grabbed the blazer first, but she stopped me. “I want to wear the shirt under that.”

“Really?” I hadn’t imagined the items together, but now that she’d presented the idea I wanted to see it too. “Alright, let’s give it a try.”

With just the shirt on, she suddenly became a little filly before my eyes. All her childlike love of her favorite team bursting through her eyes. She reminded me of Scootaloo in some way. The addition of the jacket was just right. It matured the overall look without making it old. The contrast of the blazer against Rainbow’s coat was rather becoming, and beneath the nearly professional almost stiffness was the lighthearted, unabashed fandom of the shirt.

Rainbow trotted excitedly to the mirror. I half expected her to take off in flight again, but she only flew quickly across the room and enfolded me in yet another embrace. This one was different though. She used her wings this time. It was a soft hug with a wonderful nuzzle against my neck. When she pulled away she nearly had tears in her eyes.

I have had some good moments as a designer, but never like that. Never had I had a moment where I could see that a pony felt as if I had captured her soul in fashion so she could show the world. It was a perfect moment for me; not only as a designer, but also as a friend.

Suddenly, I’m drawn back to the present moment. I can hear my special somepony stirring, and I would very much like to see her before she takes off for another training session.

3

Rainbow Dash

Rarity smells awesome, and it’s not the expensive perfume either. Even though that does smell pretty good. It’s also not all the junk she puts in her hair, or any of that other stuff. It’s just Rarity; like clean laundry, and new flowers, and something else I’ve never figured out. Waking up from a nap to that smell is almost as good as waking up to a mug of Cider in my face. Waking up from a nap to that smell and the pony that goes with it? That’s waaaayyyy better than Cider.

I take a deep breath in as I feel myself starting to wake up. Her smell is everywhere, but she’s not here. Not yet, she’s on her way up the stairs. I have no idea how she knows when I’m about wake up, but she does and that’s awesome too.

The door opens quietly, and then she’s curled around me nipping at my ear and nuzzling my neck.

So. Damn. Sexy.

“I do believe it’s time to wake up my darling,” she doesn’t quite whisper against my ear. Her breath sends chills all over me and my wings puff up just a little bit, but I try not to move and pretend to be asleep.

“Oh dear, this won’t do at all. You’re going to miss your afternoon training session completely at this rate.” After every word or two she kisses and nips me, working her way down from my ear to my neck- lingering for an extra second at the place where it joins my shoulder- and down my back along my spine.

“Well,” she says planting a soft kiss at the base of my right wing joint sending a current that brings both wings to erect attention. “Your wings certainly aren’t sleeping anymore.”

Then she does The Thing.

I never even remotely began to imagine all the things a unicorn can do with their horn. Sure, the magic stuff is amazing, and Rares is really good at it, but The Thing…..

I feel the tip of her horn just behind the wing joint, and I know it’s coming. The feeling of her mouth licking and kissing me as she slides the warm, fluted extension of herself gently under my wing touching all the most sensitive nerves that track each feather’s feedback. There’s a tingle that happens when you touch a unicorn’s horn, and I am feeling it everywhere.

Then she stops. The horn is gone. The kisses are gone. Her warm body next to mine is gone. She’s rolled away from me!

“Hey!” I shout and roll over. “You can’t just leave me hangin like-”

Why does she look like she just beat me at something? She looks more smug than AJ did the last time she beat me at horseshoes. And there’s a giggle...she planned this!

One beat of my wings and I’m on top of her, pinning her to the bed beneath me. “That’s how you want to play?” I ask.

The giggle is gone and she puts on her best innocent damsel voice, “Whatever do you mean darling?”

“I mean I’m not falling for your crap! You wanted me awake, and now you’ve got me.” I lean down and rub noses with her for just a second. “Now what are you going to do with me?”

She reaches up for a quick smooch on my lips that makes me smile. My marefriend is an awesome kisser.

“Well, I’m afraid you have me at quite the disadvantage,” she says. “However, what I’m going to do with you is frustrate you by reminding you that you have an appointment this evening with Scootaloo, a storm to create, and if you don’t hurry you really will miss your practice session.”

“But-”

“And when all of that is done, then I promise to be very generous later when I’m making up for getting you all hot and bothered when there wasn’t enough time to finish you off properly,” she says this as she’s running her hooves up and down my sides just below my wings.

Tease.

Hot. Gorgeous. Tease.

I am so turned on, but she’s right. There isn’t time, even though I can be the fastest pony in Ponyville when I need to be. That’s reserved for me and my hoof on our own time. So, I collapse on her pouting.

Her touches change from teasing to soothing, and she just holds me and nuzzles me.

“Promise?” I ask.

“To make it up to you?” She asks with a naughty giggle. “Oh yes. When you get back tonight- it. Is. on.”

“Three of my favorite words.”

“What are the others?”

“You know.”

“Do I?”

I lean up and look in those crystal blue eyes. “I love you.”

She lets out a tiny squeak of happiness, then shakes her head. “No, those are my favorites.”

Then she kisses me a quick but deep kiss that lights me up all over again. When she pulls away, she takes my face in her hooves and says “I love you.”

One more kiss and a magical swat to my flank and I’m off out the window to do all the crap I have to get done, so I can go back to that bed and that mare and let her finish what she started.

4

Rarity

Just like that she’s gone. I truly hadn’t intended foreplay when I came up here, just a quick goodbye before she went on her way. She’s just so… alluring. There’s a vulnerability when she’s here that is intoxicating.

When we went public as couple, I was astonished at the number of ponies that hinted or outright asked me how I felt about being constantly dominated by such a braggart. Yes, she does like to be the aggressor sometimes, but far more often my Rainbow Dash wants to let go of the bravado and be acted upon rather than taking charge herself. In truth, she can be quite shy and tenderhearted when she’s feeling safe and comfortable.

It has been a long road getting to where we are now, and it all started with that first date.

Rainbow and I left for Canterlot the next morning. I found myself feeling rather nervous as we found our seats on the train. We had spent so little time together just the two of us, but I wasn’t concerned. We'd agreed that it wasn’t a date after all, so there really was no reason for tension. Yet, I was nervous.

I needn’t have been. Rainbow was nearly as excitable as Pinkie Pie for the duration of the ride. We talked animatedly about the event: who we expected to be there, what else we’d like to do while we were in Canterlot.

After a brief, amiable pause in conversation she had said quietly, “Hey Rares?”

“Yes, darling?”

She was looking out the window wistfully and spoke in a surprisingly melancholy tone, “Thanks.”

“Whatever for?”

Then she looked at me and said, “For being such a good friend to Fluttershy.”

I was quite taken aback by her sudden melancholy. Then she went on, looking out the window again, “Shy and me were best buds when we were kids. After the big race when we both got our cutie marks-”

“When we all got our cutie marks,” I interjected.

“Yeah. When we all got our cutie marks. Anyway, Shy came back a different pony, and it was awesome. She was still Shy, so she was still scared of everything, but she knew where she was going in her life. It was like she had this light at the end of the tunnel. As soon as school was over she was moving to the ground, and that made all the other stuff ok."

Here Dash breathed a rather large sigh before going on. “I really worried about her when she left. We stayed close through most of school. She didn’t need much of a protector from bullies anymore, but she did need someone. When she was gone it felt like she’d have no one. Then she told me about meeting you. She said how nice you were, and how even though she was scared of you at first you didn’t give up on her; and once you understood that she was just scared, you stayed patient and let her get to know you so you could be friends.”

I hadn’t ever heard that story before. Seeing how it affected Rainbow Dash made a rather strong impression. We had been sitting across from each other, but I moved to sit next to her and took her hoof in both of mine. She acted startled by the contact, then turned to look at me.

“It just meant a lot to know my best buddy was safe. So, thanks.”

All I could do was nod and say, “Of course.” Then release her hoof, but I didn’t move away. The silence lasted the rest of the train ride, but it wasn’t awkward. She was obviously mulling something over, and I certainly didn’t want to intrude.

Once we were off the train in Canterlot, she was back to being eager and excited. So much so that I couldn’t help but mirror her enthusiasm. We proceeded directly to the stadium with our VIP passes to watch the team practice for the performance.

We made a quick stop at a shop to change into our clothes. She into her shirt and blazer, and I into a light sun dress and hat that I had thrown together for the occasion. We didn’t exactly match, but we were obviously a pair and looked very well together.

We got to go down on the field while the Wonderbolts flew above. When Spitfire and Soarin recognized Rainbow, they invited her to fly with them for a few maneuvers. I helped her with her blazer, and she took to the sky. The loose shirt certainly wasn’t as aerodynamic as the vest would have been, but it did fly beautifully and she seemed very comfortable.

In truth, she was mesmerizing. We’d been watching the practice for sometime, and she’d paid close enough attention to simply insert herself into the formations. She raced Spitfire across the sky and only just lost at the last moment, certainly blaming it on her attire.

My attention was brought back to the ground by the approach of a rather handsome stallion in a suit. “Your marefriend is quite the flyer,” he said.

“Oh, you’re very kind, but we aren’t a couple. Just good friends. Although you are absolutely correct about her ability. Rainbow Dash was made for speed and the sky.”

“Do you know where she got her shirt?”

“Her shirt?”

“Yeah, I’m the Top Sales. I do all the merchandising for the Wonderbolts. I would love to talk the pony that made the shirt and jacket your friend is wearing today. It’s some of the best fangear I’ve seen.”

“You truly think so?”

“Absolutely, I took a quick look at that jacket when she set it down. That would sell for quite a few bits in the team shop. So, do you know who made it for her?”

“Yes, actually, I do."

“You?”

“Well, yes.” I said extending a hoof, which he shook politely.

“I never would have pegged you for a sports designer. High fashion maybe, definitely model worthy, but not the Wonderbolts.” Then he chuckled to himself and continued, “I suppose that’s what I get for judging a pony by her hat I guess.”

“Oh do you like it? It is one of my latest creations.”

“It’s very nice,” He said with a smile. “So, what do you think? Want to work up some designs for Wonderbolts fans across Equestria? Actually, I’m thinking that blazer would be a great item for the team themselves. Dress them up a bit. What do you say?”

“Oh, I would absolutely love to!” My eyes took to the sky again as I saw Rainbow Dash streak across it. She’d taken her shirt off and handed it to another pegasus who was looking at it appreciatively as Rainbow and Spitfire went for one more race, which Dashie won.

A thought occurred to me as I turned back to the stallion. “Mr. Sales, as I’ve said, I would be delighted to create some designs for you. However, I would like to consult with my friend before I offer you either of the designs she is wearing today. You see, they were custom made for her and I simply wouldn’t feel right having you consider them without her consent.”

“You’re a better friend than I am.” He said with another chuckle. “But sure. That’s fine. Ask your friend. If she’s the Wonderfan I think she is, it’s not going to be a problem anyway.”

Of course, he was right.

When Rainbow landed near us, as the rest of the Wonderbolts headed for the locker room, she again said as many words as she could in one breath: “Rares! Did you see? I totally beat Spitfire. It wasn’t even close! And she wants a shirt! They all do. Soarin’ asked to see my jacket later too. Can you believe I just got to fly with the Wonderbolts? It was all casual and cool like, ‘Hey Dash you wanna fly for a few?’ and then I totally did it. And the coach saw and everything! Even he knew my name. And he saw me beat Spitfire. This is most awesome day ever!”

She collapsed to the ground in sheer uninhibited happiness. While she caught her breath, I introduced Top Sales and explained his proposition. She took to the skies again with her typical, “OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh,” and that settled it. I took the stallions card and we arranged to be in touch the next week about the designs.

When Rainbow finally came back to ground, she circled me quickly. Exuberantly say, “Rares, that’s so cool! You’re going make clothes for the Wonderbolts!”

“Clothes that were inspired by you, darling.” I reminded her.

We had a few hours between the practice and the pre-show event. Twilight arranged with Princess Celestia for us to use one of the rooms at the castle to freshen up, which Rainbow especially needed. She was all sweaty from her work out.

It was during the ride from the stadium to the castle that I noticed for the first time how viscerally attractive an athlete could be in their element. Rainbow’s mane was wet and wind tossed. The feathers in her wings were slightly askew after the rough flying. By the time we got in the taxi, her breathing had slowed but her lean muscles were still twitching with energy and excitement. Her eyes were bright with adrenaline and joy like one rarely gets to see. She was a pony truly and completely herself, and it was both beautiful and seductive.

I expected her to jabber on and on during the brief ride, which she did for just a moment. Then she leaned back, closed her eyes, and just “basked in the awesome.” It was in that quiet moment of examining her that I felt the fire inside me. It was something like inspiration, but different. Something like finding the perfect fabric for a garment I’ve been dreaming of, but different. Something like finally singing the high note I’ve been working on for weeks, but different.

In that moment, I felt myself stop being Rainbow Dash’s friend and felt myself become her admirer- her lover- if she would let me.

It was terrifying.

The taxi ride was too short, that moment of quiet between us didn’t last long enough for me to process the sudden rush of feelings I was having. Luckily, Rainbow Dash knew where we were going when we arrived, so she disembarked without looking at my face.

When I exited, I found that she had already paid our driver, which immediately snapped me out of the mild anxiety attack I’d been having.

“Oh Rainbow, you didn’t need to do that. I can-”

“I got it Rares.” She said cutting me off with a smile. “You don’t have to do everything.”

That was it. It was such a simple phrase, but it was also incredibly baffling. I was treating her, and she was letting me for the most part. It was a small gesture that felt so much more significant somehow; as if it communicated her appreciation for the day without being showy or ostentatious. She wasn’t going to take away my delight in planning and executing a perfect day for her; she was just going to do this one thing for me.

It made my heart swell. “Th-Thank you,” was all I could say.

“No prob,” she replied. “Now let’s find me a shower. I can’t wait to show off my vest at the thing later!”

We trotted along in a companionable silence. We were returning to the suite of rooms I’d used previously on visits to Canterlot. Some of the guards we passed seemed familiar and gave us polite nods as we went by.

When we got to the room Rainbow asked, “Do you need a shower too? I know you’ll probably take longer to get ready than me, so you can go first if you want to.”

I hadn’t planned on showering, but a quick rinse did seem like a good idea, so I took her up on her offer. I was keeping myself busy, keeping myself moving, keeping myself from feeling suddenly overwhelmed by my new found feelings of attraction, desire, and commitment to the mare in the next room.

When I exited the washroom wrapped in a towel, Rainbow unmistakably eyed me up and down. I’d caught her off guard and her eyes wandered all over me before she could stop herself. It was the most incredible feeling. I wanted her to do it again, so I dropped my towel (which might seemed like it shouldn’t matter since we rarely wear clothes around each other anyway, but it mattered). Her wings sprang to attention like I had never seen, and she blushed. It was a deep, gorgeous blush. Even if she’d never had a romantic feeling toward me in her life, in that moment she wanted me and her wings and cheeks had done me the courtesy of letting me know it.

The fire in me that had sparked in the taxi received a healthy dose of fuel from that look. There was hope! If she could look at me like that, then perhaps she could consider me as more than a friend.

She sat there blushing with her mouth hanging open for a moment. Then her eyes met mine and her mouth snapped shut, and her blush deepened. She knew I’d caught her looking, and I’d see the arousal her wings refused to hide. Notably, she still hadn’t tried to tuck her wings back by her sides. More importantly, she must have seen her desire matched in my own eyes. I hadn’t dropped that towel on accident, and now she knew it.

I walked slowly over to her. Our eyes still locked on each other’s.

I had no idea what I was doing. I wasn’t trying to seduce her or corner her. I just...it felt right.

When I got with a hoof’s reach of her I stopped and waited for her to say something. She’d been sitting having a sandwich she’d apparently ordered. Later I’d realize appreciatively that she’d ordered enough for two, and although she generally preferred hayburgers and fries. That day she’d order a salad for two and some daisy sandwiches, along with water (still and sparkling).

She stood up, still looking at me; her wings had relaxed just a little. She took a step forward. I thought, I hoped, I prayed to the goddesses that she was going to kiss me. Her eyes had moved to my mouth. We were so close.

Then she pulled back half a step and looked me in the eye again. She spoke quietly, in a vulnerable voice I had never heard before. It was breathy, with even more rasp than her normal tone.

“Rares?”

“Yes.”

“I want to kiss you. But...I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why?” I said trying hide my disappointment.

“Cuz you’re.. beautiful, and I want to, but…” She looked down at the floor then. She was pawing at the carpet with her hoof. I reached forward barely touching her foreleg. It was enough to bring her eyes back to mine.

“I want you to kiss me darling,” I said, sounding much braver than I felt. “But if you aren’t sure, then I agree that we shouldn’t.” I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my own mouth. Who was to say that I would ever get another chance like this. Nevertheless, I continued, “Perhaps, we can consider the rest of our day as more of a date and see how we feel at the end?”

Had I really just asked her out on a date, for an evening that we already agreed to spend together?

Yes. Yes, I had. And it made her smile. It was a shy smile. A smile that overtime I would realize was reserved for her moments of uncertainty when others found a way to make her feel safe. I didn’t know it then, but later I learned that my suggestion made her feel safe in a big way.

Her eyes lit up again. “Yeah. A date. That sounds cool. Can we do that?”

“Of course,” I said.

“Cool,” She said. Then she quickly leaned forward and gave me a very swift, chaste kiss on the cheek. “I’m gonna shower now.” Then she proceeded to do just that, and I sat at the vanity to get ready.

I swept my hair up in a simple, but sporty, ponytail that seemed fitting for the night’s festivities. My skirt and and jacket combo was a subtle nod to the rock and roll feeling of the vest I knew Dash would be wearing. I had one black onyx earring in. I’d kept my make-up simple and light. I felt polished, but casual.

Rainbow Dash emerged from the steaming washroom, and immediately repeated the process of looking at me from hoof to head. Once again, according to her very excitable wings and her suddenly dropped jaw, she liked what she saw.

I couldn’t restrain the giggle that escaped my lips, nor the blush that found my cheeks. It was incredibly validating to know that I still had that chance. Even if it was just based on my looks. I’ve never been the natural, obvious beauty that the long-legged Fluttershy lays effortless claim to; but on that night I felt like Rainbow Dash saw me and liked me and I liked it.

I took advantage of the opportunity to look her over from head to hoof. She was gorgeous: all lean muscle and impeccably preened feathers. She’d obviously spent a few minutes wrangling the few unruly ones I’d seen in the carriage earlier back into perfect, aerodynamic sleekness. Her eyes were bright, and my wandering, appraising eyes were causing her to blush in the most adorable way.

After a moment she said shyly, “Uhh, you look really good Rares.” She was trying to settle her wings. A naughty place in my mind suggested that I could get up and try to help her with them, which would ideally prove counter productive.

“Thank you, darling. You had better hurry if we’re going to make the pre-party like you wanted to.”

“No problem. Do you have any gel or mouse in all that stuff you brought?”

“Of course, which do you prefer?”

“Anything with a medium hold works.”

Magically, I floated over a bottle of styling cream. She applied it roughly over her entire mane and tail. For a moment, she looked like a well fluffed owl. Then she jumped out the window. A few seconds later she reappeared, her mane in perfectly windblown spikes and her tale in a striking, but intentional disarray.

Hot is not a word a lady uses to describe attractive ponies, but there was only one appropriate way to describe her that night. Rainbow Dash looked hot. She oozed confidence and sex appeal.

She crossed the room to me with a raspy giggle. For a moment, it appeared that she intended to caress my face. Rather she simply put her hoof under my chin and lifted it up, effectively closing my mouth, which had dropped open at the sight of her in all her well groomed glory.

Our eyes met, mine slightly embarrassed, hers filled with a mischievous delight that I had seen from her many times. It relaxed me. She would be our confident one for the rest of the evening. She was in her element. All was well.

She kissed my cheek again, and I blushed just a bit. Then she pulled back and asked, “Do you mind helping me put my vest on?”

“Not at all darling. Wings up!” We both had a good giggle at that as I settled the vest onto her lithe body. She went from hot to irresistible, and she knew it.

“Shall we go?” I asked trying and failing keep my voice even. She nodded.

As we walked down the stairs from our tower room, I noticed a shift her demeanor. It was slight, but noticeable.

“Is something wrong, Rainbow Dash?” She blushed. She hadn’t expected me notice.

“Uhh yeah, everything is cool. I just…” She glanced over to look me in the eye. “I was thinking about putting my wing around you.” She shut her eyes tightly as she said the last few words. It was as if she was hiding from me, afraid of what I might say.

Despite my own inner longing to simply shout that she was welcome to touch me however she liked, I simply replied “Oh, I think that would be alright if you feel comfortable with it.”

“Really?” Her eyes had lit up like Hearths Warming Eve again.

“Of course, darling.”

We’d just reached the bottom of the stairs, and she extended a wing around me. I noted the remarkable softness. Rainbow was diligent about wing care- despite her well earned reputation for being a little lazy about hygiene. In the various fittings I’d done for her, I always noticed that her wings were the picture of perfection. I couldn't help but wonder if some of the naps she took were actually preening sessions that simply got a little too comfortable. Her feathers were always show ready. She could perform any flying feat at a moment’s notice without fear that her wings might betray her.

My thoughts turned to her singular method of mane styling, which made me smile. I’m sure very few ponies understood what it took for Rainbow to maintain her image of purposefully unkempt coolness, but I certainly had some idea. I’d often noticed that despite her nearly constant high speed travels her mane was nearly always her own definition of perfection- never fluffy or frizzy, never a strand out of place in the chaos. Of course, it wasn’t as high maintenance a coiffeur as my own mane, but to the attentive eye it showed a high level of dedication to her own signature style.

Rainbow interrupted my musings, “Do you wanna just walk to the stadium? It’s not really that far.”

The immediate reaction my brain conjured was: If you keep that wing touching me, I’ll do whatever you want. . Happily, my mouth had better sense.

“That sounds wonderful. I had rather hoped that you would fly the last block or so to show yourself off a bit.” That brought out the braggart smile all of our friends know and love as belonging to the one and only Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah,” she said. “I can totally do that.”

We picked up our pace to a trot and proceeded toward the stadium. Rainbow asked me questions about my interest in aerial sports. I had attended enough events with the Wonderbolts as entertainment to know that I found the displays pleasing enough, but truly had never invested any interest beyond that.

Rainbow began to explain that tonight’s show was different, because while it had the traditional aerial displays the Wonderbolts were known for it also had two other components. The first was a game, which was best compared to hockey. The second would take up the entire second act after intermission. It was a combination of aerial and musical talent. According to Dash it was hard to describe, it wasn’t the fast paced performance everypony might be expecting; the Wonderbolts had been building the concept for years, and it was more art than sport.

Watching her talk was beautiful. Her eyes were alight. Her voice was animated. She never talked down to me, only asked me questions to ascertain how much I already knew, then filled in the blanks. She drifted into tangents about flying techniques, or specific plays for the game, only to realize that I had no idea what she was talking about and circling back to pertinent information.

In what felt like an instant we were a block from the venue. Rainbow grabbed a security pony quickly to verify that she wouldn’t be arrested for making an entrance. With permission granted, she gave me a wink and took to the sky.

I could hear the oos and ahhhs of the crowd as I approached. When she came into view, she had just finished a large loop that she turned into a triple barrel roll only to shoot straight into the sky then back down at nearly sonic rainboom speed (she must have been bleeding speed on purpose, not wanting to totally steal the spotlight for the entire evening), then buzzing the top of the crowd before she landed next to me and gave a little bow.

I used my magic to unzip her vest and gave her a quick, unthinking nuzzle on her neck. “That was absolutely lovely, darling. You’ve really wowed them.”

I half expected her to go stiff and pull away, but she didn’t. She just threw a wing over me, began walking down the red carpet into the stadium as cameras flashed and fans screamed. A few even asked for her autograph, which she gladly gave.

When some newspony asked Rainbow who she was wearing she responded, “The totally awesome designs of this pony right here! My girl Rarity, who is also going to be the designing the new Wonderbolts fangear, so watch out!”

That buzz swept across the crowd in an instant, and all the ponies with cameras and recorders started asking about the new line. I pretended not to hear them, and we went inside.

I presented our tickets, and we were waved through an ornate door. The roar of the crowd faded away as we walked down a hall. There was a large sigh at my side, and I felt the air go out of Rainbow just a bit.

“Are you quite alright?” I asked, unable to mask my concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine Rares. That was just a really intense level of awesome.”

“It was indeed. Who knew you would rule the red carpet with such distinction?” I asked playfully. “Although you have never lacked for charisma. Fame and fashion look quite nice on you.”

She gave me a little hip check. “Awww shut up.” There was an undeniable smile on her face as we entered the VIP green room though.

A jingling of a bell down in the shop snaps me back to reality again.

Sigh. Duty calls.

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique!” I call down the stairs. “Where every garment is unique, chic, and magnifique!”

5

Rainbow Dash

I wish building up rainstorms went as fast as busting them apart. A few quick kicks and I’d be done. But no, I have to herd all these gray monsters into a pile miles away from Ponyville, so that the thunderstorm happens when it’s supposed to where it’s supposed to.

It’s total crap that Applejack gets so much credit for being the best herder in our group of friends. I’m corralling clouds on a daily basis, but nopony cares about that.

It’s a good thing Rarity woke me up. I totally wish I could have just stayed to finish what she started, but even with getting back to work on time, I’m still going to have to give up my practice time to get this storm ready. Then I need to swing my Fluttershy’s and warn her that it’s coming. I should also say a quick hey to Tank. Then I gotta go meet Scoots for our weekly “not quite a big sister” dinner. When that’s all done, I can go find my marefriend who has a lot of making up to do, and she knows it, which means she’ll be planning for it.

I love it when she plans for stuff.

Especially, sexy stuff.

6

Rarity

Another satisfied customer. Roseluck, just needed a quick alteration done on a favorite dress. A small bit of work, hardly worth billing for, which is why I did it gratis. Now, I can sit a return to my memories until Rainbow gets back...

The party was lovely. Rainbow and I got separated a couple times, but only for a few minutes. Each time she found her way back to me quickly. A rather handsome stallion I had seen at several other events tried to approach me in a moment where I was without Rainbow, only to have his hopes dashed when she sidled up alongside me and rested her wing across my back in what I’m sure appeared to be a very possessive display. He nodded defeat and moved on in a most chivalrous manner.

Just as the party was becoming tedious, the lights dimmed and raised again indicating that the event would soon begin. Rainbow and I proceeded to our seats. I thought that we might be seated with a few other ponies, but to my delight ours was a private box. Furnished with two large arm chairs and a love-seat that could seat two together (I ardently hoped Dash would elect the latter option). There was a table with a small spread of food, as well as a menu if we desired something specific. In a small fridge were various beverages, including some of the Apple Family’s Hard Cider, which I pulled out and opened before giving one to Rainbow and taking a long drink of my own.

“Cider?!?!?” She squealed. “The is the best date ever!” She took the cider and proceeded to the large viewing area. “Hey Rares, do you mind if we keep these doors open, and move the seat forward?”

There were two large glass panels that could be pulled shut to keep out the chill, but was a pleasantly comfortable night. So, I saw no need for them. “Of course darling,” I replied, and with a touch of my magic opened the doors securely and pushed the small couch forward.

She grinned. Oh, how she grinned. There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do to see that goofy grin on that pony’s face. It quite overwhelmed me, and I crossed to her and kissed her on the cheek before she could stop me.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“No I grabbed some food downstairs. I may want a hayburger later though.” As she spoke, she turned and looked at the stadium drinking it in with her eyes.

I moved alongside her, and her wing (almost of its own accord) draped over me again. “What are you thinking, darling?”

“That I’m going to be out there someday,” was the instant reply. Despite the confidence of the words, there was a tremor of uncertainty in her voice.

I leaned in and gave her a strong nuzzle against her neck (later she would tell me that I almost undid her with that gesture), “You will do it Rainbow. Nopony wants it more or has worked as hard to earn it. You will make it happen, darling.”

Just then the trumpets sounded and the show began.

I led her to the couch, and watched her watch the show. She sat so still, except for little twitches in her muscles as though they were practicing, anticipating the moves her eyes were seeing. She had memorized the routines. She could have flown out there and replaced any one of the Wonderbolts without hesitation.

When the choreographed display was done and the game began, she relaxed a bit. She asked for more cider, and I ordered us both burgers. She laughed at how I ate mine, insisting on using a knife and fork rather my hooves as the heathens do.

We talked about the game, she explained certain rules to me. I pointed out ponies in the crowd that I had met or designed for. At intermission, she seemed to wilt before me. “I need a nap.” She said, flopped onto the couch.

“Alright,” I said.

Her head popped up. “Aren’t you going to tell me we need to go talk to some important pony or something?”

“Not at all darling. I find I’ve met my limit for socializing today, and with the business I’m sure I’ve drummed up today there’s no need to continued attempts at networking. Your assistance in that effort is more than appreciated by the way. In all honesty, a brief rest sounds rather enticing.”

“No prob, Rares,” she said smiling. Then she shifted on the couch making room for me, and held out her hoof. It wasn’t a large couch, but if we curled around each other just so we fit quite nicely. She didn’t let go of my hoof, and just as I began to drift off I felt her give my cheek the lightest nuzzle, and I heard her breathe a very contented sigh.

We woke a few minutes later to the sounds of intermission ending. I stood for just a moment, when I did I saw Dash’s countenance fall. When I laid back down, I had effectively made her the “big spoon” as they say, and I felt her smile by my ear.

It was magical. Light and music filled the sky. The costumes must have had an enchantment to glow like that. The Wonderbolts sailed through the night and wove the story of Equestria. The Tale of the Two Sisters, The Mare in the Moon, and the grand climax of the elements of harmony being unleashed by six shimmering friends.

“It is surreal to see oneself depicted like this,” I said.

“Yeah, and it’s weird too.”

We were exhausted when the show ended. We waited for crowds to disperse before leaving. We talked about the show, techniques I didn’t know the names for; the costumes, and how they managed to capture each of our friends so simply; the drama and the comedy.

We didn’t talk on the walk back, she just draped her wing over me and we walked in peaceful silence until we reached the castle grounds. “Rares, what’s it going to be like tomorrow?’

“I don’t know darling.”

“This felt good, right?”

“Yes, it felt….right.”

“Yeah,” then she paused and began to climb the stairs.Then very casually she said, “At least we won’t have to tell everypony we’re dating. They can just read about it in the paper. All those newsponies kept calling you my marefriend, and I’m pretty sure I stopped correcting them”

I was standing at the base of the stairs still. Did she just-? Are we-?

EEEEEEEEEEE

That was not dainty ladylike squeel. It was a full, inappropriate volume, joyous sound accompanied by fluttering of hooves as I danced in place for a moment. I heard Rainbow laugh, “Come on dork!”

I stomped my foot in indignation at that, then she peeked back around the corner at me. “Come on MY dork!”

And my heart melted.

We shared a bed that night, but just to sleep. We didn’t even kiss. We were too tired, and we weren’t in a rush. Imagine that, Rainbow Dash not in a rush. We just held each other. She kissed my forehead, and I nuzzled her chest. And we both slept the most perfect and peaceful sleep.

I let the memory close and return to the inspiration room looking at the Sapphire’s dress with a critical eye and thinking of Rainbow on the red carpet. I remember the flash of cameras.

IDEEEEEAAAAA!

7

Rainbow Dash

A few flaps of my wings to get the wind started, and my section of the storm is set in motion. I wasn’t the only one working on it. It’s going to be a gnarly night.

Time to go warn Fluttershy.

Shy is awesome. I feel kinda bad for all the times I make fun of her for being such a scardy-pony. In the moment though it’s really easy to forget how she sees the world. I always say I'm sorry, and she always forgives me. Shy’s awesome like that. It doesn’t hurt that she’s easy on the eyes either.

I look around to make sure no one heard me think that.

Duh! Dash! Nopony can hear your thoughts except you. Dork!

Oh yeah. That’s right.

Plus, you and Rares talked about this. You’ve talked about it over and over and over.

I remember waking up that first morning. Of course, the first thing I noticed was the smell. I always expected Rarity to smell like chemicals, because of all the bottles and sprays and stuff she uses on herself; but that’s not how she smells at all. Rarity smells like soap and flowers, and...sexy. Not sex. Just sexy. Rarity is what sexy smells like; and not crazy in my face sexy either. It’s like- softer. She smells like a pretty kind of sexy that a pony can be all the time without seeming like she’s asking for anything. I had a smile on my face and ruffled feathers before I opened my eyes that morning, because of that smell.

I did kinda freak out of a minute, because I was in bed with RARITY. I mean, I’d always thought Rarity was hot, but she’s not the kind of pony you end up in bed with just because she’s hot. Plus, I remembered all the totally not awesome, uncool things I’d done the day before.

Who asks if they can put their wing around somepony they’re on a date with? I mean- honestly, could have been a bigger goober? But Rares just said it was ok and we moved on. I kept thinking she’d pull away. Especially at the party when that stallion definitely wanted to talk to her, but she just leaned into my side like there was no reason at all all those ponies shouldn’t think we were together. That was cool.

Then she watched the show with me. I mean she really watched. I thought she was just being nice when we were walking over and I rambled on about all that Wonderbolts stuff, but then when we were watching the show she’d say little things:

“Oh, look darling, that’s Spitfire’s signature move you were telling me about, correct?”

“So, that’s a ‘wingtip’ formation looks like. That’s simply divine.”

“Effortless. Breathtaking and effortless.”

Plus, she drank cider! She could have had whatever frou frou fancy drink she wanted, but she just had cider with me all night, and always made sure I had a cold one. She said something about it being homey and whatever.

She liked the play part better than the high speed stuff, which was cool. It was fun to watch her. Plus the cuddles. I really liked the cuddles.

That part of the show was awesome, but not mind consuming like the fast paced stuff. So, I tried to think. It had been an awesome day. I kept waiting to Rarity to freak out and rush me off to some fashion thing or up tight swankfest, but we just hung out doing Wonderbolts stuff all day. Maybe that’s why I never felt like I had to try and be cooler or braver than I felt.

Then she took a shower.

I’m not going to even try and pretend like I hadn’t thought about having sex with Rarity. Everypony has at least thought about it once, right?

When she walked out of that shower though...I didn’t even want rush her or anything. I just wanted to look at her. That would have been enough to get myself off for days. Then she drop the towel smiled.

She did that on purpose!

And there she was: a gorgeous sparkling white unicorn like something out of an old ponytale. Rares is slim, because she takes care of herself and doesn’t eat like crap. But I hadn’t ever noticed her muscles before. I mean she keeps up when we go gallivanting on whatever the friendship quest of the week is. She’s even saved our tails more than once. But I hadn’t ever thought of her as an athlete until that moment when I could see that she totally was.

About a month after that I realized why she has all those muscles and is quite possible the strongest pony I know (even stronger than AJ). Gems. Rarity goes rockhounding for at least an hour everyday. It is her special talent. Fashion is her thing, but gems are what got her that cutiemark. When she’s working on stuff for Sapphire Shores, she goes even more. Even though she uses magic to find the gems, and usually talks Spike into helping her dig them up, she carts them back. Plus she it basically means that she goes on a long hike everyday. Sometimes when the rocks won’t cooperate with her magic she has to just bust them open herself. Now that is hot.

So, that morning when I woke up with her smell I also woke up with her body. I totally expected to be holding her, right? Wrong. She was holding me. I was curled up against her like a foal, and there were these awesome soft and strong legs everywhere just holding me like a cloud, but better.

Oh crap! I just passed Fluttershy’s house. Good job featherbrain.

8

Rarity

I’m going to have to hurry if I want to go get the gems I want for Sapphire’s dress. I do have a lot of making up to do with Rainbow Dash later. Although, she does like with when I have a nice sheen from exercise.

IDEEEEAAAA!

9

Rainbow Dash

I know better than to just land right in front of Fluttershy’s door, so I glide slowly down into the meadow where Tank likes to play hoping to see him on my way up to the cottage. As soon as I touch down I see his wrinkled green head pop up, and he turns to smile at me. I few beats of my wings and I’ve got him swept up in a hug.

“Hey buddy! You seen Fluttershy anywhere?”

He gives me a gentle snap and inclines his head toward the cottage, then looks up to the sky.

“Sorry boy, no flying today. Maybe tomorrow, ok?” I hold him away from me and drop him to the ground. He sucks his little limbs into his shell before he hits the ground spinning.

I have the coolest pet ever.

He pokes his head out and grins.

“Good draw little guy,” I saw rubbing him on the head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Then I take off at a trot toward the cottage. Angel is outside eating a flower bush I know Fluttershy has told him to leave alone, but I don’t say anything about it, so he ignores me.

I almost knock on the door at full volume, but catch myself just in time, and barely let my hoof tap against the wood. I still hear a soft and panicked, “Oh my goodness” from inside the house, but at least she hasn’t scampered under the bed this time.

Fluttershy opens the door just a smidge. Celestia! Shy’s pretty.

“Hey Shy,” I say happy but quiet.

She opens the door all the way and pulls be into a quick, soft hug. She’s so soft; almost like Rarity, but totally different. I really like that she’ll just hug me without being all weird and bashful about it. We worked on that for a long time. I have no idea how many times I told her to stop apologizing or asking permission and just hug me if she wanted to.

“Hi Dashie, you startled me. I wasn’t expecting anypony to come by today,” she says as pulls away and gestures for me to come inside.

“Yeah, sorry. I just wanted to give you a heads up that there’s going to be a pretty serious thunderstorm tonight.”

“A….A….A thund-”

“It’s going hit here a little after dinnertime and should last all night. I wanted to let you know so you could build a fort or whatever.”

I was looking around saying hey to some of the critters in the cottage, but when Shy didn’t answer I turned back to see the look of terror on her face. I can’t stop myself from laughing.

“Hey,” I say as I walk over to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. “You’re track record for surviving storms is pretty good Shy. I think you’ll be ok.”

She blinks a few times and nods herself out of the panicked trance.

“I suppose you’re right, and I do have some time to prepare.”

“Yeah. No way it’s going to be worse than last Nightmare Night. You’ve totally got this.”

She’s looking at the ground, fiddling with the carpet. Any other time, this would be the part where I offer to come hang out with her for part of the storm, but I have plans with my main mare tonight. What to do….

“Want me to see if AJ and the crusaders want to come hang out for a while so you won’t be alone?” Her eyes raise a few inches off the floor, but fall again when I finish. “I have plans with Rares tonight, or I would totally be here.”

Her eyes plop back down to the floor. Crap! I hate doing that to her. I’m like a security blanket for Flutters. We’ve been friends forever, so riding out storms together is super familiar for her. Maybe I can ask Rarity….she won’t say no. I probably ought to reschedule with Scootaloo anyway, don’t want the kid out in the rain. Maybe we can even finally talk to Shy about the other thing….

I lean forward and give shy a quick nuzzle, which startles her. Of course it does.

“Let me talk to Rares,” I say. “Maybe we can change the plan and spend the night here instead.”

“Oh Dash, I don’t want to be-”

“It’s no big deal Shy. Rarity would be madder than a manticore with a thorn in its paw if she knew I left you alone and scared.” That makes Fluttershy smile.

“K. I gotta go if we’re going to get back before the storm. See you in a while, Shy.” And I’m off out the door in a flash.

Horsefeathers. She’s going to need a half hour just to recover from me taking off.

I’m back in the sky, and back in the memory of that first morning with Rares.

So, she was holding me, which was totally unexpected awesomeness, and she was still asleep. So, I had a few minutes to just look at her. She never lets anypony see her like that. She had bedhead, and she still looked good!

I noticed the night before that she didn’t t put on very much make-up. Everypony gives her a hard time about wearing make up everyday, but she really doesn’t put on much. Not nearly as much as some ponies I know. Plus, I just don’t get why it’s a big deal. Sure, I wouldn’t do it, but most ponies would leave their house looking like they tried to their mane in a tornado, which is just my go to look.

Her eyeliner and eye shadow was just barely smudged that morning, but I could already imagine the colossal freak out that would happen when she realized it was less than perfect. And it’s totally not about anypony seeing how she looks. It doesn’t matter if she’s hanging with the crusaders or attending some fancy ball; Rares keeps herself looking good herself and no other pony. I liked that.

Geez! I never realized how much I thought about Rarity.

Oh well.. I didn’t really care. I had the thoughts anyway, what was the point in figuring where they came from.

Suddenly her eyes were open and we were staring at each other. Of course she caught me staring, of course she did. She didn’t make it weird though. She just pulled me a little closer and said, “Good morning, Rainbow Dash.”

Thank Celestia I had already thought about the morning breath problem. Not that she had morning breath, but enough ponies had told me I did that I believed them. So, I nuzzled under her chin and said, “Morning, Rares.”

Then we just laid there for a while. She pulled some mint leaves out of her bag with her magic and offered me one. No complaints about bad breath, just tasty solutions.

That’s when I started to freak out. This was awesome, but this was Rarity. We were probably all over some gossip column or whatever as some new hot couple or something. I hadn’t really thought that through all the way, and honestly it didn’t bother me. But...we hadn’t really talked about...stuff.

Then there was voice in my ear, she was right there with me. “It’s going to be ok, darling.”

That made me sit up. She looked sad for a second, but covered it up. “What’s wrong, Rainbow?”

“I-”

How was I supposed to talk to her about this?

She sat up, and gave me a quick kiss on my cheek. “How about we get some breakfast ordered, take a moment to collect our thoughts and then we can talk?”

“Yeah, ok.”

“Or would you rather make a quick trip to Donut Joe’s and bring something back for us?”

“Sure that sounds awesome!” A quick flight is just what I needed anyway. I heard her reaching into her bag with her magic, but I was out the window before she could give me the bits. No way Rares, breakfast is on me.

I had no idea what she wanted though. Luckily Joe had some ideas, and I came back with a dozen donuts, a few croissants, and two cups of coffee. Hers was a white chocolate something, that I got because seeing white chocolate on the menu made me think of her. Cuz I’m a total sucker like that.

When I got back, she was sitting at the desk drawing something. “Just a moment, darling. I’ve had a burst of inspiration for the Wonderbolt Blazers. Give me just a moment please.”

See, that’s cool. She hadn’t even brushed her mane. Inspiration struck and she followed it. I decided that the next time AJ whines around about Rarity being fussy I would totally say something about it. Sure, Rares likes being prepared and doing stuff right, but she also DOES stuff. It wasn’t cool that AJ made it sound like Rarity trying to do her best all the time was bad thing.

I slid the boxes off my back, picked up a donut in my teeth, then wrapped a wing around the cup that was hers. I walked over to the desk and set the cup down out of the way, so she wouldn’t knock it over. Then looked at the her sketch.

That pony can draw.

It wasn’t one idea. She was drawing the individual flight team members, each wearing a jacket that was basically like mine but a little different. Each one was customized for the pony. She’d drawn me too, but had redesigned the lightening bolts so they were rainbows like my cutie mark. She had that one circled.

Awesome! I’m gettin’ another new jacket that’s even cooler than the first.

The detail in the sketches was awesome. I couldn’t believe how many of the flight members she knew, and knew good enough to customize stuff for them. Plus, even though Rares designed awesome gala dresses, and coronation dresses, and wedding dresses, these were the coolest designs I’d seen her do.

“Those look killer Rares.”

“Hmm? Oh. Thank you,” she said taking a sip of her drink, which made her eyes flutter shut happily. Point to Rainbow Dash! “They are a bit rough around the edges. I’m hoping Mr. Sales can get me into a few more practices, so that I can really get to know each pony I’ll be designing for. I also have some ideas for a more casual, warm-up type look.”

I felt a cool brush of magic on the back of my head making me lean forward. She turned and kissed me on the cheek. “The coffee is delicious. Thank you very much.”

Why was I blushing? I don’t know. Mushy stuff didn’t usually get to me, but it wasn’t really mushy. It was casual, but...nice. For once, Shy’s favorite word felt just right.

She giggled and pulled away. “Perhaps it is time for that conversation we said we wanted to have.” She turned and walked toward the couch picking up a donut and a croissant, plus her coffee with her magic. I grabbed another donut and my coffee and sat in a chair next to the couch, so I could look at her while we talked.

“I-”

“Sorry, Rainbow Dash, but I’d like to begin if I may.”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” I don’t think I did a good job acting like I wasn’t relieved. I had no idea what I wanted to say to her yet, but I didn’t need her to know that.

“Wonderful. Thank you.” She sipped her coffee and took a bite of her donut. Once she was done chewing she started again. “I want to thank you for not kissing me yesterday.” She waved a hoof to keep me from interrupting. “I know we both wanted it, but I truly appreciate your willingness to encourage our mutual restraint. The truth is, I’ve heard some of the unflattering things ponies say about you and your...conquests; and it means a great deal to me that you clearly don’t think of me like that.”

“Rares, I-” I was looking at the floor in shame. Those stupid rumors. I mean, yeah. I was a player. WAS. I had been flying solo for a while. Sure I looked, but that was it. Just looked. That was all I ever did, and those rumors were not even a little true. And-

A white hoof touched my chin and lifted my face. “I don’t believe a word of it Rainbow Dash. I know you have had exploits, who hasn’t? But in the time we have all been friends, I have never seen you treat a pony they way they say you do. You are the element of loyalty after all. For you to simply throw some pony away isn’t in your character at all.”

Whew! Relief. And then, panic.

“Rarity,” I didn’t let her stop me this time. “They aren’t totally wrong though.” I hung my head in shame again. “I never meant to, but I think I did hurt a few ponies’ feelings. I mean we always talked, and everypony always agreed that we were just having fun and everything was cool, but...they weren’t. And I was too busy going too fast to notice. When the stuff with the elements happened that’s when I started to realize that I was hurting ponies and I stopped.”

A tissue wrapped in a blue aura wiped the tears of my cheek. “Thanks,” I said. She just held my hoof and waited for me to go on.

“I tried dating, really I did. Element of loyalty, shouldn’t have a problem sticking with one pony, right? But I always did. I never actually cheated, but the ponies I was with kept thinking I did.” She didn’t flinch or challenge me, just gave my hoof a squeeze. So, I said the rest. She needed to know. “I like you Rarity, and yesterday was a blast. Like way more awesome than I ever would have expected. And I really really want to try dating you, but I’m worried, because I look. I look at everypony. You’re not the first to catch my wings saying I want somepony I’m not sure I can have. I- I- just don’t want to ruin things you know, we’re friends and want to be more, and friends with benefits is stupid. You’re way better than that, so let’s not even try and talk about it, and-”

Lips.

Soft lips kissing me hard.

Soft lips and a tongue begging to be in my mouth, so I let it in. And I felt myself catch on fire. One flap of my wings and I had pushed her back on the couch. Our mouths moving together like two wings beating in perfect sync.

Then she flipped me! She didn’t even cheat and use magic, she just bodily flipped me on my back and pressed that lean barrel against mine.

Daaaaaammmmmnnn. That pony can kiss.

Then she pulled back with a giggle. I wrapped my wings and hooves around her thinking I could make her kiss me again. That’s when I realized the muscles I’d noticed the night before weren’t just for show. She kissed my nose and said, “I won’t hear you speak badly of yourself Rainbow Dash.” Then she leaned down and nipped my ear. “I look too.”

The heat was everywhere. I wanted her so bad, but I wanted to know what she meant. She nipped me again, then sat up. “Let me explain,” she said pulling me up with her.

“It’s actually a point I had intended to make during my first little speech. You see, I could easily be met with many of the same accusations that have been leveled against you, darling.”

“Huh?”

She smiled because I was confused. “For the longest time, I claimed that it was because I am a designer. Of course I examine everypony looking for how to make them most attractive. That is my calling, but that never explained why I found so very many ponies attractive or why I often found myself attracted to more than one pony at a time. I’ve not acted on the feelings as you have, at least not so frequently and with a good deal more discretion. But I cannot pretend that my own wandering eye hasn’t ruined a relationship or two. As you say, I have never actually cheated on anypony, but I found myself in more than one position where I thought I might.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

I tackle her again. It’s just a quick kiss to her mouth, then a flurry of kisses all over her face and neck. We were both laughing.

“Rainbow Dash,” she yelled. “Do stop and explain yourself.”

I jumped from the couch, and did a quick lap around the room to burn of the extra energy so I could focus on what I wanted to say. When I landed I looked right at her, and something clicked. She knew! I just told the pony I liked that I might like other ponies too, and she was totally cool with it.

AWESOME!

I leaned in for one more quick kiss then started talking.

“I thought it was just me. I thought I could never be good enough for anypony, and that I’d just have to be alone forever, because nopony wants to be with a pony they can’t trust. But if you get it, then….”

“Then perhaps, we can try and make this work?” She asked hopefully.

“Yeah!” I threw my forelegs around her in the tightest hug I could manage. When I pulled back she had something to say.

“There’s something else I need to say, darling.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Assuming we get to that point of course,” she started playing with a thread on the couch.

“Then what Rare?”

“Well if both of our wandering eyes were to rest on the same pony, then maybe we could…”

BEST MAREFRIEND EVER!!!

Ooo there’s the crusaders. I dive into a landing. Gotta talk to Scoots about changing out dinner plans.

10

Rarity

There’s nothing like productive afternoon of gem finding. Especially since I managed to negotiate with those Diamond Dogs. A nice 70/30 split for any caches the helped dig up. I did still have to pull a fully loaded cart all the way back to the boutique though. There is a sense of pride that comes with perspiration born of hard work.

Rainbow does so like to see me like this, which I found quite confusing at first. When I asked her about it, it seemed as though she was talking about a pony I didn’t even know: an athlete, who was strong, apparently beautiful, and not afraid to get a little dirty. I was quite intrigued by the description, and asked for the mare’s name.

“Rares, it’s you. Duh!”

“I beg-” Oh. She had been talking about me all along. She saw some sense of athleticism in me? I’m not sure I’ve ever been more flattered or blushed deeper than I did in that moment.

A rainbow flashes across the sky. She’s looking for me. She’s early.

Send up a firework charm from my horn creating a burst of blue lights in the sky above me, and she circles back. She comes to a hover just above my head.

“Hiya!’

“Well, hello to you too, Rainbow Dash.” She dips down and kisses me quickly. “Have you finished already? I thought you’d still be at dinner with Scootaloo?”

“We changed the day. There’s a big storm moving this way, and I didn’t want her tryin’ to scooter home in it.”

“Well that’s very thoughtful.”

“Yeah, you may want to pick up the pace too little pony unless you want to get caught in the rain.”

“If only there was some swift and strong hero to help me pull this awful cart!” I cry in my best damsel in distress impersonation, which is quite good if I do say so myself. “I would certainly reward such a noble pony for their good and loyal service!”

“You sure you want to be promising rewards to ponies you’re already in debt to?”

“Oh yes, dear. I always settle my debts in full.”

There is a spark in her eyes as she lands. I stop and she slips into the harness with me. “Well then,” she nips my neck eliciting a little shriek of pleasure. “Double time, milady.”

We aren’t far from our destination, and we pull very well together. She’s stopped being impressed with my endurance. I’ve made the trek to my gem quarry nearly everyday for years. Occasionally I gallop the full length of the trek in both directions, just for the exhilaration of exercise.

As we pull, I can see that she’s thinking about something.

“Bit for your thoughts?” I ask expecting her to counter, but she simply replies:

“I was thinking about our first time,” with a sheepish grin.

I reach to nuzzle her briefly, never losing the rhythm of our step. “I’ve been thinking about that myself today.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes,” I answer dreamily.
***
I had actually said the words. I had actually told the mare I had just barely informed of my desire to date her that if she were amenable then perhaps we might date another mare together. I don’t know what made me say the words. I had thought to keep such thoughts hidden away deep inside me, but I just couldn’t; and there she was literally vibrating with happiness and excitement at the idea.

“So, that’s a yes then? If we get to that point?” I asked.

She just nodded, and then launched herself at me again. At first it was more of the excited almost silly kisses she’d smothered me with before, but then she took just a moment and pulled back to look at me. That one look said everything. We were going to date of course, but she was committed. She was mine.

When she kissed me again it was with loving, deep and long. Her lips were firm, and her tongue forceful. She pulled me against her with her forelegs and wrapped her wings around me. It was the stereotypical, breathtaking Rainbow Dash kiss. When the kiss broke and our eyes met, I saw it. The faintest flicker of doubt in her eyes.

Allowing another pony inside one’s head is an act more intimate than sex, but I needed her to see. I needed her to feel. I needed her to know that she wasn’t alone. So, I leaned my head forward and touched my horn to her temple.

I hadn’t expected what happened, but I saw her too. I felt her mind exploring mine furtively, gaining confidence and happiness with each moment. Then it was as if her consciousness invited me in and I could see all the colors that were Rainbow Dash, and somewhere in the middle of it all was me.

When I pulled my horn away and looked into those beautiful raspberry eyes I saw tears. Unabashed tears of love and happiness.

“I thought I’d never-” she began.

“Shhh,” I interrupted her. “I know, my love. Neither did I.” There was the briefest of pauses, and then I couldn’t help myself, “Now come to with me. I do believe I’d like to ravish you now.”

Author's Note

Sorry there's a bit of a cliffhanger to this installment. I'm still working on making the next segment match my intended audience. I hope you're enjoying it so far.

11*

Author's Note

I'm trying a new chapter format. I really like having the shift in POV synced with the transition from chapter to chapter, but I understand that the individual vignettes are generally too short to be considered stand alone chapters. Please leave a comment if you like one way better than the other.
I really appreciate everyone that has liked, followed, and read this story so far. I have a lot of content written that I'm still tweaking. I'm hoping to update more regularly now that the holidays are over.
Thanks again for reading.

11*

Rainbow Dash

We got up off the couch and I followed her to the bed. She flicked her tail and hit me in the nose. I had no idea what ‘ravish’ meant, but I was looking forward to it. She gestured for me to climb on the bed, which I did. I would have flown, but my wings were out stiffer than I new they could be.

I realized I should warn her about that.

“Rares?”

“Yes darling”

“I need to tell you something. It’s nothing bad, but…”

She climbed onto the bed right on top of me and breathed against my ear. “Tell me whatever it is, love.” Then she was kissing and licking and nipping my neck and my chest and my ears. It took a minute to get the words out.

“Umm...you know how everypony says I’m the fastest pony in ponyville?”

“Mmmhmm”

“Well, I….” She had reached up a hoof to touch one of my wing joints and all the words in the world went away.

“Oh Rainbow,” there was a smile in that whisper. She hadn’t even done anything yet, but it had been so long, and I had been holding back so much that I peaked right there. Just from her touch and and her voice.

Rarity

She relaxed so much after that first one. I longed to kiss her and get lost in passion, but she needed a moment to recover. So, I kissed her quickly then I closed my eyes and explored her.

Rainbow Dash smells like fresh air. Of course she’s notorious for being too lazy to bathe, but when she’s clean and one can truly find her scent, she smells like clouds and rain and high pine trees.

She’s ticklish. Touches that are too light send her into a fit of laughter; touches that are too firm bring her over the edge too quickly and she finishes before she can even enjoy herself. I learned so much about how to touch her that first day.

She’s greedy about affection, which complements my own tendencies quite nicely. She just laid there letting my hooves and mouth wander over her for such a long time. If I stopped or pulled away at all, then she would groan or pull me close again. For a pony that always seems to be moving, it was astonishing to feel her become perfectly still under my touch.

Until I touched her with my horn.

There was a mound at the base of each wing joint that I had become quite fascinated by. Wings have always been intriguing to me, but I had also heard and read about this extra sensitive nerve bundle. Just breathing on either one sent ripples through her feathers. I revisited the spot several times in different ways. First, as I have said, with only my breath. Next with very soft kisses, which yielded the most wonderful little moans and gasps of my name. I thought about trying to suck or bite, but worried it would be too much. A gentle brush with my horn seemed like a good idea, so I lowered my head and slid my horn lightly over the spot.

I hadn’t realized that she’d been quietly building to another orgasm, let alone one so intense. As I brought my horn across her on the other side, I watched her body shudder as each flute moved over her.

Oh. It. Is. On!
As long as I maintained contact, she maintained climax. After a full minute or two of ecstasy, she clamped her wings shut around me, and inhaled a breath I hadn’t realized she’d been gasping for.

I was concerned that it it had been too much. “I’m sorry darli-”

She shut my mouth with a kiss that was deep and urgent. Instantly she changed from being submissive to dominant. The passion I had been looking forward to rushing out of her like a sudden burst of wind.

Suddenly I was on my back and she was kissing me everywhere. Restraining herself just enough to not feel rushed. I felt her legs shudder, and then she collapsed on top me, settling her hips between my legs.

Wingtips brushed my face, as lips kissed my neck finding a place near my shoulder that sent shivers through me and made my horn spark. I expected a hoof, but she separated my lower lips with deft feathers and began to stroke me.

“Rainbow!” It was an exclamation that could not be restrained. She pulled back from kissing me to to watch my face. She was going to watch me as she took me over the edge. Her eyes were confident. She knew what she was doing, and she knew it would work.

The wing between my legs was gone, and replaced with a hoof that slid through my wet crease like knife through warm butter, just barely touching my most sensitive and responsive of places before sliding back down.

“Again,” I begged. “Harder.”

She settled her hips against her hoof, and began to beat her wings. This is how a pegasus makes love in movements controlled by wings and air and pressure. She made a slight adjustment to her wings and every beat was a step closer to a crest I couldn’t wait to reach, but she was in no hurry. She could keep up the steady, delicious rhythm for a very long time. Then her eyes flicked to my horn.

Oh yes. Please.

With her free hoof she reached behind my head and pulled my horn to her mouth. Then hesitated. Waiting for permission I hadn’t given out loud.

“Please, yes.”

I had never let my horn be claimed by anypony. Rainbow took it in one bite. In an instant the world exploded and I was lost to sensation. Everything was the beating of wings, and a warm wet mouth.

And then I collapsed. She slid her mouth off me, and her hoof out of me, and floated down on top me. She wrapped her wings around me and I drifted off to sleep.

12

Rainbow Dash

“Rare?”

“Yes?” She answers startled.

“I kind of told Fluttershy that we would go over there tonight, so she wouldn’t be alone for the storm.” I can hear the wheels of Rarity’s brain come to a full and complete stop. This could go either way.

“You didn’t mention….?"

“No. I just went to tell her about the storm. I thought we said that we would talk to her together.”

“So, we did.”

There’s a pause, where the only sound is our hooves crunching against the dirt.

“Think she’s ready?” I ask.

“Not in the slightest, but perhaps tonight will be an opportunity to change that.” She looks at the sky, “We don’t have much time.”

I look up to see that the carefully crafted weather system is doing it’s thing. I can see my cloud system from here. It’s doing awesome, naturally. Rarity is right though. Even if we just drop the gems and run, we’ll probably still get rained on.

“No rewards for services rendered tonight I guess.”

“Oh darling, I’m sure we can find an opportunity.” There is a naughty glint in that unicorn’s eyes, and I like it.

“Well, what are we waiting for?”

We break into a gallop. I’m careful to match Rarity’s gait. I’m faster, but she has longer legs, and we aren’t sprinting. It only takes another couple minutes to reach the boutique. We pull the cart into a little shed, and Rarity locks it with her magic.

“Why don’t you fly ahead?” Rarity says just as the first thunder booms through the sky. “Poor Fluttershy must be quite beside herself. I’ll be along in just a few minutes.”

“You’re really going to walk to Fluttershy’s in a thunderstorm?”

“Oh no, I fully intend to run the entire way,” She says with a wink. “I just want to fetch the necessary items to fix my mane once I get there.”

That’s my Rarity.

“See you there,” I say and then take off.

Fluttershy

Dashie and Rarity are coming. Dashie and Rarity are coming. Everything will be fine, because my two best friends in the whole world are coming.

BOOOOOOOMMM

When are they coming?

The front door opens with a crash then closes quickly. Oh, I hope it’s Dashie and not some transient pony that thought my cottage looked like a welcoming place to sit out the storm.

“Shy?” I hear a raspy voice call out from the bottom of the stairs, and relief spreads through me like hot cocoa on a warm day. Of course, I still can possibly call out to let her know that I’m under the bed, but I’m certain that she’ll find me. Dashie knows my routines.

“I’m going to come up the stairs now, k?”

Of course it’s ok. Come save me!

It is very thoughtful of her to warn me though, so I don’t fret about what other pony might be climbing my stairs. That is a terrible thought though: that Dashie just got here, AND there’s still possibility of a transient pony on the stairs….

Eeeep.

Somepony opens my bedroom door, but I can’t see who, because the bed skirt is in the way. In the choice between having any sort of optical advantage and creating an enclosed den of comfort, I had chosen the den and now I might pay for it with-

“It’s just me Shy.”

Relief. But what about-

“I already checked the rest of the house. There’s nopony else here.”

What about-

“It was just me walking up the stairs, featherbrain.”

Relief.

“Do you wanna come out now?”

Ummm…..

I hear her lay down on the floor and she lifts the bedskirt. Raspberry eyes meet mine. She smiles comfortably. I can see the concern behind the bravado. Of course she isn’t scared of some storm. She’s worried about me and my worrying.

Even when we were little, seeing me worry made her nervous. That’s when she started spending nights like these with me, making sure that I was as comfortable as I could be. Of course, she often tries to tell me that I can be braver. Sometimes, when it’s in the heat of the moment she gets impatient with me and tells me to toughen up, which usually hurts my feelings. Then she always says sorry, and reminds me that she doesn’t look at me and see some coward of a pony. She sees a dragon master and a manticore whisperer.

She just doesn’t understand why I can’t be that brave all the time. No matter what happens, that’s the pony she knows I can be and I love her for that.

I mean-

Well, I don’t-

Ok. I do. I love Rainbow Dash.

I have been in love with Rainbow Dash for years. I think she knows too, but is too nice to say anything about it and make things uncomfortable between us. I feel bad for putting her in that position, but I have no idea how to change it and we seem to be getting along ok. Especially now that Dashie and Rarity are together.

Almost a year ago, when they came home from that trip to Canterlot and said they were dating I could tell that they weren’t just dating- something had happened. They were a mated pair, even if they weren’t ready to admit it to themselves or to all of their friends. Part of me wanted to be disappointed and feel bad for myself that any tiny hope I had of a future with Rainbow Dash was gone, but mostly I was just so happy. My two best friends made each other so happy! Plus, they both still took time for me. The three of us would even spend time together sometimes, which was nice. And they both still...looked at me.

I never would have believed that I could be a model if not for Rarity, and it wasn’t her words that convinced me. It was her eyes. How many times had I caught her looking at me in ways that made me blush?

Dashie was the same way, even now as she sits patiently waiting and worrying about me; her eyes wandered over me just a bit. I know that I should probably feel bad, because she’s with Rarity and should only have eyes for Rarity, but I can’t make myself do it. It feels too good to know that she likes to look at me. If that makes me an evil awful pony, then that’s what I am.

Besides, they both do it. Sometimes...they look at me together. And that isn’t just flattering; it’s naughty and I like it.

EEEEP.

“Shy, you ok?”

“Ummm...yes.”

“Rares should be here any second. Wanna come with me to watch for her?”

The thunder booms again. Rainbow’s face lights up with pride when I only cower a little. Then something occurs to me.

“Rarity is out the in rain?”

“Ha, yeah.”

Immediately I’m out from under the bed looking out the window. “Oh I hope she’s alright. I’m so sorry, Dashie. I shouldn’t have asked you two to come. Rarity hates getting wet.”

She pulls a long side me and gives me a quick nuzzle. “It’s all good. You didn’t ask; I offered. Plus, Rares was gonna grab all her crap so she can fix herself up when she gets here.”

“Oh. Ok.” Then a thought occurs to me. “Should I get a bath started for her? If she’s walking here, her hooves are going to be all muddy?” Rarity hates dirt.

“Oh she’s not walking.”

What?

I look out the window and I see her. I little point of light at the tip of her horn shining on the path in front of her. For just a second, she doesn’t look like Rarity at all. She looks more like Applejack or some heroic pony from a story. Her dark mane is flying behind her as her hooves fly across the ground at a full gallop. Mud has splashed up her legs and onto her barrel. There’s a little shimmer around her whole body, and I can’t tell if it’s water glistening off of her or something else. I can just imagine each little squeal she might make as the mud splashes around her.

She’s absolutely beautiful, but she’s also so sexy I can’t help but stare.

I mean-

Well, she is-

Ok. So, I think Rarity is sexy. Like it’s a good thing we’re in separate tubs for our mud baths at the spa because I may or may not have done naughty things to myself with my hoof one day when she fell asleep under her cucumbers, because even (maybe especially) covered in mud Rarity is a stunning, mind blowing, level of sexy that I just can’t ignore.

Rarity is running through the mud for me?

A quick glance at Rainbow Dash tells me that maybe it’s just not for me. Dashie is transfixed on the white unicorn. It’s not quite the same look she has when she watches the Wonderbolts perform, but it’s close. If I know Rarity, then she knows Rainbow is watching. She probably had that hood up the entire way, but took it down as she came over that last hill because she knew Dashie would be more turned on by a wet mane.

I know I sure am.

EEEEP.

“I’m going to go start that bath for her.”

Rarity

Frankly there is a battle raging in my head. On the one hoof, I am covered in mud and slime. I am wetter than a fish- and not in a good way. Although, I am hoping for that to change in the next little while, which brings us to the other hoof. My darling Rainbow Dash is definitely watching from the window in Fluttershy’s room, and if our history together is any indication, then I can be reasonably confident that my paramour will find herself sufficiently aroused by my entrance. Were it just the two of us, there wouldn’t be any hesitation. Rainbow Dash would take me before I got through the door. However, I daresay Fluttershy would be traumatized by that, which would be entirely counterproductive considering Dash and I have decided to try and date the darling yellow pegasus.

Truthfully, we talked about approaching Fluttershy just a few days after our first date. It was one of many conversations we’ve had about the various ponies and qualities we each find attractive. Somehow, we kept circling back to Fluttershy. Rainbow talked about a completely different version of our friend than I did. We were each captivated by her for different reasons. Even if I hadn’t already been smitten with Fluttershy, I certainly would have been after hearing Rainbow talk about her; and Dash said the same of my description.

We agreed to be just the two of us for a while before we truly considered trying to date another pony, and what a wonderful year it had been. Not perfect, of course. Rainbow and I can both be stubborn. My fastidious nature can be trying, even for a pony that can see the value in it. Rainbow’s penchant for naps above all else and leaving a room without taking proper leave had caused friction on more than one occasion as well. She also willfully refused to model anything for me, unless it was Wonderbolts apparel, which was infuriating until came up for an elegant Wonderbolts themed evening gown. She even wore it to the premier of the new line of fangear which has been such a tremendous success.

Each disagreement ended. We haven’t slept apart in more than 6 months. And perhaps most significantly for both us, we have never quarreled about fidelity. That we would remain together for the rest of our lives was a foregone conclusion. It’s ironic that there were so many spurious rumors and innuendos about Rainbow Dash; that pony mated for life. I still don’t know what I ever did to deserve being her special somepony, but from that first day I knew it was our reality and neither she nor I have questioned it since.

If a crush or interest arose, then we talked about it. Often that meant returning to our conversation about Fluttershy. She had been a best friend to each of us for such a long time that she was already special. It felt so perfectly natural to include her in certain things. She was a counselor when we fought, often reminding us that simply being a little kinder to one another was all we really needed. She brought a sweet balance to our sometimes over-impassioned dynamic that we desperately needed.

Without noticing it we had already created opportunities for the three of us to spend some extra time together. A few months ago, after spending a particularly lovely afternoon together with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and I were entering the boutique when I was struck by a realization that made me gasp. When Rainbow questioned me about it I answered, “Darling, I do believe we have been gently courting Fluttershy for the past few weeks.”

Sometime around our 8 month anniversary, Rainbow and I had started making a point of having a weekly lunch or dinner with our friend. Additionally, each of us spent at least one afternoon or evening with her on our own. None of that was particularly out of the ordinary, but it was how we were spending time with our mutual hearts desire. We had invited her on a trip to Canterlot with us for a design session with the Wonderbolts. We had taken to sending messages with some of Fluttershy’s animal friends in advance of our arrival to the cottage to help assuage her terror at unexpected guests. These were subtle differences, but all combined to show our intentions- at least to us in the know.

Around the time I had my realization, Applejack made some offhoof comment to Rainbow about Fluttershy being our perpetual third wheel. Naturally, Rainbow rose to Fluttershy’s defense and there was a bit of a rift between Dash and Applejack for about a week. Thankfully, they let bygones be bygones and returned to their perfectly childish competitive nonsense. However, the result was a conversation betwixt Rainbow and myself about the fact that we mutually desired Fluttershy for our third- not our third wheel. In fact, although each of us still took note of the occasional other pony, we had long since stopped talking about the possibility of incorporating anypony other than Fluttershy into our relationship.

Now we just had to figure out how to talk our darling girl without scaring the feathers off her.

She does have such lovely feathers.

13

Rainbow Dash

Hot.

My marefriend is hot.

Rares is always nice to look at, but when she throws all styling junk out the window she’s just hot. Too bad we haven’t got things all worked out with Flutters, or I’d be suggesting a three-pony bath of awesome hotness.

Wait….that’s an idea.

I’ve known for a long time that Fluttershy has feelings for me. I never went for anything, but I always figured my noticing every good lookin’ pony I saw might hurt her feelings. When Rares and I started going out though, Flutters was awesome. Normally, I would have thought that she was just being nice, but it was totally real.

I’m pretty sure Shy likes Rarity. I mean, everyone likes Rarity, right? Rares isn’t so sure though. That’s something we’ve been trying to feel out for months, but Flutters can be hard to read about stuff like that. It took years for me to realize how she felt about me.
Maybe if we asked Flutters to help Rares with a bath though…..

IDEEEAA (Crap. Rares and are spending too much together…..No we aren’t!)

Rarity is almost here. I walk to the bathroom door. Whatever combination of stuff Shy has put in that steamy bath tub smells amazing. Rarity will love it.

“I’m gonna go open the door for Rarity. That looks great Shy.”

“Oh, thanks Dashie.”

“Umm...Shy?”

“Yes?”

“Do you wanna help me do something for Rarity?”

“Of course.” She’s totally distracted lighting candles and sprinkling dried flowers and junk in the bath.

“Well, Rares is super stressed out with the Sapphire Shores order she’s working on, plus she’s all wet and dirty now. I was just thinking maybe you could be like her personal spa pony when she gets her? Just for a little while? So she can chill?”
That got her attention.

“Oh….well…” Flutters is so cute when she blushes. She wants to say yes, but doesn’t make things weird.

“It’s totally cool Shy. Rares will love it.” I say giving Shy a quick nuzzle. That gets Shy to smile and hide behind her hair.

“Ok. If you’re sure neither of you will mind. I’d be so happy to help Rarity relax. She works really hard.”

This is going better than I hoped.

“Cool. Rares is almost here.”

“K.” There is an odd little smile on Fluttershy’s face when I leave the bathroom. I’ve seen it before, but I haven’t figured out what it means. If I didn’t know better, then I’d say it’s Shy’s version of the dopey, turned on grin I had while I was watching Rares out the window.

I hear Rares on the landing. A few quick wingbeats and I’m opening the door.

She’s cute. She’s trying to be brave and act like the mud splatters all over her aren’t bothering her.

She is going to love her surprise.

I let her finish shaking out a couple more times before I say anything.

“Hey.”

“Hello Darling. Is there a towel or something we can wrap me, so I don’t traipse this gunk all over poor Fluttershy’s house?”

“I can just carry you up-”

“We’ll still need to wrap me in something, dear. I’m positively dripping.”

“Not yet, but you will be.” That’s got her attention, and she finally notices my expression.

“What have you done?”

“I talked Fluttershy into helping you with a bath.” I say proudly. Not doubt about- I just won MAJOR marefriend points.

“Did you...talk to her about anything?”

“No. No time. I just told her I’m no good with spa pony junk, and that you’ve been stressed. She’s Shy, so she’s super happy to help.”

“Right. Of course.”

I can see the battle in those blue eyes. She’s turned on, which is totally hot, but she’s also fighting for composure. That’s good, because really what I’ve set us up for could be a huge risk. But hey- no risk, no reward, right?

Rares nods. “Well this will be interesting.”

Our eyes meet for a second, and all the scheming stuff is gone and there’s just us. I finally let myself really look at her.

Hot. Damn.

Her muscles are all twitchy everywhere. Partly from the run here, and partly because she is holding herself back from galloping up the stairs at breakneck speed. The breathing is controlled; a year of being together is the only way to know what that means. When Rares wants sex and wants it as fast as pony possible, she hyperventilates. So, watching her focus on her breathing is one more indicator that I am in fact the best marefriend ever. She looks sexy as buck.

“Darling?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to need you to help me take the edge off before we go upstairs, or I’m afraid that I’m going to ruin everything.”

Oh Yeah!

Fluttershy

Oh. My.

I hadn’t expected them to take so long. When the bath was all ready I thought I’d better come look to make sure they were ok. That’s when I heard Dashie telling Rarity about the bath. The way Dashie said it was flattering:

“I talked Fluttershy into helping you with a bath.”

Dashie said my name like it was something sexy. She made sound like I was the part of that sentence Rarity would look forward to, not the bath, and Rarity….well….Rarity reacted like….I don’t know, but it was good. Sexy and very very good.

I’m missing something. What am I missing?

While I was busy processing and hiding just around the corner, so I wouldn’t disturb them while they were talking, I wasn’t listening to what they said until Rarity said, “I’m going to need you to help me take the edge off before we go upstairs, or I’m afraid that I’m going to ruin everything.”

What does that mean?

Then there was a thud.

I thought about running away, but if my friends were in danger then I wanted to help. I didn’t really think they were in danger though. I thought-

No. I’m watching now, and the thud was definitely Dashie throwing Rarity against the wall in just inside my front door.
I have been paralyzed by fear, and shame, and uncertainty, and terror, and shock, and confusion, and many many other other feelings. I have never been frozen in place by desire. Until now.

Dashie has Rarity pinned against the wall, with one blue wing wrapped around a white body and the other somewhere between Rarity’s legs. Rarity’s horn is sparking, and they are kissing like they’re trying to eat each other. There are moans and tongues and hooves everywhere.
I knew Rarity was going to have some adrenaline in her system from her run, and I knew that Dashie would like seeing Rarity all worked up and muddy. Who wouldn’t? But I never would have guessed at the heated, hungry, lusty sexual desperation I’m witnessing.

I should look away. Really. I should, but I also never ever in a thousand years of ever would have guessed that my name would come up in the conversation leading to this. I mean...I hoped...I dreamed...I fantasized….but those things weren’t real, and I tried very hard to tuck them into the back parts of my brain where they wouldn’t bother anypony.

Dashie is moving the wing between Rarity’s legs faster now, and she’s reached behind Rarity’s head. Rarity is tipping her head forward, and
Dashie is-

EEEEP.

Dashie just licked Rarity’s horn.

From some deep dark depth inside me I feel a rushing wave of jealousy.

Those are MY mares. I comfort them when they’re sad. I have lunches in meadows with them. I’m the one they come to when they’re fighting. I make them soup when they’re sick. Plus, I think about showers with them, and convincing Rarity to rip apart some half made design she’s pinning together on me just so I can take her on the floor, and mounting Dashie while she flies upside down and screams in ecstasy.
I want Dashie wrapped around me like a cocoon. I want my wing wrapped around Rarity like a vice holding her still while she gasps my name. I want Dashie to have that proud look in her eye when she knows she’s doing amazing things to me. And I want to lick Rarity’s horn!

14

Rarity

I can barely think. This was supposed to be quick, but we had too much tension building up for too long today. I’m lost to the sensation of my darling Dash everywhere.

And then there’s something new.

Something warm pulls me away from the wall pushing Rainbow Dash and I back into the room, and then wraps itself around me pulling me firmly back into it.

There are hungry, reckless nips and kisses at my neck, which is impossible because Rainbow Dash’s mouth is still focused on my horn, which is why I am simply unable to summon the focus to discern what this wonderful new warmth is.

Whatever it is it’s soft and sexy, and it’s moving. It’s reaching and pulling Rainbow Dash against me harder. Then it’s asking, “Can I have a turn?” And there is a new mouth on my horn.

That does it. My eyes snap open. I am clinging to Rainbow, but I am surround on one side by a buttery yellow wing.

The mouth is gone.

“You have to ask Shy.” Rainbow is fighting for words.

Both of bodies I’m pressed against have stiffened. But the body I now realize is Fluttershy is holding me possessively.

“I did ask,” she says with a quiet indignance that would be adorable if I could understand it. .

Rainbow chuckles nervously. “It’s not my horn to give away Shy.” Rainbows tone should be concerning. It would be if my horn weren’t sparking and my body teetering on the edge of overstimulation, and my mind lost in more emotions than I can track.

There’s a familiar smiling nip at my ear. I am a shuddering, soaking mess. Rainbow had me riding the edge of climax for minutes. I cannot think. All I know is that if somepony doesn’t finish me soon, then I’m very likely to explode and take this cottage and contents with me.

I turn my head toward the nip at my ear. Dash understands. Just like that first time, she takes my horn in one bite. Just before I explode I feel the disappointment behind me. I reach back for Fluttershy. Thank Celestia I’ve guessed the right direction and won’t be fighting through a mane of pink. I put a hoof behind her head and pull her into a long deep kiss that lasts forever.

Fluttershy tastes like I cannot describe. She is light and deep. She is softer than clouds, but assertive. I can feel her hooves wandering over me. There are wings and hooves and mouths everywhere, and I’m gone.

Rainbow Dash

This more awesome hotness than I can handle.
Rarity’s horn is exploding in my mouth. That feeling always makes me cum anyway, but then Rare’s kissed Fluttershy, and I got to watch! I’m like…..gone!

Fluttershy

Suddenly, I’ve snapped back to reality. I pull away from kissing Rarity, and look at Rainbow Dash. Then I run.

I run to the only place I feel safe.

Author's Note

Sorry this one is so short. Future edits might integrate it elsewhere, but for now it feels like a stand alone.

15

Rarity

Fluttershy breaks our kiss and disappears. Oh no.

Rainbow and I nearly tumble to the floor, because we forget to properly disentangle before chasing after her.

“Shy!” Rainbow calls out as she takes off up the stairs. I completely forget my muddy mess of a self, and take the stairs in leaps.
When I get to Fluttershy’s room, she is exactly where I expect her to be- hiding under the bed. Rainbow is laying on the floor trying to talk to her.

“Shy, I promise. It’s ok.” But Rainbow’s voice is shaking. She’s masking it as best she can, but if she were any less stalwart, then she would be hiding under a piece of furniture somewhere too.

All I can hear is mumbling that sounds like. “I’msorryI’msorryI’msorry.”

Decisions. Decisions.

We have danced around this for far too long anyway. Rainbow Dash needs to be comforted just as much as Fluttershy, and I won’t have either pegasus feeling ashamed. We’re in the middle of a glorious mess, and we’ll just have to start cleaning it up.

I focus on the bed. It’s larger than anything I’m accustomed to teleporting, but I’m confident I can move it to the living room without incident. The magic builds, Rainbow is looking at me confused. Then there’s a pop and thud downstairs. Before she can run, I throw myself at Fluttershy and wrap her in an embrace. Rainbow follows my lead, and cyan wings wrap around us.

Fluttershy is sobbing into our shoulders and apologizing. Rainbow is panicked. I catch her eye and give her a soothing smile. “Everything is going to be alright.” I say to both of them with only slightly more confidence than I feel.

Fluttershy pulls away and looks at us. “Alright? ALRIGHT?”

Well, that’s a tone I haven’t heard in awhile, and certainly never indoors.

I reach forward and kiss her cheek before she unleashes the full force of the anxiety I can see forming in her eyes. “Yes, darling. Everything is going to be alright.”

She collapses on herself a bit. “But I….”

“Did exactly what we wanted you to do.” I assure her.

She stares at me for a moment. I hold her gaze and feel Rainbow leaning forward to kiss Fluttershy gently on the neck. “Yeah, Shy,” she says. “I mean, this isn’t exactly how we planned for it to happen, but it’s still totally awesome.”

Fluttershy blinks and stares at Rainbow Dash incredulously. She knows Rainbow well enough to notice the nervous shake in her voice. Dashie glances quickly at me, and I shake my head. The look was a question. Rainbow’s answers to these situations are physical. She doesn’t know what to say, so her instinct is to kiss Fluttershy. I am certain it’s a bad idea, and if she truly thought about it she would be too. She nods subtly. Then returns her focus to Fluttershy, who is now looking back and forth between us.

“Wh- what,” she’s using her cowering tone now, “what just happened?”

Rainbow gives me another look deferring to me. This is all so confusing. I can’t begin to guess guess what motivated Fluttershy’s behavior downstairs. Rainbow’s reaction is complicated but not surprising. She’s been anxious for this. She’s been trying to plan in an almost Twilight-like fashion for weeks. Rainbow never wanted to approach Fluttershy in a purely sexual way. Neither did I, for that matter. This is not how she wanted things to go at all.

I haven’t begun to process the events downstairs, but I do know that we don’t want Fluttershy feeling like she’s done something wrong. I also know that Rainbow needs some time to collect her thoughts. Otherwise, she’ll be acting totally on impulse all night, and that’s rarely a good thing.

I’m grasping at straws, but a lady must keep her wits about her in such moments. Perhaps it is time to give Fluttershy all the information, so she can start making decisions about how she feels and wants us to handle this situation. She is a grown mare after all, and if I’ve learned anything tonight it’s that there is much about Fluttershy I don’t know.

“Rainbow gave me a look asking if she should kiss you,” Fluttershy stiffens. “I indicated that I didn’t feel that was wise at this point.” Fluttershy relaxes, but not in relief. Disappointment? I’m puzzled.. With that in mind I continue, “I don’t want to cause you more confusion, darling, but if you’d like to kiss Rainbow Dash then by all means…”

Both pegasi perk up before my eyes.

“Really?” It’s Rainbow Dash trying to sound excited, but the veneer is thin. She’s worried and confused.
“Of course, darling,” I answer doing my best to sound soothing. I know Rainbow is about at her limit. I know there is much I don’t know how she’s processing all of this; she is capable of a much greater emotional range than she will ever show. For the moment, I hope that she can find just a hint of her usual brashness. Perhaps it’s unfair of me, but I don’t know what else to do.

“Really?” That’s Fluttershy.

I pull her face to mine gently and give her the briefest kiss on the lips. “Yes, darling. Really.”

I release the beautiful yellow mare, and she turns slowly to a very tense Rainbow Dash. She’s trying too hard. “Dash, darling. Perhaps you ought to try and relax just a bit.”

“Oh, sorry.” Rainbow takes a breath and fluffs her wings, and so does Fluttershy.

Fluttershy has been looking forward to this kiss with Rainbow Dash for such a long time. She wants it to mean something. A quick flick of my ear gets Rainbow’s attention. Thank Celestia, we’ve been together long enough for her to start understanding meaningful looks.

Rainbow Dash

I have no idea what Rarity is trying to tell me with that face. Whatever it is, it’s serious.

Duh!

Serious.

Oh!

She’s telling me to be serious.

Well, DUH! Rares! Of course this is serious! This is only one of the biggest moments of my whole life, and it’s all messed up because this isn’t how things were supposed to go down at all. No pony should be feeling scared or pressured, especially Shy. I shouldn’t be freaking out. I should be focused. This is supposed to be awesome and chill. Flutters should feel safe and stuff, but instead it feels like we are trying to put together a sewing machine in the middle of a hurricane.

Now she’s telling me to look at Fluttershy. So, I look at Fluttershy.

Oh…

Shy looks confused, and scared, and nervous.

I got this. Right? I can do this? It’s cool. We’ll talk later. Rares will make sure we talk later and figure this crash of a situation out, right?
Get it together, Dash.

I lean in a give my oldest friend a soft nuzzle on her neck. It startles her at first, but she relaxes after a second. She doesn’t nuzzle me back though.

Time for a check in.

All the same emotions are on Shy’s face. They’ve just gone from level 75000 to level 25000. Not enough. There’s something else too. I know I’ve seen that in her eyes before, but I have no clue what it is or what to do about it. So...quiet time it is.

Thank Celestia!

We’re kind of in a circle now, so I lay my head on Shy’s back and try to keep all the feelings out of my voice. It’s a lot of mushy confused feelings though. “It’s cool, Shy. Take a minute. No pressure.”

I feel the sigh of relief under my head.

Point Rainbow Dash!

I am trying to hold still, but it’s hard when I’m shaking. Rares and I never did figure out a good way to start this conversation. Sure, having Shy hurl herself into the middle of stuff probably doesn’t count as a good way to start talking, but here we are.

Breathe.

Just let her breathe.

She’s taking forever!

I closed my eyes when I put my head down. It takes all kinds of focus not to cry. It didn’t used to be this hard, but Rares makes it so I don’t hide my feelings so much. There’s no point in trying to hide anything from her anyway. But that means that I’m out of practice. Shy needs my brave face, and I can’t find it.

When I open my eyes, Shy is crying, and Rares is too. They have their foreheads resting on each other. Rarity is whispering something to Shy. Something soothing. It makes Shy open her eyes. They stay like that for a minute, then Shy looks at me.

Ok. It’s go time. Move slow RD. Remember that she’s loved you for a long time. You’ve loved her for a long time. This is your first kiss, don’t mess it up.

Fluttershy

Dashie is being deliberate and careful. It’s strange, but comforting. I can still feel Rarity’s breath on my neck. It’s distracting, but nice.

Dashie picks her head up and asks softly, “Can I kiss you now, Shy?”

Do I want Dashie to kiss me? Of course I want Dashie to kiss me. That’s all I’ve wanted for such a long time, but it wasn’t supposed to be like this. But- is this bad? It doesn’t feel bad right now.

“You- you want to kiss me?”

I’m being nuzzled again. It feels nice, but she didn’t answer and she isn’t letting me see her face.That makes me nervous.

Dashie pulls back and looks at Rarity. As far as I can tell the unicorn doesn’t respond, and Dashie looks back at me. Slowly she reaches a hoof forward and moves my mane away from my face.

“I’m really sorry Shy. I really really want to kiss you. It just wasn’t supposed to happen like this. You know?” She caresses my face my more gently than I would have imagined she could. Then she takes a deep breath. I can feel Rarity smiling behind me. “Me and Rares have been talking about you for months. We both really like you.” My mouth falls open, and she chuckles, “Actually, we liked you before we even liked each other.”

Rarity giggles in my ear, and gives the slightest nuzzle. On the surface, I’m blushing. On the inside two things are happening: Half of my brain is in the middle of a victory dance that would make Dashie proud; the other half is quietly screaming so many questions.
“We wanted to ask you out, but then we realized that we kinda already did that. So, we tried to find another way to talk to you about it, cuz we like you.”

Dashie looks like she’s about to explode or cry. I know she’s waiting for me to say something, but I just can’t. After another agonizing moment of my silence, Rarity lets out a sigh that I don’t understand, so I look at her. She’s smiling at Dashie. Of course, Rarity can see how patient Dashie is trying to be, and how hard this all is on her.

“Why don’t you go outside for just a moment and collect yourself Rainbow? It might be a good thing for all of us to take a little break,” Rarity says with a smile.

Rainbow Dash blushes, but also seems relieved. Rarity knows her so well. Then Dashie looks back to me. “Would that be ok, Shy? I know you might need a minute, and I don’t want you to think I’m mad or something. I just- need a minute.”

I feel awful. I know it’s my fault. I’m making everything hard. Having a little break sounds nice, but… “It- it’s raining.” I say concerned.

“That’s ok. I can dry off before I come back in the house.”

I nod. “Ok.”

Dashie smiles, then gives me a quick nuzzle, kisses Rarity, and walks out of the room. Thank goodness, she didn’t just take off out the window. I probably would be back to hiding in the corner. I hear her walk slowly across the living room and open the door. Hearing the strong, quick beating of wings that can only be Rainbow Dash makes me smile.

I relax into Rarity a little more. Ever since that terrible modeling fiasco, Rarity has made such an effort to be a comforting presence for me. Even with what just happened, I can tell that she’s being careful not to say anything that might make me feel pushed one way or another, and I really really appreciate that.

She shifts a little bit, and I hear a crunch.

“Oh my goodness, Rarity; you’re still all muddy.” Before she can say anything I’ve swept her up like a little bunny and taken her to the bathroom. My heart falls when I realize that the bath is probably freezing at this point. I stop hovering and land softly on the floor, then set her on her hooves. “S- sorry. I can-”

“Allow me darling,” she says gently. Her horn lights up and an aura wraps around the tub. The room gets humid, and I can smell the various flowers and oils I added to the water earlier.

“There. Perfect.” She says kissing me on the cheek again. I feel like I should blush, but I don’t. Something about Rarity makes it ok.

She inhales deeply, “It smells divine. Thank you, darling.”

She walks to the tub and carefully lowers herself in. Her lower half is almost completely brown. I’ve never seen her that dirty for anything less than a crisis of all ponykind. What mattered so much today that she was willing to get so messy? Of course, Dashie liked it, but… something about me was a factor too…. Why would Rarity run through a muddy storm just for me?

Suddenly a thousand little moments with this unicorn are flooding my mind with a combination of excitement, comfort, guilt, and enlightenment. How many times has she reminded everypony to be patient with me? How many times has given Dashie a look reminding her to treat me gently? How many times has she come to the cottage and forced me to go to the spa, because I was so busy taking care of all my animal friends that I forgot to take care of myself?

Rarity

My heart simply aches for Fluttershy. She is so confused. While I am truly and simply grateful beyond measure to be in this luxurious bath, I would much rather be talking through the issues at hoof with her. However, I know that pressuring her to talk won’t yield the results I’m hoping for. It’s best to let Fluttershy process things in her own time (she and Rainbow Dash have that in common).

There’s a little shake of a pink mane, and then Fluttershy is crossing over to me. “I- I’d like to wash your mane, if that’s ok?”

I can’t tell if she’s hiding in being kind, or if there’s something more behind the request. Perhaps she doesn’t know either. Regardless, my mane is a mess, and I’m certainly not going to tell her no. “Of course. That sounds wonderful. If you’re sure?”

She just nods.

There’s a little bowl with a spout on a table next to the tub. She’d been planning this, even if it was for just a moment before all the heated chaos started. Taking the bowl in her teeth, she fills it with water and pours it over my head.

Ahhhh…. Bless you, Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash

I flew above the storm and just did long ridiculous sprints, trying to wear myself out. It worked. I’m exhausted. I didn’t really let myself think too much. I probably should have, but I didn’t want to. I really don’t feel like getting sucked into the vortex of my feelings right now. Tonight is about Flutters. Rarity and I are going to get Shy on board with all the stuff, and we’ll deal with the rest of the crap later.

Fluttershy is washing Rare’s mane. It could be sexy. Thank Celestia, it isn’t. I couldn’t handle it. Shy’s face is all confused. That sucks. Rare’s is all worried and distracted. I have no idea how to help with whatever is going on in there, so I just grab a pillow and lay on the floor watching.

This is going to work, right? Rares will get out of that bath all in control and with a plan. Fluttershy will start saying all the things she’s afraid of, and we’ll tell her that she doesn’t need to be scared, and everything will be ok. Right?

I don’t know. Fluttershy could totally go all freak out mad at us. Maybe she’ll go all sex-crazy again. I don’t like not knowing what to expect from her. I feel like I don’t know how to be what she needs, because I don’t know what she’s going to do. Whatever she wants is totally cool. Just not sex. I really really really want her to wants us, but I’m totally not ready for that. And I really don’t want to deal being the one to say that.

This pillow is squishy..

Fluttershy

Rarity’s mane is done. She should probably shower after this bath is over. There’s a lot of dirt in the water, so she really isn’t getting very clean. I didn’t think she’d actually run here at a full gallop. In the past year, she’s relaxed a bit about becoming incidentally dirty. It’s kind of adorable. Rarity will look completely uncomfortable, until she sees Dashie looking proud or dumbstruck. Then Rarity is all glamorous regardless of the mess.

Ok. Mane, check.

Shoulders? Rarity carries a lot of tension in her shoulders.

“Um, Rarity?”

“Yes, darling?” She says snapping out of her thoughts.

“W- would you like me to rub your shoulders? Dashie said you’ve been stressed, and I had Aloe teach me some basic massage techniques when Harry sprained his shoulder last spring.” She turns to look at me. Please say yes. I’m not ready to talk about anything yet. Please say yes.

She nods. “That sounds lovely, thank you Fluttershy.”

Thank you, Rarity.

I focus on her muscles, willing myself to ignore all the thoughts. If I let myself think all the thoughts, I’m going to lose what little control I’ve regained since Dashie left.

Where is Dashie?

I look through the door to my bedroom. There’s a blue and rainbow pile on the floor. Of course, she’s napping. I didn’t hear her come back. I hope she didn’t wear herself out too much so she could be patient with me.

She’s so cute. I giggle.

I can’t see it, but I can feel Rarity’s eyebrow raise. So, I point. She follows with her eyes and sighs, “That’s our Rainbow Dash. There’s never a problem so large it can’t be napped in the middle of.”

Our Rainbow Dash?

Rarity feels me stiffen and turns.

All the thoughts. All of them. Sexy, panicked, excited, angry, terrified thoughts.

She reaches for me touching my face, and the world goes quiet again. “Why don’t you go take a break for a moment, darling? I’ll rinse off and be right out.”

Go take a break? With Rainbow Dash? I glance at the sleeping pony on my floor.

“She would be thrilled to wake up and have you there, but if you’re uncomfortable perhaps you could go make us some tea?”

Tea? Yes, I can do that. A few minutes alone might be a good idea.

“Ok. I’ll make us some tea.” And probably something to eat, because I’m sure Dashie is hungry from flying.

“Wonderful. Thank you, darling.” Rarity’s stomach growls. “Oh my. Do excuse me, Fluttershy.”

“It’s ok.” I say sweetly. Of course she’s hungry, she ran all the way here, and then….things... happened. “I’ll make some dinner. I haven’t eaten either.” As if on cue, my own stomach gurgles and we both laugh.

I leave the bathroom, careful not to wake Dashie, and get an immediate reminder that my bed has been relocated to the living room. Hopefully Rarity doesn’t mind fixing that when she’s done.

When I get downstairs, Angel raps on the door to his hutch and I let him out. He’s ready to be all grumpy, when he notices my expression. Then, because he really is just a sweetie, he hops over and gives me a little nudge. I pick him up.

“You saw everything, didn’t you?”

He nods.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure that all startled you.”

He shrugs.

“It startled me.”

His ear quirks to the side.

“I don’t know what came over me.”

He rolls his eyes, then makes an obscene gesture that makes me blush.

“Well, yes. That. But… Why?”

He shrugs again and hops away, depositing himself in the center of my bed, which is taking up most of the floor space in the living room.
I go to the kitchen and busy myself with making tea and a salad, and a few sandwiches. The motions are routine and comforting. My thoughts start to wander.

What did Dashie say?

They liked me before they liked each other. How can that be true? I’m nopony special. And if they liked me then why did they get together? Also, why wouldn’t they say anything to me? That’s where the angry thoughts come from.

They wanted to ask me out, but realized that we’d already done that. No we didn’t. We spend time together, and they look at me, but...well...maybe.

Isn’t that exactly the thoughts that were flashing through my mind when I went all sex crazy? I felt entitled. I felt invested. In my whole life, there has only ever been two ponies I could ever imagine being with. Both of them are upstairs. I never thought they’d want me though. I know they think I’m nice to look at, but they both get so frustrated with me sometimes too. I’d hate to drag them down.
Maybe they just wanted a one time thing?

No.

They aren’t like that. I don’t understand it, but I know that they would never treat me like somepony they could throw away. They never have before, even though that is how I feel a lot of the time- like they could just never speak to me again and their lives would be better for it. I know that none of my friends really need me, but they love me anyway.

Plus, if all they wanted was something physical, then didn’t my outburst set that up perfectly? It wasn’t what they wanted, but they didn’t push me away either. Rarity kissed me. She let me hold her. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I really can’t even remember that kiss. I remember wanting more, but that’s all. Why did she give her horn to Dashie and not me!

I stomp my hoof with that thought, and startle myself.

Why in that moment was I so focused on Rarity? Rarity is beautiful, and glamorous, and confident, and nice. She’s been my best friend for such a long time. Of course, I admire Rarity.

I admire all of my friends, but that doesn’t mean that I’d try and mount them given half a chance.

Wouldn’t I?

No. I wouldn’t.

Whew. That’s a relief.

But I did...with Rarity….

Why didn’t I go for Rainbow Dash?

Because I wanted the horn.

Eeep.

The kettle whistles, and I am thankfully pulled out of that internal conversation. They are still here. I want them here. Dashie is trying so hard to be patient. Rarity is worried and trying to give me space, but she’s excited too. I can tell.

I want this. I want them. I always have. That’s all I know for certain.

16

Rarity

There is nothing more glorious than being clean! A quick summoning spell, and my bag pops into existence and tumbles open allowing the various essentials I’ve brought with me free. I’m purposefully making a bit of a ruckus. If Rainbow sleeps much longer, she won’t sleep tonight. Not to mention that we have precious few moments to strategize before joining Fluttershy downstairs.

I start to sing. Rainbow always wakes to listen to me sing. It’s flattering and adorable, but has also proven problematic; as I often sing as I go through my morning beauty ritual, which results in a very cranky pegasus who would have liked to sleep longer.

I’m not singing anything in particular, but it’s enough to get Rainbow stirring. She sighs happily and I know she’s nearly awake.

Rainbow Dash

Rares singing is the best alarm clock ever. This pillow awesome. Whatever Shy is making downstairs smells good.

Life. Is. Good.

Wait!

I’m up.

Rares is laughing. “Good morning, Rainbow Dash.”

“Where’s Fluttershy?” I ask panicked.

“She’s downstairs making tea and dinner, if I’m not mistaken. She needed a few moments to herself.”

Rares is doing her hair. Not the usual do, it’s the quick “we gotta hurry, but nopony is gonna notice a difference anyway, because it all looks the same” do. She looks good. What do I care if she spends 5 minutes getting ready or 45? She’s never late. She’d never make anypony else pay the price for her beauty time. Plus, even though I think she looks good with bedhead and smeared make-up, she’s happier when she feels put together. It’s like her warm-up routine for life. I can respect that.

There’s a feeling happening. Worry. I’m worried about Fluttershy.

Oh, yeah.

“Think she’s ok?” I ask.

“No, but I think she will be.”

“Any idea what happened?”

“Well, I was rather distracted at the time, but if I had to guess then I’d assume she saw us and was overcome in some fashion.”

“Duh.” That gets me an eye roll and a glare. “Sorry,” I say.

“It’s alright, darling.” She says putting on mascara. I love watching her get ready. It’s just so Rares. “I just don’t have any more answers than you do. I have quite a few questions, however I am in no way certain that she is prepared to answer anything. All I know is that I’m optimistic about our chances. She certainly seems interested in us.”

“Interested in you, you mean.” That gets her attention, and she crosses the room to lie down in front of me. “What was that about anyway?”

She sighs a big heavy sigh. “I don’t know, Rainbow Dash. Saying I was surprised would qualify as the understatement of the year.”

“Yeah.” I sound disappointed, but I don’t even know why. Of course, Rares notices.

“I’m sorry, darling.” She says and gives me a good nuzzle. “We both thought that you would be our selling point for getting her interested.”

That’s true.

“I just always assumed that she’d be thrilled at the chance to be with you, and that she would need some convincing about giving me a chance at all,” Rarity finishes.

“That’s what I thought too. But I also figured it would be a while before she was ready to...try anything.”

“That’s what I thought too darling,” she says leaning against me. “I think perhaps we would do well to simply accept that there are questions we cannot answer, and that we must ask Fluttershy those questions. It may also be wise to try and dispose of any assumptions we’ve made about her. It certainly seems that there is too much we don’t know to trust our own hypotheses.”

“What if she just wants you Rares?”

“Rainbow. Dash. Do you really believe that’s even a possibility?”

“I don’t know.”

“I do. It isn’t. That mare is in love with you. If I had to guess, that’s part of the reason she didn’t launch herself at you. Fluttershy has been romanticizing about you for ages. Even in the heat of passion she didn’t want to give that up.”

“Maybe.”

Rarity stands up. “Maybe it’s time to go ask her. I won’t have your confidence about her feelings shaken Rainbow Dash. I simply won’t allow it.”
I stand up and pull along side her.

“It’s not up to you, Rares.”

I have never felt more….vulnerable? (that’s not even a word I thought I knew).

We both take a big breath and start walking toward the stairs.

Fluttershy

Dashie and Rarity are coming down the stairs.

EEEEEP.

They aren’t talking. Why aren’t they talking?

I give the soup I decided to make one last stir, then turn to look at them. Rarity smiles at me. “Something smells wonderful,” she says. It’s nice.
Dashie looks nervous.

Oh no. Of course she looks nervous. Is she worried I’m going to lose my mind again and attack them? Is she worried I’m going to lose my mind again and attack Rarity? Wouldn’t she like that? That seems like something Dashie might like to watch. Is she worried that she wouldn’t get to watch?

The events of the evening replay in my head yet again.

Of course Dashie looks nervous! Oh my goodness. She probably thinks I don’t even like her at all. She probably thinks I want to try and take Rarity, but they have a strong enough relationship that Dashie knows Rarity won’t go. If that’s what they think, then why aren’t they mad? Maybe that isn’t what they think, but Dashie still looks nervous.

I think I’m a little bit right that she’s worried I only like Rarity. I need to do something brave. I need to let her know that she’s wrong. I need her to know that I want her too!

There’s something about how they’re standing. They’re both nervous. Rarity is trying to hide it, and be brave. She doesn’t want me to feel bad, and she doesn’t want Dashie to feel bad for being nervous. Their eyes have so many questions, but they aren’t sure they can ask, because I’m me and they don’t want to scare me. Only I’m not scared. I’m confused and I don’t understand what I did, but I’m not scared.

I’m happy.

I’m thrilled.

I could fly across the sky screaming for joy (if there wasn’t any rain or thunder or lightening or chance that I might be bothering somepony).
My best friends want to date me! They have such a beautiful, wonderful relationship and they want to share that with me, which is kind of perfect for me. I’ve never tried dating anypony, because I always worried I would disappoint them, but if there’s a third pony then….then….it’s safe. It’s safe to be me, because that third pony can help me. They’ve wanted this for a long time, but they were being careful with me. They haven’t said the words, but those actions tell me that they love me. I never thought anypony would love me, and now two ponies do. And not just any two ponies, my two perfect ponies!

I can be brave. I can do this. I can and I will, because I wasn’t wrong before. Those are my mares, and I’m going to make them happy.

Rarity

I watch Fluttershy as we come down the stairs. By the time we reach the bottom, the confusion is gone and she’s decided something. She gives her hoof an adorable little stomp of determination. She’s been looking at Rainbow, but now she glances at me. Everything I need to know is in that look. Now, we must convince Rainbow Dash.

As if she can read my thoughts, Fluttershy gives her head the slightest shake. She’s right. It’s up to her to convince Rainbow that things are ok.
She’d never admit to it, but Rainbow has spent years preparing for this moment. She’s longed for Fluttershy, but never believed they could make it work. It became so apparent so early on that as perfect as my Rainbow and I were together, she longed for Fluttershy.

I glance around the room, and realize Fluttershy’s bed is still there. I consider returning it to it’s proper place, but decide against it. If not because of the distraction, then because I’m truly hoping to be wrapped up with two pegasi in front of the cozy fire before the night is out and a bed would prove far more comfortable than the floor.

Perhaps, I should have stretched before my run. I’m feeling a bit sore from the day's exertions.

We cross the room to Fluttershy. It’s really too bad Rainbow is looking at the floor. Each step we move closer increases Fluttershy’s resolve. It’s beautiful to watch.

Fluttershy looks at me with a question I don’t quite understand, but I nod anyway. I’ll follow her lead and see where it takes us. She gives Rainbow a quick glance, then steps toward me. A confident Fluttershy is a rare and exquisite sight. An alluring Fluttershy is a wonder, and that is what I see.

A yellow wing tip lifts a cyan chin to watch as we kiss. There is no hesitation, but it’s a very shy kiss. It’s brief, and followed by a gentle nuzzle. I lean to Fluttershy’s ear and whisper, “I’m going to give you two a moment,” before pressing a kiss to her cheek and excusing myself to the kitchen.

Rainbow Dash

Rarity walks toward the kitchen, and Shy looks at me with a smile. It’s supposed to be comforting. I know that, but I feel my ears droop anyway. I don’t want Shy to think something is wrong though.

Right. I just have to figure out how to talk to this new Fluttershy, then everything will be ok. It will be fine. I wish Rarity wasn’t hiding in the kitchen. How are she and Shy ok anyway? They didn’t talk while I was gone, at least Rares made it sound like they didn’t.

I suck at this.

“Do you want to sit down, Dashie?”

I tried really hard to do the brave and cool thing, but the thinking started and we’ve just been standing here for almost a minute. I can’t think and do other stuff at the same time, so I have no idea what Fluttershy has been doing while I’ve been staring at the floor. But, yeah, sitting down sounds like a good idea. So, I nod and hop onto the bed, because the couch isn’t really an option.

Fluttershy

Carefully, I climb onto the bed and lie down facing Dashie. She looks so confused, and I’m not sure I can help. I don’t know how to talk about tonight, not yet. I was trying to be brave, but then she just stood there not looking at me. She didn’t look disappointed, just confused- and that’s even worse.

I glance toward the kitchen.

Rarity, where are you?

What would Rarity do?

I don’t know!

I’m useless. I’ve known Dashie since we were foals. She’s my best friend, but I don’t know how to help with this. I know we need to talk, but I don’t know what to say. I have so many questions, but I don’t want to ask. I love her, but I don’t know how to talk to her.

And now I’m crying.

Good job, Fluttershy.

Rarity

What are they doing in there???

I made myself a cup of tea, and now I have my ear pressed to wall as I sip. It’s unladylike, but there’s nopony here to see me.

Are they really just sitting in silence? Are they crying? What happened to Fluttershy’s confidence?

Oh, I know the answer to that. She’d never be able to sustain such boldness without reinforcement, and it sounds like Rainbow Dash was unable to summon her usual mask of bravado.

Oh my mares, how do I help you? We all want this work so badly that we’re ruining it.

Should I go in there and mediate the conversation?

No, I don’t think so. They need to work through this. They also need to work through a lot of things I am certain I am not even fully aware of; things that I won’t be able to help with when the time comes, because they are issues unique to the two of them. Perhaps those issues can be tabled for now, and all that needs to be addressed is tonight. Tonight’s problems are mine as well. I should be involved in the conversation, but we can’t even have that conversation if those two won’t talk to each other. I just need them to say something, then I can find an opportunity to return to the room and guide us through this.

Honestly, this shouldn’t be so angsty.

Just say something!

Rainbow Dash

Rares must be freaking out. I know she’s not sitting in there eating a salad. She’s eavesdropping for sure. The thought makes me smile on the inside, but it doesn’t make it to my face. Flutters is crying, and I don’t know how to fix it, so I’m crying too. Shy’s got her face in her hooves, so she hasn’t seen it yet though, which is ok.

I wish we didn’t have to talk. I suck at talking. Words are stupid. I wish I was a unicorn, and I could just do that thing Rarity does sometimes, where she puts her horn on the side of my head and I just know all the stuff. Maybe I should ask her to do that….she won’t. I’ve asked before and she said no, and she was right. Talking through stuff is good. It sucks, but it’s good.

Ok. So, I can’t talk. Neither can Shy. What are the other options?

What does Rarity do when I can’t talk? She plays with my mane. Shy does that too for me sometimes. It’s not really my thing, but I really like Shy’s mane. She’s kinda weird about it though. She hasn’t cut it in forever. I remember when we were fillies and it was shorter, it was cute. I like it like this though. I like that she always has some place to hide if she needs it.

It’s so soft, and there’s so much of it.

Wait.

When did that happen?

We scooted together somehow, and I’ve been running a hoof through Shy’s mane for a while now. She’s not crying anymore, and neither am I. Awesome. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky, I guess.

I wonder what Rarity is doing. I haven’t heard her move in a while. She is not a patient pony. Maybe she teleported her file down and is giving herself a hooficure while she waits. She’s good like that. She isn’t even mumbling to herself, just sitting in there screaming on the inside for the two of us to hurry up.

I laugh silently, but Shy’s ear twitches when I move.

Crap.

Maybe the spell isn’t broken. Maybe we can just keep sitting here for a while.

“Dashie?” Shy asks in a whisper. It’s a good thing we’re close and I’m paying attention, or I totally wouldn’t have understood her.

“Yeah, Shy?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Shy.”

“Ok.”

“Shy?”

“Yes?” I’m still playing with her mane. Other than that ear flick, she hasn’t moved. This whole playing with the mane thing is working. It’s weird and makes me feel all the squishy feelings, but it gives me something to do, and makes it so she doesn’t have to look at me.

“Can we talk about it later? I just...can’t tonight.”

I can’t tell if she sighs in relief or deflates in disappointment.

Crap.

“Yes, please. I want to, but I don’t think I can talk about it tonight either.”

“OH. COME. ON!!!!”

Fluttershy

“Sorry, Rarity” I squeak smiling.

“She’ll get over it. Won’t you Marshmallow?” Dashie calls out. She’s still playing with my mane. It’s nice.

“Marshmallow?” I ask giggling as Rarity stomps around the corner with a pout.

“I’ve asked her not to call me that.”

“Don’t even try to act like you don’t like it. Now, get your flank over here.”

Rarity rolls her eyes and lowers her head in exasperation, but starts walking toward the bed anyway. “The two of you genuinely aren’t going to talk about anything tonight?” She asks as climbs up on the bed.

Dashie is still playing with my mane. Rarity tucks herself into my side, resting her head on my back. It should feel perfect, but I feel like running away again. I know Dashie and I can’t talk, but maybe with Rarity here….

“M- Maybe we can talk...th- the three of us?”

“Would that be alright with you, Rainbow Dash?”

Dashie sighs. She doesn’t want to talk. “It’s ok, Dashie. We don’t have to. I’m sorry I asked.” I say the words and I really mean them. I really don’t think it’s a good idea for us to just let this go. I’d really like to understand what’s going on, and I don’t, but I really don’t want to put Dashie through anything more either.

“No. It’s ok, Shy. I just suck at talking.”

“Perhaps, it would be best if you and I listened for a little while,” Rarity suggests.

EEEP. No. That isn’t what I wanted. “I- I really don’t know what to say,” I confess.

“You must have some questions for us, darling,” Rarity says. I’ve had my eyes closed focusing on Dashie stroking my mane, because it helps with the anxiety, but I open them now to find the brilliant blue eyes of my best friend looking at me.
Just talk to Rarity, Fluttershy. You can do that.

“I- I don’t understand. Dashie said- that you…”

“Wanted to date you?” Thank Celestia for Rarity and her willingness to finish my sentences for me. I nod in response. “Well, that’s very true darling. Let me explain.”

17

Rainbow Dash

That was intense. Awesome, but intense. Shy’s never talked that much, except about animals or fancy sewing stuff. She was all brave and serious. Rares did a great job. Shy said she was nervous that we were just thinking of her like a fling or something to spice up our life. But Rares totally explained everything. She told Shy all about that first conversation we had about her.

It was on the train on the way home from Canterlot that first weekend. The plan was to catch the mid-morning train home, but we ended up on one in the afternoon, because we stayed in bed all morning. Then we took a shower. Then we stayed in bed some more. For real, if Rares hadn’t been so jazzed to get back to the Boutique and start working on Wonderbolts stuff we probably would have stayed another night.

Since we’re Elements of Harmony and part of the Friendship Council, we usually get a private car room on the train, which is pretty sweet. That’s what happened that day. We were snuggled on a seat. Rares was sketching with her magic and humming. Her legs were all wrapped around me while I looked out the window. All the sex and bedroom stuff had been awesome, but that was the second when I really felt it.

I had a special somepony, and my special somepony was RARITY?

Not only that, but she was totally the boss of our relationship, which is honestly what I had always wanted. She wasn’t overbearing or anything, but she didn’t expect me to do everything. She held doors open for me, and she made sure I didn’t run into stuff when I took off all excited about something. We’d only been together for like a day, but right then and there I knew I was done. There was only one thing missing.

Fluttershy.

I didn’t even notice that I’d been squirming when Rares said, “Something wrong, darling?”

I always move. Always. I probably fidget more than Pinkie Pie. I never did figure out how Rares knows the difference between my regular need to move, and my body saying I’ve got something to say before my mouth figures out the words.

“Uh... yeah.” I said. I thought about sitting up so I could look at her face while we talked, but she just tightened her hold on me as she took her glasses off and tucked her sketch pad in a bag with her magic. Then two small cups of water floated up. I took one and chugged it down, which helped me feel like I was actually going to be able to talk about stuff.

Rares took the cup back into her magic and put it somewhere. Then she settled down into the seat a little more. I’d totally just said something was wrong, and she was being so cool about it. Yeah, Rares is a little infamous for screaming and running away from stuff, but that really isn’t her M.O. This has always been way more her style. Get everyone something to drink, and talk about things. Twilight would add Talk about things rationally, but that wasn’t exactly Rarity’s priority. So long as nopony yelled she was cool, and the yelling thing was mostly because she knew upset Fluttershy.

“So, what’s bothering you Rainbow?” She asked pulling me out of my thoughts and nuzzling me between the ears. Why was cute stuff like that so sexy? Why did it settle me down so much? Being tough has always been my thing. Feeling like a filly that was just handed her favorite blankie wasn’t tough, but it sure felt awesome.

“Know how you said that you look too?” I asked fidgeting with my hooves.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well, what if there was somepony specific I wanted you to try looking at?” I didn’t meant to blush, but totally did it anyway.

She giggled and kissed the top of my head. “Well,” she said evenly. “First, I’d be very happy that you felt comfortable talking to me about this pony. Second, I’d be thrilled beyond words that the premise of the question assumes our pursuing this pony together. Lastly, I’d tell you that if it’s a mare I’ve probably already looked and formed an opinion, which I’d be happy to give if you’d like.”

See? Awesome. Like, that could have gone totally weird. She could have felt all threatened that maybe there was some other pony I wanted, but she didn’t. She just got it. Rares can assume a lot of stuff sometimes, like with that Blueblood idiot, but usually she’s actually pretty good a rolling with the punches. Maybe that’s because she does karate…

“Who is this special pony?” She asked. “Or, perhaps I should offer to tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

That made me sit up and turn to look at her. Her eyes were… flirty and excited. We didn’t even have to say anything to agree.

I took a breath.

“It’s Fluttershy,” I said trying not to sound nervous.

I’ve been into Fluttershy since we were kids. She was just always family, and she was the first pony that I ever felt like I could relax around. I’ve always felt protective toward her. After I moved to Ponyville, and we got to start spending time together again, I felt possessive too. I was really bugged when she started modeling, because I didn’t like everypony looking at her. I was actually pretty mad at Rares for that whole fiasco. Mostly because I’ve never really been able to be mad at Flutters. Plus, it helped her out a lot. Not everypony knows, but ‘Shy doesn’t make a lot. She’s smart though, so she saved everything she earned modeling, and I think she’ll be able to live off it forever.

“It’s always been ‘Shy.” I say. “I look at everypony, but the only one I ever really wanted -until now- was Fluttershy. I just never figured out how to talk to her about it, ya know?”

Rares didn’t look upset, but she stayed quiet. It freaked me out. We were so new, but I was done. I was all in. I don’t know when I knew that, but it was before she did that magic thing that let me see into her brain. That just helped me know that she felt the same. Now she looked all serious. Maybe, because Shy was her best friend? I thought that would have helped, but I don’t know.

Finally, Rarity nodded and kissed me on the cheek. “I know exactly what you mean,” she said.

“You do?”

“Yes, darling. It seems that you and I have had our eye on the same pony for quite some time.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes,” she said nuzzling me.

“Awesome!”

Rares giggled, then said. “Well, since you told me a bit of your feelings about her, would you like to hear some of mine?”

I kissed her on the cheek then settled back into the position I was in before. “Yeah,” I said casually barely hiding my excitement. “If you wanted to, then that’d be cool.”

“You aren’t bothered that I think of her that way?” Rares asked.

That was a good question. If just about any other pony said they wanted Shy, then I probably would have felt jealous or whatever, but not Rarity. “Nah. I think I kinda already knew.”

“Oh?”

“Well, yeah. You’re always having her model for you, even after the Photo Finish thing. So, obviously you know she’s awesome to look at. But you also protect her. Like, anytime I get rough with her you’re the one that gives me the look to be nice and remember who she is. Most ponies don’t know Shy, they just think she’s something to look at. That’s what bothers me, but you know her. So, if you say that you like her, then I know it’s not something superficial. You’re not like that.”

She gave me a little squeeze. “Thank you darling. That means more than I can possibly say.”

“Does it bother you?”

“That you have feelings for her, and she’s obviously the love of your life?”

That made me panic a little bit. “She’s n-”

“No. That doesn’t bother me in the least, dearest.”

“Really?”

She nuzzled me between the ears again. “Really. Just as you had some idea of my feelings for her, your feelings for her have never been hard for me to see. While I do think that Fluttershy and I are best friends, I have also always been abundantly aware that you are so much more to her than that. Family is a good word. It’s easy to see that you love her. It’s also easy for anypony paying the least bit of attention to see that you find her attractive.” That made me blush. I never wanted to be obvious about looking at anypony, but it wasn’t easy. “Fluttershy’s feelings have always been much harder to discern, but I am almost certain that mare is head over hoof in love with you Rainbow, and has been for quite sometime.”

“Wha- Really?”

“Yes, darling. She’s diligent about hiding it from you, but I’m her best friend. I see the things she tries to hide. You are her family too, and she loves you dearly.”

“Is that ok?”

“Whatever do you mean? Of course it’s alright.”

“But we’re...US now. You and me.”

If she hadn’t been holding me, I wouldn’t have felt her relax and let out a little sigh. I flipped around and wrapped my legs and wings around her, before I could even think about.

“Sorry I made you nervous, Rares.”

“It’s quite alright, darling,” She said trying to be sneaky about wiping away a tear by nuzzling into me. “Our relationship is just so new and unexpected. Hearing you talk about dear Fluttershy makes it quite obvious that I am the late comer to this party, not she.”
I kissed her head right at the base of her horn and said, “Yeah, Shy’s awesome. Maybe you’re right that she’s the love of my life, because I’ve loved her all my life, but you’re...perfect for me. You don’t take my crap. Somehow you get that even I need to feel safe sometimes. I never expected it, but you get me. Plus, you’re not freaking out that I just told you I love another mare. So, even if you wanted to, I not letting you go and you’ll just have to deal with it.”

We talked about Fluttershy the rest of the way home. Rarity told me about the first time they met, and how she was ‘unabashedly smitten’ not by Shy’s looks, but by her spirit. Shy was afraid of Rarity at first. She’s afraid of everypony the first few times she meets them. But Rarity kept seeking her out, and Shy kept being brave, and then they were friends. I loved hearing that Rarity could see how hard it was for Flutters. It actually made me like Rares even more to hear her talk about Shy.

Yep. Best marefriend ever.

Fluttershy

This is nice. I’m crying and they are holding me and it’s just nice. They aren’t mad at me for being mad at them for not telling me about everything sooner. They aren’t mad at me for my little outburst earlier. They aren’t mad I wanted to ask questions. They aren’t mad at me for asking to just sit and hold each other for a little while.

This is nice. Dashie has her wings wrapped around me, and I’m leaning into Rarity, and Rarity is humming while she plays with my mane and rubs Dashie’s back.

This is nice.

Rarity

Well, that went as well as could be expected. I confess I was rather startled when Fluttershy yelled at us. “Why did you wait so long to tell me? What? Did the two of you think I couldn’t handle it? I’m a big pony! I can handle things!”

Of course, the very next moment she was in tears and apologizing. The heart of the matter was that she was feeling some guilt and embarrassment for not recognizing that Rainbow and myself each had feelings for her. A few minutes of assurances that we hadn’t withheld our feelings for some dark purpose, but rather because we each valued our friendship with her (and hoped to find a safe way to let it evolve into something more over time) calmed her.

The harder conversation was about what we wanted from her. Even now, I’m not convinced that she believes we want more than a tryst. For some strange reason, Fluttershy had talked herself into accepting the idea that she would be alone for all of her life; that nopony would ever want her romantically- and if they did, then they would tire of her. Despite assurances and my best ardent loving speeches, we ultimately agreed that for now perhaps it was best to take a more organic approach to the whole thing- that while Rainbow and I are certain that we want to spend the rest of our lives with her AND together, we will agree to let events and feelings unfold as they may.

That was a hard compromise for Rainbow and I. The idea of leaving Fluttershy vulnerable to feeling unwanted, quite frankly, goes against the very core of our feelings both individually and as a couple. I only accepted it when I finally understood what Fluttershy was trying to say. She would never want us to stay with her out of obligation. It was so important to her to know that we wouldn’t spare her feelings in a way that made the relationship between Rainbow and myself pay the price. In any case, I feel that the entire issue is moot, but it does give a good framework for understanding an issue Rainbow Dash and I had already discussed many times.

We will need to prove ourselves to her; to court not only her affections, but her trust. I daresay Fluttershy would never doubt us as friends, but as lovers and partners that she never expected to have we have a lot of work to do. She has agreed to give us a chance, which is incredibly brave of her considering that some part of her mind seems to be convinced that she’s going to get her heart broken.

“Do you wanna eat, Shy?” Rainbow suddenly asks.

The pink mane nods. Rainbow kisses Fluttershy’s head and gets up. She goes into the kitchen and quietly starts crashing around. Fluttershy gives a little laugh. “She always takes care of me.”

I nod. “She is quite an attentive mare to the things and ponies that truly matter to her.” Then in a conspiratorial tone I add, “Just don’t tell anypony our Rainbow can be such a gallant. It might sully her reputation.”

We are sharing a giggle when Rainbow re-enters with a tray on her back. She’s brought water, one big bowl of salad, a plate sandwiches, and…

“One fork?” I ask.

“You’re the only one that’s gonna use one, duh.”

“I use a fork sometimes.” Fluttershy says quietly, which is true. I’ve seen it. In fact I’ve seen her do things by hoof or wing that showed much more dexterity that I would have imagined possible.

The comment snaps Rainbow to attention, “Want me to get you one?” she asks already halfway back to the kitchen.

“No, Dashie. It’s fine. I don’t want to be a bother.”

From the kitchen Rainbow responds, “No sweat, Shy.”

I feel Fluttershy retreat into her mane. “Darling, you know she truly doesn’t mind, right?” I feel a nod, but the lack of verbal response worries me. We just got her talking.

Rainbow Dash has returned, and climbs on the bed laying down on Fluttershy’s other side. Since she clearly can’t move, I levitate a sandwich and offer it Fluttershy. She takes it with a blush.

“Thank you, Rarity.”

“Of course, darling.”

We eat in a companionable silence. I notice Fluttershy glance at one of the water glasses, and get it for her without a second thought. I feel her stiffen. She’s so accustomed to care-taking that even something simple makes her worry about being an inconvenience. She’s going to need a fair amount of reassurance before she believes that I truly find joy in simple gestures like this. Rainbow doesn’t seem to have noticed the little exchange, and I don’t want to make Fluttershy uncomfortable by drawing attention to it. So, I kiss her on the cheek and continue eating my salad.

Fluttershy

“Rarity?” I ask when she’s in between bites.

“Yes, darling?”

“Would you mind putting my bed back in my room?”

Dashie hops of the bed and starts collecting dishes.“I’ll do that Dashie.” I try to say, but she waves me off.

“I got it, Shy.”

Rarity lets out a little sigh. She smiles and kisses me on the cheek, but there’s something in her eyes. I slouch back into my mane. “D- do you not want to move the bed? I just thought-” that’d we’d be more comfortable sleeping in my bedroom.

EEEEP.

She presses a hoof gently to my mouth. “Of course I’ll move it back, darling. I’m just a little nervous about how to get it back upstairs is all.”

“You got it down here like a boss,” Dashie hollers from the kitchen. “So, what’s the problem?”

Rarity rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Why don’t you come in here, instead of yelling like some sort of wild creature, and I’ll tell you.”

I like listening to them banter.

Rainbow leans against the door frame between the living room and the kitchen and raises an eyebrow. “Well Miss Prim and Proper, here I am.”

“With that kind of attitude, I hardly feel motivated to explain myself.” Rarity sounds indignant on the surface, but there’s a smile behind the words. There’s a gentle and playful battle of wills going on. I’ve seen them have this kind of exchange before. It used to make me nervous, but now I know they’re just playing with each other and it makes me happy that they let me see it.

Rarity dips down and whispers in my ear, “Rainbow is a bit fascinated by magic.”

“Really? I didn’t know that?”

“Didn’t know what? What did you say? Shy, whatever she said it isn’t true.”

“I- I-”

“Oh, calm down dear. I simply told her that you’re curious about my magic. No need to antagonize her.”

“Oh. Sorry, Shy.”

The little flare of panic fades quickly. “It’s ok, Dashie.”

“Maybe it’s a little early for whispering secrets,” Rarity says contritely. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I shouldn’t have teased so.”

“It’s ok Rarity,” I say with a sigh. I’m not mad. I don’t like being put in the middle of things, but we teased Dashie earlier, even if she didn’t hear it. I’ve even teased Dashie on my own before. I know they tease each other. I don’t want them to apologize for teasing. I’d be devastated if they lost that playful energy because of me. We’ll have to talk about that too. “Maybe you can just tell Dashie what she wants to know. I’m a little curious now too.”

“Hah!”

I feel Rarity shoot Rainbow a look at the exact same moment I send one. “There’s no reason to gloat,” I say without thinking to stop myself.

Dashie gives a little shudder. “Ok. Ok. Enough with the look. I get it,” she says. Then in a more diplomatic tone that isn’t quite making fun of Rarity’s speaking style, but it’s close. “Rarity, will you please be ever so kind and generously explain the finer points of magical whatnot that would make you and your awesomeness nervous about relocating a bed that you’ve already relocated once?”

“Why, I would be delighted,” Rarity responds with an extra dose of professorial drama to her tone. “Firstly, there is gravity to the situation. You see, teleporting something from a high place to a low place requires less magic than the reverse, because of the natural effects of gravity.”

“Naturally.” Rainbow says with a nod.

“However, the larger issue at play in this instance is related to energy and confidence. I confess I was experiencing quite the adrenaline rush earlier when I performed this little feat.” Rainbow raises an eyebrow at that. “And in the heat of the moment I elected to attempt something I never would have under normal circumstances. Teleportation is a tricky business, and I rarely use it for more that a dress or something in the shop. Therefore, given that the target is larger than normal; plus factoring in gravity; as well as considering that the dimensions of Fluttershy’s boudoir leave relatively little room for error, all complicated by my lack of certainty at my ability to perform such a feat without the help of an adrenaline boost I am- I believe- understandably nervous about the attempt.”

Dashie just nods contemplatively.

I wish I could tell Rarity that I know she can do it. She didn’t sound sad, but I’ve never heard her be so doubtful of herself. I believe that she can. I’ve seen her do some wonderfully complicated things. She’s not Twilight, but she is a powerful unicorn in her own way. I wish I could say all of that, but I don’t have the words so I just lean into her.

Dashie’s expression has changed. She’s wearing a very proud smile.

“Don’t you look at me like that, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity says.

“Like what?” Rainbow says as she opens her wings a flits toward the bed. I don’t know what she has planned, but I am both nervous and excited by whatever it is.

“Like you’re thinking about trying to give me another adrenaline rush.”

EEEEP.

Dashie is hovering above us now. She gives me a wink and flicks her tail. It’s a signal we used when we were fillies if a bully was bothering me and she was about to intervene. It was her way of letting me know help was coming, and that I might need to move.

I might need to move!

Dash must have been waiting for the understanding in my eyes. The second I know what she meant by the wink, I see her change the angle of her wings, and I dart over to the safety of the couch.

“Rain. Bow. Dash!” Rarity squeals. She’s ticklish and Dashie is relentless. Blue wings and hooves are hitting all the most sensitive places. I’d feel just awful for Rarity if it wasn’t so funny. Plus I can see that while Dashie is tickling the white unicorn senseless, she’s also being careful not to hurt Rarity.

“Do it!” Dashie says mercilessly. “You put this bed back exactly where it goes little Miss Prissy Pants.”

“I…..can’t…” Rarity says between laughs.

“Can’t? Can’t?” Rainbow says incredulously. “My mare doesn’t say can’t!” Then she redoubles her efforts. I feel a wave of emotion at that. It’s the same jealousy from earlier, but I’m ready for it this time. I really don’t want to get in the middle of the tickle fight. I’m enjoying my place on the couch. Plus, Dashie is right. Rarity doesn’t say can’t. Especially when she can.

Rarity casts her eyes at me pleading for help, giving me a chance to get involved. The words are formed in the same voice I use with Angel Bunny when he’s being stubborn. “Don’t you look at me like that young lady. Dashie is right. You just put that bed back where it belongs.”

“Oh yeah!!!!” Dashie says at the same time Rarity seems to be trying to say “Nooooooo.” Then Dashie leans in a bites Rarity hard on the shoulder. Rarity’s horn lights, and they are gone.

18

Rarity

Thud.

I am breathless, exhausted, and afraid to open my eyes. The mouth at my neck releases and kisses gently over the place still stinging from the bite.

I do love it when she bites.

I hear a raspy chortle.

Well, this isn’t going to be good for her ego.

I open my eyes. Yes, we are in Fluttershy’s room. The bed is oriented properly to the wall, and I don’t believe I’ve knocked anything over. All pieces of the bed, as well as myself and Rainbow Dash appear to be in tact. All told, a very successful relocation.

The lips move from my shoulder up my neck to my ear, sending delicious shivers down my spine. Rainbow nips my ear playfully. “Good job.”

“Thank you darling.”

She nuzzles me and says, “Let’s go talk to our mare now, k?” It’s the most confident and comfortable she’s sounded since this entire debacle began.

“Yes, let’s.”

We get up and walk down the stairs again. Fluttershy is in the kitchen again, apparently making tea and a salad for the little white creature that is now hopping about in a most disgruntled fashion.

I turn my attention to the seating arrangements. Fluttershy has a couch and two comfortable armchairs, as well as a small table. I levitate the whole arrangement slightly closer together, giving a more intimate feeling, and take a position on the couch.

Rainbow settles in beside me and asks, “You just rearranged a whole living room in a second, why would moving the bed be such a problem? I don’t get that.”

She started asking questions about magic about a month after our first date. She came to the boutique to nap on my chaise lounge during her lunch hour. I truly thought she had been asleep for several minutes when she asked if it was difficult to keep so many things in the air at once while being focused on the task at hoof.

I hadn’t thought about it before, and trying to think about the answer to her question caused me to drop all the items I was holding magically. Explaining that by holding multiple items I saved the time of having to disengage and reengage each one took several attempts. The conversation devolved in a rather confusing mess until a thought occurred to me.

“They are like weapons,” I explained. “Each tool I hold simultaneously is like a weapon at the ready. When they are put down, it is as though I’ve put them back in the armory and cannot use them until I take them out again.”

“So, it’s just like organizing your arsenal for an attack?”

“Precisely.”

I can’t help but smile at the memory.

“It’s because I don’t use teleportation nearly as often as levitation,” I say in answer to her question as Fluttershy enters the room with a tea tray on her back. I take the tray in my magic and bring it to the little table, which gets a blush from my pink maned love. “Levitation is a fairly routine bit of magic for almost any unicorn. Even Sweetie Bell can manage it without setting things on fire most days. Teleportation is far more complex, so many more things can go wrong with it. For example, I could have put Fluttershy’s bed in the floor rather than on it, and then we would have had to fetch Twilight to correct the problem.” Fluttershy lets out a peep at that thought. “Which is why I intended to simply levitate the bed up the stairs rather than teleport it prior to being attacked and forced to magic against my will,” I finish giving Rainbow a teasing glare.

“Totally not sorry Rares. I knew you could do it the whole time.”

I’m surprised to see Fluttershy’s small nod of agreement. “Don’t you think I’ve forgotten your accomplice in the matter either,” I say to her. “You could have helped me.”

Rainbow starts to speak, but Fluttershy gets her quiet words out first. “I- I could have, but I knew you could do it too. Plus, watching Dashie make you squeal was kinda fun.”

Both pegasi giggle and look at me proudly, as if I performed some great feat of magic. “Considering you’re both friends of the Princess Twilight Sparkle and have personally met the other three princesses of Equestria, I would have thought it would take a bit more to impress you.” I say with a laugh.

Fluttershy’s countenance falls a bit. Rainbow nips my neck again, “Humble looks weird on you, Rares.”

There’s a squeak from Fluttershy’s chair. “What was that darling?”

“Self-deprecating,” Fluttershy says gently correcting Rainbow.

“Yeah, what she said.” Rainbow chimes.

Fluttershy is still hiding behind her mane. Her eyes casting about. “Darling,” I ask. “Have I upset you?”

“No.” She pauses, then huffs. I see the determination from earlier come back in her face. She raises her chin and says, “Yes. Rarity, you are a gifted unicorn. I’ve seen you teach Twilight magic she didn’t know before, which isn’t the point. It’s not some competition between you and Twilight. You might not be able to do all the magical things Twilight does, but can you imagine what would happen if Twilight tried to design a couture gown?” That gets gentle laugh from all of us. “My point is that you are talented. It upsets me to hear you talk as though you aren’t, just because somepony else can do more magic than you. Dashie’s wrong. Humble does look good on you. The few times I’ve known you not to be humble have had devastating outcomes. Like that time you fell out of the sky and almost died. When you are most truly yourself, you are both confident AND humble AND beautiful. And that is why I love you.”

Rainbow Dash

Flutters turns on me before I get a chance to feel disappointed that she just told Rarity she loves her. “And you, Dashie. I love you, because you aren’t humble- most of the time. You’re insecure and you cover it with confidence. I’ve loved you since the day you saved me from those bullies and got all of us our cutie marks. You never let anypony see you feel weak, but you’ve let me see. And I know you’ve let Rarity see, and that’s why I think this is going to work, because I love both of you too.”

Rares and I just look at each other. I’m about to take off the couch, when one yellow hoof raises and sets me back down.

“We still have a lot to talk about though,” Shy says quietly.

Oh, right. I thought we’d done all the serious, squishy talking for tonight. Guess not. That’s cool. Why is it cool? Because Flutter-freaking-Shy just said that she loves me! And! Hold onto your hats Wonderfans- She loves Rarity too! This is going to work! Parts of it are still a hurricane sized mess, but it’s going to work!

Rarity reaches and sets her hoof on mine. She’s literally shaking with excitement too.

Be cool Dash….OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!

Fluttershy

Look at their faces. They are so happy. Maybe we should just talk later.

No. Talk now. …. Other things later.

Right. I need to focus. They love me. I love them. We can talk about the rest quickly and then-

What?

And then live happily ever after.

EEEP!

Ok. Here I go.

Rarity

I am trying to focus. Truly, I am. Fluttershy is obviously about to say something very important. However it’s proving to be utterly impossible. I feel awful. My shy sweet darling is building herself up for whatever she wants to say, but my mind is filled all kinds of wonderful, lurid, happy, romantic, perfect, images. Rainbow Dash is vibrating next to me, quite nearly hovering off the couch with excitement. This simply won’t do.

At the exact moment Fluttershy tries to take a deep breath and begin the speech she’s been working on for the past few minutes, I interrupt her. “I’m so sorry darling,” Fluttershy tucks back into her mane at my words. “Would you mind terribly if Rainbow and I took just a moment?” Fluttershy looks confused and a little scared. I purposefully keep my tone sweet, controlled, and diplomatic. “You see sweetheart, I completely agree that it is very important we three continue to discuss and work through things, and you clearly have a few things you need to say. The little problem I’m running into is that you’ve just old me that you love me, and you love Rainbow Dash, which is everything I’ve been dreaming of for ages. So, if I’m not much mistaken the ability to actively attend to the very important things you want to say and we need to talk about for both Rainbow and myself would benefit greatly from just a few minutes of excitement. Would that be alright?”

I felt Rainbow nodding throughout my little speech. “Yeah, what she said,” she adds. “Please Shy? I just gotta blow off some steam, so we can do the mushy stuff. Please?”

Fluttershy’s expression has moved from confused to amused. She’s looking at us like we are two foals that can’t wait to open their presents at Hearth’s Warming, which is exactly how we’re acting. She gives an agreeable nod accompanied with a hoof telling us to wait a moment.

“Think I should brace myself?” She asks. We both nod exuberantly. She smiles settling a little deeper into her chair. I grab a blanket and levitate it over to her, just in case she feels the need to burrow. Each passing second the happy and excited energy between Rainbow and I is growing. If Fluttershy doesn’t get settled quickly we might explode.

Finally, the yellow pegasus gives us another nod.

“Yeah?” Rainbow confirms.

“Ok.” Fluttershy says. “I’m ready.”

Rainbow takes off at the same time a shower of non-flammable sparks erupts from my horn and I jump off the couch to the floor. There is a whirlwind of multicolored cheers, intermingled with my completely unladylike squeals and the sound of my hooves dancing across the floor. Then I’m swept up by Rainbow for several laps around the room. She lands and puts me back down.

Our eyes meet and I let off another interior safe firework, as Rainbow begins a rather impressive rendition of Twilight’s Yes! Yes! Yes victory hop around me. If Pinkie Pie were here, this is where the second party canon would sound, and the musical number would commence. Instead, those ecstatic magenta eyes meet mine. There is a second of stillness and shared understanding. Fluttershy might not appreciate what’s about to happen, but there’s no stopping it.

Rainbow gives me half a second head start to launch myself across the room at Fluttershy, even with the head start Rainbow almost reaches her first. Gratefully, Fluttershy’s scream is one of delight not fear. We’ve knocked her chair over, so she’s on her back on the ground. I am wrapped around one side of her, and Rainbow is on the other, with her wings wrapped around me as well. We are covering every available inch of yellow (except for the mouth) with a barrage of quick kisses mingled with excited exclamations.

“Yes!”

“Darling!”

“Awesome!”

“So happy!”

“Waiting and waiting!”

After full minute or two of this treatment, which elicits many a laugh, giggle and elated squeal from Fluttershy, the energy wanes just a little bit. The kisses slow and become much more lingering. Rainbow’s wings pull our little pony pile together a little tighter. At that same moment, I’m softly kissing and nibbling on an incredibly soft and sensitive ear, I watch Rainbow plant a kiss just below Fluttershy’s jaw, and I feel both of our hooves reach to stroke sensitive yellow wings. The shudder that runs through the petite yellow frame at our combined touch is almost too much. Once again, Rainbow’s eyes meet mine and we have a moment of instant understanding.

Later.

Wandering hooves slow their journeys and we all relax. Rainbow reaches for my hoof, and lifts her head. We share a brief kiss across Fluttershy’s barrel.

“She said she loves us!” Rainbow whispers excitedly.

“I know!” I reply in kind, and we both squeal in our own way.

There’s a little cough bringing our mutual attention to Fluttershy’s face. Her turquoise eyes are brighter and happier than I have ever seen before. She doesn’t even blush when says, “I like it when you two kiss.”

She giggles at our reactions. “And that both of you just raised your eyebrows at me.”

We turn to each other, and it’s true. We’ve each raised a rather suggestive eyebrow. With a laugh I lean and kiss Rainbow a little more deeply playing it up just a little for Fluttershy. I’m rewarded with a delightful little gasp.

I break the kiss, kiss Rainbow quickly on the head, and return to my place on the couch. I watch as both pegasi stand and try to get control of their wings. Rainbow gets hers pinned against her sides first. She kisses Fluttershy quickly on the cheek and then comes to join me on the couch with a dopey grin on her face.

I can’t help but shake my head at her. She’s grinning, because she know that little kiss made it even harder for Fluttershy to calm her feathers. “It’s not nice to tease,” I say as she nuzzles into me. The only response I get is a kiss on my neck, just below my chin that sends a delightful chill down my spine.

So, Fluttershy and I have that in common.

I catch Fluttershy eyeballing her chair as if she’d rather not sit there. “Would you rather sit with us?” I ask starting to move to create a space for her.

She blushes and says, “No. Well, yes. But no thank you, Rarity. I think I’d better stay over here for now.” The meaning behind the words makes all of us blush.

Fluttershy settles in, closes her eyes briefly, takes the deep breath I interrupted, but doesn’t start talking.

Fluttershy

They are being so patient. I kept saying I wanted to talk more, but I don’t even know what I want to say. It’s good we’re having this quiet time though. Watching them kiss again was….exciting. I’ve always liked watching them kiss, but I always felt guilty about it. Now, I don’t have to. That’s nice.

Wait, I do get to watch them kiss, right? Maybe that’s what I needed to talk about: rules. Rules would be helpful.

“I think I’d like to talk about rules,” I say.

They give each other a quick look. It’s strange to realize that I’m going to be a part of something that already has so much history; they can just look at each other and understand. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that. I mean, maybe with Rarity, but Dashie and I….

Eeep. They’re staring. Did one of them say something?

“I’m sorry, darling,” Rarity saves me as usual. “What I meant to ask was: what sort of rules would you like to discuss?”

“Well, the two you of you have been together so long, I guess I was wondering how you want me to fit in. I- I- I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s quite alright, darling. You bring up a good point. Rules can be an important and helpful safeguard in any relationship, but most especially in a triad.”

“How would you know?” Dashie interjects.

“Do you suppose that Twilight is the only one that does research?” Rarity retorts, but not in an unkind way.

“Oh yeah,” Dashie says nuzzling Rarity’s neck. “My bad. So, what kind of rules do your fancy books say we should have?”

“Well, different sources have different approaches. All in all, I believe that the best course is the one we chart ourselves. That said, most recommend open communication, a clear understanding of the group dynamic, and if that dynamic is evolving then some discussion of that intent. I believe we covered many of the emotional aspects of our situation earlier, and what Fluttershy is asking about now is logistics. Is that accurate?”

I nod. I like listening to Rarity talk. I know they’ve told me over and over that they’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but knowing that Rarity took the time to do research about it makes that seem more real.

“Do you have any questions you’d specifically like to address, Fluttershy?”

“Umm- sorta. Well- you’ll be sleeping here tonight, because of the storm, right?”

Rarity nods and says, “That was our intention originally, yes. Is that still alright with you, Rainbow?”

Dashie has a wing draped around Rarity. That nervous look is back. I want to tell her that she doesn’t have to stay; the storm is still raging outside (although I haven’t hardly noticed with everything that’s been happening inside), but I’ll be fine. I want to tell her that, but I also want to give her the chance to speak for herself. I like that Rarity will fill in the gaping silences for me, but Dashie usually speaks for herself. So, I wait, trying not to hide in my mane. I don’t want her to feel like any answer is wrong.

After a long time, Dashie says, “Yeah. It’s cool with me. Can we just… keep it cool for tonight?” The last words are mumbled into Rarity’s shoulder. Rarity lets out a bell-like giggle then looks at me. I’m blushing furiously, but I nod.

“I think we can manage that, my darling,” Rarity says kissing Dashie’s head.

I’m about to ask what exactly Dashie means by ‘keep it cool,’ but she answers the question before I can get it out. “Flutters is going to have to get a bigger bed. Being super cozy will be cool for tonight, but some of us need space to wiggle.” Her voice is too cool. I know her well enough to know that, and to be grateful.

“I think it’s a bit early in the relationship to be demanding furniture, Rainbow,” Rarity chides.

“No, it’s ok,” I whisper. Then I look at Dashie, “Thank you.”

She nods knowingly, “Sure thing, Shy.” I didn’t thank her for agreeing to sleep in my bed. I thanked her for telling me something she normally wouldn’t have. I wonder if Rarity knows. She’s smiling at me while stroking Dashie’s forehoof. She knows.

Ok. Next question.

“H- How do we do this? How do we...become more?” I ask.

Rarity thinks about that for a minute before answering, “I believe we should date. I think Rainbow Dash and I made a serious error in judgement when we began to assume that would be an unnecessary step in the process because of all the time we spend together. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds...nice.” I don’t mean my usual nice, or the nice I used to describe my gala dress when I was feeling disappointed about it. I mean that it sounds wonderful, like a dream come true. I mean that it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“Yeah, dates sound good,” Dashie says.

“In the materials I’ve read, several emphasized the importance of nurturing all the relationships in a multi-pony arrangement. For our purposes, that would mean my continuing relationship with Rainbow, which will be separate from my relationship with Fluttershy, which will be unique from the relationship we three share, and of course the two of you have your connection to maintain separately from me as well.” The more Rarity talks, the more I can’t help but think that all sounds really scary. She must see my ears flat against my head, because then she says, “It does sound a bit overwhelming all itemized out like that, but as I’ve thought about it I’ve realized that in many ways it’s a very familiar process for all of us.”

“You really think so?” I ask.

She nods with a smile. “Isn’t that essentially what we do with our friends? You have your own relationships with Twilight and Applejack independent of Rainbow Dash or myself, just as Rainbow Dash spends time with Pinkie, just as I have spent time with you.”

That’s true and it makes a lot of sense.

“So,” Dashie says. “Basically, there’s going to be two-pony dates, and three-pony dates.” She and Rarity have talked about this, so it isn’t a question. I appreciate the simplicity of her explanation though, and I’m glad she’s talking. She was so quiet while Rarity and I talked about everything earlier.

“Precisely,” Rarity says.

“Ok,” I say and then brace myself for the question I’ve been wanting to ask for such a long time. “Wh- when?”

Rarity giggles, but then she looks at Dashie who nods. “Fluttershy would like to go on a date with me some evening next week?” I know my “yes, please” only sounds like a squeak, but she understands and smiles.

I could sing! I’m going on a date with Rarity! She asked me on a date, and she and Dashie both seem happy about it. Dashie relaxed the second Rarity asked, and smiled a real smile all the way up to her eyes when I said yes. Ooo, I’m so happy!

“So, remember how you two needed a minute to be excited earlier?” I ask with a small smile. They both nod. “Can I have a turn?”

“Do we need to brace ourselves?” Rarity asks with a laugh

“Maybe.”

“Seriously?” Dashie asks laughing too.

I nod.

They lie down on the couch wrapped around each other, and Rarity covers them in the blanket I used earlier. Rarity kisses Dashie on the forehead, “Ready, darling?”

“Ready! Have at it Flutters.”

I close my eyes and breathe, focusing just on the idea that I really get to go on a date with Rarity and it’s ok with Dashie. I sway and hum back and forth in my seat, but that’s not enough. I open my eyes and look around the room at my various animal friends in their cages. They’ve all been so good tonight, and so patient with being locked up while I’ve dealt with all of this. They’re peaking out at me now, questioning.

I get up and skip over to the cages on the wall humming to myself. As I open the doors, I tell my friends: “She asked me on a date! Can you believe it?” They chatter and buzz in an excited response. I go to the other wall and let out those friends too. I feel a song coming on, something along the lines of the one I sang the day I hit the ground.

Finally, I open the closet door and let Harry out. He scoops me into the biggest bear hug, because he’s a bear and that’s how bears hug. It’s wonderful. It’s makes everything feel so real. When he puts me down, he goes over to the couch and scoops up Rarity and Rainbow Dash at the same time.

I’ve started skipping and singing a wordless song. All my friends are twittering and chirping along with me. Rarity is making a sound somewhere between shrieking and squealing, and Rainbow Dash is laughing at her and at me.

My song rises to its crescendo and the fades into blissful humming. My friends seek out their snacks and food bowls. Harry gives my mares one more squeeze before putting them back on the couch and returning to the closet to sleep, and I go back to my chair. Rarity’s giggle and Dashie’s shocked expression are absolutely priceless.

19

Fluttershy

After a few minutes recovery, Rarity hops up off the couch and comes to kiss me on the cheek. “That was an excellent little jubilee, darling. Well done. I’m going to go make use of your shower again, if that’s alright?”

“Of course.” The idea of joining her for a shower enters my mind, and not for the first time. I feel the blush rising in my cheeks, but then it stops. I don’t have to pretend that I don’t think like that anymore. Rarity is my marefriend now, and I don’t think it’s any secret that I’ve thought about...doing things….

I watch Rarity walk away. EEEEP.

She glances back at me when she’s halfway up the stairs and giggles. Oh. My. That was sexy. Then she’s gone to get all well in my shower. EEEEP.

“Really, Shy?”

Dashie’s tone and the expression on her face make me nervous. We’re really alone for the first time tonight. She was laughing a minute ago, but now she’s upset. “Did I do something wrong?” I ask from behind my mane.

“Well…” Her ears droop. “No. It’ll just take some getting used to.”

I’ve never seen her so vulnerable and insecure. She’s like an animal that’s been plucked from its safe place and dropped in a habitat where it doesn’t know the rules. Dashie and I have been friends since we were foals, but she’s always done her best to keep these moments of weakness away from me. Maybe it’s time to stop selfishly expecting her to be so strong all the time, even though her strength makes me feel safe. Maybe I can be strong for her her too.

Eeeep.

I don’t know, but I have to try.

“Wait one minute,” I say quietly. She opens her mouth like she’s going to say something, but then closes it again and nods. I walk to the kitchen and get a juice box for myself, a bottle of cider for her, and a carrot for Angel.

I place the carrot in front of Angel’s hutch on my way back to the living room. All things considered he’s behaving himself very well.
It seems like Dashie can barely look at me as approach her. I offer her the cider, which she takes, and then I sit down again in the large comfortable chair across from her. As much as it makes me uncomfortable to face things head on, I know it will help her.

She takes a long draw on her cider and relaxes a bit. “Since when do you keep cider in the house?” she asks.

She’s still not looking at me. Dashie hasn’t ever avoided looking at me before, not like this. “Since I learned how much you like it,” I say honestly. I want to apologize. I don’t even know what I’ve done, but something happened in the last few minutes that’s changed all the wonderful feelings from just a few moments ago.

“Huh.”

That’s it? That’s all she’s going to say?

It’s ok. I can be patient. I can keep my face calm and unthreatening, even though I can’t help but wonder if Dashie is about to break my heart. I knew this would happen. I knew I would ruin it. They both said such nice things, but they didn’t really know. It’s just like Twilight and her theories. Everypony has these ideas of what something might be, and then when they really try it they don’t get what they expected at all. It’s like modeling (even though I knew I wouldn’t like that) or Nightmare Night. Rarity and Dashie thought they would like being with me, but now Dashie doesn’t. That’s ok though. For a few precious hours, I got be with the only two ponies I’ve ever felt that way about. I should have known that Dashie was just trying to keep up a brave face for Rarity. I probably really did hurt her.

EEEEP!

Oh no. Dashie!

Rainbow Dash

I’m staring at my half empty bottle of cider when Shy launches herself at me. I brace for impact, but it’s like being tackled by a sack of feathers.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry, Dashie.” She’s crying and wrapped around me.

Horseapples. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Things are awesome. Shy’s totally in. She digs Rarity. Obviously, the three of us are going to have some serious fun. So, why am all….confused? Sad?

Flutters just holds onto me and apologizes for a while. She’s acting like the Fluttershy I’ve always known, but not the Fluttershy I’ve seen today. It’s hard to trust her. It’s hard to stop seeing the image in my brain of Shy watching Rarity walk up the stairs. Yeah, Rares and I looked at other ponies, but since we’d started dating nopony looked at Rarity like that. Even if they did, it didn’t matter because I knew they had no chance.
Shy is different. I figured eventually we’d have a moment together where Shy would feel comfortable and brave enough to say something about Rarity being pretty, but that was not happend. Those turquoise eyes roved over my unicorn like she was…. It was like….. Ogled. It’s such a Rarity word, but it’s the right one. Shy ogled Rares. She’d done everything, but drool.

Which is good, right?

I always thought it would be.

There’s this part of me that wants to push her away, but I can’t be mad at Shy. That’s just not a thing I do. But I can’t stand to have her touch me right now. Why is all this stuff happening in my head?!?!?

Rarity
One moment I’m humming to myself and the next a blue pegasus is crashing into the shower with me. This is not an unusual occurrence. I’ve learned to brace myself for impact when I hear her coming, and she really does try to slow down some of the time.

This particular instance of the behavior is unusual. Rainbow Dash is upset. We’re sitting on the floor of Fluttershy’s shower. I turned the water off the moment I’d collected myself enough to understand what happened, and used a quick bit of magic to dry both of us off. I also swept my mane and tail into quick braids to help mitigate the inevitable friz from going untreated post-shower. Rainbow is wrapped up and I’m holding her like a foal. She’s shivering and shuddering even worse than Fluttershy was earlier.

Fluttershy is in her bedroom curled up on the floor where Rainbow napped earlier. I’ve wrapped her in a shining blue aura like a blanket, and a little tendril of magic is working it’s way through her mane. It’s helping, but she’s still crying silent tears.

I am sorely tempted to be disgruntled at how events have unfolded tonight. There was supposed to be a calm conversation over dinner wherein Rainbow and I explained our intentions and calmed Fluttershy’s concerns. We would ask her to go on a date with us as a couple, and then we would try excursions with her individually. The whole process would be very calm and restrained. Each layer of progression would be uncomfortable for our shy little pony, but not dramatic.

Yet, here we are flipping end over emotional end, buffeting against the unknown and surprisingly strong emotions that none of us were prepared for. We are a mess, but my mind is calm. My loves are not communicating well. Rainbow in particular is playing things too close to the vest as it were. We can work on that. I am confident that all our chemistry is in place and intact. We’ve started sewing our complex garment together much too quickly. All we need to do is stop the machine, sort out the tangle, perhaps remove a stitch or two, and try again. That image is quite helpful. I wish I could communicate it to Fluttershy, she would appreciate it.

My beloved Rainbow Dash however, will need an entirely different approach. Exactly what approach I cannot be certain, because I am not certain of the issue that is plaguing her so, but I do have a few ideas. In our conversations, it became clear that each of us put Fluttershy on a pedestal in our own way. The entire Photo Finish debacle had undone some of that for me however. Many of the day’s events likely challenged not only Rainbow’s understanding of her dynamic with Fluttershy, but also her idealized image of Fluttershy herself. If that is the case, then my thoughts from earlier in the evening about earning trust apply to Rainbow Dash as well.

Rainbow’s struggles to trust anypony were a pattern in the tapestry of our relationship that took sometime to fully understand. Even before we were a couple, I noticed her uncertainty from time to time and wondered what the root of the behavior was. She didn’t talk about her foalhood, except occasionally about some moment or other with Fluttershy.

I didn’t press the issue. Perhaps I should have, but our relationship was somehow immune to the concern. So, it didn’t feel pressing. It feels pressing now. Especially given that Fluttershy doesn’t seem to have any insight into the issue. If she had, then I’m sure she would have acted differently.

The idea that Rainbow might keep something significant from Fluttershy isn’t at all surprising. One of the reasons we felt so strongly that we needed to allow a relationship with her to develop slowly was that Rainbow acknowledged there were parts of her life and personality kept from Fluttershy. She expressed many times a fear: “Shy only thinks she likes me, because she thinks I’m brave. It makes her feel safe. How is she gonna deal with knowing that I’m just a pony? An awesome pony, yeah. But just a pony.”

I can feel Fluttershy’s concern from across the room. She’s never seen Rainbow Dash like this. This conversation will be a lesson for her, whenever we manage to have it. I can’t possibly teach Fluttershy what to do. They must carve their own path. However, I can show her what I have learned in the past year. The Rainbow I’ve come to know since that first weekend in Canterlot is so very different than I could have ever expected. And yet, she is very much the same.

Rainbow’s tremors of emotion have slowed, and she is still. Fluttershy has noticed the change as well. She looks to me with more concern in her face than I have ever seen, and that is saying something for Fluttershy. All I can do is hope that the look I give her is soothing, and that she understands when I quietly say to both of them, “Everything is going to be just fine, love.”

At my words Rainbow pulls herself to me a little tighter, and Fluttershy nods. They might not trust each other in this moment, but they both trust me and that is a start.

I wish I could move Rainbow and myself without stopping the magic I have focused on Fluttershy. I remember Twilight and the Ursa Minor. Few ponies truly understand the difficulty of what she did that day. In truth, I’m certain I don’t fully understand myself. However, I understand enough to know that the combination of large and sustained actions was a magical feat worthy of an alicorn. WIth that in mind- and knowing that I am physically, mentally, emotionally, and magically worn out from the day- I give Fluttershy my best apologetic look and remove the aura wrapped around her. My heart nearly breaks when hers ears fold. Then she notices that Rainbow and I are levitating out of the tub, and she gives me an understanding nod.

The moment I’ve settled Rainbow and myself on Fluttershy’s bed I quickly pull a quilt over us, and light a few of the candles in the room. Fluttershy has rotated on her cushion. She’s facing us, but farther away than I’d like. I wrap her in my magic and bring her and the cushion close enough that I can reach out with one hoof and caress her face. She turns her muzzle into my touch, and I settle the blanketlike aura of magic around her once more. Our eyes meet, and I blow her a silent kiss. She responds by gently and tentatively kissing my hoof.

Rainbow’s muzzle is buried in my neck. It’s tempting to think that she may have fallen asleep, but I know better. I can almost hear her mind at work. I will hold her for as long as she needs. It is a truly rare occasion that Rainbow needs something more than a little reinforcement or a reminder that she is a better pony than she sometimes chooses to be. So, here in this most vulnerable of times, I will be whatever she needs. I shall hold her, and whisper to her, and press gentle kisses to her head until she is either ready to speak on her own or I discern that she is ready to be verbally pulled from her melancholia.

This is not the first time we have done this. The first time was shortly after that magical first weekend together. We were back in Canterlot for a design meeting with the Wonderbolts. As per my request, I had a tete a tete scheduled with each member of the flight team. Rainbow was invited to join the practice session that was going on simultaneously.

My conversations and fittings went well. I felt inspired and enlightened. I was confident that while this work would not reflect my true passion for fashion it would reflect the passion I had come to associate with the Wonderbolts because of my paramor. Each pony that came in spoke kindly of my designs, but far more notably they each shared some wonderfully complimentary thoughts about Rainbow Dash. They spoke of her with an unexpected reverence. Soarin mentioned how excited he was for her to be one of them. It was all so absolute and unquestioned. They spoke as if she was one of them. I couldn’t help but wonder once again why she wasn’t.

When I was finished, I collected my things and went in search of my mare. She was not to be found. After making inquiries of several staff ponies, I was directed to wait for her outside the team’s changing rooms. It was a long wait.

Perhaps this is it! I thought to myself. Perhaps they have finally recognized her worth and are promoting her from reservist to the team proper!

I sat and sketched a marvelous celebration dress for her; even though I was certain she would never wear such a garment. It was a lovely full gown of Wonderbolt blue, with a sheer overlay of white with yellow lightning bolts. The petticoat would be her signature rainbow, so that as she dashed about her welcome party there would be flashes of rainbows darting across the room. There would be a brooch at her neck- the team crest. The slippers were a surprising combination of athleticism and elegance. They had a spartan look to them that I was quite enraptured with.

As I put the finishing touches on the design, I became aware of the fact that I designed an entire complex ensemble on the floor of a training facility while waiting for my marefriend. It had been mid afternoon when I sat down to wait, but more than an hour had passed. It was early evening now, and I began to feel concerned.

Just then Spitfire emerged from the changing room. She seemed genuinely surprised to see me. “Oh. Hey,” she said in a casual, but markedly uncomfortable way. “Did you need something? I can probably go find one of the suits or something.”

“No, thank you. I’m just waiting for Rainbow Dash.”

“Dash left hours ago.”

“She what?”

“Yeah, she and coach had a talk right after practice, and Dash just took off.”

I’m not certain I thanked Spitfire for the information before took off at a full gallop. Wherever she was, Rainbow was upset and had a very significant head start. She might even be back in Ponyville at that point.

All caution and concern for maintaining a genteel appearance for anypony that might see me was completely forgotten. I ran to Canterlot Castle, because it was faster than trying to find a taxi. Gratefully, putting my energy into running forced my mind to calm. I determined that I would return to our room, and begin my search from there. Perhaps she had at least stopped there to collect something or leave a note.

I saw the concerned looks on the guards’ faces as I passed, not even sparing a breath to tell them good evening. I took the stairs to our room by leaps, and nearly slipped on the well polished marble floor at the top. I tossed the door aside with my magic, and crashed into the room.
I cast my eyes about frantically.

“Hey Rares,” she said. If she were Pinkie Pie, her mane would have been pin straight and lifeless. She sounded hollow and forlorn, but I was nevertheless overjoyed to have found her.

I tossed my saddlebags aside, and swept her into an embrace.The instant my forelegs encircled her, I felt her crumble against me. I restrained the urge to reprimand her for running off without telling me, and simply carried her to the bed. Her wings wrapped around me not in a gesture of affection, but of desperation. She molded herself to me as though she might be lost to some great whirlwind if I let her go.

My mind scrambled. My love was distraught. Surely there was something I must do, but despite the frenzy in my brain I followed the physical instinct to be still. I held her and I waited. For an eternity, I expected to hear her drift into sleep. She never did.

The sun set and a moonless night crept across the floor of our room. Both of our stomachs gurgled and we ignored them. It was so tempting to be afraid and give in to my usual dramatics, but I couldn’t manage it. I knew that she was wandering in some soul-searching darkness, but that she was my stalwart and valiant knight of a marefriend. She would find her way back to me.

After I had drifted through phases of boredom, concern, and fear. Then she heaved a great sigh and relaxed.

“Shall I see if I can order something for us?” I asked. Although I spoke softly, my voice rang across the room and felt entirely too loud after so much silence.

“Yeah,” was all she said.

I lit a lamp, and wrote a quick note. Then using a little spell Celestia had been kind enough to teach me on a previous visit, I sent the request to the kitchen. A moment passed and a return note popped into existence. I drafted a response and sent it off.

A few minutes later a serving pony entered with a tray. He set it down and I floated a few bits to him for his trouble. He gave a little bow and left. I brought the tray to rest on the bed before us. It was a simple meal, but adequate. There were four bottles of Apple Family Hard Cider- I didn’t know that we would drink all four, but with Rainbow Dash more cider is rarely a bad idea- two sandwiches, some sliced apples and carrots, and two small tarts for dessert. I brought a sandwich to my lips and took a bite, then offered it to her.

I don’t know that I had ever shared food with anypony like that- perhaps Sweetie Bell when we were much younger- but it felt right. We alternated bites of food and sips of cider. She never pulled away from me, so I just held her and fed her. With the food and two of our bottles of cider gone, rather than allowing the silence to return I hummed one of Sweetie’s favorite lullabies.

“Thanks, Rares.”

I kissed her head. “Of course, my darling.”

Another few minutes passed, and I hummed the song again.

“They said I’m too important,” she said evenly, but with great emotion. “The commander said that they’ve thought about calling me up a bunch of times, but every time they do the map calls or we save Equestria. He said that being an Element of Harmony and being on the Friendship Council is more important than being a Wonderbolt. Then Spitfire said that I’ve done things that mattered, and most the time they are just entertainment. She said everypony wants me on the team, but it would be a step down for me.”

I was trying to generate a response, but I was truly flabbergasted by the line of thinking. Yes, our little group was often called upon for various adventurings; but that was no reason to keep anypony from living her dream. Was it?

“The commander said, that I could train with the team whenever I want. Then he showed me a few things they’d been working on so they bring me in as a featured flyer. He wants to take me off reserve status, but he can’t put me in the regular rotation either. So, he’s waiting on some higher ups to decide how to handle it. He said that after he saw me beat Spitfire a few weeks ago he decided that he’d take it all the way to Celestia if he has to.”

“Darling, that’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Isn’t it?”

“It’s just not what I wanted, ya know? I never wanted to be some special sidekick to the Wonderbolts. I want to be a Wonderbolt.”

“And being a Wonderbolt in name alone isn’t enough, is it?” I said thinking of designers I’d known. Their names were on the shops and labels, but it wasn’t their genius in the clothes. They could walk down a street and not recognize a garment from their own collection. It was an empty, almost farcical kind of success. She shook her head. “Perhaps you ought to speak with Twilight and Princess Celestia,” I said. “There simply must be a way to be part of the Friendship Council AND be a Wonderbolt at the same time.”

“That’s what I said,” Rainbow replied forlornly. “The commander said he didn’t think so.” She paused for a moment. “I’d never leave Twilight or the Princess hangin’. I mean the commander is trying to work out a pretty sweet gig for me, right? I just…”

Gently I used a hoof to turn her face to mine. Tears were glistening in her beautiful eyes. “I know, darling. You don’t want to be an exception to the rules. You want to earn your place just like any other pony numbered among the greatest flyers in Equestria.”

She nodded.

“Darling, you should have heard them talk about you today.”

“Who?”

“All of them. They respect and admire you. My day was filled with more conversations about you than about fashion. Many of them sounded a lot like you do when you talk about them. They are your fans. They know your stories. Soarin’ must have said ‘Sonic Rainboom’ a dozen times. Spitfire says your name with more reverence than Celestia’s. I think perhaps, if they could, many of them would trade you places. They would take the techniques they use mostly for show, and use them for the good of Equestria on a regular basis. I know they are your heroes, my darling Dash; but if I am not mistaken- you are their hero as well.”

I watched her take in my words. Understanding slowly rolled over in a wave, and when her wings-which had been perfectly still for a nearly alarming amount of time- began to twitch I braced myself.

It was another moment before she took off across the room, and a chromatic whirlwind consumed the seating area spitting out throw pillows in several directions that nearly toppled two or three lamps. I recovered each of the light fixtures and returned them to their place. Then she crashed into me, “Rares! Do you know what this means? I’m gonna be a Wonderbolt. I mean, yeah- I’m still gonna be a Ponyville weather pony; but I’m also gonna be a Wonderbolt. They want me! The actually want me!”

I smile at the memory. I don’t believe we’ll be waiting hours for her to snap out of it tonight. I can feel her stirring against me, even so. There is no rush. For my Rainbow Dash, I can be a patient pony.

20

Fluttershy

Eeep. There’s a squeeze. Rarity is squeezing my hoof to get my attention. Oh! I look into her eyes and she nods, then looks at Dashie.

Dashie is looking at me!

She’s not mad, but she’s scared. If she were a frightened critter, I would look away. I would let her know that I’m not a threat. Something tells me that would be wrong, so I only hide in my mane a little bit and hold her gaze.

“Sorry, Shy,” she says sounding like a contrite little filly. It’s heartbreaking. I want to wrap her up and tell her it’s ok. We’ll fix everything. I can just be friends. I know Rarity won’t let anything happen to Dashie. Watching them has taught me so much. Rarity knows a Dashie that I’ve never met. It’s a Dashie that Rainbow Dash has kept from me on purpose. I’m not mad about that. I just want that Dashie to know that it’s ok that I know. I didn’t mean to hurt her and I’m sorry. I’ll fix it. I won’t ever hurt her again.

I want to reach out and touch her, but I’m not sure. I glance at Rarity, who watches Rainbow, then nods to me. I stand and reach out with a wing tip for Dashie, and she reaches back. Our feathers barely brush, but it’s enough. I’m about to settle back onto my cushion when Rarity says, “Why don’t you join us?” her eyes looking to the hoofboard.

Dashie gives the tiniest little nod. I flutter my wings just enough to gentle settle myself at the bottom of the bed. Then I feel the same warm nestled feeling that Rarity has kept me wrapped in. It’s a comfort. Rainbow is the priority, but I am not forgotten. I need that. Rarity wants me here. If she didn’t then I might just run away and let them leave in peace. No hard feelings. No expectations. As it is, I am holding on to that feeling from earlier. Dashie needs me to be brave. She needs to know that it’s ok to tell me hard things.

I know everypony thinks I like the quiet, and I do, but I don’t like silence. I enjoy the quiet of a forest or a meadow that has a gentle buzz of animal life. It’s calming to know that critters are happily going about their business. Nothing can be truly wrong or bad when I hear that hum. True silence makes me nervous. When the world goes quiet that means something wrong or dangerous is present, and the choice between a fight or flight response is imminent. And because of the pony I am, I almost always choose flight. It’s an instinct and a habit that I am willfully combating in this moment.

The room is silent, and I want to just go away. I want to tell Dashie and Rarity that I won’t ever bother them again, but I know they won’t let that happen. For once, the tension in a room isn’t coming from my fear, it’s coming from somepony else. It’s coming from a pony I love and have loved for as long as I can remember. Rainbow Dash would never let me run away from this, and she needs me to stay. So, I’m just going to lie here trying to be non-threatening, and learning from watching her with Rarity.

A few more minutes pass. Then Rarity kisses Dashie on the head, and gives her a nudge with her white muzzle. Dashie looks up. They communicate something much like animals sometimes do. It’s like a mother bird that waits just out the nest looking expectantly to her chick as if to say, “It’s ok little one. I’ll be right here. You still have to jump.”

Dashie sighs and sits up. I crouch back. Dashie kisses Rarity on the cheek and gives her a long nuzzle. “Thanks Rares,” she says quietly.

“Always, my darling.” Rarity replies gently. “Are you ready to talk about it?”

“No, but yes.”

Then Rainbow turns to look at me.

EEEEP.

Then she nuzzles me. It’s gentle and quick, but it’s enough. “It’s ok, Shy,” she says quietly in my ear just like she has hundreds of times. I nuzzle her back trying to help her feel brave. She sits back and Rarity takes her hoof, but Dashie stays focused on me.

“We kinda made a mess of this whole thing, huh?” She asks, and Rarity gently scoffs in agreement. Before I can stop them my ears droop and I recoil. Their words from earlier are playing through my head. They’ve wanted me for a long time. That’s soothing, and it makes me brave.

“Maybe you two pulled a Fluttershy,” I say quietly.

“What do you mean, darling?” Rarity asks.

“Well, sometimes I think I’m going to be so nervous or scared of something that I avoid it and avoid it and avoid it. Then when the thing actually happens it turns out to be no big deal, and I feel really silly. Obviously, the idea that this is no big deal isn’t accurate. What I mean is that there was so much build up for you two that the reality of tonight is surprising.”

“Yeah, plus we never expected to you be so...not you.” Dashie isn’t trying to be mean, but the words hurt. Rarity tries to interject on my behalf, but I catch her eye and shake my head. This is what Dashie needs to talk about, and she’s gone through a lot to say it. I turn my eyes back to Dash, and try to look brave. I nod and she starts talking:

“Sorry, Shy. I just never thought I’d have to tell you not to look at Rarity like she’s somepony on a trashy street corner. I never thought you’d be the pony I’d have to remind to be careful with her. I never thought I’d suddenly realize that there’s this whole side of you that I don’t know. I’m just blown away. I still love you, and I still want to do this, but I think we need to get to know each other again. I know tonight was intense, and I’m me so the idea that I need us to slow down is weird, but I need all of this to slow down. I don’t want to feel betrayed when you look at Rares, and I don’t want you to feel like you can’t just be you because I might freak out. Maybe it’s because we’ve been friends for so long, maybe it’s because I’ve never really let myself see the whole you, maybe it’s because I never let you see the whole me, or whatever. It feels like I need time to learn to love the Fluttershy I got to see tonight. Ok?”

I’m thrilled. I couldn’t be happier. She wants to get to know me. She doesn’t want me to hide anymore. She isn’t giving up on me, or making it sound like I’m asking for something she can’t or doesn’t want to do. There’s so much I could say, but I don’t think she’s ready for it. So, I just nod and say, “Ok.”

There’s a pause, and then we both look at Rarity. She’s been crying but she doesn’t look sad. She pulls Dashie in and kisses her softly. Then those sapphire eyes turn to me, and she reaches a hoof for me.

Really? Doesn’t this seem like a bad idea after what Dashie just said?

I glance to Rainbow Dash. She takes a deep breath and nods. “It’s you and me that have stuff to work through, Shy. Not you and Rares.”

“But- I don’t want to….” make you uncomfortable.

“I’m not trying to be insensitive to Rainbow either,” Rarity says gently.

“I didn’t mean to-”

“Please let me finish, darling” she cuts me off. “I am committed to making our relationships work. I don’t know how to do that by withholding affection when I feel affectionate. That isn’t who I am. There’s a conversation to be had about how Rainbow reacted to the way you looked at me earlier, but I can genuinely say that it didn’t bother me.” She looks to Rainbow Dash, and leans forward touching her horn to Dashie’s head. “Thank you for knowing you can trust me, darling. Thank you for being honest about your concerns. Thank you for being willing to be uncomfortable while we figure all of this out.”

There’s a gentle glow where Rarity’s horn is touching Dash’s head. I know that I don’t know exactly what I’m seeing, but it’s loving and tender. When Rarity pulls away, Dashie looks happier. She looks at me and tosses her mane toward Rarity. “Go ahead and kiss her, Shy. I promise I can handle it,” she sounds like herself again and I believe her.

I creep forward on the bed. Rarity’s eyes are smiling at me as we lean toward each other. It’s the first time we’ve kissed that I truly feel in control of myself. It feels like my first kiss, and I’m glad it’s with Rarity. It’s shy, and sweet, and brief, and she nuzzles me when it’s over, and only smiles when I blush. She quickly kisses my nose, and then pulls away.

“That was how our first kiss was supposed to be,” she says, and I notice she’s blushing too. All I can do is nod.
Then I look at Dashie. I want to kiss her, but I don’t know… She knows what I’m not asking, and hesitates. “It’s ok if you say no,” I tell her. Being reassuring for her feels strange, but good. It makes her look at me a little differently.

She takes another moment to consider me and glance at Rarity. Then she nods, “Ok, Shy.” But she doesn’t move. I’m going to kiss her, and it’s going to be ok. I want her to feel safe. I want her to feel loved. I want her to know that I won’t hurt her anymore. I want to say all of that in one kiss.

I scoot close to her, trying move slowly so she can see what I’m doing without creating an awkward pause. I don’t look away. I’m watching for her to change her mind, and if she does I’m determined to not show my disappointment.

She doesn’t pull away. She stays perfectly still. Knowing that Rarity is watching is reassuring. I’m tempted to glance at her for validation, but I don’t. Like Dashie said, this is about me and her. I reach to touch her face, and she lets me leaning into my hoof with her cheek at the last moment. That relaxed, carefree moment she had after Rarity touched her with her horn is gone. Rainbow is scared again, and she’s letting me see it. It makes me nervous, but I know it’s good. It’s good when an animal lets you know that they’re hurt. It’s the first step in trying to help.

I lean forward, but tip my chin down so our foreheads touch, and she she leans into the contact closing her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dashie.” The words feel so inadequate, but they are all I have. “I promise I’ll be careful. I don’t want to hurt you.” Then the big thought I’ve been holding onto since this whole thing began comes to the surface, and I force myself to say it before I convince myself I’m too big a coward. “I’ve been waiting for you my whole life, Rainbow Dash. I’m sorry that I didn’t believe in you or myself enough to tell you, or let you know the real parts of me that have wanted you for as long as I can remember. I’m not brave like you, but I can be brave for you. I won’t let you down. I promise.”

I kiss her head and she nods. She looks at me, and I can see that she’s crying. Rainbow doesn’t cry, but she’s let me see her raw emotions so many times tonight. I wipe the tears away trying to be as gentle as I can knowing it’s a privilege she doesn’t have to give me.

Just at the moment I feel the tension rising and panic setting in- I’m going to lose my nerve, I just know it- Rarity whispers, “this is all very wonderful, but would you kiss her already. I’m exhausted and would like to go to sleep.”

Rainbow and I both giggle quietly. One more quick glance at her eyes, to which she responds with a small nod of approval and acceptance. One more breath to remember all the things I want this kiss to mean, and I close the gap between our mouths.

Rainbow Dash

Kissing Fluttershy wasn’t supposed to feel like this. I was supposed to kiss her, but she’s kissing me and it’s awesome. All the feelings just quiet down, and it’s like I can suddenly remember who she is. She’s just Shy. She would never hurt anypony or anything. She’s soft, but firm. She doesn’t push me, but when I open my mouth for her she’s right there. It’s weird, but cool to feel her holding back. Like, she wants more- a lot more- but she listened to what I said and isn’t going to push it.

I just want to kiss her. Sometimes it’s like this Rares too where kissing just feels amazing and I could just do it forever, but I can feel Shy’s resolve breaking. I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I break the kiss and pull away. Flutters is flustered and trying to hide it, but she couldn’t hide candy from a foal if she tried. I give her another quick smooch.

Then my stomach grumbles.

“Oh, I’ll get us some snacks,” Fluttershy says and takes off. Then I hear her hooves on the landing and she peaks shyly around the corner. “Rarity would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please darling. Chamomile if you have it.”

“Dashie?”

“Just a snack and some cider if it’s still cold,” not that I mind warm cider. It just doesn’t sound good right now.

Flutters goes down the stairs, and I turn toward Rarity. She opens her hooves, and I flop down for a hug. She strokes my back and my wings, but in a soothing way- not a sexy way.

“Feeling better?” She asks.

“Yeah. Sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“No apologies, darling. Your feelings don’t need to be explained or justified.”

I nuzzle her, and she squeezes me. “Thanks Rares.”

“Of course.” Then after a beat, “There is one question I must ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

“You were bothered by my exchange with Fluttershy from the stairs.”

“That’s not a question.”

“Sometimes a lady gives her question a bit of context. If you will kindly allow a moment of exposition, then I shall ask my question in short order. Does that sound agreeable?” She’s being overly formal. Before that would have bugged me, but now I know she’s teasing me, so it makes me smile.

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever.”

“Thank you for your consideration” She clears her throat in a dramatically dainty way, and I laugh. “This is very serious Rainbow Dash. Please do be serious.” It would be easier to be serious if she wasn’t tickling me, but then it wouldn’t be fun. It took her a while to learn that I could be serious and smile at the same time, but once she figured it out we both realized that the best way for me to talk about mushy things or stuff that made me uncomfortable was to joke around a little bit.

“As I was saying, the exchange on the stairs bothered you. Yet your discomfort and anxiety seems to have been entirely connected to our lovely Fluttershy. May I ask why I was thus protected?”

That’s easy. “Because we talked about it.”

“Please expound.”

The tickling has stopped, and she’s back to the gentle stroking of my back and wings. I snuggle in and close my eyes before I start talking. “We’ve talked about it a lot. I’ve seen you flirt with other ponies before. I’ve even asked you to flirt with other ponies, because I thought it was awesome to watch them be jealous when you came back to me. Nothing you did on the stairs was unexpected. I knew how you felt about Fluttershy, and you acted the way you told me you felt. That’s easy to understand.”

“I see.”

“Does that make sense?”

“Of course it does, darling. You’ve explained yourself beautifully, and I truly appreciate it. While I believe that I’ve fared the best of the three of us tonight, I confess that I too have been thrown by the surprising depth and dichotomy of feeling and behavior Fluttershy has shown us.”

“Ya think?”

That makes us both laugh. Then I realize something. “I need a shower,” I say out loud. For some reason we chuckle again.
“I suppose you do. Will you wait for Fluttershy, or go now?”

“I’ll hop in now. I think Shy might be down there for a minute trying to calm down. That kiss was intense.” I don’t even try to not sound awesome.

“You think?” Rarity says with a giggle and a wink, as I walk to the bathroom.

Author's Note

This update is the product of a MAJOR rewrite. It's been a ton of work, but I think it turned out well. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did or your didn't, please leave me a comment and let me know why.
Thanks for reading!

21

Rarity

It was a very long day, but I am happy to say that I finished the work for Sapphire Shores ahead of schedule. It’s tempting to tease myself with the idea of allowing myself to sleep late tomorrow, a lady does need to treat herself from time to time after all. Unfortunately, as garments for Sapphire tend to do, I find myself in the uncomfortable position of trying to fall asleep knowing that I’ve utilized every last gem in the shop on one garment or the other. So, I shall be up with Celestia and the sun. I prefer to get my little excursions out of the way first thing in the morning, so that I can complete my beauty regimen and have breakfast (as well as the occasional morning nap) prior to opening the shop.

Rainbow Dash is pretending to sleep as I slip under the covers and settle into the infinite softness of our bed. I surprised her with the cloud bed for her birthday, which is was about a six weeks after that first date. She’d spent nearly every night with me at the boutique. It was wonderful, but I knew she wasn’t sleeping well- no matter how I tried to wear her out (and believe me I tried). I had spared no expense on the bed I had, but it simply didn’t compare to her cloud bed.

Naturally, there had been a party at Sugarcube Corner for Rainbow’s birthday. Nothing compared to the anniversary/birthday bash that Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich arranged, but it was a delightful little soiree with all of our friends. We’d immediately acknowledged that we were dating upon our return from Canterlot that first weekend, or we had planned to, but the gossip columns beat us to it. Pinkie Pie assaulted us with congratulatory confetti before we even got off the train.

We did make a concentrated effort not to be overly affectionate in front of our friends for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it was because Rainbow Dash was uncomfortable being around our friends sans her mask of bravado; a mask that she rarely maintained when we were alone. The differences were subtle, but important. She slowed down when we were together and gave herself time and permission to be thoughtful. The self validating ego that has always been an essential quality of the Rainbow Dash enigma simply disappeared when we were on our own. She could be quite the pony pleaser; even a little needy. From time to time in those early months of our relationship, she seemed simply starved for acceptance and validation- both of which I was more than happy to provide in generous amounts.

At the party, she was her typical self. That is to say, she and Pinkie Pie were pranking everypony; there was a small iron pony competition between Rainbow and Applejack; and, of course, there was cider. I gave her two small gifts at the party. The first was the updated blazer reflecting the design adjustments I’d made in Canterlot. The second was a Daring Do board game that wasn’t due to be released yet, but that I’d managed to procure through a friend of a friend (it’s amazing what agreeing to design a lingerie set for a mare’s spouse will do).
Everypony was perfectly receptive and appropriately complimentary about the blazer. The game on the other hoof…..Well, I never could be certain which of my friends was most excited about it Rainbow, Twilight, or Pinkie Pie. Several rounds were played before everypony went home that night.

Rainbow was buzzed from the cider and perfectly exhausted when it came time to leave. So, I swept her up in a bit of magic and carried her home. It’s a bit of a walk from Sugarcube Corner to the Boutique, but it was late so very few ponies saw the famous Rainbow Dash being levitated along the street. Those that did see us seemed endeared by the whole scene. Rainbow was rattling on about how awesome everypony was, and how I was simply the most awesome marefriend in the history of marefriends. It was delightful to hear her being so happy. For my part, it was taking enormous effort to maintain the facade of indifference about her surprise.

The bed had been delivered and secured earlier that day. The pegasus stallions that delivered it gave me a brief lesson on its maintenance, and how to make sure it didn’t dissipate or flood my bedroom. Typically, pegasi don’t put sheets on their sleeping clouds. It only took a bit of research to learn that a bedding set for a cloud bed wasn’t unheard of, which was fabulous news for me. I have always been a sucker for satin sheets. A few minor adjustments and some simple enhancements were all it took. Now it was just waiting for her to slip in and have the first truly good night’s sleep in over a week.

While I knew she would be thrilled about having an even more comfortable place to sleep, for me the significance in the gift was in the symbolism. It was our bed. I had designed the pillows and sheets with her in mind, carefully stitching by hoof the outline of her cutie mark on the case for her favorite pillow.

There was a part of my mind that screamed at me: “You have only been together a few weeks! You can’t possibly believe that you will spend the rest of your life with Rainbow Dash!” That voice was small and easily dismissed. I knew before we left Canterlot that she was the one for me. We didn’t need to put it on display for everypony yet, or ever, if we didn’t want to; but we both knew. More importantly, we each knew that the other knew.

So, I repressed a squeal of excitement as I floated my love up the stairs of my home. Her eyes were closed in an “I’m replaying the awesomeness” kind of way that was simply adorable. It was the perfect setup for the surprise.

Once she was in position just a few inches above the bed, I released the magic that had been holding her and she plopped down. “Hey!” she said indignantly, her eyes popped open. Then, she looked around her and wiggled a bit on the bed. “Heeeeeeyyyy,” she crooned. “Did you…?”
My only reply was a giggle. She hadn’t taken it all in yet, and I wouldn’t speak until she had. The duvet cover was a dark, rich, royal blue. The stitch work was minimal, contemporary, and ivory. The pillows were ivory and stitched with our cutie marks in blue. I’d ordered a new bed frame as well. Mine was far too feminine for Rainbow to ever comfortably call hers. The new frame was a brushed nickel. It’s lines were sleek and beautiful. I’d chosen it because it was beautiful, and it reminded me of her in some way.

I watched her beautiful eyes drink it in. Her wings fluttered slightly making her bounce on the bed. Earlier in the day I’d worried that she’d feel an unwelcome sense of pressure as a result of the gift. I needn’t have. I had seen Rainbow Dash in some very happy moments, but there was an entirely new kind of joy in that moment.

She was home.

She hopped off the bed and swept me into the most delightful, spinning embrace. “You got me a cloud?” she asked. Then before I could answer her. “I mean….you got us a cloud?” I was startled by the emotion in her voice. “You got us a bed AND it’s a cloud?”

“Yes, darling. I know you haven’t been sleeping well on my bed, and since I expect we will be spending most -dare I say all?- our nights together for the rest of our lives, it seemed only sensible to get you a bed you can actually rest on. I hope you don't mind such a practical gift.”

I was teasing at the end, and anticipated some snarky comment in return. Instead she simply embraced me again and said, “It’s perfect Rares. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, my darling. Welcome home.”

That memory almost always comes to my mind as I slip into my bed each night, but most especially on the nights when I come to bed to find my pegasus out of sorts about something. She loves sleep far too much to simply pretend it. Yet, here I am listening to her too even breaths, and feeling her trying to be entirely too still next to me. Not to mention that she has her back to me. Even when we’re arguing she falls asleep snuggled against me.

I should have had some coffee before coming to bed. This may take a while.

I reduce the distance between us, and run a gentle hoof down her spine between her wings. She tries to withhold a response to my touch, but fails. Her feathers ruffle slightly, and there’s the most subtle hitch to her breathing. Still, she is resisting; and that isn’t like her. With a light of my horn I lift her and slide her back against me. “Have I done something wrong?” I ask softly.

“Besides waking me up?”

“Are we really going to pretend that you were asleep, Rainbow Dash?” She sighs and relaxes. Her wings have been pinned to her sides, and now simply rest against her. She leans back into me, and I pull her closer.

“Please tell me what’s wrong, darling.” She doesn’t respond, but begins tracing flight patterns along my forelock. “Shall I guess?”

More silence.

“Would you prefer I leave the issue alone for now and we agree to talk about it tomorrow?” That’s the wingtip formation she’s drawing now; the variation the Wonderbolts used the night of our first date. “Very well, darling. It’s Fluttershy. I don’t know if it’s me as well, but we can agree to talk about it tomorrow.”

I use my horn to extinguish the last small lamp that had been burning. I hold her close and I kiss her neck, and I start to hum a lullaby. It was only a couple of months ago that she tried to tell me how much she enjoys it when I sing. Ever since I have made an effort to learn some new songs for her. I even asked Twilight to research pegasus lullabies for me. She hasn’t gotten back to me about it, but I imagine the Princess of Friendship has more important things to do. I finish the song, and allow myself to begin to drift off. That’s when I hear her take a deep breath, and I’m awake.

She turns so we are chest to chest and she buries her muzzle in my neck seeking refuge and comfort. Not for the first time, I almost wish I was a pegasus, so I could have a set of wings to wrap around her in addition to my legs; but I am a unicorn. So, magically I tuck the blankets around her. I open the window so she can feel the cool breeze in her mane, and smell the night sky.

“Thanks, Rare.”

I kiss her forehead in response. Then, I wait.

“It isn’t you,” she says finally. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until that moment when I was able to truly exhale as relief washed over me.

“We’re alright?” I ask.

She kisses my neck quickly. “Yeah, Rares. We’re good.”

“So, it is Fluttershy?”

“Yeah, I just…. I never had to try before, you know? She was just Fluttershy and it was easy. I mean, I know her. I thought I did anyway. And when we hang out, she’s still just….Shy, but it’s like….I don’t know.”

“You don’t trust her.” I say trying to be gentle.

“Of course I tru-” her response is a reflex and she knows it, which is why she cuts herself off mid-sentence. I’m proud of her for taking the moment to think about it before she replies again. “I trust Fluttershy,” she says carefully. “I mean, I trust her with my life. She’s my best friend.”

“But you don’t trust her with your heart?” My words are equal parts a statement of fact and a question I feel I already know the answer to.

“Maybe. Why is that?”

“What did I ever do to make you feel like I could be trusted with it?” I’m grateful that I can speak candidly with her. We’ve approached this question in conversation before, and she has always shied away from it, but now she’s running into the heart of it. I believe she needs the answers regardless of what happens with Fluttershy.

“I don’t know,” she whispers quietly. “I mean you were always...you. Like, you didn’t take my crap, but you didn’t make me feel like crap either. You always believed I could be better. Even if it was just little junk like not crashing into things when I land at Twilight’s.” I give a little snort at that. Months of attempts at persuasion finally convinced her to try and slow down just a bit, so Twilight and Spike weren’t constantly having to clean up after her. Twilight was so pleased with the result that she paid for one of my spa days, and simply wouldn’t let me say no. I feel Rainbow smile. “Yeah yeah. You were right about that,” she says. “Write it down in your journal.”

I kiss her head and run a hoof down her back. I won’t be distracted by playful banter. There’s an important matter at hoof, and she knows it.

“I don’t know how to explain the rest, Rarity. It’s like I woke up one day and it was just you. I kinda knew it even before Canterlot. Then you invited me to the Wonderbolts then, but then you said it wasn’t a date, and I was disappointed. But then, you made that stuff for me, and it was just so...me. You’d made awesome dresses and stuff for me, but…”

“Those were show pieces, with specific events in mind,” I supplied.

“Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t know the words for what happened.”

“It’s alright, darling. I was there, and I think I’m beginning to understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Yeah? Wanna explain it to me, because I don’t get it.” She sounds so frustrated.

Although we’ve never really talked about it, I know that we’ve both spent time wondering about it. We weren’t an obvious match, and then suddenly we were. There was something romantic and arbitrary about it that, especially early on, begged to not be questioned too deeply. As the months went by, our relationship leaned less and less on that inexplicable force, and simply stood on its own. So much so, that now I feel detached from the feeling all together. It was part of where we came from, but is not a part of what we are now.

Once, the words would have been difficult to piece together in a way Rainbow Dash could relate to, but now she's taken so many naps on a couch in the Boutique; she offered opinions on the Wonderbolt line; she actually asked a question about a sewing machine once. She loves me enough to be invested in me. Even though she couldn’t sew two scraps together if she tried (well, she probably could, but why would she), she knows enough about me and is enough of an artist in her own way to understand the only explanation I can think to give her.

“I had never designed a garment just for you, darling. There was always some event that you needed to fit into: the Gala, Twilight’s coronation, the wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Those garments were each exercises in creating something that suited you, but was also appropriate for a given set of circumstances. “Your flight vest was an entirely different enterprise. It came to me after that first weekend, we spent just the two of us in Canterlot. Not our date, but-”

“The one where you played detective, and saved my rep?”

“That’s the one,” I say nuzzling her. “We returned home, and the image of that vest began. It took months to develop. I tried so many times to start it, but there was never a reason for it. So, I couldn’t justify it. I sketched the design. I researched it. I made several practice attempts at the new technique I wanted for the seams near your wings.” I let my hoof wander to those lovely appendages as I speak, and feel her fluff slightly at my touch.

“Then Fancy Pants offered me the tickets, and of course I said yes. I thought of simply giving you the tickets, but it felt like such an opportunity and we had such a good time together before. Plus, I now had the excuse I needed to create the piece that had been living in my mind for months, and I truly enjoyed crafting it for you. Yet, it was incomplete. You had been living in my mind’s eye for months. Completely sans conscious effort, I had been observing you. So, when the vest was finished it felt as though I had only designed for one small part of you. Yet, there was within me a deep urge to capture the whole. The blazer came together nicely, but it wasn’t what I needed at all to satisfy the urge.”

“So you made my shirt?” she sounded like an excited child.

“Yes darling. I’d never even attempted something like it before.”

“Really?”

“Of course. My focus has always been on high fashion, but most days, I’m little more than the Ponyville seamstress. You know that. Repairs and alterations have been the steady fuel of my business when inspiration was low or I simply couldn’t find a way to make a line competitive in a season.” A little snicker disrupts the thoughts flowing from my mouth. “Do you have something to say?” I ask peeking down at her raspberry eyes, which are filled with a mix of pride and laughter.

“Rares, it’s always weird to hear you be humble, especially about your clothes. It’s awesome to remember that if you charged local ponies half of what your dresses are actually worth, then you’d probably never have to worry about money. But you care more about bringing fashion to the masses.” She said the last words in an affected tone that I’m certain was supposed to mimic me in someway. “It’s one of the things I love about you,” she continued. “Lots of ponies think you’re all uppity and stuff- not that you can’t be. But really when you’re just being you: you’re the mare that would rather get by working hard and being the town seamstress than seeing somepony not get the dress they want because they can’t afford it.”

A few silent, joyful, well loved tears roll down my cheek and get lost in Rainbow’s mane. “Thank you, darling.”

“For sure,” she says quietly. There’s a brief pause before she speaks again, “You just get me Rares. The clothes were first thing that made me think that, but then you told me that you didn’t believe what other ponies said about me. You told me that knew, even if I looked, that I would never cheat. You knew that about me, even when I didn’t know it about myself. Plus…”

“Plus what?”

“Plus you’retotallywillingtobethebossinourrelationshipandthat’ssuperhot.” She spits the words out in one long embarrassed string that I can’t help but laugh at a little.

It is one of the surprising things about our dynamic, and one that few ponies even know about. In public, Rainbow is the gentlemare. She opens doors for me, and waits for me to sit down first. She has invested in developing some of these traits, because she knows it pleases me. On the surface, it may appear that she is the dominant partner- taking care of me in the way some romantic stallion might care for his lady fair. Yet, on the deeper levels it has often been the reverse. She is vulnerable in ways that nopony sees, and I protect her in everyway I can. She asks me for permission, even when she knows she doesn't need to simply because she finds a sense of security in my approval. On the occasions when she has been the more dominant, she was only truly comfortable in the role if I requested or approved.

I nip her ear, and then realize something that prompts a question: “Darling, you anticipated fulfilling the dominant role in your relationship with Fluttershy, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” she says with a heavy sigh.

“I think that’s perfectly reasonable, Rainbow Dash.” My lips brushing against her head as I say the quiet words.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Fluttershy is the perfect picture of a demure mare. Your relationship with her has always been as her protector. You have made many attempts to encourage her to be more confident and assertive over the years, and while she certainly has made progress she is still Fluttershy. Squeaking, hiding in the bushes, speaking in barely audible whispers from behind that delightfully gorgeous mane Fluttershy.”

“Exactly-”

“Any yet she has always been more than that.”

There was a long silence before she spoke. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”

“I didn’t realize you didn’t see it, darling. I’m sorry.”

“How did you see it?”

“The same way I came to see you darling. Thoughts of Fluttershy have lived in the recesses of my mind for years. There’s a folder downstairs with sketch after sketch for a line inspired by her. Pieces that even when she was modeling I didn’t dare actually make for her, because they revealed far too much about my own feelings for her. ”

“Can I see it?”

Yes. That is a good idea. Rainbow is a complicated pony. She comes to understand things in her own way. Perhaps seeing the complexity I see in Fluttershy can communicate something I don’t have the words for, and I had absolutely nothing to hide from Rainbow. She is well aware of my feelings for Fluttershy. She always had been.

“Of course. Tomorrow?”

She considers for a moment. Then her body shifts and her tail twitches, and she’s on top of me. “Yeah, tomorrow,” she says with a roguish grin before she kisses me. It’s tempting to make her acknowledge that she’s using sex as a method of avoidance, but there’s really no point. A distraction is what she needs, and it’s what we both want. The life of a good marefriend is so difficult sometimes.

22

Fluttershy

Ok. It’s ok. This is totally fine. Rarity asked me on a date. I said yes. Dashie said it was ok. When I asked again, she said it was still ok. When I sent a bird with a note asking her to drop by the cottage, so I could triple check to make sure it was ok, Dashie left me a message in the sky. There was a small arrangement of clouds. First a butterfly, then “OK”, then another butterfly.

It was something she started doing for me at flight camp. I came back from the ground talking about all the wonderful animals I’d seen, and she would try to make them for me out of clouds. She wasn’t very good, except at the butterflies. Once for my birthday, she filled the sky with butterfly clouds. It made me nervous. Then she made me go for a little flight with her, so I could see that there was only one place where the butterflies were recognizable. That place was my front door.

Suddenly, a rainbow streaks across the sky blasting through the letters of her message, then looping in figure eights around the butterflies making them spin. Watching Dashie fly always makes my heart stop. She’s not the most secure pony I’ve ever met, but when she’s flying there’s nothing that can touch her. Seeing her streak across the sky makes me think that she’s happy, like I am in the mornings when the sun shines and it’s just me and the critters.

Then I hear it.

I love watching her fly, but the take offs and landings make me nervous. That has improved since she and Rarity started dating though. I can’t see her, but I know she’s coming in for a landing. I can hear the beating of wings and a little hum of the Wonderbolts anthem. She’s like any bird, she sings when she’s happy. I brace myself for the impact of her landing, which I’m almost certain will be behind me. But the blunt crashing of hooves on soil never comes. Instead, I’m swept up by a pair of hooves. Like a mother taking a toddling foal for a flight. The difference is that a foal would squeal in delight, and I let out a little shriek of terror.

Dashie just laughs, “Come on, Shy. Come fly with me.”

It’s like a dream. She’s been so stand offish for the past few days, since that night with Rarity. And she’s never just invited me to go flying before, even though I’ve dreamed and dreamed and dreamed of her asking me for such a long time. I nod and she drops me. I fall for a moment. “Open your wings featherbrain!”

Oh. Right.

I adjust my the angle of my wings, so the sudden rush of air won’t break anything. Then pull the primaries out slightly. My wings fill like a parachute, and my fall instantly becomes a glide. Then Dashie flies below me, and beats her wings creating an updraft that pushes me into the sky.

She loops, and turns, and spins. Never expecting me to keep up, but circling back to me every few minutes so our wingtips can brush. I don’t know if she’s showing off, or playing, or practicing, or flirting; which is confusing, but nice.

She soars above me for a few minutes, and a few of my bird friends come to hover around me telling me stories from their days and complaining that I don’t fly with them enough. There’s another brush of feathers and Dashie is next to me. She joined the little flock around me without disturbing any of my friends. In fact, the falcon and eagle that so wanted to be her pet have joined the group too. We stay like that for a little while before she gives the falcon a wink. They gently ride a thermal above me, then Dashie says “Go!” and they’re racing.

I take a little break on a cloud and wait for Dashie to loop back. I see her coming in below me. She doesn’t see me.

Should I?

No.

But, I’m supposed to be letting her get to know the other parts of myself.

Ok. I’ll do it.

It takes a moment, but I use my wings to compress the cloud. I have just enough time to make this work. I give the cloud a giant squeeze and it disappears- a bucket’s worth of water landing right on Dashie’s head.

“Hey!” she shouts angrily, “What’s the big id- Fluttershy?”

I’m tucked back into my mane trying to hide the giggles, but then I realize she needs to see them. So, I poke my head out and stick my tongue out at her.

“Oh. It. Is. On!”

Before I can think that she’s been spending too much time with Rarity, she’s climbing the sky right for me. What little flight training I remember kicks in and I dive away from her. She’s agile, but going too fast, so she simply shoots by a few meters away from me. She flips from climb to dive effortlessly. I could keep diving myself, but I’ll never beat her to the ground. So, I take off for a large clump of clouds. Whatever payback she has in mind, she’s going to have to find me first. I haven’t pushed my wings like this in a very long time, and it feels good. I surprise even myself when I put on a little burst of speed as I enter the cloud-pack.

“Fluuuuuttershyyyy,” Dashie says with gentle menace in her voice. “Oh Fluuuuuttershy!”

I can hear the clouds bursting around me. This is what I get for playing high altitude hide and seek with a weather pony, she’ll have me found in less than a minute. The little puffing sounds of bursting clouds stop, and the world is silent.

Silence is bad.

Silence means danger.

Dashie wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

What if something happened to Dashie?

I’m about to either drop to the ground in fright or go looking for her when a pair of blue wings wrap around me from behind. “Got ya,” she whispers quietly in my ear. I squeak, then relax. I’m just happy she’s ok.

Am I really laying in a cloud with Rainbow Dash? Yes. I am.

Did I really prank her and get away with it? Yes. I did.

Yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!

She nuzzles into my neck. Oh, that’s nice.

Too nice. We’re supposed to be taking things slow. Impromptu play date in the sky? Perfectly acceptable. Impromptu kissing sexy time in the sky? Probably not yet. My wings aren’t being subtle about their disagreement though.

Dashie giggles behind me. Her lips brush my ear as she speaks, “Who knew you were so easy, Shy?”

I blush. “You have no idea.”

I can hear her eyebrow arching. “Tell me,” she says.

It’s seductive, and she’s doing it on purpose. It makes me nervous. “I- I thought you wanted to slow things down?”

She sighs.

“I mean, I-”

“It’s ok Shy,” she cuts me off before I can bumble my through an apology. She doesn’t sound disappointed, and she nuzzles me as she talks. “You’re right, I did ask to slow things down. I still wanna know what you meant.”

“O- ok,” I take a breath. She wants to talk. I can do that. At least I think I can, but “You can’t talk all sexy in my ear like that if you want to have a conversation,” I tell her.

She laughs and kisses my cheek. “Fair enough. Can you handle being held, or do you need space?”

“I think I can handle it. I think I’d like to say this to your face though.” She opens her legs and wings, and I turn so we’re muzzle to muzzle and she wraps her wings around me again. I kiss her cheek before I can stop myself. “Thank you, Dashie.”

“No prob, Flutters.”

There’s a pause that’s only a little awkward. I’m nervous. I don’t know how to explain this to her. I’m not sure I really understand what she wants to know. I suppose that’s as good a place to start as any. “What exactly do you want to talk about Dashie?”

“I….” She pauses and thinks. While she’s thinking I focus on being close to her. When the conversation gets to that point, I’m going to have to ask why she’s suddenly ok with cuddling in a cloud. I thought we might not get to this place for a few weeks, if at all.

“I want to understand why I suddenly feel like I don’t know you at all, Shy. That’s what I want to talk about.”

Oh. So, right to hard stuff then. I’m cowering without meaning to. What if she can’t handle what I have to say. What if she thinks that I’m some sort of deviant? What if she only liked sweet, shy, helpless Fluttershy and finding out that I’m not always like that means that she can’t like me anymore?

No. I know Dashie isn’t like that. I just have to be brave and talk to her. I have to remember that she’s the embodiment of the element of loyalty. She won’t abandon me. I just need to talk to her.

She’s being so patient just holding me while I work through my inner turmoil. I never expected her to be patient. Somehow I always imagined that she’d be rushing me, and I’d be struggling to keep up. She’d be constantly pushing me to be better. I suppose that part is true, but it feels very different than I expected.

Big breath. Here I go.

“I suppose it’s because I thought nopony would want to know all of me. In Cloudsdale I was terrified and helpless. I never had fun, not until you and I started spending time together. That day I found the ground, I also found all these new parts of myself that were confident and happy. I thought that I would never get to feel like that. But I assumed nopony in Cloudsdale wanted to know about that. Most pegasi there can be a bit condescending about ground ponies, and I never heard anypony say anything nice about a pegasus choosing to live on the ground.”

“We weren’t really friends before that day. You were so tough, and it made you happy. You were this pocket of sunshine in a place that didn’t want me. You were so confident. I loved listening to you talk about anything. It took me a long time to feel confident enough about my special talent to talk about what I wanted to do with it, but that confidence came from you: Watching you and listening to talk about becoming a Wonderbolt; seeing you practice everyday; seeing you be brave enough to make mistakes; hearing you talk about how you’d never be good enough if you weren’t willing to fail or make a fool of yourself a few times. Your attitude was my light at the end of the tunnel. We had this dynamic where you did most of the talking, and I liked it, so I didn’t change it even though I was changing.”

I can tell Dashie wants to say something, but she knows that if she interrupts me I’ll lose my confidence and stop talking. I’m so glad she knows me so well.

“I really am shy and uncertain, Dashie. The day I got my cutie mark was the first day I felt confident about anything. It was a long time before I felt the feeling again. I always felt safe with you though, and that was nice. You didn’t make me feel bad for being a scaredy pony. Or if you did it was on accident and you really apologized. You just always wanted me to be better. You were confident for me. I think I hid inside that feeling. Even though I eventually started having confidence of my own, letting you protect me and push me to be better was familiar and safe.”

“I think we probably would have just kept going like that if we hadn’t moved to Ponyville and become Element bearers. But being with my animals everyday, facing dragons and sweet little manticores, even modeling (although I really did hate that) all built my confidence in a way. Eventually I started to realize why I liked our dynamic so much. It kept you close. It kept you invested in me. I worried that if you thought I didn’t need you then you’d leave me, but I was in love with you and I didn’t want to lose you.”

“I think I started falling for you the day of the pegasus race. You were just so cute. I remember when your wings started growing. They looked too big for you at first, but they were beautiful. Then you started growing into them, and the cuteness from when we were little became something so different. You were sexy and beautiful. You went from this scrappy little hero to an amazing, confident, sexy athlete and I watched every change happen. I watched your body change, and felt myself responding to what I saw. I wanted you. I didn’t just want to be your friend, but I knew I wasn’t good enough for you. Still, I’d let myself fall when I was flying sometimes, because you’d come help me and if felt so wonderful to be close to you. You mentioned once after I got my mane trimmed that you liked my mane better when it was longer, so I grew it out.

“I-I just...I always wanted you, Rainbow Dash. You were gorgeous and I wanted you. The more confident I became the more I wanted to show you. I wanted to show you that I could be your equal. I could keep up. But I didn’t want to lose you. I kept my fantasies to myself. I practiced keeping my wings under control, which was never easy. That way you wouldn’t have to know and things wouldn’t get strange between us. The more I tried to keep the feelings to myself, the more there were.”

“Then I met Rarity. She terrified me, but in a familiar way. My wings would spring up and my thoughts would drift. I almost couldn’t help myself around her. I told myself that I could do the same thing I’d done with you. I could just keep the feelings to myself. Then you two started dating, and I felt like I was betraying both of you by feeling the way I did. I loved being with you both, and you sought me out, but I didn’t want to feel guilty all the time. So, I just-” This is the hard part. “I tried to shut myself down, Dashie. When the naughty thoughts came, I willed them away. When my eyes drifted over one of you in a way I knew they shouldn’t, then I would close my eyes and try to think about something else.”

“When I saw the two of you together the other night, the dam I’d built up must of broke. I couldn’t stop myself. I think I focused on Rarity, because it felt safer. She never really hid how she thought of me.” I take a breath, my mind is suddenly empty except for one thought. I made it through my whole little speech but now I’ve distracted myself. “Plus, I just really like her horn,” I say my tone more gravelly than I intended.

Dashie has been holding me and listening and playing with my mane. It was perfectly sweet and innocent. My wings had settled down, but now I’m thinking about Rarity’s horn, and they aren’t settled anymore. Of course Dashie notices. She lets me go, and there’s a rush of relief as my wings unfurl stiffly from my sides.

What happens now?

We aren’t done talking, but I’m not sure I can get my focus back. Saying everything I have been holding inside for so long was such a relief, but now there’s this new pressure and I don’t know what to do with it.

My eyes are closed. Dashie lays me back on the cloud.

Oh. I’ve done something wrong. The tears well up in my eyes immediately.

“It’s ok Shy. I’m just gonna help so we can talk.” There’s a smirk in her voice.

She’s going to what?

She kisses my cheek. Then she’s gone. I feel her settle in on the cloud next to me.

What is she going to do?

Oh.

Ooooohhhhh. I understand now.

“Are you sure?” I ask trying to sound like it would really be ok if she didn’t. I mean, Dashie has preened my wings before, but this feels different.

“Yeah, Shy. I’m sure,” she’s using a tone I’ve never heard before. It’s soothing and sexy, but I’m still nervous. She starts pulling primaries back into place. It feels amazing, but I’m still tense everywhere. I don’t know how I feel about this.

“Relax Flutters,” Dashie’s voice is right in my ear. When did she get so close? I’m mid panic attack, mid sexy sexy fantasy, mid freak out. I can’t focus.

“You- you said…”

“I know. I’m not ready for some stuff, but I’m ready for this. Ok?”

“Are you sure?”

She strokes my cheek with a wingtip and I gasp. This like a dream I’ve had so many times. “I’m going to wake up now, right?” She giggles and tugs on my ear, just enough to make it hurt in a good way. I yelp and my wings get even more rigid, if that’s even possible.

“Nope. You’re already awake, Shy. Just distracted.”

There’s a firm tug on my wing.

Yes.

Then a gentle breath blowing at a pin feather before it’s tugged away.

Yes. Please.

Another tug.

“Harder please.”

Did I say that out loud.

TUG.

“Yes!”

Rainbow Dash

Flutters is in recovery. I thought I was the only pony that could cum that fast from so little attention, but she may have me beat. That was fun. The vibe was still off, but it was ok.

We’ll get better at it.

Rares made me think about that. I thought me and Shy would just work. Like Rarity and I just worked. No questions. No weirdness. But that wasn’t going to happen. Listening to Shy talk about stuff made me realize that we had both done it. I hid stuff from her, because I thought she needed me to be strong and awesome all the time. She hid stuff from me because she thought I wanted her to be weak.

Today has been awesome though. I can’t believe she dumped a cloud on me.

“Dashie?”

“Yeah, Shy?”

“That feels nice, but I need you to stop.”

I wasn’t even doing anything, just dragging my hoof up and down her back. I love it when Rarity does that for me. I guess Shy’s more sensitive than I am.

Duh!

“What?” Shy asks, calling me out for my chuckle.

“I just realized that you’re kind of a sensitive pony.” I try to say the words with a straight face, but when she sits up and looks at me with an arched eyebrow….who knew Fluttershy’s eyebrows could arch.

“R- really?” Only Flutters can sound shy and sarcastic at the same time.

“Ha ha, yeah.”

Then we laugh. I haven’t laughed with Flutters like that in...ever.

Iddddeeeeaaaa! (yeah, yeah, Rares and I are adorable).

I run a feather up Fluttershy’s side and she squeals. Full volume, Rarity style, squeal.

Oh no. She wants payback.

I’m outta here.

***

After another half hour of playing in the clouds, which is awesome- I haven’t played like that in forever- we land in the meadow outside Shy’s cottage. We’re both laughing and trying to catch our breath.

“We….we nev...never fin…”

“It’s…..cool….We...can...talk...later.”

“Don’t postpone anything on my account.”

When did Rarity get here?

I check the sky.

Horsefeathers. Shy’s late for her date with Rarity. I didn’t think we were up there that long.

I look at Shy, and she looks like she’s about to cry.

“It’s totally my fault-”

Rare’s waves a hoof. “I’ll not be accepting apologies today darling. I’ve been enjoying a little airshow, and would rather not have the mood ruined with unnecessary guilt.”

“Un-unnecess- but I’m late for our first date?” Flutters is trying to be brave, but she’s crying. Letting somepony down gets to her, she’s still the Shy I’ve always thought I knew.

“Not at all, darling. On my way over I stopped by the restaurant and moved our reservation back. Perhaps I should send a note making it a reservation for three, what do you think?”

Shy is freaking out. Her mouth is moving, but no sounds are coming out. I walk over to her and close her mouth. Then look at Rares. “Thanks for the invite, but I think she’s been looking forward to having you all to herself for a long time. It’s cool.”

I love it when Rares smiles at me like that. Like I just totally did the right thing.

A quick flap puts me in the air. I pick up Fluttershy. “I’m gonna help her get ready though,” I say with a wink and take off. Fluttershy squealing as I put on a sudden burst of speed. Rarity is yelling from her place in the grass, “It isn’t nice to keep a lady waiting while you flummox her date!” She’s totally laughing behind the indignation though.

When did I start saying words like indignation?

23

Rarity

Rainbow is back at my side in an instant. Her eyes are bright with mischief. “What did you do?”

“I dropped her in the shower.”

“Literally?”

“Yeah.”

“Rainbow!”

“What?!? She started it!” It’s a joy to hear her laugh like that. She sounds light and carefree.

“I’m very glad to see that the two of you had such a lovely afternoon together.”

“Yeah, it was awesome,” She says giving me a nuzzle. “We’ve got a long way to go, but I think it’s gonna be ok.”

“Of course it is.”

“I’m gonna go,” she says kissing my cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Rainbow Dash.” Suddenly I feel very nervous. I can feel her bracing for take off, but I want her to stay. I can’t be sure how she knows, but she relaxes into my side.

“Rares, what’s up?”

“I- I-” Tears are welling up. She wraps me in a strong embrace.

“Do you want to do this?”

“Yes. Is that alright?”

She pulls away to look into my eyes. “Yes.” She sounds so earnest. Her hooves are on my shoulders. “Rarity. Belle. Dash. Listen to me.” I don’t even get a moment to process how she just articulated my name. “I want you to go on this date. It doesn’t make me nervous or jealous. I know you love me, and I love you more than any stupid words can say. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Just come home at the end of the night, ok?”

My breath catches, and she understands. “Bring Fluttershy if you want. Have whatever two-pony time you want, and then come home. Ok?”

I nod. Then she kisses me gently. It is such a Rainbow Dash kiss. Strong, but sweet. It restores me more than anything else could have. The kiss breaks and she leans her forehead against my horn. Everything that is Rainbow Dash opens for my mind to see and feel. Her love for me is overwhelming. Her excitement about Fluttershy is adorable and palpable. All is well.

She pulls back, and I can only think of one thing to say, “Dash?”

“We can talk about it later.” Another quick kiss on my cheek and she’s gone.

Rainbow and I haven’t ever talked about marriage. It hasn’t felt like we needed to. The idea of taking her name is intriguing. I certainly can’t imagine her taking any part of mine. It would be mostly ceremonial anyway, since very few ponies ever called me by my full name. Rarity Belle Dash, doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Not to mention that I hope Fluttershy will be a fully integrated part of our relationship. Am I to take her name as well? Certainly not. It’s a lovely name, but the idea just doesn’t suit.

Eventually, for tax purposes, we must register our relationship even if we choose not to get married, but that doesn’t require anypony to change their name. ‘Herds’ is such a vulgar word, but the fact is that they have existed in Equestria for millennia. So, registering one isn’t difficult. The marriage aspect is a bit more complex. Once everypony knows about our little triad, I’ll have to ask Twilight to look into that for me.

A rustling catches my attention, and there she is: elegant with her long butter yellow legs, her tail catching the gentle breeze. She’s wearing a green dress I made her for an afternoon tea during her modeling days. It’s just dressy enough for a casual date. Her mane- Oh my. Her mane is up. She’s pulled it up into an elegant twist (I’ll never understand how non-unicorn ponies manage their manes) revealing her long and lovely neck. The bangs in the front falling just enough to give someplace to hide when she needs it.

I feel under-dressed, until I realize that we nearly match. I chose a lovely periwinkle number from the recesses of my closet that I’d forgotten about. The similarities in our attire are hardly accidental. I made them at the same time. I was lost in a fit of jealousy, but even so I hoped that we might spend some time together. Thankfully, the design was simple enough to transcend the seasons, so neither of us looked dated. Not a bad bit of work, if I do say so myself.

“You’re breathtaking,” I finally manage to say, and she blushes. “Are you ready to go, darling?”

She nods. I get to my hooves and we fall in step together. “How have you been, darling?”

Suddenly, she stops walking and I have to retrace a few steps. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

She’s blushing, but there’s a look in her eyes I’m not familiar with. “Um- I just realized that I forgot something.”

“”Oh, is that all? We may need to -” Soft lips brush mine, stopping me mid sentence.

“I forgot to tell you that you’re beautiful, and I’m really excited for our date.” The words are barely audible, and there is a most delightful little giggle in her voice.

Isn't she just wonderful?!?

“So am I, darling, more than I can say. Now we had better go or we'll be late.”

Fluttershy

This is so nice. It was a beautiful day, which is turning into a lovely evening. The birds are singing- I asked them to practice a little something special for tonight; they're just warming up now, but they sound wonderful. I’m going on a first date with a pony I’m actually comfortable spending time with. She really is the most beautiful pony, and my best friend. I just spent the afternoon playing in the clouds with Rainbow Dash.

Yaaaaayyyy.

“What are you thinking about, my dear?”

That makes me smile. “That I like it when you call me that,”It makes her blush. I close the distance between us, so we are touching as we walk, and reach a wing around to touch her cheek. “And I like it when you do that,” I add and she blushes brighter.

“My my, Fluttershy, you are the flatterer.”

I am? Is that bad? Does she think I don't mean it? Oh, nopony believes anything I say when I'm feeling confident, unless I'm talking about critters or sewing. I just like that she said dear instead of darling. Everypony is her darling. This is awful, just aw-

Rarity leans over and kisses my cheek. “It's wonderful, my dear. It will just take some getting used to.”

Oh.

I nuzzle her cheek and try to bring the confidence back into my voice, but it doesn't work. “Ok,” I say looking around and realizing that we are much closer to Ponyville than I thought. We even took the long way, but pretty soon we're going to start seeing other ponies from town. Darn. I really like walking like this, but I don't want anypony thinking that Rarity is cheating on Dashie.

I try to pull away and put some distance between us. She doesn't let me. I try again. She stays against my side like a beautiful, warm blanket. It makes me panic.

“I think we'll be alright walking closely, Fluttershy, just lean in conspiratorially, won't you? Then all the ponies will just see two fabulous friends sharing some gossip, nothing more.”

That idea makes me nervous, almost as nervous as the idea that somepony might guess we're on a date. I'm no actor. What if I mess up and give us away? It wouldn't be hard. I'm so excited about being on a date with Rarity that I already feel like I've lost my senses. What if I mess up? What if-

She kisses my cheek again, and I feel a small gap open between us. It's a relief and a disappointment at the same time. I look at her apologetically and pin the wing that was on her back to my side. “I'm sorry, Rarity. I haven't ever done this before, and I just worry. I really don't want anypony saying something bad about you to Dashie or one of our friends.”

“It's completely understandable, my dear,” she says, and I think she means it. “Thank you for being concerned about my reputation. However, you must remember that Rainbow already knows about us, and expects some feedback from ponies about tonight.”

“She does?”

“Of course, darling. Ponyville is populated by many of the best ponies in Equestria, but it has its gossipmongers and busybodies, just like any other place; and because we have a bit of celebrity status those ponies watch our relationship that much more. You wouldn't believe the number of times somepony has tried to convince Rainbow that some dress fitting I did turned into something inappropriate, or the number of times she's been warned that I'm having an affair with the stallion next door.”

“Lucky? But aren't he and Blue Note together?”

“They are, and a very handsome couple they make too,” Rarity talks about the two stallions as if they are dear friends of hers. I like that. I like that every pony is her friend, every pony is worth her time and consideration, even the ponies that gossip about her don't bother her because she and Dashie truly trust each other. It surprises me that all the gossip seems so one sided, for the longest time Dashie had a reputation for being a cheater. I never knew where it came from, as far as I know she's never cheated on anypony.

After another second of silence Rarity smiles and laughs a little. “Do you want know what our favorite rumors are?”

I don't really like that there are rumors about the two of them, but I like that they can laugh at them. So, I nod. She leans in and winks at me, nuzzling me quickly, then whispering in my ear. “The ones about you,” her voice is breathy and sexy, and I blush and feel tingles all over. I feel guilty that they've had to to deal with those kinds of rumors, but I'm also really glad they did if it means she's going whisper in my ear like that.

I hear a giggle a few steps in front of me. “Fluttershy, are you coming?” There's a sparkle in those blue eyes. She did that on purpose. Part of me wants to get her back somehow. I have a little vision of running my tongue up her horn as I walk by. That makes me warm all over and I blush again. I'll never do it. It's one of the reasons I'm so shy: my thoughts and ideas can be...extreme.

I catch up to her. “There are rumors about you and me?” I ask genuinely curious. I don't have many friends outside our group. Rarity is my source of town gossip, and I'm sure she's intentionally filtered most of these rumors from our conversations.

“Some of them are about the two of us. Rainbow was approached by no less than three ponies the week after she and I became a couple, because you and I had our spa day. I was accused of everything from laughing with you in the sauna about how silly she was for thinking we could be a couple, to boldly and passionately kissing you right in front of Aloe and Lotus.”

“Re- really? That sounds awful.”

“It was for the ponies trying to warn her. Of course, she and I had talked about our mutual feelings for you at that point. She knew I wasn't keeping secrets. Rainbow also knows you well enough not to believe such nonsense. She laughed in every pony’s face. It's rather rude, but it's her reaction any time somepony tries to warn her of impropriety on my part. Of course, I suppose my reaction isn't so very different when somepony tries to warn me about her.”

I never realized all of this was going on. It makes sense though, when I was modeling there were all sorts of rumors about me. There was an especially nasty one about me and why I like animals so much that was just awful. After we finally told each other the truth, I told Rarity about it. She told me that the only way to deal with a rumor was to ask myself if it was true, which of course it wasn't- not even a little bit. Then she said that the answer I gave myself was the only one that mattered, and I could always know what ponies to trust based on that. The ponies that wanted to believe awful things about me would, but the ones that loved me and that I could trust would never need more from me than the truth. The memory makes me smile, and I nuzzle her quickly.

She stops walking. We're outside a cute little restaurant. It's one of my favorites. It's nice, but not fancy; small, but not crowded; quiet, but not awkward; the food is delicious, but not terribly expensive.

“I hope this alright.” Under her usual confidence, I hear something. She's nervous?

“It's perfect,” I smile at her. If I wasn't watching, I wouldn't see her relax a little. It's such a little thing, but it means so much.

I make Rarity nervous? Not bad nervous, sexy nervous. Like we’re on a date and she wants me to like her nervous. Yay me!

We walk through the door. Rarity gives her name, and we are led to our table. It's a comfortable booth. There are a few other ponies, but not many. She waits for me to sit first, and sits across from me. I try not to show my disappointment

“What's wrong, darling?”

Good job, Fluttershy.

“I- um…. nothing.” She just raises her eyebrow at me. I know that look. She's just going to sit there with her eyebrow raised toward that beautiful horn until I tell her. I have been distracted by thoughts about that horn in the past during some of these moments. I'm trying very hard to stay focused now though. “I- I- I was just thinking that I'd like to sit next to you. I'm not complaining! I just-”

I feel her tail brush my leg. EEEP!

“Me too darling.”

Rainbow Dash

I wonder how it’s going. I wonder if they kissed. I hope they did. That’d be hot. Things with Shy are still freakin’ weird, but that’s kinda cool. Playing today was awesome. I never thought that would happen. She can fly a lot better than anypony realizes, especially her.

They aren’t going to have sex yet, right? I guess if they do that’s ok. Rare and I didn’t talk about that. We should have. I just didn’t want to say that I wasn’t ready. Do I get to say that I’m not ready for them to be together? Rares knows, right? It’s Rares.

I need something to do. I’m gonna go crazy if I spend the whole night swimming in squishy feelings. I wonder what Pinkie’s up to. I wonder if Pinks has already figured out what’s going on with us. That mare just knows stuff. If she’s figured it out, then I could talk to her. If she hasn’t then we can just go do something.

Plan = awesome.

24

Rarity

“Why do you think ponies spend so much time trying to convince Dashie that you’re cheating on her?” Fluttershy asks after we’ve placed our drink order.

“I suppose they just need something to do, darling.”

“Really?”

“Well, perhaps not. Some of the accusations have come from sources that I am certain would be pleased to see Rainbow on the market again, as it were. Cloudkicker for example. If I’m not mistaken, she assumed that she would get a chance to date Dashie eventually and rather hoped it would work between them. She hasn’t said anything negative per se, but she has made it clear to me more than once that there was a queue and I jumped the line.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Not anymore. At first, I was so utterly surprised by my feelings for Rainbow, and then even more surprised that they were not only reciprocated but more. I felt a bit distressed about it. Knowing that there was a line of ponies waiting for her to notice them didn’t exactly help. Eventually, I was able to stop my mind from second guessing my heart and soul. Once I figured that part out, life became rather blissful, regardless of what anypony had to say about it.”

Something about my little speech has Fluttershy staring forlornly at her hooves. I’m about to reach for her when, true to his profession, our waiter brings our drinks. We place our food order, and he leaves quickly, which is good of him. She’s taken the opportunity to try and hide the discomfort from a moment ago. I know she’d rather let whatever it is disintegrate into a bygone moment, but I am her best friend and one of her special someponies. My darling Fluttershy will hopefully learn soon enough that I don’t leave my love’s concerns unattended.

I raise my eyebrow as I did when we sat down. It’s a playful gesture, intended to segue to a serious issue. She isn’t looking at her hooves anymore, so she notices immediately. Beyond the initial wave of panic that she’s done something wrong comes a wonderful best friend moment. The moment she sighs at me, and I know I’ve caught her out.

“It’s nothing.” She says.

“If you say so, my dear.” My tone is precisely calculated to sound simultaneously innocent and disbelieving.

“Honestly, it’s nothing I want to talk about.”

“I understand completely.”

“Rarity.”

Almost there. “Yes, dear?”

There’s the shrug, and the sigh. I’ve won. Her expression shifts, and she returns to examining her hooves. She’s no longer despondent; she’s formulating what she wants to say. This is the part that can take a while. I sip my drink, which is delicious, and wait as patiently as I can. I have some inkling of what the matter is, but I can’t be sure yet.

The waiter brings our food. It’s a welcome intrusion this time. We offer him our thanks, and he leaves. All things considered he’s done well tonight.

The food is delightful. We eat in silence. Whatever speech she’s building up to must matter a great deal to her, which isn’t all that surprising. Fluttershy takes most things so seriously that when she finds herself confronted with those matters that are her top priority she either becomes nearly paralyzed with introspection or she manages to simply let go and follow her instincts. The second behavior almost always yields startling results (like that instance with the snoring dragon, but also that distressing display at the first gala we attended).

It’s only after our dinner plates have been cleared and I’ve asked for the check that she finally takes the breath that says she’s ready to speak.

“I’m intimidated,” she says quietly.

“Intimidated by what, my dear?”

“Your relationship.” She isn’t looking at me. She’s shrugged in on herself as though she has failed in some irreversible way. I want to say something to soothe her, but she shakes her head as I try to speak. She’s working on something else. Brave, devoted, Fluttershy.

The waiter brings the bill which I sweep up and settle immediately, telling the young stallion to keep the change. It’s a generous tip, but I am the bearer of the Element of Generosity, am I not? Something about my brief exchange with him has snapped her out of melancholy. She seems frustrated.

“Have I done something wrong?” I ask.

She sighs, “No.” Then after a moment, “I’m paying for our date next time though.”

Ah. I see. Rainbow and I went through this as well. She pointed out that my habit of treating everypony can make a marefriend feel rather uncomfortable about the balance of the relationship. For now, I’m going to choose to focus on the fact that Fluttershy essentially just asked me on a second date, rather than dealing with the larger issue of sometimes competitive insecurity that I’ve learned comes from dating somepony as generous as myself. “That sounds wonderful, Fluttershy.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I be pleased that you wish to take me on a date?” That makes her tuck herself into that alluring wisp of mane crossing her face.

“Because you always try to pay for everything, and it makes you happy to do it.”

“I very much appreciate that you are aware of the pleasure I find in treating my friends, and loved ones. I admit it’s taken a bit of practice, but I’ve been learning that graciously accepting the generosity of others is equally wonderful in its way- particularly when it’s my special somepony trying to do something for me.” A precious little smile crosses her face. Wonderful, I believe our conversation will proceed much easier now. “Shall we?”

We exit the restaurant. The next item on our agenda is a walk and some stargazing from a spot near Fluttershy’s cottage. The evening is starting to cool, and the sun is just beginning to dip in the sky. It’s lovely. We’ve left the simple, cultivated streets of Ponyville behind, and Equestria is open before us with views of orchards and meadows. I wish Fluttershy wasn’t so caught up in thinking, so she could enjoy it. I’m tempted to say something to that effect, but I fear it will make her feel guilty rather than relieved. So, I keep the thought to myself, and move closer to her.

The moment our sides touch she leans into me, bringing both of us to a full halt. She turns her head and hides in my mane. “Please tell me what has you so upset,” I ask. I can feel her breathing me in. I press my cheek to her neck, genuinely not knowing what to expect from her now.

“I don’t know if I can do it,” she says in a whisper.

“Do what, darling?”

“What I want. I want to be with you, both of you.” Her words are full of double entendre. She isn’t just talking about dinners and dates. “But I’m not brave like you are. If somepony told me that one of you didn’t like me anymore….I’d believe them. I’d believe them, because it makes sense.”

I want to interrupt, but I know better than stop her once she’s started. This may be the only chance I get all evening to hear what’s truly bothering her. She pulls away, and we start walking again. She still isn’t taking in the scenery. Here eyes are trained on the path in front of her.

“I want this to work, Rarity. I want to believe that every dream I’ve ever had about the rest of my life is about to come true, but I know that I’m going to ruin it. I know that we won’t be able to keep it a secret forever, and I wouldn’t want to. But that means that ponies will talk about us. They will whisper and watch. Someday I’ll be in the market and I’ll see my face on the cover of a magazine. The same gossip columns that report every time you and Dashie go to a party, will be reporting that you’ve started a herd with a former model. It will be so much attention, and I’ll crack. I always do. I’ll want to run and hide, and I’ll leave the relationship the two of you were trying to give me in pieces. I’ll-”

“You stop that right this instant,” I can’t remember being more flabbergasted or angry with her in all my life. I stop walking before she did, so she’s a few paces in front of me now. “Do you honestly believe that we didn’t consider the fall out of our choice? Do you believe that we would leave you so vulnerable and alone? That we would let you fall victim to such malice? Do you truly and honestly believe that the feelings you have for Rainbow or myself are so insubstantial?”

“Wel- Well, when you put it like that….”

“I know you have your doubts, Fluttershy, and that those doubts fall upon no pony more harshly than yourself. You are not so weak as you would have yourself believe, my love.”

“But I don’t have what you have,” she whispers through the tears.

“What’s that?”

She peers into my soul with those turquoise eyes. “You and Dashie. There’s …. something. It’s not like it was at first. It was so strange and wonderful to see it when the two of you got together. I’m not part of it. You talk about shrugging off rumors as if it were nothing, as if being able to just trust each other and yourselves like that is as easy as breathing. I’m not like that Rarity. I want to be. I want to be like that for you and for Dash, but I’m just…” Her entire countenance falls.

I won’t have it. I won’t. I won’t lose her. I won’t let her lose us. I won’t let this happen.

“You’re what, Fluttershy? Scared? So am I. Worried? So I am. Nervous? So am I? Look at me please.” Her eyes are back. My opportunity is small, but it’s there. “I’m terrified that this won’t work. I’ve had feelings for you since the day I met you. Rainbow and I both struggled when we got together, do you know why?” She gives the smallest possible shake of her head. “It was because we each felt as though we were betraying something. We felt that we were betraying our individual feelings for you. Both of us are prone to admiring other ponies, but there was only one other pony that had truly claimed our hearts. We were not unhappy without you, Fluttershy, but we were incomplete. Please give us this chance. Please let us show you that together we can handle it. We’ve done our best to insulate you from any rumor that may have touched you, and we will continue to do so. We-”

“No.” It’s the fiercest whisper I’ve ever heard, and it stops my heart in my chest. “Don’t you see? How can this work if the two of you are constantly protecting me? How can I be a part of something where I’m not expected to do my part? I know what we would need, and I want to do it. I just don’t know if I can.”

“You always rise to the occasion, Fluttershy. You have never faltered when it truly mattered.”

She doesn’t believe me. I don’t know how to make her believe me. What part of herself can I show her? What is there that will make her believe that it will be worth it? How can I show her that I believe she will find her reasons to endure anything that might come?

IDEAAAAAA! I need to be careful about it though.

I step forward closing what little distance there was between us. It’s tempting to pull away, to listen to that part of mind that says she isn’t ready for this; or that I am not ready for this. There’s also that bit where I have no idea how she’ll react. Fluttershy has hidden so much for so long that’s truly difficult to gauge what control she has over some of those feelings, but those hidden feelings are the very target of my plan. She needs them. She needs to feel that connection, that drive, that boldness that propelled her into an intimate moment between two of her best friends.

She tenses at the contact, but doesn’t pull away. It feels a little unfair. I know what I’m doing. If Rainbow Dash is to be believed, then I’m very good at it. I’m nervous, of course, there is a very serious matter at hoof; but I’m also pleased at the chance to do something I’ve wanted for so long.

I tip my muzzle to the place where her shoulder and neck meet and breathe softly against her, keeping my eyes on her wings, which show an immediate response. I keep my mouth open so she feels my breath as I slowly draw my lips up her long, luscious neck. I bring my mouth to the base of her ear, which twitches to greet me.

“Would I really be so easy to throw away, Fluttershy?” I ask keeping my voice soft and warm. Then I gently pull on the nervous ear. “Would there really be no reason to fight for me?” Her head lolls to the side a bit as I let a soft breath rush from my mouth. In slow deliberate kisses I find my way to the place just below the hinge of her jaw and nuzzle her firmly. The nuzzle turns into a larger motion as I slide my head beneath her jaw and turn my body. She does exactly what I want, keeping her head close to my body as I move across her. I round her shoulder like a corner, so that once I’ve run myself across her chest and under her nose, I run brush along her side. Happily, she hasn’t lost control of her wings quite yet, so many of her most responsive nerve endings -those in her feathers- feel me as I move past.

I confess that love this feeling. The moment when I know I have absolute power over a pony. Her tail is twitching. Her wings are straining. There are adorable and pleasant little hitches to her breathing. There’s one more thing I want to do. Perhaps it will be too much. Oh, I can’t resist.

At the last possible moment I flick my tail, so it brushes her nose. The straining wings burst from her side, and in a flash worthy of Rainbow Dash, I am pinned belly down in the tall grass a stone’s throw from the path we were just on.

The tail was definitely too much.

Fluttershy

EEEEEEEEEEEP!

I want her. I want her to know that it isn’t nice to tease somepony, just because she’s all sexy and smells nice. I also don’t want our first time to be like this. I don’t want to feel crazy. I don’t want to have her mounted from behind like this, although it’s definitely an idea for later.

Later.

It’s like lightening it hits me.

That feeling from the other night is back. Mine! That's what I'm feeling about the pony beneath me. She's mine and there's nothing I won't do for her.

There’s going to be a later. I might have to get Harry to find me a nice cave to live in if things get too terrible, but Rarity is going to come visit me in my cave and she will still be mine. She isn’t going to stop showing up just because I don’t want anypony to know where I live.

I really don’t know how long I’ve had her pinned to the ground like this. She’s holding perfectly still and being perfectly quiet. She’s waiting for me.

That’s nice.

I let my knees buckle and use my now relaxing wings to slowly rest on top of her. “That wasn’t a nice trick,” I say trying to sound like she’s in trouble, which she is, but I’m smiling too much for it to work.

“Wasn’t it? I was trying to be very nice.”

“Hmmmm,” I smell her mane again. She smells like flowers, linen, and soap. “Too nice is not nice,” I say as I try to do that thing she just did to my neck. She shakes a little. This is fun.

“Perhaps it was a point a little too well made for the time being.” Hearing her breathless is...nice, so I do it again.

I kiss my way to her mouth, and just hover there for a moment. It’s fun to feel her tail twitching as I taste certain places. I twist our tails together, and she makes a cute little sound.

“It isn’t nice to tease,” she says.

I turn quickly and kiss her on the cheek. “You started it.” I beat my wings a little, just enough to lift me off her and set me back down in the grass next to her. She lets go of a big sigh. She was nervous. “Sorry about tackling you,” I say sheepishly, then because it’s true I add: “But you deserved it.” Then we both giggle.

Then we laugh.

“Did I now?” She asks lifting herself up a little. “And what retribution do you deserve for getting me all dirty?”

Oh my. I tried to make sure she landed in the grass. I thought I was careful. I know she doesn’t like to get dirty. Why is she looking at me like that? Why is she- Oh. I see.

She pounces on me and rubs her muzzle into a spot on my shoulder. It isn’t the sexy thing from before. It tickles and I squeal.

“Rarity!” My wings flare open, and her hooves gently attack my ribs. I manage to roll just enough to tip her off balance. I tuck one wing and roll that way, so she’s on her back know, and I run a broad feather along her side. It’s her turn to squeal now.

She answers by nipping at my neck. I try to pull away, but I’m suddenly wrapped in a blue blanket that tickles everywhere it touches. “No fair!” The magic disappears and I fall onto her breathless and giggling.

“You started it, my dear.”

Rainbow Dash

“Hey Dashie! Come to talk about Rarity and her date with Fluttershy?”

“Uhhh. Yeah, if that’s cool.” How does she know?! And why is she covered in flour?

“Of course it’s cool! You guys are going to be the cutest little herd of ponies this side of Canterlot! Come on it. The twins are in the tub getting cleaned up.”

Ugh. Herd. Rares hates that word.

“Want a cupcake or something while I get foals down?”

“Sure, thanks Pinkie.”

She gets me a plate of cupcakes and a bottle of cider. “No problemo,” she says. “I’ll be right back.”

Pinkie has been awesome since Rares and I got together. She was awesome before that, but she’s the only pony apart from Shy that’s never questioned us. I think AJ was bugged because she thought we were doing something that hurt Flutters in someway. Like me being with Rares was going to crush Shy’s dreams. If that’s what she thought, then it’s cool Applejack tried to stick up for Fluttershy. I wonder if that’s really what happened though. AJ never looks at anypony, and I know Rarity makes her crazy, but it always seemed like AJ was a little too invested in being weird about us getting together to just be protecting Shy.

Twilight was cool, just curious. She just wanted to know why, and I didn’t know what to tell her. All I could say was, “It’s Rarity.” Then things got a little weird, because Twi started listing all the stuff that makes Rare awesome. “Is it because she’s beautiful? Smart? Did she make you something?” In the end, Twi just said she was happy for us and that she’d be asking more questions as part of her research into how friendships turn into relationships.

Pinks was just chill about it. I mean, as chill as Pinkie Pie can be. We weren’t even off the train from Canterlot that first weekend when the party cannon went off, and we heard Pinkie yelling, “Super Cute Happy Awesome Fabulous Couple PARTY!!!!!” She didn’t even let us go home. She made a party wagon that we had to sit in. It was like a frickin’ parade through Ponyville, and everypony waved and told us that we were cute together. Most of them meant it, but there were definitely a few that didn’t. I got some really nasty looks from a few stallions. I just wrapped my wing around my unicorn and thought, Sorry dudes, the drama queen of Ponyville is all mine! Suckers!

Every time I’ve needed a pony to talk to about Rares, I’ve talked to Pinkie- even if I’ve already talked to Fluttershy. Pinkie just gets it. She gets liking everypony, because she likes everypony. She gets me wanting to make things work, because Pinkie hates failing almost as much as I do. We never really talked about Fluttershy, but I was always pretty sure we didn’t need to. Pinkie just knows stuff, so there was no point in bringing it up.

Right when I finish my last swig of Cider, she shows up. Not a speck of flour on her anywhere. “Want another one?” She asks.

“Yeah. Thanks.” She gets me another cider, and grabs a bowl fruit left over from decorating cakes and stuff, and we go sit at one of the booths.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Kinda. I don’t know. How do you know about it anyway?”

“Pinkie Sense, but somepony also stopped by to tell me they saw Rarity and Fluttershy at dinner.”

“I really wish ponies would keep their muzzles out of my business.”

“Except for Rarity and Fluttershy, right?” She raises an eyebrow when she says it.

“Pinkie!”

“What? You trying to tell me you don’t let your special someponies put their noses in your business? You should try it Dashie! I bet Rarity would be rea-” I shove my hoof in her mouth, just to make her stop talking. She gives me the eyebrow.

“Yes, Pinkie. I’ve tried it. Yes, Rarity is good at it. No, I don’t know if Shy likes it. We haven’t got that far yet. Now no more talking about anypony putting their muzzle anywhere, ok?” She nods and I take my hoof out of her mouth.

“Whew. You had me really nervous for a second there, Dashie. I mean if you didn’t let Rarity do the thing we aren’t talking about any more then that would seriously mean less fun times for you and for Rarity.”

Somepony remind me why I thought talking to Pinkie Pie was a good idea? Anypony?

“So,” she asks. “What happened with Fluttershy that’s got you all nervous, Dashie?”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Worried?”

“No.”

“Anxious?”

“Maybe.”

“Freaked out?”

“A little.”

“Thinking that maybe inviting a third pony into what you have with Rarity may not be such a good idea, even though it’s Fluttershy and you’ve had lovey, squishy, want-to-have-her-foals feelings since you were just a itty bitty teeny weeny little Rainbow?”

“No.”

“Worried that Fluttershy is more in love with Rarity than she is with you, and that Fluttershy is secretly a sex addict who may or may not get a little crazy when she gets the chance to let go of some of the sexy feelings she’s been having since forever, because she’s never learned how to manage the feelings because she never let herself feel the feelings. Plus, being worried that she’s a Fluttershy that you don’t really know, because you only see her one way, because you only wanted to see her one way for a really long time, and she only let you see her that way, because she didn’t want you to think that she didn’t need you anymore, but now you’re realizing that Fluttershy maybe doesn’t need you and you have to just try and process that she really wants you and not just in a Hearts and Hooves day- holding hooves by the fire while the foals play on Hearths Warming, growing old together kind of way, but also in a she’d probably like to mount you from behind and do naughty things to you until you scream and beg her to do the thing we aren’t talking about anymore tonight, kind of way?”

“Yep. That’s the one.” I knew Pinkie would get it.

“How does Rarity feel about it?”

“She thinks we’re going to be ok, if I can be ok with getting to know Fluttershy again. Which I totally am. Me and Shy actually spent some time together today, and it was cool. It was kinda like a date, except not.”

“So, what are you worried about?”

“I’m worried they’re going to have sex.”

“Because you feel like you don’t know Fluttershy right now, so how can you trust her with your Rarity?”

“Exactly.”

“Did you tell Rarity?”

“No.’

“Think she knows anyway?”

“Maybe.”

“Think Rarity is ready to have sex with Fluttershy?”

“I don’t know.”

“Think Fluttershy’s ready?”

“I don’t know that either, but like you said, Flutters is just starting to let herself feel any of this junk. She hasn’t learned how to keep it to herself without shoving the feelings away.”

“So, you aren’t just worried that they’ll have sex, you’re also worried that they won’t and that it will be a bad thing?”

“Yeah.”

She thinks for a minute. “You know what you need?”

“What?”

“A distraction!”

“Why the hay do you think I’m here, Pinkie?”

“For cider, cupcakes, and some time with your Auntie Pinkie Pie, silly!”

“You know it’s weird when you say that, right?”

25

Rarity
This is lovely. The view from our spot in the grass isn’t as good as the one I’d been planning on, but it’s lovely nonetheless. Princess Luna has outdone herself tonight. The sunset is still fading, but already an absolutely gorgeous night is twinkling into existence.

Fluttershy and I are curled up together, our dresses tossed aside. They were ruined during our tussle. The moment she realized it, my dearest Fluttershy nearly panicked with guilt. She was soothed easily enough, but it was yet another reminder that she is a much more complex pony that I’d ever imagined.

The silence between us is not strained, but it is weighty with the issues of the evening. I’m in no rush to strike up the conversation however, because her birds have just started singing. She’s been perfectly still for the nearly twenty minutes, but I saw her ear twitch when the song began. It was a gentle beginning, sweet as a morning rising over a meadow. It’s building now into something strong and beautiful.

She raises her head and casts about, searching for the unseens performers of her serenade. The birds stay hidden. The song is for her, but they seem to be giving this magical moment to us both. I feel as though they are thanking me for loving her. It brings tears to my eyes. A quick glance at Fluttershy tells me she’s crying too.

There’s a new melody now. It is bold and flashy, yet it fits perfectly with the sweet serenity of the foundation. At first there’s an ebb and flow to the two lines, but they find their way to a beautiful, rich harmony. It repeats, then changes. Somehow there is a space between the themes now, a gap, as though a voice is missing.

It’s a grand, encompassing thing when the third melody begins. For a moment, it completely overpowers the other two, disrupting their synchronicity. The brash line weaves in with the new voice first. They are a powerful combination that makes my pulse quicken. Slowly, the original tune rises, melding with and mellowing the others. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

Just when it all seems to be over, one more melody briefly enters. It is complex and precise. It matches the original notes perfectly, and blends with the other two themes creating something so wonderful I can’t begin to try and describe it. The song finishes with a sense of hopeful, beautiful, loving ambiguity; as though it doesn’t have to be over. It just is for now.

“Oh, my.” Fluttershy whispers quietly.

“Thank you all,” I say in equal reverence to the world around me.

“They think I can do this,” she almost hums. Then she looks at me with a joy I’ve always hoped to see, but hadn’t found a way to inspire. She thinks she can do this too. Her animals know her better than any pony. She is her truest self with them. She is strong and confident and bold with them. Yet, they care for her as well. They tend for her in her quiet moments of isolation, when she refuses to burden any other friends with her weakness. Their song means infinitely more to me than it did even a moment ago. We have their blessing.

I hate to think what they will do to Rainbow Dash and me if we ever upset her.

That thought must show on my face, because she gives me a quizzical look. “I was just thinking how wonderful your friends are, and how happy I am that they seem to understand how much both I and Rainbow Dash love you,” I confess. “As well as how terrible it would be to be attacked by a flock of birds should I ever fail to care for you properly.”
She blushes and giggles quietly. “Maybe we should warn Dashie.”

“Indeed, I believe we should,” I say into her neck as I nuzzle her. “Do you think they’d put on a repeat performance?”

“I’m sure they would,” she says confidently. “I’m sure they want her to hear our song too.”

Our song. That thought makes me lift my chin. She meets me in a wonderful kiss. There is none of the panicked passion from earlier. Oh, the passion is there and it is strong, but it’s restrained. She’s in control of herself, and simply enjoying this moment with me.

It is one of the most perfect kisses of my life. Her lips move shyly against mine. For a moment I remember that she doesn’t have much experience with this sort of thing, but she’s a natural, so I’m not concerned. I brush her lips with my tongue and she welcomes it into her mouth. I’m only leading a little and she follows easily, if carefully.

A wing unfurls next to me then gently finds it’s way to back of my head, gently pressing me into our kiss. I’ve been kissing a pegasus regularly for quite sometime now- Rainbow has never used her wing like that. I never want her to. It feels so wonderfully like my Fluttershy: soft, and careful, and alluring.

Without breaking our kiss, I pick myself up a bit and roll her onto her side. Our mouths separate for just a moment so she can release her other wing. With very little prompting I understand what she wants and let her slide the wing under me, so she can wrap it’s incredible softness around my side and across my back. When we kiss again it is deeper, but still slow.

I can feel her willfully controlling her hunger for me, and I must admit I appreciate it. I’m not ready for more than this. I didn’t realize that until this moment. This is perfect: slowly learning each other; becoming comfortable with being more than friends; accepting that Fluttershy holds within herself a powerful, almost frightening, passion. I’m going to need a lot of this- far more than I anticipated.

With all of that in mind, I’m careful with my hooves as I let myself explore her. It reminds me of those moments with Dash in Canterlot, when she wasn’t ready for more, and I just got to touch her. Fluttershy responds to everything. Her chest and midline seem to be safe zones, I can touch them without her moaning into my mouth or feeling her wings pull me ever closer. Those delightful appendages are definitely an erogenous zone. Straying too close to them has immediate results, and I can feel her struggle to maintain her composure. So, I break the kiss for a moment and just look at her.

“Sorry,” she says in a breathless way that speaks of her restrained desire, her eyes still closed in focus.

“It’s alright. I simply didn’t want to push you too far.”
She nods.

“May- maybe I can have a turn?” It’s a perfectly sweet and humble request.

I press a long, firm kiss to her mouth and say, “Of course.”

She keeps her eyes closed. I want to ask what’s wrong, but I wait- hoping she will just tell me.

“I don’t think I can kiss you anymore right now,” she sounds ashamed. It’s taking everything she has to tell me how close she is to losing herself to whatever force inside her we saw for just a moment in her cottage that first night.

I relax into her wings, letting my contribution to the tension between our bodies fade. Relief washes over her immediately. I kiss her quickly on the nose. “It’s alright, my love. Thank you for telling me.”

She just nods and we stay like that for a few minutes. It’s so tempting to touch her, to reach to that place on her back between her wings where Rainbow likes for me to drag the edge of my hoof softly back and forth. Yet, I know she couldn’t handle it. It would set her off and neither of us can know what would happen then. Part of my heart aches at her struggle. It’s hard to imagine a pony suppressing so much for such a long time, that they can hardly allow themselves to be touched by the one they desire. We are going to have to be far more careful with her in this regard than we imagined. Yet, I get the impression that Fluttershy will be a very aggressive lover when the time comes, so we will also have to remind her to be more careful with us at first- until things even out.

The tip of the wing that has been cradling my head moves slightly. I lift just enough to set it free. Her eyes are still closed. I close my own and enjoy the sensation of careful feathers exploring my crest. Her forehooves twitch, and with a little sucking of air she allows herself to touch my chest. Her hooves do not wander. They just touch, testing to see if she can handle it.

I’m careful not to respond too much to anything, even though it feels wonderful. The feathers exploring my neck are especially intoxicating.

Slowly her hooves wrap around to my lower back. I open my eyes to check on her expression to find her watching me. She blushes and starts to pull away. I reach with one hoof to her cheek and shake my head. She looks down, then back up at me through her lashes as if to ask: Really? I nod.

It’s a risk, but I move myself closer and tuck myself under her chin, careful not to poke her with my horn.

Fluttershy

Oh why oh why oh why did she have to do that???? I was doing so well, but now her horn is RIGHT THERE!

Ok. Fluttershy Breeze get a grip. Just focus on something else.

Like what!?!? It’s RIGHT THERE! AND I WANT IT!

No. NO. Just ask her to move it.

But I want it!!!!

My own whining is what brings me back.

“Rarity?”

“Yes?”

“Umm- I’m really sorry, but I need you to move.”

She pulls away in a rush, just enough so I can see her eyes. That’s all I really needed anyway. “I’m so sorry, my dearest. Did I hurt you? Was my horn bothering you? I can be so absent minded about it sometimes.”

I’ve been fascinated by it since the first time we met. I’ve spent time with other unicorns, of course. Horns have always been fascinating to me. I have an almost Twilight-style curiousity about how they work. That isn’t how I feel about Rarity’s horn. Her horn has always been sexy. Maybe it’s because she cares for the appearance of hers more diligently than any other unicorn I know, except for maybe the Princesses. Maybe it’s because she’s the first and only unicorn I’ve ever let myself admit I was attracted to. Maybe it’s a lot of things, but they all add up to me being a little obsessed with it.

I need to tell her about her horn, but I don’t want to. Not yet. Five more minutes. There’s one more thing I want to do before we start talking about everything.

I relax the wing that’s been holding her and let the other one wander a bit more. Rarity is so soft, and it isn’t just because she goes to the spa either. I go to the spa too. Rarity is just soft.

Like a marshmallow.

That makes me laugh. I wonder when Dashie realized they were strong enough as a couple to try out that nickname. I like it.
Rarity is also really strong. She’s not sinewy like Applejack, or cultivated muscle like Dashie. Rarity is just latently strong. I know she works hard collecting all her gems and things. Plus, she’s been a lot more outdoorsy since she and Dashie got together. It all shows in the muscles of her back, which I can feel just beneath all the wonderful softness.

She’s being so patient with me. I really hope she’s enjoying this. I’m terrified that I’m about to go crazy again, but I also love touching her. It’s another dream of mine coming true. I half hope that she’s just holding back that she likes having me touch her, and half feel guilty that she might have to do something like that. I’m glad my first date was with Rarity. I don’t think Dashie could have given me this. She gave me this afternoon in the clouds though, and that was wonderful too.

Rarity gasps a little in my ear. While I was thinking, but feathers worked their way to her cutie mark, which is what I was trying to do anyway.

“Is it ok?” I ask

“It's wonderful, Fluttershy. Please continue.”

“D- do you?”

“Not tonight, my darling.”

I don’t know if that makes me feel ok, or if it makes me sad. “Why?” I ask, because earlier tonight, and that first night in my cottage it seemed like maybe she wanted to.

She leans back a little. She’s looking at me. Her eyebrow isn’t up, but I know she’ll wait for me to look her in the eye before she starts talking. It’s a habit of hers that makes me nervous. With animals it’s important to not hold their gaze too long, because they might think I’m a threat. With ponies, I don’t like to look them in the eyes, because I feel threatened. I always worry about what they might think when they see me. With Rarity, I always know I can look into her eyes (unless I’m lying to her) and she’ll love me anyway. Rarity has beautiful eyes.

“Thank you,” she says. It’s all there. She wants me too, but she’s scared. She’s happy, but she isn’t ready. Everything is ok. It makes me smile, and she smiles back, and rubs our noses together. “I’m just not ready, Fluttershy,” she says quietly. “I was naive enough going into all of this to think that I was, but I’m not.”

She sounds sad. Like she’s worried that she’s disappointed me. She’s still nervous and wants me to like her.

Yay!

“It’s ok,” I say nuzzling her cheek. She didn’t ask me to stop touching her cutie mark, and I hadn’t until now. I wrap her in both my wings and hold her with every limb I have. She snuggles into my chest. Luckily her head is tipped so her horn is pointed away.

“Thank you,” she whispers into my chest, and I blush with happiness.

“You’re welcome.”

It’s perfect and wonderful. I think back to the song my birds sang for us. They must have worked so hard on it. It was so beautiful and complicated. I think even Dashie will like it.

We stay like that in the grass for a long time. I think Rarity might be falling asleep. “I should take you home,” I say trying not to sound sad. I don’t want to sleep alone tonight. Having her and Dashie in my bed was so wonderful, I’ve been looking forward to doing it again, but I’m trying to understand why they might not be ready for that.

Rarity snuggles in just a little more. “Five more minutes,” she says. “Then we can go. Hopefully, Rainbow will have done us the courtesy of warming the bed for us.”

What?

She giggles at my panic. “That is assuming you’d like to sleepover?”

“I- I- … mhm.” I nod. She giggles again, and kisses my cheek.

“Should we get going?” It’s cold when I let her go. I drape a wing across her back, so she doesn’t catch a chill. “Thank you, darling.”

We walk in silence for a little while. I know it’s the right moment for the other conversation.

“Rarity?”

“Yes, Fluttershy?”

“I- um- need to talk to you about your horn.” I can close my eyes to the world without worrying about walking into anything because of how we’re walking. She won’t let me run into anything, but I probably should pony up as Dashie would say. So, I look at Rarity instead.

“My horn?”

“Um- yes. Well….the thing is…. Ireallyreallylikeyourhorn, andifitgetstoclosethenitmakesmethinkaboutnaughtythings, soifyoucouldtrytonotletitgettoclosetomyfaceuntilyourready, thenthatwouldbereallyreallyhelpful. Please.”

Rainbow Dash

Ahhh. This is what I needed. There’s not a problem in Equestria that can’t be solved by spending a little time in this bed. Now, if one or both of my mares would get home, then I could sleep.

It’s dark out, so I’m guessing they’re either having tea in Fluttershy’s kitchen, making out on Fluttershy’s couch, or headed this way. Pinkie had a good point about Rare. If Rares isn’t sure about something, she usually doesn’t do it. The weirdness with Fluttershy is more about me than Rares, but it doesn’t make sense that she could just handle everything Shy’s thrown at us without a hitch. She’d try, because she’s Rares, but even she needs time to process once in awhile.

Maybe I should read for a little bit. I’m in the middle of rereading my favorite Daring Do, but just laying here is kinda nice.

I wonder if she’ll bring Fluttershy home. I hope she does.

That’s cool, because I’m not confused about it- like I have been with just about everything having to do with Flutters for the past week. Today helped though. Today was awesome. Today, I want to fall asleep knowing Shy’s here and knows that we’re ok.

When we slept at Shy’s house, Rarity slept in the middle. She was the buffer from the weirdness, which was good, because I don’t think I could have slept next to Shy then. Maybe Shy can be in the middle tonight.

I hear giggles outside, and it makes all kinds of happy, squishy feelings happen. My mares are home! Part of me wants to fly down and get them, and tell Flutters should act like a real pegasus and come in through the window. The other part of me wants to keep listening to them.

“Honestly, Fluttershy!”

“What? It was funny.”

“What did she do?”

“Sneak attack me in the cloud.”

They’re talking about what happened this afternoon. They really didn’t get around to that until right now? I can’t decide if I think that’s awesome, or weird.

“Do you think she’s asleep?” Shy asks.

“Probably not. It’s early enough that she’s probably waiting for us.”

“Oh. I-”

“Shh. She’s fine.”

Then I can’t hear them anymore. What are they doing?

“Hey!” I yell, and they giggle again. “If kissing is happening, then it needs to happen in here where I can see it!” I really don’t know if I’m ready to watch them kiss, but I am ready to see them.

“Do you think she can handle it?” Shy asks. She sounds….is mischievous the right word? She dumped a cloud on my head earlier, so I think it might be.

“I think we’d best not push our luck tonight, my dear.”

They’re on the stairs now. Flutters is pouting, “Ok.”

I don’t know what happens next, but Rares squeals and crashes through the door, closing it with her magic. Then she dives into bed and hides behind me. “Save me!” She laughs.

“What did you do? And weren’t you wearing something when you left?”

“She got it all dirty.”

“And now?”

“I forgot myself for a moment, and flicked my tail at her.” Rares sounds like she can’t decided if the situation is silly or something to be legitimately nervous about. Something comes softly through the window and lands on the bed in front of me. It’s Shy.

“It’s ok,” Shy says. “I promise I’ll stay over here...this time.” It’s a playful threat, and it is damn sexy. If things were even a little less weird between us, I’d want to see where this could go. As it is, I just puff up a little. Flutters giggles at me. “What ya gonna do Rainbow?”

“Why don’t you come over here and find out?” I have no idea what I’m going to do and it doesn’t matter. Shy leans over and kisses me. It’s quick. Totally didn’t see it coming. “Hey! No fair!”

“Well, what did you expect Rainbow Dash?” Rares says in my ear.

“Can it Marshmallow. I was on your team until now. Get her Fluttershy!”

“She isn’t a dog you can- AAAAA” Flutters jumped across me and tickled Rarity. I join in. “You…..two….stop…..this instant!”

“Sorry, Rarity,” shy says. It’s totally a sorry, not sorry.

“Yeah, what she said.” I really should learn not to pick a tickle fight with a unicorn. I get all tingly, then I can stop laughing. She’s ticking me everywhere. Shy’s laughing too. She’s floating above the bed in a little blue cloud.

Rares sounds like she just got made Princess of Equestria, “Now, what do you two have to say for yourselves?”

Flutters kinda whines and squeaks out another “Sorry.” She would give in that easy.

“That’s what you get for flicking your tail at ponies and running away!” I manage to get out in one breath. The tickling stops and I collapse into my super awesome bed. Shy comes back to the spot next to me where she was before and nuzzles me.

“Thanks, Dashie.”

“It’s cool, Shy. I know it’s crazy not fair when she does that.”

Rares snuggles in on my otherside. “Don’t I always make it up to you?” she says right before she kisses me. I love the way she kisses me. It’s freakin’ awesome.

“Hehe, yeah, you do,” I say when we’re done kissing. Shy is all tense next to me. “You ok, Shy?”

“Mhm. I didn’t watch.” She doesn’t sound sad about it. It’s just like….she’s learning what she can handle, and what to do about it.

That’s so awesome!

I kiss her cheek. “Thanks, Flutters.” I feel her cheek get all warm. She’s blushing. Of course she is.

“Wonderful,” Rares says turning out the last light.

“How does she just turn it off like that?” Fluttershy asks.

“It’s a unicorn thing, darling,” Rares says being dense on purpose.

“That’s not what she meant, Marshmallow.” Then I turn to Shy and whisper loudly, “She can’t. She just wants you to think she can, so that she can play all innocent later.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” still being dense.

“But what you’ve got to do, is remember that Rares really likes being in charge; so most the time even her acting like she isn’t in charge is her way of being in charge.”

“That sounds complicated,” Shy says. She means it, but she’s smiling to.

“Eh, you’ll figure it out.”

For a few minutes I just enjoy the awesome: Rarity on one side, Fluttershy on the other, belly fully of cupcakes and cider, cloud bed. This day in the life of Rainbow Dash has been awesome!

Author's Note

I hope everyone likes today's update. The story isn't over, but I am putting it on hiatus, because my brain has been completely taken over by another project.

As always, I really appreciate feedback. So far, I've done all my own editing. I know I miss things, and even though I've gone over these chapters a few times I still feel like there are a lot of little mistakes I keep missing. So, if you happen to catch one please let me know and I'll fix it.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

1 Author's Note

First, I want to say thanks for taking the time read my first post on this site. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous. I've only started any kind of creative writing in the last month-ish. This is a work in progress. I appreciate any feedback or edits. I'll be posting chapters in installments as each section comes together. I hope you like it. Thanks again for reading.

1

Rainbow Dash

I love napping.

Napping and being awesome those are my two favorite things.

Well, maybe napping, being awesome, and flying. Not just flying though. Flying fast.

And Rarity.

When the hay did that happen anyway? I don’t know.

Do I care? Does it matter? Nope!

Rarity doesn’t get enough credit. Everypony just assumed that AJ and I were going to get together, because we hang out a lot. AJ is awesome, but no. I can’t ever relax with Applejack. It’s all work, all competition, all the time. And I do love naps, so no thanks.

Rarity just gets me. I mean, it doesn’t always seem that way, but she totally does. She just has a really weird way of showing it. Like when she made me that friggin’ awesome dress for the Gala! I didn’t even realize at the time that she’d done some fancy stitch thingy to it so that the holes for my wings wouldn’t wear out if I got the chance to fly fast. Plus, it was super comfy. Totally nap worthy. I wish I had realized all of that before I told her that it needed to be about 20% cooler. I just didn’t realize how cool it really was.

Everypony asks if Rarity is a totally high maintenance marefriend, and she really isn’t. She knows what she likes, and has no problem making it happen for herself. She’s been doing that forever anyway. But if somepony does something for her that she likes, like flying all the way to Canterlot to pick up a fabric order that got delayed, the Rares is totally appreciative. She doesn’t expect anypony to be generous, so when they are she totally recognizes it; and that is awesome.

Plus, she doesn’t care if I fly into her bedroom and take naps. The best part of Rarity’s awesomeness is that she never gets mad at me for being me.

Yeah. Rarity, flying fast, being awesome, and naps. In that order.

Oh, and Cider.