Forever and Always

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.