Bare at Burning Mare!

“I swear, we haven't been here more than an hour, and I've already got sand in my unmentionables!” Rarity huffed, and pushed her sunglasses back on in order to protect her eyes from the blazing desert sun. “And in my mentionables, too, now that I think of it. Whose idea was it to trek out here anyway?”

“Um. Mine.” Fluttershy tried to hide behind the tent pole she was holding in place as Applejack and Rainbow Dash drove heavy stakes into the hard, heat-baked earth. “I'm sorry. I should've known you wouldn't like it. We can go back if you want? My nineteenth birthday isn't that important anyway.”

“What? No way!” Rainbow Dash sputtered. “We drove like a bajillion miles to get out here! I'm gonna have some fun before I get back! Now let's get this stupid camp set up so I can go start doing cool stuff!” She brought her mallet down on the stake with a heavy 'clang!'

“Rainbow's right.” Twilight Sparkle pulled some folding chairs out of the back of the van they'd rented, and began setting them up in the shade of the tarp her friends had set up. “We should at least give it a chance. Plus … “ Twilight leaned over and looked at the sea of people setting up their own tents and temporary structures across the salt flat. At the center of it all, an enormous horse-shaped structure rose in the distance, a temporary landmark in the center of a temporary city. “We're kind of boxed in already. They won't let us drive out unless it's an emergency.”

“Fashion emergencies don't count.” Applejack added on, and gave Rarity a warning look, mostly on principle.

“Please.” Rarity scoffed. “Complain as I may, I'm not about to ruin this for Fluttershy-- or for any of you. It's just … well, perhaps the next trip we make should be to somewhere more … hospitable? With room service?”

“Who needs room service when you've got Pinkie service?” Pinkie Pie heaved a heavy trunk into place, kicked it, at which point it unfolded and expanded into a small but well-equipped travel kitchen, complete with stovetop and a small oven. “I can do cakes, pancakes, pies, biscuits, scones, croissants, cupcakes, cup-pies--”

“It's not the food I'm worried about, darling. It's … everything else. I can't even get any phone reception out here!”

“That's kind of the point?” Fluttershy said, still clutching the tent pole, nervous as a spear-bearer in an elementary school production of Hamlet. “People go to Burning Mare to get away from the rest of the world, you know? I, um, wanted to go for a long time. It's someplace where you can do whatever you want, be whoever you want.”

“And they have a thunderdome!” Rainbow Dash chimed in, beaming. “How cool is that?”

“From what I've heard,” Sunset Shimmer pulled a bag out of the rental van, and tossed it down to the dusty, sandy ground. “This may be the only place in your dimension that's weirder than Equestria.”

As if to prove Sunset Shimmer's point, a wheeled pirate ship, complete with a dusty, scantily-clad crew, rumbled by. A skinny, bearded man sat with his arms dangling off the aft of the ship. He squeezed a jaunty tune from the accordion in his lap, and then waved to the girls as he passed by.

“I knew I should've brought an accordion!” Pinkie Pie snapped her fingers.

“But why can't everyone just be whoever they want somewhere more … cosmopolitan?” Rarity shook her head, and then made another trip to the rental van to start hauling more gear out. “And yet, I shall endure. Somehow.” She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and shrank back, melodramatically.

“Y'know, if there's any one of us that could stand a spot o' roughin' it, it's you, Rarity.” Applejack gave the last tent stake a final thump for good measure, and then rested the big mallet on her shoulder. She rummaged a bandanna from her pocket and wiped some sweat from her face. “Bit o' honest sweat never hurt nobody.”

“Please, Applejack.” Rarity pulled down her sunglasses to glare at the cowgirl. “Do you really think that I, of all people, require any lessons in work ethic? Just because I toil in an air conditioned workshop instead of a barn doesn't make me any less driven then you, dear. I simply have an appreciation for the … finer things in life. Like air conditioning.”

“It's not so bad once you get used to it.” Fluttershy murmured. “I mean, we're in a desert, so it's mostly a dry heat. Just, y'know, make sure you drink lots and lots of water, and you'll be okay.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “Fluttershy's right. The key to a good camping vacation, no matter how … eccentric it is--” Twilight's eyes widened as she watched a couple of people whose attire could be best described as 'post apocalyptic black tie' pass by. “It's just a matter of preparation.” She pulled a notepad from her back pocket. “Which is why I made this checklist! We've got water, food, shelter, transportation, first aid supplies, reading material, and--” Twilight blinked, and her cheeks paled for a moment.

“And what?” Sunset Shimmer said, peering in.

“Uh. Remember when we consolidated all of our clothes into that big steamer trunk to save space?”

“Of course!” Rarity said. “It was the first thing Applejack loaded in.”

“Hold up.” Applejack frowned. “I thought Rainbow got it?”

“Uh. No?” Rainbow Dash said. “You said 'get the trunk,' and I helped Pinkie Pie put her kitchen trunk thingie in.”

Rarity whipped up her sunglasses and stared at Twilight, aghast. “Are you implying that … “

Twilight winced, and looked at the back of the van, now completely unloaded and cavernous. “We … may have left all of our clothes back in my garage. Eheh.” She scratched at the back of her head. “Except for what we're wearing, of course. Silver lining?”

“What? What?” Rarity grabbed twin fistfuls of Twilight's shirt and shook her. “You're saying we're stuck here, for a week, without a wardrobe!? What kinda savage are you?”

“Hey!” Applejack shouted, and quickly got her arms around Rarity, dragging the hysterical designer away from their friend. “Get offa her! It ain't her fault!”

“You're right!” Rarity's voice took a shriller tone. “This is your fault!” She twisted and wriggled in Applejack's arms, angry as a wet cat, but the farmgirl easily kept her in place with greater strength.

“Please don't fight!” Fluttershy said, nearly on the verge of tears.

Rarity and Applejack immediately stopped grappling, and turned to face Fluttershy with apologetic looks.

Fluttershy sniffled, and clasped her hands over her mouth. “This is all my fault! I'm so, so sorry! I never should have brought all of you all the way out here.”

“Don't say that!” As if someone had thrown a switch, Rarity went from apoplectic to apologetic. She gingerly slipped out of Applejack's hold, and immediately swept Fluttershy up intoa comforting hug. “While this might not be my first choice for a vacation … or my second, or third, or-- well, you get the point –I suppose I shall have to make the best of it, even if someone made a huge mistake.” Rarity glared daggers over at Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “But.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “I suppose it shall just fall on me to construct us all new, fabulous outfits out of whatever scraps I can track down … “ The designer reached up and trailed her fingertips over the canvas they'd set up for shade.

“Hold up, ya can't just start choppin' up our tent ta make fancy dresses!” Applejack said.

“Of course I can't. The fabric is much, much too rough.” Rarity said. “Not that you would care. You'd probably just say the chafing builds character or some other such nonsense.”

“Alright, I get it, I made a mistake.” Applejack grumbled. “Ya don't have to rub it in. So we ain't got anything fancy to wear, and we may wind up smellin' a little ripe on the drive home. Worse things have happened.”

“If I can get a plunger and a bucket and some soapy water, I could build a makeshift washing machine.” Twilight rubbed at her chin as she mused aloud.

“Hold on.” Rainbow Dash said. “You can't wash your clothes while you're wearing them.”

“Oh. Right,” said Twilight.

“Or, um, you could just not bother.” Fluttershy said.

“I know you're all touchy feely about nature, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash grinned at her friend. “But there's such a thing as taking it too far. Even I'd be grossed out for wearing the same stuff for so long. Heck, I'm sweating bullets already.” She pulled gingerly at the collar of her Wonderbolt logo-ed t-shirt, which was already sticking to her skin.

“No. Um. I meant … with clothes. We technically don't have to wear them here.” Fluttershy murmured.

“Do what now.” Applejack said, deadpan.

“It's true!” Fluttershy squeaked, blushing. “Just, um, look over there.”

And, sure enough, a half-dozen young women rode by on bicycles, adorned in feathers, body paint, and not much else. Fluttershy's friends turned to watch, their reactions ranging from curiosity (from Sunset and Pinkie) to embarrassed blushing (from Twilight and Applejack, mostly) to sheer confusion (from Rarity and Rainbow Dash).

“Yep. Definitely weirder than Equestria.” Sunset Shimmer said.

“I, um. I was kind of planning on not wearing much anyway.” Flutteshy toyed with the hem of her T-shirt. “If, um. If you guys don't mind.”

The six other girls turned back to Fluttershy, again looking at her with their respective looks of curiosity, embarrassment, or confusion.

“Is this like how you don't wear pajamas?” Rainbow Dash scratched her head as she peered at Fluttershy.

“Um. I guess so?” Fluttershy looked at her sneakers, allowing her pink hair to curtain over her face. “It's just more ... comfortable, I guess? To be light and free and ... stuff.” She squirmed in place.

“Darling.” Rarity laid a gentle hand on Fluttershy's shoulder. “This trip was your idea, so we'll trust your ... judgment. Even if it is more than a little perplexing.”

“I think it'll be fun!” Without prompting, Pinkie Pie pulled off her tank top, causing her abundant breasts to wobble at the sudden movement. Her short-shorts went next, and her heart-pattern boxers after that. “It's like skinny dipping! Without the dipping part, I guess. Plus, I'm not actually that skinny to begin with, but that's okay too!”

Pinkie Pie kicked off her boxers, and then stood unabashedly before her friends. Her figure was generously curved-- 'Reubenesque,' as Rarity would put it. Her heavy breasts were only slightly tugged down by gravity, and her rump was of the size and shape worthy of a hip hop ballad. Pinkie made no move to cover herself, and looked at her friends with her typically enthusiastic guilelessness. “Woo! Naked time!”

“Oh my.” Fluttershy held a hand up to her mouth. “You, um, didn't have to do that right away, Pinkie.”

“I didn't have to, but I did want to!” Pinkie said with a smile and a bounce. “You said it yourself-- it's about feeling, like, free and stuff! Plus I figure if I put my clothes away now they'll stay clean for when I finally have to put them on again for the drive home.”

“That ... does kind of make sense.” Twilight murmured.

“So, um. Is it okay if I get undressed too?” Fluttershy said, looking up.

“If you insist.” Rarity said, blushing and looking at anything but Pinkie's chest. “The proverbial cat's out of the bag.”

“The cat ... or the pussy?” Pinkie Pie said, and nudged Rarity. “Huh? Huh? Get it?”

Rarity took off her sunglasses to rub at the bridge of her nose. “Could you at least try to keep this tasteful, Pinkie Pie?”

“Fiiiiiiiiine.”

“Thank you.” Rarity opened her eyes-- only to find herself staring at Fluttershy as her friend undressed.

The pink haired girl slipped quietly out of her clothes in a far less flashy manner than Pinkie pie did. But, as Fluttershy doffed one article of clothing after another, it was as if she were unlocking some sort of unseen manacles. Once she had her shirt off, she began to stand a little taller. Once she slipped out of her skirt, Fluttershy pushed her hair out of her face. By the time she slipped out of her bra and panties, the normally shy girl stood with a sort of confidence that belied her slim and willowy frame.

“Lookin' good, girl!” Pinkie Pie said with an appreciative wolf-whistle.

“Oh, uh. Thank you?” Fluttershy said. She stepped out of her shoes and curled her toes into the dusty earth. “It's just, um. Me.”

“It ... certainly is.” Rarity said. Applejack politely reached over and pushed the designer's hanging jaw shut.

“So who's next?” Pinkie Pie's smile grew wider as she looked over the five of her friends who were still dressed.

“Whaddya mean, 'who's next?'” Applejack said, wary.

“I mean, who wants to get undressed next? Duh.” Pinkie Pie beamed. “I mean, we're all in the same boat, right? And Fluttershy's got the right idea so we might as well get it out of the way now, right?”

“Fine by me.” Sunset said with a little shrug, and then peeled out of her own t-shirt with little ceremony. She neatly folded the shirt, and then sat down on the rear bumper of the van to start working her boots off. “I guess it's not that different from Equestria, y'know?”

Twilight bit at her lower lip as Sunset revealed more and more of her flawless skin, and finally cleared her throat. “I ... guess it's good to try new experiences?” And with that, she drew in a deep breath and started working out of her own clothes.

“I can't believe this.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Aw, what's wrong, Dashie? Not scared, are you?” Pinkie Pie teased with a wink. “I mean, you don't get all blushy in the locker room after soccer practice.”

“I-- that --” Rainbow Dash sputtered for a few moments, and then finally just glared at Pinkie. “Fine!” With that, the wiry athlete yanked her own clothes off, though not without a minute of undignified hopping on one foot as her shorts got caught on her shoes.

“This was ... not how I expected to spend this trip.“ Rarity touched her fingertips to the buttons of her blouse, but didn't start undoing them.

“I think they're all plum crazy too, Rarity.” Applejack shook her head.

“AJ, if you back out now--” Rainbow Dash toppled to the ground, struggling with her tangled shorts. “That means I will forever be braver and more awesome than you and you will never hear the end of it.”

“That don't make any--” Applejack glared, and then shook her head. “I'm keepin' my hat.” And with that, the farmgirl unbuttoned her much-battered denim shirt.

“Et tu, Applejack?” Rarity said. “But, I suppose if there isn't any alternative ... “ She bit the inside of her cheek, and carefully unbuttoned her blouse. She looked away from her friends as she undressed-- not out of embarrassment, but rather to make sure her safari-chic outfit was properly folded and stowed away. It wasn't until she set her carefully folded pile of clothing into a safe spot in the van that Rarity allowed herself to feel the hot desert breeze wash over every inch of her, wicking away some of the sweat that had been trapped by her outfit. She shivered, despite the warmth, and began to wonder if Fluttershy really was on to something.

“So, uh. Now what?” Rainbow Dash scratched at the back of her neck. The seven girls stood in a loose circle, each one bare except for their footwear or other accessories (though Fluttershy was content to forgo even those). They were a study in contrasts: Pinkie's buxomness to Rainbow's more athletic body. Applejack's farm-toned form to Rarity's spa-maintained perfection, and even Sunset's bemused, casual nudity compared to Twilight's attempts at pretending stripping naked in the middle of a desert festival was a 'normal' concurrence.

“We should finish setting up camp.” Twilight finally said, lapsing back into an organized, professional demeanor. She grabbed a clipboard and clutched it tight like a life preserver. “We still have a lot to do before it gets dark.”

“Yeah, but then what?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Then,” Pinkie Pie threw an arm around Rainbow's shoulders, and turned her to face the rest of the festival camp. “The real fun starts! I mean, if seven naked girls can't have a good time at Burning Mare, that just means we're not trying hard enough!”