Bare at Burning Mare!

“Y'know, this reminds me of a book I once read.” Twilight Sparkle said to Sunset Shimmer as they walked through the dusty 'streets' of the Burning Mare festival. All around, people in garish costumes (or no costumes at all) talked and worked and performed in a surreal but utopian reflection of a 'proper' city.

Sunset Shimmer arched a brow.

“Not like that!” Twilight blushed. “It's just between some of the art installations--” Twilight gestured towards a ramshackle geodesic dome assembled from recycled aluminum struts. “--and all the people going around without any clothes on--” Twilight gestured to her own slim, bare body. “It's ... kind of like a planetary romance novel. Which, admittedly, usually featured just-barely-censored naked people on the cover so they'd sell more copies, but this is kind of similar. Just with less swordfights and multi-armed aliens, I guess.”

“Give it time.” Sunset Shimmer said, wryly. “I mean, after everything we've been through, hanging out in the desert without any clothes on is downright normal.”

“For ... certain definitions of normal.” Twilight fought down the urge to cover herself, and wound up fiddling with the shoulder strap of her backpack instead. Twilight had filled her bag with survival gear instead of school supplies (for once), even though there was a battered fantasy paperback stuffed into one pocket for literary emergencies.

“Are you alright?” Sunset Shimmer set a gentle hand on Twilight's shoulder. “You don't have to do this if you're not comfortable.”

“It's fine! I'm fine. Everything's fine.” Twilight forced a grin, but could only hold it for a few moments. “Or ... actually I'm kind of freaked out but ... in a good way? I mean, it's ... a different experience, to be sure. And it's important to keep one's mind open for new and novel things! Even if they can be ... intimidating. Not that it matters to you, with the whole, uh, Equestria thing.”

Sunset Shimmer squeezed Twilight's shoulder, gentle. “It's actually kind of the reverse. When I first came to this dimension, I had to get used to wearing clothes all the time, instead of just for special occasions. But that wasn't nearly as weird as getting used to walking on two legs and having thumbs.”

“That really does put things into perspective, doesn't it?” Twilight said. “Still, even though it's a little-- okay –a lot embarrassing, it's also ... kind of fun? It helps that naked is normal here. Or, uh, as 'normal' as anything gets in a temporary anarcho-utopian commune assembled in the middle of the desert can be.” Perhaps to prove Twilight's point, the wheeled pirate ship rolled by, its scantily-clad crew belting out lewd sea chanties.

“So anyway, what do you want to do?” Sunset said. “I mean ... there's just so much going on, it's hard to pick-- or even to figure out what to do first, you know?”

“That's a good question.” Twilight rummaged a water bottle out of her backpack, unscrewed the lid, and took a sip. Without being asked, she offered it to Sunset.

“Thanks.” Sunset accepted the bottle with a smile, and then tilted the bottle back. A few droplets of cool water splashed past the corner of Sunset's lips, and Twilight found herself momentarily transfixed by the slow movement of a shining droplet working its way down Sunset's chin, then neck, then lower still--

“That is so hot.” Twilight blurted, only to realize what she said a moment later. She forced her eyes back upward. “I mean! Uh, it'd be awful if you got too hot, you know? I mean, uh, temperature-wise. That hot. Because we're in a desert. Not that, y'know, you're not-- I mean, uh, oh hey I'm getting warm I should drink some more water okay thanks.” Twilight grabbed the water bottle from Sunset and set to chugging down the cool liquid just so she wouldn't have to keep talking. She downed about a pint before she had to come up for air, but was spared the task of guzzling the rest by the sound of Fluttershy's voice.

“Oh, there you are.” Fluttershy said as she walked up to the pair. With the playa dust sticking to her bare feet, and the desert wind ruffling her long pink hair, she looked like some kind of nature spirit, free and at peace with the world. Twilight told herself she wasn't jealous of Fluttershy's long, perfectly formed legs, or her trim, delicate waist, or even of Fluttershy's perky upturned breasts. What she was jealous of, however, was her friend's ability to show all of that off without a care in the world.

Another young woman followed Fluttershy, wearing only an old bandanna to keep her dreadlocked hair in check. She had a curvier, almost matronly build, a stark contrast to Fluttershy's willowy grace. Heavy breasts sagged down just slightly, and the other woman's hips flared out in a way that vaguely reminded Twilight of certain fertility idols she'd read about in an archeology textbook.

“Twilight, Sunset, I want you guys to meet my friend Tree Hugger.” Fluttershy said. “She's the one who first told me about Burning Mare.”

“Far out, more Burn Virgins!” Tree Hugger showed herself capable of hugging more than her namesake, as she soon pulled both Twilight and Sunset into a long, skin-to-skin hug. “I can tell your auras are like, totally blossoming right now.” She released the pair, and then took a step back, letting her half-lidded eyes take in the sight of Twilight and Sunset's nudity. “I mean, you just got here, and you've already left behind the trappings of the outside world. Underpants are like shackles for your soul, man.”

“That's ... one way to look at it.” Twilight said.

“Your friends are totally enlightened, Fluttershy.” Tree Hugger said. “They've gotta come with us to yoga.”

“Oh, that's a wonderfuly idea.” Fluttershy clasped her hands together and nodded eagerly. “I've really been looking forward to your yoga class.”

“Yoga?” Twilight said. “I mean, sure, the stretches have proven physical and mental benefits, but isn't a yoga class a little, um ... mundane? Just seems like a lot of effort to go out into the middle of nowhere just for some low-impact exercise.”

Tree Hugger just winked. “Trust me, this is gonna be waaaaay different.”

Tree Hugger led the three of them to a camp at the edge of the festival, with the nigh-endless stretch of the harsh desert stretching out beyond. Over a dozen people had gathered already-- most of them were already nude, but a couple quickly peeled out of their clothing once they got there.

Foam mats and water bottles were distributed, and soon the would-be yogis had arranged themselves in a loose, semi-circular formation, facing Tree Hugger. Twilight scooted her own mat slightly behind the others in a vain attempt to go unnoticed. Coincidentally, this also offered Twilight a view of Sunset Shimmer's bare back, which she told herself she wasn't staring at.

“Everyone ready?” Tree Hugger said. “We're just gonna start with some basic poses ... “ And the dreadlocked young woman started cycling through a series of yoga exercises, each one slightly more difficult than the last. As the group went into the straight-armed lunge of the warrior pose, Twilight felt the warm desert breeze roll over every inch of her body. Even though she'd been roaming around naked for the last few hours, the openness of the stretches made her even more exposed-- the pose kept Twilight from covering herself, or even slumping her shoulders in to make herself look smaller and more unnoticeable.

Before long, Twilight felt her shoulders and thighs begin to ache-- she wasn't in bad shape, per se, but Twilight certainly wasn't an athlete on Rainbow Dash or Applejack's level. Or even Sunset's, Twilight mused, as her eyes fell to the subtle play of the other girl's musculature. Tree Hugger led everyone into a downward position, forehead down on the mat, kowtowing. Twilight glanced upward-- just to make sure she was getting the pose right, of course –and found herself with an unexpectedly intimate view of Sunset Shimmer.

The perfect globes of Sunset's butt shifted as she worked through the pose, finally rising up to her feet. Twilight blinked, then mimicked the movements as best she could (though about half a beat behind, and with far less grace). Tree Hugger led the class through a few more poses, and then finally bid everyone to sit down in a cross-legged position to rest.

Twilight let out a huff of relief, rubbing for a moment at her thighs. She pushed a sweaty strand of hair off of her forehead and reached for her water bottle, taking a much needed drink. Tree Hugger started talking about some new-agey stuff that Twilight couldn't follow, until she picked out a key sentence.

“And now we're going to start the tantric section of the class.”

Twilight sputtered a mouthful of water out onto the hard desert earth. Sunset blinked, and looked over her shoulder at her friend. “Whoa, are you okay?” She murmured.

“I'm fine!” Twilight said, forcing a grin. “I, uh ... was just thinking about heading back to camp, that's all.”

“Really?” Sunset blinked. “Because I've never heard of 'tantrics' or whatever, so I'm kind of curious.”

“I ... think you're going to find out pretty soon.” Twilight said.

Meanwhile, Tree Hugger beckoned with one finger, and a smiling, blushing (and, of course, still gloriously nude) Fluttershy stood and walked over to her mat. She knelt down facing Tree Hugger with her palms on her thighs.

“So, like, modern society is designed to manipulate us by our sexuality, and then, like, shame us for it.” Tree Hugger reached out and ran a hand over Fluttershy's shoulder, earning a little shiver and a faint moan from the pink-haired girl. “Which is why it's important to release all that pent up energy to unlock your lower chakras, and achieve total soul-freedom. You can do it yourself, but this works a lot better with a partner.”

Tree Hugger smiled, and studied Fluttershy's bared figure. Fluttershy blushed-- but arced her back and scooted her knees apart for further inspection. As Tree Hugger ran her hands over Fluttershy's body, Twilight and Sunset could only watch.

“Should we ... say something?” Sunset murmured.

“She looks like she's enjoying it.” Twilight held a hand up to her mouth. Fluttershy, meanwhile, tilted her head back and gasped as Tree Hugger slid a hand up the inside of her thigh.

“Really enjoying it.” Twilight added on.

Tree Hugger leaned forward to murmur something to Fluttershy-- the pink haired girl nodded, and then turned around to face the rest of the 'audience.' She leaned back against Tree Hugger, cuddling in against the busty, dreadlocked woman, and then spread her legs, revealing a tuft of wispy pink hair, and the moist folds of her sex underneath. Fluttershy squirmed in place and breathed in deeper, each intake of breath causing her perky tits to rise and fall.

“So I'm gonna help Fluttershy break down her psyche-barriers, and help her envision her 'now' as a fully realized sexual being.” Tree Hugger slid her hands down the front of Fluttershy's body, and then up again, finally settling on squeezing her perky breasts.

“What did she just say?” Sunset murmured to Twilight.

“I think they're gonna do it.” Twilight murmured back.

“Oh.”

Tree Hugger cupped a hand between Fluttershy's legs, and then, pulling her closer to her body, she eased two fingers into Fluttershy's waiting pussy. Fluttershy gasped aloud, staring straight up into the desert sky, wide-eyed. “Oh!” she said, reaching back to tangle a desperate hand in Tree Hugger's dreadlocks. “More!”

Tree Hugger was more than happy to oblige. She dipped her head to plant a gentle kiss on the side of her pink-haired lover's chest, and then started working her fingers in and out of Fluttershy's cunt, pleasuring her in full view of the yoga class. The audience only encouraged Tree Hugger and Fluttershy, as the former's fingers kept moving faster, and the latter's moans kept growing louder. Fluttershy finally let out a final, almost relieved cry as she reached orgasm, body tensing up into a ball as she rode out the feeling. She choked out one last cry of pleasure, and then sighed happily, cuddling up against Tree Hugger's generous chest.

“See that?” Tree Hugger looked up at the class as she gently stroked Fluttershy's hair. “That's what a totally uninhibited spirit looks like. If you guys can like, find someone on the same wavelength, you should totally try it.”

This earned some murmuring from the rest of the class-- some of the watchers took this as their cue to leave, while others began to pair off, scooting their mats together in order to begin their explorations.

Twilight, however, kept still. “This ... is not what I expected.” She said.

“Not what I did, either.” Sunset turned to look at Twilight, revealing cheeks blushing as red as her namesake. “I mean ... the whole nudity thing isn't so bad, but I wasn't expecting ... “

“Fluttershy, of all people?” Twilight said. “But ... I guess it kind of makes sense, if you think about it. You gotta watch out for the quiet ones, and all that.”

“I guess so?” Sunset Shimmer said. “At least Fluttershy seems to be enjoying herself.”

“Are you?” Twilight blurted.

“I ... well, it's weird, but yeah?” Sunset Shimmer scratched at the back of her neck (which happened to put her in a vaguely centerfold-worthy pose, highlighting her definitely centerfold-worthy figure). “I mean, there's nothing at all like this back where I'm from.”

“There's nothing at all like this where I'm from.” Twilight said, fiddling with her glasses.

“Got me there.” Sunset said with a little laugh. “But ... do you think she's onto something?”

“Who, Tree Hugger?”

“Yeah. Like ... maybe she has a point? Going and doing ... stuff, just wherever, and not caring about who sees it?” Sunset reached out and ran her fingers over Twilight's knee-- gingerly, as if the brief contact might somehow burn her. “It might be worth, uh ... trying out. I mean, if you're okay with it.”

“Okay!” Twilight blurted, feeling a blush spread down from her cheeks to her chest. “I mean. Uh. It's just that you're really, really pretty, and, uh ... you don't have to settle for me if you don't want to.”

“Twilight.” Sunset said, stern. “I'm not settling.” With that, the redhead scooted over onto Twilight's yoga mat, sitting directly in front of her. She touched a hand to Twilight's cheek, then leaned in to kiss her.

Twilight sighed, justifications slipping away as she savored the brief, delicious kiss. Sunset wasted little time, soon pulling Twilight into her lap, savoring the feel of skin on skin. The redhead turned her attention lower, gently kissing along the side of Twilight's neck, and down to her collarbone.

Twilight melted.

At the back of her mind, Twilight knew she should reciprocate, knew she should do something to repay Sunset for giddy pleasure each touch of her lips sent through her-- but at that moment, she simply couldn't. Twilight could only make blissful, wordless sounds, allowing Sunset to touch and explore however she wished.

Sunset pulled Twilight into her lap, supporting her with one arm, even as her other hand slid across the outside of Twilight's thigh. Obligingly, Twilight opened her legs, gasping softly as she felt the hot desert air wash over her even hotter pussy.

Sunset worked her soft palm up the inside of Twilight's leg, only to stop, meeting Twilight's half-lidded gaze. “Are you sure ... ?” Sunset said, loving concern in her eyes.

“Absolutely.” Twilight said, and grabbing the back of Sunset's neck to pull her in for another kiss. Sunset giggled through the kiss, and then let her hand stray further, gentle fingers stroking the folds of Twilight's sex. The nerdy girl began to pant, reaching down to cup her hand over Sunset's, guiding her fingers to just the right places. A moment later, Sunset pushed a finger between Twilight's folds, curling it in little circles within her friend-turned-lover. Twilight gasped, arcing her back and grinding her hips onto Sunset's digit. Twilight's head lolled, and she stared straight up into the blue desert sky as a sudden orgasm wracked her body-- all the tension of the last several hours suddenly released in a single, nerve-burning moment. Twilight mewled and panted, struck momentarily dumb by the force of her climax.

“Twilight?” Sunset said, voice breaking a little. “Are you okay? I didn't mean to--”

“Oh!” Twilight blinked her eyes back into focus, and reached up to fix her glasses that had been knocked askew in her writhing. “No, that was ... wow.” She shivered again, and cuddled in closer to Sunset's naked chest.

“Aw, you guys are so sweet.”

Twilight and Sunset blinked, looking up from their sweaty, post-coital reverie to look up at Fluttershy. Still naked (and now with a faint shimmer of lewd moisture between her legs), the pink haired girl clasped her hands in front of her face as she looked down at the pair with wide, adoring eyes.

“Oh, um. Didn't mean to interrupt. It's just that it was such a cute moment.” Fluttershy murmured, hanging her head a little so her hair hid her face.

“It's alright, Fluttershy. Twilight probably needs a breather anyway.” Sunset pet at her friend's purple hair.

“That ... might help, yeah.” Twilight panted-- Fluttershy bent over and offered her a water bottle, which Twilight took thankfully. “But ... where's Tree Hugger? Shouldn't she be tantric-ing with you?”

“Oh, she's busy.” Fluttershy glanced over her shoulder, nodding to a yoga mat on the other side of the circle, where Tree Hugger entwined herself between two well-muscled men. Twilight stared, blushed-- and then looked around for a moment as she noted several other couples (and even a trio or two) spread out, engaging in their own tantric explorations.

“You're not, uh, jealous?” Sunset said.

“Why would I be? Tree Hugger's just trying to help as many people as she can. Isn't that great?” Fluttershy said with a dreamy smile.

“I ... guess so?” Sunset rubbed at Twilight's shoulder. “I guess it at least helped me and Twilight a little bit.”

“Wait--” Twilight sat up, finally regaining control of her body. “You still haven't been, uh ... helped, Sunset.”

“You don't have to-OOoh!” Sunset's protests trailed off as soon as Twilight closed her lips around one of the other woman's nipples. Twilight greedily suckled at Sunset's tits, easing her down onto her back.

Sunset gasped, moaned, and looked up at Fluttershy, who watched the pair with wide, admiring eyes. “Don't mind me.” Fluttershy murmured. “Just pretend I'm not even here.” As the pink haired girl spoke, Sunset saw one of Fluttershy's hands stray down between her freshly sticky thighs.

Sunset opened her mouth to say something-- anything, but could only make delighted sounds of pleasure as Twilight worked her way lower, sealing her lips over Sunset's own pussy. Twilight's tongue fumbled over Sunset's sex-- more than making up for a lack of experience with sheer enthusiasm. Twilight's tongue wiggled between Sunset's folds, lapping and licking with broad, strong strokes. Sunset rolled her hips, inviting Twilight in further, and further still-- until, possibly on accident, Twilight brushed Sunset's oversensitive clitoris with her tongue, and Sunset came.

Hard.

She grabbed hold of Twilight's purple hair and bucked her hips, riding out her climax with wanton, feral lust. And yet, through it all, Twilight kept her mouth on Sunset's pussy, eagerly lapping at the swollen, soft folds. Sunset panted, finally coming down from her orgasmic high ... only to blink as Twilight tapped at the side of her leg.

“Can't ... breathe ... “ Twilight murmured, at which point Sunset realized just how tightly she'd been holding Twilight in place with her legs.

“Sorry!” Sunset said, releasing Twilight from the impromptu scissorlock. “I, uh ... must have gotten carried away.”

“It's fine. I'm fine.” Twilight said-- and then slithered up the length of Sunset's body to cuddle against her, planting a brief, shy kiss on her cheek. “... more than fine, really. You ... you're really sexy when you ... well, when you do anything, really. But especially when you do that.”

Exhausted, but in a good way, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight made their way back to their campsite. They walked arm in arm, occasionally sneaking in affectionate little touches here and there. Applejack and Rarity had already returned by the time they came back; the former still painted with the curly vines & flowers motif, and the latter lounging decadently in a folding camp chair (complete with raised footrest).

“Oh, hello darlings!” Rarity waved cheerily at the returning trio. “What have you been up to? Or should I even ask?”

“We did some yoga.” Sunset Shimmer said, opting for the truth (if not in whole).

“And we also made some very important tantric-breakthroughs using some intimate connectivity techniques.” Fluttershy didn't mean to hide behind the psychobabble, but the blank looks from both Rarity and Applejack told volumes.

“Uh. Riiiiiight.” Applejack said. “Y'all didn't see Pinkie or Rainbow Dash while you were out, did ya?”

Twilight shook her head-- at which point Pinkie Pie entered on cue.

“All hail Lord Pinkmungus!” Pinkie Pie wore knee-high lace up boots, a hockey mask, and a leather harness that only framed her generous curves, leaving her thick nipples and unruly pink bush on display. The hockey mask muffled her giggle, but Pinkie soon pushed it back so she could wink at her friends. “Don't worry guys, it's just me!”

“That's a relief.” Rarity said, deadpan.

“Where n' tarnation did ya get a getup like that!”

“At the Thunderdome, where else?” Pinkie Pie said, beaming even wider than usual. “Turns out I'm really good at hitting people with sticks while jumping around on bungee cords, and then I made everybody pancakes, and then they decided to make me lord of the wasteland! Isn't it great?”

“I, uh ... guess so?” Applejack said.

“Oh oh oh! And I forgot the best part!” Pinkie Pie pulled the mask back into place, snapped her fingers, and then did her best imitation of a gravely growl. “Get over here, minion!”

Begrudgingly, Rainbow Dash stepped out from behind the tent. She'd picked up an accessory as well: a plain black dog collar, buckled loosely around her neck. “ ... I lost a bet.” She grumbled in way of explanation.

“And now Rainbow Dash has to do anything I tell her to!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Oh. My.” Fluttershy held a hand up to her mouth, surprisingly scandalized for someone who'd orgasmed in front of an audience only an hour earlier. “You mean Rainbow Dash now has to offer her body to you so she can satisfy your every debauched whim? That is, um, if she's okay with that.” She trailed off into a characteristic murmur. “I mean, uh. Just thinking aloud, here.” She said in an even smaller voice.

“Dude. Fluttershy. You just put way too much thought into that.” Rainbow Dash said.

“I haven't!” Pinkie Pie said, blue eyes gleaming behind her hockey mask. “Thought about it, that is! I was just gonna have Rainbow Dash carry my stuff, but your idea sounds even more fun!” She spun around, bouncing in place in front of her friend-turned-minion. “Whaddya say, Rainbow Dash? Feel like being my kinky li'l love slave? It'll be fun!”

“Uh.” Rainbow's eyes went wide as she found herself staring down at Pinkie's generous, jiggling chest. “I ... uh ... I'll get back to you on that?”

“Okay!” Pinkie Pie said, and pushed the hockey mask back up her forehead. “Just lemme know when you wanna get freaky! But before that, I'd better get some food ready-- and you're going to help me! Mwa ha ha ha!” The pink haired overmistress of the wastelands bounded over to the camp kitchen she'd set up, giving Rainbow Dash a playful smack on the rump in passing.

Rainbow squeaked in surprise, but soon followed Pinkie anyway, rubbing at her bared butt. “Stupid sexy Pinkie Pie.”

“Well then. That ... happened.” Rarity arched a brow, watching Pinkie and Rainbow head to the other side of their campsite. A moment later, a sly smile crossed Rarity's lips, and she stood up straighter. “Oh, Applejack? Why don't you help them out? Do be sure to obey Pinkie's every suggestion?”

“I ain't afraid to help, but it looks like Pinkie's got it all under control.”

“Applejack.” Rarity said, sweet but stern. “You do want to be helpful, don't you?”

Applejack's green eyes went wide, and her shoulders tensed a little, causing the vines and flowers painted across her skin to shift, ever so slightly. “... yes'm.” She murmured, and then tromped off to help Pinkie and Rainbow, who were already into the 'juggle the ingredients' phase of meal preparation.

“Hold on.” Sunset Shimmer said. “Rarity, are you and Applejack ... “ she trailed off, realizing that she couldn't think of the proper words to describe what she just witnessed.

“A lady doesn't kiss and tell, darling.” Rarity said, prim and proper-- at least as prim and proper as she could be, reclining in the nude. “It's not like I'm asking about whatever debauchery you three have been up to.”

“How did you know?” Twilight blurted.

“Please, darling. One cannot go far in fashion if they're blind. When you went off exploring, you couldn't keep your eyes off of Sunset-- not that I can blame you, as she's quite lovely, objectively speaking –and now that you're back, you can't keep your hands off of her. Again, not that I can blame you. Objectively speaking.”

“Uh!” Twilight looked down at the arm she had around Sunset's waist. “I-- um--”

“You don't need to explain.” Rarity said. “We're all ... exploring? Is that the proper term? Perhaps it's something in the water. Or, er, lack thereof. Desert and all. Which ... reminds me. Oh, Applejack?” Rarity cupped a hand over her mouth for extra projection. “Bring me a bottled water, won't you?”

“Yes'm.” Applejack bent over to rummage around in the cooler, presenting quite the view to her friends, who concealed their glances with varying levels of success. The farmgirl walked back to Rarity, offering the plastic bottle to the purple-haired girl, who accepted it gracefully.

“Thank you, darling.” Rarity cooed. “Now, don't mind me-- go ahead and help with dinner, then.”

Applejack glanced over at Sunset, Fluttershy, and Twilight, as if only then realizing their presence. “Uh ... yes'm.” She admitted with a blush, and went back to the kitchen-corner of the campsite.

“Oh. Oh my.” Fluttershy looked down at Rarity with a look equal parts admiration, scandal, and more than a little jealousy. “Y'know, um, Rarity, if you and Applejack ever wanted to--”

“Food's ready!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. She had tied on a fluffy blue 'Kiss the Chef' apron over her wastelander harness, and balanced a chef's hat atop her hockey mask for a bizarre but cute combination. Pinkie snapped her fingers, and soon Rarity and Applejack both hurried up, bearing bowls of fresh pasta salad, cool and refreshing.

The seven of them dug in, soon laughing and chatting amongst themselves despite the frankly absurd circumstances. The pasta salad was filling-- but didn't last long, especially given the appetites most of them had built up from the day's earlier activities.

“You ever wonder if this is what it was like, thousands of years ago?” Fluttershy said from where she sat on an old couch cushion, serene and cross-legged. “No clothes, no schedules, no worries about the wider world ... “

“Except for sabertoothed tigers trying to eat you!” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

“Oh, I bet I could make friends with a smilodon if I tried.” said Fluttershy.

“If anyone could, darling, it'd be you.” Rarity said. She had a bottle of water in one hand, and rested the other upon Applejack's shoulder, as the cowgirl had 'coincidentally' settled into the chair beside her. “Though ... not to pooh pooh your little fantasy, it's worth noting that our ancestors didn't have pasta salad. Or sunscreen. Or-- well, any of this.” Rarity gestured to the cozy campsite they'd set up mere hours before.

“Oh. Right.” Fluttershy said. “But still ... I ... I just love the opportunity to be, to be--”

“Gratuitously naked?” Pinkie Pie said, and flung off her apron. “Me too!”

“ ... I was gonna say 'free.'” Fluttershy said. “Just ... to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want.”

“Oh! That's fun too!” Pinkie Pie beamed.

“Ooof.” Sunset Shimmer eased herself into an empty camp chair. “Right now all I want to do is get to bed--”

Twilight perked up.

“--get to sleep, I mean.” Sunset said with an apologetic smile. “We just got here this morning, but I'm exhausted. I dunno if I'll be able to keep this up for a week.”

“Do you think you could stay up a liiiiittle bit longer?” Fluttershy said. “Tree Hugger said there's always a big dance party on the first night, and I don't want to go alone.”

“Dance party? I'm in!” Pinkie Pie said, and immediately bounced to her booted feet and started shaking what her mother gave her (which was quite a lot). “But it'll be even more fun with all seven of us, right guys? Right!?” Pinkie ceased dancing to give an affectionate but still meaningful glare at her friends, hands propped on her hips. “You're not going to disobey Lord Pinkmungus, Champion of the Thunderdome, are you?”

“... when you put it that way, I don't know how I can say no.” Sunset Shimmer mused.

The sun began to set over the desert, and Burning Mare's motley population of hippies, adventurers, and self-proclaimed weirdos began to stream towards the center of the camp, where an enormous wooden horse statue had been built. Electronic music blared from massive speakers set up on either side of a wooden stage, upon which a steady parade of performers danced by. There was no distinction between the audience and the performers, as people clambered up onto the stage, or jumped back down into the crowd.

Even with the setting sun, the hot desert air went from 'scorching' to merely 'warm,' and so most everyone had forgone all but the most minimal of covering. As the blaring techno settled into a vaguely tribal beat, Twilight found herself wondering if Fluttershy might have had a point about throwbacks to a more primal era. The Burning Mare Festival was, Twilight mused, a funhouse mirror reflection of ancient fertility festivals, or even certain fool's festivals where normal rules of society were reversed, if not ignored altogether. Twilight wondered if anyone had ever thought to research the inherent similarities, only to realize that the nearest academic library was hundreds of miles away--

“Twilight?” Sunset put a hand on her purple haired friend's shoulder. “You okay?”

“Oh! I'm fine. More than fine.” Twilight smiled, and then slid closer to Sunset, nestling in against her side. The feel of warm, soft skin against hers felt comforting-- felt right –even as it kindled an entirely different kind of warmth in Twilight's chest. The two stood at the edge of the dancing, pulsing crowd-- their friends had braved in a little deeper, led by the always intrepid Lord Pinkmungus.

“Just ... thinking, that's all.” Twilight said.

“Don't get too caught up in your own head.” Sunset Shimmer turned to brush her lips over Twilight's cheek in a chaste little contact. “They're about to announce the Princess of the Playa.”

“The who of the whatnow?” Twilight said, and bit back the urge to make historical comparisons.

“I don't know either, which is why I'm curious.”

“IT IS TIME!” A lithe, slightly androdgynous man in little more than cutoff jean shorts and body glitter said from the stage. “TIME TO MEET, TO HONOR, THE ONE WOMAN WHO HAS MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE! TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR MAGNIFICENT QUEEN! TO THANK HER, TO PRAISE HER FOR BRINGING US HERE TODAY! I NOW PRESENT, TO YOU, OUR PRINCESS!”

Rapturous applause rose from the crowd as a pair of patchwork curtains at the back of the stage parted, drawing back like some strange approximation of a classical painting to reveal The Princess.

There was no question she was The Princess of the Playa-- no one else could be that magnificent. She was tall, nearly amazonian, with a figure that bordered on perfection. Her voluminous hair streamed in some gentle, flattering wind, held only in check by a tiara around her forehead.

Nearly all of her flawless, pale skin was on display, as the Princess wore little but roman-style sandals, a thin and gauzy loincloth of black silk, and a gleaming array of golden bracelets about her arms and wrists. Bare breasted, and proudly so, the Princess basked in the attention and adoration of the crowd. Her loincloth swished gently as she took several long-legged strides across the stage-- Twilight imagined those in the front row were getting quite the show.

The Princess of the Playa bowed elegantly to the man in the jean shorts, revealing white, halloween-costume angel wings strapped to her back in a whimsical decoration. She accepted a microphone and began to say something about welcoming everyone to the festival, but Twilight and Sunset didn't listen, instead only staring at each other in shock.

“Is that--” Twilight said.

“It can't be--” said Sunset.

And then, in unison:

“Principal Celestia!?”