Our Sacred Spot

Over the next several days, Fluttershy spent most of her free time in Pinkie's loft, and together they created a wealth of consciousness raising material to distribute on Pinkie's party tour. Silver glitter and stickers adorned Pinkie's pamphlets and posters, while Fluttershy organized her eye-catching information into dense lists and charts. Twilight would've been proud—if she wasn't obsessed with technocratic pragmatism.

Fluttershy and Pinkie discussed the interdependence of nature and the great ancestral web that connected all life, from the greatest beasts to the smallest blades of grass. “I guess it's cool all life is related,” Pinkie said. “Even the trees can join our family reunions. But it's spooky how one of my relatives is sitting in my bedroom as a table.”

Pinkie helped Fluttershy come up with the proper messaging. “Don't be too doomy gloomy or they'll give up in despair. Make them believe they can help. Fire up their imagination with a new vision of Equestria.”

“A project greater than themselves. Something to give their lives meaning. A green tomorrow.”

“You got it!”

While brainstorming more ideas, Pinkie stood on her hind legs and played with a blue and yellow hula hoop, swiveling her hips with easy confidence. Fluttershy's attention wandered while Pinkie's curvy physique flexed in an alluring display. Fluttershy averted her gaze when Pinkie caught her.

“You can look if you want,” Pinkie said. “You can be yourself around me.”

Fluttershy cleared her throat and went back to folding paper for another pamphlet. “Do you think I've been nervous around mares because I've always been attracted to them but didn't know? And if I'm attracted to stallions too, well, maybe this explains my anxieties.”

Pinkie slowed her pace and rolled her hypnotic hips in an even more suggestive dance. “You're probably not attracted to every mare, just like you weren't attracted to every stallion. Just the ones who catch your fancy.”

“So it's normal for straight mares to admire another mare's beauty, right? Like her mane? Her dress? Because other mares do that all the time. I wonder if I ever said anything that went too far and made someone realize I was a bit different.”

“Straight mares admire other mares, sure, but they don't daydream about lifting up another mare's skirt.”

“R-Right.”

“Or their tails.”

“Yeah…”

“Relax. Lots of mares party with other mares. It's practically Equestria's pastime. Even mares you think are totally straight? They sneak off for some extracurricular fun when they meet the right gal pal. It just doesn't come up in polite conversation.”

“Didn't you say not to compare myself to others?” Fluttershy asked, forcing a weak smile. “I know you're right, but these feelings are still so confusing.”

Pinkie ceased her spinning and let the hula hoop wobble to the floor. “Let's take a break.”

They played board games while eating banana bread and sipping strawberry smoothies. Pinkie had amassed a mountain of games in her closet, stacked next to her party cannon, and she crushed in any contest that involved memory and pattern recognition.

“How in the world do you remember this stuff?” Fluttershy asked, having lost yet another round of Earth Pony Empire.

“Not sure. When I was a kid, my sisters and I played a game where we secretly shifted the rocks in the field, and whoever spotted the most differences won. I scored a lot of candy that way.” Pinkie slipped below the tablecloth with a grin, moved sight unseen between Fluttershy's legs, and brushed her tail aside. “And now I get something yummier than candy.”

“Oh my,” Fluttershy cooed. “Y-You're not giving me much of an incentive to win.” Fluttershy giggled as she sank back into the chair and spread her thighs for Pinkie's talented tongue. A mare could get used to this.

* * *

Ponies crowded into the train station carrying suitcases and bags. Watching Pinkie board the train out of Ponyville filled Fluttershy with a gnawing regret, but she couldn't join Pinkie and abandon her responsibilities on such short notice. She wanted to kiss Pinkie goodbye like the other couples were doing, but some of their other friends arrived to send Pinkie off too, so they settled for a modest hug.

“See ya when I see ya,” Pinkie said to the gang. “Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Flutterpal.”

The train pulled away while everyone waved goodbye, and when it disappeared Rainbow perked up. “Sup, Fluttershy? Haven't seen you in ages. Wanna grab some lunch? Then I could teach you how to perform a loop de loop again, except this time we won't crash into the clock tower.”

Rarity tossed her elegant mane. “A ridiculous notion! She wants to cleanse her pores at the spa, isn't that right, dear? And did you hear about who Sapphire Shores is really dating? One of my clients has a friend who says it's all a ruse and—”

Fluttershy retreated and mumbled something about taking care of woodland creatures.

* * *

Applejack's piggies yanked at their leash when they picked up the scent. They raced through the White Tail woods and frantically dug near the gnarled roots of an oak tree. Fluttershy cautioned them not to eat the prize and reminded them they could have some blueberry muffins as a reward instead. The sows oinked with glee as they shoved their faces deep into the soil and dragged out a treasure trove of truffles. Did the Canterlot nobility pay outrageous prices for this stinky stuff because it was actually tasty, or because they loved flaunting their wealth and sophisticated taste? A part of Fluttershy resented her role in exploiting nature for such petty ends, but Applejack needed the income and depended on her. At least the pigs seemed happy enough.

Dragonflies and frogs provided Fluttershy's only companionship while she trudged through another muddy riverbank and recorded its measurements. Life without Pinkie was an interminable slog.

What was the point of recording more data? The results were always more dire than expected, always dashing any hope she was foolish enough to entertain, and it's not like anyone would listen to her anyway. She needed something to take her mind off the future.

Rubbing herself brought hollow orgasms that staved off her immediate physical needs, but left her restless and unsatisfied. The romance novels that once ignited Fluttershy's fantasies proved too tiresome now. She wanted more than mere fantasy. She craved the sweet touch of Pinkie's lips, daydreamed about Pinkie's giggles and reassuring smiles, and yearned for Pinkie's boundless energy and love of life. An emptiness ate away at her psyche and left a Pinkie-shaped void.

Before leaving, Pinkie gave her the platypus doll as a memento. Fluttershy named it Petrey and tucked the button-eyed plushy into bed every night. It held the faintest trace of Pinkie's lovely strawberry scent, and Fluttershy inhaled it to bring back happy memories. She wasn't sure if this was romantic or pathetic.

Maybe Fluttershy was getting carried away. After all, this was a new relationship, and those were always intense and full of passion in the early going, like a phoenix before it burst into flames and crumbled to ashes. Fluttershy knew she needed more time to know where they really stood, but that didn't make her any less lonesome.

Twilight's library provided sanctuary from the dreary world. Fluttershy scoured the most obscure sources for tidbits of environmental knowledge and dissident societal critiques. A bounty of disconnected scholarship waited to be marshaled for some higher purpose than trivia. The stacks of notes grew taller as Fluttershy poured herself into this endeavor. The sun became a stranger while the smell of parchment and ink grew into familiar friends.

In the far corner of the library stood a section dedicated to sexual materials of academic interest, such as The Loving Tribes: A History of Equestrian Sexual Attitudes and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Crystal Pony Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). Maybe if Fluttershy browsed those shelves she could learn about the mysterious G-Spot, but she didn't dare risk being caught red-hoofed by Twilight or Spike.

* * *

While shopping in the outdoor vegetable markets for tomatoes and cauliflowers, Fluttershy absentmindedly observed the mares perusing the cucumber bin. Flowing manes and tails, sleek shoulders, rounded hips—Fluttershy drank in their inviting figures with a sideways glance before snapping away and berating herself. A pang of guilt tormented her conscience, as if she had somehow cheated on Pinkie, and yet she grew increasingly curious about her awakening desires.

Ponyville was still a relatively small village, so she knew some of these mares on a superficial level, having made small talk during one of the festivals or from helping them with pet problems. She had to admit several made striking impressions, especially the slender pegasi with long graceful legs, perhaps because they pulled it off better than she could. But Fluttershy didn't want to jump into bed with any of them.

A caramel colored earth mare sporting a sturdy physique and a shapely rump pulled a wagon laden with ceramic jars—the weekly honey delivery. She parked and rested on a bench, fanning her face with a ragged straw hat. “Hey, butterfly gal, you're Fluttershy, ain'tcha? Pinkie's friend?”

Fluttershy froze. A victim of her leering had caught her outright, but this wagon mare either didn't notice or didn't care, so Fluttershy played it cool and settled alongside her.

The rugged mare wiped her brow with a handkerchief and perked up from Fluttershy's company. “Name's Toffee Swirl. Pinkie says you're the caretaker round these parts. Gotta say, you keep the roadside scenery green and gorgeous, a sight for sore eyes on these long road trips. I reckon managing the Everfree must be a nightmare, huh?”

“We mostly leave it alone.”

“Ha! You're supposed to say you wrangle Ursa Majors everyday and twice on Sunday, if you want to make yourself look good anyhow.”

“I've seen you around before. You always deliver honey?”

“Nope. Mostly fancy wares—dyes, perfume, wine, that sorta stuff. Best believe I don't spill a drop!” Toffee retrieved a canteen from the wagon and took a long swig, and when Fluttershy declined her offer for a drink she shrugged and gulped down some more. “I'm keen on delivering honey to Sugar Cube Corner on account of Pinkie being a hoot, and the free slices of pecan crumble don't hurt neither. Swell folks, those Cakes. Hope they don't blow their stacks from this week's prices. Ain't my fault, ya know?”

Fluttershy spotted the placard on the side of the wagon. “Fifty bits a jar? Whoa.”

“Whoa is right. Apparently the bee folk down south are facing more trouble than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Hope they figure something out soon, 'cause ponyfolk might go nuts without their sweets.”

“Declining bee populations,” Fluttershy muttered. “Another problem on the pile.” Toffee strapped herself back into the wagon harness, but Fluttershy interrupted before she could say goodbye. “If you and the other cart pullers were in charge instead of the guilds in Canterlot, what would you change?”

“That's a doozy of a hypothetical. No one cares what us cart pullers think.”

“But if you decided together?”

“Hmmm... We could do with fewer hours and more days off to see our families, and smoother riding wagons so we don't screw up our knees and backs, and routes that make a lick of sense, and—oh mercy, what am I bellyaching about? Plenty of ponies got it worse. And I ain't one of them Agitators.”

Fluttershy wondered about the official sounding denunciation. “Agitator?”

“That's what they're calling the troublemakers in the western provinces. There was a miner's strike that got out of control and they fought with some royal guards and—well, no one's sure what happened exactly. Apparently the union leaders called the strike off, but no one listened, and a bunch of other unions started striking too. Wild stuff, right? But that ain't all. The Agitators are riling up ponies with talk about how we're under a yoke of gold and lies. They say the bosses and landlords are robbing us blind, and we don't need them anymore. They even bad-mouth Canterlot and the princesses.”

“That's amazing! I haven't heard anything about that.”

“My route takes me by the action, so I heard folks talking like it was the end of the world. Didn't see anything about it in the papers, though.”

“Did you meet any of them? The Agitators?”

“I reckon I'm talking to one right now.” Toffee let loose a hearty laugh. “Ah, no ma'am, I haven't been that far west in a spell. And I ain't saying they're totally wrong. The way I see it, everyone's got problems nowadays, but that's no reason to raise a ruckus. I keep my head down and everything works out fine. If there's a real problem the princesses will figure it out.”

“What if you knew every day would be worse than the last?”

“I suppose everyone's got their breaking point. Don't tell the Wagon Guild I said that, though.” Toffee rubbed Fluttershy's shoulder and smiled like they just shared a secret. “I gotta get haulin', hon. Keep making the world pretty, ya hear? And if you ever need something sweet, you know where to find me.”

Toffee trudged down the street with the wagon in tow, flouncing her amber tail from side to side. Fluttershy wasn't sure if Toffee was hitting on her or just being friendly.

* * *

One day the wall-eyed delivery mare dropped off a letter in Fluttershy's mailbox. She rushed out and tore it open.

Hey Snuggle Bug,

I'm coming home soon, so you better hide all your secret marefriends.
Or maybe they could meet my secret marefriends? Just kidding! Or am I?
I'm bringing home some fun surprises. Insert evil laughter here.

Miss you bunches!
—Pinkie

P.S. Even the griffons loved your pro-nature propaganda.

Fluttershy launched herself into the sky, soared above the forest with a gaggle of geese, and hummed a silly old ditty. Someone tapped her shoulder and she yelped and crashed into a cloud.

“Equestria to Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash shouted, waving to get her attention. “Sheesh! You were in your own world there. Just wanted to remind you about the big storm project tomorrow. We'll need as many pegasi as we can manage.”

Fluttershy brushed the fluff out of her face. “Um, thanks?”

* * *

Constructing the last summer storm was a massive undertaking that required hundreds of ponies. Teams of pegasi retrieved clouds shipped from southern Equestria and pushed them into an enormous arc surrounding Ponyville. This went against everything Fluttershy had come to believe, but what choice did she have? She was just a cog in the weather machine, and the damage would be done regardless, even if she cooked up some excuse and stayed home.

If Fluttershy were really an Agitator like Toffee Swirl said, she would organize the other pegasi and throw a wrench in the works. But she would have to put herself out there and bring down an avalanche of attention and criticism. And even if she were successful, Ponyville's individual action, divorced from a systemic approach, wouldn't transform Equestria's weather manipulation into a healthy alternative. Or maybe that's what she needed to believe in order to soothe her guilt.

Fierce winds whipped through Fluttershy's mane as she helped a dozen pegasi guide a crackling vapor cloud darker than a shadow into the primary storm cell. The skies around Ponyville descended into a somber gray.

Exhausted and smelling of sickly sweet ozone, Fluttershy collapsed into her lonely bed and slept long into the next day.

While she sipped tea in the late afternoon there came an excited knocking from the front door, and Fluttershy rushed across the living room and threw it open. Pinkie beamed while gentle rain splattered against her umbrella hat. “Surprise! Gosh, are you gals trying to drown Ponyville or what?”

Fluttershy pulled her inside with a bear hug. “You were gone too long. I almost thought you'd never come back.”

“And miss your pretty voice? Not a chance!” Pinkie grabbed Fluttershy's hoof and leaned close. “Let's skedaddle back to my place before the weather gets ugly.”

“Why not stay here?”

Pinkie cracked a mischievous smile. “Trust me.”

They raced through the warm rain into downtown Ponyville. The markets and food carts ringings the town square had all been vacated. The few stragglers rushing indoors gave the pair only a momentary glance. And why would anyone suspect anything? They were just two innocent mares about to bake cookies or plan a surprise party, certainly nothing scandalous.

Beyond Sugarcube Corner, under the gloom of the nightmarish storm clouds, a majestic rainbow faded in the dying light. Fluttershy would've sworn the ghostly rainbow brightened with the arrival of Pinkie's sunny aura, as if her inner light refused to let color drain from the world.

Pinkie giggled as she skipped down the street and splashed through the puddles. Fluttershy wouldn't let Pinkie out of her sight again.