Felicity

"Normally, these experimental compounds would require an extremely expensive centrifuge in order to be properly homogenized," Twilight Sparkle said, adjusting her spectacles before gesturing at an array of multicolored vials resting in the center of a lab table. "But with the use of my geode's abilities, I'm able to accomplish ten times the regular mixtures in barely a quarter of the time! And that's without having to use those hard-to-find centrifuges! This saves the organization a great deal in grant money, allowing us to maximize productivity while simultaneously minimizing cost! And that's just one example of the edge that my ability gives myself and my colleagues."

"Marvelous, Twilight." Cadance beamed, standing beside the younger woman. "Absolutely marvelous." With a doting smile, she rested a well-manicured hand on the scientist's shoulder. "But you mustn't forget the real edge that you have."

"Oh?"

Cadance winked. "That's the genius intellect you have cooked up in that noggin of yours." A slight giggle—merry with a side of bells. "I always knew my little bookworm would grow up to be a woman who would save the world~."

"Pffft..." Sunset leaned against a far wall with arms folded. A wry smirk crossed her face. "I could have told you that."

"Nuts to you~" Twilight stuck her tongue out at her girlfriend before leaping towards Cadance, hugging her around the waste. "Cadance doesn't have to flirt with me to give me a compliment!"

Cadance laughed and nuzzled Twilight close. "Well, everyone knows you're taken, Twilight."

"Oh gosh, Cadance!" Twilight leaned back, cupping her cheeks. "You're going to make me blush!"

Cadance squatted down slightly, eyes narrowing and smoky. "Am I?"

"Eee-heeheeheehee..." Twilight turned red as a beet, squirming in place.

"Okaaaaaaaay..." Sunset walked into the center of the lab. "As much as we'd all like to eat Twilight up, I suggest we go out and get some real food before she runs out of lab time."

"Spoken like a truly wise sage." Cadance gestured to Sunset. "Have they given you a royal title in Equestria yet? I'd say it's long overdue."

"The Princess finds every opportunity she can to lure me back over to ponyland..." Sunset shook her head. "But it ain't happening."

"Let me guess." Cadance hummed pleasantly. "You're just too in love with Twilight."

"Actually, I'm too in love with video games," Sunset mused. After enduring a shove of protest from her girlfriend, she only smirked harder. "But yeah. Twilight's a good reason too." She wrapped an arm around the adorkable egghead. "Isn't that right, Hash Browns?"

"Snrkkt...!" Cadance giggled into a girly wrist. "'Hash Browns?' That's a new one!"

Sunset leaned past Twilight and whispered: "It's because she comes with 'Sunny Side Up'."

"Gaaaaaaaaiiieeee!" Twilight covered her flushed face with shivering hands. "Between the two of you—I'm gonna overflow!"

"That would seem to be the point, sweetie~" Cadance chimed. She then looked over at the tiny wallflower in the room. "Speaking of sweeties, are you going to join us for lunch?"

Flash—breathless and bright eyed—flinched like a windblown feather at the merest hint that the woman was looking at him. "I am...?"

"It's a beautiful day, and I bet you're famished~" Cadance's smile was a million renaissance paintings piled on top of one another or maybe some other hyperbolic analogy of unnameable gorgeousness. "I truly hope you join us~"

Flash's breath left him in a tender tremble. "You do~"

"I... think..." Sunset Shimmer cleared her throat, walking closer to Flash so as to anchor the nearly-capsizing soul. "...we all could use more meat on our bones. And I can't think of a better place than Fishtaku."

"Oh?" Cadance looked over. As her head turned, Flash saw a rainbow of pastel shine, and he nearly collapsed then and there. "Isn't that the establishment in the Mall where you used to work?"

"Yeah. I've got a lifetime discount too."

"Wow~! They must have really liked you!"

"Well, the Rainbooms and I did stop robbers three times in the same building."

"Oh right." Cadance smiled. "Those were the glory days, weren't they?"

"I'm... a lot happier with being chill and settled in, but... yeah. I do miss them at times."

"Then nostalgia and sushi it is~!" Cadance led the way to the door. "Combining things is fun!"

"Hop along, Flash," Sunset commanded.

"Uh... okay..." Flash nervously strolled along with the group. "It's... uhm..." He shuddered, feeling smaller and far-more underdressed than the rest. "...it's b-been a long... long time since I stepped inside the mall."

"Don't look so down!" Twilight Sparkle winked. "You're with friends, Flashie."

"That's right..." Cadance winked down at the boi, holding the exit door open for everyone. "What better way to go to the Mall than with a bunch of pretty girls?"

Flash felt a rosy warmth rising up through his system. Not just because of what she said, but because—in strolling closer—he yet again caught a whiff of her heavenly perfume. It wasn't the same as when he first ran into her. But it was an otherworldly aroma of a different sort: mixing roses with ginger. Again—floral and spice, but altogether pleasant and provocative all at once. Flash wanted to roll himself up in that scent and float off into space, and if he wasn't careful—he just might.

"Mmmmm... okay..." he wheezed, nearly having to limp as he passed the woman.

"Should I meet you there?" Cadance asked.

"Nonsense. I brought the SUV." Sunset threw a sly look over her shoulder. "You can ride in the back. With Flash."

"Oh! Perfect! Heehee... a true girl's day out!"

Flash had to fan himself as he nearly hyperventilated...