Diamond in the Flames

"Does this dress make me look fat?"

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "Apple Bloom, for the last time, you look beautiful, and there's not an ounce of fat in you body anyways." She poked her friend in the foreleg playfully. "You're like, all muscle."

"Are ya sure?" Apple Bloom stared at herself in the mirror some more, wiggling her flanks back and forth.

"Positive," Sweetie replied. She glanced at the clock. "Also, we're going to be late for our dinner with Scootaloo if we don't leave soon."

Apple Bloom sighed. "Alright, I can finish this up later." She began taking off wedding dress, handing it over to the employee at the shop with a quick thanks and a promise to return the next day.

They made their way over towards the restaurant, idly chatting about wedding preparations as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. The small town had grown into a modest city since they were foals, but it still felt like home in a way that Manehattan and Canterlot never had.

Scootaloo was already waiting for them at a table on the porch. She waved when she saw them approach and smiled. "Hey, you two, how did the dress shopping go?"

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "Can you please tell your fiancée that she's not going to put on weight before the wedding so that she can finally make a decision?"

"Hey!" Apple Bloom playfully slapped Sweetie on the shoulder. "You said you wouldn't tell!"

"I definitely didn't," Sweetie replied, taking a seat. "I'm pretty sure I said that I was going to ask Scootaloo to talk some sense into you."

Scootaloo raised up her hooves defensively. "Hey, don't look at me! I've been trying to tell her that she hasn't gained a pound since we started dating."

"Yeah, yeah." Apple Bloom walked around to give Scootaloo a quick peck on the cheek before sitting down next to her. "Still, if I'm gonna spend that much money on a dress, I'm gonna make darn sure that it fits me when I walk down that aisle."

"You can get it altered if you're really worried," Sweetie said. "Anyways, I'm sure by tomorrow you'll have gone through literally every dress in that store, so you'll have to make a decision."

"Still can't believe I'm not allowed to see it until the wedding day," Scotaloo grumbled.

"It's tradition," Apple Bloom said simply, and that was that. "Anyways, I'm starved. What's on the menu?"

The three of them took a little time to decide their orders and relay them to the waiter. Afterwards, the loving couple turned their attention to Sweetie. "So, I heard your album playing at the grocery store the other day," Scotaloo said.

Sweetie shrugged. "Yeah. Looks like Greener Pastures is still doing okay even without much promotion. It's not going to be anywhere near the last few albums without the backing of a big studio, but I don't really care."

"It's not like you need the money anyways." Scootaloo quipped.

"I do miss the big numbers a little," Sweetie admitted. "But it definitely wasn't worth going through all that crap for it. I'll take my little indie release and getting to hear it once in a while when I'm shopping."

"As long as you're happy, we're happy for you," Apple Bloom said warmly.

"I am happy," Sweetie assured them. "Moving back to Ponyville was definitely the right choice, and Rarity's going to be back tonight, so I'm looking forward to that too."

To their credit, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo no longer made obvious faces of distaste whenever Rarity's name was brought up. It had taken some time to get to that point, but Sweetie was glad that they'd somewhat accepted her relationship.

That being said, her friends still worried for her. "Is she treating you good?" Scootaloo asked with her usual lack of tact. It was the same question every time they met, and Sweetie found it a little annoying, but she knew Scootaloo's heart was in the right place, so she chose to be glad that she had such caring friends instead.

"She is," Sweetie promised. "She's finally getting comfortable with leaving on business trips without constantly sending me letters to make sure I'm okay. Guess it's finally sinking in that you two will keep me out of trouble."

"You mean I can keep you two out of trouble." Apple Bloom snorted. "I swear, sometimes it's like you two never grew up."

"Hey, at least we're not doing anything that could get Sweetie into the newspapers," Scootaloo protested.

"Not unless you count the obituary section." Apple Bloom wrapped a foreleg around Scootaloo to soften the verbal blow. "Which ain't exactly better. I swear, next time one of you gets stuck in a tree, I'm gonna let you two figure out how to get back down. Maybe you'll learn your lesson then."

"Hey, that was only one time, and it would've worked if the wind didn't mess up my spell!" Sweetie grinned, the banter swirling around her like a warm breeze. This really was where she was meant to be, and it'd taken way too long for her to see it.

Dinner passed by in a blur of camaraderie and wedding plans, and before long, Sweetie found herself saying goodbye and heading back to Carousel Boutique.

She arrived to find the warm glow of the lights shining out the windows and grinned. With a spring in her step, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. "I'm home!" she announced, looking around to see the store area empty.

A moment later, she heard the sound of hoofsteps on the stairs, and Rarity appeared wearing a sheer nightgown. "Hello, my love," she purred sensually. "My train arrived earlier than expected, so I thought I would surprise you upon your return."

Sweetie swallowed the lump in her throat. "Well, uhh, you definitely did that."

Rarity let out a throaty giggle. "Shall we make our way to the bedroom, then?"

With a mute nod, Sweetie trotted up to her marefriend and captured her lips in a passionate kiss, their hooves already roaming over one another's bodies as they stumbled their way up to the bedroom.

It was always intense, the first time they made love after one of Rarity's absences. Attempting to make up for lost time, they would devour each other with an almost vicious ferocity, exchanging dominance back and forth as they used their hooves, tongues, and magic to drive each other to the peak over and over again.

It was a union of two equals, a joining of two as one as they shared in every motion a promise to stand by one another in all things. And when Sweetie cried out in the throes of release, she knew she could trust Rarity with her very soul. And when she heard Rarity's moans of pleasure in return, Sweetie knew that Rarity trusted her enough to share herself with her in every way.

Some time later, when they had both been sated for the time being, Sweetie and Rarity lay in bed together, still holding each other close. "So, how was Canterlot?" Sweetie asked, idly stroking Rarity's barrel. Her sister's coat was alway so soft and warm and silky smooth to the touch, and Sweetie could spend hours just basking in the wonderful texture of it. In fact, she had done exactly that on multiple occasions.

"Beautiful as always," Rarity replied, nuzzling her mane in return. "Though not as beautiful as you, of course."

Sweetie let out a soft giggle. "Aww, love you too, Rarity. And what about the Friendship Council?"

"Oh, the usual political matters," Rarity said. "Which reminds me, Twilight received a proposal from Wood Wind asking to help fund a music program for youths in Manehattan, and we'd appreciate your perspective on it."

"Hmm..." Sweetie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I mean, Wood Wind is absolutely doing this to make Syncopation Records look good, but he's not the type to just embezzle the money, so it should be fine as long as you check up on the progress once in a while."

Rarity nodded. "I see. I'll be sure to relay your thoughts back to Twilight."

"Are the others still giving you a hard time over me?" Sweetie asked, noting that Rarity hadn't mentioned them.

"They worry about you," Rarity replied, "and I do love them for it. I'm sure they will come around in time. I may be able to arrange a double date with Rainbow Dash and Applejack if you are up for it."

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "It's been six months already, but sure. It'll be nice to hang out with them, and hopefully they can see that we're really in love. At least Twilight's on our side."

"She is a dear, yes," Rarity murmured into her mane. "It is good to have someone I can speak with freely."

"Yeah, I'm so glad I have Apple Bloom and Scootaloo for that," Sweetie said.

"Speaking of which, how goes the search for a suitable wedding dress?" Rarity asked.

"Apple Bloom will probably decide on a dress before the wedding." Sweetie paused. "Probably. At least Scootaloo's going for a tux, and also doesn't care at all about fashion, so she's already done clothes shopping. Which reminds me that we'll need something to wear too."

"I have some designs in mind," Rarity said. "Remind me to show you the sketches tomorrow."

"Sure." Sweetie let out a yawn. "Oh wow, you really wore me out."

Smugness radiated from Rarity as she smiled back. "This old mare still knows a few tricks, darling. Sleep well, my love."

"I love you, Rarity." Sweetie closed her eyes, letting herself drift off to sleep in the embrace of her lover. "Good night." There would be time enough for love tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, and Sweetie couldn't wait to continue the rest of her life with Rarity by her side.