Under the Mistletoe

The skies above Equestria were already dark by the time Rarity set off across town to her marefriend’s home. A dusting of snow – likely the last before Winter Wrap-Up – fell gently all around her as she began her walk. Enough snow remained on the roads to necessitate the use of her ‘dressy’ winter boots, but they kept Rarity from slipping, and still coordinated nicely with her long winter coat, a tweed number subtly accented with an almost inky plaid pattern of grey and royal blue.

Beneath that was a simple ensemble, one fitting for the special but still casual nature of the evening ahead: one of her favorite little black dresses, sporting a slight silver shimmer imbued in the fabric and a demure yet tantalizing slit along her left flank. To this she added a simple pearl necklace and a matching pair of drop earrings.

“I probably overdressed…” Rarity said to herself as she used the reflection in a nearby shop’s window to adjust her scarf. “But it is our first Hearthswarming, after all.” Her thoughts drifted to Hoofington, and the impassioned stand she had seen Roseluck make on their behalf. “And she’s worth it.”

In the distance Rarity could just hear the clocktower in the town square ringing out a quarter past six as she turned onto the short street leading to Roseluck’s home. She pushed open the white wooden gate out front, and the butterflies in Rarity’s stomach began to flutter, bouncing between nerves, excitement, and anticipation. There was no extra family tonight. No parents, no flank-backwards relatives, no pressure to be on her best behavior.

Tonight, it would just be the two of them.

Rarity strode up the path to the front porch, which she noted was bathed in the welcoming rainbow glow of multiple light strings. Her magic reached carefully between the Hearthswarming wreath to grasp the metal door knocker, and she gave it a few firm but polite taps.

“It’s open! Come on in!” came the muffled reply.

Rarity shook the snow off her boots, stepped inside, and was immediately hit by a wave of wonderful smells. Roasted chestnuts and mulling spices mixed with the smell of fresh pine tree, all wrapped in the radiant heat coming from the stone hearth on the far side of the living room.

The sound of clattering pots and a running tap drew Rarity’s attention. “It’s me, darling!” she called out toward the kitchen. “Need any help?”

“N-Nope! Just need a second is all!” came the reply, followed by the shrill ringing of a kitchen timer. “Take your coat off and stay awhile!”

Not wishing to distract her love further, Rarity returned to the wall hooks near the front door and hung up her coat and scarf, and after ensuring she was still alone, quickly retrieved the bottle of wine and the wrapped present from her saddle bag, the latter of which she slipped under the tree, next to a present with her name on it. Just the sight of it stoked Rarity’s anticipation even more.

“Who needs to go outside to make snow angels when I have one right in my living room?”

Rarity turned back toward the kitchen, a knowing smile on her lips. “I wasn’t aware there would be a cheese course. I do hope the wine I selected still works.”

“There is cheese, actually,” Roseluck replied as she entered the room from the kitchen, “but I’m sure the wine will be fine. She stopped in front of Rarity and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “It is a multi-course menu after all.”

If the butterflies in Rarity’s stomach were fluttering before, now they were buzzing.

Roseluck backed up a bit and cast an innocent grin at her marefriend. “The casserole’s already in the oven, and an appetizer of grilled eggplant, tomato, and cheese awaits.”

“Ohh, look at you cooking up a storm!” Rarity teased. “Maybe I should make you one of those fancy chef hats. A fashionable one of course.”

“Try the food first before crowning me the next Gustav LeGrand,” Roseluck quipped, barely holding back a laugh. “Either this worked perfectly or we’re going to be stuck with Neighponese takeout tonight.”

Rarity burst out laughing, with Roseluck following close behind. “Oh please, darling,” She stuck her nose up a bit and took a playful sniff of the air. “If it tastes half as good as it smells, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

“Now,” Rarity continued, “we need to talk about how smashing you look in that green dress, my dear. But why don’t we do that over some of these hoer d'oeuvres?”

“Sounds good,” Roseluck nodded. “And speak for yourself, dear. You look stunning yourself. Oh, before we get to the food, I need you to step forward.”

Rarity paused, a quizzical look on her face. “Pardon? Is something wrong? Am I stepping on the tree skirt?”

“Nono, nothing’s wrong. I promise,” Roseluck replied, waving a hoof. “Just give me one step, Rares. One step only.”

Rarity shrugged and stepped forward.

Roseluck leaned to the left, then the right, eyeing her position carefully. “A smidge more– there! Perfect!”

“Perfect for wh— mmph!”

Rarity was stopped mid-sentence by a quick but deep kiss from Roseluck. The moment of shock melted almost instantly into bliss, and Rarity returned the kiss with equal energy. Their lips stayed locked for a few more seconds before they separated, leaving them both smiling like school fillies.

“Not that I mind of course, but what was that… for…” Rarity’s trailed off as she followed Roseluck’s gaze toward the ceiling…

And saw a small bunch of mistletoe hanging from the light fixture, dressed up with a red bow and a tiny decorative bell.

“Oh. Well now…” Rarity stepped forward and playfully bumped Roseluck’s shoulder. “Luring your poor marefriend into a trap I see. How cheeky of you.”

“Have to kiss what’s under the mistletoe,” Roseluck replied, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t make the rules.” She turned for the kitchen and beckoned Rarity to follow. “Grab the wine then. Dinner’s almost ready.”

They snacked on the appetizers and sipped some mulled cider while they waited for the oven to finish. When the timer finally rang about twenty minutes later, Roseluck hurried to pull the casserole while Rarity made quick work of opening the wine and shuffling the appetizer plates away in favor of the larger dinner plates.

To Roseluck’s immense relief, the Potato Mushroom bake turned out exactly as she had hoped, and to their mutual delight, paired quite well with the Pinot that Rarity had brought to drink. She made a mental note to thank Daisy for the recipe the next time she saw her.

Meal complete and leftovers put away, the two retired back to the living room with wine glasses in tow. They sat on the small couch opposite the tree, which was lovingly decorated with lights, ornaments, and a few streams of tinsel. Using her magic, Rarity carefully topped up their wine glasses before setting the nearly empty bottle down on the coffee table.

“That was absolutely delicious, Rose.” She hovered one glass over to Roseluck, and they lightly clinked their respective glasses together in a toast. “My compliments to the chef.”

Rarity smiled over top of her glass as she took a sip. Roseluck took a drink as well, sighing contentedly as she swallowed. “Still want that chef’s hat?”

Roseluck giggled. “Nah. But you can kiss the cook if you want.”

Now it was Rarity’s turn to giggle, but she wasted no time leaning over and giving her marefriend a gentle kiss. Their lips parted but Rarity kept their noses just inches apart. “I do mean it though, darling. That meant more than any five-star restaurant. And in truth, it does make the… drama of the last week seem much further away.”

“That it does,” Roseluck replied, her eyes shifting to meet Rarity’s soft stare. “Love you.”

Rarity reached out and grasped Roseluck’s forehoof. “Love you too.”

They kissed again, each of them humming as their lips and tongues met. The temptation to give into her simmering hormones and jump the gorgeous mare in front of her tugged at Rarity like a siren, but she also couldn’t ignore the two lone presents beneath the tree. So reluctantly she broke the kiss and leaned back a bit.

“Time for presents?”

Roseluck clapped her forehooves and bounced a bit on the couch. “Thought you’d never ask. Yes please!”

Rarity lit her horn and carefully floated the two gifts over. “Who first?”

“You first,” Roseluck replied. “I insist.”

“Alright then.” Rarity gently placed Roseluck’s gift on the coffee table before grasping her own present. It was rectangular shaped, and wrapped in a thick white paper that had an almost pearlescent effect under the lights. A purple ribbon trimmed along each edge with a shimmery silver border wrapped around the package, with a matching bow fixed to the top.

“Ohh, so pretty! Nice work!”

Roseluck grinned. “Only took about a dozen tries and more than a bit of wasted glue.”

“Well, you succeeded nonetheless. Now,” Rarity playfully gave the box a little shake with her magic, “I wonder what it could be?”

A quick tweak of her magic turned her aura into a thin bead, which she used to carefully unwrap the bow and slice open the wrapping paper, revealing a wooden box, longer than it was wide, with delicate carvings along its top and a hinged lid. With a giddy smile she held the box up and lifted the lid—

And squealed in excitement.

“Oh my heavens is that what I think it is?”

Roseluck gave her a smug, satisfied grin. “Sure is.”

Rarity just stared down at the present in disbelief. “B-But how? Where?” She flipped the box around so Roseluck could see it, revealing the trio of small glass jars nestled inside – each one containing a different brightly colored powder. “Seriously, where did you get these?”

“In Manehattan,” Roseluck replied. “A few months ago, actually. Remember that trip I made to consult for that commission job? The socialite’s wedding?”

“The one who plays on Bridleway you mean?”

“Yep, that’s the one. I had some free time after finishing the job, so I went wandering through some markets down by the Flatshoe district. Those,” she pointed at the box, “were in the back of an antique store stuffed between a pharmacy and a pizza parlor.”

Rarity gasped at that. “You’re joking, right? I mean this has to– er, I mean, Saddle Arabian dyes are incredibly hard to come by as it is. But supplies of the traditional powder dyes dried up decades ago. None of my suppliers have ever found even a dash of it anywhere.”

She shook her head and looked down at the box again, watching the red, purple, and blue powders shift around in their respective containers. “Yet they show up in an antique store?”

Roseluck laughed. “I was a bit shocked at first too, believe me. I remembered you had mentioned these dyes before, and as soon as I saw the price tag I knew these ponies had no idea what they really had. No clue where they came from originally, but I wasn’t about to ask questions. I snatched it up, paid up, and got out of there as fast as a Wonderbolt.”

“That’s…” Rarity was almost giddy now. “Amazing! Thank you so much, Rose! I never imagined I’d be able to work with these dyes at all, and now… oh I love you!” She set the box down carefully before leaning across the couch and kissing Roseluck.

“Heh, you’re welcome,” Roseluck replied after their lips parted. “Glad you like it.”

“Well then, I do believe it’s your turn now, darling.” Rarity smiled and floated the remaining box over to Roseluck. It was a bit smaller, but also rectangular, and wrapped in a multi-hued green paper with a bright red ribbon tied around it. Rarity couldn’t help but giggle as Rose made quick work of the wrapping paper, attacking it with nearly as much gusto as Sweetie Belle or her friends would.

Roseluck removed the lid from the small box and she let out an excited yelp. “Rarity! It’s gorgeous! Oh my gosh!”

She held the box out in her hooves, revealing a set of beauty tools – two coat and mane brushes, and a trio of hoof files in various sizes. The brushes sported lacquered wooden handles, and on their backsides was an engraving of her own cutiemark, itself inlaid with bold red and green coloring. The metal files gleamed in the light, as did the polished silver handle on each one.

“I couldn’t stand to see you going back to the store time and time again to get replacements that will fail just as quickly as the last ones,” Rarity replied, now wearing a smile as big as Roseluck’s. “But these should last far longer. And the files can be resharpened too.”

Roseluck held the box closer as if to hug it. “I love them! They’re just amazing. Thank you so, so much, Rares.” Now it was Roseluck’s turn to lean forward for a kiss. “Happy Hearthswarming.”

“Happy Hearthswarming, my love.”

Their lips met and to Rarity, it felt like falling slowly into an ocean of bliss. Part of her still couldn’t believe that this was all really, truly happening. Yet here she was, kissing the love of her life, a mare she’d had a crush on forever, under the light of a Hearthswarming tree. The romanticism, the sheer perfection of it all, lit an entirely different fire inside of Rarity.

With a small moan she leaned into the kiss, drawing her lover closer. Roseluck’s tongue briefly teased the edge of her lips, and Rarity welcomed it in earnest. Rarity brought a forehoof up to Roseluck’s neck, brushing the bottom of her jawline and teasing the soft red locks that fell beside her head. Roseluck reciprocated, brushing a forehoof along Rarity’s leg before bringing it to rest on her chest. As she deepened their kiss, Rarity could only hope that Roseluck could feel her heart beating as strongly, as passionately, as it felt to her right then.

She was sure any second would be the turning point, when they’d collapse in a heap on the couch, or the floor, or both, and Rarity would give herself to her love’s carnal whims. So it was a shock when Roseluck gently pulled away, and sat back up on the couch.

“Rose? Is something—”

“Just fine, I promise. But I just remembered, I have one other gift for you.”

Rarity had to shake her head a bit to force her mind to return focus to things above her haunches. “O-Oh? You do?”

“Mhmm. I just have to go upstairs to get it. I’ll be right back.” Roseluck carefully got up from the couch, drained the last bit of wine from her glass, and set it on the small end table before trotting up the steps and out of view.

“What are you up to, my dear…” Rarity muttered before throwing back the remnants of her wine as well. Assuming things were about to get heated in a minute, she took a moment to float their gifts back under the tree for safety, balling up the wrapping paper along the way.

She was just settling back onto the couch when Roseluck called out from the upper level.

“Rares?”

“Um, yes? She turned to look toward the staircase, but it was empty. Rarity quickly got up and walked over to the base of the stairs. “Everything ok, Rose? Do you need something?”

“Actually, yes! Yes I do! Can you come up here?”

Slightly confused, Rarity shrugged. “Alright. Coming up then.”

Rarity walked up the stairs, moving slowly to ensure she didn’t catch the hem of her dress under a hoof. Finally at the top, she looked at the trio of doors in front of her – one for the rarely used guestroom, one for the bathroom, and Roseluck’s room, from which she could see light coming from beneath the closed door.

She walked up and lightly tapped on the door with a hoof. “Can I come in?”

A slight pause. Then a reply. “Please do.”

Rarity opened the door, and what she saw took her breath away.

At least a dozen candles stood all over the room, on stands, small plates, or simple candelabras. Red, pink, purple, and white, mixed together and bathing the room in a soft, golden glow.

And there, near the center of the room, was a literal bed of roses.

Roseluck stood next to the bed. Both it and the floor around it were dotted with rose petals of purple and pink, ruby red and snow white. Framed in the soft candle light Roseluck looked less a mare and more an angel. Rarity could only stare in reverence at the beauty before her.

A delicate black lace top hugged Roseluck’s upper chest, supported by two thin straps that wrapped up and around her shoulders and accented with a embroidered red rose and a pink bow in the center. A bejeweled hair brooch, the same one she had given to Roseluck after their first night together, was pinned in her mane just behind her right ear. A garnet red collar sat snugly around her neck, dotted in the center by a round gem that matched its owner’s beautiful emerald eyes – eyes that now looked at Rarity with equal amounts of unending love and lust.

Without a word, Roseluck turned, reared back a bit, and placed her forehooves upon the mattress, giving Rarity a clear view of the matching black and silky red panties she wore, and the golden ring nestled at the base of her tail.

Rarity couldn’t tear her eyes away even if she wanted to, and the more she stared, the hotter she became beneath her dress. Her breathing was already quickening and she had yet to move an inch from the doorway. She watched in awe as Roseluck lay her weight upon the bed and spread her hindlegs.

Then Roseluck lifted her tail, giving Rarity a full view of the lacy panties that barely covered her nethers…

…and the small bunch of mistletoe tied to the end of her tail.

Roseluck gave her rump a little shake, causing the bells to ring. Then she turned a bit to look back at Rarity, her eyes shimmering in the dancing candle light.

“I told you I had dessert covered.”