Of Diamonds and Butterflies.

*Message to readers: I overcame writer's block and wrote something creative, but, no progress on Against the Night*

Of Diamonds and Butterflies

When a bird takes flight, and lands on a tree, or flutters from its perch to another, what thoughts must go through its mind? Is it filled with equations? The precise thoughts and effort to move every feather on its wing? Or is it as simple to them as walking is for us? Maybe what goes through their mind is their journey, or their destination. Or perhaps it is as feral a thought as where their next meal is coming from, and whether they should scour the ground below them to find it. Many have often wondered, do they admire each other’s flawless grace? Their natural elegance? Do they take the time of day to watch each other's manoeuvres in the sky?

Fluttershy did. She watched each bird from her window, all of them reflecting the sunlight off of their pristine wings and elegant form against the backdrop of a dying sunset.

Whenever one would bank or dive, she would watch with bated breath, just in case they wouldn't pull up, and she would have another, albeit impromptu, guest in her house as she nursed them back to health.

When they came out of it however, with a flourish or a simple course correcting flap, she would utter a silent cheer for them as the sun dipped lower and lower into the horizon.

This was her one pleasure she would allow herself, watching the birds gave her a sense of freedom. Not enough to want to do as much as Rainbow Dash, whom she would often see doing some sort of daring trick above the Everfree, but it was enough to make her wish to be able to fly like them. How she would love to soar along with them, feeling the breeze rush through her mane, her feathers feeling the uplifting wafts of air.

She sighed and allowed herself a small smile, and almost opened the window, until something made her stop. She glanced behind her to her outstretched wings, and sighed again, this time in sadness. A single tear, bright as a droplet of rain in a fierce torchlight, dropped down her cheek, matting the fur, hanging off of her cheek until it fell onto the windowsill with a silent splash.

Angel tapped his foot impatiently behind her, the rhythmic thumping bringing her out of her musings as she watched him. For a second she was confused, until she gazed at the clock and realized she had missed his mealtime. She gasped and got out of her seat.

"Oh, I am so sorry Angel bunny, I must have been lost in thought today." she trotted past him and heard him sigh, he tugged on her tail and pointed to the open window, she looked between him and it.

"The window? Oh… I-I'll close it when I finish your tea." she smiled and went to walk back into the kitchen when she felt another tug on her tail, she turned back to Angel and grew confused as he pointed to the window. No, not the window, the birds that fluttered past. She nodded in realization.

"I-I was just wondering what it was like to fly, like, really fly, without a care in the world..." she trailed off and her eyes focused on the birds again, a small smile drifting over her lips. Angel he motioned two paws towards the window, bringing Fluttershy back, once again to the reality.

"Oh, Angel, you know I can't, now come on, I'll make your tea and then it's off to bed for the night." she gave him a sweet smile and walked into the kitchen, as he rubbed his eyes with a paw.

This pony he thought to himself as he hopped towards her in the kitchen. She was humming a little tune as she put the ingredients into the bowl, a sliced carrot, a few leaves of lettuce, two slices of cucumber and a full tomato. She grabbed the bowl and walked over to him, handing it over and smiling.

"There, that should keep you going until breakfast." she giggled at the amount her bunny ate. He smiled as well and hopped away with his prize, leaving her alone with only the small chirrups of an occasional animal. She then went round, feeding each and every animal their designate food, wafers of fish feed for the fish outside, granules of animal feed, carrots for the bunnies, and seed for the birds. As she stroked the feathers of her favourite parakeet, she sighed and her thoughts once again drifted to flying free above her house, maybe take a lap or two around Ponyville.

A stretch, a flap, and she was on the ground, sighing and walking back into her house, shaking whatever dirt had accumulated on her hooves. Alas, she was confined. Not because she wanted to be, not because she was so afraid, but because she HAD to be.

Oh how she wished she had all of her friends’ confidence.

She turned to the picture of all six of them she had beside her couch and laid herself down so her head was resting on her hooves as she looked at it. All of her said friends, the five most wonderful friends she could ever want to have, were there smiling at her. She couldn't help herself, she had to smile back at the snapshot of time sitting upon the table.

Each of her friends, with their unique traits and smiles, had helped her through so much, and yet, she couldn't help but think she didn't deserve any of them. She was meek and timid, and yearned for each of her friend's traits. Rainbow's confidence, Applejack's resolve, Pinkie Pie's laughter, Twilight's intellect, and Rarity's grace.

A great sigh escaped her once again that night. Rarity. Her gaze lingered on her form in the picture, a hoof tracing the white outline. Her mane was that of a waterfall, her eyes that of deep, iridescent oceans. Her coat, as bright and brilliant as the stars, and her smile…

Oh Celestia, that smile. The same smile that had captured her the very first time she had seen her. The smile that had turned many a bad day into a glorious turnaround. The very smile that had, unbeknownst to her, captured her heart.

Yes, in Fluttershy's eyes, she was perfect. Beyond perfect, she was amazing, she was wonderful, she was...

...Beautiful.

Across the town, in a boutique, on a lush, double bed, a certain alabaster unicorn with a purple, curled mane was echoing Fluttershy's thoughts whilst gazing at the picture, though her eyes were on a certain honey-coloured Pegasus. A hoof drifted over the glass to flick away an imaginary piece of dirt on the frame. She set the picture down and rolled over on her bed so she was staring at the linen draped over the top of her four poster bed.

How she envied the yellow Pegasus, while she spent hours upon hours keeping herself in pristine condition, the meek Pegasus was naturally flawless, from her mane, as soft and flowing as a silken fabric, to her eyes, as deep as twin pools of limpid turquoise. She sighed deeply and grabbed a pillow, smothering her face and groaning loudly into it, then resting it on her chest as she laid her head back on the pillow-less bed.

Frustration claimed her, she had been in bed and just around her room all day, drawing and screwing up numerous pieces of paper, for inspiration did not want to strike. Littered around the floor were the numerous 'failures' as she had dubbed them, dress concepts and suit designs that did not meet her standards. Her whole life she strove for perfection, and the closest she had come was a Pegasus named Flutershy

The name danced around in her head, compelling her to smile as her eyes closed without her knowing, pictures of the Pegasus now joined the name, creating a soothing ambience as her thoughts whispered Fluttershy to a collage of images or deep turquoise eyes, pink flowing hair and a smile that would, could and should melt the hearts of a cockatrice.

Rarity smiled in her semi-conscious state as a mental image of Fluttershy swirled in a green meadow. Accompanying her were many birds and various other animals from the nearby woodland, following her around the meadow as though she were their mother, or as though she had for them the most delicious food.

Rarity now slipped into a deep sleep as the dream world solidified around her, the meadow became green and full of life, the sky became blue and clear, she could hear birds, and the sweetest singing voice she had ever heard.

She realized she had been here before, and she also knew what was coming next, and yet she did not try to stop it. She knew what she was to see when she looked up, and saw Fluttershy was the one singing the sweet sounds in the air. Light, breezy and melodious sounds that filled the very air and made Rarity want to either join in or cry.

So she chose the latter. A clear, crystal blue tear dropped down her cheek and to the floor, and Fluttershy stopped at the impossibly loud tinkling noise it made on the grass. Rarity watched in abject terror as Fluttershy’s face contorted into one of anger, and she began walking towards her.

“Rarity” she chided “you should know better than to sneak up on me.” She gave a light smirk, one that Rarity blushed at for some reason. One that made the meadow feel thirty degrees too hot.

Fluttershy edged ever closer to Rarity, who had no choice but to stay rooted to the spot, both in fear and excitement of what was about to come. She knew what was coming, and she wanted it so badly, but she also wanted it to stop.

But it did not stop. Fluttershy continued her advances, and Rarity had backed into a tree. She gasped and looked behind her, then quickly back at the predator now pressing her onto her hind hooves against the tree. A hoof brushed a stray strand of her plush, purple mane out of her eyes like it had every other time, and the mare in front of her was now impossibly close.

“I think for that” Fluttershy said in a low whisper that made Rarity’s knees buckle “you need to be punished.”

Rarity’s mouth grew dry as Fluttershy’s hoof was now at the back of her head, pulling her face ever closer, the other one was circling around the trio of diamonds on her flank, and Rarity could not help but let a moan escape her lips, as a soft, velvety touch of Fluttershy’s yielding lips captured her attention fully, her breath hitching as the kiss became impossibly hot. The timid mare was not so timid anymore, and that fact alone made her jolt in her sleep and return to reality.

Jolting awake with her heart fluttering madly in her chest, breath coming in shallow gasps and a blush kissing her cheeks was nothing new to Rarity after this dream. What was new this time was the longing she had to close her eyes and continue it.

She shook her head madly and sighed, sitting up on the bed and burying her face within her hooves. She shook her head from side to site attempting to dispel the lingering images, but one would not go away, no matter how hard she tried; She could not get the image of deep turquoise eyes and a sultry smirk on the face of a certain shy Pegasus.

She laid back on the plush pillows and just stared at the ceiling, nary even blinking outside, the sun dipped lower and lower, ever so slightly succumbing to the night.

As Rarity watched a single bird flit past the window, she wondered if she could ever get away from the dreams that had invaded her mind in the recent weeks. Perhaps she was seeing TOO much of her feathered friend.

She allowed a small giggle at that. But the point still stood. Perhaps if she took it upon herself to cancel her next spa trip because she was… too bogged down with work perhaps?

She sighed. She hated to lie to poor Fluttershy. No doubt it would damage her already preciously precarious self-esteem if she detected so much as a whisper of Rarity’s lies.

Rarity snorted. It would make her drop dead if she knew Rarity had been dreaming about her like THAT, it would probably make her blush and shy away in her adorable little way if she knew Rarity was dreaming about her at all.

She of course, knew the real reason she could never seem to get the yellow Pegasus mare to leave her dreams, but she would never admit it to herself anytime soon. That was simply not ladylike, and her parents would sooner disown her than find out she had fallen for a mare. They had made it quite clear during her foalhood, that they viewed those kinds of ponies as freaks. As loving an forgiving as they were, they had to draw the line somewhere.

Another sigh, this one accompanied with a flutter of her eyelashes as her body tried to give up in exhaustion, but she would not allow it. She knew the dreams would be too....

Oh, she couldn't find a word for it. But she would NOT have anymore to do with that dream tonight. Although she wanted to...

Rarity groaned and attempted to suffocate herself with her pillow in an attempt to drown out the lingering blush, the thoughts and return her heart rate to normal. The first twinkling of stars now pierced the veil of black outside, and Rarity watched them, sighing once more.

Fluttershy eagerly watched the sky from her window, longing for a shooting star so she could make a wish, something, anything to give her hope.

She sighed after a few minutes, no such hope came. Nothing was going to set her free, unless she took control of her confidence. She chuckled to herself as she ambled over to the bed and climbed into it, demurely throwing the covers over herself.

Like THAT's ever going to happen Flutters.

She sighed once more and smiled as she closed her eyes, dreams of a field covered in snow and a purple, flowing river filled her night. A simple dream, which was the prequel to so much more.

The river winded and meandered as Fluttershy followed it, curving and waving through the white fields. It reminded her of something, something important, as though she should know what it is…

She tried, she did try to remember, but couldn’t.

A breeze blew through the snowy fields, and over the purple river, and Fluttershy closed her eyes as it washed over her, seemingly tugging at her coat like the hooves of a lover.

A deep blush came to her cheeks, but she forced her eyes to remain shut as the wind took on a more real shape and form. She felt the soft texture of fur, the hard point of a hoof running through her coat, across her chest, up her slender neck and into her mane.

There was a gentle pressure on her head, and she took a step forward. A second hoof wrapped around her, and she could sense another pony lean into her, feel their breath on her cheek.

A sensual voice whispered “be free” and the hooves let her go. Fluttershy opened her eyes wide and before she could realize exactly who was standing in front of her, she saw two deep sapphires with black centres, and a dazzling smile of the pony they belonged to. The pony blew her a kiss, and she blushed a deep crimson as she realized who this pony was.

This was Rarity. And at that point, Fluttershy knew it could never have been anypony else. In a stark, unexpected moment of confidence, Fluttershy lunged forward and gripped the mare’s cheeks, planting a kiss on her cheek, then pulled away, hiding behind her mane. Dream-Rarity giggled and stepped a bit closer, brushing the strand of her mane away from her face and cupping her cheeks gently.

“Let me show you a REAL kiss” she said with a smile, and before Fluttershy could protest, the mare’s lips were upon hers, silencing al but the scarcest of whimpers from the yellow Pegasus. She moaned and deepened the kiss.

And that was when a harsh beam of light from outside roused her from her slumber. It was morning. And Fluttershy felt different… like she was too hot…

She sighed and folded her blanket back, sitting up in bed and staring out the window, where a fresh, morning sunrise had begun to seep colour back into the black and blue world. She tilted her head and watched as the sun crept higher in the sky, before responsibilities roused her from the bed.

She felt like she had forgotten something, something important, and she felt slightly excited today for some reason. She furrowed her brow ad trotted over to her calendar, where one date each week was circled. She saw that today was one of said circled days.

“Oh!” she said to herself, a great smile breaking out on her face “Spa day with Rarity!” she did a little dance in the centre of the bedroom. She always enjoyed those.

But… there was another niggling voice in her head, saying one thing over and over, forcing her to reflect on it. The dream. The dream of those soft hooves and tender lips, causing her to blush profusely where she stood.

Should she tell Rarity about it?

No! What if she misconstrued it? What if she scolded her for dreaming about her that way? She was too classy for that, she as demure and ladylike and calm and…

…She was laying on her bed, mane in tatters, tear smearing the mascara as she worried and feared for that day. She was about to meet Fluttershy for their weekly spa trip! And she hadn’t even begun to think of an excuse, nor had she been able to look at her friend for the last weeks because of her dreams.

She bit down on her hoof and began to gnaw away at the filed appendage, her eyes darting around, as if hope was suddenly going to jump out of the clutter and say “SURPRISE!”

Alas, nothing did, heck, Rarity would’ve settled for PINKIE ruining her fear-fest and presenting her with a problem, a favour, anything!

She got up and began to pace, levitating a makeup wipe to her face and removing the smeared stuff.

Okay Rarity, you can do this. It’s just a spa date, well, not a date, but a spa trip nonetheless, you’ve done it last week. True you nearly took advantage of the poor pony in the bath but… oh she looked so…

She shook her head and  groaned, slamming her head onto the soft bed repeatedly.

GET!

An impact shook the bed

Out!

Another

Of!

One more

My!

And a final impact

Head!

Rarity fell to the bed as the thoughts failed to go away. She finally stood up and trotted to the bathroom. She would just have to grin and bear it, like she had countless other times. She turned on the water, not even caring that it was cold, and washed off a sleepless night of worrying and endless thoughts.

As she stepped out of the shower, she dried herself with a handy spell Twilight had showed her, before sitting at her vanity and brushing through her mane. She glanced at the clock, suspended on the wall, relentlessly ticking away the time before her meeting with Fluttershy. Three hours, then the spa would last for four hours.

She shook her head, but remained silent, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she brushed through her mane. She honestly had no idea how she would survive with the Pegasus in such close proximity to her.

She sighed and plastered on a smile for her reflection.

"You can do this Rarity, you're just being a bit overdramatic that's all..." she tried to convince herself, and glanced at the clock again. Sweetie Belle would be up in a few minutes for school, and if she saw her sister like this, well, she wouldn't hear the end of it.

Despite all her thoughts, she let out a chuckle at the thought of her sister shocked by seeing Rarity's normally-perfect mane in tatters from lack of sleep.

She smiled genuinely now, running the brush through her mane and bringing the curlers over, curling the mane into her signature style, nodding at her reflection in the mirror.

Perfect.

She got up off of the chair and trotted to the door, opening it wand walking down the stairs to the kitchen, hoping to get some breakfast started. Nearly as soon as she opened the cupboard to pick up a pot or a pan, there was a quiet knock at the door.

She turned in surprise to the large, oak door and trotted towards it. It was only 6am. Too early for a customer.

She opened the door, and was surprised to see a yellow Pegasus, pink mane curled expertly, and a shy smile on her face.

"H-hello Rarity" she said with a smile, and Rarity blinked before she sighed and thought to herself; It's going to be a long day...