The Wheel of Shipsby Luminous CometChaptersA Hearth's Warming Thank You (Rarity x Vinyl Scratch)Cutie Pie (Rainbow Dash x Marble Pie)Major Dream Vibes (Princess Luna x Treehugger)A Lesson In Signals (Cheerilee x Rainbow Dash)Special Delivery (Princess Luna x Derpy Hooves)Pillow Pie (Fluttershy x Pinkie Pie)Works Every Time (Twilight x Spitfire)A Hearth's Warming Thank You (Rarity x Vinyl Scratch)The days just before Hearth's Warming Eve were awfully busy, for all of Rarity's locations, but especially for Rarity 4 U in Manehattan. Countless ponies needed a last-minute gift, or an outfit for the holidays, not to mention the amount of orders Rarity had to finish just in time for the holidays. But even the most stressful day ends at some point. It was almost nighttime when she hugged all her assistants and sent them on home, leaving her almost by herself to lock up. Almost. For this last day, even DJ Pon3 had been willing to help out, lending the store some Hearth's Warming atmosphere with lights and seasonal music, matching the bit of decor that Rarity had hung up herself. And now, when everypony else had left, and her own things were easy enough to pack up, she silently helped with moving the mannequins and shutting off the lights. Together, the two unicorns had the store cleaned up in minutes and Rarity sighed when she looked at the dark, empty interior. "Oh, thank you so much for all your help today, Vinyl," she said with a sigh, addressing the DJ by her given name she had since learned, and gently touching her fetlock with her hoof. "You didn't have to stay - in fact you didn't have to come at all today -, so I truly appreciate your work." The mute unicorn shrugged with a smile. She usually seemed so aloof, hiding behind her shades, but with how late it had gotten and with the store in darkness now, the two of them only illuminated by the streetlights from outside, she had taken them off and put them into her saddlebags with her records. And her eyes were very expressive, telling Rarity that it was her pleasure - perhaps that it was even in the Hearth's Warming spirit! Though that might have been Rarity's overactive imagination. Vinyl turned to head to the door, but Rarity lightly touched her side to stop her. "Oh, wait just a moment, darling. I have a little something for you." She quickly went back behind the counter and retrieved a small basket, decorated with small pine branches and a blue bow. "It's not quite Hearth's Warming yet, but I did want to show my appreciation and get you a little gift." Vinyl's expression told of surprise, but then excitement, and she took the basket from Rarity's magic hold into her own, levitating it underneath her head to gaze into it. "I'm not sure if you wear hair clips on your off days, but this one looks so much like your cutie mark, I thought it was a grand idea. And when I noticed your mane was dyed, I thought you must already have the appropriate shampoo, but you can never have enough, right, when you must use it so often? Oh and that bottle of foam there is for your coat. It can be so difficult to keep a bright hue like ours pristine." Rarity chuckled nervously when she saw the DJ's crooked smile. "Oh dear, listen to me prattle on. Surely none of those required explanation." She levitated her blanket coat over her back and made ready to leave, heading to the door with her. Just when they would have stepped out, Vinyl's hoof gently stopped her by the chest. She looked questioningly to her and - at her nodding upward - looked up at the doorframe. There, directly above them, hung a small bundle of mistletoe. She laughed quietly. "Oh dear, look at us. Caught under the mistletoe," she joked, before leaning in to give Vinyl just a small peck on the cheek. Instead, the hoof found purchase on her chest and gently pushed her back against the doorframe, and Vinyl leaned in herself, capturing her lips with her own. Heat rushed into Rarity's cheeks and her heart beat faster, beating against the gentle yet firm hoof holding her in place, while the startled intake of breath brought with it the scents of blueberries and coconut. This boldness, this confidence, this... skill. Rarity's eyes drifted closed, just moments before Vinyl parted from her. Her weak voice hummed a short melody under her breath, in lieu of speaking, and her tail brushed past Rarity's flank as she walked out the door. When Rarity opened her eyes, she could just catch her last glance, a confident smirk as she was licking her lips. Cutie Pie (Rainbow Dash x Marble Pie)"...and this is my little, itty-bitty baby sister, Marble!" Rainbow snapped out of her drifting thoughts. She didn't even remember how this had started, her and Pinkie pouring over a scrapbook of her family. And she tuned out for most of it, but now she was wide awake. That picture, which Pinkie was pointing to with her hoof, that young mare, it caught her attention. "And that's all my family on the farm. But, ooh, I think I still have pictures of my cousins somewhere!" "Uh, Pinkie, wait!" Rainbow had stood up and put her hoof on Pinkie's shoulder, like she could physically stop her thoughts from wandering. "Um, heh, why don't you tell me more about your sisters? I'm kinda curious now. Why don't you start with, uh, I dunno, let's say, Marble." It was a horrible attempt at sounding casual about it, but Pinkie was too excited to notice. She plopped down next to her again and started looking for as many pictures of her little sister as she could find as she just released a flood of words. "Oh, I love Marble, she is so cute! She kind of doesn't like to talk in front of strangers, oh, she doesn't even like talking out loud to any of us most of the time, but she's so smart, and even though the work on the farm is hard on her, she never gives up and" Pinkie gasped loudly and jumped up again. "ooh, I have to show you the necklace she made me, she is so good with her hooves! I'm so proud of my baby sister!" As Pinkie started rummaging through her things, Rainbow's mind focused in on those last two words. "Hey, uh... you say 'baby sister', so... how old is Marble?" "Oh, she's two years and four months younger than me! So she's--" She gasped again. "Ohmygosh, that means she's almost as little as you!" "Ugh, come on..." She acted annoyed, but that information was actually a relief. It would have been really awkward if she'd been too young for her. "And, um, does she... have a boyfriend?" "Huh?" Pinkie pulled her head from the storage box she had been rooting around in, a bundle of streamers caught on her ear. "Why would you wanna know that?" "Oh, heh, Maud has a boyfriend, right?" she quickly said, somehow managing to pull on information she hadn't actually been listening for earlier, "So I guess it was on my mind." "Hmm." Pinkie narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer to her. "Nope. She's still single." "Cool! I mean... yeah, cool." Rainbow fanned her wings a little, trying to mask her traitorous body language by pretending to just stretch them. "Dashie..." Pinkie came crawling out of the box, moving closer again. For a moment, Rainbow was reminded of a horror movie, a filly with a log mane crawling out of a well. A movie that totally did not keep her up two nights in a row. "Why did you ask that?" "Hey, I told you, it was kinda on my mind." She started taking steps back as Pinkie didn't stop advancing. "You know Twilight always says, uh... asking questions to engage the... presentation?" Pinkie raised an eyebrow, but stopped her advance. "Oki-doki," she said slowly, before her smile returned and she hopped back to her boxes. "She's pretty shy, anyway, and all of us are pretty protective, especially Limestone." Rainbow Dash sighed in relief, though now she had the image of three massive boulders in her mind, standing between her and this cute mare. Well, two boulders and a roll of sugar floss. "So, do you think she likes mares?" she stupidly asked next. Major Dream Vibes (Princess Luna x Treehugger)It had been a long night. Nightmares and anxiety dreams were more common this time of year and though Luna did her best to help as many ponies as she could, she had to look out for her own mental health as well. It had been a difficult lesson to learn, to internalise properly, to practice what she preached. And yet, she couldn't wake up early. Shirking her duties was not something she was willing to do. She had to at least patrol two or three more dreams. It pained her to ignore the distress emanating from so many of them, but she knew she couldn't help them all tonight. Surely they would forgive her if she got to them one night later, or two. Instead, she found the opposite. The calmest dream she could find. She stopped in front of it, only seeing a small, wavering aspect of it. Would she be welcome here? To invade ponies' dreams to aid them was one thing, but to let herself in somewhere without such need, would she not just be an invader? Might she even make their dream worse? Luna took a deep breath - or imagined she did, for she did not breathe in this realm. Perhaps her body did the same, back in the comfort of her bedchamber, but she did not know. She imagined her sister, and Twilight Sparkle, who had become such an aid to her as well, thinking of what they would tell her. To not let things weigh on her so much. With a quiet sigh, she stepped forward into this dream. She wouldn't even need to make her presence known. Just some relaxation, or even just to sate her curiosity. She emerged into a meadow, tall trees growing in smooth, bending shapes all around, like dancers frozen in the middle of an elegant step. A pleasant breeze tussled her mane, refreshing but not cold. It made countless leaves and petals dance in the air, forever falling from the trees that would never be bare. Luna took a deep breath - or not, we've been over this - her lips curling into a smile. Being here was soothing, just like she had hoped. She began walking across the meadow, between fields of wild flowers of all colours. Soon, the breeze carried more than the petals. There was a pleasant scent, and soft music. Luna began to follow the sound, wondering if it did have an origin, or if it was simply ever-present in this dream. It didn't take too long for her to find the source. On a slight incline, creating a hill that overlooked the ever-expanding surroundings, was a small mountain of cushions and pillows. The music emanated from there and drifted down into the untouched valleys. Movement caught Luna's eye. A pegasus, dressed in a sheer gown, which danced in the breeze alongside her long mane as she moved through the flowers. She recognised her easily. Fluttershy, the one who had come to bear the Element of Kindness. Though she was just a figment here, an image of the real self created by the dreamer. Now her curiosity was piqued all the more. She trotted up to the cushions slowly, hoping not to startle the dreamer. When she was close enough, she saw her, an earth pony with a green coat, her mane spilling over her shoulders in thick dreads, lying on her back while her hooves played with a stringed instrument, creating the music that drifted along the wind, more complex than such an instrument should be able to produce, were it not for her own imagination. "Whoa... welcome, beautiful stranger," the pony said gently, once she had opened her eyes and noticed Luna's presence. She immediately remembered that she shouldn't be here. This pony was having a pleasant dream, she didn't need her intervention. But to simply leave now might leave her just more confused. "We apologise for invading thy dream thus, good Treehugger," she said formally, plucking the dreamer's name from the dream's essence, "Know there is no cause for alarm, we are merely passing through." "No need to be sorry. Any babe is welcome in my dream." "Babe?" Luna scoffed. "We realise thou didst not mean to offend, but let thee be assured, we are no child." Treehugger's laugh came slowly, melodically. It was almost hypnotising. "Your vibes are so rigid. Come chill a bit." This Luna did understand, though just barely. She was about to reject the invitation, when she remembered that that was actually the reason she had sought out this dream. To "chill". She lifted one hoof at a time, each silver horseshoe slipping away into nothing, the rest of her regalia following as well. She beat her wings to not step all over the cushions, setting herself down across the pile. To her surprise, Treehugger adjusted herself to lean her head on her flank, continuing to casually play her instrument. "Close your eyes. Enjoy the sweet scents of nature. Let all your stress just fade away." "If only it were so easy. One does not simply--" "Shhh." Treehugger shushed her softly, nuzzling her neck. "Just let it all fade away." Luna sighed. It was at least worth a try. She crossed her front hooves and rested her chin on them, closing her eyes. It was so much easier than she thought. Between the breeze, the soft cushions, the music, and not least of all, Treehugger herself. The dreamer hummed and eventually laid down next to her, pushing back against her in a comforting way. Luna had dropped onto her side at some point and raised her leg to put it over the earth pony, cuddling with her in a way she hadn't done in a long time. And with her sister, of course she was always the little spoon by default. "Good Morrow, sister!" Luna said cheerfully as she entered the dining room, taking her seat across from Celestia. "And my thanks for preparing breakfast again!" "Oh, you're in good cheer." Celestia smiled, visibly still tired. The sun was raised, but so many things were still on her list for the day, and she wasn't even fully awake yet. Perhaps she aught to take time to 'chill' soon as well. "I had the most restful night. Though, there is one thing I must ask your council on this morning." "Of course, ask away." "In today's colloquial terms, what does it mean to be called a 'babe'?" Celestia spit her coffee over her pancakes. A Lesson In Signals (Cheerilee x Rainbow Dash)"Thank you so much for coming to help today, Rainbow Dash. I wasn't sure who else to turn to," Cheerilee said happily. It was a lie. She could have asked a whole lot of ponies, some of which would have likely been happy to help her with looking after the school foals. But she wanted to ask Rainbow Dash. "No worries! I'm great with foals! You'll see, I'll make this the best school trip they've ever had." She puffed out her chest a little, with that proud smirk she always carried. "Oh, I'm sure. Just, please make sure they stay on the trail and none of them get lost." "No worries, Miss Cheerilee." They were the same words, but Rainbow Dash said them somewhat more seriously this time. It was a small thing, but enough to let her know that she took the responsibility seriously. She then beat her wings and soared over the assembled group, touching down smoothly in front of all the foals. "Okay, kids, I'm assigning you groups! Scoots, you're my first deputy! Rumble, you're the second! And you, uh, class speaker..." "Silver Spoon." "Right! Silver, you're the third! You're in charge of making sure your group stays together! Everypony split up equally behind the deputies!" The group strategy actually worked very well and the deputies were all excited about their role and handled the responsibility well. Cheerilee could mostly focus on the lessons she was hoping to impart during the nature walk, while Rainbow Dash stayed behind and above the group, making sure none of the students got lost. Of course it wasn't without distractions. Here and there, the kids would rather talk to Rainbow Dash instead of pay attention, but she didn't feel too harshly about it. It was supposed to be a fun trip for them after all. And Cheerilee stole her own glances at her assistant as well. The confident tumbles through the air when she quickly switched sides, or headed to another group, the hoarse laugh that cut through the buzzing of voices sometimes, the assuring looks every time they locked eyes for a moment. It had been selfish of her to favour her like this, but she had made a good choice after all. For the kids and for herself. The last of the foals hurried out of the school building, all of them saying goodbye to Miss Cheerilee and to Rainbow Dash as they passed by them. She sighed wistfully as she watched them go and finally went to her desk to order her materials. "Thank you again for taking the time today, Dash," she said casually, trying out the nickname. "Yeah, no problem. I... didn't do anything wrong, did I?" Cheerilee couldn't help but smile. Now she was showing vulnerability, now that none of the little ones who idolised her were around to see. "No, you did great. I would have never thought about the groups and the... deputies." She chuckled as she walked up next to her and they began to leave. "Works for the flying cadets, so why not with the foals." Rainbow perked up at the praise and puffed up her chest again. Cheerilee giggled and walked a little closer, her flank brushing against the pegasus' wing. "I want to thank you properly. How about you join me for dinner tonight?" she asked, her voice lowered a little. "Oh, sure. I don't have other plans." That was a... yes. It certainly wasn't rejection. But the success was dampened a little by how casually she had accepted. "Then let's go to the pizzeria. You could pick me up? I can't exactly reach your place," she joked, while pushing it a bit further, lightly bumping her flank and flicking her tail over Rainbow's. She was close enough that the other mare reflexively opened her wing, hovering it over Cheerilee's back so it wouldn't be caught between them. A long moment passed, as they just stood side by side on the empty school yard, before Rainbow Dash spoke up. "Are you... flirting with me?" she asked, unsure. Cheerilee groaned softly. "I have been all day, but thank you for noticing." "Wait... all day?" Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow, her eyes darting about as she seemed to search her memories. "So... you didn't ask me for help because I'm the best?" "Dash, no offence... if I wanted the best help, I would have asked Applejack. Or the princess." "Oh." Her ears drooped a little, but then her eyes lit up again with realisation. "So you asked me, because... you're into me?" "I know, I can't believe it either," Cheerilee said drily, but couldn't help her smile. "So... around seven?" Author's Note The randomiser spit this ship out three times. It really wanted me to write this. Special Delivery (Princess Luna x Derpy Hooves)Luna slowly breathed out, almost in time with her sister. When she opened her eyes, the warm light of the sun had faded and the moon stood in its place, stars beginning to twinkle in the firmament, one by one. "Well, good night, Luna," Celestia said with a relieved sigh as she turned to leave the balcony and head to her bedchambers. "Rest well, sister." Luna stood in the open air for a bit longer. She liked watching the stars expand across the sky. It wasn't time for her to observe the dream world yet, most ponies were still awake. Sometimes she would wander the halls at this time, or go for a fly around the grounds, but tonight she felt like just staying here and enjoying the cold breeze. For a while she stood there, before she finally decided to turn around and head inside. But she was only a few steps away from the balcony and around the corner, when a sudden yelp caught her attention, followed by a crash and the fluttering of something in the wind, then a quiet groan. Quickly, she came back around the corner to see a grey pegasus, sprawled out on the balcony. A brittle part of the railing had broken and the crumbled stone surrounded her, her eyes rolling dizzily in their sockets. The bag she was carrying had slipped free and a small fortune of letters and scrolls had spread out over the space. Luna galloped over and quickly looked out into the night, searching for any reason for the crash. An aggressor, a beast, even just an out-of-place storm cloud. But nothing stood out to her, and so she turned her attention back to the mail pony, who was starting to pick herself up. She shook her head and one of her eyes looked up at the princess, the other slightly off. "Oh no. I'm so sorry." She stumbled to her hooves and winced, lifting one of them off the floor again. "I'm sorry, I just--oops!" She backed off, lowering herself into a clumsy curtsy, at which point her dock bumped into the other side of the railing. The corners of Luna's mouth cracked into a smile, but she composed herself quickly and let the silent chuckle instead escape through her nostrils as a quiet huff. It wouldn't do to laugh at her. "Thou hasn't done wrong, t'was evidently an accident. And yet, why dost thou fly thy deliveries in the dark? And why here?" "Oh, uh..." The pegasus tilted her head. She folded her wings, but one of them didn't fold all the way and hovered over her side awkwardly. "I have letters for the castle staff. Some...where..." She looked disheartened as she began to search the letters scattered around. It wrenched Luna's heart with pity. "But I, heh, got a little lost. And now I'm so late..." Hoofbeats came down the hall and two guards rounded the corner. They didn't brandish their weapons, but they looked stern enough to make the pegasus wince at the sight of their dark armour. "Princess! Is anything amiss, we saw somepony flying in this way!" Luna turned halfway and extended one wing behind the startled mare. "'Tis no aggression at play. But there is need. One of thee shalt call a healer to our chambers, the other gather up this correspondence and have it sorted." Derpy - she finally introduced herself on the way to Luna's chambers - accepted the princess' generosity with no complaint, but was still profusely apologetic and evidently embarrassed about the situation. Luna watched with slight concern as she limped beside her, but felt that extending a hoof directly was not sorely needed and perhaps a bit too intimate. She provided a cushion for her and sat by her side as they waited for the healer. The other guard came back first, all letters stacked back in the bag, then left again with the ones meant for the staff. More apologies and embarrassed gratitude followed. "I've really done it now," she finally said quietly, looking down at her injured hoof. "I knew I should have stayed on office duty." "Mistakes are inevitable," Luna said, hoping to sound sagely, "But thou hast not failed in thy duty. The letters have reached their recipients." Derpy laughed sadly, but her smile was surprisingly strong. "Yeah. I always get there eventually. Though, maybe I'm not getting anywhere else soon." There was a knock on the door and Luna called the healer inside. He took some time to inspect Derpy's injuries, before concluding that her wing was only bruised and she'd fly again in the morning with some rest, though her hoof was sprained and would need more time. "Perhaps she should rest in one of the--" "Thank you. We appreciate thy council and apologise for waking thee this night." Luna's quiet but firm interruption didn't leave much argument and the healer excused himself again. Derpy watched him leave, before looking up at the princess, uncertainty in her expression. Luna wasn't used to the comforting spiel, the way her sister was, but something about this pony awoke a protectiveness in her. More than a duty, but a desire to ensure that she was safe and protected. "We will see to our duties soon. But we will not leave from here. Thou should rest thy body and take comfort." Her smile was uncertain. She tried to mirror Celestia, but she could not see her own expression. Did she radiate a maternal calm, or did all her second guesses read plainly on her face? "Thank you, your Highness." The pegasus' smile, by contrast, was possibly the most serenely wholesome expression she had ever seen worn by any subject. And without hesitation, she settled on her side, her bruised wing carefully extended, and closed her eyes. Luna sat in silence for a while, until the soft, even breaths of the mail mare made her certain she was asleep. Perhaps she aught to make sure. Just for a moment. She closed her eyes and let herself sink away into the realm of dreams, already latching onto Derpy's string of consciousness. Derpy tended not to remember her dreams. If she did, they were scraps and feelings she could only make sense of half the time. But this night, she remembered with surprising clarity. It had been hectic at first, a panicked dash away from something. or towards something? But soon, she was enveloped in a bed of warm, dark feathers. And when she awoke, the princess was still right next to her, just like she had said. Her wing still ached a little bit, but she beat them a few times and didn't find it hard to endure. Gliding part of the way, at least to the station, and take the train back to Ponyville would be fine, as long as she remembered not to land on the sprained hoof. When she left, she still wasn't sure how to engage with the princess. Her presence was commanding, but she also seemed to reject overt formality. So she left it at another heartfelt thank you and a careful curtsy before making sure she had her mail bag and her hat, then left the castle from the balcony where she had crashed. She found herself staring out the train window, her thoughts drifting always back to the princess. Her elegant movements, the protective wing draped over her. That dorky smile. Pillow Pie (Fluttershy x Pinkie Pie)Fluttershy quietly gazed out of the window behind her couch, raindrops drumming against the glass. All her outdoor critters were huddled safely in their coops, most of her indoor friends were napping somewhere in the assorted dens and beds that made up so much of the corners of her living space. Even Harry must have retreated into his cave now, in the outer reaches of the forest. She sighed, her head sinking on a cushion so she didn't put it directly on the backrest - the couch was old now and the padding had sagged, the top of the backrest was quite uncomfortable by itself - and continued watching the rain fall. A cup of tea sat on her table, untouched. She had wanted to let it cool first, but now she was no longer in the mood to drink it at all. In fact, she was barely in the mood to do anything. Rainy days often had that kind of effect on her mood. Of course she knew that the rain was necessary, she had learned all about weather patterns and climate control in her foal days, but she still couldn't help the dullness setting in. A heavy, rhythmic knock on the front door nearly had her jump out of her skin. She squeaked and ducked her head down, away from the window. She didn't invite anypony over and nopony had announced themselves, so who would possibly need to see her during a rainstorm like this? Maybe they would just go away. At the second knock, she quickly slid off the couch and hurried to the door. She didn't want to be rude and leave somepony out in the rain, especially if it was an emergency. She unlatched the door and opened the top half first. As soon as she leaned out to see who it was, a pathetic wet sound sputtered out of her visitor. Pinkie Pie looked down at the kazoo between her lips with parental disappointment, the instrument having failed to produce its usual shrillness in the rain. Her mane was wet and heavy, hanging straight down and sticking to her coat rather than remaining in the usual wild curls. "Pinkie?" Fluttershy quickly unlatched the lower half of her door and pulled it open to let her friend in, who unceremoniously dropped her instrument onto the edge of the carpet, a spring in her step despite how much the rainwater aught to weigh her down. "Heya, Fluttershy! It's your half-birthday!" the pink pony announced with a flourish, which evidently was supposed to send some streamers flying, which instead just flopped wetly onto the carpet. Again, Pinkie narrowed her eyes at the decorations, as if they had personally slighted her. "Um... it is?" Fluttershy quickly closed the door to not let more rain in and spread her wings to fly up into her bathroom, quickly coming back with a towel for Pinkie. "Uh-huh! Sure is!" Pinkie confirmed with a bright smile. "Ooh, cute!" she commented upon seeing the pattern of flowers and bunnies on the towel, before putting it over her head and rubbing it vigorously against her mane. It regained some of its springiness, though it still hung straight instead of poofing back up into its usual style. "And I looked outside and I said 'Oh, today is Fluttershy's half-birthday, but it's so rainy and gray-y, and Fluttershy gets all mopey and sad-y on rain days, but she shouldn't be sad, because it's her half-birthday!' So now I'm here!" Pinkie grinned at Fluttershy while drying her haunches and tail, her flanks bobbing back and forth to a silent rhythm. Fluttershy stifled a giggle as she watched her. Even on gloomy days like this, Pinkie had so much energy, and so much of it to share. By contrast to the weather, her positivity seemed to shine so much brighter, too. "I was going to bring you cake, too, but..." Pinkie snorted with casual annoyance. "it got wet." The giggle rose into a snicker and Fluttershy dropped on her haunches, both forehooves covering her snout. "Rain tends to do that," she managed to say. "So, I need to improvise." Pinkie put the towel aside, her mane and coat messy and fluffed up. "Thus, I am your gift today!" She proudly put a hoof on her chest. Fluttershy tilted her head as heat rose into her cheeks. The offer brought to her vague memories of romance novels Rarity had insisted she borrow. "What do you mean?" "You gotta be happy today. And cuddles make you happy!" Pinkie pranced over to the couch and rolled herself onto her side, pushing her back into the corner and opening her hooves. "And right now, I'm a warm, fuzzy pillow!" Fluttershy hesitated only for a moment, before following her to the couch and carefully climbing onto it alongside her. She had to nudge herself closely into Pinkie's embrace to not have more than her hooves hanging off the side. She turned and shuffled, before finally settling halfway on her stomach, extending one wing over Pinkie's side instead of leaving it squeezed in between them, brushing the ends of her feathers gently over Pinkie's coat. Pinkie adjusted herself again as well, entangling her legs with Fluttershy until they had found a position that was comfortable for both of them, despite the narrow space. As soon as they had settled and Fluttershy began to relax, a long, slow sigh escaped her and she found herself sinking closely against Pinkie's warmth. "Thank you, Pinkie," she said softly, closing her eyes. "I needed this today." "I know," Pinkie whispered, her breath tickling Fluttershy's ear. The rain began to fall heavier, every drop thumping against the window, but it was a distant sound, compared to the rustling and the soft breaths right next to her. And the cold was completely banished from her mind, replaced by the steady, radiant warmth of the pony next to her. Works Every Time (Twilight x Spitfire)There was a knock on the office door. Too soft to come from one of Spitfire's teammates. She set down the papers she was studying and put her hooves together. "Come in." As suspected, it wasn't anypony from her team. Instead, it was Princess Twilight. Spitfire had expected her to come in sooner or later, so she simply straightened her back, switching to her outward-facing image, instead of the stern persona she used with the cadets. "Sorry to interrupt your work, Captain." "Not at all, Princess. I'm sorry I couldn't be much of a host. I do appreciate you taking the time to come and observe." Twilight sat down across from her, fidgeting a little. Spitfire slightly cocked her eyebrow, keeping her eyes locked on her behind her sunglasses, searching her expression, her body language. "It was my pleasure. I never took much of an interest before, but ever since Rainbow Dash joined your team, I've been watching more performances, and I suppose I got a little hooked." She was smiling, politely. As expected of royalty - even if her ascension was recent. "Well, it's a good way to spurn on the cadets, to tell them a princess is watching. I trust you... enjoyed the show, then?" She kept her eyes fixed on the princess' wings, which extended and fluffed up slightly, beyond her control. "Y-yes, absolutely! I finally understand what Rainbow Dash has been raving about ever since I got to know her." Her cheeks flushed a little and she didn't seem to notice the way her wings were betraying her. Such unawareness of her own body language was usually only found in pegasus foals. It was adorable. "I'm very pleased to hear that. Unfortunately, I can't entertain you for long today. I still have to review everypony's performance and make new training plans." Spitfire got up from behind her desk and trotted around it to lead the princess to the door personally. "Oh, of course. I just wanted to let you know personally that I would happily come back to watch you again," Twilight said quickly, also getting up to leave. "Of course, your Highness." Now was the time. She extended her wing a little, the outermost feather stroking very lightly over Twilight's flank. She caught her gaze and let her sunglasses slip down her muzzle a little to look into her eyes over the rim. "I'll fly for you anytime," she said in a lower tone. The rest of Twilight's good-bye was messy. Stuttering, flushed cheeks, a nervous chuckle. Spitfire smirked proudly to herself as she returned to work. Princess or not, she knew a fan crush when she saw one. And that move worked every time.
A Hearth's Warming Thank You (Rarity x Vinyl Scratch)The days just before Hearth's Warming Eve were awfully busy, for all of Rarity's locations, but especially for Rarity 4 U in Manehattan. Countless ponies needed a last-minute gift, or an outfit for the holidays, not to mention the amount of orders Rarity had to finish just in time for the holidays. But even the most stressful day ends at some point. It was almost nighttime when she hugged all her assistants and sent them on home, leaving her almost by herself to lock up. Almost. For this last day, even DJ Pon3 had been willing to help out, lending the store some Hearth's Warming atmosphere with lights and seasonal music, matching the bit of decor that Rarity had hung up herself. And now, when everypony else had left, and her own things were easy enough to pack up, she silently helped with moving the mannequins and shutting off the lights. Together, the two unicorns had the store cleaned up in minutes and Rarity sighed when she looked at the dark, empty interior. "Oh, thank you so much for all your help today, Vinyl," she said with a sigh, addressing the DJ by her given name she had since learned, and gently touching her fetlock with her hoof. "You didn't have to stay - in fact you didn't have to come at all today -, so I truly appreciate your work." The mute unicorn shrugged with a smile. She usually seemed so aloof, hiding behind her shades, but with how late it had gotten and with the store in darkness now, the two of them only illuminated by the streetlights from outside, she had taken them off and put them into her saddlebags with her records. And her eyes were very expressive, telling Rarity that it was her pleasure - perhaps that it was even in the Hearth's Warming spirit! Though that might have been Rarity's overactive imagination. Vinyl turned to head to the door, but Rarity lightly touched her side to stop her. "Oh, wait just a moment, darling. I have a little something for you." She quickly went back behind the counter and retrieved a small basket, decorated with small pine branches and a blue bow. "It's not quite Hearth's Warming yet, but I did want to show my appreciation and get you a little gift." Vinyl's expression told of surprise, but then excitement, and she took the basket from Rarity's magic hold into her own, levitating it underneath her head to gaze into it. "I'm not sure if you wear hair clips on your off days, but this one looks so much like your cutie mark, I thought it was a grand idea. And when I noticed your mane was dyed, I thought you must already have the appropriate shampoo, but you can never have enough, right, when you must use it so often? Oh and that bottle of foam there is for your coat. It can be so difficult to keep a bright hue like ours pristine." Rarity chuckled nervously when she saw the DJ's crooked smile. "Oh dear, listen to me prattle on. Surely none of those required explanation." She levitated her blanket coat over her back and made ready to leave, heading to the door with her. Just when they would have stepped out, Vinyl's hoof gently stopped her by the chest. She looked questioningly to her and - at her nodding upward - looked up at the doorframe. There, directly above them, hung a small bundle of mistletoe. She laughed quietly. "Oh dear, look at us. Caught under the mistletoe," she joked, before leaning in to give Vinyl just a small peck on the cheek. Instead, the hoof found purchase on her chest and gently pushed her back against the doorframe, and Vinyl leaned in herself, capturing her lips with her own. Heat rushed into Rarity's cheeks and her heart beat faster, beating against the gentle yet firm hoof holding her in place, while the startled intake of breath brought with it the scents of blueberries and coconut. This boldness, this confidence, this... skill. Rarity's eyes drifted closed, just moments before Vinyl parted from her. Her weak voice hummed a short melody under her breath, in lieu of speaking, and her tail brushed past Rarity's flank as she walked out the door. When Rarity opened her eyes, she could just catch her last glance, a confident smirk as she was licking her lips.
Cutie Pie (Rainbow Dash x Marble Pie)"...and this is my little, itty-bitty baby sister, Marble!" Rainbow snapped out of her drifting thoughts. She didn't even remember how this had started, her and Pinkie pouring over a scrapbook of her family. And she tuned out for most of it, but now she was wide awake. That picture, which Pinkie was pointing to with her hoof, that young mare, it caught her attention. "And that's all my family on the farm. But, ooh, I think I still have pictures of my cousins somewhere!" "Uh, Pinkie, wait!" Rainbow had stood up and put her hoof on Pinkie's shoulder, like she could physically stop her thoughts from wandering. "Um, heh, why don't you tell me more about your sisters? I'm kinda curious now. Why don't you start with, uh, I dunno, let's say, Marble." It was a horrible attempt at sounding casual about it, but Pinkie was too excited to notice. She plopped down next to her again and started looking for as many pictures of her little sister as she could find as she just released a flood of words. "Oh, I love Marble, she is so cute! She kind of doesn't like to talk in front of strangers, oh, she doesn't even like talking out loud to any of us most of the time, but she's so smart, and even though the work on the farm is hard on her, she never gives up and" Pinkie gasped loudly and jumped up again. "ooh, I have to show you the necklace she made me, she is so good with her hooves! I'm so proud of my baby sister!" As Pinkie started rummaging through her things, Rainbow's mind focused in on those last two words. "Hey, uh... you say 'baby sister', so... how old is Marble?" "Oh, she's two years and four months younger than me! So she's--" She gasped again. "Ohmygosh, that means she's almost as little as you!" "Ugh, come on..." She acted annoyed, but that information was actually a relief. It would have been really awkward if she'd been too young for her. "And, um, does she... have a boyfriend?" "Huh?" Pinkie pulled her head from the storage box she had been rooting around in, a bundle of streamers caught on her ear. "Why would you wanna know that?" "Oh, heh, Maud has a boyfriend, right?" she quickly said, somehow managing to pull on information she hadn't actually been listening for earlier, "So I guess it was on my mind." "Hmm." Pinkie narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer to her. "Nope. She's still single." "Cool! I mean... yeah, cool." Rainbow fanned her wings a little, trying to mask her traitorous body language by pretending to just stretch them. "Dashie..." Pinkie came crawling out of the box, moving closer again. For a moment, Rainbow was reminded of a horror movie, a filly with a log mane crawling out of a well. A movie that totally did not keep her up two nights in a row. "Why did you ask that?" "Hey, I told you, it was kinda on my mind." She started taking steps back as Pinkie didn't stop advancing. "You know Twilight always says, uh... asking questions to engage the... presentation?" Pinkie raised an eyebrow, but stopped her advance. "Oki-doki," she said slowly, before her smile returned and she hopped back to her boxes. "She's pretty shy, anyway, and all of us are pretty protective, especially Limestone." Rainbow Dash sighed in relief, though now she had the image of three massive boulders in her mind, standing between her and this cute mare. Well, two boulders and a roll of sugar floss. "So, do you think she likes mares?" she stupidly asked next.
Major Dream Vibes (Princess Luna x Treehugger)It had been a long night. Nightmares and anxiety dreams were more common this time of year and though Luna did her best to help as many ponies as she could, she had to look out for her own mental health as well. It had been a difficult lesson to learn, to internalise properly, to practice what she preached. And yet, she couldn't wake up early. Shirking her duties was not something she was willing to do. She had to at least patrol two or three more dreams. It pained her to ignore the distress emanating from so many of them, but she knew she couldn't help them all tonight. Surely they would forgive her if she got to them one night later, or two. Instead, she found the opposite. The calmest dream she could find. She stopped in front of it, only seeing a small, wavering aspect of it. Would she be welcome here? To invade ponies' dreams to aid them was one thing, but to let herself in somewhere without such need, would she not just be an invader? Might she even make their dream worse? Luna took a deep breath - or imagined she did, for she did not breathe in this realm. Perhaps her body did the same, back in the comfort of her bedchamber, but she did not know. She imagined her sister, and Twilight Sparkle, who had become such an aid to her as well, thinking of what they would tell her. To not let things weigh on her so much. With a quiet sigh, she stepped forward into this dream. She wouldn't even need to make her presence known. Just some relaxation, or even just to sate her curiosity. She emerged into a meadow, tall trees growing in smooth, bending shapes all around, like dancers frozen in the middle of an elegant step. A pleasant breeze tussled her mane, refreshing but not cold. It made countless leaves and petals dance in the air, forever falling from the trees that would never be bare. Luna took a deep breath - or not, we've been over this - her lips curling into a smile. Being here was soothing, just like she had hoped. She began walking across the meadow, between fields of wild flowers of all colours. Soon, the breeze carried more than the petals. There was a pleasant scent, and soft music. Luna began to follow the sound, wondering if it did have an origin, or if it was simply ever-present in this dream. It didn't take too long for her to find the source. On a slight incline, creating a hill that overlooked the ever-expanding surroundings, was a small mountain of cushions and pillows. The music emanated from there and drifted down into the untouched valleys. Movement caught Luna's eye. A pegasus, dressed in a sheer gown, which danced in the breeze alongside her long mane as she moved through the flowers. She recognised her easily. Fluttershy, the one who had come to bear the Element of Kindness. Though she was just a figment here, an image of the real self created by the dreamer. Now her curiosity was piqued all the more. She trotted up to the cushions slowly, hoping not to startle the dreamer. When she was close enough, she saw her, an earth pony with a green coat, her mane spilling over her shoulders in thick dreads, lying on her back while her hooves played with a stringed instrument, creating the music that drifted along the wind, more complex than such an instrument should be able to produce, were it not for her own imagination. "Whoa... welcome, beautiful stranger," the pony said gently, once she had opened her eyes and noticed Luna's presence. She immediately remembered that she shouldn't be here. This pony was having a pleasant dream, she didn't need her intervention. But to simply leave now might leave her just more confused. "We apologise for invading thy dream thus, good Treehugger," she said formally, plucking the dreamer's name from the dream's essence, "Know there is no cause for alarm, we are merely passing through." "No need to be sorry. Any babe is welcome in my dream." "Babe?" Luna scoffed. "We realise thou didst not mean to offend, but let thee be assured, we are no child." Treehugger's laugh came slowly, melodically. It was almost hypnotising. "Your vibes are so rigid. Come chill a bit." This Luna did understand, though just barely. She was about to reject the invitation, when she remembered that that was actually the reason she had sought out this dream. To "chill". She lifted one hoof at a time, each silver horseshoe slipping away into nothing, the rest of her regalia following as well. She beat her wings to not step all over the cushions, setting herself down across the pile. To her surprise, Treehugger adjusted herself to lean her head on her flank, continuing to casually play her instrument. "Close your eyes. Enjoy the sweet scents of nature. Let all your stress just fade away." "If only it were so easy. One does not simply--" "Shhh." Treehugger shushed her softly, nuzzling her neck. "Just let it all fade away." Luna sighed. It was at least worth a try. She crossed her front hooves and rested her chin on them, closing her eyes. It was so much easier than she thought. Between the breeze, the soft cushions, the music, and not least of all, Treehugger herself. The dreamer hummed and eventually laid down next to her, pushing back against her in a comforting way. Luna had dropped onto her side at some point and raised her leg to put it over the earth pony, cuddling with her in a way she hadn't done in a long time. And with her sister, of course she was always the little spoon by default. "Good Morrow, sister!" Luna said cheerfully as she entered the dining room, taking her seat across from Celestia. "And my thanks for preparing breakfast again!" "Oh, you're in good cheer." Celestia smiled, visibly still tired. The sun was raised, but so many things were still on her list for the day, and she wasn't even fully awake yet. Perhaps she aught to take time to 'chill' soon as well. "I had the most restful night. Though, there is one thing I must ask your council on this morning." "Of course, ask away." "In today's colloquial terms, what does it mean to be called a 'babe'?" Celestia spit her coffee over her pancakes.
A Lesson In Signals (Cheerilee x Rainbow Dash)"Thank you so much for coming to help today, Rainbow Dash. I wasn't sure who else to turn to," Cheerilee said happily. It was a lie. She could have asked a whole lot of ponies, some of which would have likely been happy to help her with looking after the school foals. But she wanted to ask Rainbow Dash. "No worries! I'm great with foals! You'll see, I'll make this the best school trip they've ever had." She puffed out her chest a little, with that proud smirk she always carried. "Oh, I'm sure. Just, please make sure they stay on the trail and none of them get lost." "No worries, Miss Cheerilee." They were the same words, but Rainbow Dash said them somewhat more seriously this time. It was a small thing, but enough to let her know that she took the responsibility seriously. She then beat her wings and soared over the assembled group, touching down smoothly in front of all the foals. "Okay, kids, I'm assigning you groups! Scoots, you're my first deputy! Rumble, you're the second! And you, uh, class speaker..." "Silver Spoon." "Right! Silver, you're the third! You're in charge of making sure your group stays together! Everypony split up equally behind the deputies!" The group strategy actually worked very well and the deputies were all excited about their role and handled the responsibility well. Cheerilee could mostly focus on the lessons she was hoping to impart during the nature walk, while Rainbow Dash stayed behind and above the group, making sure none of the students got lost. Of course it wasn't without distractions. Here and there, the kids would rather talk to Rainbow Dash instead of pay attention, but she didn't feel too harshly about it. It was supposed to be a fun trip for them after all. And Cheerilee stole her own glances at her assistant as well. The confident tumbles through the air when she quickly switched sides, or headed to another group, the hoarse laugh that cut through the buzzing of voices sometimes, the assuring looks every time they locked eyes for a moment. It had been selfish of her to favour her like this, but she had made a good choice after all. For the kids and for herself. The last of the foals hurried out of the school building, all of them saying goodbye to Miss Cheerilee and to Rainbow Dash as they passed by them. She sighed wistfully as she watched them go and finally went to her desk to order her materials. "Thank you again for taking the time today, Dash," she said casually, trying out the nickname. "Yeah, no problem. I... didn't do anything wrong, did I?" Cheerilee couldn't help but smile. Now she was showing vulnerability, now that none of the little ones who idolised her were around to see. "No, you did great. I would have never thought about the groups and the... deputies." She chuckled as she walked up next to her and they began to leave. "Works for the flying cadets, so why not with the foals." Rainbow perked up at the praise and puffed up her chest again. Cheerilee giggled and walked a little closer, her flank brushing against the pegasus' wing. "I want to thank you properly. How about you join me for dinner tonight?" she asked, her voice lowered a little. "Oh, sure. I don't have other plans." That was a... yes. It certainly wasn't rejection. But the success was dampened a little by how casually she had accepted. "Then let's go to the pizzeria. You could pick me up? I can't exactly reach your place," she joked, while pushing it a bit further, lightly bumping her flank and flicking her tail over Rainbow's. She was close enough that the other mare reflexively opened her wing, hovering it over Cheerilee's back so it wouldn't be caught between them. A long moment passed, as they just stood side by side on the empty school yard, before Rainbow Dash spoke up. "Are you... flirting with me?" she asked, unsure. Cheerilee groaned softly. "I have been all day, but thank you for noticing." "Wait... all day?" Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow, her eyes darting about as she seemed to search her memories. "So... you didn't ask me for help because I'm the best?" "Dash, no offence... if I wanted the best help, I would have asked Applejack. Or the princess." "Oh." Her ears drooped a little, but then her eyes lit up again with realisation. "So you asked me, because... you're into me?" "I know, I can't believe it either," Cheerilee said drily, but couldn't help her smile. "So... around seven?" Author's Note The randomiser spit this ship out three times. It really wanted me to write this.
Special Delivery (Princess Luna x Derpy Hooves)Luna slowly breathed out, almost in time with her sister. When she opened her eyes, the warm light of the sun had faded and the moon stood in its place, stars beginning to twinkle in the firmament, one by one. "Well, good night, Luna," Celestia said with a relieved sigh as she turned to leave the balcony and head to her bedchambers. "Rest well, sister." Luna stood in the open air for a bit longer. She liked watching the stars expand across the sky. It wasn't time for her to observe the dream world yet, most ponies were still awake. Sometimes she would wander the halls at this time, or go for a fly around the grounds, but tonight she felt like just staying here and enjoying the cold breeze. For a while she stood there, before she finally decided to turn around and head inside. But she was only a few steps away from the balcony and around the corner, when a sudden yelp caught her attention, followed by a crash and the fluttering of something in the wind, then a quiet groan. Quickly, she came back around the corner to see a grey pegasus, sprawled out on the balcony. A brittle part of the railing had broken and the crumbled stone surrounded her, her eyes rolling dizzily in their sockets. The bag she was carrying had slipped free and a small fortune of letters and scrolls had spread out over the space. Luna galloped over and quickly looked out into the night, searching for any reason for the crash. An aggressor, a beast, even just an out-of-place storm cloud. But nothing stood out to her, and so she turned her attention back to the mail pony, who was starting to pick herself up. She shook her head and one of her eyes looked up at the princess, the other slightly off. "Oh no. I'm so sorry." She stumbled to her hooves and winced, lifting one of them off the floor again. "I'm sorry, I just--oops!" She backed off, lowering herself into a clumsy curtsy, at which point her dock bumped into the other side of the railing. The corners of Luna's mouth cracked into a smile, but she composed herself quickly and let the silent chuckle instead escape through her nostrils as a quiet huff. It wouldn't do to laugh at her. "Thou hasn't done wrong, t'was evidently an accident. And yet, why dost thou fly thy deliveries in the dark? And why here?" "Oh, uh..." The pegasus tilted her head. She folded her wings, but one of them didn't fold all the way and hovered over her side awkwardly. "I have letters for the castle staff. Some...where..." She looked disheartened as she began to search the letters scattered around. It wrenched Luna's heart with pity. "But I, heh, got a little lost. And now I'm so late..." Hoofbeats came down the hall and two guards rounded the corner. They didn't brandish their weapons, but they looked stern enough to make the pegasus wince at the sight of their dark armour. "Princess! Is anything amiss, we saw somepony flying in this way!" Luna turned halfway and extended one wing behind the startled mare. "'Tis no aggression at play. But there is need. One of thee shalt call a healer to our chambers, the other gather up this correspondence and have it sorted." Derpy - she finally introduced herself on the way to Luna's chambers - accepted the princess' generosity with no complaint, but was still profusely apologetic and evidently embarrassed about the situation. Luna watched with slight concern as she limped beside her, but felt that extending a hoof directly was not sorely needed and perhaps a bit too intimate. She provided a cushion for her and sat by her side as they waited for the healer. The other guard came back first, all letters stacked back in the bag, then left again with the ones meant for the staff. More apologies and embarrassed gratitude followed. "I've really done it now," she finally said quietly, looking down at her injured hoof. "I knew I should have stayed on office duty." "Mistakes are inevitable," Luna said, hoping to sound sagely, "But thou hast not failed in thy duty. The letters have reached their recipients." Derpy laughed sadly, but her smile was surprisingly strong. "Yeah. I always get there eventually. Though, maybe I'm not getting anywhere else soon." There was a knock on the door and Luna called the healer inside. He took some time to inspect Derpy's injuries, before concluding that her wing was only bruised and she'd fly again in the morning with some rest, though her hoof was sprained and would need more time. "Perhaps she should rest in one of the--" "Thank you. We appreciate thy council and apologise for waking thee this night." Luna's quiet but firm interruption didn't leave much argument and the healer excused himself again. Derpy watched him leave, before looking up at the princess, uncertainty in her expression. Luna wasn't used to the comforting spiel, the way her sister was, but something about this pony awoke a protectiveness in her. More than a duty, but a desire to ensure that she was safe and protected. "We will see to our duties soon. But we will not leave from here. Thou should rest thy body and take comfort." Her smile was uncertain. She tried to mirror Celestia, but she could not see her own expression. Did she radiate a maternal calm, or did all her second guesses read plainly on her face? "Thank you, your Highness." The pegasus' smile, by contrast, was possibly the most serenely wholesome expression she had ever seen worn by any subject. And without hesitation, she settled on her side, her bruised wing carefully extended, and closed her eyes. Luna sat in silence for a while, until the soft, even breaths of the mail mare made her certain she was asleep. Perhaps she aught to make sure. Just for a moment. She closed her eyes and let herself sink away into the realm of dreams, already latching onto Derpy's string of consciousness. Derpy tended not to remember her dreams. If she did, they were scraps and feelings she could only make sense of half the time. But this night, she remembered with surprising clarity. It had been hectic at first, a panicked dash away from something. or towards something? But soon, she was enveloped in a bed of warm, dark feathers. And when she awoke, the princess was still right next to her, just like she had said. Her wing still ached a little bit, but she beat them a few times and didn't find it hard to endure. Gliding part of the way, at least to the station, and take the train back to Ponyville would be fine, as long as she remembered not to land on the sprained hoof. When she left, she still wasn't sure how to engage with the princess. Her presence was commanding, but she also seemed to reject overt formality. So she left it at another heartfelt thank you and a careful curtsy before making sure she had her mail bag and her hat, then left the castle from the balcony where she had crashed. She found herself staring out the train window, her thoughts drifting always back to the princess. Her elegant movements, the protective wing draped over her. That dorky smile.
Pillow Pie (Fluttershy x Pinkie Pie)Fluttershy quietly gazed out of the window behind her couch, raindrops drumming against the glass. All her outdoor critters were huddled safely in their coops, most of her indoor friends were napping somewhere in the assorted dens and beds that made up so much of the corners of her living space. Even Harry must have retreated into his cave now, in the outer reaches of the forest. She sighed, her head sinking on a cushion so she didn't put it directly on the backrest - the couch was old now and the padding had sagged, the top of the backrest was quite uncomfortable by itself - and continued watching the rain fall. A cup of tea sat on her table, untouched. She had wanted to let it cool first, but now she was no longer in the mood to drink it at all. In fact, she was barely in the mood to do anything. Rainy days often had that kind of effect on her mood. Of course she knew that the rain was necessary, she had learned all about weather patterns and climate control in her foal days, but she still couldn't help the dullness setting in. A heavy, rhythmic knock on the front door nearly had her jump out of her skin. She squeaked and ducked her head down, away from the window. She didn't invite anypony over and nopony had announced themselves, so who would possibly need to see her during a rainstorm like this? Maybe they would just go away. At the second knock, she quickly slid off the couch and hurried to the door. She didn't want to be rude and leave somepony out in the rain, especially if it was an emergency. She unlatched the door and opened the top half first. As soon as she leaned out to see who it was, a pathetic wet sound sputtered out of her visitor. Pinkie Pie looked down at the kazoo between her lips with parental disappointment, the instrument having failed to produce its usual shrillness in the rain. Her mane was wet and heavy, hanging straight down and sticking to her coat rather than remaining in the usual wild curls. "Pinkie?" Fluttershy quickly unlatched the lower half of her door and pulled it open to let her friend in, who unceremoniously dropped her instrument onto the edge of the carpet, a spring in her step despite how much the rainwater aught to weigh her down. "Heya, Fluttershy! It's your half-birthday!" the pink pony announced with a flourish, which evidently was supposed to send some streamers flying, which instead just flopped wetly onto the carpet. Again, Pinkie narrowed her eyes at the decorations, as if they had personally slighted her. "Um... it is?" Fluttershy quickly closed the door to not let more rain in and spread her wings to fly up into her bathroom, quickly coming back with a towel for Pinkie. "Uh-huh! Sure is!" Pinkie confirmed with a bright smile. "Ooh, cute!" she commented upon seeing the pattern of flowers and bunnies on the towel, before putting it over her head and rubbing it vigorously against her mane. It regained some of its springiness, though it still hung straight instead of poofing back up into its usual style. "And I looked outside and I said 'Oh, today is Fluttershy's half-birthday, but it's so rainy and gray-y, and Fluttershy gets all mopey and sad-y on rain days, but she shouldn't be sad, because it's her half-birthday!' So now I'm here!" Pinkie grinned at Fluttershy while drying her haunches and tail, her flanks bobbing back and forth to a silent rhythm. Fluttershy stifled a giggle as she watched her. Even on gloomy days like this, Pinkie had so much energy, and so much of it to share. By contrast to the weather, her positivity seemed to shine so much brighter, too. "I was going to bring you cake, too, but..." Pinkie snorted with casual annoyance. "it got wet." The giggle rose into a snicker and Fluttershy dropped on her haunches, both forehooves covering her snout. "Rain tends to do that," she managed to say. "So, I need to improvise." Pinkie put the towel aside, her mane and coat messy and fluffed up. "Thus, I am your gift today!" She proudly put a hoof on her chest. Fluttershy tilted her head as heat rose into her cheeks. The offer brought to her vague memories of romance novels Rarity had insisted she borrow. "What do you mean?" "You gotta be happy today. And cuddles make you happy!" Pinkie pranced over to the couch and rolled herself onto her side, pushing her back into the corner and opening her hooves. "And right now, I'm a warm, fuzzy pillow!" Fluttershy hesitated only for a moment, before following her to the couch and carefully climbing onto it alongside her. She had to nudge herself closely into Pinkie's embrace to not have more than her hooves hanging off the side. She turned and shuffled, before finally settling halfway on her stomach, extending one wing over Pinkie's side instead of leaving it squeezed in between them, brushing the ends of her feathers gently over Pinkie's coat. Pinkie adjusted herself again as well, entangling her legs with Fluttershy until they had found a position that was comfortable for both of them, despite the narrow space. As soon as they had settled and Fluttershy began to relax, a long, slow sigh escaped her and she found herself sinking closely against Pinkie's warmth. "Thank you, Pinkie," she said softly, closing her eyes. "I needed this today." "I know," Pinkie whispered, her breath tickling Fluttershy's ear. The rain began to fall heavier, every drop thumping against the window, but it was a distant sound, compared to the rustling and the soft breaths right next to her. And the cold was completely banished from her mind, replaced by the steady, radiant warmth of the pony next to her.
Works Every Time (Twilight x Spitfire)There was a knock on the office door. Too soft to come from one of Spitfire's teammates. She set down the papers she was studying and put her hooves together. "Come in." As suspected, it wasn't anypony from her team. Instead, it was Princess Twilight. Spitfire had expected her to come in sooner or later, so she simply straightened her back, switching to her outward-facing image, instead of the stern persona she used with the cadets. "Sorry to interrupt your work, Captain." "Not at all, Princess. I'm sorry I couldn't be much of a host. I do appreciate you taking the time to come and observe." Twilight sat down across from her, fidgeting a little. Spitfire slightly cocked her eyebrow, keeping her eyes locked on her behind her sunglasses, searching her expression, her body language. "It was my pleasure. I never took much of an interest before, but ever since Rainbow Dash joined your team, I've been watching more performances, and I suppose I got a little hooked." She was smiling, politely. As expected of royalty - even if her ascension was recent. "Well, it's a good way to spurn on the cadets, to tell them a princess is watching. I trust you... enjoyed the show, then?" She kept her eyes fixed on the princess' wings, which extended and fluffed up slightly, beyond her control. "Y-yes, absolutely! I finally understand what Rainbow Dash has been raving about ever since I got to know her." Her cheeks flushed a little and she didn't seem to notice the way her wings were betraying her. Such unawareness of her own body language was usually only found in pegasus foals. It was adorable. "I'm very pleased to hear that. Unfortunately, I can't entertain you for long today. I still have to review everypony's performance and make new training plans." Spitfire got up from behind her desk and trotted around it to lead the princess to the door personally. "Oh, of course. I just wanted to let you know personally that I would happily come back to watch you again," Twilight said quickly, also getting up to leave. "Of course, your Highness." Now was the time. She extended her wing a little, the outermost feather stroking very lightly over Twilight's flank. She caught her gaze and let her sunglasses slip down her muzzle a little to look into her eyes over the rim. "I'll fly for you anytime," she said in a lower tone. The rest of Twilight's good-bye was messy. Stuttering, flushed cheeks, a nervous chuckle. Spitfire smirked proudly to herself as she returned to work. Princess or not, she knew a fan crush when she saw one. And that move worked every time.
