Author's Note

This takes place some time during Season 2 of Friendship is Magic and some time between Star Fox Adventures and Star Fox Assault, where Krystal and Fox are KINDA into each other, but they're not an official thing yet.

You can also read this on my AO3, my Furaffinity, and my Inkbunny.

FOUR DOWN; ONE TO GO.

Glittering and Gleaming

Rarity was out searching for gems the day that it happened.

At first, she thought the bright light in her eyes was the glowing of her horn's magic as it plucked the precious stones from the ground and rocks around her, but her brow furrowed when she realized that it was growing brighter.

Brighter than even her horn could glow.

Her eyes widened when she realized it was coming from above. She took a step back, grip on her gem basket tightening at the sight of the blue-white light in the sky. She continued to back away slowly when she realized the light was growing.

Just as Rarity was about to bolt, though, something emerged from the light. Something triangular, made of metal. She didn't dare blink as she watched the thing descend, lower and lower, until it reached the ground.

She was certain she should run. She could take care of herself in a pinch, of course, but she always felt safer and more confident when in the company of her friends. Applejack and Rainbow Dash would be protective and strong; Twilight would most likely know how to go about this new situation. Even having Spike at her side would have made her feel better at the sight of the sleek, grey...thing...as it hissed. The top of the thing, made of glass, was opening.

And Rarity's jaw dropped.

From here, the being that stepped out of the triangular thing looked more like a fox than a pony, with adorable fluffy cheeks and a glorious bushy tail. One of her short ears swiveled, clearly trying to pick up any sound; one of her hands slid beneath a forelock, a slightly darker blue than her thick fur, lifting it out of her eyes as she looked inquisitively about. As she emerged, Rarity saw that she had a perfect body; the deep blue and black body suit revealed a slender waist, a considerable bust, curvy hips, and long, slender legs.

In short, the mysterious space vixen that had just entered a hole in the sky was drop dead gorgeous. Her mind began to race, inspiration suddenly lighting along the firing synapses of her creative brain, new ideas for various outfits in a new fashion line lighting up one by one.

She was broken out of her thoughts when the vixen turned her head in her direction. She could see her eyes widen in recognition, and she began waving almost frantically.

Never one to turn down any creature in need, Rarity ran to her, clinging tightly to the handle of her basket.

"Hello there!" the fox called in an accented voice. "Thank goodness; this planet has intelligent life."

"Er, yes. Yes, of course." Absently, Rarity wondered if she should be offended, but decided to tuck that aside for a different time. "Who are you, Darling? Where did you come from?"

The fox lifted herself with one hand and slid down the side of her metallic aircraft. "A wormhole appeared in my galaxy. I...suppose it ended here." The fox huffed, her fine brow knit over the most gorgeous icy green eyes Rarity had ever seen. "I'm so sorry, Miss; could you direct me to the nearest space port?"

Rarity slowly blinked her eyes. "Space...port?" She'd never heard of such a thing. She tried to think of something else to tell the striking stranger before her, but it was hard to think. "I'm sorry, I know you're in distress...I just..." Without thinking, she reached out with a hand to touch the material of the stranger's skintight suit. "I've never seen fabric like this before. Where in the world did you get this?"

The fox shook her head. "It's a fairly standard space suit." She sounded impatient. "Where are we right now?"

"Why, you're in Equestria! Right on the outskirts of Ponyville. My name is Rarity."

The fox nodded. "Krystal. I'm...I'm Krystal." She sighed as she looked over at her craft. "I'm sorry if I'm being short, but...well." She waved an open palm at the thing. "As you can see, I'm in trouble. My arwing has power, but it's limited. And I really don't want to waste any of it when I don't even know what planet I'm on." She heaved a sigh. "Or...even what galaxy I'm in."

A lot of this was going over Rarity's head. It wasn't that she was stupid, it was just that her knowledge specifically covered what fabrics worked together, which colors worked together, and how to market the results to any creature who was interested.

She did know when creatures were in trouble, though. And her generous nature simply wouldn't allow her to ignore when this happened. "Well, perhaps I can help you." She reached a hand out to Krystal with a smile. "We've got several very smart, very powerful ponies with a lot of knowledge in town. I'll eat one of my hats if one of them can't help you." Not the one made of red velvet, though; that one was an incredibly important part of an ensemble she had coming up soon.

The mysterious space vixen gave her a grateful smile that made Rarity's heart flutter. "Thank you so much. I know this must be a lot to take in, but I really appreciate it." She took the unicorn's hand in both of hers. The icy blue and white fur was much thicker and warmer than hers. "Ms. Rarity, was it?"

"Yes., Darling. Please, just call me Rarity."

"All right, then." The smile that spread over the fox's dainty muzzle was just as beautiful as the rest of her. "Thank you, Rarity."

"Ah! Here we are." Twilight blew some dust from in between the pages of the book she'd telepathically pulled out. "Wormholes. This isn't the first one that's opened up in Equestria." She left a finger on one of the paragraphs, most likely to keep her place as she looked up at Krystal. "The one you entered closed, right?"

"Yes." Krystal sighed. "Bloody Hell, yes it did. How am I going to get back to the Lylat System now?"

Rarity felt a lot of sympathy for the striking statuesque stranger next to her. She didn't trust herself to have the right words to offer her comfort, so she reached out to grip her hand, instead. She smiled as she felt her squeeze her hand, in return.

"Not to worry; I've been looking through my telescope every night for the last few weeks." Twilight smiled in a reassuring way. "I've seen these opening up here and there, noting when and where they showed up. If the pattern continues, another one should open up near where you were."

"When?" Krystal's sea glass eyes were shadowed by her finely knit brow, making her look determined and thoughtful. Rarity got the impression that Krystal was one of those women who had just as much brains as she had beauty.

Twilight frowned. "In a week, unfortunately." She looked genuinely sorrowful as she reached over and put a hand on top of Krystal's shoulder. "I'm sorry; I know you must be eager to get home, but it looks like you'll be stuck here for the time being."

Krystal sighed. "All right, then. Suppose there's nothing for it." She managed a small, weak smile as she looked into Twilight's large purple eyes. "Thank you both for your help, anyway. You didn't need to do that."

"Nonsense." Rarity squeezed Krystal's hand again. "What sorts of Elements of Harmony would we be if we didn't help somepo--" She cleared her throat. Krystal was very much not a pony, so that word wouldn't work. "Someone in need?"

Krystal furrowed her fine brow again, leaving Rarity to wonder if she plucked them or if they were just naturally like that. "'Elements of Harmony?'" she repeated.

Twilight smiled sheepishly. "Oh, uh...that's kind of a long story."

Rarity jumped into the conversation. "One I will be happy to tell her. I insist she stay with me for the week."

Krystal's eyes widened. "Wait, really? Are you certain I won't be imposing?"

Rarity waved her other hand dismissively. "Nonsense, Darling. I've got plenty of room; my baby sister's been staying with our parents lately, so I've really only got my cat for company." She loved Opalescence dearly, but she'd be the first to gladly admit she wasn't much for conversation. In fact, she mostly served as something for Rarity to bounce various ideas off of, as well as something for her to vent all her various troubles and frustrations to.

Krystal gave her another lovely smile, making Rarity's heart flutter. "That is...incredibly generous of you. Thank you so much." She placed her other hand on top of Rarity's, gripping it firmly and warmly between both of her furry hands. Rarity gulped, cheeks warming at the warm feeling.

"It...it's my pleasure," she managed with a smile. "I am the element of Generosity, you know; it comes with the territory."

"You'll tell me about that on the way to your place, right?" One of Krystal's adorable short, fluffy ears swiveled in her direction.

"Of course." Rarity had a strong feeling she was going to have a hard time saying 'no' to anything Krystal said or asked.

As they left the library, she found that she didn't mind the thought.

"I see. It's something magical, then? Some sort of ancient power?"

Rarity nodded. "It would appear so, yes."

Krystal thoughtfully pondered the mug of tea Rarity had made her. She looked right at home in the parlor of Carousel Boutique, just as stylish and beautiful as all of the furniture Rarity had painstakingly chosen.

"People from planets all over my galaxy tend to not believe in such things... But I do. The universe is just...so full of mystery, things we can't explain." She gave her a conspiratorial smile as she pointed at her temple with a trimmed, clawed finger. "I should know. I can read minds."

Rarity nearly dropped the teacup she'd been holding. "Oh..." She gulped. "I...see..." Anxiety spiked up in her heart. Had the beautiful stranger been hearing her thoughts up until now? Did she know how she felt about her?

"Oh, don't worry." Krystal gave her a reassuring smile. "I know it's an invasion of privacy; it's an ability I try to only use for emergencies."

"All right." Rarity sighed, relieved, blowing a puff of steam as she breathed it over her tea cup. "Not that I was thinking anything cruel or untoward!"

Krystal's smile turned into a slight smirk. "I didn't say you were."

Rarity cleared her throat, feeling her cheeks warm.

"I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised. Plenty of other people don't believe I have empath powers. Never mind all I saw while I grew up on Cerinia, or all I saw on Sauria."

"Are those...planets?" This was the part of this whole thing that struck Rarity as absolutely fantastic. There were other celestial bodies in their galaxy; Twilight spoke about them often, being fascinated by studies done by the ancient scholar Starswirl the Bearded.

Nopony had ever been to them, though. The closest Rarity could think of was Princess Luna and the one thousand years she'd spent on the moon.

The fact that this striking stranger had traveled from world to world in her aircraft, the thing she called an arwing, was absolutely incredible. Honestly, she was amazed that Twilight hadn't contacted Luna and started absolutely grilling poor Krystal for information on this.

Secretly, Rarity was glad. She was the Element of Generosity, but she could be selfish from time to time. She could admit to herself that she wanted Krystal all to herself, at least for a little while.

"Yes." Krystal's face fell, ever so lightly. "Well...one was."

Rarity's heart sank. "What...do you mean 'was?'" She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

Krystal squeezed her eyes shut, like whatever she was thinking was physically hurting her. "It's...a long story. I hope you don't mind, but it's...kind of a painful memory for me."

"Oh, of course." Rarity placed a hand gently on Krystal's knee. The fabric of her 'standard issue space suit' felt anything but standard-issue to her; it felt futuristic and new and, honestly, exciting. "I'm so sorry; I shouldn't have asked."

"You didn't know." Krystal sighed and leaned back. "I suppose if I were going to fly into a wormhole and wind up in a strange galaxy on a strange planet, it's fortunate that this is the one I wound up in. Thank you, again, for letting me stay here."

Rarity waved a hand. "It's perfectly all right, Krystal. I've got plenty of room."

"While I'm here, is there anything you need help with?" The pained look on the fox's face had vanished, leaving her stunning pale eyes open and curious. "I'll help clean up here and there; goodness knows the amount of fur I shed. But is there anything else you can think of?"

"No, of course no--" Rarity stopped short, pursing her lips in thought. She'd just remembered the massive storm of thoughts just seeing Krystal for the first time had unleashed in her mind, all of the inspiration she'd sparked. "Well...actually, I do have a thought. Would you come with me?"

Krystal finished her tea before daintily setting it down on the saucer. "Lead the way," she said with a smile.

If she caught onto the fact that Rarity kept touching her hand, probably more than she needed to, she said nothing about it. She let Rarity lead her to her sewing room, eyes widening as they took in the many different colored fabrics and all the mannequins.

"I'm a fashion designer," Rarity told her. "I've always loved arts and crafts; you know, making beautiful things with my hands. I especially love sewing; there's really nothing like it, designing your own clothing, stitching it up, and just...watching it come together."

"Is that right?" Krystal's eyes lingered on an unfinished red dress on one of the mannequins nearby. "I'm afraid I don't know much about that. You look very talented though."

Rarity beamed. "Why, thank you! I haven't gotten my big break yet, I'm afraid; still, those who come to me for business frequently come back. It always makes me happy."

"That's good." Krystal tilted her head to the side, much the way one of Fluttershy's foxes might. Rarity nearly died from cuteness. "So, do you want me to help out in here? I'm afraid the only sewing I've done has been to patch up my own clothing. I don't know how much help I'll be..."

"Welllll...yes and no." Rarity turned, placing both of her hands on Krystal's shoulders and standing up on her hooves to look her in those beautiful eyes. "I must confess, I'm completely obsessed with your whole aesthetic."

Krystal raised an eyebrow. "My...aesthetic?"

"Your look, Darling! Your sense of fashion, your taste in jewelry...all of these cool colors, all together in one place! You've inspired me in a way no one and nothing has in a long while."

Krystal blinked slowly. "So you...want me to be your muse?"

"Yes, exactly! A muse, and a living mannequin, and a model. Any of those; possibly all three, if you're up for it."

Krystal blinked slowly. Rarity's heart sang as a smile slowly crossed over her muzzle. "That's all you want in return for setting me up here? How could I possibly refuse? It'd be my honor."

Rarity clapped her hands. "Oh, that's exactly what I was hoping you'd say! I can't wait to get started!"

This was going to be so much fun.

Rarity helped Krystal take what few possessions she had in her arwing back to Carousel Boutique. Despite what the vixen had said before about not knowing much about fashion, Rarity couldn't help eyeing one of the outfits she'd brought: a rather revealing attire that revealed the chest, midriff, hips, and legs. It was white and trimmed with gold. There was a bag of jewelry, which was also gold: Rarity's eyes widened at the sight of the tiara. She could only imagine how visually pleasing that would be, that little red jewel poking out from the blue of her fur and hair.

That wasn't what really held her attention, though. Her ears flattened as Krystal dug out even more gold.

"Is that...armor?" she asked. She'd understood the necklaces and tiara and cute strappy sandals, but the sight of the shin and shoulder guards alarmed her. They looked far more like something a royal guard would wear than someone she'd just enlisted as her latest model.

"It is," Krystal called. Only her tail was visible from the arwing's seat. "Always better to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" asked Rarity.

Her sharp hearing caught a sigh released from Krystal. "Anything..."

Rarity had the feeling the space vixen was deliberately not telling her the full story. The feeling grew as Krystal emerged, holding something else that was bright gold in both of her hands.

It wasn't the jewel at the end of the thing that Rarity's eyes focused on. No...that would be the points the gold prongs that sharpened to the end of it. "Is that a spear?"

"A staff." Krystal's grip on the thing tightened as she smiled at it.' "My oldest friend, I'll have you know."

"Your oldest friend...is a weapon?" Rarity was beginning to get a better idea of what this stranger must have left behind in her last galaxy. She wasn't sure she liked it.

"We've been through a lot together, the two of us." Krystal took the staff in one hand and, with the other, braced herself on the edge of her arwing. With that, she launched herself out of the aircraft. There was grace and elegance in her movement, but something else, too. Something strong.

"Krystal..." Rarity bit her lip, thinking carefully about how to phrase this question. "Are you...a fighter?" Rarity had been in her fair share of dangerous situations, herself.

But she'd usually gotten through them with her sweet talking, sharp wits, and quick thinking, as well as her precise magic. Actual combat...that was something entirely new.

"I suppose that depends on who you'd ask." That familiar hissing sounded again as the arwing closed back up. "They say I'm the last Cerinian...by that logic, I suppose you could say I've been fighting my whole life."

Rarity's heart sank. "The...last...?" Krystal was the last of her kind?

Krystal's ears had gone back. She was glaring now, but not at Rarity; no, that icy, hardened hatred looked like it was reserved for something, or someone, else. "Cerinia was my home planet. I was off world when...when it was destroyed."

Rarity gasped, placing a hand on her chest.

"I was so determined to find out who was responsible for it...so hell-bent on getting whatever revenge I could, on preventing what happened to me to anyone else...I fell into certain circles." She tilted her head down to look Rarity in the eye. She was smiling the most bitter smile Rarity was certain she'd ever seen. "I was recently accepted onto a local team of mercs."

"You're a mercenary..." Rarity shook her head, making a mental note to remind herself what ponies said about 'assuming.' The first time she'd looked at Ms. Krystal, she'd seen the pinnacle of feminine beauty, one whose style and grace would make a well-bred lady.

It had never once occurred to her that she was a soldier for pay. She dreaded to think about what might happen if she got hurt in combat; the thought of that lovely face getting any scars made her cringe.

Krystal's smile had turned wry. "Still comfortable allowing me to stay in your home?"

"Honestly? Yes." Rarity eyed the golden spear warily, but stepped up to Krystal, anyway, placing a hand on her upper arm. Now that she knew to look for it, there was no mistaking it: beneath that interesting futuristic fabric was wiry, sinewy muscle. "Ponyville may come across as idyllic, and most of the time it is. But every so often, some deadly threat to the world rears its ugly head. Often right in town. It makes me feel a bit better, knowing that you know how to take care of yourself."

"That's...very open-minded of you." The straight, tight stance the fox had just been in relaxed ever so slightly, though she didn't let go of her staff. "You let me know if you see any of these world threats. I've dealt with a few in my time; I'll know how to take care of them."

"I believe you, Darling." And Rarity did.

"Now then, before we get started, I'll need to take your measurements..." Rarity took the tape measure between her hands, using her blue-tinted magic to pull the thing out and taut.

"All right, then," Rarity heard.

"Thank you again for doing this; you're taller than all of my mannequins, which should affect..."

She turned to look at her new model and nearly dropped her tape measure. The blue fox had just unzipped her suit, which she'd let drop around her ankles. Rarity could now get a good look at what she hid under her clothing. The white fur of her face went down her neck and continued down her navel and between her thighs; the insides of her arms and legs were splashed with it. White fur was also around her upper arms, though it looked far too precise to occur naturally; were they tattoos? How was that even possible?

"Rarity?" The unicorn realized she'd been staring. Cheeks warming, she cleared her throat, turning to look elsewhere.

"R-right, as I was saying...I'll, erm, need to measure you. Your height and the circumference of your..."

"My chest and hips."

Rarity nodded, giggling nervously.

"I'm...sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." Indeed, the vixen seemed to feel just as comfortable in her black panties and strapless bra as she did fully-clothed. "I saw that you and several others here didn't usually wear clothing, so...I just sort of assumed..."

"Oh, no! No discomfort at all, Darling; please, don't worry!" Rarity was aware of the fact that she'd probably spoken too quickly. Eager to get past this bit of awkwardness, she hurried over to Krystal, holding onto the tape measure harder than she needed to between her fingertips.

"I'll admit, I've always liked showing skin." Krystal was still talking. It helped take Rarity's mind off of the fact that she was nearly touching that gorgeous blue fur. "Most people in my galaxy don't do such things, but things were different on Cerinia. Most of the biomes there were either desert or tropical; it actually wasn't rare for people to go about without clothing."

"Is that right?" Rarity mentally noted the number as she stretched it to Krystal's height. She hadn't been mistaken; she was tall, taller than most ponies Rarity knew. "It sounds beautiful."

She heard Krystal heft a harsh sigh through her dainty little black nose. "Yes...it was."

Rarity could have kicked herself. "Oh...oh goodness, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"It's all right. I'm not upset." Her long, fluffy tail was swishing behind her, but not like Opalescence's when she was agitated, so Rarity was inclined to believe her. "It's certainly led to...cultural confusion, though. I've noticed how many people see me when I wear that sort of clothing."

"You've read their minds?" Rarity wrapped the tape measure around her shoulders. She had petite shoulders...Perhaps a dress with straps would work best with her figure. Or perhaps something backless! It had been a while since Rarity had made a backless dress.

Krystal scoffed. "Trust me; I haven't needed to. I have eyes."

Rarity laughed. "Oh, I know exactly what you mean." She knew how many stallions looked at her. It wasn't arrogance to acknowledge your own beauty, she thought; so long as one didn't let that lead them to think they were better than others, Rarity didn't see any problem with it. "Hold your arms out, please?"

Krystal did as she was asked. This way, Rarity was able to wrap the tape measure around the fox's chest. There was no two ways about it; Krystal had nice breasts. They weren't as large as Rarity's, but still full enough to fill out any article of clothing that would fit her well. She nodded, again committing the number to memory. Then she kneeled, getting a better look at the markings on Krystal's hip. "Cutie marks? How fascinating!" Krystal helpfully lifted her tail so that Rarity could slide the tape measure around her hips and buttocks. "I thought only ponies and such could get these?"

"Hmm?" Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity saw movement from above. Krystal had just looked down at her. "'Cutie marks?'"

"These..." Without thinking, Rarity reached out with a fingertip, prepared to let it trace along the white lines that made up the swirls and triangles that resembled a sun on the fox's hip, but stopped cold when she realized what she was doing.

"Oh! You mean my brands."

"'Brands?'" There was a community of cattle that lived near Ponyville; it was right up the road from Applejack's family farm. The cow ladies there often branded themselves, but this looked nothing like that.

"It's a ritual. In the tribe that raised me, you received matching brands on your legs and arms for each fight you've won once you've reached adulthood. In my village, that was the age of sixteen." Rarity heard a morose sigh. "I received the brands on my arms when I was sixteen. I hadn't received the ones on my hips, though, before..."

Rarity finally looked up. Krystal had that look on her face again; the pensive, mournful look she got whenever she thought of her destroyed home world. Certain that she wouldn't be able to think of anything that could make the situation better, Rarity reached up, taking one of Krystal's hands in her own.

"After Cerinia, I did the ones on my hips myself...As far as I'm concerned, watching what happened to Cerinia was the biggest fight of my life." Krystal sighed. "One I...sometimes wish I hadn't won."

The silence that settled between the two of them could have been cut with a knife.

Slowly, Rarity rose to her feet. "I...think we've done enough for today, Krystal." She kept her voice soft and gentle.

Krystal heaved a shaky sigh. "Yes...Yes, I think so."

Rarity didn't bother putting the tape measure away.

The next day, Rarity needed to make a trip to the local blacksmith's. The gems she'd collected were burning holes in her saddlebags; they were simply begging to be made into gold jewelry. And she knew exactly who she wanted to model it.

All eyes were on the two of them as they strolled through the town. Rarity knew that it wasn't just her they were on; her big floppy straw hat and deep blue sundress were eye-catching, yes, but Krystal's loincloth, tube top, and sandals, combined with her height, made sure to capture all their attention.

Rarity couldn't even bring herself to mind. What was the point in being jealous? She'd been taken with Krystal's looks, too. She suspected she might have been offended if others didn't notice the fox's beauty.

"Tell me, is it only ponies that live here?" Krystal's gaze darted about, taking in Ponyville the same way a foal might take in a toy shop. Rarity might have thought that, since she'd lived among the stars, such a town must have seemed simple and uninteresting. It made her feel nice, realizing that that wasn't the case.

"Mostly, though we don't exclude; so long as they follow the laws, any and all are welcome here." She smiled up at Krystal, allowing her basket to swing from the crook of her arm. "You've met Twilight Sparkle already; I've only known her for a few years, but in that time she's become one of my dearest friends. As has her assistant, Spike."

"'Spike?'" Krystal raised a fine eyebrow. "I must say, amongst Raritys and Twilight Sparkles, that name stands out."

Rarity giggled. "I should hope so; he isn't a pony. He's a dragon."

"A dr--" Krystal's eyes widened. "A dragon? As in a fire-breathing creature of myth?"

"Well, he does breathe fire, but I wouldn't call him 'mythical.' In fact, I ran into him just this morning."

"Wow..." Krystal smiled at the sight of Sugarcube Corner. Rarity could see Pinkie Pie in front of the door, waving any and all who might have a craving for sugar to come inside. "This place is amazing. It's all so warm and inviting and...charming." She pursed her lips before turning her apologetic eyes on Rarity. "Is that condescending? I'm sorry if it is."

Rarity shook her head, waving a hand dismissively. "Not at all. I'm rather glad you think so; I was worried we'd look a bit...primitive, compared to what you're used to."

"Oh, I've seen primitive. That's the last word I would use here." The sun gleamed down on Krystal, making the her necklaces and tiara glitter and gleam. "This place is...beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it." Rarity couldn't help feeling the slightest bit smug. The word 'beautiful' was quite a big, considerable one, coming from Krystal.

The blacksmith was a large, muscular pegasus stallion with buckskin coloring and a slight pot belly. The apron he wore hid his cutie mark, but Rarity had met him before; she knew it was an anvil. "Yeah?" he grunted as she stepped up to his counter.

"Hello, Sir. I've got a rather large order to make." She handed him a list she'd written in her usual large, curly, cursive scrawl, then set her basket full of gems down next to it. "I don't suppose you can complete it before the week is over?"

He held the list between his massive hands, eyes flicking down beneath rather thick black brows. He gave her a smirk that made her grit her teeth. "Sure thing, Toots. Gonna cost ya extra, though."

"I doubt that very much." Rarity blinked at the feeling of the warm hand on her shoulder. Krystal was standing at her full height, which wasn't quite as tall as the stallion before her, but judging from her squared shoulders and firm glare, she had the suspicion that the vixen didn't care. "You're attempting to squeeze more money out of my friend here, aren't you? Taking advantage of her generosity."

"Easy there, Miss." The stallion raised both of his hands, holding them palms-out in a show of surrender. The smug smile on his face made Rarity think he wasn't being sincere. This wasn't the first trouble she'd had with this chauvinist creep. "Ms. Rarity knows how this works. It's either that, or she accepts my offer for a date. Doesn't she?"

Krystal moved so quickly that it took a second for Rarity's mind to register what had happened. The point of her spear was now pointed at the stallion's throat. "So do I," she growled. Rarity's eyes widened; the staff had begun to glow, the amethyst shining bright, illuminating the sudden alarm in the stallion's eyes. "Now here's how this is going to work. You're going to charge her the usual rate, and you will begin to take her seriously. She's an intelligent woman who has a marvelous mind for business. She's too smart to ever give someone like you a chance."

"I..." Rarity watched as the Adam's Apple in the stallion's throat bobbed. "Yeah, okay. You can pay the usual rate."

"Good." The spear stopped glowing, but didn't move. "Now apologize to the nice lady."

"I'm sorry, Miss. This, uh...this won't happen again."

"Hmph." Apparently satisfied, Krystal moved her spear back to her back. Rarity gazed at her for a moment in awe before setting the appropriate amount of bits on the counter.

"Thank you," she told Krystal as they made their way back to her shop.

"Of course. I was reading his mind." Krystal's lips pulled back ever so lightly, revealing pointed canines in a snarl. "It's far from the first time I've read such boorish thoughts, but hearing them aimed at you...I suppose I lost control there for a moment." Krystal ran a hand through the back of her dark hair, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. "I've...been told that I can be a bit headstrong at times. I haven't always thought things out before doing them. If what happened back there causes any trouble for you in the future--"

Rarity reached up, standing on the tips of her hooves, and pressed her lips to Krystal's.

It only lasted a split second, but it felt like longer. Time seemed to stand still all around them.

Krystal blinked rapidly as Rarity stood back on her feet. She was smiling the smile of somecreature who'd just won a contest she didn't even know she'd entered. "What was that for?" she asked, raising her hand, letting her fingertips linger lightly on her lips.

"That was a 'thank you.' I appreciate you standing up for me...You certainly didn't need to."

"No, I did. I can't stand injustice." She reached forward, caressing Rarity's cheek "Especially not when the victim is someone so beautiful, inside and out."

"Oh, Darling..." Rarity's cheeks colored. "You're making me blush!"

Krystal smiled, heavy-lidded and sultry. "It suits you."

They kissed again, not caring who might be watching.

"So, what's your favorite color?"

Krystal frowned. She hadn't brought many changes of clothes with her, and Rarity was more than glad to lend her some of hers. She wore a yellow sundress with red polka dots, one of Rarity's summer favorites. It looked nice on her, but then again, Rarity was certain anything would. The vixen could probably make a burlap sack look fashionable. "Why do you ask?"

"For your dress, Darling," Rarity insisted. She'd sketched something up in her sketchbook; she knew what the pattern and design of this dress was going to look like, but she hadn't yet chosen the fabric. "If not your favorite color, then what color would you like the dress to be?"

Krystal pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Red."

"Oh?" Rarity hadn't expected that. She looked at Krystal and saw a sea of cool colors; blue, green, teal, purple.

"I know what I said, about my reading minds. I've tried my best not to read yours, but I couldn't help picking some of it up. What you thought about this..." She pointed to her tiara, the string of gold beads that was attached to her headband, from which a gold-encrusted ruby hung. "How the red and the gold pokes out? I liked it."

"Well, well!" Rarity smiled as she reached for a marker. "How bold! Wonderful choice. Red it shall be."

She held her breath as Krystal rose to her feet. They were bare for once; the pads of her toes dulled the sounds of her footsteps as she sidled up behind Rarity. "Can I see what you've got?"

Rarity gulped, wordlessly holding up her sketchbook. The dress was going to be backless with a slit on each side. Rarity had gotten that idea by looking at Krystal's loincloth. She'd also remembered what she'd said about liking to show skin; the area between the collar and the sweetheart cut was to be made of black fishnet. The whole thing was going to be trimmed with gold; the main color was the last decision she'd had to make.

"Oh, Rarity..." Krystal lightly wrapped her arms around the unicorn's shoulders. "It's beautiful. I can't wait!"

Rarity giggled, equal parts nervous and giddy. "Neither can I, Darling. Oh, I hope you'll like it!"

"I already do." Krystal's lips brushed against the soft white fur of Rarity's cheek, lightly drifting over the handle of her red reading glasses.

Rarity made a decision right then and there. This was going to be the greatest dress she'd ever made.

Rarity's measurements were correct. Which, of course, they usually were; she'd always been detail-oriented and perceptive about these sorts of things, always determined to get them one hundred and ten percent right.

She didn't blink the entire time as she watched Krystal slip the dress on over her undergarments. It fit her like a glove; the red fabric and gold trim stood out beautifully against her icy fur. It clung to her curves in all the right ways. Rarity found herself grateful that she'd went with this specific cut; Krystal seemed so proud of the brands on her hips and upper arms, and this dress revealed them both. That hadn't even occurred to Rarity; that happened sometimes when she was in the midst of a project. At some point her mind would go blank, and her hands and magic would simply begin working entirely on their own.

Krystal turned slowly, holding her arms out, allowing Rarity to see how much movement the dress allowed, how comfortable it looked. There had been times Rarity had given up comfort for the purpose of making an outfit work, but that wasn't something she was willing to put other creatures through. Especially not her guest. Krystal's bushy tail swished around her as she moved. The skirt of the dress swished around her legs, drawing attention to her slender thighs. Rarity had to remind herself to tear her eyes away from that part of her.

"Well?" she breathed, hands folded, clenching each other almost painfully tight. "What do you think? Is it comfortable? Do you like it?"

Krystal's sharp eyes narrowed at the sight of her reflection in the floor-length mirror. She turned one way, then the other, sliding one hand down one of her sides, and curling the other on her hip. "Rarity, I need to be completely honest with you," she said gravely.

Rarity gulped. "Yes?" It came out as a rather embarrassing squeak.

Then Krystal turned to face her, lips pulled back into a grin that showed her sharp teeth. "I love it."

The unicorn breathed, relieved, before bursting into giddy giggles. "I'm so glad! Oh, it suits you wonderfully." She bounced a bit on her hooves, unable to contain her delight. "I think this is my best work yet!"

"It's beautiful, but also really comfortable." Krystal twirled again, quicker this time, making the dress flare out around her hips, making Rarity's heart skip a beat. The vixen was grinning practically from ear to ear. "And this isn't the first time I've seen such a wonderful piece from you. I see people in this shop every single day, looking through all your designs." With her feet still bare, she approached Rarity, taking one of her hands between hers. "Rarity, you have a gift."

"Oh, my..." Rarity's face grew warm. "That's...that's very kind of you, Krystal."

"I'm not trying to be kind, Rarity. I mean it." Rarity did as she could to commit the sight of Krystal's beautiful smile to memory. "I feel like showing this off to the whole town."

"Ooh!" A thought occurred to Rarity, and she dashed to a drawer in her bedroom. There was one of the pieces of jewelry she'd commissioned from the blacksmith; a teardrop-shaped sapphire set in a simple but elegant gold chain.

'Simple but elegant' was what Rarity called Krystal's whole style. That was what had given her so much inspiration for the last few days.

"I'll be happy to indulge you, Darling. But you'll have to do the same for me." She sidled up behind Krystal, slowly, gently holding the necklace up to her bust. "What do you think?"

Krystal placed a hand to her chest, smiling knowingly at their reflection. "You're the fashion expert between the two of us. How can I possibly say 'No?'"

With that bit of permission granted, Rarity clasped the chain behind Krystal's neck. Just as she'd thought, the gold looked beautiful against the red and blue. "There. Now the whole look is complete." She let her hand linger on the thick fur of Krystal's bare shoulder. "I'll have you know there is a soiree later on tonight...One of my friends, Pinkie Pie, is an expert party planner. What do you say to being each other's arm candy?"

Krystal lay one of her hands over Rarity's. "It sounds like a date."

Luna's moon was full tonight. The sky had turned a mix of black, purple, and blue, and was studded with billions and billions of glittering diamond-like stars.

It was a beautiful sight, to be certain. But as soon as Rarity was able to tear her gaze away from it, it always wound up back on the fox lightly gripping her arm. Krystal's eyes shined bright, even in the dark. The lights from the lit stores and houses all along the town road made the gold of her dress and jewelry sparkle.

"You look positively ravishing this evening, Krystal," Rarity told her. The two of them walked along with their arms linked, Rarity's hand lightly resting on the crook of Krystal's elbow.

"I was about to tell you the same thing," Krystal said with a smile. The dress Rarity had put on for their night on the town wasn't quite as detailed as the one she'd made for Krystal; it was a blue-black off-the-shoulder thing, simple, but also slinky and elegant. She'd adorned it with a gold necklace of her own, a choker around her neck.

Rarity snuggled up closer to Krystal, nuzzling into her side, holding onto Krystal's upper arm.

"Where is this party?"

"We're getting close," Rarity said. "It's just over...there!" She waved a hand at the building nearby. By day, the place was the most quaint little cafe, just pretty as a picture. Tonight, though, Pinkie had outdone herself, having reserved it for her latest party. It wasn't too terrible crowded, she could see, but there were plenty of ponies there, chatting and dancing.

"Brilliant! Shall we?"

Rarity gave Krystal a sweet smile. "Lead the way."

Inside, her ears picked up the sound of the music, a bright and bouncy dance tune. She giggled behind her hand at the sight of Twilight dancing her usual adorably awkward dance; Pinkie Pie was in front of her, dancing to the beat of her own drum. There was a handful of other ponies near the snack table, which was piled to the heavens with delicious-looking confections. Sandwiches, pizzas, baked goods of all sorts, as well as what looked like several different sorts of punch. From the smell of it, some of them had alcohol in them.

"Your friend's outdone herself, I must say!" Krystal lifted her forelock out of her eyes, revealing the tiara that hung from her headband. That same red jewel that had led to the beautiful space vixen now being clad in red.

"That reminds me, I simply must introduce you two!" Rarity's grip on Krystal's arm tightened as she led her over the part of the cafe that had been reserved for the dance floor tonight, weaving her way through the dancing bodies of several different ponies. "Pinkie! Pinkie Pie!" she called, waving with her other hand.

Twilight and Pinkie stopped what they were doing, faces lighting up in bright smiles as they waved the two of them over. "Rarity! Krystal! Glad you could make it!" said Twilight, lavender cheeks flushed from her dancing.

"Oooh! Is this the pretty fox from space you were telling me about?" asked Pinkie. She grinned, reaching out to take one of Krystal's hands between hers, proceeding to shake it vigorously. It wasn't quite as strong of a grip as Applejack's, but Rarity could tell it was still stronger than what Krystal had been expecting, eyes widening in surprise as her hand was shaken.

"I--er---I...yes," she managed to get out, only getting her bearings once the pink earth pony let go. "Yes, my name is Krystal." She smiled, sharp teeth gleaming in the brightly colored lights. "Let me guess...you must be Pinkie Pie?"

"Yeppers! That's me!" Pinkie bounced on her hooves, her wild curls flying around her head with each movement.

"This party is lovely, I must say." Krystal reached behind her, scratching the back of her head, suddenly looking sheepish. "I must apologize, I...have no invitation..."

"Oh, nonsense! Don't worry about that one eensy weensy bit, the more the merrier!"

Twilight chuckled, putting a hand on Pinkie's shoulder. "How've you been taking to Ponyville, Krystal?"

"Honestly, this feels like a blessing in disguise. These last few days have just...They've felt like a dream."

"Ooh! I'm glad!" Pinkie was still bouncing, beaming. "I wasn't born here, myself; I was born on a rock farm. I came here for an internship, and..."

As she continued on, Rarity chuckled, filled with fondness for her friend. "Why don't I get us some beverages?" she murmured to Krystal.

"That sounds nice," Krystal murmured back to her, voice low and soft in her ear, making her shiver. "Don't be too long, all right?"

"Of course." With that, Rarity left the three of them to get acquainted. She knew Pinkie could be a bit much for those who didn't know what to expect from her, but she trusted Krystal; she'd seen, by now, that she could handle herself.

As she made her way to the snack table, the music changed into something slower, more romantic. She smiled to herself as she filled two cups with the red punch. It smelled strongly of cherries, which Rarity had always loved. She hoped Krystal did, too.

One of her ears swiveled behind her. She recognized the sound of golden strappy sandals gracefully tapping on the floor, so she wasn't surprised by the feeling of a warm hand on her shoulder. "What do you think of my friends?" she asked.

"I like them. Pinkie's sweet, and Twilight knows a lot; she's interesting to talk to. Still, I missed you."

"I haven't even been gone for a moment, Darling." She couldn't bring herself to mean the words, and with Krystal's mind-reading ability, she had a feeling the young warrior woman knew it.

"I know." Krystal leaned back on the table, bracing herself with the back of her palms. "I wasn't joking when I said this place has felt like a dream. It's so beautiful, so peaceful...It really has felt like a small vacation for me."

"I'm glad. After all you've been through in your life, I think you deserve to feel safe, for a change." Rarity handed Krystal one of the cups.

The two of them stayed there for a while, watching ponies across the dance floor. Rarity sighed, contented. "This reminds me a bit of the Grand Galloping Gala. It's not quite so large, but I'd still take this over that debacle any day."

"Why? What happened?" Krystal looked genuinely curious. It was a nice change of pace; plenty of ponies Rarity knew would have thought such things were frivolous.

Rarity sighed. "There was a stallion who'd caught my eye. Distantly related to our princesses, high-ranking, and very, very handsome. He...wasn't who I'd hoped he was." She sighed, swirling the punch in her cup. "In retrospect, I can't say why I built that image of him up in my mind so...I'm a modern mare, after all. I can make my own way; I need no stallion to get me up in the world."

"That's right." Rarity shivered at the feeling of Krystal's tail brushing against her leg. "He sounds like a piece of work. I hope you realize that you deserve far better than him."

Rarity wasn't certain if Krystal actually meant that or was just saying it because she thought it was what she wanted to hear. Either way, she wasn't complaining. "Thank you, Krystal. I appreciate that." She giggled. "Still, it might have been nice, having one I was interested in asking me for a dance."

Krystal scoffed. "Trust me, Rarity. Anyone who wouldn't want to dance with you is a fool."

Rarity pursed her lips, certain that such a motion would make her bright red lipstick more noticeable. Tilted her head, tossing the sudden thought that had just occurred to her in her head for a bit. Then she took a generous gulp of her spiked punch and, emboldened by that bit of liquid courage, asked "Krystal, may I have this dance?"

Krystal blinked slowly at her, more like a cat than a fox. "Well...that is smooth." She set her drink down behind her, forgotten, and offered Rarity her hand. "It would be my pleasure, Ms. Rarity."

Krystal led the dance as she pulled Rarity into her arms. Rarity gladly allowed her, sighing in contentment at the feeling of the strong, warm arm around the small of her back. Krystal's shoulder was warm against her cheek as she lay her head upon it.

They stayed connected like that for the rest of the song, and the next one after, swaying gently to the slow, romantic beat. Krystal held her hand and waist steadily as she slow danced her through the dance floor.

Rarity pulled away, ever so slightly, to look Krystal in the eyes. Those sea glass green eyes were heavily lidded in the dim light. She opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked like she wanted to say something, but wasn't sure how to put it, or if she should, at all.

"What are you thinking?" Rarity's voice was light and soft, quiet enough that only the fox who held her in her arms could hear her.

"Many things. Too many." Krystal closed her eyes and leaned forward, letting her forehead rest to the side of Rarity's horn. She was so thoughtful; she'd seen how much time and effort Rarity put into keeping her mane curled, and she cared enough to not muss it. "I'm terrified of the dangers of my galaxy ever finding this place...of finding you. I don't think I could bear that, after I've lost so much."

Rarity pressed her lips to the corner of Krystal's muzzle. The lipstick she'd applied was water proof; it left no stain or smudge. "You've been through so much, and you've got such weight on your shoulders...it's so unfair."

"I suppose." Krystal smiled, at least looking relaxed for the time being. "Gods, how was I lucky enough to find you?"

"I don't know, but I'm glad. I'm glad our paths have crossed." Rarity pulled away just enough to take Krystal's lips in her own.

Maybe it was the heat, the strong yet soft feeling of Krystal's body pressed up against hers. Maybe it was the alcohol in the punch; she'd always been something of a lightweight when it came to liquor. But right then, her blood began to run hot, and her mind went deep into a gutter that it normally wouldn't.

Which wouldn't normally have been a problem, if she weren't currently dancing with a partner who could read minds.

"Miss Rarity..." One of Krystal's hands slid down her back, down to her side, where it settled on her hip. "Would you...like to get out of here?"

Rarity gulped. "Oh, I would, Darling." Her hand drifted down the fur of Krystal's shoulder. "I very much would like that."

Krystal smiled, looking more and more like a fox in the shadows caused by the cafe's dim lights. "Let's go."

The door to Carousel Boutique was just barely closed behind them before Krystal was on her, devouring her mouth with her own. Rarity found herself more and more glad she'd chosen lipstick that wouldn't smudge, though the idea of living lip prints along Krystal's neck and clavicle was quite enticing. Rarity whimpered as Krystal leaned her back, pushing her onto a countertop. In their fumbling, they accidentally knocked a mannequin to the side.

Right then, Rarity didn't care, and she didn't think Krystal did, either.

Rarity spread her legs, an act that was almost subconscious. Krystal set herself between them, grabbing two liberal handfuls of the unicorn's hips as she attacked her neck. Rarity gasped and whimpered as Krystal worked that sensitive part of her with skilled lips and teeth.

She bit her lip; she could feel Krystal hiking the dark silk of her dress up her thighs, far up enough to reveal her cutie marks.

It didn't matter that she usually went without clothing on a usual day; this felt completely obscene. The shop was closed at this time of night, but she hadn't locked the door; anypony could come in at any time to witness this.

The thought sent a shiver of delight down her spine, sparking between her legs.

Krystal was sliding down the length of Rarity's body now, pausing to briefly press her face between her beasts. Rarity thought to reach for the single strap of the thing, pull it down to give the fox easier access, but then Krystal was moving down further.

Rarity held her breath. Krystal was now on her knees before her. Each of her hands was now on the inside of her knee, pushing them apart. Rarity shuddered as Krystal nuzzled one of her inner thighs. "Is this all right?" Rarity heard; the fox's voice was low, deeper than usual with need and lust.

"Y-you can read my thoughts," she managed to get out. "What do you think?"

That was, apparently, all the encouragement Krystal needed. Rarity gasped at a feeling she hadn't had in far too long, being far too busy with her job and her social life and saving the world. A warm, wet tongue had reached out, pressing between her folds, sliding up through her growing wetness, until it reached its goal: that incredibly sensitive little pearl of nerves right up and front.

Rarity could be quiet. She'd been in places where she needed to be quiet before. But she was so unprepared for the relief that came with that wet contact that she cried out louder than she meant to, a breathy "Oh!"

The only other living creature in the shop was Opalescence. She covered her mouth with her hand, anyway.

Encouraged, Krystal kept going, generously lathing Rarity's clit with that wonderful warm tongue. Rarity focused on keeping her hand clamped over her mouth and keeping her legs spread. It wasn't just the feeling of that wonderful, wet friction between her legs giving her full body shudders, it was the warmth and softness of Krystal's fur against her sensitive inner thighs, of those darling ears twitching in time to the rhythm she'd seemed to just fall easily into.

Apparently, at one point, Rarity's other hand had clenched into a fist on top of her knee. She must have been clenching it too tightly for Krystal's comfort, because the next thing she knew, she felt something warm on top of it, gently prying her fingers loose. Rarity allowed herself to open her eyes enough to see her gently guiding her hand forward, past the hem of her dress, and in her dark blue bangs. Understanding, Rarity entwined her fingers between the soft, shiny locks. It was then that Krystal hummed, lovely voice vibrating all through parts Rarity hadn't even known she had. Rarity's fingers curled tightly in Krystal's forelock, and her other clamped almost painfully over her mouth to muffle her moan.

Krystal's tongue didn't stop. Not when Rarity reached her first climax, gasping and whimpering against her palm as it washed over her in gentle wave after gentle wave. Krystal slid one of her hands under Rarity's right knee, lifting her leg over her shoulder. Rarity didn't protest, allowing her heel to dig into the fur on Krystal's exposed back.

Krystal's other hand, she ran along the inside of Rarity's thigh, then under, allowing her fingertips to caress the crease there. Rarity couldn't help crying out this time; her clit was still so sensitive, how else was she supposed to respond to Krystal's fingers slipping inside her? She was still so wet that there was no trouble, absolutely no resistance; Rarity felt the pads of her fingertips press up against the front of her hole, and moaned as they found something inside her that made her see stars.

She lost track of how long they stayed like that, Krystal on her knees before her, working her talented lips and tongue and fingers, humming a soft tune, worshiping her. Rarity's legs trembled around her as she reached her second orgasm of the night, coming against Krystal's tongue and around her fingers, getting her wet.

Perhaps, under different circumstances, Rarity would worry about that potentially bothering a partner. She'd also care about mussing clothing and hair and makeup with such lewd acts. Right then, though, she couldn't bring herself to care.

She finally pulled her hand away from her mouth by her third orgasm. She'd had enough; she didn't think she could take anymore in that moment. "Please..." It came out shakily, a warm puff against her palm. "Please stop, I c...I can't...no more..."

With one final lick along her trembling, wet lips, Krystal pulled away. Even in the dark, Rarity could see that, as she rose to her sandal-clad feet, the fox's dainty, slim muzzle was glistening with her wetness. A smug smile was on her lips; she opened her maw enough for her pink tongue to flick out and catch a bit of the wetness, taking it into her mouth. "Wonderful," she said, sharp white teeth glinting in the dim light. "You taste amazing."

Rarity laughed. Not the delicate ladylike giggle she was used to giving, an actual, pure laugh, straight from the very pit of her belly. "I always did say I had good taste!" she said in her breathless laughter, too in the throws of ecstasy and afterglow to feel any sort of embarrassment over such a terrible pun.

"Well, you do!" Krystal placed a hand on Rarity's knee, the one that she hadn't used to finger her. "Would it be all right if I kissed you, or...?"

Rarity responded by grabbing the fox's face in her hands and pulling it forward, kissing her yet again. She'd never tasted herself before; she hoped it didn't come across as too egotistic that she didn't hate the taste.

"There...is something else you can do for me," she said breathlessly as she pulled away. "You...know that floor-length mirror?"

"The one in your sewing room?"

Rarity nodded, making her curled forelock bounce. "I have an idea. A-about how to use it." She gulped, mouth still watering. "With you."

"Oh?" The look of mischief hadn't quite left Krystal's face. It became even more pronounced as one corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk.

"You can read my mind." Despite what they'd just done, Rarity felt her cheeks color. "What...do you think about it?" Two of her fingers absently walked up Krystal's forearm, pausing to linger at the edge of one of the white square brands.

"I like it." Krystal had begun rubbing in small circles with her thumb pad. "I love how creative you are."

Rarity giggled. Actually giggled this time. "It's nice to have my talents appreciated."

This was how, minutes later, they found themselves in Rarity's sewing room with the curtains drawn. Krystal didn't wear a single stitch of clothing; she was almost entirely naked, save for the golden jewelry Rarity had commissioned. She couldn't think of any better use for the gems she'd found when she'd met this striking vixen; amethysts, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies dangled from piercings in Krystal's short fluffy ears, around her long, elegant neck, around her shoulders and waists, wrists and ankles, and even around choice parts of her tail and in her hair.

"Right here..." Rarity lightly pushed on the back of Krystal's shoulders, guiding her gently but firmly in front of that floor-length mirror. Behind Krystal's reflection, Rarity saw her own. She'd discarded her dress and her own jewelry; they'd both need to be thoroughly cleaned later. All she wore was a long, thick, blue strap-on. The black straps of it looked nice around her hips, she thought; they showed off her cutie mark. "There. Now please; look at yourself."

Krystal smiled. Rarity had no mind-reading powers of her own; she had no idea if Krystal was actually into this idea or if she was just humoring her. Either way, Rarity was determined to bring her to the heights she'd brought her to. "I'm looking, Rarity. Trust me; I see."

Rarity shook her head. "I don't think you do, Darling. Here..." She slid her hands along Krystal's sides, running her fingers through the thick fur. From behind, Rarity could see that the white of her fur lit up her firm, round bum. The sight had made her face hot. Her hands wound up at her hips, where one of her fingers slipped beneath a gold chain around her upper thigh, from which several rubies hung. "When I first laid eyes on you, I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen."

"I don't mean to sound arrogant, Rarity, but I know I'm attractive." The smile at Rarity's face over her shoulder could really only be called 'fond.'

"Oh, I know, Darling. But it goes deeper than that." Her hand slid over her hip, over a toned buttock, and under the base of that beautiful tail. She lightly pushed on one of her inner thighs. Krystal did as the wordless command said, and spread her legs for her. "It isn't just that you're attractive; it isn't just that you're sexy. Your beauty is beyond compare." She reached forward with her pointer and middle fingers, pressing up. Krystal gasped, a surprised but pleased sound. Rarity was happy to feel that she was wet; it was good to know she'd enjoyed their earlier tryst, too. "The colors of your fur; blue and white go wonderfully together. Like a cloudy sky." With nothing to cover her breasts, Rarity saw that her nipples were dark blue, like the pads of her fingers and toes. "Your eyes...They're the color of polished sea glass."

"Really? I'd never heard..." Krystal's words tapered off into a soft moan as Rarity's fingers searched along those sensitive lips, teasing just shy of that delicate pearl.

"But it all goes beyond that. Physical beauty, the sort on the outside, is only skin-deep. I've known absolutely beautiful ponies who were horrendously ugly on the inside." She set her chin on Krystal's shoulder. The fox whined, a rather undignified sound, at the feeling of Rarity's fingers being removed. "The most important beauty is on the inside. You've said that I'm just as beautiful on the inside as I am on the outside...well? I can say the same thing about you. You've stood up for me...you've been nothing but kind to me." She brushed her lips against Krystal's neck, relishing in the way her body shuddered against hers. "Please...will you let me thank you?"

"Yes...Gods, yes."

"All right, then. Keep your legs spread, now..." Rarity gripped Krystal's buttocks, spreading them so she could get a better look. Krystal helpfully shifted her tail to the side. With a clear view, Rarity then guided her hips forward, pressing the tip of the strap-on to that wet, quivering hole.

"Please..." Krystal turned to look at Rarity over her shoulder, allowing her to see the sudden vulnerability on her face as she begged.

"No, no. None of that. Keep your eyes on the mirror..." There was a hint of iron behind Rarity's voice. This wasn't a question, it was an order.

And Krystal obeyed, turning her eyes back on her gorgeous, bare, open reflection.

"Just look at yourself, Krystal. Keep your eyes open, and watch how beautiful you really are." With Rarity's hands firm on her hips, Rarity pressed her own forward, drawing a long, low, pleasured groan from deep within Krystal's throat.

She continued to lose track of time that night, watching her lover glitter and gleam as she brought her to orgasm over and over again.

"Are you certain you've got everything?"

Krystal shifted the pack on her back. Beneath it, her staff caught the sunlight. "Yes."

"Your sandals? Your loincloth?"

"Yes, Rarity. You were there; you saw me fold them up and put them in this." Krystal's voice was ever so slightly impatient.

"Your...jewelry? A-and the dress?" Rarity gripped the handle of her saddlebags with both hands, squeezing.

Krystal gave her a reassuring smile. "Oh, Rarity...I couldn't forget those if I tried." She fingered the sapphire necklace around her neck, the necklace Rarity had fastened herself that magical night.

"All right...I believe you. I trust you." The unicorn sighed, perhaps with a touch more melodrama than was strictly needed. In her defense, she could see the arwing on the distance, and the sky was shimmering with that light that only came with holes in the sky. "I'm just...making sure. Checking everything off. It never hurts to double-check."

Krystal chuckled, heels of her boots crunching in a satisfying way against the rocks and gravel. "I'll have to keep that in mind. It helps, not jumping head-first into everything."

Though perhaps one might have said that they'd jumped into...whatever it was the two of them had this week. Rarity didn't say so out loud; she didn't have to.

As they neared the space craft, Rarity couldn't help herself. Her eyes stung as they began to fill with tears.

"Rarity, please don't cry." Krystal wrapped an arm around Rarity's shoulders, pulling her close as they walked. "I saw the mascara you applied this morning; it isn't waterproof. It'll run."

"I don't care." She sniffled.

"I spoke with Twilight. With her notes on the wormholes and their coordinates, I've managed to figure out which galaxy this is and how close the Lylat System is." Krystal nuzzled against Rarity's cheek. "We're going to see each other again. I promise."

"I believe you." Rarity said the words more to convince herself. If Krystal read her thoughts and knew better, she didn't say so. "I've always felt things strongly...I suppose I'm having a hard time with this goodbye."

"Then don't say it." Rarity opened her eyes to find that they were standing in front of the arwing. Krystal's strong but gentle hands were turning her around so that they were face to face. Rarity saw that intense look in Krystal's eyes; that same fiery look of determination. "We will meet again."

She was a fighter. She was a survivor. Rarity had the feeling that, if any creature in the universe would go through space to keep a promise, it was her.

"Okay." Rarity managed a watery smile. "We'll meet again."

With that, they shared one final kiss. And then Krystal was gone, leaping into the space craft at just the same time that glowing hole opened up in the sky.

Rarity stayed and stood as she watched the arwing rise up and up before being swallowed up by the sky.

A few more tears were spilled; she wiped them away with newfound impatience.

And then she headed back to town. More than a few ponies had taken notice of the dress she'd made for Krystal. She had a new design to sell.

Rarity intended to call it The Krystal Line.