Rarity pinned down Bright beneath her, a smile on her face in the dim hotel room. The air was laced with a gentle bouquet of floral notes. The bed was clean, and things were quiet, save her at least. "Darling, we're alone, at night..."

Bright laughed nervously. "My, um... My dear, Rarity... Did you have something in mind?"

"Dear." She put a hoof under his chin. "I do, several things... Limited only by what you desire and allow, hm? Now, we need something cleared first." She sat up, resting her weight on Bright's hips quite on purpose. "I ask you this as a friend, confidant, and perhaps more... Not as a mistress. If you turn me down, I may pout, but our relationship will not sour."

"Gotcha." Bright inclined his head. "Though I'm not sure what I'd say no to."

"What we started before." She rubbed over his chest with her hooves, gazing into his eyes. "Without Twilight, or anypony else, here to bother us. Just you, and me."

Bright ran his hands up over her generous hips, feeling over them gently. "Rares... You serious?"

"I am not known for my jests, dear." She leaned in, blinking her long lashes in a bat. "Bright, shall we take advantage of this privacy, hm?"

Bright pinched her, trailing fingers along her diamond cutie mark. "I would love to... Just one thing."

"Yes?" She adjusted herself, putting more weight on her legs and less on Bright. "I figured you would be less patient, truth told."

"For you." Bright sat up to kiss her chest. "I would wait forever."

Rarity burst into joyful titters. "You scandalous thing... Please, continue..."

There was an enthusiastic pounding at their door. "Open up in the name of Equestrian fashion!"

Rarity startled with surprise, quickly floating off Bright as the door was kicked open by an over-eager pink pony.

"Rarity! I just had the best idea for a new line of nighttime lingerie and I really really need your help getting it just right!" Pinkie exclaimed, oblivious to the scene she had just burst in on.

Bright dove under the sheets as Rarity tried unsuccessfully to usher the babbling Pinkie Pie back out into the hallway.

"Darling please, your ideas sound simply divine but now is really not the time-" Rarity protested before getting bowled over by an onslaught of frilly unmentionables being pulled eagerly out of Pinkie's mane by the exuberant pony.

"We just need to pick perfect fabrics and patterns for maximum coziness and gorgeousness!" Pinkie continued enthusiastically, leaving Rarity flustered and flushed at the sudden intrusion into their private evening. "Maybe your blushy friend here can offer a stallion's perspective too?"

Rarity cringed in flustered embarrassment but the shock left her momentarily speechless. Trust Pinkie's timing to be utterly inconceivable yet perfectly unpredictable! She met Bright's own stunned eyes peeking from the rumbled sheets. Rarity gave a resigned shrug and wink - they had eternity ahead still to explore continue their intimate conversation once Pinkie was placated!

Bright slipped free to his feet, tail wagging. "Pinks, Pink mare, the party canon made flesh!"

Pinkie inclined her head. "Wow, you know me?" She went right around Rarity to get closer to Bright. "Howdy! Ooo, you're like a bunny, and..." She casually began exploring Bright's general shape. "Loving it! You are a stallion, right?"

"Technially no?" Bright flopped one ear down. "Not being a pony, but I am a male, so close enough?"

"Close enough!" joyfully agreed Pinkie with a bouncing. "Rarity, why haven't you introduced us?"

Rarity climbed through the pile Pinkie had made, closing the door with her magic. "Pinkie, seriously..." She let out a tired sigh. "Well, since you're here... Pinkie, this is Bright, a lovely and dear friend of mine."

"Her..." Bright trailed off, catching Rarity's pointed glare. "Boyfriend."

Pinkie gasped with amazement. "Boyfriend?! Why didn't you tell me?! Oooo, this is so great." she danced from hoof to hoof. "I hope you two are getting along super duper well! Gonna get married? Invite me! No, wait, don't. Let me plan it! Then invite me."

Rarity sighed indulgently as irrepressible Pinkie Pie continued peppering starry-eyed Bright with enthusiastic questions about their supposed nuptial plans and potential foals. Trust the ever effervescent party pony to erupt unannounced at the most intimate moments!

Still, despite flustered protests Bright appeared more entertained than offended by the interrogation on his romantic intentions towards "rare and wonderful Rarity" as Pinkie effused. The vampony felt her own fierce blush slowly subsiding to amusement as her erstwhile suitor flexed theatrically to showcase physique apparently meeting Pinkie's earnest standards for siring eventual vampire-hybrid heirs.

Finally waving off further speculation about hypothetical offspring, Rarity delicately interjected "We all appreciate your...boundless investment in our deepening relationship, darling Pinkie." She guided the poofy pink pony gently back towards the door, floating a satchel overflowing with frothy intimates along.

"But thought most becoming creations clearly crave further refinement before debuting, we simply mustn't monopolize Sir Bright's keen perspective on short notice yes?" Another subtle step closer to the hall as Pinkie hesitated, considering. "Perhaps we reconvene tomorrow eve to continue collaborating on charming unmentionables combining comfort and allure?"

"Ohmygosh you're absolutely-positively right!" Pinkie exclaimed, cotton-candy curls bouncing at the prospect. "I'll go whip up some cupcakes to fuel our all-night brainstorm session!" She zipped out the door with one last gleeful wave. "Toodles loveponies! Don't start the honeymoon without me!"

As the door swung softly shut, Rarity slumped against it with a rueful yet affectionate laugh. "What perfectly darling chaos! However do I stay vexed at such guileless glee?" She smiled tenderly at gently snickering Bright from across the dim room. "My apologies for our...interruption, darling. Fancy continuing prior conversation in case of further surprises popping by?"

Bright colored faintly. "Did she just... ask to be at our honeymoon with us?"

Rarity joined in the blush. "Oh my... She did, dear, and I imagine she'd take the offer if we extended it." She coughed into a hoof. "That's Pinkie for you, life of the party. Even if it's a party you didn't plan. Especially then, at times..." She plucked up an abandoned unmentionable and tucked it away. "The mood is thoroughly shattered, I admit."

Bright hugged her gently. "Mine isn't, because my mood is hanging out with lady Rarity, and she's still here, so I get to do that."

Rarity tittered gently. "You are too kind, but my decadance has shifted... I say we order a scrumptious meal in, snuggle, and get some sleep."

"Nice ideas... Nice ideas..." He fired a double finger gun at Rarity. "But we're here for a job, Rares. And it's night. We really should go out and check out all the lights they're scared of."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "I agreed to that to shut them up. Really, lights? Lights don't hurt vampires. Watch." She walked over and clicked on the room lamp, spilling light across the room. "Oh no, I'm burning, oh no..." She was not burning. She wasn't so much as getting a tan. "Really, dear."

Bright chuckled, paws raised placatingly. "Alright alright, no need to sass! I know better than buy into all those silly superstitions about you bursting into flames and stuff." He hip-bumped Rarity playfully. "But we did promise to at least patrol the town and keep an eye out while they put up all those lights and decorations and noisy stuff."

Bright faux-pouted forlornly, velvety ears drooping. "I'll get soooo lonely out there allll night without my best vampony to snuggle though..." He perked up, snapping his paw fingers. "Ooh I know! How 'bout I grab us some yummy takeout while you get dazzlingly dolled up for a night out together?"

Bright mimed holding an umbrella. "That way everypony sees the gorgeous Lady Rarity gracing their quaint city festivities...and nopony tries recruiting poor lonely me for anything while you're gone!" He winked roguishly. "Then we meet to cozy constitutional under the stars away from the crowds, see if your vamp-senses pick up traces of whatever's supposedly lurking in darkness."

The lapine showman flourished a bow. "So whaddya say, my Rare and Radiant Lady fair? Shall your Humble Hare escort you on a magic moonlight promenade après din-din?"

Rarity fanned herself gently with a hoof. "I say you have more charm in that thick tail of yours than in half the high society parties I've been to." She reached out to take his fuzzy hand with her hoof. "Let's do it. I can hardly say no now." Her blush had faded, but remained pleased with the night's rough course.

"Shall I do you up, too, dear? I still feel the least I can offer is a little style to go with an evening in my company." Her eyes brightened with fresh inspiration. "What say we deck ourselves to the nines in formal finery and painted beauty before hitting the town's most posh and happening scenes?"

Striking a dramatic pose, Rarity waved a glittering hoof across the skyline's sultry silhouette. "Dinner and dancing at that new rooftop lounge, then drinks amidst the exclusive elite at the Midnight Martini? I'll have you the toast of the town, darling!"

She nudged the suddenly wide-eyed hybrid playfully. "Come now, with Auntie Rarity's style sorcery on your side they'll be clawing for a chance to beg an audience! What better ego balm after recent harrowing trials than an avalanche of admirers fawning over her foxily fearless fighter, hm?"

Rarity smiled alluringly, already levitating an array of grooming implements and cosmetic tools. "Now then Sir Bright, shall we set out to scandalize and scintillate in equal measure before the sun dares rise to ruin our fashionable fun?"

With the two firmly in agreement, they left the hotel room behind and made their way out, arms entwined, into the glittering light of the city.

"A thought." Bright waved a hand through those lights. "Does this get in the way of your tricks at all? It isn't hurting you, I can see that."

"Not even a little." Rarity dusted herself to be clear on that front. She was unharmed by the glitz of the city. "Hm... Let's get off the side of the street before I go doing things like that, dear."

She pulled Bright along into an alleyway. "This is more like it. I don't... favor it, but it has privacy. Bats!" A bat popped out of each ear and flopped to the ground. "That... I meant to become a cloud of bats, not... that." She reached out to nudge one of the slumbering critters. "I never had that happen before."

Bright bit back a snicker at the pair of abruptly ejected bats snoozing obliviously amidst the refuse lining their impromptu side-alley retreat. Rare indeed for the ever fabulous Lady Rarity to suffer effects failing to align with flawless self-presentation!

Yet perceptive familiar eyes glimpsed fleeting frustration crinkling the fashionista's brow beneath artfully coiffed curls. New environments exposed fresh frustrations for his vampony benefactor's emerging abilities still more grasp than mastery...

Crouching solicitously beside his mistress, Bright gently captured one softly furred chiropteran refugee, cupping protective paws around its quiescent form. "Aw, cut the little guys some slack - probably gets stuffy stuffed in such elegant ear canals!" He winked up at Rarity, smile radiating support not judgement at her spell's slight misfire.

"Growing into awesome new gifts takes time, Rares. But hey - " Bright extended the snoozing bat towards her like a living plush offering. "At least now you'll have snazzy wingmates for those lonely nights I'm off bouncing around saving the day!"

Rarity smirked softly at that, nudging Bright with an elbow. "You tease... But thank you, dear. Practice it shall be... On the move. Come now." She started them back away from the alley. "Away from there, before they wake up properly. I don't know what they'll do then. Home is that way, little ones."

The pair of bats took wing a moment later, darting off deeper into Manehatten's backstreets. "Practice while having fun sounds ideal... Keep your bits, though. You've no need to buy me anything, especially if it's replacing what I've made." She pointed towards the broader street ahead with buildings towering high all around them. "Let's see what trouble we can find, hm?"

Rarity frowned at where the bats had gone. "This does mean, darling, perhaps those old stodges had a point..."

Author's Note

Oh no, there's actually something to look at! Also, hi Pinkie! 17/29

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