Intimate Details

by Loyal

Rating: mature
Tags: Octavia, Sex, Slice of Life, DJ P0N-3, Alternate Universe, Human, Sweetie Belle, Twilight Sparkle, Sad, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity, Romance
Length: 80235

Rarity receives a business-saving commission from an unlikely source, thanks to even more unlikely means.

Rarity is a dressmaker in Canterlot, and not having the easiest time of her life. In fact, things are rather difficult for her at the moment. She's more-or-less friendless, borderline broke, and to make matters worse, she's beginning to lose her creative spark.

Oh, and she has no one to call her own. At least, not anymore. All of these things and more begin to build to a head, until she meets someone she shouldn't have met, in a place she likely shouldn't have been, and through means she'd not like to admit. However, it seems this person might just be the thing she needs to turn her life back around.

Published 2013-03-05 21:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-01 14:20:25 UTC

Foreword

Foreword

“Intimate Details” was inspired by an outside source, a quick story that I had written off to the side. A few things about this, though, were changed from the show to make it more comfortable for me to write. All characters inside are humanized, and any familiar with my other work “A Different Kind of Love” will recognize the system. The human variant for Unicorns are called ‘Magi’ and use their magic with their hands. They do not have horns, and are unmistakable from regular humans. Earth Ponies are, of course, addressed just as ‘human.’ Pegasi are known as ‘Avian’ and have wings growing from their shoulderblades. Aside from that, all anatomy is similar to humans.

No hooves. No horns. No manes. No tails. Some other details may be different from the typical canon interpretation, and have been made merely for my comfort, so I can write the story easily. For instance, Canterlot is more of a sprawling metropolis, instead of a few buildings on a mountainside. Ponyville is a rural town, and other cities and towns are mentioned as well. Trottingham, Baltimare, and so on and so forth.

Additionally, Equestria is at a point in it’s development where technology is… Fairly prominent. Meaning there are cars, electronics, cell phones and whatnot. Since it’s so radically different from the show, I’m adding the ‘Alternate Universe’ tag.

For those of my current fans interested, no. “Intimate Details” does not take place in the same setting as “A Different Kind of Love.” For fans of the show, the timeline and characters are slightly different. In this story, Twilight never became an Alicorn (Humanized variant: ‘Princess’) and some other things have changed, but they will be revealed as this story comes along.

I drew inspiration for this story from a request-based story I had done a while back. A user named BlackRoses169 requested I write a passionate Rarity and Octavia story, and I obliged. It turned out to be one of the more enjoyable ones, and helped spark this particular idea. I give thanks to him for the inspiration for “Intimate Details.” However. The storyline for this and that request (Titled Rhythm and Tempo in my other story, “Loyal’s Clop Bin”) will be different. I expect this particular story to take place over at least eight chapters, possibly more, with perhaps 60,000 words.

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read this story. I appreciate it greatly. It will contain sex, some passionate, some rough, and some maybe a little kinky. Please, keep an open mind as you read on. Be forewarned, though, that the “Mature - Sex” tag is there for a reason.

To my fans: Thank you for all your support.

To new readers: I hope you enjoy. Any and all comments (Critique or otherwise) are greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much,

-Loyal2-1

The Worst Night Ever

Intimate Details - Part 1 “The Worst Night Ever.”

Rarity’s dreams were surprisingly troubled. They fluctuated from one thing to another, terror and nightmares to pleasant scenarios and idealistic, if fanciful flights through fantasy. They troubled her, but not enough to cause her to wake before her alarm went off. She pounded the buzzing beast back into submission, blinking through sleep-crusted eyelids to try and make sense of the scenario. Finally, she switched the alarm off, groaning inwardly as the incessant ringing came to an end.

“Honestly,” She moaned, rolling onto her back with a sigh. “I need to learn an alarm spell. That thing is getting to be a pain in my rear.” With more than a little effort, Rarity finally sat up and pulled herself from the warm embrace of her sheets. She stretched languorously in the cold December air, shivering slightly as her flimsy nightshirt rose to expose her midriff for a moment. Pulling it back down over her skimpy shorts, Rarity hopped across the cold floor to her bathroom. The sun hadn’t even rose yet, but Rarity needed all the time she could spare in the morning to prepare.

After all, being a fashion designer in Canterlot meant she had to look every bit as fantastic as the dresses she made. Humming happily, Rarity cranked on the water to her shower hot and slipped from her clothes to enjoy the steam and the near-scalding water. She ran through the gamut of hair care products, sighing happily as her frazzled strands slowly were nursed back to their silken sheen. Shower complete, she left the shower and dried as best she could before sitting before her vanity. As her hair dried out, she applied make-up, one beautification process after another. It took her half an hour, but her face was finally presentable.

Next came her hair. Strand after strand was teased into place, hairpsrayed, combed, brushed, and generally fretted over. Another half an hour, and Rarity’s hair was finally in place. She moved on from her vanity to her wardrobe, running a hand over the numerous clothes in her massive walk-in closet, thinking hard over which style to go with. She glanced out of the window at the grey, leaden sky. It was awfully chilly… She settled at last on a tight-fitting turtleneck sweater and a pair of long, slim slacks. Slipping her feet in to calf-high boots and donning a stylish coat, Rarity was finally ready to depart for the day.

She left her bedroom for the short hallway. Her studio apartment boasted a single bedroom with a walk-in closet nearly as big as the entire living room. On that she had been adamant. But the rest of the apartment was relatively small. Her kitchen and dining room were one and the same with a small breakfast bar attached, all of it open to the moderate living room. Aside from that, she had two closets, one for linens and another for cleaning supplies. It was all neatly appointed, but with the commissions from her work, Rarity had just enough to survive on her own.

Such was the life of a fashion designer, she supposed… The living cost back in Ponyville had been so easy to survive on. She had had enough time and money then to afford vacations and breaks when she needed them. Now, she worked her hands to the bone to get even enough to afford groceries. ’All for Sweetie Belle. Remember that.’ She grimaced as she locked her apartment behind her. One short elevator ride later, and Rarity was out into the streets. She huddled close to herself in her jacket, glancing up only to check her progress. The day wasn’t just chilly, it was bitter cold. The sort of cold that cut to the bone and sapped her strength. Her teeth were chattering by the time she finally made it into her boutique.

“Good morning, Miss Rarity.” Amethyst, the co-owner of Canterlot’s Carousel Boutique, greeted her as she walked in through the door.

“Good morning, Amy.” Rarity smiled at her one friend in the whole city. She was thankful Amethyst had arrived early enough to turn the heat on. The boutique was warm and comfortable already. Rarity shed her coat and pulled a folder from the inbox. “Another commission? Already?”

“I think you’re going to like that one,” Amethyst smiled at Rarity over the rim of her cup of coffee. “I was tempted to take it myself…” Rarity opened the folder to survey the sketches of the dress. She fought to keep from blanching.

“Eer, yes. Well…” Rarity peered down at the sketch, at the slender bodice and frilly lace. Such a design was hardly cutting-edge anymore. Why, it looked almost… Trottingham-esque. Like it belonged in some old film about the times when valiant heroes rescued damsels in distress and fought evil kings. Things weren’t like that anymore. Not around Canterlot. “For the Grand Galloping Gala? Who commissioned this?” Rarity asked.

“Fleur De Lis.” Amethyst returned. Again, Rarity fought to keep from blanching.

“What’s the theme this year? Trottingham, circa fifty-five hundred?” She tossed the folder back into the inbox with a sigh. “I’m sorry, darling, but I’m going to let you take this one… I simply cannot bring myself to make such a horrendous thing… Ugh. What happened to the days when a designer’s innovation was trusted and counted upon? Now, they want all the details spelled out properly… Might as well make it themselves at that point.” Amethyst frowned at Rarity as she took the folder.

“You seem off, Rarity… Is everything okay?” The question didn’t quite catch Rarity off-guard, but she certainly wasn’t expecting it. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with two fingers.

“I haven’t been sleeping well, darling… Forgive me if I take it out on you.”

“Hmm, that’d explain it. You say you haven’t been sleeping well?” Amethyst asked, walking a slow circle around her. Rarity looked up as her friend looked her up and down.

“Y-yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Hmm… I wonder…” Amethyst stopped at last, taking a good, long look at Rarity’s figure.

“Amy… You’re acting strangely now.”

“I’ve decided.” Amethyst ignored her question almost completely. “You’re going out with me tonight.”

“It’s Wednesday.”

“We’ll have a few drinks, maybe meet someone new…”

“And I have projects to finish.”

“Ooh, we could go to that trendy new club!”

“I’m not sure…”

“I know you have just the dress, too. I’ll wear the one with spaghetti straps.”

“Amy.” Rarity laid her hands on Amethyst’s shoulders, stopping the energetic young woman from bouncing too much. “I’m a working magi. I haven’t the time nor the money to go to a… Club.” She grimaced at the thought anyways. Many clubs these days played music she didn’t quite agree with. Let alone like.

“Oh come on, Rarity.” Amethyst smiled and shrugged off Rarity’s hands. “You can afford one night, can you not?” Rarity drew her lower lip between her teeth, thinking over her available funds.

“I don’t know, Amy… I just don’t think I can afford the drinks.”

“Drinks are on me! Look, if you can make the cover charge- Oh what am I saying?” She scoffed and threw her brilliant head of blonde hair over her shoulder. “Two beautiful, hot women dressed in slutty clothes, we’ll get in for free.” Rarity’s jaw dropped at the appalling statement.

“Slutty?! I’ve never-!”

“Oh, come off it.” Amethyst smiled and gave Rarity’s shoulder a gentle slap. “Show a little skin, and all the guys will be on you. Don’t tell me you don’t want the attention.”

“I… Amy, I just don’t know… Remember, I come from Ponyville. I’m not used to all this high-brow society…” Rarity wrung her hands, but then it was Amethyst’s turn to lay her hands on her shoulders.

“Rarity. Trust me on this. When we close for the day, we’ll go home, get ready, and meet at the club. I’ll show you a good time. I promise.” Rarity sighed and sagged her shoulders at last.

“Fine. I’ll trust you on this.” Rarity managed a brave smile. “Now. Let’s get to work.”

Rarity’s work day consisted mainly of working on commissions and other projects that were requested of her, but since Amethyst was handling the commission from Fleur De Lis, she took over the other half of her business. While her boutique mainly sold dresses and suits for fine men and women in Canterlot, she also did alterations, repairs, and other jobs. Shortly after they had opened, she helped an upstanding businesswoman let out the hem on her skirt, and repaired a few suit jackets. Come lunch, she had sold two of her dresses to young women in their high-school years looking for something to wear to some dance or another. Amethyst emerged from the ‘creation room’ where Rarity spent much of her time around noon, shouting something about ‘grabbing a bite’ before she was gone. Rarity decided to work through lunch, though she stopped to quickly munch down a sandwich she had leftover in their fridge in the back.

Once Amethyst returned, Rarity resumed her post at the front of the store, taking an inventory and handling a few more alterations as they came in. Before she knew it, it was four in the afternoon and she was sweeping the floor. Amethyst emerged with a grin on her face. “Finished.” She admitted with a languorous stretch.

“Already?”

“Mhmm. Fleur wanted the dress by the weekend. All that’s really left is the fitting. I’ll call her to come in tomorrow.”

“Darling, I’m impressed.” Rarity admitted with a warm smile. She tucked the broom into it’s place in the closet and faced Amethyst. “Are we done, then?”

“Let me just give Fleur a call, and we can lock up.” Amethyst strode to the phone on the main desk and dialed a number while Rarity listened to her go through the discussion.

“Miss De Lis? Yes, this is Amethyst with Carousel Boutique. Perfectly, actually! We’ve already finished the main design, we just need you in for the fitting. Mmhmm. As soon as you are able… Tomorrow works fine. After lunch? How does one-thirty sound? Perfect, I have you scheduled! Oh, yes, I’d be happy to! Thank you, Miss. Oh- oh, okay! Fleur.” Amethyst gave a girlish giggle. “All my friends call me Amy. Thank you, Fleur. I’ll see you tomorrow? Right, ciao!” She hung up the phone with a silly grin, which seemed to be infectious. Rarity smiled and jingled her keys, both of them donning coats before shutting lights off and leaving the boutique. Once the door was locked behind them, Rarity turned to her co-worker.

“Where is this club at, darling?”

“Fourteenth and Market. Do you know it?”

“Oh, that old cathedral! Right! It’s been under construction lately, is it finished?”

“Mmhmm. Can you make it?” Rarity thought about the walk. It’d be three blocks, which wasn’t very far normally, but if it was anything like a club, she would have to wear heels. Three blocks in heels might as well have been three miles. She grimaced but nodded.

“I’ll be there. What time?”

“The best time to arrive is past eight. Does eight-thirty work?”

“I’ll see you there, darling.” Rarity kissed Amy on the cheek and hugged her goodbye, turning into the stiff wind. She made the walk home in short order, sniffling a little from the cold. She arrived shortly before five and began to get ready straightaway. Despite her trepidation at being more-or-less dragged along to some silly club, Rarity found herself getting excited. Second only to dressing someone else up, getting dressed up herself was her favorite activity. She hummed a happy song as she began to toss dress after dress onto her bed, looking for the scantiest and most alluring among her massive collection of clothes.

It took several changes and more than a few on-the-spot adjustments to her garments, but Rarity finally found what she was looking for. A bright red miniskirt and a corset-like top that pushed her breasts up and showed off more than a little cleavage were in order. Both were of her own design, and she felt remarkably comfortable in them. Once she had changed into the clothes, she took a good, long look at herself in the mirror.

Rarity seldom did these days, which was rather disheartening, but once she took a moment to actually survey herself, she was rather impressed. She had a full, womanly figure. Her bust was moderate, not overly large, but not small either. What’s more, they were firm and perky. Perhaps not the most attractive in all of Canterlot, but she certainly was enviable. She lifted the hem of her skirt just a little to look at her long, slender legs. Perhaps not that slender, though… As she turned them over in the warm light, she could appreciate the finer, delicate curves of her calves, and the way her thighs dipped in before reaching her knees. Turning about, Rarity looked at her rear, pleased with what she saw.

As a woman who preferred the company of the fairer sex in bed, Rarity could attest to her own beauty. Thought it might be a little vain, she had to admit that were she another woman, she just might go after herself in a setting such as the one she would be in tonight. Flashing a brilliant smile at the woman in the mirror, Rarity left her apartment wearing a heavy coat shortly before eight. Feeling rather sexy and maybe just a little scandalous, she approached the sound of thumping music with hope in her heart.

“Rarity!” Amethyst’s slender arm rose above the crowd gathered in front of the night club, flagging her down. Rarity slipped through the crowd towards the front of the line, smiling at her friend.

“I hope they let us in soon,” Rarity shuddered. “It’s awfully cold out here.”

“Here, let’s go talk to the door man. Open your coat.” Amethyst’s hands pulled at her zipper, and Rarity shivered again at the sudden gust of cold air. She opened her own coat, revealing a skimpy one-piece dress that might as well have just been a bathing suit. Her skirt clung to her hips, and the top left her entire midriff bare. If it weren’t so cold out, Rarity would have been blushing. Instead, the two of them approached the imposing-looking guard at the door with smiles on their lips. He didn’t even look at them twice before pulling the rope aside and letting them in. Even if he did look twice, Rarity could tell it was in admiration. ’Just wait until I take this coat off, darling.’ She smirked at him before shrugging out of her heavy coat and handing it off to the attendant. She tucked the ticket given to her into a small pocket on her skirt before following Amethyst deeper into the club.

From outside, she could heard the pounding bass from whatever music was playing, but inside, it had been amplified. The first frown of the evening crossed her lips. Amethyst made a bee-line for the bar with Rarity in tow, but they had to cut across the dance floor. Rarity had been to formal balls and even a few parties with her old friends, but never to anything this… Extravagant. Bodies teemed and writhed in time with the pounding bass coming from the venue’s only stage. Atop it, some magi was composing the music by pressing buttons on the console in front of her. One hand was busy switching tracks and making the music, while the other held one half of her headphones to her ear.

Being as unfamiliar as she was with today’s music, Rarity could only describe by a term she had heard once in passing called ‘techno,’ which she was sure was short for ‘technologic.’ The sounds thumping into her ear were certainly synthetic in nature, and hadn’t come from any instrument she could pin down. They were high-pitched, monotonous, and began to hurt. She tried to let the ruckus die down to a rull roar, though the ignorance came at the price of regular hearing. She had to shout at the top of her lungs just to get the bartender to hear her. Amethyst managed through a set of hollers and vague hand gestures that Rarity was on her tab, and soon enough, they both had drinks in-hand.

Amethyst then left her, somehow slipping away through the crowd towards the dance floor. Already feeling woozy from the disorienting music, Rarity resigned herself to searching for a place to sit. Which was a task in and of itself. It seemed the club was mostly standing-room, though after peering into more than one dark corner, she saw that the back wall was lined with booths. Most of these were occupied, but Rarity’s feet were screaming for a rest. Finally, she had to approach one such occupied table.

“Can I sit here?” She hollered, pointing to the opposite bench of the current occupying party. Through the dim light, Rarity couldn’t quite see who it was, but they nodded and adjusted their legs so they wouldn’t be tangled. Rarity smiled thankfully as she slipped into the booth, setting her drink down with a relieved sigh. “Thank you!” She hollered over the ever-present thump of bass.

“You’re welcome! It’s a madhouse out there!” Through flashes of light, Rarity could finally get a decent look at her friendly guest. She had long, perfectly straight hair, delicate features, and a very attractive neckline. Rarity sipped at her drink as her new friend continued. “What brings you here?”

“A friend dragged me along. I don’t know how much longer I can stand being here!” The other person smiled at her and offered a hand, which Rarity took happily. “I’m Rarity! Nice to meet you!”

“-Ia! My G… Brought me to listen to her se… Not a fan!” Rarity could see her lips moving, but couldn’t quite make out the words thanks to a renewed blast of music from the stage. Instead, she nodded politely, even though the meaning was lost to her. Finally, the music subsided enough that the other woman could continue talking. “You said your name was Rarity? You’re that new fashion designer, right?” Rarity nodded with a wide smile, waving a hand over her top.

“I made this myself!”

“It’s beautiful! I’m in need of a dress myself! Here, take my card!” She spotted the thin rectangle of paper slid across the table towards her, but the erratic and dark lighting didn’t allow her to see anything that was written on it. Resolving to the only bit of storage she had left, Rarity slipped the card under the strap of her corset, hugging it against her breast. Just as she was about to open her mouth, though, Amethyst appeared at the side of their table.

“There you are! Rarity, you have to come meet these guys I just met!”

“Amy, that’s a different drink than the one you had…” Rarity pointed to her hand. Amethyst grinned and lifted it to her lips, downing close to half of it in two gulps.

“My second! Come on!” Rarity looked down at her own drink, which was less than a quarter gone. Just as she was about to open her mouth to protest, a hand wound around her arm and lifted her from her seat very unceremoniously.

“Aah! Hey! Let go!” Rarity was suddenly dragged away, stumbling over her own feet as Amethyst laughed and pulled her towards the dance floor. She barely managed to catch sight of whoever it was, waving her goodbye. She managed one last weak wave before she was soon engulfed in a sea of bodies. The music was painfully loud here, and more than one person jostled her as she was dragged along by Amethyst. One particular elbow to her ribs made her absolutely certain she didn’t want to be here anymore. She wrenched her arm free at last, intent on scolding Amethyst, but it appeared they had arrived.

“Rarity, this is Matthew! And his brother Dent!” Amethyst hollered over the music. The one she called Matthew already had his arms around her waist, and Dent was lurching forward. She felt his hands slid around her hips smoothly, his hands laying flat on her rear. She was about to scream at him for touching her in such a way when his open mouth pressed against hers forcefully. Eyes wide, Rarity felt his strong tongue surge between her lips right away. Her fist thumped the big man’s chest firmly, but he wouldn’t back away. She growled and writhed, but his hands tightened, drawing her hips against his hard. She could feel the bulge of his arousal even through his jeans.

“-s ENOUGH!” Rarity finally pulled away from his disgusting kiss, glowering as her magic leapt to life. Hands glowing with the energy, Rarity gripped his wrists and lifted his hands away from her, giving her enough time to spin away.

“HEY!” Dent hollered at her, his hand shooting out the second she released him. He snatched her wrist in a crushing grip, dragging her back against him. “Don’t go runnin’ off, now, darlin’.” He breathed against her ear. He smelled of sweat, alcohol, and filth. Rarity’s stomach turned as his other hand cupped her breast, giving it a rough squeeze. “Dressed like that, we both know yer wantin’ me.”

“In your dreams.” Rarity muttered, wincing against the flash of pain that shot through her chest.

“Haw haw! Lookit Dent!” Matthew and Amethyst were looking at the two of them, both of them smiling like giddy school children. “Already got her tits in your hand, eh bro?” Dent shot a smile over his shoulder at them before turning back to Rarity.

“She’s lovin’ it! I toldya you needed to come here, Rarity!” Amethyst’s stupid, drunk grin was the last straw. Ignoring the pain, Rarity’s one free hand cocked back, glowing already. Dent’s stupid expression barely registered what she was going to do. But by the time he had reacted, she had already committed.

“Oof!” With a magic-fueled slap, Rarity ripped herself free of his embrace, sending the big man stumbling backwards into the crowd. The magical blow sounded out over the music, drawing heads their way suddenly. Dent stumbled into another man, who spilled his drink all over the woman he was groping. Cursing, he wheeled around and decked Dent right in the jaw. Amethyst and Matthew were stunned, giving Rarity just enough time to rip her so-called friend away from the lecherous Dent’s brother. As a brawl broke out on the dance floor, Rarity and Amethyst slipped away unnoticed.

Fuming, Rarity pulled Amethyst along to the front of the club, slamming her coat ticket onto the counter along with Amethyst’s. The other woman was still stunned as Rarity threw her coat over her shoulder, glaring at the other angrily. “You can stay here with that… That… Brute and his brother, but I am going home. You had better be sober for the fitting tomorrow, because so help me, if I have to fit a dress I didn’t create, I’ll be very upset with you. Good night, Amethyst.” Rarity called her by her full name, her tone cold and heartless. Amethyst blinked at her in disbelief. The last thing she heard before she left the club was Amethyst’s feeble reply.

“Rarity, wait-“

The cold wind tugged at her hair and rushed past her ears, drowning out even the thumping music as Rarity left the club. Hands in her pockets and head ducked low, Rarity walked home as fast as she could. She tried to ignore the biting wind against her legs, or the sudden chill of snowflakes hitting her face. The walk home was excruciating to endure, and by the time she finally opened her door, she was shivering with the cold. Her feet were sore and she was absolutely sure she had more than one blister. Kicking her heels of unceremoniously, Rarity turned the heater on high and began stripping out of her clothes. She smelled of alcohol and sweat, thanks to Dent. The stench nearly made her gag, let alone the memory.

As she popped the clasp on her bra, something fell to the ground. She lifted the business card she had been given, glancing it over before setting it on her night stand. Right now, she had more important things in mind. Like scrubbing every last inch of her body free of Dent’s disgusting memory. Card forgotten, Rarity padded nude to her restroom and turned the water on. No sooner was she wet than she began to scrub, and scrub hard. The hot water hurt at first, but she was soon numb to the pain. The soap smelled wonderful, and distracted her from the unpleasantness soon enough.

Finished at last, Rarity dried off with a fluffy towel and made her way to bed. She didn’t bother with pajamas. Knowing her hair was going to be a nightmare sleeping on it wet, Rarity set her contemptible alarm early and passed out.

Again, her dreams were troubled. They consisted more of nightmares than anything that night, mostly revolving around a feeling of being crushed, helpless, surrounded, and hounded. Pinches and pokes sent lancing pain into her body, causing her to writhe and scream. When she finally woke, it wasn’t to her alarm. Instead, a pounding reached her ears. Pounding like… Someone was at her door! Cursing, Rarity flung her covers off and pulled a bath robe over her bare form. Tying the belt tight around her waist, Rarity dashed down the hall and opened her door.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity’s younger sister stood on the other side of the door. “Why in the heavens are you- Oh! Crying! Darling, come here!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes were laden with tears, and as soon as Rarity wrapped her arms around her, she burst out with a heart-wrenching wail. Concern and an odd sense of motherly affection replaced anger at being awakened as she closed the door and escorted her bawling sister to the nearby couch. They both sat down, and Sweetie Belle’s crying intensified. Rarity shushed her and held her close, letting the poor young woman sob into her bath robe for close to half an hour. At long last, Sweetie Belle composed herself, wiping away at her face pathetically. Rarity offered tissues, which she accepted readily. After several blown noses and a few more shaky breaths, she was finally composed.

“I’m so sorry, Rarity. I don’t mean to bother like this, I just-“

“Nonsense, darling. I’m always here for you. Just tell me, what’s wrong?” Sweetie Belle frowned and her lip trembled, but she didn’t break down again. Instead, she took another shaky breath, shedding a few more tears.

“She left me. Scoots. She left.” Rarity laid a hand over her heart at the news. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had been friends ever since they were children, and their relationship had been no big surprise. Scootaloo had even followed Sweetie Belle to Canterlot when she expressed her interest in going to the magi academy. Last Rarity had heard from her, the two of them were staying in an apartment on the other side of the city, close to Sweetie Belle’s school and wherever it was Scootaloo had been working. Some bar or other, Rarity heard. To hear the two of them were broken up was nothing short of shocking. In fact, there had been talk of a marriage last time Rarity had met her little sister.

“I’m so sorry.” Rarity laid a hand on Sweetie Belle’s back. She collapsed again, leaning into Rarity with a refreshed wave of tears. “Shh. Shh. It’s okay, Belle… It’s okay…” Sweetie Belle cried harder and clutched Rarity hard, her fingers curling into the robe as she sobbed. Rarity didn’t stop her, though. She knew how important it was to have someone to hold you when your heart was broken… While helping her little sister through school was half the reason for her moving to Canterlot, there was more than one reason behind her exodus from Ponyville…

Sweetie Belle sobbed and cried for another half an hour before she composed herself enough to sit up. “C-can I, I don’t know, crash here for a bit?”

“Of course, darling. Here.” Rarity’s hand glowed as she opened the nearby linen closet. A spare blanket hovered it’s way over to them, and she gingerly tucked it in around her sister. “Stay as long as you’d like, Sweetie.”

“Thanks, Rares… I won’t be here long.”

“Shh. Don’t think about that. Here, just get some rest.” Rarity tucked a throw pillow under Belle’s head as she slipped out from under her, leaving her sister to stretch out on the couch. “I have to work tomorrow. Will you be okay on your own?” Sweetie Belle nodded tiredly.

“Yeah… I just need some time away from… Things.”

“I understand. Get some sleep, Sweetie. I’ll leave some breakfast for you before I leave.” Rarity kissed her forehead gently before standing. Sweetie Belle was already asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. How she had managed to make it all the way across town in the snow and cold, Rarity could only wonder. She sighed tiredly and went back to sleep herself. Thankfully, her dreams were absent.

“Don’t.” Amethyst raised a hand as she opened the front door to the boutique, almost a half an hour late. “Don’t start on me. I’m sorry. I am. But I had a worse time last night than you did.”

“Hhmph.” Rarity planted her hands on her hips, looking angrily at her partner. “I certainly hope not! I wouldn’t wish that on anybody!”

“Ugh. Please, spare me.” Amethyst rubbed the bags under her eyes with a groan. Upon closer look, Rarity could see that she certainly looked terrible. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she wore a rather conservative sweater and slacks. Rarity herself sported a long-sleeve shirt and a vest along with some stylish jeans, to help compliment the snow boots, but Amethyst looked worse than she had since Rarity had seen her. “I never should have taken you out last night. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I suppose I could forgive you. Come here.” Rarity pulled Amethyst into a hug, stroking her hair gently. Amethyst returned it after a moment of hesitation. “Though I’m still angry.”

“Let me make it up to you? I’ll buy breakfast?” She offered with a sheepish smile.

“As long as it’s the bagels from next door.” Her smile turned genuine as she pulled her coat back on.

“Be right back. Sour cream and chives, right?”

“Always. Thank you, darling.” Rarity smiled as Amethyst left on her short errand. Rarity only had enough food in her apartment for Sweetie Belle that morning, so she had left it for her sister. She had intended to go without until that evening when she got off work, so she could go grocery shopping with her limited budget. Now, though, coffee and a bagel were on their way. The day was looking up already. No sooner had Rarity started to go through the inbox than Amethyst returned with their food. The scents made her stomach rumble, and Rarity tore into the bagel ravenously.

“Wow. You were hungry, huh? Do you want me to get another?” Amethyst asked with a ghost of a smile.

“No, thank you, darling.” Rarity talked after she washed the first bite down with a gulp of hot coffee. “Sorry. No. I don’t need it… I just ran out of food last night.”

“I thought you were doing okay on all that?” Amethyst asked, opening her lid to add another packet of sugar to her steaming beverage. Rarity sighed and sipped her drink once before sharing all that had happened after the club last night.

“Oh, I didn’t know… Poor Sweetie Belle. I remember my first breakup. It was terrible. Well, good on you for taking her in like that.”

“She’s the reason I moved here in the first place.” Rarity sighed as she finished off the bagel. “All my extra money goes towards her tuition. That’s why I’m living in that shoddy studio and scraping by paycheck to paycheck.”

“Rarity! That’s ridiculous! Doesn’t she have, I don’t know, a scholarship or something?” Rarity sighed and curled her fingers around her coffee.

“She does, a small one, but even with that and my contribution she barely gets by… Scootaloo was helping her with rent and groceries. Between the three of us, we made just enough to send her to school. Now, though, I… I don’t know what we’ll do.” Rarity put her face in her hands, groaning to herself. Sweetie Belle could move in with her, and if she picked up a part-time job, they might be able to get by… The stress was beginning to build up. For a woman in her early thirties, Rarity couldn’t afford any grey hairs.

“You know I could help out…”

“I couldn’t ask that of you, Amy…” Rarity waved her off. “You have your own school to be worrying about.”

“Yeah, but… Rarity, you can hardly feed yourself. Let alone someone else. This is a problem.” Amethyst leaned over, speaking in hushed tones. “Just a little bit, please… To make up for the embarrassment from last night. Don’t make me beg.”

“Look, you keep buying coffee and bagels, and I’ll consider that enough. At least then I won’t have to worry about cooking my eggs before they spoil.” Rarity lifted her coffee in a toast before smiling boldly. “I’ll work it out, darling. I always do.” Amethyst frowned at her, so Rarity re-affirmed her point. “Sweetie Belle and I will be fine. Two tough magi against Canterlot. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Well, I’m not going to stop buying you breakfast, that’s for sure.” Amethyst grumbled into her own cup.

“Oh come now, dear. Besides. I think I got us a new customer.” Rarity remembered the card she had thought to slip into the pocket of her jeans that morning. She pulled it out and slid it across the front desk to Amethyst, who picked it up with a curious frown.

“What’s this?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Some card from someone that had survived the night. I haven’t quite read it yet.” She waved as she took another sip at her coffee.

“Rarity…” Amethyst said, her eyes wide.

“Hmm?” Rarity hummed into her coffee.

“This is Octavia’s card. She’s the first-chair cellist… For the Canterlot Symphony.”

“Great.” Rarity wiped coffee from her chin. “That stain will never lift.”

Payday

Intimate Details - Part 2 “Payday.”

“Let me see that.” Rarity ignored the burning coffee she had just spat from her mouth as she snatched the card from Amethyst’s hand. With wide eyes, she looked at it. Sure enough, it was…

Octavia - Cellist 1st chair, Canterlot Symphony

The card went on to detail the address of the symphony’s studio, as well as some contact information. Rarity could hardly believe it. The shadowy individual she had met in the back of the club just the other night was none other than the first-chair cellist for Equestria’s greatest symphony! Her heart hammered in her chest and her mind raced. Why did she have this card? What reason did Octavia have for giving it to her?

“You don’t think… She wants a dress, do you?” Amethyst asked hesitantly. Rarity glanced up at her before looking back at the card. Her mind was racing a million miles an hour, trying to make sense of all of it.

“Only one way to find out.” Rarity extended her hand. “Phone.” Amethyst laid it in her hand, and Rarity dialed the number. After a few rings, someone picked up.

“This is Octavia.”

“Oh! Miss Octavia, this is Rarity, with Carousel Boutique. We met last night…?” She could hear a soft exhalation, almost as if in relief.

“Yes! I gave you my card. I’m actually really glad you called me, I was afraid I wouldn’t be heard over the music…” She had an accent, one that was unmistakably Canterlite. She was most definitely a product of high-brow society. Rarity felt a tingle shoot up her spine.

“I’ll admit, I didn’t quite get it all… That’s actually the reason I’m calling is to clarify… Pardon my… Erm, crass statement… But… Why did you give me your card?”

“You’re a fashion designer, right? I’d like to commission you for a dress.” Rarity could have fainted. A dress! For the first-chair cellist of the Canterlot Symphony! Amethyst’s eyes went wide at the sight of the flush rising to Rarity’s cheeks. “Hello?”

“Yes! I’m here.” Rarity breathed, fanning herself with a hand. “Eer, Thank you! First of all. What… Did you have in mind?”

“Well, it’ll be for a performance-“ Rarity’s vision nearly blacked out. “And I need it relatively soon. I’m afraid I’m busy today, but can I make an appointment for tomorrow?”

“O-of course!” Rarity grinned as she waved at Amethyst, gesturing for a pen and paper. Both were provided, and she hastily scribbled down Octavia’s name and the date. “What time works best for you?”

“I prefer early mornings. Can we meet at nine?”

“Nine is divine!” Rarity beamed, scratching down the time and underlining it twice. “I’ll see you then.”

“Perfect! I’ll see you tomorrow, Rarity. Goodbye.”

“Ta!” And with that, the call was over.

“No way.”

“She’s… She wants a dress.”

“First chair cellist…”

“She says soon.”

“For the Canterlot Symphony.”

“I’m assuming next week.”

“Wants a dress.”

“Darling, I’m…”

“Rarity!” Amethyst slipped around the counter, catching Rarity just as she was about to faint. Fanning her face frantically, Amethyst finally roused her enough.

“Thank you, Amy…” Rarity sat up with an intense blush. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Are you okay?”

“Fine, fine. Thank you.” Rarity leaned forward and sipped at her coffee with shaking hands. “Just… I guess I’m in disbelief.”

“I know. Who in their right mind would ever want a dress from us?” Amethyst teased. Rarity shot her a playful glare before smiling. “You’ll do fine, Rarity. Do you want me to come in?”

“No, no dear… You have class. I can’t bother you. Take your Friday. I suspect I’ll be working all weekend, eh?” Amethyst grinned right back at her and laid a hand on Rarity’s forearm.

“Don’t over-work yourself, okay?”

“Not at all, darling. You know me.”

“I do know you.” Amethyst rolled her eyes. “That’s why I’m worried.”

“Oh, shush.” Rarity smiled and sipped at her coffee again, still relatively flustered.

“Well… I might as well get ready for Fleur. She’ll be here after lunch.”

“I thought you said her dress was ready?”

“It is!” Amethyst flushed, waving her off as Rarity rose from her chair. “I just… Want to go over it again. Make sure everything is right.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, good luck.” Rarity sat back down at the front desk, clutching her coffee. Amethyst disappeared into the work room with a small wave, leaving Rarity alone in the boutique. Perfect timing, too, since their first customer appeared shortly. Rarity beamed as the customer entered.

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where we keep fashion sleek, chic, and magnifique! Can I help you?” The woman was flushed from trudging through the snow, and as she pulled her hood off, it was with a smile.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but eer… My… Pants have ripped.” Rarity peered over the counter as she pulled aside her coat to reveal a long, open portion of her slacks, with thread stretched between the open edges of the fabric.

“Ooh! Oh, come in, come in.” Rarity ushered her further into the store, smiling as she guided the blushing woman back to the changing room. “Here you go, dear. You can wear these for now.” Rarity snagged a spare pair of slacks from a rack, a demo pair to be used for fitting. “Shouldn’t take me but fifteen minutes, I think. Go ahead and change.” The woman smiled and slipped behind the dressing room curtain to change her pants while Rarity prepared a smaller workstation outside on the store floor. When the woman emerged, Rarity accepted the damaged pants from her with a smile. “Have a seat, darling. I’ll be finished in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, miss…?”

“Rarity. Pleased to meet you.” They shook hands and were soon separated as Rarity focused on her work. Repairs were simple enough. But the tricky part was hiding the evidence of said repair. Rarity, being an expert with thread and needle, soon had bridged the gap between the two pieces of fabric and blended the new hem in with the old one flawlessly. As she finished, the woman approached, her eyes wide at the magnificent job.

“That’s incredible!” She flustered, holding the pants up to the light. “Like it was never ripped before!”

“Wait until you try them on.” Rarity teased, blushing a little from the praise. Her customer did just that, going to change with a disbelieving smile. When she re-emerged, it was with a look of shock.

“It’s like nothing changed. At all. They’re as pristine as when I put them on this morning.”

“Well, I try.” Rarity teased, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at her handiwork. “Hmm. A slight crease, but nothing noticeable. No one will know.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” The woman smiled and wrapped Rarity in a quick hug, which made her fluster just a little.

“It’s no problem, really… Though, I do need the fee…”

“Of course! Uum, if you don’t mind, could I… Browse a little?”

“Oh, by all means! Go ahead! I’ll be up front if you need anything.” Rarity left the woman to peruse the racks of dresses and whatnot, going to sit at the counter with a faint blush. She had hardly sat down before she was called once more, though.

“Rarity?”

“Yes?” She joined the woman in front of one of the various display mannequins, this one sporting a stunning blue-and-yellow dress. Rarity had made it for someone for a ball a few months back, but they didn’t want to keep it, so Rarity only charged them a rental fee and kept the dress for sale.

“Did you make this?”

“With my own hands.”

“My, my… I dare say I’m interested in buying it.” Rarity’s heart leapt at the thought of a sale. The woman was already looking at the price tag, and didn’t even blink at the steep price. If anything, she seemed accepting. “Oh, and something else… You handed me the perfect size of pants… How did you know I was a size five?”

“Oh, you know…” Rarity waved her off. “You get an eye for these sort of things after being in the business… Eer, about the dress?”

“An eye, you say?” The woman smiled up at Rarity, in a way that Rarity was loathe to admit made her blush again. “I may have a client of mine who would be interested in this place… I dare say you’ve heard of Octavia?” Rarity blinked at the woman in disbelief.

“Eer… Miss Octavia has an appointment for tomorrow morning…” She said hesitantly, wondering what this customer was getting at.

“Oh! Oh, so she does! My, my, that woman takes matters into her own hands more often than she should… You see, I’m her producer.” Another business card was produced with a flourish and handed to Rarity, who took it numbly. “Natalie Delacroix. Octavia is one of my clients. She has a major performance coming up soon, but her previous dressmaker has been… Hmm, how do I say…” Natalie tapped her lip in thought as Rarity continued to stare dumbly at the card. “Rendered obsolete. She needs a new dress for her performance in one week. I was going to send her here, but it seems she’s already found you. I swear, how did we not know about you sooner?” Rarity finally registered what Natalie had been saying, and she looked up with a blink.

“Rendered obsolete?” Natalie grinned.

“You’ll see what I’m talking about tomorrow morning. The dress?”

“Tommor… Yes! The dress!”

“Sweetie Belle! I’m home!”

“Hey sis.” Sweetie Belle had been seated on Rarity’s couch, and she stood as soon as Rarity entered the door. “Have a good day at work?”

“What a day it was.” Rarity lugged several large bags through the door, huffing as she set them on the breakfast bar. “Help me with these?” Sweetie Belle jumped at the opportunity, and together the two of them began to re-stock Rarity’s fridge and cupboards with the groceries. Rarity had gone a little crazy, as she took a little advance on her next paycheck with the sale of the dress. Not to mention it seemed Sweetie Belle would be staying for a while, so she’d need some extra food. In a few minutes, they were finished, and Rarity set about making dinner for them.

“While I work, why don’t you tell me what exactly happened, Sweetie?” Rarity set a pot of water to boil and began working on a salad. Sweetie Belle sat at the breakfast bar’s counter with a glass of orange juice and sighed before starting her story.

“Classes have gotten tougher, and I need to study a lot more when I’m at home… Usually, all I have to do when I’m at home is the homework. Then Scootaloo and I have time to… Well, whatever.”

“Right.” Rarity helped glean over the implication with a slight blush.

“But now, with the way my classes have been drilling me into the ground, I actually have to take the time to sit down and read, go over my notes. Normally, I can cover everything while I’m in class. Normally.” She rested her head in her hands. “It’s… It’s gotten to Scoots and I. By the time I’m done with everything, all I can do is lay down and sleep, just enough time to get up before class the next day. She works weekends, so I can’t really see her then, and it’s just… It just got to us. Last night, she woke up in the middle of the night and just… Started packing.” Rarity paused for a moment, listening intently to her little sister.

“The racket woke me up, and when I asked her what she was doing, she… She just told me she was leaving. Like that. I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t have it. Rarity, she didn’t even want to talk to me. She just kept throwing clothes in her bag. I broke down. I teleported out of there and next thing I knew, I was here…”

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry…” Rarity reached out to wipe away a tear that had slid halfway down her sister’s cheek. “I don’t… Know if I have anything to say about it.”

“Nothing?” Sweetie Belle whimpered, looking up at her with big eyes. “No… No advice…?”

“Well,” Rarity sighed. Painful as a memory as it was, Rarity did have some advice for her little sister. “When… When I was with she-who-must-not-be-named, things were fine. You knew us, we were the best of friends. We did everything together. But there came a time when… Things came between us. It got to the point where neither of us wanted to make things work out. Where we wouldn’t… Fight. For the other. When a relationship reaches that point, it’s honestly just best to… Walk away.”

“Yeah, but you and-“

“Aah.” Rarity held a finger up. “We don’t say her name. Not under this roof.” Sweetie Belle glowered at her, but didn’t press her luck.

“But you two ended pretty bad, right…? I don’t want Scoots and I to be like that. I mean, you two pretty much ended everything that you and your friends were… So bad that you had to move here.”

“I moved here for you, Sweetie.” Rarity frowned at her, feeling the familiar feeling of depression and anxiety grip her heart. “To help you through school.”

“And to get away from her.”

“That was… Just a benefit of moving here.” Rarity sighed, holding a hand to her face. “Well… Maybe half of it.”

“Just like I’m taking half your money right now.” Sweetie Belle muttered, as if she were upset. Rarity looked at her.

“As long as you stay in school, Sweetie, It’ll be worth it. Graduating from the Magi Academy is an illustrious achievement.”

“Yeah…” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“You’re not… Having second thoughts, are you?”

“No! No, I’m not! I’m loving my classes, stressful as they are… Really, I am. I’m learning so much there… But… Well, here’s the thing…” Sweetie Belle shoved a hand into her pants and pulled out a thin slip of paper, sliding it across the breakfast bar towards Rarity. Hesitantly, Rarity lifted the paper in her hands. “The… Other one. She’s been helping out with my tuition. I don’t really need the money you’re sending me…” Rarity’s eyes went wide at the sight of the check in her name, for the amount.

“Sweetie, this is…”

“I know, I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry.” Rarity could hear the tears beginning as Sweetie Belle began to break down again, but she reached a shaking hand out to rest on her sister’s arm.

“Sweetie, relax. I’m not angry. Well, a little surprised… I never thought that she would be sending you money.”

“She always was like another big sister to me…” Sweetie Belle muttered softly. Rarity shot her a quick, sympathetic glance. “Even now. She calls now and then. I really don’t see why you two don’t-“

“Let’s… Not talk about it.” Rarity cut her off. “But, if I’m right, this isn’t all the money I’ve sent you…”

“I saved most of it, Rarity. But, I did buy one thing…” She stood from the breakfast bar and led Rarity by her arm over to the window. She pointed out and down to the street. There, parked against the curb, was a shiny, silver sedan.

“You bought a car?” Rarity asked hesitantly.

“The school sends me on assignments all over Equestria. I needed some way to get around. Besides, you didn’t think I walked all the way here in a snowstorm?” Rarity grinned and pulled Sweetie Belle into a hug.

“I’m so proud of you, Sweetie Belle.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be?” Rarity laughed and released her, wiping away a single tear. Whether from happiness or sadness, she didn’t know. “You’re growing up so fast… You returned my money to me, and did something so responsible with it. Like buying a car.” She sniffled and wiped her face free of one more tear. “I’m proud of you.”

“You’ve no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.” Sweetie Belle dove into Rarity’s arms once again, hugging her tight. “You really are the best sister ever.”

“Oh, come on.” Rarity pulled away with a sigh. “Help me with dinner.”

Rarity and Sweetie Belle spent most of the rest of the evening eating and talking, catching up on the little things. Both of them were usually too busy with work or school to talk to one another, and living on opposite ends of Canterlot didn’t help things. With their tight budget, neither of them could really afford the expensive cell phones that many of the Canterlot elite carried these days. Though now, Rarity had enough money to do many, many things. With half of her paycheck now opened up, Rarity might just be able to afford a better place… And maybe a phone for her and her sister. They could certainly keep in touch more often. Plus, she wouldn’t have to work so hard. So many ideas rushed through her mind, things that she could accomplish, things she could buy and do now… Rarity was still in disbelief, and checked on the slip of paper frequently, just to make sure it was still there. She made a note to stop by the bank before she went in to work the next day.

“I think I’m going to turn in.” Sweetie Belle yawned. “I need to go back to school tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Good idea.” Rarity cursed the infectious yawn.

“Can I shower before bed?”

“Of course. Extra towels are in the closet in the bathroom.” Rarity gestured vaguely. Sweetie Belle smiled and left the living room, which gave Rarity time to lay out her blanket and pillow on the couch. Rarity changed into pajamas and went to sleep straight away, and was out like a light before her head hit the pillow.

Her dreams that night were surprisingly pleasant. She dreamt of classical music and swimming through the water, clear and cool and refreshing. She was with her old friends, though the more painful memories were absent. She laughed and talked with them for hours before her alarm woke her. She and Sweetie Belle brushed their teeth at the same time, and went about the same morning routine side-by-side. Rarity had to admit, having her little sister around was rather pleasant. But Sweetie Belle had her classes to get to, and Rarity had an important appointment that morning.

“Want a ride to work?” Sweetie Belle offered, jingling her keys. Rarity locked the door behind them with a smile.

“If it isn’t too much trouble, could you run me to the bank first?”

“Of course. Not a problem. Class starts at nine, though.”

“I have an appointment at the same time. We’ll be done well before then.” They arrived at the bank shortly after it opened, and Rarity was first in line. She deposited the check, feeling an odd sense of fulfillment as the funds were confirmed, and her balance skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. She might just be able to afford a car of her own now. Sweetie Belle dropped her off at work by eight-thirty, and they parted happily. Rarity was humming a song to herself as she entered the boutique, feeling much happier than she had in weeks.

After preparing everything she might have needed for the appointment, Rarity had to wait a scant five minutes before Octavia showed up. When the cellist made her way through the front door, she was awestruck.

Octavia was, without a doubt, stunning. Rarity had seen her fair share of beautiful women in her day. Avian, magi, and human alike, all of her old friends were certainly alluring. But Octavia’s beauty was… It was something else. Her long, raven hair hung down almost to her rear, shimmering in the soft light of the boutique. Her delicate features were simple and uncomplicated. A modest brow led down to a rather cute nose, thin lips, high cheekbones and a simple, rounded chin. Nothing extravagant or entirely noteworthy, but each feature lent to the others, and worked in harmony. Her neckline, as Rarity vaguely recalled from the club, was elegant and graceful. Slender shoulders and perfect arms. She had a decent bust, nothing massive or tiny by any means, just… Normal. All of this leading down to a flat, and Rarity could guess, toned core. But the most striking feature about Octavia wasn’t in her upper body…

Rarity realized all of a sudden why Octavia’s producer had wished her luck. And why the previous dressmaker had been ‘rendered obsolete.’ Octavia’s hips were, quite simply, massive. Not grossly so, and not even to the point of worry… But they were certainly large. While she might have had the bust of a size five, Octavia’s hips were easily a size seven or above. Immediately, Rarity began looking her up and down, trying to peg the cellist’s size.

“Uum… Excuse me?” Octavia said hesitantly. “Are you… Rarity?”

“Hmm? Oh! Yes!” Rarity shook herself out of her reverie and smiled at Octavia. “Please to meet you… Again.” She offered a hand, which Octavia took happily. Her fingers were slender but strong. Dexterous. Rarity grinned at the connections she just made in her mind. She was a cellist, after all.

“Nat told me she talked to you…”

“Nat? Oh, Natalie! Yes, she did say your previous dressmaker had had some… Issues…” Rarity looked back down at her wide hips and thighs.

“He… Well, his hems were… Weak.” Octavia admitted with a blush. “I gained some notoriety among symphony-goers for wearing black panties.”

“That bad?” Rarity asked with an arched eyebrow. “His seams shouldn’t even have to go that high, that even if they did break, you’d expose undergarments.”

“His seams had to go that high.” Octavia admitted with a blush. She removed her slim coat, giving Rarity a better look at her core, which admittedly made her blush. Something about her wide hips and the smooth curve of her thighs made her strike Rarity as someone very… Womanly.

“Well. I think you’ve come to the right place.” Daunting a task as making a dress for someone of Octavia’s statue was going to be, Rarity already had an idea in mind. That is, if this wasn’t her typical commission, subject to many different changes and suggestions. She smiled despite herself and gestured towards the workstation she had set up. Octavia smiled and stepped further into the boutique.

“Do I need to… Take off my clothes or anything?” Octavia asked shyly. Rarity looked her up and down a little.

“I might need you to lift your shirt to get your bust measurement, but this should require you to stay mostly clothed, I should think.” Despite her nervousness over the entire scenario, Rarity found she was surprisingly relaxed now that it was here. Octavia chuckled and nodded, standing where she indicated. Rarity’s hands stretched the simple measuring tape between them, and glowed as she levitated a pen and paper off to the side. She crouched before Octavia, nodding to her task with a warm smile. “We’ll begin with your measurements.”

“Here we go,” Octavia rolled her eyes with a soft sigh. Rarity arched an eyebrow at her.

“Hmm? Is something wrong?”

“No, I just… I’m used to comments on… You know.” Octavia patted her thighs gently, but Rarity just smiled at her.

“I see nothing wrong with your figure, my dear. If anything, I dare say everything is… Spot on.” She couldn’t help looking over Octavia’s full hips and thighs once more, and inadvertently drew a lip between her teeth.

“I… I’ve never been complimented… Before…” Octavia muttered. “I… I’ve always been made fun of.” Rarity glanced up at the crimson blush on her face, smiling faintly.

“They certainly are complimentary, my dear. Nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve been graced with an alluring figure. It’s my job to help accentuate the more… Intimate details.” Again, Octavia blushed, but Rarity distracted her by starting with measurements. The tape pressed against the side of her black slacks, taking in calf and leg length measurements before moving on to the daunting task of measuring her waist, hips, thighs, and inseam. With a blush, Rarity reluctantly used magic to take the latter measurements, else she’d have to press her hands high on the inside of Octavia’s thigh. Not that she was opposed. But Octavia surely would be. All the while, she muttered small remarks.

“Hips, thirty-eight. Waist, twenty-seven. Inseam, twenty eight. I thought you were taller than that. Must be the boots. Thighs, twenty-two. Goodness.”

“S-sorry. This must be hard.”

“Nonsense, darling.” Rarity beamed up at her. “I’ve already got the design in mind. Unless you had something specific you wanted?” Octavia shook her head furiously.

“I’m an artist, Rarity. I respect another artist’s integrity. This dress will be entirely up to you to design.” At that, Rarity paused. Octavia frowned at her. “Something wrong?”

“I’ve… I don’t think I’ve ever designed a dress this important without any input…” Her heart hammered against her ribcage. She could feel the blood rushing through her, mostly finding it’s way to her cheeks. “I’m speechless.”

“What? You can design a dress independently, can you not?” Octavia’s hopeful expression dropped.

“Yes! Yes, I most certainly can!” Rarity stood with a fluster, waving her hands. “I just… Nothing this important! Not yet, anyways. I… I’ve only ever done solo commissions for… For fashion shows and whatnot. That was so long ago, I… I don’t know what to say. To hear that this dress will be entirely my own design, I… I… Thank you!” Rarity flustered as Octavia smiled at her.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Rarity. You have free reign with this dress. I mean, I’ll have the final say-so whether it’s acceptable for the performance or not, but… Well. You get the idea.”

“Thank you, Miss Octavia, I-“

“Please. Just… Just Octavia.” Rarity beamed at the friendly remark, letting the silence stretch on for just a few moments as she smiled at the cellist. With a start, she remembered she was only partially done with the measurements.

“Could you lift your arms?” She asked, gesturing with the tape. Octavia’s fingers hooked the hem of her shirt and she began to draw it up, but Rarity waved her off. “Just, just your arms darling. Not the shirt. Not yet.”

“Oh. Okay.” Octavia lifted her arms to the side, letting Rarity measure the length from her armpit to her hip, and get a general idea of the curve of her waist. She walked around behind her and got the full measurement of her height, from her neck to her hips, and the width of her shoulders.

“Now, darling. If you will.” Octavia was hesitant at first, but she soon lifted her shirt up to where it rested just underneath the hem of her bra. Black, and lacy. Rarity gnawed on her lip as she wound the tape around Octavia’s chest. “Underbust… Twenty-three. Not bad at all, darling. Sorry to ask, but could you… Just up over your bra?” Why was she blushing again? She had taken bust measurements a hundred million times… Why was this one any different.

“O-okay.” Octavia’s voice betrayed her hesitation, but she soon lifted her shirt all the way up to her collarbone, exposing the rest of her bra. Rarity moved as quickly as she could, but that didn’t mean she missed even a single detail. Upon closer look, Octavia’s bust was almost as large as her own.

“Thirty six. I’m jealous. You can lower now.” Rarity teased as she scribbled down the last measurement she needed. Octavia dropped her hands and her shirt with a blush, looking anywhere but at Rarity. “That’s all the measurements I needed, darling.” Rarity looked over her sheet. As the numbers raced through her head, she began to paint an image of Octavia’s figure from them. Unlike past commissions, this one came vividly. Rarity more often than not viewed the measurements in the form of another mannequin or at the very least a simple dummy. But when she brought the numbers of Octavia’s dress into her mind, Rarity couldn’t help but picture the cellist in all of her curvaceous, womanly beauty… What’s more, she couldn’t fight the blush that rose to her cheeks. As with most mannequins, she was currently devoid of clothing. Details and all.

Shaking her head of the mental image, Rarity forced a smile onto her face. “Was there anything else that you wanted to add?” She asked, pen and paper at the ready. Octavia appeared to be pondering something for a moment.

“No, I don’t think so… I mean… I saw what you were wearing at the club the other night… Perhaps something not so… Revealing?” Rarity blushed in remembrance of the shadowy encounter, and the top she had worn.

“It won’t be anything quite that revealing. Not even close, actually…” Rarity admitted with a nervous laugh. “I have something in mind already. Trust me, darling. This may just be my most beautiful piece yet.”

“Aah, I’ve heard enough.” Octavia raised a hand with a smile. “No need to tell me more. You sound determined, so I’ll leave you to it. Thank you, Rarity. For your hard work. Oh, here. Before I forget.” Octavia brushed past Rarity and went to the front desk to retrieve her coat, which she had discarded there. Rarity watched her rummage in her pockets before producing a thin envelope. “One ticket to the symphony performance.”

“Th… That ticket is…” Rarity’s hand shook as she hesitantly took the envelope. “That’s… That’s worth more than the dress itself!”

“Ground floor, fifth row. It’s the only one they would let me take for free.”

“Darling, I can’t-“

“Nonsense. I… I actually need you there for… More than just attendance. You see, I’m very prone to… Wardrobe malfunctions.” Octavia admitted, rubbing the back of her neck with a small blush. Rarity nodded.

“Still, I could… Stay back-stage, or even-“

“How would that be fair?” Octavia asked with a teasing smile. “To deny you the opportunity to see your dress first-hand?”

“I… I’m honored, Octavia… Thank you.”

“Of course.” Octavia donned her coat, smiling as she zipped it to her chin. She opened the door, letting in a blast of cold air and chills. “Oh, and I need it by next weekend.” Rarity froze for a second, her mind racing. Then, with a grin, she nodded.

“I’ll have it done in three days.” Octavia returned her smile and left. Rarity’s fingers hooked the sign on the front of the door, but she paused. Outside, Octavia disappeared around the corner of the building, and Rarity could hear an engine start. She gnawed her lip as Octavia drove off down the snowy road. After a moment’s hesitation, she left the sign where it was.

She had work to do.

Shoulders, Hip

Intimate Details - Part 3 “Shoulders, hip.”

Rarity tended to lose track of time when she was working on a major project. Amethyst was gone all weekend working on school, and Rarity normally got weekends off to enjoy what little time she had at home. The boutique remained closed, but the lights were on, and she was busy inside. After all, she had a vision for this dress. What Rarity didn’t realize until after the weekend, though, was something had been rekindled inside of her. Something she hadn’t felt in a long while. It was the creative drive, the inspiration and determination to make something so stunning and brilliant it’d leave any viewer breathless. To make something so inspired that all who saw it could talk about nothing else. Rarity’s true desire was to make the entire city forget it’s problems and issues and talk about something that wasn’t idle gossip or political intrigue. To focus on something beautiful and true.

It was a shame she only had three days to do it. But that meant every waking moment was spent fretting over the tiniest part of the dress. From the smallest stitch in the hem to the grandest sweep of fabric in the skirt, Rarity didn’t miss a single thing. Every hem, every bolt, every small gem embroidered into the intricate pattern… Rarity spent as much time on the dress as she had any other thing in her entire life. When she was finally finished, she took a step back to look over her work.

Then the door at the front of the boutique jingled. “Rarity?” She blinked at her dress before leaving the work room, spotting Amy walking through the front door. “Oh, goodness… You normally don’t make it in until nine… I got worried when I saw the lights on.”

“Amy. What are you doing here?” She asked, looking very confusedly at the blonde-haired magi carrying coffee and bagels into the store.

“I’m late.” She said, checking her watch. “By fifteen minutes.”

“Late?”

“It’s Monday, Rarity. Don’t tell me…”

“Oh no.”

“You worked straight through the weekend, didn’t you?” Amethyst handed her a coffee, which Rarity accepted hesitantly. Amy’s arrival had suddenly brought on a wave of exhaustion that she hadn’t quite felt. “You look like a mess. Rarity, have you… Showered at all?”

“Showered?” She asked, sniffing at the coffee. The scent nearly made her gag. She set it on the front counter and blinked unevenly. “I… I don’t know.”

“Honey, go home.” Amethyst laid a hand on her shoulder. “Do you need a ride?”

“Ride. Yes. That’d be nice.”

“Come on. I’ll give you a ride home, then tend the shop today.” Amethyst began flicking lights off one by one, but as soon as she was about to enter the work room, Rarity lurched forward and snatched her wrist.

“Don’t. I don’t…”

“Woah, easy. Okay. I won’t go in there. I promise. Here.” She turned the lock on the work room and worked her key ring until the key was off. “You can take my key to it. No one will get in there to see how bad your dress is.”

“Bad. Heh.” Rarity accepted the key and tucked it into the pocket of her slacks, fighting the urge to curl up on the couch just to the side of the door. Instead, Amethyst tucked an arm under her shoulders, guiding Rarity to the front of the store.

“Come on. Let’s get you home.” The blast of cold air roused Rarity enough to walk on her own to Amethyst’s car, though she very nearly passed out the second she collapsed in the passenger seat. The rocking motions of the vehicle kept her awake enough until they reached her apartment building. “You going to be okay?” Amethyst asked.

“I can make it upstairs, if that’s what you’re asking… Sweetie Belle should be there…” Rarity wiped a hand across her face and groaned when she realized she had left her little sister alone all weekend. At least she had plenty of food to feed herself. Rarity made her way into the building as quickly as her exhausted legs would take her, but the elevator ride up to her floor was much more taxing than it should have been. Nevertheless, she made it, and stumbled into her apartment shortly after.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle jumped up from her spot on the couch, dashing forward immediately. “Where have you been?! You had me worried sick!”

“Working… Dress.” Rarity muttered, nearly collapsing into Sweetie Belle’s embrace.

“Figures. Come on, let’s get you in bed.” Sweetie Belle hoisted Rarity up and led her further into her own apartment, half-carrying the exhausted magi to her own bed. Rarity wasn’t quite aware of it, but Sweetie Belle helped strip her clothes off and put her in pajamas. She was too tired to care about her own indecency that the second she sat on the bed, her muscles gave out and she collapsed entirely.

Nobody slept that peacefully. When Rarity finally awoke, it was late into the evening, with just the slightest hint of dark purple on the horizon. Her muscles felt tight and cramped, but her mind was lucid, if just a little sluggish after just waking up. She limped to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face before braving a look in the mirror.

“Ugh. What a mess.” Pulling on several strands of loose hair, Rarity took a long while to regard her messy countenance. Her hair was frazzled and disheveled beyond belief, the water had made her three-day-old makeup run down her face, her eyes were baggy, and she generally just looked horrible. Grumbling unhappily, Rarity had to prioritize, whether she wanted to or not. She only took a few minutes to soak her hair and pull it into a loose ponytail before removing her makeup and changing pajamas. Sweetie Belle was gone for the evening, it appeared, though she found a note on the kitchen counter.

Rarity-

I’m out for the evening for an assignment from school. I’ll be home after Midnight. Lasagna in the oven, and salad in the fridge. You need to eat something.

Yours,

-Belle

“Hm. She’s growing up faster than I care to think about.” Rarity muttered to herself. She was glad nobody was around to see her in this terrible state, though. She re-heated the lasagna and munched on salad while it cooled before eating more than her fair share with plenty of water to go with it. Finally, her stomach full and her thirst quenched, Rarity could work on getting herself set once again. First order of business was a long, hot shower. Utility costs be damned, she was going to enjoy this…

She stayed in until her fingers were pruned and her hair had been shampooed no less than four times, conditioned twice, and her scalp thoroughly massaged. Not a single inch of her body missed the rigorous scrubbing, and the long-overdue shave helped quite a bit as well. Once the water was off, she sat at her vanity wrapped in towels, applying quite a few lotions and skin creams, and then spent close to another hour tending her hair. Finally, she was presentable once more. It felt so good to be back in a normal state that she indulged in a long-missed pastime.

Reading. With some long-missed trashy romance novel and a glass of wine that she had been saving for longer than she’d care to think about, Rarity curled up on her couch and delved into the world of fantasy. Time ticked by and the night stretched on. It wasn’t until close to two in the morning when the door to her apartment finally opened, and Sweetie Belle trudged in.

“Hey, sis.” She said weakly, smiling at Rarity as she hung her coat up.

“Have fun?” Rarity asked idly, flipping the page without much of a second glance at her sister. Sweetie Belle poured a glass of milk and joined Rarity on the couch, sighing heavily.

“Just mapping stars and whatnot… I’m no fan of astronomy, but I need it to graduate. How about you? Doing okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you. The lasagna was delicious, by the way. Did you make it yourself?”

“Scootaloo is a terrible cook. I had to learn how to in order to survive.” Sweetie Belle mirrored her sister’s smile before looking over her shoulder at the book she was reading. “Eew. I hate this series.”

“Oh shush. Some of us actually enjoy love stories.”

“I don’t know how you can stand them… Honestly, I’d rather read history than these things.”

“Now there’s a subject I can’t stand.” Rarity rolled her eyes and dog-eared the page to mark her place. “Wine?”

“Not for me. I don’t drink.” Sweetie Belle waved her off. Rarity shrugged and poured another glass for herself. “So… Where were you all weekend?”

“You won’t believe this.” Rarity realized then she hadn’t told Sweetie Belle of her recent commission from the cellist. She sipped her wine to loosen herself up a little more before settling in for a long talk. She went on about how the night Sweetie Belle had come over, Rarity went to a club and had received a business card. Without even realizing it, the card had been from Octavia, the cellist for the symphony, and the next day Rarity had given the phone call for the dress that she had been caught up with the entire weekend. She omitted the parts about her attraction to Octavia, naturally. Though she was certain Sweetie Belle hadn’t missed the blush on her cheeks. Praying to all things under the sky Sweetie Belle thought it was from the alcohol, Rarity continued on until earlier that day when Amethyst had given her a ride home.

“You were so far out of it.” Sweetie Belle chuckled, nudging Rarity’s shoulder. “Honestly had me worried you were like, dying or something.”

“Well, I assure you I’m fine.” Rarity finished off her wine glass, shuddering a little at the bitter taste. “Though perhaps a little bit too tipsy for my own good. Ooh, and I have work… Eer, today. I should get some sleep.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty beat, too. And you’re on my bed.” Sweetie Belle’s teasing smile mirrored Rarity’s as the she stood and stretched languorously.

“Good night, Sweetie.”

“Night, Rares.” They shared a brief hug, then Rarity swaggered to her own room with a yawn. She didn’t bother to take her hair out of it’s ponytail before tucking herself into the covers and slipping away soundly.

The rest of the week passed much like any other week had. She woke up, dressed and made up, went to work, came home, ate, then slept. Work was sluggish but not dull, with plenty of time between repairs and alterations to check on Octavia’s dress and fret over small details she might have missed in her exhaustion. Before long, Friday morning arrived, and it was time. Rarity closed the boutique early and fought to keep her hands from shaking so badly. Over the course of the week, she had received letters and calls from Natalie, detailing how the transportation and presentation would be handled. The very first time Octavia would be seen in the dress would be the moment the curtains rose.

The morning of Saturday dawned bleak and grey, with the promise of more snow ahead. Rarity was loathe to leave her warm bed for the chilly air, but there was much to be done that day. Amethyst had class, though she didn’t miss the chance to bother Rarity about the dress, and complain about how she was going to miss it’s unveiling. Rarity assured her she would get to see it at one point or another. It was shortly after seven, and Rarity had to begin preparations. The performance was that evening, and she would need all morning to prepare. Rather than fuss with it later, Rarity dressed herself for the symphony that evening, settling on a black dress that covered her from neck to ankle. It hugged her curves well, and was one of the few she hadn’t made herself. She donned silver hoop earrings and made sure to pack away a pair of heels. For now, she slipped into a pair of boots. There was still snow outside, and she didn’t want to slip and fall. Or worse, stain the hem of her dress.

Nevertheless, Rarity took her time getting ready for the night, and left for her boutique just after noon. Walking slow and avoiding all the sloshy puddles of half-melted slush she could, Rarity managed to make it to the shop without damaging herself or her dress. Though she was frightfully chilly even with her coat. She gave the dress one final go-over and sighed with relief once everything checked out. Next came the tricky part. Packing it for transport.

Usually, Rarity would just pack the dress in a protective sleeve, hung with a hangar. But this dress needed something special. Not only would Rarity be delivering this herself, the dress was fragile around the shoulders, and didn’t have much to hang on. Instead of carrying it, Rarity wrapped the entire mannequin in a dark shroud of weather-resistant material, then used her magic to shield it even more. While she had never been very talented at magical spells themselves, Rarity poured her heart into the spell. Enchanted and protected, the entire thing weighed little more than the dress itself, and would resist the weather during the short trip from the boutique to her ride, and from the ride to the dressing room. She would take no risks. Not with this dress.

Finally, a little before five, a large van arrived in front of the boutique. Rarity peered out of the window at the dark, imposing vehicle, wondering for a split second if they really were with the symphony. Her fears were laid to rest when Natalie slipped out of the passenger seat, followed by two burly-looking men in fine suits. Rarity opened the door with a smile, ushering them all inside.

“So good to see you again, Miss Rarity.” Natalie advanced for a warm hug, which Rarity returned with a smile. “Is everything in order?”

“Yes, I have it all packed away, ready to go.”

“Perfect! I have Hanz and Mattieu here to help. Boys?”

“Aah.” Rarity lifted a hand to stop the two men as they stepped forward. “It’s a delicate dress, and packaged very specifically. I’m sorry, Natalie, but I must insist that I personally carry it.” Natalie blinked for a few moments before frowning slightly.

“Are you certain, Rarity? I don’t want to take any risks.”

“And neither do I. That’s why I must insist.” Natalie looked between the two men before sighing.

“Very well. Though we want to help in any way we can…”

“Well, not to discredit the assistance… But I could use someone to hold the door open for me…” Rarity admitted with a blush. The two men smiled and nodded before leaving the boutique to stand out in the snow, holding the doors open with her. Natalie stood aside as Rarity removed her hands from the coat and held them out towards the wrapped dress. With a brilliant blue aura of magic, she lifted the dress, and began to levitate it towards the door. Natalie helped by gently nudging it in one direction or the other, and the men helped her as she carefully crossed the distance from the front door of the boutique to the van. Crawling inside, Rarity held it in place with her magic, keeping it from resting too much on the floor or the seats. Thankfully, the van was big enough that all four of them could fit with the dress. The one known as Hanz drove while Mattieu sat in back, with Natalie in the passenger seat. Driving slow and carefully, they set out.

The most difficult part of the trip was when Rarity had to change out of her boots and into her heels. Keeping the dress supported while fussing with the miniscule buckles on the heels was a feat in and of itself, but Rarity managed it at last.

“Pull around back, to the dock.” Natalie said from up front. “I don’t want anybody seeing the dress, even if it is just wrapped.” Rarity smiled at that, thankful she wouldn’t have to carry the dress through the onlookers. As they passed by the symphony hall, Rarity saw a line down the block. People were waiting in the snow and wind just to get in to see Octavia perform. They all wore high-class coats and stood under umbrellas, chatting and talking amongst themselves. These were the Canterlot Elite. People from all around who worked in the government, high society, banks, businesses, charities… This was sort of upper-crust folk Rarity really looked to mingle with… Thanks to work, though, she just hadn’t had the chance. Not since she moved to Canterlot. They pulled around the block and behind the concert hall, dipping down a short ramp and into a dimly-lit dock area. Hanz backed up to the dock while Mattieu opened the double doors behind the van, and Rarity carefully maneuvered her way out. For hauling a dress with magic, wearing heels and a dress of her own, over and onto a concrete deck, Rarity felt surprisingly proud of herself.

“Just a moment, please.” Rarity set the dress on it’s stand, shaking her hands out as her magic faded away. Natalie approached her, looking at the black-wrapped contraption.

“You wouldn’t mind if I…”

“For Miss Octavia’s eyes only, I’m afraid.” Rarity shook her head, answering the unasked question.

“I figured as much. I suppose I’ll just have to wait until the performance…” Natalie’s eyes slid over the dress longingly, but Rarity broke her concentration by lifting it once more.

“Lead the way, gentleman.” Hanz and Mattieu took the lead, gently ushering employees aside and holding open doors as Rarity began the trek from the dock to the dressing room. As they continued, more and more people appeared, making Hanz and Mattieu work harder to keep the curious onlookers at bay. A beautiful woman levitating a mysterious, wrapped, dark package through their midst certainly was interesting to them. Rarity maintained her focus, despite the whispers shooting about all around her. After a few long minutes of walking slowly through low doorways and small crowds of people, they finally arrived at the star’s dressing room.

“Miss Octavia will be here shortly. She’s in makeup right now.” Natalie explained. Rarity just nodded and slowly maneuvered the dress into the dressing room, stopping at the doorway. “We’ll set up a short hallway from here to the stage. The only person who will see her in the dress before everyone else is you. But that means I need to give you some directions. Place her center stage, and you’ll likely have to bring her cello as well. In this, you’ll have no help. Not even the stagehands will be present to assist. We’ll have everything set up for you as best we can, but… Well. She wants it this way.” Rarity paused.

“Octavia wants it that way?” Natalie nodded at her.

“All of these directions at given at her discretion. She didn’t want anybody to see her until the moment the curtains came up. Apparently, she trusts you.” Rarity swallowed.

“And… And if she didn’t approve of the dress?” Natalie lifted a shoulder indifferently.

“We have back-ups.”

With that, Natalie turned and left her, and the dressing room door slowly closed. Rarity was left alone in the dark room, with only the soft light of an exit sign illuminating the expression of anger and indignation on her face. With a huff, she flicked the light switch on, finally lighting the room. She turned to her wrapped dress, her hands already glowing. Rather than pull the black wrapping off, Rarity used a razor-thin line of energy to slice it away, leaving the dress unharmed and unwrinkled from having to unwind it all. The spells were removed and the black wrapping discarded until nothing but her masterpiece remained. Rarity looked it over carefully, using her magic to feel out the slightest nuances in the fabric, to sense every stitch and hem.

Rarity wasn’t one to use the term ‘perfection,’ but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at the beauty of the dress before her. Everything was in order. Carefully, she erected a curtain before the dress, preparing for the revelation. Just as she finished pulling the erected display in place, the door opened. Her heart leaped at the close call, but she turned about with a smile on her face anyways. Octavia stood in the doorway, still looking every bit as beautiful as Rarity remembered. At the sight of the curtain, Octavia blushed a little bit, closing the door behind her.

“You didn’t have to go to such lengths.”

“Oh, but that’s half the fun. The suspense.” Rarity smiled and offered a hand, which Octavia took readily. Her makeup was flawless, rendering her face pale and without a single crease or wrinkle. The moderate eyeliner brought out the brilliant shade of her lavender eyes, and the sharp line of her brow easily accentuated her high cheekbones. Rarity’s specialty was dressmaking, but she held a certain appreciation for a well-executed makeup job.

“So, that’s it? Behind the curtain?” Octavia asked gently. Rarity tore her eyes away from the cellist and glanced at the curtain with a slight smile.

“Indeed it is. Would you care to sit down?”

“Sure.” Octavia pulled the chair in front of the vanity forward, settling her wide hips into it slowly before draping one leg over the other. She waited patiently, smiling faintly as Rarity took her place in front of the curtain.

“Miss Octavia. I present you… Your dress.” Rarity flung the curtain aside, revealing her masterpiece. If Octavia hadn’t already been seated, she would have to sit then. Rarity watched as her eyes went wide with wonder.

A single tear ruined her makeup.

“Rarity! Did everything go well?” Natalie’s seat was right next to hers. Rarity had just emerged from backstage and was promptly escorted to her chair by Mattieu, who deposited her with a smile. Rarity, though, looked shocked. Maybe even a little stunned. She slowly sat next to Natalie, who leaned in with a whisper. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Please tell me everything went well…” Rarity finally closed her mouth and swallowed hard, looking at her neighbor with a soft smile.

“You’ll see.” She whispered gently. “When the lights go down.”

“I-“ Natalie started in again, but the sound of a cello’s bow being pulled across the strings cut her off. The tone was low and even, full of body and timbre. It sent a chill down Rarity’s spine as every sound was suddenly hushed. No more conversation. No more whispers. No more chatter and gossip. Everyone sat straight up in their chairs, listening to the haunting tone reverberating through the chamber. Slowly, it died away, leaving behind a hushed silence.

And that was just the sound check.

Slowly, the curtain began to rise.

Silenzio Assoluto

Intimate Details - Part 4 “Silenzio Assoluto”

The first thing Rarity registered was the jewels. Amber and Amethyst blended together to cast rich hues of brown and purple across the entire audience. The miniscule gems, embroidered directly into the patterns and seams of the dress, glittered and glinted in the warm light hitting Octavia from above. From the long skirt of her dress all the way up to her miniscule neckline, Octavia was encrusted with amber and purple. Even from where Rarity sat, she could see the colors and the way they contrasted with Octavia’s own eyes, further accentuated by the eyeliner and mascara. Octavia stood with her back straight and head tall, her raven hair cascading down her back. Her bangs were cut square with her brow, and her posture helped convey a message of strength and confidence that had never been seen before.

The dress itself was slowly revealed as the lighting dimmed on Octavia. The initial impression was for the jewels to dazzle the audience. Now, the dress would stun them. Rich, golden-colored fabric hugged every intimate curve of Octavia from her knees to her shoulders, wrapping her in an embrace as intimate and sweet as a lover’s. Even Rarity was shocked with how well it had fit. Long, slender lines over her hips and a bold, full bodice helped accentuate Octavia’s hips, but not make them seen overly large or garish, as others had seen… The long skirt flared out past her knees, resting full and open enough to reveal Octavia’s delicate ankles and the smooth two-inch heels she wore. Just the slightest hint of her calves could be seen, but nothing higher than that. The fabric covered her legs, making everyone wonder what feminine beauty was otherwise held beneath. Rarity had focused so hard on the waistline of the dress, making sure she wasn’t just slimming Octavia’s curvaceous beauty, but bringing it out. She had accomplished just that, as Octavia spread her stance, pulling her bow from behind her back.

Her long, slender arms were left bare, the creamy pale tone offsetting the brilliant hue of the fabric. From the tops of her breasts to the very tips of her fingers, Octavia’s arms and shoulders had been left bare. Nothing would interfere with her playing, giving her complete range of motion with absolutely no restriction. Slowly, she closed her eyes, lifted her head to the rafters, and played the first few notes.

Immediately, Rarity could feel the emotion grip her. The slow, melancholy tone of the cello vibrated through her very soul, gripping her chest with its baritone solemnity. The sound swelled and built in intensity until Rarity could have sworn it was all she could hear. It filled her ears, her chest, her head. It struck chords deep inside of her chest that she didn’t even know existed. Octavia’s fingers pulled the bow slowly, making her cello hum low and intense.

All around them, on the walls and over the audience, the gems would throw amber and purple pinpricks of light. The shifting display was breathtaking, as the gems captured the rays of light and threw them back at the sold-out crowd. When Octavia reversed the direction of her bow, the light passed over them yet again, following the same pattern it had on it’s first journey. When the next note was played, the light would dance in time with her smooth movements. Octavia alone commanded a show of lights and sound that none in Equestria had ever heard or seen before.

The first song was slow and melancholy, each tone being drawn to the point that it shook every person in the audience. None spoke. None moved. No one could even breathe properly as Octavia continued through the piece. Each movement was slow and deliberate, never taking too long or being cut off short. Each note lasted as long as it should have, and the last dying whisper of her first song was greeted with nothing.

Pure, blissful silence.

When the second song began, though. There was a collective gasp from everyone. Octavia’s arm immediately jumped to action, sending a flash of light over everyone gathered. The notes flew fast and furious in a waterfall of sound, guided by the skillful fingers of the most beautiful thing Rarity had ever seen. The jaunty tune made her heart pound, and filled her chest with a sense of renewal and hope. A perfect counter to the previous song, Rarity felt happy and fulfilled after being humbled so fully. The music pulsed through her veins and pounded in her chest. It shot up and down her spine and washed her through and through with pure awe. Meanwhile, the lights flashing over her face made her ache to see more, to behold the wonder and beauty of Octavia’s music.

Each new song flowed perfectly into the next, ranging from skillful feats of musicianship to slow and mournful songs that made more than a few tears leak out among the audience. Every nuance of the notes that flowed past her ears was not lost on her. On anybody. Beside her, Rarity could see Natalie’s chest heave as she broke down into her own tears. Rarity rested a hand over her own heart, breathing deep to avoid having a breakdown of her own. It was uplifting and motivational, disheartening and melancholy, and above all else, it was just plain moving. The last strain of a haunting chord rippled through the air, and Rarity watched as Octavia lifted her eyes to the rafters once more.

Before the curtain dropped, she saw the tears.

Rarity did not linger. She left immediately, brushing past the awestruck crowd members. Complete silence dominated the entire concert hall well after the curtain had dropped, before it finally begun. The first clap was followed by a second, a third… Soon, the entire concert hall was alive with the roaring, oppressive cheering. People all around her shouted and cried, clapping until the ruckus was nearly deafening. Rarity paid them no mind. She slipped by everyone, walking as fast as her weak legs would carry her. No one stopped her. None of them even gave her a second glance. She wasn’t the only person intent on making a hasty exit. Other women, intent on fixing their tear-stained makeup, were making for the bathroom. Here, she broke free. Soon, the concert hall was behind her, and the frigid night air wrapped around her arms. She had forgotten her coat, left in Octavia’s dressing room. She didn’t care. The first cab she came across she hailed, stoically telling them her address and begging for the heater to be turned on high.

As she arrived at her apartment, Sweetie Belle shot to her feet. “Rarity! How did it go?!” Rarity leaned back against the door to her apartment, her chest heaving as the suppressed emotions finally came to the surface. With an audible thump, her head hit the door, and the tears came in earnest. She cried, not from sadness or anger or even joy. She simply cried because she had to. To release the bottled emotions. Whatever they were, they came in a confusing jumble, falling down her front as she slowly slid to the floor. She was only vaguely aware of Sweetie Belle beside her, clutching her sobbing sister tight to her chest. It went on for several long minutes, until Rarity could finally draw an uneasy, deep breath.

“You might want to go get cleaned up.” Sweetie Belle said softly, rubbing Rarity’s shoulder. Rarity nodded, Wiping a mascara-stained finger under her eyes and standing up at last. Sweetie Belle left her at the bathroom door, where she slowly began to remove the dress and her heels. All the while, the memory lingered with her. From the first note to the last, Rarity could remember each movement well, the way it effected her. She remembered laughing with the crowd, fighting back the dam of tears that threatened to break at any moment, and the pounding of her heart as the cello whispered sad, mournful stories… The hot water cascaded over her naked body, and she sat under the scalding stream, her face turned up into the deluge.

The stress of transporting the dress was but a shadow of a memory. The exhaustion of the weekend but a fleeting dream. Rarity remembered only the performance, and the emotional impact it had just had on her. After soaking and scrubbing for a long time, Rarity finally emerged. At some point, Sweetie Belle had slipped into the bathroom to leave her a change of pajamas. That, and her dress had been removed, along with her heels. Her little sister was rather considerate. Smiling at the thought, Rarity toweled herself dry and put her hair into a loose ponytail before changing into the comfortable cotton t-shirt and shorts. Sweetie Belle was waiting in the hall, and when Rarity smiled at her, she returned it readily.

“You okay?” She asked as Rarity pulled her into a warm hug. Rarity sighed and rested her cheek atop Sweetie Belle’s head.

“I’m not sad. I’m not happy. Nor am I angry… Darling, I’m… Inspired. Humbled. fulfilled.”

“... Remind me to go to the symphony sometime.”

Rarity spent the remainder of the weekend alone in her apartment, though she was not entirely idle. One quick trip to the boutique, and she retrieved her sketch book and tools. The effects of working on the dress and the following performance were not lost on her. She sketched several new designs, one after the other, each one with a rough diagram of Octavia’s body with them. She didn’t know if it was obsession or if she was caught up in designing for her, but something about working for Octavia made Rarity feel more driven than she could ever recall. Time and again, she would let out the hips, raise her hems, and lengthen the inseam of her dresses and pants. Every dress, she would make the specifications to the measurements she had intrinsically memorized over the weekend.

What’s more, her dresses began to slowly but surely become more… Revealing. Plunging necklines and high-cut leg slits revealed more and more to her mind’s eye. Over and over, she imagined the expanse of smooth, creamy skin held underneath the fabric. In one heated drawing session, her right hand darkened with lead, her left began to wander to places it shouldn’t have… Or maybe they should have. Only the first teasing brush against the apex of her sensitivity shocked her out of it. She immediately pulled her hand from underneath the waistline of her skimpy shorts, blushing furiously when she came to realization that she had inadvertently been masturbating to the thought of Octavia in the dress she was designing at the moment… And what a dress it was. Large portions of exposed midriff with a very marked accentuation of the hips made this piece easily one of the most scandalous she had ever made.

Shamefully, she added some legitimate lengths of fabric and a knee-length skirt of simple satin to complete the piece and shut her sketch book. It was time for her to take a break and focus on some of the more… Personal things. But first, she had to wash her hands. She did so with haste, scrubbing away the black stain of lead from her pencil before checking to make sure Sweetie Belle wasn’t home. Thankfully, she was gone. A note on the counter said she was out documenting some plants or something. Rarity rolled her eyes and retreated to her bedroom for some much-needed alone time.

The memory of Octavia returned readily as she slowly crawled up onto her bed, her thighs squirming with anticipation. As she fell to her side, Rarity’s hands hooked the hem of her shorts and panties, smoothly pulling them down past her knees, where she could kick them off with ease. Already, the fire in her midsection was raging, begging to be quelled. She let it burn for a few more moments, her thoughts resting solely on the sultry cellist and the intimate curves of her thighs… For a brief second, Rarity’s hand paused low on her bare stomach, thinking over the ramifications of having fantasies about a potential contract…

Then again, she was an imperfect being. Such thoughts were acceptable, right? Right. Re-affirming herself, Rarity plunged her hand between her thighs, assaulting the epicenter of desire automatically. “Oh, goodness…” She breathed. Her fingers slid easily over the tender folds of flesh, thanks to a surprisingly large amount of arousal. As she glanced down the length of her body, she noticed the glistening liquid on her fingers, evidence of her guilty pleasure. Sighing happily, Rarity peeled her tender lips aside and slid one finger into her core. The sensation of finally being penetrated, and of her twitching walls hugging her finger tight, made Rarity shudder and groan. Her toes curled automatically, every muscle in her legs suddenly contracting as she was subject to intense waves of pleasure.

“Aah…” She couldn’t help but let the small gasp escape her lips as her own finger grew more bold. It was joined soon after by it’s cousin, both of them parting her walls in ways that she hadn’t experienced in far, far too long. Rarity was no stranger to sexual encounters, but with the way he previous relationship had ended, she feared to engage in them with anybody else. Ever since she re-located to Canterlot, Rarity’s expeditions into the realm of sex had all been solo sojourns. Sadly, her budget wasn’t able to keep up with the cost of batteries, so she resorted to analog means of satisfaction more often than not.

Now was one of those times. When her fingers had exhausted their usefulness, Rarity pulled open the drawer on her nightstand and fetched a simple, straight dildo. There was no need for lubrication, as her own arousal had taken care of that. She gripped the base and plunged the shaft deep into herself without shame, lifting her hips from the bed as the sudden violation robbed her of muscle coordination. But she needed more. Swirling the tip in a slow circle, Rarity sought her g-spot, and found it in short order. With an expert touch born of close to three years of solo experience, Rarity drove the rounded head of the dildo against that spot again and again.

Her orgasm came soon, flooding her entire midsection with blissful release. She could feel the toy shift about inside of her as the muscles of her womanhood flexed and pulsed around it. The sensation of something moving of what appeared to be it’s own accord within her was not something she took lightly. Rarity flexed her core muscles as hard and often as she could, pulsing the toy back and forth until it was inevitably forced out of her. Sighing happily, Rarity lay with her legs spread and the toy between them, basking in the afterglow of blissful release.

Still, though, the memory of Octavia came to mind. She couldn’t deny herself as a fresh wave of arousal surged forth, spurring her into action once again. This time, her fingers sought her clitoris, rubbing in small circles until she pinpointed that small bundle of skin. It had already swollen with desire, and after peeling aside the miniscule bit of skin covering it, Rarity’s lacquered fingernail could manipulate the tender nub easily. Her legs twitched with each fresh shot of pleasure, making her gasp and moan softly as the second orgasm approached.

Rarity normally wasn’t one for flights of fantasy, preferring the pleasure to be centered in real-life scenarios. Masturbation had lost it’s allure thanks to that, which led to her indulging very little over the past few years… But now, she couldn’t shake the image. She pictured Octavia’s dexterous fingers instead of her own, flicking and rotating her clit just as easily as she manipulated the strings of her cello. Rarity clenched her eyes shut, focusing hard on the picture, panting and gasping as it came readily. She completely forgot that it was herself in that moment, and in her mind’s eye, saw nothing but Octavia. Felt the cellist’s digits plunge deep inside of her, arching against the tender walls to manipulate her G-spot. Octavia was the one who flicked her clitoris back and forth as fast as she possibly could, rendering Rarity a useless lump of flesh, panting and begging for release.

It came soon enough, a firm wave of pleasure that shot straight into her abdomen. It radiated through her chest and up to her temples, robbing her neck and legs of all their strength. Legs splayed in a lewd angle, her head buried into the sheets, Rarity could do nothing but lay there and groan. The pleasure faded away at long last, leaving in it’s wake a throbbing sense of fulfillment that Rarity had missed in her life for far too long. When she finally closed her open mouth and found the strength to move her legs, it was only very clumsily at first. She stumbled on her way to the bathroom, and had to turn back to retrieve the dildo. She washed her hands again, taking her time before moving on to cleaning the toy. Finished with both, she changed into a new pair of panties and shorts, and grabbed her sketch book once more.

She was inspired.

“My, my, Rarity… You’re positively glowing! You must have had a good weekend.” Amethyst was at work early for a Monday morning, smiling over the rim of her cup of coffee. Rarity beamed at her as she let the door close behind her, finally ushering her in out of the chilly late-December air.

“I had an absolutely marvelous weekend, my dear. How about you?”

“Oh, you know… I stayed home. Studied. Went to class. Read this.” Amethyst withdrew a paper from her bag behind the counter and dropped it for Rarity to see. Curiously, Rarity peered at the cover article. Front-page, with bold letters, was a picture of Octavia at the symphony wearing her dress.

”Octavia wows symphony audience with stunning dress, emotional performance!” Rarity flicked the paper open and found the article, reading intently.

Octavia, First Chair cellist for the Canterlot Symphony, gave the performance of her lifetime late Saturday night at the Canterlot Concert Hall, where she performed a solo piece to a sold-out audience. Numerous symphony-goers recounted stories of the moving music that pushed them to tears in one song, and laughs the next.

‘She was so beautiful. So melancholy. Just the sight of her face would make me cry.’ One concert-goer commented outside of the venue, wiping tears off their face with a smile. ‘But then she’d play the next song, and you’ve never seen anyone so blissful in your entire life.’ Similar reports of the moving experience were received from all around as the concert let out. Not a single person seemed saddened or angry, however. Most of them appeared to be happy, while others had a simple look of determination about them.

‘I feel like I can do anything. I felt more inspired than I have in years.’ Canterlot Artist Ponet comments after viewing the performance. ‘I’m dedicating my next painting to the performance I have seen this very evening. I dare say every painting afterwards.’

Every bit as shocking as the performance itself, however, was the dress the cellist wore on stage. ‘It was like watching a light show. The way she would move in time with the music, the jewels would catch the light and throw it all over the concert hall. I’ve never seen anything like it.’ Renowned photographer Photo Finish has already requested an audience with Miss Octavia, and has asked she wear the same dress and pose with her cello. ‘I would kill to find the designer who created it.’ Photo Finish goes on to say, ‘Just from the gems alone, the dress is worth at least four thousand dollars. Possibly more.’

Octavia herself remains unavailable for comment, though her producer has offered to speak on her behalf. ‘Octavia is in a very delicate emotional state right now. After such a performance, an artist many times will feel the need for solitude. She is spending her week in Trottingham with the rest of the symphony in a different studio, and last I heard, she is recording tracks with all of them. Despite her successful solo career, Octavia still remains true to the other members of the symphony. She will not leave her position now, and likely not ever. But she would like to continue solo performances. She says it makes her a more well-rounded musician.’

Sources indicate Octavia is, indeed, spending the week in Trottingham, but will return in time to begin preparations for the ‘Grande Sonora,’ the symphony’s largest performance of the year. The ‘Grande Sonora’ will take place in April of next year. All eyes in Canterlot will be on the headlining cellist, however, with hopes of yet another stunning performance, and another beautiful dress.

“Oh my goodness.” Rarity breathed, setting the paper down. The article was side-lined with multiple photos of Octavia in the dress, one of which happened to catch the brilliant purple flash from one amethyst set in the waistline’s embroidery. Amethyst grinned at her as she tapped the one beneath it.

“That one’s my favorite.” She said softly. “And now I know why you didn’t want anybody to see it… My teacher was at the performance. She said it was the most stunning thing ever, the way Miss Octavia was revealed… She actually cried in front of the entire class.” Amethyst laid a hand on Rarity’s wrist, smiling up at her. “Thank you, Rarity. For keeping a secret.”

“A-anytime, my dear…” Rarity flustered, laying a hand over her fluttering heart. “I… I’m shocked, I just don’t… Know what to say.” Just then, the phone rang. Both of them jumped from shock as Amethyst scrambled to pick up the receiver.

“Crousel Boutique, this is- Oh. Oh, yes. She’s here.” She handed the receiver off to Rarity with a coy smile. “It’s for you.” Carefully, Rarity took the phone and held it to her ear.

“This is Rarity.”

“Rarity. It’s Natalie.” Her heart jumped up into her throat. With a swallow, she fought it back down into her breast. “I have a message from Octavia. Can I drop by the store?”

“O-of course. I’ll be here.”

“Right. I’ll see you in a few.” The line went dead, but Rarity held the phone to her ear still, shaking a little as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

“Rarity? Is everything okay?” Amethyst asked. Rarity started and dropped the phone back in it’s cradle, smiling sheepishly.

“Fine, darling. Just fine. The, uh, producer who helped me with the dress is on her way to the store. I… She says she has a message. From Octavia. I… I may have to leave. Can you…?”

“I can hold the store down. No problem. What are you standing around for? Get ready!” There was a flurry of activity as Rarity and Amethyst bustled about, doing last-minute cleaning and straightening. The sounds of a throaty engine pulling into the parking lot and terminating froze them both. Amethyst gave a nervous cry and dashed for the work room, intent on getting out of sight for the VIP. Rarity stood behind the front counter, trying her hardest to avoid sweating from nervousness. Finally, a heavily-coated figure swept past the front windows and into the store.

“Rarity. So good to see you again.” Natalie’s smile was disarming, and she rushed around the counter to wrap Rarity in a firm hug. “Thank you so much for your contribution. I cannot tell you how much it meant to Octavia.”

“I… Thank you.” Rarity flustered, blushing a little as Natalie pulled away. “I really don’t see what all the fuss is about… It’s just a dress.”

“Just a dress?! Rarity, that was a work of art! That was inspired! I know for a fact I wasn’t the only one left speechless by your work. Thank you. A hundred times over, thank you. Here.” Natalie pulled a thick envelope from her coat, shoving the whole thing into Rarity’s hands. “Payment for the dress, and the note from Octavia. I’m afraid I have to get going, my dear. But I will return! I dare say we’ve found her permanent dress maker.” Natalie rushed in and gave Rarity a kiss on the cheek, leaving with a twirl of her coat. Rarity was speechless, holding the envelope in her hands. At the sound of the bell jingling on the front door, Amethyst poked her head out from the work room.

“Is she gone?” Rarity remained silent, staring dumbfounded at the envelope in her hands. “What’s that?” Amethyst slowly advanced, looking at the thick slip of paper interestedly. “Don’t tell me…”

“Payment. For the dress…” Rarity slowly opened the envelope. A thick, bundled stack of bills tumbled out onto the counter, along with a folded slip of paper.

“That’s… That’s ten thousand dollars.” Amethyst whispered, her eyes wide at the sight. “Rarity, that’s more than we’ve ever made… Ever.” But Rarity wasn’t focused on the money. She opened the slip of paper. The note was small and neatly written.

1445 Hoofington Ln. Top Floor. Noon.

“It’s an address. She wants to meet me. She’s… She’s not in Trottingham.” Rarity looked up at Amethyst. “She’s here in Canterlot.”

1445 Hoofington Lane was without a doubt the largest highrise apartment building in all of Canterlot. Rarity swallowed hard as she approached the lobby desk, staffed with two burly-looking security guards. Hesitantly, she approached them.

“Hello, miss. Can I help you?” One of them smiled at her. They seemed awfully friendly.

“Eer, yes… I was given a note to meet someone here at noon… The top floor?”

“Aah, Miss Rarity, I presume?” Rarity blinked at the two men before nodding. “Go on up. We’ll inform Miss Octavia of your arrival.” The guard gestured to a bank of elevators behind them, and Rarity made her way towards them. She stepped inside and pressed the button for the top floor, listening to the shoddy elevator music on the way up. When the door opened, it was to a small landing, with a very sturdy-looking wooden door. The white tile floor seemed rather sanitary to Rarity, and perhaps slightly tacky. Just as she stepped off of the elevator, though, the wooden door opened.

“Come on in!” Octavia’s familiar voice called to her from out-of-sight, spurring Rarity into action. She followed the sultry accent into the top floor, her eyes widening at the sight. Octavia’s apartment was massive, and likely took up the entire top floor. A stark contrast to the white and dull elevator landing, this room was furnished with rich, dark colors and warm leather upholstery. Rarity always had a passion for interior design, and this room spoke very well to her. There was a warm fire burning in the brick fireplace, casting a healthy glow into the rest of the living room. Next to the fireplace on either side were shelves lined with books of varying titles and genres, and all looked to have been read at some point or another.

“In here.” Octavia’s voice made Rarity spin around, and she noticed one of the doors leading off of the living room was left slightly open. She made her way to it, gently pushing it open. Inside was what had to be Octavia’s private studio. The wide-open floor was well-worn with the passing of feet to and from one point of interest or another. A large grand piano sat in the corner, and along the adjoining wall were all sorts of instruments from violins and flutes to electric guitars and even a drum set. The bank of large windows let in light from the leaden sky and gave a brilliant view of the entire city from the top floor. The opposite wall was lined with all sorts of stereo equipment, from record and CD players, speakers and subwoofers to expensive-looking recording and mixing equipment.

But the thing that caught Rarity’s attention the most was the single chair placed directly in front of her. Opposite that was Octavia, standing with her cello. She was smiling warmly, and gestured to the chair. “Have a seat, Rarity.” Her smile flashed as brilliantly as the gems on her dress. Rarity’s dress. The dress made specifically for her. She pulled her bow from behind her skirt and placed it against the strings. As Rarity sat down, completely stunned, Octavia began to play.

Rarity’s own private concert.

Passionate Precision

Intimate Details - Part 5 “Passionate Precision”

Rarity was swept away just as much as she had been watching Octavia play in front of the entire concert hall. Octavia played with the same amount of passion and exuberance as she had that same night, and every note held the same importance as the one before it. Rarity shed tears, smiled and laughed, and fought to control her heartbeat at all the same points. Octavia played some of the same pieces, some new ones that Rarity didn’t recognize, and some very well-rendered standards from classical musicians Rarity listened to frequently.

What’s more, this show was only for her. Octavia’s eyes, when they were open, never left Rarity. They locked gazes, staring intently at one another as Octavia continued to play masterfully. From slow, somber notes to fast and technical passages, Octavia played incredibly well. Rarity lost track of time, though she didn’t even care. Every second was spent in rapt awe, watching the details of Octavia’s masterful display.

The last note vibrated out into the room, sending a shiver up Rarity’s spine. In the oppressive silence leftover, Rarity could do nothing but stare intently at Octavia’s beautiful face. When she looked up, her lavender eyes glimmered with tears, threatening to spill over. Slowly, still not quite sure of the strength in her legs, Rarity rose to her feet and stepped forward.

“That was probably the single most beautiful thing I’ve seen or heard in a long, long time…” She whispered softly. Octavia wiped a hand over her eyes, sniffing a little.

“Forgive me, I can’t help myself when I-“

“Shh.” Rarity took her wrist, gingerly pulling her hand away from her eyes. “They’re beautiful…”

“My eyes?” Octavia whispered. Rarity was much closer than she probably should have been. But she was enthralled. The way the tears illuminated her irises, Octavia’s eyes looked almost exactly like amethyst gems. Big, round, and perfect. She couldn’t help herself. She leaned in, just a breath away from Octavia’s lips.

The first contact was blissful. Octavia’s soft lips were thin and pressed perfectly against hers, the gentle curve of her bottom lip curling just underneath Rarity’s. She tried to stifle the soft moan that slipped from her lips, but couldn’t stop it. Octavia returned it in kind, inhaling slowly through her nose. Idly, Rarity’s hands rose to Octavia’s shoulders, stepping just one step closer. They were mere inches away from touch one another when Octavia broke the kiss with a gasp.

“Give me… A minute to put this away?” She asked. Only then did Rarity realize Octavia’s hands still held her bow and cello, rendering her unable to return the embrace. Blushing, Rarity stepped back, her heart thundering in her chest. Octavia’s thin smile calmed her slightly, and the cellist busied herself with putting away the instrument. Rarity watched her graceful movements, taking note of the great care Octavia took with her equipment. She loosened the nut on the bow, letting the hair between the ends sag so it wouldn’t warp the wood. Then she twisted the tuning knobs for each string of her cello before putting it away as well. What’s more, each tender movement she made helped the dress glimmer and shine brilliantly, and the way it hugged her curves as she bent over had Rarity thinking things that she ought to have not been thinking. When Octavia finally straightened once more, she turned to Rarity with a slight frown.

“I don’t want to lead you on, Rarity… I’m not looking for anything romantic right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m-“

“Shh.” Rarity cut her off, raising a single finger to Octavia’s thin lips. “Don’t talk.” She blushed and stepped closer, her lips replacing her own finger. Octavia sagged into the kiss, this time fully able to return the eager embrace. Her long arms wrapped around Rarity’s waist, pulling their bodies together nice and easy. Rarity’s own hands slid over Octavia’s bare shoulders and into her raven hair. Rarity flexed her fingers, moaning as she gripped Octavia’s hair. The cellist appeared to love it, as her lips opened in a breathless gasp of anticipation and excitement. Rarity seized the opportunity to slip her tongue between them, curling up until she teased the back of Octavia’s teeth.

“Aaah…” Octavia breathed against Rarity, her own tongue joining the battle as she squeezed Rarity tight. Rarity returned the embrace eagerly, her fingers tightening all the more. Only when Octavia began to whimper did she stop, pulling away with a soft gasp and a few heavy breaths. Octavia panted eagerly, her half-lidded eyes looking into Rarity’s eagerly.

“Shall we… Re-locate?” Rarity asked hesitantly, pulling her hands out of Octavia’s hair. Octavia nodded eagerly, sweeping past Rarity and out of the music room. Rarity took just a moment to breathe before turning and following after her with a strange and unfamiliar sense of anticipation. She was actually rather nervous. It had been so long, and the last person she had done anything with was… Well, someone she didn’t like to think about. And yet, Octavia had a strange, calming effect on her. It was relaxing to be around her. She felt like she could act naturally, with no pressure or precedent. Mingling with high society meant you had to present yourself in such a fashion that everyone around you wouldn’t remark on you. In a way, you had to ascend to a whole new level to even blend in. And if you didn’t, you were ostracized… Not so around Octavia. Rarity felt as if she could be dressed in her skivvies and the sultry cellist would still treat her every bit as dignified and poised as Rarity truly was.

“Should I… Take this off?” Octavia asked nervously, leading Rarity down a hall. Any other time, Rarity might have been caught up in the beautiful décor or discovering more about this place, but Octavia’s hesitant question was enough to make her completely ignore everything around her. Rarity smiled and shook her head.

“Why don’t you let me do that, my dear? I’m honestly surprised you managed to get it on by yourself.” Octavia nodded with a slight blush and led Rarity further into her penthouse apartment, rounding a corner down another long hallway. This one seemed a little more dark and comfortable, with fewer lights and windows. Sure enough, Octavia led her into the master bedroom. Here, Rarity had to stop to admire what she saw.

Octavia’s bedroom was dominated by the single largest bed Rarity had ever seen. It took up a good quarter of the entire room, leaving just enough space on it’s sides for an aisle between the bedposts and the dressers. Opposite the foot of the bed was a door leading into what Rarity guessed was the master bathroom, and to the left of the headboard was another which she guessed led to the closet. One entire wall of the bedroom, however, was devoted to a long set of ceiling-to-floor windows. Wall-to-wall, Rarity could look out over the entirety of Canterlot. On a clear night or a sunny day, the view would be unparalleled. For now, though, it was overcast and grey. Not terribly interesting to look at. Octavia flicked a switch, and automatic blinds descended from hidden panes in the ceiling, slowly shutting out the light of day. Once finished, the only light in the bedroom came from the very edges of the blinds.

It was flat, grey, and surprisingly sultry. Octavia silhouetted the blinds, still looking every bit as beautiful as she had on stage. Rarity swallowed her anxiety and doubt, slowly stepping forward. Her hands gently rose to Octavia’s shoulders, gently turning her around. Octavia presented her back to Rarity, one hand raising to lift her magnificent black hair out of the way. Rarity’s dexterous fingers located the small zipper right away, pulling it down the length of Octavia’s spine, to where it stopped just above her prominent rear.

“Breathe out.” Rarity whispered. Octavia’s chest fell as she exhaled her breath, and Rarity’s magic gripped key points among the folds of the dress. Smooth as could be, Rarity removed the dress the way only she could, using magic to guide the fabric over the snug parts of Octavia’s hips and thighs. Octavia stepped forward and out of the dress, now wearing only a strapless bra and her underwear. Rarity didn’t miss the chance to admire her creamy, smooth thighs or the swell of her backside, but concern for her masterpiece won out over her desire.

“Can I put this somewhere?”

“There.” Octavia gestured over Rarity’s shoulder, to a mannequin she had missed on the other side of the door. It was the same mannequin Rarity had delivered the dress in, and had been adjusted to fit Octavia’s size. Rarity turned to her task, making absolutely sure the dress fell the right way down to the floor, hugging its stand just right, making sure all the miniscule zippers and cinched bits of fabric were where they needed to be. When she finished, she was acutely aware of Octavia’s eyes on her.

“Something the matter?” Rarity asked softly. Octavia slipped up behind her, her slender hands resting on Rarity’s hips.

“I’m amazed.” She whispered into Rarity’s ear. “You show the same care and passion for your dresses that I do my instruments…” Rarity couldn’t stop the shiver as she inadvertently leaned back into the warm embrace. Octavia wrapped her arms around Rarity’s middle, pulling herself close against the dressmaker’s back. Rarity turned her head to the side and Octavia pressed another passionate kiss to her lips. Rarity’s own hands rose into Octavia’s hair yet again, pulling the thin, eager lips against her own smoothly. Octavia groaned and pressed closer, enough that Rarity could feel the curves of her thighs against the back of her own. Octavia’s hips pressed into Rarity’s rear, making her crotch heat with another eager sensation of desire.

“Hmm, Darling…” Rarity muttered between passionate exchanges. “I want you. Ever since you stepped into my store, I’ve been seeing you in my mind. I can’t shake the image. I’d give anything to feel you. All of you.” The words came in a rush, flowing fast and free as Rarity slowly turned around. Octavia’s chest rose and fell with each hot breath, her eyes now closed as she rested her forehead against Rarity’s.

“Okay. Okay, yes.” She whispered, her fingers tightening. “Please.” She opened her eyes to look up into Rarity’s, and in those magnificent purple orbs, Rarity could see everything. Lust. Desire. Passion. Romance. Octavia’s own gaze betrayed her intent. With a simple motion, Rarity guided her backwards to the bed, gently setting her down at the edge. Octavia sighed and closed her eyes as Rarity smoothly pushed her back. She stretched out on her back, only her legs dangling over the edge of the bed. Rarity stood off to the side, looking down at the beautiful display beneath her. Octavia’s chest rose and fell slowly, her eyes closed and her lips parted slightly; just enough that Rarity could see the very edge of her teeth.

Rarity’s hands gingerly slid higher along Octavia’s front, caressing the flat plane of her stomach. Octavia slowly inhaled and exhaled. Rarity was enraptured at the smooth motion. At long last, her hand rose to the hem of Octavia’s bra, finding the small clasp set between and underneath her breasts. With an expert touch, she flicked it free, watching as the fabric parted to reveal even more of Octavia’s shapely chest. The very edge of her areola peeked out from underneath the fabric, taunting Rarity with what lay beyond, covered only slightly by the dark piece of clothing. She took her sweet time in peeling it aside, revealing a scant inch at a time.

Rarity didn’t enjoy just clothing people, making them look beautiful or handsome. While half the fun was dreaming up new and imaginative ways to weave fabric and thread into a tapestry of fashion and passion, the other half was what lay beneath. Rarity’s greatest sexual desire was not in orgasmic fulfillment, or in pleasing another… What she enjoyed more than anything was the path it took getting there. Be it slow and deliberate disrobing or fast and passionate stripping, Rarity enjoyed removing clothes more than anything else in the world.

Images of what she had previously pictured Octavia wearing flashed through her mind. She imagined everything from a scanty and revealing maid outfit to such daring things like tight leather and latex. While such things were normally outside of Rarity’s usual fantasy, she couldn’t help herself. Something about this woman made Rarity want to create new and fantastic things, watch as Octavia dressed in them, and take her sweet time in removing them. Over and over again. She was so entrancing, beautiful and sultry at the same time. The way her hips and thighs filled out so beautifully, their wide curves and entrancing dips made Rarity’s crotch positively drip with excitement.

At long last, she removed the last inch of fabric covering Octavia’s breasts, baring the beautifully plump twin peaks. Her nipples were perfectly proportioned and puckered with gooseflesh. They were undoubtedly harder than rocks, though likely delicious as well. Rarity gently cupped the one on her left with her whole hand, lifting the soft skin away from Octavia’s ribs with a gentle touch. Octavia sighed happily, her back arching just a little as Rarity mirrored the motion with her other hand. Once Octavia’s breasts had been bared for Rarity’s attention, her fingers slowly circled the bumpy areola.

Octavia drew a lip between her teeth, her hips squirming atop the bed as Rarity began to tease her. She made slow, purposeful circles around the hard flesh, only indulging in a legitimate touch now and again. The soft brushes would make her mouth open in a soft, breathless gasp, and her eyes would flutter behind her lids. Rarity thoroughly enjoyed herself, depressing her fingers into the soft flesh, rotating and squeezing, pinching and rubbing until Octavia was positively squirming with repressed desire.

“Please.” She finally gasped, her breath exhaling in a single, long-winded plead for attention. “Please, lower…”

“Yes, dear.” Rarity removed her hands at long last, laying them flat on Octavia’s twitching stomach. The effect was immediate. Octavia groaned louder than she had previously, and Rarity hadn’t even come close to her destination. Not yet. Slow and easy, Rarity slid her hands down Octavia’s hips and up onto the tops of her thighs, just the very edge of her nails catching the hem of Octavia’s soft, silken panties. She found it surprisingly difficult to gain purchase in pulling the tricky fabric away from the skin. They were so tight and snug, Rarity struggled to peel them away… Octavia groaned nevertheless, her hips stilling to allow Rarity the chance to pull them off. At long last, Rarity managed to fold back the hem and slowly peel the black bit of clothing away from Octavia’s skin. Each new inch that exposed itself in the flat lighting was a tantalizing promise of what was to come, an invitation for a kiss, a touch, or a gentle massage.

“Oh my…” When the fabric finally left her crotch, Rarity was smitten by the sight. Nestled between her full thighs was a delicate pink womanhood, emitting a musky, intoxicating scent that made Rarity’s mouth water. Above it was a thin and well-tended strip of soft hair, less than an inch wide at it’s thickest, and it tapered off to a point two inches above Octavia’s clitoris. Her core was without a doubt the most beautiful thing Rarity had seen in a long, long time… Swallowing slightly, Rarity remembered to completely remove Octavia’s panties before she continued.

“Spread for me?” She asked quietly, her own hips squirming helplessly as she dropped the panties to the floor.

“Am I the only one who’ll be nude this afternoon?” Octavia returned with a slight, teasing smile. “You’re not the only one who has wanted to see the other… Please, Rarity… Let me see you.” Octavia’s desperate plea was enough to make Rarity agree to anything, let alone removing her clothes. She nearly rushed to strip her top and bra off, but remembered this was every bit as much a show for Octavia as it was a means to an end. She slowed down, her fingers pulling the last few buttons on her blouse free with a slow, deliberate touch. Octavia sat up on the edge of the bed, leaning back on her palms as she watched Rarity with an interested, eager expression.

Rarity shrugged out of one shoulder of her blouse, turning to the side to give Octavia a teasing smile before slipping out of the other. She turned about and looked over her shoulder as the blouse slowly slid down her back, revealing the straps and clasp to her own sturdy bra. She could see Octavia’s lip as she drew it between her teeth eagerly. Despite how awkward the things could be, Rarity was still graceful as she pulled the hooks on her bra clasp. Octavia’s chest rose and fell with deep breaths as Rarity pulled the straps off of her shoulders, opening the entirety of her back for Octavia. The bra slid down her arms and fell to the floor, leaving Rarity’s chest bare, but still unseen with her back turned the way it was.

Next was her skirt. It was a conservative, knee-length skirt, dark in color and inlaid with a simple pattern. As she found the small zipper on the side, she pulled it down, feeling the fabric sag around her hips. Her hands rose up into her hair, lifting the long locks off of her neck, leaving her skirt free to fall around her ankles. Underneath, her simple bikini-cut panties were the only thing keeping Octavia from seeing Rarity’s moist womanhood. Thus, Rarity gasped when a pair of hands not her own settled on her hips. She blushed as Octavia took matters into her own hands… Literally.

“You’re so beautiful,” Octavia muttered, her lips pressing to the soft skin on Rarity’s side. Her fingertips slid just under the hem of Rarity’s panties, parting the fabric from her skin. Rarity shuddered as Octavia’s hot breath washed over her hips and around to her front, her hands still intent on holding her hair off of her shoulders. Octavia slowly began to push the thin fabric down, kissing each new inch of exposed skin along the side of Rarity’s legs.

“Pardon me for saying, Rarity…” Octavia’s touch left her just as Rarity’s panties fell to the floor along with the other bits of discarded fabric. “But you have an amazing backside… It’s so… Round. Full…” Octavia’s hands returned just a moment later, her palms laying flat on both of Rarity’s cheeks. She leaned into the grasp eagerly, pushing her rear back into Octavia’s eager touch. “Do you like having it touched?” Octavia whispered.

“V-very much, darling…” Rarity managed to stutter. If the lighting were a little better, Octavia might have been able to see the single trickle of arousal running down Rarity’s inner thigh. The cellist’s hands were firm with the hours of playing her instrument, but not rough or callused; simply harder than most. Rarity knew the feeling, as after a long project of sewing by hand, her own fingers would take on the same properties. She normally did a wax dip to restore them, but there were times when the solid digits were beneficial… One such time being right now. Octavia’s fingers curled into her rear , sinking into the flesh enough to send an exciting tingle of pain up her spine.

“Aah.” Rarity’s soft moan sparked a renewed movement from Octavia. The daring fingers slid over her pert cheeks, venturing down and between her thighs… Rarity felt the small droplet of wetness slide underneath Octavia’s fingers, spreading over her skin slowly. The fingers left her, and she heard Octavia give a soft moan behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, Rarity watched as Octavia’s mouth opened to accept her two fingers. She tasted Rarity’s arousal. And judging from her expression, she liked what she tasted.

“Hmmn. My goodness, that’s incredible.” Octavia panted. Rarity’s blush intensified, but she didn’t feel the need to be embarrassed. Octavia’s lusty expression betrayed her intent as she leaned back on her palms once more. “I don’t suppose you’d want to sample my own, would you?”

“Lay back, darling.” Rarity whispered, her hand gingerly guiding Octavia onto her back. She slowly fell to her knees at the side of the bed, smiling intimately up at Octavia’s beautiful face. From close to a foot away, she could smell the musky scent, feel the heat radiating off of her pale flesh. Octavia was aroused beyond belief. She wanted this every bit as much as Rarity did. They maintained eye contact as Rarity moved in. Soon, though, Rarity lost those brilliant purple orbs behind the gentle swell of her breasts. Then, her attention could be focused solely on the task at hand.

She tasted like nothing Rarity had ever experienced before. Musky and very womanly, the sensation of Octavia’s slick juices running over her tongue and lips was intoxicating. She eagerly licked at every last little droplet of wetness she could coax from Octavia, even though there was plenty of it to be had. She lost all track of time and decency as she focused on her task. Her tongue was restless against Octavia’s womanhood. It was more than a sexual desire to grant another pleasure this time. Rarity felt something else. Something deep in her gut, something primal and ravenous. She felt hungry. She felt starved. She wanted to please and be pleased. To feed off of Octavia’s fulfilled desire. She was going insane with the need for release. Her tongue plunged deep into Octavia’s twitching core again and again, sending shots of pleasure directly into the cellist’s molten womanhood.

Octavia was incredibly vocal. She cried out heedlessly, her chest sagging with the exhalation of air that came with her high-pitched cries. She would writhe and moan for several long moments before shutting off all sound, holding back… Her mouth would drop open in a silent expression of lust before the scream came out, rushing forth with such intensity and passion that Rarity wanted to match her. Instead, she just gave a low, animalistic groan of desire, sending deep vibrations right into her new lover’s crotch. That, in turn, would only make Octavia scream yet again.

Rarity was restless. Her tongue was everywhere against Octavia. She would pull away to haphazardly lick the joint of her leg, burying her face between Octavia’s warm thighs. Then she would dive right back in, her tongue pushing between the cellist’s dripping lips to taste her very depths. Now and then, Rarity’s tongue would glide over Octavia’s swollen clitoris, flicking and spinning the plump bundle of nerves. It was those movements that made Octavia react the most unpredictably. She would arch her back and cry out more intensely than any time prior, positively screaming with pent-up desire.

Rarity was unable to keep up with the flood of arousal. No matter how fast she would lap up at the delightful juices, they were always there, always renewed. In the end, she gave up. There was plenty for her to taste, so she didn’t need to fret about catching it all. Drool and wetness dripped down her chin, glistened on her lips, and even went so far to smear onto her cheeks. It began to drip down Octavia’s rear and into the soft covers. A wet spot began to develop underneath Octavia’s hips, spreading as the heated licking session continued.

“Rarity, I’m-“ Octavia’s clipped sentence was the only warning Rarity got. One moment, her tongue was restlessly exploring, poking and prodding, and the next, she was assaulted with the taste. Incredibly feminine and very pervasive, the sensation of Octavia achieving orgasm from Rarity’s tongue was unlike any other in her life. Rarity lapped up each new drop, feeling much of it gush against her chin and out onto the sheets to join the rest of the ever-widening wet spot. What’s more, Octavia’s legs closed around her head, effectively burying her in the hot, passionate embrace of her thighs. Rarity could hardly breathe. Her head swam with the combination of pleasure and oxygen deprivation. She didn’t stop licking. She couldn’t stop. Even as her lungs began to protest, she lapped sloppily at Octavia’s core. She didn’t want to stop.

“Pwah!” With a hot gasp, she finally broke away. Panting heavily, Rarity grinned in the most stupid fashion up at Octavia, whose open mouth was drooling just a little. Rarity could see a single, glistening trail of saliva tracing from the corner of her mouth down to her jaw, where it was lost in the raven embrace of her hair. Breathing heavily, Rarity slowly crawled up onto the bed, straddling Octavia on all fours.

“For the love of everything under the sun,” Octavia finally muttered, her words slightly slurred. As if she were half-drunk. “You’re insatiable.”

“And you’re delicious.” Rarity moaned. She eagerly pressed her lips against Octavia’s, giving the cellist a taste of her very own orgasmic juices. The response was phenomenal. Octavia squirmed and moaned against Rarity’s lips, her hands eagerly clutching Rarity’s shoulders, pulling her deeper into the kiss. The passionate embrace did not come without movement. Octavia rolled over on top of Rarity, pinning her to the bed. Both of them were fully on the covers now, no more legs dangling off of the edge. Still, they could have fit another two or even three people on the massive expanse of fabric and mattress. Octavia’s bed was huge.

“I want you, Rarity. In the best possible way.” Octavia panted.

“I’m yours, darling. Take me. Take me any way you please.” Rarity returned, her hands gingerly caressing Octavia’s sides. It happened so smoothly and easily, she almost didn’t realize what was happening at first. Octavia leaned far back, her full leg rising up between Rarity’s. The other dipped underneath her hips, lifting her off of the bed. Rarity realized in a moment what she was doing. Smiling wide, she lifted her opposite leg over Octavia’s wide hips, leaving the other resting underneath her full rear. When Octavia pushed herself forward, she sealed their crotches together wonderfully. Rarity could feel the wet, slick flesh of Octavia’s womanhood press against her own. They stayed like that for a few moments, savoring the wet feeling between them. But then, Octavia started to move… Rarity leaned back on her own palms, both women’s hips crossing effectively.

“I’ve… Never done this before.” Rarity moaned, her mouth opening in a soft gasp.

“Pardon the question, dear… But you’ve… Been with a man before?”

“Once.” Rarity muttered with a blush.

“Were you on top?”

“Y-yes…”

“Just like that, then… When I move like this…” Octavia lifted her hips, and Rarity could feel her swollen clitoris drag over the rough skin of her pubis. “You move like that… Perfect. And inversely…”

“O-oh!” Octavia dropped her hips, reversing the sensation. Rarity could feel her swollen clit press against Octavia’s for a brief moment before it was soon dragged through the soft, thin strip of hair. Each teasing, soft tendril wrapped around her swollen button, dragging over it. She shuddered as all the muscle coordination left her legs and arms for a moment. She very nearly fell onto her back once more.

“Perfect.” Octavia panted. Rarity’s half-lidded gaze looked back at Octavia’s face, and saw the single tendril of drool dripping down her chin. With a soft slurp, she realized she was drooling as well. Neither of them could help it. For Rarity, this was new and refreshing. For Octavia, it seemed it had been a long, long time… Both of them started moving at the same time, following opposite motions.

“Ooh, aah… Oh my…” Octavia groaned now and then, though she would occasionally wipe a hand across her mouth. Rarity’s groans followed Octavia’s lead, her head rolling in a circle on weak neck muscles. Their hips were grinding against one another’s nice and hard, making their clitorises brush together, rub in slow circles, or at times rapidly flick over the other’s.

“Rarity, I’m so close.” Octavia panted at last. Both of them had broken out in a thin sheen of sweat. Rarity’s muscles screamed in protest, but the pleasure far outweighed the slight discomfort. They were both thrusting their hips together in a fever pitch now, both so intent on achieving orgasm.

“Rarity!”

“Octavia!”

”AAHN!”

Their simultaneous cries of blissful release shot into the air from open mouths. Rarity’s back arched as the flood of release poured through her, pulsing fast and hard into her veins from the epicenter of her unbridled lust. She could feel the muscles in Octavia’s core contract and flex as she was subject to the exact same sensations, both of them trying very hard to avoid collapsing entirely. In the end, they failed. Their arms gave out and both women collapsed onto their backs, panting and breathing heavily. They lay with her legs tangled, hips resting a scant inch apart, mouths open to the cool air.

“I think… I can’t move my legs.”

“I’ve run out of spit. I drooled it all out.”

Rarity and Octavia panted a few more moments before glancing down the length of their tangled bodies at the other. Smiling serenely, Rarity managed to haul herself back up, turn over, and stretch out beside Octavia. Their fingers twined together, and their hands cupped wonderfully. Octavia tucked her head down and nuzzled into Rarity’s neck, giving her a soft and passionate kiss before she settled. Their ankles crossed and their chests pressed close, drawing both women in to a passionate and close embrace that neither had felt from the other in what seemed like too long a time.

“That was incredible.” Octavia breathed, her mumbled words heard only through the soft vibrations into Rarity’s neck.

“Thank you, darling. For everything.” Rarity returned, her hand smoothly stroking Octavia’s raven hair.

“Hmm…”

Octavia was already asleep.

“Nn…” Something stirred against her. Rarity focused on the soft sensation, trying to pinpoint it’s source. Nothing should have been moving… She was asleep in her apartment. Sweetie Belle was out for the day. No one should be with her. Then again, no one up to anything bad could feel this warm, or this wonderful to hold. Rarity pulled them closer, inhaling the scent of a very feminine perfume and the slightest hint of sweat…

Then it all came flooding back. The private performance. taking Octavia’s dress off, making love to the sultry cellist… Her eyes fluttered open, and all she saw was black. She blinked a few times, but the sensation didn’t fade. It seemed like there might have been a hint of a fragment of light, but it faded just as soon as she focused on it. Frowning, Rarity tried to pinpoint the source…

“Are you awake?” The soft, whispered question came from right before her. She could feel the warm person shift as they asked.

“Yeah…” Rarity whispered in return, closing her eyes to try and return vision… This time, when she looked up, she could just barely make out the shadowy outline of a face.

“Sleep well?” Rarity smiled at the genuine tone of concern, nodding as she slid her head forward a short inch. Octavia met her halfway, their lips meeting in a wonderful, passionate kiss. Rarity let it stretch on for a few moments before pulling back.

“Babies don’t sleep that well, my dear…” She whispered in return. Octavia gave a soft breath before kissing her quickly.

“I’m glad. Thank you so much, Rarity… It means a lot to me.” Rarity’s arms slid around Octavia’s shoulders, pulling her close. She felt the warm curve of Octavia’s body, her breasts depressing slightly as she pressed them against Octavia’s own chest. Her warm thighs, wrapped loosely around one of her legs. She could have stayed like that forever. Then the scent wafted past her nose. Sweat. Arousal. Body odor. She groaned and closed her eyes, wishing it weren’t so.

“Shower?” Octavia asked, addressing the unspoken issue.

“Thought you’d never ask.”

“Hmm. Ooh, do you want to take a boring shower… Or a bath?” Octavia’s tone took on a slightly mischievous quality, and the ghost of a smile in her words was mirrored by Rarity’s full lips.

“Bath.” She answered happily. Octavia pulled away, but only for a moment. Her hands wrapped around Rarity’s wrist, pulling her up from the bed. In the near-dark, Rarity couldn’t see a thing. She was pulled along the soft carpet floor by Octavia, walking blindly towards what she could only guess was the bathroom. Suddenly, a rectangle of bright light hit her square in the eyes, blinding her for a few seconds. She shielded herself with a hand, grimacing at the uncomfortable and sudden onset of light. When her vision finally normalized, she was blown away yet again.

Octavia’s bathroom was dominated by the largest bath tub she had ever seen. Larger even than the spa she used to frequent back in Ponyville, Raritry could have sworn she would be able to swim around inside of this thing without much effort at all. Rimming the edge were all manner of oils and bubble baths and lotions, undoubtedly for use when submerged in the steamy waters. Off to the corner was a stand-up shower with shampoos and conditioners, likely to be used when time was of the essence. A simple toilet, sink, and linen closet were there as well, but the main feature was this bath tub. What’s more, it was backed up to another impressive bank of windows, offering a view out over the slumbering city. How long had the two of them slept? Rarity rubbed her eyes tiredly.

“Do you want any bubbles or oil?” Octavia asked, cranking three separate faucets on simultaneously. The thunderous sound of water filling the tub nearly drowned her out. Rarity smiled and nodded.

“I’d love some, thank you.” Octavia grinned and began picking out bottles here and there, pouring select amounts of each into the tub as the water level began to slowly rise. Rarity watched her move, following the delicate curves of her body as she worked. While she was exhausted from the earlier round of lovemaking, she was still in admiration of Octavia’s simple beauty. She was just so… Womanly. Something about her struck Rarity as being intrinsically beautiful. Graceful. Without flaw. As much as she hated to admit it, Rarity thought she might be falling in love…

“There we go.” The water stopped all at once, and before the two of them was a wide tub filled to the brim with multi-colored bubbles. Smiling at one another, both women slipped over the edge and into the hot water, settling down gently. Underneath the veil of bubbles and fantastic-smelling oils, Octavia’s hand found hers. Rarity took it gently, smiling as the two of them pulled one another close. Against the back edge was a seat. Octavia stretched out on the specially-designed recliner and gingerly pulled Rarity into her lap.

She must not have realized it before, but Octavia was actually taller than her. It had to have been the heels she was constantly wearing, but Octavia, when they were standing or laying side-by-side, was easily an inch or two taller than her. Rarity ran over the cellist’s measurements in her mind, humming softly when she found they checked out. Octavia’s hands wrapped around her middle, keeping Rarity pinned in her lap, and her lips pressed softly to the back of her neck.

“This… Is divine.” Rarity muttered softly, sighing as the heat soaked into her, filling her to the bone.

“One of my guilty pleasures… I must have a bath this grand at least once a week. I’m awfully stressed if I ever have to go without…”

“To each their own, I suppose…” Rarity muttered teasingly. Octavia showed her appreciation with a gentle nip.

“What about you?” She asked, whispering into Rarity ear. “Any quirks? Strange traits?” Rarity shuddered but something came to mind anyways.

“Well… You’re going to find it odd, but…” Rarity gingerly grasped Octavia’s wrist, guiding her hand between her legs. “I must keep my… Pubic hair… In perfect condition. I wax weekly and shave almost every day… If it ever gets out-of-sorts, I tend to get rather irritable.”

“Oh? Oh my! That is… Rarity, this is incredible…” Octavia’s fingers explored her tender crotch, not quite touching her sore clitoris or her aching lips, but sliding over the perfectly smooth, soft flesh around them. Rarity kept a single, slender triangle of hair above her core, and as Octavia’s fingers gingerly stroked the slick strands of hair, she found herself groaning slightly. “Why do you insist on keeping things so… Pristine?” Octavia muttered, her hand coming to a rest over Rarity’s entrance. She kept it there, just cupping her womanhood, not moving or teasing. Just holding her. Rarity found the situation to be nothing short of ideal.

“Because…” She moaned eagerly. “Times like this… When someone plays with it, or just holds me like that…” Rarity closed her eyes, letting her head fall back against Octavia’s shoulder. “It may seem silly, but… My ex did it almost constantly. Clothes on or off, she loved to just hold me there. Didn’t move, didn’t play with me… Just… Holding me. Just like you’re doing right now…” The sudden dark memories of the people she left behind in Ponyville came forth then. She tensed slightly. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to-“

“No, it’s okay.” Octavia said with a soft sigh. “I suppose now is as good a time as any to discuss… Certain things.” Rarity gingerly slid off of Octavia’s lap, facing her in the hot bath water. Octavia seemed to be struggling over the proper words, so Rarity gave her time. At last, she spoke. “I… Recently broke up with my own ex. Honestly, it was the day before the concert. I very nearly called the whole thing off. We were strong, she and I… But… Things didn’t work out. I guess you could say. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t distraught…” Rarity connected the dots in her head, remembering back to the short, clipped sentence that Octavia had begun to say just before Rarity had cut her off with a kiss. The kiss that sealed the events of last night.

“I’m… A rebound, aren’t I?”

“No, no, please! Don’t think of it like that!” Octavia leaned forward, and Rarity could see the tears brimming in her eyes already. “Please, let me explain?” Rarity narrowed her eyebrows, but let Octavia continue. She took a deep breath before speaking again. “Yes, I may have acted a little brashly… And perhaps doing what we did last night wasn’t the wisest decision… But Rarity, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy every moment I’ve spent with you since the day we met.” Octavia reached out to take her hand gently, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m going to be selfish in asking this, but please… I don’t want anything complicated. Nothing serious. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t… If I…” She drew her lower lip between her teeth, and a single tear dripped from her eye.

“If I wasn’t madly attracted to you. Rarity, your dress was like a lover’s embrace, more intimate and sweet than anything I had ever experienced. It’s almost like you know me. All of my flaws and imperfections. You didn’t hide them or conceal them. You brought them out, and turned them into one of the most beautiful things about me. I… I don’t see myself ever wearing a dress from a different dressmaker ever again. I don’t want to. You throw what happened last night into the mix, and I… Rarity, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to let you go.”

It all came in a rush. Each new emotional sentence pulled Octavia closer and closer to Rarity, and coaxed more tears from her beautiful eyes. It pained Rarity to hear her say those things, and hurt her more to know that someone had hurt a woman as beautiful and talented as Octavia. She was obviously abused one way or another, and whoever this ex was, they had had a profound impact on her. The worst kind. Rarity didn’t like the idea of being in a relationship with someone so soon after such a meaningful breakup, but then again…

“Shh, shh, it’s okay.” Rarity wrapped an arm around Octavia’s shoulder, gently pulling her close. Octavia devolved into a fit of sobbing against Rarity’s chest, clutching her tight as she cried. “Shh. Get it all out, darling… Cry it out.” She stroked her raven hair, holding the poor woman close as she shook. Octavia took a few minutes, but soon composed herself with a sniffle and a wipe of her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to-“

“Hey.” Rarity cut her off with a finger to her lips, smiling gently. “Don’t fret, darling. You’re not the only one in this bathtub who has acted out of passionate impulse. I’d be a hypocrite if I denied you your guilty pleasure. Besides.” Rarity cupped Octavia’s chin, smiling as she lifted her eyes to meet her own. “Ever since I made your dress, I’ve been obsessed… Your figure, your allure… It’s irresistible. I’d make a thousand dresses for you, and a thousand more, if only I got the chance to take them off once again.” Octavia’s silly grin was the precursor to a passionate kiss, the likes of which Rarity was likely never going to forget. Octavia moaned into her lips, curling every last inch of her body against Rarity.

“Thank you, Rarity… For understanding.”

“Of course, darling…” Rarity smiled, kissing Octavia’s cheek softly. “You’ve been on my mind for days. Ever since I took your measurements.”

“Hehe. I suspected you might have been looking me over in a way that was slightly less-than-professional.”

“Shush. I always scrutinize my customers in that way.” Rarity blinked. “Might be the reason I don’t have many, now that I think about it.” The two of them shared a laugh, pressing close for a few moments.

Shrouded in hot water and bubbles, wrapped in the arms of one of the most mystifying and alluring women in all of Canterlot, Rarity realized she felt something then. Something she hadn’t felt in a very, very long time. Something so lost and alien to her, it was almost like experiencing it for the first time… She felt…

Content.

Complications

Intimate Details - Part 6 “Complications”

The bath worked wonders for Rarity, almost as much as the passionate night of lovemaking. She and Octavia spent plenty of time soaking and holding one another in the hot water, and left just as their skin began to prune. Octavia was not shy about drying Rarity off, and her hands wandered a fair amount. The delicate touches here and there made Rarity shudder, though not unpleasantly. Octavia then led her down the hall to the kitchen. It wasn’t until she set a pot of water to boil that Rarity realized she was famished. Together, the two of them made a late-night dinner and ate over candlelight and a glass of red wine. As it turned out, Octavia was quite the conversationalist, and not above gossip. She and Rarity shared many juicy details about the Canterlot Elite, though it was mostly Octavia who did the talking. Still, Rarity didn’t miss the chance to get the scoop on some celebrities or important political officials.

The time came, though, when she seriously needed to consider going home. Sweetie Belle would likely be worried, and if the clock on the mantle in Octavia’s living room was accurate, she had to open the store in three short hours.

“Must you really go?” Octavia wrapped her arms around Rarity’s waist, her beautiful expression pleading and oh so beautiful.

“I’m afraid so, darling… I can’t just leave my store. Amethyst would go crazy without knowing where I am…”

“Tell me you’re available this weekend. Please.” Octavia’s playful pout was difficult to resist.

“I should be, darling. Yes.” Rarity returned with a smile, quickly drawing Octavia close for a quick kiss. Octavia lengthened it with a hand on the back of Rarity’s head, inhaling to draw the sensation out longer. Rarity would have given anything for the kiss to stretch on longer, but she couldn’t let it or she’d have ended up staying the entire day. She pulled away breathlessly, smiling like a schoolgirl as she rested her forehead against Octavia’s. “I’ll see you Saturday?”

“Count on it.” Octavia said definitively. Rarity pulled her purse higher onto her shoulder and smiled as she turned to the door. Octavia gave her rear a playful smack, causing her to yelp and blush furiously. Octavia leaned against the doorway as Rarity got on the elevator, and just before the door closed, Rarity saw her blow a kiss with a seductive wink. On the ride down, Rarity had to lean against the wall of the elevator and close her eyes to control her racing heart. Eventually, her breathing returned to normal and she could walk again. The two guards at the desk looked at her with interest, given it was close to five in the morning. She just smiled and waved at them on her way out onto the blustery streets. A passing taxi gave her a ride home, and she pushed through the door to her apartment shortly before five thirty. Sweetie Belle shot up from the couch, where she had been asleep.

“Rarity!” She gasped, springing forward to throw her arms around Rarity’s shoulders in a hug. “I was so worried about you! What happened?! You didn’t come home last night!”

“I know, Belle, I know.” Rarity laughed and hugged Sweetie Belle back, smiling as she pulled away. “I, uuh… Stayed with some company last night.” She admitted with a slight blush. Sweetie Belle arched an inquisitive eyebrow at her.

“Company?”

“A client.” Rarity bubbled as she pulled her coat off. Sweetie Belle took her purse and laid it on the breakfast bar before she went to go brew coffee, though she still looked expectantly at Rarity, as if she was going to give her more details. Rarity didn’t say anything more, but instead brushed past the kitchen on the way to her room. She’d take a little while longer to get ready, but she could at least change out of her day-old clothes. Sporting a tank top and shorts, she re-entered the kitchen to the smell of coffee brewing and bacon sizzling in a pan.

“You know I’m going to want more details.” Sweetie Belle brandished a spatula at her, frowning in a surprisingly motherly sort of way. Rarity grinned deviously and filled her mug with coffee before sitting at the breakfast bar.

“I don’t know if I should tell you, to be honest…”

“Oh come on. It’s not like I’m going to go blab to every other student at the academy about my sister’s love life. You can tell me.”

“Well.” Rarity tapped her chin in thought. “You did tell me about you and Scootaloo… I guess I owe it to you.” She sighed and sipped at her coffee before looking up at her little sister. “It was Octavia.”

“No way!” Sweetie Belle wheeled about, her eyes wide. “The cellist? The one you made the dress for?!”

“Mmhmm… Now, you REALLY can’t go telling anybody about this…” Rarity’s tone turned serious. “She’s a very important social figure, and if anybody finds out we did anything, it’d ruin her.”

“Hey, mum’s the word, sis. But… Wow, seriously? With Octavia?” Sweetie Belle appeared to struggle with her wording for a few moments before finally deciding. “I gotta ask, her hips are they-“

“Every bit as beautiful.” Rarity waved her off, blushing a little.

“Was she shaved?”

“Sweetie Belle!”

“What? I wanna know!” She dodged the playful swat from Rarity, giggling slightly. “Scoots was. There, now you know. You gotta tell me.”

“Eeh. I didn’t need to know.” Rarity groaned, hiding her blush behind her hands.

“Come on! You gotta!” Sweetie Belle clutched her wrists, prying her hands away from her face. “Come on, you have to tell me now!”

“Okay, okay, fine! She… She was.” Rarity’s blush intensified and she looked away, clutching her coffee.

“Hah! I knew it! She owes me five bucks!”

“Owes you?” Rarity narrowed her eyes again. “Who owes you for what?” Sweetie Belle stopped her dance, her face suddenly taking on the look of being caught in something embarrassing.

“Eer… Scoots… Owes me.” She admitted.

“Why.” It wasn’t a question, more of a demand for information. Sweetie Belle sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Well, we’ve both been listening to the symphony for a while now, and when we heard their cellist did some solo projects, we looked into her. We both had a thing for her. I mean, she’s friggin’ beautiful. But anyways. One discussion led to another, and Scoots said she wasn’t shaved. I said she was. We made a bet.” Sweetie Belle grinned deviously. “A bet I just won, apparently.” Rarity frowned at her then, raising a finger.

“Tread carefully, Sweetie Belle. I don’t want to ruin this. Not like I did with… She-who-must-not-be-named.”

“Well, that was no fault of my own.” Sweetie Belle shook the spatula at Rarity, who frowned down at her coffee mug.

“Yeah, thank you for reminding me…”

Rarity had hardly stepped one foot into the boutique before Amethyst bombarded her with questions, one after the other. “How did it go? What did you do? What was she like? Did she say anything about the dress? What happened?” Rarity laid her hands on the bouncing magi’s shoulders, frowning at her seriously.

“Amy, relax. Nothing happened. She just wanted to thank me for the dress.” As much as she didn’t like sharing details about the night with Sweetie Belle, sharing them with Amethyst was just out of the question. Amethyst wilted a little but soon regained her vigor, asking different questions entirely.

“What was she like? She looks so beautiful in those pictures…”

“She’s lovely.” Rarity smiled, remembering back to the way she looked, dressed casually in slacks and a blouse as she bid Rarity farewell. “Very fair-skinned. Her skin tone matched the dress flawlessly.” Rarity sighed and finally removed her coat and bag, sitting behind the front counter. “I dare say she’ll request another dress from us. Hopefully sometime soon.”

“Oh my goodness…” Amethyst laid a hand on her breast. “I’d give anything to work on a project for her… Those hips, I’d be willing to bet anything she’s challenging to fit…”

“You haven’t the slightest.” Rarity teased, smiling as she pulled the small stack of folders out of the inbox. “Her bust is a typical size six, but my goodness… Her hips are like a size eight.”

“You’re kidding.” Amethyst grinned. “That’s incredible.”

“I’d design again for her in a heartbeat.” Rarity said with a wistful sigh. “And yes, before you ask, I’d be glad to have your help on the next one. If there is a next one.” She sighed again, this time from exasperation. “I doubt I’d be able to handle another weekend working like that.”

“I’ll help any way that I can. Aah, this one’s for me.” She said, snatching the top folder out of Rarity’s grasp. “Miss De Lis wanted another dress by next week.”

“A return customer? That’s rare.”

“What can I say?” Amethyst waved the folder with a grin. “I’m just that charming.”

“That you are, my dear.” Rarity waved her off, smiling as Amethyst bounced off towards the work room. “That you are…” Rarity flipped through the remaining folders with a smile. In the aftermath of working with Octavia, she felt like she could do anything. Pulling the first schematic for the requested dress out, she looked it over eagerly. Never mind the fact that, subconsciously, she was fitting the measurements to Octavia’s wide, womanly hips…

Saturday came around sooner, rather than later, it seemed. Rarity worked through the next few days with ease, and dashed home early Friday evening so she could prepare. Her first adjusted paycheck came through at long last, and she had a decent bonus leftover from the dress commission. She and Sweetie Belle drove to the store together, and both of them signed up for a plan to use the fancy new cellular phones everyone seemed to have. Amethyst boasted one, so Rarity was glad to finally be in regular contact with her one friend and co-worker. That, and getting ahold of Sweetie Belle was no longer an issue. Additionally, she could start using this phone for work-related things, as well. She’d have to update her business card.

When she woke Saturday morning, Rarity couldn’t help but let her smile stretch across her lips. She spent most of the morning preparing, getting nice and prettied-up for her date with Octavia. After noon, she called a cab and enjoyed the brisk ride across the city to Octavia’s apartment building. Sweetie Belle had class until late that evening, but had promised Rarity she could handle herself for the night. Rarity had no obligations. Nothing to worry about. When the taxi dropped her off, she walked with a bounce in her step and a happy smile on her face. The two guards at the desk were the same from a few nights ago, but they frowned as she approached.

“Top floor…?” Rarity said inquisitively, slowing her walk.

“Miss Octavia already has a guest, ma’am… I’m sorry, but I need to call ahead…” The guard said, holding a hand up. She stopped entirely, frowning more intensely. She already had company? What was happening? One of the guards dialed a number on the phone at his desk, glancing up at her now and then.

“Yes, I’m sorry to bother you, Miss Octavia, but there’s a guest here to see you. Miss…?”

“Rarity.”

“Rarity. Mmhmm. Oh, okay. Yes, I’ll send her up. Sorry for the inconvenience. Of course. No, I understand. Thank you, ma’am. Goodbye.” He hung up the phone and smiled at Rarity, who returned it hesitantly. “Good luck up there, ma’am. Things sounded pretty bad.” Rarity’s curiosity caused her to walk perhaps a little too fast towards the elevators, and she tapped a foot impatiently on the ride up. Arriving at the top floor, she entered the white landing, and the door opened presently. Octavia poked her head out, looking worse than Rarity had seen her yet.

“I’m so sorry, Rarity,” Octavia said, slipping onto the elevator landing with an apologetic expression. The door closed behind her, though Rarity couldn’t miss the thrumming sound of heavy bass music.

“Is everything okay?” Rarity asked, suddenly more worried for Octavia than her evening. The cellist looked haggard. There were bags under her eyes, and her long raven hair had been pulled back into a sloppy bun, with strands poking out wildly. Her shirt was ruffled and her shoulders slumped. She looked defeated. “Darling, you look terrible… What’s happening?” The music swelled and intensified, making the entire landing seem to vibrate. Rarity frowned at the intrusive noise. “Who do you have over?”

“Look, things are really… Really complicated right now. I promise you, I will explain… But, please, Rarity… You have to go right now.” Octavia’s pleading tone and expression threw her off the most. She didn’t know whether she should be offended or concerned. The music swelled even more, and Octavia slumped a little bit. “Please.”

“Okay…” Rarity said hesitantly. “I… Here.” She pulled a slip of paper and a pen from her purse, quickly scrawling her new phone number onto it. “Call me when you feel like explaining.” Octavia took the paper from Rarity, who stormed into the elevator and jammed the ground floor button. As the door closed, she watched Octavia slip back into her apartment. Over the oppressive music, she could hear a quick snippet of conversation.

“Fuck was that?”

“No one, V-“ The elevator doors closed, dulling out everything else. As the elevator descended towards the lobby, Rarity teetered on the edge of tears and rage. Whatever her body wanted to do, it wasn’t laugh. But she was shaking as she walked towards the doors.

“Miss!” The guard stopped her just as she was about to leave. “It’s cold out there. Would you like us to call you a cab?” She perked up a little, turning to look at the guard over her shoulder.

“That’d be swell. Thank you.” She said in a very clipped manner. Pulling her phone out, she decided it was time to break it in. After a few moments messing with the controls, she opened her address book and dialed Sweetie Belle’s number.

“Hello?”

“Sweetie.” Rarity said, her voice cracking a little. “I’ll be home this evening.”

“Uh oh. What happened?” Rarity glanced at the guards, but they appeared to be ignoring her. She turned away and sighed.

“I don’t even know. But my night’s ruined. What do you want for dinner?”

“I think class will let out early tonight. Whatever you feel like making, really... I’ll be there as soon as I can. You okay?”

“I’ll survive.” Rarity sighed, trying hard not to let her tears get loose.

“I’ll try to cut out a little bit early if I can…”

“You don’t need to do that, darling. I’ll be fine. Some sappy love songs and a half a bottle of wine ought to set me straight.”

“Haha. Well, I’ll still see about coming home early. I gotta go.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.” Rarity punched the red button on her phone and sighed, tucking it back away. The novelty of talking to her sister from miles and miles away was lost on her.

“Ma’am?” The guard drew her attention. “The cab is on the way, and will be here shortly. You’re welcome to take a seat, if you’d like.” He gestured to the nearby lounge with a few comfortable-looking chairs, which Rarity thankfully took. She surveyed her face in her compact, fixing imperfect eyelashes, teasing her hair, trying to do anything to keep herself from crying. Ultimately, she won, but just barely. The cab pulled up out front, and she jogged the short distance to the back seat. Giving her home address, she stared out of the window at the bleak grey sky all the way home, clutching the hem of her skirt as hard as she could.

Upon arrival, she made it to her apartment before finally breaking down. She didn’t even know why she was crying, but she did. Blubbering, snotty, mascara-streaking tears poured from her eyes and dotted her blouse, undoubtedly staining the flawless white fabric. She wept for a good ten minutes before she even managed to shed her heels and take off her coat. She undressed and took a long, hot shower, sniffling and crying all the while. She still wasn’t sure why she was crying, either… Maybe it was being brushed off so easily, or perhaps she was saddened for Octavia’s poor state. Whatever it was, she didn’t enjoy crying as she was, and most certainly didn’t want to dwell on it. After changing into pajamas after the shower, she turned the small stereo in her living room on to some slow music station and poured a healthy glass of wine before starting dinner.

True to her word, Sweetie Belle came home at a reasonable hour. Rarity had just started setting a plate for herself, but a quick adjustment and she had two plates ready. “Talk to me,” Sweetie Belle dropped her bag on the floor and slipped into the kitchen to hug Rarity warmly. “What happened?” Despite not wanting to, Rarity ended up sharing everything that had happened with Sweetie Belle, from the way Octavia looked to the gruff-sounding guest in her apartment.

“That’s terrible. I feel so bad for her… Whoever they were, they weren’t very nice.” Sweetie Belle poked at her chicken half-thoughtfully, sighing as she sat up a little. “But hey. She has your number now, right? She’ll probably call if she needs you.”

“I hope so…” Rarity muttered quietly, resting her chin in her hand. The wine was taking effect on her already. She looked at her phone, sitting on the counter. “Do you really think she’ll call?”

“If she has half a brain, she will. You’re always there for me if I need you, so I’d hope she’d see the same is true for her.” Sweetie Belle’s words struck a chord in Rarity, and she mulled them over for a while. How far would she go for Octavia? She certainly had feelings for the sultry cellist, but what sort of feelings were they? Did she really care for her?

“Oh!” As if on command, her phone buzzed. Before the first vibration had died, she snatched it up, pressed the green button, and plastered it to her ear. “Hello?” Nothing. “Hello?” Not even static. She listened intently, but heard nothing. She pulled it away from her head to peer at the screen. “Oh. It wasn’t even a call. What’s a… ‘Text message?’”

“Ooh, I heard my classmates talking about that. Here, let me see.” Sweetie Belle opened her hand, and Rarity passed the phone off. Sweetie Belle punched a few buttons, frowning slightly at the screen.

“Just asks if this is your phone. The number isn’t saved… Four-four-“

“Tell them yes!” Rarity cut her off, leaning over to look at the phone. Sweetie Belle frowned as she punched a few more buttons, typing out a quick response. She pressed the green button to send it, and shortly after, her phone buzzed again. “Another one? So soon?”

“Yeah, it’s a quick way to send messages from phone to phone. Apparently it’s new stuff. Oh, it’s Octavia! She wants to talk…”

“Why didn’t she just call?”

“Hang on, I’ll ask her.”

“Oh, don’t type it out! Give me that!” Rarity snatched her phone away and pressed a few buttons. “How do I call this number?” She asked, frowning at the screen.

“Can’t you add them to your phonebook?”

“Ugh. Forget it. Pen and paper. Now.”

“Here.” Sweetie Belle hovered a pencil and a notebook from her bag, which Rarity used to copy down the number on her screen, then she dialed it in from her copy. As it started ringing, she held the phone to her ear. Sweetie Belle leaned in to listen, but Rarity waved her off and padded down the hall towards her bedroom.

“Hello?” She recognized the accent and the tone immediately, but she still had to ask.

“Octavia? This is Rarity.”

“Hey Rarity.” Octavia said tiredly. She sounded exhausted.

“Are you okay, dear?” Rarity asked, shutting her bedroom door behind her.

“It’s a long story, Rarity… I know it’s late, and I’m sorry to ask, but can we meet up somewhere?” Her question made Rarity’s heart pound in her chest. She wasn’t dressed or prepared at all. Not to mention she was half-drunk.

“I’m… In my pajamas…”

“Please?” Octavia was begging now. Rarity’s heart leapt at the pleading tone. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed.

“Fine. Did you have someplace in mind?”

“There’s a café off of fourteenth and main. It’s open all night. Meet me there?”

“Fourteenth and main… I can be there in an hour.”

“You don’t have to dress up or anything… I just need someone to talk to right now…” Octavia muttered. Rarity grimaced at the implied meaning. Octavia didn’t care for looks or presentation. She just needed a friend, it sounded like. Rarity sighed again.

“Half an hour.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you soon.” The call ended, and Rarity leaned back against her door. Why was she doing this, again?

Oh yeah.

Because she was smitten.

“Thank you so much for coming.” Octavia said, clutching the mug filled to the brim with coffee. Her fingers were white with the pressure. Rarity slid into the booth opposite her, frowning slightly.

“You still look terrible… What’s happening, Octavia?” She asked, gingerly reaching out to lay her hand on Octavia’s wrist. The cellist wrapped their hands together, squeezing tight. She was shaking.

“You’re going to think I’m a terrible person,” She muttered.

“That’s not a very good way to start an explanation, dearie…”

“Heh. Well, there’s no sense in being coy. I cheated on you.” Rarity blinked. “Well, not on you… But with you. On someone else.” Now she felt offended. She pulled her hand away from Octavia’s, the act of doing so seemed to actually hurt her. The cellist winced and went back to clutching her coffee, staring at it intently. “I shouldn’t be surprised… I feel so terrible…” She muttered quietly, talking almost to herself. Rarity felt her breathing quicken, felt the anger well up within her.

“I hope you have a good explanation.”

“That’s the thing, I don’t… Please, Rarity. I’ve already been through hell today, I really don’t need it from you too… I hoped you could understand, or at least hear me out, Rarity, I’m just… Ugh, I feel like I’m falling apart.” Octavia looked up at her with red eyes, brimming with tears. “Please…” Rarity sat opposite her for a long time, torn between retreating home and staying to hear her out. She opted to stay, but only for a while. She didn’t know if she would be able to hold back her tears any longer.

“That night at the club, I was there with my girlf-… My ex. It’s not really my type of thing, but I had to humor her… I kind of owed it to her. Then you showed up, and I remembered reading an article about you in the inquirer, about an upstart dress designer from Ponyville. Well, I had been going through some problems with my tailor at the time, so meeting you seemed like divine intervention… Then came the call, and the fitting, and… Oh, Rarity, it was all so perfect… But at the same time, I started going through some issues with… My ex… It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for a week now, but I swear, Rarity… When I saw your dress, I just…” She shuddered visibly, pulling her coffee closer.

“I saw beauty in the world again… I was inspired by it. The piece I performed that evening was unrehearsed, unprecedented, and completely unintentional… But it was natural. It was inspired. I just… Played. I haven’t ever done that before.” She looked up at Rarity with a smile on her face. The first Rarity had seen in a long, long time. “I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t just the performance, either, it was the dress… It fit me so well. It’s almost like… Like…” She let her sentence trail off into nothing for a while, before shaking her head and shuddering visibly.

“It’s like you knew my body better than I did.”

“Darling…” Rarity said softly, leaning forward a little.

“I had to see for myself. And I had to thank you. The only way I knew how.” Octavia said, smiling again. “I had to let you see me in that dress. See me for yourself, with nobody else there. Just you and me. I swear, Rarity, I never meant for things to go as far as they did!” Her hand reached out, clutching Rarity’s wrist. “I just couldn’t help myself! You were so beautiful, and the dress fit so well, and you kissed me, and I… I just… I…”

“Shh.” Rarity laid a finger over Octavia’s lips, silencing her. “Don’t. Don’t say anything more.” Rarity leaned over the table gently, cupping Octavia’s cheek. “I’m… Not terribly pleased that you cheated on your ex with me, but… I don’t think I’m ready to let someone like you go…”

“That easy, huh?” Both Rarity and Octavia’s heads snapped up. She hadn’t even realized it, but Rarity had been snuck up on. Standing next to the table, her arms crossed beneath her breasts, was a cocky-looking woman, no older than thirty. She tapped her foot, glaring down her nose at the two of them. She wore baggy black pants and a loose-fitting hoodie, though it didn’t do anything to diminish the size of her breasts. She was really well-endowed. More striking than that, though, was her hair. It was colored a vibrant mix of deep and light blue, and in the lighting of the café, it looked almost like neon. The spiky, wild style was not unlike what Rarity pictured a DJ for a nightclub like the one Amethyst had dragged her to would look like.

“Vinyl, I-“

“Shut up.” She said gruffly. Rarity suddenly made the connection between her and the voice from Octavia’s apartment earlier that day. Octavia opened and closed her mouth a few more times, but didn’t say anything. “So this is the bitch, huh?” Rarity felt her defenses raise as she slowly got to her feet. The woman didn’t back off at all, and by the time Rarity faced her, their faces were inches apart. “She’s cute, Tavi. I’d have fucked her too.”

“Vinyl, it isn’t like that!” Octavia blurted, but one glare from Vinyl silenced her.

“You ripped my heart out, Tavi. And for what? Some fancy-pants dressmaker who finally let out the hips enough on your fuckin’ dress?” She was rude, abrasive, and incredibly cocky. Rarity did not like this person one bit. Something about her was incredibly familiar, though… She couldn’t put her finger on it. And it was more than the connection between the woman who was standing before her now and the DJ the night she had gone to the club with Amethyst. It made sense she would be the one performing. No, this was something almost hauntingly familiar… It reminded her almost of…

“Oh. Am I interrupting?”

Rarity’s heart could have stopped. She didn’t even have to turn around to give a name to the voice of the person behind her.

“Who’s… That?” Octavia whispered quietly.

“My ex.”

“My cousin.” Rarity and Vinyl Scratch answered simultaneously. Slowly, fearfully, Rarity looked over her shoulder.

“Twilight.”

Rarity saw black.

Relations

Intimate Details - Part 7 “Relations”

Rarity slowly began to emerge from consciousness. Through the haze of darkness, she began to see shifting colors and white lights. When her eyes finally fluttered open, everything seemed rather fuzzy, if a little unclear. Before long, though, the details were thrown into relief, and she made sense of where she was.

“Ambulance.” She muttered, raising her hand to her forehead. Something tugged at it painfully, and she blinked at the needle taped to the back of her hand.

“You passed out in the middle of the diner.” The sultry voice was not unfamiliar to Rarity. In fact, she was almost intimately familiar with it. Rolling her head to the side, she spotted Twilight, sitting on the bench beside her in the rocking ambulance. In the lingering haze after passing out, Rarity wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Someone else grabbed her wrist, gently guiding it back down to rest beside her. There were three of them in the ambulance. Rarity, Twilight, and the paramedic. Rarity frowned at the man as he surveyed one of the machines set into the wall of the ambulance. This was a conversation she’s just as soon never have, let alone in the presence of a stranger. Instead, she kept it civil.

“Sweetie Belle?”

“Has been notified and will meet us at the hospital.” Twilight said dismissively. Rarity nodded, and remained silent from then out. She could feel Twilight’s intense gaze burning into the side of her face, staring her down. Rarity kept her own eyes fixed on the rear doors for the ambulance, and tried to ignore her sense of embarrassment and shame. Thankfully enough, Twilight remained silent, giving Rarity an excuse to ignore her.

There was a bustle of activity as they pulled into the hospital, the doors were opened, and technicians began extracting her from the vehicle. She was surrounded on all sides by people chattering in nonsensical medical terms, blabbering on in acronyms and jargon that Rarity didn’t understand. Now and then, a light would be shined in her eye, or someone would turn her head this way or that. The entire ordeal was almost as stressful as the scene back at the diner. Rarity tried to speak up over the constant chatter, to assure them that she was fine and nothing was wrong. Behind them all, she could see Twilight walking with them, talking with several different technicians. Rarity could catch snippets of what she was saying here and there.

“She has high blood pressure,” “Prone to fainting.” “Recurring issue.” Thanks in no small part to Twilight, Rarity was finally taken into a small curtained area with a solitary nurse who busied herself taking blood samples and filling out the necessary forms. As soon as she left, Rarity was then assaulted by an entirely different kind of person.

“Rares!” Sweetie Belle swept through the curtains surrounding them with a shocked expression on her face, looking incredulously at Rarity. “What happened?”

“Everythings fine, Sweetie.” Rarity said, smiling as she took Sweetie Belle’s hand. “It just happened again is all.”

“I thought you had fixed it…?” Sweetie Belle asked, pulling up a chair with the same worried expression on her face.

“Well, I haven’t been able to afford the medication…”

“You should have told me.” Twilight said gruffly, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. Rarity opened her mouth to shoot a scathing retort at her ex, but she was cut off by two more visitors. One, she was overly happy to see. The other made her frown intensely.

“Why is she here?” Rarity said, scowling at Vinyl Scratch.

“Not like I want to be.” Vinyl quipped, looking grumpily down at the floor with her hands stuffed into the pocket of her hoodie.

“So leave.” Rarity pointed with an iv-pricked arm towards the double sliding doors just a short ways away. “There’s the exit.”

“She’s with me.” Octavia said softly, stepping between them. “Well… Not with with me, but she’s here on my account.”

“I fail to see why.” Rarity frowned at the two of them, letting her hand rest back on the narrow bed.

“Same here.” Sweetie Belle muttered, shooting a sideways glare at Vinyl. “The way I hear it, it’s her fault anyways. I think it’d be best if you all waited outside.” Sweetie Belle stood straight and planted her fists on her hips, glaring at the three older women, who were looking back at her with shocked expressions. “Did I stutter? Leave. All of you.”

“Listen, you little bitch-“

“Vinyl!”

“Come on.” Twilight spun on her heel, walking towards the door as fast as she could. Vinyl lurched forward, but a magical field stopped her. Twilight, even with her back turned, managed to pull the cursing DJ with her, and Octavia followed after an apologetic look to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Rarity groaned and let her head fall back, sighing as she felt Sweetie’s hand slip into her own.

“Don’t worry about them right now.” Her little sister said gently. “You should have told me you couldn’t afford your medication anymore…”

“I can’t bother you with those sorts of things, darling.” Rarity said softly, smiling at her. “Besides, I had it under control… I worked on Octavia’s dress for three days straight with no issue… You’d think if I could handle that, I could handle… Her.” Her smile turned into a frown as she remembered Twilight. She could hear Vinyl screaming, even from the other side of the doors leading into the emergency room.

“Honestly.” Sweetie Belle muttered. “I had better go tell them to piss off.” She stood to leave, and despite Rarity’s complaint, walked off. Suddenly alone, Rarity sighed and let her head fall back once again. She was alone, stranded in the middle of an emergency room, with bustling nurses and others passing her by without a second glance. Nobody even bothered to check her IV until it was beginning to get low. She frowned at the thought of how intense the bill was going to be for this little foray back into the hospitals.

Rarity had a condition that led to frequent fainting spells. They normally happened whenever she was overly stressed or generally just got excited about something. She had gone through them frequently when she was younger, and had almost always written them off as unimportant. Her friends even viewed it as her just being dramatic. But when they began to happen more frequently, Twilight insisted she go see a doctor. It turned out to be high blood pressure, which was easily cured with medication. Everything was fine. Rarity seemed to have kicked the habit, even after leaving Ponyville. However, it looked like the symptoms were back. Rarity might just have to pick up the medication once again.

“Miss Rarity?” The sound of a new voice shook her from her reverie. She smiled up at the newcomer.

“I’m sorry, I was daydreaming.” She looked over the man standing beside her bed with an apologetic look.

“Aah. I figured we had lost you there. It seems your family has given us most of the information we need. This has been a recurring issue? These fainting spells?” The doctor said, flipping a page over on the thick clipboard he held.

“They have been, long ago in the past.” Rarity said, waving the hand that wasn’t pricked with an IV. “I used to take medication, but money became tight and it seemed I had a handle on the problem. I stopped taking them.”

“How long ago was this?” He asked, tucking the clipboard under his arm and leaning in to press his fingers to Rarity’s temples. She could feel the hum of his magic flow through her. It was oddly calming. She sighed and relaxed a little more.

“About four years.”

“Four years with no incident? That’s incredible. Still, I wouldn’t recommend you stop taking prescription medication without a doctor’s consultation first. We’ll send you out of here with a week’s supply, but I strongly recommend you see your doctor about getting back on it. Alternatively, you can try relaxation techniques and other pulse regulation exercises. They’re not a proven solution, but they may help enough to keep the pennies pinched.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Rarity smiled and sat up a little as he pulled his hands away. In the wake of his diagnosis, she felt calm and relaxed once more. “I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately…”

“I can tell.” He said with a soft chuckle, glancing over his shoulder towards the sliding glass doors. “Security had to ask them to leave.”

“I’m sorry,” Rarity groaned, shaking her head a little.

“I take it that’s the stressor you speak of?” His knowing smile was infectious, and made Rarity smile in turn.

“Yes, I’m afraid…”

“Word of advice. From a heartbreaker, not a medical professional…” The doctor leaned in towards her, smiling as he lowered his voice. “It’s never a good thing to juggle two women at once. Let alone three.” And with that, he was gone. Rarity opened her mouth incredulously, but couldn’t catch him. She was left to sit in stunned silence. Did she really look like she was with all three of them? She guessed from an outsider’s view, it could seem that way… Feeling worse for the wear, Rarity was left to wait until another nurse came around with a clipboard and a smile.

“We’ll be letting you go shortly, Miss Rarity. We just need you to sign.”

“Of course.” Rarity knew the procedure. The sheets were almost mirror copies of the hospital in Ponyville’s. She breezed through them and waited a short while longer while the nurse got her prescription. When the IV was removed, she sat up and slowly stretched, testing her fatigued muscles with a soft groan. “Thank you, nurse.” Rarity said softly, smiling at the kind woman. “I can manage.” Her legs bore her weight well enough, and Rarity left with the bag of her personal belongings. Thankfully, they hadn’t stripped her. Small miracles.

Sweetie Belle was the only one waiting for her in the lobby, and she readily sprung up as Rarity emerged. “Rarity!” She rushed forward for a hug, throwing her arms around Rarity’s shoulders. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, Sweetie. I just have to go back on the medication is all. Nothing major.”

“We all were worried about you. Even that DJ. What’s-her-face.”

“Vinyl.” Rarity muttered, frowning at the memory of the rough treatment. Dark thoughts entered her head as she thought about Octavia being with someone so crass and misunderstanding. “I honestly don’t know why she met us at the diner like that… Ugh. Come on, let’s go home.”

“The others left, by the way. That was Octavia, wasn’t it?” Sweetie Belle asked, walking with Rarity out of the hospital and into the parking lot.

“Yeah…” Rarity sighed. “I’m still a little iffy as to how Twilight is involved with the two of them, but it seems she and that Vinyl character are related. I never even knew.” As she slid into the passenger seat, Rarity held two fingers to the bridge of her nose and groaned. “This whole thing is an unmitigated disaster.”

“Let’s just get you home and get some rest, okay?” Sweetie Belle started the car and smoothly pulled out into the night. Rarity agreed all too much.

Rarity scheduled the doctor’s appointment for the following Monday, and was ushered in and out without much hassle. The whole trip took less than two hours. She made it to work before lunch, and thanked Amethyst for holding down the fort.

“How was your weekend?” Amethyst asked. Rarity opened her mouth to share all the details, but managed to stop herself. If Amy found out about her and Octavia, things would end badly for the both of them. Amy didn’t handle gossip very well. It had been a point of contention between the two of them for a long while now.

“Stressful.” Rarity said decidedly, setting the paper bag with her pills down. “You remember the fainting spells I used to have? Well they’re back, so I have to spend the money I just got on these.” She flicked the paper bag, sending it sliding across the counter.

“Blood pressure medication? My mother used to be on this stuff. She used to pass out a lot, too. You want to avoid dairy with these.”

“Dairy?”

“Uh huh. It’ll make you more prone to passing out.”

“Noted.” Rarity slipped up onto the stool behind the front counter with what seemed like the millionth groan in as many days. The whole business with Octavia made her head spin. Twilight and Vinyl’s involvement notwithstanding, her feelings for the sultry cellist alone were confusing enough. When her ex and the DJ got thrown into the mix, Rarity just wanted to go home and sleep for a few days… Or years.

“Anything new with you?” Rarity asked. Amethyst just gave her a nonchalant shrug.

“We started studying advanced telekenisis… I can finally sew like you.” To demonstrate her point, Amethyst lifted two scraps of cloth and a spare needle. Rarity watched as she threaded the needle, tied the knot, and began to sew a standard cross stitch into the two pieces of scrap.

“Not bad.” Rarity said, nodding at her partner’s work. “I’m impressed. I wouldn’t use it on any major projects, but that’s still very good.” Amethyst beamed at the praise, using a quick motion to snap the thread and drop the practice fabric to the side.

“I worked on it all weekend. I won’t be using it on Ms. DeLis’ dress, but for general repairs and whatnot, it comes in handy.” Amethyst gingerly picked up a short stack of folders, waving them with a warm smile. “I’ll get to work on these.”

“Thank you.” Rarity nodded, looking down at the other half. “I’ll finish these out, then I think we might need to do an inventory… Last I checked, we were running low on that fetching blue silk.”

“I think we have another bolt in the back. I’ll check after these.”

“Thanks.” Rarity muttered off-handedly.

Only there was one problem. As she opened the first folder, looking over the details of what should have been an easy commission, Rarity felt completely uninspired. The elegant lines of the cocktail dress seemed to fall flat and lack creativity. Rarity blanched at the sketch before her, closing the folder so fast some of the sheets fluttered out. The next one was the same. And the one after that. Rarity sat with three designs open before her, and each one of them made her dread picking up needle and thread ever again.

Heaving yet another sigh, Rarity resorted to the one thing she knew she could rely on. Grabbing her sketch pad and a set of pencils, she made her way to the small stereo halfway to the back of the store. She turned it on and picked a random track on a pre-loaded CD. Soon enough, classical music flowed from the speakers. Rarity stood in the middle of the floor with her eyes closed, feeling the swell and flow of the music. Normally, she could sketch a dress design in a moment’s notice when she did this. Now, though, with the moving sound of music flowing through her ears and her veins, she couldn’t conjure anything. The pencil hovered uselessly over the page, leaving just a few marks of hesitation on the blank page. Rarity stared at the expanse of white paper blankly, trying her absolute hardest to conjure the vision she knew she held.

Nothing. She couldn’t feel the dress. She couldn’t see the fabric, or the way it fell. Not around the mannequin, not around a potential customer… Not even around Octavia. As she grew more and more frustrated, her hand began to shake. Her knuckles grew white with the effort of holding the pencil so hard.

“Ow.” The pencil snapped in her hand, two halves falling to the floor. Rarity frowned at her finger, and the two large splinters poking out of it. She jammed the stop button on the CD player and went to the bathroom at the back of the store in a huff. After cleaning and dressing the wound, she cleaned up the broken pencil and went to go sit at the front of the store with her head in her hands. She had never felt like this before. She had always been able to envision a dress, and at the very least draw a rough sketch of what she wanted. Right at that moment, though, she felt nothing. Uninspired.

Her phone buzzed on the counter next to her, jingling a happy tune that didn’t match her mood. She wished she knew how to change it, or turn it off. Just the vibration was enough for her. She stared at the screen for a long time, clutching the phone in white-knuckled hands. She recognized the number. Though she didn’t have it saved under a specific name, she knew who it was. At long last, she hit the green button and lifted the phone to her ear.

“Hello, Twilight.”

“We need to talk.” Twilight’s voice was prompt and business-like, as always. “As soon as you possibly can.”

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about, Twilight.” Rarity muttered, resting her head in her hand.

“I think we do. It’s about Sweetie Belle. And your medication. And your business. And many, many things. Please, Rarity. Don’t make me beg.” For as serious as Twilight normally was, she sounded incredibly informal. Rarity sat with her head in her hand for a long while before heaving an exasperated sigh.

“When and where?”

“Right now.”

“Gah!” Rarity jumped as Twilight appeared before her in a flash, clicking her phone closed. Rarity laid a hand over her hammering heart, staring incredulously up at the purple-haired magi.

“Sorry.” Twilight muttered with a blush. “Old habits.”

“You could have just walked in, you know.” Rarity finally steadied her heartbeat. “Honestly.”

“We need to talk.”

“So I hear.” Rarity straightened the front desk a little, trying hard not to look at Twilight.

“Rarity, this is serious.” Twilight reached out to lay her hand on Rarity’s, sending a quick shock of panic and confusion through Rarity. She snatched her hand away, perhaps too quickly. Twilight looked wounded, but she pressed on. “It’s about Octavia, too.”

“Oh?” Now Rarity’s attention was had. She set the stack of folders aside and sat up straight, giving Twilight a slight nod of the head. “Go on.”

“Vinyl Scratch is my cousin.” Twilight began by hanging her head and talking in that slow, dull monotone she seemed to have perfected. “Magi in my family strive for excellence, and there’s a lot of pressure to go to school and get a proper education. Vinyl decided at a young age to pursue music instead. Her parents, my aunt and uncle, were livid. So she ran away. Only recently did I make contact with her again.”

“I fail to see how this relates to-“

“I’m not finished.” Twilight raised a hand, cutting Rarity off. “Vinyl’s background is important.” Rarity glowered, but remained silent as Twilight continued. “She’s changed a lot since she was a young girl. I don’t know what she went through, but it was dark, Rarity. She’s got a lot of anger issues. And it seems to me like she enjoys taking them out on Octavia. Who, for one reason or another, allows her. Even now.”

“Your point?” Rarity asked, arching an eyebrow. She struggled to make the connection still.

“My point is this.” Twilight tapped the counter with her fingers, leaning in closer to Rarity. “You’re involving yourself in something that doesn’t concern you.”

“And you aren’t?” Rarity scowled at Twilight.

“Vinyl’s my cousin. With as much as we’ve been talking the past few years, I know her better than anyone else. Save Octavia, but since she’s the problem, I’m the best candidate to help her. Look, just… Let me handle this, okay? I can’t promise I can get you and Octavia back together, but I can promise you I’ll do what’s best for everyone.”

“Like you did what’s best for us?” Rarity quipped, standing up. Twilight opened her mouth to retort, but this time Rarity cut her off. “You ripped my heart out, Twilight. I’m not too keen to let you do so to another. How about, just this once, you back off and let me handle this one?” Rarity leaned across the counter, which caused Twilight to back away. “Go home, Twilight. I don’t want you here.”

“But I want to be here.” Twilight re-affirmed herself. “Rarity, what happened to us? Where did we go wrong? You and I used to be more than lovers, we were friends. All six of us. Together, we did amazing things with the elements of harmony. Banishing Discord, reforming Nightmare Moon… Tell me you don’t miss that bond?”

“That bond was broken.” Rarity said coldly, crossing her arms as she turned away from Twilight. “Long ago…” The silence between them stretched on for a long while. Rarity could tell she wasn’t the only one who was fighting tears, either. Finally, with a shaky voice, Twilight spoke.

“How did you hurt your hand?”

“… I broke a pencil.” Rarity decided to answer truthfully. She learned it wasn’t very smart to hide secrets from Twilight.

“Doing?”

“Trying to sketch. Ever since the hospital, I can’t write.” Rarity let a single tear leak out, dripping heedlessly onto her crossed arms. There was a pause before Twilight spoke again.

“Try eating pasta. You always drew beautiful designs after eating pasta.”

Rarity spun around, but Twilight was gone. With a choked sob, Rarity collapsed into tears.

Inspiration

Intimate Details - Part 8 “Inspiration”

“Rarity? What’s wrong?” Amethyst’s hand gently laid on her shoulder, rousing Rarity out of her fit of crying. She sniffled and wiped her eyes, shaking her head a little.

“Nothing. Nothing, Amy. Just… Everything’s piling up on me.” She waved her friend off, heaving a ragged breath. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”

“Here.” Amethyst handed her a box of tissues, which Rarity accepted. “I’ll… Just be in the other room, then…” She slipped away with a concerned look on her face, leaving Rarity to try and re-assemble her face. Between a dozen tissues and her compact mirror, she managed to make herself presentable, though it didn't help with how shaken she felt inside. Twilight seemed to have that sort of impact on her these days. Just the sound of her ex’s voice would send her over the edge, it seemed… She was utterly helpless. Even though the day had just started, Rarity felt like she was ready to collapse. She sat at the desk with no customers for a long while, staring blankly ahead. Out of boredom, she found herself playing with her phone.

She familiarized herself with several of the features, and saved several numbers, including Twilight’s. Just browsing the illuminated screen made her interest rise, so Rarity resigned herself to learning everything the phone had. Before long, she learned how to take pictures, change her background and ringtones, and even send text messages. Sweetie Belle was busy with class, so Rarity sent a message to the one person she thought she could talk to at that moment.

“Hello. -Rarity.”

“Hello. Feeling better?” Octavia replied. Rarity smiled at the screen and settled in for a text-based chat.

“Much, thanks. I suppose I should have told you earlier… Never really got the chance.”

“It’s fine. I’m sorry for all the interference.”

“Who? Vinyl? Don’t worry about it. Apparently both of us have our dark secrets.”

“True… Care to share some of them? ;)” Rarity’s heart raced at the text. While she wasn't quite sure what the semicolon entailed, she was excited at what the implications were.

“What did you have in mind?”

“How about dinner at my place? Tonight? Will you be free?” Rarity laid a hand over her heart and fought to keep her breathing under control as she mulled the thought over. Dinner at Octavia’s. It was a Monday, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy a harmless dinner at a friends, right? Right. Smiling, she set her thumbs to the keypad.

“I’ll be there.”

The evening approached almost all too quickly for Rarity’s tastes. She had just enough time after work to dash home and change before getting Sweetie Belle to drop her off at Octavia’s apartment building. Sweetie Belle didn’t give her a single moment’s rest about it, either. Rarity was the brunt of many vulgar innuendos. Not that she minded. Truth be told, she could stand to blow off some steam after this whole ordeal. But there were a few things that remained to be seen… She was all business as she navigated the front desk and rode the elevator up to the top floor.

Octavia was waiting for her in the elevator landing. Despite her anger at the cellist for playing her, Rarity couldn’t help but admire the woman. She was the embodiment of beauty. Every smooth curve and swell of flesh made Rarity struggle to keep her lips from curling upwards in an appreciative smile. She took one moment to glance over Octavia’s ensemble before stepping out of the elevator and into a gentle, sweet hug. It was rather friendly, with no major hints at anything too important. In fact, Octavia just seemed relieved to have someone to hold. Even if for a moment.

“I’m so glad you could make it.” Octavia breathed, pulling away with a warm smile. Rarity gave her a cursory smile before forcing her expression to turn serious once more.

“We’ve a lot to talk about.” Rarity said cryptically, nodding towards the door. “Shall we?” Octavia blushed a little and ushered her inside. After taking her coat and setting her purse on the table next to the door, she was led into the kitchen. “Oh my goodness.” Rarity laid a hand on her chest as she inhaled deeply. “That smells divine.” Some sort of robust sauce was simmering in a saucepan next to a full pot of boiling pasta. Additionally, a large pan filled with sizzling vegetables let copious amounts of steam into the kitchen air, inundating Rarity with the magnificent scents.

“Nothing fancy. I hardly ever cook for two these days, so I figured I’d keep it easy...” Octavia rubbed the back of her neck with a sheepish smile before grabbing a wooden spoon and stirring a big pot of pasta. Rarity settled in at the breakfast bar just opposite the stove, inhaling the scents and watching Octavia work. They remained mostly silent as the cellist busied herself cooking their meal. Rarity had much to say, but it didn’t seem fitting to discuss it while Octavia was preoccupied with the hot surfaces and whatnot. Before long, though, she had finished.

“Wine?” Octavia asked, smiling as she pulled a bottle free from it’s place in a nearby cabinet.

“That sounds wonderful.” Rarity smiled. Octavia bustled about and soon had two full glasses of wine poured, and served pasta in a robust, delicious-looking sauce with a colorful salad on the side. Distracted as Rarity was with the recent happenings, she couldn’t deny the rumbling in her stomach. Sparing a moment to clink their glasses together, both women set in on the delicious meal. Rarity ate hungrily, but not without showing the proper decorum. The sauce was red, after all, and would stain if she got it on her blouse. She kept focused on the food, but every now and then, she could feel Octavia’s eyes burning into her. The cellist, it seemed, couldn’t help herself from looking at Rarity. Only when the meal was complete did Rarity finally spare Octavia more than a passing glance. They looked at one another for a while, both of them clutching their half-empty wine glasses like they were the last lifeline.

“So…” Rarity said softly, swirling her drink about before sipping it. “Where would you like to start?”

“I don’t know.” Octavia said. She had been smiling previously, but now that Rarity appeared ready to get down to business, she could only stare into her own wine and haunch her shoulders. Rarity tapped a nail into her glass and gave Octavia a long, scrutinizing look.

“Maybe we can start where your relationship with Vinyl stands.” Rarity quipped, sipping the drink once more. Despite the obvious pain that it was causing Octavia, Rarity needed to know what was happening between those two.

“The whole thing?”

“Might as well.” Rarity lifted her shoulder.

“Okay…” Octavia took a steadying breath before beginning. “Vinyl and I met six years ago, when she was getting her start in electronica. She wanted to use the orchestra’s tracks in some of her own. Our producers agreed, and she and I met during one of the meetings… We worked together on one particular composition that she wanted, and afterwards met up for drinks.” Her expression turned wistful, and she looked at the far wall, even if her thoughts were far away and long ago. “It was wonderful, really… My father was a businessman and my mother worked for the government, so I’ve always been a product of high society. Proper decorum and whatnot. Meeting Vinyl was such an eye-opening experience. She was vulgar, but not rude. Crass, but not unrefined. Intelligent. Cunning. And my goodness, that woman’s sexual presence…” Rarity had to admit that Vinyl certainly was attractive… In an overt, in-your-face sort of way.

“After drinks, she invited me to one of her concerts. I went for two reasons. First out of professional interest for a fellow musician, and secondly because I just wanted to spend a little more time with her. Well, if it wasn’t played so loudly, her music was actually enjoyable. I sat at the back and thoroughly enjoyed myself. She met me after the show, took me to her flat, and… Well, you get the rest.” Octavia glanced at Rarity, and both of them shared a quick blush. “I won’t give you the details, but it was amazing… I’d never been touched like that before. She was… Oppressive. From beginning to end, it was like a roller coaster. Never a dull moment.” Octavia sighed once more. “I guess that’s her downfall. She doesn’t know when to tone it down. It’s like a switch with her. We’re either fully clothed and chatting about time signatures or butt naked and sweating.”

“That’s… Intriguing…” Rarity alluded with a wave of her glass. She could recall a few incidents with the helplessly awkward Twilight that were much the same. Not that she minded. Twilight learned quickly. She took another sip to distract herself from her ex and gestured for Octavia to continue.

“We saw each other for six whole years. But, you see, Vinyl didn’t change. Ever.” Octavia’s expression turned more serious once more and she hunched forward. “I would go to her concerts and events, to show my support, but she never came to mine. Not even once. I mean, I can’t blame her. I know what those sorts of engagements are like to those who aren’t… Naturally inclined… Goodness, even I’ve been to a few that I didn’t want to be at. It wasn’t an issue… At first.” Octavia muttered as she downed her glass. “But it started to become one… She began to get to the point where I either had to choose her or the symphony.”

“That’s not good…” Rarity muttered. “She gave you an ultimatum?”

“The ultimatum of the century.” Octavia groaned. She frowned at her empty glass before snatching the bottle and refilling it, perhaps a little too much. After a moment’s hesitation, Rarity offered her own glass as well. Octavia filled it past where it ought to have gone, but Rarity didn’t complain. Instead, she took a hearty sip and leaned in as Octavia continued. “It was either I run away with her to Baltimare, or I stay alone in Canterlot.”

“Oh wow.” Rarity arched an eyebrow in surprise. “That’s… Not good.”

“I did what I had to… I mean, five years is a lot of time for two people to be together without actually… Being together. You know? I chose to stay with the symphony. She railed, she hollered, she made a mess of things, but in the end she stayed.” Octavia’s expression darkened considerably as she went on. “She makes it seem like Canterlot is her prison, and me her jailer. Her music has become sloppy, she drinks constantly, and blames it all on me…” Octavia’s knuckles became white as she clutched the bottle harder. Rarity reached out to lay a gentle hand on her forearm. That seemed to relax her. She let go of the bottle and her wine glass before sitting back in her chair.

“I stayed with her, though… The sex became dull, conversations fell flat and meaningless, and she became… Well, I wouldn’t say hostile, but certainly not personable anymore.” Octavia rubbed her temples with two fingers, groaning inwardly. She leaned forward once more, looking intently at Rarity. “And then you happened.”

“Me?”

“Yeah… That night at the club. Again, I was there for her… And with how badly she’s been beating herself up lately, I kind of owed it to her to go to one show. At least one. But then you came out of nowhere. And with the drama I’ve been suffering from my previous dressmaker on top of all the other things, it just sort of… Clicked. I guess.” She smiled warmly at Rarity, reaching across the table to lay her fingertips on Rarity’s arm. “Rarity, that dress you made for me… Words cannot describe… It was just so… Flawless. Each detail, every little stitch and bit of fabric, I… I just…” Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

“Hey, hey…” Rarity reached out, wiping one stray tear off of her cheek just as it began it’s descent. Octavia caught her hand, clutching it tight as the tears continued.

“There’s something I have to show you.” Octavia whispered, her breath shaking with each word. Rarity frowned, but nodded at her. “Follow me.” They left the breakfast bar and walked down the hall. Rarity was rather surprised that Octavia was leading her back to the bedroom. She was about to voice her concern, but Octavia’s expression said anything but romance. Rarity didn’t even get a chance to admire the city lights from the top floor’s view before Octavia spun about and began unbuttoning her shirt.

“Octavia, I don’t-“

“Shush.” She was cut off as Octavia pulled open her shirt and slid it down her arms. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and her entire upper body was exposed. But it wasn’t her bared breasts that caught Rarity’s attention.

“Oh my Celestia…” Rarity raised both her hands to her mouth. Spread across Octavia’s torso, from her stomach up to her collarbone, were sporadic bruises. They were sickly yellow, or in one particular case dark blue. They ranged in size from about the size of a dime to full palm-sized marks. Each one was more lurid than the last, and made Rarity’s stomach churn.

“She started to get violent, once she learned about... Us.” Octavia said quietly, tears streaming down her face. “And I can’t do anything about it. Going to the authorities would anger her more. Telling her to stop wouldn’t help. Rarity, I’m at my wits end.” Octavia collapsed then, burying her face in her hands. She sobbed openly, her chest heaving with each breath. “I’m so scared!”

“Octavia.” Rarity choked on the word as she rushed forward. As quickly as she dared with the lurid bruises, Rarity wrapped her arms around the sobbing woman, clutching her tight. Octavia tensed up immediately, but as soon as Rarity’s hand rested on the back of her head, she collapsed into the embrace with a choked wail. “It’s okay. Shh, shh…” Rarity stroked her magnificent head of raven hair, holding the poor woman as close as she dared. Octavia continued to cry for a long while, her arms wrapped tightly around Rarity. It went on for so long, in fact, that Rarity had to rest her legs. A thought struck her just as she guided Octavia down to rest.

“Lay back.” Rarity urged. Octavia blinked at her with red eyes, but when Rarity laid a gentle hand over one of the bruises, the intent made itself clear and she nodded with a small sniffle. Wincing slightly, Octavia laid on her back, and at Rarity’s insistence, raised her arms above her head. “Okay.” Rarity looked down at Octavia’s bare torso with a serious expression. She unbuttoned her cuffs and rolled her sleeves up past her elbows. “From my ex to yours, let’s see if I can do this.” The memory of a long-lost spell came to mind. As Rarity focused on the details more and more, she remembered the form, the equation, the invocation… With a soft breath, she filled her hands with energy. The gentle glow of her blue magic illuminated the room, and underneath it’s soft light, she could see the wounds in detail. Octavia sniffed once more, her eyes fixed on Rarity’s hands.

Rarity worked diligently, making sure her magic was right and wouldn’t do more harm. She could tell it was working, even though Octavia winced here and there. She would apologize, but Octavia would just shake her head and smile confidently. That smile gave Rarity all the motivation she needed to continue. Octavia was reluctant to admit it at first, but once all the ones on her torso had been healed, she removed her pants to reveal two more nasty bruises on her thighs. Rarity struggled to keep her dinner down at the sight of such beautiful skin corrupted by the violence wrought upon her, but she remained focused in healing the last two bruises. At long last, her hands ceased to glow, and in the ambient light from a single turned-down lamp, Octavia’s skin was left whole and smooth once more. There were no more dark marks, or lurid bruises anywhere. Octavia stretched out with a soft groan, her eyes closing with the blissful feeling of no longer being in pain.

“Oh my goodness…” Octavia whispered, running a hand over her stomach. “Rarity, thank you so much… I… I just don’t-“

“Don’t say anything.” Rarity breathed. The act of healing Octavia had taxed her quite a bit. She sagged from her position on her knees, and flapped the hem of her blouse to help the thin layer of sweat cool on her skin. “Just… Don’t let this happen again? Please?” Rarity managed a warm smile despite the depressing circumstances, which Octavia returned in kind.

Then the damnedest thing happened. Rarity was smiling down at Octavia, and Octavia smiled up at her… And the next thing Rarity knew, their lips were pressed together. It was not a lustful kiss, or even passionate. The sensation she was getting from Octavia was nothing but pure gratitude. It flowed from her like a river, and Rarity was only all too glad to let herself be swept away in it’s current.

Her clothes shed like a second skin, tossed haphazardly aside only to be replaced by Octavia’s warm flesh. The two of them became a mass of tangled limbs and kisses, struggling to make their way under the covers. After a short pause to pull the comforter back, both women were fully nude, pressed as tight as they could manage, and kissing heatedly. Rarity could taste Octavia’s tears on her lips. The bitter saltiness punctuated the entire scene all the more, making Rarity’s own eyes well up with tears of sympathy and sadness. Octavia broke the kiss with a soft breath, cupping Rarity’s cheek with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong.” She muttered, her words coming as hardly more than a breath.

“I… I’m… I’m just confused.” Rarity whimpered, giving Octavia a gentle squeeze. “What are we? Are we friends? Lovers? Partners?” At her question, Octavia’s expression darkened. She withdrew her hands, sagging into the sheets with a sad look.

“Please… Don’t make me answer that question, Rarity…” Her pleading words nearly broke Rarity’s heart. She nearly compromised, and let it happen… But something within her made her stay resolute.

“I don’t think I can continue until I hear it.” She said softly. “If not for my benefit, then for yours.” Her hands withdrew, until they were both laying opposite one another, looking into the other’s eyes. Both of them were crying, but neither of them were willing to embrace the other. At long last, Octavia drew a shuddering breath.

“I’m not prepared to answer that, Rarity. Not yet. But, please… Don’t leave me? I… I could really use someone to hold tonight…” Octavia’s voice broke several times, and the tears came faster than ever. She looked so saddened, like there wasn’t a single thing in the world that would make her smile once more. Rarity would have given anything to see Octavia smile in that moment. Even if it meant compromising her morals. She gave a gentle sigh and slid closer, pulling Octavia into a tender embrace. The poor woman sagged into her arms, like there was no more strength left in her bones. She tucked her head against Rarity’s chest, curling into as tight a ball as she could manage. Rarity curled around her, stroking her black hair, but nothing more.

The two of them drifted off like that, neither one ready to admit their feelings, but at the same time unwilling to part from the sweet embrace.

Rarity awoke first. The morning light was dull and grey around the edges of the blinds, lending very little illumination to Octavia’s bedroom. Some time in the night, Octavia had rolled over, and now lay completely separate from Rarity. Her chest rose and fell evenly, and she appeared to be sleeping soundly. As surreptitiously as she could manage, Rarity slipped out of the bed and gathered her clothes. So as not to wake Octavia, she dressed in the hall and made her way into the kitchen. She would at least leave Octavia with breakfast, if not a pleasant memory.

Something caught her eye as she set about frying eggs and bacon, though. There was a number fixed to the fridge with a magnet, reading ‘Vinyl.’ Rarity drew her lip between her teeth, looking long and hard at the number. At last, she hardened her resolve and fetched her phone from her purse. Saving the number, Rarity tucked her phone away and continued making breakfast. Octavia emerged just as she was about to finish up, wearing a t-shirt and panties with no bra. Her hair was a mess and her eyes had bags beneath them, but she smiled at Rarity nevertheless.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, Octavia.” Rarity beamed. “I’m afraid I have to leave for work soon, but I figured breakfast was in order.”

“Thanks.” Octavia muttered, blushing a little. She looked awfully cute in the mornings. Rarity couldn’t help but watch as she bent over at the fridge to retrieve a gallon of orange juice. And again when she replaced it after pouring two glasses. Rarity sipped at her drink with a sly grin before serving them both hearty portions of egg and bacon. They ate in silence, thanks mostly to Octavia’s preoccupation with devouring the meal.

“Oh my goodness.” She muttered once done. “I never knew bacon could be so good… I always muck it up somehow.”

“Just takes the proper touch, I suppose.” Rarity teased, nudging Octavia with her elbow. She got a smile in return, which was worth all the trouble. Even after last night, and the new batch of questions Rarity had for her newfound emotional interest, Rarity still couldn’t help but smile around this woman. Even fresh out of bed with a head of frazzled hair, she seemed awfully vibrant. Each subtle movement she made captivated Rarity. There were times when she would catch herself staring helplessly, and others when just looking at Octavia made her blush furiously.

“So what now?” Octavia asked once they were both finished. “You have work, right?”

“Unfortunately.” Rarity sighed. She wasn’t presentable, not in the slightest. And with the way things were going, she wouldn’t have enough time to make it home to change and get ready. Not to mention the mere thought of dealing with customers in her emotional state made Rarity want to crawl under a blanket and sleep for years. Still, bills needed to be paid and Amethyst couldn’t handle the store on her own…

Or could she? Rarity held a finger up to Octavia and pulled her phone out, flipping it open and punching in the number she knew by heart.

“Hello?”

“Amy, it’s Rarity.”

“Hey Rares! Everything okay?”

“Yes, it is. I had a question, though…” Rarity glanced up and saw Octavia’s face split in a wide grin. She didn’t miss a thing. “Could you… Cover me for today?”

“What, like, watch the store?”

“… Yes…”

“Hmm. Well, I don’t have any appointments, and all of the contracts we have aren’t due until Friday… If you can help me pick up the slack tomorrow, I think we can swing it. Is everything okay?”

“Fine, fine. Thank you, dear.” Rarity grinned, her chest suddenly filled with a sense of relief and happiness. Octavia’s grin had spread even more as she overheard the good news. “I really appreciate this.”

“Hey, you aren’t like, seeing anyb-“ Rarity terminated the call then and there, just as Octavia rushed forward for a hug. Her phone clattered to the breakfast bar, but Rarity didn’t even mind. She buried her face into Octavia’s frazzled hair and inhaled her scent deeply. They embraced for a long while, the two of them rocking back and forth just a little. The only thing that broke it apart was the rumble in Rarity’s gut.

“Ooh. Uum… Bathroom?”

“Oh! Right. Down the hall, third door on the left.” Octavia pulled away with a blush, gesturing down the hall. Rarity padded away as quickly as she could manage, and made it in time to do her business. Afterwards, she took a long look in the mirror, frowning at what she saw. Even if she were going to spend the day with Octavia, which she assumed was what they had unofficially planned, there were things she had to take care of. Hygiene things. She poked her head back out into the hall.

“Octavia?”

“Yes?”

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” As Rarity called out, Octavia poked her head from around the corner, grinning wickedly.

“Only if I join you. Be right there.” Her sly words made Rarity’s heart jump, and she couldn’t suppress the giddy grin. Last night was not only emotionally trying, but also rather frustrating on a sexual level. Spending the entire night completely nude next to a woman as beautiful as Octavia with no chance of release was borderline torture. She had just stepped out of her skirt when Octavia slipped into the bathroom, carrying an extra towel and a spare robe. Rarity smiled as the cellist pulled her shirt off and slid her panties down her long legs. She turned the water on and ushered Rarity in under the stream. Rarity followed hesitantly, but the first tender embrace warmed her up to the prospect immediately.

“Hmmn~” Octavia moaned softly as her lips pressed to Rarity’s collarbone, sending a shiver up her spine. Rarity slid her arms around Octavia’s waist, letting her hands rest in the small of her back. The water drenched her hair, matting it into long, sodden locks that clung to her neck and shoulders. Octavia pulled them out of her way as she continued planting gentle kisses all along Rarity’s neck and jawline. Once their lips finally met, Rarity kissed Octavia eagerly and openly, without even a hint of hesitation. Last night’s trepidation at making love to someone who couldn’t make up their mind was completely gone. In that moment, with the hot water cascading over their bodies, and a beautiful woman eagerly exploring her mouth, Rarity was ready to do anything for a chance to relieve some stress.

“Haah.” Rarity gave a hot, ragged breath between two heated kisses, her hands slowly tightening around Octavia’s waist. Octavia returned the gesture with a firm squeeze to Rarity’s rear, and a single step forward. Rarity stepped back, allowing Octavia one more step forward. They repeated this, with kisses interspersed, until Rarity’s back was firmly against the chilly wall. “Octavia,” Rarity breathed, her hands shaking a little.

“Hmm?” Octavia’s teasing moan came with a sly smile and another firm squeeze.

“I’m… Not very… Clean.” Rarity whimpered, her cheeks flushed.

“Well, I think it’s time we cleaned you up, then.” Octavia breathed. Smooth and easy, she reached out to pull a bar of soap and a wash rag from their place on the wall, waving them teasingly in front of Rarity’s face. “You or me first? You know what? Nevermind.” She cut Rarity off with a quick kiss and yet another smile. “You first.” Before Rarity could even open her mouth to protest, Octavia fell to her knees, rubbing the soap into the rag. The first silky-smooth touch sent a shiver up Rarity’s spine, thanks partially to the fact that it was pressed directly against her tender womanhood.

“Aah.” She breathed, her eyes closing.

“Too much?” Octavia teased, rubbing the rag in a slow circle. The first jolt of pleasure almost made Rarity jump. Instead, her stomach tensed and her head fell back against the cold wall.

“Just enough.”

“Hmm.” The gentle ministrations eventually wandered away from Rarity’s core, rubbing the insides of her thighs and all down her legs. Octavia didn’t miss a single inch, her petite hands working industriously at scrubbing each inch of Rarity’s lower half. She even washed her feet. Rarity had almost forgotten the first tender touch to her core, but that changed just as Octavia began rinsing her off.

“You don’t have one of these at home, do you?” Octavia teased. Rarity looked down at her, and what she held in her hands. The detachable shower head was set to the ‘massage’ setting, and pulsed water firmly against Rarity’s calf.

“Can’t say I do…” Rarity moaned, feeling the muscles in her legs relax with help of the firm water.

“Oh darling,” Octavia moaned. She pressed her lips against Rarity’s stomach, grinning into her skin. “Let me show you the best part of a detachable shower head.”

“AHN!” Rarity gasped out loud as the pulsing stream of water made contact with her swollen clitoris, gushing water into and against her tender hole. “O-oh m-m-my, I’m… AAH!” Rarity reached out to clutch the soap tray and the edge of the shower, her legs shaking with the sudden and intense pleasure. It lanced into her chest straight from her crotch, taking her breath hostage with the intense waves of sensation.

“Hehee…” Octavia giggled at her, still holding the stream of water against her flushed petals. “Good, no?”

“I… Have got… To get one of these…” Rarity managed to stutter in between breaths. With the combination of all the tender touches just a few moments prior and last night’s frustration, Rarity couldn’t hold back any more. “I’m gonna… AHN!” Arching her back away from the wall, Rarity let her first orgasm thunder through her veins, sending waves of pure pleasure shooting up and down her back. Her eyes clenched shut and every muscle from her abdomen down was tensed as tight as could be. When she relaxed, it felt like she could just collapse into the floor of the shower and never get up, and she would be perfectly happy with that.

“Hmm… Now for the fun part.” But apparently it wasn’t over yet. Just as Rarity was about to relax completely, she felt Octavia’s mouth wrap around her aching lips. The cellist’s tongue slid over her soaked flesh with ease, flicking her swollen clit to add just the right amount of shock to the latest pulse of undiluted pleasure. Rarity drew a deep, shuddering breath, and she dare not let it go for fear of collapsing on the floor. As if she could read what Rarity was fearfully thinking, Octavia walked forward, dipping both of her shoulders underneath Rarity’s hips. She felt her weight lift off of her own legs and settle on Octavia, even as she was tenderly licked.

“Octavia…” Rarity breathed, her chest heaving with each new breath. The tile wall against her back had warmed to her now, and with the passionate licking taking place downstairs, Rarity was beginning to feel more and more hot. “Please. I’m… I’m so close again…”

“Haaah… Ahmn.” Octavia let her hot breath wash over Rarity’s middle, giving her just a second’s pause before her skilled tongue dove back into the wet, fleshy folds. Her tongue was just as dexterous as her fingers, it seemed. What’s more, Octavia licked at her with the same passion and attention to detail that she did when she played. Being the subject of such skilled ministrations, Rarity couldn’t stop herself as the third orgasm rushed upon her.

“Octavia! I’m… GUH!” With a less-than-ladylike grunt, Rarity released once more. Completely different from the sound of the shower head, Rarity could hear the wet splatter of her juices as she haplessly squirted right into Octavia’s mouth. She didn’t seem to mind one little bit. If anything, she hungrily lapped at the vile liquid, groaning and licking harder and faster. Rarity shook with the rushing intensity, her head falling back to the wall with an audible ‘thump.’ Octavia, though, couldn’t stop, it seemed. She continued licking, her tongue pulsing in and out of Rarity’s opening, teasing her with the promise of fulfillment, of insertion… Oh, how she wanted it. Fingers, tongue, a dildo, it didn’t matter to her in that moment. Her pulsing muscles begged for it. It seemed Octavia was intent on providing. Rarity felt two fingertips peel her apart, testing her entrance, teasing her…

“Please.” Rarity moaned, her head rolling to the side. “Please…”

“Of course.” Octavia panted once before slowly pushing her hand upwards and into Rarity.

“Ooohh…” Rolling her head in a full circle, Rarity flexed around the imposing digits, her stomach twitching just a little. Octavia kissed her tummy and pulled back until just her fingertips rested inside before pushing up once again. Rarity tensed for a moment, relishing the sensation of being filled. After that, she relaxed, and let the sensations flow fast and free through her body. Octavia rolled her fingertips around, pressing into new spots each time she slid in, and she would even kiss Rarity’s stomach now and then. Even though it was her fourth, Rarity felt the next orgasm approaching rapidly.

It came as an unexpected surprise, then, when Octavia found her g-spot. She glanced down just in time to catch the cellist’s sultry grin of knowing. Rarity realized what she had found only a moment too late, as Octavia drove both fingertips against the spot, accompanying the motion with a quick flick of her clit.

“GUH!” Rarity grunted as another thin stream of liquid spattered onto the shower floor, and her legs began to shake uncontrollably. She lost all muscle coordination as the orgasm ripped through her body. Her hands scrambled over the walls, her toes curled, and her thighs quivered with the intensity. Octavia pulled her fingers out and replaced them with her tongue, hungrily lapping up what she could. Rarity closed her eyes and struggled to regain control of her breathing, even as Octavia restlessly licked her juices up.

“F… Fuck… Me…” Rarity groaned. Her legs finally came back under her control, and her chest heaved with heavy breaths. Octavia chuckled as she grinned up at Rarity, wiping her chin free. Moving carefully, she set Rarity back on her feet before standing up and kissing her eagerly. Rarity moaned into Octavia’s lips, tasting the copious amounts of feminine ejaculate on the cellist’s lips. She was positively drenched with it. Her hands glowed momentarily, pulling the shower head up off of the floor and running it over Octavia’s head. They didn’t break the kiss, and Rarity got to taste the water as it flowed over Octavia’s mouth, rinsing her free of Rarity’s orgasmic fluid.

“Allow me?” Octavia asked, gently touching the showerhead. Rarity handed it off with a silly grin, watching as Octavia took a few moments to wash her mouth out, and rinse off several spots Rarity had missed.

“I can hardly stand.” Rarity muttered, leaning against the wall for support. Octavia grinned at her over her shoulder before fetching the rag and soap from the shower floor. She scrubbed her chest and neck clean as quickly as she dared before handing them off to Rarity, who followed her example. They cranked the shower off and stepped out, drying one another off with warm, appreciative smiles.

“So I was thinking.” Octavia said, talking over the loud hum of her hairdryer. “Maybe you want to pack an overnight bag or something?” Rarity paused as she ran the brush through her own hair, looking at Octavia with wide eyes.

“Really?” She asked. “Do you want me to spend the night… Again?”

“Well… I don’t mean to sound shallow and contrite, but I could really use someone to hold again tonight… Today…” Octavia blushed and looked away, talking a little quieter as she shut the hairdryer off. “For… A while…” Rarity paused mid-brush, staring at Octavia with wide eyes.

“Are you saying…”

“Let’s… Not read into it, okay?” Octavia said, crossing her arms underneath her breasts. Rarity saw a ghost of doubt flash across the cellist’s face, even as she looked down and away.

“Octavia,” Rarity said, laying a hand on her arm. Octavia looked back up at her, and even now, tears were building in her eyes. Rarity gave her a warm, supportive smile. “I’d be happy to.”

“I’ll be right back. Just a few minutes.” Rarity was able to sneak a quick kiss as she slipped out of the idling car. Octavia offered to drive her to and from her apartment, and now sat on the street in a vacant space.

“Hurry? I don’t think the shades do a good job of hiding me…”

“So kick the seat back and sit out of sight.” Rarity teased. Octavia wore ridiculously over-sized shades and a wide hat, which looked ridiculous inside of her small, sporty sedan.

“Just hurry, will you?” Octavia swatted her rear as she left, making Rarity jump and grin. She dashed up the stairs as quick as she dared, and swept into her apartment humming a happy tune. She was stopped, though, by several notes written on sticky pads left on the breakfast bar.

‘Dinner in the fridge.’ ‘When will you be home next?’ ‘Call me?’ All of them were signed from Sweetie Belle. Rarity groaned when she realized she had all but alienated her little sister for the majority of the day. She dialed her number as she walked back to her room.

“Hello, Sweetie, It’s me. Hmm? Oh, no, I’m afraid not. Yes, as a matter of fact, I am staying the night again… Hmm? Hang on, you’re breaking up… Aah. No, I’m fine. Really, Belle, I am. I’m just staying the night one more night. Will you be okay? Of course. I’ll tell her you said hello. Alright. Ciao!” Rarity packed as she talked, tossing in a change of clothes, pajamas, and a go-bag of toiletries. She paused when confronted with her makeup stand, though. What all should she bring? Just the bare necessities, right? Would she be going straight to work the next day? Of course… She owed it to Amethyst. Sighing, Rarity packed a healthy amount of makeup plus a little extra, just in case, and scanned her apartment one last time. She caught herself at the front door and dashed back to retrieve her phone charger. Just as she pulled it from the wall, her phone buzzed merrily. She didn’t even look at the caller I.D. as she flipped it open.

“I’ll be right down, darl-“

“Not who you think it is, Rarity.” The gruff feminine voice was unmistakable. Rarity stopped in her tracks before looking at the screen. It was the number she had saved from Octavia’s fridge. Vinyl.

“How did you get my number?”

“Twilight.” Vinyl grunted. “We need to have a talk, you and I.”

“I should think so.” Rarity felt her blood heat at the memory of the dark bruises left on Octavia’s skin. She would have given anything to let the tomboyish DJ have it then and there, but over the phone, it would likely lose it’s meaning. “Time and place?”

“Tomorrow night. Same diner we first met. You know, when you passed out.”

“Can we at least be civil about this?” Rarity hissed through her teeth. She wanted to throw her phone against the wall.

“Whatever. Will you be there, or no?”

“Of course I will. Alone?”

“Naturally.”

“Tomorrow night, then.” Rarity’s lips drew upwards in a devious grin. “It’s a date.” She hit the end button and flipped her phone closed before leaving her apartment. Octavia beamed as Rarity slipped back into the car, but her smile wilted when she saw Rarity’s expression.

“Everything okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes!” Rarity fought to bring the smile back to her face. Her heart was thundering a million miles an hour in her chest. “Everything’s fine.” She kissed Octavia’s cheek.

“Perfectly fine.”

Confrontation

Intimate Details - Part 9 “Confrontation”

“Rarity!” Octavia’s breathless gasp only drove her on further. Her hair clung to her neck and shoulders, matted down with the thin layer of sweat she was covered in. Her muscles screamed in protest, but her desire wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Rarity! Harder!” She obliged, driving deeper. Octavia cried out underneath her, her fists twisting into the sheets. Their thighs slapped together, filling Octavia’s bedroom with the meaty sound of flesh impacting flesh. Rarity’s mouth hung open, and she panted with the exertion.

“Rarity! I’m cumming!” Octavia’s desperate plea for release spurred Rarity into a fit of movement. Her hips pumped, driving deeper and harder into the gasping woman’s core. Octavia’s eyes snapped open and her back arched up from the bed firmly. Her mouth hung open as she tensed atop the sheets, shuddering and shaking in the throes of yet another intense orgasm. Only when she relaxed down into the sheets did Rarity pull out, flopping tiredly onto her back.

“F… Fuck… Me…” Rarity’s breasts heaved as she drew deep breaths, looking up at the ceiling with half-lidded eyes. Beside her, Octavia lay spread-eagle on the bed, both of them panting. “I… Never knew… It was so hard…”

“Makes you wonder… Haah… How men manage it…” Octavia rolled her head to the side, grinning stupidly at Rarity. She returned the silly smile before they both erupted into a fit of giggles. Rarity only stopped when her stomach cramped up, making her wince and clutch the aching muscle. “Here.” Octavia got to her hands and knees, pulling at the buckles. “Let’s get that off of you.”

“Honestly.” Rarity groaned, rubbing the stitch away. “That thing is…”

“Fun?”

“Hard. To use.” Rarity lifted her hips, letting Octavia pull the strap-on down her legs. With yet another devious smile, Octavia licked the purple head, moaning at the taste. Rarity worked her tongue in her mouth, aching for a taste as well. Octavia didn’t leave her hanging. Their lips met, and on the cellist’s tongue, Rarity could taste the musky, delicious sensation of arousal.

“Shower?” Octavia asked.

“Or a bath.”

“Ooh… Bath. Come on.” Leaving the purple contraption on the rumpled sheets, Octavia and Rarity padded into the bathroom, drew a fresh bath laced with plenty of oils and bubbles, and slowly sunk into the hot water.

“Aah… Just what the doctor ordered.” Rarity groaned, leaning back against the wall of the expansive tub. Octavia sat beside her, the two of them pressed close.

“Best. Investment. Ever.” Octavia teased with a slight grin. The two of them relaxed in the hot water, soaking until their fingers began to get pruny. After rinsing off and drying, Rarity wrapped herself in the fluffy bath towel, smiling as Octavia slipped into her own. “Feeling hungry?” The cellist asked, running a brush through her long, raven hair.

“I could stand to eat… But I think I need a glass of water more.”

“Come on then.” Together, the two of them went to the kitchen and set about preparing a light meal of diced chicken breast and salad. Rarity drank two glasses of water, waving off the wine that Octavia indulged in.

“I must say,” Rarity leaned over her plate, smiling at Octavia. “I’ve never used one of those before.”

“What, a strap-on? Hehe… Yeah, they’re awfully fun.” Octavia finished off the last bite of chicken with a smile. “Sometimes, a tongue just won’t do it for you.”

“Hmm… I wonder what it’d be like to be on the receiving end…?” Rarity mused out loud. Octavia grinned at her. “Not tonight.” Rarity recovered. “I’m… Well, I’m tapped. Nothing left in the tank.”

“Some other time, then.” Octavia leaned across the table to kiss her cheek gently. “I promise, I’ll make it good.” Her soft words made Rarity shudder, and despite the protest of her muscles, she felt the heat begin to build in her crotch. Reason won out over passion in the end, but Rarity was still seriously considering round… Four? Five? She had lost track.

After retrieving her overnight bag and having the quick conversation with Vinyl, Octavia and Rarity had returned to Octavia’s top-floor apartment. They were hardly inside the door before they were on one another, and had spent the entire evening making love. One time after another, they kissed and stretched out, kissing, licking, fingering, holding one another… Octavia was ruthless. She could go for hours, it seemed. Rarity struggled to keep up, but each new sweaty encounter made her heart race, and the oppressive sense of loneliness fade from her aching chest. Octavia had a way of distracting her, it seemed.

She had almost forgotten about Vinyl. While last night’s healing session and cuddling hadn’t faded from Rarity’s memory, she wasn’t upset anymore. Besides… She had the conversation with Vinyl to look forward to. Octavia hadn’t learned of it, naturally, so Rarity would be meeting with the DJ all on her own. She planned on giving the gruff woman a piece of her mind, and then some. Just the thought of putting the DJ in her place made Rarity smile.

“Pleasant thoughts?” Octavia asked, sipping at her wine. Rarity shook herself and blushed as she nodded.

“Very…”

“Of what? The fireplace?” Octavia gestured to the nearby living room, with the thick rug laying before a happily-burning fire; where they had made love not an hour prior to the light meal.

“Yes.” Rarity lied, gnawing on her lip for a brief moment. “I’ll take that.” Rarity grasped Octavia’s plate in her magic, lifting her own into the sink. She rinsed them off and placed them inside the dishwasher before smiling at Octavia. The sultry cellist tried to suppress a yawn, but failed in the end. Rarity fought her own, but couldn’t resist. They both smiled tiredly at one another before silently leaving the kitchen and walking down the hall to Octavia’s bedroom.

Wordlessly, they helped strip the soiled sheets from Octavia’s bed, and put the new ones on. Then, they shed their robes and crawled under the blankets, embracing in the middle of the bed with nothing more than a wistful sigh and a warm smile. Just as Rarity was about to drift off, though, Octavia spoke.

“Work tomorrow, right?”

“Hmm.” Rarity hummed, kissing Octavia’s forehead. “I owe it to Amethyst.”

“Your co-worker?”

“Co-owner, really…” Rarity frowned. “I couldn’t afford to buy the business outright when I moved from Ponyville… Amethyst put up half of the capitol, and became my business partner.”

“Aah. What made you leave Ponyville in the first place?” Octavia’s simple question caught Rarity off-guard. She frowned at the memory. Despite how long ago it was, the pain and heartache was still fresh in her heart. She took a deep breath, and began her story.

“Happy anniversary!” Twilight beamed as she handed the package to Rarity.

“Twily! You shouldn’t have!” Rarity’s cheeks flushed as she took the square box, wrapped with festive paper and tied with a neat bow.

“I know we agreed not to get gifts, but I just couldn’t help myself.” Twilight beamed, sitting down on the couch next to Rarity. “I saw it, and I just had to get it for you.”

“I… I didn’t get you anything, though.” Rarity muttered, feeling bad now.

“It’s fine, Rarity. Just open it.” Twilight bubbled. Rarity’s fingers slid under the edge of the wrapping paper and she pulled it off. Beneath was another box, laced with a golden-looking filigree.

“Twilight.” Rarity breathed. “This looks so expensive…”

“Go on.” Twilight urged. With shaking hands, Rarity opened the box, her eyes wide at what she saw.

“Oh my goodness…” Delicately, Rarity lifted the necklace from the box, her eyes brimming with tears. “It’s… It’s so beautiful.”

“Here. Allow me.” Twilight took the necklace as Rarity lifted her hair from her shoulders. As Twilight secured the clasp, she levitated a mirror closer, letting Rarity see how the pendant hung, resting on her sternum like a reassuring weight.

“Twilight, I… I’m so…” Rarity ran a finger over the delicate golden chain, completely speechless.

“There’s something else, too.” Twilight smiled, pulling a small envelope out from beneath the box. Rarity shot her a vindictive look before opening it.

“Two… Two week-long passes to Le Manefique spa?! Twilight, these are priceless!” Rarity’s eyes went wide. The Trottingham-based spa was Equestria’s most luxurious escape. Rarity had always dreamed of going there, even if for a short weekend.

“We’re going together. Go pack your bags.” Twilight jumped up from the couch, pulling Rarity up with a girlish, bouncing demeanor.

“R-right… I’ll… Yes!” Rarity was still in shock. She couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her lips.

“We’ll talk on the way there, okay?”

“Hmm? Talk about what?” Rarity hummed, still looking at the tickets.

“Nothing. Go pack!” With a firm swat to her rear, Twilight sent Rarity off to her room. She floated up the stairs, pulling items from her closet and depositing them into her bag in a haze. Twilight had really gone all-out for their fifth anniversary. This beautiful necklace AND two passes to the highest-rated spa in all of Equestria? Rarity was stunned. Her fingers slid over one particular garment in her wardrobe. Yes. She owed it to Twilight. She would wear the specifically-made piece for Twilight, as thanks for what she had done. Rarity was saving it for a special occasion anyways. The skimpy bit of clothing made it’s way into her luggage, and she zipped the suitcase closed.

“Ready?” Twilight asked, beaming up at Rarity as she descended the stairs.

“As I’ll ever be. But the boutique…?”

“Fluttershy has agreed to watch it for you. Opal as well. I handled everything, Rarity. We just have to relax and enjoy ourselves.” Twilight’s smile wilted just a little as Rarity met her at the door, but returned when Rarity gave her a second glance. Together, they packed their bags into Rarity’s car, locked her home, and took off towards Trottingham. They chatted amicably about all the things they were going to do, from facials and mudbaths to playing tennis or swimming. Twilight’s mood slowly deteriorated, though. As they began to enter the mountains surrounding the city of Trottingham, she turned the music off.

“We do need to talk, Rarity.” Twilight said softly.

“About what?” The sudden change took her by surprise. Rarity spared Twilight a glance, trying to not lose focus on the winding road in front of her.

“About… What I’ve done.” Twilight pulled her feet onto the seat, hugging her knees close. Rarity frowned over at her.

“Darling? What’s wrong?” Rarity asked, reaching a hand out to rest on Twilight’s wrist.

“I’ve… A confession to make.”

“Twilight?”

“I… I’ve been seeing Rainbow Dash…”

Rarity’s hand dropped to the center console.

“… How long?”

“Three months.” Twilight whispered. “I… I feel horrible, Rares…”

Rarity’s vision entered a long, dark tunnel. The road in front of her became more narrow. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter.

“I’ve been so scared to tell you, and I didn’t want to ruin this, but I can’t live with myself anymore.”

The speedometer crept higher.

“Rarity? Can you say something?”

Rarity couldn’t focus on the road anymore.

“Rarity?”

She saw black.

“RARITY!”

“We went over a forty-foot cliff. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. I broke four ribs, my femur, my wrist, and suffered a severe concussion. I was cut up pretty badly, too… Twilight managed to protect us from the worst of it, though… She broke two ribs and suffered some internal bleeding.” Rarity had cried through almost the whole story, telling Octavia about how things had ended between her and Twilight. “I couldn’t stay in Ponyville after that. I tried, sure… But every time I looked at either of them, I just shut down. Sometimes I’d black out, other times I’d just burst into tears… Five years together, and I… I just wasn’t enough for her.”

“Rarity…” Octavia reached a hand out, wiping the tears from her face. Rarity kept talking, though.

“I left. I managed to hold out until Sweetie Belle passed her evaluation, but then I left. Made it here to Canterlot, and bought the boutique again. Since then, I haven’t… I couldn’t… I haven’t been able to… To open up like this.” Rarity reached out and wrapped her arms around Octavia, sobbing helplessly as she broke down yet again.

“Shh, shh… It’s okay.” Octavia soothed her, running a hand through her hair, calming her. Rarity sobbed for a long while, clutching Octavia like her like a drowning man would cling to flotsam. All of the emotion and stress of the past few days began to pile on her. Her one saving grace was Octavia. Beautiful, womanly, serene, and most importantly, sane. Octavia was the one person, it seemed, who had their head on straight through this whole mess. Rarity managed to calm herself down, taking several deep, shaky breaths.

“Thank you.” She whimpered, smiling at Octavia. The cellist returned her smile and wiped her eyes.

“Rarity… I’m not going to allude to being perfect. That’s a terrible thing to assume about oneself, and I don’t feel like dealing with the stress… I have my own brand of troubles, what with Vinyl making waves… But… These past two days with you have been so… So wonderful.” Her serene smile made Rarity’s heart throb in her chest. Tears glimmered in Octavia’s eyes. Rarity could tell; she was speaking her heart. “I don’t want to give them up… I don’t think I’m ready to… But at the same time, I… I don’t want to put you through the stress of dealing with Vinyl.”

“Octavia, I don’t… I’m okay with that.” Rarity pleaded, taking Octavia’s hand in her own. It was a weak plea, but it was all she had. “If I left you now, when you’re at your lowest, what kind of person would that make me? What kind of lover would that make me?” She shook her head, pressing closer to Octavia. The past two days, Rarity had gone without shedding a single tear. She had spent every waking moment beside this woman, and she enjoyed every second. From the raunchy and passionate lovemaking to the idle conversations and cooking meals together, Rarity had found every second spent with Octavia to be ideal. She would fight for this. Whatever it was. Whatever it was going to be.

“Okay.” Octavia croaked. “Okay, I’m… I’ll do it.” She swallowed hard, gasping a little as she met Rarity’s eyes once more. “I’ll start a relationship with you.”

The diner was more dimly-lit than Rarity remembered it being. There were a few more people present, likely because it was earlier in the evening, but everything else was just about the same. She had received a text from Vinyl’s number, with just a single word. ‘Six.’ It was five-fifty and she clutched her coffee tight. The day at work had been busy, but Rarity slept incredibly well the night before. She had woken by Octavia’s side, something she didn’t think she was ever going to get tired of. They had made breakfast, Rarity got ready for work, and Octavia gave her a ride. Amethyst had asked questions, but Rarity was nothing if not an accomplished liar.

Which had led to where she was now. After a quick run home to drop off her bag, Rarity had come straight to the diner. She sat in the back, with her eyes on the door, waiting for Vinyl to arrive. After a short fifteen-minute wait, the hoodie-wearing DJ slipped into the diner, spotting her after a quick scan. Rarity ran through the speech she had in her head one more time, mentally preparing herself for what it was that might happen. Vinyl swaggered to the booth and slipped in the other side. Despite the dim lighting, she kept her shades on, and her hood up. Her face was veiled in shadow, but Rarity could see a single lock of her obnoxiously-blue hair poking out close to her neckline.

“So.” Rarity glared at Vinyl. “You called me. What’d you want to talk about?”

“You and Tavi.” Vinyl quipped, drumming her fingers into the table. “And how you’re never going to bother her again.”

“I don’t think that’s a possibility.” Rarity frowned across the table at her.

“Oh it is.” The DJ leaned in. “You’re going to go back to your dress store and your sister, and you won’t talk to her, you won’t call her, you won’t even look at her if you pass her in the street. Clear?” She wasn’t joking. Her tone and her expression were dead serious. Rarity had a moment of hesitation, a split second where she considered taking the DJ up on her offer. But something stopped her. She saw a quick flash, of a vision, of Twilight sitting in the passenger seat next to her, of the road’s barricade crashing underneath the weight of her car as she sent the two of them screaming over the edge of a cliff.

“Or.” Rarity held a finger up to her. “How about this. All of what you just said, except it’s you.” At Rarity’s counter-point, Vinyl frowned. Rarity continued. “I’ve seen what you’ve done to her, Vinyl. I’ve healed your mess.”

“She showed you?” Vinyl growled.

“Many things.” Rarity cut her off before she could continue. “I’ve been with her the past two days. And you know what? They were better than any of the ones I’ve ever spent with your cousin. I’m not about to walk away from Octavia. Not because some damaged DJ thinks she owns her.” Rarity stood up from her side of the booth, glaring down at Vinyl. “You’re going to leave this diner, go back to whatever dark hole you crawled out of, and make your shitty music. You won’t call her. You won’t talk to her. You won’t even look at her. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever again.”

“Listen, you little bitch-“

“Aah.” Rarity held a finger up, stopping Vinyl as she surged to her feet. The finger glowed with her signature blue aura, humming slightly in the stale diner air. “More importantly, Vinyl. You’re going to leave me alone as well. You will sit there until I leave, and then, and only then, will you leave this diner.” Rarity glanced down at the booth, frowning slightly. “I’d suggest you leave Canterlot as well. Good-bye, Vinyl Scratch. I hope I never see you again.” Rarity stalked away then, her face set in a frown. She walked perhaps ten steps before Vinyl called her name.

“Rarity.” The DJ spoke loud enough for everybody in the diner to hear her. Rarity stopped and slowly turned around, frowning at the woman. As she watched, Vinyl rose from the booth, removed her hood, and pulled her shades off. “Twilight lied to you.” Her accusation made Rarity frown. Vinyl dropped her shades onto the table. “I’m not her cousin.”

“What-“

“I’m her sister.”

The last thing Rarity saw was a flash of blue light.

History

Intimate Details - Part 10 “History”

There was an impact to the air, like thunder without lightning. Rarity watched as all of the flimsy paper napkins and menus were flung off of the tables through the air. She half expected to see the lower half of her body, or maybe a long tunnel with a light at the end. Instead, Rarity saw every fine detail in the diner as the air around her pulsed and moved with a ferocious shockwave. Napkins and silverware shot through the air, tumbling over and over, catching the flat light and throwing it back like glimmering snowflakes.

“Stop this madness, Vinyl!” The voice was not unknown to her. Amidst the chaos of the shattered air in the diner, she heard a familiar tone and inflection.

“Step aside, Twilight!” Vinyl’s gruff, tomboyish voice met her ears. Rarity blinked absently and brought her gaze around to the scene before her at last. The spell had faded away, leaving in its wake two magi with glowing hands. Both of them had different colors. Vinyl’s was not unlike Rarity’s, though perhaps a little darker, and more dense.

Twilight’s, however, was violet, and dense. She stood opposite Vinyl Scratch, her expression drawn down seriously. “I’m not moving until the authorities arrive, Vinyl.” Twilight growled. “ You've committed a serious crime today.”

“YOU THINK THAT MATTERS?!” Vinyl roared, leveling her hands at Twilight, and Rarity standing behind her. “She threatened me first! SHE THREATENED TAVI!”

“Calm down.” Twilight lifted a single hand, deflecting the next shockwave that came from Vinyl. It ricocheted into the ceiling, dropping dust and plaster onto their heads. By now, every other patron in the diner had ran away. Rarity could hear sirens in the distance.

“I’m not going to calm down until I have that bitch’s head on a platter!” Vinyl pointed at Rarity, the finger shaking with her pent-up anger.

“Rarity.” She heard another voice reach her ears, Glancing to the side, Rarity saw Octavia, her brow drawn in an intense frown. “Come on. We should leave.” Rarity’s legs finally began to work as Octavia pulled on her arm. She stumbled a few steps away.

“Oh no you don’t!” Vinyl stomped one foot and thrust a hand towards them. A brilliant bolt of crackling blue energy shot out, arcing through the air. Twilight deflected it with a deft flick of her wrist, sending the bolt of energy shooting through one of the shattered windows and out into the night. Octavia tugged her along more insistently, even as a second bolt impacted the linoleum tiles at their feet. Twilight was doing everything she could to cover their retreat. Rarity watched as her hands waved and swayed to and fro, perfectly countering each spell Vinyl was shooting their way. From what little Rarity knew of combat magic, the two appeared evenly matched. But she was soon proved wrong. Twilight began to turn each spell back on Vinyl, putting the blue-haired DJ on the defensive. As Octavia pulled her through the front door of the diner, she watched Twilight turn two more bolts at her assailant. The first missed but the second caught her in the chest, making her stumble. Vinyl came back with another larger bolt, which Twilight made vanish into thin air with a loud, whip-like crack.

“Come ON!” Octavia’s insistent tug snapped Rarity out of her reverie. She stumbled but picked up into a run as Octavia released her arm. Following the cellist away from the diner, the two of them sprinted a short block to a parking lot Rarity hadn’t seen. Both Octavia’s and Twilight’s cars were parked there.

“Did you two follow me here?!”

“Twilight overheard Vinyl when she called you!” Octavia flung the driver’s side door of her car open, while Rarity slipped into the passenger side. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” The engine roared to life, and Octavia peeled out into the street, jamming hard on the gas to avoid being rear-ended by the car she cut off.

“Tell you what?” Rarity clung to the handle above the door as the car shot off down the road, screeching around the next turn.

“That Vinyl had called you out.” Octavia’s voice dropped as the roaring engine shifted gears, dying down in intensity as they joined the normal flow of traffic, albeit with a few angry gestures from other drivers. The diner was two blocks behind them, but they could still hear the sirens. “That she wanted to meet with you. You should have told me. I’d have stopped you from going.”

“I didn’t think it was anything you wanted to involve yourself in… Not anymore.” Rarity admitted with a blush. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Rarity…” Octavia looked at her sympathetically. “I’m a human. It takes a lot to make me bruise. The ones you healed weren’t inflicted by Vinyl’s fists. She’s a loose cannon. She can’t control herself when she feels so passionately about something. She was ready to kill you back there. You’re lucky Twilight and I followed you. You’re lucky we were there.”

“Why were you there?” Rarity asked, narrowing her eyes across the console at Octavia. “Twilight I can understand. But why did you come along?”

“I assure you,” Octavia sighed as she changed lanes. “It was purely out of interest in your well-being. I didn’t want to see you covered in the same bruises I wore. Or worse.” She glanced across the console at Rarity, who was still looking at her darkly. “Oh fine. I wanted to know what you two would talk about is all…” She smiled faintly then. In the aftermath of the life-threatening experience, Rarity thought it was remarkably out-of-place. But it was also rather welcome. She felt her heart return to a somewhat normal pace. “I’m happy, Rarity.” Octavia continued. “You stood up to Vinyl for me. For us. What’s more, you told her off… I… I haven’t had anyone fight for me in a long, long time…” Octavia’s sad smile was almost painful to see. “It feels good to have someone on the home team, as it were…”

Hesitantly, Rarity reached her hand out, taking Octavia’s off of the wheel. The cellist clutched her hand. Like it was her last lifeline.

“The diner’s owner is pressing charges against Vinyl.” Twilight sighed as she pushed through the door to Octavia’s flat. Both Octavia and Rarity shot up from the couch, rushing forward to her with concerned frowns on their faces. “The authorities have her in custody, but she’s cooperative, so they’ll likely release her with a court date. And no, neither of you will have to be present.” Twilight raised a hand, cutting Rarity off before she could speak. Octavia took her coat, going to hang it up as Twilight leaned against the closed door with a sigh. “As far as they’re concerned, neither of you were even there in the first place. I doubt you’ll have to even stick your heads into this matter.” Twilight groaned and pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Octavia offered meekly. Twilight looked up at her, her eyes hard with the pain of a migraine.

“Gin. Triple. If you have it.”

“O… Okay.” Octavia gave Rarity a concerned look, but Rarity nodded it was okay. For magi, alcohol helped dumb down the brain’s impulses, which had effectively been shot into overdrive from using magic. It helped them relax and recover from the painful headaches of excessive magic usage. What Twilight needed at that moment was a strong drink and a long night’s rest. As Octavia left for the kitchen, Rarity and Twilight sat in the living room. The fire was crackling merrily, but Twilight winced at the flickering light. Rarity doused the flames and instead turned the lamps on low.

“How bad was it?” Rarity asked gently, leaning forward towards Twilight.

“Ugh… We were both using suppression auras. It wouldn't look like much to you two, but inside that diner, we were giving it our all… I’m exhausted.” Twilight sighed and buried her face in her hands, rubbing away at the bags beneath her eyes. “She’s so powerful, but so unpracticed… If she just applied herself, she’d be every bit as skilled as I am.”

“Is she really your sister?” Rarity asked. That had been the question plaguing her mind for the last few tentative hours. She and Octavia had returned to the cellist’s flat, fearing the police would come knocking at any moment. The entire time, Rarity ran through Vinyl’s words. Her death threats. What was her relation to Twilight, exactly? Why would they even have reason to lie to her about Vinyl being Twilight’s sister?

“She is.” Twilight nodded. Rarity watched as Twilight struggled with a way to word the next few sentences carefully. In that time, Octavia returned, sporting three glasses and a full bottle of gin.

“I just brought the bottle. I think we could all use a drink.”

“Thank you.” Rarity poured them all three tall glasses. Twilight took hers and downed it with a grimace before refilling the second. Octavia and Rarity sipped idly at their own, waiting for Twilight to continue. On her third glass, Twilight slowed down, enough to talk.

“My mother and father had Shining and I after they were married. Vinyl was born from my father’s first love. He had her at a very young age, and her mother looked after her for the most part.” Twilight finally began to explain, nursing her glass of gin. “Neither Shining nor I even learned about it until shortly before his wedding. She actually kind of bridged the gap by DJ-ing the reception. After that, we started talking more often. Got to know one another. Apparently her mother was kind of abusive, and didn’t really like her magic. She seldom used it. But when she was a teen, she discovered music, and began using her magic more often in making it. That’s when she discovered she had the talent. Shortly after that, she met Octavia… The rest is history.” Twilight’s explanation sure seemed to fit. But Rarity was still frowning. An abusive history was no reason for her to act the way she did. The three of them were silent after that, each one nursing dark thoughts and bitter gin. Rarity was halfway through her second glass when Twilight spoke once more.

“Octavia, I’d hate to ask, but can I-“

“No, of course.” Octavia gestured to the hallway over her shoulder. “I have plenty of guest rooms. I can’t expect you to drive out of here after all this anyways.”

“Thanks.” Twilight muttered. She shot a quick glance towards Rarity, who lifted a shoulder indifferently. She didn’t feel all that strongly either way, whether or not Twilight stayed the night. What mattered is whether or not she did. Octavia met her eyes across the coffee table, and that one look betrayed the same thoughts. Each of them was wondering one thing and one thing only:

Where did they go from here?

“Poor thing. She’s out cold.” Octavia said quietly. Rarity sat on the edge of her bed, looking out of the windows at the leaden sky, the glimmering lights of the city below.

“Yes… Using a lot of magic takes it out of a magi… She’ll be asleep for close to ten hours.”

“That’s fine. I don’t have anything going on for the next few days anyways.” Octavia slowly approached. Rarity listened to her bare feet pass over the carpet until she sat next to her. She snapped out of her reverie when Octavia rested the side of her head on Rarity’s shoulder. Almost out of reflex, she wound her arm around Octavia’s waist, drawing her closer to her side. Octavia responded by nuzzling closer, sighing contentedly. Rarity found herself pleasantly distracted from the dark, cold thoughts that had been plaguing her mind ever since the diner. She turned her head to the side and kissed Octavia’s temple, heaving a gentle sigh of her own.

“Our life is crazy, isn’t it?” Octavia mused.

“We have a life?” Rarity asked absently. Octavia sat still for a few moments before reaching out to take Rarity’s hand in her own.

“I’d like to have a life with you…”

“You barely know me.”

“And the same goes for you.” Octavia sat up then, turning towards Rarity. Tears glimmered in her eyes, but she wore a happy smile. “That means we should spend some time getting to know one another, right?” Rarity searched her eyes for a long while. In those glimmering amethyst depths, Rarity saw Octavia’s true intention. She didn’t want someone to share her life with. She wanted an anchor. A rock. Someone to keep her grounded in reality.

In that moment, Rarity needed the exact same thing. While she might not be the anchor Octavia needed, they could at least be lost at sea together. Gently, Rarity took her other hand.

“Right.”

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Rarity smiled as Twilight padded out of the hall and into the kitchen. She yawned wide and slipped into a seat at the breakfast bar. Hair frazzled, bags beneath her eyes, Twilight looked terrible. “Coffee?”

“Water, please…” She muttered. Rarity obliged by pouring her a tall glass with plenty of ice. Twilight gulped at it eagerly. She looked marginally better.

“I’m making eggs. Want some?”

“If that’s okay…” Twilight said guardedly, looking around. “Is Octavia awake yet?”

“She’s showering.” Rarity gestured with her spatula back down the hall, her attention still fixed on the peppers and onions on the sizzling pan before her. “She’ll be along momentarily.”

“Right. Because I have a proposition.” Twilight’s statement made Rarity stiffen up, looking over her shoulder at the purple-haired magi with a concerned expression. Twilight just frowned at her in return, her expression serious. Even with her frazzled and unkempt hair, Twilight was an intimidating figure. Rarity turned back to the vegetables, though her thoughts were more preoccupied with whatever it was Twilight was going to propose. She served three plates of steaming eggs topped with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and diced celery. Twilight ate daintily, even though Rarity knew she must be ravenous. Octavia joined them after a short while. Twilight and Rarity shared a look, but the skilled magi let the other two finish breakfast before she began to speak.

“I have a proposition for you two.” Twilight sat back in her chair, draping one leg over the other knee. Octavia wiped her mouth and looked up at her, seeming rather shocked but open to her proposal.

“Okay… Let’s hear it.”

“Rarity comes back with me to Ponyville.” Twilight held a hand up, cutting her off before Rarity had a chance to open her mouth. “Temporarily. Until Vinyl is finished with the legal end of her little outburst. I dare say your friends would like to see you again.” At the mention of her old friends, Rarity flagged. Octavia didn’t miss the soft frown that crossed her lips, either. Twilight continued. “I’ll keep her protected, and it’ll serve as a pleasant distraction to all that’s happened recently.” Both the other women raised their heads at that last part.

“All that’s happened?” Octavia asked. Twilight didn’t miss the meaning, not any more than Rarity or Octavia had. She addressed the issue that seemed to be troubling her with a soft sigh.

“I’d be lying if I said this development between you two has rustled more than a few feathers across the board. Vinyl is, very obviously, distraught. Shining was rather excited to have an elder sister he was on good terms with, so seeing her so upset has got him in a tiff.” Twilight then turned her gaze to Rarity. “And the others assumed you were moving to Canterlot just to help Sweetie Belle get through her education. Only Dash and I know about…” Twilight caught herself, glancing at Octavia.

“She knows.” Rarity waved her off.

“Right.” Twilight’s frown intensified, but she went on. “They didn’t know you left Ponyville because of what happened. Between that and lying about you leaving for health reasons, to be closer to a better doctor, they don’t know what happened. In fact, as far as they’re concerned, we’re still together.” Twilight sat back in her chair, folding her arms across her breasts.

“Really?” Rarity arched an eyebrow. “You’re still keeping appearances? After all this time?”

“I leave on frequent trips. They think I’m coming to Canterlot to see you.” Twilight said softly, lowering her gaze. “I told them you’re in the hospital, still recovering from the mental trauma of the accident. They’re all rather busy, so they don’t come to visit… But they miss you like mad. We all do, Rarity…” Twilight’s expression softened, if only marginally. But Rarity couldn’t erase the frown from her face.

“You’re lying to them, Twilight. Where do you go on these trips of yours?”

“I come here." Twilight countered, frowning intently. "To look after Sweetie Belle's education. To take lessons from Celestia, or to visit the library. I have a temporary home on the North edge of the city. Rarity, I’m trying to keep the only friends I have left from falling apart. If I tell them the truth of what happened between you and me, they would abandon me. Just like you did. Now please, Rarity.” Twilight’s eyes were beginning to well up with tears. “Please. Just consider the plan. If not for yourself, then for them.” They all fell silent in that moment. Rarity and Octavia leaned back in their chairs, each of them considering the plan. Rarity was still in a daze, so her thoughts were all over. She hadn’t even realized it when Octavia padded to the console by the elevator.

“Hello?”

“Miss Delacroix here to see you.” Octavia looked up at them, a pleading expression on her face.

“We’re… Kind of in the middle of something.” Twilight offered. Rarity just looked blankly ahead. Octavia leaned back into the intercom.

“Send her up.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Octavia leaned against the wall, watching the elevator for a few long minutes. At last, it dinged and opened, and Natalie stood there.

“I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I’ve been busy.” Octavia offered sheepishly, waving a hand at Twilight and Rarity. Natalie blinked, looking over Octavia’s shoulder at the two women.

“Oh. Rarity. Wow, you really have some intuition, eh?” Natalie cracked a smile and swept around Octavia, who opened her mouth with a protest. Rarity blinked as Natalie strutted across the flat to take her hand, leaning in to kiss her cheek with a wide grin. “We need to talk, darling. The entire city is ablaze with the need for another performance with one of your dresses.”

“We’re talking about something more serious than a dress right now.” Twilight interjected with a firm statement, drawing Natalie away.

“I’m sorry, and you are?” Natalie asked, arching an eyebrow at Twilight. Her eyes flickered up to Twilight’s hair. “Oh no…” She looked around to Rarity, who didn’t look quite her best. Then back to Octavia, who was frumpy herself. A sly grin spread across her lips. “Long night, Tavi?”

“Oh dear,” Twilight rolled her eyes, scoffing as she stood up. The stool at the breakfast bar nearly tipped over, but she caught it and righted it with a bit of magic. “When you’re ready to seriously consider my proposal, please give me a call.” Twilight nodded to Rarity. “You know my number, and I have yours. I’ll send you a text just in case.”

“R-right.” Rarity stuttered, still rather shocked. Twilight turned and left the flat in short order, giving a cursory nod to Octavia as she passed. When the door to the elevator landing’s lobby slammed, Natalie frowned intently.

“She’s awfully grumpy.”

Both Octavia and Rarity shared a look before answering simultaneously.

“You don’t even know.”

“So, have you considered my proposal?” Twilight asked. The three of them sat around a single table at some late-night restaurant, with glasses of water and menus before them. Rarity thought Twilight had invited them to dinner to chat amicably, and maybe get around to the topic later. It appeared she had nothing but business on the mind. They hadn't even ordered yet. Rarity sighed and leaned back in her chair. Underneath the table, she felt Octavia’s hand rest on her leg, giving her a reassuring squeeze. She returned the sentiment with a gentle smile.

“I have seriously considered your offer, and with all due respect, I refuse.” Rarity said confidently.

“Explain.” Twilight said flatly. Rarity cleared her throat and found Octavia’s hand beneath the table.

“I’m not running away simply because there’s some conflict-”

“Some.” Twilight scoffed. Rarity ignored her.

“I’m not giving up on something good. I will stay here in Canterlot. With your support, Sweetie Belle will continue her studies, but with the additional income I’m making, I’ll give her housing.”

“You can’t afford your own home and one for Sweetie Belle.” Twilight frowned intently. Rarity lifted a finger.

“Aah. I won’t be living alone anymore.” She shot Octavia a glance and a smile, and got a reassuring squeeze in return. “I’m moving in with Octavia.” Twilight looked at them incredulously.

“Really?”

“Of course.” Octavia leaned in, taking over the conversation. “I have too much space in that flat to have to myself. I’d be only all too happy to have Rarity living with me. Not to mention, the security is top-notch. Nobody gets in without my say-so. The guards at the desk are well-trained magi who can easily keep Vinyl at bay, provided she goes on another one of her… Episodes. It’s not far from the boutique, and Rarity will be saving plenty of money on rent. Enough to provide for Sweetie Belle. I think we can all agree that takes precedence.”

“She doesn’t even know what’s been happening.” Rarity muttered. “She thinks I’ve been sleeping at Octavia’s for the past few nights. She’s staying at my apartment for now. We really need to fill her in on all that’s happened.”

“I can take care of that.” Twilight said curtly. Octavia and Rarity both watched as she stood from her seat, frowning intently at them. “Enjoy, you two. I doubt you’ll see me again.”

“Twilight-“ Rarity raised her hand, but Twilight spun on her heel and left them both. In the stunned silence that followed, all Rarity and Octavia could do was look at the empty seat opposite them. It took some time, but Octavia spoke first.

“That was rude.”

“Tell me about it.”

“She didn’t even leave a tip.”

After a brief moment, both women burst out laughing. Not the typical jovial laughter of sharing a happy or funny moment. It wasn’t even nervous laughter. The two of them were laughing because they had no idea what they had just gotten themselves into. But whatever it was, they would have each other. And that was what mattered most.

Keep in Mind

Intimate Details - Part 11 “Keep in Mind”

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

“Again?”

“Yes. Please.” Rarity panted, her legs weak. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t using them anyways. Octavia grinned as she leaned forward. Rarity felt the head spread her tender lips apart, slowly slipping into the drenched folds of her aching womanhood. With a soft grunt, Octavia drove the strapon deeper, spearing Rarity on the eight-inch monstrosity. Rarity’s mouth opened in a soundless scream, her eyes clenched against the intense sensation of being filled so fully. Octavia didn’t give her a moment’s rest before she set in on the whimpering magi, thrusting deep and easy.

“Oh… Oh my stars.” Rarity could feel her open mouth drool as she was filled the brim over and again. Octavia was surprisingly skilled at using the device to elicit numerous orgasms from Rarity. Perhaps it came from having a magi lover before, but Rarity’s previous relationships were the last thing on her mind. Indeed, all her hormone-riddled brain could handle at that moment was how she was trying to not break glass with the bottled-up screams threatening to rip from her throat at any given moment.

“Unf!” Octavia grunted as she drove in yet again. Rarity could feel her lover’s magnificent thighs lathered with sweat as they slapped against her rear. Octavia showed her no quarter. Time and again, the strapon hit spots within her core that made her shudder and drool. The sheets would most definitely have to be changed after this. But if Octavia’s energy level was any indication, they had barely begun. Rarity cried out as the bulbous head rammed into her g-spot, ruthlessly shoving her over the edge of yet another orgasm.

“Shit!” Octavia gasped as she pulled out. Rarity squirted a thin stream of clear liquid, dribbling the fluid all over the already-abused sheets. Some of it spattered against Octavia's thighs, dripping down the beautifully curvaceous flesh to join the rest of the moisture on the bedspread. “That’s the fourth time. You’re a machine.” Octavia panted, her lips curled in a devious smile. Rarity kept her hips in the air, though her torso had fallen forward long ago when her arms gave out. She looked back and up at Octavia, her half-lidded gaze too preoccupied with resuming normal brain function to reply to Octavia’s amazement.

Octavia gave her a brief moment of reprise, though it couldn’t very well be considered a break. She scooted back a short way, but leaned her mouth in. Rarity moaned as Octavia’s tongue gingerly dragged over her entire dripping slit, lapping up the last few drops of arousal that seeped out. She moaned, licking Rarity a few more times. Rarity could have melted. Every time Octavia passed her clit, she gave the swollen nub a swift flick. Rarity would jerk and twitch each time, shuddering now and then as the sensations washed through her veins.

“Hmm.” Octavia groaned, sending another shudder through Rarity. Her tongue began to grow a little more bold, peeling her lips apart and slowly pushing deeper. A stark contrast to the unyielding hardness of the strapon, Rarity could feel the flesh of Octavia’s tongue give just a little when she flexed the muscles in her stomach. Taxed as they were, Rarity willed herself to keep flexing. The sensation of Octavia’s tongue inside of her was just too much to resist.

Rarity spared a quick glance back at Octavia, smiling when she saw the cellist’s hair matted to her shoulders and neck. She was lathered with sweat. Rarity could just barely smell the musky scent of her exertion, and it wasn’t entirely unwelcome. As coordination returned to her muscles, Rarity slowly pushed herself up. Octavia arched an eyebrow as Rarity took the initiative.

“Oh… Oh!” Octavia gasped when Rarity’s hands fell to her shoulders, gently guiding her onto her back. Octavia willingly stretched out, lifting her hips to allow the strapon to stand straight up. Rarity saw her opportunity and took it. Swinging one long, slender leg out, she straddled Octavia’s intimidating waist, though she had to spread her legs much further than normal. Octavia blushed, but Rarity stopped her complaint by grabbing the strapon and guiding it firmly into her aching core.

“Rarity…” Octavia groaned, her hands resting on Rarity’s slender waist. “Are you sure?”

“You aren’t the only one… Who wants to sweat…” Rarity panted, slowly lowering herself until the strapon bottomed out. She rolled her head back, giving Octavia a long look at her twitching chest. She smiled when the cellist’s slender fingers dug into the flesh of her breasts, squeezing with a firm touch. Octavia wanted this as badly as she did. Smoothly, Rarity began to move her hips.

It came surprisingly natural to her. She knew Octavia wouldn’t enjoy this a whole lot, aside from maybe getting a show, but she’d be damned if she didn’t get her fill. Mouth open in a breathless gasp, Rarity began to gyrate her hips. It started with a simple back and forth motion, but soon developed into a side-to-side, circular ride. She could feel the strapon slide around inside of her, caressing each inch of her tender walls at her behest. Before long, she was rising and dropping her hips as well, sliding the strapon in and out just a little at a time.

“Rarity.” Octavia panted. She hadn’t realized, but Rarity had lost track of herself. She was bucking her hips wildly now, enjoying the unbridled sensation of being in control. “I’m so close.”

“R-really?” Rarity panted, her hips slowing down a little.

“You’re… Really good at this… I’m gonna cum soon.” There was an underlying hint of something greater in Octavia’s voice. She was eager. Willing. She wanted Rarity to continue. No, that look in her eyes… She needed Rarity to keep going.

“Together.” Rarity began moving her hips again, slowly picking up in intensity. “Cum with me, Octavia… Together!” Rarity tipped over the edge of reason, her hips moving as fast and hard as she could manage. Her breasts would jump in time with each wild thrust, and the writhing sensation of the massive strapon buried inside of her was unlike any other. It came upon her in a rush. She threw her head back, feeling her hair whip through the air as her mouth opened in an unbridled scream of passion and need. Beneath her, Octavia thrust her wide hips into the air, lifting Rarity from her knees as they both came long and hard.

She wasn’t sure when or how, but she fell. The strength was gone from her muscles, and she fell the only way her exhausted body would allow her. Octavia grunted as Rarity landed atop her, the two of them panting and drooling a little. Rarity was lost in a blissful haze of post-orgasmic bliss, too happy to even feel the screams of protest in her muscles. Octavia breathed heavily enough to lift both of them a few inches before they settled back down, trying to reconcile what had just transpired. Still lost in a haze of bliss, Rarity was only vaguely aware of Octavia rolling them onto their sides.

“That was incredible.”

“I think I’m going to die.” Rarity croaked, her arm lifting itself to weakly drape across Octavia’s side. “I can’t feel my legs.”

“Silly.” Octavia teased, kissing Rarity’s neck. She was acutely aware of the cellist inhaling the scent of her sweat. She closed her eyes and smiled, enjoying the comforting sensation. “You smell so good…”

“I smell like sweat and cum.” Rarity groaned teasingly.

“And I said you smell good.” Octavia placed a gentle kiss on Rarity’s collarbone, sending another shiver up her spine. “So good… Hmm…”

“Octavia…” Rarity breathed, her fingers finding their way to the small of the cellist’s back.

“Hmm…” Octavia inhaled again, and this time Rarity could feel the air brushing over the fine hairs on the nape of her neck. She shuddered once more, her mouth opening in a breathless gasp. Despite the protests from her muscles, she could feel the heat begin to build in her crotch once more. Octavia’s hands began to roam, sliding up and down Rarity’s sides. Rarity wanted another. She didn’t care if it put her in the hospital, she would have this woman again.

“Roll over.” Octavia pushed Rarity onto her back, settling atop her. Rarity willed her legs to open, giving Octavia access. The strapon pressed against her entrance, prodding her ever so slightly. Rarity’s mouth opened as she looked up at Octavia. Just as their tongues met, the strapon slid in.

“What do you mean you’re exhausted?!” Amethyst sounded furious. “Rarity, I’m so far behind on commissions! I can’t keep up!”

“Relax, Amy.” Octavia winced as her business partner shouted into the phone. “I mean I’m actually, legitimately exhausted. Doctor’s orders, I can’t leave the bed for at least two days.”

“Oh wow, really?” The fire died from Amethyst’s voice as Rarity explained a little. “What happened?”

“Well, long story short, I may or may not have engaged in some unscrupulous activities…”

“You fucked yourself senseless, didn’t you?” Rarity thought the phone would melt in her hand with the heat from her cheeks.

“To put it bluntly.” She admitted. Amethyst’s sigh from the other end of the line was both wistful and exasperated. “Hey, I never said I couldn’t use magic. If you need help, you can bring some of the load by my apartment. Hey, stop that.” Rarity batted at Octavia’s hands, shooting her love a quick, playful glare. Octavia sat at her bedside, grinning at her as Rarity tried to conduct a conversation without being molested.

“I’m not doing anything…”

“Not you. Aah! Hey! Quit it!” Rarity laughed as Octavia tickled her sides. “Haha! Okay, okay, I give! Amy, I’m going to have to call you later. Tee hee! Stoppit! Aah! Not there!”

“Rarity, you’re not-“

“Just bring some commissions to my apartment! Gah! Hey, stop! No, not my sides! Amy, bye!” Rarity jammed the red end button and threw her arms around Octavia, pulling the relentless woman down to the bed with a warm, smiling kiss. “You know I’m not supposed to be exerting myself right now.” Rarity teased, kissing Octavia’s cheek as they stretched out atop her bed.

“If you can work, you can be tickled.”

“Hey, stoppit!” Rarity squirmed as Octavia’s deft fingers played over her ribcage, sending jitters all along her worn body. Octavia cackled maniacally, but ceased her incorrigible teasing. She settled against Rarity with a warm smile, the two of them stretched out comfortably atop Rarity’s bed in her apartment.

“How long do you think I should stay?” Octavia asked, her hand pushing it’s way through the long strands of Rarity’s hair.

“Well, Sweetie Belle already knows about you and I, so it’s no big deal for her to see you… But it’s up to you if you want to let Amethyst know about us.”

“It doesn’t matter to me either way.” Octavia teased, smiling down at Rarity. “We have to start somewhere, don’t we?”

“Only if you’re okay with it.” Rarity frowned up at Octavia. “I mean… Amy’s not known for her discretion. If we tell her, it’d likely be in the headlines within two days…”

“Pfft. Only the tabloids. I don’t think we’ll make any headlines until we go on a public date together.” Octavia kissed Rarity’s forehead, making the magi close her eyes with a soft sigh.

“Suit yourself. I’m sure Amethyst will come over anyways, if not for work than to see who was tickling me on the phone.”

“I suppose I’ll have to make myself halfway decent.” Octavia groaned, slowly sitting up. She had spent the night with Rarity after bringing her home from the hospital, and the two were still dressed in loose t-shirts and panties. Rarity was on doctor’s orders to stay at home and rest. Octavia was determined to stay with her, always reminding Rarity she was to stay in bed and let Octavia pamper her for a few days. She had even brought a small suitcase with her clothes. Rarity watched as Octavia went about dressing herself, switching her tank top for a loose blouse and pulling long, loose slacks up her full legs. She remained barefoot, however.

“Can I get you anything?”

“Water and some pants, if you could dear.” Rarity slowly sat up against her headboard. Her t-shirt was plenty to keep her decent, but she didn’t feel comfortable letting Amethyst into her bedroom with nothing but her panties on.

“Hmm… Will these do?” Octavia held up a pair of loose blue pajama bottoms.

“Those are fine, thanks.” Rarity snagged the fabric with her magic, grinning as she pulled them up her bare legs underneath the covers.

“Be right back with the water.” Octavia slipped out of the room, leaving Rarity feeling slightly fatigued from the effort of just pulling her pants on. To say nothing of the torturous tickling she had endured. Octavia returned with Rarity in mid-yawn, smiling as she handed off a cool glass of water. “Anything else?”

“Ooh.” Rarity picked up her phone as it vibrated, surveying the screen. “Amethyst will be here in a minute. You will either want to hide or prepare yourself for an adoring fan.”

“Like I don’t know how to handle myself around fans.” Octavia rolled her eyes, though Rarity didn’t miss it as she fastened one more button on her blouse. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll get the door.” Octavia slipped away again, leaving Rarity alone with her half-empty water. Rarity sipped at it nonchalantly, though she set it aside when she heard the front door open.

And the resulting scream.

“Where is she?!”

“In here.” Rarity called out with a roll of her eyes. The distinct sound of heels clicking down the hallway led Amethyst as she burst into the bedroom.

“You could have told me you were banging Octavia!”

“Well then. I see that cat’s out of the bag.” Octavia rolled her eyes, sweeping past Amethyst in the doorway to go sit on the bedside with Rarity. “Charming friend you have there, Rarity. Certainly has a mind for manners.”

“Oh. I-I’m sorry.” Amethyst muttered, her fierce glare dropping in an instant. “I didn’t mean to offend-“

“It’s fine, darling. Come here.” Rarity opened her arms, giving the distraught woman a quick hug. Octavia rolled her eyes but smiled nevertheless. “I was going to tell you soon. In fact, we really only just decided on this, what, two days ago?”

“Sounds about right.” Octavia shrugged nonchalantly.

“Oh… So you two haven’t been doing anything since the concert?”

“Well… Off and on. It’s a really, really long story…” Rarity rolled her hand, shaking her head a little. “Some other time, darling. Did you bring me some work?”

“Oh! Right. Here you go.” Amethyst pulled a thick folder from her handbag, passing it off to Rarity, who glanced over the first few pages inside. “I gave you half of what we had left to work on. I can handle the other half along with the commissions we have to develop. How long do you have to stay in bed?”

“I should be back by Thursday at the very latest.” Rarity muttered, frowning at the one design request. It was awfully intricate. “Wednesday is a safe bet, though.”

“I can hold out until then. Miss De Lis wants her dress finished by Friday, and I need some help with the embroidery.”

“Fleur De Lis?” Octavia perked up. She had previously been disinterested in the conversation. Rarity and Amethyst shared a quick look.

“Eer… Yeah. Do you know her?”

“We’ve met a few times.” Octavia frowned. “She’s a bitch.”

Both Rarity and Amethyst’s jaws dropped. Octavia just looked at the two of them.

“What? She is…”

Rarity recovered in two day’s time, which worked perfectly with Octavia’s schedule. Sweetie Belle was brought up to speed on all that had happened, though they spared the dramatic fight at the diner. She was assured that Twilight was paying for her education, and Rarity would pay for her housing. Octavia’s flat was closer to the school, so she could visit more often as well. While she wasn’t entirely shocked that Rarity and Octavia were in a relationship, she did express her concerns about Rarity moving in. Octavia assured her over and again that she was perfectly fine with Rarity staying there, and should Sweetie herself fall on hard times, she was welcome at the flat as well.

It made Rarity rather happy seeing her sister get along so well with Octavia. The two of them chatted more than Rarity thought they would, and seemed to hit it off rather well. They were rapidly becoming friends, even in the two short days Rarity spent in her bed at home. Octavia had brought a cello from her flat so she could practice, and Sweetie Belle sang with her often. They would often talk late into the night about musical theory and various composers or artists, which Rarity found only slightly interesting. But the two of them would talk for the longest time about it. Rarity was ultimately happy that Sweetie Belle and Octavia got along well.

Alas, the time came that Rarity could leave the bed. After a quick discussion, Octavia and Sweetie Belle reached an agreement with Rarity. Sweetie Belle would stay at the apartment until the lease was up, which would give Rarity plenty of time to find a new place for Sweetie Belle to stay during her classes. Meanwhile, Rarity and Octavia would begin allocating all of Rarity’s things to the flat. They started with just one suitcase, containing enough clothes to carry Rarity through the remainder of that week and all of the next. Her entire closet would take a lot of doing to move in its entirety, but that was a problem to be handled at a different date and time. At that moment, all Rarity could think about was getting back to Octavia’s flat and falling asleep.

When Rarity woke Wednesday morning, it was by Octavia’s side in her massive bed, still buried deep in the warm covers. She sighed and stretched her muscles, feeling rested, relaxed, and ready for a productive work day. Octavia opted to sleep in while Rarity showered and prepared for the day. When she emerged from the bathroom, though, Octavia was dressed in short shorts and a tank top.

“Hmm. Mornin’.”

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Rarity kissed her cheek with a warm smile. “Do you have anything planned for today?”

“Natalie’s been bugging me the past week.” Octavia muttered, still obviously tired. Rarity didn’t realize how poorly her bed slept two people. It must have been nice for Octavia to sleep in her own room once again. “I have to go see what she wants. Can I meet you for lunch?”

“That’d be lovely. I think I should get going, though. I’m going to have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Alright then.” Octavia smiled and followed Rarity towards the elevator. Both women froze when the door opened before they reached it. From the landing emerged the last woman in all of Equestria Rarity had expected to see. Shocked beyond proper words, both women could just stand and stare.

“Hello Rarity. Miss Octavia.” Her beautiful smile and serene voice were both calming and awe-inspiring. Rarity closed her open mouth, breathing the name of the woman standing before them.

“Princess Celestia.”

Friendship and Love

Intimate Details - Part 12 “Friendship and Love”

Rarity’s defenses rose even more as she watched Twilight and Vinyl Scratch emerge from behind the princess into Octavia’s flat. Here were the three most intimidating women Rarity knew, standing in front of her, and none of them looked very pleased. At first, she thought Celestia would be smiling. Instead, she looked angry. Her intense frown was all the more intimidating as it was offset by her radiant aura. Rarity took a step back, inadvertently placing herself between the three women and Octavia.

“P-princess Celestia… What are you doing here?” Rarity whimpered. She could feel Octavia tremble behind her. She was clearly distraught at being caught half-naked by their ruler and the two magi responsible for all the stress the past few days. Rarity did her best to cover Octavia, but there was only so much she could do. Celestia didn’t respond to her fearful question, though. She just stood there, watching Rarity and Octavia cower before the little entourage.

“It’s come to my attention that there has been some conflict between the four of you as of late.” Celestia’s tone was gentle, but her intimidating frown was less than kind. Rarity began to tremble herself.

“Y-yes, your highness.” Rarity whimpered.

“Explain.” Seemingly from nowhere, five chairs materialized. Rarity felt compelled to sit, as she watched Celestia lower herself into her own. Twilight and Vinyl mirrored her. “You may go dress, Octavia. I suspect we will be here for a while.” Rarity heard Octavia pad off unevenly, her hands pulling the hem of her shirt down over her exposed panties as best she could. None of the other three appeared even miffed by catching the cellist at less than her best. In fact, only one of them was even looking her way. Vinyl and Twilight were busy inspecting the floor as intently as possible. Now that Rarity looked at them, she noticed they both appeared to want to be anywhere but there. Rarity could hardly blame them. Octavia returned a short minute later, wearing a different T-shirt and loose-fitting jeans. As she sat beside Rarity, Celestia spoke once more.

“Now tell me your side of the story, Rarity. And leave nothing out. I want to know everything that happened between whatever caused you to move to Canterlot and this very moment.” Celestia didn’t appear warm or kind at all in that moment. In fact, she looked to be very angry, and very upset. Rarity swallowed and looked up before beginning her story.

“Twilight and I had been seeing one another for a long while. On our anniversary, she surprised me with tickets to a spa, and a very beautiful necklace. We left immediately. But on the way there, she confessed to seeing Rainbow Dash as well. I… I passed out behind the wheel, and we crashed in the mountains around Trottingham. Both of us were severely injured. But worse than that, I could hardly look at either of them without collapsing, as I had in the car. So once Sweetie Belle finished school and got accepted into the academy, we moved to Canterlot. Partly because I wanted to be there to help support her through her education, but mostly because I wanted to get away from… From all that.” Rarity drew a shuddering breath, her hands shaking a little with the memory of the pain and anguish. Twilight didn’t appear very pleased at the retelling of the story. But Rarity wasn’t quite finished yet.

“I worked as hard as I could to provide for both myself and Sweetie Belle. I paid her tuition, or so I thought, for close to five years. I don’t remember taking one weekend to relax. It was all kind of a blur. I didn’t see Sweetie Belle all that much either, save a stray holiday or two. I made it, though. Paycheck to paycheck I survived. My co-worker, Amethyst, made a commitment to take me out one night, to help me relax. It ended up being a whole ordeal, but I managed to meet Octavia at the club. She had heard of me through the papers, so she gave me her card. I called her the next day, and she came to me with the idea for the dress.”

“I remember that performance well.” Celestia interceded. “That dress was truly stunning, Rarity. Please, continue. I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“Th-thank you.” Rarity blushed, but kept talking. “After the performance, Octavia had me come here, and she played for me… Afterwards, we… Well…” Rarity’s eyes flicked to Vinyl, whose fists appeared to be clenched very tightly. “We… We’ve been more-or-less together since then.”

“You’re not sharing everything, Rarity.” Celestia reached a hand out to rest on Vinyl’s fist. The DJ relaxed, sitting back in her chair with a breath. She appeared to have been clenching them ever since Rarity started talking. “Please. Tell us more.”

“I… I’m not sure what else there is to tell.” Rarity muttered.

“The next time you met Octavia, after that night where she played for you.” Celestia offered. In a flash, Rarity remembered. Her face paled as she looked down at the floor.

“Oh. Okay.” She took a moment to gather her thoughts, sighing as she began. “Octavia invited me back over a short while after that, but… But when I showed up... It just so happens that I arrived when she had a guest… Who I’m assuming was Vinyl.” The DJ nodded, affirming Rarity’s story. “Well… She looked distraught. But I was a little miffed. Rather than be understanding, I just left angrily. Well, Octavia tried to get back to me after that as well. We had lunch at the diner, and when she invited me back that night, I saw them…”

“Saw what?” Celestia folded her arms. Vinyl seemed less angry and more shy in that moment. Rarity swallowed.

“The bruises.”

“Hmm.” Celestia stayed silent for a little while, letting those words sink in. After the awkward silence, she spoke softly. “What happened at the diner last week?”

“We… That is to say Vinyl and I, arranged to meet and discuss some things. Vinyl was determined to keep me away from Octavia, but I didn’t want to let her go… So I stood up to Vinyl, and I… I warned her to stay away from the two of us. I… I may have threatened her. I’m sorry.” Rarity hung her head, feeling the tears of shame come on. But a firm presence lifted her chin, leveling her eyes with the princess’.

“Please keep going.”

“We… When I left, Vinyl attacked me…” Rarity mumbled, looking at the princess. “Twilight stopped her. She made it so Octavia and I could get away. We ran here. Twilight showed up later on, telling us what had happened, and the following morning, she offered to take me back to Ponyville with her. I refused, because I want to stay here with Octavia.” Rarity tore her eyes away from the princess, looking to the sultry cellist sitting to her left. Shyly, she reached her hand out, but her lips spread into a warm smile when Octavia curled their fingers together.

“What of your plans?” Celestia asked. “What do you two plan to do now?”

“Well… Octavia offered to let me move in with her.” Rarity muttered, looking back to Celestia. “I was going to let Sweetie Belle stay at my apartment until the lease is up, after which I’d help her move into a new place. With the money I save on rent, I can help her out still. It’s thanks to Octavia, really…”

“I see.” Celestia sat in her chair with her arms crossed for a while, frowning at both Rarity and Octavia. Rarity could feel the heat of her gaze burn into her face. Even when she hung her head to look at the ground, she still felt the heat on the top of her head. She wanted to go crawl under some blankets somewhere and hide. She wasn’t entirely sure why. She nearly jumped when Celestia stood from her chair.

“Thank you, Rarity. I think we’ll be in touch again soon. Come with me, you two.” Everyone rose from their chairs, which vanished just as soon as they had come to their feet. Vinyl and Twilight turned to follow Celestia, who made her way to the elevator. Octavia and Rarity watched, completely dumbfounded, as Celestia entered the elevator with Twilight and Vinyl in tow. The doors closed, concealing the entourage, leaving Rarity and Octavia behind.

“Did… Did that just happen?” Octavia asked after a long, quiet pause.

“I think so…” Rarity muttered. “Pinch me; I think I’m still dreaming.”

Despite the awkward start, Rarity’s day progressed normally after that. She walked to the boutique, surprised to find that her coat was a little too warm by the time she arrived. Amethyst smiled warmly at her, and the two gossiped about the latest goings-on of Equestrian society for a long while. When they finally got to work, they achieved a lot, and took a short break for lunch. After coming back, they both split off to work on their own projects. Amethyst was working on yet another dress for Fleur, while Rarity handled a few alterations and repairs between finishing out the last commissions they had. For a Friday afternoon, it was very productive, and as Rarity helped Amethyst clean the store one more time before locking up, she was excited for the weekend ahead of them.

Octavia pulled into the parking lot beside the boutique, wearing dark shades and a wide hat to avoid anyone noticing her. Rarity thought she looked even more suspicious than if she had gone without. Still, she wasn’t complaining as she snuck a quick kiss and they pulled off. That weekend, the two of them were determined to move all of Rarity’s clothing. Octavia sped halfway across town to a rental truck company, and caught them just before they closed. Rarity drove the truck to her apartment, and together with Octavia, began hauling loads of her clothes from the massive closet down to the truck. It would take them a few trips to get everything, but Rarity was looking forward to re-organizing her things when she got them all moved into Octavia’s flat.

As they pulled into the garage beneath Octavia’s apartment building, Rarity wasn’t suspecting a thing. The elevator ride up to the top floor was peaceful, but their arrival was less so. Sitting on the couch in Octavia’s living room were the same three women who had greeted them that very morning. Rarity almost dropped the armload of clothes she had.

“Please join us.” Celestia said curtly. Twilight and Vinyl looked even more disgruntled than they had that morning. Vinyl appeared defeated. Twilight was stressed. Octavia and Rarity shared a look before setting their respective loads aside and sitting awkwardly in the two leftover chairs in the living room. Celestia was markedly different from that morning. She smiled warmly at the two of them, and in fact didn’t appear intimidating or angry at all. If anything, she looked happy.

“Is… Everything okay?” Rarity asked. She was nothing short of confused at the situation before her.

“Everything is fine, I assure you. But I think it would be prudent to share the plans we have with the two of you. Just to keep you in the loop, as it were. I’ll let Twilight begin. Twilight?”

“Y-yes, princess.” The purple-haired magi mumbled as she sat up a little more straight. Her cheeks were flushed, but she spoke confidently. “It’s become abundantly clear that my study in the magic of friendship was almost a complete failure. I made many, many mistakes in my past, and I never even confronted them. Rather than tell my friends what had happened, I covered it up, afraid of their judgement. For the past five years I’ve been living a lie, and subjecting them to it as well. What’s worse, I’ve deprived them all a good friend of their own.” Twilight sighed and wiped a hand across her eyes.

“Therefore, I’m going to return to Ponyville, and try to settle things with the other girls. And then I’ll begin studying friendship once again, from square one. Clearly, I messed up the first time. Not only did I betray your trust, but I’ve robbed my other friends, and lied to all of you. I’m just… So sorry that I almost ripped you all apart. I was so blind and foolish that it took this whole scenario just to knock some sense into me… I’m a failure, not just as a friend, but as a student and a magi.” Twilight hung her head, and Rarity watched as several tears seeped from her eyes. Rarity wasn’t exactly moved by her speech, but she did feel kind of sorry for Twilight. In a sympathetic sort of way.

“Twilight will be returning to Ponyville and restarting her study in the magic of friendship. She’ll begin by telling the truth to her friends, so I’m assuming some of them will be seeking your input on the scenario.” Celestia waved a hand to Rarity. “I hope you’ll be okay, dealing with the repercussions of Twilight’s actions.”

“I think I’ll be okay.” Rarity smiled confidently. She glanced at Octavia before nodding to Twilight. “She knows what she’s done, so I don’t think I need to berate her any further.” At her sympathetic expression, Twilight gave her a quick, tear-stained smile. But it appeared as if they weren’t quite finished yet. Celestia turned her gaze to the other woman, smiling faintly at her.

“Vinyl has something to share with you as well. Go ahead, Miss Scratch.” Vinyl perked up a little, but frowned as she slowly leaned forward.

“It’s no big secret I’ve got major anger issues… I’ve nearly hurt or killed the few people I ever cared about. It’s a serious problem for me. I would blame it on aggressive city living and the lifestyle I’ve lived so far, but I think we can all agree it’s just me…” She wiped a hand over her face, frowning down at the coffee table before continuing. “I… Have never learned how to use my magic responsibly. My mother really had an issue with it when I was a kid, so I started out not using it at all. Everyone I went to school with thought I was a human. But when I discovered music, I also discovered how powerful I really was. Which was the problem. I was never taught how to use my power right. So I never learned how to control my emotions, or my magic, whenever something got on my nerves.” She buried her face in her hands, and pulled away shaking a little bit.

“I’m gonna move to Ponyville with Twilight. She’s going to teach me how to use my magic right, without hurting anyone. Maybe out there, away from the city, and away from… You two… I might make peace with myself.” She sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking very defeated and worn. Rarity almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

“I’m hoping these two can teach each other some things.” Celestia took over then, leaning back as well. “Maybe they can heal their wounds and make amends for the things they’ve done. I’ve managed to convince the diner owner that this is recompense for Vinyl’s outburst, and have arranged to have the damage to his diner repaired in full. On a separate note, I have some good news to share with you concerning Sweetie Belle.”

“My sister?” Rarity perked up. “What’s wrong with Sweetie Belle?”

“Nothing, I assure you.” Celestia waved her fears off, smiling kindly. “In fact, everything is going perfectly fine. Twilight has told me of her progress, and I’m convinced she’s a very skilled young magi. I have the council’s support in funding young Sweetie Belle’s education, no matter what path she chooses.” Rarity’s heart hammered as the princess spoke. Celestia smiled as she leaned forward, emphasizing the point. “Sweetie Belle’s tuition is paid for. Not by Twilight or yourself, but by the royal treasury. This will include a housing allowance. A rather generous one, I might add. Additionally, there is no grade or workload requirement. As long as Sweetie Belle continues to learn, she will receive this benefit.”

“I… I’m speechless.” Rarity’s jaw dropped at the news. She really didn’t have anything to say. She was shocked. With Sweetie Belle’s tuition and housing paid, and her saving money on rent, she might actually be able to afford time off again. Maybe even a vacation. As the half-formed plans of spending a week with Octavia in Trottingham began to form in her mind, Celestia continued speaking.

“Twilight and Vinyl will go to Ponyville tomorrow, and confess what they’ve done to their friends. Only when I’m pleased with their progress will they return to Canterlot, and hopefully we can all put this mess behind us.”

“But princess…” Twilight spoke up, albeit quietly. “My friends are Rarity’s friends, too… They miss her terribly, and thanks to my lie, they think she’s still very badly hurt. What do I tell them?”

“You tell them the truth, Twilight.” Celestia said simply. “Confess to them you’ve been lying all this time, and that Rarity is perfectly fine.”

“B… But won’t they be angry with me?”

“Of course they will be. Just as angry with you as Luna and I are. But forgiveness is inherent in all friendships. If you’d have trusted your friends, and told them the truth from the start, all of this likely wouldn’t have happened. In fact, you and Rarity might even still be together. Instead, Twilight, you hid your shame from your friends, for fear of losing them. Your fear was irrational, and has cost you and those you hold dear many long years of potential happiness. If I were you, Twilight, I’d prepare to do some begging. With luck, your friends will forgive you, and you’ll learn something from this. As for Rartiy…” Celestia turned back to the couple before her, smiling warmly.

“I think she’s discovered something a little more important than simple friendship.” Celestia stood, followed shortly by Vinyl and Twilight. “I expect to see great things from you two in the future.” She turned to the elevator lobby, but paused at the door. She looked back to Rarity with a teasing smile. “I also expect a wedding invitation.”

The door closed, leaving Rarity and Octavia alone. There was a long pause before Rarity looked at Octavia.

“W-wedding invitation?”

Octavia smiled sheepishly.

Encore

Intimate Details - Part 13 “Encore”

“Come on, Rarity… I really want to see it.”

“Not until it’s finished, darling.” Rarity smiled as Octavia tried to look over her shoulder into the studio. Rarity snapped the door shut and locked the deadbolt, grinning at the frustrated cellist. “You can’t see the dress until your performance. It’s not nearly completed yet.”

“Oh come on now, Rarity… How do you expect me to play without seeing whatever getup you’ve managed to concoct this time?” Octavia pouted as she snatched at the key, but Rarity dropped it into her pocket before it could be taken from her. “It’s unfair.”

“It’d be like revealing your composition before the concert.” Rarity shook a finger at Octavia in a stern-mother sort of fashion. Octavia frowned at her.

“But I have producers and technicians who listen to my compositions extensively before I ever perform them. That’s a terrible analogy to use.”

“It’d be like showing your breasts on the first date.” Rarity teased, giving Octavia’s luscious melons a quick, teasing squeeze. “It just isn’t proper.”

“Hey, we did much more than show our breasts off on our first date.” Octavia grinned as she swooped in for a firmer touch.

“Shush you.” Rarity indulged Octavia with a quick, passionate kiss and a hearty grope before slipping past her down the hall. She didn’t make it very far, though. Octavia snatched her wrist, and in a surprise motion, spun Rarity around and plastered her to the wall. Rarity gasped as Octavia was very suddenly upon her. She couldn’t cry out, though, because Octavia’s lips pressed tightly to her own. Giving a muffled exclamation of surprise and excitement, Rarity raised her arms to uselessly push at Octavia. The incorrigible cellist couldn’t be dissuaded as she forced her tongue into Rarity’s mouth, her hands already pulling at the hem of Rarity’s blouse. Rarity felt the buttons on her blouse tense with pressure. If Octavia kept at it, they were going to-

“Whoops.” Octavia pulled away with a hot gasp, grinning as the buttons on Rarity’s blouse gave out. She heard them fall to the hardwood floor in a cadence of lust, followed shortly by the rest of Rarity’s poor blouse. Octavia’s skilled hands stripped her upper half bare, pulling each stitch of clothing off of Rarity’s chest one by one. Rarity couldn’t stop her, nor did she want to. It took Octavia maybe ten seconds until Rarity was half-naked, and it was only going to take her another ten until Rarity was completely bare. Octavia dropped to her knees in front of Rarity, tugging firmly at the zipper of her skirt. As the fabric loosened around her hips, Octavia hooked the hem of her panties and smoothly pulled them down as well.

“Tavi…” Rarity breathed, nearly falling as Octavia stripped the thin bits of fabric out from underneath Rarity’s feet. “Sweetie Belle will be over for dinner any minute-“

“No she won’t.” Octavia growled, haphazardly tossing Rarity’s clothes down the hall. Rarity was left wearing nothing but her stockings, her back firmly pressed to the hallway wall. “She’s on a field trip to Manehattan’s history museum. She’ll be gone all week.”

“Oh.” Rarity watched, completely mesmerized, as Octavia dove right in. “Oh!” With a gasp, Rarity’s muscles tensed from her shoulders to her toes. Octavia nearly slammed her head between Rarity’s legs, her open mouth enveloping every last bit of the poor magi’s aching womanhood. With a tentative cry, Rarity felt Octavia’s ruthless tongue slide inside of her. It took her maybe twenty seconds of rough licking before Rarity surrendered to her orgasm.

“TAVI!” Rarity cried out, her back arching away from the wall. She nearly fell over with the way her toes curled, but Octavia’s hands clamped on her hips, keeping her firmly in place. If anything, she was lifted a few inches off of the floor as her dripping core expelled a thin bit of liquid. Octavia didn’t pull away for even a fraction of a second. Not one drop of her arousal was missed as Octavia continued licking. The way her mouth was plastered against Rarity’s core, she could hardly breathe. But that didn’t seem to stop her. She continued licking, moving faster and harder. Rarity had just recovered from her first peak when the second robbed her of any remaining muscle control. Shaking and gasping as loud as she possibly could, Rarity sagged into Octavia’s arms. The cellist held her pinned against the wall, her mouth continually lapping up every drop of release Rarity could muster.

“Pwah!” Octavia finally pulled away from Rarity’s abused core with shining lips. She licked them very sensuously, grinning up at Rarity. “Bed.” She panted, picking Rarity up from the floor. Rarity was surprised at the sudden display of dominance and strength from Octavia. She apparently had no problem carrying her, as Rarity soon found herself halfway across the apartment on their bed. She sprawled on her back, watching as Octavia began stripping her clothes off to the side. Still recovering from the muscle-robbing ordeal, Rarity could only smile as Octavia began to crawl onto the bed.

“Please, Rarity.” Octavia swung one well-endowed leg over Rarity’s body, spinning a half-circle in the process. “Return the favor?” Octavia’s knees settled to either side of Rarity’s chest, her calves pinning her arms to the bed. Facing away from her as she was, Octavia only had to drop her wide hips before her moist, burning core was all but forced into Rarity’s face. Rarity didn’t have much of a choice but to return the favor. Her tongue slid forward, parting Octavia’s dripping lips with ease. The cellist groaned out loud, grinding her hips against Rarity’s mouth. Rarity was still in a haze, and having the wide expanse of Octavia’s delicious flesh in her mouth only helped her disconnect from reality all the more. Octavia began to move her hips, and Rarity found it difficult to keep up with the motions anymore.

“Ooh… Oh yes.” Octavia groaned. Rarity couldn’t see anything, and whenever she did open her eyes, all she did see was the long, round curve of Octavia’s ass. Occasionally, she would catch glimpses of the tight pucker just above her nose. That was one hole Rarity had never explored, nor did she really want to. But still, the sight was intriguing. She wondered if Octavia would enjoy it. Tentatively, her hand slid over Octavia’s hip, over the soft, jiggly flesh of her behind, and between the cellist’s soft cheeks. “Haah… Do it, Rarity.” Octavia panted, pushing her rear out more. Rarity was rather surprised by the enthusiasm Octavia was showing. But she wasn’t really in the mood or the position to deny her. Gently, her finger sought that tender pucker of flesh.

She found it soon enough. The ridged feel of it was almost alien to her. She didn’t know how it should feel, or what to expect. But Octavia’s eager panting begged her to continue. Tentatively, she applied just a little bit of pressure to the spot. Her tongue was squeezed as Octavia flexed her core muscles. Much to Rarity’s surprise, then, when her fingertip was subjected to a small bit of suction. It was such a different sensation, but it almost felt like… Like Octavia had kissed her fingertip with her rear! After her muscles relaxed, Rarity pressed further. Octavia let out a long, breathy groan, and Rarity slid inside.

Well this is unexpected. Rarity thought. Her finger slid in to the first knuckle. Inside Octavia’s rear was soft and warm. It lacked the natural lubrication that her vagina did, of course, but the flesh was still soft and malleable. It was rather fun to touch, Rarity had to admit. A few thoughts crossed her mind then. This was, of course, the hole they passed their waste through. She felt disgusted for a second, but then she remembered. Any time Octavia showered, the few times Rarity had had the pleasure of watching her, or catching even a quick glimpse, Octavia’s hands were always on her rear. In fact, her behind was always soapy and smooth in the shower. With a warm smile, Rarity realized. Her lover meticulously cleaned back here. In fact, there was no trace of anything, the further Rarity pushed. Soon enough, her entire finger was inside Octavia, and the cellist was loving it. As her hips continued to ride Rarity’s tongue, she raised her hands above her head, pulling her raven hair off of her shoulders. She must have been an entrancing figure to watch, but Rarity had to settle for feeling. And the sensation was incredibly pleasurable.

“Aaahn… Haah… Rarity, I’m… So close.” Octavia panted, her hips moving faster and faster. Rarity groaned as best she could with a vagina wrapped around her tongue, but stayed inside of Octavia’s core. Working faster and harder, Octavia rode herself to her peak, crying out loud as her muscles flexed around Rarity’s tongue and finger. Shuddering and whimpering the entire time, Octavia let loose her orgasm. It must have been an intense one, because she fell to her side. Rarity pulled her finger out of Octavia’s rear, gulping air as the warm haven of her thighs surrendered Rarity’s nose and mouth. Her head swam in the aftermath of yet another intense sexual exploration. Laying beside and opposite her, Octavia panted and moaned, though not for very long. Rarity was still struggling to recuperate when Octavia loomed in her vision once more, her lips split in a devious grin.

“I’m not done with you yet.” Octavia teased, grabbing Rarity’s hips.

“What- Aah!” Rarity cried out as she was hoisted from the bed, spun onto her stomach, and dropped once more. “Tavi, what are you-“

Whap!

“Aieee!” Rarity’s back arched as a sudden, lancing pain shot through her ass and into her abdomen. The sudden and intense pain quickly faded in a dull heat on her left ass cheek, which was slowly beginning to turn a ruddy red. “Wh-what are you- AUGH!”

Fwap!

“You’ve kept me out of the loop on that dress of yours for a full week now, my love.” Octavia’s low, sultry tone was nothing short of arousing. Rarity shuddered as yet another firm spank dulled into a burning heat, radiating it’s warmth into her entire lower half. She was already wet from Octavia’s ruthless tonguing and the forced cunnilingus, but this was surely staining the sheets underneath her crotch. Octavia continued talking, her hands kneading Rarity’s firm flesh with a rough, yet surprisingly compassionate touch. “This is your punishment for not showing me your dress.”

“Tavi, I don’t think-“

Smack!

“Augh!” Rarity fought to push herself up on her hands, but another firm blow made her collapse into the sheets. Darkness enveloped her vision as she face-planted into the covers, her open mouth drooling onto the poor sheets. The pain was far more intense for the third spank, but the heat was just as arousing. Octavia’s palms rubbed away the sting, turning it into an even more intense and debilitating warmth. Rarity could only lay on her stomach, drooling and panting as Octavia rubbed her pain away.

“Just two more, my love. Can you handle two more?”

“Y-yeah…” Rarity panted, barely lifting her lips above the drool-soaked comforter to gasp the one shaky word.

“Hmm, good.” Octavia adjusted beside her, preparing for the fourth spank. Rarity caught a glimpse of Octavia’s arm as it slowly raised into the air…

Crack!

Rarity screamed into the covers as loud as she could. The thick fabric barely muffled the panic-fueled scream. Seriously, Rarity thought, She HAD to have broken something. This hurts WAY too much to- ooh… The pain made her head fuzzy from the very first moment of impact. But Octavia rubbed firmly at the spot, and the dull heat flared into an even more intense version than before. Her entire body was on fire. She could feel her thighs quivering, completely at a loss for what to do. Octavia had hit her so hard, she had lost control of her legs. And apparently, her womanhood as well. She could feel the muscles in her core flexing and pulsing, as if they were begging to be filled. Rarity would have killed to touch herself just then, but she knew moving her hands from where they clutched the sheets she would surely be punished more. The heat flared up now and then, almost in time with the pulsing of her core, but it soon died away. Both of Octavia’s hands rubbed her firm, red skin, soothing the pain away.

“Last one, Rarity. Are you ready?” She could only manage a nod at Octavia’s husky-voiced question, her face buried in the sheets. There was a pause that seemed to stretch on into forever. Rarity took a deep breath, waiting for it, for that impact that would rob her breath and make her wetter than an April cloudburst.

THWA-CRACK!

Rarity had never screamed so loud in her entire life. The second Octavia’s hand impacted her skin, the cellist drove two fingers into her aching core. She roughly wriggled them back and forth, fingering Rarity well over the edge of a helpless orgasm. Screaming and writhing on the sheets, Rarity was subject to a pain-laced, rough orgasm, the kind that made her squirt all over the covers. Her legs shook like she was having a seizure, and her chin was slippery with the pure amount of drool oozing from her mouth. She couldn’t control herself. The pain and the pleasure together sent her into a muscle-robbing, completely helpless orgasm.

“Well then.” Octavia sat up on her knees at Rarity’s side, keeping Rarity’s hips pressed down with one hand, while she licked the prodigious amount of fluid free from her other. “Remind me to spank you more often.”

“P-please… D-don’t.” Rarity whimpered, still trying to wrap her mind around the pleasure racing through her veins. It was like a drug. She relished every second she spent under this incredible sensation’s influence, and she couldn’t wait to feel it again. She almost wanted to forget the way her legs weren’t responding to her, or the way she couldn’t seem to stop her stomach muscles from spasmodically twitching. She wanted another orgasm, and she wanted it now. “A-anything b-but another… Spanking.”

“What’s that?” Octavia teased, her wet hand resting on Rarity’s ruddy ass cheek. “You want another spanking?”

“N-no.” Rarity whimpered. Yes! Her mind screamed.

“Hmm. Perhaps we should wait.” Octavia teased, sliding her hand up Rarity’s back. With the sheer amount of orgasmic fluid and saliva on her hand, it glided over Rarity’s skin with ease. She slid it up to her shoulder blades and then back down to her rear, even to the inside of her thighs. Rarity groaned as her fingertips brushed the very edge of her aching slit. “But it seems like this bit isn’t tired yet… Tell me, Rarity…” Octavia leaned forward, her full lips teasing the edge of Rarity’s ear. “Do you want me to make you cum again?”

“Y-yes, Please.” Rarity groaned, her fists clenching the sheets as hard as she could manage.

“Hmm. That’s pretty pathetic.” Octavia groaned, pulling Rarity’s earlobe between her teeth. Rarity’s mouth opened in a breathless gasp as Octavia put a little bit of pressure on her ear. “You can beg better than that.”

“Haah… P-please, Octavia… Please make me cum again.” Rarity couldn’t even form a proper sentence anymore. Her head swam with the warm sensation of Octavia’s fingers sliding over her skin, so dangerously close to her desperate pussy.

“Let me hear it one. More. Time.”

“Please!” Rarity wailed. “Please put your fingers inside my pussy and make me cum!”

“There’s a good girl.”

“UHN!” Rarity grunted in a very un-ladylike manner as Octavia’s fingers slid into her dripping hole, passing over the soaked flesh with remarkable ease.

“Hmm. Feels nice, doesn’t it?” Octavia continued to tease, her hot breath racing over Rarity’s ear. Already, Rarity was so close.

“I-I’m going to- to- to cum!” Rarity cried. Her fingers were beginning to hurt with how firmly she was clutching the sheets.

“Cum for me, love.” Octavia was the one begging now. “Please cum for me.” Her hot words and firm fingers sent Rarity over the edge. It felt like all her strength was suddenly expelled along with yet another stream of thin fluid, and Rarity helplessly collapsed into the sheets. Behind her, the abused covers were further soaked with her love juice, forming small puddles that were absorbed into the fibers, creating several large, wide spots of dirty, filthy lovemaking evidence. Rarity was completely lost to the world as she faded away on a cloud of pure, utter, and complete nirvana.

Reluctantly, it faded away, leaving in its place a faint stinging pain and plenty of laundry to be done. “Come on, love.” Octavia leaned forward, giving Rarity’s red behind a tender yet playful kiss. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

“Hmm. Yes.” Rarity groaned, pushing herself up on shaky arms. Her legs were even more unsure, but she managed to awkwardly waddle her way towards the bathroom. Octavia’s shower sported a newly-installed tile bench, which both women used when they wanted to shave their legs, or rest while they paid their long heads of hair the attention they deserved. It was here that Rarity plopped her stinging rear, relishing the cool sensation of tile against her stinging ass.

“I’ll bet that feels divine.” Octavia teased, pulling the detachable shower head off and aiming it at the far wall as she tested the temperature.

“I’ll be sure to show you someday.” Rarity groaned, laying her head back against the glass wall. Octavia grinned over her shoulder, turning the showerhead to a gentle, soothing setting. Rarity smiled as the warm stream hit the lower half of her leg, and she nodded her approval. Very carefully, Octavia began rinsing and scrubbing her off. Every now and then, the two of them would do this for one another. It was a moderately sensual and surprisingly comforting ritual they began to develop. Once a week or so, they would take a very long shower, and lord attention over the other. Be it shaving, soaping, shampooing or conditioning, it didn’t matter. One woman or the other had no control over their hygiene. Instead, the partner would scrub, shave, clean, and generally obsess over every last square inch.

Rarity sat back and let Octavia’s skilled fingers started in on her feet, moving up to her ankles and calves, then her thighs, her aching crotch, stomach, sides, chest, shoulderblades and neck. She re-adjusted, letting Octavia repeat the process for her backside, and then on to her hair. The shampooing, conditioning, and other treatments took almost as long as the other part, but it was the one that Rarity enjoyed the most. After that, Octavia rinsed her off thoroughly, and Rarity felt rested enough to take her turn.

It was oddly comforting, the way the two of them trusted one another so implicitly. Rarity settled on her knees on the warm tile, guiding the stream of water alongside a soapy rag over each inch of Octavia’s smooth and warm flesh. When Octavia leaned her front half against the wall, letting Rarity work over her backside, Rarity paused at the full curve of Octavia’s posterior.

“Something catch your fancy?” Octavia teased, swaying her hips side to side when she noticed Rarity’s apprehension.

“I’m just curious is all.” Rarity mused. She let the showerhead rest on the floor while her hands gingerly spread Octavia’s cheeks apart. There, nestled between the jiggly mounds of flesh, was Octavia’s tender rosebud. Rarity had seen plenty of them in the various forms of pornography she happened to peruse in her years, but never had she had a chance to look at one directly. “Does it really… Feel that good?”

“Would you like to find out?” Octavia panted. Apparently having someone look so intently at her back door was arousing her yet again. Rarity didn’t stop. She swallowed before speaking again.

“I’m… Intrigued.” The ridged flesh was still rather strange-looking to her. Rarity wondered how such a utilitarian piece of flesh could make Octavia cry out and orgasm the way she had just a half an hour ago. “Do you enjoy it?”

“It’s… Different.” Octavia whimpered. “I wouldn’t say it’s everyone’s cup of tea, and anything more than a finger tends to hurt me… But now and then it’s kind of fun to indulge.” Rarity blinked as Octavia turned around, and her vision was filled instead with the cellist’s clean-shaven crotch. She looked up at her raven-haired lover, who was smiling down at her warmly. “Whenever you feel like it, darling, I can show you how it’s done.”

“Thanks.” Rarity muttered with a blush, but she pressed a warm kiss to Octavia’s stomach. The cellist moaned and ran a hand through Rarity’s damp hair. Rarity smiled up at her before planting her hands firmly on Octavia’s hips. “Now turn back around. I’m not done washing you yet.”

After the passionate shower, both women elected to remain nude for the evening. After changing the sheets on the bed and stretching out on top of a thin blanket to air-dry, they settled in for a nice chat. “Honestly, how interested are you in anal?” Octavia asked, rolling her head to the side to look at Rarity. Rarity returned her gaze, meeting the amethyst-eyed cellist with a faint smile.

“Well, I’ve never really been interested in it before today. Sure, I’ve seen it in videos and pictures and whatnot, but it’s never done anything for me to be honest. I haven’t touched myself back there, and Twilight never went back there herself… I don’t know, it’s just… Different.” Her lips spread in a shy smile, and she curled her fingers around Octavia’s. “But… Seeing the way you enjoyed yourself like that, I just… I don’t know, I might want to try… Maybe just once?”

“Well.” Octavia curled her fingers through Rarity’s with a teasing grin. “First thing’s first, we have to get you clean. It might be a little uncomfortable, and maybe not the most hygienic thing, but it’s more-or-less necessary to do anything.”

“How… How do you clean back there?” Rarity asked.

“Hot, soapy water.” Octavia shrugged it off. “The first time’s a little different. You have to put it… You know, in.”

“How?” Rarity asked, her nose scrunched at the thought.

“Well, they make products for those sorts of things. Enema bulbs and whatnot. But you can use a turkey baster, really. It’s the same thing.”

“Really? A turkey baster?”

“It’s what I used.” Octavia shrugged. “Not the one in the kitchen.” She grinned at Rarity’s shocked expression. “I keep it wrapped in a towel underneath the bathroom sink. If you’d like, we can get another one.”

“Please.” Rarity grumbled. Octavia laughed at her before rolling onto her side and pulling Rarity close. The two curled tight, their legs tangling together atop the cool, clean sheets. They stayed like that for a few moments before Octavia sat up.

“I almost forgot. Shoot.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Octavia swung her legs over the edge of the bed, pulling the nightstand open. “Tavi? What are you getting?”

“This.” The cellist smiled as she pulled a small, felt-lined box from the nightstand. Rarity’s heart skipped at beat as Octavia passed it off to her. Hesitantly, she lifted the cover, her eyes wide at what she saw. “It’s not an engagement ring, mind you.” Octavia slipped back over to Rarity, smiling at her shocked expression. “Just a promise ring. See?” She pulled one onto her own left ring finger, showing off the gold band. Inside the small box Rarity held was a plain golden band, with no jewels embedded in it. Still, it was elegantly designed, and as she slowly pulled it on, it fit her finger perfectly. Heart racing a million miles an hour, she looked back up at Octavia. “I figured this would be best for now. You know, nothing formal… Just something to remind us. And maybe, when things settle down a bit more, when the symphony is done touring, we can… I dunno…” Octavia blushed, her fingers finding Rarity’s hand gently. “Make it official?”

“Octavia…” Rarity breathed, her eyes brimming with tears. “You only had to ask.” She pulled Octavia close then, their lips meeting in a sweet, tender embrace. The kiss was sweet, simple, and passionate. Rarity felt truly, incredibly happy here in the arms of her lover. The way they held one another was so simple, so true. She couldn’t deny her feelings or hide them anymore. They were meant to be. The rings on their fingers were promises to one another. A promise Rarity knew meant much more than the importance either of them were placing on it; a promise that would last a lifetime if both of them were invested in this relationship.

Rarity slipped off into a deep, restful slumber, her night uninterrupted by nightmares or dreams.

Amethyst was in a fit upon discovering the promise ring. She had hundreds of questions for Rarity, and though it might not have been the kindest thing to do, it took Rarity scolding her co-worker to calm her down.

“Amy. It’s just a promise ring. We don’t have the slightest idea when the ceremony will be. If there’s even going to be a ceremony at all. Why, with all the publicity surrounding Octavia, we might just elect to have a private affair. You know, keep it hushed.”

“Rarity!” Amethyst looked shocked. “You can’t be serious!”

“You see.” Rarity lifted a hand towards the uppity young woman. “This is precisely what I’m talking about. If you react this way, how are other socialites going to react? Imagine the press! Why, the tabloids will be aflame with rumors and talk of the wedding! Every single social gathering for months, we would be all anybody would talk about!” Rarity lifted a hand to her temple, already feeling a headache develop. “I just don’t know if I could handle it.”

“Oh. Oh, when you put it that way…” Amethyst sobered up a little, but she still seemed on-edge. Rarity frowned at her.

“I promise you, my dear. Whenever we decide on anything, you will be the first to know. I’ll text you, or call. That way, you’ll never be out of the loop. Deal?”

“Deal.” Amethyst grinned and took Rarity’s hand in a firm handshake. “Still. You can’t stop me from being happy for you two.”

“I guess not, huh.” Rarity nudged Amethyst’s hip with a warm smile before slipping up onto the stool behind the cash register. “I’ll handle the front-end, darling. Though do you think we can close up a little early?”

“That’s right.” Amethyst slapped a fist into her open palm, smiling at Rarity. “You’re working on the dress for her next performance, aren’t you?”

“Indeed. I think I’m almost done with it, too… Not a moment too soon. She performs this weekend.”

“I wish I could have bought tickets.” Amethyst pouted, picking at the edge of the desk.

“Ahem.” Rarity pulled an envelope from her purse, sliding it across the wooden expanse towards her friend.

“No way.” Amethyst’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “You can’t be serious!”

“Oh but I am. You plus one.” Rarity beamed as Amethyst snatched the envelope from the desk and produced two tickets, her eyes still wide with shock.

“I can’t believe it! Rarity, these are balcony seats! They’re worth hundreds of dollars!”

“Oh good. You can sell them and make rent this month.” Rarity teased, peering inside her purse for the other envelope containing Sweetie Belle’s tickets.

“Never.” Amethyst breathed, clearly in shock. "I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Rarity, this is… This is too much! I can’t believe it!”

“Octavia gets dozens of free tickets, but she doesn’t have many true friends to hand them out to. She usually gives them away the night before. But now, it seems, she has someone who will actually benefit from them.” Rarity smiled as she spun the golden band around her ring finger. It was a comforting thought when she realized she was never going to not see another one of Octavia’s performances. She was still suffering from a bit of disbelief that her lover and eventual wife was such a high-end celebrity. Octavia managed to keep on the down-low, thanks mostly to the guards at her apartment, and seldom doing her own grocery shopping. Rarity took care of that now, allowing the cellist to remain relatively aloof from society.

“That’s incredible. I don’t suppose-“

“I’ll get you tickets as often as I can, darling. I’m sure Octavia doesn’t have any issues with it. Particularly if you help me with some of her dresses in the future.”

“So you two are a thing now, hmm?” Amethyst leaned her elbow against the counter. “I don’t mean, like, emotionally… But this is the second time you’ve made a dress for her? If it’s anything like last time, you two kinda have a thing going…”

“Now that you mention it…” Rarity frowned in thought. This was the second time she had made a dress for Octavia, specifically for a performance of hers. Natalie had sought her out just a few days ago, and asked Rarity to produce another stunning ensemble. Rarity gladly accepted the commission and the work, though keeping the dress secret from Octavia was troublesome. She was an awfully good snoop. Rarity had taken to wearing the key on a necklace around her neck all times of the day. Even at night. Octavia wasn’t going to sneak a peek before her dress was ready. If all went well, it would be just like last time. But more pressing than her concerns about anonymity was the prospect of doing this for a career. Could she produce a different dress for each performance?

The phone rang just then, shocking Rarity out of her train of thought. She picked it up woodenly, but composed herself in time to deliver the store greeting. “Carousel boutique, where fashion is always sleek, chic, and manefique!”

“Hello, Rarity.”

“Natalie! Good to hear from you. Is everything well?”

“Perfect, in fact. Octavia just finished her composition in the studio, and I have to say it’s one of her best yet. Something about her music just really speaks to you. She’s developed quite a bit since you’ve come into her life.”

“You can’t mean that.” Rarity blushed, smiling at Amethyst, who was trying her best to listen in.

“But of course I do! Trust me, Rarity. I’ve been a long-time friend and colleague of Octavia’s. I can tell, she’s much more different now that she has you. I saw the ring. You can’t hide everything from me, darlin’.”

“Curse that woman’s lack of surreptitiousness.” Rarity teased.

“Haha. Well, I’m happy for you two. Octavia told me it’s just a promise ring, so I won’t bother you with constant questions about dates and whatnot.”

“Thank you.” Rarity said with a very pointed look towards Amethyst.

“I just wanted to call and ask about the dress. Will it be ready for the performance?”

“I think so. I’m still working on it, but I doubt it’ll take me all week just to finish. I’m confident I’ll have it completed by Friday.”

“Fantastic! You know, I think this may become a new thing…” At Natalie’s words, Rarity felt her heart leap. Even Amethyst lit up. “What do you think, Miss Rarity? Do you think you can make a new dress every solo performance Octavia does?”

“I…” Rarity was at a loss for words. She and Amethyst looked at one another for a few long moments, both of them shocked. Could it be true? Was Rarity about to become a regular designer for one of Canterlot’s leading musicians?

“Yes.” Rarity gulped. “I can do it.”

Friday arrived sooner than Rarity would have imagined. She spent her days working at the boutique and her nights on the dress, much to her lover’s chagrin. She made up for it with plenty of quality lovemaking, of course, but Octavia was incorrigible. They shared the excited news over a fancy dinner, and spent the night ‘congratulating’ one another on their most recent business arrangement. The day after, Rarity hit the production hard, working as diligently as possible to bring her vision to life. As skilled as she was, with as many years’ experience as she had under her belt, it happened readily. Before Friday had arrived, Rarity had brought to life a vibrant and stunning design. It was undoubtedly on-par with her previous dress, though this one was in a whole other dimension of style. She locked her makeshift studio in Octavia’s flat behind her, making sure her partner was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, Octavia seemed to be gone for the evening. This close to performance day, she was probably practicing or preparing at the concert hall.

Rarity began dinner for two, and was joined by Octavia right around the time she was done. “Hello, love.” She beamed as Octavia slipped into the flat. “Back from the studio?”

“As a matter of fact,” Octavia grinned at her, pulling a bouquet of beautiful, crimson-red roses from behind her back. “I am.”

“Tavi!” Rarity gasped. “You shouldn’t have!”

“Oh but I did.” Octavia passed the bouquet off with a smile, kissing Rarity’s cheek warmly. “To commemorate our first official business arrangement.”

“I thought we did that back on Monday.” Rarity bubbled, taking a deep whiff of the roses.

“You know what I mean. Here, let me get a vase.”

“I’ll cut the stems. Thank you so much!” Rarity went about cutting the stems from the roses and placing them in a vase that Octavia fetched from one of the empty guest bedrooms. She set them on the dinner table before setting it for the meal she had cooked. The two of them shared a light dinner of seared chicken breast in a light parmesan sauce over a bed of steamed asparagus before deciding on an early bedtime. Tomorrow was the performance, and both of them had much to handle before the show went down.

They slept peacefully through the night and spent the entire morning getting prepared. Octavia’s bathroom was easily large enough for both of them, and they chatted amicably while preparing. For Octavia, she had an entire suite of makeup artists prepared to make her beautiful. Her morning was spent becoming as plain as she possibly could be so they could do their job right. Rarity, however, had to prepare for the rest of the entire evening. Octavia excused herself to leave for the concert hall around noon, when Rarity was really just getting started.

Finally, at about two o’clock, Rarity could finally get dressed. Which was an ordeal in and of itself. She wore a long purple dress with a moderately low-cut bust, high-cut leg, and black heels. Her hair was curled and primped in all the proper ways, and there wasn’t a single wrinkle in the satiny fabric of her dress. She looked ravishing.

“Hello? Rarity?” Natalie’s voice sounded from the living room, and Rarity poked her head out of the nearby studio, where she had gone to do one final checkup on the dress.

“In here, dear.” Rarity’s hand glowed as she pulled the covering down over the dress’s stand, concealing it just as Natalie poked her head into the studio.

“All set?”

“Ready and willing.” Rarity nodded, both hands glowing now. “Shall we?”

“I will lead the way.” Natalie held the doors open as Rarity hovered the dress out of the studio and into the elevator. Just like last time, Rarity was taking every precaution to preserve both the dress’s well-being and anonymity. The same two men from before were driving the van, and Rarity sat in the back, keeping the dress preserved during the short drive to the concert hall. Once more, they unloaded on the underground dock, and were given a wide berth by the service staff rushing about in preparation for the show. There were several differences this time around. Octavia wasn’t just some business acquisition. She was her lover. And she wasn’t about to walk out into a crowd of complete strangers. Her little sister and Amethyst would both be there to watch the show with her.

“Right then.” Natalie stood in the threshold of Octavia’s dressing room as Rarity finished her short but stressful journey. “I trust you’ll have everything prepared, then?”

“Naturally. And Natalie?” Rarity set the dress down and let her magic fade away, turning to smile at the woman warmly. Natalie looked at her quizzically, but Rarity stepped forward and wrapped her in a warm, passionate hug. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Hey, don’t go getting all sentimental on me now.” Natalie laughed nervously, patting Rarity on the back. “I have to save my tears for the performance.”

“Right.” Rarity smiled and pulled away. “I’ll wait for her here. See you after the show?”

“If you don’t run off this time.”

“Oh don’t worry.” Rarity idly spun her ring around her finger. “I don’t think I’m running anymore.”

Art of the Dress

Intimate Details - Part 14 “The Art of the Dress”

Rarity fought to control her galloping heart as she made her way to the balcony seats provided her and her friends. Octavia’s reaction to the dress was one for the ages, and her cheeks still burned from the intense kiss she had been given in response. But more than that was the act of putting it on. Rarity was still in a moderate amount of disbelief just how aroused she had gotten helping Octavia clothe herself.

Rarity’s prime desire in life was not clothing people… But disrobing them. She took great pleasure in the creation of clothing, sure. But to her, there was nothing more sexy or arousing than removing the pieces she created from the people she made them for. Countless times Rarity had dreamt of dressing someone up, anyone really, and then taking her sweet time in removing every last stich before getting down to the deed. Or maybe leaving some of it on.

Nevertheless, helping Octavia don the immaculate ensemble had put Rarity in quite a state. But more than that, she knew she was in for the trip of a lifetime. She had caught a few haunting strains of the pieces Octavia would be performing this very evening here and there whenever Octavia practiced in their home. To hear them played professionally and in a formal setting such as this… Rarity could hardly contain her excitement. It was almost distracting enough to deter her attention from what lay over the horizon for the evening.

Almost.

“Heya sis!” Sweetie Belle stood up as Rarity slipped through the door to the private balcony. There were only six seats, two rows of three, and it was here that Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Amethyst, and her guest would be watching the show. Sweetie Belle wore her formal dress, which was the only dress she swore she needed. Rarity had actually had several fights with her little sister about acquiring more clothes for her, but Sweetie Belle became more and more adamant about not accepting them. Rarity always wondered why, but when she saw Sweetie Belle, she was reminded why she never pressed the matter more.

Sweetie was absolutely charming. Her little sister had truly become a woman, or was at least well on her way. She was slender and tall, standing just about a half a head shorter than Rarity. Her moderate bust filled out the dress well, and the hem that used to fall to her ankles now sat respectably just above her knees. The silky-smooth fabric glimmered faintly in the dim lighting of the concert hall, and complimented Sweetie’s curves well. Rarity wondered what could possibly have possessed Scootaloo to leave the charming young woman. Because more than Sweetie’s admirable looks, she had quite a personality. She was talented, intelligent, and a phenomenal conversationalist. For her age, she was knowledgeable and polite. Rarity was proud of her. Which was why it was such a mystery that her little sister’s childhood friend and teenage lover had left. Nevertheless, she gave Sweetie Belle a warm hug before turning to their other two guests.

“Amy. My goodness, you look ravishing.” Amethyst wore a stunning knee-length ball gown, if one could call it that. Rarity always thought it walked the line between a bodice and a cocktail dress. It hugged Amethyst’s curves so intimately, Rarity almost blushed once more, but the respectable length and full-neck collar covered every inch of her skin from chin to knee. Still, it left her shoulders and arms bare, and Rarity knew the open back fell almost as far as the top of her posterior. It was a risky piece to wear to such an occasion, but Amethyst pulled it off remarkably well. Her hair had been prepared in a stunning ponytail that fell down her back in numerous layers, and small jewels had been woven into the hairline of her forehead, making her hair sparkle with the same fiery-red hue as the dress. Beneath it all were her purple eyes, flashing brilliantly despite the light. She looked incredible.

“You forget, this was one of yours.” Amethyst bubbled as she gave Rarity a warm hug.

“No, I remember. It took me four whole days just to get the design right.” Rarity returned, fighting the blush that struggled to rise to her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve been formally introduced to your guest…?”

“Oh, of course. Allow me.” Amethyst turned and offered a hand to either woman, bringing them together. “Rarity, allow me to introduce Miss Fleur De Lis.”

“Aah, so you’re the one Amethyst has been making all those commissions for.” Rarity beamed and took Fleur’s hand in a respectful handshake, both of them giving a small curtsy. “You look fantastic in that dress. I must say, the silver highlights blend remarkably well with your hair.”

“Why thank you.” Fleur blushed slightly, running her hands down the length of her own dress. “Amy made it specifically for this evening.” Her dress was somewhat conservative, and didn’t show off much flesh, but it fit the atmosphere almost perfectly. The detailed layering on her skirt was masterfully executed, and flushed into the hem without a single flaw. The transition between the fabric of her dress and her legs was smooth and unbroken by shadows or unsightly stitching, and rose to meet the blouse in a flawless transition.

Fleur herself was tall and slender, standing a few inches higher than Rarity, but not as tall as Amethyst. Rarity remembered long ago that she had been introduced to this beautiful woman, during her brief stay in Canterlot while she worked on Twilight’s birthday dress. The whole ordeal had ended rather well, and had drawn quite a bit of attention to Rarity’s boutique. Since then, though, Rarity had all but forgotten about the high-brow socialite. Rumor had it that she and her husband had divorced over a fidelity issue, but she had acquired her husband’s business in the divorce. She had since become a respectable businesswoman but still managed to remain a high-class powerhouse. She was one of the women who was at the helm of Canterlot society. Her dresses and her behavior at high-class events were always valuable gossip in the following weeks. Rarity wondered how many of these recent events she had worn dresses made by Amethyst. Her boutique was probably going to explode with new commissions and sales.

“Well you look stunning, darling.” Rarity stopped admiring the dress and looked out over the edge of the balcony. “I think the show will begin shortly.” She muttered, noting the way everybody was taking their seats and looking up towards the stage. Sure enough, the first full-bodied chord began to fill the air with its somber tone. On their balcony, everybody took their seats. Sweetie Belle and Rarity took two seats in the front row, while Fleur and Amethyst sat behind them. If they felt any trepidation at taking the lesser of the available seats, they said nothing.

Not like anybody in the concert hall could say anything. The curtains had gone up, and there she stood. Octavia. In all her womanly glory, clothed in Rarity’s dress, holding her cello and bow.

This time around, the dress didn’t shine as it had before. The gems woven into the fabric didn’t catch the light and throw it back like a million tiny stars. This time, the gems captured the light and held it. Octavia’s skin glimmered, almost like she herself were made of diamonds. The specially-colored rubies were the same hue as Octavia’s own skin. She stood in front of an entire concert hall, wearing what appeared to be nothing. The way the shimmering fabric hugged her hips and her bust, anyone would have guessed she had stepped out of the shower, and this was an effect of the light on her still-wet body.

But it all became clear as she slowly began to move. As soon as her arm lifted the bow to the strings, the gems shifted in color. A collective gasp went up from the crowd, and Rarity felt her heart race even faster. The gems began to change color, shifting from a muted ruby-red to a brilliant and deep purple. The spell Rarity had toiled over for the past three weeks was working. It all became clear, as the definitive lines of the dress were soon made obvious. Their purple color showed everyone present that Octavia was not nude, but fully clothed. Two delicate straps wound up and over her shoulders, leaving her long arms bare, save for two bracelets affixed firmly to her wrists. These, too, were set with the same gems as the rest of the dress, and changed color effectively. The two straps over her shoulder supported a modest bodice that covered Octavia’s admirable breasts and her delicate ribcage. It opened up at the hips, though, exposing the edges of Octavia’s pelvis, complete with a long and wide slit down her thigh. The fabric re-joined for the delicate skirt at her knee, falling just to the tops of her ankles.

The effect was a breathtaking one. Rarity had spent hours going over each stitch of fabric, making sure it was perfectly in place. Once again, she hadn’t slimmed or muted Octavia’s thighs in any way, shape, or form. Instead, she had enhanced their curves, brought them out for all to see. In the recent months of being with her lover, Rarity had discovered several vicious bits of gossip about Octavia. It seemed many people in Canterlot accused Octavia of over-eating, and the product was her massive thighs and wide rear. She was the brunt of many jokes involving her girth, some of which were downright evil.

There were some who even accused Octavia of mutilating herself, hence the reason why she always wore long pants and full skirts. Rarity understood now why Octavia had always been so self-conscious about her hips. It wasn’t a simple sense of modesty over a well-endowed midsection, but rather the product of countless years of being the brunt of high-society jokes. That, coupled with a few wardrobe malfunctions by her previous tailor had made Octavia a pariah amongst high-society socialites.

Now, though, Rarity knew each one of those tongues had been stilled. They had all been shown Octavia’s true beauty. Her legs weren’t an abomination, something to be laughed and made fun of. Her hips weren’t a hindrance, nor were they too large. In fact, they were perfectly fine. Rarity had shown every single doubting eye how Octavia was meant to be viewed. Had shown them Octavia’s true side.

She was womanly. Powerful. Strong. Proud. And damn it all if she wasn’t downright sexy. The concert hall watched with rapt attention as Octavia spread her stance, adopting a powerful position before raising her bow to the strings.

If the dress showed Octavia’s womanly side, her performance showed her mastery. The concert hall erupted into a waterfall of rapid, choppy notes that almost started out as a jumble of sound, incomprehensible from feedback from an electric instrument. But as Octavia continued to make her bow dance across the strings, hitting or slashing across it at times, she realized.

She’s playing Cello Suite number twelve at a one-thirty-second time signature.

The fast display of skill was unparalleled. Octavia’s fingers flew over the strings, playing out each clipped chord and arpeggio at eight times the normal speed. She didn’t miss one meaningful note in the entire passage, moving through each movement with masterful precision. Rarity was swept away as Octavia flawlessly transitioned into a three-fourths time signature, slowing drastically into a moving and powerful piece. Each chord vibrated through the air, gripping her chest with its solemn intensity. She felt the tears fill her eyes as Octavia’s hand rocked back and forth with each new chord.

And then she took a left turn into new territory. Halfway through the piece, a certain passage lined up with the first four notes of a modern pop song. Octavia played through those first four notes before abandoning the twelfth suite and playing the new and popular song. Applause erupted from the stunned concert-goers as they all recognized the new song, being covered by none other than Canterlot’s most talented cellist. The beat was catchy, and Rarity smiled as the lyrics to one of the day’s modern standards came readily to mind. Octavia played through the whole thing flawlessly, playing all of the memorable parts as she could without having to resort to a recording or a second instrument.

When the first song was over, Octavia took a moment to breathe. She let the bow drop by her side, her head hung as she prepared for the next piece. Rarity watched, just as spellbound as the rest of the audience, as her dress did what the spell had been fashioned to do. The gems shifted in color once more, this time turning from the deep, rich purple color into a fiery-red ruby. Such a spell had never been implemented into a piece of clothing before. Mages had changed the colors of gems since time immemorial, but never had one thought to embroider them into fabric and have someone wear it. The second the gems changed from purple to red, Octavia began playing again. This time, the first heartfelt chord elicited a few tears from Rarity’s eyes. She played a slow, almost mournful piece. It was as if her cello were a dearly loved friend who had just suffered a great loss. Rarity could feel the emotion in the notes that filled her ears and her heart.

She was gripped with helplessness and depression, yet at the same time, she felt awed at what was transpiring before her very eyes. Octavia kept her head hung as she played, her raven hair falling over both shoulders to hang down her front. The glimmering pinpricks of red light flashed through the long strands of her hair now and then, but she kept her brilliant eyes covered with her bangs, playing the solemn piece with a bowed head; as if she were praying.

And again, the dress changed.

Octavia stomped her foot four times, tapping out a fast beat, and on the fourth, flung her hair backwards. The dress shifted into brilliant diamonds, as white as the purest clouds. The music surged forth, following a quick and beautiful whip of Octavia’s neck. She flung her hair into the air, fanning it out as the bow flew across the strings once more. She had transitioned from a passionate and meaningful piece into a fast and emotional rollercoaster in the span of four beats. Rarity felt herself actually flatten into the seat. Her hands gripped the armrests and she felt her throat close with shock. She could hardly breathe or think. Octavia had suddenly reached out and gripped the throats of everyone in the concert hall, robbing them of any control they had over their breath. Using her cello, this simple woman commanded everyone in the concert hall.

Their hearts pounded in unison. Their thoughts followed Octavia’s track.

All to the beat of her cello.

And she had just begun.

Unlike last time, Rarity managed to keep herself from running. Her makeup was a complete mess, but she wasn’t the only one in that regard. As the curtains fell on Octavia’s stunning performance, women throughout the concert hall left their seats for the bathrooms. Rarity and Amethyst joined the crowds, going to fix eyeliner and mascara. They managed to beat the largest group to the nearest bathroom, and finished their task before being buffeted by the rush of tear-stained faces. They rendezvoused with Sweetie Belle and Fleur outside of the balcony, and agreed to stay and socialize for a while.

Rarity had one thing on her mind at that moment, though. She wanted to get back to the highrise with Octavia. The dress was too complex to remove on one’s own, so she’d be stuck in it until Rarity could assist. Then again, that was the point behind the design. Rarity wanted to remove each stitch by herself. She wanted Octavia to her own. The burning ache of melancholy sadness and joy she had just been subjected to could not go unpunished. Or unrewarded.

But, as it stood, Rarity needed to own up to her accomplishment. She grinned as Natalie Delacroix emerged from the crowd of women, grasping her arm in a firm grip. “You’re coming with me, Rarity.” She breathed. Rarity’s grin evaporated almost instantly. Behind Natalie were the two big men that had driven the van. They looked seriously at everyone around them, and their presence alone seemed to part the sea of faces. Rarity looked at Natalie seriously, her expression drawn.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re not familiar with the paparazzi, I take it.” Natalie grunted. “If any one of these socialites discovers you’re the one who-“

“Ahem.” The big man on the left cut Natalie off. She shot him a knowing look before leaning in to whisper in Rarity’s ear.

“If they discover you’re the one who made the dress, you’re going to get mobbed.”

That most certainly sounded like something Rarity wanted to avoid. Even as she looked around, whispers and looks were being cast her way. Soon enough, the whispers gained definition and body. The looks turned into stares. The two big men escorting her held fingers to the earpieces they wore and began to maneuver forward. Rarity felt her heart hammer against her ribcage. People began to move a little closer.

“We need to go.” Natalie breathed, pulling Rarity between the two big men. “Now.”

“She’s the dress designer.” Someone said off to the side. The look Natalie shot the man could have melted ice. Rarity felt another hand rest on her, low on her back. Both it and the one on her arm made one point very, very clear to her:

They needed to leave, and they needed to leave now.

“Well.” Rarity gasped as she finally reached the back seat of a long limo. “That was an ordeal.” She grumbled to no one in particular. As it turned out, she was not alone.

“Tell me about it.”

“Tavi?”

“Hello, love.” Octavia beamed as she emerged from the shadows of the long limo’s back area, sliding along the bench-like seat to sit beside Rarity. “Had your first run-in with the paparazzi?”

“Yes.” Rarity breathed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she slid closer to Octavia’s side. “They are quite rude.”

“Oh darling.” Octavia breathed. “This was your first rodeo. Just wait. They’re incorrigible.” Octavia wrapped Rarity in a warm hug, drawing the trembling dressmaker into a warm embrace.

“I was actually kind of scared there for a moment.” Rarity breathed, nuzzling into Octavia’s brilliant raven hair with a soft sigh. “I didn’t think I’d make it out of there without fainting.”

“That’s right… Your blood pressure had to have made that a hundred times worse.” Octavia mused, stroking Rarity’s hair soothingly. “I’m sorry you had to do that alone. Maybe next time we’ll arrange a way for you to stay backstage so we can leave together or something.”

“Maybe.” Rarity smiled and pulled away, but only to press her lips to Octavia’s. “Let’s go home?”

“Yes, let’s. Driver? My apartment, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The driver up at the front of the limo turned his head to smile at them over his shoulder before rolling up the screen separating him from the two of them. The limo pulled out of the underground parking garage beneath the concert hall and onto the busy late-night Canterlot streets. Rarity watched out of the tinted windows as the paparazzi slid past, replaced instead by the traffic and lights of the early-spring city. She nuzzled a little closer to Octavia, happy to be beside her lover on the drive home.

It took them maybe fifteen minutes with the traffic, but soon enough the driver pulled into another parking garage beneath the high rise apartments they called home. There were another two big men waiting for them, and Rarity recognized the uniforms as the front-desk security guards. “Miss Octavia, Miss Rarity. Welcome home.” The one who opened their door smiled and offered a hand. Rarity took it thankfully, pulling Octavia with her. The guards escorted them to the elevator, and guided them all the way to the top floor. Octavia sighed as she opened the door to their apartment, and the guards left them.

They were finally home. Safe and alone. Sweetie Belle would be going back to her own home, the new one the royal treasury had bought for her. Amethyst and Fleur De Lis would have found their own way out, though Rarity would guess they had stayed behind to socialize. As it were, the two of them were alone at home, their cell phones were turned off, and the forecast called for plenty of wine and good company.

“Rarity.” Octavia groaned, reaching down to unfasten her heels. “I think you’ve outdone yourself.”

“I don’t know if it was better than the first.” Rarity muttered with a blush, mirroring Octavia as she slipped out of her own cursed heels.

“No, really. I could feel it. This dress-“ She lifted the hem of the color-changing dress. The gems were now a brilliant, sparkling green. “Was better than the last. I promise you.”

“Thank you.” Rarity muttered, still blushing. She finally freed herself of the pain-inducing heels, sighing with relief at the cool feel of the hardwood floor. Octavia turned to her then, a coy smile on her lips. Rarity would recognize that smile anywhere. Both of them were famished, and probably in dire need of a square meal and eight hours of rest. But Rarity knew with one look that neither of them were going to sleep any time soon.

“Bed?”

“Bed.” Rarity took Octavia’s hand and pulled her down the hall, laughing with a childlike sense of exuberance. The two of them slipped into their bedroom. It was here that Rarity took control of the situation. “Sit.” She commanded, releasing Octavia at the edge of the bed. Octavia obeyed, grinning as Rarity stepped backwards just a few feet. Slowly, she began to strip, pulling her dress off inch by inch. Octavia watched as Rarity shed her clothes one by one, making sure she took her time in doing so. Much to Octavia’s chagrin, Rarity didn’t stop until she was completely devoid of any clothing. Panties included.

It was half for the enjoyment of watching Octavia squirm, and half because Rarity didn’t want any distractions herself. This way, without a stitch between her and her target, she could truly enjoy what was to come.

Rarity’s prime sexual fantasy was to remove every stitch of clothing bit by bit, and take her sweet time doing it. Octavia wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. Rarity would use her magic to restrain the cellist if she must. But as it turned out, Octavia was more than willing to be subject to Rarity’s ministrations.

Rarity crawled onto the bed, making her way around to Octavia’s back. The cellist pulled her hair over her shoulder, exposing the back of the dress. Rarity took a moment to remove each of Octavia’s earrings, made from the same color-changing jewels as the rest of her dress. She kissed each lobe gingerly, eliciting a soft whimper and a low groan from her lover. Octavia shuddered, but didn’t make any moves. She knew this was Rarity’s treat. A payment, of sorts, for working so hard on the dress. That didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy it, though. As the two of them had discovered before, Octavia rather enjoyed it.

Because for Rarity, removing each piece of clothing was as much a religious experience as it was sexual. She didn’t just get off on taking clothes off, or what came after. She worshipped the one wearing them. Each inch of Octavia’s skin was sacred to her. Beautiful and praise-worthy on its own. Rarity would take as long as a half an hour before they ever did anything sexual. She would spend each minute caressing, kissing, touching, massaging… And it was then that Rarity began her long and pleasurable journey.

She started with the long and concealed zipper at the top of Octavia’s spine. With a very purposeful touch, she guided the zipper down, pulling it slowly enough that Octavia squirmed a little. She would do that as Rarity went about this process, but she would never move. She knew she was going to enjoy this almost as much as Rarity was. The zipper slid down her spine, following each gentle bump, before stopping just above the crack of her rear. Rarity propped herself up on her knees, hovering over Octavia’s back gently. She slid one finger into the aperture of the dress, pressing her lacquered nail against the bottom of Octavia’s spine. She slowly ran it up the length of her back, watching with an amused smile as Octavia shuddered. She had elicited a chill. The first of many.

“Aah.” Octavia breathed as Rarity laid her hand flat between her shoulders, parting the zipper further. The straps around her shoulders sagged, and Rarity gently guided them halfway down her long arms. Octavia didn’t move, but let the straps rest in the crook of her elbows. She knew if Rarity wanted them all the way off, she would remove them herself. Octavia only had to sit there and let her lover do as she pleased. Which, in and of itself, was half of the excitement. Rarity’s lips split into a giddy grin as she laid both hands flat on Octavia’s shoulders.

Her excitement began to grow as she felt the gentle rise of Octavia’s collarbone underneath her palms. Her fingers curled around to Octavia’s neck, her nails digging in just a little. Octavia groaned and rolled her head in a slow circle, causing a cascade of silken hair to fall over Rarity’s forearms. She shuddered at the tickling sensation, but didn’t stop it. Instead, she let Octavia’s hair hug her wrists, even as her hands travelled lower and lower. She changed direction around the end of Octavia’s ribs, her hands slowly curling around to the flat plane of her stomach. Octavia leaned back until her shoulders rested on Rarity’s breasts, giving her love free reign over her front side. And it was here Rarity slowed considerably.

Her hands lingered on Octavia’s stomach, tracing the gentle curves from the top of her pubis to the underside of her ribs. She even circled the cellist’s petite belly button a few times, getting a soft groan and a thin whimper in return. She was taking her time, of course, but she felt the excitement and urgency begin to build. Her hands ventured higher, cupping the underside of Octavia’s breasts. The cellist whimpered once more. While she didn’t say anything, she was allowed to look up at Rarity. Her eyes spoke volumes her mouth otherwise wasn’t allowed to. She wanted Rarity’s touch all over her. She wanted gratification.

Rarity wanted it too, but hers came in a different form. And tonight, at least for the next few minutes, it was all about her. Well, maybe a few less minutes than usual. Rarity would be lying if she said she wasn’t feeling the eagerness build up already. In fact, her womanhood ached for satisfaction already. She was half-tempted to let Octavia lay on her back and straddle her lover’s face, to be licked and sucked to orgasm. It would be nice.

But not as nice as if she waited. Instead, her hands slid up the smooth slope of Octavia’s breasts, fully cupping them with her entire hand. Octavia’s eyes closed and she gave a low, blissful, throaty groan. Rarity could feel the hard goose-fleshed nipples underneath her palms. Octavia was likely aroused beyond belief. If her nipples were any indication, her own womanhood would be positively dripping by now. Rarity wanted to smell it. To taste it. To feel it.

She couldn’t do it. Not tonight. Not right now. “Stand up.” She panted, gingerly pushing Octavia’s shoulders away from her chest. Octavia obliged with a warm grin, her hips swaying gently. Rarity slid off the bed and walked around to Octavia’s front, her heart hammering with pent-up desire. She settled herself on one course of action and one course only. That meant she was going to get it, no matter what.

“Oh!” Octavia gasped as Rarity fell to her knees, pulling the straps of the dress all the way down and off. Rarity’s hands glowed as she threw the clasp on the bracelets, letting them fall to the ground haphazardly. Octavia seized the opportunity, threading her long, supple fingers into Rarity’s hair. That helped, since Rarity leaned forward to press her lips against the flat pane of Octavia’s twitching stomach. She earned another throaty groan in return. Her arms wrapped around Octavia’s thighs, embracing her hips, pulling herself tight against the full curves. Octavia squirmed, swaying side-to-side as Rarity’s kiss turned a little wetter. When she pulled away, she left a shining bit of saliva behind. Octavia was panting now.

Rarity didn’t need to wait any more. She was ready for this. She wanted it. No, she needed it. Using her magic, she grasped every zipper and intricate clasp on the bottom half of the dress and threw it at the same time. The dress seemed to grow as the collapsible seams and zipper compartments freed Octavia’s prodigious hips from the fabric. The glimmering gems lost their enchantment, turning back to the flesh-colored tone they originally kept. It looked almost like Octavia was shedding her skin, like a snake. Rarity watched, breathless with anticipation, as the dress slid off of Octavia’s wide hips, leaving nothing behind. Octavia was completely nude now. And Rarity couldn’t be more happy for that fact.

“Aahn!” Octavia gasped as Rarity dove right in. Her mouth opened in a hot exhalation, and she lifted Octavia’s leg over her shoulder. Almost immediately, Rarity was wrapped in the warm haven of Octavia’s thighs, her mouth filled with the cellist’s dripping womanhood. The insides of her thighs were slick with her desire, and Rarity felt her cheeks begin to grow wet with the runoff. She lost track of time and breath there in Octavia’s crotch. At some point, Octavia fell onto her back, all of the strength gone from her well-endowed legs. Rarity was restless. Her tongue pulsed in and out of Octavia, lapping up her juices, assaulting her clitoris. She didn’t stop. She didn’t pause for even a moment. Her mouth was a restless, insatiable machine. Octavia shuddered under no less than four orgasms before Rarity finally pulled away, her lips and chin dripping with the excess juices.

“Guh.” Octavia groaned, her stomach twitching. Rarity licked her lips with a sly grin, looking up the length of her lover’s body. Between Octavia’s cleavage, she could see the pleasured, half-lidded expression she had forced onto her lover’s face.

“Good?”

“Words… Cannot describe.” Octavia panted, managing one quick glance down her body at Rarity.

“Hmm. Good.” Rarity leaned in for one long, pointed lick, moaning as she felt Octavia twitch atop the sheets. She didn’t dive back in, though. At least, not yet. Instead, Rarity crawled up onto the bed, half-dragging, half-guiding Octavia until her legs were fully atop the sheets. Then, Rarity swung her leg out, positioning her own neglected womanhood above Octavia’s open, panting mouth. She felt the first tentative brush of the cellist’s tongue slide over her dripping clitoris, eliciting a shiver and a soft moan from her. She didn’t rest for long, though. She dove back into Octavia’s core, her entire mouth opening to take in the soft, fleshy folds. Octavia cried out as Rarity speared the poor woman’s delicious pussy with her tongue, driving as deep as she could manage. Her teeth scraped over Octavia’s clitoris, sending the poor woman over the edge of yet another orgasm.

Her shock didn’t last long. Rarity let out a long, drool-filled groan as Octavia returned the motion in kind. The aching need for fulfillment was suddenly and completely quenched as Octavia’s tongue lashed against her core. She could feel drool and wetness slide down her thighs, all the way to her knees. She was absolutely sloppy downstairs. Octavia wasn’t missing a single moment of it. Rarity would have given anything to see what the cellist’s face looked like then. It was almost a shame that she was caught up getting just as sloppy herself.

Almost.

Her first orgasm ripped through her stomach, nearly robbing her of what strength she had. Rarity cried out loud, throwing her head back as Octavia flicked her clitoris back and forth as quickly as her tongue would allow. Octavia gasped and groaned as Rarity flooded her mouth with a thin stream of feminine ejaculate, and then cried out loud as the purple-haired magi returned the favor in kind. Her fingers slid deep into Octavia’s pulsing vagina, curling upwards into her g-spot effectively. Rarity watched with a smug, albeit breathless, sense of satisfaction as Octavia squirted all over the sheets.

“Don’t stop.” Octavia panted. Her own fingers slid over Rarity’s thighs, peeling her lips apart, exposing her insides for her love to see. “Don’t you dare fucking stop.”

“Not until… We soak the box springs.” Rarity panted, her fingers sliding back in. Just as Octavia’s joined the fray.

“Haah… Haa… How many times… Did you cum?” Octavia panted, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“I can’t feel my legs. That’s how many times.” Rarity groaned, laying spread-eagle opposite the exhausted and cum-stained cellist. Amidst the abused sheets lay small puddles of release, the dead vibrator they had both shared, a double-ended monstrosity Octavia had picked up last week, and one very well-utilized strapon. Light peeked over the horizon, threatening to illuminate their playground with baleful light. They had been at it all night. The sheets bore evidence of the night-long romp, too. Sticky, smelly, delightful feminine arousal permeated the air, staining Rarity’s sense of smell with it’s pervasiveness. She and Octavia lay next to one another, still trying to recover.

“I don’t think we can make it to the bathroom.”

“Fuck it.” Rarity groaned, somehow managing to turn herself around to lay beside Octavia. “Stay here with me.”

“Hmm. Deal.” Octavia moaned, wrapping Rarity in a tender embrace. Their exhausted bodies gave them no protest as both women drifted off into a deep sleep. Rarity didn’t dream, didn’t even stir. When she woke, it was well into the day, and the light came in through the wide bank of windows freely. She inhaled softly, recollecting all that had just transpired. When she realized that the two of them were laying in the eight-hour-old remains of what was probably the longest and most sexual experience of her entire life, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Tavi.” She whispered, kissing Octavia’s shoulder gingerly. “Wake up.”

“Five more minutes.” Octavia moaned, squeezing Rarity as she stirred.

“Come on, love.” Rarity repeated the kiss, moving up to the cellist’s neck. That got her attention. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times before coming to the same realization that Rarity had.

“Eew.”

“Exactly.” Rarity chuckled, kissing her cheek now. “Come on. We need to wash.”

“Yeah…” Octavia leaned forward for a quick kiss before unwinding her arms from Rarity’s waist. The two women somehow managed to crawl off of the bed and limp their way to the bathroom, where they stood on the cold tile waiting for the hot bath to fill. They both slid in next to one another, groaning at the feel of soap and oil on their skin once more. After a long soak and a tender grooming session, both women felt refreshed and clean once more. Upon returning to the bedroom, though, they were struck with a problem.

The sheets were almost completely soaked through. To say nothing of the mattress pad, and the mattress itself.

“This is a problem.” Octavia muttered, frowning at the mess.

“We could sleep in the guest bedroom for a few days.” Rarity offered, her hands glowing. She pulled the sheets and the mattress pad off of the bed, wadding them all together in a bundle with her magic. The toys came with it.

“Here. I’ll get a bin for those.” Octavia led Rarity down the hall to the laundry room, pulling out a large bin for the soiled sex toys. Rarity dumped them inside to be cleaned later before shoving the sheets into the washer. Octavia added a healthy portion of detergent and started the load before grinning at Rarity. “We’ve got a serious problem.”

“I’d say it’s a serious solution.” Rarity teased, wrapping Octavia in a warm hug. Octavia returned it in kind, holding Rarity as they leaned against the washing machine. They stayed like that for a while, simply holding one another. When it came time to break the silence, Rarity did so first. With the same words that had been on her mind for a long, long time. She had said them plenty of times before, but each time was just as meaningful as the first.

“I love you, Octavia.”

“I love you too, Rarity.”

They shared a quick kiss and a warm smile. It was then that Rarity felt something pull at her hand. She stepped back, looking down at the pressure. Octavia had her left hand in both of her own. But what she held nearly stopped Rarity’s heart.

“I think it’s time we make it official.” Octavia smiled. Rarity watched as she guided a stunning diamond ring onto her third finger, settling it just above the promise ring they both wore. “Rarity… Will you marry me?”

The Best Night Ever - Part 2

Intimate Details - Part 16 “The Best Night Ever” - Part 2

The doors opened, and Rarity was awestruck. The swell of music that erupted was enough to steal her breath away. The sight of everyone standing, their faces turned towards her in adoration, was enough to make her knees weak. She could have collapsed then and there, so helpless did she feel. Only one thing willed her to move. And that was Octavia, standing at the far end of the aisle.

It was probably the longest walk of her life. Rarity placed one tenuous foot in front of the other, moving slowly at first. But then she saw Octavia’s lips curl into a smile. Her steps came faster then. She found the strength in her legs to move forward. One step at a time. She tried to tell herself. But the sight of Octavia standing before her, one step removed from the altar, almost spurred her into a run. Rarity managed to check herself, and she didn’t have to remind herself to smile. The action came as natural to her as breathing in that moment.

To her left and right, wedding guests watched her advance down the ribbon-bedecked aisle, passing between bouquets of roses as red as blood, and curtains of white as pure as snow. Amongst the guests Rarity spotted Amethyst, Fleur De Lis, Natalie, and several other high-society Canterlites. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were in attendance as well, and as she passed them, she got a warm smile and a thumbs-up from the group of four friends. Over her shoulder, near the back of the aisles of chairs, she saw a flash of purple, and knew Twilight was there as well.

After that, she only saw Octavia. The music ended as she drew up before her new wife, both of them looking as beautiful as they ever had. Rarity was dressed in white with red trim and purple lilies in her bouquet. Octavia wore her own stunning white dress with a long train and a net wound into her hair that glimmered with jewels of amber and diamond. The last note faded away, and shyly, the two women joined hands. Luna stepped forward above them, placing a hand on either of their shoulders as she spoke.

“We’ve come today to witness a miracle.” She began in a tone bold and strong. Rarity hardly even registered the kind fingers on her shoulder, or the proud figure of the lunar princess standing just to her left. The only thing she saw just then was Octavia. “Love takes many forms,” Luna continued. “From the humble and strong bonds of family to the fast-fleeting emotions of adolescent fantasy, all of us know love in one form or another. But every so often, love manifests itself in a form stronger than any of these combined.” Luna’s hands left both women’s shoulders and rested atop their own, slowly drawing the four joined hands up for the audience to see.

“The love between two people, whose lives began as complete strangers to one another, is a fickle thing. It can be as weak and frail as gossamer, or stronger than steel. For these two women before me today, the bond transcends even that.” Gently, Luna guided the both of them onto the altar. Now, the three of them were level with one another, their hands joined in the middle. Luna stood closer now, and her words were for the two of them alone. “To the two of you, I direct a simple question. After this moment, your marriage will be a sacred union in the eyes of the throne, and of all Equestria’s government. Do either of you enter into this union with doubt in your hearts?”

“I do not.”

“Nor do I.” Both of them answered with smiles on their lips. Luna’s own mirrored theirs before her voice lifted once more.

“To the congregation, I ask this: These two women stand before you as friends, family, co-workers, associates, and acquaintances. After today, they will be married, and no one here can deny them that. If anyone has any objection to this union, speak now or by the sun and the moon, hold your tongue.” Silence reigned. Luna let it last for a few moments before addressing Rarity.

“Miss Rarity, do you have your own vows?”

“I do.” Rarity blushed, glancing at Luna, who nodded her approval. Rarity took a breath to steady herself before raising her voice. “I came into Octavia’s life a broken person. I was exhausted, dogged, and jaded. My past was one of strife, and I hadn’t known peace for a long time.” Octavia’s hand tightened with hers, giving her courage. Rarity smiled at the stunning woman holding her hand. “Octavia showed me beauty once more. When I was working on her dresses, and spending the time with her that I had, it showed me that there were things in this world to hold dear. If I hadn’t met Octavia the night that I did, my life would still be much the same. Granted, that chance meeting came with its own fair amount of stress, but I sincerely believe we’re both better people for the trouble we’ve shared. It’s made us strong, and the bond between us all the stronger.” Rarity’s voice quavered for a brief moment. There were tears in her eyes then. She took another deep breath to steady herself, but her eyes never left Octavia’s.

“You’ve shown me the beauty in life again, Octavia. You’ve given me something to fight for, something to cherish, something I could never violate. In return, I hope to give you the same. With this vow, I give you my life. From now until they day I draw my last breath, I am yours. I love you, Octavia.”

There were tears in the cellist’s eyes. They glimmered for a few moments before spilling out, tracing twin trails down her cheeks. But her lips were curled in a giddy smile, and Rarity could almost hear her heart pounding from where she stood. No one spoke. No one even shifted their feet. In the silence of the hall, Rarity could have heard a pin drop. Octavia blinked away the last two tears before speaking herself.

“You were a ray of sunshine into a dark time of my life, Rarity. You came along in the most unlikely of places, during what was the most trying of times. Before you, I felt uninspired, almost dead inside. I was considering retiring. I had even thought about ending the pain… But there you were. It was almost out of a storybook. Like a breath of fresh air, you filled me again, with passion and exuberance. I was inspired. I could play again, and with more fervor than ever. Rarity, if I showed you beauty, then you showed me passion. With your help, I moved out of that rut and on to where we are now. I like where I am now. And I hope I can stay here for a long, long time.” Now it was Rarity’s turn to cry. Octavia’s warm smile stirred her heart, enough to make her knees go weak. If it weren’t for the two hands clasping her own, she might have collapsed there. Instead, she stood tall and strong as Octavia finished her vow.

“We’ve come through a lot to be standing here today, Rarity. And I wouldn’t put aside any of the challenges that landed us where we are. I’d do it all again, and again after that, if it meant I could see your smile at the end of the day. I want to keep making you smile, and to show you all the beauty this world has to offer. So before the sun and the moon, and everyone I hold dear, I swear to you. I will love you now and forever, until the day I die.”

Rarity heard the sighs of the crowd as Octavia finished her vows. Even Luna seemed to be smitten. The silence went on for a few moments, but Luna broke it with soft words. Her hands left theirs, and began to glow. The whole room seemed to dim for a moment as Princess Luna worked a bit of archaic and ancient magic. Rarity watched as two rings materialized before them, simple loops of silver-colored gold, inlaid with a moonstone and a diamond, side-by-side in harmony. The rings hovered forth, and both Rarity and Octavia raised their left hands. Luna spoke as she guided the matching rings onto their fingers.

“By the authority of Equestria’s citizens, and the powers of the sun and moon together, I hereby pronounce the two of you married. To seal the marriage, a kiss is required.”

Rarity had never tasted anything as sweet as Octavia’s lips. The cheers could be heard from a mile away.

The reception was an affair the likes of which no one had ever seen before. Rarity and Octavia descended the steps of Canterlot Castle to a rain of confetti and ribbons, with an escort of cheers that seemed to sweep both of them away. Hand-in-hand, the newly-weds waved and blew kisses to everyone they passed, and at the bottom of the stairs, they paused to turn and throw their bouquets over their shoulders. A cheer went up as Applejack caught Octavia’s bouquet, and she blushed as bright red as the apples her family was so famous for. Rarity’s bouquet was caught by none other than Sweetie Belle, whose own cheeks could have contended with the sun for brightness. On the way to the reception hall, though, Rarity could not spot the purple-haired magi. Twilight appeared to have vanished.

But after that, Rarity knew nothing but the endless stream of music, savory food, delicious champagne, and dancing. The castle’s greenhouse had been repurposed as a reception hall, and after crossing the dew-laden grass to the magnificent hall, the party had really started. Rarity and Octavia shared the first dance, swirling around the floor for the first half of the song, only to be joined for the last half by none other than Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. After that, Rarity had changed partners, and found herself dancing with Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy, Photo Finish (Who didn’t leave until she had a promise of wedding dress photos directly from Rarity herself,) Natalie Delacroix, Big Macintosh, and a host of other would-be suitors, socialites, and friends. Rarity even had the honor of dancing with Princess Celestia for half a song, and her sister for the other half.

Only when Rarity complained of blisters was she spared the dance floor, and Octavia joined her at the head table. An early dinner was served then, and the spread was nothing short of immaculate. Rarity ate to her heart’s content, and each time the guests clinked their champagne glasses with silverware, she and Octavia would share a kiss, much to the enjoyment of the guests. It went on for hours, but Rarity found none of it exhausting. She talked, laughed, danced, ate, drank, and socialized on and on. The day gave way to the evening, and the night was upon them shortly after. All of the dancing and activity had worn down to soft murmurs and softer ballads, played by Octavia’s own symphony-mates. They had agreed to provide all the music for the affair, for which Rarity had been eternally grateful. Octavia’s symphony-mates were not the stuck-up, stuffy sort Rarity had originally thought. They had played classic and contemporary pieces in equal measure, catering to a wide range of musical tastes.

But now, the music was dying down and people were saying their farewells. The princesses had excused themselves shortly after dinner had been finished, and now even Applejack and Rainbow Dash were saying good night. Pinkie Pie was still in attendance, and would work tirelessly until everything had been cleaned and concluded. Fluttershy had left sometime shortly after the dessert had been served. She was catching a late-night train back to Ponyville, to be there for her animals in the morning.

And now, it was time for the two brides to say good night as well. Rarity was exhausted by now, her eyes itching for sleep. Octavia was flagging as well, casting meaningful looks to Rarity, as if pleading for their return home. Rarity nodded sometime around ten at night, and they managed to slip away without attracting too much attention. They ran into Rainbow Dash at the door, who gave them one last hug.

“I won’t be seeing you guys for a while.” She said on the threshold.

“Why’s that?” Rarity was exhausted, but Rainbow Dash sounded like she was saying goodbye for the last time. The slender avian blushed and rubbed the back of her neck with a hand.

“I, uh… Kinda got accepted into the Wonderbolts. We’re starting our first tour tomorrow, in Cloudsdale.”

“Dash, that’s incredible!” Rarity bubbled and gave the avian another quick hug, her exhaustion forgot for just a moment.

“Yeah. I don’t really know how to feel about it… But hey! When the tour comes through Canterlot, I’ll make sure to get you two some really good seats! I promise!”

“Oh, most certainly! Why, I haven’t seen a wonderbolts show in… Ever, I think! I can’t wait!”

“Hehe. Well, I’ll let you two go. It was good seeing you again, Rares. And congratulations.” Rainbow Dash took Octavia’s hand in hers, smiling wide. “To both of you.”

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” Octavia blushed as Rainbow pressed a quick kiss to her fingers. “Any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of mine.”

“See ya around!” Dash spread her wings and took off into the night, leaving the two of them with a warm smile and a puff of cool night air. They watched her wing off into the starry night for a few moments before slipping into Octavia’s car and starting off into the night. Rarity almost nodded off on the short drive home, but Octavia was thankfully awake enough to see them safely into the parking garage. As Rarity stepped out, though, a chill passed over her.

Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.

The shadows looked too deep, the lights not bright enough. Even as the car behind her locked and Octavia took her hand, Rarity felt on-edge. Octavia could feel her tenseness, her own face drawn down in a frown. Rarity gathered her skirts in one hand and picked up to a slow trot towards the elevators. Maybe it was her exhaustion, or maybe just the darkness of the parking garage beneath the apartment building, but Rarity didn’t feel right here.

There were eyes on them.

“Oh.” Octavia drew up as they turned the corner towards the elevator bank. Rarity herself stumbled to a halt, almost quick enough to fall.

Vinyl Scratch stood before them.

Rarity’s magic flared to life almost instantly. Dense and intense, she stepped in front of Octavia, her expression dark. Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew she couldn’t hold Vinyl off. She had too much raw power for Rarity to defend against, if it came to blows between them. Her panicked mind fluttered to and fro, trying to find an exit, some way to escape her.

But when Vinyl removed her hands form the pouch pocket of her hoodie, she spread them harmlessly. “Relax,” She said quietly. “I’m not here to cause trouble.” Rarity’s defenses lowered, but only a little. She still stood between Vinyl and Octavia, ready to do whatever she could to defend her wife. Octavia laid a hand on her shoulder, but still stood behind her. Rarity could hear it in the cellist’s voice. She was still terrified of Vinyl Scratch.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see you one more time.” Vinyl said meekly. Rarity noticed something, then. Vinyl looked very different. She was still a curvaceous beauty, but the way she held herself, the slump of her shoulders and the slackness in her posture… She was a different woman now. She looked tired. Defeated, almost. “And I came to tell you that I won’t be around anymore.”

“Wh… What do you mean?” Rarity asked guardedly. Vinyl shoved her hands back into the pouch pocket of her hoodie, looking at the floor in front of her feet.

“I’m leaving Equestria. I realize there’s no place for me here. Not anymore.”

“Vinyl…” Octavia finally emerged from behind Rarity, her voice fraught with hurt for the woman before them. Even Rarity had to admit, Octavia looked miserable. She was so sad… Rarity dropped her defenses at last, standing at Octavia’s side meekly. Before them, Vinyl began to weep.

“I can’t even cut it in Ponyville. All of Twilight’s friends hate me, and none of the people in the town like me at all. And honestly, I can’t blame them… I can’t control my anger. I’ve tried. Twilight’s tried to help me. But even she can’t do anything about this.” Vinyl pulled her hands out, looking down at her curled fists. Her tears landed on her wrists, then dripped down to the concrete beneath them. “I’m leaving Equestria and going to Saddle Arabia. Out there, it’ll just be me and my music. I won’t be able to hurt anyone out there. At least… No one that I care about.” Vinyl lifted her eyes to the newlyweds before her. Her bloodshot eyes dripped tears down her full cheeks, staining the collar of her hoodie.

Rarity could truly, honestly say that she felt sorry for her then. Twilight had violated her trust and lost her friends. But Vinyl had hurt everyone she ever cared about, and had lost everything. This was a woman who had no friends, lost or otherwise. The only thing Vinyl had was sadness.

“So this is good-bye.” Octavia’s voice quivered. Vinyl returned her hands to her pockets, even as the gentle glow of magic pulled the hood up over her eyes.

“Yeah. I’m leaving tonight. I just wanted to say good bye, and to see you one last time…” Vinyl half-turned away from them, but stopped to look back one more time, her eyes shrouded in shadow. But Rarity could see her lips. They curled upwards into a gentle smile. It was the last time Rarity ever saw Vinyl Scratch. And the last words she heard from her.

“You look good together.”

That night, Rarity slept with Octavia’s head on her breast. Octavia passed out almost immediately, her even breathing washing over Rarity’s naked skin. But sleep couldn’t find Rarity easily. She lay on her back, idly running her fingers through Octavia’s hair, staring up at the dark ceiling as her thoughts whirled about her head.

Twilight had failed. She had lost her friends in Ponyville, and she hadn’t been able to help Vinyl with her anger. The only thing the purple-haired magi seemed to have accomplished was to earn Rarity’s forgiveness, but in light of losing the other four, that must have seemed pretty dull by comparison. She had disappeared right after the ceremony had finished, and Rarity hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye to her. No doubt she was on her way back to Ponyville and her studies of friendship by now. She might even be on the same night-time train that Fluttershy took. Rarity wondered if they had made amends, or if they were sitting on completely opposite ends from one another, as good as strangers.

Rarity’s thoughts began to wonder to her other friends. No doubt Pinkie Pie was wrapping up all of the day’s activities just now, and would probably be going to sleep sometime soon. She certainly needed it. Rumor had it she had been at the preparations since midnight, and now that it was past the turning of the new day, she would have been close to exhaustion. But aside from the one night, Rarity had heard that Pinkie Pie’s friends, the Cakes, had signed their business over to her. The bubbly woman had become the sole owner and operator of the new bakery, while the former owners had moved to Baltimare to open a new bakery. That kept Pinkie Pie busy enough, it seemed. And she appeared to be rather content with her new lot in life. Rarity was happy for her.

Octavia had been seen talking with Applejack during the reception. As it turned out, Applejack was a natural with the fiddle, and was interested in some lessons from Octavia. She had been willing to pay, but Octavia refused and said she would ‘do anything for a friend.’ That, along with the bouquet she still clutched, had turned her cheeks into twin furnaces for the rest of the evening. Rarity had stolen a few moments with the simple farmwoman to pry some details from her. She had a love interest in a strong-backed man from Ponyville who had been helping with their farm’s recent expansion. If tradition were to be believed, Applejack catching the bouquet meant she was going to marry next. Rarity teased her, asking for invitations to the wedding. Poor Applejack had receded into a meek, if happy silence.

But if tradition were to be believed, then Sweetie Belle was due to be married next as well. The last Rarity heard, Sweetie Belle had bid a final farewell to Scootaloo. It appeared as if the two childhood friends were done with one another, much to each other’s chagrin. Scootaloo was intent on moving to Manehattan, while Sweetie Belle had the rest of her education to consider. A direct scholarship from the throne itself wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Rarity was a little worried for her younger sister, but she had been all smiles at the reception, and held her bouquet the entire night.

But Rarity couldn’t stop her thoughts as they came back around to Vinyl… Why would she come to them? And why in the parking garage of all places? Did she really fear the ire of the princesses so much that couldn’t bid them a peaceful farewell at the reception? Looking back on the whole event, Rarity felt slightly sad but mostly relieved. When she first spotted the stocky DJ, Rarity had expected the worst. Instead, she had received a blessing of sorts.

You look good together.

“We do look good together.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing, love. Go back to sleep.”

“Hmm. Not without a kiss.” Octavia looked up at her with sleepy eyes and a warm smile. Rarity returned the smile and leaned in for a gentle kiss. Afterwards, when Octavia nuzzled lovingly into her breast, Rarity was able to close her eyes. Sleep took her then; black, peaceful, and dreamless. No dream could surpass her life just then.

Probably because it was already perfect.

Epilogue

Intimate Details - Finale

Rarity sighed as she pulled yet another folder from her commission bin. The store was eerily quiet this time of night, but she honestly didn't mind. It helped her think without interference. Amethyst was gone, the neighboring businesses had closed, and her own blinds were drawn. Not even the late-summer evening sun penetrated into her candlelit haven. Flipping the cover of the folder open, Rarity glanced over the insignificant details. Payment, name, all the things that didn't matter. She instead turned her attention to the second page, the overlay of the dress.

"Hmm." She nodded in approval. Whoever ordered this commission knew fashion. Already, she was admiring the smaller details they had specified, and found little error. In fact, there wasn't anything about this dress she would have changed. It was commissions like these that made Rarity's day. She slipped it in front of the three other folders in her 'to-do' bin and stretched. Four dresses tomorrow, with plenty more commissions to follow. She'd have a long day ahead of her. But after that, it was the weekend. A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she remembered Octavia's promise, and the other important thing they had planned. Slowly, Rarity slipped out of her chair and blew the solitary candle out. She glided through the store in utter darkness, hooking her purse through her arm before opening the front door.

The sun was setting off to her right, framing the Canterlot skyline almost perfectly. She took a moment to admire the beautiful buildings and the rich colors in the sky before locking her boutique and starting for her car. The drive home was uneventful, but her arrival was another matter altogether.

"Welcome home, love." Octavia's sultry voice froze Rarity at the door. If not that, then what she was wearing.

"Tavi, is that-"

"Why, I do believe it is..." Octavia grinned, opening her arms and legs just a little so Rarity could see the rest of the outfit. "I know you said I was supposed to save it until the weekend. I'm terribly sorry. Please don't... Punish me?" The clothes, if they could be called that, had been fashioned by Rarity six weeks ago. She had almost forgotten about them, and the promise she made Octavia make to not wear it until that weekend. As the memories came back, they returned with a fresh wave of blood to her extremities. The piece was complex, intricate, and exceedingly difficult to get into. But Rarity had designed it so Octavia could manage on her own. In fact, the whole purpose was for Rarity to not see it until Octavia had donned the contraption.

It was mostly latex. Octavia had discovered a penchant for the restrictive material during one particularly wild weekend, and hadn't shaken her addiction. The panties were very nearly swallowed among the firm recesses of Octavia's hips and thighs. Normally, she didn't suffer any spillage or rollover with regular underwear. Despite her well-endowed lower half, she kept the flesh firm and taut. But the latex panties were so restrictive, they cut into her skin and made the firm, smooth flesh bulge over the hem. This was all the more accentuated by the firm pair of garters she wore, supporting a very revealing pair of black hose. The top was pieced together with lengths of intertwining latex bands, all affixed to a central chestpiece that cupped Octavia's breasts and ribcage tighter than any bra ever would. Her shoulders were bare, but the top was supported by a leather choker, complete with a thick steel ring that hung in the hollow of Octavia's throat. The whole thing was black, shiny, and as Octavia took a few short steps forward, made an almost obscene, squeaky sound.

And heavens be damned if it didn't make Rarity dripping wet.

"I think..." Rarity panted, working her lips. "You deserve to be punished. Naughty little thing."

"Oh no, mistress, I don't think I could handle it! Please, don't spank me! I would just die from embarrassment!" Octavia feigned shock, but Rarity could see right through her pleas. Rarity's purse hit the floor and she slowly walked around Octavia in a circle.

"No, no, my dear Octavia," Rarity mused, running her fingertips over the rubbery latex corset. "I wouldn't dare spank you. Why, that'd put a mark on your flawless ass... No, I have something much worse in mind for you."

"Oh please, Mistress Rarity," Octavia whimpered. "Please be merciful. I only meant to please you."

"Oh you'll please me, alright." Rarity came back around Octavia's front. "Whether you like it or not." Her finger hooked the steel loop, and she gave Octavia the most devious, evil-looking grin she could muster. With an insistent pull, she tugged Octavia down the hall to their bedroom.

Afterwards, when Octavia had been relieved of the restrictive latex, they lay in each other's arms, sweaty, covered with lotion and other unmentionable fluids, and feeling absolutely exhausted. Octavia nuzzled into Rarity's bare breast while the dressmaker gently combed her fingers through the cellist's hair. In light of the rough-and-tumble experience they had just shared, both of them were in the mood for a little intimacy. They stayed like that for a while before Octavia propped her chin on Rarity's collarbone and kissed her cheek.

"Did you have a good day at work?"

"Hmm. Yes, I did." Rarity smiled and captured Octavia's lips for a brief moment. "What about you? How was practice?"

"I think we'll be prepared by next week. The woodwinds have been bothering our director; he says they're out-of-sync with the rest of the orchestra. Of course, he has strings between them and percussion, so I can't blame them."

"Hmm. I'm excited for this year's performance. Last year was incredible."

"Thanks to you." Octavia teased. Rarity had designed the entire symphony's dresses and tuxedos last year and the year before. While they weren't exactly the headline of Canterlot's symphony, they had been the center of some very choice gossip for a long while. Rarity had the honor of doing the same this year. It seemed she had been somewhat ushered in as the official seamstress for the Royal Canterlot Symphony. That, coupled with her regular commission work had given Rarity all of the career stability she could ever have wanted. Not to mention fame. Using her work with the symphony for publicity, Rarity had soon become a cutting-edge dress designer, whose name was sought by people all across Equestria.

"Hmm... Are you ready for this weekend?" Rarity asked, closing her eyes as she continued to run her fingers through Octavia's hair.

"I am... But is Sweetie Belle?"

"I'd hope so." Rarity smiled warmly. "She's graduating."

"Rarity! Tavi!" Sweetie Belle's slender arm shot up over the head of the crowd, waving them down. Rarity tapped Octavia's shoulder and guided her wife towards the slender young woman. Rarity couldn't help but grin as she saw Sweetie Belle emerge from the crowd, wearing a long blue gown with a square cap of the same shiny blue material. Tacky as it was, the feeling was nostalgic. This was no regular high school graduation, though. Sweetie Belle was one of sixteen graduating today. Out of a class of well over two hundred. The rest had dropped out. But Sweetie Belle had persevered. Not just that, she had excelled. Bubbling, Rarity and Octavia wrapped Sweetie Belle in a firm hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Sweetie Belle." Rarity fought to keep the tears of pride from welling over her already-swollen eyes. She failed, and she knew her makeup would streak. She didn't care. A ruined face was a small price to pay for the honor of being present that day.

"I owe it all to you and Tavi." Sweetie Belle blushed, obviously uncomfortable at the sight of Rarity crying over her. "If it weren't for the money, I'd have failed a long time ago. To say nothing of all the support you've given me. Thank you Rarity. Octavia. I owe it all to you two."

"You're going to make me cry." Octavia dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Rarity took her hand, twining their fingers together. "Now go. I think it's starting soon."

"I'll see you after." Sweetie Belle beamed, giving both of them another quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. She dashed off, the tassel on her cap flipping about as she disappeared behind the stage. The graduation ceremony was taking place on Canterlot's palace grounds, amid the hedge mazes, statues, and gardens. A low stage had been thrown up and draped with the same blue satin that made up the gowns the graduates were wearing. A podium stood in the middle of the stage, ringed by chairs that would hold Equestria's most influential mages, and all three princesses themselves. Rarity and Octavia were given seats in the front row as Sweetie Belle's family. A hush descended over the crowd as the princesses began crossing the lawn, in the company of six other mages. The sixteen graduates lined up at the left of the stage as the processions mounted the blue satin platform. Princess Celestia approached the podium with a warm smile on her face as everyone else took seats behind her. She let the silence stretch on before speaking.

"The study of magic is not only arduous, but complex and confusing. To those who wish to devote their lives to the mystic arts, there is much pain and confusion in their future. Magic is, itself, ever-changing and transient. No one mage is a master in their school. No magician will ever cast the same spell twice. It is a hard life, filled with pain, despair, and conflict in equal measure." Celestia's tone was sobering. Rarity found her smile disappearing, replaced instead by a somber look. That all changed as Celestia turned to the graduates.

"But it is not a life without reward. Magic is the very power of creation, of love and friendship and happiness. There are more primal and darker magics, to be sure, but I can say this with certainty and pride: I have never fostered a more skilled group of magi." Everyone in the audience was smiling now. Even the graduates. Rarity knew from her interactions with Sweetie Belle that the lessons were hard. Sometimes even dangerous. But she had persevered and made it through. Sweetie Belle had earned her spot among those eighteen magi. Rarity couldn't have been prouder.

"It is both my honor and privilege to present you the graduating class of the Canterlot Magic University." Celestia's hands glowed, and a basket of rolled scrolls appeared on the podium. She gracefully withdrew the first, opened it, and read the name alongside a list of achievements and accolades. She did the same for everyone, until Sweetie Belle's turn. When Celestia pulled her scroll out of the basket, she gave pause. "This student..." Celestia said quietly, looking up at the audience. "Is a bit of a special case. This is a departure from tradition, but let me take a moment." Rarity and Octavia shared a look before joining hands.

"Studying at this university is difficult to say the least. For some, it becomes impossible. For others, the difficulty is too much and they crack under the pressure. The work load and complexity of the courses these students take is considerable. That's why this student stands out among the rest. Personal struggles are never easy to deal with, particularly when they involve your only family. Any lesser student would have abandoned their studies in favor of assisting family. This student, rather than leaving the university or worse; forsaking their family, they persevered and handled both." Celestia beamed as she opened the scroll.

"With great pleasure, I present this year's Valedictorian. Master of Vocals, Whisperer of Shadow, Lightbender, Transumtations Savant, Peer Leader, Potions Master, and She of Many Tongues. Please, give a round of applause for Sweetie Belle!"

Rarity and Octavia cheered the loudest out of anyone there. Sweetie Belle never looked so radiant as she did accepting the scroll from Celestia. Tears coursed from her eyes fast and free.

'Proud' didn't do what Rarity felt justice.

Afterwards, during the reception, Rarity and Octavia were greeted with joyous tears and a tight hug. Sweetie Belle was beside herself, and she had every right to be. Rarity and Octavia congratulated her over and again. She accepted the praise gracefully, blushing and waving it off. They talked for a long while about all the things Sweetie Belle had studied, There was even a point when Rarity and Octavia were graced by the three Princesses, who swept upon Sweetie Belle to offer her their official praise. Princess Cadance even offered her a position of major influence in the Crystal Kingdom. Princess Luna said she could have used a mage of Sweetie Belle's talent in her own repertoire, and Celestia hinted at an open position on her own council with her name on it should she want it. Sweetie Belle graciously accepted the offers, and told each princess she would seriously consider them all. Rarity could see the way she brightened at the mention of living in the Crystal Kingdom.

When the princesses left Sweetie Belle with her friends and family, Octavia pulled her aside. Rarity couldn't hear what they were talking about, but she knew what was happening. Octavia smiled and handed a card off to her before the two of them re-joined the crowd. Sweetie Belle was the center of attention, and after all the job offers and praise she had had, Rarity saw fit to leave her be. She took Octavia's hand in hers as they watched Sweetie Belle smile, laugh, and chat with her friends and colleagues. A touch to her arm made her whirl.

"Scootaloo." She breathed. The avian woman blushed and shied away a little with a cautious glance towards Sweetie.

"I just came to congratulate her." She muttered meekly. Rarity looked between the two of them. She knew there had been some animosity, but that was almost two years ago, back when she and Octavia were first wed. Last she heard, Scootaloo had fled to Manehattan. Still, seeing her here brought a smile to Rarity's lips.

"I think you ought to do more than congratulate her." With a firm touch, Rarity took her arm and pulled Scootaloo into the light. She resisted at first, but as soon as Sweetie Belle saw Rarity and her charge, Scootaloo slumped and meekly went along. The crowd around the valedictorian mage parted. When Rarity released Scootaloo in front of her ex-lover and old friend, she delivered her into a stinging slap.

The hall seemed to resound with the smart sounding-blow. Scootaloo cupped her cheek in shock, looking at Sweetie Belle with wide, teary eyes.

Right before Sweetie Belle kissed her.

"It's good that they made up." Octavia mused, pulling her shirt over her head. Rarity leaned out of the bathroom, her floss still stuck between her teeth.

"Agreeh." She muttered. Octavia grinned and stepped out of her pants.

"In all seriousness, she needs someone. I mean, those things Celestia said... Is she really, you know, 'master of shadows' or whatever?"

"It's basically titles." Rarity smacked her lips as she pulled the floss free. "Think of it as certification in a certain field of magic. Saying that just means Sweetie Belle is an expert at shadow magic. It's to be expected of the university, though. Their students are the best in Equestria."

"Master of Vocals, though... I knew she was an incredible singer, but how would you even use magic with your voice? It’s mind-boggling."

"You offered her a place with the orchestra, didn't you?" Rarity asked, taking a mouthful of water to rinse. Octavia stretched with a groan.

"Yeah. The director wanted to try his hand at an opera, and given Sweetie's talent, I nominated her for the position. I think we could put on a good show if she sang for us."

"Ptoo. She certainly wants to. She's here almost every weekend to practice with you." Rarity wiped her mouth and padded across the threshold of the bedroom, wrapping her arms around Octavia from behind. She buried her face into the brilliant, soft mane of black hair and kissed her wife's neck. "I think she'd be happy to help the orchestra. She certainly seems to love singing with you.”

“Hmm. I hope the director accepts her. She did graduate as valedictorian.” Octavia turned in Rarity’s arms, pressing their lips together firmly. “Hmm. I love you, Rarity.” She said quietly, hardly more than a whisper. Rarity smiled and rested her forehead against Octavia’s.

“I love you too, Octavia.” It was moments like this Rarity was acutely aware of the ring on her finger, and the promise behind it. Two rings, two lives, one love. An infinite loop. They stayed like that for a long while, simply enjoying one another’s presence. After a short while, they stretched out and went to sleep. Rarity did not dream; indeed, she hadn’t in the past two years. Her nights were peaceful, warm, and restful. Gone were the days she would wake in a cold sweat, alone and shivering. Should some wayward noise stir her from rest, she would always have Octavia at her side. And she was there for Octavia as well.

Neither of them might be the most stable personalities in the world. Not with the things they had endured. Octavia was still scared of bruises, and Rarity occasionally found herself worrying about Octavia cheating. Her doubts were always laid to rest, but she still had them. She was only a magi, after all. She was prone to worrying. Sometimes Octavia would be her support, and others the cellist seemed to be every bit as lost as Rarity herself. Still, lost as they were, they were lost together. Rarity slipped off to sleep with a smile on her lips.

She woke to Octavia’s kiss and a teasing smile. Rarity opened sleep-laden eyes and saw Octavia’s beautiful face, her almond eyes.

“Good morning, Octavia.”

“Happy anniversary.”

“Wha-AHN!”

The Best Night Ever - Part 1

Intimate Details - Part 15 “The Best Night Ever” - Part 1

“Oh darling.” Rarity sighed as she slowly sank down into the cool embrace of the mud. “This was exactly what we needed.”

“I told you.” Octavia groaned next to her, slowly lowering her own well-endowed body into her own tub of chilled mud next to Rarity.

“Indeed you did.” Rarity moved slower, seeking the stone bench hidden through the layer of mineral-packed earth. “Aah…” She met the shelf and slowly lowered herself until she rested her back against the wall. Everything but her neck and shoulders rested beneath the mud, and she watched as Octavia’s breasts disappeared beneath the surface as well.

“Would you rather be doing this,” Octavia moaned. “Or fretting over the table spread back in Canterlot?”

“Shush you.” Rarity smiled nevertheless, lifting one muddy arm to reach across the short span of tile floor to Octavia’s own tub. Octavia met her hand halfway, the two of them gazing into one another’s eyes. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Rarity would have kissed her then, if there wasn’t two feet of stone, tile, and mud separating them. Still, she smiled at Octavia, and the two of them settled in for a long soak. It had been three months since Octavia proposed to her. The two of them were enjoying the engaged life, and since then, Rarity had gone with Octavia to all of their social functions. Octavia told her time and again how at previous functions she would be the brunt of many jokes about her figure or her well-endowed hips. Her previous wardrobe malfunctions were the stuff of gossip legend back in the day, and even Rarity had to laugh and blush at several of the stories her lover shared.

But with Rarity at her side, Octavia soon became the prime source for a new sort of gossip. Rarity had all but overhauled Octavia’s old wardrobe and had substituted it with custom-tailored clothes for all occasions. Rarity worked hard and in one month had given Octavia all the garments she would need, and was on standby to make more as time went on. Pajamas, formal dresses, informal and casual wear, even lingerie. There wasn’t a stitch of clothing in Octavia’s wardrobe that Rarity hadn’t made with her own hands and magic. Even the deeper, more intimate pieces were wrought with a fair blush and plenty of intimate measurements. But the crown jewels of Octavia’s new wardrobe were the custom-made dresses for each new social function. Rarity had her own repertoire of dresses ready to be showcased, but making new ones for each of Octavia’s engagements was an exciting experience.

The Canterlot elite were treated every time the famous couple showed up to a ball, or a charity function, or a fancy dinner. Rarity would make stunning pieces, and stand at Octavia’s side as the two of them were surrounded by admiration. Perhaps Rarity was acting vain, but she began to look forward to each new formal ball and charity dinner more and more. Octavia seemed like she could do without the limelight, but she handled it gracefully. It was maybe the one point of contention in their relationship. One short month into the engagement, and they had had a small argument about one particular formal dinner that Octavia didn’t want to attend. It was then that Rarity saw she was pressing her social engagements on Octavia, and she backed off. Since then, the two of them attended sparingly, and enjoyed their time pursuing other avenues of entertainment - much to the disdain of Octavia’s bedsheets.

Rarity was happy with her new life. Sweetie Belle’s schooling was going marvelously, and she had even bridged the gap between her and her old lover Scootaloo. Rarity’s work kept her occupied, while Octavia began working on a solo album, recording much of her own work from home. But there was some stress, to be sure… Twilight’s return to Ponyville heralded a new wave of grief from her old friends. None of them took too kindly to Twilight’s lies. A frown crossed her face as she remembered meeting them all in a small Canterlot café.

Canterlot wasn’t terribly far from Ponyville by train, so the five of them had agreed on a short lunch date. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all met up shortly after noon. At first, things were nice. There were plenty of tearful hugs to go around, and everyone seemed happy with one another. Until the topic of Twilight came around.

“I just don’t understand.” Fluttershy muttered. “Why would she lie to us?”

“Well…” Rarity tapped a finger on the table they were seated at. “She was afraid of what you’d think. In any situation, cheating on a loved one isn’t very nice. Friends or not, it was wrong of her to go behind my back and do what she did with Rainbow Dash. No offense, darling.”

“Hey, none taken. It was all in the past anyways. I was so busy with Wonderbolts training, I never saw you. But Twilight told me you were okay with it. I wanted to see you and talk to you about it, but any time I was free, you were busy… It never worked out.” Dash leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms beneath her breasts with a small frown.

“So she lied to both of us…” Rarity mused.

“Wow, that’s like, way uncool!” Pinkie Pie offered, standing up. “It actually makes me really angry! I mean, we’re her friends, right?!” She curled her hands into fists, looking around at the rest of them. “I oughta give her a piece of my mind!”

“Calm down, sugar.” Applejack cut Pinkie off, reaching a hand across the table. “It sounds like Princess Celestia already did that for ya. Ah mean, it ain’t very nice of her either way, but it sounds like Twilight learned her lesson in the end. Y’all shoulda seen her when she got back, Rarity… She looked miserable, and the way she begged each of us… Tell her, Fluttershy.”

“Oh, it’s true!” Fluttershy squeaked. “She looked absolutely dreadful, and her eyes. Why, they were so red… I felt sorry for her.”

“I think we all did.” Rainbow Dash concluded. “But still. I never meant for things to go that far. She should have come clean when you moved to Canterlot.”

“Keepin’ it a secret for all them years… Ah’m ashamed to call her a friend anymore.”

“Now girls.” Rarity smiled. “Don’t be so hard on her. Like you said, Applejack, she learned her lesson.”

“Ah’m still angry with her.” Applejack crossed her arms stubbornly.

“Me too!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash shared a look. Rarity almost felt bad for Twilight. But one thing was certain: All of her other friends were still there for her. The talk moved on from Twilight and to a new topic: Rarity. Everything from her exodus to her engagement to Octavia was the new topic of conversation, and Rarity smiled and laughed the rest of the lunch away. When her friends left, it was with a promise that they would return as often as they could to visit. Rarity was excited to be with her old friends again. But she was also saddened at Twilight’s loss. Despite how close she was to the four of them, Twilight could never hope to bridge the gap she had made.

But those things were all weeks ago. Now, Rarity’s primary concern was enjoying this spa. One week at Le Magnifique’, the same spa Twilight had almost taken her to, was Octavia’s wedding gift to her. To make up for the wardrobe overhaul, she said time and again; though it was as much for Octavia’s benefit as it was Rarity’s. Both women had spent the last six days being waited on hand and foot, with every luxury available to them. They hadn’t settled on a regular suite, either. Octavia had purchased the master suite, and the grandest package the spa offered. Day one consisted of mineral springs bathing and a full-body massage. Day two was spent scrubbing every last inch free of dead skin. The process had hurt a little, but Rarity swore she and Octavia were radiant in the mirror. Day three had been mineral wraps and some healthy exercise. Day four was spent in the mineral springs for the first half, and the second half was spent on the town, wining and dining to their hearts content. The last three days, they were allowed to pick and choose their treatments. Now, on the evening of the seventh day, they were to enjoy one last mud soak, a full-body massage, and their last night on the massive, soft down bed of the master suite.

All of this, of course, was to distract Rarity from the real present.

Back in Canterlot, Octavia had a full team of professional designers, planners, and an all-too-eager Pinkie Pie preparing for their wedding.

Rarity had made a massive fuss over not being present for the preparations. It had almost come to a point of contention between her and Octavia, but the cellist had explained how she would rather see Rarity rested and relaxed. The last thing she wanted was Rarity overdoing the preparations and being too tired to actually enjoy her own wedding. Admittedly, Rarity was bad at overworking herself.

So here they were. Six days into the most luxurious spa trip of her entire life, with the seventh nearly done and over with. Day after tomorrow, Rarity would be married to Octavia. As she closed her eyes and reclined in the mud bath, A warm smile crept over her face.

The next morning dawned bright and airy, with just a ghost of winter’s chill on the last tendrils of night. It was March, and the next day would be the first of spring. Octavia had planned it all in advance, it seemed. She would joke with Rarity late at night about their relationship, like it was from some ancient tale of old.

“We were cold and broken when we came together,” She would tease, kissing Rarity’s neck. “But we hunkered down for the long winter, and our love blooms in the first light of spring.”

“Stop that,” Rarity would squirm and pant, and Octavia would continue to spin tales, until their mouths became busier with more important things. They had made love last night, a wild and passionate ordeal that left the both of them sweaty and flushed. After a long and luxurious midnight bath, they changed sheets and slept until it was almost lunch time. One last visit to the salon in the spa before they left, and the betrothed women boarded the train for Canterlot as radiant as either had ever been.

“We’ll have to go again on our anniversary.” Octavia said, sitting opposite Rarity in their own cabin of the train.

“That’s got to be too expensive.” Rarity’s brow furrowed. “I mean, it had to have been at least four th-“

“Aah.” Octavia cut her off with a finger. “Don’t worry about the price.” She smiled. “That’s going to put a damper on our spirits.” Her smile slowly turned into a grimace.

“That bad, huh?” Rarity quipped.

“I hope you have some tighter belts is all.”

They laughed at that. Rarity knew that, no matter what befell the two of them, they would be happy together. Octavia had plenty of money to pay for everything, and with the publicity she was getting from the social functions, Rarity’s own boutique was swollen with requests for high-priced dresses. They never were want for food or comfort or home.

The ride back to Canterlot was peaceful and full of sights to see. Rarity seldom travelled, so going to the mountain city had been a treat, and coming back was just as sweet. Octavia smiled and humored her. Rarity remembered Trottingham was where the symphony would go to record studio sessions or practice whenever they were away from Canterlot. Octavia had probably taken this trip half a hundred times in her career. Still, she looked out of the window with Rarity, pointing out trees, lakes, and winding mountain passes.

Canterlot emerged from the mountains at last, and the train descended towards the sprawling capitol. Before long, they were among the streets, moving through the industrial area, then a large residential area, then the tall skyscrapers of the business district, and finally coming to a stop at the train platform on the far side of the city. “Goodness,” Rarity breathed deep as she stepped off of the train with her luggage. “You leave for one week and the whole city changes.”

“I think it’s just us that’s changed, love.” Octavia kissed her cheek as she led them to the parking lot and her car. The drive back to their apartment was quiet, and they arrived mid-evening. After leaving their luggage in the wardrobe, a spare bedroom Rarity had converted for both their collections of clothes, they retired to the kitchen.

“Want to order something?” Octavia asked, slipping into the breakfast bar’s high chair with a glass of water.

“On the eve of our wedding? Hardly.” Rarity smiled and cracked the fridge. She was in somewhat of a mood. “I’ll cook for you.”

“Us.” Octavia corrected. She was always critical of those sorts of things. Cutely so.

“It’s a wife’s duty to cook for her-“

“If you say husband, I’ll whip you.” Octavia growled playfully.

“We never did talk about that.” Rarity brushed her off, straightening from the fridge with a bundle of green onions. She felt like making shrimp scampi. “Which one of us is which?”

“We’re both wearing a dress to the wedding.” Octavia was more serious now, but she spoke with a contemplative look, like some old philosopher pondering the meaning of life. “Wouldn’t we both be wives?”

“I think that’s most proper. It’d be odd if I introduced you as my husband to my friends.”

“There you go with that word again.” Octavia’s smile was dangerous, and made Rarity’s heart pound. She began dicing onions, while she warmed a skillet on the stove. “I could always introduce you as my concubine whenever we go out.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Rarity feigned shock. “I don’t think I could handle the embarrassment. Why, I might just have to make the hem on your next dress a little less strong…”

“You wouldn’t.” Octavia paled visibly. Canterlot’s high society had been aflame with a picture of her scanty black lingerie at one point after a particularly nasty wardrobe malfunction.

“Ooh, I’d make sure you wore the custom piece I made you. You know, the one with the cute pink bow right below your belly button.” Rarity grinned over her shoulder. “And garters. Scandalous.”

“Oh, what have I gotten myself into?” Octavia groaned. Rarity laughed and leaned across the counter to give her wife a warm kiss.

“Something wonderful, I’d hope.” Octavia grinned at that, pulling her closer for a deeper kiss.

“Something wonderful indeed.”

“Wake up, sister.” Sweetie Belle’s voice ought not to belong in Octavia’s bedroom. Rarity blinked heavily, her vision still blurry with sleep.

“Sweetie?”

“Come on, get up!” The sound of a woman’s laughter stirred her further, to say nothing of the insistent tug at her arm. Rarity groaned at the chill early-spring air inside the apartment. She was loathe to leave her warm bed, with Octavia keeping her safe from the nightmares. But the bed was empty, and she was being hounded by the most devilish of creatures some hellish person had seen fit to name sisters. “You’re getting married today~!” If nothing else, that woke her up. Rarity couldn’t help but smile as she slid her bare legs from underneath the heavy comforter and stood in the chill spring air. Sweetie Belle gave her rear a swift smack, the hot flash of pain serving to burn away the morning grogginess.

“Ow! Sweetie!”

“Haha! That woke you up. Come on, I’ve got breakfast ready for you. And put some pants on, you’ll catch a chill.” Sweetie Belle shoved a pair of pajama pants into Rarity’s hands and skipped out of the door, leaving a grumpy Rarity behind. She stepped into the pants and straightened the loose t-shirt she had worn to bed. Padding barefoot into the hallway, Rarity stretched the last of her fatigue away and followed the scent of breakfast.

“Where’s Octavia?” Rarity groaned, scratching an itch on her neck as she sat at the breakfast bar.

“Left about ten minutes ago.” Sweetie Belle said, setting a steaming plate of eggs and hash browns in front of her. “She said it’s bad luck for the groom to see his bride on their wedding day.” Her devious smile mirrored Rarity’s as the bride-to-be set in on her breakfast. Sweetie Belle busied herself with dishes while Rarity ate, and after her plate was cleaned, her little sister urged her down the hall. “Now go shower. And take your time! Remember, you’re getting married today!”

The hot water was bracing, and Rarity took plenty of time scrubbing herself clean. Today was her wedding day. In retrospect, Rarity could hardly believe it. She had known Octavia maybe a month before they were engaged, and had only lived together for three after that. Now she was getting married, and things were finally looking up. The long years she had spent surviving on one loaf of bread at a time, working her fingers to the bone seemed almost like a dream now. Some grey haze between Ponyville and Canterlot.

She was in the city now, her boutique was prosperous, her fiancé was radiant, and her sister was happy. That was the most important part. Sweetie Belle was prospering in her studies, and visited frequently. The trial was over. Now, Rarity could be happy. Now, she could live her life.

The bathroom was laden with steam as Rarity emerged from the shower. She hastily toweled her hair as dry as she could, lest the air drying leave it frazzled and unkempt. While her body air-dried, she began working sprays and gels into her hair, getting it to a workable state. When she was dry enough, she changed into pajamas and left the bathroom. Sweetie Belle was waiting for her.

“I’ve been studying beautification lately.” She said meekly. Gone was her exuberance, replaced with an odd sense of solemnity for such a young woman. “I know today’s important, but I feel really confident. I’d be happy if you would let me work your hair and makeup.”

“Sweetie,” Rarity smiled, laying her hand on her sister’s arm. “I’d be happy to.” Her smile returned then, and she took Rarity’s hand in her own.

“Come on!” Sweetie tugged her into the bedroom, where Rarity’s vanity sat next to the small dresser. Beautification was a vain magic, but rumor had it there were magi who used spells to change flesh and bone, not just manipulate ink into and out of skin. It was a magic that wove hair into magnificent tapestries and painted makeup in such fine detail that no hand as steady as hers could ever dream of accomplishing. There was a point long ago when Rarity had tried to weave gems into Princess Cadance’s hair… The scroll she had was an old beautification spell, and while Rarity was an amateur at the language of magic, she was still in awe of the beauty the spell wrought.

Sweetie Belle worked similar spells now, though she didn’t have precious gems to work with, and she certainly didn’t brand Rarity’s skin with lewd ink drawings, as gossip had said beautification spells often did. Instead, Rarity watched her freshly-scrubbed face transformed into a thing of beauty. Her hair was smoothed and evened out, and then woven into an intricate braid, the kind that zig-zagged back and forth as it fell past her shoulders and tapered into a figure-eight turned sideways, fixed with a small red bow. Sweetie Bell worked for an hour, casting spells and guiding her glowing hands over Rarity’s face and shoulders. When she finished, Rarity looked stunning. She wondered how Octavia would react when she saw her bride looking so radiant.

“We should get going.”

“Right.” Rarity managed to tear her gaze away from the mirror as she dressed in something other than pajamas. She would change into her wedding dress at the castle with Amethyst’s help, a scant hour before the ceremony. For now, she wore slacks, tennis shoes, and a loose-fitting blouse. The dress was waiting for her at the palace. Sweetie Belle drove them, and Rarity felt the first tendrils of apprehension and nervousness wind their way into her breast. As they turned down the main road, with the seat of the princesses looming before them, Rarity began to breathe a little faster. It had all been a fancy dream until now. Before, she and Octavia had joked about their wedding arrangements, how miffed Octavia’s dour-and-devout father would be that his daughter had taken a lesbian lover for a wife. They had shared jokes back and forth about how they would be in the tabloids as Canterlot’s most famous lesbian couple, and more. But now, things were serious. She would be saying her vows in just a few hours’ time.

As they approached the castle’s gates, Rarity remembered another wedding that had taken place in this very palace, back when things were much more different than they were now. After the whole changeling ordeal had happened, Rarity had the pleasure of speaking with Princess Cadance about marriage. Being a lesbian, or at least bi-sexual, for most of her life, Rarity was curious how the throne condoned same-sex marriage. Cadance had told her something that still stuck with her to this day.

“Love doesn’t care about gender, or race. Love isn’t biased by beauty or ugliness. It isn’t some judgmental thing, cruel and hard with its iron rules and regulations. Love is free and open-minded. All that matters is that you care as intensely for the other person as you do for yourself. That’s what love is. Sharing your life with someone. Every detail of your waking day, from the first bite of your breakfast to the most shudder-inducing throes of orgasmic bliss, you and this person, whoever it may be, will share everything.”

Rarity had been in love with Twilight then. Now, things were only slightly different. She was to wed Octavia, and she felt the same way she had about Twilight. Stronger, even. She had had four months to be with this woman. They lived together, ate together, slept together, even bathed together. To say nothing of the other things they had done. From the emotional highs she had shared, listening to music and making love, to the mundane little things like sitting in the den and reading one book or another across from one another; Rarity shared everything with Octavia. And Octavia shared everything with Rarity. The two of them were compatible. They clicked. Like two gears turning together.

As the gates to Canterlot Castle opened to admit Sweetie Belle’s car, Rarity no longer felt apprehensive or nervous. Instead, excitement welled up within her chest. Amethyst was waiting on the front steps for her, all smiles and warmth.

“Are you excited?!” She bubbled, wrapping Rarity in a careful but passionate hug.

“You don’t even know.” Rarity grinned back at Amethyst as Sweetie Belle joined them.

“Let’s get started. Wow, you look incredible. Don’t tell me, Sweetie Belle… You’re studying Beautification?”

“Indeed I am.” Sweetie grinned. She and Amethyst were taking lessons from the same teachers, though Sweetie Belle was a little bit ahead of her.

“You’ll have to show me some tricks.”

“Oh Amy,” Sweetie sighed. “I’ll show you more than a few tricks.”

Laughing, the three of them ascended the steps into Canterlot Castle proper, where Rarity would be promising the rest of her life to the woman she loved. The guards showed them to the ceremony chamber, where Rarity found her breath taken away. Pinkie Pie had out-done herself. Normally, her forte’ had been confetti and streamers and balloons. But here, everything was elegant and graceful. Pinkie Pie’s style had graduated to something beautiful and heartfelt. Rarity was to be wed in the same room Shining Armor and Princess Cadance had been married, but Rarity wouldn’t have guessed it. The decorations were in red and white; red for the passion that she and Octavia shared, and white for the traditional wedding overtone.

Sixteen columns lined the approach to the round dais that they would say their vows upon, each one of them draped with rich red curtains with white trim. Brilliant bouquets of roses were affixed to each column by a wide belt of red -and-white lace, the whole setup giving the approach to the dais the appearance of a hallway of sorts. There was plenty of room for guests, with rows of chairs on either side of the columns, but with an unimpeded view of the dais. Soon enough, Rarity would be walking down that aisle, with Canterlot’s high society to left and right, and Princess Luna presiding over the ceremony.

“Rarity? You’re gawking.”

“Sorry.” She closed her jaw and forced herself to take a few tentative steps into the lavishly-appointed chamber. “I am so glad I went to Trottingham.” She would never have been able to pull this off. Pinkie Pie had performed magic here, despite her being human.

“Come on. The guests will start arriving soon. We have to get you changed.”

“Right…” Rarity allowed herself to be led away from the chamber, and into a small office that had been re-purposed as a changing room. Both the gowns for the ceremony had been made by Rarity well in advance, but she still managed to get choked up when she looked at them. Octavia’s was in the office at the other side of the marriage hall, where she most likely was as well. But here, Rarity’s stood, waiting for her to put it on.

The fabric was white as a freshly-fallen snow, and fell down to the floor in long, flowing skirts of silk. The bodice was fastened with mother-of-pearl buttons, and left her shoulders bare. The arm-sleeves stopped short of her wrists, and the veil was long enough to brush the floor. Rarity undressed, and with a blush on her cheeks, let Sweetie Belle and Amethyst help her into the gown. She finished with a garter belt, white hose, and simple heels. She felt fresh. Clean. And as she turned to look at the mirror, beautiful.

But she wasn’t the only one in the room just then. Behind Sweetie Belle and Amethyst stood someone else. With a soft gasp, Rarity whirled to look at her.

“Twilight.”

“Hello, Rarity.”

She was smiling.

Smiling.

“You look incredible.”

“Wh-what are you doing here? Today? I don’t-“

“Relax.” Twilight opened her hands in a friendly gesture. “I wanted to give you my blessing.”

“Y-your… Really?” Rarity’s heart stopped pounding, replaced instead by soft whimpers from the two women beside her. Twilight wore a simple dress that fell past her knees, black heels, and she was carrying a small box, wrapped in white paper, topped with a small red bow.

“I brought you a gift.” She said meekly, handing the box off to her. Hesitantly, Rarity took it and pulled the paper apart. Inside was a small glass case, and inside the case was a red rose fixed to a corsage.

“Twilight,” Rarity breathed. “This was your mother’s. I couldn’t possibly-“

“Something borrowed.” Twilight said sadly. “Your dress is something new. Your heels are something old.” She pointed to the case in Rarity’s hand. “There’s something borrowed. Now you just need something-“

“Blue. Right.” Rarity delicately held the case, looking up at Twilight with wide eyes. “Twilight, I’m still not sure why you’re here.”

“Like I said, I came to give you my blessing… And, to beg your forgiveness.” Twilight’s sad smile turned into a frown to mirror her voice. “I’ve done something terrible, and I see now the consequences are too much for me to bear. I’ve lost all my friends, Rarity. Word of what I did has gone around town, as you know it would have, and now everywhere I go, I’m all but ignored. I’m a stranger in my own home, Rarity…” When she looked up from the floor, Rarity could see the tears in her eyes. “I never wanted it to be like this. I know I hurt you, but in doing so, I’ve hurt myself more than I ever thought possible.”

“Well that’s what you get.” Sweetie Belle spat. Rarity glanced at her sister to see the young woman bristling with anger. “What you did was unforgivable. It’s about time everyone else sees that.”

“Sweetie!” Rarity’s anger cracked like a whip, cutting off everyone else. Sweetie’s anger turned to meekness as she looked up at Rarity. “That’s enough! Can’t you see how hurt she is?” Twilight sagged with relief, while Amethyst’s hands still hovered over her mouth. Sweetie withdrew into seething silence, while Rarity turned to the tearful purple-haired magi. “As for you,” She stepped forward, advancing until she was a few short feet away from Twilight. “What you did was terrible and hurtful.” She glanced back at her sister for just a moment. “But not unforgivable. I think it’s been long enough, and you’ve suffered plenty. I forgive you, Twilight.” Rarity smiled then, offering a slender hand to Twilight. “And I would be happy if you would attend my wedding.”

“Rarity, I couldn’t.” Twilight whimpered, looking fearfully at the two women behind Rarity. “That’s too much to ask.”

“From a jaded ex-lover, maybe.” Rarity said softly. “But not from a friend.”

Author's Note

So for my first chapter back from a month-long break, I don't feel too happily about this. I'm still kind of anxious and I feel like this isn't a very good chapter... In fact, I get the feeling many of you will hate the way this one was done. So I'm crossing my fingers on this one.

Afterword

Intimate Details - Afterword

Thank you for sticking around this long, faithful reader. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Intimate Details is, to me, actually much more significant than many of my other works. The one exception being Archmage, I suppose, but I digress. It’s been quite a journey, and after many edits, removals, and even a month-long hiatus, it seems we’ve reached the end of our journey.

It’s been one helter-skelter helluva ride, hasn’t it? I once quoted someone (might have been someone else, might even have been myself) but it was something to the effect of: “Stories are easy to start. It’s ending them that’s tricky.”

I never knew just how tricky they could be. Sure, I’ve struggled with this sort of thing in the past, but never to this extent. Truth be told, I had been thinking about the end of Intimate Details for well over two months before ever putting my fingers to the keys on the final chapter. The epilogue was no easy feat to write, and of course, I’m fraught with trepidation at publishing it. Still, I have to be confident. The story is finished, for better or worse.

Did I develop as an author? Yes. Fuck yes. I’ve learned many things over the course of writing this story; mostly about myself to be completely honest. I’ve learned some limitations I have, many of them self-imposed. Others still that are more concrete and non-negotiable.

Still. I’m glad I managed to accomplish this. When I set out to write Intimate Details, I intended it to be a passionate, relationship-centric drama. I think I’ve accomplished just that, and did so well. A marked change of pace from Archmage and Melody’s Tale, the story in Intimate Details focuses less on action and scope, and more on the development between two people. Did I master it? No. But I think I did a damn good job for my first try.

Some readers look on this and see smut. Others see romance. Others still see humans and cringe away.

When I look at Intimate Details, I see one thing and one thing only:

Progress.

Thank you for reading.

-Loyal2-1