It wasn’t until Saturday morning, around breakfast time, that Fluttershy finally managed to decompress all the events of the previous night in her head. On the table between them was the gift Luna had brought-- A trio of scale-modelled chocolate sculptures, each one of them an easily two-inch thick shell around a delicious core. Ponyville’s library, a turret of the Canterlot castle tower, and, to her delighted surprise, the hill and face of her own home- That one being filled to the brim with a swirl of yellow and pink fondant. She had laughed when they chipped open the front door with a spoon, and now the two of them were happily making their way through the house- The others would be saved for later.

As Luna studiously chiseled away at a window, a look of intense concentration on her face, Fluttershy thought back to last night, She had...

She had never been able to do anything quite like this before. Something about the situation, or the subject, or both, was guiding her hooves. Glide down the spine, press tight above the hips, sweep back up the ribs. Careful on the wings, delicate strokes- No oil, no need for this low-intensity work. Pressure was light, but firm enough that she could feel the regal silkiness of Luna’s coat beneath her own soft hooves. It was delightful, amazing, stellar, and so arousing she almost began bucking against Luna’s hind legs, which were currently pinned beneath her. Thankfully, her self-control held out.

Luna unfurled one wing to its full span, and dutifully, Fluttershy began to preen- Delicate touch at first, then firmer. The feathers realigned under the press of her hoof and the tug of her mouth, each pass leading the Princess to shiver with what she hoped was delight. Soon enough, that was confirmed- After a particularly tough spot, Luna groaned, collapsing into mixed laughter and moans as the muscle smoothed out. She hadn’t ever had anypony to be intimate with before this, but Fluttershy was finding that it wasn’t all that different from a normal massage-- You focus on what feels good for the individual, keep them safe and warm and comforted.

A few minutes passed on the first wing, before she moved to the second. This went faster, as she was accustomed to the layout now- She had never really worked on a fellow pegasus before, outside of caring for her own wings. It was gratifying, but her curiosity wasn’t letting her be satisfied just yet. She was curious about the one thing a pegasus did not have, but Luna most definitely did. Her earlier tentative explorations had proven pretty fruitful, if the display of affection had been any measure, so she decided to try again. She scooted up Luna’s back, now sitting just behind her wings, and began to work on her scalp.

Firm pressure, smooth but insistent. Don’t let the mane get snarled, try to straighten it where you can. Listen for the little purrs and contented moans, find the right spots and give them what they need. If making love was anything like this, Fluttershy was suddenly uncharacteristically confident. This, she could do. And apparently, do well. Ready to stop at the first sign of objection, she brought her strokes closer to Luna’s horn, touching at the base as lightly as she could. There was no immediate response, so she continued her massage as normal. But again and again, time after time, she moved back to the base of the horn, until finally Luna turned her head just slightly, making more contact. Now that it was clearly desired, Fluttershy risked more- Running one hoof up the side, marvelling at the texture: Velvet-smooth, while at the same time cold and solid like crystal. There was warmth, beneath the surface, and her touch seemed to bring it out. So she continued to work, bringing up her other hoof, delicately stroking the horn between them.

Minutes passed. Maybe hours. She couldn’t really tell, delirious as she was with her own excitement. But as time passed, coronas of blue light began to spring up- First delicate threads, and then full auras, and finally the occasional errant spark. It was a wondrous sight, and at this, she finally decided to take a very big risk: She leaned forward and kissed Luna’s head, just at the base of her horn. The mare sighed beneath her, and so she kissed again, a bit higher. Trailing her way up the spiral, trying to discern the taste of the magic- It was solid on her tongue, but it effervesced away in moments, leaving behind the slight tang of ozone and something fresh, bright and lovely. Her hooves, no longer needed here, returned to Luna’s shoulders, working on the muscles there, stroking their way up to the alicorn’s neck. Almost against her own will, she had started to rock her hips against Luna’s coat- Shameful, but she still did it. Or at least, she thought it was shameful, until Luna rose onto her knees, just slightly, bringing the contact between them even closer. She gasped, blushed, and kept kissing and, occasionally, licking.

Soon they had built a rhythm, Fluttershy gliding her hooves around Luna’s neck and shoulders, rocking her hips down onto the other mare’s back. In return, Luna would tilt her horn to better meet Fluttershy’s lips, and sway her back to reciprocate. They were both close, she could feel it- Even with this being the first time she had been this close to another, there was no mistaking the heavy shake of Luna’s body, or the speed at which power crackled on her horn. And she... She was soaked, desperately hoping it wasn’t bad for Luna’s coat, but totally unwilling to stop and check. She had, once, heard somepony telling a friend at Sugarcube Corner about something he had done for his unicorn coltfriend. At the time, she had just blushed and kept walking, very quickly, but she still remembered it. So she waited, breath ragged, until she was just on the peak. Luna was approaching that point along with her, and Fluttershy, hoping that nothing went wrong, pursed her lips around the tip of Luna’s horn. There was a gasp beneath her, and when she slid down just a bit, her tongue touching the very edge, the gasp turned into a groan and her world was full of heat and electricity and bright, vibrant blue. She shuddered, reaching her own finish moments later, and leaned back.

She fell off of Luna’s back, collapsing on the bed next to her. She barely had the willpower to move any more, but took her time to curl up next to her lover. She was met with the same, Luna curling up against her, and they were face to face again.
“Thank thee, my Dearest.”

“L-likewise, Luna.”

She fell asleep with the taste of jasmine on her tongue.

Meanwhile, in the present, Luna asked her why she was blushing so much.

--------

Breakfast finished, they cleaned up their various plates and utensils, standing side by side at the sinks, quietly working away. Normally, Fluttershy found such chores to be somewhat boring, or even a bit dreaded, but right now, it was a calm and peaceful way to spend time with Luna. She hadn’t expected the Princess to insist on helping, but she was just so... enthusiastic about it. Hearing that tone, seeing the shine in her eyes, led to her asking why Luna was so gung-ho to clean.
“We... That is to say, I. I do not frequently get the opportunity to do anything for myself. Living in the castle, as royalty and among royalty, means being served and cared for... Often whether I want it or not. But I miss the simple things, and enjoy working with my own two hooves.”

“Oh! Well, if you ever want to chip in like this, just let me know: I’d be glad of the extra help.”
Luna smiled at her, and she smiled back. They returned to their task, getting it done faster together. Maybe if it was like this more often, Fluttershy might actually look forward to this kind of work...

But thankfully, work was short-lived, and after they finished, the two of them relaxed in the living room, Fluttershy giving Luna a sort of lackadaisical tour, pointing out the various antiques and knick-knacks. And while Luna seemed extremely interested, both of them were starting to feel the urge to get some sun and breeze, and they could see the anxiousness in each other’s eyes.

“Luna, would... Would you like to do something, today, before we visit Rarity?”

“Certainly! Do you have something in mind?”

“Mmmh, no. But I guess we could go walking and see what strikes our fancy, right?”

Luna nodded, and her smile brightened in response. It didn’t take long for the two of them to prepare themselves, make sure everything was well-set in the house (including, of course, the animals) and then heading out across the path to Whitetail Woods. A very short gallop got them there, Fluttershy hanging slightly behind Luna and listening as the (much) older mare spoke of the forest’s history.

“We had not been out in this direction in quite some time, even before our... departure. But it really does remain one of the nicest forests in Equestria. Oftentimes a young couple or two could be found along this road, resting or hiding their affections in the shadows... I approved, of course, as it was well within my domain that lovers should have their dalliances, although I understand that is somewhat less public in the current era.”

“Well, yes, at least, I think so. I don’t... you know, have much, um, experience. In that field.”

Luna chuckled.
“Do not let it bother thee, Dear Fluttershy- You are young, after all! And if there is anypony who could show thee thine way in the wild paths of romance, it would be myself... Not that I am bragging. Am I?”

“Oh, not at all! I would love to learn more from you... If that’s not too forward.”

They stopped for a moment, sharing a kiss and a nuzzle before continuing down the path. Luna had apparently been bumped onto a tangent by this, because she started to discuss her own history.

“There had been, in fact, a time when this place was part of the Everfree! After all, it would not be cleared until... around the time I left, and your wonderful village of Ponyville wouldn’t be built for quite a time after that. Oh! Speaking of such, it had been Our hope that We could spend time with Bon-Bon, the confectioner, and her marefriend Lyra, today. It was Lyra’s idea for me to gift thee with the candy buildings, and Bon-Bon’s skill to make them. It would be proper to thank them, yes?”

“I- I think so, anyways. I honestly just like thanking everypony anyways, even for little things.”

“Mmmh, a trait befitting... Guh, I am doing it again!”

She spun around quickly, looking to Luna and seeing her grimace. Was she hurt?
“What’s wrong?”

“It seems I owe thee my apologies once more. It has always been difficult for me to maintain a... consistent track of topics for too long.”

“Oh, you were just worried about your train of thought?”

Luna looked at her, trying to figure something out.
“...Train? Well, regardless, yes: It has been a bad habit of mine that I have had the worst time breaking.”

“Luna, I don’t mind it. It’s actually nice- Someponies just drone on and on and never change the subject. This is... refreshing. I’d rather have a variety like you or Pinkie Pie, or any of our friends really, than a one-track mind like... Well, I won’t name any examples. It would be mean of me.”

Their trail had lead them towards a clearing, a particularly beautiful sunbeam slanting down onto one tree’s side. Luna stopped near it, and when she caught up, suddenly snatched her up in an embrace.
“Thank thee... Fluttershy. It has been some time, and I often worry my idiosyncrasies might... disassociate me again. Make me distant, or strange, to other ponies.”

“Well, I certainly don’t think you’re strange. And you’re really not distant...”
She blushed when she realized the accidental innuendo, but Luna just smirked and leaned in closer, pushing her gently to rest against the tree. The kiss started quickly, the two of them melting together once more. And then it became more, faster than she had expected- A peppering of kisses down her neck, a hoof gently stroking at her ribs, her wings spread flush against the tree. Fluttershy moaned into another kiss as she felt the beginning of a gliding stroke across her wings. She could have stayed like this, letting Luna please her, all afternoon.

Unfortunately...

“Hey! Get your hooves off of Fluttershy!”

“Yeah! Nopony gets ta keep our friend all cooped up all day and then pin her to a tree! T’aint right!”

“Um, girls...”

With a rustle and a spring, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had burst out of the nearby foliage, surprising Fluttershy half to death and making Luna stare for a moment. However, none of the fillies actually noticed. Their passionate meeting may have been interrupted, but the actual interrupters didn’t pay much attention to Fluttershy nor Luna.

“C’mon Sweetie Belle, just look! There’s gotta be somethin’ weird going on here.”

“What wer’ they doin’ anyways?”

“Girls... Look closer.”

It took a few more moments before Sweetie finally convinced the rest of the Crusaders to actually pay attention, as opposed to conclusion-jumping. A moment later, it seemed to click in their heads just what, or who they were seeing. Sweetie immediately bowed with surprising grace- Likely having learned a proper curtsy from Rarity. Scootaloo did the same, although it was more of a fast coltish bow than Sweetie’s display. Applebloom, however, went pale.

“Aw no. We just yelled at a Princess. Ah’m so gonna get ban-”

“Shhh! Don’t say the b-word around her!”

Sweetie facehoofed and walked closer to them, face full of apology.
“I’m really sorry, you two- We saw that Fluttershy was in her house aaalll day and we got sorta worried, and... Well, one thing led to another. But it’s alright! I know what you were doing.”

Fluttershy’s blush went supernova.
“You d-do!? But, um, Sweetie, you’re...”

“Hey! Just because I’m not a pegasus doesn’t mean I don’t know what that was.”

“Ms. Belle, art thou not somewhat young to know about... Wait, what would pegasi have to do with it?”

Sweetie looked at them in confusion.
“You were preening her wings, right?”

They exchanged a glance and a subtle nod.
“Yes, of course! Just preening. Not a single thing else.”

“Mmhmm, just getting my wings, um, adjusted! See? All better.”

Thankfully, the young mares could not read the nervous expression they both bore, and shrugged it off. Eventually the Crusaders headed off into the woods again, moving back towards town and bickering the whole time- Friendly, but bickering nonetheless. Finally, Fluttershy exhaled and slumped down.
“Being caught like that was terrifying.”

“And was that all it was, my dear?”

She hadn’t thought her blush could get any hotter, but she was quickly proven wrong there. Fluttershy chided Luna for the suggestion, and they laughed, eventually getting back to their hooves and brushing themselves off. Their meandering walk began to lead them back towards Ponyville, and when the town became visible over the hill, Fluttershy turned to Luna.

“So, um... Since that didn’t turn out quite as planned, do you have something else in mind?”

“Well, I am still interested in thanking Lyra and Bon-Bon. Perhaps we could provide some kind of gift?”

She thought about this for a moment, and then was struck with an idea.
“Oh, come with me! I know just the thing.”