It's been a long week.

The hours of labor you've put in at work, and the resulting bits, have been mostly tucked away into a secondary coin pouch that you've been keeping perched on the dresser in your guest room. The realization that you're actually going on a date with Rarity has been weighing heavily on your mind, but you've done your best to keep it hidden away from your coworkers or your few friends. Most ponies haven't even accepted you yet; going around and bragging that you intend to be on romantic terms with one is likely to bring nothing but confused stares. Maybe even jealousy. You always have to bite your tongue when you hear it mentioned, but Rarity seems to have the reputation of being one hell of an attractive mare.

Making the others jealous would be kind of fun, now that you think about it.

Your still-working digital watch reads just past six as you glance outside, seeing the setting sun cast its orange glow over the distant Swayback mountains. A multitude of thoughts are racing through your head: Do you look alright? Did she change her mind? What if you don't have enough to pay for everything? What if she doesn't want a second date?

You push your doubts and worries away to the best of your ability and grab your slightly-faded beret, wishing you had something else to wear. Something more formal. Something that doesn't scream 'I almost died in these clothes'. You shrug and grab your coin pouch, having learned quickly that your wallet will do you no good. It's weighed down with quite a few bits, most of it from this week.

With a final once-over in the too-short mirror, you head downstairs to the main library area. Twilight is sitting at a table, a small collection of books spread around with a cup of some sort of drink sitting precariously close to the edge. A record player spins in the corner of the room, a soft piano melody flowing from the over-sized, flower-shaped bell.

Twilight's ears swivel toward you at the sound of your footsteps on the stairs, and she turns to greet you with a smile.

"Oh, hey, how are you? I kind of forgot you were even here, actually."

"Hey, Twilight," you say with a smile of your own. "Busy day?"

"You could say that. I've been reading up on ancient Equestrian history, but there's not much to go on. If I had to guess, I'd say most of the information from the First Age has been lost to time. Probably during one of the territorial wars from the era. Did you know that there was another, older ruler who predates Celestia and Luna by at least several generations?"

"Can't say I did," you reply as you count the coins in your pouch once more. You're sitting on a cool three hundred bits, plus change. Hopefully it's enough...

"Yeah, I wonder who it could have been. There's mention of a powerful Alicorn, or as they were referred to back then, 'Winged Unicorns', but no mention of a name. I tried to ask Princess Celestia once, but I get the feeling she doesn't like to talk about it. Things must have been bad back then, or maybe there was...actually, you probably don't really care, huh?"

"Well...it's not that I don't care, it's just that I have other things on my mind tonight."

"Really? What kind of things? If you don't mind me asking."

"Um, well, it's...I'm kind of...meeting someone. For dinner."

"Oh, well that's nice," she says with a smile. "Where are you headed to?"

"I'm not actually sure yet." No point in trying to hide it. "It's actually more of a...date."

"A date?" Twilight hops down from her seat and walks over to you, inspecting your clothes with a questioning eye. "Well you certainly look okay. I was under the impression that there were no other humans in Equestria."

"There aren't. It's more of a date with a mare."

"A mare?"

"Has anyone ever told you you repeat things a lot?" you ask with a laugh.

"Heh, sorry. It's just surprising, that's all. I didn't think you were into ponies."

"Yeah, funny thing, neither did I. I guess life has a funny way of changing on you, huh?"

"I guess so." A mischievous look crosses her face as she pries further. "So...who's the mystery mare?"

"You're not going to believe it if I tell you."

"Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal. Who is it? Oh, is it Carrot Top? I've seen you talk with her before."

"No, no," you answer with a dismissive wave. "The only interaction I've had with her is buying some of her produce."

"Hmmm...Lily? No, Daisy! It's Daisy, isn't it?"

"Not even close. I'll give you a hint: It's someone you know."

"Someone I know..." She taps a hoof to her chin in thought. "Umm...it's not Dash, is it? Please tell me it's not Dash." Twilight nearly knocks you over as she puts a pair of hooves on your chest. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO!"

"Whoa, relax," you stick your hand out to ease her concerns. Dash? Really? You've only ever met Dash once. The whole 'not having wings' thing probably wouldn't help you much anyway. "It's not Dash! I think she'd be more trouble than I could handle...uh, no offense to Dash. Don't tell her I said that."

"Don't worry, you'd probably be right. So if it's not her..."

"She's a little more rare, if you catch my drift."

No response. Okay, it was a bad pun. You can't really blame her for not getting it. You bounce a non-existent curl at the side of your head and put on your best refined voice.

"Surely you'd recognize her mannerisms, darling."

Twilight's eyes suddenly go wide. Oh yes, she understood that one.

"Rarity?! You're going on a date with Rarity?!"

"That'd be her, yeah" you can feel your face flushing. It's probably noticeable.

"Oh, wow. I don't think she even came to mind when I was considering potential dates! Uh, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just a little surprising. How did this come about, exactly?"

You tell her about how you took Rarity to the fabric store so she could buy a bunch of (expensive) supplies, and how happy she was with them. You also tell her about how you'd been mulling the decision over for a few weeks now, afraid to actually ask, before finally working up the courage.

"So I take it tonight's the big night, then."

"Mmhmm," you confirm with a nod, "that it is. I'm more than a little nervous, as you can imagine. I feel like some love-struck teenager all over again."

Twilight sits down on her haunches and floats her drink over, taking a long sip of it.

"I guess it makes sense. Rarity's the one you've seen the most, right? Besides me, anyway."

"Yeah, she was at my bedside every day when I was at the hospital. We spent a lot of time talking there. I mean, you know we've been good friends, her and I, but after Celestia failed to get me back home I started rethinking some things. I guess it's just been a slow process of seeing her as someone I could potentially love, you know? If I'm gonna be stuck here for, potentially, the rest of my life, then I should start trying to obtain some degree of normalcy."

Yeah, normalcy. Odd way to put it.

"Erm, as 'normal' as a human dating a pony could be, anyway."

Twilight laughs softly, shaking her head.

"I suppose so. You know you're gonna get a lot of strange looks tonight, don't you?"

"That goes without saying. It's, uh, not really something I can avoid." You rub the back of your neck nervously as you imagine entire crowds of ponies staring your way. You really hope it doesn't make Rarity feel too uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you worry. That was a stupid thing to say."

"Don't worry about it, Twi. I'm used to the stares and sideways glances by now. Mostly, anyway."

Your conversation is interrupted by the sound of small claws clacking against the floor. A few seconds later, Spike appears from a side room carrying a scroll and a pair of books.

"Here ya go, Twilight. This is all we had on pre-unity Second Age stuff." The green and purple baby dragon notices you and sticks his clawed hand out. "Oh, hey! What's going on?"

You grab his small hand in your own, shaking it with a slight grip. Even though he's only thigh-high, he's quite strong for such a little guy.

"Hey yourself, little man. I was just about to head out. What have you been up to?"

"You know, the usual. Twilight's convinced she's going to need all this stuff, so as her 'number one assistant', I'm helping her out." He elbows your knee and speaks just above a whisper. "If you ask me, I think she's just wasting her time on stuff she'll never need."

"Spike! Of course I'm going to need these books, pre-unity Second Age history is a lost art! Star Swirl the Bearded wouldn't have dismissed them!"

"Just don't worry about it too much, Twi. You remember what happened the last time you worried about your studies that hard, don't you?"

"That was different, Spike. I'm not going to throw Ponyville into chaos again."

Wait, what?

"Again?"

"Uhh...it's a long story. Besides, you have things to do!" she says with a nervous laugh, opening the door for you with a burst of purple magic. "Places to go, things to see, ponies to date, all that kind of fun stuff!"

Spike gives you a confused look, unsure of what he just heard.

"Did she say 'ponies to date'?"

"Erm...yeah...that she did."

"A ladies man, huh?" he asks with a laugh. "Who's the lucky lady?"

You decide to just come out and say it, figuring that any hesitation will only make you sound unsure of it.

"Rarity. It's Rarity."

"Really?" A semi-menacing look crosses his face, or as close to menacing as you can get from a baby dragon. It's still kind of adorable. "Don't go thinkin' you can elbow in on my girl," he says as he pokes your knee with a finger claw. Twilight giggles behind him, rubbing a hoof over his head.

"Relax, Casanova. He's an adult, he can do as he pleases."

"Yeah, I guess so...but still, I've got my eye on you."

"Spike, stop being like that. There's another pair of books downstairs that I need you to get, a couple of historical accounts by, um," she puts a hoof over her mouth and coughs out a nonsensical name, then puts on a fake smile.

"...by who now?"

"Oh look, it's getting late, you'd better find those before it's too dark!" Twilight's horn flares with energy and teleports Spike down to the basement, exhaling as she does so.

"Hey!" you hear him shout from downstairs.

"Sorry," she apologizes to you, laughing quietly. "You know how he gets about Rarity. He'll get over it."

"I know, I had a thing for an older girl when I was his age, too. It's just a silly puppy-love kinda thing. Just don't want him hating me for it or anything."

"Nah, Spike's not one to hate anypony. Anyperson. Whatever. Besides, you have a date to look forward to, and I've kept you here too long as is. So, uh...yeah, good luck. Rarity can be a hoof-full sometimes, but she's got a good heart. Just be weary of her dramatics and you'll be okay."

"Don't worry," you reassure her, bending down slightly, "I know full-well what she can be like. It actually grows on you after a while." Mostly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm gonna need all I can get." You put your arms around her in a hug and she returns the gesture, briefly straightening your beret out with her magic.

"Any time. While I'm certainly surprised at the turn of events, I think you'll do just fine. She really does seem to enjoy being around you, at least from what I've noticed." She frowns at your faded fatigues, the digital camouflage pattern becoming less camouflaged and more 'spreading white spots'. It's all you've had to wear, be it at work or at home. The wear and tear on them is evident.

"You should really ask her to make you some new clothes. Those things aren't gonna last forever."

"Noted. I wouldn't mind some jeans and a shirt again...but yeah, I better get goin'. Have a good night, if I don't see you before you're asleep."

"Thanks. Just try to be yourself out there. If Rarity's found an attraction to you like you say, then she's done so because of who you are when you're with her. So no theatrics, alright?"

"Sure thing. Take care, Twi." You stand back up and walk out the door, closing it behind you.

You take a deep breath, focusing your mind on the night ahead, and start off down the dirt road toward the Carousel Boutique.

==========

You're thankful for the approaching night having a bit of a chill to it -- temperatures have been unusually warm lately. The cool air plays against your face in a soft breeze as the last rays of sunlight peek over the horizon, a perfect night for your impending date.

A date that you still can't believe is really happening. Dating a pony -- even a refined, gorgeous one like Rarity -- is not something that has come to you easily. The first time that you had an inkling of a hint that you'd even consider such a thing in first place, your mind fought against the very notion. 'This is not normal,' the little voice in your head would tell you. 'This goes against everything you've ever learned'. But slowly, ever so slowly, things started to change. You saw Rarity not just as a pony, a creature with four legs that looks nothing like you, but as, well...a person. A person with her own hopes and dreams, her own fears and worries. All of those things seemed very human to you. She may walk on four legs, use magic, and come up to your chest at full height, but still...she's her own woman. Or mare, rather. And she obviously finds something attractive in you as well, or she'd never have agreed to this date in the first place.

It still doesn't do anything to ease the butterflies in your stomach. A first date is a first date, regardless of age...or species. All of the usual questions bounce around in your head as you make your way down Mane Street and turn the corner onto Withers Court.

The unique shape of the Boutique looms ahead of you, down the road.

"Interest you in some fresh flowers?" A mare's voice calls out to you. You turn to see who asked, spotting an off-white earth pony with two-toned red and pink mane and tail.

"Gotta close up shop soon, but everything you see here is still fresh! Had Daisy pick 'em not even an hour ago!"

Now that you think about it, a bouquet of flowers would be a nice gesture. It would definitely win some points with Rarity. You step over and offer the flower pony a smile. She returns it without hesitation -- you're just relieved that she isn't freaking out at the sight of you.

"Some flowers sound good, actually," you tell her as you eye her bundles of every color.

"Good! Oh, hey, I've seen you around before. You're that, um..."

"Human."

"Right. I see you walking to work sometimes. At least, I assume it's work, what with the tool belt and such."

"That's exactly it, actually. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."

"Roseluck," she points to the single, red rose cutie mark adorning her thigh. "Most ponies just call me Rose, though."

"Nice to meet you, Rose," you extend your hand and she gives you a confused look. Ah, right. No hands means no handshakes. You form your fingers into a fist instead, and she smiles as she bumps her hoof against it.

"I'm actually headed out for a date, and some flowers would be perfect."

"Aaaah, a little romanticism, huh? So what does she like? Maybe I can help you pick something."

"Well, she really likes purple and blue. And pink. And she's kind of high-class...does that help any?"

"Hmmm..." she kicks at the dirt in thought, looking through her collection. "Okay, how about this: We'll go with some pink roses, some blue and purple iris, and some white lilies for contrast. Give me a sec and I can build it for you."

"I'm not sure what those are besides the roses, but yeah, I'm open to it." Your only experience with flowers in the past has been buying expensive bundles online for old girlfriends. Needless to say, it's not your strong point.

"Alright, let's see here..." You watch as she quickly arranges a bouquet, switching the colors around with her hooves and mouth until the entire collection pops with vibrancy. It all takes less than a minute. To say you're impressed would be putting it lightly...

"How does this look? I can wrap 'em up or put them in a vase if you like. Oh! I almost forgot the most important part."

She thrusts the flowers out at you.

"Smell."

You lean in and give the bouquet a deep inhale, pleased at the aroma. They certainly smell fresh, and each kind of flower gives off a different scent.

"Smells beautiful," you say with a smile.

"Thank you! You can imagine how hard it is to avoid eating some of my own product..." It never crossed your mind, actually. But then, you're not a pony. "...or maybe not. Just take my word for it."

"I'll do that," you laugh politely as you break out your coin pouch. "How much for the bouquet?"

"For the roses and the lilies? We'll call it twenty bits. The irises are free. Need to use 'em anyway."

"Well thank you, I appreciate that." You fish out a pair of ten-bit coins and place them on the stall's counter. Rose sweeps the coins into a drawer with a smile and wraps your collection of flowers in a swirling, decorated length of pink tissue paper.

"Thanks for your business, it's very much appreciated!" You take the flowers from her hooves, giving her a nod and a smile of your own. "Oh, and good luck with your date tonight!"

"Thanks, Rose. I'll be sure to come back in the future if I need some flowers. You have a good night now, alright?"

"Sure thing!" she waves as you walk off, flowers tucked under your arm.

The Carousel Boutique looms ahead of you, looking strangely ominous in the fading light. Just your nerves acting up on you. You rehearse what you're going to say to her a few times, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it. If Rarity were here, she'd tell you to just be yourself. Easier said than done.

With a final burst of determination you walk to the large, purple door ahead of you, chest puffed out and head held high. You give three quick, loud knocks. A reply comes back a few seconds later, and your bravado instantly turns into first-date jitters.

"I'll be right there! Just a moment!"

Your heart starts pounding faster and you lick your lips nervously, feeling them starting to become dry and cracked even with the cool weather.

"Calm down", you try and tell yourself. It doesn't help much.

The door unlocks with a loud 'clack' and swings inward.

"Oh, hello darling!" Rarity closes her eyes in that adorable way you've always liked and smiles happily. "I was wondering when you were going to show up. Or if you were going to at all. Silly me."

"Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world," you tell her with a warm smile, bending down and pulling the bouquet of flowers from behind your back. "This is for you, madam." Her eyes light up as she sees the flowers.

"Such a gentleman! My, these are simply beautiful! Really, darling, you didn't have to get me flowers!"

"Call me old-fashioned," you reply with a shrug.

"Aren't you just the sweetest thing?" She pulls the flowers up to her nose with a soft chiming of magic, inhaling deeply at the smell. "Oh my, these are wonderful."

You watch as she sniffs them again, delighted that your last-minute idea panned out. You've never met a woman who didn't like flowers. You start to say something -- only to have your train of thought derailed as Rarity lifts the flowers to her mouth and takes a small bite, multi-colored petals sticking out from between her lips as she chews. You find yourself staring with your mouth open.

"Hmm?" she asks innocently.

"Uhh, well, I guess I wasn't really expecting you to, you know...eat them," you laugh nervously. "I probably should have, huh? Pony and all that."

Rarity swallows down her mouthful of petals and blushes with embarrassment.

"I suppose such a thing might be viewed as strange by you, wouldn't it? Oh dear, I do apologize! I meant no disrespect, I assure you!"

"It's alright, Rarity, no harm done. To me, anyway. The flowers might not agree." You chuckle at the bouquet hovering in the air, now missing a small chunk from one side.

"Look at me, feasting on gifts while you stand outside. Please, come in, darling."

The Boutique is mostly dark, all of the lights turned out except for a pair off to the left.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. I'm going to put these in some water so they'll stay fresh."

"So you can eat them later?" you ask with a laugh.

"But of course! Unless you'd prefer me not to, that is."

"Hey, they're for you. You do what you like with 'em."

"Fabulous! I shall be right back."

You take a seat on the large, red couch around the corner, shaking your head at the unexpected occurrence. Of course she'd eat the flowers. They're vegetarians! That's one memory you're never going to forget, for sure.

The room is impeccably well-kept, as you'd have expected from someone like her. Her normally crowded work space now stands devoid of ponnequins, with the exception of a single, taller one draped in a blue cloth. Probably for an important client, you'd guess.

"There, that's better," Rarity says as she trots toward where you're seated. Her small, orange work glasses are perched on her nose. "You know, darling, you could really do with a new outfit. That faded camouflage is simply unbecoming of you."

"Yeah, I know...it's all I have, though. I hope that's okay. I really wanted to wear something nicer, but...yeah."

"It's funny you should say that..." She leaves the sentence hanging in the air as the steps over to the covered ponnequin in front of you. "...because I just may have been working on something for you. Something to replace that well-worn outfit you've been wearing for the last two months."

"You have?" You sit up straighter and lean forward, wondering if the covered design is actually something for you.

"Indeed! Perhaps you'd be more comfortable in, say...this?"

She yanks the concealing cloth down with her teeth, revealing a full-sized mannequin wearing a tuxedo.

"Oh...oh wow...I'm not sure what to say..." Even from just looking at it, you can tell that it's masterfully made.

"No need to say anything until you try it on, darling!" She floats the suit over, a matching set of black pants with a belt, a jacket, a light blue dress shirt, and a black tie. There's even a pair of shiny, black dress shoes with black socks. The ensemble lands in your outstretched arms and you marvel at the unexpected gift.

"I shall take my leave to slip into something more fitting for tonight's occasion. In the mean time, why don't you get dressed? Obviously it's not going to be a perfect fit, as I haven't had the chance to take any measurements, but it should suit you just fine for now. Any alterations can be always be made later." Rarity trots off while humming a happy tune, calling out as she reaches the stairs.

"I hope everything is satisfactory, darling! I'll return shortly."

You quickly get out of your old fatigues, boots and beret. Just the thought of having something new to wear is amazing. To your surprise, everything seems to fit almost perfectly. The shirt is just slightly too big and the pants are an inch too long, but it's a small matter. Rarity managed to create an entire, formal suit with just skill and guesswork. It's very impressive.

You notice that the cufflinks on your wrists are small, blue gems cut into Rarity's cutie mark shape. A calling card, you'd guess. The same shape is engraved into your small, silver belt buckle. You let out a long, low whistle as you step over to a mirror, examining your reflection. You look sharp, no doubt about it.

"Generosity," you say to yourself with a disbelieving laugh. "Yeah, that's for damn sure."

Rarity comes back down just as you finish inspecting yourself. She's applied her blue eyeshadow, as you'd expected, but what you didn't expect was what she's wearing: A high-cut, dark purple dress with swirling black and gold accents. 'Eye-catching' isn't the word. It doesn't even begin to describe it.

It's a nice change of pace from the gaudy affairs you usually see her dressed in for special events. It's so good-looking, in fact, that you completely fail to realize your mouth is hanging open.

"I take it you approve of this little ensemble, hmm?" she asks with a smile, hiding a laugh behind her hoof.

"You could say that, yeah. You look...beautiful. Wow."

"Well thank you, darling! Oh, it's really nothing special. Just something I threw together over a few days with some extra materials."

"You just 'threw that together'? Come on..."

"Honestly! It's not as ornate or multi-layered as I usually try to make my dresses, but it will do for tonight."

"I think it looks great on you. Oh, and my suit..." You mess with your tie, trying to get it feeling right. You always did have trouble with ties.

"Now hold still, darling, I need to get a feel for how it fits." She floats her work glasses over and walks around you slowly, occasionally feeling along your leg or thigh or waist, trying to figure out what needs work and what doesn't. You really can't complain about Rarity putting her hooves all over you -- you'd let her do it regardless.

"Hmmm...the hem could be moved up just a tad on your pants, and your shirt is about half a size too large...but other than that, I think I chose quite well, don't you?"

"Definitely. I'm impressed, to be quite honest. You made all of this just by eye?"

"Indeed I did! When one has been dealing with measurements as long as I have, it's inevitable that such things become second nature. Even if you're not a pony," she adds with a refined giggle. "Do you like it? I know you bought me all of those materials out of the goodness of your heart, but I just had to do something in return, you see. And since we'd already scheduled our little rendezvous tonight, I thought something formal would do nicely. In fact, the silk that lines your jacket is the same royal purple that you bought for me!"

You lift one side of your jacket and rub it between your fingers, just now realizing that the liner isn't black, but a dark purple. It feels very nice, too. She definitely knows what she's doing.

"I don't think 'like' is a strong enough word. I'm gonna sleep in this suit, I swear! Thank you so much, Rarity. This means a lot to me. Really."

She stands up on her hind legs and rests her hooves on your chest, a wide grin on her face.

"If anyone has deserved a gift, darling, it's you. The fact that you even worked up the courage to announce your feelings to me says a lot about who you are. Besides what I'd known of you before that, anyway. I think our night is off to quite the successful start, wouldn't you say?"

"Without a doubt," you respond. You wrap your arms around her in a hug and give her your warmest, most sincere smile. Those big, blue eyes stare back at you, and you wish you could give her a kiss...but that might be pushing things too quickly. Regretfully, you let her go and brush your jacket off.

"So, where'd you pick for dinner tonight? Somewhere nice?"

"Not just a nice place, but the nicest place I think we could afford. Have you ever heard of Chez Gourmet Gaston? In Manehattan?"

"Can't say I have, but if it's in Manehattan it's gotta be a classy place. Hopefully they don't charge me an arm and a leg to eat there, though."

She gives a dismissive hoof-wave at the idea.

"I said 'nice', darling. Not 'rich'. I assure you, the prices are quite reasonable."

"Fair enough. Reservations are made, I take it?"

"But of course! I wasn't sure when you'd be showing up so I just made them for nine o'clock, if that's alright. That gives us plenty of time to get to Manehattan and perhaps do a little sightseeing before dinner. What do you think?"

"Sounds good." You offer your arm, palm open, and bend at the waist dramatically. "Shall we be on our way, madame Rarity?"

"Why, that would be simply fabulous, good sir," she replies with a giggle. "Just promise me you won't speak like that the entire time."

"No guarantees," you joke, stopping momentarily so she can flick off the lights with a brief burst of blue magic.

"Right then. Let's be on our way, darling! The night is young and so are we."

==========

As it turns out, pegasus taxi is not your favorite method of transportation. Maybe if the wagon had, oh, an enclosed front half, or wasn't supported entirely by a single pegasus of questionable aptitude. You spent the entire ride white-knuckled, holding onto your seat for dear life. Rarity found it amusing, but then, she's used to it. Didn't help that the seat belts were made for ponies, and thus only fit you if you squeezed your legs into them, leaving you awkwardly hunched over. In the future, you told yourself, you're only going to take ground taxis if at all possible. At least then you won't have the specter of a thousand-foot fall hanging over you the entire time.

The flight took just over an hour -- Manehattan is further away than you'd realized. The taxi ride itself cost you nearly sixty bits! You're just happy to be on the ground again.

"Really, darling, it wasn't that bad! It's just something you have to get used to." Rarity places a hoof against your waist as the taxi takes off with another set of passengers, leaving you mercifully behind. Street lanterns light up the area around you with a dim, orange glow. The tall silhouettes of Manehattan skyscrapers loom over you, dotted with lit-up windows. The amount of ponies in the area is astounding -- more than you've ever seen in one place before.

"Easy for you to say," you reply as you straighten your tie and put your jacket back on, having taken it off during the flight as nervous sweat built up on your body despite the cooler air at altitude. "You take this kind of thing all the time. Me? I'm just thankful I didn't plummet to my death."

Rarity scoffs at your complaint with a roll of her eyes.

"Always the worrier, I swear. You do realize we have to take one on the way back, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know. Trying not to think about it."

"It's alright, darling. Mommy will hold your hand so you don't get scared." She laughs quietly and pokes your thigh.

Manehattan very much reminds you of the Manhattan you knew in your old life -- well, knew from TV and movies, anyway. You'd never actually visited the place, but still, it had to be similar. Odd how they share the same name, just one letter off. It's something you've come to expect from Equestria.

"I didn't know ponies were so...industrious. I think that's the word."

"It is quite impressive, isn't it? I haven't been to Manehattan in nearly a year! It's quite nice to be back, I'd forgotten how...alive...the city feels. I still prefer the peace and solitude of Ponyville, of course, but there's a certain charm to Manehattan that I can't quite put my hoof on. Just wait until you see Canterlot! Perhaps we'll get to visit there some time, hmmm?"

"Does it involve a pegasus taxi?"

"Oh come now, darling. We'll break you of your fear eventually. Failing that, we can always tie you to the roof."

"I'm not really one for being tied down," you joke, hoping the double entendre isn't lost on her. Or that she doesn't take it the wrong way. Maybe that was a dumb thing to say.

"Oh I don't know, I think being tied down could be quite exciting..." She gives you a wry smile and swishes her long, curled tail. She laughs that refined laugh you've heard so often, and it makes you feel much better. It also gets your mind working, imagining some inventive new uses for those long lengths of silk she has around the shop...

"Now settle down, darling. Such a thing is not proper conversation for a first date. At least, not yet. Buy me a few glasses of wine and I may reconsider it." She sure is a tease. At least it means she's comfortable with being frank with you. That's a start!

"So," you force back the impending fantasies, "we've got an hour until our reservations, right? If there's a line we may want to give ourselves a good twenty minutes just in case."

"I believe that's a sound idea, yes. What would you like to see? There's the art district, and the Celestial Unity building, and--"

"What was that second one? The Celestia something?"

"Celestial Unity building. It's the tallest building in Manehattan, and a simply marvelous view from the top. Gated, of course, so you needn't worry about falling," she adds with a giggle.

"That sounds cool. I guess it would be like the Empire State Building or something."

"The what now?"

"Oh, nothing. Just something from where I come from. Tall building."

"Ah, I see. Yes, I suppose it would be. If we make haste we can get to the top and have a good ten minutes to spend up there before we have to head back down. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great," you reply.

She smiles at you and puts a hoof around your waist, walking alongside you as you pass through the throngs of ponies trotting down the cobblestone streets. It's certainly a very nice place, but you can't help but feel like you're the center of attention. If the fact that you're a foot taller than most ponies wasn't enough to draw attention to you, the glamorous mare at your side sure is. You're met with your fair share of awkward looks and envious eyes. Rarity obviously notices, glancing up at you occasionally with a reassuring smile. Her eyes, though, betray a sense of compassionate worry for you. You don't mind the strange looks so much these days -- you've become used to it, and as far as you're concerned, they can shove their judgmental stares up their asses. Rarity, though...you feel bad for her. She's someone with a reputation to uphold, and being seen with you in the busiest place you've ever been to can't be a good thing for her. More than the stares, it's the thought of making her uncomfortable that bothers you.

"What the hell is that guy supposed to be?" you hear a stallion ask someone as you pass by. Well, at least they can tell you're a man. That's...a start.

"Is he with a pony? I swear I've seen that unicorn somewhere before." Another pony asks her friend. You feel like shrinking down until you're invisible...at least then you wouldn't have to put Rarity in this situation. Maybe Manehattan was a bad idea.

"Hey, Rarity?" you ask her quietly.

"Yes?"

"Umm...maybe the Celestial whatever isn't the best idea...we can just wait near the restaurant or something."

Rarity gives you a concerned look and pulls you aside, into the lobby of a large hotel. You round the corner toward some red, elegant chairs set out as part of a social room. Rarity motions you to a seat, which you regretfully take. She takes the one next to you, moving it closer so she can be right next to you. You don't say anything for a time, simply staring down at the floor and bouncing your leg nervously.

"Are you alright, darling?"

"I don't know," you reply honestly. "I knew we'd stand out, but actually being here kind of seems harder than I thought it'd be. It's not the looks that I'm getting, I'm used to that by now. Mostly. It's...well, I know you're a mare with a reputation to keep, and if everyone's looking at me then they're also going to be looking at you..."

"You're concerned for me?" Her voice is heavy with concern, bordering on surprise.

"Well yeah, I mean you're well-known, or you're trying to be. I feel like I'm causing you to....I don't know. What are they gonna say when they figure out who you are?" You lean back in your chair and exhale sharply. "So much for being the confident alpha-male and shit. I must look pathetic right now."

Rarity's demeanor becomes very serious, and she grabs your face between her hooves and looks into your eyes.

"I want you to listen to me, darling. Do you understand?"

You nod slowly.

"Good. All of these ponies here? I don't care about them. If each and every one of them walked into my shop tomorrow, I would not recognize a single one of them. I am here, tonight, with you. Not them, you. I am here with you because I've seen the man that you are deep down, and I think he's wonderful. When you asked me out last week, I was overjoyed at the prospect of getting to know more about you. Do you know I watched you walk off after I'd shut the door? You were positively beaming with joy! That is the man I want to see tonight, the one who looked like he was walking on clouds. Okay?"

"Yeah," you say in reply, still feeling like you've failed yourself. "I understand." It's been a long time since you were on a first date, but you're pretty sure moping isn't very attractive. Then again, you've never been in a situation like this.

"And furthermore, I do not care a single bit's worth about what they think of me. When will I ever see them again? I guarantee you they've already forgotten about us. If they don't like it, if they don't care for you or me, then they can stuff it in their saddle bags! Now," she straightens your tie out with a flaring of magic, "if we want to get up to that observation level before we're late, we should really get going. And please, don't fret it, darling. We all have our moments of self-doubt, it's what makes us, ah...well, I would say 'equine' but I suppose that doesn't apply to you, now does it?"

"Not really, no," you reply with a soft laugh. Rarity's little pep-talk has at least calmed your nerves a bit.

"There, you see? Feeling better already. Miss Rarity knows what she's talking about."

"I'm sorry," you say with a shake of your head, "I feel like an idiot for acting like that. You're right, it's our night, not theirs. If they want to be jealous of the glamorous girl at my side, then let 'em be jealous."

"Precisely, dear. You're with the mare of your dreams, or so I've heard. Try not to focus on the negatives. It's quite unbecoming of you. Doesn't match your suit in the least!"

"Thanks, Rarity. I appreciate it. Guess I just needed a bit of a confidence boost, huh?"

"I suppose you did. It happens to be the best of us, no need to dwell on it! Let's 'get a move on', as Applejack would say."

You put your arms around her and squeeze her against you, resting your head on her shoulder. The scent of lavender from her mane is oddly calming, and you wonder if she always smells this nice. You feel her run a hoof through your short hair, wishing you could stay like this with her all night.

"Come now, darling. We've still got a ways to go."

You help her down from the chair and resume your place at her side, leaving the lobby behind you. A renewed sense of calm overcomes you, and you look down at the unicorn at your side with a warm smile.

'This night is for us' you repeat to yourself. It's a good feeling.

==========

"Mornin', Pipe." You don your yellow hard hat and recheck your tool belt, making sure everything is in its place.

"Hey! Mornin', pal. Another day, huh?" The brown earth pony dons his own gear, including an orange and black safety vest. It even has his name stitched over a pocket -- no doubt courtesy of his wife.

"Yeah, another day," you say with a deep yawn. Five hours of sleep is not conducive to witty banter.

"Somethin' wrong? You sound like you slept on a bed of nails."

"Huh? Oh, nah, I'm fine. Just tired. Only got a few hours of sleep last night, but I'll be alright."

"Trouble sleepin' or somethin'? It happens."

"Heh, not really. More like I spent several hours with with Rarity last night..."

"Oh. Ooooooh. I see. Heh heh." Pipe Wrench nudges you with his elbow. "If you're gonna lose sleep, might as well do it the right way, huh?"

"Definitely," you reply with a laugh of your own, nonchalantly adding, "Yeah, I'd say I chose my future wife pretty well."

He perks up at the word and gives you a questioning look. You definitely have his attention.

"Did you say 'future wife'? As in, marriage wife?"

"That I did."

"Well shit! That's great, pal! When's the weddin'?"

"Umm...I haven't actually proposed to her yet. The engagement necklace is still being worked on, probably will be for some time. You should see it, it's gonna be damn awesome. Expensive, but awesome."

"Oh. Still, that's pretty great, huh? Now you'll get to be a married schmuck like me! Remember," he leans in and puts a hoof to his mouth, barely above a whisper, "the answer is always 'Yes, dear. Whatever you say, dear'. Ha ha!"

"Yeah, thanks, I'll remember that next time I want to turn in my man card."

"Hey, I'm just sayin'. So how ya been, bud? Haven't seen ya in, oh...a week now, I think it was?" Working without Pipe Wrench around has been tedious at best. His skills at organization are really second to none, especially after the debacle that temporary pegasus foreman was responsible for. Things have moved much slower since he's been gone.

"I've been alright. Where did you take off to, anyway? Wasn't the same without your pretty face here every morning."

"Shit, you say that like you mean it. You should tell the missus about that, she'd get a good laugh! I swear, married my mother in Dazzle's clothing. Wouldn't be the same without her. But yeah, Dazzle and I took off to see her parents for a week up in New Olneigh. Her mother's a sweet heart, but her father is kind of a prick. Always has been. I dunno, maybe our personalities just clash," he shrugs. "Still, managed to get through the week without jumpin' on him and poundin' his face in, so, you know, that's always good!"

"It's the small victories that matter," you laugh, imagining Pipe's big frame throwing himself on top of some douchebag stallion. You certainly wouldn't want to get in a fight with him.

"That's what I always say."

"It was a complete mess without you here, man. Some asshole pegasus foreman kept screwing up and misreading the blueprints. Would you believe we had to reset that outer wall three times? God damn."

"Yeah, so I heard," Pipe says with a nod, chewing on his lip. As long as you've known him he's been a pretty relaxed kinda guy, but he takes his work very seriously. No doubt he had some choice words for the temporary replacement.

"Well don't you worry 'bout that no more, pal. Ol' Pipe Wrench is here to fix his fuck-ups. After the verbal beat-down I gave him yesterday he ain't gonna be workin' for this company any time soon."

"Good to hear." You slap your hard hat to make sure it's snug, and grab the head of your hammer. "Let's get started, huh?"

"Might as well." Pipe lifts a whistle that's dangling around his neck and gives a sharp, shrill blow. "LISTEN UP, YA GREASEBALLS!" The other ponies stop what they're doing -- a good work force of ten others today -- and start gathering round. You greet the ones you know, nodding to the ones you've never seen.

"Oh shit, Pipe's back!" one of them exclaims.

"Ya damn right I'm back, Hacksaw! And don't ya forget it, neither! If you had two brain cells to rub together you'd be dangerous."

"Love ya too, honey," Hacksaw calls back.

Pipe laughs and looks over the work roster, going over his usual early-morning checklist.

"Alright...looks like twelve of us in total today. That's good. We should be able to fix that asshole's wall and complete most of the insulation and plumbing for this side of the complex. Don't worry about the other half of the buildings we're puttin' up, those can wait until after we're fully finished with these ones. If the contractors don't like it, they can kiss my bulbous ass."

"Good thing you've got ass enough for all of us, Pipe!"

"Yeah you'd know all about my ass, wouldn't you, Dead Lift? I've seen ya lookin' at me with those bedroom eyes, ya prick."

The gathered ponies laugh at the back-and-forth banter. Working for Pipe Wrench has always been a better job than anything you've had in the past, even if it involves a lot of hard labor. Working with guys you know makes the work go faster, and Pipe always treats his employees fairly. He encourages pranks and jokes; it helps relieve the stress inherent with the job. It's worked so far.

"We have a couple new guys today. Who's, uh...Slate and Quick Fix?"

Two of the ponies raise their hooves, white hard hats on their heads.

"Which one's which?"

"I'm Slate," the first -- a grey pegasus with maroon eyes and a matching mane and short-cropped tail -- responds.

"Quick Fix" the other answers, a white earth pony with amber eyes and a brown tail answers. You're surprised at his coloring; most earth ponies have muted or earthy colors, but he's bright white, like you've only ever seen in unicorns.

"Alright, nice to meet ya guys. I'm Pipe Wrench, I run this place. That means don't give me any guff and we'll get along just fine, as my regular guys can attest to. Where'd you two transfer in from?"

"Stalliongrad, sir," they answer in unison. Pipe raises his eyebrows at their response.

"You two brothers or somethin'?"

The two new ponies look at each other with confused looks.

"No sir, we are not of relations," Quick Fix answers.

"Huh. Well, couple of quick rules before we get started. One: Do what you're told, when you're told. We run a tight ship up here, and we're expected to get shit done." They nod to show they understand. "Two: Pay attention to what you're doing. We ain't workin' on any skyscrapers or nothin' like that here in Ponyville, but that don't matter. If you don't pay attention, then you could end up hurting yourselves or somepony else. And if you drop a steel beam on my head, I swear to Celestia I will haunt your dumb asses for the rest of your lives. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Three: Don't call me 'sir'. I work for a living, damnit. Just call me Pipe, everypony else does!"

Pipe stares down at the duty roster again, making sure he didn't miss anything.

"Oh, nearly forgot. You new guys are probably askin' yourselves who this weird-lookin' guy is standing next to me. He just so happens to be Equestria's only human, and I expect you to show him the same respect you would me. Got it? Don't give him any shit because of how he looks. He's a good, hard worker. He may not be able to fly or use magic, but none'a us earth ponies can do that weird shit anyways. He's good for lifting loads that might be too heavy for some'a you guys, and he's got a useful height advantage. So don't hesitate to ask him for help, alright? He's been here for a good while, he'll do right by ya."

You tip your hard hat to the two new ponies and they nod in response. It's always hard to judge new workers -- some of them get along with you fine, some of them seem to have something against anything that isn't a pony. Or, hell, isn't their exact breed of pony. They come and go, though. The good ones stick around.

"Any questions?" Pipe asks. No one raises a hoof. Good, maybe they paid attention. "Alright. You should know your positions for today. If you're not sure, it's tacked up on the announcement board near the office shack. Work smart, work safe, and work hard. That's all I got, get ta work!"

The gathered ponies walk off to their assigned duties, talking amongst themselves. Pipe folds his checklist and tucks it into a large table covered in blueprints and schematics.

"Never get tired of hearing that speech," you tell him with a laugh.

"Yeah, it serves its purpose. You gotta be blunt with some ponies, or it'll just bounce off their thick skulls. Luna knows we get enough that crap as is, huh?"

"No kidding. Anything special you need me to do, or should I just join up with one of the groups?"

"Hmm...you mind helpin' out the new guys? You've been here long enough to show 'em the ropes. They should be teamed up with Long Haul, if I'm remembering the roster right."

"Sure thing. Lemme know if you need anything."

"You know it, pal. Try not to be too hard on 'em, huh? Ha ha!" He sticks his hoof out and you bump it with your fist.

You walk off to the the gathered group, the three of them discussing and gesturing toward the half-finished building in front of them.

"Hey, how ya doin', guys?" you tip your hat at the newcomers.

"Doin' alright," Quick Fix answers. "Never seen anypony like you before. What'd Pipe Wrench say you were? A humen?"

"Human," you correct him with a laugh. "Close enough. Yeah, been here just under a year and a half now. But, hey, this isn't about me. We've got a job to do. Pipe wants me to make sure you guys get familiar with things around here, so feel free to ask if you've got questions, alright? I'm a pretty easy-going guy."

The grey pegasus -- Slate, was his name -- doesn't say anything, simply eying you instead. You can't help but pick up a strange feeling from him, but you shake it off. You've dealt with his kind before.

"Slate, right? Somethin' up?"

"No, nothing." He answers flatly. "We came here to work, right? Not circle-jerk about our feelings." Yep, definitely a douchebag.

"That we did. Just try to relax a bit, will ya? It'll help you focus."

"I can focus just fine." Wow, what an ass.

"Whatever you say, man. Anyway, we haven't got all day. Let's get going on this outer wall so we can move on to the more important stuff."

Despite his coarse demeanor, Slate proves to be a good worker. Between the four of you, you manage to get the old, improperly-placed wall down within half an hour. It takes another hour and a half to rebuild it in the proper place, but you'd expected as much. Long Haul and Quick Fix turn out to be pretty chatty with each other, when appropriate. Turns out Quick Fix only recently got into construction after working for some asshole in a Manehattan restaurant for six years. His ability to identify the small details that most others would miss has apparently served him well in his new career.

Slate, though, hasn't said much in the way of anything. You're still not sure what his deal is. He's been kind of a smart-ass all morning, but at least he's managed to get his work done.

"So what's your story, Slate?"

"Don't have one," he replies flatly.

"Aw, come on, everyone's got something interesting about 'em, right? What'd you do at your past job?"

"Work."

"Don't be like that, we're all workin' the same place here. You must have something interesting to talk about."

"Look," he flaps over to you and hovers at eye level. "You might have guessed it by now, but I'm not much of a talker. Understand? Now let me do my job."

He flies off and pulls a tape measure out of his tool belt, securing one end in place before pulling it the rest of the way with his teeth.

"Yeah..fine."

Two more hours pass, and your stomach is growling non-stop. It's getting close to lunch time, and you're eager to see what Rarity packed for you today. Whatever it is, you're starving.

"Alright guys, let's just get these last pieces of rebar in place and we can break for lunch. I don't know about you, but I'm fuckin' hungry."

"You can shay tha again," Long Haul replies with a length of iron rebar clenched between his teeth.

"You're always hungry, Haul." You knock him on the helmet as you pass him.

"Sho? You shay tha like--ptoo!-- like it's a bad thing! Ugh, I'll never get used to the taste of iron."

You notice slate flying a dozen feet or so above you, a batch of rebar cradled between his forelegs. He's struggling to stay airborne, dipping down a few feet before flapping back up again.

"Hey, you alright with that load, Slate? Looks kinda heavy."

"I'm fine," he replies with an edge of annoyance.

"Alright, just be careful with it."

"I said I'm fine!"

Long Haul gives you a look, gesturing up to the stubborn pegasus.

"That guy's about as sharp as a bowling ball."

You shrug in response, not really wanting to talk crap about a coworker...even if he deserves it.

"He might be kinda bull-headed but he's been getting his work done. That's all we can ask."

"Yeah, I guess. Still, I wish he would lighten up a bit. Feels like he's bringing everypony else down, you know? Maybe we can--HOLY FUCK!"

A half-dozen, three-foot-long lengths of iron rebar suddenly crash to the ground just to the side of you. One of them bounces off the pile already lying on the dirt and flips end over end, smashing into your helmet with a loud 'thwack!'

The blow momentarily knocks you off your feet, sending you crashing face-first into the dirt, your vision blurred and your mind dazed.

"Shit!" you distantly hear Long Haul yell out. "Hey, you alright, buddy? You still with us?"

"Ughhhh, fuck..." is all you can manage to say. "Fuck, my head!"

"Hey, don't move, I'm gonna go get Pipe, okay? Hey, Fix, come with me!" You hear the two of them run off, leaving you to your thoughts. You move your hands up over your face and under your helmet, pulling them back and staring at them to check for any blood. There's a small stream of it down a few of your fingers, but it could have been a lot worse. Good thing you were wearing your helmet.

"Ugh, what the hell happened? Slate? Slate, you here? Hey, say somethin', man."

The grey pegasus lands beside you.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"What happened? I told you it was too heavy for you to lift, didn't I?" You lift your helmet from your head and sit up slowly, a wave of nausea rushing through you. You fight it off, but just barely. The helmet that saved your life has a huge hole in the side of it.

"Yeah, sorry." He doesn't sound very sincere.

"Whatever, man. It happens. Help me get up, won't you?" You reach your hand out, but he doesn't move. "Come on, don't leave me hangin' here. Help me up." He simply stares at you. There's something in his eyes that you don't like. They seem...distant. You've seen that look before. All of your body's threat indicators start throwing up red flags; there's something to him that's about to get very unpleasant.

"I know who you are," he finally answers.

"And who might that be?" you inquire, involuntarily narrowing your eyes slightly. This is not good. He's going to say or do something real stupid, and soon.

"You're that asshole who thinks he can march into Ponyville and start fucking everything he sees. Am I right?"

You figure it's best to try and disarm him before he even starts. Maybe you can just talk him down from his proverbial high-horse.

"Me? No, I'm just a guy who ended up here due to circumstances beyond his control. I don't know what you think I've done, but I can assure I am not 'fucking everything I see'."

"Bullshit!" he yells, taking a threatening step closer. One more step, your years of training start telling you. One more step and you're going to regret it.

"I know perfectly well what you've been up to. You're prancing around with that unicorn whore! Have been for a long time now! What, did she run out of real stallions?"

Every urge in your body is screaming at you to sock him right in his god damned jaw, but you resist. Physical violence would only end up with one of you getting hurt -- or more hurt, in your case. The last thing you need is to explain to Rarity that you ended up in the hospital again, but this time because you couldn't keep your cool.

"Look, Slate, I don't know what you've got against Rarity, but whatever it is, it sounds like you really need to let it go. Yes, I'm in a relationship with her. I really don't see how it's any of your concern. What's your deal, man? Did I do something I'm not aware of?"

"Fuck you! You wanna know what my 'deal' is? Fine. About a year and a half ago, I was talking to a beautiful, white unicorn with a purple mane nearly every day. Sound familiar?"

You don't say anything, letting him continue.

"I'd been trying to get her to notice me for months. MONTHS! And then what happens? You literally pop into her fuckin' life one day, and she stops talking to me! No contact, not even a 'hi, how are you'. NOTHING."

You don't recall Rarity mentioning a pegasus boyfriend, or a pegasus stallion at all, much less around the time you showed up in Equestria. You get the feeling the attraction was one-sided.

"So...what?" You ask. "This ridiculous jealousy means it's okay for you to flip a god damned metal shaft into my head? Man, I have had it with jealousy. It's bad enough that Rarity -- who is way better than you deserve, by the way -- has to deal with some old friend who hates her guts now over some misguided jealousy crap, but now I gotta deal with your dumb ass trying to off me? Really?!"

Haul and Fix return with Pipe Wrench in tow. He stops and looks around at the mess, mouth agape, before rushing over to you and looking you over.

"Shit! You alright, pal?!"

"Mostly, yeah." You glance up at Slate and flip him off, relatively sure that he won't understand the gesture itself, but he'll likely get the meaning of it from your demeanor.

"Well, it looks like you can move your head and neck just fine, so that's good." His hooves grasp either side of your head as he turns it gently, checking for any sort of severe damage.

"Looks like the rebar nicked your head pretty good. You were wearin' a helmet, right?"

You lift the yellow safety hat from your side, showing him the thumb-sized hole in the side of it. He lets out a low whistle as she inspects the damage.

"That hole woulda been in ya head, pal. You feelin' okay?"

"I'll live," you grumble.

"Hey, Haul, go grab me that first aid kit, will ya?"

Long Haul trots off as Pipe shakes his head at you.

"I swear, buddy, you're gonna send me to an early grave one'a these days."

"Sorry," you laugh, tossing your helmet to the side.

"The hell happened, anyway?"

"Slate here thought it would be a great idea to lift half his own body weight in iron rebar. While flying. I told him it was too heavy, but his stubborn ass wouldn't listen. Ended up dropping them all into a pile. One of 'em smacked me right in the head."

Pipe looks over at Slate with a look that could shoot daggers.

"I didn't drop that shit on purpose," Slate says, almost sounding apologetic. Almost. "I was just carrying more than I should have. Just so happened that you were close by when it happened."

"We had some words while Fix and Haul were getting you. Turns out Slate is some kind of crazy-obsessive, jealous prick. Apparently he thought Rarity was supposed to be his." You laugh bitterly at the idea. You can't even imagine Rarity with someone like him. "Like I said, jealous prick."

"The hell is he talkin' about, Slate? You got somethin' against my buddy here?"

He lets out a short, humorless laugh.

"You know, maybe you did me a favor. If she's resorted to fuckin' your pathetic ass, then that means she's already gone through all of Ponyville in the process."

"Go fuck yourself, Slate," you spit out, wiping the trickling blood from the side of your head. "She sure as hell ain't fuckin' you, is she?"

"Hey, hey, come on," Pipe steps between the two of you. "You," he shoves a hoof into Slate's chest, "are done here. You understand me? The hell were you thinking, carrying that much weight? What did I just say this morning?! I'm gonna make sure every other construction company I can get my hooves on knows about you. Now, I'm not gonna beat your ass like I want to -- and believe me, I really want to. But if you don't shut that mouth of yours right this instant, if you utter a single word about Miss Rarity, then Celestia help me, I am going to destroy you. Do I make myself perfectly clear, asshole?"

"Crystal", the pegasus sneers. Slate takes off into the air with a burst of speed, tossing his white helmet at a wall as he flies off.

"Fuckin' prick," Pipe Wrench swears, taking the first aid kit from Fix. "Some ponies, I swear.Let's just...hmm. I'm not really sure what to do with that head injury..."

"I-I think I can help," Fix adds, taking the first aid kit from Pipe's hooves. "He's got a gash just above his ear. Gonna need to clean and disinfect it, probably require a few stitches, too. Wound doesn't go too deep so you shouldn't have to worry about a concussion, but it's gonna swell up for a day or two."

Pipe gives him an impressed look.

"Yeah, I was a part-time doctor's aide for a few months. Forgot to mention that."

"Well I'll be damned," Pipe adds with a laugh. "Sounds like you're in good hooves, buddy."

"Yeah, no problem," Fix says as he pours peroxide over your wound. You have to grit your teeth against the burning sensation, but passes in a few seconds. "Looks like I'll have to do a few stitches after all. You okay with that?"

"Go ahead," you reply with a dismissive wave. You've always hated medical stuff, even something as simple as stitches. You decide to not even look in his direction as he threads the small needle, lest you see just how 'small' it really is.

"Alright, this isn't gonna be very pleasant, but you'll thank me after it's done."

"I'm sorry, pal." Pipe says, clopping a hoof against your arm.

"Sorry for what?"

"For Slate. I should have checked him out before letting him join up with us. I knew there was somethin' off about that guy."

"Don't worry about it, Pipe. It's over and done with, I'm still alive, and now I have a sexy scar to show off to Rarity." You feel the needle slide into your skin and you grimace at the sensation, doing your best to not focus on it.

"Always look on -- oww -- the bright side of life..."

"No kiddin'. Can't believe that guy. He was bein' like that because of Rarity? Unbelievable."

"Yeah, tell me about it. Hey, at least I don't feel hungry any more," you chuckle.

"Hey, I tell ya what, pal. Why don't you go home for the day, huh? I don't wanna put you right back to work with a fresh head wound. Don't worry about the pay, I'll make sure you get just as much as you would if you were workin' the rest of ya shift. How does that sound?"

"That sounds pretty damn good, Pipe. Thanks."

"No problem. Least I can do. Soon as Fix here finishes up, you're free to go. Go home and relax for a while, okay? That's an order."

"Yes, sir," you reply with a salute.

"Good. You take care of yourself, and I'll see you back here tomorrow. With a new worker. One who isn't a complete dick, heheh."

It only takes a few minutes for Quick Fix to finish the stitches, snipping off the end with a warning about keeping your head away from anything that could potentially reopen it. You can feel the wound starting to swell up, but you don't care. Right now, you just want to go home, curl up in bed, and sleep. Preferably with Rarity at your side.

...and maybe after a sandwich.

==========

The Boutique is still open for business as you walk in the door, stepping aside to let a mare carrying an elegant dress over her back pass by you. The store itself is relatively quiet, only a pair of customers milling about. Rarity is talking to one of them, her work glasses perched on her nose. Probably discussing the details of a custom order, you'd guess.

You're a little surprised to see Fluttershy occupying the register counter, making small talk with the other customer who is happily trying on different styles of hats.

You remove your tool belt and sling it over your shoulder, waiting for Rarity to finish with her customer. You don't have to wait long, fortunately. The stallion trots off, leaving Rarity to look over a sheet of paper, a pencil floating in the air just above it.

"Hey, baby," you say to her, causing her to look up at the sound of your voice. She drops the pencil and paper as she notices you, her eyes going wide with shock.

"Oh Celestia! What happened to you?!" Rarity runs over and frantically looks you over, holding a hoof to her mouth as she sees the blood down the left side of your collar. "Oh no, oh no, oh no! Are you alright, darling?!"

"I'm okay," you reassure her, bending down as she throws her forelegs around you.

"What happened?! I wasn't expecting you home for several more hours! Something must have happened to you! Oh, you look terrible! Goodness, is that blood?!"

Fluttershy looks over with a gasp as she hears Rarity's panicked cries. You wave to her meekly, focusing on trying to keep Rarity from having a nervous breakdown.

"It's a long story, honey. Had an accident at work and cut my head pretty bad, but I'm still alive. It's not as bad as it looks, trust me."

"You poor dear!" She sniffs back a tear, but her eyes are already glistening. You haven't seen her this worried in a long time. She wipes a foreleg across her eyes and calls out to Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, would you mind watching the store for a while? I need to be sure my darling is alright."

"Oh, of course," Fluttershy responds, flying over to the pencil and paper Rarity left on the floor. "Don't worry about it, Rarity, I've been here enough to know how things work. You just take care of him, okay?" Fluttershy flaps over and gives you a comforting hug.

"I hope you're okay. If you need anything, you just let me know."

"Thank you," you reply sincerely, kissing her forehead. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"Okay, just wanted to be sure. You and Rarity take your time, I'll be here."

"Come on, darling," Rarity says as she puts a hoof around your waist. "Let's get you cleaned up, and you can tell me all about it."

Rarity leads you up to the second floor, bracing a leg against you as you wobble slightly. The swelling is starting to get irritating, turning what was a mildly pulsing headache into a throbbing pain. You look into Rarity's work room as you pass by it, taking note of several half-finished dresses in a rainbow of colors.

"Busy day?" You ask her.

"Ah ah, none of that. Work can wait until after I've made sure you're not going to drop dead on me."

"I'm fine, honey, really. Just gonna need a shower...or something...and some aspirin."

Her beloved cat is sitting on the edge of the bed, watching you come in.

"Opal, move." The cat doesn't budge, simply yawning. You never did like that damn thing. "Opal! I've no time for your games right now!" Rarity's horn flares with blue magic, and Opal is unceremoniously yanked off the bed and dumped into the hallway. Gently, of course.

Rarity points a hoof at the edge of the bed as you walk in to your room.

"Sit." You do so, feeling a little dizzy as you change position. She climbs up on the bed next to you, examining your head with a frown.

"What happened to you? You look like you've been in a fight with a bull. And the bull most definitely won...oh dear, this shirt is never going to come clean. We'll have to make you a new one..."

"We were putting up some housing, pretty normal stuff. Some jackass decided he could carry more than half his own damn body weight and still fly...that didn't turn out so well. Dropped a bunch of iron rebar. One of 'em bounced off the ground and smacked me right in the head. It's a good thing I had that helmet on, or...well, I wouldn't be sitting here right now."

She pulls back and stares at you utter concern, her mouth hanging open.

"You mean, you...you could have died out there today?"

"Well, that's why we wear those hard hats, baby. No one ever said it was a risk-free job."

Rarity grasps your head between her hooves gently and pulls you into her, kissing you lovingly before resting her forehead against your own.

"You're going to worry me to death one of these days, I swear. Thank Celestia you're alive! I don't know what I would do if I lost you..." She embraces you as tightly as she can, ignoring the dried blood on the collar of your shirt. You can hear her inhaling sharply, trying to keep from crying.

"Hey, hey, it's alright, baby," you run a hand through her hair and gently rock her from side to side. "I'm okay, really! Don't focus on what could have happened, alright? I'm still here, you haven't lost me." She looks into your eyes and sniffs back her tears, letting out halting breaths as she regains her composure.

"I'm sorry, darling. The thought of such a dreadful thing happening...but you're right, you're still here." She looks at your torn, dust-covered, blood-stained shirt and adds with a soft laugh, "and you look absolutely dreadful."

"Sorry, I'll try to keep from bleeding on it next time," you say with a laugh of your own.

"Come, let's get you out of that filthy thing. Lift your arms up for me, darling." Your shirt lifts over your head and gets deposited into a trash can. "You just stay right there, I'm going to grab a washcloth to clean around that awful wound of yours."

"It should be pretty clean already," you call out to her as she wets a small towel, "one of the new guys fixed it up before I came home. Used to be a...nurse, or something. Doctor's aide, whatever that means. Stitched me up, too."

"And I'd say he did an admirable job, but to truly be sure, you're going to need the attention of your charming unicorn lover, darling. Us mares have an eye for that short of thing." She returns and clicks off the bathroom light with a brief burst of magic, grasping the washcloth between her teeth.

"If you say so, hon."

"I do. Now, turn your head for me." She pats around the stitched-up wound, the cold dampness feeling very welcome against your inflamed skin. "Gracious, what a mess. And here I thought today was going to be a slow day."

You close your eyes and let her work around the area, clearing away the remainder of the dirt and blood that Quick Fix didn't bother with. The event plays over in your head, almost happening in slow motion: Long Haul yelling out, and you turning just in time to see a length of metal come hurtling toward you. You instinctively turned your head to lessen the blow, but it still managed to smash through your helmet and cut you pretty good. That stupid pegasus asshole...

"Hey, honey?" you ask her, wondering if she can shed some light on the pony who just about put an abrupt end to your stay in Equestria.

"Yes, dear?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

She pulls the cloth away and tilts her head to give you an inquisitive look.

"Of course, darling. You can ask me anything, you know that."

"Do you know who 'Slate' is?"

"Who?"

"Slate. Grey pegasus, maroon eyes and mane, bad attitude. Any idea?"

"Hmmm..." She glances up at the ceiling as she thinks. "No, I can't say that name sounds familiar. Why do you ask?"

"Well...he's kind of at fault for all of this. See, we had two new guys today. One of 'em was Fix, the one who patched me up. The other guy was the pegasus I mentioned, Slate. He, uh...he really hates me. And you."

"What? What on earth for? I don't recall you getting into any altercations with a pegasus. And while I may have many business enemies, in the form of competitors, I can't think of anypony who would want to actively hold a grudge against you and I. Barring Cashmere, of course."

"Yeah, apparently this guy does. He was carrying all of that crap, too much to fly with, and he dropped it into a pile of rebar we'd already set up. One of 'em smacked into my head, you can see the result. Haul and Fix ran off to get Pipe, which just left me with Slate. He, uh, he didn't even try to help me. He just stood there. I asked him to help me up, and he freakin'...went off on me! He said that I essentially ruined his life."

"Ruined his life? Oh, for heaven's sake! Why would he say that?"

"From what he was saying, he really liked you, hon. Like...really liked you. He said he'd talked to you every day for months, and then when I showed up, you abandoned him."

"Now that you mention it, he does sound a little familiar..." she taps a hoof on her chin as she speaks. "Slate, Slate...ah. Yes." Rarity's face turns sour as she remembers his name. "I believe he may have exaggerated things, darling."

"I figured as much. What's his story?"

"It's true that I'd see him several times a week, but that's because he was working in a tea house." She shakes her head and lets out an exasperated sigh, continuing, "For a few months before you appeared here, darling, I made a morning walk to my old supplier's place, down on Radiant Moon, every day. You know, where that coffee shop is now?"

"I think so, yeah."

"On my way back I would stop by this charming little tea house and grab a cup of tea. It helped me relax before the day's work began. These days I just make some coffee at home, but habits change from time to time. Anyway, I'd order my usual -- a chamomile honey tea with a bit of sugar and cream. Quite delicious, I must say. You should try it some time."

"Chamomile is a flower, hon. Not really my thing," you add with a laugh.

"Oh, don't be so quick to judge! It's simply delightful on a cold morning. But, yes...I'd place my order and the stallion behind the counter would make it for me. A grey pegasus stallion. So while I did see him most every morning for several months, and I did strike up polite small talk with him -- as is only proper -- I most certainly did not have aspirations of romance with him. Not in the slightest."

So he was a lonely guy with a one-sided crush on a frequent customer, who took her polite banter as sexual attraction. Sad, but not unheard of. Then again, most crushes don't turn into murder fantasies against the customer's future boyfriend.

"Sounds to me like he had a thing for you, babe."

"So it would seem. He was a polite stallion, yes, but had I known he had some sort of...stalker crush...I wouldn't have frequented that establishment any more." Her expression becomes one of barely-contained rage. You're glad you're not a grey pegasus stallion right now. "To think that he would stand by while you lie on the ground bleeding, all because of some misplaced jealousy! He had better pray that I never get my hooves on him, or so help me Luna, I will make him regret ever seeing me! Ooooh, what a complete...imbecilic...moronic..."

"Son of a bitch?" you suggest.

"Son of a bitch!" She swears loudly, stomping a hoof on the bed. You laugh at her language, placing an arm around her waist.

"Feel better?"

Rarity exhales sharply before calming herself again.

"Yes, I do believe so. At least you're safe, my love. That's all that matters in the end."

"Don't you worry, he's not coming back any time soon. Pipe's gonna make sure of that. Tomorrow should be a return to normalcy at the job site."

"One can only hope, darling. I don't usually mention it, but I do worry while you're away. The most I have to worry about here is accidentally pricking myself with a sewing needle. But you're out there with all of that heavy equipment, and if somepony neglects to do his job for even a moment..."

You kiss her cheek as you run a hand down her back, playing your fingers through her soft coat.

"Hey. Don't worry too much, baby. Okay? I know what I'm doing, so do the guys I'm working with. Accidents happen, all we can do is make sure we're paying attention. You don't have to worry about me, I promise. Coming home to you every day is what I look forward to, and it always will be."

"Such a thing is easier said than done, dear. But I've faith in you. Just be careful, will you?"

"I always am."

"Good. I'd rather not have to deal with grey hairs before such a thing is absolutely necessary." Rarity jumps down from the bed and sticks a hoof out, waiting for you to grasp it. "Let's get you properly cleaned up, darling. Then you can get some rest...you look as if you could use some."

"Rest sounds good. And, um...maybe something to eat?"

She smiles warmly and clops a hoof against your side.

"Always thinking with your stomach, I swear. But yes, perhaps we could find you something. Shower first, however. Dirt and blood is simply not your style."

You feel woozy as you stand up, but at least the throbbing in your head has subsided to tolerable levels. Rarity leads you by the hand to the bathroom, turning the water on and giving it a test with her foreleg. You start removing your clothes, starting with your dusty work boots and socks, frowning as you realize that you probably just tracked dirt across the entire length of the Boutique.

Rarity puts a hoof to your thigh as you unbuckle your belt.

"Allow me to get the rest of it, darling. If you've any other injuries I should know about them. Do be a dear and hold still, please."

Her horn glows faintly with blue energy, causing your pants to slide down to your ankles. You step out of them as she slowly walks around you, eying you tentatively for any cuts or scrapes. As far as you know it's just your head that took some damage.

"It appears there's a moderately-sized bruise on your right leg, dear. Has it given you any trouble?"

"None, actually. Didn't even know it was there."

"Hmmm. Well, do try to avoid putting any pressure on it, it will likely be sore for a few days. Other than that, you appear to have suffered just that dreadful cut to your head."

Your head suddenly starts swimming, forcing you to lean against the wall. You attempt to regain some modicum of control by rubbing your temples with your hand, but the odd sensation continues unabated.

"Are you alright, darling? You look as if you're about to pass out."

"Yeah, I'm okay," you answer, shutting your eyes against the light-headed feeling.

"Perhaps standing isn't the best of ideas right now. Just a moment..." Rarity focuses her magic once more, removing your sweat-stained boxers. You flick them away as they bunch around your feet.

"There, that's better. Now we can get you into that water, hmm?"

You lift a leg up and over the rim of the bathtub, then the other, grasping the shower curtain for balance as you do.

"Easy now, darling. The last thing we need is for you to slip and fall." The small, purple bath pillow -- emblazoned with a cursive 'R', of course -- floats behind your neck, cradling it gently.

"Now, lay back and relax. Madame Rarity is going to give you a bit of a spa treatment," she quips, standing outside of the tub with a smile.

"I trust it doesn't involve cucumbers and mud facials, right?"

"Of course not! I'm out of cucumber anyway."

You laugh at the joke, feeling a little better now that you're laying down. Rarity adjusts the shower head so that it won't spray water onto your face and steps in to join you. The water immediately straightens out her curly mane and tail, leaving it hanging against the bathtub in long curtains of hair.

"The things I do for love," she giggles.

"I don't know, I kinda like the long hair look."

"Well thank you, darling, but dragging my hair along the ground all day would be simply disastrous for it. Think of the split ends!" Rarity levitates a small bottle of shower gel and a sponge, pouring a small amount onto it. The bottle is one of her 'Elegance' products, presumably a new one. The bathroom is quickly being overtaken by images of Rarity's head...

"Something new?" you ask her, pointing to the bottle.

"Indeed it is. We had a small delivery, just a single box, dropped to us today while you were at work. What do you think? It's quite attractive, I'd say." She strikes the same pose as the one on the bottle, and you chuckle at the sight of it.

"Looks great. How has it been selling, anyway? Your line, that is."

"Surprisingly well! I've been stocking them in a corner of the main sales floor, and we generally sell a hoof-full of bottles every day. It's a small start, but a start none-the-less."

"That's pretty cool. Congrats, baby!"

"Why thank you, darling! One step closer to world domination and what-not," she adds. The bottle is floated back to its proper place along the rim of the bathtub, joining similarly-branded shampoos and conditioners. The sponge is actually one that fits over her hoof, sliding into place where she gives it a slight tug with her teeth to secure it.

"Fancy sponge," you quip.

"It is not a sponge," she corrects you with a dramatically indignant look, "it is a loofah."

"My mistake. A loofah. I think 'loofah' is French for 'This costs four times as much as a sponge'."

"Don't be such a man, darling. It won't kill you to have a 'fancy sponge' in the bathtub. Now, unless you'd like to wash yourself, I suggest you focus on something besides the price of the sponge. Loofah." She face-hoofs with her free foreleg. "Marvelous. Now you've got me saying it."

Rarity adjusts the water temperature so that it's slightly hotter and starts sliding the not-sponge over your body, working up a thick lather. The smell is vaguely fruity, but you probably couldn't place it if you were asked.

"I believe I've been to enough spa treatments in my time to properly do this." It does feel pretty good, and she's being just forceful enough to get you clean without being harsh. She's taking her time of it, too. You really can't complain.

"So the spa girls--"

"Aloe and Lotus," she corrects you as she slides over your arms.

"--Aloe and Lotus, right. They do this for you at the spa? Slide hot, soapy water all over your body? That's hot."

She rolls her eyes at the implications.

"You are such a man. Yes, a body wash is sometimes part of the treatment, depending on how much one wishes to spend, but it is by no means 'hot', dear. Not to say that they aren't attractive mares, of course."

"You think if we paid 'em enough, they'd make out with each other?" you ask with a big grin. Rarity's mouth hangs open as she tries to find a response, simply smacking the sponge against your stomach instead.

"For the love of Celestia! If you want me to continue, darling, then I suggest you keep your fantasies to yourself."

"Alright, alright, point taken."

She runs the soapy hoof over your chest, biting her lip to keep a smile back.

"...perhaps they would," she adds quietly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, darling. Be a dear and sit up for me."

You do as she asks, letting her wash your neck and back. She playfully nibbles on your ear as she does, and you gasp in surprise. She laughs softly at your reaction.

"That's not fair, baby."

"If you think that's not fair, darling, I'm afraid you're going to be in for quite the surprise later on. But only if you keep the fantasies focused around moi."

Rarity carefully tilts your head back, dumping water over your short hair before uncapping a bottle of shampoo and working it in, her hoof-sponge getting temporarily removed and set aside. She moves in broad, slow circles, being careful to avoid getting any in your wound. It's extremely relaxing, and you close your eyes and enjoy the feeling. It's made even better by the fact that she's pressing her chest against your back; between the hot water and her soft coat and skin, it's making you feel very at ease. Maybe she's onto something with the whole spa thing after all...

"Your hair is simply a mess, I'm afraid. In the future, do try to avoid mixing dirt, sweat and blood, won't you? It's not the most attractive combination in the world."

"I'll keep that in mind next time I get smacked in the head, honey."

"Fabulous!" She tilts your head back again and pours several small bowls worth of water over it, rinsing the shampoo and grime away. You watch the water as it flows down the drain -- dirty and tinged slightly red. Yeah, definitely not very attractive.

"There. Now your hair should be back to its former glory." She looks down at you and smiles, and you lift a hand up to caress her cheek

"Thanks for taking care of me, baby."

"Of course, darling. You're quite welcome. When I saw you come home looking like you did, I was terrified. I thought something far worse had happened to you! I'm just glad you're safe, that's all."

Rarity picks up the hoof-sponge again and slips into it, going back over your shoulders and chest.

"Honestly, I've had it up to here with jealous ponies. I wish they would just...go away. I doubt we'll be hearing from that Slate fellow any time soon, at least. Now if only Cashmere were so easily convinced."

"I know what ya mean. Been a while since we heard from her...I woulda thought she'd have shown up immediately after you snatched her supplier away, you know?"

"Yes, I was of the same mind, I must admit. I don't think she's willing to let thing whole affair die, but perhaps she got the message after our last little soiree a few weeks ago, hmm?"

"We can only hope. I know I wouldn't want to get on your bad side, honey."

"It's not quite that simple, darling. There's my bad side, and then there's my bad side. The latter tends to be something you've found rather enjoyable, I'd say. At least, judging by your reactions to a bit of naughty undergarments..." She arches and eyebrow at you and bites her lip, running her sponge down your chest, slowly, before teasing it between your legs.

"Can't argue with you that one, baby," you reply, watching her play her hoof over your most sensitive areas. You exhale sharply and let out a quiet laugh.

"You keep doing that and I won't be able to be held responsible for what happens."

"Now, now, darling," she breathily says near your ear, "if you want to get clean then you must allow me to do as I see fit. And I shan't neglect any part of your body."

The constant stimulation eventually overcomes your drowsy feeling, and you find yourself rising to attention despite the slight haze occupying your mind.

"See? This is what I'm talking about. It's important to get such areas clean. One must take their time..."

She slowly slides a hoof down the length of you, and you laugh as she gives you a dramatic, sly smile, licking her lips teasingly.

"My, but you are encourageable, aren't you? You'd almost think you had some sort of baser instinct in mind, rather than letting your gorgeous, seductive lady simply bathe you."

"Perish the thought," you reply with a wry smile of your own. Rarity runs a hoof over you, washing away the suds. A sudden throbbing re-enters your head, and you massage around your wound to lessen it.

"Headache?" she asks, looking concerned.

"Yeah, it comes and it goes. Not a full-on migraine or anything, but still, kinda sucks."

"I see...darling, would you mind terribly if I attempted to take your mind off of such things?"

You laugh and shake your head. No, you really wouldn't mind at all.

"I think you know the answer to that one, baby."

"Hmmhmm. Just had to be sure, that's all. In your current condition it's quite hard to judge your state of mind sometimes. I'd tell you to lay back and relax, darling, but since you're already doing so, I think it best to simply continue."

She leans her head in and kisses you softly, pressing herself against you as the hot water continues to rain down on both of you. Water drips down from her mane, forcing you to pull back after a few moments and blow it away from your mouth.

"Sorry," she laughs.

"No problem," you reply, putting a hand on the back of her head and pulling her in. She grasps your manhood between her hind legs, slowly running them up and down in unison.

"I know you like how that feels, darling. I suppose my coat is useful for something besides keeping my skin clean, hmm?"

You don't say anything in response, instead placing your free arm around her back. She grinds against you, kissing your neck and shoulder as she does. With a final, passionate kiss, she pulls away and licks her way down your chest and over your stomach.

"Now, before I go any further, my dear, I want you to let me do all the work this time. I've more than enough strength in me for such a thing. Besides, I think it could be rather...exciting to be completely in charge."

"Whatever you say, honey," you tell her. "I trust you to rock my world and all that."

"Rock your world? Darling, after I'm done with you, they're going to have to invent a new phrase. Now, let's begin, shall we?"

She grasps you between her hooves and works them up and down. You close your eyes and focus on the sensation, trying to block out the throbbing pain in your head.

You inhale sharply as you feel her mouth come down over you, her tongue working over your most sensitive spots, but she quickly brings her head back up with a sour look on her face, sticking her tongue out.

"What's wrong?" you ask her. She makes a gagging sound and swishes some water around in her mouth before spitting it out.

"I do believe I didn't get the soap off entirely," she laughs between spits. Between her expression and her statement you can't help but laugh with her. "It may be designer soap, but I suppose that doesn't mean it's to be tasted!"

Rarity motions to your hand, holding her hooves up to the streams of water.

"Darling, would you mind making sure? Perhaps I should have fully washed myself first..."

You grab an unused washcloth from the side of the bathtub and hold it in the water, letting it get fully saturated before rubbing it over yourself to remove any remaining soap. You moan dramatically as you do. Rarity gives you a less-than-convinced look.

"Yes, ask me how much I believe that. But if you're quite happy doing it yourself, then I suppose there's no need for me to be here..."

You wring the washcloth out and hold it in the water again...then toss it on Rarity's head, laughing even louder as it smacks against her horn with a wet slap. It slowly slides off, her expression unchanging during the entire thing: A distant, annoyed stare. It's too much to handle, and you laugh so hard that your head starts pounding again.

Totally worth it.

"...one of these days, darling, I'm going to learn to expect such things from you."

"Oh come on, that was funny! You gotta admit it!"

You see her trying her best to fight back a laugh, the corners of her mouth twitching as she struggles to keep a serious demeanor. Eventually your laughter proves to be too much, and she laughs as she puts her hooves over her face.

"Fine, fine! I admit, that was rather entertaining. Just be warned, my dear, that I shall not forget it!"

"I'm terrified, really," you say, poking a finger at her horn.

"You should be! It would not be proper for a lady to divulge her plans, but rest assured, darling, they shall be executed at some point in the near future."

"Uh huh. That's a lot of fancy talk for petty revenge."

"It shall not be 'petty' in the least, thank you very much! Miss Rarity does not simply retaliate unless it is unexpected. Now, while I admit that our little deviation has been quite interesting, I think we should get back to what we were doing before you decided to turn juvenile. I'm going to have to get back into the mood now."

You grasp her forelegs and pull her toward you, smiling warmly as you look into her azure eyes.

"I don't think that should take too long," you say with a wink.

"Do, don't say, darling."

You hike one of her legs up over your thigh and kiss her neck, hearing her inhale deeply as you lightly bite the area between her neck and shoulder. She wraps her forelegs around your sides, squeezing you tight as you run the palm of your hand over her stomach, slowly running your fingers down between her legs. She holds your gaze as you slide them over her soft, sensitive mound, kissing you passionately as the feeling courses through her body.

"Oh goodness, baby. That didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would," she laughs quietly. "You certainly have a way about you. Just a bit more, if you'd be so kind." You rub your palm over her and she gasps softly, moving your free hand with a hoof and sucking on your finger. You notice her legs spreading slightly more as she does, and you slowly slide a finger into her. She lets out another moan, not nearly as quietly this time, and moves her body with the slow rhythm.

"I...I think I'm quite ready, darling." She slides her body down your chest and stands above you on her hind legs, grasping your manhood between her hooves. Slowly, she guides it in as she sits down on you, moaning softly as she adjusts to your size. Even with the hot water pouring of you, the feel of her is warm and incredible.

"As I said, baby, you just relax and let me do the work."

She lays her hooves on your chest and starts rocking her hips back and forth, moving them in slow circles.

"Do you like that, darling?"

You simply nod your head, your mouth hanging open as a groan escapes it. She moves her body faster, kissing your chest as she leans forward slightly and slides you in and out of her, her breath becoming quicker and more ragged. Rarity slows down, rocking back and forth as she looks at you.

"I need to pace myself or I'm going to reach my peak before you've even had the chance to get near yours," she says with a laugh. "Goddesses, but that feels good..."

You decide to help her along, unsure of exactly how long you can last yourself. She moans with approval as you slip your hand between her legs and gently rub over her most sensitive spot, closing her eyes and picking up her pace. She tosses her head back and runs her hooves down her body, grasping your waist for support.

"That will certainly help, darling...mmmnn..."

Your free hand grasps her flank with a strong squeeze and presses her down against you, helping her get better leverage. From the sound she makes, it's obvious that it was a good choice.

"Darling, I don't know how long I can last like this...oh, my."

"You feeling like you're gonna come, baby?" you ask her, enjoying her reactions even more than the ones your own body is sending you.

"I believe...I believe I so. I promise you I shall....ohhh....continue if I do. Promise."

"Don't you worry about me, baby," you tell her. "I love watching you when you do."

She starts rocking her hips faster, and you can feel her body pulsing as waves of pleasure ripple through her.

"Give me your hand, darling," she pleads. You put your free hand against her cheek and she grasps it with her hoof, taking a finger in her mouth and greedily bobbing her head on it. It turns her on immensely, and within seconds she's thrusting against you as hard and as fast as possible, pulling her head back and moaning loudly as her body is rocked by an orgasm. Her legs grip your thighs in a vice grip as the waves of pleasure run through her. After a few seconds she opens her eyes half way and looks at you with an expression of complete and utter ecstasy -- mixed with relief.

"Oh, goodness, baby...that was a good one," she laughs. "But you're not done, are you? We shall have to fix that. Give me just a moment to catch my breath."

She leans forward and rests her head on your chest, letting you run your hand through her mane. She sounds completely exhausted, but if you've learned anything about Rarity, it's that she always does what she says she's going to. Sure enough, she rises back up to the sitting position after a few moments, knees against the bathtub bottom, and slowly starts moving her body again.

"It's your turn, darling. Do make it count, won't you?"

You've been feeling it building even while she wasn't rocking her hips; just the small movements of her body while you're inside her has been enough. You're thankful when she keeps going, and it's not long before you can start feeling the steady build-up inside of you. You ask her to go faster, and she smiles at you with an expectant look in her eyes. She picks up the pace, changing how she moves her body every so often, rolling her hips or lifting herself up and down on you.

You bite your lip as a jolt of pleasure rushes through you -- it's not going to be long.

"Are you getting close, baby? I can tell. All of the small twitches of your body are a dead giveaway."

"You know my secrets too well," you reply with a breathless laugh. She's absolutely right.

"Don't keep me waiting, then. I'm right here with you. I want to feel you come inside me..."

Even though she said she would do all the work, the urges are too strong, and you grasp her thighs with your hands and start thrusting into her on your own. You grit your teeth against the approaching surge, going as fast as you can, and finally release with a loud, halting groan.

"Ohhhh, fuck..." is all you can manage to say, laying your head back against the pillow and thrusting against her a few more times as the final moments of the orgasm work their way through you.

"Holy shit, baby," you laugh breathlessly.

"Feel better now, darling? No more headache?" she asks with the distinct smile of an afterglow. It's a look you've come to love.

"Headache? What headache? Ha ha..."

She giggles quietly in reply.

"Glad I could be of assistance," she leans forward and you lift your head, meeting her for a loving kiss.

"Promise me you're careful at work. Please?"

"I always am, baby. I promise. Nothing's gonna happen to me. Well, besides a little scar like this one. Besides, it's not all bad. It'll make me look...manly."

"Yes, as if you need to appear 'manly' for anypony else. I think you're quite the man already, darling."

"Thanks, hon," you kiss her again, "I do what I can. Honestly, though, you don't need to worry about me."

"Asking such a thing is futile at best, I hope you realize. As your lover I'm going to worry regardless of whether or not you tell me to. That said, I trust you, baby."

Rarity pulls herself back up and slowly stands back up, sliding the hoof-sponge back on again.

"I'm afraid we've managed to get quite dirty in the process of getting clean. Good thing we're still in the shower, don't you think?"

"Absolutely," you reply. "Though I think getting dirty while getting clean is the best way to do things."

"You'll find no argument here, darling," she says with a sultry edge to her voice. "Let's get you washed up again. Then we can get you off to bed for a nice nap."

"After something to eat?"

"After something to eat, yes," she responds with a smile. "Perhaps I can join you for that nap, I suddenly find myself feeling exhausted for some reason."

"I wonder what ever that reason could be..."

"I have an idea, but who can say, really? Maybe later tonight we can do this again. Just to be sure, of course."

"Of course." You grasp her hoof in your hand and give her a warm smile. "I love you, Rarity."

"I love you too, darling. Always."