A light drizzle of rain falls around you in the fading daylight, the last remnants of the afternoon sun peeking over the distant mountains. Ponyville's streets are surprisingly empty, though you can't complain; the walk from Twilight's home to the Carousel Boutique has given you a lot of time to think, and more than enough time to worry yourself sick. Even with the assurances of the smartest unicorn you know, it hasn't been easy to actually take that step and leave the observatory room you've grown so comfortable with. Hell, nothing's been easy since your arrival all those months ago. Still, it's the finality of it that really eats away at you: a simple walk across town marks the beginning of, hopefully, a long and wonderful relationship.

Thus, with a duffel bag slung across your back, containing all of your meager worldly possessions, you march on past the town hall, past restaurants and businesses and homes, the reality of your situation weighing heavier and heavier on your shoulders. So many 'what ifs', so many possibilities. One way or another, your life in Equestria is about to change for good.

The curved, sweeping structure of the Boutique looms ahead of you as you round the final corner, the bright colors and eye-catching designs feeling less than comforting.

"It's just your nerves," you tell yourself. It doesn't help. Your stomach threatens to jump into your throat as the big, purple doors stand before you. You lift your hand up to knock, but stop before you can actually do so. Are you doing this for the right reasons? Are you being too hasty? Maybe. Behind that door lies the start of a new life, with a woman you care deeply about. What more could you ask for?

"God, I hope I'm not making a mistake."

With a final, deep breath you force yourself to rap on the door with three loud, clear knocks. There's no answer for several seconds. Maybe you should just turn around and head back, think it through a little m--

"I-I'll be right there..." Rarity's voice lifts you up while somehow managing to make you even more nervous.

Quiet hoof-falls on the tiled entrance way, a loud 'clack' as the sturdy bolt unlocks.

This is it.

With a quick wipe of your sleeve you dry the rain from your face. The door slowly swings open to reveal the object of your affection, the catalyst for everything you've been through. The woman you owe your very life to.

For a time, she doesn't say anything, simply looking up at you with those big, sapphire eyes. You try to muster up something to say, but can only find a single, quiet word.

"Hi..."

A moment passes before she responds, but not with words. Instead, she balances on her hind legs and wraps her forelegs around you in a loving embrace, letting out a stuttering sigh as you hold her in your arms. You gently rock back and forth, closing your eyes to take in the moment; the soft patter of rain on the roof of the overhang, the feeling of her silky coat and warm skin against your arms, the halting sound of her breath.

In an instant, all of your doubts and fears, all of your worries are washed away. Being here, with her, feels right.

Rarity slowly pulls back and stares into your eyes, her own glistening with tears of worry and relief.

"I...I wasn't sure if you'd actually show up," she finally says. "I was so scared to think that you'd changed your mind..."

You rest your forehead against hers and gently reassure her.

"Never." She slips a hoof into your hand and smiles as you grasp it tightly. "I love you, Rarity. I love you."

"I love you, too," she says, sniffling back a tear. Slowly, she closes her eyes and presses her lips into yours in a warm, loving kiss. She lingers against your touch for a long moment before pulling you tightly into her, her kiss becoming more passionate and romantic.

"I missed you, my love..."

You run your hand along her cheek and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "I missed you too, baby. More than you can know." A small stream of tears runs down her cheeks. You wipe them away with your hand. "Are you alright?" you ask her quietly.

"Yes," she nods. "I'm just...so relieved. If you could have heard the thoughts racing through my head..."

"They would have probably been just like mine," you chuckle. "I was scared out of my mind. Took me a long time to finally work my way over here...but you know what? I'm glad I did."

"Then that makes two of us," Rarity laughs gently. With a long, warm kiss she settles back onto all fours, placing her hoof in your hand. "Come. Let's get you out of this dreadful rain before it intensifies any further."

The Boutique's doors close behind you as you slip out of your shoes and heft your duffel bag to the floor. Rarity looks at you with a remorseful expression as you do.

"Goodness...I suppose it never really struck me until now just how little you actually have. Is that everything you own?"

"That it is," you shrug. "It's enough to get by."

"Well, you needn't worry about such things any more, darling. What's mine is yours. We'll see about getting you some nice things in the coming days, hmm? Why don't you just leave that on the floor for now?"

The Boutique is mostly dark except for a few small lights casting a soft, orange glow on the living room and kitchen. Rarity tugs at your hand and says, "I've a surprise for you. Something in honor of our new-found commitment to each other. I think you'll quite like it."

You walk alongside her to the kitchen, where a small package lies wrapped in purple paper and tied off with a pink ribbon. A tall bottle sits next to it, adorned with a red bow. You smile broadly at the gifts, already feeling some degree of hope rising to the surface.

"Go ahead, darling. Open it."

You grab the small package and tear the paper off, slowly turning it over to reveal a golden picture frame with a single picture placed in the middle.

"Oh, wow..." You stare at the picture for what feels like a long time, a flood of memories rushing back to you from that fateful night. "This...this is the first date we ever went on." Your custom-made suit is unmistakable, nicely paired with the elegant, beautiful dress that flows over the gorgeous unicorn's body. Her head is resting against your shoulder as you wrap your arm around her, smiling in the ecstatic way that only the first signs of infatuation could ever truly produce.

"I wasn't expecting something so nice, baby. Thank you...this means so much to me."

"You're very welcome," she replies with a smile. "I thought you might like something to remember our first night together. Took a dreadfully long time to get the frame, but I believe it was worth it."

"Definitely. I'll put this on my night stand so I can always see it." You reach over and grab the bottle from the table, laughing as you turn it around. "A Sparkle~Cola. Ice cold, too. How'd ya know?"

"Oh, just a hunch," she giggles adorably. "It may or may not have had something to do with you emptying my ice box of them every time you visit." You pop the cap off with a satisfying hiss, taking a long swig of the sweet soda.

"Aaaah. Perfect." You offer the bottle to her as you sit on the long, red couch, sinking into the thick cushions. She happily accepts and takes a dainty sip, snuggling against your side. You let your head fall back and let out a sigh of relief, glad to be over the initial awkwardness. A hand runs through her long, soft curls.

Maybe everything will be alright after all.

"Darling?" she asks quietly.

"Hmm?"

"When you said you were nervous and scared, did you...did you really mean it?"

"Absolutely. I don't think I've been so scared about anything in my life, baby. It took me a long time to come to grips with it. It just...represented so much, you know? In a way, this marks the end of my old life. Twenty-six years of friends, family, old relationships, jobs...everything."

"I'm so sorry," she says apologetically, squeezing you tight. "I can't imagine what that's like. It must be absolutely dreadful."

"It's...it's something I'm dealing with. That's all I can do. If Equestria is my new home, then I intend to make the best of it. I want to lead a good life. A life I can share with you, Rarity." You kiss her horn and caress her cheek with your palm. "I can't promise that I won't make mistakes -- this is just as much a learning experience for me as it is for you -- but I can promise that I will do everything in my power to make you feel like the most wonderful girl in the world. Because in my eyes, you are. You're my anchor in this place. I couldn't have made it this far without you."

Rarity sniffs back a tear and smiles lovingly at you. "I simply wished to see you happy again, darling. You are the light of my life and the part of me I've been missing for all this time. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Rarity. Always."

The quiet sound of rain slowly builds to a downpour. Rarity lays her head across your chest and listens to your heart beat, and for a few brief minutes, nothing else exists but her.

==========

"I don't believe I've shown you the master bedroom yet, have I?" Rarity trots alongside you as you make your way down the second floor hallway, passing her work room and a spare bedroom decorated with toys and drawings.

"Not that I can remember," you answer, readjusting the duffel bag slung over your back. You belch quietly into your fist, tasting dinner once again -- a really good spinach pasta with fresh tomato and parmesan -- even as you attempt to hide it from Rarity. She doesn't seem to notice.

"I think I've only ever seen the bottom floor, and your 'inspiration' room."

"Well then, we simply must fix that!" She opens the door in front of you, revealing a large, round bedroom decorated with light purple carpet and an ornately designed, king-sized bed. Red and white flower designs cover the blankets and pillows. Off to one side, a pair of large windows look out upon the eastern side of Ponyville, letting in the light from the rising moon.

"Normally I try to keep it as neat as possible, but I'm afraid with all the work I've been doing lately I've somewhat neglected to keep things as tidy as I usually do."

The room looks 'tidy' to your eyes; but then, you're not someone with such exacting standards. As far as you're concerned, as long as you can sleep in it, it's a good bedroom.

"Looks fine to me." You drop your heavy duffel bag against a dresser and walk around the room, letting out a whistle at the intricate patterns dotting the walls. "You did this all by hand? Er, hoof?"

"That I did," Rarity replies with a happy, self-satisfied smile. "I must admit I'm not one for working with materials other than fabrics and linens, but I've been here long enough to make a modification or two." She points off to one direction, toward a closed door. "The wash room is over there. Feel free to use it any time you like, though do be mindful of the various accessories you'll no-doubt notice. Some of them are quite expensive. Ah..." she looks up at you with an embarrassed grin, "I'm afraid it's not too accommodating for someone of your unique stature just yet. Specifically, the mirror will likely be too low, but we can always work on that."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," you reassure her. "I can always bend down or something."

"Even so, we'll order you something more fitting as soon as we get the time. Now, as a proper host, I would like to offer you my bed for the night. I assure you I'll be just fine in Sweetie Belle's room."

You jerk back, not expecting such an offer. "You want me to take your bed?"

"Of course! To do otherwise would be simply uncouth."

You look over at the bed once again -- it's definitely big enough for the both of you. "You sure about that? I mean...I can sleep in Sweetie's bed, if you prefer. It's your bed, after all. Or, you know...we can...uhmm..."

"No, no, I insist. J-Just for the night. Changing living arrangements is going to take some time to get used to, I'm sure, a heh heh...once you find yourself properly acquainted with the Boutique, then we can discuss more permanent solutions."

"Oh..." You're more than a little disappointed; you wanted to share a bed with her, but from her demeanor it's obvious that she's nervous about it. You can't blame her too much -- you haven't actually been intimate yet -- but it feels like less of a couple's sleeping arrangement than it does that of friends or family. Still, you decide not to push the issue. No doubt she's never had this sort of situation come up before. It's something you're both getting used to.

"Well, alright. If that's what you think is best."

"I do. Now, I'm sure you'd love to clean up a bit before turning in for the night, as well as unpack your things. Until we figure out where to put everything, you can use the bottom two drawers of the dresser over by the bed. Do be careful, though. Opal likes to sleep in them from time to time."

"Yeah, Opal. Great." Your only encounters with Rarity's beloved cat have involved it attempting to tear your face off, or cling to your back with its ridiculously sharp claws.

"Oh come now, I'm sure she'll warm up to you! She is a feline that is not a fan of change. It will simply take some time."

You pull the draw strings on your bag, pulling out the first thing sitting on top.

"Look familiar?"

Rarity's eyes light up at the stuffed animal in your hand, an adorable grin crossing her face.

"You actually held onto it!" she laughs, floating the small, white teddy bear from your hands and levitating it in front of her.

"Of course I did, you made it for me," you answer with a smile. "Way back when I was in the hospital. Had it next to me every night since them."

"And you've taken such good care of him! His little red ears are still vibrant, even!" She snuggles it against her with a giggle before giving it a kiss on top of its head. "How adorable. I did quite a marvelous job on him, didn't I? If I may be so bold."

"That you did, baby." You grab the bear as she floats it back over, tossing it onto the bed. "We'll just put him there for now." You dig through the rest of your bag for a set of clothing, letting everything else pile up on the floor. "Heh, sorry. I must be making a mess. I'll get it all organized later."

"That's quite alright, darling. You just let me know if you need any help. I'll leave you to your privacy, now. If you've need of any shampoo or conditioner, there are several bottles on the right corner of the bath tub. Fortunately, I believe you'll find that particular fixture more than accommodating for your size. A large, luxurious bath is a must for Miss Rarity!"

"I'm sure," you laugh. She stands up on her hind legs again and plants a kiss on your cheek.

"I'm so glad you're here, my love. I foresee a wondrous future for us. One day, we'll look back at tonight and point to it as the beginning of our lives together. Besides our dates, of course."

"I'm glad to be here too, Rarity. We'll see how this goes, alright?"

"Of course." You pull her into you for a passionate kiss, adding a lingering kiss to her neck before you pull away.

"Oh, my...you're too good at that for your own good," she laughs quietly. "But, ah, I should leave you to your bathing. Don't hesitate to ask if you've need of anything."

"I'll be sure to let you know, yeah."

"Fabulous! Whenever you're finished you can find me in the spare bedroom. I've a few designs floating around in my head, and I simply must get them on paper!" With a brief focusing of magic you feel your shirt lift over your head; it gets neatly deposited in a basket next to the bathroom door. "Mmmm, quite the lovely sight, if I do say so." She kisses your chest for emphasis, eliciting a small laugh from you.

"You know, baby, you're welcome to join me. If you're okay with that, anyway..."

She blushes heavily and has to avert her eyes. You wish she'd just agree to it, but even with you living with her she's not quite over that initial, and in your opinion, unnecessary, awkwardness. You don't push the issue.

"I...I really must get these ideas down. Besides, I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable any more than you likely already are."

"Alright, if you say so." You kiss her once more and let her back down, grabbing a set of clothing to take with you. You'd prefer to just change into some new boxers, but decide it's probably a good idea to add a shirt and some flannel pajama pants until you get a better feeling for her mood.

"I'll come say goodnight before I head off to bed, okay?"

"I'd like that very much, darling. Do enjoy your shower, won't you?" Rarity turns and leaves, quietly shutting the door behind her.

"Yeah," you sigh after she's gone, "I'll enjoy it. By myself..."

==========

Rarity's bedroom -- and now yours as well -- feels so welcoming, even with the unfamiliar surroundings. The look, the feel of it all is undeniably Rarity, through and through. Which only makes it harder to fall asleep. The dim glow of the moon outside your window is just enough to see by, casting outlines and silhouettes all around her well-loved bedroom.

You shift and fidget uncomfortably under the sheets and blankets, though not because of the bed. It's definitely comfortable and warm, especially with just your worn boxers on, but it feels so empty. Everything, from the sheets to the pillows, smell like lightly scented lavender and vanilla. Like Rarity.

"Why isn't she sleeping next to me," you think to yourself. Doubts start playing through your mind: maybe she's having second thoughts. Maybe she thinks it's going too fast. Maybe she really is just doing what she thinks is 'proper'. In any case, it's not helping you sleep any better. Only a few fitful hours have passed since you said good night to her. It's really not the way you pictured your first night with the mare of your dreams going. In truth, it kind of hurts to think about it.

You roll over and shove another pillow under your head, and somehow manage to drift off anyway.

The bedroom door creaks open. You groggily look at the alarm clock on the nightstand, its illuminated hands showing just past three in the morning. With one eye closed against the hallway light you look up from your pillow. A familiar silhouette slowly makes its way inside.

"Rarity? Is that you, baby?"

For a moment she doesn't say anything. When she finally answers, her voice is cool and even.

"I'm sorry. This was all a mistake. All of it."

"What? Hey, I understand you're nervous, but--"

"No. You can't be here. I can't be here."

"You can't...I don't understand. What do you mean you can't be here?"

From outside the confines of the room you hear a metallic groan, a horrible castrophany of sound that builds louder and louder even as you lose focus on what Rarity's saying. Her lips move, but you can't make out any words.

"Rarity?"

The windows shatter with a horrible sound, a torrent of ice-cold water flooding into the room.

"Oh no. Oh no! Oh god, we have to get out of here!"

She stands unmoving, simply looking at you.

"Baby, please! Listen to me!"

Water swells over the sides of the bed, soaking the blankets through. You scramble to escape the ever-increasing surge, but it's no use. Freezing water laps at your ankles, then up to your knees. A burning, stabbing sensation pierces your leg and you cry out in pain and terror even as the water overtakes your chest. In one horrific moment, you see the love of your life swallowed by the dark water. You scream out to her, but no sound escapes your lungs. Only the gargling of your own lungs filling with water. You gasp for air but find none, the edges of your vision slowly fading to black. The warmth of your body leaves you as you're pulled down, down into the endless depths...

With a startled gasp you shoot up from your pillow, a cold sweat dripping down your forehead and making your skin cool and clammy. You breathe in panic for a few moments as you take in your surroundings -- the bedroom isn't submerged. You're not drowning. Even so, you feel an overwhelming urge to find Rarity and make sure she's alright.

You quickly throw off the blankets and leap out of bed, making your way to the door and into the hallway. No light is coming from Sweetie's bedroom. You let your eyes adjust and find that Rarity isn't there at all.

"Rarity?" you call out, but to no answer. "Oh no...."

Still feeling partially asleep you head downstairs, where an unfamiliar scent catches your attention.

"Baby, are you down here? Please answer me..."

A sound like plates clinking together answers you.

"Darling? I hadn't expected you to be out of bed. Is something the matter?"

You rush over to her and throw your arms around her, getting a surprised yelp from her as she struggles to maintain focus on her floating teacup. "Oh thank god..."

"Are...are you alright, my love? Is there something wrong?"

You wipe away the tears you hadn't even realized were there until just now. "You have no idea how worried I was."

"Worried? Over what? I assure you I'm quite alright, darling."

The reality of your actions finally hits you. You realize that you must seem like a crazy person, rushing downstairs like her life was in danger. "I, uhm...I guess I just had a bad dream. A really bad dream."

Rarity's expression changes to one of care and concern. "Oh, dear. I suppose it was rather unsettling, judging by your reaction."

"Yeah, I'm sorry," you say sheepishly. "I kind of have these recurring nightmares sometimes. About, you know...the incident that brought me here. Usually they're bad enough, but this time it was...it was really bad."

"That's why you were so concerned, I take it?" she asks. You nod in reply, letting out a deep sigh as she wraps her forelegs around your neck. "Oh, darling...it's alright. Everything is alright. You're with me now, and I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know, baby. I know." You play your fingers through her long, soft mane and rest your head on her shoulder. "You were there. That's why I was so scared. You said that this was all a mistake, and then you...the water was...oh, god. I haven't had such a bad nightmare in months. I'm sorry, I didn't want to alarm you..."

She pulls her head back with a very concerned look. "All a mistake? Why would you even dream of such a thing? Of all the words I'd use to describe our time together, 'mistake' is not one of them."

"Because...because it's been an uncertain day, that's all." You grab the floating teacup and saucer from the air and set it on the table next to her. "Honey, are you afraid we're taking this too fast?"

"Of course not," she states without a hint of hesitation. "If I believed such a thing, I'd have never invited you to live with me, now would I?"

"No, I guess not. It's just that when you offered me your bed I thought that maybe you were having second thoughts about me being here."

"Is that what this is all about?" she asks you curiously, but you're unable to meet her gaze. "Darling, I only did so because I thought you'd like a little time to get used to such a shift in your living conditions. Goodness knows the Boutique isn't the same as Twilight's library." She lifts your chin with a hoof. "Look at me, my dear. I do not regret asking you to live with me, even for a single moment. I want you to be happy, not concerned! If something like that bothered you so much, why didn't you say so?"

"I don't know," you admit quietly. "I'm sorry, Rarity. I guess it's just my insecurities showing themselves. I was hoping this wouldn't happen..." You let out a sigh and shake your head at your own stupidity. "Great, I'm not even here one full day and I'm making an ass of myself."

"Ah ah, there'll be no such self-degradation in this household. You've simply a case of frayed nerves, my love. It happens to the best of us." Rarity floats the teacup over and takes a small sip before offering it to you. You carefully grasp it and take a drink, a warm rush of lemon and spices flowing down your throat. "I had intended to have a cup of tea before heading back to bed -- Celestia knows I'm a fitful sleeper at times -- but I think perhaps you could do with it more than I could. Come, let's get you back into bed."

Rarity steps out in front of you, flicking her curled tail up.

"You're obviously a little groggy still. You may hold on -- gently, of course -- if you think it'll help you maintain your balance."

You carefully grab hold of her tail, watching with interest as it coils around your hand a few times. It's just as soft and silky as her mane.

"I didn't know you could do that..."

"It comes with practice," she laughs quietly. "Now, follow me, my dear." With the teacup floating alongside her she climbs the stairs to the second floor, taking her time to allow you to follow closely behind her.

"Careful now."

You push open the bedroom door and step inside, frowning at the pile of blankets you left on the floor.

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking straight..."

"It's quite alright, dear," she reassures you. In a matter of moments she has the bed impeccably made once again, not even dropping her focus on the teacup as she does so.

"That's pretty impressive," you laugh, running a hand over the top blanket.

"Years of insisting upon a comfortable, attractive bedspread will do that to you. A well-made bed is a happy bed. Now, in you go." A corner lifts up for you, allowing you to slide into place. It feels like you never messed it up to begin with.

"There! Nice and snug, yes?"

"Absolutely. Thank you."

"Marvelous!" Rarity turns and begins trotting away, but doesn't head for the door -- she makes her away around the bed, pulling the covers back on the other side. "I, ah, hope you don't mind."

"No...no, not at all." You pull the blanket a little bit more to let her climb up next to you.

"Quite comfortable, if I do say so." She takes a sip of her tea, offering you another taste. You take the cup with a smile, even as she nervously rubs her hooves together. "I...I want to apologize, darling."

"Hmm? For what?"

"For making you feel unwelcome, or apprehensive. I shouldn't have slept elsewhere, not with someone I love so dearly staying with me now." She scoots closer to you, her soft coat pressing against your skin. "I was simply worried. Worried that I'd pushed the issue too hard. I didn't want you to think that I was desperate for you to join me..." You raise an eyebrow at her, not entirely sure what she meant. "Oh! Oh dear, that came out in completely the wrong manner, didn't it? It's not that I didn't want to share a bed with you, darling, it's just that sometimes I can come across as too eager. Perhaps 'eager' isn't the right way to put it, so much as 'resolved'....I'm not making any sense, am I?"

You place an arm around her and kiss her forehead. "Hey. Honey. Don't worry about it, okay? I understand what you're trying to say. You were concerned that I wouldn't feel the same way you do so quickly, is that it?" She doesn't say anything, simply nodding instead. "I had the exact same concern, baby. Exact same. Guess it was kind of dumb to think like that, huh?"

"For both of us, it seems," she answers with a quiet laugh. "I'm sorry, my love. This is all new to me, as I'm sure it is to you. Perhaps we're entitled to such silly mistakes once in a while."

"I'd say that's about right." You finish half of the cup and pass it to her, watching as she grasps it between her hooves. "It felt so empty in here without you, Rarity. Even the pillows smell like you. It was...lonely."

"I'm sorry," she apologizes, barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"It's okay. Really. I feel better with you here." You rest your head against hers and close your eyes as she finishes her cup of tea. With a gentle chiming sound and a dim, blue light she sets the teacup on the nightstand then lays down beside you, her chest and stomach pressed against your side. You look into her deep, blue eyes and smile, happy to have her next to you. She smiles in return and lays her head on your shoulder, not wanting to break your gaze.

"I'm so happy you're here, darling. As much as I've enjoyed every moment we've spent together, any time that I'm away from you feels like an eternity." She giggles and adds, "I suppose one would call that 'infatuation'."

"I suppose one would," you laugh quietly, gently rubbing her cheek with your thumb. You glance down as you feel her run a soft hoof over your chest. You return the favor by sliding a hand over her back, dipping just above the base of her tail. She exhales sharply at your touch, inching closer to you.

"Darling..."

"Hmm?"

"Kiss me. Please." Slowly and gently you place a hand behind her head and pull her into you, her warm, soft lips pressing against your own. She's as loving and caring as you've ever felt her. Every touch of your lips is answered by quiet moans or soft breaths. You feel her shift beside you, throwing her legs around you to lay on your chest.

"I'm not causing you any discomfort, am I?" she asks with genuine care.

"Not in the least."

"Good. That's good." You brush a curl of hair from her face and pull her down again, cradling her back with an arm. Her kisses become more passionate, more frantic, as you gently squeeze her.

"Mmmm...I do so love when you do that."

"I'm just glad you've decided to join me, baby." You touch your forehead to hers and smile. "I miss you so much when I'm away from you. You're all I can think about."

"Always the romantic," she says in return. "But you know what? We don't have to worry about being away from each other ever again." You inhale sharply as her hind legs brush against your boxers, no longer able to hide your excitement. It only makes you want to push forward, tugging her against you as firmly as you can without alarming her and slipping your tongue into her mouth. She groans in approval and returns the favor, a wandering hoof moving down your chest and stomach before slipping into your boxers.

"Oh, my," she blushes, noticeable even in the darkened room. "I didn't think I'd have such an effect on you so quickly..."

"So quickly?" you laugh. "I've been trying to contain myself since you first climbed up with me. You're fucking sexy, baby. Pardon my french."

She blushes even brighter, her cheeks turning bright red in embarrassment. "Oh come now, I'm sure it's not that exciting. But...I'm actually rather flattered." She leans back and works you over with a foreleg, keeping eye contact with you and delighting in your reactions to her touch. You notice her breathing become heavier, her exhales dripping with building lust. You decide to take a chance and slip a hand down her chest, slowly working your way down to her stomach. She watches intently as you brush your fingers against her thighs, teasing her legs apart just a small bit.

"Rarity?" you ask her, getting her to look up at you for a brief moment. "If we continue, you know what's gonna end up happening, right? Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I...I am. Yes." She bends forward and kisses you lovingly. "I believe it's been a long time coming, my love. I simply didn't want to complicate matters until I thought we were both ready for it." She lets out a halting breath as you slide your fingers between her legs, gently rubbing her sensitive skin. "Mmmmnn...oh, baby..."

Rarity bites her lip as you flick your thumb over her most sensitive spot, involuntarily starting to thrust her hips back and forth against you. "I want you, darling." She stares into your eyes with a half-open look of passion, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to make love to you."

You nod your head and pull her into you, frantically kissing her neck and shoulder. She moans softly at the sensation, grasping you between her hind legs and working them up and down. You can't help but let out a groan as she kisses your neck and chest, turning her body to face away from you. She slides your boxers down and flicks them off the bed with a giggle. For a moment she stops and simply looks at your excited manhood -- it's actually kind of cute that she does so.

"I, ah...I have never done what I'm about to do, darling. I do hope you'll forgive my inexperience."

"It's okay, baby," you reassure her with a hand on her back. "It's just you and me."

Her large, purple curls obscure her head, so it comes as a complete surprise when she actually leans down and takes you in her mouth. You have to grip the sheets tightly to avoid finishing right then and there -- it's been a long time since you've been in this position.

"Oh, god..."

For having never done it, you're struck by how gentle she is. She's taking her time and enjoying it, not rushing it like you'd have expected.

"Rarity?," you stumble out between gasps. "Turn your body this way, honey."

She does so, sliding her legs over your chest to reveal her marehood. You grasp her hind legs for support and slide her down just enough to be able to reach her with your tongue. The first touch takes her by surprise, an almost worried gasp coming from her. You push on and slide your tongue over her every sensitive spot, listening to her moan in approval. For a moment she lifts her head up and watches you over her shoulder. She tries to speak but is only able to let out short, ragged breaths.

"Oh, darling...that feels so amazing..."

Her tongue slides up and down, over and over, before she closes her mouth around you once more. It feels so good you're not sure how long you--

"Ah!" you reflexively shout, jerking your head up hard enough to smack it into the headboard behind you. "Son of a..."

"What's wrong?!" Rarity asks, looking back at you.

"Nothing" you laugh, rubbing the back of your head with your palm. "Just, uh, be careful about using your teeth, baby. I'm kinda sensitive like this..."

"Oh..." she replies in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, darling. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, no, I'm alright." You grip her hind legs again and close your eyes, hoping to make the awkward moment pass as quickly as possible. Fortunately it doesn't seem to take long -- you can feel her gently bobbing her head up and down within a matter of seconds. You return the favor and carefully slide a finger into her, moving it in and out with the motion of your tongue. Her body starts to move with you, rocking back and forth with the sensation.

The small moans of pleasure that escape her mouth turn you on immensely, even more than you already were. Try as you might, you can feel that you won't last very long like this.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem like she will either. Rarity quickly turns around and lays on top of you, kissing you passionately.

"I want you, darling," she says, her voice absolutely dripping with desire. "I want you so bad..."

You gently grab hold of her and turn her around so that you're both on your sides, her body pressed into yours. With a free hand you grasp yourself and carefully guide it into her. She lifts a leg as you do, watching intently as you slowly, and gently, push into her.

"Aaahhh...mmmmm...." She wraps her forelegs around your neck and pushes into you as hard as she can, letting out gasping breaths as she takes your full size. She smiles at your groan of pleasure; she's so warm. So soft. You couldn't put it into words if you tried.

You start thrusting, slowly at first.

"Oh, darling...you feel so good...don't stop..."

You move faster and harder, burying your face in her shoulder as you give a groan of ecstasy. You notice her biting her lip as she looks down, watching you make love to her for the first time. Her very body begins to pulse with her heartbeat, her eyes rolling back as she's overtaken by the pleasure you're giving each other.

"Ooooh, baby...I feel I may...I may...mmmmmnn..."

Despite your best efforts to stave off the inevitable, it's only seconds more before you can feel the build-up starting inside you. Your own breath comes out as ragged and halting.

"Come with me, baby?" she asks you, almost pleading. You nod frantically and kiss her as passionately as you can, reaching back to tighten her legs around your thighs.

Her quick, quiet moans gradually become a longer, louder yell. She squeezes you as tightly as she can manage, throwing her head back with a scream of complete and total ecstasy. It's all you can take. Not even a second passes before you give a sharp grunt and a breathy exhale, your entire body tightening at the sudden release. A wave of warmth rushes over you, more intense than you could have imagined. For a brief moment, there is nothing else in the world but the feeling of the woman of your dreams, so loving and passionate. You struggle to catch your breath mere seconds after it happens, finally opening your eyes to meet her gaze.

Small tears gather in the corners of her big, sapphire eyes. For a long while neither of you say anything, content to simply hold each other and let the last remnants of your orgasms pass through you. Then, slowly, she leans in and kisses you with all of the love and warmth imaginable.

"I love you," she whispers, running a hoof through your hair. "I love you so much..."

You gently kiss her in return and caress her cheek with your palm.

"I love you too, Rarity. I'm so happy we found each other."

"As am I, my love," she smiles at you. "Now we'll never have to be apart again." She grasps your hand between her hooves and places it over her chest. "I'll always be here for you. Always."

==========

The Prancing Mare is just as dark and welcoming as you remember it, a comfortable little pub lit by burning candles in crystal sconces and adorned with nick-knacks from all over Equestria and beyond. Even with a modest contingent of ponies enjoying the bar counter, or tucked into the comfortable booths, it's nice and quiet, but loud enough to keep from feeling awkwardly so. It's the kind of place that makes you wish they'd have some sort of folksy music playing, maybe from a live band.

Still, you feel quite at home in the dark confines of the The Prancing Mare. It's the first time you've been back since your night out with the girls, when all of you ended up having just a little bit too much to drink. Tonight, you've promised yourself, you're going to know your limit, and not just because the ensuing headache is something you'd rather avoid. No, the real reason for stepping foot into the comfortable little dive is to chat it up with your best friend and his pretty wife. As you've done many times before, you're waiting to hear some (hopefully) sage words from the hard-working earth pony. You're just not sure he'll have any advice on the one issue that you've been hiding from everyone except the two mares it concerns. All you can do is hope and pray that the answer to your question is not resounding silence.

"Hey-ey, dere he is!" A foreleg waves to get your attention near the back of the bar. "We was wonderin' if you was gonna show up!" You make your way back and greet your hard-working friend with a slap on the back. "How ya doin', pal?" Pipe Wrench is all smiles, as is his wife.

"Doin' good, Pipe! Always good to get together after a hard day, huh? Been a while." You briefly remove your baseball cap and nod your head at Dazzle Drop. "Nice to see you again, ma'am. We weren't sure if you were gonna be able to join us."

"What's this 'ma'am' nonsense?" she laughs. "I appreciate a gentlestallion, dearie, but I'm not that old! Come here, give us a hug!" The pink mare embraces you warmly and fusses with the string of small pearls around her neck. Her orange eyes light up as she leans back in her seat to rest against her husband. "I don't know how many times I'm going to have to remind you," she teases. Even in the dim light you notice thin lines of grey starting to peak through her otherwise vibrant orange mane.

"Sorry, force of habit," you chuckle in return, sitting in the booth opposite them. "It was drilled into my head for years. Took me months to stop calling Pipe 'sir'."

"Personally, I think it's more than fitting," Pipe chimes in. "Celestia knows you're old enough to be called 'ma'am' now." He laughs as Dazzle pokes his side with a hoof. "So, how ya been, pal? Aside from work, dat is."

"I've been alright," you shrug. "Been busy helping Rarity at home. Fixed up a cabinet door the other day. You know, leading an exciting life and all that." Dazzle takes the opportunity to compliment you on being helpful to your future wife, playfully chiding Pipe for not doing the same. "Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. Or maybe I'm just aware that anything that makes Rarity's day harder ends up making my day harder, too."

Pipe seems endlessly amused by your statement, hiding a laugh behind a hoof. "Ha! Ya ain't even married and ya already know da rules! Hell, I'd say you're gonna make a fine husband to da little lady." He leans in and adds in a mock whisper, "remember, da wife is always right. Even when she ain't. Which is often." Dazzle shoots him a dirty look, but he shrugs it off. "Present company excluded, dear."

"Nice save," she says matter-of-factly.

An attractive pegasus mare trots over as the three of you converse, a dress collar with a black bow-tie around her neck. Her blonde coat and matching mane are a stark contrast to the dim lighting. "Well good evenin' there, folks! How y'a'll doin' this fahn naght?"

You perk up at the sound of her voice -- it's dripping with southern twang. In fact, you'd compare it to Applejack's, but more...lady-like. You wouldn't admit it out loud, especially if Rarity was here, but you've always had a thing for southern girls. You have a feeling the mare standing before you probably plays it up in order to get bigger tips from her customers -- a suspicion that is only reinforced when she smiles playfully at your involuntary eyebrow arch and clearing of your throat.

"Ah ain't never seen you around here, sugar. You new in town? Name's Yellow Rose"

"No, not really, just, uh, don't drop by here often. Maybe once a month. Sometimes t-twice. Ahem " Still the smooth talker. "Nice to meet you. This is Pipe Wrench and his wife Dazzle Drop, by the way." They both smile at her, though Pipe's obviously trying to keep his similar reaction to yours from being noticed.

"Please ta meet y'all," she says with a subtle shake of her hindquarters, a black ribbon tied around the base of her tail. Not that you were looking, or anything. Okay, you were totally looking. But you're only a man at the end of the day. "What can I get for ya?"

You look over at Dazzle, who hasn't caught her husband's wandering gaze. You gotta hand it to him, he's pretty good at hiding it. Probably comes with years of practice. "Ladies first."

"Well thank you, dearie. Very polite of you." She taps her hoof on the table as she orders. "I'll have a martini, please. Just a bit dirty, if you don't mind."

"Ah don't mind dirty at all," Yellow Rose replies with a playful laugh. You hide your reaction behind a cough. "And for you, sir?"

"Clydesdale Light," Pipe answers. You sigh dramatically at his boring choice of beer.

"Jesus, Pipe, you order the same thing every time. Mix it up a little!"

"Well fine, smart ass, what do you recommend? Since you're obviously an expert on such things."

"Cascade Falls. Trust me."

"Alright, alright. But if it tastes like piss, it's bein' dumped over ya head." He chuckles and nods at the pretty barmaid. "Yeah, I'll take that Cascade thingy."

"Make it two," you add. Yellow Rose smiles and repeats your order, then trots off to grab the drinks. Pipe joins you in watching her walk off, letting out a long, low whistle. He stops when his wife bops him on the head with a hoof.

"Need I remind you two horndogs that you're married? Or rather, one of you is married, and the other will be soon, Celestia willing!"

You laugh and dismiss her with a shrug. "It's like my grandpa always said -- 'I may have got married, but I didn't go blind'."

"Ain't dat da truth," Pipe quips. Dazzle scoffs at you, but it's obvious she's not actually offended. You can only hope Rarity is as playful as the years drag on.

"Men, I swear."

Your drinks arrive in short order, the tray skillfully balanced on the southern mare's back.

"Here y'all go, a nice bit'a refreshment. Dirty martini for the lady," she slides the tray onto the table, pushing the drinks toward each of you, "and a couple of Cascade Falls for the fellas." You reach into your coin pouch and fish out ten bits, sliding a few more onto the tray for a tip. And then two after that. "Well thank ya, sug'! Awful nice of ya ta treat a lady like that."

"Any time," you reply with a goofy grin. Rose grasps the now empty tray between her teeth and walks away, the coins bouncing as she does. "Uh, she's a very friendly waitress." You quickly take a drink of your beer, but Pipe's not buying it, and tells you as much. "Yeah, well...I didn't go blind."

"Hey, I ain't sayin' nothin' if yous ain't sayin' nothin', pal." He lifts the mug to his mouth and takes a cautious sip, smacking his lips at the taste. "Hmm...not bad, actually. Not bad at all. I don't remember ya drinkin' this stuff before."

"It's a newly acquired taste. Tried it when I went to the Galloping Gourmet. Waiter suggested it, actually."

"Well...it ain't Clydesdale Light, but it'll do I suppose."

"You and your piss water, I swear."

"Hey, hey. It may be piss water, but it's cheap piss water, ha-ha!" Pipe calls for a quick toast, which you happily oblige. Dazzle seems more relaxed now that she has a drink, playfully teasing Pipe over the pretty young pegasus in the decidedly attractive outfit. So much as a collar and a tail ribbon can be called an outfit, anyway.

"So," Pipe speaks up after a long pull, "the missus and I are dyin' ta know whatcha got on ya mind."

You raise an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean? I never said I had anything on my mind."

"Ah, come on, bud. I know ya better than dat. Ya got dat look about ya, don't he, hon?"

"Defintely," she adds.

"With all this drama you and da little lady have been goin' through lately, what with that Cashew--"

"Cashmere," you correct him.

"--Cashmere woman and Slate and such, this ain't exactly the first time we've seen ya lookin' just like dis."

You laugh at earnest evaluation -- he really does know you too well. "Shit. That obvious, huh?"

"Like ya had it written on ya forehead! Don't worry, though; it ain't cuttin' into ya workin' days or decreasing productivity or none 'a that garbage. In fact, you been workin' harder than usual lately, sometimes to the point that we have to call out your name a few times just ta get your attention. Ya got somethin' going through dat head 'a yours, or Luna help me, I will eat my hard hat."

"Damnit, Pipe, I need to stop hanging out with you or you're going to become my personal psychiatrist," you laugh. In a way, you suppose he and his wife have been like that. They're certainly good at being voices of reason."But if you think I'm paying for anything more than a round of drinks, you're out of your damn mind."

"Fair enough." A small group of ponies wander through the front doors, temporarily drawing your attention away. It gives you a few seconds to mull your thoughts over -- not that you can think of a proper way of saying "I'm in a three-way relationship". This is gonna be interesting, one way or another.

"You know, I thought we were gonna make small talk first or something. I'm not really sure I'm ready to talk about this yet." You down half your mug in a single go, hoping to get some liquid encouragement.

"Nothin' wrong with just chattin' 'bout the day, but if ya got somethin' ya need ta talk about, it's probably be we do it while we're still sober, 'uh? Bitchin' about work can wait."

"Yeah, I suppose so..." You take a deep breath and try to brace yourself for the ensuing conversation...and how you're going to even explain it in the first place. You really hope Rarity doesn't mind you divulging your biggest secret -- and hers -- to your best friend, but you can't think of any other way to see this situation through while maintaining some semblance of sanity.

"Alright. But you have to swear that you won't tell anyone else, alright? Like, this is some serious shit. It could cause a lot of unneeded drama for us."

"You don't have to worry about us, pal. Dazzle and I are on the straight and level, ya know?"

"Yeah, I know. Just making sure." You nervously caress your mug in anticipation. "I'm not sure how to go about saying this. Uhhmm...do...do either of you know of anyone in an, uh, 'unconventional' relationship? You know, something out of the ordinary?"

"Yeah, you," Pipe laughs. "Showin' up to Equestria and plannin' to marry a pretty mare? I'd say you qualify pretty well for 'unconventional'!"

"Besides me, I mean. Relationships that aren't just a mare and a stallion getting together..."

Pipe eyes his wife, who returns the favor. "Uhh...dere's a couple in Manehattan I knew once, years ago. Guy married a zebra after dey had been datin' for years. And Dazzle here is friends with, uh...what's her name, hon? You know, the girl with the wrapped candy on her ass."

"Bon-Bon," Dazzle answers, rolling her eyes at his description. "Really, you could do a better job of describing her. No mention of the blue-and-pink hair? Not even the fact that she's an earth pony? You just had to go with 'the girl with candy on her ass'. I swear..."

"Whatever," he says with a dismissive hoof wave. "Yeah, dat Bon-Bon girl, she's shacked up with dat green unicorn mare, right? Dey always seem pretty happy together. Ya know," he turns to face you, "mare's hookin' up ain't dat uncommon out here. I'm sure you've noticed, but the ratio of mares to stallions is pretty lopsided. Still can't figure out why, for da life of me. But hey, I support dem mares gettin' together if it makes 'em happy. And if I get to watch, heh heh h--ow!"

"One of these days," Dazzle says with a disapproving look, "I'm gonna turn you into a polite gentleman, Pipe. One day. Even if it kills me. And at this rate, it will."

"What? I'm only equine, honey. Guy's gotta have his fantasies."

"Fantasies that are best kept private."

"Eh, whatever. Da ladies, dey don't understand how we think." He nudges your shoulder for emphasis, getting a laugh out of you. As fun as the back-and-forth is between him and his wife, you're not any closer to clearing up the issue. "But all dat aside, why do ya ask?"

You shrug. "I'm just trying to get a feel for things, that's all. So interspecies marriage is uncommon, but it happens, and same-sex marriage is the same, but, uh...what about marriage -- or any kind of relationship, really -- involving more than two members? Like, a third party."

"Hmm...." Pipe downs a big gulp of his beer before continuing. "Back in da day -- and I mean way back -- da royalty had multiple spouses, both mare and stallion. But as far as I know, it ain't been dat way since before Celestia took over. Hell, I don't think she even has a significant other. I dunno, maybe bein' immortal and all dat doesn't make you want to get too attached to somepony before dey kick da bucket. Or maybe it's hard to find a spouse or whatever that will--"

"Pipe, sweetie," Dazzle interrupts him, "you're getting off track again. Focus."

"Huh? Oh, right. Sorry. Point bein': I dunno. Can't think of any harems or multiple spouses or whatever dese days. Is all dis leadin' somewheres? Because I gotta be honest, you're kinda confusin' me here."

You bite your lip as he speaks; this isn't gonna be easy to explain. "Pipe, what if I told you that I'm, ah, in one of those relationships. With a third party."

The normally unflappable earth pony's blue eyes suddenly widen at your statement, as do his wife's. "You're what? Oh, pal, please tell me ya ain't runnin' around on Miss Rarity..."

"No! No, uh, nothing like that. Come on, Pipe. I love Rarity with my whole heart and soul, I would never even consider such a thing."

"Sorry, sorry, ya just kinda scared me dere for a sec. So..." he pushes his empty mug aside, "ya mean to tell me you're in some kinda three-way love triangle thing? Really?"

"Really."

"Does Rarity know about dis?"

"Yes she does," you state. "In fact, she fully approves of it. It was her idea, no less."

"Shit..." he says quietly. "I wasn't expectin' dat. I always thought of Rarity as more-or-less set in her ways. You know...sophisticated and all dat noise. Seems to me like she'd be da last pony to try somethin' like dat."

"I know, I thought so too," you admit with a shrug. "But it's been this way for a while now, nearly three months. We're not alone in the Boutique any more, you know what I mean?"

Dazzle raises a hoof to get your attention. "Sweetie, I don't mean to butt in, but why in the world would she agree to something so...unconventional? I mean, this is something you both have to agree to, right? She's your very special somepony!"

"Because it's with a mare she's cared about very deeply for a long time. Her best friend, even. I just...I'm not sure how to explain it." They both ask you who the mystery mare is; you take a deep breath before admitting the truth of the matter once and for all. "Fluttershy. It's Fluttershy." Dazzle gasps audibly, while Pipe simply stays quiet. "I know. It came as a huge surprise to me too. Believe me. I was there when this all went down. We--"

Yellow Rose trots back over and asks if she can refill your drinks -- Pipe offers to pay for this round, which you gladly accept. You wait until the barmaid is out of hearing range before you continue.

"We were celebrating the end of a very long work day, right after Cashmere had opened her store up and tried to drive us into financial ruin with some bullshit sale that she forced upon us. Remember when I took nearly a week off, way back when?"

"Hmm..." he rubs his chin with a hoof, scratching at the stubble on his face. "Dat's right, we had to get some new guy to cover for ya. All credit to him, he did a good job. You tellin' me those days off were because of dat Cashe--erm, Cashmere bitch? Da one you been tellin' me about?"

"The same," you nod. "But yeah, we were relaxing after a really long fuckin' day -- pardon my French, Dazzle -- of dealing with unhappy customers and asshole rivals. It was so busy that we ended up having Fluttershy come help us out. So when the end of the work day came around we thought we'd pop open a little wine and just...do nothing. It's been a while, so I don't recall all of what was said that night, but I was telling some story or other about when Rarity and I went on a date...and then poor Fluttershy just started crying her eyes out. I still think it was due to the wine giving her emotions a shove, but she made it very clear that she was just...lonely. I felt bad for her and tried to comfort her, but Rarity took the opportunity to, uhm..." you fuss with your hat to delay the inevitable, "kiss Fluttershy. Like, a real kiss. Not just a peck on the cheek."

Neither of them say anything for a moment. You're just hoping you've done the right thing by telling them something so personal. Dazzle finally speaks up. "Oh, goodness. I always knew Rarity enjoyed having that pegasus girl over -- like two peas in a pod, you know -- and I've heard them talk about spending quite a bit of time together when I'd stop and chat them up, but romantic feelings? I had no idea!"

"Yeah," you laugh quietly, "neither did I."

Pipe slides some bits across the table as the pretty mare returns with your drinks. "You mean to tell me you're romantic with da both of 'em?"

"Sort of...Fluttershy and I have become increasingly close since then, but we haven't been, you know...intimate. Neither has Rarity, though between the two of us she's definitely the one who's more likely to make that kind of move. She's come close a few times." You take a long pull from your drink and laugh bitterly. "Shit. And here I thought life was complicated enough being the only bipedal freak on the entire planet."

"Hey, come on, bud; ya ain't a freak, okay? Ugly, definitely, but a freak? Naaaah. You're a good guy."

"Thanks, Pipe. I appreciate it. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm stuck in the middle of Rarity's unrequited love for her life-long friend and her undying love for me. It's funny...to most guys, myself included, the idea of two girls is pretty much the fantasy du jour, right?"

"Uh, no comment," Pipe replies with a nervous laugh, glancing over at his wife.

"But now that I'm actually in such a position for that to happen at some point, I can't help but feel like it's more trouble than it's worth. Don't get me wrong -- Fluttershy is a great girl. She's kind and attractive and surprisingly keen on a lot of topics I never pegged her for, and in a lot of ways she's enough like Rarity to get some degree of romantic feelings going, but the situation I'm in now? I don't know, man. I just don't know.

You know this was orginally supposed to be a short-term thing? We were gonna have Fluttershy stay with us for a while, maybe a few weeks or a month or something. Just enough to build up some confidence in her to seek out a potential partner on her own. Rarity and I told her we'd treat her like we treat each other, with love and compassion and all that kinda stuff, and we have, but at some point along the line it became less about getting her to seek someone else and more about her becoming increasingly attracted to the idea of living with us on a permanent basis. Hell, she sleeps in our bed six days a week! I don't mind her being there -- we've shared our moments -- but I'm starting to get worried. You can probably guess why."

They both give you a concerned look. "Because of the proposal?" Dazzle asks you.

"Exactly. That's exactly the reason." You let out a deep exhale and bury your face in your palm, leaning on an elbow. "What the hell have I gotten myself into..."

"It's okay, dearie. I'm sure we'll figure something out. That's what we're here for. You know Pipe and I are always here for you." You nod and manage a half-smile. "If you don't mind me asking, when were you thinking of proposing to Rarity?"

"Ideally? Hearth's Warming Eve. I wasn't there to spend it with her last year, being out of town on work and all that, but now that we're not contracted for anything outside of Ponyville for a couple of months, I intend to make the most of it."

"How very romantic," she says with a warm smile.

"Yeah, I thought she might like it. But that's barely two weeks away! How the hell am I supposed to propose to her when we've got Fluttershy growing increasingly involved with us? I mean, don't get me wrong, I care for that pegasus mare a lot, and I have no idea where things are headed in the near future, but I'm not looking to marry her, too. On one hand, if I propose to Rarity then Fluttershy might take it as a sign that we don't care about her, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her like that. But on the other hand, if I don't propose soon, I risk losing that...that feeling of warmth and comfort that the holiday brings. I want it to be perfect. But then, I suppose everyone says that."

Pipe swirls his beer around as he thinks, an uncomfortable silence forming between the three of you. You get the feeling there's no easy answer, much as you might wish otherwise. "Jeez, pal. Ya know I always try to help ya out when I can, but I don't know if it's in da cards for dis one. I can't think of anything to say."

"It's alright...I figured it was a long shot anyway." You down the rest of your drink as quickly as you can manage. "God damnit, what have I gotten myself into..."

Dazzle reaches a foreleg across the table and places it on your hand with a reassuring smile. "I wish we could offer you more, sweetie, but you really are in a bit of a pinch. Neither of us have experience with this kind of thing, and happily so, I'd say. I don't think I could be in your spot and keep so relatively calm about it."

"Calm, yeah," you laugh bitterly. "Not so much."

"Considering you aren't throwing mugs across the room or shouting, I'd say 'calm' is a pretty good way of describing it." You bury your face in your arms, hoping to stave off the increasing headache that's started to build. "Look at me, dearie. Come on." You meagerly lift your head, feeling a little defeated. "That's better. Now, I can't say what you're supposed to do to magically make all of this solve itself -- Celestia knows it won't -- but what I can say is that you need to make sure that Rarity always knows that she's your center of attention. If you're going to try and solve this, and soon at that, then she's no doubt going to have some very conflicted feelings."

"To say the least," you mumble.

"No matter what, always make it clear that you're doing everything because you love her. Fluttershy may be a great girl, but Rarity is first and foremost. She's your soon-to-be wife, after all! Do what you can for her, when you can, and hopefully things will go smoothly.

She's going to feel very vulnerable. Maybe even hurt. You're asking her to let Fluttershy go from a friend to a lover, and back again. I don't think I have to tell you that it won't be an easy thing for her to deal with. But Rarity's a strong girl, I've no doubt she'll pull through."

You grasp her foreleg in your hands and offer up as much of a smile as you can manage. "Thanks, Dazzle. That's better advice than I was expecting, given the circumstances."

"Of course, dearie. Pipe and I consider you to be extended family, after all. I wish I could offer you more than just general advice, but I'm afraid it'll have to do for the time being."

"That's all I can ask. Thank you."

Pipe pushes the rest of his drink your way, which you gladly accept. "See, what'd I say? Da missus is always right. She's better at dis kinda thing than I am, dat's for damn sure. You just let me know if somethin' else pops up, alright? Like she said, we're always here for ya. Even if it means buyin' ya a drink or two. I'll just take it outta ya paycheck, heh heh."

"How kind of you," you manage to chuckle. "But really, thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you two. Probably lose my mind."

"If ya ain't lost it yet, ya will when ya get married. How do ya think I put up with Dazzle here?" He winks at you and nudges Dazzle's shoulder.

"The same way I put up with you, dear," she adds as she lifts her drink. "Lots of alcohol."

"Well hell," he kisses her cheek, getting a smile in return, "I'll drink to dat, honey."

==========

Cashmere.

For far too long it's been a name that you spat out like a poison, the very word tinging your mouth with a bitter taste. Life was so much simpler before the bitchy, competitive unicorn showed up out of the blue one day, an old friend of Rarity's that you'd never heard of. As it turns out, it was for a good reason; the ensuing drama and slander has become a mainstay of your lives, and one that you'd very happily do without again. If only she'd just leave and let things go back to how they were before the fighting, the insults and the underhanded tactics. If only.

Over the course of many months, you've witnessed Rarity feel crushed and betrayed by her former colleague...and nearly former lover. Things might have turned out very differently if they hadn't had that falling out nearly seven years ago.

At first, Rarity had tried to make amends with her old friend, even as Cashmere had stated in no uneven terms that she wanted to buy out Rarity's business or, barring that, see the Boutique financially ruined and Rarity forced to live elsewhere. It was crude, aggressive and presumptuous -- words that could just as easily describe Cashmere herself -- but the mare Rarity might have been all those years ago was clearly not the mare she is now. It was a lesson Cashmere learned the hard way, taking a hit to her ego and her coin purse. From that moment on, when it became clear that Rarity was not one to lie down and let Cashmere trample all over the home and the life she'd worked so hard for, a begrudging sort of understanding had managed to keep a relative peace between them. Oh, sure, there were jabs thrown -- a sale here, a bit of slander there -- but nothing like the public humiliation of Rarity on the opening night of Elegant Expectations happened again. For a time, it seemed that Cashmere was simply content to let two businesses compete as they should, ultimately letting the customers decide who deserved their business.

Hell, for all of her tawdry, blunt and very flirtatious ways, Cashmere even managed to be somewhat likeable for a while. She'd helped you figure out who was behind the creepy, obsessive stalking and subsequent violation of your most intimate of moments with Rarity, even though she could have very easily have let such a thing drive Rarity to the brink. That, at least, spoke to a small sign of respect. After you'd taken down Slate in a literal knock-down, drag-out fight, she'd even sent you and Fluttershy on a very expensive dinner, courtesy of none other than the two-toned unicorn herself. It was a nice gesture. Things seemed to be calming down. With the ever-changing three-way relationship you've found yourself in, you were thankful for every break you could get.

And then came the Canterlot Creators show. In one fell stroke, all of the optimism you felt over Cashmere was instantly destroyed in a glowing display of treachery. Outright thievery, even in the form of dressmaking materials, was not something you'd expected. How could you, when things were going so well? It wasn't like Rarity had advertised her aetherweave designs from the rooftops. How Cashmere managed to get ahold of it in the first place is still something you can't figure out. For that matter, neither can Rarity.

At some point, you'd simply had enough. Enough of the lying, the stealing, the passive-aggressive fighting. Enough of the bitchy back-and-forth insults, enough of the drama that came from it. You'd reached your limit, and now you were going to do something about it...

...which is exactly what you've been trying to figure out for the last several days. "We're going to put an end to this" has not translated into something definitive, as much as you'd have hoped otherwise. You'd mentioned it in passing a few times, but tonight you've resolved to sit down and come up with something. Rarity and Fluttershy are mostly preoccupied with finishing up a few particularly elaborate suits and dresses, but are helpful none-the-less.

"I appreciate the concern, darling, but really -- this isn't as dire as you make it out to be." A roll of fabric floats past you as you lay back on the couch, letting Rarity work her considerable fashion magic. In more ways than one, in this case. "Fluttershy, do be a dear and hold still for me, would you?" If nothing else, watching Rarity use Fluttershy as a living ponnequin has certainly been an entertaining break from the last half-hour of fruitless brainstorming.

"What, you're not tired of Cash's ridiculous attempts to ruin us? Because I sure am." You take a swig of your beer and wince slightly at the taste -- a little too bitter, but that's the risk you take trying a new brand.

"It's not that I enjoy her little insults and provocations," she clarifies, focusing on pinning some fabric together in a rough outline, "it's just that I don't see her as some sort...of ominous...entity...like you seem to. Ah-ha! Magnifique!"

"I don't know if I'd use the phrase 'ominous entity', honey, but I'm kind of curious as to why you're not in a hurry to get her out of our lives. Wasn't the whole 'she stole my design' thing enough for you?"

Rarity arches an eyebrow at you over her orange work glasses. "Don't get me wrong, my dear, I was by no means thrilled to see my retro-chic idea get thrown back at me, but such things are, unfortunately, par for the course for this sort of industry. It all comes down to how well one can hide the fact that one has outright stolen from somepony else. And Cashmere hides it very well. Except from us, of course. But because I didn't debut such a thing before she did, I really can't shout 'thief' from the rooftops, now can I? I've no evidence for it beyond my own experiences."

"Great," you mutter. "You snooze, you lose, apparently."

"Indeed."

Fluttershy carefully slips out of the pinned fabric as Rarity floats it in place, stepping around it to take a look. "Um, I wasn't there to see it, but...how did she manage to get that eith...aethi...glowing stuff to look so bright? When you showed it to us it just glowed a little bit. Certainly not enough to light up the room." Rarity can only shrug in response.

"Honestly? I've no idea. Obviously she's discovered some way to make it work without exhausting herself. Perhaps she managed to get ahold of that magical brew recipe I couldn't locate. If she did, then I must begrudgingly give her some credit for doing so. Even if she did steal the idea from me..."

You sit up and lean forward as you try to get your point across. The nonchalant way Rarity is dealing with things is a little surprising, and just a bit frustrating. "And how many more times are we going to let her do something like that again? You know as well as i do that this won't be the last time she steals, or lies, or does something to get her way. It's who she is. That's why I want to stop it." All of the possible scenarios you've thought of flash before you once more, none of them particularly viable. All you can do is sigh in frustration. "I just don't know how."

"What do you suggest we do, burn her business down?" Rarity laughs quietly and pulls the tape measure from around her neck, fine-tuning a dress that already looks elegant even at its early stage of completion.

"Well..."

"Ah-ah, there will be no arson involved! Besides, Celestia knows she probably has enough insurance on that place to build two in its absence."

"Yeah...what about revealing that she stole the aetherweave from you? Surely that would cause some commotion amongst your peers, right? After all, you have the original roll of thread."

"Reveal what to them, exactly? That I have a small roll of the same material Cashmere has? That would be like her trying to claim that I stole from her for using golden silkweave! No doubt she uses it, too. No, I'm afraid far more evidence is required for such a thing. Loathe as I am to admit it, I failed to unveil that particular fashion revolution in a timely manner, and Cashmere took advantage of it. She may have been underhoofed, but it was entirely my fault for letting her get in that position in the first place." The fact that Rarity is so honestly humble about it is a little unexpected. "What? If going tooth-and-hoof with somepony who is intent on being a rival doesn't humble you, nothing will. Perhaps I've simply come to accept such things."

"Maybe it's not something you should accept. We can always, I dunno...bring it up anonymously? Maybe drop a rumor to a few very important ponies at the next fashion show? Just sayin'."

"That's slander, darling. I will not stoop to her level. Even if she does deserve it at times."

Another night of not-so-great ideas. You take a long pull despite the taste, purely out of disgust with your inability to come up with a permanent fix. "Shit."

Fluttershy trots over and sits next to you, leaning against your shoulder as she watches Rarity put another design together. "I know it must be frustrating, I'm sorry." You offer her a smile anyway, running your hand through her mane and telling her it's fine. "I think you do have a point...Cashmere probably won't be going away any time soon. She's not a very nice pony when she doesn't want to be."

"Yeah, I know. But I guess Rarity's right; we don't have much of a leg to stand on, you know? Cashmere would laugh in our faces if we threatened her business in some way. She's not the kind to give a damn about that kind of thing."

"Well, um...what if you just, you know...talked to her?"

"Talk to her? You do realize who we're dealing with, right? She'd sooner feed us an arsenic cupcake than have a polite conversation."

"Actually, darling," Rarity speaks up, "she has been reasonable at times. Or a close approximation there of, anyway. Remember when we were trying to find out who had spread those filthy images all over the Boutique?"

You shrug in response. "Well...maybe that one time, but she wasn't really helping us so much as rubbing it in our faces."

"We did basically accuse her of the crime in question. I'd say her apprehension to speak pleasantly with us was entirely understandable. Imagine if she'd done the same to us! We may be the better ponies -- and people -- but we are not without our faults, my love."

"I guess so. So, what...you think we should just talk with her like Shy is suggesting? You'll forgive me if I'm not as optimistic about our chances as you seem to be."

"Yes. In fact, I believe that's a fine idea. Thank you, Fluttershy," she nods, "for proving once again that cooler heads always prevail."

"Oh, uh, of course. It was just an idea..." Fluttershy says quietly.

"And a level-headed one at that." A half-finished dress floats over to the ponnequin set up in the corner, finally allowing Rarity to remove her work glasses and set them on a small table. She joins you on the couch, sitting next to Fluttershy with a quick kiss on the cheek. "Don't me wrong, my loves; I am by no means 'optimistic' about our chances of talking some sense into Cashmere -- goodness knows she lacks a great deal of it -- but it certainly couldn't hurt to try."

Rarity floats the half-empty bottle from your hand and takes a drink, grimacing at the taste. "Dreadful. Do remind yourself to not buy that again, hmm? But yes, I think speaking with Cashmere is a superb idea. Certainly better than we've managed to come up with! And here we were, scheming and plotting and all this nonsense, when the simplest answer may end up being the best. It's far too late in the day for such a thing right now, but perhaps in the next day or two." She reaches a foreleg around Fluttershy's neck, pulling her close with a warm smile and a soft giggle.

"And you wonder why I love you."