"...ust make sure you're prepa......could still be dange..."

Ugh. Morning already. You slept well enough, but after the thrashing your body has been through, it feels like you could sleep for days. Your mouth feels like someone rubbed it with sandpaper for eight hours, and your head is swimming like you just dropped a truck full of acid. Then drowned yourself. Everything feels very...distant.

"...may not take it very well......ay have to use your anesthetic sp..."

Sounds like the doctor is back. It's hard to focus on any words, you keep drifting in and out of consciousness.

"I know he was fine last night, I'm just sayi......pect the unexpected in this situation."

You're not quite sure why they're so worried about you, it's obvious you're in no condition to fight. You doubt you could even stand if your life depended on it. That, and your bladder is screaming at you. Hopefully they'll guide you to a latrine or something. Or a bedpan.

Loud boots clacking on tile. They must be coming to check on you. By the sound of it, there's a lot of them. Your heart starts beating faster, noticeable in your ears. You don't want to be nervous, but part of you can't help it -- they could do whatever they want to you right now, and you wouldn't be able to do a damn thing about it.

"Good morning." the doctor from last night says to you as he approaches. "Before we begin, I want to know if you can still understand me, and if you're willing to cooperate." Begin? Begin what? Your training floats to the top of your mind and you strongly consider just giving them your name, rank, and serial number, but you decide against it. They've been reasonable so far. "Same as last night, please give me a nod if you can understand me."

Instead of a nod, you muster up the strength to speak.

"Yes...I can understand you. Where am..." It comes out raspy and halting as you take shallow breaths between every few words.

"You can speak our language? I must admit, I did not expect that. That will make things much easier for both of us." His language? What the hell is he talking about? It's just English! Surely they would have figured you were American from your military I.D. or something similar, provided your I.D. survived the incident.

"Yeah, of course...English is the....only language...I actually speak....heh heh heh..." Even with shallow breaths between words, speaking is making you feel light headed, more than you already were. Distantly, you hear the doctor's voice saying something, but you can't really find it in yourself to care. Some more sleep sounds go--

"Come on, son, focus! Focus on my voice, okay? I know it's hard to stay awake, but you need remain conscious if we're going to help you. Can you do that for me?" You nod your head and give a weak 'yeah'.

"Good. I'm not quite sure where to begin, so I suppose we'll begin from where we found you. Is that alright?"

"Yeah...that's fine."

"Okay. Yesterday evening, your severely-injured form was found by Miss Rarity, near the edge of the Everfree Forest. She immediately ran back home and alerted Miss Sparkle, who was able to contact myself and Nurse Redheart. Are you following me so far?"

You think so, but it's all a blur. Snippets of time, half-remembered images, half-remembered sounds and voices. You clearly remember vomiting a few times, though.

"Yes." You decide to keep the questions about their odd naming system to yourself.

"The four of us rushed you back to the hospital here in Ponyville as quickly as we could. Miss Sparkle wanted to try and teleport us, but in your poor condition I didn't want to chance it. When we arrived, you wer--"

"Wait...Ponivale? Where's Ponivale? What do you mean...teleport? You guys must have...some really advanced tech..."

"Ponyville," he corrects you, "We're about an hour removed from Canterlot, as the pegasus flies. I'm afraid I don't know what this 'tech' is you're talking about, but that's not important." Of course it's not. It's top secret. "As I was saying, when you arrived at the hospital you were in pretty bad shape. Obviously we've never encountered your kind before, but your anatomy was surprisingly similar to our own, at least in generalized lay-out." This guy is weirding you out pretty bad.

"Your list of ailments was quite impressive, including a lacerated upper leg that was bleeding heavily, three broken or bruised ribs, a broken ankle with deep puncture wounds -- which, might I add, involved removing a half-hoof-long piece of metal from said injury --, first degree burns to your arms, a mild concussion from blunt-force trauma to the head, and extensive over-saturation of your lungs, stomach and esophagus to seawater."

Holy shit! You knew you'd been through the wringer, but this...this was beyond what you'd expected.

"So...so how am I holding up? That sounds pretty...fucked up...if you'll pardon my language."

"So far, you haven't lost any functionality, if that's what you're wondering. We managed to stitch up your lacerations and heal away your burns. Best of all, your ribs are back together as they should be, though they're going to be sore for quite a while. Nurse Redheart is quite talented at bone-mending." He pauses for a second.

"Whoever you are, son, you're one tough bronco." You feel something lightly press against your left arm.

You cough loudly, wincing at the pain in your side. A pain which could be a lot worse. Whoever these people are, they know their medicine.

"If you don't...mind me asking, Doc...I could really use...some water." You try to lick your lips, but there's no moisture in your tongue. Feels like a desert.

"Of course, we'll get you some water right away. Ah, Nurse Candy Care? If you would, please?" You hear the nurse respond and walk out to grab you a drink, returning a few moments later.

"Thank you, Miss Care. Alright, we're going to put this cup against your lips. When you feel able, lean forward a tiny bit and we'll tilt it forward for you. Is that okay?"

"Yes, thank you. Really thirsty."

"I'd imagine so, you managed to empty your lungs and stomach to the point of dehydration, not to mention all of that salt from the seawater. Alright, then. Here we go."

There's a soft, almost ethereal sound. It reminds you of wind chimes in a light breeze. It's actually quite nice.

You feel the cup press against your bottom lip, and you slowly lean your head forward to take a drink. Cool, deliciously wet water flows over your parched lips and you greedily lean forward more, trying to gulp down great mouthfuls. It's too much, too fast, and you momentarily choke on the water in a fit of coughs.

"Easy, son, easy!"

You lean forward again and take a sip, pacing yourself with small swallows. The relief is unimaginable. It's the best water you've ever had in your entire life. With your mouth no longer screaming for water, you notice that the air around the cup feels...energetic, like the slightest hint of a tingle is playing against your skin. Not unpleasant, just odd.

The cup is emptied in short order, and you lay back against your pillow with a sigh of relief.

"Feel better now, hon?" a feminine voice by your side. It must be that nurse who got you the water. She sounds motherly and sincere...and Canadian. Huh. Must be an international team or something. You clear your throat a few times; it feels like you could probably speak a little easier.

"Much better, thank you, ma'am. You're...you're the one who kept watch on me through the night, aren't you?"

"That's me, dearie. Had to make sure you were okay, ya know."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'm very grateful for the aid. I mean, I thought I was going to die, and you've all been so generous to me, without even knowing who I am. I can't even begin to thank you enough. I know I'm your prisoner here, and things might change in the future, but for now I just...thank you." You sniff back a few tears as the weight of what actually happened comes crushing down on you.

"Prisoner? Oh, oh nononono! Please, hon, don't think of yourself as a prisoner! We found you and took care of you, it's what we do!" You feel her press an arm against your leg to comfort you.

"Yes," adds the doctor, "we may have you in restraints, but I assure you it's not because you're being...incarcerated! We couldn't know if you were a danger to yourself or others. You understand. That said, I think it's become clear that you're not dangerous in the least, wouldn't you say?"

"I don't think I could be dangerous right now even if I wanted to be" you laugh, the first laugh in a long time.

"Ah, jokes, good. That's what I like to hear. Now, before I remove your restraints...MISS RARITY! MISS SPARKLE! YOU MAY COME IN, NOW!...sorry. Before I remove your restraints and remove those bandages from your head, I must warn you, you're going to find things very...surprising. Extremely surprising, in fact. I don't mean to alarm you, but I'm not quite sure you're prepared for what you're going to see." More boots clicking on the floor, must be 'Rarity' and 'Twilight'.

"That's not very comforting, doc." you add earnestly. A thousand scenarios flash through your head, not many of them very pleasant.

"I'm sorry, I just want to prepare you as best I can. Are you ready?"

Not really, no. You tell him otherwise with a deep breath.

"Alright, then. Miss Sparkle, Miss Rarity, I must suggest you stay a moderate distance back. Nurse Candy Care, if he starts to get out of control, I want that anesthetic spell ready for my order. Does everypony understand?" A trio of feminine voices answers him in the affirmative.

"Okay. I'm going to start removing your restraints. While you're in better condition than you were last night, you're still quite injured, so for your own safety, don't make any sudden movements." You nod, gulping hard. What the hell is so bad they had to warn you about it?

There's another chiming sound, like the one from the cup. Slowly, gently, your left wrist is freed from its binding, cool air washing over the skin that has become moist with perspiration. You lift your wrist gingerly and flex your fingers. So far, so good. A few seconds later, your right wrist is freed. You twist it a few times to make sure it's in working order.

"Is everything alright?" the doctor asks you. You touch your fingers together and feel up your arms. There's a series of rough, small bumps on your forearms, likely from the light burns you received. Other than that, you seem to be fine. So far. You nod again.

Now your left ankle is freed. It seems okay. The final strap is lifted from your right ankle, but when you rotate it, a sharp, stabbing pain shoots up your leg. You instinctively grab it with you hands, gritting your teeth against the pain. The two women who came into the room gasp in worry.

"Easy, easy! Your ankle has been through a lot, it's not going to be fully healed for a few weeks." Oh, right. The puncture wound and broken bone. Probably not so easy to fix.

You pat your hands up and down your body, feeling for injuries. The laceration on your right leg is bandaged over. As is a long line over your ribs. Small, rough spots dot the area around them, probably dried blood. Other than that, you're surprisingly uninjured. Besides the whole "nearly drowning" thing, anyway.

"So, how do you feel?"

"I'm...okay, I guess. Head is pounding, though."

"That's to be expected. We've been giving you pain killers every so often, but I'm afraid the pressure you feel in your temples is going to be there every once in a while. As far as we can tell, something heavy hit you in the head, so the area is going to be bruised and sore. It should go away in time."

Sure enough, you have to pull your hands away with a wince as you touch your forehead.

"Really, you should just take my word for these things, son. Unless you happen to enjoy seeing which injuries are the most painful for yourself."

"Right, sorry."

"Quite alright. Now, that just leaves the bandages over your eyes...can you recall feeling extremely sensitive to light?" Oh, yes, very clearly. And the wretching and vomiting. And the pain.

"Those symptoms may not be entirely gone, I have to warn you. You should be able to tolerate it better, but there's no guarantee. Do you still want me to remove the bandages?"

Might as well.

"As I said, try to remain calm, okay? Okay, here we go..."

Light slowly seeps in between layers of gauze as they're unwrapped from around your head, causing tears to well up in your eyes. Another layer, and another. Blindingly bright through your closed eyelids -- and yet, it feels like you've just stepped out into the light of day after being trapped in a dark, oppressive room. The relief is palpable.

"Alright, son, just take it nice and slow. Your eyes are going to need to adjust."

Not that you needed much convincing. The fluorescent lights above you start coming into focus, then the ceiling tiles and the intricate patterns carved into them. You blink a few times to clear the haze away and take a deep breath of relief.

"It's good to see again."

"So I imagine. Are you seeing any spots? Any distortion of vision?"

"No, nothing like that, I think I'm okay." You turn your head to the left so you can finally look at the doct--

"JESUS CHRIST!"

What the fuck?! Nononono, you can't be seeing things right! The hell are those things?! You scramble backwards in your bed, ignoring the pain in your ankle and ribs as you press yourself against the back wall.

"OH FUCK, OH FUCK! NO!"

You're in a hospital, alright. But the only thing that makes sense is the hospital itself. Standing next to your bed are a bunch of...horses! Brightly colored horses! You must be hallucinating!

"Listen, you need to just calm down, alright?" the doctor tries to reassure you, waving a...hoof...in your direction.

"NO! PLEASE TELL ME I'M JUST HALLUCINATING THIS! OH GOD I'VE LOST MY FUCKING MIND." You grasp your head between your hands and stare off at nothing. "I'm not actually seeing this, I'm in a fucking dream or something. WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

"I tried to tell you you'd be surprised." the horse doctor answers. Horse doctor. Speaking. Yep, you've definitely gone insane.

"Surprised?! NO. I am SCARED OUT OF MY FUCKING MIND RIGHT NOW! Please tell me this isn't real, I'm not in a hospital room with a bunch of...of....neon-colored horses that speak English! And you! You're wearing a doctor's coat! Horses don't wear clothes! Or speak! Or...oh god. Oh god oh god oh god..."

"Nurse, that anesthetic spell, please."

The nurse -- a bright-pink, slightly pudgy horse wearing, of all things, a nurse's cap -- takes a step towards you.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. You'll feel better when you wake up."

"I'm not here I'm not here I'm not here I'm not here...why can't I wake up..." A shimmering field of energy wraps itself around you, and all of your concerns seem to just melt away. No, there are no talking horses in labcoats. You'll be fine. You just need to...sleep. Just sleep a little while.

"...why can't I....wh...I'm..."

It's so soft. So warm. Your pillow starts to feel like a fluffy cloud, your body being gently cradled in a blanket of the softest cotton you could ever imagine. You picture yourself falling down, down into the clouds, warm rays of sunlight kissing your face.

"Just relax, dearie. We're here with you." That nurse is so nice. You want her to give you a big hug while you drift off to sleep. Wonderful, comforting sleep...

==========

You hate formal attire. The itchy materials, the uncomfortable shoes, the stiff clothes. Most of all, you hate bow ties. Like the one currently being fastened around your shirt collar.

"Oh come now, darling, you look like a proper gentleman."

It's been weeks since you last heard from Cashmere and her not-so-generous offer. You're beginning to wonder if it really is that easy, if she's actually had the point driven into her thick skull. Rarity has certainly let it slip to the back of her mind. In fact, business quickly picked up and a modicum of normality has finally set in, thanks in no small part to the work load she's had to deal with in preparation of tonight's social event.

An event you're not exactly looking forward to. Social events, parties, galas, get-togethers, meet-and-greets, whatever you want to call them. To you, they're all the same: several hours of forced smiles, insincere politeness, and stuck-up, snobby ponies. You grin and deal with it; it comes with the territory. You're not a fan of said events, but Rarity thrives on them, both as a means of social interaction with the upper class, and, more importantly, as a way to make business connections. Even in Equestria, the old saying is true: it's not what you know, it's who you know. And Rarity certainly knows a lot of ponies.

"Remind me again why we're going?" you ask her as she secures the loop around your neck and neatly presses your collar back into place.

"Because it's a charity event, dear. Surely you can't object to such a thing."

"No, but I can object to wearing a tux." She scoffs dismissively at your comment, floating a black jacket over to you. Stupid monkey suits. Even with your entire ensemble made by hoof (and horn) by Rarity and her considerable talent, it's still uncomfortable. Maybe it's just you. Still feels like there's a really weak guy trying to choke you, though. Bah.

"I know you're not exactly ecstatic for these formal gatherings, but please, it's for a good cause. The fact that the top business ponies in Equestria will be attending is simply icing on the proverbial cake. You can mope about after it's over, hmm? Besides, I think it makes you look very handsome." She kisses the back of your neck for emphasis and jumps down from her stepladder. Her orange glasses and yellow measuring tape bounce as she lands on the tile with a soft 'clop'.

Ow. Something pokes you in the back of the neck.

"Whoopsie, guess I must have forgotten to remove that pin, heh heh..."

You rub your neck with an annoyed grunt.

"Look, sweetie, I know this is unpleasant for you. I'm not the biggest fan of these events either...well, sometimes. Even you have to admit that some of them have been enjoyable! What was that one a few months ago? The Autumn Harvest social? As I recall, you had quite the good time."

Yeah, because they had free alcohol. And you didn't have to wear a tux. And Pinkie randomly broke into song and single-hoofedly ate half of a four-layer cake. Pinkie isn't allowed at the Autumn Harvest social any more...

"Be that as it may, tonight's event is not something we can ignore. Celestia as my witness, I must have made the outfits of twenty percent of the attendees! Just imagine if I -- if we -- didn't show up! Scandalous! That simply will not do."

Maybe she's right, and you'll end up having fun and chatting with some nice ponies. Stranger things have happened.

"There. See? You look tres magnifique, darling! I am quite the seamstress, if I do say so." she giggles as she looks you over, satisfied with her work. Even though you still feel uncomfortable, it's a far better fit than the last one she made. To her credit, she made your tux as stylish as possible, using only the finest materials. To top it all off, your cuff links are a pair of small, intricately cut diamonds that match her cutie mark perfectly. 'So you can always keep me close', she said. It's a touching sentiment that helps you feel a little better about the whole thing.

"Now, I need to slip into my own ensemble. I shan't take long, I assure you." You're less than sure about her sureness.

"I know I may have just a bit of a history of taking longer than one would consider reasonable, yes, but I promise I won't be more than twenty minutes."

You finally concede and bend down a little to hug her, embracing her tightly against your dress jacket and over-shirt, thanking her for the hard work she put into your outfit. She inhales deeply at the smell of your cologne, obviously pleased at your choice of fragrance.

"My, but you do smell good. What is that, Courtly Stallion?"

"Phoenix Passion," you correct her as she takes another whiff.

"A fiery, burning passion, hmm? I'd say it's appropriately named." You lean in and give her a warm kiss, lingering for just a moment, her forelegs draped over your shoulders. She still has her eyes closed as you pull away, her cheeks blushing. "I swear, darling, it's like you're trying to convince me to bypass the event entirely and head straight for the bedroom."

Well...you wouldn't complain too much if such a thing were to happen. She stares into your eyes with an apologetic look and a soft smile.

"As much as I must admit I wouldn't mind such a thing, we really can't skip this one, I'm afraid. But don't fret, dear, the night is young and so are we. There will be plenty of time for such things afterward. Besides...I may have something in store for you later. Something new?" she arches an eyebrow and her smile turns wry. That could be worth waiting for...

"Now, I've delayed quite enough, I must be getting ready. I'll be out soon!"

Rarity trots off, grabbing clothing from several mannequins -- well, ponnequins -- as she does. Whatever her outfit, you can be sure of one thing: it's going to be intricate, and bordering the edge of practical and gaudy. You don't know how she does it, but she always manages to walk that line between simplicity and extravagance

.

You sit down on a large, comfortable couch a few feet away, mostly to calm yourself down and try to think about something other than her shapely flank and pleasing curves, her luxurious coat pressing against your--

No, no, none of that! Stay focused. There's an event to attend, and you're pretty sure showing up with a raging hard-on making a tent out of your dress pants isn't proper etiquette.

Eventually, your mind shifts to the charity event itself. Something about a massive storm that came out of the Everfree Forest and dropped a tornado on the outskirts of Whinnyta Falls, if you remember correctly. You'd always thought the Pegasi had a good handle on the weather, but it seems that the weather control team in that area was simply over-extended, and things like this happen once in a while. The tornado destroyed a decent number of buildings and caused the deaths of a few unfortunate ponies. So, tonight's event is a charity social to raise funds for the repairs of that area, as well as funds for the affected families. There was a nominal 100 Bit buy-in for the event, which bit into your coin reserves a bit more than you'd have liked, but it's as Rarity said -- it's for a good cause, and that 100 isn't going to break your bank. It may even help the Carousel Boutique in the long run, if she can do her meet-and-greet thing properly.

You wonder who's going to be there that you might know. You haven't seen Rainbow Dash in...well, you can't remember the last time you saw her. She and the girls spent the day together last week, but that was at a pre-determined meet-up spot, and you didn't tag along. Maybe Twilight would attend? If Celestia is there then Twilight would likely show up. Hard to say.

Some time passes as you grab a soda out of the fridge -- a Sparkle~Cola -- popping the lid off with a satisfying hiss. Yet another flavor you never imagined you could possibly like: carrot soda. Thankfully, the flavor is just barely there, enough to linger on the edge of your tongue without gagging you. You lean against the counter and sip away at it, not thinking about anything in particular.

The kitchen clock ticks away loudly in the silence, a stylized picture of Opal sitting in the middle of the ornately decorated time piece. It's only been ten minutes. Sigh.

Against your better judgment, you take the stairs up the second floor to check on Rarity. Perhaps she can use a little help getting dressed? You give a knock on the bathroom door.

"I assure you I'm fine, darling. I told you twenty minutes, didn't I?"

Yeah...but that's a long time...

"I swear, you're like an impetuous child sometimes. A lady can not be rushed! I'll be out when I'm ready, as I said."

You're not sure what you were expecting, but she's typically not interested in outside interference when she's trying to fancy herself up. Any time she's in the bathroom is generally a bad time to try and convince her to do anything she's set against. Not like you had much else to do.

Defeated, you lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling fan, watching it spin around and around. Several minutes pass as your thoughts slip from one thing to another, not really focusing on anything in particular. You find yourself quietly singing a song you've always enjoyed, one that always reminds you home and relationships past.

"It's late in the eveniiing, she's wondering what clothes to wear

She puts on her make-uuup, and brushes her long, long hair.

And then she asks me, 'do I look alright?'

And I say yes, you look wonderfuuul toniiight..."

Your hands expertly play the air guitar along with the interlude. You idly wonder if this song exists in the pony world. And if the singer is named 'Eric Clopton'. Part of you wouldn't be surprised. You hear the bathroom door crack open a little, the light from inside a thin beam of yellow against the dark room and the night sky beyond the bedroom windows. You sing a little louder, wondering if she's paying attention to you.

"We go her partyyy, and everyone turns to see

This beautiful ladyyy who's walking around with me"

The door opens wider, and you crane your neck to see if she's already dressed. The light flicks off in the bathroom, Rarity's form barely visible in the doorway.

"Well? Go on. It's not proper to leave a lady waiting." She says softly, the faint glow of moonlight reflected on her big, azure eyes. You lay back down and look up at the ceiling, closing your eyes as you sing another verse.

"And then she asks me, 'Do you feel alright?'

And I say yes, I feel wonderfuuul toniiight..."

You can hear her walking toward you, soft hoof-falls on the carpet. You know you're not singing it perfectly, your voice cracks here and there as you try to hold a note, but it doesn't really matter.

"I feel wonderful, because I see the looove light in your eyes".

You feel the bed deform as she climbs up and lays near you, resting on her side. Her hair is impeccably styled, with more curls than she normally has, primped and lifted just behind the top of her head. A small, decorative pink tulip is tucked into a curl of hair behind her ear. You notice the thin, gold necklace around her neck -- the very necklace you got her to celebrate six months together. It still looks amazing on her.

"And the wonder of it all, is that you just don't realize

How much I love youuuuu..."

For a moment she simply looks into your eyes. Then, slowly, you pull her toward you, your lips meeting in the most loving, sincere kiss you can manage. No rushing, no undertones of lustful desire. Just you and her, lost in a moment of intimacy that you could never put into words, no matter how hard you tried. The world around you melts away into nothingness, focused only on the here and now, the soft caress of her lips and the gentle rustling of her clothes.

"Where would I be without you?" she asks as she pulls away slightly, nuzzling her nose against yours.

"I ask myself the same thing all the time, babe. About you, that is...you know what I mean." you laugh at your own awkwardness.

"You're so adorable when you're awkward" she adds, laughing along with you. She pulls you back in for another kiss, whispering an 'I love you' in your ear.

"I love you too, baby." you say in turn, kissing her forehead. She smiles at you and holds you tight, running a hoof through your hair.

"Now I really wish this event was on another night. I'd love nothing more than to spend the evening here beside you, darling. I really would. But we do have to go, I'm afraid. You know how important it is."

"Yeah, I know..." you say regretfully.

"Besides, you haven't even seen my ensemble yet. I need your opinion, of course." You tell her you'll let her know what you think and she begrudgingly moves down from the bed, but only after a final, quick kiss. Blue magic surrounds her horn and she clicks on a light, moving over to it and removing the creases from her dress.

"So...what do you think?"

You're not sure what to say. It's just...wow. Your mouth hangs open a little as you search for the right words. Her outfit is something completely unexpected; an elegant, black dress that fits her body perfectly, draping down over her haunches and brushing against the floor slightly. A second layer, starting at the back of her neck and flowing over her back to her tail, consists of a midnight blue, almost silky fabric, ending in skirt-like frills that are lined with gold thread in an intricate pattern. Between each gold weave is a moderately-sized, oval-cut sapphire.

Her hind legs can be seen under long, high-cut vertical slits in the fabric, showing them to be wrapped up to her knees in thick, interwoven black straps decorated with midnight blue highlights.

She is, in a word, stunning. You've seen her in a lot of dresses, outfits and what-have-you in the time that you've known her, but they were typically lighter in color. But this...this is amazing. The dark color of the dress contrasts against her bright, white coat and shiny, perfectly-kept purple mane and tail. Best of all, the blue trim and sapphires bring out her eyes. Even her eyeshadow is different, a darker blue. You are literally rendered speechless.

"Well? You haven't said anything yet. I'm hoping that's a good thing." Her words snap you out of your stupor, though the correct words elude you.

"Yeah...yeah, baby, you look just...I don't even know what to say. You're stunningly gorgeous. Wow."

She blushes under the light, looking down at the floor and biting her lip.

"Why, thank you, darling. I didn't know you'd like it this much, I mean, it was just something I assembled over a few days from a simple idea, it's really nothing special..."

Nothing special? It's god damned beautiful, is what it is. You walk over to her and kneel down, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You know what? It's special to me. You came up with this and stitched it together in just a few days, and ponies wonder why you're in high demand? You're wearing all the proof you'll ever need of how incredible and talented you are."

Rarity smiles at you with tears of joy in her eyes, wiping them with a hoof.

"Thank you, dear. Really, thank you. You've no idea how happy that makes me to hear."

You kiss her horn and stand back up, brushing your knee off.

"Come on, baby. We may as well get going. Like you said, we have all of tonight to ourselves. So let's go enjoy the party. Sound good?"

She nods and grasps your hand between her hooves, kissing the back of your palm.

"Right. Let's make the best of it, darling."

You check each other over once and, satisfied with your looks, finally head out.

==========

It's a cool, clear night out as you make your way to Canterlot in the back of a pegasus taxi. Even after a few such trips you're still uncomfortable with the method of transportation, it just doesn't feel...safe. You're securely strapped in, yes, but the open air in your face and the uncovered front half of the taxi wagon means you end up holding on to your seat for dear life.

"It's alright, darling, this gentlestallion knows what he's doing. You used to fly in those...what did you call them?...airplanes back home, didn't you?"Rarity places a reassuring hoof on your hand to comfort you.

"Yeah, but those were fully enclosed. And they gave you peanuts and soda." You take a glance over the side, watching the ground rush by several hundred feet below. Probably not the best idea. You tighten your grip on the seat until your knuckles are white.

"I didn't think you'd be hungry already." she replies, covering a smile with a foreleg. She always did find it funny how you hated pegasus travel.

"Not the point, babe. Not the point."

The dark blue pegasus controlling the wagon turns his head a little, his surprisingly strong wings flapping in a steady beat.

"Don't you worry, sir. I've done this plenty of times, and I've only ever dropped three ponies!" Your eyes widen as you imagine the wagon tipping over and dumping an unfortunate earth pony or unicorn to their horrible, screaming deaths.

"What do you mean only three?!"

The pegasus flier and Rarity laugh together.

"Oh...that was a joke, wasn't it?"

They laugh harder, the wagon momentarily dropping a few feet as the pegasus loses his concentration. You're pretty sure your stomach just bounced up into your mouth.

"Obviously he's just joking, darling! Do try to be a little more at ease, would you? We're perfectly safe here. I'm sure mister--" She calls out to the pegasus, "What's your name, dear?"

"Night Owl, ma'am."

"--Mister Night Owl has a good degree of experience with this. Why, his name even fits! So try to relax, hmm?"

"Yeah, I'll try..."

You tuck your arms and legs in as much as possible, feeling like any loose appendage will cause you to go tumbling off into the night sky. Eventually you manage to close your eyes and take a quick nap, the cool air lulling you to sleep. At some point you feel Rarity lay her head against your shoulder, and for the first time it feels like the trip isn't long enough.

==========

Canterlot is, without exception, always busy. The busiest of days in Ponyville pales in comparison to the slowest day in the capital, with massive throngs of ponies mingling about the buildings and walkways that have been the center of Equestrian rule for the last thousand years. Gryphons and Zebras are interspersed with the crowds, hocking their wares from distant lands and trumping up the claims of their products. Even at night, the activity is hardly any slower. If anything, it seems to pick up, at least with certain business types. Night life in the capital is a thing to behold, boasting the only dance club outside of Manehattan, complete with name-dropped DJ ponies and performers. In a word, it's frantic. A wonderful, bustling city that reminds you of your old life, even if it is viewed through rose-tinted glasses. Even though you're not a fan of crowds or large gatherings, something about Canterlot has always fascinated you.

For her part, Rarity seems right at home in the city. Immediately after setting down in the pegasus taxi (and tipping the flier) she was waving and greeting familiar ponies.She excitedly walks beside you and points out ponies you should know, for one reason or another.

"Oh! That's Prim and Proper, the twins who own a jewelry store in the heart of Manehattan! Such nice girls. Would you believe they once made the crown for the Gryphon emperor himself? Marvelously talented."

A trio of unicorns pass by and Rarity quickly puts on her most refined (and well-practiced) attitude, lifting her head slightly and giving a curt smile. You just roll your eyes after they pass, having learned long ago to not question the outwardly-refined veneer she insists on showing in places like this. She's certainly classy, there's no doubt about it. If ever there was the image of a proper lady in Ponyville, Rarity is it, and you wouldn't have it any other way. It's damn sexy.

You just wish she would show her more genuine side to those who meet her for the first time. To her credit, she never fully seems comfortable with it, and you get the feeling that she does it because she believes it's expected of her, not because she wants to. She certainly never acts like that at home (unless she's being dramatic), and you've come to know the real Rarity as anything but snobby.

"Do be a dear and try to be more sociable, darling. I know you're not exactly in your element here, but it couldn't hurt." she prods you while keeping her smile up.

"I don't really feel comf--"

"Yes, yes, you don't feel comfortable in these situations. I understand! But please, do it for me?" She bats her eyes at you, and you give in with a deep sigh.

"Alright, I'll try to make small talk with everyone I don't know."

"Fabulous! Relax, darling, it's nothing to fret over. They may be simple hellos, but try to think of them as the building blocks of a successful business deal, won't you? You never know if somepony you meet on the street could be your next major supplier one day."

Always thinking of the business. You have to admit, she knows how to get what she's after.

Canterlot's denizens are far more diverse and populous than those of Ponyville, and as such, the number of ponies (and other creatures) who aren't aware of your presence is much higher. You get several puzzled stares as you walk down the road with Rarity at your side, with some vendors ignoring your strange looks and trying to offer you ridiculously high prices on goods. It grates on your nerves after a while, compounded by the five hundredth -- or so it feels like -- greeting in a few minutes.

It's a longer-than-remembered walk to the Royal Ballroom, an elegant, three-tiered building made of white marble and topped with sweeping, golden roofs. There's a crowd of well-dressed ponies hanging around outside, many of them clustered around a somewhat tall stallion with a blue mustache (facial hair seems to be rare in Equestria) and mane, dressed in a black tuxedo and sporting a monocle. Whoever he is, he's obviously somepony to know.

"That's Fancy Pants," Rarity explains, "He's quite the important pony in Canterlot, and thus, the rest of Equestria. I must admit it's been a while since I've seen him, but he's always preoccupied. Absolutely gorgeous wife, too. Though, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen them share any real emotions in public..."

You're suddenly, and oddly, aware of the pink-and-white-maned unicorn mare resting across Fancy Pants' back. She looks at you and strikes a pose, dramatically exaggerating her every movement. She's quite beautiful, taller and more delicately built than the majority of ponies you've seen. Is she...is she striking runway poses? She has to be the pony equivalent of a supermodel.

"Trophy wife" you mutter between your teeth. The modeling pony catches your eye and drapes herself across the fancy pony's back, putting a hoof to her head and lifting a hind leg. What luck! The first attention whore you've seen in Equestria. You almost want to take a picture to celebrate the occasion.

"Yes, so it would seem. Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to judge, though. Who knows? They may share a great relationship out of the public eye." Rarity quips as you pass a pony in a top hat and ruffled collar. A pair of tall, muscular ponies is standing in the doorway to the ballroom, cordoning off a line with red velvet rope. Bouncers, no doubt. You take your places in line behind a pegasus stallion and unicorn mare, who are noisily talking about somepony or other and the drama with said pony's sister. You choose to block them out and talk with Rarity instead.

"So how long do we expect this one to last?"

She gives a shrug and raises her left foreleg in the air.

"I've no idea, darling, if I'm perfectly honest. No one said we had to be here for the entire event, but we do at least need to stay until the announcement of the funds raised. Still, you should expect a good few hours." You give a less than enthusiastic grunt in reply.

"Oh, chin up now. Perhaps you'll see somepony you know? If nothing else, these kinds of things always have free food."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

The line inches forward. This could take a while.

"They should really give you drinks while you're waiting in line." you grumble, craning your neck to see how far the line stretches.

"I swear, darling, you're the thirstiest person I've ever known!" Rarity replies with a laugh. "Didn't you just finish an entire bottle of cola before we left?"

"Yeah, but the flight made me thirsty..." You see her roll her eyes and put a hoof to her face.

"I'm surprised thirst is the largest of your worries, honestly. You should have seen yourself on the way here, like a frightened foal! I thought you were going to pass out or wet yourself or...something. Next time we'll be sure to get Rainbow Dash to fly us here, then you'd have plenty of reason to be concerned!" she smiles at your wide-eyed expression as you imagine Dash trying to pull loops with you in the back of the wagon. She'd probably do it, too!

It's a good twenty minutes until you're at the front of the line, stopped by the hoof of one of the bouncer ponies. They're both dressed nicely, but their cutie marks -- a barbell and a dumbbell -- make it clear that they could probably beat your ass down if you tried anything funny.

"Name?" the barbell pony asks you, glancing down at a clipboard that he's hovering in a field of orange magic.

"Miss Rarity, with one guest. I believe we're on the list, gentlestallions."

Dumbbell pony looks you over, obviously unsure of what to make of you.

"What are you supposed to be?" he asks gruffly, looking less than friendly. He's a big, thickly-built earth pony.

"A guest." you reply in an equally gruff manner.

"Yeah, funny. Just don't do anything dumb, funny guy. We're here to keep the peace, regardless of breed or gender...or species."

The barbell pony finally locates Rarity's name on the list and unclips the red velvet rope.

"Relax, ya meathead, they're on the list." The barbell pony taps the clipboard on top of the dumbbell pony's head. "Sorry about that, folks, Chunk here isn't so good with the manners. He's the brawn."

"Clearly." Rarity says, stepping forward as you offer your arm to let her go ahead of you.

"Enjoy yourselves!" he calls out as you walks off, clipping the rope back into place.

"I suppose there's a reason they're watching the door" Rarity quips as you walk down the long hallway to a set of large, wooden double doors. "Though their tact could use a little work."

A pair of unicorns give you a polite nod as you approach, their horns flaring with color as they open the large doors.

"After you, my dear" you offer, bending at the waist. Rarity giggles with approval.

"Why thank you, darling! Such a gentleman."

The Royal Ballroom is as impressive as ever, a vast, three-story building with curved staircases leading to each level, decorated with golden trim. The center of the ballroom is a wide-open rectangle with a floor of white marble and gold flecks, touting a stage at one end and a large seating area at the other. Along the sides are a good number of booths set up with information fliers and donation chests, with ponies of all kinds chatting and laughing with each other. A bar sits nestled in the corner of the second level, no doubt serving incredibly expensive drinks. Dotting each corner of the third floor is a pair of private boxes that hang over the side, bright red curtains pulled back. There's a four-piece band on stage, with the centerpiece being a cello that is pouring out a beautiful piece of classical music.

Even after many trips here, it's still awe-inspiring. It's easy to tell why it's been the centerpiece of Equestrian gatherings for almost a thousand years.

"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Rarity asks rhetorically, taking in the sights. A big smile crosses her face and she bounces up and down happily, ignoring a few ponies who look her way. "Isn't it exciting? We're in the Royal Ballroom again! It's been far too long!" Her joyous reaction is enough to put you in a better mood, returning her smile.

"Somepony like yourself deserves only the finest, honey. I know you love these things, so go ahead, have some fun!" She smiles even wider and jumps up to kiss your cheek, giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Oh but there's so much to do! I haven't the foggiest where to even start!" She grabs your hand with her foreleg. "Oh, but of course! Let's get you a drink before you wither away on me, hmm?" You nod your head and she pulls you along to the far end of the ballroom, smiling proudly as ponies turn to look at the both of you. Though, really, they're looking at her and the amazing outfit she's wearing. A brown unicorn looks her way and drops his glass he was levitating, his mouth hanging open and eyes following her as you walk. The white mare next to him scolds him for his wandering eyes.

That's right, drink it in, fellas you think to yourself, a smug smile subconsciously forming. I can taste your jealousy from here, and it's delicious.

"You're gonna cause half the stallions in here to sleep on the couch tonight" you say quietly to Rarity. She laughs to herself and blushes lightly.

"Perhaps you're right, and this little ensemble is quite the success."

Another mare raises her eyebrows as you pass.

"Ya think? I told you, hon, it looks great on you." You see her tail start flicking back and forth with each step, the long curls bouncing rhythmically. She's obviously just showing off now, putting bit of a seductive edge to her demeanor.

"See? Now you're just being mean" you tease, watching her wry smile.

"Well, if I'm being naughty, then that just means you're going to have to punish me for it later" she replies, biting her lip. You hear a near-by pony choke on his drink.

"I think you can count on that one, babe."

"Mmmm, I'll hold you to that." You reach a long, clothed table where a literal fountain of punch is set up in the center, surrounded by fine glasses. You ladle in a glass for yourself and Rarity and raise your drink in a toast.

"To the Boutique, good friends, and my continuing romance with the most gorgeous, wonderful, talented and charming woman in the world. I love you, baby." You tip your glass in her direction and she smiles again, clinking her glass against yours with her magic.

"I love you too, darling. I'm so glad you came with me tonight. To us!" you both take a drink, surprised by the taste. It's very good, with a flavor you can't quite pin. Almost citrusy, but with a hint of honey. Probably made from those fancy, expensive Whitetail Woods fruits.

You find an empty table and sit down with your drinks, listening to the cellist playing a very familiar piece. It sounds exactly like Bach's cello suite, down to the notes. What are the chances?

The gray mare with pink eyes and a pink bow-tie is obviously very talented, deftly pulling each note from her instrument like it was created just for her. You make a mental note to find out who she is, and if she has any albums you can buy for home.

"Oh!" you hear Rarity exclaim excitedly, pointing a hoof. "See that stallion on the second floor, near the banister? The one with the silver coat and light blue mane? That's Royal Marquise!" You wrack your brain trying to come up with a reason why it would be familiar. "You know, the most sought-after gemcutter in Ponyville?" You shrug your shoulders in response. "Well, anyway, his work is simply amazing! Once, when I was on a gem-hunting trip with Spike, he ran into us and offered me three hundred Bits for this Forestgreen emerald!"

"Three hundred?! Really? For one gemstone?" That's quite the haul, considering that gemstones seem to be so common in Equestria that Rarity can, and does, simply bring home wagons full of them at a time.

"Indeed! He wanted it for a centerpiece he was creating for Princess Luna's return, so of course I accepted. He dropped a pouch of coins right into my hoof then and there. It's been ages since I've seen him."

"What'd you do with the money he gave you?"

"Well, I gave Spike fifty of it, first of all, for digging it up for me. You should have seen the look on his face! He'd never had so many Bits in his whole life. I let him keep as many of the gems as he wanted, too. I swear, he couldn't get a sentence out for a good minute!" she laughs at the memory and takes another drink of her exotic punch. "I took the rest of it and took all of the girls out to dinner, then put the remainder into some expensive, but stunning fabrics. I even had a roll of gold silkweave! Well, until Sweetie Belle and her friends decided to make their little crusader capes from it..."

So that's where they got the capes from.

"Thankfully the store offered to replace the roll at a discounted rate, so there wasn't much harm done. They are quite adorable little capes, though, aren't they? I'm not quite sure if Sweetie's calling in life is fashion, like mine is, but she does show some talent for it from time to time."

"Did Twilight know you gave Spike all that money?"

"Oh heavens, yes! She was surprised, to say the least. I think she rationed it out to him so he couldn't spend it all in one day, but he ended up with some nice gifts for himself." You finish your glass and offer to refill hers, returning a moment later with full replacements.

"How has Spike been handling all of this? He's not very good at hiding his affections for you" you joke, remembering the first time you met him. The fact that he was a baby dragon was odd enough; learning that he had a crush on Rarity was another thing entirely. Rarity laughs softly and nods her head.

"Yes, so I've noticed. He's a charming little dragon and a good friend, there's no question about that. I've always found his little puppy-love crush adorable. You've seen the Heartfire ruby he gave me, haven't you?" You tell her you have, hanging off a ponnequin downstairs. "He has a good heart, and Twilight has raised him very well. As I recall, he didn't take so well to you when you showed up at my side for the first time." She giggles and puts a hoof to her chest. "What was it he said?"

" 'Don't go thinking you can elbow in on my girl!'" you answer with a laugh of your own. "Yeah, he didn't like me so much at first. But like you said, he's a good kid. He's been nothing but friendly for a good while now."

"He'll meet a nice female dragon one of these days, it's just going to take a while. Dragons are quite rare, after all. And ill-tempered. Hopefully he'll be a more considerate member of his species. If you could have only seen him when he went through his greedy phase, he was not exactly the most sociable thing in the world. He'll turn out just fine, I think."

Rarity finishes her glass and sets it down on the table, laying her head against your arm.

"Thank you again for coming with me, dear. While I do enjoy these functions -- most of the time -- I couldn't imagine going without you. I'm not looking forward to having to talk to all of these business types, if I may be honest with you. I'd much rather go with you and the girls."

You grip her hoof in your hand and place an arm around her back.

"Of course I'd go with you, babe. I'll probably be here most of the night, though. Not much to do while you're out conquering Equestria one fashion deal at a time."

"Please, dear, that's small thinking. I was thinking world domination!" She stretches a bit and kisses your cheek before climbing down from her seat. You run your hands along her dress to remove the creases.

"Wish me the best of luck, darling. I shall be back shortly. Try not to eat too much, hmm? Wouldn't want you feeling unfit for later..."

"You know me, I'm always up for a little...excitement."

"Don't I know it?" she teases, giving a little shake of her shapely butt and swish of her tail. With a final once-over, she trots off to start her business dealings.

At first it's not so bad; the music turns more lively as the rest of the band returns and joins the cello-playing mare, and you spend the better part of half an hour talking to a couple who wanted to know about where you came from and what it was like. The food is quite good, too, with bite-sized servings of several dozen different kinds of desserts and dinner items.

There was a brief moment of excitement as the Wonderbolts entered the ballroom out-of-costume, but they were quickly escorted to a private box on the third floor. Finding yourself bored, you finally stand up and start wandering the room, reading over some pamphlets and dropping a few more coins into the donation chests for good measure. A purple earth pony with very distinctive eyes chats you up for a bit, apparently having heard that you can get her in good standing with Rarity. You take her name down and tell her you'll pass it on when you get the chance, to which she thanks you and walks off. It's just like Rarity said: business, business, business.

That black, blue-trimmed dress she's been wearing is certainly garnering a lot of attention, and several stallions approach you to ask who designed it. Their eyes light up when you explain that it is, in fact, her design. Several business cards are stuffed into your jacket pocket and offers of drinks are given, but you politely decline -- If you took every offer given, you'd be pass-out drunk in no time.

You look around for Rarity a few times and see her chatting with some ponies, and she occasionally spots you in return and waves a hoof with a big smile and a wink that says I've got this. She's nothing if not a shrewd business mare.

You sit back down after an hour and a half, your feet already starting to get sore. You slouch down in your chair and let your mind wander...only to have your attention focused on a pair of voices from behind you.

"I told you, honey, if your sister wants to stay with us for a couple 'a days, I'm fine with it. You know she's always welcome" the stallion says.

"I know, but you know how she is. She's always getting into trouble. One of these days she's just gonna have to grow up." the mare replies. They sound familiar...

"Maybe, but ain't no one gonna make her do it. She's gotta want to do it herself, ya know?"

No way. It can't be.

"One day she'll see how selfish she's been."

"And when that day comes, we'll be there for her. Don't worry about it, alright? She's got a good heart under that rough exterior. Now go on, I know you've been dyin' to talk to Octavian. I'll just be here for a bit."

It has to be.

"Octavia, Pipe. Octavia."

Of all the ponies!

"Eh, Octavia, Bass Clef, Ukulele, whatever."

"You're a real charmer, Pipe."

"You know it, babe."

You wait until his wife walks past before going over to see him. Finally, somepony to talk to! He's sitting with his back to you, sipping at some sort of drink. Probably alcohol.

"I can't believe they let your ugly mug in here!" you say as you approach the table. Pipe turns around in his chair, his eyes widening with surprise as he recognizes you. "I guess they're just letting anyone in these days!"

"Well no shit! Of all the guys to run into!" he extends his hoof and you bump it with your fist, slapping him on the back at the same time. "Hey, watch the suit! If I ruined it the wife would disown me. How ya doin', buddy? Oh, hey, take a seat. The wife's busy kissing up to the band."

"Thanks. I'm doing alright, bored out of my mind, though. I've been here for, uh, two hours now, I think. Mostly for Rarity's sake. I'm surprised to see you here, I thought it was mostly for business owners."

Pipe Wrench lifts his glass and takes a heavy swig.

"Yeah, mostly it is, but the wife has a sister who runs a place down the street. Erm, not the one you probably heard us talking about. Different sister. She got us in." Well, at least you don't feel like you were prying now. Much. "I assume Rarity's doin' the meet 'n greet thing?" You nod an affirmative. "Girl's got that 'get up and go' ethic, that's for sure."

Now that you have someone you can talk to, you feel like you can open up a little. Having a guy-to-guy conversation would help clear you mind a little about something. Something that's been on your mind constantly for a few days now.

"Hey, uh, Pipe? Would you mind if I ask you something? I'm trying to get some advice, and you're pretty much the only guy I really know here."

Pipe's demeanor shifts a little, obviously a little curious and concerned.

"Yeah, of course, pal. You can always talk to me, you know that. You want me to grab you a drink? Might help with the nerves a bit."

You're intent on not getting buzzed tonight, but a single drink won't do any harm.

"Sure, that'd be great. Uh, whiskey sour?"

"Gotcha, be back in a minute."

You glance around the ballroom as he leaves. His wife is standing next to the stage, talking with the cello mare -- Octavia, that's the name -- and laughing about something. Rarity is still on the second floor, gesturing wildly at a pair of pegasus mares, no doubt in the middle of some story or other. She's certainly got a lot to tell. Not many ponies can claim they outran a rock slide and confronted a dragon in one day.

Pipe Wrench returns a a few minutes later, carrying a small tray in his mouth, two old-fashioned glasses balanced on top. You grab one as he sets the tray down.

"Thanks, man. I appreciate it."

"Hey, no problem. Ya look like you could use a drink." That obvious, huh? "So, what's on your mind?"

You take a moment to gather your thoughts, grasping your drink between your hands.

"Well, I've been..." you exhale sharply, "I've been thinking of marriage."

"Sorry, pal, I'm taken!" he replies with a laugh. You hit him in the shoulder and laugh back.

"Not to you, jackass! Seriously, though. I've been thinking for a long time now, and I think I may want to propose to Rarity. We've been together well over a year now, and I don't know anyone else I'd rather be with. She's my everything, man." You take a pull of your drink; they make a pretty good whiskey sour here. Though for the price it cost, they'd better.

Pipe slaps your back with a hoof.

"Well hell, that's great! The missus always says you two look good together, and I learned a long time ago to never second guess her, ya know? Heh. So what's the problem? Just nervous about it? I mean, it's a big step and all that."

"Kinda. I mean, I know it's what I want, but I'm just...I dunno. Scared, maybe. She's moving up in the world, ya know? Even now she's up there making connections, and I'm worried I'll just end up slowing her down. Shit, I just work construction. The hell do I know about running a business?"

Pipe Wrench muddles it over in his head, swirling his drink around.

"Here's how I see it: You've been with her for, what, a year now? Just about?"

"Yeah. A year and two months."

"And in that entire time, has she ever said that you're just getting in the way, or that she'd work better without you there?"

"Well, no, but--"

"But nothin', pal. Listen to ya self! The girl's obviously crazy for ya, anyone can see that. You know my wife says she's never seen Rarity happier? It's amazin'. It's like she's found the one thing she was missing. And while I'm thinkin' of it, ya need to stop worryin' so much about the damn business side of things! You make it sound like that's all she cares about."

"But the Boutique is so important to her, and--"

"Ah, ah, stop that! It's just a damn store, my friend. She's may be good at operating it, but at the end of the day she's still a pony with a personal life. Don't you think she's happier with you around?"

"Yeah, of course. I mean, I would like to think so."

"Then what's the damn problem? If it's the job you're worried about, well hell, I'm sure we can look into gettin' ya into place as an assistant foreman or somethin'. And who knows? If this business of hers gets big enough, you can always help her run it. You may not know anything about doing so, but how much did you know about construction before ya got here?"

"Well, some, Mostly designing structural supports for allowing tanks and heavy vehicles to cross rivers on pontoon sections."

"...I have no idea what a single word of that sentence means, but I'm gonna take it you didn't know much in relation to this job, right?"

"Sort of, it involved--"

"Yes or no?"

"....no."

"Okay. So, you didn't know a damn thing about putting together houses or offices or installing plumbing. Right?"

"Yeah."

"Then why would this be so different? Yeah, you'd be learning a whole new profession, and yeah, she may get frustrated sometimes with it, but that's to be expected. It just takes time. Time you want to spend with her, am I right?"

"Absolutely."

"I see no issue here, pal. Just sayin'."

You consider his words and gulp down a big pull of your drink. He does make sense.

"Well I guess that settles that bit...right, so let's say I do go through with this. How does marriage work out here? If I were back in my old life, I'd give her a ring, but, you know...no fingers here and all. Do you ponies, like, do really big rings or something?"

Pipe takes a drink of his alcohol and laughs.

"Yeah, I figure it's probably a little odd from your perspective, huh? I'll tell ya this: When I proposed to Dazzle Drop over there, all those years ago, I was scared outta my damn mind. A million thoughts goin' through my head, but I'm glad I did it. Couldn't imagine life without her nowadays. But to answer your question, there's not really a set-in-stone proposal system like it seems there was for you. It's usually more personalized. You know...somethin' she'd be really fond of, something relateable. Me, I gave the ol' lady a necklace that had a picture from our very first date in a little locket. She wears it every day, you've probably seen it on her." So...something personal. Good to know.

"So I guess it would look silly to have a ring around her horn, right? Heh."

"Probably, yeah. I mean, it ain't unheard of, but you can do better."

"After the proposal...then what? Do you exchange rings -- or whatever-- at the wedding? Say your vows? All that crap?"

"Again, it's personal, bud. You gotta talk it out ahead of time, figure out what kind of ceremony you want and such. I went to my cousin's weddin' last year, and he had this huge procession and extravagant set-up and all this shit. Cost him a fortune, too. Me and Dazzle? We just had a nice, quiet ceremony with some friends and family. Didn't exchange any jewelry there or nothin' like that. She gave me a beautiful pocket watch, yeah, but I usually keep it at home. Too valuable to take around with me. Thing is, it's not a big deal if ya don't have somethin' on ya all the time. You know you're married, the wife knows you're married, it's just...a thing that happens."

You're still nervous about the whole situation, but your nerves have calmed down a bit. It's good to get some answers and perspective.

"Look, pal. Buddy. You've been a good friend since I met ya, I wouldn't steer ya wrong on this kinda thing. If you're serious about this, if you wanna take that big step, then I support ya fully on it, a'right? I got yer back." He pats you with his hoof a few times. "Don't fret too much, just take some time and think about it."

"Thanks, Pipe. I mean it. I just had to talk to another guy about this sort of thing, it's been driving me crazy."

"No problem. The missus and I are always here for you two. Ya may be an ugly human, but your heart's in the right place. Still ugly, though" he laughs.

"Yeah, you'd know all about bein' ugly, Pipe."

"You know it, pal." He raises his glass and you raise yours in return, downing the rest of it in a few gulps, exhaling sharply at the alcoholic bite as it works its way down your throat.

"Seriously, man, thanks. That's a big weight off my chest. I should probably find Rarity, see what she's up to."

"Sure thing. You let me know if you actually pop the question, a'right? I'll see ya on Monday."

"I will, definitely. Tell Dazzle I said hello, too."

You leave your seat with renewed enthusiasm and a feeling a lot more confident. It's still a while off, but you promise yourself that you'll start looking for the perfect engagement....thing. You're not quite sure of the specifics. You just know that it will be done, doubts be damned.

==========

A small set of double doors to your left leads to a balcony and hanging garden, and you step outside for a bit of fresh air. It's cooler than inside by a good degree, just the tiniest bit cold. You inhale the fresh air deeply and clear your mind, wishing you could go home. Oh sure, the party is nice and all, and there are worse ways to pass the time than talking to Pipe and downing whiskey, but you'd prefer to just be back in your bed with Rarity at your side. All of this talk of marriage has put her at the forefront of your mind, and kept her there, a longing that tugs at you like a little puppy when its owner leaves. It's not even a sexual longing -- though you wouldn't complain -- so much as it is a need for intimacy.

You shake your head and laugh at yourself, feeling like it's the first two weeks of your relationship all over again, where every second away felt like a lifetime. If your buddies could hear your thoughts, they'd call you 'whipped'. Well, they can think what they want, you wouldn't want it any other way.

It doesn't help that a pair of ponies are busy making out not twenty feet away, most likely a little drunk, judging by the martini glass sitting next to them. A guard pegasus in shining, gold armor walks by and loudly clears his throat, eyeballing the two kissing ponies when they look at him. They get the hint and walk off, leaving the glass behind. The pegasus mutters something to himself and picks the glass up in his mouth, walking off toward the kitchen area. You want to ask him how long this event is supposed to last for, but figure he's probably not in the most talkative mood.

Back inside, the band has switched songs, something upbeat and waltzy. There are several couples on the dance floor trotting away in synchronized steps -- something you'd never even imagine attempting. Dancing isn't exactly your strong suit.

Figuring Rarity must be on a higher floor, you take the curving stairs up a level, having to stop and hold onto a banister as a pony with a white, oddly-cut mane and huge, pink sunglasses stops near you, escorted by two ponies who look like they stepped out of a David Bowie cover.

"If you need me, zen you know vere you vill find me!" the pony points an accusing hoof at an unseen rival. "And now...I GO!"

The show-off pony quickly spins in place and marches off, passing you by without a glance.

It takes you a few minutes of working your way past (and through) crowds of over-dressed ponies, but eventually you find Rarity up on the third floor, waving to a unicorn whom you assume she'd just finished talking to. She doesn't notice you coming, glancing down at the floor and adjusting part of her dress as it flows over the sides of the chair she's seated in. You come up behind her and run a hand along her dress, startling her for a brief second before she realizes who it is. She laughs with relief as you give her a quick kiss and sit down in a chair next to her.

"Good heavens, dear, you're going to give me a heart attack! You have no idea how relieved I am to see you."

"I think I have some idea. I've been bored out of my mind for the better part of two hours."

She puts on an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry I haven't been down there with you, darling. It's just been...frantic. So many ponies to talk to! Goodness, there's only so many times you can feign interest in some uptight stallion's story! As if they are incapable of realizing you don't want to hear them ramble on for half an hour!" She puts her forelegs on the table and buries her face in them. "I swear," she says with her head still down, muffling her voice, "If I have to hear any more mundane minutiae of the ins-and-outs of stock trading, I'm going to tear a hole in the wall and run out!"

You laugh sympathetically and move your chair closer to her, placing your hands on her shoulders to try and massage some of the tension away, being careful to avoid messing up her dress. You feel her shoulders droop a little as the muscles start to relax in your hands. She lifts her head up and turns to face you.

"The zipper is under the blue layering, if you're wondering. Just, ah, be careful you don't unzip it too far down. Wouldn't want to cause a scene."

"I'd say your dress has caused a bit of a scene already, hon" you joke as you work her upper forelegs with your hands.

"So it would seem. Now, do be a dear and let your hands do the talking, hmm?"

She puts her head back down as you search for the zipper, finding it between layers of silky blue and black fabric. It's surprisingly hard to get to. You manage to get a few fingers into the gap and pull the zipper down a little, just enough to reveal her bare shoulders and part of her upper back. Your thumbs start making broad, slow circles just below her shoulder blades while your fingers grasp her shoulders and rhythmically squeeze along with the motions. The muscles in the area relax noticeably as she lets out a groan of relief.

"That's so very nice, darling. I am so glad you have hands, you don't even know..." she says, sounding half-asleep. Or maybe just incredibly relieved. Or both.

It's surprisingly quiet up here, even the band down below seems somewhat distant, a sweeping melody of a song featuring a soft, hypnotic piano piece and a flowing cello. A mare with a beautiful voice is singing along with it, not really words, just vocalizations. It's an almost ethereal song. Only a few ponies are wandering around your area, and no one stops to give you a second look.

You move your hands up to the area where her neck meets her shoulders and grasp each side firmly, working your hands in and out and gently pulling her back and forth ever so slightly. You take a quick look around to make sure no one is looking and, confident of your brief privacy, kiss the back of her neck, working your way to up to her ear, lightly nibbling it for just a second before going back to massaging her neck and shoulders. She gasps quietly, tensing up for a moment, then laughs into her forelegs.

"You are such a tease, you know that?"

You laugh quietly in return and work your hands down her back, pressing down on a pair of muscles just above her zipper. She sighs as the tension melts away. You sit up a little so you can work the muscles in her lower back, reaching down below the zipper line, feeling her breathing become deep and regular. You get the impression that she'd fall asleep if you kept up the massage for long enough. A smile crosses your face, glad that you could help her ease up a little after a long night.

"Hey babe?" you ask softly. She gives a questioning 'hmmm' in return. "Sit up for a second."

She does so, her eyes half-closed, about to ask you what you needed, only for you to wrap an arm around her waist as you stand up and bend forward, your other hand gently turning her head into yours. You lay a soft, warm kiss on her lips and she closes her eyes, tilting her head up slightly to meet you. It's a long, lingering kiss, as reassuring and comforting as you can possibly make it.

"...I must admit, I was not expecting that." She blushes slightly and rubs her cheek against your own, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you so much, darling. I've been so concerned with looking proper and making connections that I've completely neglected how you were feeling. I feel just awful about it..."

You brush a curl of hair out of her face and smile.

"It's alright, baby. I'm still here."

She returns your smile and kisses your cheek, sitting up in her chair. Her horn flares with blue energy as you hear her zipper going back up, tucking itself back into place.

"You know, I think I'm quite done with this place for tonight. We've already made our donations, how about we just go home?"

It sounds like the best idea you've heard all night.

"I thought you might agree. Yes, I'm afraid I've grown sufficiently tired of this place, both physically and mentally. A nice, warm bed is sounding very nice right now, for a multitude of reasons. Let's get out of here, hmm?"

You take her hoof as she hops down from the chair, walking alongside you with one of her forelegs around your waist.

"You sure you're alright to walk on three legs, hon?" you ask her, even though you've seen her do it many times before.

"Quite alright, yes. But thank you. As long as one has a semblance of balance, it's really no matter at all."

She lets go for a moment as you walk down the staircase to the second floor, making your way around to the other side to the final flight of steps. Rarity stops half way there, pulling on your jacket.

"Do you think we can listen to this song before we go, sweetie? I do enjoy it" She asks, leaning against a pillar as the music streams from below. You can't possibly say no when she uses 'sweetie' on you. You lean against the pillar alongside her, holding her against your chest. As tired as you are of being here, it is a beautiful piece of music, heavy on the piano with a backing harp. You close your eyes and let the music flow over you, imagining a beautiful, pristine stream in the middle of a forest, surrounded by snow-covered trees, ribbons of sunlight playing off the--

"Well, well, wellll. Look who I've managed to run into."

The forest explodes in a fireball.

Oh no. Oh no. Not her. Not right now. Can't she find a better time? Can't she just disappear?

Rarity immediately recognizes her voice. Well, great, there goes the whole 'let's just go home' thing.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're following me, Rares." The smug voice. That damnable attitude. UGH. You brace yourself for the catfight (ponyfight?) that's surely about to take place.

"Ah, hello, Cash," Rarity is already in her offensive posture, "fancy seeing you here! You know, I could have sworn they kept the trash outside." Yep, catfight.

"Hmmhmm, charming as always. And I see you brought your charming boy-toy with you!" she raises an eyebrow at you. "Hello, boy-toy. So good to see you again."

"Likewise, I'm sure."

"Look, regardless of what you two many believe, I'm not here to give you a tongue lashing...much as I may like to." Rarity's eyes narrow at Cashmere's innuendo. She is not in the mood tonight. This could turn into a verbal beatdown very quickly.

"No, I'm here for the same reason you are, no doubt: furthering my business. The very business that can still be yours! Well, half-yours. I don't suppose you've given it any further consideration? I'd hate to have to drive you out of business, babe."

"As a matter of fact, I haven't even considered it, babe. I swept it under the rug, like every other ridiculous idea you've ever had."

"That's a real shame, Rares. Real shame. You know, I didn't want to have to run you out of town, but you're really leaving me no choice here. In fact, I'll be just down the road from you soon enough. Then we'll get to know each other real well again."

Wait...just down the road. Well, one end is a cul-de-sac, and the other leads down to the corner of Mane and Withers...

...the very building you've been working on for the last two weeks. You've been working on Cashmere's building?! Oh, for cryin' out loud! If you'd known, you would have, oh, caused the pipes to burst in a few weeks, or maybe 'accidentally' left out a bit of important support. Who can say, really?

As it stands, you conceal your surprise. It won't help your case any.

"I'm simply overjoyed at the prospect, I assure you." Rarity rolls her eyes and lifts a dismissive hoof. "Look, Cashmere, it's been a very long night, and I'd just like to head home. If you'd be so kind as to keep the childish barbs to yourself until after I've gotten some sleep, that would be great. Do be a dear and enjoy the rest of the night. Alone."

Rarity starts walking off, but before she can even take a step, Cashmere is in front of her, her green-and-yellow dress puffing out at her sides. It's an odd choice of colors, but it looks decent on her.

"I don't think you understand, Rares. You and I? We were great friends back in the day. Hell, more than friends, just about. We may have had our differences, and still do, but I don't want to see you living on the street. This business that's going up in Ponyville? It's just that. Business. Friendly competition."

Yeah, friendly like a stab wound.

"What I'm offering you, both of you, is a chance to join me, instead of fighting a losing battle. Please, be reasonable, Rares."

"Reasonable?" you interject. "You think selling her business, her very way of life, is reasonable? I think you're just stringing her along, Cashmere. I think that's all you've ever done."

"Well! He can form words into sentences! I'm impressed! You didn't have to think too hard about that one, did you, boy-toy?"

"First of all, I have a name. Second, I don't appreciate you instigating Rarity. She's a grown woman. Far more of a respectable woman than you apparently know how to be." You don't look back at Rarity, but you're pretty sure that earned you a few points with her.

"I know about your history together, Cash. Is all of this really because she wouldn't shack up with you? Is it some deep-seated grudge you're holding? Because, honestly? It's tiring." You lean in closer to her and lower your voice. "You need to let it go."

Rarity shoots you a glance, though it's hard to read. Approval? Worry? For the briefest of moments, a look of surprise crosses Cashmere's face, but it's gone before you can be sure. She laughs bitterly at your accusation.

"Jealousy? You think this is about jealousy? HA! I'm surprised she even told you in the first place. She's hiding more things from you than you can even imagine! No, this isn't about jealousy. This is about me, moving up, and stomping out the competition. It just so happens that Rares here is that competition." Cashmere points a hoof at Rarity. "You can either join me, Rares, or you can get out of my way. I'm sure even your boy-toy here is smart enough to put two and two together and realize that I'm not above being a little confrontational when I need to be."

A little? Rarity stamps a hoof, leaning in and staring Cashmere straight in the eyes.

"You. Do not. Get to call me. RARES. Do you understand that? And furthermore, you do NOT get to call him 'boy-toy'! You know what? This is entirely about jealousy, isn't it? Don't you dare lie to me and claim otherwise."

"Why in the world would I be jeal--"

"YOU would be jealous, Cashmere, because I have what you've never been able to even grasp: stability. I have a wonderful relationship with an incredible man. I have a booming business. I have friends that care about me as a pony, not just as a source of...of...free income! What do you have, exactly? A string of harlots who only cared about you for your money?" Ouch. That's harsh.

"You talk a big game, Rarity. I'll give you that. But then, you've always had a flair for the dramatic. If only that flair also applied to your clothing. Maybe you wouldn't be living in the only store you own in the middle of a town full of earth pony hicks. I moved up to Manehattan as soon as it was financially sound to do so. I'd have thought you would do the the same."

"Ah. I see. So because I live in Ponyville, my business must not be worth my time, or the time of others? Hmmm. Interesting, Cashmere. Will you excuse me for just a second?" Rarity calls out to a gray earth pony in a black tuxedo. "Excuse me, sir? Yes, over here. I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but would you mind telling me who made that tuxedo for you?"

The gray earth pony gives her a confused look.

"Well, you did, Miss Rarity. I ordered it from you a few weeks ago, remember?"

Rarity shoots a sideways glance at Cashmere with a slight hint of a smile.

"Ah, my mistake, sir. Silly me, I must have forgotten! Do enjoy your night!"

Cashmere opens her mouth to say something snarky, but Rarity puts a hoof to her face without looking. She spots a purple pegasus hovering a short distance away.

"Hello, Miss Starshine!" The pegasus returns her greeting, fluffing her multi-layered outfit. "How are you liking that dress? Everything fitting properly, I assume?" Starshine gushes about her dress, going into detail about how she's surprised to see such high quality stitching for such a moderate price. "Oh, thank you, Miss Starshine, it's nothing, really. Just doing my job! You have a good night, now!"

Rarity turns back and faces Cashmere, a big, smug smile on her face. You decide to jump in and add your weight to the fight, unable to resist playing off Rarity's snark.

"You know, babe, I have to say, this tuxedo you made for me is incredible! I've never worn such a fine suit in my entire life. It's a good thing you're such a talented seamstress. How many ponies here tonight would you say you've personally created outfits for?"

Cashmere shoots you a look full of daggers.

"Oh, darling, I couldn't even begin to say! Far too many!" She shifts into her dramatic acting, throwing a hoof over her head and feigning exhaustion. "Why, I must have made individually-designed dresses, suits and tuxedos for a good forty ponies! And wouldn't you know it? Not a single complaint. I even threw in accessories for free. Funny how a little generosity goes a long way, hmmm? I even had time to create this little ensemble between orders. It seems to have been quite the success, hasn't it?"

Rarity steps closer to Cashmere, her face mere inches away, exhaling breathily near the cream-colored unicorn's ear.

"So tell me...Cashmere..."

She has her mouth achingly close, teasingly hovering just above her cheek.

"...how many ponies here tonight are wearing your designs?"

For the first time, Cashmere is unable to come up with a witty comeback. Her mouth moves a few times, trying to force words out in retaliation, but all she can do is step back, a borderline expression of hatred pursing her lips. Rarity retains her confident, smug smile. It's a smile that says you're nothing next to me, and I know it.

"...Alright. Alright, Rarity. If you wanna play it that way, then so be it. I tried to be reasonable," her emerald green eyes flare with anger, "but you're apparently incapable of understanding such things anymore. I can't believe you."

"Simply playing your own game, Cashmere. Go ahead, open your little store. See if anyone in the entirety of Ponyville cares. They know who to go to when they want quality."

Cashmere laughs bitterly, flicking her tail in frustration. She obviously never expected Rarity -- or you, for that matter-- to put up such a fight.

"You're a real piece of work, Rarity. Shame we never worked out, you'd have been a fun lay."

You expect Rarity to snap back about not just being 'a fun lay', but to your surprise, she wraps a foreleg around your waist and smiles.

"Truly a shame, yes. I think my lover here can testify just how much of a 'fun lay' I am, isn't that right, baby? Oh, but I suppose you'll never know what it's like to have someone who knows your every desire, will you?" She clicks her tongue. "Now, if you're quite finished, we have a long night ahead of us. I'll be sure to toast a glass of wine in your honor. And tomorrow morning, when my stream of returning clients come knocking at the door, I'll be sure to ask just how many of them would ever consider going elsewhere. Like a trashy, second-rate fashion outlet down the street?"

"You know what, Rarity? Fuck you. Fuck you and fuck that stupid hole in the wall you call a business!" Cashmere gives both of you a look that could kill, barely-contained rage just begging to come to the surface.

"No, Cashmere, I'm afraid there won't be any 'fucking' involving you tonight." You have to stifle a laugh, placing a hand over your mouth. Rarity never swears, much less when it comes to sexual innuendo! Your laughter only serves to piss Cashmere off even more, and she stomps a hoof in anger, turning around and muttering obscenities.

Rarity can't help but get the last word in.

"Ta-ta, darling! So nice to talk with you again!"

With Cashmere out of sight after a few moments, Rarity places her arm back around your waist and you walk off together, heading down to the main level, past the display booths, through the large doors, and, finally, out the way you came in. After a short distance, away from the crowd, Rarity starts laughing quietly. Your own laughter from the come-back finally comes out, causing her to laugh even harder. In a matter of seconds, you're both laughing so hard you can barely breathe, clutching your side and wiping tears from your eyes.

"You...you have no idea how good that felt" she says as her laugh fades to a cute, refined giggle. "I swear to Celestia, I've been holding that in for an eternity! Thank you for sticking up for me, darling, we were quite the pair!"

"Of course, baby. I wasn't about to let her talk you down again."

"Really, one should not insult others only to be surprised when it results in being insulted back! I realize it wasn't polite, but sometimes you have to be coarse. Especially when some ponies can't get it through the mound of hair on their heads, nevermind thick skulls. Oh YES, that felt so good!"

She looks around to make sure no one is within earshot.

"I know this isn't a very lady-like thing to say, darling, but I am so turned on right now. I swear, if we weren't still in public, I would throw you down on the ground and have my way with you right here and now!"

You laugh in surprise, endlessly amused to hear her talking like this. She's usually not so forward, at least in public. You really can't complain. The part of her from the argument with Cashmere must still be kicking around.

"I'd like nothing more than to take you up on that, babe, believe me. I don't think we could find any privacy around here, though. We're just gonna have to wait until we get home, I'm afraid." She groans in disappointment. You run through the route back to the pegasus taxi station, trying to remember the roads and side-streets. There is a decently empty area a few blocks away...

You continue walking for a few minutes until you reach a large, open park. The entrance is just off to your right, and a little ways past that, in a corner no one would have any reason to check, is a high wall.

You grab her hoof in your hand with a quick "let's go".

"I thought the road back was the other direction, darling."

"Exactly."

She laughs quietly as she realizes why you're making the detour, the two of you nearly sprinting past a hedgerow that leads to the secluded corner. With a final, thorough look around you to make sure no one is coming, you lift her up in your arms and she lets out a surprised yelp, which quickly changes into quiet giggles, overjoyed at the spontaneous show of affection.

"Oh, oh my, I'd no idea you meant to take me up on the offer! You really plan to, don't you?"

You answer her question by pinning her against the wall and wrapping her legs around your waist and neck, kissing her furiously, both of you gasping for air in the brief pauses. She sighs as you kiss down her neck, a free hand reaching behind her for the zipper you were working earlier and struggling to find it. After a few seconds her horn flares with blue magic, unzipping it for you.

"Thank you" you laugh, pulling her dress down so that it reveals her chest and stomach. You immediately start planting kisses on the newly exposed skin and she inhales sharply with delight.

"Of cour--aah!--of course, baby."

Another flaring of her horn and she unbuttons your shirt, exposing your chest.

"Why haven't...we done this...before?" she asks between kisses and small licks, working her way up your neck.

"Someone could still--ha--see us, you know" you say as she pulls your shirt down around your elbows and tosses your jacket to the side, lightly biting your shoulder.

"You know what? I kinda like the thought, darling. It feels...dangerous." She nearly growls out the last word, kissing you for emphasis, sliding her tongue into your mouth and squeezing herself against you. The black weaves around her legs press into your skin. You tilt your head down to kiss her neck, but she's already bent her head down, and you end up unceremoniously poking your eye against her horn. You give a very un-manly "Ow!"

"What happened? Are you okay? Should we stop?"

"No, no, I'm okay, baby, I just..." you laugh at your own clumsiness, "I kinda poked my eye against your horn." You blink several times, your face distorting with the odd sensation. Rarity tries to hold back a laugh but fails spectacularly, smacking her forehead against your chest and laughing hard enough that you almost drop her.

"You know, you never see that in the movies!"

"Oh my, I didn't hurt your feelings, did I? I suppose I should have been more sensitive to my...deadly horn!" she laughs again, pounding a hoof into your shoulder. You can't help but laugh along with her. Maybe laughter is the best aphrodisiac after all.

"I'm alright now, goodness me. Whew. Shall we continue?" You answer her with a smile and a lingering kiss that slowly turns more passionate, not taking long to get back in the mood. She's apparently of the same mind, blue magic flashing on her horn once more. You feel your belt unbuckle and your pants come undone, sliding down around your ankles. She strokes you with a foreleg as you kiss her neck and hike up the hymn of her dress, causing it all to bunch up around her midsection, revealing everything below her stomach.

"I've been wanting to say this all night, darling," she whispers in your ear, "fuck me."

Her raw, carnal language, dripping with lust, absolutely drives you mad with desire. With renewed energy you lift her a little higher up and pull her against you, slowly sliding into her as you slip your tongue into her mouth. Her moan of passion mixes with yours and you brace your arm against the wall behind her, hiking her leg up to go deeper and faster.

"Just like that, baby. Don't stop..."

You feel her grip you tighter, eliciting a groan of thankful pleasure. She feels so amazing you can hardly believe it's happening here and now, your entire world becoming a building knot begging to be released. All of the frustration of the charity event, all of the worry and the drama, simply melts away. You listen to her breath become ragged and halting, mixed with moans and sighs of passion. She's so warm and wet, her coat and skin so soft and smooth, that you can't help but feel like the whole damned event was worth it, just so you could spend this time with her, an impromptu expression of love and lust you never imagined happening.

It doesn't take but a minute for you to feel like you're just about to reach your peak, neither of you obviously going for endurance tonight.

"Come with me, baby?" she asks after a gasping moan, staring into your eyes. You nod and place your forehead against hers, feeling her hot breath on your face. You can feel her starting to reach her orgasm and you thrust faster and harder, leaning against your braced arm and squeezing her tightly with the arm around her chest. She moans loudly, seeming to forget where she is for a second before desperately kissing you. Her high-pitched shriek of pleasure pushes you over the edge, and you come right after she does, your sounds of ecstasy lost in each others' mouths. It hits you like a truck, causing your legs to wobble and almost making you fall over.

With a last few thrusts the remaining waves course through your bodies, leaving you completely exhausted. Despite your best efforts, you're no longer able to stay standing and support her at the same time, and you catch yourself as you fall, dumping both of you in the grass. You lay there beside her, breathing heavily and feeling like passing out. It takes nearly a minute before either of you are able to speak. Rarity finds the strength first.

"That was...amazing. Goddesses, but you're good at this."

You give an exhausted laugh.

"Well...thank you, baby...heh. Not bad yourself. Wow, that was intense."

"To say the least. That should keep us satisfied until we get home, hmm? That is, if you're still able to rise to the occasion then..."

You roll over closer to her and kiss her softly.

"I don't think you need to worry about that, Rares."

"I'm holding you to that, boy-toy."

She laughs at the ridiculous nicknames and stares up at the sky, running a hoof up and down your arm.

"Hey, honey?" you ask her quietly.

"Hmm?"

"What you said back there, to Cashmere...was it true? That you're not worried?"

She takes a few moments to answer.

"Honestly? I'd be remiss if I didn't feel a little intimidated. I mean, she's obviously quite talented at what she does, or she wouldn't be in the position she's in now. It's not that I think she can 'run us out of town', as she put it, but I don't think she's going to simply give up on it. The fact that she's opening a competing business just down the road from our own is, well, a bit worrying."

"Speaking of which, it turns out I've been working on that building for the last two weeks. We had no idea it was Cashmere's future business. At least, I didn't."

"Really, now? Of all the coincidences...well, I suppose there's nothing we can do about it opening."

"I could set the building on fire" you offer. She rolls her eyes and scoffs playfully.

"Nothing legal, I should say. It's looking like we're simply going to have to beat her the old fashioned way: driving her out of business. I must be open in divulging that it's not something I'm looking forward to. She is a very...oh...shrewd mare. Even with the potential clientele and such I've picked up tonight -- and there were quite a few, I'm proud to say -- it's not going to be easy. I've seen her practices first-hoof, I know what she's capable of. It does concern me, darling. But let's just forget that for now. I don't want her on my mind a single moment for the rest of the night. Just you."

"As long as you promise me one thing, baby."

"What's that?" she asks.

"Warn me before you try to blind me next time, okay?"

She laughs warmly and kisses your shoulder.

"Perhaps I should stick some padding up there. I'm going to have to child-proof my horn! I mean, really."

You gradually push yourself back up and take her hoof, lifting her onto all fours.

"Let's go home, darling."