It's been a long, sleepless night. Rarity cried herself to sleep in short order, but she's been constantly waking up, her mind too preoccupied to let her rest. As a result, you didn't sleep much either, doing your best to comfort her through the night. You've seen her sad before, seen her upset, but this is way beyond anything you've experienced. She's been tearing herself apart over it all night, despite your efforts, and you feel powerless to help.

You glance at the alarm clock, the glowing hands reading just past five in the morning. Rarity is wide awake next to you, staring out into the pre-morning darkness. You clutch her hoof tightly in your hand while running your fingers through her long, soft hair. It's all you can do to make her feel better.

"I don't know what we're going to do, baby," she says quietly, defeat heavy on her voice. "Half of Ponyville will be expecting us to open today, but I don't have the ability to cover so many orders in such a short amount of time. And with everything half off, I'm going to be losing money on most of my materials...materials I don't even have enough of in stock to work with. I...I never expected such a thing to happen."

Another tear runs down her cheek and you wipe it away.

"I don't know what we're going to do..." she repeats, sniffling hard.

"It'll be alright," you tell her, hoping you sound sincere, "I promise. We'll make things work out somehow. We always have."

"I just feel so...used. I can't believe I let Cashmere manipulate me like that. Goddesses, I'm so ashamed. How pathetic..."

"Hey, don't talk like that, baby. You did what you could, how could you have known she'd pull something like that?"

"Because it's Cashmere, darling. I was fully expecting her to be underhoofed with me, but I'd no idea she would do...that. I think I'd have preferred it if she simply insulted me. But that would have been too simple for her. To think I counted her among friends at one point...and nearly more than that..."

She starts sobbing quietly again, pulling you closer to her for comfort.

"You really miss how things used to be with her, don't you?" you ask, thinking back to the photos again. She sighs heavily and nods her head.

"I do. If only you could have seen her as I did, years ago. Before she became bitter and spiteful. She truly was a good friend, darling. We accomplished so much together, and when she changed it just destroyed me. I think, at the time, I was so focused on the Boutique that the shock of her leaving was less about sadness and more about disbelief. I suppose I just kept it bottled away, and last night after she disrespected me so completely it just sort of...came out.

I'm sorry, dear. I really should try to get over her petty barbs and backstabbing demeanor. I don't know why I'm letting it get to me so."

"It's alright, honey," you rub your nose against hers, "if you need to get it all out, then you do just that. I'm here for you."

"Thank you, darling. You've no idea how much that means to me." She hugs you tightly and sniffs back a tear.

"I suppose we should start focusing on how we're going to handle today's unexpected business. Needless to say, sleep isn't something we're going to get much of. I'll need extra rolls of fabric, and we'll have to use a minimum of gems on each design, and--"

"Hey, we can worry about that later, alright? I think you've done enough worrying for now, hon. Are you sure you don't want to try and get some sleep? I can set up your studio for you, I've seen you do it a few times before."

"I appreciate the offer, darling, but I'm of no mind for sleeping right now. I just...heavens, I don't know. I really don't know."

"I do know one thing for certain," you tell her in an attempt to brighten her spirits, "we're going to need a lot of coffee."

Despite her mood, you manage to get a light laugh from her. It's a small victory, but it feels good.

"Indeed we are. By the end of the day nopony's going to want to come by, lest they come face-to-face with a caffeine-addled fashionista at her wit's end."

"I'll be sure to keep the sharp objects away from your reach." Another soft laugh. At least you're making progress. She wraps a foreleg around your waist and lays her head against your chest, listening to the sound of your breathing. You wish she would feel comfortable enough to drift off to sleep, like she's done in this position so many times before, but it's not meant to be. There's too much on her mind, too many doubts and fears.

It hurts to see her like this, a deep, terrible pang of guilt and helplessness in the pit of your stomach. Even though it was, as she said, her fight, you can't help but feel like you've failed her. Your instincts as a protector and a provider scream in protest every time she cries, berating you for not doing more to prevent this situation from happening in the first place. But what could you have done? Rarity was trying her best to keep up appearances, something she's done many times before. It comes with the territory. Jumping up on stage and yelling at Cashmere would only have ended badly for you and Rarity both. It really was a no-win situation. Cashmere had her petty revenge.

You wrack your mind to come up with some way to help her feel a little better. It doesn't need to be anything big and dramatic, just some little thing to put her mind at ease and relax for a little while.

"Where are you going?" she asks as you start climbing out of bed, sadness tinging her voice.

"I'll be right back, okay? I promised you I would help you feel better, and I'm going to do just that," you answer, leaning down to give her a kiss.

She closes her eyes and rolls over in the blankets, leaving you to make the short walk to the bathroom. Once there, you shut the door and turn on the faucet to the large, jacuzzi-like bathtub, making sure the water reaches a nice, hot temperature, but not overwhelmingly so, before pushing the plunger down to plug the drain.

As the bathtub fills up, you retrieve a pair of large, vanilla-scented candles Rarity keeps in a small storage closet, lighting them with a match. The wicks flicker to life, small, brilliant points of light. Their minimal glow is enough to see by once you turn out the lights.

Rarity's ears perk up at the sound of the running water, and she turns to look at you over her shoulder. You offer her a smile and bend down to her eye level.

"I thought you might enjoy a nice, hot bath, honey. Would that be okay?" She nods her head and returns your smile with a soft one of her own. She removes the blankets and starts slowly climbing out of bed, but you stop her before she can jump down. "No need for that, I have a better idea."

You scoop her up in your arms, cradling her back and hind legs, her forelegs wrapping around your neck.

"Really, darling, you didn't have to do this for me," she says as you walk to the bathroom.

"Maybe I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I know it seems like there's a lot to think about, hon, but for right now, I just want you to relax and be yourself. Does that sound good?"

"Would you join me?" she asks.

"Of course. Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Then I think it's a marvelous idea, darling. Thank you. Really."

You lift her up slightly and give her a kiss, shutting the door behind you with your foot. You test the water to make sure it's not too hot and, satisfied with the temperature, cut off the flow before the bathtub overflows.

"Oh, is that vanilla? How thoughtful. To be honest, I'd forgotten I had those in there to begin with. Dreadfully expensive things, I tell you."

It takes a bit of balancing to lift your leg over the rim of the tub while keeping Rarity in your arms, but you manage to climb in without too much trouble. The water is hot enough that you have to ease yourself in, almost, but not quite, like a hot tub. Rarity gasps slightly as the water touches her skin, but soon adjusts to the heat and closes her eyes as you let yourself get fully submerged up to your necks. You rest your head against the backing wall, propping it up with a small pillow she keeps next to the faucet. Rarity places her head between your neck and shoulder, inhaling deeply to clear her head.

"I must admit, darling, I'm pleasantly surprised. This isn't your sort of...thing. The bath-and-candles bit, I mean." She adjusts her body so that she's lying against your side, her long, purple mane and tail flowing freely in the water. She has to push a length of it out of the way so you can get an arm around her.

"I guess it just shows I can still surprise you, huh?"

"Indeed. I hadn't expected something so...well, I hesitate to use the word 'feminine', but..."

"Eh, I can suck it up if it'll help you relax. I mean, is it really that feminine if I'm naked in a tub of hot water next to a beautiful woman? Mare. Whatever. I don't think it is."

"When you put it that way, I suppose not," she giggles softly.

"If I start doing this by myself while crying into a tub of ice cream, then you might have reason to worry." She laughs at the mental image and exhales with relief, obviously feeling a tiny bit better.

"I know I already said it, but thank you. While the worries of the coming day aren't completely gone, they're at least pushed back for the time being."

"Of course, hon. It worries me to see you like that. Just relax, alright?"

For a while neither of you say anything, content to simply enjoy the warm water and pleasant smell, and the comforting embrace of each other. The lack of sleep and pleasant sensations eventually lull you to sleep, a welcome break from an already complicated morning.

You awaken shortly after, maybe twenty minutes, thankful for the fancy tub's ability to keep water magically heated, at least for a while. You look down to check on Rarity, being careful to avoid waking her up or poking yourself on her horn. Sure enough, she's still asleep, tucked into your shoulder with her mouth hanging slightly open. It makes you feel better to know that you can put her mind at ease, even for a little while.

You lay your head back against the small, comfortable pillow, letting your mind wander. Thoughts of home -- your old home -- creep into view, glimpses of old relationships and distant, fading locations. A specific memory replays, a similar situation with your first girlfriend, almost five years ago. Deep in the throes of your first 'real' relationship, with a pretty girl with dark hair and blue eyes. Michelle.

It was long-distance, and you always heard that those kinds of romances never worked out, but you tried your damndest to make it work. She was two states away in Arizona, an aspiring teacher in the midst of college classes. You'd met her on a message board, of all places, where your common love of gaming, food, and so many other things had turned a once-weekly gaming session with mutual friends into multi-hour webcam chats and phone calls nearly every day.

Eventually, you tentatively agreed to meet, using your position in a well-known hotel chain to get expensive suites for a fraction of the price. You even bought a suit just to make a good first impression.

The first few days you were with her were frantic and incredible, a blur of laughter, fine restaurants, games, and sex. For the first time in your life, you knew what it was to be wanted, and it was wonderful. She was all you could have asked for.

So, every other weekend, you took a good chunk of your salary and made the expensive flight up to see her, hoping and praying that the distance between you wouldn't be the end of everything you'd worked for. For your three-month anniversary, you bought her a beautiful, silver-and-gold bracelet, the first gift you'd ever bought for a woman who wasn't your mom. She was overjoyed, and promised you she would do anything to have you in her life. You spent part of the last night with her in the over-sized bath tub, where she lit several scented candles and simply laid there with you. You wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.

Then, less than a week after the pure elation you'd felt with her, it was over. She became more distant during your online gaming sessions, saying little to nothing one night. When she simply logged out without returning your 'I love you', it felt like a lead ball had dropped into the pit of your stomach. You desperately hoped it was just temporary, but deep down you knew bad news was on the way.

That night, early in the pre-dawn hours, you received a text on your phone telling you to check your email. In that email was a single line:

"I'm sorry. I can't be with you any more. Goodbye."

Three months, and she didn't even have the common courtesy tell you to your face, or even over the phone. A fucking email. An email with a single line of text. That's how much you ultimately meant to her. You spent nearly a week in a deep depression, and it was the last relationship you'd have before joining the Army a few months later.

And now here you are, lying in a bath tub with someone you love. A woman who cares deeply about you, who would do anything for you, and you for her. It doesn't even matter that she's a pony, she's who you love with your very heart and soul. Back when you'd first started dating, you wondered if it would end like that first girl, a short stint of love and lust that would only end in heart break.

But as the months passed by, then a year, you realized that Rarity was different. She was, quite simply, everything you could have hoped for, and still is. Through the good and the bad she's been by your side, more caring and generous than anyone you've ever met, and more intimate and loving than any girl you've been with. Any and all thoughts of an abrupt, terrible break-up vanished months ago. The only time you doubted it was your fight with Rarity the first night you met Cashmere, but even that passed eventually.

You hope this crisis will as well. You just want it to be over, but it's obviously not going to be easy. Cashmere has thrown the first punch in what will, no doubt, be a long, hard fight. As long as Rarity's with you, though, it feels like you can take on anything.

Funny how it took a pony to show you that.

Rarity fidgets and opens her eyes, fluttering them a few times to clear her vision.

"Oh, my. How long was I asleep?" she asks, still sounding only half-awake.

"Not too long, maybe half an hour," you answer, clearing strands of wet hair from her face. "I kinda dozed off myself."

"Goodness, we must have been tired. I feel...better. I can't really describe it, but I do. Perhaps I did just needed to get my mind off things for a while, hmm?"

She strokes a hoof down your chest for a few moments, stretching her hind legs out and shifting her position slightly.

"You know, baby," you say, "If someone would have told me a year and a half ago that I would be in a long-term relationship with a purple-haired pony soon, I would have probably laughed in their face. Funny how things happen, huh?"

"It's almost as absurd as somepony telling me I would be in love with a human that popped into existence in front of me one day", she replies, both of you laughing at the bizarre set of circumstances that brought you together. "For what it's worth, darling, I'm very glad you did. Now I have a man who is literally and figuratively one of a kind."

"Well, you did kinda save my life, hon. I've just been repaying you this whole time," you answer with a smile. "The water and candles are free of charge...figuratively. I know you paid for those candles and stuff. So it's not actually free of charge for you, just for me, but...I'm just gonna stop there. Heh heh."

She smiles at your continuing awkwardness.

"I'd say it's money will spent, darling. This time with you has been ever so relaxing. Perhaps we should do this again some time?"

"I think I'd like that. We'll just have to find a place that sells cheaper candles."

"Hmmhmmm, quite so, darling."

She spends several more minutes next to you, lost in her own thoughts. You can't help but wonder if she ever thinks about old relationships, of broken hearts and broken promises. She's never really talked about them, only mentioned them in passing. Maybe she just doesn't care to bring them up. She's got you, and that's all she cares about.

A small bit of water splashes over the side of the tub as Rarity stands up with a wobble, trying to keep her footing on the slippery surface. You grab her foreleg as she swings a pair of legs over your body, straddling your stomach and placing her forelegs on your shoulders. Her long, wet hair falls against your chest, hanging down in great, purple curtains over her ears. She attempts to blow a length of hair out of her face, but you help her before it can become an issue.

She doesn't say anything, simply gazing into your eyes with her own -- those big, beautiful blue eyes that are so much more expressive than yours could ever be. Then, slowly, she leans forward and presses her lips against yours in a long, loving kiss.

"I must confess, dear, I wish I had more energy right now. We could certainly make our morning more interesting..." She leans back and seductively brushes her hair aside. "...but if I'm honest, I don't think I could make it through a session!" You laugh in agreement.

"That's alright, hon, I don't think I'd be able to, uh, perform sufficiently right now anyway. But I know what we can do. Hear me out, this is going to blow your mind."

"Oh?"

"How about we...go to sleep for a few hours. Much as I'd like to try and get little early-morning fun in, I think sleep is probably the better idea. We're gonna need the rest if we wanna make it through today."

"You would prefer sleep over sex?" she laughs, shaking her head in disbelief. "Who are you and what have you done with my man? But yes, I think that's a grand idea, darling. Besides, if I stay in the water any longer, I'm going to turn into a pony-sized raisin. And my hair! It's going to take ages to curl it again."

Her horn flares with blue magic, bathing the dark bathroom with brilliant light as she floats a pair of large, white towels over, hovering them just beyond the rim of the tub.

"Perhaps if we're still able to move after all is said and done, we can catch up on lost time, hmm?"

That sounds good to you. You prefer to think of it as motivation.

"Come on, darling. If we're lucky we can get a good three hours before we have to prepare the boutique."

==========

The shortest three hours ever. Or at least that's what it felt like. The damn alarm rang so loud in your ears you wanted to throw it against the wall. Rarity groaned and shoved a pillow over her head in protest. Not really the best start.

Over the next half hour, you prepared the store for business, hauling out reserve ponnequins and prepping Rarity's work room for a busy day. Her stack of materials and rolls of fabric were twice their usual size, thanks to a quick trip to the her supplier's shop. A wide selection of pre-made saddles, dresses, and all manner of outfits line the walls downstairs, so that those who don't want to bother with custom fitting can simply pay for what they like.

Her ever-fussy morning attitude was in full effect, and you decided it would be best if you simply made yourself useful doing something else while she arranged the store the way she likes it. You kept yourself busy making a pot of coffee and preparing a quick breakfast of eggs and diced potatoes, which you both ate while doing other things. It took some time and effort, but the Boutique is as ready as it'll ever be.

"If only I had another hour!" you hear Rarity shout from the bathroom. "I must look like some sort of ruffian. One can not rush beauty!"

"So I've heard, dear. Don't worry about it so much, I'm sure you look fine." You've been trying to convince her to come out for the last five minutes, knowing that it's a losing battle.

"Darling, if you could do me a favor? Head downstairs and change the sign to 'open', would you? We might as well get this proverbial show on the road. Let's just hope it works out in the end."

You tell her you will, giving yourself a quick once-over -- dress shoes, black slacks, a belt with Rarity's cutie mark emblazoned on the buckle, and a light blue dress shirt with a black tie. You haven't worn it in months, but everything still fits properly, and you look much more presentable this way.

You make your way downstairs, fidgeting with your tie, and open the front door...

...to reveal a line of ponies literally around the corner. The first few ponies in line start asking you questions immediately, but all you can muster is a weak 'just a moment' before heading back inside. You run up the stairs and knock on the bathroom door.

"Baby, you may want to hurry, I just looked outside and there must be thirty ponies in line already!"

"Thirty?! Goodness, I didn't think they would be here this early...very well, start letting them in. Keep in mind we can only handle a limited number at a time! Ten at most! I'll be down in a minute!"

You take a deep breath and brace yourself for what is likely to be the busiest eight hours of your life.

==========

"Please, mister Quills, I will be with you shortly! I'm afraid I'm already helping another customer at this moment!"

It's been three hours since you opened the store, and if your nap was the the three shortest hours you've ever experienced, these have been the three longest. You silently curse Cashmere for putting you and Rarity through this. You've had to honor the half-off offer Rarity was 'convinced' to give, and even with the increased number of sales the store is bleeding money at an alarming rate, mostly in the form of expensive materials that most certainly can not be bought for the same discount, as much as Rarity pleaded.

One of the ponies in the store makes his displeasure known, complaining bout having to wait so long to be helped. You rush over to him and apologize, explaining that it's just the two of you.

"If you're going to make such an event known, then you should at least be prepared for an increase in business! What kind of store is this, anyway? I thought Rarity was supposed to know what she's doing!" You have to resist the urge to hit him in the face.

"Rarity does know what she's doing, sir. It's simply going to take some time to get to everyone, so please, I must ask for your patience."

"My patience? I've been waiting for fifteen minutes! Forget it, I'm going to that place down the road instead. I'm sure they at least had the presence of mind to have more than two employees..." The complaining pegasus grumbles and trots out the door. Rarity spots him leaving and gives you a questioning look, which you answer with a shrug of your shoulders and a mouthing of 'sorry'. He hasn't been the first to storm out, and likely won't be the last. Just another way Cashmere's been fucking you over all morning.

You lean out of the doorway and shout "next customer, please!"

A familiar, sky-blue pegasus trots in, stepping out of the way of a pony who is busily fussing with a pair of scarves.

"Hey, I heard you guys were busy, but sheesh! What happened?"

"Rainbow Dash? Oh, wow, haven't seen you in a while. Uh, long story, trust me. How have you been?" You quickly take your place at the cash register, ringing up a winter hat and a striped scarf for a tan unicorn.

"I'm okay, dude. It doesn't look like you and Rarity can say the same, though." She points a hoof at Rarity, who is busy arguing with a purple earth pony over a frilled saddle. "I just wanted to stop by and see what was up, and she always hates it when I fly through a window, so I had to wait outside."

"Wasn't the last window you flew through still closed?" You remember replacing the glass yourself.

"Well, kinda. I guess. I mean, it shouldn't have been closed to begin with, but you know how it goes. Anyway, what's with the crowd? I've never seen it like this."

You ring up another order while you talk to her, "Like I said, it's a long story. Let's just say we weren't really prepared for this. I, uh, don't suppose you've been by that place down the street, have you?" You've only heard bits and pieces of information from customers about Elegant Expectations, and you're really hoping to get something concrete.

"What, you mean Elephant Excretions?"

"...Elegant Expectations, Dash."

"Whatever," she says dismissively as she tries on a red and blue knit cap before making a sour face and tossing it back into a pile. "But no, can't say I have. I'm not really the fancy dress type, ya know?"

"Really? Because Rarity has several photos that prove otherwise," you say with a smirk. She blushes bright red, a new hat dangling from her mouth.

"Yeah, well..." she stares off with an annoyed expression,"that stuff is lame anyway."

"Oh! Rainbow Dash!" Rarity calls out with a squee of delight, running over and embracing her friend in a hug.

"Uhh, hi, Rarity..."

"Oh, darling, it's so good to see you! We've been dreadfully busy this morning, as I'm sure you can tell."

"Yeah, he told me you guys weren't expecting this or something."

"To say the least. To be honest, Rainbow Dash, this wasn't..." she leans in closer so none of the customers can hear her, "...wasn't our idea. Cashmere forced us to do this as part of some underhoofed nonsense."

"Cashmere? You mean one that owns Exploding Eclairs?"

"Elegant Expectations!" you and Rarity say at the same time.

"Whatever! Jeez."

"Yes, quite so, Dash. She is not as agreeable as she seems, believe me. She and I have quite the history together...but, long story short, she's showed up once again to attempt to ruin my life."

"Oh...wow, that sucks. I wish I could help you guys out, but I don't know a flying feather's worth about making frilly dresses and crap. I mean, I could try!" Dash picks up a roll of fabric and starts biting at it. "Jusht gotta get thingsh the right size firsht and..."

"No!" Rarity yanks the roll of fabric out of her mouth and sets it behind the counter. You've seen the pictures of Dash's 'self-designed' gala dress before, complete with a helmet that looked like it belonged mounted on the hood of a car.

"I mean, heh heh, that's quite alright, Rainbow Dash. But thank you for the offer! That actually gives me an idea...would you mind flying over to Fluttershy's place for me? Ask her if she'd be willing to help out in the shop. We'll compensate her, of course! We could definitely use the help, I'm afraid."

"Yeah, sure, Rarity. Hey, maybe I'll see you tomorrow, after you get done being all frantic and stuff."

"I'd like that very much, darling."

"Cool. I'll drop by some time." She sticks a hoof out to you, bumping your fist. "I'll see ya later, dude. Good luck!"

"Thanks, Dash. See ya 'round."

She starts flapping her wings and bolts for a large window on the second floor. Rarity yelps in surprise and manages to throw it open before there's yet another window you have to replace.

"Heh...oops. Sorry, Rarity! Musta forgot."

Rarity lets out an exasperated sigh and puts a hoof to her face.

"I swear, the last thing we need is property damage on top of what we're already dealing with."

==========

Twenty minutes pass while you wait for Fluttershy to show up. Another customer decided to bad-mouth you over the fact that she couldn't get a saddle in the exact fabric she wanted, making a scene in front of the crowded store. It hasn't been a good day.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Rainbow Dash said Rarity wanted me to come by..."

Rarity literally runs over and tackles Fluttershy in a hug so hard they're both sent sprawling to the ground.

"Thank goodness you're here, Fluttershy! I wasn't sure if Dash would actually pass the message along at all!"

"I would have been here sooner, but there was a squirrel on the way here that looked sad, so of course I had to help him out. Poor dear, he was lost." You facepalm behind her back. Of course she had to.

"Think nothing of it, darling! We have been absolutely swamped today! I was actually hoping you might be able to help us out and be an extra employee today, if you don't mind. Oh, we'll compensate you, of course! I wouldn't dream of asking you to do this for free! I know you've always had an interest in fashion, so you wouldn't be completely lost here. Would you mind, Fluttershy?"

"Well, um..."

"Please? PleasepleasepleasePLEASE? For me?"

"I...I can help, sure."

"OH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" Rarity squees with delight and kisses Fluttershy's forehead several times. "You are a lifesaver, darling! Now, if you'll come with me to the back, I can catch you up on all of this nonsense that's been going on." Rarity floats her yellow tape measure around your neck. "You'll be fine by yourself for a few minutes, won't you, dear?"

"I think I've got it, yeah," you reply, holding the tape measure at arm's length and looking at it like it's some sort of weird, alien creature. "I think..."

Thankfully, no one asks you to take their measurements while Rarity's gone. You doubt you could anyway. You're not entirely sure you know the difference between a croup and a dock and a gaskin. Might make for a funny design, though.

"So she's doing all of this to ruin you?" you hear Fluttershy coming back with Rarity. "I know you and Cashmere didn't have the, um, best of moments when she came back a few weeks ago, but this is outright cheating! Are you going to be okay, Rarity?"

"I shall persevere, darling. I always do. It's just taking an extraordinary effort today, one that is simply beyond myself and my dearly beloved to handle. Thank you so much for agreeing to help me. Now...if you'd like to pick a customer to help, be my guest. I trust you still remember the basics?"

"I think so. I'll just go find somepony..."

It only takes a few minutes for that somepony to start arguing with Fluttershy, obviously trying to use her meek demeanor to his advantage. For a day where everything is half-off, there sure are a lot of douchebags to deal with. You can hear him bitching about the quality of a suit he ordered. You're a little shocked when Fluttershy starts tearing him a new proverbial asshole.

"I paid over one-hundred bits for this suit, and it's not even stitched properly! How am I supposed to wear this?!"

"First of all," Fluttershy steps closer to him, suddenly more assertive than you can recall her being in a long time, "this suit is cross-stitched, just like it should be. If you're going to claim that it should be Breton-stitched, then please, show me how it's wrong. How would you Breton-stitch a suit to begin with? The inlay would be uneven and prone to tearing if you did such a thing."

No matter how many times you hear it, her knowledge of obscure fashion surprises you every time.

"Well, I..."

"Well nothing! If you're going to call my friend's work 'garbage', then I'm going to defend her. Is that clear?" She leans in and eyes him sternly. You suddenly hope you never make Fluttershy angry.

"...sorry, on second thought, it's just fine, I'm sure. I just over reacted."

"Good! You can pay for it at the counter," she replies with a big smile. You have to hide your laugh as the complaining pony heads your way. He pays without a word and leaves.

"Um, that wasn't too mean, was it?" Fluttershy asks, lowering her head. You give her a big smile and say, "Not in the least. I could take some lessons from you about dealing with idiots."

"Oh, he wasn't an idiot, he was just misinformed is all." She trots to the door and asks for the next customer. You take the opportunity to head to a back office area, eager to take a short break after rushing around for the last four hours. Sitting on a desk next to a book filled with financial information is a sandwich, carefully wrapped in parchment paper. There's a note written on top of it:

"Thank you for helping me, darling. I made you a quick sandwich whilst I had a free moment, it should hold you over until later. Xoxo"

It brings a huge smile to your face, which grows even larger as you open it up to reveal a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich. It's a small gesture that means the world to you. That she would even think of doing something like that in the midst of an insanely busy day makes you feel simply overjoyed. You whisper a quiet "thanks, baby" and grab a drink out of a bucket of ice, a nice, cold Sparkle~Cola.

While you eat you take a look through the financial records book, where Rarity keeps an impressively accurate account of all of her expenditures, income, and bills. The last several weeks show a gradual increase in income, with a sharp spike over two days as the initial rush to obtain outfits for the Autumn Harvest Social brought in repeat customers and a few new ones.

And then...there's today's. Once an hour she's been running back here to jot down notes for the full evaluation after the store closes tonight, and so far they don't look very good. There's two notes written in the margin: "Not enough Chiffon", and "losing money on all designs over 60 bits". All designs over 60 bits would be...most of them. Not good.

"Darling? Are you back here?" Rarity pokes her head around the corner, adjusting the orange work glasses on her nose. "Ah! There you are. We've had a brief moment of respite, it seems. Fluttershy volunteered to cover the counter while I came back here for a bit."

You rush over to her and pick her up in a hug, squeezing her tightly and giving her a quick kiss.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," you tell her.

"Probably as relieved as I am to see you! Sweet Celestia, this has been ridiculous today, hasn't it? I'm glad you're in good spirits, dear. I was afraid I'd come back here to see you banging your head against the desk."

"Well, I had half a mind to, until I saw your little gift for me. I'm going to lose man-points for saying this, but I almost wanted to cry when I saw it," you laugh, squeezing her tight again. You feel recharged already, thanks to her. "I'm constantly reminded how you're the element of generosity. I love it."

"I try my best, darling. I wasn't sure if you'd notice it, but I'm ever so glad you did. I had a spare moment about an hour ago, and I know neither of us has eaten since that quick breakfast this morning, so I thought I would help you out to the best of my abilities." You sit down in the chair with her on your lap, carefully avoiding her horn lest you poke your cheek for the second time today.

"Thank you, honey. I appreciate it more than you can know." You give her a kiss and she smacks her lips.

"Mmm, strawberry. Quite the good choice on my part, if I say do so."

"Speaking of which, I've only taken a few bites. Here..." You tear the sandwich in half and hand it to her, which she accepts with a smile. She simply grasps it between her hooves, not bothering, or too tired, to use her magic. She rests her head against your neck, and you spend several quiet, relaxing minutes together, eating your half of the sandwich and passing the Sparkle~Cola between the two of you.

"It's a good thing you convinced Fluttershy to help us out," you say, breaking the silence.

"Yes, quite so. She's such a dear, I'm fortunate to have her as a friend. Her surprisingly knowledge of fashion continues to amaze me. Kind of makes me wonder what else she's so interested in, but she's such a timid thing that it's hard to get her to talk about herself."

"Usually timid. Did you see her handle that stallion?" Rarity giggles and nods her head.

"Oh heavens, yes! I was trying very hard not to laugh in front of the other customers! That assertiveness training really paid off in the end, once she learned when and how doing so was appropriate." She finishes the Sparkle~Cola and tosses it into a garbage can, along with the parchment from the sandwich.

"We just have to stick in there a little longer, darling. Just a few hours and we can close up and relax. I really must think of some way to thank Fluttershy for her help."

There's a sound of soft hoof falls on the carpet as Fluttershy nervously pokes her head around the corner.

"Oh, um, I'm ever so sorry if I'm interrupting you, but there's somepony here who wants to talk to you..."

"Think nothing of it, darling. Do you know who it might happen to--"

"I know you're back there, Rares! Why don't you come say hi to your old friend?"

Oh, god damnit. You and Rarity look at each other, an unspoken agreement that this will not be allowed to stand. She hops back down and walks out with you in tow, Fluttershy ducking out of the way of what she feels will obviously be a bad situation. Rarity storms up to the counter, shoving an accusatory hoof in Cashmere's face.

"You have quite some nerve showing up here, Cashmere, you know that?" Cashmere laughs and flips her hair from her eye, not in the least concerned.

"What can I say, babe? I've never been one to lack a backbone. More than I can say for your pegasus friend back there. How are you, Fluttershy? Long time no see."

"I'm...I'm okay..." Fluttershy lowers her head and tucks herself into a corner.

"You leave her out of this, you wretched excuse! To think that that I once thought we could be friends again. Ridiculous. You showed what kind of a mare you are last night."

"The kind that pulls one over on a self-important white unicorn who couldn't even work her way out of a bad business deal? Ha! Ask me how much I think of your opinion, Rarity. Go ahead, ask me."

"How about this?" you say, stepping closer to the bitchy unicorn's face. "You leave right now, and we won't have to throw you out again."

"You hardly have room to speak, Prince Valiant. Rarity's knight in shining armor, a stranger from a distant land, come to save the beautiful princess...except you couldn't design a lunch box if it was handed to you."

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough, Cashmere. So I'm going to put it very simply, because you obviously have trouble with multisyllabic words: Get the fuck out. Right now."

"Whoa, whoa, easy there, cowpony. You can ride off into the sunset with your wench soon enough. Oh, speaking of which, how are those profits going for you? I imagine losing money on your very expensive designs has to hurt the coin pouch."

"That," Rarity shouts, "is none of your concern! You've done quite enough to try and ruin me thus far, and I shall not stand here while you insult us yet again! Why did you even come here, Cashmere? To gloat? To rub it in our faces? Yes, you managed to stab me in the back. Congratulations. I'm sure that will be a of immense comfort when you're lying in your bed alone tonight. Perhaps your friends can help you with your store tomorrow! Oh, silly me, you don't have any friends. Because you're an unrelenting bitch."

"Hmmhmm. You can swear at me all you like, Rarity, but at the end of the day there's really no way you can win. I would love to see how much money I've cost you in just one day. You're still as pathetic as you were six years ago, you know that? You never amounted to anything without me."

"I. Have heard. ENOUGH!" The shout comes not from you, or Rarity...but Fluttershy. You turn with a stunned look, only to see her zip past your view, stopping mere inches from Cashmere's face, hovering with her eyes locked at the unicorn's gaze.

"I have sat here and listened to you belittle my friends, insult their business, and doubt their resolve. And for what?! So you can get some sick thrill from it?! You want to know what Rarity's accomplished? I'll tell you. She faced down a dragon. She attacked a manticore. She banished an evil goddess and defeated the very embodiment of chaos and disharmony. She saved the life of a complete stranger. She committed herself to him because she cared about him. She risked life and limb, time and again, not because she had to, but because she wanted to! Because she has people and ponies who care about her, and she cares about them! She has done more in a few years than you will ever accomplish in your entire, selfish life! You are nothing compared to her!"

Cashmere stares at her for several seconds, mouth agape with surprise.

"You listen to me, pegasu--"

"GET! OUUUUT!!"

"I will do no such thing! I don't care how loud you sh--"

She doesn't get the chance to finish the sentence. Before she can even react, Fluttershy picks her up with a loud growl of annoyance, flies through the open door, and unceremoniously dumps her into a mud puddle. She rushes back in and slams the door behind her, huffing deeply with adrenaline and emotion.

"F...Fluttershy?" you ask, unsure of what you just witnessed. It was...unexpected. To say the least.

She exhales heavily and sets back down on her hooves, tucking her wings against her side. She immediately stares down at the floor and flattens her ears.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I just couldn't...." she sniffs back a tear, "...couldn't let her insult you like that any more. Either of you. She's not a very nice pony."

Rarity rushes to her side and embraces her, running a hoof through her hair to comfort her.

"There, there. It's quite alright, Fluttershy! There's nothing to be sorry about! You were amazing! I can't believe that was actually you! Goodness, you were so...assertive! And furthermore, you stood up for your friends and didn't let her get the best of you. It was wonderful. Thank you, Fluttershy. I really mean it, thank you."

You echo Rarity's sentiments, giving her a genuine, heart-felt thaks.

"You...you're sure? I don't know what happened. I, um, haven't been that angry in a long time. I don't like to feel like that...but I'm glad it helped you, Rarity."

You sit down beside them and gently place a kiss on Fluttershy's forehead. She blushes slightly and gives you a shy smile.

"Oh, well...th-thank you. I just wanted to help my friends."

Rarity nuzzles her cheek and hugs her as tightly as she can.

"There's only a few hours left until we close, we should probably reset the store in case another group of ponies comes by. Once this passes, would you like to stay for a while? I'm sure we could all use some relaxation. My darling dearest here is quite the cook, if I do say so."

"That sounds lovely, thank you," Fluttershy replies with a smile.

"Right, come on, ladies. Let's finish things up around here."

==========

It's a long, busy four hours, but eventually the last customer leaves. Rarity flips the sign to 'closed' and sinks down against the wall with a sigh of relief.

"And that, as they say, is that."

"Thank god, if I had listen to one more complaint I was going punt someone through the damn roof." You plop down on the couch and sip a cold beer, pressing it against your forehead to cool the sweat. Fluttershy says nothing, simply exhaling softly and trotting over to the other side of the touch.

"That was the longest day I've experienced in years. I think I'd rather be shot at. Again."

"Cashmere has it coming for this one. Big time." Rarity spits out her name like it's poison. "I know what she was hoping to gain from this, but all in all, I don't think we've lost too much money. All of our accessories were purely profit, minus the cost of materials, anyway. Celestia knows we sold enough hats and scarves and such. Custom dresses and suits, however...that's another matter entirely."

You grab another beer from the bucket next to the couch and hold it out.

"Care for a drink, hon?"

"I'm not usually a fan of beer, but yes, I think I'll take one, thank you." She floats it out of your hand and pops the cap off, taking a long swig. Her face contorts at the slightly bitter taste, but keeps drinking anyway.

"Fluttershy?"

"Oh, no thank you, I don't drink beer. Just wine. Once in a while."

Rarity pours Fluttershy a tall glass of juice from a carafe, which she gladly accepts.

"Do be a dear and make room, darling." Rarity hops up on the couch between you and Fluttershy, and the three of you enjoy your cold, refreshing drinks. You survey the Boutique's business area, now a mess of discarded accessories, ruffled outfits, and knocked-over ponnequins.There's a big area of muddy hoof prints where some of the customers didn't bother to wipe before coming up, and several rolls of fabrics and textiles are draped over one another in a rainbow of disorganized colors.

"Next time Cashmere makes an 'offer' in front of me to the rest of Ponyville, I'm going to tell her to shove it down her throat."

'I'm sorry you had to do this, Rarity," Fluttershy says, putting a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "She had no right to do what she did. I understand why you couldn't just tell her no, though...a lot of ponies were expecting you to do what she said. At least you won't have to run into that situation again, right?"

"I most certainly hope not, darling. I feel like a foal for even letting her take advantage of me in the first place. But...at least it's over."

"She may have won the battle," you quip, "but the war's just begun."

"Quite so. I do hate to be, oh...scheming, I suppose is the word...but we simply can not let this transgression go unpunished! Later, that is. I believe I crossed my scheming threshold three hours ago." Rarity motions at a record player sitting on a small table . "Darling, would you mind putting some music on?"

"Not at all," you reply. "Let's see here...Octavian Quartet, Dubtrot -- probably not that one right now, I take it --, Mournful Melody's greatest hits..."

"Octavia sounds wonderful."

The sound of a beautiful, sweeping cello suite flows out of the record player, a relaxing piece of classical music backed by a harp, a mournful piano, and a violin. No matter how many times Rarity puts it on, you always find something new to enjoy about it. It's like Bach was ponified and recorded his greatest work for Equestria.

"Such a lovely melody," Rarity says, closing her eyes and letting the music flow through her. "I want to thank the both of you for helping me today, I appreciate it more than you can know. You didn't have to, but you chose to, and for that I am in your debt."

"Oh, Rarity, you're not in anypony's debt," Fluttershy says with a hug, "we helped you out because we wanted to, because you're our friend."

"And because we love you," you add.

"When Rainbow Dash told me you wanted to see me, I knew you had to be in trouble. I've seen the Boutique busy before, and you've always handled by yourself somehow. That line around the door, though...that was a little unexpected. I wasn't at Cashmere's party last night, so I wasn't aware of what she'd said. I, um...I think I made it clear how I felt about her pushing you around, though..."

You and Rarity laugh together, wishing you could see Cashmere being dropped into the mud again.

"Yet another reason why we should keep you around, dear! Perhaps you can be our bouncer," she giggles and tosses her empty bottle in the trash.

You sit and chat for the better part of an hour, Fluttershy and Rarity energetically telling you about the time they faced down a giant, red dragon...only to have Fluttershy defeat it with the power of kindness. You're less than surprised when she tells you that Rarity tried to make off with several thousand bits worth of jewelry around her body.

Fluttershy volunteers to help you in the kitchen as you prepare dinner, adding her own suggestions for the meal. You mentally check off "connoisseur of fine dining" from your list of things Fluttershy is surprisingly good at. It ends up being a pasta dish of egg noodles, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sweet-hot sauce, cilantro, and, per her suggestion, orange zest and a few spoonfuls of freshly squeezed orange juice, all tossed together. It's a lot better than you thought it would be, a nice mix of flavors you'd never have thought of combining.

After dinner and more stories, Rarity breaks out a bottle of wine, popping the cork with her magic and pouring three glasses.

"You know, I've been saving this particular bottle for several years now. It's a nine-ninety-seven pinot noir, from a quaint little winery up in the Frostvalley Meadows area. Gorgeous scenery, darling, we'll have to go there some time." She floats a glass to you and Fluttershy, keeping her own in the air while she climbs back up on the couch. "We'd intended to drink this last night, Fluttershy, but I'm afraid I was in no mood for it. I was...quite distraught. I haven't felt that bad about myself in a very long time."

"I understand, Rarity. I would have been sad, too, if my old friend did something like that to me. It must have been terrible."

"It was absolutely disgraceful, is what it was...that said, I suppose it all worked out in the end. I can't think of a better way to christen this bottle than sharing it with the love of my life and the best friend I've ever had. To us!" Rarity raises her glass in the air.

"To us!" you and Fluttershy echo, clinking your glasses together before taking a sip of the fancy wine. "Oh, wow, this is really good." You run your tongue over your lips, tasting subtle flavors with each sip.

"I really must agree, darling. Ruby and Cabernet run the best winery in the local Equestrian area, if I do say so. I should pay them a visit some time, they're such dears."

"So, um," Fluttershy cautiously asks, "I don't think I've heard you talk about the first time you dated. I mean, if you want to share, that is. I understand if you don't, since it's personal and all..."

"Don't be silly, darling, of course we can tell you about it. I didn't think you were curious about such a thing, or I would have told you earlier."

"I didn't really want to intrude..."

"Think nothing of it, dear. So...our first date. Where to begin...hmmm...darling, perhaps you can start off?"

You rub your stubbly chin, trying to determine how best to tell the tale.

"Well, it was about, oh, a year and three months ago, now? I think so, anyway. It was about three months since Rarity had found me on the edge of the Everfree Forest. I spent an entire month healing in the hospital, and every single day she would come by and see how I was doing. It's funny...I was hesitant to talk to the other ponies, but for some reason I found it really easy to talk with Rarity. She just had this...way about her. To this day I couldn't put words to it if I tried, but she struck a chord with me. She was so genuine and fun to talk to once I got past her formal exterior."

"Which I've tried to keep to a minimum these days," Rarity adds. "The formal exterior, that is. At least where appropriate. It's still quite useful for social events and such."

"Right. So for just over a month, she visited me and brought me little gifts. The first thing she ever brought me was this little stuffed bear she'd stitched together, a white one with red ears. I'd told her that I used to sleep with it as a kid, and she thought it would help me feel better to have it again. I still have it to this day, next to the bed."

Fluttershy smiles sweetly at the story.

"That was very nice of you, Rarity. I didn't know you could make stuffed animals."

"I'm not the best at it, darling, but what he described was simple enough. I made a few sketches until I was happy with the design, and put it together over a few days. I even wrapped it up in a little red bow. It was simply adorable."

"You have no idea how much that bear meant to me," you tell Fluttershy, "I would have probably had it with me in the Army if they let me take it! So to get one just like it, from this incredibly caring and friendly pony who took it upon herself to visit me, no matter what, was just...well, if I talk about the bear any longer I'm gonna start tearing up. I'm such a softie inside, sheesh."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, darling!"

"I know, baby. So anyway, yeah, after a month the doctor finally gave me a clean bill of health...but I really had nowhere to go. For a few months I stayed with Twilight in her library, but I really felt like I was intruding there, ya know? There's just enough room for her and Spike. Back then, no one in Ponyville knew me, so I was afraid to go outside much. I felt like a freak. Probably looked like one, too." You take a few sips of your wine, finishing the glass. Rarity refills it for you and urges you to continue.

"Needless to say, it wasn't a very happy time in my life. I was still really trying to get home, and Twilight spent many hours in that library looking for a way to do so. She looked into trans-dimensional teleporting, alternate world theories, all kinds of stuff I couldn't begin to wrap my head around. She told me she could even work with time travel to a very limited degree, but the last time she tried it, her future self gave her past self a nervous break-down. Or was it her past self doing it to her future self...anyway, yeah, there wasn't really anything she could do. We even went to the Princesses for help, but that's a story for another time.

I managed to land my current construction job thanks to Pipe Wrench, maybe three our four weeks after leaving the hospital. Again, complete 'fish out of water' experience. Getting shown up by a unicorn half your size is kind of embarrassing...no offense, babe."

"None taken, darling."

"Once I started getting paid, I decided that I would do right by those who had done right by me, and I started repaying them for their generosity. It took just under two months, but I bought Twilight an entire shelf of vintage books she'd been dying to get, and I helped construct a second stairway that led to her astronomy wing. The structural integrity left something to be desired at first..."

"You mean Twilight tried to walk on it one night and fell through." Rarity adds, covering a giggle.

"...Yeah, okay, I admit it, it wasn't that great of a staircase. I did fix it eventually, though! At the same time, I was trying to repay Rarity. She kept insisting that I didn't need to buy her anything, but I was stubborn and told her that I had to make amends somehow. So, we ended up taking a trip to her supplier's shop, and I let her pick out anything she wanted."

"You should have seen the fabrics I was able to buy, Fluttershy! This absolutely gorgeous gold chiffon and a stack of regal purple silk! Some of my finest work came from those materials, I can tell you that for sure. Some of it went into your gala dress last year, actually."

"Oh! So in a way, he was responsible for part of my outfit?"

"Indeed he was, darling. I can't believe I never told you, must have slipped my mind."

Rarity refills her own glass and tops off Fluttershy's, leaning against her friend's shoulder as you continue your story.

"Between her hospital visits and my continued insistence on helping her out, we became very good friends. I stopped seeing her as a pony, and started seeing her as the wonderful lady she was, and still is. I have to admit, the transition from finding her attractive as a pony with a personality to finding her attractive as a potential romantic interest, was...a little hard to get used to. I mean, you have to understand: where I came from, ponies aren't sentient. Or magical. Or really what one could describe as 'attractive', unless you're some sort of weirdo who finds horses sexy. They're labor animals.

Here, though...ponies are basically people on four legs. It took me a long time to get it through my head that all of my biases from my old life served no purpose here. After all, you've all got distinct personalities and character traits, you've all got very human flaws and problems, and you worry and stress and live it up just like humans do.

So, yeah, crossing that threshold took a while, but it helped once I realized that I probably wasn't going back any time soon. And to be fair, Rarity is a stunningly gorgeous pony. I feel like I hit the jackpot with her, if you'll pardon the phrase."

"Oh, darling, you're embarrassing me!" Rarity's cheeks blush a bright red, trying to conceal it behind a drink from her wine glass.

"Hey, I just call it like I see it, baby. You're one sexy mare."

She blushes even harder, sinking down into the space between the cushions and Fluttershy's forelegs.

"Anyway, for one final act of kindness, I wanted to take her somewhere special. We ended up going to a very fancy place on the outskirts of Manehattan, though if I'd have known how much the taxi fare was, I might have picked somewhere closer. What was the name of it?...Can't remember it for the life of me..."

"Chez Gourmet Gaston, I believe. Oh, my, this wine is stronger than I thought it would be..."

"That's the one. Thanks, hon. Yeah, we were quite the sight. I kinda felt bad for Rarity, everyone was staring at us, but trying to not be noticed, if you know what I'm talking about. Maybe they got bored after a while when I didn't try to kill them all and eat them or something, I dunno. Point is, we managed to order some very nice -- and very expensive -- food and drinks. Coincidentally, it was the first time that I realized that pony cuisine was actually very agreeable, as long as I stayed away from grasses or hay or such. Can't digest that stuff properly."

"He found that out the hard way! We ordered this soup one night, and it contained chopped hay, and he didn't know it. Poor thing, he must have spent half the night on the toilet!" she laughs at the memory, perhaps just a little too hard. You can see the normally white skin under her coat turning a very subtle red. No doubt from the wine.

"Yeah, that was a bad night, haha," you laugh in return, feeling just a tiny bit buzzed from two glasses of wine. "Oh, man, I don't remember being so weak to wine...I can drink whiskey with no problem, but something about wine has always done a number on me...anyway, I'm saying 'anyway' too much. Hahaha!"

Fluttershy tries to hide a laugh, but it eventually escapes her mouth.

"I know what you mean," she says after a drink, "I don't drink any alcohol but wine, and it's only on very special occasions like, well, this one. So my tolerance isn't exactly high...I wonder how Applejack does it..."

"You're both just lightweights, it seems! I am a lady," Rarity boasts, "and as such, I am more than capa...capable...of handling my wine!"

"Sure ya are, hon. That's why Dash drank you under the table two months ago."

"I...I'd already had two mugs of hard cider, thank you very much! Besides, with all the flying around she does, her metabolism is far higher than mine, and she drinks with Applejack all the time! Those two sure do spend a lot of time together, come to think of it..."

"I think you're just making excuses!" you tell her, poking her stomach with a finger. She giggles at your touch and curls into a ball so you can't do it again. Her wine glass sways from side to side in mid-air -- you're honestly surprised that she's able to control her magic at this point.

"Hey! Do you mind? I am trying to...ah...oh dear, I've forgotten what I was going to say. Pfffthahaha..." She buries her face in Fluttershy's back, her words coming out muffled. "Goodness, Fluttershy, you smell quite good! What do you use for your coat?"

"Oh, you know, um...shampoo?" she giggles softly at her own joke.

"Well, obviously, darling! Specifically, I mean."

"I was trying to finish my story, honey," you remind her.

"Don't you sss-sass me, mister! I am a FASHIONISTA!"

"A drunk fashionista, you mean."

"I am not drunk! I am simply...enjoying myself. Sweet Celestia, it feels good to unwind after the events of the last day. Please, continue, darling."

"Right. So where was I...yeah, the restaurant. We finished our meal and took the taxi back, and I worked up the nerve to put my arm around her. God, I felt like I was sixteen all over again, nervous about touching a girl! To my surprise, she didn't tell me to stop, and actually sat closer to me and laid her head on my chest. Coincidentally, that moment was also when I learned that her horn is sharper than it looks..."

"Like I said, darling, I'm going to wrap it in padding so you don't poke your eye out one of these days! Or maybe I should just wear a helmet. Hahaha..."

"When we got back to Ponyville we chatted all the way back to the Boutique. When we'd finished, I wasn't really sure what to do, so I bent down and gave her a hug. Imagine my shock when she leaned up and kissed my cheek. She went inside and I walked back home, and for the first time since I'd arrived here, I felt truly happy.

And that," you say with a stretch, "was the start of the best thing to ever happen to me."

Fluttershy smiles warmly as you give Rarity a quick kiss.

"That was a great story, thank you so much for sharing it with me. I've heard a lot of 'first' stories, but this was very touching and sincere. You two are great together, and don't you ever let anypony tell you otherwise."

"Awww, thank you, Fluttershy. You're such a dear!" Rarity wraps her friend in a tight hug, placing her head on Fluttershy's shoulder. You take another sip of your wine, nearly done with the glass, when you notice a high-pitched sound, one that sounds sadder than you'd have expected. You wonder if you were hearing things until you pick up on it again; it's clearly coming from Fluttershy. She's crying.

"Fluttershy? What in Equestria is the matter? You were just so happy!" Rarity hugs her again and runs a hoof through her hair. "Please, darling, if something's been bothering you, you absolutely must let us know! We're here for you, don't you worry."

Fluttershy sniffs back a tear and wipes her eyes with her forelegs.

"I'm sorry, Rarity, it's just that...there's only so many times I can hear about all of these happy couples before it starts to wear on me. Please, I don't want you to think that you shouldn't have told the story, that's not it at all, I'm very glad you did and it was beautiful, but...I mean..."

"You're just lonely, is that it?" She nods her head and sniffles. "Oh, Fluttershy, I'm so sorry. Come here." You can't help but feel bad for the poor girl. You wrap them both in a big embrace, whispering reassurances to Fluttershy.

"Everypony we know has had somepony special in their lives at some point, but I've never...never had that. I want to know what that's like, I really do, but I'm so nervous about it that I never take that first step. I'm sorry, I shouldn't saddle you with my problems..."

"No, no, no, don't think that at all, darling! Your needs are never a problem for us, do you understand? You've been my best friend for a long time, and I'm not going anywhere. If you need my help, I'm always here for you."

"Th-thank you, Rarity. Both of you. It means a lot to me. I, um, I should probably go. I'm sure this wine isn't helping my emotional stability any..."

You gather the wineglasses, being careful not to spill any, snatching Rarity's from the air before she dumps it on herself or Fluttershy. As you make the short trip to the kitchen and place the glasses in the sink, you hear Rarity continue to comfort her friend in her time of need. You hate to see Fluttershy sad like this, she's always...well, 'chipper' isn't the word for it, like it would be with Pinkie, but she's always....stable. That's the word. Timid, sure, but stable. You sit back down as Rarity pulls away from Fluttershy, resting her forelegs over her shoulders.

"Fluttershy, please don't be alarmed at what I'm about to do, but I've been wanting to do this for a long time."

"Do what? I don't know what you're tal--mmm!"

Rarity leans in and presses her lips against Fluttershy's in a long, soft kiss. Fluttershy's eyes go wide with surprise for a few moments, but eventually she relents and closes her eyes, not entirely sure of what she's supposed to be feeling right now, but not backing away, either. Your own mind is racing with shock -- you're almost as surprised as Fluttershy is. You always knew Rarity cared for Fluttershy, but you didn't think it went that deep.

Rarity slowly pulls away, kissing her forehead and cheek as she does. Fluttershy nervously bites her lip and stares down at the couch cushions, fidgeting a hind leg.

"Um..."

"I...I hope that was okay, darling."

Fluttershy doesn't say anything, continuing to stare at the couch.

"I understand if you're conflicted right now, I do. I just...I wanted to express how much I care about you. I would do anything for you, Fluttershy, you've been at my side for years now. I must confess to having some feelings about you for a good while now. Goodness, I hope I haven't just ruined things...." You feel a slight bit worried at the turn of events.

"Honey, um...look, I know why you did that, and I'm not upset about it in the least, trust me, but I'm not sure what you're saying."

"Oh, darling. Are you worrying that I'm trying to leave you for Fluttershy? Please, don't feel like that! You are the love of my life and the one I want to spend the rest of it with. I would never do anything to hurt you. I'm just trying to comfort Fluttershy, that's all. I want her to know what it's like to have someone care about you."

Fluttershy finally works up the courage to speak.

"I'm...I'm not sure what to feel right now, Rarity."

"Oh good heavens, I've harmed our relationship, haven't I? Please don't be upset..."

"No! No, I'm not upset. It was...nice...when you did that. But something like this just being dropped on me, I think...I think I need some time to think about things. If that's okay. I should probably go home..."

"Of course, darling. Of course. Would you like us to walk you there?"

"No, thank you, I'll be okay. I'm not sure if I can fly, but I can still walk there just fine. Um...I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. You take as much time as you need. No matter what, I'm here for you."

"I know. Thank you. And, um, thank you for the dinner and drinks. It was very nice, I had a very nice time."

"Think nothing of it, dear. Thank you for helping us today. I don't think we could have made it without you, you were an invaluable ally. Once again, you've proven why I have the best friend in the entire world," Rarity says with a smile. Despite her nervousness, Fluttershy returns one of her own, albeit with a conflicted look in her eyes.

"Take care, Fluttershy," you say, opening the door for her. "I know Rarity already said it, but thanks again. It was a lot of fun hanging out with you after."

"It was a lot of fun, yes. It's very good to see you again. I'll...be around soon. Good night."

Fluttershy flaps her wings a few times, but is unable to stay airborne, deciding to simply walk back to her home. You shut the door after she leaves your sight, locking it once again. Rarity is sitting back on the couch and you sit down next to her, putting an arm around her neck.

"I hope I didn't just sink my relationship with my best friend of seven years..." You pull her close to comfort her and kiss her horn.

"What brought that about, hon? I really wasn't expecting anything like that."

"Well, what I said was true -- I've grown more attracted to Fluttershy over the last two years, but she's such a sweet and innocent thing that I couldn't possibly think of doing more than being her friend. Tonight when she started crying, though...I don't know. I just felt like it was the right thing to do. She's never felt what we feel, darling. She doesn't know love or intimacy or anything of the sort. That's why I acted how I did. I realize it's come as a shock to you, but like I said, I've no intention of abandoning you. None what-so-ever! I would never, ever even consider it. I suppose it's complicated, isn't it? Perhaps I shouldn't have done it in the first place..."

You chew your bottom lip in thought, trying to run it through your head. So, Rarity wants Fluttershy to feel loved, but she doesn't intend to up and leave you or anything like that. It's hard to wrap your head around.

"So...what happens if she comes back and she says she's okay with it? How does this work?"

"Honestly? I'm playing it by ear, so to speak. Ultimately I want her to build up the courage to seek a relationship of her own, and if doing so means that she becomes...how do I say it...a third wheel, for a while, then I'm willing to do that for her. Goddesses, 'third wheel' doesn't sound right. Terrible implications. But you know what I mean, right, darling?"

"I think so," you nod your head thoughtfully. "This is just gonna take some getting used to, that's all. If it helps her, though...I'm okay with it." You lean back and place your hand against your forehead, exhaling deeply. "Talk about a complicated situation."

"I know it is, I'm sorry. Let's just see where it goes, okay?" She tilts her head up and kisses your cheek.

"Alright, baby. I'm willing to see this through if you need me to," you kiss her back and she smiles.

"Thank you, darling. You're one of a kind. Now...", she jumps down from the couch and starts slowly trotting off, turning to look at you over her shoulder, "I believe there's the small matter of catching up on the session we were too tired for this morning. That is, if you feel up for it..."

You give her a wry smile and jump up from the couch, walking alongside her. She arches an eyebrow and snakes her long, purple tail around your forearm.

Oh yes, you definitely feel up for it. Worries can wait for another day.