The life of a weather pony, other ponies just don't understand.

You have to realise that, just look up for a few seconds... okay, that's your roof, I know. Don't get snarky with me! Just imagine that you can see the sky.

That's just crude. I don't care whether you save your imagination for the more explicit fics, just imagine the damn sky!

Got it? Big blue thing in the sky, gets darker when the sun isn't there. Also, try not to look at the sun, I know a mailmare who did that once, you do not want to know what happened afterwards. Anyway, we're imagining the sky. It's pretty, right? Just think, I get to fly around up there all day and you don't. Pause to gloat...

The sky. It's not only beautiful, it's big. Like, makes Ponyville look like a singular apple in comparison to the entirety of Sweet Apple Acres. There's an image you can wrap your brain around, one apple. I'm sure you've seen that farmer chick holding an apple before, she's rather burly for a pony, even she is nothing compared to the rest of Sweet Apple Acres. It takes weeks to buck the entire place clean. THAT is the sky.

Now imagine... yes, more imagination, I'm not exactly taxing you though am I?

Imagine you're a fabulous pegasus pony like me. Just imagine yourself, but with wings and loads more awesome. Imagine a tiny speck of dust landing on an apple. YOU are that speck of dust and the impact you've just made on that apple was so minuscule that if the apple achieved sentience, it would chortle derisively at your feebleness.

Being chortled at derisively and by an apple no less, is a pretty demeaning experience. You keep working though, because you know that after a while, the apple will start to feel the effects of your continued effort. Soon enough, more specks of dust come along to help you and with teamwork and trust and friendship and all that good stuff, you manage to cover the entire apple with glorious clouds. That might have taken you a long time to do, but you've barely put a dent in the orchard, the orchard is what the apple was, chortling derisively at your attempt to cover it.

Have I given you a sense of scale yet? You aren't even a speck to the sky, you are virtually nothing. As nothing as nothing can get whilst still existing.

It's my job to make sure you ungrateful land-dwellers have decent enough weather to survive.

I have a hard job.

And I do that every day, rain or shine. Hay, my life is rain or shine.

I'm the true hero of the Equestrian ponies, regardless of what Derpy says.

I hope you enjoyed that, because the rest of this thing isn't even about weather ponies, I checked. I tried talking to the author but he kept telling me that going on about the weather at the start of a fic is a stupid cliché.

I even gave him that speech up there, about how I'm awesome, but he still wouldn't listen. Then he sat there for a few seconds and started asking how I'd broken the fourth wall. I told him I don't remember breaking the other three!

I don't think we should listen to him any more though, just between you and me, I think he's a little crazy. He's got this look, you know the one that-

Hey! Stop ending my sentences!

That's be-

* * *

Twilight had never been very good at sports.

Mainly because reading about sports doesn't translate very well into playing sports and that they most often don't allow the use of magic. Twilight had learnt that the hard way. She maintained that it wasn't cheating if the ball just happened to change course mid-air and dodge the goalkeeper's waiting hooves. Either way, they never let her back on the pitch.

“Spike?” The lavender unicorn called the name of her baby dragon companion, she had found herself daydreaming on her couch and was far too bored for her own good.

A scaly, purple head appeared from the kitchen door, “Yes Twilight?” The baby dragon looked hopeful, his morning had consisted of chores, chores and more chores, perhaps the unicorn had need of his unique skills. Anything to break the monotony.

“I find myself bored, Spike. Entertain me.” There was no inflection in her voice to suggest that the last remark had been a question.

“Okay, er... So a pegasus walks into a bar...”

“Please, no jokes.”

Spike rolled his eyes, “Fine, what do you want me to do then?”

Twilight sighed, she moved herself into a more comfortable position on the couch, lying her head on a plush pillow, “If I knew that, I wouldn't be bored would I? Perhaps you could dance or something.”

All credit to him, Spike began what could hardly be described as a dance but more an ungainly shuffle, shifting his weight from foot to foot and shaking his tail. It wasn't very good and the fact that there was no music only compounded that. Spike could see the boredom on his friend's face and stopped his dancing immediately, “Perhaps you should visit your friends, you always manage to find yourself in some random adventure when you do.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, deep in thought. Spike was right of course, Ponyville may seem like a quiet little town, but it was the epicentre for a lot of weird and wonderful things, the majority of which involve her friends either almost falling out or almost dying. If the old saying “whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger” rings true, then she and her friends must be pretty tough by now.

Even Fluttershy seems to have come out of her shell recently, the usually timid pegasus pony was more prone to joining in conversation and even offering her own opinion. Her and Rainbow Dash don't seem to be the type of ponies to get along, Dash admits to becoming frustrated by the yellow pegasus every now and then, but Dash thinks of her like a little sister, someone she should protect and nurture.

Rarity and Applejack are another pair you don't expect to get along, but they make it work. Despite all of their differences, their similarities are what really define them as friends. Always up to their necks in work, both with fierce streaks of pride that can sometimes lead them astray, they at least know that they can find solace in friends when the going gets too tough.

Then there's Pinkie Pie. She's... well, Pinkie Pie. Greater minds than Twilight have tried and failed to decipher her inner workings. Underneath the randomness and the hyperactivity however, beats a heart of candied gold, she cares deeply for her friends and would go to any length to pry a smile from their lips.

“I might just do that Spike, thank you.” Twilight climbed off of the couch and stretched her legs for a little while, she hadn't realised how long she had been sitting there.

“You'd be surprised how often I'm right.” Spike said this, not with the intent to boast, but as if he was speaking from experience. “Anything you'd like me to do whilst you're out, Twilight?”

The unicorn thought for a moment, “Just try and keep the library tidy, that's all I suppose.”

Spike gave a quick salute, “Can do”.

Twilight had made it to the entrance of the library before turning back to the dragon, “If anyone comes by asking for me, just tell them I'll be back later.”

“When is later?” Spike asked, already half way up a ladder and sorting books.

“It's longer than soon, but quicker than a while. Anyway, goodbye.” Twilight left the library before the dragon could say anything about her cryptic reply. Not that she had to explain herself to the little dragon, he could be to curious for his own good at times, luckily he knew when not to cross Twilight Sparkle. She may not look like much with her lax smile, sharp eyes and straight-edge mane-cut, but beneath that skull of hers lies a brain willing and able to overcome any obstacle thrown at it.

The streets of Ponyville were oddly quiet for a Saturday afternoon, usually you could expect to see ponies going about their daily lives or just enjoying the good weather, but Twilight seemed oddly alone as she walked further and further into town. Twilight almost cried with joy when she saw someone, a very pink someone who was bouncing aimlessly around the fountain in the centre of town.

“Er... Pinkie?” The unicorn, for a brief moment, tried to imagine just what the earth pony could be doing, but decided quickly against it.

Pinkie stopped, mid-leap, hovering eerily in the air whilst she turned her head to face Twilight. Far to slowly to be considered natural, she fell to the ground on all fours, “Yes Twilight?”

“Do you know where everypony is? It's oddly quiet for a Saturday.”

Pinkie nodded, her expression conveyed deep understanding and a quiet regret, or perhaps it was just hunger, Twilight wasn't sure, “And my tail isn't even twitching! I don't know why those silly fillies are locked away inside, it's so nice out.”

Twilight swallowed what felt like her tongue, she knew she walking into unknown territory with this next question, “So what are you doing then, Pinkie?”

“Research!” The party pony answered quickly, shaking her tail with a flourish before continuing her bouncing.

“Are you quite sure you understand the concept of research? All you seem to be doing is bouncing.”

Pinkie Pie didn't stop, quite the opposite in fact, she sped up. “I'm waiting for the market to open.” The earth pony pointed at a bunch of bare wooden stalls nearby.

“You're going to research the market?”

“Yup!” One of Pinkie's bounces almost landed her in the fountain, but she managed to land on the fountain's edge instead, playing a precarious game of balance, “Mr and Mrs Cake asked me to do some market research, so I'm waiting for it to open. Maybe I could talk to Applejack, she's a super-duper apple seller!” Pinkie apparently forgot to try and balance when she realised this and simply tumbled sideways into the fountain. Her curly mane lay flattened across her face as she emerged from under several inches of water, but she laughed madly and shook herself until she was miraculously dry.

Twilight, who hadn't escaped the splash zone, fired off a quick spell which dried her coat almost instantly, “Thank you for your time Pinkie, I'll see you around.” The unicorn turned tail and trotted off in an almost entirely different direction.

Quietly, although it might just have been the distance put between them, Pinkie Pie could be heard saying “Goodbye Twilight” in her usual cheery voice.

It didn't take long after that for Twilight to discover why everyone was seemingly unwilling to come out, it didn't make her very happy, she had thought that everything had taken a turn for the better even since last month. Some prejudices are hard to dispel however.

The cloaked quadruped, which visibly lowered it's head in what looked like sadness, was a sight that Twilight had only once associated with evil.

“Zecora!” She shouted, trying to gain the zebra's attention.

The zebra in question turned to face one of her only supporters, the lavender unicorn who had always stood up for her after finding out the truth, “If it isn't my friend Twilight, but for the town of Ponyville, I've all but given up the fight.”

“What is it you need Zecora? I'll be more than happy to assist you. I'm surprised that the citizens of Ponyville are still afraid of you. No offence intended of course.” Twilight blushed slightly at her bluntness, it was a trait she was trying to rid herself of in the most part.

“Fact may be hard to deny, but opinion is where a ponies true loyalty will lie.” Despite her roundabout, cryptic way of speaking, Twilight didn't have much trouble deciphering her meaning. It may be a well known fact that Zecora prefers the solitude of the Everfree Forest and is a knowledgeable herbal practitioner, but it didn't change the fact that some ponies thought that she was still someone to fear.

“Simple Ponyville herbs will do, I need them for my latest brew.”

Twilight smiled for Zecora's sake, she didn't enjoy seeing other ponies living on the outside of society, metaphorically speaking of course. She knew first hand what it was like to be alone and friendless, she wouldn't wish that on anypony. “A trip to the flower shop it is then,” Twilight announced, motioning for Zecora to follow her.

The flower shop was a fairly large business that bloomed out of three smaller competing flower businesses. The proprietors of each, Rose, Lily and Daisy respectively, had been warring for customers for a long time. Advertising campaigns and feats of one-upmanship never before seen in the simple town of Ponyville. It all came to a head when Rose inadvertently planted a dangerous plant from the Everfree Forest in Lily's shop, when the mistake was discovered, all three worked tirelessly to rid Lily's shop of the tentacled menace before it overtook the town. From that day, they had become close friends and decided that their combined botanical knowledge could be used to help everypony instead of just themselves.

The newly dubbed 'Three Sisters Flower Emporium' had become one of Ponyville's most successful businesses to date. It was here that Twilight and Zecora were heading.

Twilight knocked on the door, feeling a massive surge of déjà vu as she did. There was a brief shuffling, hushed voices and a lot of shushing. The door slowly opened to reveal to cream coloured earth pony with a burgundy mane, it appeared that the door was on a latch because it refused to open more than a few inches. “What is it?” She asked hurriedly, taking quick glances back into the shop.

“Hello Rose,” Twilight said happily, ignoring the earth pony's odd behaviour, “I was wondering if me and my friend here could buy some herbs.” At this point, Zecora stepped out from behind Twilight and lowered her hood, revealing her striped mane and exotic features.

“Simple herbs are what I desire, accept my custom or invoke my ire.” Perhaps luckily for Zecora, it didn't look as though Rose was able to fully understand anything she had said other than 'I'd like some herbs'.

A few hurried and whispered conversations with her co-workers later, Rose opened the door and allowed them into the store. Daisy and Lily wore forced smiles and offered them false platitudes but Zecora was able to get the herbs she wanted, so Twilight was happy.

Just before she left the store, Zecora had already gone ahead of her, Twilight turned to the three other ponies, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” She said simply, narrowing her eyes and glaring at them.

Zecora was waiting outside, busying herself with securing her saddlebags. When she saw Twilight, she gave the unicorn a low bow, “My unicorn friend, so noble and purple...” Zecora opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no sound came out, instead her eyes went wide and all of the colour drained from her face.

Before she knew what was going on, Twilight watched as Zecora tore away at full gallop.

“Well...” Twilight said, thinking about her day up to now, “I think Spike was right. Leaving the library was a good idea to relieve my boredom.”

==

“Twilight Sparkle, you simply must follow me back to my boutique.”

It hadn't taken much walking, nor any attempts at consciously choosing a direction. Twilight wanted to test out a theory, that being, she could walk in any random direction in this town and still have something to do before long. Lo and behold, Rarity was calling her attention.

The purple-maned unicorn had found her by that one store that sold quills and sofas. Twilight was in the market for neither quills nor sofas, she had just found herself walking that way.

“Why?” Twilight asked. It was a reasonable, if simple, question.

Rarity merely regarded her with that imperious stare of hers, the one that looks you up and down and deems you insufficient.

Twilight rolled her eyes, “You're going to give me some ridiculous reason about me needing fashion advice aren't you?” It was almost the only reason Twilight ever entered Carousel Boutique.

“I was just going to ask that you lend a sympathetic ear and perhaps a shoulder if I so need it.” Rarity sauntered towards Twilight and nudged her in the shoulder with the tip of her horn, “Please?”

“Why didn't you just say that?” Twilight replied, sighing, “It would have worked better than insisting I follow you home for no apparent reason.”

Rarity huffed, “This is serious, Twilight Sparkle.” She stomped a hoof for emphasis.

“Real serious or Rarity serious?”

“Twilight!” Rarity moaned, “Please?”

Twilight let out a content laugh, “Whatever you want Rarity, I wasn't doing anything anyway.”

Leaving the other unicorn to glower, Twilight lead the way to Carousel Boutique.

Rarity's boutique was so named because it resembles a carousel. There's no story there.

The two unicorns entered the store, the lavender one looking confused, the white one looking nervous. Twilight turned quickly to Rarity, but the fashionista stayed silent, instead she continued walking towards a door in the back of the room. Twilight knew that this room lead to the apartment over the shop, so whatever Rarity wanted to talk about, it must be private.

Twilight couldn't even see any “works-in-progress” around the main workroom, it seemed like Rarity hadn't been working on anything in a while.

“Twilight dear, don't dawdle.” Rarity's voice came floating from the stairwell, she seemed impatient, but also a little hesitant.

“Coming!” Twilight replied, taking one last look around the workshop which, while normal looking, seemed bizarre to Twilight.

Upstairs, Twilight found Rarity lay on her bed, the white unicorn had took the liberty of getting comfortable by changing into a fluffy pink dressing gown. “Are you okay, Rarity? You're starting to worry me a little.”

Rarity sighed melodramatically, “I'm fine...” She paused, “...it's just that, I'm lonely Twilight.”

This remark confused the lavender unicorn so she took a few steps closer to the bed, “But you have all of your friends, Sweetie Belle and Opalescence. How can you be lonely?”

Rarity took the time to perform another huge, theatrical sigh, “It's not that kind of loneliness.”

“Oh...” Twilight blushed despite herself, a lifetime of study had blessed the lavender unicorn with a wealth of knowledge on countless subjects, this however, was not one of those subjects. She hadn't even had the chance to discover things first hoof, there just wasn't enough time... or willing partners. “You're such a beautiful pony, Rarity, I find it hard to believe that you of all ponies could be lonely.”

She laughed mirthlessly, “It's partly my fault, my aspirations were too high, Twilight. I could only ever imagine myself with the prince, no other stallion could compare, I turned down every offer, keeping my body pure for that one day where he and I would consummate the marriage.”

Twilight blushed even harder if such a thing were possible, she didn't expect her friends to speak so candidly about such subjects.

“It would have been perfect,” Rarity continued, seemingly not wanting to stop now that she had opened the gates, “But then... the gala.” The white unicorn went limp on the bed, the mere memory of that night seemed to sedate her.

Twilight felt that she needed to do something to help, Rarity was one of her closest friends after all. The lavender unicorn jumped up onto the bed and put a reassuring hoof around her shoulder, “It's okay Rarity, the prince was just a massive tool and if he couldn't see how great a catch you are, then who needs him?”

This seemed to energise Rarity a little, the white unicorn sat up and stared, a little misty eyed, at Twilight, “Do you really mean that?”

It was hardly a question she could say no to, regardless of whether she meant it or not, “Of course Rarity. You're beautiful, interesting and talented, who wouldn't want to be with you?”

Rarity smiled, but her face fell just as fast, “But what if the next stallion I... develop an interest in rejects me as well? How do I know that not all stallions are the same? What if...?” Rarity gasped, as if her brain didn't even want to entertain the thought.

“What if what, Rarity?” Twilight asked, genuinely concerned.

Rarity was almost sobbing now, a fresh build up of tears threatened to escape down the white unicorns face, “What if... I'm ugly?” Just saying it seemed to break her walls down, the tears came streaming down her face and she collapsed onto Twilight's shoulder.

The lavender unicorn, whilst sympathetic to her friend's insecurity, couldn't help noticing that her shoulder was getting wet. “There there.” It wasn't much, but Rarity didn't seem in the condition to hear anything other than her own sobs at the moment.

When she had calmed down enough, Twilight pulled the other unicorn away from her, holding her by the shoulders and forcing Rarity to look at her, “You are not ugly and any pony who says you are is just jealous.”

Rarity was taken aback, here she was at her worst and Twilight Sparkle had nothing but praise to offer her. It was enough to make her genuinely smile. She dried a few tears with a hoof and lay down on the bed, “You know Twilight, I would never admit this publicly, but you were always my favourite model.”

Twilight laughed nervously, “I was never any good at it though.”

“It wasn't that, it's more the fact that you're so dreadfully unfashionable that I can't help but come up with fresh ideas whenever you require it.” Rarity smiled, blatantly ignoring the complement sandwich she had just fed her friend.

“Gee, thanks Rarity.”

“I didn't mean it as a bad thing deary.” Rarity waved a hoof, dispelling the uncomfortable air between them, “You're so caught up in research or royal duties that you don't always have the time to dress properly or style your mane.” Rarity's eyes lingered on Twilight's dark blue mane with it's pink and purple stripes.

Twilight ran a hoof across her mane defensively, “Hey, I brushed this morning.”

“Ah...” the white unicorn had a pained expression on her face, “That explains a lot. There is a multitude of other things you can do with your mane beyond brushing, perhaps if you didn't have any time it would be acceptable, but classy mares like ourselves must make time to look as fabulous as possible.”

At least Rarity had seemingly forgotten about her insecurities for the time being, perhaps this was what she needed right now, for Twilight to play dress up with her. “I'm sure I could learn at lot from you about proper style, Rarity.”

“Why don't I show you? It's been so long since I gave you a makeover.” Rarity jumped off of the bed and stared pleadingly at her friend.

Twilight grinned, she would see this through, for Rarity. “I'll set myself up downstairs shall I?”

Rarity smiled gleefully, immediately abandoning her dressing gown and heading for a mirror to clean up her tear-stained face, there was little to do for her bloodshot eyes, but hiding them partially behind her glasses would do for now. Rarity turned, now almost back to her usual self, to see Twilight wasn't there. The white unicorn opened her apartment door and went down onto the shop floor.

Twilight was already sitting in one of chairs Rarity used for manedressing. “Quite the eager beaver aren't we Miss Sparkle?” She said, sneaking up behind her lavender friend. Without waiting for an answer, Rarity began to run her hooves through Twilight's mane, “So soft, how do you do it Twilight?”

“Just lucky I guess.”

“I wish my mane was so naturally soft, I'd save a fortune in hair products. I'm jealous.” Rarity rotated the chair so Twilight was facing her, “I'll start by giving it a proper wash shall I?”

Twilight nodded, “You, jealous of me? I hardly think you should be.”

The chair tipped backwards slightly and Twilight's head fell into a basin of warm water that Rarity must have just prepared. “Doesn't that feel nice Twilight?” Rarity floated a couple of bottles of shampoo and conditioner over to the basin and put them down. She reached her hooves into the water and began making sure that every inch of Twilight's mane was nice and wet before continuing.

“First we use this luxurious shampoo I purchase from Aloe and Lotus at the spa, they make fantastic products like these.” Rarity lifted Twilight's head from the basin and deposited a dollop of shampoo on her head, she immediately began to massage it into her scalp. Relishing the feel of Twilight's mane in her hooves, Rarity took extra time lathering the shampoo so that every follicle was saturated. “Once we've used the shampoo, we wash it out.” Twilight felt her head fall into the warm water again, Rarity's hooves moving pleasantly across her scalp to wash it properly.

“Now that we've removed all traces of the shampoo from your mane, now we use the conditioner.”

“Conditioner?” Twilight asked, looking confused.

Rarity looked faint, “How does a mare grow up not knowing about conditioner? I feel so sorry for you and your mane, dear.” Rarity shook her head and mentioned something that sounded like 'Celestia had her priorities wrong' under her breath, “As I hope you are aware, the purpose of shampoo is to clean the hair of any build-up or contaminants. The purpose of conditioner is to ease in styling the mane and making it look good. I would have thought a pony with a mane as fabulous as the Princess would see fit to teach her students the necessity of proper mane care.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, “No, it was strictly a magic thing. Strangely, cosmetics never came up.”

“Regardless, I'll show you the magic of conditioner, the difference it makes is astronomical.”

Twilight laughed, “I hardly believe that's true.”

Rarity smiled, she could gloat now, but it was would be even sweeter if she savoured it. Silently, Rarity followed a similar pattern as she did with the shampoo, taking a large dollop of conditioner and working it into every follicle. She took immense pleasure in her work, Twilight was such a delight to work on, she was her muse, a being that forced creative thought out of her. Rarity smiled again, her heart warmed at the realisation.

When she dunked Twilight's head under the water and washed out her mane again, Rarity dried her hooves and floated over another soft towel catch any excess moisture on Twilight's mane. Rarity had began patting down the lavender unicorns shoulder when she was stopped, Twilight's horn flashed purple for a brief moment and she felt a rushing sensation as she dried herself off for the second time that day.

Rarity raised an eyebrow, “That's handy.”

Twilight laughed nervously, “I suppose it is, that was one of the Princess' personal favourites. Perhaps I could teach it to you as a thank you for this.”

“Oh, we're not done yet, we still have a lot to do.” Rarity's grin looked almost evil, the mischievous glint in her eyes told Twilight that she was in for a real treat. Twilight didn't know whether that scared or excited her.

For the next twenty minutes, Twilight was attacked by brushes, curlers, scissors and sprays of all varieties. When Rarity finally announced that she was finished, Twilight felt her chair spin around to face a large mirror. “I look exactly the same!”

Rarity merely laughed, “To the untrained eye perhaps, but look how shiny your mane is, feel how soft it is. Any pony with a hint of fashion sense will recognise your new style.”

“It's the same as my old style!” Twilight complained, reaching up a hoof to further prove her point. When hoof touched hair however, she stopped, eyes wide, “Ooh, that's soft. It feels really nice, is this what the conditioner does?”

Rarity nodded simply, her gloating smile barely contained.

“It really is magic. It feels like what I imagine the Princess' mane would feel like.”

“So do you like it Twilight?”

The lavender unicorn blushed, “Yes, I do. Thank you Rarity, you're a wonderfully generous pony.”

Rarity laughed casually, “Oh Twilight, you flatterer. I'm nothing special.” She turned away and settled herself on a chintz sofa used mainly for customers to wait on, she sighed, but forced a smile when she noticed Twilight looking at her.

“Nonsense Rarity,” Twilight got out of the chair and marched across the store, standing directly in front of her unicorn friend, “You're very talented, more so than any other pony I know. It takes real skill, precision and determination to do what you do and especially so in the ever changing world of fashion.”

Rarity looked a little tear-eyed again, but she laughed it off casually, “Oh deary me, it seems all of those sprays have agitated my eyes.” She paused to wipe a few errant tears away, “Would you mind showing me that drying spell again, I'd be extremely grateful.”

Twilight took a few seconds to answer, wondering if she should call Rarity out on her blatant subject change or not, but she eventually decided against it, “Sure, I'll be glad to.” Twilight's horn began to glow again, but Rarity interrupted her, stopping the flow of magic.

“Not here, Twilight.” She said in almost a whisper, looking around nervously, “We should do it in my bedroom so we have some privacy.” Rarity flashed her a playful smile as she began a slow walk towards the door that lead to her apartment. She opened the door and went to go upstairs, but turned to Twilight before she did, beckoning her over with a 'come hither' look.

Twilight didn't know what to think of this strange behaviour, but she had a job to do, so followed her friend upstairs. As before, she found Rarity on her bed, but this time she wasn't wrapped in her dressing gown opting instead for a silk shawl.

“Now we have some privacy, let's get to work on the spell theory.” Twilight sat on the edge of the bed, looking over at Rarity who smiled placidly, “One thing you have to keep in mind when casting this spell is a sense of dryness. I know it sounds obvious, but it's important, otherwise you just end up damp. The Princess always told me to picture the sun's warm rays beating down upon my body, it works for me, so why don't you try?”

Rarity was barely listening, she was too busy staring at Twilight. At how her eyes lit up when she mentioned Celestia, at how her mouth moved when she talked, at how she shifted her body awkwardly when she tried to get comfortable. It was something that had been playing in the back of her mind all day, ever since the lavender unicorn had come over. Rarity had never imagined rejection as an option when thinking about the prince, but when he did reject her, it broke something inside of her, not her heart but her expectations. Stallions were all the same in her eyes, stuck up idiots who wouldn't know beautiful if it held a fashion show in front of them.

Here Twilight was though, she admired Rarity's beauty, her talents, her knowledge and she was distinctly not a stallion. Rarity had never thought about of other mares in such a way before and indeed she doubted she ever would, but Twilight was different, it didn't matter that she was female, she was just perfect.

“Twilight dear, can you close your eyes for a few seconds.”

It was a strange answer to her question, but she decided not to push the issue, “Okay, my eyes are closed, what are you getting at?” A distinct pressure on her lips and a feeling of unnatural warmth filled her. She had a second of enjoyment and fulfilment before she realised that the only other pony in the room was Rarity and that said unicorn was currently kissing her, on her bed no less. Twilight opened her eyes and backed away, looking incredibly confused, “What just happened?”

Rarity didn't falter, instead she moved a little closer and giggled a little, “I knew you were a reclusive shut-in Twilight Sparkle, but I thought even you would recognise a kiss when you saw one.” She leaned in once again, stroking the side of Twilight's head.

“But you're Rarity... and I'm Twilight... and we're both-”

Rarity shushed her, “That doesn't matter, you like me and I like you, you mean a lot more to me than you possibly think. Why should gender get in the way when we are so compatible?” Rarity shuffled closer so their bodies were mere centimetres apart, she leaned over and began planting kisses along Twilight's neck and shoulder.

Twilight tried to move away but the small, tickling kisses made her stay, her body wanted to feel loved and her brain saw little reason to disagree. “What will the others say?” Twilight asked.

Rarity paused her ministrations to answer, “If they are truly our friends, they shouldn't bother where we find pleasure.”

“Is this all it is to you, pleasure?” Twilight, despite her misgivings, felt hurt at Rarity's insinuation.

“Oh,” Rarity laughed, genuinely amused, “This means a lot more to me, more than you can possibly imagine.”

Twilight felt her heart flutter at Rarity's words, for once in her life it was she being lusted after. Years of berating herself for being distracted by the strange feelings of attraction, years of wondering whether any pony out there felt similar feelings when they looked at her were washed away in an instant. Rarity, the beautiful mare that she was, wanted Twilight and her whole being was ready to latch on that affection without a seconds warning. There was only a small part of Twilight's mind that fought against her, logic. “I've never been attracted to another mare before.”

Rarity smiled, “Neither have I.” She could understand Twilight's hesitation and working her through it would benefit them both, “I realised that gender doesn't matter, if I think you're beautiful, why should I restrain myself? If I think you have a wonderful personality and a loving disposition, why should your gender repel me or keep me from having you? I don't like mares, I like Twilight Sparkle. If she so happens to be my perfect partner, I won't let that fact define me.”

“Well, in that case, I think I like Rarity.”

Rarity didn't reply with words, she pounced upon Twilight and began exploring the lavender unicorns mouth with her tongue again. They fell onto the bed, with Rarity on top of Twilight, the white unicorn in complete control. Rarity let up, taking a second to catch her breath, Twilight took this opportunity to say something that had been on her mind for a few minutes now, “I had never really thought about it up until now but you were my first kiss.”

“Was I good? Did I live up to your expectations?” Rarity gave her a look, one that was both intimidating and warming.

Twilight didn't have to make anything up, it truly was good, “You surpassed my expectations, even though I didn't know what to expect, it was great nonetheless.”

Rarity leaned in and gave her another quick kiss, “As long as I please you, I don't mind. Perhaps you'd like me to please you in other ways, we are already on a bed after all.”

Twilight blushed again, but this time it wasn't embarrassment, it was... dare she say it, excitement about what Rarity was talking about. “I-I've never even considered...”

“You're forgetting one thing, Twilight dear. Unicorns have distinct advantages when it comes to bedroom games.” Rarity stroked her horn across Twilight's neck, both feeling the vibrant tingling shuddering through them.

“Magic?” Twilight seemed incredulous, “Celestia never mentioned this in our lessons.”

“I doubt she would, this is advanced friendship. Don't tell her we skipped a few classes though.” Rarity winked and stared at the helpless form of Twilight below her, “I haven't done this before, but I have read about it in some less-than-tasteful unicorn fiction. The spell is something akin to levitation, but instead of using your magic to move something, you're using it to caress and to massage.”

Twilight's horn began to glow and Rarity could feel a force winding down her body, like a thousand hands stroking her, she moaned in pleasure, “Like this?” Twilight asked, grinning at the reaction she had gotten.

“Yes, exactly like that.” Rarity paused for a moment, letting the feeling wash over her again, “We don't even need to make contact, our... innocence could be preserved whilst still enjoying each other. Although I may find it difficult to keep my hooves off of you once we start.”

Twilight smiled and began to cast the spell again, it was so simple that she barely even needed to think about it. The pure fact that she wanted to caress Rarity to make her feel good was enough, but when she focused, she could localise the pressure, giving a light brush to her withers or sending a wave of pressure to her haunches.

Rarity gasped openly at this, “Oh, you naughty mare. Well two can play at that game.” Rarity dived in, her horn glowing.

Twilight felt Rarity's powerful kiss, but also the added pressure of being stroked by her magic. At first it was a general pressure like a hug, but after a while, it began to localise, moving down her body, past her stomach and resting between her back legs. Twilight fought to contain the scream that was building in her throat, a sight that only made Rarity laugh.

“Did you like that? I could do it again if you want.” Rarity didn't wait for an answer, she continued anyway and at this Twilight lost the ability to keep herself quiet, “Sing for me Twilight, show me how high you can go.” The white unicorn kept up her magic, but the strain it was causing her showed, she was beginning to slow down and her breathing became heavy.

The lavender unicorn didn't notice this however, she was too far gone and all she could feel was the electric pleasure coursing through her entire body. The intensity kept building and building until it reached a point where she couldn't hold on any longer, relief and pleasure flooded out of Twilight as she let out one last scream and a contented sigh. She felt Rarity collapse on top of her, their breathing matching perfectly so when Twilight would breathe in, Rarity would breathe out.

“Did I... please you?” Rarity asked between breaths.

Twilight didn't answer immediately, her ability to string words together had been temporarily lost with the fluid that escaped her, “Yes...” she managed to say, “Twilight is pleased.”

Rarity smiled, “I'm glad. Perhaps you really should show me that drying spell after all, my efforts seem to have made you make a mess all over me.”

“Oh, I wouldn't worry about that just yet,” Twilight seemed to have recovered, rolling Rarity off of her and onto her back. The lavender unicorn took her place on top, grinning as she saw that Rarity had no energy to stop her, “I have to return the favour and with magic being my special talent, I've got all day to do it.”

It was Rarity's turn to wonder whether she should be scared or excited by the mare above her. It was a fear that faded when Twilight got to work, it was clumsy at first, but when she reached her stride, she worked like a machine.

Rarity lost count of how many times she was repaid that night.

==

The next day, Twilight walked into the library looking fresh as a daisy.

That was one of the advantages of waking up sweaty and content with Rarity, she knew the perfect way to freshen up in the morning.

Spike was stood in the centre of the room, arms crossed and foot tapping, “And just where were you all night? You could have been dead for all I knew!”

Twilight tried to look ashamed, but her face couldn't switch from 'ecstatic' “I'm sorry Spike, I'll try to warn you next time. As for where I was? You wouldn't believe me if I told you.” Twilight laughed and began inspecting the library for anything wrong, “Did much happen whilst I was gone?”

“No. I don't even know why this town needs a library, no ponies other than you seem to use it!”

Twilight chuckled, “At least it's tidy, you've done a good job. I was talking to Rarity yesterday and she mentioned that she might need a book, so she might come around later.” the lavender unicorn looked over to her dragon assistant, he of course was looking both hopeful and nervous at the fashionista coming to the library.

“She's coming here? Today!”

“Yes, but unfortunately, I have jobs for you to do that will keep you out of the library all day, so you won't get to see her.” Twilight smiled, this game of deception was proving to be quite fun.

Spike looked like someone had just stolen his last gemstone, “Aw, rats. So what are these jobs?”

“The Princess asked for your presence in Canterlot, I don't know what she wants beyond that.” Twilight tried her best not to burst out laughing, “You should hurry up, you don't want to keep her waiting.”

The little dragon looked slightly confused for a second, but jumped up and ran from the library.

It was a fairly cruel prank, Twilight knew, but she'd do anything for a repeat performance of last night.

She had told Rarity that there might be something in her library to help 'enhance' their next encounter. The pair weren't very experienced but they had a long time to learn.

Twilight loved learning.

***

Speaking of learning, this was definitely a learning experience for me. My first time trying to write... well, I think you know to what I refer. I'm not sure how it turned out, but it was certainly an interesting experience.