"Twilight. Darling. You know I love you, but you must. Stop. Flinching."

Twilight tenses up every muscle in her neck, willing her head to hold still.

"No – no! You've just made it worse. Relax your eyes," she hears Rarity say.

"My what?"

"Your eyes, Twilight! You've got them all... scrunched close. How am I supposed to – there, that's much better! Almost finished."

Twilight frowns, stretching her eyelids as far as she can without actually opening them. She feels the light strokes of a brush across the thin skin of her left eyelid, leaving a cold trail of something. Eye makeup. Whatever it's called.

Eye shadow? It's eye shadow, isn't it?

She doesn't usually wear makeup.

She sits with her eyes closed, stuck in the awkward thoughtlessness of being worked on by somepony else. She's gotten used to receiving makeovers from Rarity by now. For the most part. But this one has been dragging on far longer than usual.

"So... what kind of stallions are you going out with?"

Twilight feels her ear turn towards Fluttershy, making up for her blindness.

"That's a good question, actually," Twilight says. "You haven't told me anything about these guys."

"Well, I don't honestly know much about them. I only met the one. And I only met him just last night. They're both new in town, I know that much," Rarity says. "Besides, what kind of question is that? What kind are they? They're stallions, for goodness' sake. Big, handsome, stallions."

"You don't even know what they do?" Twilight starts to cock an eyebrow.

"Ah! No moving!"

Twilight feels Rarity's hooves yank her head back into place. She can't help an apology creeping onto her face.

"Sorry," Rarity says. "I'm almost done, I swear. You look just amazing, Twilight."

"Mmmm," Fluttershy says from behind them, nodding with her voice.

Twilight sits in silence, letting the seconds creep by. She can feel Rarity breathing just inches from her. She starts to wonder what kind of face Rarity is making – whether it's that cute little frown she gets when she's concentrating, or if it's already turned into that triumphant smirk that comes out when her newest masterpiece is nearing completion.

"So what kind are they?" Fluttershy asks. Twilight hears her pausing, probably drinking from the juice box she'd brought with her for some reason. "What type of pony, I mean."

"Oh!" Rarity says. "How silly of me. My date is an earth pony, but I'm not sure about Twilight's. I assume he is one as well."

"Oh." Twilight can hear Fluttershy's slight blush. "You're going to go on a date with... earth ponies?"

"Well why not? Don't tell me you'll only ever date a pegasus," Rarity says.

"No!" Fluttershy says very urgently. Twilight raises her eyebrows but immediately flinches them back in place. Then she realizes Rarity has paused.

She probably just gave Fluttershy the exact same look.

"I mean..." Fluttershy backpedals frantically. "I mean, I don't know. Most pegasus stallions I meet are really... um..."

"Loud?" Rarity says.

"A little," Fluttershy says.

"Boastful to the point of arrogance?"

"Maybe."

"Overly competitive?"

"Mmm..."

Twilight grimaces, eliciting some annoyed tut-tutting from Rarity.

"You two are talking about pegasus ponies in general, right?" Twilight asks. "Not just Rainbow Dash?"

Fluttershy snorts loudly, almost drowning out Rarity's giggle.

"Yes, well," Rarity says. "She is sort of the quintessential pegasus, is she not?"

"That's not very nice," Twilight says. "Are you saying Fluttershy is... I don't know, not a good pegasus?"

"Please, Twilight. Nothing of the sort. Just generalizing a bit."

"It sounds more like stereotyping."

"I was saying that Fluttershy is a wonderful pony, and all the more so for breaking the mold."

A moment of silence follows. Again, Twilight can hear Fluttershy's blush.

"Besides, you can't deny that there are differences," Rarity says.

"But it's not nice to assume too much just on type. Especially personality-wise. Right?"

"Oh, of course not. You know I know that, Twilight. After all, it's not as if unicorns are all snooty, stuck-up, class-obsessed prima donnas who abhor dirt and physical labor. How silly is that?" Rarity says.

"Uhhh..." Twilight and Fluttershy say in unison.

"There! Finished! Open your eyes!" Rarity says with undisguised excitement.

Twilight does. And then opens them wider, shocked at what she's seeing in the mirror.

"Wow!" she gasps out. "I look... good."

Rarity giggles quite smugly. "Indeed you do." She leans in close to Twilight's shoulder, making eye contact through the mirror. "Some of my best work, if I may say so."

Twilight mutters something affirmative. She's a little lost, just staring at herself. It's strange – she doesn't really look different. It's still her, same mane style, same face, same eyes, but... better, somehow.

"I look really good," Twilight says, far too astonished to be mistaken for bragging. She turns to Rarity, just on the edge of hugging her. "I don't know how you do it."

"Yes, well... don't thank me. There's only so much that gilding a lily can do," Rarity says.

"Huh?"

But Rarity darts away and busies herself preparing to make up her own face. Twilight shrugs it off and goes back to being amazed at how good she looks.

I'm definitely getting Rarity to help me out before my first Luna date.

Twilight sighs, watching a much-prettier-than-usual version of herself in the mirror. She never once in her life really felt beautiful, before she met Rarity. She turns and watches the elegant white unicorn daintily going through her own makeup routine, and idly wonders why Rarity even bothers.

If anypony didn't need it...

She smiles quietly. Then she frowns when she remembers the conversation they were having.

"Wait... so what do they do?" she asks.

"Hmmm?" Rarity doesn't even look over.

"Our dates?"

"Oh! Oh yes, of course." Rarity blinks a few times. "Something about farm work, naturally. Contracting or some such. It sounded a little dull. I wasn't listening too closely to that part."

"Farming, huh?" Twilight says. "Both earth ponies, then."

"Now who's generalizing?"

Twilight gives her a look, and Rarity returns fire with a sidelong clever smile.

"I thought you only liked unicorns?" Fluttershy pipes up from behind them.

"Did I say something wrong? Why are all my friends making me out to be some sort of racist?" Rarity rolls her eyes, somehow still expertly applying her own eye shadow.

"No... no, I'm sorry. It's just that you always used to talk about –" Fluttershy starts to say.

"There's nothing wrong with mixing it up a little," Rarity cuts her off. "Lots of ponies do it. It's becoming quite fashionable, really. Besides – you know what they say about earth ponies."

Rarity makes a sneaky smile and bounces her eyebrows at Twilight, just once. Fluttershy recoils into her bangs and furiously sucks at her juice box.

"I do?" Twilight cocks an eyebrow.

"Although I must admit, I do have a certain affinity towards the idea of a unicorn mate. Not just for aesthetics, mind you. There's a certain..."

Rarity stops gluing fake eyelashes on. She stares off into space quite thoughtfully for a moment, then turns to Twilight. Twilight stares down as Rarity rests a hoof tenderly on her shoulder, then looks up and freezes in beautiful, blue headlights.

"There's just a certain something. Between us unicorns. Some things other ponies wouldn't understand."

Twilight holds her breath, hearing her heart picking up in her ears. She's caught in Rarity's gaze, unable to look away.

Thankfully, Rarity does it for her. Twilight lets her breath out and follows Rarity's eyes. Fluttershy is pouting a little on her seat, looking away.

"Oh, Fluttershy!" Rarity overdramatically leaves her makeup and settles down, hugging and cuddling against the yellow pegasus. "Don't worry about that latecomer. You'll always be my number one mare."

Fluttershy nestles into Rarity's arms with a smile, contentedly sipping her juice. Twilight just watches them with a dopey smile of her own, her heart thoroughly warmed. It's something else she's been learning lately – how strong a friendship can get over time.

And those two have been friends for...

She doesn't even know, really. Years?

How much longer until I graduate to cuddling like that?

She stares as Rarity and Fluttershy share a quite tender nuzzle, suddenly very aware of the feeling of make up on her face. For some reason she can't even begin to untangle, she tears her eyes away.

"Sorry, Twilight," Rarity says. "Spa and tea party sisterhood. It is quite sacred."

"I know." Twilight rolls her eyes, still smiling.

"I think she's at least an honorary member by now," Fluttershy whispers.

"Of course she is!" Rarity pats a hoof on the nest of cushions, beckoning Twilight over.

Twilight gets up and joins them, feeling just a little cheesy, but happy to be included. She sinks into the plush cushions next to Rarity, not quite joining their snuggle fest.

"Fluttershy, when did you move to Ponyville?" she asks.

"Hmm?" Fluttershy looks over with a loud slurp at her straw. "Just a few years before you."

"And we've been the best of friends ever since she did." Rarity nuzzles her one last time. Then she puts on a look of grave concern. "I'm so sorry again that I didn't find a date for you tonight as well."

"Oh, no..." Fluttershy cringes obviously, crushing her empty box in her hooves. "No, that's okay."

"So rude and selfish of me. Setting myself and Twilight up with two dashing earth pony stallions, and leaving you out in the cold."

"Dashing?" Twilight cuts in. "I don't even know if they are. This is so strange – it's my first date, and it's a blind date. It's so..."

"Exciting, isn't it?" Rarity nudges Twilight with a hoof. "Like unwrapping a present. Who knows what manner of handsome hunk you'll be presented with?"

Twilight looks down at the cushion, feeling a familiar wave of nervous awkwardness wash over her.

What if he's not handsome? What if he is? Does it even really matter?

She tries to picture her date, or at least what she hopes her date will be. Nothing really comes. She can see herself and Rarity out for dinner, chatting and laughing and having a great time.

But it won't be like that... we'll be busy getting to know someone new. Right?

Maybe he'll be nice. Maybe he'll be interesting.

Too scared to accept?

She smiles and remembers a pair of green eyes. Just like Applejack's.

"...and mine has the most darling little stripe of white running down his snout. A real natural set of colors. His family must be from Trottingham."

"Huh?" Twilight realizes that Rarity has been droning on.

"Of course I didn't see yours, but he's most likely similar. I must say, there's something quite appealing about the more rustic colors one finds with earth ponies sometimes. Subtle... subdued. Understated. It really accents their earthy charm."

Rarity giggles smugly while lightly elbowing Fluttershy. Twilight just raises an eyebrow while Fluttershy does her best to not react at all.

"Oh, will you listen to me go on? I really am becoming my mother. Ugh," Rarity says to Twilight, making a show of shuddering. She turns back to Fluttershy. "Speaking of big, handsome earth ponies... did you stop by Sweet Apple Acres today?"

Fluttershy's eyes pop open wide. "Um... yes," she says.

"Wonderful! Tell me everything. Did you see him?" Rarity scoots closer to Fluttershy somehow.

Twilight rolls her eyes, despite what she was thinking a moment ago.

"No... I just talked to Applejack," Fluttershy mutters, hanging her head low. "He was sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Twilight says. "In the middle of the day? I figured he would be out working with Applejack."

Both her friends turn to her with blank faces.

"Working? Darling, I thought you knew that he's been... Ah!" Rarity jumps in place.

"He was napping!" Fluttershy blurts out, nodding and grinning unnaturally. "Because... he was working so hard! I mean Braeburn." Fluttershy narrows her eyes at Rarity.

"Oh?" Rarity blinks a few times. "Oh! Oh yes, yes indeed. Braeburn." She looks back and forth a few times. "Oh! Braeburn! Your other hot prospect." She bounces her eyebrows at Twilight.

Twilight forgets her confusion long enough to heave a long, eye-rolling sigh.

"Uh... did you speak with Braeburn? When he woke up, that is," Rarity asks Fluttershy.

"A little bit. He's kind of loud. But he's nice," Fluttershy says.

"Did you ask Applejack if he's... available?" Rarity says while shooting Twilight a knowing look.

"Tell me you didn't," Twilight says.

"Um... I... didn't?" Fluttershy says with a big, fake smile.

"Good girl! And...?" Rarity practically squirms on her seat. Twilight just puts a hoof to her forehead and shakes her head.

"She thought I liked him. I told her I didn't, and she said she believed me, but she didn't believe me..."

"Ha! Oh – sorry, Fluttershy, that's just so silly of her, considering... um... something."

Twilight stares at them both, squinting a little.

What in the world...?

"But he is single. I think," Fluttershy says.

Twilight's thoughts derail completely, and she perks up more than she would've thought possible.

"Aha! I saw that!" Rarity crows in triumph.

She feels herself turn bright red as she tries to pretend that Rarity saw nothing.

"So you do like him. I thought so – it looked like you two were really hitting it off, as it were."

"No! No... come on. I mean, he's nice and all," Twilight says.

"He is nice. Quite the charming gentlecolt," Rarity says.

"You don't like earth ponies... like that?" Fluttershy asks.

"No! I... well... I don't know," Twilight says.

"Well what kind do you prefer?" Rarity asks, looking strangely concerned.

"Uhhh..."

Alicorns? Of the royal variety?

She gets a rather naughty smile and opens her mouth to say it, but stops short when she sees Fluttershy.

"Um... I've never really thought about it. It's more about the pony, isn't it? You know, who they really are? Inside?" she says instead.

"Oh, yes, naturally. That is what's really important, after all," Rarity says, looking a little uncomfortable. Fluttershy just nods a few times in approval.

"And Braeburn – he does seem nice. But I don't really know him," Twilight adds.

"Remember when he stayed with us in Appleloosa?" Fluttershy joins in. "That was nice of him."

"Yes, during that silly battle," Rarity scoffs. "What a bunch of brutish nonsense."

"Rainbow Dash said he was just being a big chicken," Twilight remembers.

"Well of course she said that." Rarity glares. "Applejack had to practically tie her down to keep her from running off. What was it Applejack said about him?"

"She said he's like me. Wouldn't hurt a fly," Fluttershy says.

"Yeah..." Twilight trails off, slowly recalling the whole thing.

Gentlecolt to the core. That's what she said – runs in the family.

The males, anyway. Applejack had been quick to point out that she had beaten up Braeburn and Big Mac, on several occasions. When they were all foals, of course.

"Huh," Twilight says.

"I think that speaks very highly of him, honestly," Rarity says with her snout in the air. "I should think you would understand, Twilight. With your skills you could have turned the tide of that whole thing. But you refrained."

Twilight nods very seriously. "Magic is never to be used for violence. Only in the most dire cases of self-defense would it ever be excusable," she recites.

Twilight and Rarity nod in unison, at nothing in particular.

"...Or maybe he is just like me. A big chicken, I mean," Fluttershy says.

"Oh, stop that. That's mean. To both of you," Rarity says as she strokes a bit of Fluttershy's mane. "Besides, unless our good friend here is planning on traveling to Appleloosa anytime soon, this is all a moot point. We have some other males that we shall dazzle with our beauty and poise!"

Rarity hops up from the cushions and goes back to her makeup with a flourish, humming tunelessly.

Huh... beauty and poise.

Twilight feels eyes on her and turns to see Fluttershy giving her a weird look. She turns back and realizes that she had been staring at Rarity, letting her eyes linger while the white unicorn delicately applied eyeliner.

I... wait... huh?

Again, her eyes kind of linger on their own – Rarity is levitating a small mirror close to her face, concentrating on the detail work, and Twilight unconsciously strains to catch a better glimpse of her eyes in the reflection. There's something fascinating about the...

Rarity meets her stare in the mirror. Twilight freezes again and almost gulps loudly. Rarity puts the mirror down and turns around.

"I hope I'm not... oh, this is silly." Rarity hems and haws, chewing her lip and glancing away. "You must be so nervous. I'm sorry, I'm just so excited about tonight. You do want to go out with me, don't you Twilight?"

"Huh?" Twilight jolts, right on the edge of breaking out into cold sweat.

"Tonight. With our dates. I don't want to pressure you into anything, I just..."

"No! I mean, yes! Yes, this is a good idea! I'm excited," Twilight nods furiously.

"Good! Good, I just want you to have fun tonight." Rarity goes right back to her mirror.

Twilight quietly lets out a breath. Again, she feels someone's stare and turns to see Fluttershy, this time cocking an eyebrow at her. Fluttershy raises her juice box, not looking away, and goes to sip at the straw.

"Hmm? Oh." The box is empty. Fluttershy deflates a little.

Twilight stares down at her hooves, feeling a weird mix of feelings she can't put a hoof on.

What is going on with me?

"Maybe I am a little nervous," she says out loud.

"I'm nervous and I'm not even going," Fluttershy says.

"That's perfectly natural – for Twilight, anyway," Rarity says, not looking over from powdering her snout. "But darling, I'll be there with you. You have nothing to worry about. We're going to have a lovely time!"

Twilight smiles a little, feeling some confidence well up out of nowhere.

"Maybe your date will be really nice," Fluttershy says.

Twilight smirks, snorting something just on the edge of a chuckle.

Maybe he'll be a tall, dark, moon goddess.

"Maybe he'll be well-read. Intelligent. Wouldn't that be interesting?" Rarity suggests.

"Yeah..." Twilight trails off.

Maybe he'll be...

She sees a dashing young stallion in a cowboy hat, lasso in his teeth. His open vest ruffles in the wind, back-lit by an adventurous desert moon.

...interesting?

She shakes her head, coming back to Rarity's Boutique. Fluttershy is still giving her a suspicious look, so she pretends to casually look at nothing and finds herself watching Rarity again.

Or maybe he'll just have poise.

It's dark out, again, and again Twilight is looking up at the moon. She almost wishes Luna had been watching her tonight – it would save Twilight the trouble of writing about it.

She walks with Rarity, slowly ambling down one of Ponyville's side streets. Neither of them has said a word since they ditched their dates. Twilight can still see the stunned looks on their smug faces as Rarity very pointedly bid them goodnight.

They are alone – most of the houses they pass don't even have any lights on. It was already late when they met the two stallions for dinner, and the meal stretched on and on.

They keep walking. Their hooves make soft thuds on the grass, and crickets chirp all around them. At long last, Rarity breaks their silence.

"I'm sorry," she says.

"It's not your fault. You didn't know," Twilight says, smiling.

"I didn't. He seemed perfectly normal last night, but this was just horrid. I feel awful, dragging you along for such a disaster."

Twilight laughs a little. "Rarity, it's fine. This is all about learning, right? Well I learned a lot tonight."

Rarity sighs. "Learned a lot about what can go wrong, perhaps. I swear I haven't met anyone so boorish since the Gala."

"This is a lot like the Gala. I mean, just because everything went wrong doesn't mean we didn't have some fun," Twilight says. Rarity just keeps walking, looking at her hooves. Twilight is trying to think of something else that might cheer her up, but Rarity speaks again before she can.

"It was funny when you started making up words and he pretended to know what they all meant," Rarity says, smiling weakly.

Twilight turns away, trying to hide her frown. She isn't exactly proud of having done that, but...

It was kind of funny.

She remembers being so mad at him. He had asked her what she did in town, and they talked about the library, and then he mentioned that new history of Canterlot that just came out...

SUCH a good read!

For just a few minutes, she had thought that maybe, just maybe, he was nice and interesting and she might like him. But it had quickly become obvious that he hadn't even read it.

Or any book, for that matter.

She wearily shakes her head at the memory of his awful attempts at posturing. Then she shakes her head more as she remembers the obnoxious bragging, the chauvinistic comments, the clumsy joke about her haircut...

Maybe Fluttershy was right about pegasus stallions – no, come on, don't think like that. He's just one jerk.

She snaps herself out of it and looks over. Rarity is still walking beside her, frowning. Probably going over her own memories of the evening. She looked so happy earlier, before. Practically glowing.

"It was amazing when your date finally realized you were making fun of him. That face he made was priceless," Twilight says, forcing a smile.

"It didn't stop him from making that... lewd proposition," Rarity says.

They both pause, looking at the stars as they walk.

"Yeah, they were pretty awful. I wouldn't have agreed to that even if I had liked them," Twilight says. "Is that normal? Do all stallions expect that on a first date? It seems too fast."

"It is much too fast, and not acceptable at all."

"Okay then. Good to know."

"It's not even too fast. Most ponies would never agree to that kind of group activity."

"Oh," Twilight says, looking away.

"I mean, can you imagine? Us, making love to those dolts, all in the same room? In the same bed?"

"Yeah, that would be, uhhh... bad. With them," Twilight says, forcing images out of her head.

Rarity says nothing. She's back to watching her own hooves, almost dragging them on the wet grass. She looks completely miserable.

"You look really good tonight. Your hair is very pretty. You should wear it like that more often," Twilight says. Rarity is wearing her hair up for once, pulled back on top of her head in a pile of loose coils.

"Thank you, dear," Rarity says. "I'm just so, so sorry. I know you haven't dated before, and I wanted this to be special for you. For us. I feel like I've gone and put you off the whole idea."

"Don't be silly. I've got Luna to look forward to, after all," Twilight says. A slow smile spreads across her face, her head filled with long, imaginary nights spent talking with an all-knowing goddess.

Rarity slowly smiles as well, her posture recovering. "I so envy you, you know. I used to be so sure I had my dream stallion figured out. And then the Gala happened and... well it happened, anyway," Rarity says, sinking back into a frown.

Twilight's chest aches a little at the sight of it, far eclipsing how disappointed she was by their dates. Sure, they were rude idiots, but she'll never see them again. But for some reason, Rarity looks heart-broken.

"That was a while ago. You're still upset about it?" Twilight asks.

"Not really," Rarity sighs. "I just feel like I don't know where I am any more. I was starting to give up hope that I would ever find my one-in-a-million, true love gentlecolt. But then you came along with your new mission and I felt it again. All those hopes I had pinned on that stupid Prince. I just know there's someone out there, somewhere, who can live up to them."

"Well, I envy you, too. I'm so lost unless I'm thinking about Luna. I couldn't even tell you if I like mares or stallions. But you're so sure of what you want."

"Hmm... I suppose so, in a general sense. I'm not so sure of the details these days," Rarity says. They stop walking. Carousel Boutique looms in front of them, almost glittering in the starlight.

"Well, this is me. I feel awful just calling it a night, after such a disappointing dinner," Rarity says.

Suddenly it feels like the night was very short. Twilight tries to think of a polite way to invite herself in. She stares at Rarity's expertly styled mane, the elegant curls layered on each other perfectly, a few delicate tendrils hanging down around her friend's face. It's a beautiful frame for a sad, lonely painting – her friend heaves a resigned sigh, still staring at the grass.

Poor Rarity...

"Are you going right to bed?" Twilight says. "I'm not really tired."

"I suppose I am rather 'up' myself. Do you want to come in? I still have these chocolates the rude one gave me. We could at least make a night out of those," Rarity says, levitating the ribbon-wrapped box from out of her purse.

"That sounds nice," Twilight says.

Rarity unlocks the door of her boutique and leads Twilight through the lower floor. Twilight glances around at the dark store, not recognizing anything. Moonlight pours in through the large windows and makes strange shadows across and around the dress forms, unnerving her a little. She's relieved when they finally make their way upstairs and into Rarity's private room.

Rarity uses her magic to quickly light a few candles, and gestures towards her extravagant canopy bed.

"Just make yourself comfortable. I'll be a moment."

Twilight flops down on the bed, sighing. It's plush and soft, and she sinks deep into the blankets. She turns to see Rarity taking off her outfit, her horn glowing, the laces on her back undoing themselves. She stares as the silky cloth slides off of her friend's body, then jerks her eyes back to the blanket, feeling embarrassed.

They usually don't wear anything at all. Why should she feel strange watching Rarity undress?

Suddenly her own saddle feels heavy and chafes at her back. She shucks it off, tossing it on the floor next to the bed. By the time Twilight is disrobed, Rarity is gracefully settling near her on the bed, wearing a fluffy pink bathrobe Twilight has seen before.

"Is that...?" Twilight starts to ask. Rarity is pouring them each a glass of dark red wine, and she levitates a glass over to Twilight.

"Just a simple little Marelot. One of my favorites. It's divine with chocolate," she says as she sets the box of chocolates between them.

Twilight grasps the glass with her magic and takes a small sip. It's sweet, with just a little bite of alcohol in the taste, and leaves a pleasant burning on her tongue.

"Mmmmm," she moans.

"Oh you must try them together. Trust me." Rarity smiles at her, biting into one of the chocolates and moaning a little herself.

Twilight floats a chocolate up to her mouth and bites into it, the taste mixing with the lingering burn of the wine. "Mmm!" she moans again. "Wow."

"Isn't it lovely? He may have been an oaf, but it seems he had a good eye for chocolate."

"Mmmmmhmm." Twilight is barely listening as she downs another wine-and-chocolate combo. But then something snaps her to attention.

"Mmmmm," Rarity moans loudly as she sips some wine, mixing it with chocolate in her mouth.

Twilight's ears twitch and burn. She freezes, still holding the glass up to her lips, sneaking a peek to the side as Rarity chews.

Rarity moans again, a little quieter. But it's still... something. Not dainty or theatrical, like Rarity usually sounds. It pools in Twilight's ears, running hot down her neck and between her shoulders.

That's probably what she sounds like when she's...

"My, that really is lovely," Rarity says.

"Heh, uh... yes. Yes it is," Twilight averts her eyes, trying to focus on her own glass.

They spend a few moments just enjoying dessert, contentedly chewing and sipping. The only sounds are the crinkle of chocolate wrappers and the occasional muffled moan. Twilight silently gives thanks for having food and drink to ward off awkward silence. Her mind is strangely blank, buzzing with some kind of tension.

Finally, Rarity refills her glass and turns to Twilight.

"Can I ask you something?" she says.

"Mmm?" Twilight says, her mouth full of chocolate.

"Why did you come to me first? For advice. About dating," Rarity says.

Twilight swallows and clears her throat. "I asked Rainbow Dash, too," she says.

Rarity pauses, considering this. Before she can say anything Twilight continues.

"But you're right, I was going to ask you before anyone else."

"Why? You think I'm... experienced, don't you?" Rarity says.

Twilight thinks for a moment. Was that really the reason?

Right? I mean, I didn't even really think of that until after.

But that's still why. Somehow.

Of course it was. Wasn't it? Why else would I go right to...?

She looks up and gets lost for just a second in the pale curve of Rarity's neck disappearing into her elegantly styled mane. Her eyes wander over, and she panics a little when she realizes Rarity is staring at her, still waiting for a response. Rarity raises her eyebrows.

"Well, you do seem to know more about romance than any of our other friends," Twilight says quickly, trying to fill the silence. "And you're the only one I've heard really talk about it before. I guess I did just assume. Is that bad? I didn't mean it in a bad way."

Rarity takes another drink, frowning. She doesn't seem to notice the slight blush Twilight can feel on her own cheeks.

"Everyone assumes that about me. Because of my looks, I suppose," Rarity says.

"I didn't mean to offend you," Twilight says.

"You didn't. I know you mean well, Twilight." Rarity drinks again, not quite frowning any more.

"Was I wrong? I never really asked about you."

"As a matter of fact, you were wrong. I've never dated much, and when I did it almost always went like tonight. And I can't tell you anything about making love because I've never done it."

Twilight snaps her head up from her wine glass. "Really?" she says. "I mean... really?" she asks again, much quieter.

"Really." Rarity gulps down more wine. "You keep looking up to me for advice, and I want so badly to help you. But all I know of love are my silly dreams and my silly romance books and too many dates with dumb colts more interested in my rump than anything else." Rarity glumly swirls what little wine is left in her glass.

"But isn't it normal to have done it... by our age? I thought I was strange."

"I suppose it is. But you know I won't ever settle for anything but the best. And I just haven't found the best yet." Rarity sighs, eyes downcast. Twilight is suddenly gripped with the desire to reach out and stroke her mane, touch her, feel her, comfort her somehow.

DO something!

Kiss her!

WHAT?

Twilight almost jolts in place. She's not entirely sure where that came from.

What am I...? Just say something! Make her feel better!

"You know, that's not actually why I came to you first," Twilight says.

"Oh?" Rarity perks up.

Twilight draws her hoof along the rim of her glass, choosing her words.

Because after Princess Luna, you're the most beautiful...

Do NOT say that.

Most refined? Approachable? Loveliest mare in Ponyville?

What is wrong with me?

I want to run my hooves through your hair while you run your tongue down my...

Twilight closes her eyes for a second, hard.

"I guess I just feel comfortable with you," she says. "Talking with you. I knew we could talk about this and it wouldn't feel awkward. You've always given me such good advice before, and... what you think is really important to me."

There. That sounded pretty good.

"Oh Twilight!" Rarity smiles at her, her eyes shining. She scoots over on the bed and nuzzles Twilight's neck. Her silky mane brushes against Twilight's snout, and Twilight takes in a sharp breath of surprise, inhaling the scent of some kind of fresh fruit. Probably just fancy, expensive shampoo.

"If you were a stallion, I'd kiss you! None of them ever seem to care about what I think," Rarity says. She's sitting right next to Twilight now, and Twilight can feel her fuzzy bathrobe rubbing against her body. Her heartbeat picks up a little. There's something exciting and terrifying about how close she is, the feel of Rarity's warm body against her.

"Heh... well if I was a stallion I'd take you on a nice date. And I wouldn't make any lewd proposals," Twilight says.

"That's a shame. There's a time and a place for everything." Rarity finishes her glass.

Twilight is amazed to find her mind racing, wondering when and where exactly one should make a lewd proposal.

"Thank you, Twilight. I must admit I was quite put out earlier. You've made me feel ever so much better," Rarity says, refilling her glass yet again. "I'll stop being so gloomy and serious now. We should be having fun! Like one of your slumber parties."

"Well it's just the two of us. This feels more like a date than a party. It's better than earlier, anyway," Twilight says.

"Ha! Well you know I treat my mares right," Rarity boasts, sipping more wine.

"But it can't be a date, because we would be... I don't know, kissing I guess. Heh heh. None of that at slumber parties with friends, right?" Twilight says, folding her ears back and blushing a little.

"Well I wouldn't be so sure of that," Rarity says matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" Twilight's ears perk back up, and her heart skips a beat.

"When I was a filly, I swear every sleepover would end up with my friends and I talking about colts and playing 'spin the bottle' and practicing kissing with each other. Frankly, I'm surprised it wasn't in your book."

"Oh." It was in the book, but at the time Twilight had been too embarrassed to do anything but skip over that chapter. She hadn't believed it to be true, in fact. Why would someone just kiss their own friends?

"So you – with other fillies?" she asks.

"Of course. Plenty of times. It's funny, looking back. I think I kissed my friends more than I've kissed anyone else."

"Well, that's... interesting," Twilight says.

"You never did? Oh, of course you didn't. It's just a silly thing fillies do with their friends sometimes. We all grow out of it."

"Oh," Twilight says. Her face feels hot, and then there are words coming out of her mouth, all on their own. "Because I thought maybe... I mean... since I never got to try."

She freezes again, completely astonished.

What? WHAT?

Rarity stares at her, half-listening, looking a little dazed. Then it hits her, and her eyes go wide.

"Haha, Twilight! How very forward of you!" Rarity smiles, downing the rest of her wine in one gulp.

"Sorry! Sorry, forget I said anything." Twilight turns away, right on the edge of panic.

"No no, this is a good idea," Rarity says, floating both their glasses to a nightstand.

"It is?" Twilight's heart just about stops.

"Of course it is. Just a little fun. I've done this dozens of times. And if it will help you, all the better. Now come here." Rarity shifts her weight, turning her body a few degrees so they face each other head on. Twilight tenses up, trying not to stare too intensely at her friend.

"Um – oh! Hey," Twilight says as Rarity puts her hooves on Twilight's shoulders. She glances away.

"I'll be the male first, and then you can try. There's really not much to it." Rarity scoots closer. Twilight can feel her friend's breath on her cheek, smell the sweet sting of wine. Their horns are almost touching.

"First you take your lover in your arms, like so. Then you look them right in the eye and hold that for a moment, that's critical. Twilight?"

Twilight turns her head, and their eyes meet. Rarity looks at her, into her, for what feels like forever. Her big blue eyes are so soft, lids half-closed, just staring. Twilight's heartbeat is roaring in her ears.

"Then you just..." Rarity closes her eyes and leans forward. Twilight's eyes shoot open wide as their lips touch. She quickly closes her eyes and opens her mouth just a little, feeling Rarity do the same. She shudders as Rarity's tongue lightly caresses the edge of her lips, barely poking into her mouth. Rarity's hooves caress her withers, holding her in the kiss.

Rarity breaks the kiss, and her forelegs slide away. Twilight opens her eyes, trying hard to keep from panting.

"There! A classic kiss. Simple, really." Rarity smiles at Twilight.

"Wow," Twilight whispers out. Her head is buzzing. Her horn tingles.

My first kiss!

With a not-moon-goddess, anyway. It was so different from Luna. Luna's kiss was overwhelming, otherworldly. It's hard to even remember what it really felt like. Dreamlike.

Kissing Rarity was the complete opposite. It felt hot, wet, real, flesh against flesh and saliva mingling. It was amazing.

"Twilight?" Rarity says.

"Huh?" Twilight shakes her head, coming back to her senses.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. Yes! I'm fine. I'm very fine. That was... that was really something."

"Yes, well, I do have that effect on ponies," Rarity says, giggling. "I believe it's your turn now."

"My turn?"

"To kiss me."

Twilight's ears droop as her eyes go wide. Her stomach suddenly goes weightless, floating around inside her chest.

Pull it together! This is fine. It's all fine. Just practice.

Right. Practice.

"Right... Right! Okay. So, I just..." Twilight scoots forward, placing her trembling hooves on Rarity's shoulders. One hoof darts higher on its own, caressing some of Rarity's mane. It feels smooth and soft, she just wants to bury her face in it.

"Stroking the mane! Very nice, Twilight," Rarity says.

Twilight blushes. She's holding Rarity now, their snouts almost touching. They stare into each other's eyes. Twilight freezes up, completely lost in the moment.

"Good, good. Now the kiss." Rarity closes her eyes and purses her lips.

Twilight tries to move her neck and finds herself stuck in place somehow. Her hooves tense around Rarity's shoulders, feeling the fine hairs of her white coat. Rarity waits, completely still. Twilight forces one of her hooves to move and it takes off, stroking at the back of Rarity's head, running through her friend's glorious purple mane.

Rarity pops one eye open.

"Is something wrong?" she says.

"No! No, nothing," Twilight says, neck still frozen. "I'm a little nervous, I guess."

"Darling, please. This is just you and me. You have nothing to worry about." Rarity resumes her kissing pose.

"Could you... do me a favor?" Twilight asks, wincing.

"Anything, Twilight," Rarity says, not opening her eyes.

"Wouldyoumindputtingyourhairdown?" Twilight says.

What? Are you crazy? She's going to figure out –

What, exactly? Figure out what?

This is PRACTICE. Just practice.

Rarity slowly opens her eyes, smiling. She looks right at Twilight, not moving her gaze at all as she magically floats the pins out of her hair. The coils of mane fall around her face in a mess, and she whips her head side to side. Her mane dances around her, some of the hair even whipping Twilight in the face. Twilight bites her lower lip to keep a squeal in. Rarity stops and bats her eyes at Twilight.

"Is that bet– mmmfff!"

Twilight lurches forward, hungrily pressing their lips together. She forces her tongue into Rarity's mouth, holding her arms tight around her friend's neck, squeezing closer.

"Mmmm?!" Rarity makes some alarmed noises. Her whole body tenses up.

Twilight ignores it, caressing Rarity's tongue with her own. She moves a hoof into Rarity's long locks of hair, stroking it as she presses their snouts together hard. She feels Rarity's muscles slowly relax, feels Rarity's tongue start to respond in kind. They hold the kiss for long seconds, massaging their tongues together.

Finally Twilight breaks the kiss and releases Rarity. They're both blushing and panting, looking down at their hooves.

"Well! Twilight. That was..."

"Sorry! Sorry, I just... got caught up. In the kissing."

"I should say so."

Twilight fumbles with her hooves, unsure of what to say.

"That was excellent. Especially for such a beginner," Rarity says.

"Oh?" Twilight dares to look her friend in the eye.

"Indeed. Very passionate. Although I must say it was a bit rough for me. I usually prefer mine to be more gentle."

"Oh."

They both sit in silence. Twilight stares at Rarity's mane, trying to resist just leaning over and smelling it.

"Well?" Rarity says.

"What?" Twilight winces again.

"You may try again. If you would like. For the practice," Rarity says, looking far too composed.

Twilight feels butterflies in her chest. She starts to move forward but halts.

Just practice just practice it's okay everything's okay.

Rarity flashes her a coy smile, her hair waving. Her eyes send shivers up Twilight's back and neck.

Do it do it she wants you to do it!

Twilight leans forward, nuzzling Rarity's neck, moaning a little as Rarity's dangling locks slide over her face. She wraps her arms around her friend's shoulders again, hugging her close. She breathes deep and feels strands of hair cling to her nose, taking in that same, sweet, fruity smell from before.

Twilight feels Rarity slide her arms up onto her back, one hoof stroking her mane, the other resting on her withers. She kisses Rarity's neck, relishing the feel of warm, supple skin under her soft coat.

"Ah!" Rarity gasps. Twilight feels her friend's chest shift with the sharp intake of breath.

Twilight kisses Rarity's neck again and again, moving up and down. Her face is surrounded by Rarity's soft, thick hair, and it's driving her crazy. She feels that pressure again, building in her whole body, concentrated between her legs. She moves up, planting a kiss on the base of Rarity's ear. Then, completely on impulse, she gently bites the ear, nibbling on the warm rubbery flesh.

"Oh, Twilight, that's lovely," Rarity moans. Twilight feels light kisses on her own neck. Rarity darts her tongue out with each kiss, leaving a trail of wet spots up Twilight's neck. Twilight shudders, feeling heat flushing all over her neck and forehead.

Suddenly Rarity takes Twilight's face in her hooves and pulls her up, face to face. They kiss immediately, each fighting to slide their tongue into the other's mouth, mashing them back and forth. They break away and freeze, staring at each other.

"That... was much... better," Rarity says between heavy breaths.

"It feels... so... good," Twilight says.

"It's been so long... since I've done anything like this," Rarity says.

They slide their arms off each other, just sitting again, catching their breath. Twilight notices now the growing wetness between her legs. She looks at Rarity. Her friend is pretty disheveled, hair a wavy but attractive mess, face flushed.

KISS HER MORE

WHAT is going on here? I can't, I... what about Luna?

She wants you to do this!

But I don't love... not like that!

But I want her. I WANT her. Right NOW.

Twilight pants even faster, lust coursing through every vein.

"Twilight, you look positively ravenous. You look... haha... you look like you're going to pounce on me at any second," Rarity says.

She feels a sudden burst of courage. That pressure is coiling up inside her, demanding, driving.

"Well, maybe I am. Is that – I mean, is that... do you...?" Twilight scoots forward, resting her hooves on Rarity's.

"Um..." Rarity looks away, biting her lip. "You know I'm not like... that."

Twilight's heart sinks. She starts to stammer, trying to think of something, anything, to change her friend's mind. Rarity raises her head and their eyes meet again – she freezes Twilight with a determined look.

"Usually," she says.

She grins and dives forward, and Twilight is lost again in warm, wet pleasure. Twilight rolls to her side, pulling Rarity with her, locking together belly to belly. They hold a long kiss. Twilight runs her hooves through Rarity's hair, pressing her body against her friend as hard as she can. The furry trim of Rarity's bathrobe tickles her skin. She can feel the heat of their loins mingling between them, increasing as Rarity squeezes harder against her, pulling at Twilight's hips with her hooves.

Rarity begins feverishly kissing up and down Twilight's neck, occasionally dipping down onto her shoulders and chest. Twilight moans and pushes her face into Rarity's mane, kissing the top of her head and the base of her horn, gently rocking her hips against her friend. Her hooves move around almost frantically, rubbing all over Rarity's back and neck, and without even thinking she starts sliding the bathrobe down Rarity's shoulders.

"Twilight... I... I..." Rarity cradles Twilight's face in her hooves, looking at her with watery eyes. She nuzzles Twilight's face with her own. Twilight feels her legs part as Rarity slides her own leg between them, rubbing their crotches together. She can feel wetness, not her own, running onto her leg, and she squeezes Rarity tightly with her arms and thighs, chewing on her ear.

They lie like that for what must only be minutes but feels like hours, eagerly pawing and kissing and grinding against each other. Twilight is tingling all over, slowly going mad, every moment of delicious friction winding that pressure between her legs tighter, until she just can't take it any more.

"Rarity!" she says, pulling her head back so they can look at each other.

"...Yes?" Rarity says, chest heaving.

"Would it be okay if I... looked at you?" Twilight says, gripping Rarity's bathrobe in her hooves. Rarity looks shocked for just a moment, but it slowly melts into a smoky gaze.

"You wish to gaze upon my... most private beauty?"

Twilight forces herself not to roll her eyes. "I've never seen anyone else's," she says.

Rarity leaves their embrace and sits up, magicking her bathrobe off and tossing it onto the floor.

"Very well. But please be respectful. My body is a temple, Twilight."

She poses calmly, her nose up in the air, eyes closed, forelegs folded. She straightens her hind legs, lifting her rump. Then she raises her tail, swishing it invitingly over her haunches.

Twilight moves over and sits behind Rarity, staring directly at her exposed sex. Her eyes slowly slide over the bounty before her, taking in her friend's finely-toned flanks, her nether lips, shining with moisture, the pert little anus just under the tail base. Rarity swishes her tail again, brushing Twilight's snout.

"I trust you are impressed?" Rarity says, smiling at Twilight over her shoulder.

Twilight just mumbles some vague noises. She leans closer, nose almost touching Rarity's folds, and sniffs gingerly. The tangy smell of her friend's arousal overwhelms her and she shudders, mouth watering.

Kiss her kiss her KISS HER DO IT

She closes her eyes and gently presses her lips against her friend's most private place, sticking her tongue out a little.

"Twilight!" Rarity's whole body jumps and she slams her rump down, curling her tail around defensively.

"Sorry! I'm sorry!" Twilight yells. The taste was just like the smell – her body is screaming for more. "Too far?" she asks.

Rarity sighs, slowly lifting her haunches again. "...No. It felt amazing. You... you startled me," she says reluctantly.

Twilight stares again. The taste lingers on her tongue. Somewhere, in the back of her head, a small voice is trying very hard to observe the details, to note the pink inner folds starting to poke out, parting Rarity's opening just slightly.

Twilight barely hears it. Her head is buzzing with lust, and all she can think about is touching her, tasting her, making her moan.

She closes her eyes and plants a kiss on one of Rarity's haunches, relishing the twitch of the muscle and the small gasp her friend gives. She moves all over Rarity's rump, kissing the firm flesh, then runs her tongue up the inside of both thighs. Rarity's tail swishes back and forth, whipping Twilight's horn, and the feel of the silky hair over Twilight's hard point makes her hips shudder.

"That's much better," Rarity's voice floats to Twilight out of nowhere. Her whole world is the flesh in front of her. Twilight reaches her hoof down between her legs and moans as she starts rubbing herself off, just as she's been practicing.

She pushes her snout into Rarity's mound, running her tongue up and down over the lips. Rarity's wetness soaks into her nose, her mouth, her tongue.

"Mmmm." Twilight's moan is muffled, her mouth full. Her eyes squeeze shut, hard.

This is AMAZING. She's so...

Delicious? That can't be right – there's no word Twilight can think of for it.

"Ah! Oh! Twilight!" Rarity says. She lays her head down and flexes her hips up, giving Twilight better access. Twilight licks between Rarity's lips, pushing her tongue in just slightly, savoring the slick, velvety insides of her friend.

"Mmmm!" Twilight moans louder, pushing her hoof down on her own clit, rubbing the small nub in little circles. She's learned to love that sensation when alone, and adding the taste of Rarity to it is pushing her over the edge quickly. She starts panting, she knows she's close to climaxing. It's so easy to come by touching that spot. She's started to think of it is an instant pleasure button.

Of course!

She stops licking, eliciting a disappointed moan from Rarity. She examines Rarity's folds, looking down, where the slit ends. She pushes her snout in again and searches with her tongue, moving down, away from the hole, feeling for...

"AH! THERE! There! RIGHT there!" Rarity's whole body shakes and she pounds the bed with her hoof. Her usual affected accent is gone, she's almost screaming in a voice Twilight has only heard before when Rarity was angry.

Twilight tickles Rarity's nub with her tongue. The hard little piece of flesh feels almost like her own, maybe a little bigger. She rubs her tongue back and forth over it. Then she sucks at it, trying to take it into her lips.

"Ah! Aaaah! AAAAAAHHH!" Rarity screams, reaching a high pitch that rings in Twilight's ears.

Twilight's knees buckle as her hips spasm. She's right on the edge, twitching, shuddering, just barely holding her balance with her spare hoof. The other is furiously rubbing at her crotch.

She can't quite get her lips around Rarity's nub. Rarity's tight folds keep getting in the way, frustrating her. She wants to bring a hoof up, to part the lips and dive right in, but hers are occupied. She pushes on with her tongue, clumsily dragging it all over Rarity's most sensitive spot.

"Oh! Oh! Oh Twilight... Twilight, Twi..." Rarity gasps out, rocking her hips gently. Twilight feels herself edging closer, rising higher with every sound of pleasure Rarity makes, and the sound of her own name being moaned out is even better. She flicks her tongue furiously all over the lips protecting Rarity's clit when another bright idea comes to her.

She concentrates on her own horn, feeling the magic ebb to life. It's difficult to focus, her mind is fuzzy, drunk with her friend's scent and sounds. She stops licking for a moment and, with a telekinetic hand, parts the delicate lips in front of her.

Rarity is fully exposed now. Twilight can see every wet inch of her. She smiles and dives in again, running her tongue quickly up and down the exposed slit before taking the clitoris in her mouth, sucking greedily.

Rarity yells out some very un-ladylike things, her legs and hips shaking. Twilight presses hard on her own spot, her hoof dripping onto the bed.

"Hng – uh – wha – Aaaaaaaaahhh!" Rarity grunts nonsense and then cries out, a long, piercing scream that winds down into a squeal. Twilight feels the muscles of Rarity's sex spasm and clench. Something hot and thick squirts onto her snout.

"Augh!" Twilight grunts as she comes, her eyes rolling back into her head, everything forgotten but the waves of pleasure racking her entire body. They both collapse, gasping for breath.

Twilight lies there, panting, drenched in sweat. Her tail flicks around every now and then. She has no idea how much time passes, just lying there, mind completely blank, hot pleasure tingling in every cell of her body. It's very nearly the most intense thing she's ever felt. Distantly, it reminds her of when she lost control of her magic, many years ago.

Suddenly she feels hooves and arms wrapping around her from behind. Rarity is snuggling against her, nuzzling her neck, cooing softly.

"Hi." Twilight smiles lazily, turning her head towards Rarity.

"Ha ha, good eve– oh!" Rarity freezes as she sees Twilight's face. She smiles uneasily and levitates a towel from the side of the bed. She quickly wipes Twilight's snout off.

"My, how embarrassing!" she titters, tossing the towel to the same fate as her bathrobe.

"What was that?" Twilight asks.

"Nothing! Nothing at all." Rarity goes back to nuzzling her, sighing contentedly.

Twilight decides she's too tired to push for answers. She relaxes in Rarity's arms, finally catching her breath, her sweat cooling against her coat.

"That was simply marvelous. I would offer to... service you, but it looks like you've learned to take care of yourself," Rarity whispers in her ear.

"Well, I had excellent stimulation. Way better than those books," Twilight says. They both giggle.

"We don't have to... tell anyone about this? Just some fun. Between friends. Our little secret. Right?" Rarity says.

"Of course. If that's what makes you comfortable," Twilight says, dazed and floating.

"Not even Luna? I know how you are with those letters."

"But... that was my first time. Having sex. I feel like I should tell her."

"Haha... Twilight. That wasn't really sex. I mean, I suppose, in a manner of speaking, yes, it was technically sex. But we're just friends."

Twilight comes down hard and fast from floating in afterglow, trying to process what Rarity is saying.

"Not... sex? Rarity we just... I mean, I just... that was pretty sexy," she says.

"Yes, but like you said – just some fun between friends," Rarity says.

"I didn't say that, you said that."

"And you agreed."

Twilight ponders this for a moment.

Wait... what DID just happen?

Is this love? Do I love Rarity? No, I can't, I love...

Luna! Oh Princess what have I... wait, hold on...

This is exactly what she asked me to do!

Ha! Haha! I did it!

But it doesn't count if I can't tell her...

"Well?" Rarity says.

"Huh?" Twilight says.

"You were just staring off into space."

"Sorry, I..." Twilight squeezes Rarity's hooves tightly against her chest.

She knows about me and Luna. Can't she understand?

"What are you so worried about? Luna isn't going to tell anyone," Twilight says.

"Twilight, this is very private. I know I can trust you, but I am not comfortable with other ponies knowing about my sex life. I'm sorry."

But I have to tell her...

I have to betray Rarity?

Never!

Twilight turns to look over her shoulder, giving Rarity a determined smile. "Alright... this one's just between us," she says.

"Promise me," Rarity says, looking deadly serious.

Twilight kisses her gently on the nose. "I promise. You want me to Pinkie Pie swear?"

"Don't be facetious," Rarity snaps. Twilight frowns, shrinking away from Rarity.

"Sorry." Rarity's face softens instantly. She pulls Twilight close again. "I just... I don't want anypony getting the wrong idea. This was special, Twilight. For a lot of reasons. I want it to be just for us," Rarity says. She pulls the sheets over them.

Just for us?

Twilight's never really been held like this by another pony – not as an adult, anyway. It's warm and wonderful, snuggled with her back against Rarity, feeling someone else's heartbeat, their breath on her shoulder.

This IS special.

Rarity nuzzles against her. Twilight can feel her satisfied sighs of breath. She can even feel her smiling.

Never...

"What if I just tell Celestia?" Twilight says with a cheeky grin.

"Ha! You wouldn't dare," Rarity scoffs.

"You're right," Twilight mutters. She pulls Rarity's forelegs even tighter around her and snuggles in close, heaving a contented sigh of her own.