The weeks that followed were nerve-wracking ones for Fluttershy. The three of them still spent time together, which was very nice; and they met up as couples when they couldn’t all be together, which was also nice. But whenever she was alone, she couldn’t think of very much except for the wrongness of it all.

This wasn’t what Rarity had wanted, and Pinkie wasn’t as happy as she could be either. Which wasn’t to say either were entirely unhappy, but both of them were decidedly more... wistful. Every time she went to visit Rarity, she found the apology cards Rarity had prepared sitting in a stack on her desk, waiting to be mailed. And each time she returned, they were still there, staring her in the face. The wedding date itself was fast approaching. It would be in a matter of weeks, and Rarity had to know that she couldn’t allow all of those ponies to come on false pretenses, but apology letters remained on the desk, gathering dust.

Still, despite Fluttershy’s nervousness over the looming date of the wedding that was not to be, it was hard not to enjoy herself at times. The stress the wedding had brought to them all was gone, allowing Pinkie to freely visit, and Rarity to work on other projects. It was the closest thing to normal she and her marefriends had experienced in months! She knew it was wrong to be glad for that, but she was.

Of course, those good feelings came crashing down every time she caught sight of that stack of envelopes, individually addressed and ready to be sent the moment Rarity got around to it.

She was going to be visiting Pinkie today, and she both looked forward to it and dreaded it. Getting together with Pinkie should have been a moment of pure joy, but she had to be cautious about her expressions and word choices. Otherwise, Pinkie would worry about her, and she couldn’t bear that. Not when Pinkie should be worrying about herself.

Angel Bunny had been good enough to remind her about the visit while she fed her animal friends. He was a funny little bunny when it came to Pinkie. Rarity, he seemed to resent whenever she came by, but he was oddly affectionate towards Pinkie, even standing still long enough to allow her to pet him, something he didn’t always do, even for Fluttershy. She supposed she understood. It was very difficult not to like Pinkie. She herself liked Pinkie Pie a whole lot.

She’d brought along some nice sandwiches for their lunch together today. It wasn’t that she felt like she needed to feed Pinkie, as cupcakes and other baked goods were always in quick supply. But she worried about Pinkie’s sugar intake sometimes. Besides, eating something healthy helped to edge Pinkie from the worst of her tendencies for a little while. Fluttershy loved her energetic marefriend, but a nice watercress sandwich seemed to be appreciated, and it certainly helped slow the digestion of the mountains of sugar Pinkie consumed, often to the point where she could sit still and be snuggled for a good while before getting antsy. It was nice.

Pinkie’s energy was wonderful. Just... not all the time.

“Hello, dear!” Mrs. Cake said as Fluttershy entered the front door.

“Um... Hello, Mrs. Cake.” Fluttershy replied, her face breaking out into a very small, but sincere smile.

The Cakes were always so nice to visit. Maybe it was just that they were business ponies, and went out of their way to make everypony feel welcome in their shop, but Fluttershy had always felt especially at home in Sugarcube Corner. They had never seemed to look askance at her when she had started coming by to see Pinkie, never made her feel like they disapproved of their almost-daughter dating two mares. For them, all that mattered was Pinkie’s happiness.

“I have fresh carrot cake.” Mrs. Cake said matter-of-factly. “I’ll box you up a piece for when you go home.”

“Oh, I...” Fluttershy began frantically digging through her saddlebag for bits. “I...”

“Calm down, dear!” Mrs. Cake said with a chuckle. She nodded to the next customer in line, scooping up his bits and depositing them into the cash drawer. “We still need to pay you for the last time you watched the twins. We can just take it out of that.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy stopped searching, bringing up her eyes to meet with Mrs. Cake’s and wearing a little frown. “I told you I didn’t mind. They’re very well-behaved—”

“Only when you’re around!” Mrs. Cake said. “They tend to be a little more trying for us. Pinkie only manages to keep them in line because she has just as much energy as they do. You’re a blessing, Fluttershy.”

“Well... okay.” Fluttershy replied, her face flush with embarrassment. “But I really don’t mind.” In a voice that was just barely audible, she muttered: “I really want foals of my own someday...”

“I know,” Mrs. Cake said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Her gaze flicked from Fluttershy to the kitchen as a pan could be heard hitting a counter. “That would be Pinkie with the cupcakes. She should be ready to take lunch now. Go ahead.”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy said quietly.

She entered the kitchen through the double doors, immediately seeing Pinkie squirting frosting onto each cupcake with expert precision. Pinkie turned towards the door as it opened, and her last frosting shot hit the side of the refrigerator instead, where it slowly slid down in a smear of pink and yellow swirl.

“Shy-shy!” Pinkie exclaimed, rushing to her to wrap her up in a bone-cracking hug. “Is it lunch already?”

The familiar moment of panic hit her as Pinkie closed in, but despite it, Fluttershy somehow managed to stay still and let it happen. She didn’t want Pinkie to know how much the hugs distressed her, because she did enjoy them, after the fact.

She flailed in Pinkie’s grip for a moment, trying and failing to gain a breath. No matter how many times it happened, she still couldn’t make herself be calm when Pinkie hugged her like this. Pinkie inevitably let her go, of course, but some small part of her always worried it wouldn’t be in time. The closeness and affection were wonderful, and Pinkie never actually hurt her; it was only unpleasant because of her stupid nerves.

The moment of release finally came, as it always did, well before the lack of breath became painful, but long after Fluttershy had become convinced she was actually going to die this time. “Yes,” she gasped out, taking deep, soothing breaths. Maybe next time she’d be able to remain calm while she was being hugged. There was always the next time.

Pinkie dashed past her to the door, poking her head into the serving area. “Mrs. Cake! I’m taking lunch now!”

“That’s fine, Pinkie.”

She ducked her head back in the kitchen, her eyes widening as she noticed the mess on the fridge. “Um... I’ll clean up the frosting when I get back!”

A fond but exasperated chuckle was the only answer.

Pinkie pulled her head back into the kitchen with a snap, swiftly grabbing Fluttershy’s foreleg and dragging her bodily up the stairs to her bedroom.

Fluttershy endured this treatment with her usual patience and aplomb, only squeaking a little as she did her best to keep up. As they entered the bedroom, Gummy fell from the the balcony above, latching onto her mane. This, at least, she was used to, and it only caused her to wince a little. Fluttershy was then deposited on one of the chairs surrounding Pinkie's party table. She didn't quite manage to stay upright on the first try, however, and ended up teetering a little before her wings snapped open and the lift brought back her balance.

Waiting on the table was a thermos of what she assumed to be tea, two mugs, a pitcher of cream, and a bowl of sugar. It wasn't a proper tea service by any definition, but to Fluttershy, it was perfect. She reached into her saddlebags, pulling out the serving tray and plates, and unwrapping and depositing the sandwiches when she was happy with their placement.

Pinkie joined her on the opposite side of the table, picking up the thermos and opening it with a deft twist of her teeth. In a moment, tea was poured, sandwiches were served, and Fluttershy was enjoying a rare moment of peace around her more excitable marefriend.

It wouldn’t last, it never did, but she treasured it anyway. Just as she treasured what inevitably followed.

There were definite advantages to Pinkie’s energy at times.

But that would be later, after sandwiches and tea. There was a nice pattern to lunches with Pinkie, filled with surprises that could be reasonably predicted. It kept her just slightly on edge, filled with a mixture of mild fear and anticipation of very pleasant things. She supposed that was her primary attraction to Pinkie: her unpredictability. Fluttershy was a mare who sought safety, first and foremost. Pinkie was both safe and not-safe at the same time.

It made her uncomfortably wet just thinking about it, and she squirmed in her chair, hoping she wasn’t leaving a damp spot on the wood, and that if she had, she could clean it before Pinkie noticed. It was very difficult not to think about how, at any time, in any location, Pinkie could and often did do incredibly naughty things to her. And do so with a wonderfully wide grin that spoke of how happy she was just to see Fluttershy c—

“Are you having naughty thoughts again, Shy-shy?”

Fluttershy’s eyes flew open as she felt Pinkie’s breath on the nape of her neck. Pinkie playfully nipped at her ear while running her right hoof along Fluttershy’s outer thigh, circling the butterflies and making her draw in a short, gasping gulp of air.

The chair was going to need a thorough cleaning.

“Pinkie! We h-haven’t e-even eaten yet!” Fluttershy sputtered out as Pinkie’s hoof moved on to her inner thigh. Fluttershy’s hoof, in the meantime, was curved lovingly around Pinkie’s head, and was gently stroking her mane. The rest of her was far too tense to do more than shiver in response to Pinkie’s ministrations.

“Just working up an appetite, silly!” Pinkie literally purred into Fluttershy’s ear, her hoof teasing one of Fluttershy’s nipples. “Besides, you seemed really tense. Let Pinkie take care of you and then we can talk all about why.”

“B-but...”

“Shhhh, talking is over. Relaaax...”

Fluttershy bit her lip, closed her eyes tight and tried to do as she was told. Pinkie had noticed. Of course she had noticed. But... maybe it was okay that she had. Maybe waiting for her marefriends to do something was a bad idea. Maybe... maybe if she talked to Pinkie, she could help, somehow, instead of selfishly enjoying their company without giving something back.

Maybe she could buy Pinkie a new chair.

Pinkie’s hoof moved further down, and all further thoughts were driven from her mind.

Fluttershy woke up on Pinkie’s bed, feeling sweaty and sticky, but otherwise completely content. All her worries seemed just a little smaller, like simple challenges to overcome versus insurmountable barricades to happiness. Distantly, she recognized euphoria was probably coloring her viewpoint with a nice rosey tint, but she didn’t have the energy to care about that.

Pinkie perked up at the table as she stirred, finishing the last of the sandwiches and washing it down with a gulp of tea. “Hey!” she said as she finished chewing. “Enjoy your nap?”

“Um...” Fluttershy blushed furiously as she realized the state she’d likely left Pinkie’s blanket in, not to mention the chair. She hadn’t expected more than lunch and some conversation, and while Pinkie making love to her was never a bad thing, seeing her sitting there eating after devoting all her energy to making Fluttershy happy made her feel horribly selfish. She was supposed to be there for her friends, after all, not—

An amused set of blue eyes filled her vision as lips pressed tightly to hers. “You’re getting all tense again. Stop it.” Pinkie said as she pulled back, in a voice that was both stern and teasing.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, really!” Pinkie then laid down next to Fluttershy, melding herself closely to achieve maximum snuggle. “So, what has your pretty head all tangled up in knots?”

Fluttershy blushed anew at the casual compliments. She knew empirically that she was attractive, at least, by model standards, but she normally didn’t hear ponies state it so blatantly. It was probably because she made them uncomfortable with her shyness.

Pinkie bopped her on the nose, frowning. “You’re doing it again, Shy-shy! Please talk to me?”

“Sorry,” she said again, automatically. It was all she seemed to be good for sometimes. She even said it when she hadn’t done something wrong, because when bad things happened someone should say it.

“S’okay, but you’re still doing it,” Pinkie said with exasperation. “C’mon, open up that pouty mouth and spill.”

Fluttershy nodded, trying to decide where to start. It wasn’t easy confessing to Pinkie that she’d been doing the exact things that Pinkie asked her not to do. But worrying and not telling anypony about it were two of the things she did most, and even a Pinkie promise couldn’t get her to stop. Pinkie had asked her for one, once, but had relented when Fluttershy had uncomfortably pointed out it would be like asking her not to breathe. Try as she might, and as much as she would want to keep the promise, it was impossible. “I’ve... I’ve been worrying about Rarity.”

Pinkie continued to scrutinize her, searching for signs that she was still holding back. Eventually, her face drew back up into its more accustomed expression. “Oh, is that all?”

“Of course that’s all!” Fluttershy said quickly. “What more does there need to be? The wedding—”

Pinkie made shushing noises, looking around anxiously. “We don’t say that word anymore, remember?"

“Rarity isn’t here, Pinkie! And yes, I remember, I’m the reason we stopped using that word.”

“No, that was Rarity—”

“Rarity asked us to not use that word because I kept bringing up the apology letters. She doesn’t ever want to talk about it.” Fluttershy shook her head sadly, resting her chin on her foreleg. “She’s acting like if nopony says anything it will all just go away, but it won’t, Pinkie.”

“Well, no, it won’t go away, but we’re still inviting them to a party!” Pinkie replied judiciously. “Just... not a wedding party. It’ll be fine.”

“That still means those letters need to be sent, Pinkie.” Fluttershy muttered into her hoof. “I don’t think she wants to send them. I think she just wants to pretend nothing is wrong.”

Pinkie opened her mouth, then closed it with a snap, nodding sadly. “She does that. A lot.”

“Do you think... you should talk to her?”

“Well, sure. But I don’t know if it’ll help.” Pinkie looked out the window in the direction of the Boutique with a sad frown. “Rarity gets weird sometimes.”

“But this is important, Pinkie! She needs to do something.” Fluttershy insisted, looking Pinkie square in the eyes.

Pinkie returned her gaze, her own eyes troubled as well. “I don’t think she wants to. It’d be like giving up on ice cream!”

Ice cream? How does that— Fluttershy shook her head. “But...but she destroyed her dress and gave you back her engagement band!” she said, eyes wide. “How is that not giving up?”

“That’s just Rarity being all dramatic,” Pinkie replied with an air of hard-earned wisdom. The pipe that had suddenly appeared in her mouth was a little confusing, but it added to her projection. “She... she didn’t know what to do about... about...” Pinkie pointed at herself uncomfortably. “Because, y’know, she wanted to ‘marry the prince’. She worked me in okay, but...”

Fluttershy’s pupils narrowed to pinpricks.

“Nononono,” Pinkie said quickly. “It’s not your fault, Shy-shy, stop panicking!” Pinkie rubbed her back in the small spot between her wings. “Breathe!” When that didn’t produce any immediate results she resorted to mouth to mouth, pressing her lips to Fluttershy’s and forcefully filling her lungs with more air than they could handle. “Breathe, Fluttershy! Breathe!” The added chest presses were unnecessary, but Pinkie never did anything halfway.

“P-Pinkie!” Fluttershy coughed violently, struggling to sit up and eventually being helped up by Pinkie. “Why didn’t—”

“Forget I said anything.” Pinkie said quickly. “Please? Pretty please?”

“No!”

Pinkie’s ears clamped down tight on her skull, and her mouth pulled up into a wounded puppy-dog expression. “Shy, I didn’t mean it like that—”

“How else could you mean it?” Fluttershy demanded. “She called off the wedding because she didn’t know what to do about... me,” she finished, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I knew this would happen, I told you it would happen and you said it would be okay and I believed you and oh Pinkie I am so sorry—”

“Shy—”

“—I should have just gone away like I planned and you two would be happy and instead I just ruined everything—”

“Shy!”

“—I love you both so much so why do I keep hurting you it’s like I’m cursed—”

The next thing Fluttershy knew she was flat on her back with a mouthful of Pinkie’s tongue, the aforementioned pony staring into her eyes and demanding her attention. Fluttershy blinked, not quite sure how she’d gotten in that position.

Pinkie pulled back eventually, though she maintained eye contact throughout. “Shy-shy, I know that everything seems terrilicious and badsies right now, but you’re in the middle of an epic Flutterfreakout, and you need to listen. This is not your fault. Not even a little bit. Rarity just doesn’t know what to do anymore.”

Pinkie sat up, still holding Fluttershy’s gaze. “Whenever Rarity goes Flutternutters, she bottles it all up deep, deep inside and buries it in ice cream. But this one... it was too big, it caught up with her, and now she doesn’t know what to do. She’s worrying like a real Fluttershy, and she doesn’t want to do anything because she thinks it’ll make things worse!”

Fluttershy just looked at Pinkie for a time, taking in her words thoughtfully, and doing her best to ignore the rising panic. She hadn’t thought about it in those terms, but the way Pinkie explained it made sense. With an uncharacteristically resolute nod she sat up. She could always freak out later, but right now... “How can we help her?”

While she was explaining what was wrong with Rarity, Pinkie had looked confident, like she knew exactly what she was talking about. But upon being asked what to do, that confidence fled like a scared bird being chased by wildcats. “I dunno!” she said at last. “I...I tried parties and food, bellyrubs and backrubs, songs and dances... It makes her smile for a little while, but it doesn’t fix her. I... I just keep trying, and I keep smiling, because if I don’t it makes it worse for her...”

They sat in silence for a time, neither knowing what to say. It was Fluttershy who spoke first, if only to have somepony say something. “That’s.... that’s good, Pinkie. Keep doing what you can to make her happy.”

Pinkie nodded slowly, and a small smile sprung up on her face. “Okie-Dokie... But do you have any other ideas?”

Fluttershy lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling of Pinkie’s room. Pinkie snuggled in after a moment. It felt right, comfortable, safe. It only would have been better if Rarity had been there as well. “Not yet. I’ll try to come up with something. Try not to worry.”

No point in both of us being miserable.

She glanced at her other side, sighing. Rarity’s presence was sorely missed.

Maybe... maybe that was what worried Rarity. Maybe she saw herself with Pinkie on their honeymoon, and... somepony was missing. The idea boggled Fluttershy. She knew Rarity and Pinkie loved her, they said so. But there was love, and there was love. Pinkie and Rarity were in love love. They loved her too, but... they were just sharing their love with her. It wasn’t the same.

Was it?

The following morning found her no closer to a solution for the Rarity problem. So, while she did the morning chores, she spent some time doing what she’d told Pinkie she would do.

She supposed, even knowing what she did, that she didn’t really have to do anything. Left alone, they would continue their current situation of closeness, going on dates, and delighting in each other’s company. The wedding wouldn’t have changed that, not really. It would have changed nothing at all for Fluttershy; she’d always seen herself as somepony who joined Pinkie and Rarity when they wanted her to. After all, she’d only joined them at all because they had insisted.

But for Rarity... it was everything. She’d given up on her dream of the prince, she shouldn’t have to give up her big and beautiful wedding too.

Maybe... maybe she just needs reassurance that I wouldn’t be upset?

If the situation was reversed, it would be hard to say how Fluttershy would have felt. The more she thought about it, though, the more she realized that if she’d been the one in love with Pinkie, only to find Rarity had a crush on Pinkie as well, things would have played out entirely differently. She would have quietly stepped aside, as she had with Rainbow, or allowed Pinkie to become distant from her so that nature would take its course. She wasn’t a fighter like Rarity, or even like Gilda. She tended to just accept her unhappiness stoically. Rarity expressed hers by working obsessively or binging on rocky road.

Which was what was so very strange about her behavior now. Rarity wasn’t loudly lamenting, or working herself to exhaustion. She was just... quietly unhappy at times. Which meant the current state of affairs wasn’t unbearable for her, just... not quite what she wanted.

That made Fluttershy hesitate all the more. Was it worth the risk to attempt to force the issue, and in turn bring Rarity from her mild unhappiness to full-blown depression?

She was supposed to meet Rarity today for a spa visit. Maybe... maybe some careful questions would work. It was better than doing nothing.

With the chores done, she got herself ready to go to the spa. This usually involved a shower and a little light primping. Aloe didn’t like it when she didn’t take care of herself, and would say so quite loudly. Fluttershy didn’t quite understand why, as every visit invariably involved far more primping and hair care and detailed wing care, but she did her best to take a little extra care of herself before a spa visit, if only to keep Aloe happy.

A short walk into town found her at the spa, waiting patiently for Rarity while paging through the latest Knitting Monthly.

“Good morning, Miss Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy looked up to see Lotus, the co-proprietor of the Ponyville spa, smiling at her. It was an odd cognitive dissonance for Fluttershy, seeing Aloe’s mirror image, and remembering that same gently smiling face beaming down at her after Aloe had ‘helped’ her. Months later, it was still difficult to express to Lotus why her smile made Fluttershy blush.

“Just you, today?” Lotus inquired politely.

The question gave Fluttershy pause, and thankfully took her mind off of hot oils, warm towels, and smiles that made her squirm. “Well, no. Rarity should be by soon...” She glanced at the clock, realizing their normal appointment had passed by several minutes ago. “Goodness! She’s usually not late... Well, not this late.”

Lotus’s smile fell, her expression growing concerned. “Miss Fluttershy, I am sorry, I thought you were aware. Miss Rarity has already been by several times this week, and cancelled her normal appointment. She instructed for your visit to be billed to her as per usual, however.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy replied, troubled. “I... I don’t understand. If you knew she wasn’t coming, why did you ask if I was going to be alone?”

Lotus smiled, pointing to the embroidered robes marked with the letters ‘F’, ‘P’, and ‘R’. “Pinkie Pie might have been coming. I was wondering if I should prepare more towels... and a mop.”

Fluttershy blushed bright red. “Lotus, I am so sorry about the mud bath—”

“Quite all right, Miss. She has learned to restrain herself a bit more, which we appreciate. But I take it she won’t be along, today?”

“No,” Fluttershy replied, sadly. “She had to work. Is... is something wrong with Rarity?”

Lotus clucked her tongue. “No more than is usually wrong, Miss Fluttershy. She has been burying herself in work, as she usually does. Shall I get Aloe for your massage?”

“Um...” Fluttershy felt her throat tighten in something very like panic at the thought. It was still a little awkward for her to get a massage from Aloe alone, even months later. But she’d just die if Aloe knew that. It wasn’t her fault Fluttershy was horrible about interacting with ponies she’d been very intimate with in the past. “Y-yes, please.”

“Miss?” Lotus asked with a raised eyebrow. “Is everything all right?”

Fluttershy’s face blanched of all color, and she nodded her head rapidly, trying to cover up her reaction with something plausible.”It’s fine. I’m... just worried about Rarity.”

Lotus opened her mouth to reply, but stopped when the precise clip-clop of hooves announced Aloe's arrival to the lobby.

"Good morning," she said with a pleasant smile. Then blinked curiously at Fluttershy. "Goodness, just you today?"

At Fluttershy's nod, Aloe gestured towards their usual room. "Well, let's get you settled in for your preening, shall we?"

Fluttershy followed along, waving goodbye to Lotus as she did so. Lotus returned the wave uncertainly at first, but then smiled more broadly just before Fluttershy turned away.

As they walked down the hall, Aloe turned her head back to address Fluttershy. “Both of them were busy?”

“Yes, Pinkie had to cover for Mrs. Cake. I just found out Rarity cancelled.”

“Ah. Yes, Miss Rarity has been by several times this week. I haven’t seen her like this since last winter.” Arriving at their booth, Aloe opened the door, ushering Fluttershy inside. “How is Pinkie doing?”

“She’s... fine.” Fluttershy began, laying down on the table. “She’s been bothered by how Rarity’s acting. We... we both are.”

“And how are you, Fluttershy?“ Aloe asked conversationally as she began with Fluttershy’s shoulders. “I rarely see you alone anymore. Are Pinkie and Rarity taking good care of you?”

“They’re... they’re very n-nice,” Fluttershy squeaked out as Aloe hit a particularly tender part.

“Oh? Trouble in paradise?”

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked, honestly confused. She squeaked again as Aloe plucked some loose down from one of her wings.

“I mean I thought you were finally doing well.” Aloe adjusted a misaligned secondary, then gently massaged oil into the underside of Fluttershy’s wing. “I have to admit I never expected you to fall for Pinkie, my money was on Rarity... but Lotus won that bet. But regardless, you’re with both of them, now. Doesn’t that just make you the luckiest mare ever?”

Fluttershy just lay on the table, silently.

“Miss?” Aloe asked, her voice rising in a note of concern. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Fluttershy said with a sniffle. “Everything is fine... for me. But Rarity and Pinkie are miserable and I’m the one who made them that way!”

Aloe stopped the massage, getting down from the table to come around and face Fluttershy. “Miss, are you crying?”

Burying her face in her hooves, Fluttershy muttered a quick: “No. Sorry, Aloe.”

“You are a very bad liar, Miss.” Aloe said, lifting Fluttershy’s hooves away. Through the blur of tears stinging her eyes, Fluttershy could see Aloe looking at her with almost matronly concern. “Why do you think you are to blame?”

“Because...” Fluttershy hiccuped, sniffling in abject misery. “Because Rarity called off the wedding.”

Aloe took in a steady, measured breath. Her concerned look only deepened, but though her eyes spoke of a thousand possible questions, the only one to come out was: “Why?”

“Because… because she doesn’t want to change our relationship.”

“And has she said anything to you about this?” Aloe asked softly, sitting down on the table next to Fluttershy.

“No.”

“Then how is that your fault?”

“Because... I spoiled all of her plans. It was supposed to be her and Pinkie, forever. And... I ruined it all.”

“Miss...” Aloe stopped, then began again. “Fluttershy, did you somehow force your way into their relationship?”

The question gave Fluttershy pause, because the answer was complicated. “I...I didn’t intentionally, but if I’d never told Pinkie how I felt—”

“Then you would have suffered in silence, forever wanting and never having, and leaving your friends wondering why you were always so sad,” Aloe finished for her.

“But... but I would have been fine with that, if I knew—”

“One way or another, that was a secret that needed to be told, or it would have hung over all your heads forever.” Aloe said, cutting off Fluttershy’s protests. “Granted, it could have gone very badly.”

“It... it did. Rarity came over and told me I couldn’t have Pinkie, and I should go away.” Fluttershy replied quietly.

“I see...” Aloe’s eyebrows rose at that admission. “Well, Miss Rarity can be prone to dramatics, so that was understandable, I suppose. But in the end, they didn’t reject you, did they?”

“N-no... they... they came to my home and asked me to date them. I didn’t want to, at first. But... but they showed me... they showed me how much they loved me, and I couldn’t... I couldn’t say no anymore.” The tears were flowing freely from Fluttershy’s eyes now, but she didn’t care anymore. “It… it felt so good to be loved, Aloe. I’m so selfish, I couldn’t tell them ‘no’.”

“Love is wonderful, Miss. And not something to regret, even if it spoils a few plans.”

“I...I suppose you’re right.” Fluttershy said with a final little sniffle. “But I still don’t know what to do.”

“Ah, that is for a wiser pony, Miss. But I can tell you what not to do.”

At Fluttershy’s questioning look, Aloe bopped her gently on the nose. “Stop blaming yourself. Miss Rarity and Miss Pinkie are quite capable of deciding who they wish to spend their lives with. If they invited you to be a part of it, they wanted you as much as you wanted them.”

That actually managed to bring a little smile to Fluttershy’s face. “I’ll... try.”

“That is all I can ask.” Aloe replied, her face mirroring the smile on Fluttershy’s. “Well, allow me to finish with your massage and preening, miss.”

Fluttershy obediently lay back down on the table, her mind somewhat at ease at last. Maybe it wasn’t her fault, after all. But... she still felt like it was up to her to find some way to make her marefriends happy again. She didn’t know how, quite yet, but she knew who to ask. Aloe had mentioned a wise pony could help, and she happened to be best friends with a very, very smart pony.