While they had successfully kept Fluttershy from moving away, to Pinkie and Rarity now fell the unenviable task of waiting to see how she would respond.

The first day went by pretty much as Rarity would have expected it to: The offer had been made; it was all up to Fluttershy now. With that in mind, both she and Pinkie went back to their respective jobs, trying to focus on other, less risqué matters.

The second day, was... difficult. Rarity found her thoughts constantly drifting, wondering if Fluttershy had made a decision yet. She kept glancing out the window in the direction of Ponyville’s outskirts. Even Pinkie seemed distracted when she came by, her smiles less genuine, her perpetual jokes sounding almost forced.

By the end of the week, Rarity was out of patience. She had been a bit rash, perhaps, in suggesting that they try dating after only a single day, but all this additional time was only serving to bolster her initial intuition: That there was something there that ought to be pursued. She wasn’t merely reluctantly willing to share her love with her friend anymore; the idea had actually begun to excite her. Fluttershy could be happy, Pinkie could be happy, and Rarity could bask in the love and affection of both of her very best friends.

But Fluttershy hadn’t even talked to them since... Filled with doubt, Rarity kept telling herself this was because their friend was merely hesitant, not because she was unwilling.

It was Pinkie who eventually thought of a way to end their suffering, suggesting that they extend Fluttershy an invitation to their weekly karaoke date. Rarity had agreed, immediately going to deliver the invitation in person. Much cajoling had been required in order to persuade her, but in the end, Fluttershy had agreed to join them.

Rarity was determined to see to it that things would go well tonight. Perhaps she had been a bit too forward with the kiss; dating was probably a much more appropriate way to begin building a romantic rapport together.

Pinkie arrived a full hour ahead of schedule, grinning from ear to ear. She was wearing the ravishing little red party dress that Rarity had made for her. The fashionista had so been looking forward to tearing that off of her with her teeth, but she supposed that, at least for tonight, they had an unsuspecting guest to consider.

“I brought the chocolate syrup!” Pinkie enthused, not helping in the slightest.

Rarity blushed furiously, but shook her head. “Not tonight, love. It wouldn’t do to subject poor Fluttershy to that—at least not at this junction.” Although, admittedly, the idea of Fluttershy watching them put that syrup to good use did stir up a fair number of butterflies in her tummy (and other locations).

Even to this day, she wondered how it would have been if Fluttershy had caught them making love in the showroom, as she had so salaciously hoped might happen. In retrospect, it had probably been rather selfish of her to risk exposure in such a way, but Celestia had it made her hot just thinking about it.

Ah well, it’ll be less awkward like this. Plus, there is the option of having her join in. More fun for all concerned. Particularly if Pinkie really did bring the chocolate syrup...

Rarity’s musings were abruptly cut short when they arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage. Pinkie knocked on the door to announce their arrival.

Several minutes later, they were still waiting for the door to open.

“You don’t suppose she ended up moving out after all?” Rarity wondered aloud, a sheepish grin appearing on her face. The deadpan expression she received in response made her chuckle nervously. “Eheh... Just trying to lighten the mood?” She tried her hoof at knocking this time, just to make sure.

“Hey!” Pinkie said, narrowing her eyes. ”I think I saw her head peek through that window there and then duck back down really quick.”

“Right. Well then.” Rarity knocked again and called out to the elusive pegasus, raising her voice as much as she deemed socially acceptable, given the circumstances: “Sweetness? Come outside, please!”

A small voice on the other side of the door responded: “Rarity... I think this is a really, really bad idea. I really don’t want to intrude and I think we should probably just forget all about, say, the entire last week or so, if that’s okay.”

“Fluttershy...” Rarity sighed heavily, putting a hoof up against the door. “You are not intruding—we insist! I told you already, we both care deeply for you and we would love nothing more than for you to come along with us.”

“But you’re going on a date. I’ll just be in the way.”

“Yes! A date we specifically invited you on. That wasn’t an accident, darling. Now will you please come out and have a little fun with us?”

“Oh, that’s okay, I had some fun earlier. Angel was making shadow puppets for me. So you two just go right ahead.”

While Fluttershy was coming up with additional excuses, Pinkie did the sensible thing: She calmly climbed in through the window again.

Rarity could be heard through the door, exasperation clearly present in her voice: “Please don’t do this, love. It will be all right! We promise not to do anything you might be uncomfortable with.”

On the other side, Fluttershy was sitting on the floor, her back pressed up against the door. Her posture was slumped and her face ashen.

Pinkie waved excitedly as she dropped from the windowsill onto the floor of the cottage. “Hey, Shy! You ready to go?”

Without even looking up, Fluttershy shook her head. “No. No, I’m not...”

“Well, can I sit with you until you are?”

“Okay...”

Rarity knocked again, her magic enveloping and trying the door only to find it locked. “Pinkie? Pinkie, where did you—” Just then, realization set in. ”Pinkie! You mustn’t just crawl into her home like that! It’s uncouth!” A sheepish pause followed. ”But, erm, now that you’re in there, would you mind terribly letting me in, too? Hello...?” There was silence, followed by more banging. ”Oh, this is just ridiculous!”

Ignoring the racket outside, Pinkie plopped down next to Fluttershy and embraced her in a warm hug. “Are you ready now?”

Fluttershy leaned into the hug, but still failed to answer for quite some time. “Okay,” she said eventually. The word itself seemed positive enough, but the accompanying body language spoke volumes to the contrary.

Still, she got up along with Pinkie Pie—that was a start.

They both opened the door to find Rarity fumbling with the lock with a bobby pin and a needle. Caught red-hoofed, the amateur lockpick froze momentarily, only to hastily put both makeshift tools back into her mane with her magic and then casually sauntered in, glancing about the cottage environs like nothing had happened.

“Ahem, there we are. You two all ready to go, then?”

Fluttershy sat on the couch, watching her friends sing in perfect harmony. She was happy for them, but couldn’t imagine ever being brave enough to join them.

It wasn’t that she felt like she couldn’t sing... She had always had a lovely singing voice, or so other ponies said. But when she sang it was usually because she was happy, and that was precisely the problem at the moment: She wasn’t happy to be here. She felt like an intruder—or worse, a peeper. What difference did it make that she had actually been invited to watch them do their thing this time? She was still watching from the outside, all the while feverishly wishing that she could be there, with them.

The song ended, and Rarity came tumbling down the steps, gasping for air like a fish out of water. “Did you... want to take... the next one, love?”

“No, I’m okay. You two go ahead.”

Pinkie plopped down on the other side of her and threw a foreleg around her shoulders. “Awww... C’mon, Shy, it’ll be fun!”

“Now, now,” Rarity gently chided Pinkie, smiling in spite of herself, “we promised that we wouldn’t do anything that would make her uncomfortable. So if she does not want to sing, we shall simply have to find something else to do.”

“Oh! I know, I know, pick me!” Pinkie said, pulling a bottle from her mane. “I brought the choc—”

“Put that away this instant, you naughty thing!”

Fluttershy smiled, nestled between her two friends as they bickered over what activities to partake in next. Now that they weren’t paying so much attention to her it was... nice.

“I saw that!” Pinkie wrapped another hoof around Fluttershy, pulling her closer for another wing-crushing hug. “You were secretly having fun, weren’t you?!”

“What? When did this happen?” Rarity demanded, sounding almost legitimately cross. “I need to know what did this, so that we may do it again!”

“Um... thank you,” was all Fluttershy could say at that moment.

“You’re quite welcome, dear. Though I do wish I knew what I did to amuse you, beyond yelling at Pinkie Pie.” Picking up a glass of water, Rarity took a large sip. “Well, I suppose more singing is out of the question... What do we want to do now?”

“Oh—” Pinkie reached into her mane again, excitedly.

“Something that doesn’t involve chocolate?”

Pinkie pouted but eventually accepted defeat, retracting her hoof and wrapping it around Fluttershy once more. “Spoilsport,” she said, sticking out her tongue. ”Chocolate makes everything better.”

Rarity sighed melodramatically and joined Pinkie in her hug. “Sorry, darling,” she said to Fluttershy. “She does get a bit trying at times, but I love her all the same.” She glanced up at the clock, noting the time. “Goodness. Pinkie how many songs did we go through?”

“I dunno, I put the machine on random.”

“No wonder I was feeling winded! Gracious me... And our poor Fluttershy just had to sit here and watch... Well, this won’t do.”

“I didn’t m-mind, really. I… I’m glad you two are having fun.”

“Yes, well, the thought is appreciated. Still, I wanted you to enjoy yourself, as well.”

Rarity watched for a moment as her marefriend continued cuddling Fluttershy, and worked to tamp down any and all feelings of jealousy the sight was eliciting. That was, after all, the whole point.

“Hmmm, I suppose karaoke might not be your thing then,” she said, breaking the embrace and standing up. ”Well, we’ll just have to try harder next time. Let us escort the lady home, Pinkie. I just need a moment to go and reassure the stallion up front that we haven’t left his carpet covered in chocolate this time. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack when I asked for a larger room, the poor dear...”

“Okey dokey!” Pinkie said, standing up and helping Fluttershy to her hooves. “Wait, I was supposed to say something…” Her brow furrowed deeply. ”Oh yeah! ‘Thank you for the lovely evening, Fluttershy.’” She smiled triumphantly and called out to Rarity into the hallway. “See? Told you I wouldn’t forget!”

Rarity re-entered their private booth, giving Pinkie a long-suffering little grin. “Yes, love. Only you forgot that that was supposed to come when we get to her door.” She opened the door currently in front of them with her magic, shooing Pinkie out in front and taking Fluttershy by the hoof to lead her out of the building.

They arrived back at the boutique at last, Rarity closing the door behind Pinkie with a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere during the walk home from the karaoke lounge had been amicable enough, but Fluttershy had said very little, seeming content to let Pinkie and Rarity do all the talking. They had each been given a rather chaste kiss on the cheek, and then they had gone home.

Pinkie paused at the door, stopping to kiss Rarity at the threshold. “Thank you for the lovely evening!”

Rarity stared at her for a moment, blinking rapidly. A moment of realization came, and she smiled good-naturedly. “Um... it was supposed to be her door... never mind. Thank you, love.”

Pinkie grinned happily. “I didn’t forget!”

Rarity shook her head as she watched Pinkie go inside ahead of them, pursing her lips thoughtfully. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting, but as it stood there seemed to be little to no fire at all between the three of them. The date had certainly been fun, but in truth Rarity had been hoping for something a bit, well, more. A kiss perhaps; some indication of interest... She knew sex was not all there was to a relationship, but was it really so wrong of her to have been hoping for a hint of desire? A smidgen of noticeable attraction? A wild, passionate, chocolate-covered threesome in the private karaoke booth?

No, wait, scratch that last one. Darn it, Pinkie...

Rarity paused as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. “Pinkie, love?”

“Yahuh?” Pinkie replied, looking back from the doorway.

“What are we doing wrong?”

Pinkie plopped down on the bed—their bed—and considered this carefully. “I don’t think we’re doing anything wrong, really... We’re just not doing it quite right yet.”

Rarity lay down on the bed next to her, staring at the ceiling. “Well, we must be doing something wrong... Maybe I should have gone for another kiss again after all. She seemed to have enjoyed that, at least.”

Or maybe I should have let you kiss her again, the petty, jealous part of her whispered. She ignored it once again, though it seemed like that was getting harder and harder to do each and every time it emerged, unbidden, from the darkest recesses of her mind. She knew she had to keep fighting it though—for all their sakes.

“I know I sure do!” Pinkie said, climbing atop Rarity with a grin. “I was waiting for you to do that to me all night!” Her head darted down, smooth pink lips soon kissing and caressing Rarity’s neck. “Why didn’t you?”

“B—” Rarity hissed as Pinkie nipped one of her earlobes—“Because it’s a bit awkward to have have your best friend watching as you slobber all over your marefriend.”

“Nah! We want to move her up past the whole ‘best friend’ thing, remember? That’s gonna mean loads of slobbering and sexy-times!”

“Well, yes, eventually, but only once she is truly comfortable with the idea, I don’t want to rush her—” Rarity was cut off again by another of Pinkie’s devious smooches, whilst one of those nefarious pink hooves went cavorting through her purple locks.

Pinkie giggled from around Rarity’s lips, raising herself on her hoof to gaze down at her fiance. “Shy-shy is never really comfortable though, is she? Sometimes, I think she just needs a little nudge.” Pinkie demonstrated by pressing her knee in between Rarity’s legs. However, she stopped just shy of grinding it forward into the latter’s moist entrance, much to the needy mare’s chagrin. “Then you nudge a little more...” The pressure increased, rubbing just inside the now-parted lips. “You gotta be gentle, but firm.”

Rarity arched her back in response, her eyes snapping shut. Now Pinkie was grinding, contrary to her comments about gentleness. She looked into Pinkie’s eyes once more. Her marefriend’s wide, excited grin sent shivers of anticipation down her spine. “Less gentle, m-more firm!”

Pinkie complied, grinning happily as she watched Rarity squirm and moan beneath her. She was humming something, with even the occasional verse being sung. Rarity was finding it hard to concentrate, but to her, it sounded oddly like a song about the noises she was making...

At the inevitable conclusion, they regarded each other fondly, eyes ablaze with love and lust. Rarity still wasn’t certain what to do about Fluttershy—but she did know what to do with that skimpy little party dress that had been taunting her all evening.

She had been forced to be a good girl tonight, determined not to horrify her friend with untoward displays of affection despite the way the dress hugged Pinkie’s curves. It had been intentionally designed to entice, after all... She would know; she had lovingly created it for that very purpose. As such, she had also strategically stitched it in such a way as to make what she was about to do much, much easier.

The sound of tearing fabric and giggly little squeals soon rang out into the night.

“A photo shoot? What the heck are you talking about?”

“Not just a photo shoot, Dashie. The magazine was looking for a couple for their centerfold. I...” Fluttershy paused, trying to will herself to be brave. She had to be brave; it’s what Dash wanted. “I think we should do it.”

“What, you mean... take pictures of us, together?” Rainbow’s wings hesitantly rose, telling Shy all she needed to know. Rainbow was excited by this. She hadn’t been excited by Fluttershy in months, but this was exciting her. “I don’t know, Shy. I don’t want you getting freaked out or anything. I mean, it’s cool you wanted to do that, but—”

“This... this isn’t a suggestion.” Fluttershy stomped her hoof down on the cloud, sending up little tufts of wispy vapor. “We’re going to do this, and it’s going to be fun.” This was her secret weapon, the last real hold she had on her marefriend. Dash couldn’t say no when she was being decisive. She found it hard to resist.

She was going to save their relationship. Dashie just needed more excitement. She had to be brave.

She had to be brave. That’s what she kept telling herself. Her friends wanted to include her in their lives, and she had to stop worrying that she was going to ruin everything. It’s what they wanted from her.

And she wanted them to be happy, and be her friends. She just wished they would stop worrying about her. She’d been alone for most of her adult life, and that had been okay. Lonely, but okay. She’d gotten to know her hoof really well.

Somehow it had been easier to dream about being with Pinkie. Now it seemed they wanted to make it a reality, not just with Pinkie but with Rarity as well, and it terrified her. Excited her, but terrified her. How long before they got tired of her like Dashie had? Would she even be able to... do those things with Pinkie and Rarity?

She didn’t know. Fortunately those fears had not been tested, yet. But that day would come sooner or later.

Today was nice. Not that watching her friends sing hadn’t been, but today they had invited her along to a picnic lunch. It felt safe, and normal. Like it had before she’d kissed Pinkie. Just the three of them enjoying each other’s company.

“—Well, let me tell you, I was livid. Do you have any idea how troublesome it was to be interrupted in the middle of designing only to be told, not asked, that I would be making a dress for that horrid little brat? I told Filthy the next time he needed a dress in a hurry to give her a needle, because I refuse to be treated that way.”

“Awww, don’t hold it against Filthy. He’s a really nice guy! Diamond is just mean to everypony! I think the nicest thing I ever heard her say was that the cute-ceneta party I threw her wasn’t that bad.”

“Um...”

They both turned to her expectantly, and she squeaked as she tried to force words out. “I... I wonder sometimes, if maybe she’s acting out because it gets her attention. Sometimes bad behavior is just a cry for help. Maybe she just wants her dad and the foals at school to notice her and doesn’t know how to do it without seeking negative attention...” She trailed off, looking down in embarrassment. “Sorry.”

“No, don’t be.” Rarity said after a moment. “I suppose it’s easy to get a little miffed at the little—That is to say, if you’d seen how Sweetie gets after interacting with her… I’m being very mean spirited so I think I am going to stop for now.”

And there it was again. Pinkie and Rarity had been having a nice conversation about a not-so-nice pony and Fluttershy had messed it up. Now everything was awkward and it was all her fault and—

“Bit for your thoughts, darling?”

“Oh, just thinking how nice it is to be here.” And how nice it would be if you two were here alone without me to ruin everything.

Pinkie giggled, pointing in her direction and whispering.

“Oh, that’s just terrible!” Rarity said, doing her best not to follow suit.

Fluttershy looked at them both in confusion. “D-did I say something funny?” She grinned, hesitantly.

“No, darling, sorry about that. Pinkie thinks it’s adorable that you have this cute little quirk of your mouth when you’re trying not to be a bother. Which...” Rarity stopped, looking at her more closely. “Which means you’re holding something back. Darling, you need to stop doing that!”

“Sorry...”

“No apology needed, but if I upset you in some way I’d like to know!”

“You didn’t...”

“Well, clearly something is—” Rarity’s eyes rolled back because of something Pinkie did at that moment.

Pinkie hummed cheerfully as she nibbled on Rarity’s ear, holding up a hoof to indicate that she would just be a moment. She then began to gently massage Rarity’s back, causing the latter to slump forward. Releasing the ear, Pinkie smiled apologetically. “Sorry ‘bout that. Rarity was getting a little tensedity-up and I wanted her to relax a little. She gets worried, you know, when you don’t talk.”

“I do not get worried—” Pinkie was on her ear again, and Rarity was lost to the world once more.

“Sorry,” Fluttershy repeated, trying to hold back a blush. Somehow watching her two friends be intimate right in front of her had been more embarrassing than watching them make love.

“S’ok. She just wants you to be happy. I want that too!”

“I’ll...” Fluttershy swallowed, trying to shake off her nervousness. “I’ll try harder.”

Pinkie embraced her in a crushing hug and smiled. "No you don't, silly! Love isn't something you try, it's something you do!"

"I'll try... to... do... that?" Fluttershy said helplessly, trying to divine what more she could do to satisfy Pinkie.

Rarity had at last regained her senses, picked herself up, and was now nuzzling Fluttershy just below the nape of her neck. “Darling, we had this conversation before, you and I. You remember, I was worried that perhaps being in love wasn’t enough? Do you remember what you told me?”

Fluttershy closed her eyes, leaning into the nuzzle. “D-don’t... don’t overthink it. And I meant that, when I told you...” Fluttershy sighed sadly. “But you two are just so... perfect together. I just mess everything up. I wouldn’t even be here with you if I could have just kept my big mouth shut. You’ll regret ever asking me to join and then you’ll split up and hate me forever and... and...”

“Darling, stop. Listen to yourself! You’re doing exactly what you told me not to do!”

“B-but I’m not you!” Fluttershy cried out with a half sob. “I’m just the wallflower nopony likes, and you’ll end up leaving me, just like Dash did!”

Rarity stiffened next to her, and from the other side of the picnic cloth came the unmistakable sound of a balloon deflating.

“I’m sorry, I’m ruining everything again!” Fluttershy shrugged Rarity off, taking off in a rush.

She got less than a few feet up before she was wrapped in a blue aura and tackled by a pink projectile.

Pinkie clutched her tightly as Rarity lowered them both to the ground, visibly straining now that Fluttershy’s wings were held to her side by Pinkie’s forelegs. The two weeping mares held each other, Fluttershy making no further effort to escape.

At last they were safely on the ground, and Rarity allowed herself to release them from her aura. She sat on her haunches, breath coming in great heaves. “N-no more of that! I won’t have it! Now what is this about?” She brushed a sweaty lock of hair from her brow with her magic. “We love you, darling! As good friends at the least and we’d very much like to be more to you! And what’s this about Rainbow? You said things ended well? I swear to Celestia if she broke your heart, I will give her what for!”

Fluttershy shook her head, trying to stifle further sniffles. “It… she didn’t.”

“Darling, please, don’t lie. Tell me you don’t want to talk about it if you must, but she clearly hurt you.”

“It wasn’t her fault. I... I couldn’t be what she wanted. I tried. I tried so hard.” She took an unsteady gulp of air, looking at Rarity with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin everything. I promise I’ll do better...”

Rarity opened and closed her mouth, uncertain how to react.

Pinkie, however, knew exactly how to react. “Shy-shy, please stop saying that. You don’t have to do anything more than be our Fluttershy!”

Following suit, Rarity nodded firmly. “Quite. We like you for who you are, darling. You don’t have to be anything more for us. I’m sorry if I gave the impression that I expected otherwise.”

Snuggling close to Pinkie, Fluttershy did her best to calm down. “But... I’m not very interesting. You two are just so... nice. And I’m... I’m just me.”

Rarity came closer, lifting Fluttershy’s chin up to give her a kiss. To her delight, there was a little of the fire she’d experienced during that first kiss, or rather, the second. It was encouraging. “What’s not to like, exactly? We love you, darling. I should think that obvious by now.”

Pinkie nuzzled Fluttershy, tightening her hug. “Totally! You’re like a whole bunch of my favorite things mixed together with pink frosting on top!” She reached up into her mane, rifling around until she pulled out a can of pink frosting. “Hey! I have an idea—”

Rarity shot her a warning look, and she put it back. “You’re no fun!”

Fluttershy blushed, shaking her head. “Dash said she loved me, too; but I couldn’t keep her, and if I say yes... sooner or later it will be the same with you.”

Rarity opened and closed her mouth, a very dark look forming on her face. “That does it. I’m going to have a talk with Rainbow and she is going to explain herself. I don’t care if it happened years ago, she broke your heart.”

“Yeah! And your self-whatchamacallit! That thing where you like yourself! That’s very hard to glue back together, you know?!” Pinkie exclaimed, nodding firmly in agreement.

The two of them shared a meaningful look. Rainbow had a lot to answer for.

“Girls?” Fluttershy asked, alarmed at the fact that the two of them got up on the spot. “Girls?! You can’t just go and accuse Rainbow Dash of that!”

“Oh?” Rarity’s reply was dripping with venom, “And why shouldn’t we?”

“Because...” Fluttershy paused and looked at the checkered blanket. “Because I broke up with her.”

Two voices responded simultaneously. “What?!”

Fluttershy cringed. “Sorry, I guess I should have explained...” She took a deep breath. Maybe if she could explain how it all went wrong, then they could see why this wasn’t going to work. “It… It wasn’t Dashie’s fault.” Fluttershy looked into the expectant faces of the two ponies she loved most, trying to work up the courage to tell them how she had messed up things so badly. “I guess... I should start with the beginning?”

“Go on, darling. We’re listening.” Rarity said, sitting down and pouring a glass of cider.

Pinkie had produced popcorn from somewhere, and was drizzling chocolate syrup over it. “Storytime! Yay!”

“It started with a brave pony and a kiss.”

Strangely enough, the brave pony was... her. She still had no idea what had possessed her, but she’d just kissed Rainbow Dash. Then the moment was gone, and all that was left was a very scared Fluttershy looking at her best and only friend, worried she’d just ruined everything forever.

“Shy? D-did you just—”

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have done that! Oh, please don’t hate me,” Fluttershy pleaded, tears in her eyes. “I won’t do it again, I promise!”

“Wait, hold up. I’m not mad, Shy. But why did you kiss me?”

Fluttershy didn’t answer at first, looking down at the cloud they were sitting on together. It had been sunset, and the moment had just seemed right. She couldn’t say how or why she’d actually been able to do it. But she knew why she had wanted to. “Because... I like you. I like you like you.”

“Huh...” Rainbow touched her cheek in the spot that she’s just been kissed. “Well, okay. That’s cool, I guess.”

“What do you mean? I kissed you!” Fluttershy was beginning to panic, her eyes wide with fear. There was no way Rainbow could be okay with what she’d done. “I kissed you and now you know I’m weird!”

“Whoa! Slow down, Shy. You just took me by surprise. I like you too, I just didn’t think it was that way, you know? I guess I’m weird too.” Rainbow kicked her hooves back on forth on the cloud, smiling a shy little smile that Fluttershy had never seen her friend smile. “It’s pretty neat that you like me, too. Does this make us... like fillyfriends or something?”

“I... I don’t know.” Fluttershy admitted, feeling a wave a relief wash over her. It was exhausting being a scaredy-pony sometimes. “I just wanted to kiss you. I didn’t really think past that.”

“Okay, fillyfriends, then. That’s awesome! So it’s basically just like before, except we kiss and hold hooves and junk?”

Fluttershy looked at her best friend, now her fillyfriend, and nodded. “Um... that sounds nice.”

“Cool! We should practice then.”

“Okay.”

“Wait, wait!” Rarity said, shaking her head. “You... you were the aggressor? I mean, that’s all right, of course, but I always pictured Dash as being the... what do you call it... The “big spoon”? Not that I mean to cast any aspersions on her character, it’s just that with Pinkie and I, it’s...” She paused, reconsidering. “Well, sometimes, when I get out the toys, I take charge, but usually it’s her...” She trailed off, realizing she had no clear definition in her own relationship, either. “Nevermind...”

“Huh, Shy-shy really likes going for the kiss! Dashie, me, and you Rarity!” Pinkie said, smiling happily.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to, it just—”

“It just felt right!” Pinkie finished, nodding. “Like you had to do it.”

“Um... yes. I... I just you looked at me and... I was kissing you. Rarity, I’m so sorry...”

Rarity looked pensive, tapping her hooves together in worry. “Forgiven, I’ve told you.” Her next words came out very haltingly. “What about... You kissed me, when you were all muddled up. Did it feel...”

“Um... I... I thought I was having a naughty dream.”

“Oh...” Rarity said, disappointment and shame written all over her face in bright red splotches. “I understand.”

“But... the second time, when you kissed me... it was so... nice. I never thought I could... You’re my best friend, Rarity, and I always thought you were looking for a prince. I never saw you... like that... before you told me about what happened with Pinkie.” Fluttershy’s felt her face flush hotly as she recalled that conversation in graphic detail. “But... it did... it felt right then, too.”

There was a moment where two best friends exchanged a meaningful look, one’s eyes full of forgiveness and hope, the other’s full of thanks and surprise.

“Are you two going to kiss again?”

They both turned to Pinkie, who was watching with rapt attention.

“What?”

Rarity looked away, muttering about the mood being spoiled.

Fluttershy cleared her throat nervously. “Um...”

“Just continue, if you would, love. I’ll need a moment to compose myself.”

“All right...”

For a time, things were good. Weeks went by, the two of them growing increasingly more bold in their experimentations.

Fluttershy—because Dash seemed insistent on treating her like she was fragile—tended to be the one who escalated in their play. Each time a new line was crossed, however, the new territory was explored swiftly and eagerly.

But like a foal with a new toy, Dash’s attention was not kept for long. The problem was that Fluttershy wasn’t able to do the other things that interested Dash. She could fly well enough, but whenever they went flying together, it felt like she was holding Dash back. And keeping up with her? She may as well be trying to catch and hold wind.

But she tried. She tried so hard. And she threw herself into the one thing that Dash loved to do with her and her alone with wild abandon. When they kissed, there was no question of whether Dash was holding back.

If only flying were as easy.

Dash was showing off a new trick she’s just come up with. Something about flashy... buccaneer fillies? Fluttershy wasn’t sure what a buccaneer was, but she enjoyed watching Rainbow do tricks, and Rainbow liked to be watched.

Pinkie got close to Rarity’s ear, whispering softly. “Dashie likes to be watched too! I told you it’s not weird!”

Rarity blushed crimson red. “That’s not the same thing,” she hissed.

When the trick was over, she wanted to see if she could persuade Dash to go somewhere secluded with her so they could practice a new trick that Fluttershy had just learned.

She’d been been up late one night and had heard one her roommates in the dorm breathing very hard. Being a little curious about the noise, she’d peeked her head into the room and found Derpy Hooves doing... something to herself. Her whole body was shaking and for the first time that Fluttershy could remember since meeting the happy mare... her eyes had been straight.

They’d both been very embarrassed about it, and after swearing her to secrecy, Derpy had told her what she was doing. That night, Fluttershy got very little sleep as she and her hoof established what was to become a lifelong love affair.

Reasoning that if it had worked on her, it should work on Dash, Fluttershy had decided that this new experience might be enough to make Dash pay attention to her for a little while.

Rarity had been leaning closer for some time, a fact that became apparent when she lost her balance and plopped onto the picnic blanket. She scrambled up quickly, flashing a slightly chagrined smile to her fiance and friend. “Sorry about that. Continue, please.”

“Well... we, um...”

“Had sexytimes?” Pinkie suggested, helpfully.

Fluttershy nodded mutely. “Dash was very... startled. But she liked it, so we um...”

“I think I understand, darling. I... had the same thing happen with Pinkie. Bit like the floodgates opening after the reservoir has gotten too full.” She flushed suddenly, “Not that I meant to imply gushing of any sort—”

Pinkie giggle-snorted, giving Fluttershy an amused look that told her that gushing was exactly what had happened.

Blushing furiously, Fluttershy went on with her tale. “So, we um... we did things. A lot of things...”

“You... don’t have to elaborate, love. We understand.” Rarity said, smiling weakly.

Pinkie raised a hoof, waiting to be addressed. At Fluttershy’s confused nod, she pulled out a well-loved magazine. “Shy... How did you end up doing this with Dashie?”

Fluttershy squeaked, her mouth clamming shut.

Seeing Fluttershy’s distress, Rarity was quick to intervene. “Pinkie! Don’t press her, please! Our darling Fluttershy is having a hard enough time as is. I mean, yes... I have been... wondering about that for some time myself, but we mustn’t force her.” She turned back to Fluttershy, smiling encouragingly. “Sorry, love. You can share that with us when you are ready.”

“I...” Fluttershy thought back to that day. It still made her heart ache to think about it. She’d never loved Rainbow more than at that moment, and yet... it was also the moment she’d realized she was never going to be able to hold on to her. “I’m sorry. I... I just can’t.”

Rarity let out a long held breath. “That’s... that’s all right. But please, no more running off. You’re not intruding, and you’re not spoiling our good time.”

Pinkie, meanwhile, had finished her popcorn. She wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy and hugged her till she squeaked.

Fluttershy nuzzled Pinkie, giving Rarity a thankful look. “Okay.”

Having escorted Fluttershy back to her cottage, Rarity and Pinkie walked home together, the former seeming worryingly quiet to Pinkie. She kept looking at her marefriend surreptitiously, which was totally a word Twilight would love. But that wasn’t important right now. Right now she had to find out why Rarity was all frowny face and make it go away. Fluttershy was beginning to look like a Cranky level sad event herself, but a good fiance—

Pfft, still funny!

—had to think about her—

Affianced? Is that a word? Twilight would know.

—first.

“Rainbow Dash...”

Pinkie’s ears perked up, startled that Rarity had spoken finally. “Um... Rarity? Dashie’s not here...”

Rarity’s snorted angrily, looking back at Fluttershy’s cottage. “She’s the reason. I could never understand why our darling Fluttershy wasn’t seeing anypony. This is Rainbow’s doing.”

Pinkie shook her head quickly, not liking how Rarity was getting upset. “No, Shy-shy said she broke up with Dashie, not the other way around.”

Rarity stopped walking, turning to Pinkie with a single eyebrow raised in derision. “Yes, she also said that Rainbow had grown tired of her. If she was ignoring Fluttershy it hardly matters who says it’s over, does it?”

“Stop it!” Pinkie cried, stomping her hoof down.

“I beg your pardon, love?”

“You’re doing it again! You can’t just blame Dashie. Fluttershy said it wasn’t her fault!” Pinkie locked eyes with Rarity, her expression full of determination. She wasn’t going to let it happen again. No more sad friends. Not on her watch.

A battle of wills ensued, Rarity locking eyes with her and looking increasingly agitated. Pinkie matched her stare for stare, refusing to blink until she did. Finally, Rarity looked away, grumbling loudly.

“If I can’t blame her, who can I blame? Our poor sweet Fluttershy is nursing a wounded heart! Surely you can see that?”

“Yeah, she is. But we don’t know why. They were super happy for a while, then things stopped being happy. Maybe Dashie was sad, too?” Pinkie’s eyes rose as she realized the implications of Rarity’s mood. “You’re doing it for Shy now!”

“Doing what, exactly?”

“Being all ‘Rah! You hurt my Fluttershy!’” Pinkie’s face lit up in a huge grin. “You do like her!”

Rarity’s raised an eyebrow, blowing a stray lock of mane out of her face. “Fluttershy? Of course I do.”

“No, I mean you like her like her. You were gonna storm over to Dashie and get all mad at her for making Shy sad, weren’t you?”

Rarity’s eyes darted to the side, a slight rosy hue adorning her cheeks. “I was not! I was just going to go talk to her, find out what happened. I mean... yes, I had considered getting angry with her if she didn’t answer exactly the way I want, perhaps yelling a bit, but only if she deserved it! I would have done that for her even if she was just a friend!”

Pinkie’s grin ratcheted up several notches. “So she’s more than just your friend?”

“I... you...” Rarity huffed irritably. “Fine, I do care about her, but that was the point of all of this!”

“Of course, but it’s nice to see it’s working!” Pinkie trotted over to Rarity, giving her a big hug.

Rarity wrapped her own forelegs around Pinkie, sighing in fond exasperation. “Yes, I’m happy that you’re happy, but maybe we can focus on how our Fluttershy is heartbroken? I’d like to go talk to Rainbow, unless you’d rather pick on me some more.”

“Hmmm... I dunno, it’s pretty fun to watch you blush.” Pinkie murmured into Rarity’s chest.

“Ugh, you’re incorrigible.” Rarity reached upwards, running a hoof through the poofy pink mane. “You’re being unfair, I was really going to enjoy being properly angry. Now you’ve gone and spoiled it.”

“Sorry,” Pinkie said, not meaning it at all. She listened intently to the steady thump of Rarity’s heartbeat, satisfied that she had calmed down for the moment. “Okay, that’s better. Now we can go talk to her.”

Rarity merely huffed in reply.

Applejack sat down heavily on her Granny’s rocking chair, wincing as it creaked. She would need to repair it soon; the thing was nearly as old as Granny herself and had needed parts replaced just about as often. She idly chewed a stalk of wheat, curious what her brother saw in doing it. To her, it was just like any other grass. Did help her think, though.

“Hello, darling!”

She turned to the sound of the greeting, seeing Pinkie and Rarity trotting up to her farmhouse with serious looks on their faces. Not exactly surprising from Rarity, but Pinkie Pie? Applejack braced herself, somepony must have died, or they were close to death. “Um... hey, girls. What brings ya ‘round today?”

“We’re trying to find Rainbow. She’s not at home and the weather service tells me she’s not at work today. Have you seen her about?” Rarity darted her eyes around the farm, looking for the telltale tail hanging from the branches of one of the trees.

“Huh... well, I ‘spect she’s ‘round somewhere. What’d ya need her for?” The unspoken question was ‘What did she do this time?’ and frankly Applejack was a bit worried about whatever it had been.

“She broke Fluttershy’s heart, and we wanna know why,” Pinkie responded, voice free of her normal carefree lilt.

Applejack bit through the wheat stalk. Okay, nopony died. But unless Dash has a durned good explanation, she might be wishing she had.

Rainbow Dash had dreams. Right now, she was dreaming about her favorite thing: flying and being cheered on by screaming fans. This was a good dream.

She made a pass by the crowd, swooping low and grinning wildly as the crowd’s roar got louder and louder. She swooped up in a dazzling display of skill, and the crowd went wild. Then, a voice was heard above all others. It was Applejack! She strained to hear what her marefriend had to say.

“You mangy varmint! Get yer flank down here and explain yourself!”

Dash’s mouth opened in a silent ‘O’ of surprise, her flight faltering. It was as if her wings were made of lead. She found herself falling through the air rapidly. The ground was coming closer, and closer, and—

—she was caught by a strong set of hooves, an angry pair of green eyes staring down at her. Applejack glared menacingly, her mouth set in a firm thin line. “You got some explaining to do, missy. You said things was over a long time ago with Shy. Why am I hearing you broke her heart now?”

“Huh? What?” Heart racing, Rainbow tried to fight off the last vestiges of sleep and make sense of the world around her. “What’s going on?”

“I’m asking the questions, and you better have some good answers! I swear, if you been cheatin’ on me we’re gonna have some harsh words.”

“Cheating on you?” Dash shook her head and blinked before jumping out of Applejack’s hooves and coming to a hover in front of her. “You’re the one that said all was fair in love and war! Besides, me using my wings totally turns you on.”

“Darlings, if I might interject—”

“D-don’t you try distracting me! You get back down here where I can yell at you proper!”

“Girls, there has been a simple misun—” Rarity tried to interrupt once more, futilely.

“Sheesh, AJ... I knew you were a sore loser, but blaming it on not having any wings is just—”

Pinkie blew a whistle piercingly at the feuding filly friends. “Stop!”

Dash blinked again and looked at the other two ponies in attendance. “Oh hey, girls, how’s it hanging?”

Applejack winced, rubbing her ears in pain. “Dangit, Pinkie! What’d you go and do that for?”

Rarity had both hooves clamped to her ears the moment she saw Pinkie pull the whistle from the depths of her mane. She took them down carefully after the muted noise had faded. “Can we please stop yelling for just a moment? I’m afraid this has been a rather unfortunate misunderstanding.”

Applejack gave one last glare to Rainbow, then turned to Rarity and nodded for her to go on. “Okay, somepony better explain quick then.”

“Quite... Um... well, how to start...”

“We’re dating Fluttershy!” Pinkie piped in happily.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Rainbow said, staring down at Pinkie, her mouth agape. “What’s this about Fluttershy, and what do you mean ‘we’?”

Applejack didn’t know who to react to first, then threw her hat down in frustration. “Just how many of you are with that filly?!”

Rarity calmly picked up in the hat in her magic, dusting it off before setting it back on Applejack’s head, giving her a contrite smile. “Applejack, I am so very sorry for all of this. It’s just Pinkie and myself, actually. Rainbow is... or was, past tense, as you said. That’s what we wanted to talk to her about.”

Looking back and forth between her marefriend and her friends, Applejack shook her head in frustration. “Okay. I still don’t know what in the hay is goin’ on. Is Rainbow cheatin’ or not?”

“Not that we know of, darling,” Rarity responded. “I’m very sorry to have upset you.”

Breathing a pent up sigh of relief, Applejack tilted her hat forward and gestured towards the farmhouse. “Fine. Why don’t we head inside a spell? I don’t know about you three but I could use a mug of cider about now.”

Before Rarity or Pinkie had time to react, Rainbow had sped to the farmhouse keening in joy. Rarity watched her fly away, amused and slightly miffed. “Well, since the pony we need to talk to is clearly going on ahead, I think we have little choice in the matter.” She turned to Pinkie, only to find her marefriend gone. Looking around in confusion she saw her bouncing happily after Rainbow. “And now Pinkie is gone as well,” she said, turning back to Applejack. “Well then, I accept your invitation gratefully, and I really am terribly sorry for the trouble.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Probably should have asked you first,” Applejack replied, a pained expression on her face. She began walking to the farmhouse, turning her head to the side to address Rarity. “Things’ve been going real good with Dash... Almost too good. You ever get that feeling like you been waiting so long for the other horseshoe to drop you almost want it to happen?”

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know,” Rarity said, sympathetically. “It is never just one horseshoe as far as I know... It has been raining horseshoes around me since this whole thing started.”

“Havin’ trouble with Pinkie?”

“No, Pinkie’s fine... It’s Fluttershy.”

“Yeah... ‘Bout that... How does that even work?”

“For the moment... not terribly well,” Rarity replied, wincing. “Let’s go fetch that cider and I will tell you all about it.” She paused, considering a question before finally blurting it out in a rush. “Tell me, um... what’s it like having a partner with wings?”

Applejack let out a low whistle, smiling. “Missy, you would not believe.”