Two Weeks Later

"Come on...Come on!" Rainbow growled as she flew from Ponyville toward the Wonderbolts Academy. She'd overslept during her nap after a particularly exhausting day of weather patrol, and she was running late. The clouds had been thick and hard to dissipate, so while she wasn't necessarily surprised she'd slept so long, she still mentally kicked herself for being so careless in not setting an alarm. She was flying at speeds so great, she had to be careful to not inadvertently trigger a sonic rainboom. As she ascended higher and the academy came into sight, she felt a small wave or relief...that turned to horror when her saddlebag holding her cadet uniform fell from her body. Wide eyed, she watched it go and let out a scream of frustration before nosediving after it. The bag quickly hit terminal velocity, and Rainbow missed the first swipe she made with her hoof, groaning before successfully catching it with the second.

"Bucking finally." She snarled at the bag, spinning in the air and taking off toward the academy once more. The delay had only been a minute or so, but the cyan pegasus had already been running late. She moved at a speed so fast, the light around her began to bend as she landed in the courtyard, leaving behind a streak of rainbow. She immediately ran into the locker rooms to change. She didn't know Spitfire had been waiting on an upper deck for her, and had watched her arrive.

"She's late again." Spitfire sighed, shaking her head.

"Come on, Spitfire, give her a chance." Soarin, her second in command said. "She's one of the best cadets we've ever had...Hay, probably the best."

"If she's never on time, none of that stuff matters. The other cadets have already started on their warm ups." Spitfire said, raising an unamused eyebrow as Rainbow left the locker room, pulling the uniform onto one of her legs, stumbling a bit. The sight made Spitfire chuckle. "Even so, she's always making an entrance and wowing everypony around...Then the next second blundering into some stupid, clumsy mistake. She's great, no question...But one more tardy arrival and she's out of here." Soarin found it hard to argue with her as they entered the courtyard balcony. Rainbow Dash was looking around, clearly for the two of them, looking to apologize. "Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire called, making the rainbow-maned mare jump and spin. Upon seeing the look on her commander's face, Rainbow's ears lowered and she flitted up toward the balcony.

"Yes ma'am." Rainbow said, as steadily as she could, but her voice couldn't help but falter. She then addressed Soarin. "Sir." The stallion put a hoof up, and shook his head slightly, indicating her obviously deep contrition wasn't necessary, at least for him.

"My office. Now." Spitfire commanded. Nodding slowly, Rainbow landed on the balcony and followed the Wonderbolt leader. They entered the office, which had a few pieces of Wonderbolt memorabilia, but otherwise was decorated quite quaintly and was free of the pomp and frills of the rest of the academy. "Take a seat." Spitfire said, gesturing to one of the chairs before sitting behind her desk.

'This is it, Rainbow Dash...' Rainbow thought to herself, beginning to sweat. 'This is the day your dream dies...You've never begged for anything before...Today might be the day.'

"I'm going to be honest, Rainbow Dash." Spitfire sighed, adjusting a paper on the desk. "You're the most talented cadet I have seen in a long time. In fact, I don't think anypony has ever come close to my record on the obstacle course, save for you. Only about fifteen seconds' difference. That's damn impressive." Rainbow was slightly shocked by Spitfire's candor, but she was intensely flattered all the same. The terror she had been feeling was fading away. She blushed.

"Well thank you, ma'am-" She was interrupted by Spitfire putting a hoof up, silencing her. The terror shot right back into her heart as Spitfire continued.

"But. This is the fourth time in a row you've been late for training. This is unacceptable, especially considering the usual limit is three. You've been able to eek by because you consistently perform very well on your examinations, and you're the best cadet flyer here by a good margin, but this cannot continue." The fiery-haired pegasus explained. "I understand you have a wife, and that the two of you are expecting...And you have a job and that you also help around the farm as well, this is all very admirable. But you can't be so irresponsible with punctuality if you want to be a Wonderbolt. You just can't. We hold ourselves to a much higher standard than that, I'm sure you understand." Struggling to keep herself together, Rainbow nodded and replied in a slightly shaky voice:

"I know, I know. I'm really sorry. I'm not going to make excuses. This is something I have to change. I...I just...I'm...very, very sorry." She hung her head so her tear-filled eyes would not be visible to the commander, prepared to have her lifelong dream stamped to death before her.

"Now I like you, Rainbow. I really do. So I'm giving you one last shot." Spitfire said. Rainbow let out a small gasp and looked up, the tears having almost flowed down onto her cheeks. She wiped her eyes quickly and smiled, and Spitfire couldn't help but smile herself. "You're staying late today and completing your full training, is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Rainbow almost cried out, standing quickly and turning to leave. "I'll get started right now! I'll be done before any of the others! Just watch me, Spitfire!...I mean...Ma'am." Rainbow turned, worried her commanding officer had been offended by her addressing her so informally. Judging from the amused look she had on her face, she hadn't been.

"Don't disappoint me." Spitfire said, raising an eyebrow, still smiling. Rainbow gave a nod and dashed out to the training yard, beginning her first exercise of ten laps. All of the cadets had already finished the first exercise and had moved on to physical training, most of them doing the push ups that consisted of the first phase of the training, with a few of the more advanced cadets having already moved on to sit-ups.

Rainbow flew her laps, moving incredibly quickly and deftly, acing her turns and re-stabilizing herself at speeds most ponies wouldn't dare to attempt. Coming back out onto the upper balcony to observe the cadets in training, Spitfire sat next to Soarin.

"You didn't have to be so hard on her." Soarin said to her. "She's basically got three jobs counting this."

"We have to hold everypony here to the same standard." Spitfire replied. "Its unfortunate but we're the Wonderbolts. We're not known for taking it easy." Soarin sighed and nodded.

"I know, I know. You were kinda the same way, though. I even remember commander Blitz calling you into that same office to have a similar talk." Spitfire's eyes widened, as she'd completely forgotten about that day. Regardless it had, in fact, happened.

"Well, I pulled it together when he threatened to kick me out." Spitfire said. "Maybe she will too. Wait, how did you hear all that?" Soarin chuckled, his eyes drifting to Rainbow Dash, blazing through her laps, a confident smile on her face.

"It's not exactly soundproof. And I was right here." He chuckled, before his eyes widened. "Goddesses, she's already done with her laps?" Spitfire almost couldn't believe it as Rainbow ambled to the courtyard where the rest of the cadets were finishing with their physical training. Rainbow, seemingly only mildly winded, dropped down and began quickly pumping out push ups.

"Celestia and Luna..." Spitfire breathed. "She's unreal."

"Maybe all it took was you putting her hooves to the fire." Soarin laughed as he began to hover. "But then again, she was pretty much always that good. I'm heading down there to get a closer look. Join me?" He flew from the balcony down toward the courtyard. Spitfire, still slightly stunned, followed him to watch the cadets. But more than any of them, she wanted to watch Rainbow Dash, who was already starting on her sit-ups.

Rainbow Dash shot through the level three obstacle course, spinning through a small hole, before using her legs to bounce off a cloud wall to dodge several large leather balls, designed to block ponies with low reflex time. The rainbow streak then dodged around several poles, designed to test one's control in the air.

"Incredible." Soarin almost gasped. "That is the highest difficulty course we have. Nopony's ever gotten through it without messing up at least once, save for you and me." He looked at Spitfire, but the wonderbolts commander couldn't bear to take her eyes away from the spectacle of seeing a cadet achieve this feat.

Rainbow grunted as she pulled up hard, narrowly avoiding the ninety-degree angle wall. This wall turned into a loop, which she gracefully executed before going into a divebomb, avoiding projectiles hurled from holes in walls on every side of her, using her wings not to propel herself, but merely to adjust the direction of her fall. This turned into another loop which Rainbow executed effortlessly before coming to a blazing stop a dozen feet or so from her two commanders. They both were stunned and applauded her, smiles on both their faces.

"Rainbow, that...That was incredible!" Spitfire said as Rainbow approached them, breathing heavily. The cyan mare basically hadn't stopped since she began after her talk with Spitfire. "I don't think I've ever seen a cadet finish the level three course in that kind of time." Soarin looked down at the stopwatch he was holding, and his eyes almost bugged out.

"Spitfire..." He said, his voice quiet.

"I mean...The way you spun through that hole was quite impressive. The the bounce off the wall straight after was inspired." Spitfire continued to laud.

"Oh, well thank you, ma'am." Rainbow said, almost laughing.

"Spitfire." Soarin said a bit louder this time, gaining her attention. He looked at her and held up the watch. "She was...two seconds behind your time." Spitfire was shocked at the statement.

"From when I was a cadet? Or...from when I did it a few months ago?" Spitfire asked. Soarin smiled at her and then looked at Rainbow Dash.

"Spitfire, do you think I'd remember your time from all those years ago?" He asked, laughing slightly and shaking his head. Rainbow Dash beamed with pride and Spitfire clapped a hoof onto her shoulder.

"Goddesses. I think we have a future wonderbolt standing here with us." Spitfire said.

"Well you'd mentioned that thing about coming close to your record while we talked earlier, and so I thought about how I'd only tried the first two levels...and I got the idea to try and beat your record on the third." Rainbow explained as they began to walk toward the locker rooms together. "Maybe next time."

"I just might have to update my record then." Spitfire replied, raising an eyebrow. "Make it a little tougher for you."

"Oh, so you think you've gotten that much better in the last few months, Spitfire?" Soarin asked with a small chuckle.

"Yes, in fact, I do." Spitfire shot back. "And you'd better watch it. I still outrank you." Soarin laughed and went into a hover as they arrived at the mares' locker room.

"Alright you two. I'm headed home. Great job today, Rainbow! Keep up the good work. Maybe soon we'll be doing a show together." Soarin saluted and sped off into the sky. Rainbow's heart fluttered at his last statement, and entered the locker room.

"Uhh, hey Rainbow. You have a minute to talk?" Spitfire asked, following Rainbow Dash into the locker room. Slightly surprised, Rainbow Dash turned and nodded. "I...I feel like I owe you an apology." Spitfire said.

"What for?" Rainbow asked, genuinely confused.

"Well...I feel like I was too hard on you earlier." Spitfire continued. "You basically balance three jobs, including coming here...I should have been more understanding about your circumstances."

"Ma'am-"

"Spitfire. When we're not training and stuff like that, call me Spitfire. Please." The bright yellow Pegasus said. Rainbow smiled and nodded.

"Spitfire, I honestly messed up. I've been messing up, and you've given me break after break. You've had every right to get mad at me." Rainbow said with a smile.

"I saw your eyes, Rainbow." Spitfire said, clearly referring to the tears she'd almost shed earlier. "I was too hard on you."

"Well, it wasn't just because you were fussing at me." Rainbow explained, embarrassed that Spitfire brought up her tears. "It's just...Being a wonderbolt has been my dream...Ever since I was a little filly, all I could think about was being in this amazing group. And now that I'm here, every time I walk through that archway, I just can't believe it...The thought of potentially losing that...It scared me. A lot. But seriously, I don't want you giving me any kind of special treatment.

"Well Rainbow, you are special." Spitfire replied, a genuine smile on her face. "Look, from here on out, if you're late...I might give it to you in front of the other cadets, you know, for appearances and such. But I really want you here. Just try really reeeeally hard to be here on time, alright?" Rainbow smiled and nodded before turning to her locker and opening it, removing her saddle bag.

"I won't lie, though...I'm glad there's not another training day until next week." Rainbow said. "I'm completely spent." Spitfire laughed.

"Well yeah, you pretty much did all the exercises without stopping." Spitfire said. "I'm not surprised."

"Well you said not to disappoint you." Rainbow chuckled as she zipped up her saddlebag. "I took that as law." Spitfire smiled at the statement.

"With skills like that...I mean, not only did you destroy every other cadet's time, you looked good doing it." Spitfire said, raising her eyebrow. Rainbow looked up at her and saw that raised eyebrow and couldn't help but blush a bit. "Like I said earlier, that spin you did through the hole, coupled with the jump off the wall...That was wonderbolt caliber skill there, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow rubbed the back of her head, the blush not leaving her face.

"Gosh, Spitfire...Thanks. That means a lot." Rainbow said with a small laugh. Spitfire nodded and went toward the locker room door. She opened it and looked back at Rainbow, that eyebrow still raised.

"Keep looking good, Rainbow Dash. And keep wowing me. I think you just might become a wonderbolt if you do." With that, the leader of the wonderbolts left the locker room. Rainbow laughed quietly to herself as she put her saddlebag back on. She ambled out of the locker room happily and took off in flight toward Sweet Apple Acres. The pegasus thought of something that was somewhat disquieting to her. True, she was incredibly proud of herself for how she performed that day, and having Spitfire's personal admiration meant the world to her...But Spitfire's choice of words was slightly peculiar...and the way she raised her eyebrow...If Rainbow hadn't known any better she'd think that Spitfire had been flirting with her.

"That's ridiculous." Rainbow chuckled to herself as she sped home. It wasn't till she actually arrived at her home that she felt the exhaustion kick in. The sky was already well into the process of darkening, and her legs didn't want to move. Opening the door she was greeted by the sight of the cutie mark crusaders, who all quickly stood upon seeing her. They'd been coloring in the living room while Granny Smith was finishing up with supper.

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo cried out, the exclamation seemingly being the prompt for all three of the fillies to run up to the mare, giving her three separate, tight hugs.

"Hey guys." Rainbow said with a small laugh. "Can...you let go of me so I could walk?" The fillies did as asked of them and went back to what they were doing as Applejack came from the hallway with a warm smile on her face. Seeing her wife gave Rainbow almost instantaneous peace and her chest filled with warmth.

"Hey baby." Rainbow said with pure love. "I'm totally beat. Would it be cool if we turned in early tonight?"

"You sure?" Applejack asked. "Granny's got a heckuva stew cookin'." Rainbow nodded slowly.

"I'm so tired." The pegasus mouthed, and Applejack smiled at her.

"Well...Truth be told, Ah aint that hungry tonight anyways." Applejack said, giving Rainbow Dash a small nuzzle. Rainbow nodded appreciatively. "Hey, Granny. Save some of that stew for us. Ah think we're gonna turn in."

"Awful early, ain't it?" Granny asked, looking out from the kitchen.

"Ah think we're both just feelin' super sleepy. Rainbow pulled a shift and did wonderbolts training today." The orange mare explained. "Ah'm real proud of her. Ah also worked pretty hard out in the orchard today, myself." Granny nodded before walking back into the kitchen.

"Y'all have breakfast nice and early tomorrow mornin' then." Granny called. "Y'all need your nourishment!"

"We ain't fillies, Granny." Applejack laughed.

"Aww! I was hoping you could help me color, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said, a frown coming to her face.

"Sorry, Scoots. I'm just totally beat. I thought you already tried to get cutie marks for coloring, anyway." Rainbow said to the filly.

"We did." Scootaloo said. "This is just for fun!" Rainbow laughed and nodded.

"Alright, then. Rain check?" Rainbow said, holding out a hoof. Scootaloo bumped it and nodded, running back to her friends. Rainbow sighed as she turned around, heading toward their bedroom. The walk seemed to take forever, and she let out a loud sigh as she leapt into the bed, making it creak as she landed.

"So ya had a big day, did ya?" Applejack asked, leaning on the doorframe for a moment.

"Definitely. Why don't you quit leaning on that doorframe all sexy-like, and come cuddle me so I can tell you all about it?" Rainbow opened her forelegs with the last question and raised an eyebrow, making Applejack laugh.

"Geez, Rainbow. All Ah was doin' was leaning." Applejack said as she laid down next to her wife. She took Rainbow into her forelegs and held her close, the pegasus snuggling into Applejack's chest. "So...You gonna tell me or are you gonna just drift off into dream land?" Rainbow giggled.

"Well, you know how I was running so late?"

"Of course Ah do. You were yellin' about it basically until you ran out the door."

"I got there, and Spitfire was not happy. The other cadets had already gotten started on their stuff and I was just then getting into uniform. Well, she pulled me into her office and gave me a pretty stern talking to."

"Ah'm sure that comin' from Spitfire, that wasn't too fun."

"Well, it was okay. She told me that I'd been impressing her, and that she likes me...But that I can also be irresponsible."

"Ah can empathize with that last part." Applejack said with a small chuckle, earning a light slug on the arm from her wife.

"Hey!" The pegasus spouted, making Applejack laugh.

"Keep goin' love." Applejack said, giving Rainbow a small kiss on the head. Rainbow smiled and snuggled into her wife more.

"Well, she also said she understood that I had another job, and that I have you and the baby coming and all that...She gave me what was basically one last shot. She said if I was late one more time, I was out." Rainbow said. "Before she told me she was giving me that last chance, I seriously thought I was going to get kicked out of the academy. I miiight've started to cry a little bit." A sheepish look came onto Rainbow's face with the last part of her sentence.

"Aww, Rainbow!" Applejack exclaimed, stroking her wife's mane. "Want me to go fight her? Ah can give her my mean right hook." Rainbow giggled and lightly slapped her wife's chest.

"You'll do no such thing." Rainbow said, still giggling. "Anyway, back to my story. I was seriously determined to not disappoint her, so I went at my exercises hard. It's why I'm so exhausted right now. So I finish off doing the hardest obstacle course, and only being two seconds slower than Spitfire herself."

"Rainbow, that's amazin!" Applejack said, looking down at her pegasus wife, pure pride showing on her face. "But then again, you're amazin'."

"Yeah, I know. Spitfire and Soarin couldn't stop telling me." Rainbow continued. "So we all pretty much left together, since all the other cadets were done and had left by that point. So Soarin left and Spitfire came into the locker room with me and apologized, and said how good I looked and told me to call her Spitfire and not ma'am when we're not training! Spitfire said that!" Rainbow let out a small fangirl squeal, sitting up from her chest and Applejack let out a quiet, close-mouthed chuckle. "So then she goes to leave and says, and I quote, 'Keep looking good, Rainbow Dash. And keep wowing me. I think you just might become a wonderbolt if you do.' Can you believe that?"

"That's really cool." Applejack replied, noticeably less excited, which Rainbow immediately noticed. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow in concern.

"What's wrong?" Rainbow asked.

"Sounds to me like Spitfire was flirting." Applejack said. "And it seems like it either flattered you, or went right over your head." Rainbow Dash had been so engrossed in telling her tale, that she truly had forgotten that she'd had the same thought on the way home from the academy.

"Umm...Was I not supposed to be flattered? Applejack, do you not get that this day meant a lot to me?" Rainbow asked. "I mean, Spitfire is my idol, and to have her praise me like that meant the world."

"Ah know that, but-"

"And honestly, you were ecstatic for me until you got that thought in your head." Rainbow interrupted her. "Even if it was flirting, which I doubt it was, Spitfire has always been super chill and casual. It was harmless flirting. Which it wasn't. This was a really big day for me, can't you just be happy for me?

"Ah'm sorry. Ah wasn't thinkin' straight." Applejack rectified her demeanor quickly, putting a hoof on Rainbow's. "Ah know firsthand how wonderful and amazin' you are...Not to mention good lookin'." Rainbow blushed at what her wife said. "And sometimes...Ah dunno, it's not too difficult for me to imagine another pony fallin' for ya. Ah know because Ah fall for ya again and again every day." Rainbow smiled and kissed Applejack lovingly, her ears lowering as she separated from it.

"AJ, I'm promising you right now." Rainbow took Applejack's hoof into both of hers and held it up to her chest. "You never have to worry about that kind of thing. Even if somepony else did fall for me...I'd have no interest at all. I married you." Tears began to stream down Applejack's face. She closed her eyes in shame and hung her head.

"You're right. Ah'm sorry. Ah'm so sorry." Applejack said. "Ah don't know what Ah was thinkin'."

"It's okay, AJ." Rainbow replied, moving her head up by her chin to look at her. "Sometimes a little jealousy is good. It lets me know how much you love me." With that, Rainbow kissed her wife deeply, Applejack melting into the kiss. Rainbow pushed her wife onto her back, and moved her lips to Applejack's neck, making her moan.

"Aahn...Rainbow..." Applejack moaned. "Do you wanna..." The orange mare trailed off, looking into her wife's eyes, and Rainbow, getting the message, nodded happily.

"Yeah." Rainbow said simply, giving her wife a small, yet very sensual kiss on the lips. "I think I'm ready to do it like we did at the beach house again...We've had a couple times and...I think I'm more used to it now." The statement sent shivers through Applejack as Rainbow got off of her. Applejack moved quickly to the closet, and came back with their toy, smiling sexily. Rainbow bit her lip and laid back on the bed as Applejack climbed up, the toy gripped in her teeth. Putting it to the side, Applejack kissed Rainbow again, her hoof moving up the pegasus' thigh, getting ever closer to her sex. Teasing her wife, Applejack moved her hoof back down Rainbow's leg, making her moan. The cyan mare wrapped her forlegs around Applejack's neck and began to move her hips, almost begging to be touched without words. Finally deciding to stop dragging things out, Applejack began rubbing Rainbow's marehood, making her moan quietly. Panting through an open-mouthed smile, Rainbow began grinding her hips on Applejack's hoof, closing her eyes from the wonderful pleasure. The sight made Applejack bite her lip in anticipation for the coming events.

Suddenly a loud crash and the sound of laughing fillies broke their mood and they both opened their eyes wide. As if they'd been snapped out of some kind of trance, Applejack looked down at Rainbow, who looked up at her and they both blushed, laughing with embarrassment.

"We...ain't really gonna do this with them playin' around right in the other room, are we?" Applejack asked.

"No, I don't think that would be a very smart idea." Rainbow replied. "The way I was wanting it...They probably would have heard us. Thank Celestia for whatever they destroyed." Applejack laughed happily and laid back down on the bed, slipping the toy into the bedside table.

"Cuddlin' sound good enough for now?" Applejack asked.

"Cuddling and sleep with the best mare in the world." Rainbow said sweetly, once again assuming her position nestling her head into Applejack's chest. The two mares fell asleep together, content to put off their fun for just another day or two.

The Next Morning

Rarity rifled through papers on Fluttershy's coffee table, struggling to maintain her composure. Her court date earlier that day had seriously unsettled her, as she had already been losing money before Sapphire's lawsuit got dropped into her lap. It appeared as if this would utterly destroy her financially. The many prospects flooded her mind, the largest of which was losing Carousel Boutique. Her livelihood, everything she'd been working for through her entire life was about to be snatched from her hooves. Feeling her composure break under all the litigation and numbers she was facing, she let out a shout of frustration and threw the papers from the desk and began to cry. Fluttershy came running to her side.

"Rarity, are you alright?" The yellow mare asked, rubbing her back lightly.

"Of course I'm not alright!" Rarity snapped, making Fluttershy recoil, a hurt expression on her face. Rarity sighed and hung her head again. "I'm sorry, dear...I'm so sorry. I know you were just being your normal sweet self...It's just...I think I might lose the boutique." Fluttershy suppressed a gasp, merely settling on sitting next to her companion. Rarity and Fluttershy had been seeing each other since they'd returned from Baltimare. The unicorn had stayed the night with her, and there had been quite a bit of kissing, but no real sexual interaction just yet. Fluttershy understood, though. There was no rush for her, she knew Rarity was in very unfamiliar territory and as far as Fluttershy was concerned, she was just happy to have her.

"You really think so?" Fluttershy asked.

"That is what it's looking like." Rarity said, wiping her eyes. "I was already losing money before this lawsuit. This morning's court illustrated my situation to me further."

"I'm so sorry, Rarity." Fluttershy said, laying her head on Rarity's shoulder.

"Sweetie Belle and I won't have anywhere to live." Rarity said. "Goddesses, how could I have been so stupid?! I should have just let it go and let the little brat walk away."

"Rarity, she was bullying you and you stood up for yourself." Fluttershy said. "Don't talk like that. You're not stupid."

"I just...I can't lose the boutique..." Rarity said, letting out a small sob.

"Rarity, I'm telling you right now, that if the worst happens...You and Sweetie Belle can stay here with me." Fluttershy assured her, making Rarity look at her wide-eyed. "It would be no trouble. You know, since I like you so much." A fresh wave of tears came to Rarity's tired eyes and she kissed Fluttershy, making her stomach tingle.

"You're so wonderful, Fluttershy." Rarity said. "But I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen...Despite how much I like you back." Fluttershy giggled.

"How about you go into the bathroom and get ready, and we can go out on a date. Cafe Du Mane?" Fluttershy asked, bringing a smile to Rarity's face. "My treat." Rarity sighed and nodded, laying her head on Fluttershy's shoulder for a moment.

"I'm so happy that I have you." Rarity said. "I think I'll just sit here with you for a few more minutes, if that's alright." Fluttershy giggled and nodded.

"I have no problem with that." The pegasus sighed, the two of them sitting back against the couch.

It didn't take Rarity too long to get ready for the date. The unicorn had always cleaned up very well, and today was no exception. She looked stunning compared to how she did, as if she hadn't had the mini-meltdown she'd had earlier. Having nothing to do in the interim beside cleaning up the legal papers Rarity had thrown, Fluttershy had simply dozed off on the couch. Rarity found her snoozing away with her head resting on the arm rest. Giggling slightly at how adorable she looked, Rarity lightly shook her new love awake. She moaned quietly as she stirred, her eyes slowly opening. She smiled at Rarity.

"You look beautiful." Fluttershy said quietly, stretching for a moment.

"As do you, my sweet." Rarity replied, giving her a small nuzzle. "Ready to go?" Fluttershy gave a small nod and stretched once more, unfurling her wings for a moment before hopping down from the couch.

"Angel, are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" Fluttershy asked. Her pet rabbit, who was sleeping, sent up a small paw from his bed and Fluttershy giggled. "He can be a little cranky when he's asleep sometimes."

"I noticed." Rarity said as they left the house. "But I will say, you've put your hoof down with him. That's quite admirable." They ambled down the pathway together, keeping a brisk pace, just at a fast walk.

"Well, Rainbow Dash helped me out with that a bit." Fluttershy elaborated. "She came by one day when he was being particularly bad and she gave me a bit of a pep-talk. Then I became the bunny-mommy I was meant to be. He respects me a lot more now. Sometimes he can be a bit of a brat still, but I set him straight."

"Well I'm proud of you, dear." Rarity said with a smile. "I wish I didn't have this lawsuit on my mind...I'd be able to really focus on spending time with you." Fluttershy nuzzled Rarity a bit and smiled.

"Rarity, today is all about you. I'm just here to make you comfortable." Fluttershy said. "I hate seeing you stressed or sad."

"Well, I've been plenty of both, lately. So work your magic." Rarity said, making Fluttershy laugh. The rest of the walk was nice, the Autumn air having chilled quite a bit since they'd returned from Baltimare. They made light conversation here and there, but mostly just enjoyed the walk together. Before long, they arrived at Cafe Du Mane and entered the restaurant.

"Ahh, hello again, miss Rarity!" The hostess, an earth pony whose name Rarity could not quite remember, greeted them. Rarity nodded at her and smiled, not feeling up to making conversation with anyone save for Fluttershy. "Just two for this evening?"

"Yes ma'am." Fluttershy said sweetly as the hostess led them to their table and supplied them with menus.

"Your server will be with you shortly." She said with a small nod, leaving them together.

"I'll make sure to get some of that extra honey-wheat bread." Fluttershy said with a smile. "With an extra dish of butter. I know how much you like it." Rarity smiled and nodded.

"You know how to cheer me up." Rarity said sweetly. "I think I still have a coupon for some time at the spa that I haven't redeemed. Would you like to go there after this?" Fluttershy nodded happily.

"Sounds heavenly!" She beamed. Rarity felt a small rush of excitement within her, and surely enough, the doom of the lawsuit began to fade into the back of her mind.

"So enough talk about me and my awful day. How was yours?" Rarity asked. "I mean, I know we're not terribly far into it, but all the same."

"Well, I fed Angel." Fluttershy said. "Then I saw a bear coming a little too close to my fence. I think he wanted some of my berries. I ended up having to use the stare on him."

"Fluttershy and the stare." Rarity said as their waiter approached.

"Good evening, ladies!" He said. Fluttershy noticed it was the same waiter that had served her all those weeks ago who reassured her when she'd thought Rarity had stood her up. He gave her a small, knowing smile, which she returned. "What can I get you to drink?"

"I think I'll go against my type and get some lemonade." Fluttershy said with a smile.

"I'll just have a water with a lemon wedge." Rarity stated with a small, curt nod. "Thank you."

"No, thank you!" He said with a small nod, beginning to turn to leave.

"Oh wait! Could we have some extra honey bread and butter when you bring it out?" Fluttershy asked. "We're both pretty hungry." The waiter nodded with a smile and left them.

"So as I was saying...The Stare..." Rarity said. "It's quite amusing that a bear turned tail and ran from that."

"What can I say?" Fluttershy said with a small shrug. "When I have to turn it on, I turn it on." Rarity really liked how confident Fluttershy became when they were together. It was almost as if she just needed the white unicorn to come out of her shell a bit. It was quite attractive.

"It's just hard for me to imagine you being intimidating." Rarity said with a small laugh, perhaps intending to tease her date a bit.

"Oh I can do it if I need to." Fluttershy replied.

"Oh? Well show me." Rarity said with a cocky smile, leaning over on the table a bit.

"I'd rather not." Fluttershy said, looking to the side and blushing. "We're in the middle of a restaurant."

"Oh come now, Fluttershy." Rarity said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just asking you to stare at me."

"I don't know..."

"Come on..." Rarity urged. "Do it! If for nothing else, do it because I'm so beautiful." Fluttershy rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Alright, since you're so beautiful." She said. "You asked for it. When I look up, make eye contact with me." Fluttershy lowered her head for a moment, then raised it, staring into Rarity's eyes. After a second or so, Rarity chuckled.

"Is that it?" She asked. Fluttershy said nothing and continued to stare. The gaze, while at first seemingly mild, seemed to get more intense the more she stared into it. Laughing nervously, the unicorn maintained eye contact. Each second that passed seemed to stack on the pressure she felt from the look. Only lasting for a few more seconds, Rarity looked away and let out a large exhale, producing a small exclamation. "Alright, point made." Fluttershy giggled as the waiter returned with their drinks and bread.

"Are we ready to order? He asked.

"Yes, I'll have the berry salad with blue cheese, please." Rarity said, not having to look at the menu.

"And I'll just have an order of the bruschetta, and could you put some mozzarella on there for me?" Fluttershy asked, not faltering or stuttering at all. Rarity noticed this, and it seemed to yet again increase her attraction to her. The waiter nodded and smiled.

"Sounds great. Those will be out in just a little while." He said and left them both there.

"You know, Fluttershy..." Rarity said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "I like how confident you've become."

"Well...To be honest...I only really feel that way when I'm with you." The pegasus replied with a sweet smile. "It's like...It's like you give me strength."

"Is that you saying you'd like to spend more time with me?" Rarity asked, putting her hoof out onto the table, knowing how her companion would respond.

"Definitely." Fluttershy said, putting her own hoof on Rarity's. "You know, Rarity-"

"Rarity?" A voice sounded off from behind them. The two turned, Rarity taking her hoof from Fluttershy's. There stood a stallion who made Fluttershy immediately uneasy.

Fancypants.

"Goddesses, Rarity, it feels like its been forever!" He said as he approached their table. Fluttershy felt nothing but disdain for him, and she didn't know whether or not that translated to her facial expression. Frankly, she didn't care.

"Fancypants, it's so good to see you!" She said with a small laugh, standing and giving him a hug. "And I believe it was at Princess Cadence's wedding that we saw each other last. So yes, it has been quite a while. You remember Fluttershy, right?" Fancypants nodded at Fluttershy, and judging by his face, she didn't have too hateful an expression on hers.

"Of course I do." He said kindly. "How do you do, miss?" Fluttershy nodded at him.

"Oh, I'm surviving. It's difficult out there." Fluttershy churned out the small talk like a printer, without much inflection in her voice, starkly opposed to Rarity, who gushed with excitement at seeing him. Clearly she was starstruck.

"You blew me away on that dance floor, I certainly remember that." He said.

"So what brings you all the way to Ponyville?" Rarity asked. Fluttershy was annoyed their date had come to a complete halt just because this stallion had decided to crash it. But she had to compose herself, he didn't know she and Rarity were seeing each other.

"Well, I'm here visiting some friends of mine." Fancypants explained. "I'm not sure if you've heard, but Fleur de Lis has left me." Fluttershy almost scoffed at how stuck up the stallion sounded. Of course they wouldn't have heard about that all the way down here in Ponyville.

"Oh, I had no idea!" Rarity said, sounding a bit too enthralled by the information to Fluttershy. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm on the mend." He replied with a small chuckle. "It's been hard, but I'm getting through. It's why I came to see my friends."

"Well friends can do a lot to heal a broken heart." Rarity replied with a smile. "I know that from experience. My friend Fluttershy here has done a lot for me on that front, haven't you, dear?" Fluttershy merely gave a small nod, supplying an exceedingly fake smile. Rarity didn't seem to notice at all. At that point, the waiter returned with the two mares' orders.

"Berry salad with blue cheese, and bruschetta with mozzarella." He said happily, looking at Fluttershy and then at Rarity. He looked back at Fluttershy with a raised eyebrow and the pegasus merely shrugged, shaking her head. "I hope you enjoy! Please let me know if I can help you in any way." Fluttershy got the feeling he was talking to her more than Rarity.

"I suppose that's my cue to go." Fancypants said, giving Rarity's hoof a small kiss. "It's just as well, too. I think they're waiting on me for the next hand of cards. Enjoy your dinner! Maybe I'll see you around, Rarity."

"Maybe you will." Rarity replied with a small nod. He left the two mares to their dinner, Fluttershy having already begun eating her bruschetta. "Small world, isn't it?"

"Mmmhmm" Fluttershy replied simply as she chewed. "So...As I was saying-" Fluttershy began after she's swallowed her first bite.

"I can't believe Fleur left him!" Rarity said. "I had always thought they'd be inseparable. Looks like you never can tell, eh?"

"Looks like it." Fluttershy deadpanned, taking another bite, forgetting what she was going to say when Fancypants had approached.

"What do you think caused it?" Rarity asked. "I'll bet Fleur just found someone else she liked better. Fancypants was always an honorable stallion, and I never once trusted Fleur." Fluttershy simply nodded, figuring Rarity would run out of things to say about the stallion and focus on her again. She was wrong. All Rarity could talk about from then on until they'd finished their food was Fancypants. Starstruck as she was, Fluttershy was not surprised, but she was terribly disappointed. The date had been going so well until he'd crashed it. With every word Rarity spoke regarding her crush, Fluttershy became more and more beat down. When they'd finished their food, they stood and went to leave, Fluttershy stopping at the front desk to settle up. Rarity had picked up on Fluttershy's mood, but honestly couldn't figure out why she'd wilted the way she had. They left the restaurant and Rarity, attempting to brighten Fluttershy up, nudged her.

"Alright! Are you ready for two hours of rest and relaxation?" The unicorn posed the question in a way that attempted to hype Fluttershy up. It fell flat.

"Sure." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong?" Rarity asked, stopping the two of them as they walked. "You got slightly...weird in there, and as far as I can tell you're still being that way." Fluttershy scoffed and raised her eyebrows at the unicorn.

"I'm being weird?" Fluttershy asked in an uncharacteristically heightened voice. "Are you really that blind?"

"That's rather uncalled for." Rarity replied, furrowing her brows. "What did I do?"

"How about forgetting that I existed in there the second your old crush walked up?" Fluttershy asked. "Or is he even your old crush? You could have fooled me the way you looked at him."

"Fluttershy, what do you mean? I just spoke to him, what did you expect? Did you want me to tell him to go away? He's a friend of mine." Rarity replied, trying to maintain her composure.

"He was all you could talk about for the rest of our meal. I could barely get a word in edgewise. I tried bringing up the spa, what we could do tonight afterward...Your lawsuit..." Fluttershy stated, and Rarity realized she was right. But even though she made that realization, she was still feeling defensive. "I felt like I didn't exist to you.... I felt like we weren't anything but just two friends on a lunch date. I thought you were my marefriend."

"Well, Fluttershy I told you that I wasn't sure about where this would head. I was very up front about that." Rarity snapped. "I don't even know if we were anything to begin with." Fluttershy recoiled at the words, and her angered demeanor melted away into one of hurt. Rarity regretted the words as they'd come from her mouth. Of course they were something.

"Fluttershy, I'm sor-"

"So the time we've spent together...All the times we kissed...That was for nothing? On the beach, our first real kiss, and how magical that was...That was...For nothing?" Fluttershy said, taking a step toward Rarity, tears welling in her eyes. "After more than two weeks, you still don't know if we're marefriends?" Rarity struggled to find the words to reply with.

"I...I don't know, Fluttershy." Rarity said.

"Well if you still don't know...What are we even doing?" Fluttershy asked, her voice breaking as she unfurled her wings quickly and took off.

"Fluttershy, wait!" Rarity called, attempting to use her magic to stop her, but Fluttershy overpowered it and Rarity let out an exclamation as the spell was broken, simply by the power of Fluttershy's wings. Rarity didn't bother running after her. Fluttershy was clearly mad at her and hurt. She would have to make it up to her. Rarity sighed, feeling her heart break as she began to walk back toward Carousel Boutique. The thought of losing the boutique, coupled by what she just went through with Fluttershy, considering how well things between them were going, made Rarity begin to cry.

"Rarity?" Fancypants said from behind her. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

"Oh, hello Fancypants." She said, turning around. She'd been startled by the stallion and immediately began wiping her tears. "Just several different things, you shouldn't worry about it."

"Well, I always worry when I see a beautiful mare crying." He said to her with a smile. "Would you like to talk about it?" Rarity let out a large sigh, and while omitting what she'd just gone through with Fluttershy, recounted her first encounter with Sapphire. He became noticeably angry at the story.

"And so now she's suing me for emotional damages. She says that when I lifted her up from the ground, she feared for her life." Rarity said. "The lawsuit has been bleeding me dry and I fear I may lose the boutique."

"Preposterous!" Fancypants growled. "Spoiled brat. This absolutely cannot stand."

"Well, I don't exactly have the means to do anything about it." Rarity said, struggling not to cry again.

"No, what I meant was that I'm going to help you. I'm going to cover your court costs, and make sure you have sufficient representation. We'll make sure you don't lose your boutique." Rarity was stunned and shook her head instantly.

"Oh, please, Fancypants...I couldn't." Rarity stated. "That is simply too much money."

"Rarity, I insist. If I have to have a delivery colt come drop the bags of bits at your door, I will." Fancypants stated matter-of-factly. "I'm going to make sure you don't lose your home. I have more than enough money, so absolutely do not worry about that at all. Now that Fleur has left me, I don't really have much to do with it anyway." Rarity began to protest again, and he put a hoof on her shoulder. "I insist, and I will insist until I run out of breath." Rarity, seeing no use in fighting it any more, sighed.

"Okay." Rarity said simply, giving a nod.

"Wonderful. Shall we meet for lunch tomorrow and go over the details?" He asked. "Say, three o'clock?" Rarity nodded happily.

"I'll be there with bells on." The unicorn said happily, earning a nod from Fancypants.

"Splendid, it's a date." He said. The statement struck a chord within Rarity, and Fluttershy instantaneously came into her mind. The happiness she felt at not losing her home overwhelmed the thought, and she nodded.

"It's a date." Rarity replied, a small sick feeling nagging at her. She felt as if she was betraying Fluttershy, but Fluttershy had just basically broken up with her, so she stuffed the feeling down. Even so, she decided that she would go to Fluttershy the next day and attempt to mend things.

"I'll see you then." Fancypants said, returning to his friends to continue whatever they'd had on their agenda that day. Rarity happily ambled home, humming to herself.

'Alright. So tomorrow, go have lunch with Fancypants and figure out how to save your home.' The unicorn thought to herself and she moved. 'Then go see Fluttershy and figure out how to save your love.' She didn't see Fluttershy, who had returned, and who had been gripping a beautiful flower in her mouth to give to her as an apology. She'd heard every word. The flower dropped from her mouth, which had fallen open slightly. Crying quietly, Fluttershy flew home to nurse her broken heart.

Author's Notes:

There's a little rug-pull moment there for you guys. I know, I know, I'm kinda cruel. Things like this happen all the time though, you know? Things don't always work out like peaches and cream. Shit gets crazy, people figure out things about people they get together with they didn't previously know...We're all human and we're all at least a little unsure of how we feel or what the future holds. Well, Rarity and Fluttershy aren't human, but you get my meaning. Rarity still wants to continue things with Fluttershy, but does Fluttershy feel the same way after hearing Rarity schedule a "date" with Fancypants, literally minutes after they've broken up? Next chapter should be up soon, probably not as quickly as I got this one up, though. I'm about to really start working again and I'm cast in a play so I won't be able to write quite as much. But it should be within the week. Cheers!