“Almost…”

Fluttershy carefully filed the nail down, slowly, then adding a second coat of nail polish.

“Wow, Rarity was right,” Twilight mused with a smile, “You really are good at this!”

“Thank you,” Fluttershy smiled back, looking back down at her work, “So, how are things, Twilight? Where’s Ascentia been?”

“Hospital, she broke her leg yesterday,” Twilight  replied. She then added at Fluttershy’s worried expression, “No, no. It wasn’t my fault this time. She tripped and fell down the stairs.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy cringed a little bit, shaking her head, “That’s terrible. Will she be okay?”

“Yeah, she’ll be fine,” Twilight smiled, “She’s always breaking something or another, the clumsy darling.”

Despite that the injuries were evident of other things, Fluttershy knew all too well that clumsiness was a factor.

“Poor thing…” She said, shaking her head a little bit, “You mentioned you had a checkup last week. How are things with the baby?”

“Baby’s growing like a weed,” Twilight giggled, “I’m already trying to decide on a name, but names are sooooo tricky. You want something that sounds nice, but also won’t get your kid beat up on the playground…”

“Not that they should be bullying other kids in the first place…” Fluttershy mumbled, “Anyway… I’m sure you girls will think of something. Sometimes couples do wait until the baby is born.”

“Mmmm, I hate waiting…” Twilight groaned, “Oh! Speaking of reproduction, I heard you and Rainbow set up a little rendezvous for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? How’d that go?”

Fluttershy looked up with a smile, “It went very well! We came home and Rainbow found them asleep in her bed… After everything, all things considered. I took them home afterward, and they said they had a lovely time together.”

“Awww, I remember my first time,” Twilight smiled, “It was in this very library, and she made me see stars.”

“Awww…” Fluttershy giggled, “I remember mine. It was…. in Mac’s bedroom, on his bed. I didn’t see stars or anything, but it was…. it was very nice, very pleasant and thrilling.”

“Have you ever managed to see stars?” Twilight asked, “Or is it always just ‘nice’ with you?”

A blush settled on Fluttershy’s cheeks, “...My first time with Rainbow had me seeing stars…”

Twilight giggled, “How did I know? You two have been like rabbits in heat since you started this whole thing.”

“Oh, I know… I can’t help it, she just…. Makes me feel like never before…” Fluttershy applied some more nail polish, her cheeks as pink as her hair.

“Hey, where is she, anyway? Nobody’s seen her since you guys held that refuge for the girls,” Twilight remarked.

“She’s been working overtime at the weather centre,” Fluttershy replied, “I told her to come by later, I could see how exhausted she was when I went to feed Tank for her this morning before she left.”

“She doesn’t take overtime unless something is bothering her, though,” Twilight said, “Is something the matter?”

Hesitating, Fluttershy paused in her filing for a few moments, “...Yes, something is bothering her lately. You can ask her about it, she might tell you.”

“Why can’t you tell me? We already know about her little friend, how much more embarrassing could her secrets get?” Twilight chuckled.

“It’s something I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone. Please, just ask her for yourself. I already said too much,” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Alright, I guess,” Twilight shrugged.

“Hello?” came a small voice from the doorway, “Is anyone here?”

“Sweetie Belle!” Twilight smiled, “I haven’t seen you in so long, how are you?”

“I’m good, Twilight,” Sweetie smiled, “Rarity’s trying to fill a whole mess of orders. Is it alright if I hang out here for a bit?”

Twilight nodded and beckoned her, “Of course! Come on in, Fluttershy was just doing my nails here. Come sit with us.”

“Hi, Sweetie Belle!” Fluttershy waved at her before going back to her work.

“Hi Fluttershy,” Sweetie Belle smiled, hugging Fluttershy tightly around the shoulders, “How’ve you and Rainbow been since last week?”

Though puzzled why she’d asked about them both in the same sentence, Fluttershy shrugged and gave her a little hug right back, “Just fine, thank you. Rainbow’s been working overtime a lot and it’s tiring the poor thing out, though.”

“Something wrong?” Sweetie Belle asked, “Doesn’t Rainbow Dash usually try to get time off work, not get more time on?”

“Apparently, something is. She usually works overtime when something’s bothering her,” Twilight explained, “It’s a coping mechanism of hers to get her mind off it.”

“Oooooooh,” Sweetie Belle said as realization dawned on her, “Fluttershy… I left something for Rainbow before me and Apple Bloom left last week. You don’t happen to know if she got it, do you?”

Fluttershy frowned in mild confusion, “Um…. I don’t know… She didn’t mention anything like that. She just said you two had a talk about things, that’s it.”

It dawned on Sweetie Belle that Rainbow had probably kept it private, assuming she kept it at all, “Oh… okay, it was just a note thanking her for letting us… you know.”

“I see, okay,” Fluttershy smiled at that. But then she wondered why Rainbow would’ve kept that secret. Shrugging it off, she went back to finish up Twilight’s nails.

“That was nice of you,” Twilight smiled at her.

“Thanks,” Sweetie Belle smiled, “Rarity was just mad when I got home. Yelled at me for two hours straight.”

“That’s… unlike her. Why would she be that angry?” Fluttershy asked.

Sweetie Belle froze. In truth, Rarity had yelled at her for walking home without underwear on. But she couldn’t very well tell them that, “...I was supposed to hang out fabric for her new line, and I didn’t and I threw her off schedule.”

Twilight snickered, “Always on the ball, that Rarity…”

“I’ll say,” Fluttershy laughed a bit, “That’s why I always go the spa at least ten minutes before she gets there.”

“I still wish she wouldn’t be so aggressive about it,” Sweetie Belle grumbled, “It was an accident.”

“Don’t worry about it, Sweetie Belle, I think you know as well as we do that she gets a little carried away and works herself a little too hard sometimes,” Twilight assured her.

Sweetie Belle nodded as the bell over the door rang again to indicate someone walking in.

“Alright, I’m here guys,” a tired and stiff Rainbow Dash said as she crossed the threshold.

“Rainbow!” Sweetie Belle squeaked in delight, running over and latching onto her waist in a hip-crushing hug.“

“Oof!” Rainbow grunted, but managed a smile, hugging her back, “Hey there, kiddo. What brings around here?”

“I had to get out of the house for a bit,” Sweetie Belle smiled as she nuzzled Rainbow’s midsection, “Are you alright? Fluttershy said you’ve been working overtime…”

Rainbow nodded and released her, “Yeah, fine. They just needed some extra help since some of the staff is on vacation. We got some newbies, so they needed me to help train them.”

“Yeah, but the last few dozen times they wanted you to train new staff, you always tried to get out of it,” Twilight remarked, “Are you sure you’re okay? If something’s bothering you, you can talk to the three of us.”

Exhaling heavily, Rainbow dropped onto a chair, “Forget about it.”

Getting up, Fluttershy came around and proceeded to massage her shoulders gently, “Here, I’ll start your treatment now.”

“Awesome…” Rainbow exhaled again, this time with contentment, “...Fine, I’ll tell you. No cracks this time, okay, Twi?”

“Promise,” Twilight smiled.

Quiet for a few moments, mostly due to Fluttershy’s expert massaging doing its magic, Rainbow finally spoke up, “I’m a teen pedophile.”

Fluttershy flicked her neck, “Rainbow, that’s not true. You weren’t convicted nor did you do anything illegal.”

“Fine, fine. I have fantasies about teenage girls and find ‘em sexy,” Rainbow muttered, looking away.

“Well, okay,” Twilight replied, filing that in the back of her mind for the moment, “But why’ve you been so reclusive lately. Did something happen recently?”

“Because I hate myself for it,” she replied bitterly.

“But I thought you were feeling better?” Sweetie Belle asked, “When we had that talk? You were joking around with me by the end of it.”

“Wait, you know about it?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“Fluttershy explained it to me last week. I kinda turned Rainbow on by accident,” Sweetie Belle said, shrinking down at Twilight’s look.

“It’s true,” Fluttershy said softly.

“Anyway,” Rainbow spoke up, “It’s not that I didn’t appreciate what you did, kiddo. It’s not that. That kind of thing isn’t exactly something I can avoid or get over.”

“That’s what I first thought about being-”

“Don’t even dare make that comparison, Sweetie Belle,” Rainbow said sternly, “Being gay and having desires toward minors are two completely different things. You’re not hurting anyone being gay. I’m not hurting anyone being gay. And we can both express that with people we care about. But I can’t express this with anyone without hurting someone.”

Shrinking back, Sweetie Belle bit her lip nervously, “You’re right, I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t worry about it, kid. I know you didn’t mean it like that. The point is though, it just really won’t go away. I don’t know how to control it better or what I can do to avoid it ever happening.”

Fluttershy looked helplessly over at Twilight as she rubbed her friend’s shoulder blades, shaking her head.

Sweetie Belle stepped over and sat in Rainbow’s lap, hugging her around the neck, “I don’t want you to hate yourself, Rainbow. It’s not your fault.”

“Believe me, kiddo, I know that,” Rainbow sighed, patting her on the back, “What I can do about it is what I’m wondering about.”

“Why don’t you just… you know,” Sweetie Belle tapped Rainbow’s hand.

“I do, I just feel dirty afterward.”

“But masturbation, regardless of what you’re pleasuring yourself to, is harmless,” Fluttershy threw in.

“Why do you feel dirty afterward?” Sweetie Belle asked, getting upset at seeing someone she admired becoming so depressed.

“I just do, okay? Besides, I watched you girls grow up from being little squirts and now you’re teens. That can’t possibly be anything but creepy,” Rainbow griped, not looking at anyone.

Twilight and Fluttershy didn’t know what they could say to make her feel better. However, Sweetie Belle just decided to keep going.

“I don’t mind,” she said, hugging Rainbow tightly, “If it makes you feel good and helps you relax, I don’t mind you thinking about me…”

‘Everyone in this town is messed up in the head,’ Twilight thought as she tried her best to hold her poker face.

“I know kid, I know,” Rainbow managed, her hardened gaze softening, “I’m just not proud of that sort of thing. I only just came to terms with it some time ago anyway, it’s not exactly old news.”

Sweetie Belle kissed her cheek as she snuggled against her, not knowing what else to do or say. She wanted to help Rainbow, to make everything better. If Rainbow hadn’t given her special brand of advice to Apple Bloom, she might not have had her as a girlfriend right now.

“...Maybe I’ll go see a shrink or something,” Rainbow finally said after a few moments, “I guess I’m just crazy, may as well get some help for it.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to correct, but decided against it. If anything, she was relieved that she was thinking of a reasonable solution, “That’s a good idea. It could help a lot if you could do that.”

“I wouldn’t say so,” came a familiar voice from the doorway.

They all turned to see Ascentia standing there, leaning on a crutch and with one leg splinted.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“There are programs for people with Rainbow’s… issues,” Ascentia said, stumbling into the living room and sitting down in an armchair, “But they’re only for offenders. If Rainbow isn’t guilty of any crimes, they’ll just turn her away.”

Rainbow let out a frustrated moan, “Well, that’s a bust. I sure as hell won’t get myself convicted for it.”

Looking distraught, Fluttershy’s face fell immensely as she looked downward, having nothing else to say.

“Um… are all of you kind of missing a big elephant in the room here?” Ascentia asked.

“What?” Rainbow asked flatly, “What smartass comment do you have this time.”

“The legal age of consent in this region is Fourteen,” Ascentia replied, “They lowered it from sixteen a year ago.”

At this, Fluttershy’s hands squeezed on Rainbow’s shoulders a bit too hard, an unreadable look on her face.

“Well, okay,” Twilight said, not noticing, “So I guess that helps a little. I can’t believe I didn’t remember that fact…”

“This regions age restriction laws are handled by Princess Luna,” Ascentia explained, “I think your jurisdiction is Foreign Relations. But anyway, yeah. Rainbow, so far you have nothing to feel guilty about.”

“But… it’s still creepy,” Rainbow rationalized, “They’re still kids even if the law says they aren’t.”

“Maybe, but nothing’s going to strike you down for committing a moral transgression,” Ascentia shrugged, “And someone had to come up with a good reason to lower the age anyway. Whatever, you know it’s there. Do with it what you will.”

“O-kay then…” Rainbow shrugged a bit, “I guess that helps. Oh well, I may have these fantasies, but it’s not like I’d actually do it. Even if it is legal and all. ‘Sides, I’m not exactly-oh, never mind.”

This was when Twilight noticed, and chuckled a bit, “Right, that thing. Well Rainbow, just do what you do. At least you can try feeling a little less guilty about it, now.”

Rainbow gave a heavy sigh, “Maybe…”

“You can try it sometime,” Sweetie Belle suggested, “Now you can do all that….stuff without feeling all guilty!” She hugged her again, then got off her lap.

“You know, I don’t know if it’s you or me who’s more messed up,” Rainbow said, giving her an odd look, “Most people your age don’t actively encourage this behavior. In fact, none of you would be in any sane world.”

“I’m just saying that you can now,” Sweetie Belle said stubbornly, “So just take it, okay? It’s not like I’m throwing myself at you because of it, now. I’ve still got a girlfriend and I’m not exactly willing to share her or myself, anyway.”

“So you’re saying that if you didn’t have a girlfriend you’d be all over her like flies on Fruit Loops?” Ascentia asked.

Sweetie Belle giggled, shaking her head, “Nah, we’ve all thought about things like that, but it’s not like we’d actually do it for real. Scootaloo talks all big about it, but I think she’d want someone her own age. You know we think about all those awesome celebrities? How we’d fantasize about going with them but know we never could or would?”

“Me-ow,” Twilight giggled, “I know A.K. Yearling is on that list for me…”

“Photo Finish,” Fluttershy admitted, to which they all turned and stared at her, “What?”

“That silly nutcase with the flashy thing,” Ascentia smirked, to which she got even more wild stares, “Oh what? The woman who assaults her wife, the woman who’s cheating on her boyfriend, and the woman who fantasizes about teenagers are about to give me funny looks?”

“You’re cheating on Big Mac?!” Sweetie Belle yelled out, wide-eyed.

Fluttershy’s eyes went wide, covering her mouth with her hand.

“What the hell?! You weren’t supposed to tell her that!” Twilight hissed.

“Okay… that was my bad,” Ascentia looked genuinely remorseful.

“...So it’s true?” Sweetie Belle asked, fearing the answer.

“....It’s not what you think,” Fluttershy managed, looking ashamed, “It’s… It’s… just that I’m friends with benefits with...someone.”

“Me,” Rainbow stated, getting up, “Cat’s out of the bag, Flutters, may as well fess up. I’m the one she’s having it with.”

“...Why?” Sweetie Belle asked, looking between Rainbow and Fluttershy.

“...When Rainbow and I went away for one weekend… We got to… to talking about some things, especially about her situation. It’s hard to say, but… I… well, one thing led to another and we were making out… After that, the next day, we… eventually we… slept together,” Fluttershy murmured, looking at neither of them, “We’ve been doing that ever since. We decided to be friends with benefits… I-I just…. I don’t really… I just enjoy it with her… That’s why.”

“Do… do you love her, Fluttershy?” Sweetie Belle asked.

All eyes were on her, then.

“I… I… I…” Fluttershy looked around nervously, unsure how to respond.

“...You know, Apple Bloom told me about how you helped her,” Sweetie Belle went on, “She said you asked her some questions. Well, then I’ll ask you. Are you two best friends?”

“Yes…” Fluttershy said meekly.

“Are you willing to be kind when she makes you mad?”

“Of course, always.”

“Are you willing to take care of her even when you get nothing out of it?”

“Absolutely…”

“Are you willing to communicate openly and honestly?”

“Yes…”

“Okay, so then are you going to apologize if you mess up on either of those?”

Once more, all eyes were on Fluttershy.

“Yes….”

“Well then you love her!” Sweetie Belle said with a smile.

Both Ascentia and Twilight clapped, sharing knowing winks. “Yaaaaaaaay!”

“She also said she doesn’t want to share Rainbow, might want to keep that in mind,” Twilight threw in.

“What about you, Rainbow Dash?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Rainbow Dash sighed, “Yeah… I do.”

“....Really?” Fluttershy asked, gazing at her with surprise.

She nodded, “Yeah… I do. You were the first person I ever told… well everything to. Even if it took me decades to do it. Sweetie Belle’s right. I love you, Fluttershy.”

The room fell silent once more, as they all waited for Fluttershy’s response. The woman in question looked a mixture of immensely flattered and yet scared all at once. She bit her lip, uncertain.

‘I answered yes to all those questions before… and now I did it again… This wasn’t supposed to happen, but...’

Fluttershy sniffled, unable to even try to deny it. “....I love you, too.”

Rainbow reached out to her, indicating she wanted a hug, a soft smile on her face.

Heart melting, Fluttershy smiled back and came around the chair, embracing her. Rainbow wrapped her arms around her neck, squeezing her gently as she kissed her forehead. A blush tinted Fluttershy’s cheeks as she returned the affection by kissing her on the cheek.

“Awwwww!” Sweetie Belle cooed, “You’re so cute together!”

“Now what are you gonna do about Big Macintosh?” Ascentia asked.

“...I don’t know…” Fluttershy murmured, uncertain, “I should… tell him or something…”

Ascentia made a dragging motion against the carpet with her boots while Twilight rolled her eyes, “Oh my god, the two of you need to grow some balls and… wait… just tell him and get it over with before you get caught. Or Gabby Gums over here let’s slip to the wrong person.”

“Hey, I’m not gonna tell!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“Not you, this one,” Twilight growled at Ascentia.

“I said I was sorry…”

“...I’d better tell him before he hears it from someone else,” Fluttershy said.

“Why don’t you both go?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Why?” Fluttershy asked.

“For support!” Sweetie Belle said, waving that along, “It’d probably be best if he heard it from the both of you anyway.”

Rainbow nodded, “I guess… how about tomorrow morning, Shy?”

Fluttershy nodded, “Tomorrow morning sounds fine….”

Sweetie Belle smiled and hugged the both of them before sitting in Rainbow’s lap again. Rainbow smiled and cuddled her.

“Thanks Sweetie,” she smiled, “Where would we be without you?”

“Uh…” Sweetie Belle paused, not sure how to answer something like that, “...Not here?”

“You’re off the hook this time, Gabby,” Twilight said haughtily, but was unable to keep from smiling, “But it still wasn’t your place to tell, so you’re still in trouble.”

“It was an accident!” Ascentia said, shrinking away, “I’m sorry, you guys.”

“I forgive you… I think I needed a push…” Fluttershy said softly.

“I just hope Apple Bloom won’t be too upset,” Sweetie Belle murmured, looking a bit worried, “She has no idea…”

“I really don’t want to do that to the poor kid,” Rainbow said with a frown, “She’s been through enough.”

Fluttershy sighed sadly, “And I can’t make it worse for her by lying… I’ve done enough of that to myself all this time… But it doesn’t mean I won’t still be her friend, of course.”

Rainbow nodded as she sighed, “Alright you guys, I gotta go get some sleep, I’m dropping here. Thanks again, all of you.”

Sweetie Belle smiled and kissed her cheek as she hopped off her lap.

“Cya Rainbow,” Twilight and Ascentia waved.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess?” Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow nodded.

“Oh! Rainbow! Did you get the note I left for you last week?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“...Yeah…” Rainbow shifted a bit as she got up and headed to the door, “It was real nice of you, kiddo.”

Barely glancing at her with a small smile, Rainbow waved and headed out the door, shutting it behind her.

Tossing and turning, despite being really sleepy, Rainbow found herself unable to succumb to slumber. The events of just barely an hour ago had her wired, the combination of a newfound less guilty masturbation fantasy and Fluttershy’s open revelation had her going. She groaned, sitting up in bed and staring listlessly at nothing. What could she even do? She was too tired to sleep, too tired to do anything else.

“Ugh!” she groaned, pulling at her eyes as she blinked around her bedroom, “C’mon! I just want some rest! Is that too much to ask?!”

Her eyes fell over to her dresser. There was one way of relaxing… no, she couldn’t could she?

“Seriously? I don’t exactly need to.”

‘Sure you do. That always helps. Go for the panties, you know you want to. It’s okay now, not like it’s illegal.’

“Why? You know I’ve got other things I could jerk off to.”

‘Yeah. But you’ve got the real deal with Fluttershy…. so go for something different. Something you can finally free yourself from your inner demons with. Go for the panties. It’s legal and she doesn’t mind. Do it!’

“I… but she gave them to me out of understanding… I really shouldn’t,” Rainbow said, shifting a bit.

‘She gave them to you knowing full well what you would or could do with them. If she really wanted to just give you a nice thank-you gesture, she’d have given you a card or something like a bracelet. No one just gives panties to you for no reason.’

“I guess that’s true… but I’m trying to learn to live with this, not exacerbate it,” Rainbow said, rubbing her shoulder.

‘Which is what jerking off is for, you dunce. Live with it by relieving yourself. Remember back when you were her age? You couldn’t keep your eyes off Fluttershy and felt afraid you’d jump her bones the next time you saw her in that bikini. Just do what you always do. Jerk off, fantasize and feel better. This is no different, you know.’

Rainbow sighed, “A-alright,” she said nervously, getting up and moving to her dresser. Opening the drawer, she found Sweetie Belle’s underwear where she’d left them, folded underneath her socks. Taking them in her hand, she felt the soft material between her fingers. Shuddering as she imagined where they’d been before coming into her possession, she stepped back and fell onto her bed.

“Well… here goes,” she said, pulling her shorts down.

It was almost like a blur. The routine was almost like second nature to her. She didn’t even realize how long it had been, or even how many strokes it had taken. The last time she took count was when she was young and discovering how her genetalia worked for the first time. Nowadays it was more like clockwork.

A feeling of relief, satisfaction and overall fatigue overwhelmed her as she pulled her shorts back up. At the same time, she wasn’t quite sure how she felt. Normally, she felt dirty and like she’d committed a terrible crime when thinking of any teenage girl. To the point that she usually rushed to the bathroom and took a cold shower for at least ten minutes, non-stop.

Exhaling, she placed the panties back into the drawer, closing it, then fell back onto her bed. What now? How did it feel? Besides her body’s default setting of sexual masturbation liking it, she wasn’t sure.

“Did it even help?” She asked the empty room all around her.

The voice in the back of her mind was suspiciously quiet.

“Oh, no comments from the subconscious?” Rainbow asked, lying back onto her pillow and pulling the blankets along with her.

Although her fatigue was taking its toll, she rolled over, facing the empty side of her bed. Despite the warm covers, she was beginning to feel cold. Sighing a bit, she took the other pillow and hugged it against herself.

It wasn’t the same, but it would have to do.

In spite of everything, she smiled, at least glad for one thing, “At least she finally admitted it…” Next Chapter: Tell Rarity She's Not Getting Her Back Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 22 Minutes