Fluttershy, eyes closed and hooves tightly clasped around Twilight's back, takes slow and heavy breaths through the steam of their shower.  Twilight always uses her magic to augment their 'intimate encounters', but this time Fluttershy can't even explain how incredible it felt with the water involved.  She looks down at the lavender unicorn with her back propped up against the side of the bathtub, seeing that she's beyond exhausted from her contribution.  Her cheeks are light pink with an excited, but fading blush, and her deep purple eyes sit half closed as she fights to keep herself from slipping into a semiconscious state.  Fluttershy keeps her wings extended, shielding the two of them from the onslaught of hot water, though not without enjoying the gentle and warm massage on her back as she does so.  

"Think it's time to get out?"  Twilight says after calming down a bit, looking happily up at her marefriend through her half-closed eyes.

"As much as I'd love to stay here with you all night, I'm afraid so..."  Fluttershy leans down and kisses Twilight; something about the feeling of their soaking wet coats pressed together just adds that much additional comfort to the situation.  Twilight magically rotates the knob on the wall to stop the water, prompting the pegasus to leave the shower first and help her up.  She sweetly passes a towel over to the unicorn and grabs one for herself, using her hooves to dry her mane but keeping the piece of cloth steady with her teeth.  With the towel covering her eyes Fluttershy finishes drying her mane off and lets it fall, catching it with her teeth to keep it from hitting the floor.  Twilight looks at the pegasus quizzically and points to her mane.

"What's that?"  She asks softly, using her magic to levitate a small object out of Fluttershy's ruffled pink mane.  As it comes into view, both ponies can identify it as a small, blue feather.  "This looks like... one of Rainbow's?"

Fluttershy immediately widens her eyes and drops the towel out of her teeth and onto the floor, "Eww!"

Twilight, supportive as always, sits back and laughs after realizing that the other fillyfooler couple must have used her bathroom without permission.  She trots over, stifling more laughter and pats Fluttershy on the back, "Don't worry, love.  We've got a little while before we have to leave...  I'll just go wait downstairs while you brush your teeth."  

The pegasus is already hard at work with her toothbrush before Twilight even says this, viciously trying to scrub away whatever 'residue' could be left after that towel has been Celestia-knows-where on her friends' bodies.  Just the very thought makes her shiver; subsequently making Twilight laugh so hard that she can hardly breathe.

Trotting downstairs after giving her mane a quick brush to be sure it's nicely styled, the unicorn begins to visually scan the tiny pictures that Fluttershy keeps above her mantle.  She levitates a photograph of Fluttershy as a filly with her parents.  Each one is smiling, but the unicorn can plainly see a falsehood about each of them; they're not really happy.  Fluttershy seems to be having trouble holding her head up to look at the camera, and her father seems almost nervous.  Her mother doesn't actually touch any of them with her body, and everything just appears to be forced and uncomfortable for the family.  Why Fluttershy keeps this, Twilight hasn't the slightest idea.

She sets that photo down and looks at another; this time one of a younger Fluttershy all alone, adorable as ever.  The pegasus is a natural in front of the camera, though it appears not by her own devices.  The shy filly doesn't fail to make Twilight crack a smile, only to slowly place the picture frame back on the mantle exactly where she got it.  No sooner than this does Fluttershy slowly step down the stairs.

"Ready to go?"  Fluttershy asks as she steps up beside the unicorn, giving the back of her neck a soft kiss and flashing her a smile.  

"Just been waitin' on you."  Twilight turns and smooches the pegasus, stepping toward the door directly after and checking the clock, "We've got enough time to make it with a bit to spare I think...  Your breath is great by the way."

Fluttershy shudders as she thinks once more about Rainbow rubbing herself down with the towel.  "Thank you...  I only use that mouthwash with alcohol in it on 'special occasions'..."

"Hah!  Well at least it makes for a funny story."

"Don't you dare tell anypony."

"Okay, okay...  Only if you let me spend the night with you tonight though."

Fluttershy giggles and nuzzles just under Twilight's ear.  "I think I can live with that."

Pinkie Pie bangs on her bedroom door with the back of her hoof, trying to alert the two lovers behind it that some guests are starting to arrive.

"Rainbow!  AJ!  It's almost time for the party!  Hurry up in there!"  Frustrated, she tries the doorknob but finds that it's locked from the other side.  

"Hold your horses out there, we're comin',"  Applejack says through a small giggle, audibly nudging Rainbow Dash after a muffled dirty joke.  

The pink pony is forced to leave her bedroom door behind and run downstairs in response to the sound of knocking.  As soon as the glass window in front of the door comes into view, Pinkie notices a small crowd of ponies standing outside; some familiar and some not so familiar, but each of them eager to get inside.  Pinkie slowly steps toward the door, not having expected this many ponies to actually accept the invitation, let alone bring their friends.  She opens the doorway and, just as she's about to greet the ponies, nearly gets trampled by the crowd as they all pour in to escape the cold.  

The commotion causes Rainbow Dash and Applejack to open the door and step out, watching helplessly as Pinkie tries to direct as many of the ponies upstairs as she can, already regretting her careless tossing-around of invitations.  They each exchange a worried glance as Lilly, Daisy and Roseluck step upstairs first, not too far ahead of Lyra, Bonbon, Caramel, Berry Punch, and a few slightly less familiar ponies waiting patiently downstairs to be corralled up by the hostess.

"Wull hey there you three, s'been a while."  Applejack tries to avoid any kind of awkward silence around the room and breaks the ice with Lilly.

"Sure has, Applejack!  How's the family?"  Lilly happily responds to the orange earth pony as the remaining guests fill up the space around them and go about their mingling.  

"Oh usual winter stuff, mostly shoveling snow and keeping the ground clear so it'll warm up quicker once wrap-up time hits.  How about you?  What do you do when ya can't grow yer flowers?"

"Oh, actually there's a way to grow plants inside with filtered water and artificial lights; flowers are small enough that I can manage to grow a decent bunch in my basement."

"Sounds fancy, too bad I ain't got nothin' big enough to keep apple trees in or I might spring for one of those."

"Ever... think about growing... you know, something else?"

"Whaddya mean?"

"Hrmm... Why don't you stop by my place and I'll show you.  I've got some great stuff and I could use someone who has a little know-how about farming."

"Well alright, sounds like fun."

Rainbow Dash has already disconnected herself from the conversation about gardening and glances around the room.  She doesn't quite feel right about just leaving Applejack behind, but desperately wants to call somepony more interesting over to talk to her.  She does manage to spot Cheerilee and Berry Punch together, and so beckons them over with her hoof.  Berry seems to be far more interested in the bowl of punch, and so stays behind, but Cheerilee happily trots over and greets her.

"Hey Cheerilee, how are you?"

"Oh, I'm alright...  A little stressed out.  Test time you know: a whole lot of work to get the thing written up and graded."

"Well gee, that sounds uhm--"  Rainbow doesn't know anything about teaching and so can't empathize with the earth pony at all, only going for the friendly conversation angle before being interrupted by Pinkie.  

"Jeesh!  Some crowd huh?"  The pink pony drapes her forelegs around Rainbow's withers and droops her head to look entirely exhausted, even though she's just as twitchy as ever.  "I didn't expect everyone to show up."

"Well... at least you made enough food and punch for everypony."  Cheerilee glances around at the crowd; from what she can see at least thirty ponies showed up.  

"Oh I've got plenty of the punch, and I gave it a little extra 'buck' if you know what I mean."

Rainbow seems to catch onto her meaning, though Cheerilee just blinks and can't seem to grasp the idea.  "She spiked the punch, Cheers."  

"Oh sweet Princess..."  Cheerilee slaps herself on the forehead and immediately runs back to the now half-empty punch bowl, trying to stop Berry Punch before she gets completely trashed.  

"Hey Rainbow, did you know that Cheerilee and Berry Punch are sisters?"  Pinkie, not letting go of the pegasus giggles a little bit, giving Rainbow a whiff of the odor of alcohol on her breath.  

"Wow Pinkie...  How much have you had to drink already?"

"Who me?"

"No, the other Pinkie."

"Oh, she's only had five shots, but I've had six."  

"Good thing there aren't any kids here."

"Why?  I love kids!  They're so much fun to party with."  Pinkie throws her arms out to the sides in emphasis and immediately loses her balance, falling flat on her face and prompting a concerned laugh from the cyan pegasus.

"Oh, this is not going to end well."

After having thoroughly satisfied herself, Rarity locks 'Mr. Beauregard' up in his usual box and places him someplace where it would be absolutely impossible for Sweetie Belle or her friends to ever find him: the top shelf in her closet.  She checks the clock and hurries downstairs, briefly washing her hooves in the kitchen sink and then rushing out the door.  Rarity figures it won't be too big a deal if she's fashionably late, and so trots at a light speed, not too quick lest her hair be ruined.  

"Excuse me!"  A voice sounds from behind and above the unicorn.  She slows down and tilts her head back, seeing a familiar, yet still unknown male pegasus flapping quickly to catch up to her.  "I saw you at the Grand Galloping Gala, right?  You're Rainbow Dash's friend?"  

"Yes I am...  A-and you are?"  Rarity keeps her pace and heads directly for Sugar Cube Corner, unsure of this stallion's motives.

"Oh, I'm Soarin'...  You know, from the Wonderbolts?"  

"Oh!  Are you?  I'm dreadfully sorry, I didn't recognize you without your outfit on."

"Yeah, I only wear that on special occasions.  It's kind of uncomfortable to have on all the time."

"Well if it's any consolation they're very stylish suits."

"Hey thanks, but still, I'd rather fly around without it if I can help it."

"So why did you ask if I'm friends with Rainbow Dash?"

"Oh... Well...  I kind of have a little crush on her.  She reminds me a lot of Spitfire, but... well... Spitfire isn't even willing to give me a chance.  So I guess I just wanted to see if maybe Rainbow would like to catch dinner with me sometime, between you and me I'd say she's probably faster than Spitfire anyway."

"Well I'm headed to a party where she'll definitely be if you'd like to join me.  I suppose that'll be your best bet."

"Sounds like a plan, what's the occasion?"

"Oh...  My two friends Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy have been dating for a while so they decided to come out of the stable together and throw a party with all of our friends, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you showed up too.  Not too often a celebrity visits Ponyville."

"Pfft, I'm not celebrity...  Just an overpaid and over-glorified clown.  All I do is show off the same trick over and over for a bunch of ponies watching and wear a flashy outfit...  Anypony can do that."

"So how come there are only six of you that actually do that?"  Rarity smirks, asking rhetorical questions the instant she detects his self confidence at a low point."

"Because the ones that started doing it first made sure nopony else could get in...  It's just a clique system really.  Like I said, we're overpaid...  Not that I'm complaining about having money, it just feels a little undeserved is all."  The unicorn is surprised by the humility Soarin' is showing her, having thought for the longest time that all of the Wonderbolts were pompous jackasses.

"Well...  If it's any consolation, I'd certainly hope the rest of the Wonderbolts were like you...  I'm sure it would make most ponies who pay to see your shows feel like they're supporting some great individuals."

"Well thank you very much miss..."  Soarin' pauses a little as he realizes he never caught Rarity's name.

"Rarity, and you're very welcome."

"I keep telling you, Twilight, if we kiss for too long in this cold our lips will freeze together."  Fluttershy smirks and walks alongside Twilight as they approach Sugar Cube Corner.  The store is the only thing in the town square still lit up at this time of night, and so is easy to see in the darkness.  

"And I keep telling you that it couldn't happen, our body heat would keep them melted."  Twilight knows Fluttershy is just kidding around, but still likes to play along with everypony's idea of her as an emotionless and unimaginative nerd.

"Now you're just gonna have to prove that to me one of these days, because you don't make a very convincing case."

"Hah, well if we weren't late I would right here and now."

"I think that would be my favorite way to keep warm in the cold."

"I think mine too, love."  Fluttershy blushes and coyly looks away as Twilight says this, still getting used to the intimacy of their conversations, but absolutely cherishing every single second of it.  Without saying a word she gently pushes open the front door to the sweets shop, stepping inside and beckoning Twilight to hurry in and get out of the cold.  

The unicorn does so and kisses Fluttershy on the nose, certainly not having had her fill of lovey-dovey-ness already. "Shall we head upstairs?  Sounds like the party's already started."

Fluttershy can hear several muffled conversations, as well as the soft and diffused sound of music radiating from Sugar Cube Corner's second story.  "Yeah, I wonder how many ponies showed up to this...  Sounds like more than just the other four of us..."

"You're right...  I wonder who else Pinkie invited.  Oh well, only one way to find out."  Twilight quietly hums and trots toward the stairs; Fluttershy shrugs and follows suit.  The two of them freeze at the top of the stairs as they behold the crowd.  Fluttershy turns to look at Twilight with a slight cringe on her face, seeing only the awestruck eyes and gaping mouth that she expected.

"Hey you two!  Welcome to the party!"  A slurred voice breaks the uncomfortable stare-fest as Pinkie Pie stumbles over.  "I was wondering when you three would show up...  It'sh crazy in here innit?"  She seems to have forgotten that she's the hostess of this party; the ponies can easily tell from the pungent smell on her breath that she's been drinking for some time now.

"Pinkie...  Why are so many ponies here?"  Twilight claps her hooves together to get the earth pony's attention as her eyes wander to a phantom spot on the ceiling; Pinkie has a tendency to be easily distracted while drunk.

"You said to leave room for a few others..."  She pauses in the middle of her sentence, seeming to try and refocus her eyes on the pair on front of her, continuing after a brief shake of her head.  "You told me to leave room for others so I thought I'd invite a few others but a few too many others came here and I didn't know what to do so I opened up my emergency whiskey...  this is an emergency isnnit?"  Her usual hyper demeanor has depressed a bit from the alcohol, driving her to show a nearly bipolar set of mood swings from happy and giggling to the verge of tears.  

"Pinkie, go lay down."  Twilight gently rubs the side of her head with one hoof, trying to calm down and think about this party.  The music seems to have been playing for a while since the floor in the middle of the room is full of dancing couples, many of whom seem like they've had a few too many to drink as well.  

Fluttershy feels a gentle nudge in her side as Twilight tries to get her attention.  "Hey, you wanna just duck outta here?  This is way too crowded."

"Awwh, we couldn't do that to Pinkie.  She went through all this trouble to throw us a nice party that we asked for.  It would be a little rude to just leave."

"Fluttershy, she's completely sloshed, just look at her."  Twilight directs the pegasus's attention to Pinkie Pie trying to have some kind of argumentative conversation with her floor lamp.  "She won't even remember..."

"It's the thought that counts, Twilight.  We can't just ditch our friends at our own party...  A-and it's not so bad anyway.  Let's go try to find Rainbow and AJ and Rarity and just hang out a little bit."

Twilight sighs heavily and walks over to Fluttershy, gently kissing behind her ear.  "Only for you."

Fluttershy giggles and tries to lighten the mood by turning and winking at the unicorn.  "Oh I know, public interaction is so difficult for us both, but at least it's for a good cause."  As soon as she finishes her sentence, both of their attention is drawn over to Pinkie Pie dancing with the aforementioned floor lamp and receiving a torrent of cheers from the audience directly around her.  "Somepony's gonna get hurt..."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Oh well, it's a party."

"Well if it isn't the guests of honor!"  Rainbow Dash's voice permeates the crowd as she and Applejack push to the edges of the building.  Fluttershy greets both of them with a gentle hug; Twilight does the same, though wouldn't have thought to if not for her marefriend.  

"How long have y'all been here?  Couldn't find ya for a while."  Applejack glances around, seemingly looking for somepony.

"Oh we just got here.  This place is packed!"  Twilight easily unwinds with her close friends, almost ignoring the dense crowd of other ponies around her.  

"Yeah it is...  Pinkie invited everypony who came into the store today.  I guess she figured most of them wouldn't show up.  By the way have you seen Rarity at all?  AJ and I need her and Pinkie in the same place sooner or later."

"Why's that?"  Fluttershy looks at them with her usual, innocently quizzical look.

"Let's just say she lost a bet with Pinkie involving myself and this sexy piece of flank right here."  Rainbow bumps her hips against Applejack's as she says this, knowing that talking about the humble mare in this way will irritate her just enough to get a reaction.

"Gosh darn it, Rainbow.  Can't you go five minutes without talkin' about my plot?"

"Nope, and I wouldn't if I could anyhow."

"Well, AJ, you do have a nice figure..."  Fluttershy starts getting with the loose theme of the party and speaks her mind, though still in a sugar-coated manner.

"T'be honest I never thought I'd hear that come outta your mouth, Fluttershy,"  Applejack says with a smirk.

The timid pony blushes but does her best to slough it off.  She shrugs and only breaks eye contact to re-establish it with a slightly more relaxed look on her face.  "Well, I'm just sayin'.  It's totally true Applejack."

"Yup, and she's all mine.  Unless by chance you two were feelin' freaky one night and though to join in."

"Rainbow!"  Applejack finally establishes her line-in-the-sand, unfortunately Rainbow Dash has already crossed it.

"Okay, okay...  Sorry about that one."

Fluttershy giggles into her hoof and tries to hide the deep, stinging blush on her cheeks.  "That's okay, I'm a one-pony gal anyway, and Twilight's the only one that I'll be joining in bed, but thank you for the offer."

"Any time...  Oh!  There's Rarity.  Where's Pinkie at?"

"Last we saw her she was dancing with the lamp."  Twilight chimes in and takes a quick glance over the crowd, seeing Rarity and waving her over with her hoof.  None of the ponies notice Soarin' following close behind the white unicorn.  

Pinkie Pie manages to get to her friends before Rarity does somehow, still drunk off her plot, but functional enough to stand and comprehend the basic situation.  Rarity shoves her way through a dark blue stallion who just seems to be in her way on purpose, muttering some kind of indignant comment before swishing her hair back and joining her friends.  Rainbow Dash manages to grab her attention before she says anything at all.

"So it's been brought to my attention that you and Pinkie Pie have some kind of bet going on about Applejack and myself, is that true?"  Rainbow feigns professionalism with her speech, all the while keeping a sinister grin while the unicorn goes about her merry way being conceited.  

"Yes, I do suppose that's true, but I thought you weren't supposed to know about it."  Rarity casts an unamused look over to the giggling pink pony.

"Well, one thing led to another and now we do know about it, and let me preface this by saying I'm glad that you bet against Applejack and I being a couple..."

"You have no idea just how glad I am to hear tha--"  The unicorn is interrupted as soon as her attention focuses on the two ponies.  Her jaw drops to the floor as Rainbow Dash shamelessly holds Applejack in a very deep, very passionate, and very public kiss.  The instant it breaks she (along with Pinkie Pie) breaks out into a torrent of laughter.

"... Because I just love seeing your face when you lose miserably!  Bahahaha!"

Rarity sighs and levitates a small pouch of coins over to Pinkie Pie.  The earth pony just giggles and takes it, stepping over to Rarity and nudging her with her elbow.  "Well, you've got your pick of the litter here, only rule is it has to be a mare, that was the deal."

"Yes, Pinkie, I remember the 'deal'.  You don't have to remind me."

"Get on with it already."

"Before the night is over, I will.  Might be easier if you show me to that bottle of whiskey you have."

"You stay away from my emergency whishkey!"  Pinkie's slurred speech gives her a hilarious sound, especially when angrily defensive like this.

"Alright, alright.  I'll just go hit the punchbowl and settle for something non-alcoholic for now."

"Uhhm, actually Rarity --"  Twilight starts to try and tell her about the spiked punch, but quickly finds herself being silenced by Rainbow Dash's hoof in her mouth.

"It'll be funnier if we let her find out for herself,"  She whispers into Twilight's ear just before letting her go.

"You're just out to get everypony tonight ain't ya, Rainbow?"  Applejack laughs a little and shakes her head at Rainbow's antics, who responds in kind with a grin and a nod.  Applejack walks over to her and playfully bops her on top of the head, to which Rainbow drapes her forelegs around the earth pony's withers in response.  They can't resist the moment and kiss once more, though this time feeling a little bit more natural since they're not doing it to show anypony up.  Applejack is still getting used to being intimate with Rainbow in public, and so blushes nearly as bright red as the apples on her hips, which is only amplified by the 'woo' they can hear stem from the crowd.

"Hey Rainbow!  I wanted to ask you... some... thing..."  Soarin', having spotted Rainbow from the back of the room and pushed his way through, steps over and sees the unfolding scene first hand.  He blinks a few times as the ponies redirect their gaze over to the confused and bewildered stallion standing just a few feet from them.

"Soarin'?  What are you doing here?"  Rainbow is mostly surprised to see a pony with an actual reputation showing up at what was originally supposed to be a private gathering.

"Well...  I'm not sure anymore, but it started out with the idea that I'd ask you if maybe... you'd go on a date with me sometime."

"Oh...  Soarin', I'm sorry, but..."  Rainbow pauses and cringes a little, still holding onto Applejack and not even thinking to let go for the explanation.  "You're a nice guy... but, well, I just don't..."

"It's alright, Rainbow.  I understand."

"If you were a mare I'd totally give you a shot...  I just don't swing that way."

"Well, thank you, and by the way you're a lucky mare miss...  Applejack right?"

"Yep, and thank you right back.  I'm mighty happy with her, but believe me, you're not missin' much."  Applejack shakes hooves with the pegasus out of reflex and flashes a vengeful smirk over to Rainbow Dash.

"Oh that's mean... but I guess I do deserve it,"  Rainbow says as she crosses her hooves over her chest, mocking like she's just been stabbed in the heart.

Soarin' sighs and backs up a little, feeling very disappointed at this sudden surprise, but somewhat relieved that the rejection wasn't humiliating.  He turns to leave the upstairs of Sugar Cube Corner and fly home, but feels a gentle tapping of a hoof on his shoulder.  He turns his head and sees the unmistakable mane of Pinkie Pie, remembering her from the impression she left in the ballroom at the gala.  

"Hey there, shtud."  Pinkie, still somewhat drunk, isn't particularly discreet in her approach.  

"Uhm, well hello there, Pinkie right?"  

"That's right...  And a little birdie told me that you like pie."

"Do I ever!"  Soarin' decides to take the very, very obvious offer from the pink pony and follows her back toward her room.  

"Well at least he ain't goin' home alone tonight..."  Applejack holds her foreleg around Rainbow Dash's neck and nuzzles the top of her head.  She watched Soarin' intently as he walked away, and certainly keeps her eye on him as he disappears with the hostess of the party.  

"Good for him.  Though I'm a little worried that it might just be the whiskey talking on behalf of Pinkie in there."

"Wull if that's the case I'm sure there's a whole lot of things that whiskey is gonna be doing on behalf of Pinkie."

Rainbow reels and has to stifle a laugh, the thought of the next morning already entering her imagination.  "I'm kicking myself now for not thinking of that joke before you did."

"Can't have you take all the glory, Dashie.  I gotta get a little somethin' every so often."

"If we can find someplace private I'll give you a 'little somethin'' extra right now."

"Jeez, Rainbow.  How many times in one day?"

"AJ, if it were up to me I'd hop in bed with you and never ever leave."

Applejack laughs a little and nips the pegasus's ear.  "You're never gonna rebuild your house are you?"

"Well...  If I can be serious for a moment I wouldn't mind taking over that guest room of yours."

"Two things, Rainbow.  One: you can't be serious for a moment; it's literally impossible for you.  Two: You absolutely cannot take over the guest room."  Rainbow sighs and looks away from the earth pony, but Applejack isn't quite done yet; she tilts Rainbow's chin up with her hoof to look her in the eyes with a gentle smile.  "If you're movin' in with me, we're sharin' a bed."

The cyan pegasus huffs out a single laugh and looks down, feeling her marefriend kiss her on the forehead before nodding her head toward the door.

"Sorry you two, but I think we're gonna head home early.  AJ and I have some 'talking' to do."  Rainbow says to Fluttershy and Twilight, who have decided to make themselves comfortable against the wall while watching the party unfold.  More ponies seem to have had too much to drink and are stumbling about, so the shy couple has decided to sit back and pony-watch to see who can handle their liquor better than others.  

"Alright, be safe you two!"  Fluttershy waves them off as Twilight says her goodbye.  The pair glances around and spots Cheerilee and Berry Punch both passed out together on a small sofa.  A cursory glance would reveal a somewhat inappropriate position, at least for siblings, but they continue to scan the crowd instead of focusing on just those two.  

Rarity sits uncomfortably on the arm of the couch where Cheerilee and Berry Punch are 'sleeping' and continues to mull over the idea of Pinkie's 'deal'.  She doesn't want to duck out of it at the last second, but she did spot her heading into her room with Soarin'.  She glances around and shrugs.  "What the hay?  It's a party."  She taps the first mare that she can spot on the shoulder, gaining her attention and then surprising her with a big, inappropriately deep kiss.  A slight shiver sneaks up her spine as she pulls away, watching the gray-coated pegasus pony open her eyes and spotting the fact that they're not quite focused on the same point.   Rarity flicks her tongue a little bit inside her closed mouth and blinks a few times.  "That tasted like... Scones?"

"Muffins..."  The blonde-maned pegasus glances around with a tinge of blush on her cheeks, making that simple correction and no other comment.

"Ah...  That's it.  Sorry about that, I suppose I just got swept up in the mentality of a crowded party."  Rarity lets her go and clears her throat, standing there uncomfortably and hoping that nopony she knows saw that.

"Hey Twilight?"  Fluttershy leans over and noses her marefriend against the jaw, grabbing her attention and smiling at her.

"Yes?"  Twilight brushes the pegasus's mane out of her face with her horn, smiling down at her and gently nuzzling against her cheek.

"You saw that right?"

"Mhmm, I did.  Not sure Rarity liked it very much though."

"Nah, didn't look like it, but at least we can tell Pinkie that she kept up her end of the deal."

"True."  

"One more question, Twilight."

"What is it, love?"

"Is this the part where we live happily ever after?"

"Oh c'mon Fluttershy, that only happens in cheesy romance stories."

"Well...  Ours is pretty cheesy."

"True, but nopony would wanna read about us... would they?"

Fluttershy giggles and pulls the unicorn into a tight hug, humming softly and kissing her neck.  "I would."