Sweetwater Mall was on the other end of the city, an almost thirty minute ride when accounting for traffic. It was far from campus and the area in which Fluttershy and Rarity lived. The shy girl thought of this with some dismay, for she was certain a commute back would hit rush hour. Even if they left now, there was a good chance she wouldn’t get home for another hour. Her feet throbbed just at the thought.

Because the indoor mall was so massive, Rarity had little trouble finding enough stores to fill the eight hours they had been shopping. She was fueled by caffeine, sugar and pure stubbornness, paired with hours of unfiltered stress.

She hid her bloodshot eyes with dark, trendy shades, but the rest of her showed little sign of her exhaustion. Her outfit was put together. Her hair was now properly styled. To passers-by, there was nothing that appeared out of the ordinary. At worst, Rarity came across as mildly eccentric.

However, Fluttershy knew better. She could see all the signs that something was wrong: the muttering, the lack of focus, the impatience, the confusion.

Halfway through their outing, she tried to insist on leaving. By that point, she estimated that her friend had been awake for over twenty-eight staggering hours. At the suggestion of stopping, the other girl had this to say...

“Stop? Oh, but I can’t!” Rarity frowned as she rifled through a clothing rack. “I think I’m starting to get some brilliant ideas just being here in the fashion wilds! This might have been just what I needed to get out of my creative quagmire.”

She paused to glance to the side before returning to her browsing. “Take that fellow to our left, for instance. Just the barest look at him, and I’ve already got an idea for a roguish men’s coat that is sure to bedazzle my instructors!”

Fluttershy’s brow tensed with worry as she looked at the ‘fellow’ that had been indicated. “Rarity, that’s a mannequin.”

The fashionista peeked over her sunglasses when she looked again, then cleared her throat. “So it is. It’s an inspiration nevertheless.” She grabbed a dress off the rack and held it to her friend. “Try this on, would you?”

Fluttershy stepped away from the offered clothing. “Can we stop? Please? You need to rest—!”

“Fluttershy, for the last time, I do not wish to return to the sorority house right now. Honestly, I am fine!”

“You are not fine! You are confusing inanimate objects with people!”

Rarity scoffed. “It was an honest mistake. If I didn’t feel the need to wear these sunglasses, I would have seen it for what it was. And one should not throw stones in glass houses! After all, you confuse indie and hipster fashion all the time, but you don’t see me criticizing you!”

Fluttershy tucked her chin and pushed her lower lip out. “But you do criticize me!”

“Well can you blame me?” Rarity put a hand on her hip as she smiled in exasperation. “For heaven’s sake, one style is forward thinking, the other is a reclamation of the past! They are not that hard to tell apart.”

Fluttershy buried her face in her hands in a mixture of frustration and shame. “We are getting off topic!” she whimpered.

Rarity shushed her as she opened her purse. “Shh, shh! I think my phone is ringing.”

Fluttershy peeked up from the sanctuary behind her fingers. “B-But I don’t hear anything.”

Rarity glanced up as she continued to rifle through her bag. “Perhaps it’s yours then?”

Fluttershy felt her forehead wrinkle in dismay. “I’m afraid not?” She couldn’t help but let the sentence end with an apologetic lilt. Maybe she was wrong? Oh, how she hoped she was wrong! But even as she listened along with her friend, she knew...

Rarity frowned and puckered her lips. Fluttershy could see her friend’s eyes shift up behind her glasses as she paused to listen to the same top 40s pop song the shy girl heard playing over the store speakers. It distinctly lacked any ringing.

Rarity gave a small shake of her head.

“Ah. I suppose you are right, then. Maybe it’s someone else in the store.” Rarity then turned around and replaced the dress on the rack.

Ten minutes later, she’d return to the rack, pick the dress up again, and ask why it looked familiar.

Fluttershy was at a loss. She was fairly certain that Rarity would continue even if she wasn’t there. This made departing without her companion no longer an option. She needed to be sure Rarity would be safe. That she would eventually get some rest.

If only she’d listen to me! Fluttershy thought unhappily.

That morning, she was certain she had gotten through to her friend, but somehow something had triggered Rarity into this feverish mission to update Shy’s wardrobe. She kept trying to rack her brain to think on what possibly could have inspired this, but the answer eluded her. The only thing she could identify was the general turning point.

I shouldn’t have confided in her. She was fine until I started talking about myself!

The small comforts that Fluttershy could find was that her friend was still (relatively) coherent, and while some of her behavior was off-balance, she still seemed to have some self-control.

These things did add to the surreal quality of the situation, however. It was like talking to her friend while she was still dreaming, and yet there was no way to wake her up because she already was awake.

They were now in the lingerie section of a high-end department store. Rarity was holding a rose colored babydoll to Fluttershy, her tongue caught between her teeth as she dared to peek her haggard red eyes over the rim of her dark glasses.

Fluttershy, meanwhile, was scanning their surroundings in the hopes of seeing a familiar head of rainbow hair. Split between both hands, she gripped four large shopping bags from other stores. It could have been more, had she not begged Rarity to reconsider.

“This looks charming on you, Fluttershy!” Rarity fawned with a little squeal. “I especially like the crochet lace and the mesh. It’s more comfortable than most.”

Fluttershy’s spine curled. “Rarity, it’s see-through!”

Rarity’s eyebrow curved up. “So?”

Fluttershy leaned in and whispered tightly, “The cups are too small!”

Rarity smacked her tongue in irritation. “Fluttershy, darling, we’ve been over this. This is your bra size. You just aren’t used to the padding.”

Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut. “Can we go somewhere else, at least? I don’t want to be in this section when Rainbow comes!”

“I appreciate that your demure nature would otherwise make modeling lingerie an impossible proposition for you, but you must remember one thing!”

“What’s that?”

Rarity released a lofty laugh. “I’m here! You needn’t be scared! I wouldn’t dare put you out there in anything short of something fabulous. Naturally. Have some faith, darling!”

Fluttershy hung her head. “Rarity, my apologies for saying so, but that doesn’t make me feel better. Not one bit!”

“Well it should!” Rarity retorted with a stung frown. “We got Rainbow to come meet us with that picture, didn’t we? Tell me the last time Rainbow Dash willingly went out shopping with us.”

Fluttershy blushed. “Never?”

Rarity nodded once, sharply. “Never. Exactly. Now come, come! To the dressing room! I daresay, if you don’t try this on this instant, I might have to resort to drastic measures.”

Frightened of what those ‘drastic measures’ could possibly entail with Rarity’s current state, Fluttershy switched the shopping bags to one hand, and obediently took the babydoll before hurrying off to the dressing rooms.

---

Goosebumps broke out over Fluttershy’s skin as she undressed under the chill of the overhead air vent. She’d failed to notice it when choosing the stall, thus she was left hunching her shoulders, miserable.

By the time she figured out why she felt colder than usual, she’d felt resigned to keep going. Redressing, only to go through the same process in another stall, was too bothersome and harrowing an idea for her.

As she picked up the babydoll with a grimace, her eyes flickered to the mirror. Fluttershy froze. She’d been avoiding looking too closely at herself since she’d started this strange and arduous shopping expedition. But with her hands gripping the hangar of a piece of clothing meant to show off her body, she couldn’t help but pause and take stock of just what it would be advertising.

A little sigh escaped her lips as her eyes trailed up her pale legs to the violet panties that hugged low on her wide hips. Hanging between her breasts was the rainbow bolt necklace. Somehow, the size of the pendant made her chest look small. With a pout, she pinched her belly fat.

And people think being a vegetarian means you’re always slim… I should take up yoga again! Her mouth screwed up. Maybe I need to cut out bread, too.

Fluttershy undid her light green bra’s front clasp. She shivered again as her breasts were exposed to the cool air, her pink nipples going pert. Feeling far too exposed, she shed the green bra and hurried to take the rose-colored babydoll off the hangar.

The lingerie piece consisted of the lacy bra cups, with a loose, flyaway mesh skirt flowing from the chest band. With pursed lips, Fluttershy unhooked the back and slipped the clothing over her head. After some awkward adjustments, the infernal item was clasped and the straps pulled over her shoulders.

She blinked at her reflection, a light blush rising to her cheeks.

The mesh skirt barely stopped past her panties, though thanks to the mesh, they were perfectly visible. Fluttershy frowned, uncertain of how she felt. The piece fit her better than she had expected, and even her modest chubbiness was hidden under the clothing’s design. Biting her lip, the girl turned to the side, straightening her spine and drawing her shoulders back.

Fluttershy’s eyebrows went high.

It’s pretty!

Her shoulders sagged, her brow tensing once again.

But it’s not me.

“Fluttershy, are you done yet?” Rarity called through the door.

“Yes,” Fluttershy replied with a grimace.

“May I come in, then?”

Fluttershy rubbed her arm, trying to smooth away her goosebumps. “I’m not sure.”

There was a tight sigh on the other side. Fluttershy could easily imagine Rarity pushing up her sunglasses to pinch the bridge of her nose.

“Fluttershy, by your own admission you have stated that you are undecided. May I come in and provide my insights to help you break your uncertainty? Or will we converse through a stall door for the remainder of the evening?”

Fluttershy bounced anxiously on the spot, her chest jiggling a fair bit, despite the ‘support’ her friend insisted the bra offered. “Rarity, this is just so different from what I would wear!”

“A view you have shared with me countless times today, and yet here we are with four shopping bags worth of treasures.” Rarity’s voice sounded sweet and cheery, but brittle.

Fluttershy pouted, her fingers tugging at the end of the babydoll’s skirt. She was getting very cold. She slipped off a strap, then reached for the other.

Rarity groaned at her silence. “What if I said this was the last of it, then? No more dressing rooms, no more clothing stores—”

Fluttershy perked up. “You mean you’ll go home and sleep?”

“No!” was the fashionista’s irritated reply. “But if you wish to stop shopping with me, we needn’t continue. I only ask that my curiosity be satisfied.”

Fluttershy wrung her hands, trying to strengthen her courage for the clear opportunity before her. “Will you at least take a break?”

“If that is what it would take for you to open this blasted door, then yes. Now can we please stop conversing in this crass manner? Please?”

Satisfied with the terms, the girl finally reached over and undid the lock. Rarity slipped in quickly, a scowl on her face.

“Finally,” she grumbled as she locked the door again. She pulled off her glasses and looked Fluttershy up and down. A curling smile appeared on her face. “Flutters, you look stunning!”

The shy girl felt her skin flush with embarrassment. Her knees pressed together as she covered her chest with her arms. “But I’d never wear this!”

Rarity grabbed her wrists and gently encouraged them to the sides again. “The point isn’t to wear it all the time, darling,” she said with a smirk. “And certainly not for anyone.”

She cocked her head to the side, her eyebrow arching. “Imagine Rainbow’s face if she saw this!”

“Saw what?” Rainbow’s voice suddenly asked outside the stall door.

Both girls froze.

---

“R-Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy squeaked inside the stall.

Rainbow swallowed as another customer sidled past her to the other stalls, forcing her up against the door.

“Uh.” She cleared her throat and stepped back as soon as she was able. “Yeah. It’s the one and only. What’s up?”

“We’re surprised is all,” Rarity replied with brightness. “How did you find us so quickly?”

Rainbow shrugged, then realized they couldn’t see this and knocked the heel of her palm against the side of her head. “Um. Fluttershy told me what store and what section you guys were in. When I didn’t see you, I figured I’d ask somebody.”

She scratched her cheek, looking up and down the aisle, hoping no other customers came and saw her talking to her friends like this. She felt exposed.

“I didn’t feel like running all over the place in case I missed you. Then I heard your voices and...yeah.”

“You got here fast!” Fluttershy exclaimed. Her voice sounded tight and higher than usual.

“The traffic is light coming towards the mall.” Rainbow ran a hand through her hair and asked with as much coolness as she could manage. “So about that thing you guys were talking about me seeing?”

The door rattled. There was a squeal and a gasp. Furious whispers could be heard. A moment later and the stall door cracked open, revealing Rarity’s shaded eyes and practiced smile.

“Fluttershy is reluctant to share the latest gem we’ve found,” she said. “I keep telling her she’s being silly, but she’s quite adamant to keep her feminine secrets. I had to promise her to finish our shopping expedition just to get a peek.”

Rainbow Dash looked down at her sneakers, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “Oh. Well, no biggie. I was just curious since you guys said my name and all.” She forced a chuckle. “Like I care about this kind of stuff.”

Rarity’s brow tensed at the dismissive reference to her life’s pursuit, but this cleared when she gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh, but you did drive out all this way, didn’t you? We can’t just pack up and leave!”

“Rarity, you promised!” Fluttershy whined.

The fashionista turned to glance at the girl behind her. “I know what I promised.” Rarity looked back at Rainbow Dash. “I was going to ask Dashie if she’s had dinner yet?”

Rainbow shook her head. “No.”

“Wonderful!” Rarity beamed. “Let’s all grab something down at the food court.”

Fluttershy spoke up: “But you hate the food court—ow!”

The stall door snapped shut. More whispers. Rainbow Dash rubbed at her neck as she squinted with one eye at the door. What the heck is going on?

Without warning, the stall opened, and out slipped a grinning Rarity. She pushed her glasses further up her nose and wiggled her fingers in a delicate hello.

“I’m off to powder my nose,” she said. “I’ll meet you and Flutters by the Japanese vendor?”

Rainbow blinked. “Sure?”

“Marvelous. See you there!” And away she went, her sashay feeling…off.

“Is she gone?” Fluttershy asked after a moment.

Rainbow looked at the stall distractedly. “Yeah.” She looked back after Rarity. “Hey, Shy…why is she wearing those sunglasses? It’s not even light out anymore.”

A moment later, the door cracked open, and Fluttershy dared to peek out, just one eye and a sliver of her face visible. “Um. Rarity hasn’t slept in almost thirty hours,” she said with a wince.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide. “Th-Thirty hours!” she exclaimed. “Why has she been awake that long!? You could’ve mentioned this on the phone!”

Her friend quailed, “You hung up before I could say anything!”

Rainbow blushed. In hindsight, she had been in a bit of a hurry...

“Have you tried to get her to go back to sleep?” she asked with a huff.

“Oh my goodness, yes!” Fluttershy’s head rhythmically tilted forward as she counted off the ways. “I've tried begging, and pleading, and beseeching, and asking politely and—”

Rainbow let her head fall back to groan dramatically up at the ceiling.

Fluttershy’s eye vanished from sight behind her pink hair. “I’m sorry…”

Rainbow could feel an ache flare up in her head. She’d been hoping for an amusing way to kill time before the project session, not a new problem to fix.

“And why are you shopping with her if you know she’s this tired, anyhow?” she asked as she rubbed at her temple.

“She was adamant. She wanted to buy me new clothes so that—” the other girl broke off, her eye widening.

With a snap, the stall door shut, making Rainbow Dash jump.

“Fluttershy?” she called. When she received no reply, she knocked on the door. “Hey, Flutters? What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing! I’m going to get changed so we can leave.”

“So what’s the latest ‘gem’ Rarity found for you, anyway?” Rainbow asked innocently. What Fluttershy couldn’t see was that she was fidgeting on the spot.

A long pause. “Um…a babydoll?”

“You mean one of those bras with the skirts attached?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Rainbow cleared her throat and tapped her feet. Her heart had quickened in her chest as countless images flashed in her head. “Well, I mean…she seemed to think you looked good in it, right?”

“Y-yeah…”

“You, uh, want a second opinion? Maybe?” Rainbow winced and added hurriedly. “If you don’t, that’s cool. No skin off my nose, y’know? Fashion isn’t my thing.”

“I… I don’t know,” was the shaky reply. Yet there was no sound of movement in the stall.

Rainbow Dash bit her lip, her eyes ticking back and forth as she tried to dredge up a solution. Her eyes lit up.

“Fluttershy,” she said with a smirk. “How about this…”

She crouched down and reached a fist under the stall door. “Rock, paper, scissors. Best out of three. If I win, you let me see what you’re wearing. If I lose, you get changed, and we leave without another word about it.”

“Rainbow—”

“Come on. I’m not that good at this game, remember?” Rainbow Dash’s smirk morphed into a grin.

She could practically hear her friend thinking.

There was some movement on the other side, as well as the sound of a zipper. For a second, Rainbow wondered if her gamble hadn’t paid off—that Fluttershy was, in fact, getting dressed, and she’d open the door to see the tomboy crouching with her fist held out like a moron. The idea made her grin fade.

Then Fluttershy’s fist slipped out from beneath the stall door. It was trembling.

Rainbow’s heartbeat was in her throat, but she was smiling so broadly her face ached. “Awesome! All right, go on three. Like last time.”

“O-Okay,” Fluttershy said breathlessly.

Their fists bobbed in unison as Rainbow counted: “One, two, three!”

She threw scissors. Fluttershy threw the same. The athlete nodded with satisfaction.

If throwing rock first was out of the question, as her friend had explained to her Monday, then that meant a number of things. First, if Fluttershy expected her to follow this tip, then no one could be expected to throw paper. If neither threw rock or paper, then that left only one safe option to start with.

But what will she throw next? Rainbow’s brow wrinkled. I could throw scissors again, but what if she switches to rock? She exhaled hard. Man, this game is harder than it looks!

“Rainbow, are you ready?” Fluttershy asked.

“Um. Sure.” Rainbow shifted a little. “Let’s go. One, two, three!”

Paper beat rock. Rainbow won.

She let out a relieved breath. “Sweet! All right, again. One, two, three!”

Scissors beat paper. Fluttershy won.

“Damn!” Rainbow hissed. She pulled her fist back and rubbed her temple. “Give me a sec.”

“Okay…”

The athlete knuckled her eyes as she tried to focus her thoughts. Chill, Dash. You got this. What did Shy say that other night? ‘It’s about reading your opponent?’

She chewed her lip. I have to think like Fluttershy. So…how does she think? A growl erupted from her throat as the seconds stretched by.

“Rainbow, are you all right?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“Just give me a second,” Rainbow snapped.

“S-Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Rainbow sighed. “No. My bad. I shouldn’t have—” she broke off, her body stiffening.

Fluttershy is insecure. If you feel like that…you go for the safe option. What feels safe to her right now? First she threw scissors, then rock, then scissors again…so maybe…

“I’m ready,” Rainbow said with a determined frown.

Fluttershy silently put her fist back out. They bobbed their fists three times.

Rainbow threw scissors. Fluttershy threw paper.

The tomboy struck the door with an excited cheer. “Yes!” When her friend’s hand whipped back under the door, she blushed hard. “Er, I-I mean… Whatever. I won. Cool. You want a second to catch your breath?”

There was a pitiful mewl in the stall.

Rainbow hung her head. Shoulda known she’d still be too scared to go through with it… She stood to her feet with a sigh. “Look if you don’t wanna do it, I won’t get mad. Either way, Rarity is gonna be waiting.”

She pursed her lips and pulled out her phone, intent on distracting herself somehow.

That’s about when she heard the stall door unlock.

---

Fluttershy pressed herself up against the wall, her face covered with both hands, and her shoulders brushing her earlobes as she stood coiled with fear. She was wearing pants. Before Rainbow had put forth the idea of playing the game, she had put them on with the intent of removing the babydoll next. Now that she had lost the bet, she was grateful she’d managed to get them on. It was the only way she could have gone through with things.

The girl flinched, a small whimper escaping her as the stall door creaked open, and she heard Rainbow enter.

“Fluttershy?” she heard her friend murmur.

Fluttershy jumped when she felt Rainbow Dash’s hands touch her wrists, her heart skipping a beat.

“Woah, easy there!” Rainbow said. She gently encouraged Fluttershy’s hands away from her face. In response, Shy ducked her head to let her hair curtain forward.

A snort. “Fluttershy, it’s me. I can’t see how the thing really looks on you if you keep cringing like that!”

“I can’t help it,” the shy girl whined. “It’s hard enough letting Rarity in here, and she’s been fitting me for clothes since freshman year of high school!”

“What would make you feel better, then?”

“I don’t know…”

A rough sigh. Fluttershy felt Rainbow let go of her wrists. She heard a rustle, then something hit the floor.

Confused, she dared to peek through her hair. Her eyes widened as her body flushed with sudden heat.

Rainbow had removed her hoodie and t-shirt, leaving her in just a black sports bra. She put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow high.

“All right. Now we’re even.” She reached over and grabbed Fluttershy’s forearm, pulling her over toward the mirror with a firm hand. “So let’s take a look in the mirror.”

“R-Rainbow—!” Fluttershy gasped. She found herself staring wide-eyed at her own reflection as Rainbow Dash put an arm over her shoulders and pressed her to her side.

“See?” The athlete said with a grin. “It’s not so bad!”

With her other hand, Rainbow reached over and brushed back Fluttershy’s long hair, making her companion tremble.

With the animal lover’s hair pulled away, and her arms pinned to her sides, the babydoll was finally clear to see. That wasn’t the only thing.

Rainbow Dash frowned at the reflection, her eyes falling to Fluttershy’s chest. “Hey, is that…?”

Fluttershy gave a start, her eyes dropping to the necklace. “Oh!” She touched the pendant and held it out.

Rainbow took it carefully. “This is what I got for your birthday in senior year!” She smiled softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear it.”

Fluttershy’s lips quirked into a shaky smile. “I was keeping it somewhere safe until now.”

Rainbow Dash carefully set the pendant back against her companion’s chest. Her eyes were lidded as her gaze returned to Fluttershy’s reflection. She smirked. “It looks awesome on you.”

Fluttershy let her chin lower. “Thank you.”

Her breath caught when Rainbow’s fingers softly touched her chin, making her lift her head again. Their eyes met in the mirror.

“You look awesome,” Rainbow said quietly. “All of you.”

Their gazes held. Fluttershy could hear her heartbeat in her ears, her face a bright red. Her skin burned, the flesh hypersensitive where their bodies made contact. Her stomach clenched.

She thought about running out of the stall as fast as she could.

Is this really happening?

Rainbow raised a wiry arm and flexed a bicep with a cocky grin. “Not as awesome as me, of course!”

Fluttershy let go of the breath she’d been holding, cool relief pooling into her stomach.

It is happening, she thought with a little smile. She cringed when the other girl ruffled her hair teasingly, but managed a weak laugh. And it feels okay. I feel okay with Rainbow Dash.

Maybe we really can be together!

---

When she entered the stall, Rainbow Dash hoped that Fluttershy failed to notice that she had started to sweat bullets; or that her heart was playing her ribs like a xylophone; or that her breathing had turned shaky and uneven.

She knew her friend was far outside her comfort zone. None of the typical assurances would work. So, at a loss, Rainbow had asked:

“What would make you feel better, then?”

“I don’t know…”

But it was an answer of a sort. She could leave. Get out. Convince Fluttershy that she had in fact, seen very little. That things were still the same as it always had been between them. That was the safe thing. Fluttershy liked safe.

Sassaflash’s words echoed in Rainbow Dash’s head tauntingly, keeping her feet planted:

I think you’re content to maintain the status quo.

She could run, or she could stay. She had pushed it this far without the situation falling apart. Did she really dare to try her luck? How did this play into her plans of getting Fluttershy to do her work?

Rainbow stiffened.

Oh yeah… That. How could she forget?

Maybe if Blaze could comment on the situation, he’d be heartless enough to suggest doing something forward. A kiss maybe. An amorous hug. Something to prey on Fluttershy’s emotions while she was, quite literally, vulnerable.

Rainbow frowned at the other girl, who stood slouched with her face hidden behind her pink hair, her shoulders rosy from her discomfort.

It was true that Rainbow Dash could leave, to maintain the status quo. It was true that she could probably force herself on her friend, and receive very little resistance in response. Doing the latter would dramatically increase her leverage if it didn’t backfire.

But Rainbow Dash didn’t want to do any of those things. She wanted her friend to feel safe…with her. So she did the only thing she could think of:

She stripped down to her sports bra and put her friend in front of the mirror with her.

It wasn’t until afterwards that it occurred to Rainbow that this too, could have freaked Fluttershy out, but in that moment, all she had cared about was trying to make things feel even. If anything, she’d hoped the gesture would have come across as genuine.

Rainbow knew how weird it could be when one was half-naked with everyone else fully clothed. It had been a discomfort she’d had to overcome years ago when she was team captain in high school.

She had often been the last one to get dressed after everyone else had done so, and it was normal for some of her teammates to linger and chat while she stood among them in her underwear.

A person felt exposed that way. Sensitive to attention. The only time she had ever felt better in those first few weeks was when there was someone else changing clothes as well. It had meant she wasn’t alone.

So when Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both stood in front of the mirror, Rainbow made an effort to act casual. That became easier when she realized she didn’t need to fish for things to say—her friend was wearing a perfectly good conversation piece around her neck. The jewelry had surprised the athlete, and pleasantly so.

“It looks awesome on you,” Rainbow said. She had a warm, buoyant feeling in her chest.

“Thank you,” her friend replied.

Fluttershy dipped her head down, but not all the way. She wasn’t hiding anymore. The feeling in Rainbow’s chest swelled, moving her to take a chance.

Her next words came easily, and without guile:

“You look awesome. All of you.”

As their gazes held in the reflection, Rainbow felt her breathing slow and deepen, the tension slowly fading from her shoulders. She couldn’t even feel the ache in her head. The warmth from where Fluttershy pressed up against her side felt very good.

It was like she was becoming sleepy, but she knew better. Her palms were still sweating. Her heart was still beating hard in her chest.

She knew what this was. She just didn’t expect to be feeling it. Here. Now.

And because she knew acting on these feelings would only bring her trouble, she decided to break the spell of her own volition.

She flexed a bicep and grinned. “Not as awesome as me, of course!”

Then she ruffled Fluttershy’s hair. As they pulled away from each other, she could see the relief in her friend’s eyes. That was when she knew her instincts had been right.

Rainbow Dash pulled her shirt back on and grabbed her hoodie. She glanced at her friend. “I’ll wait for you outside. Were you gonna get that babydoll?”

Fluttershy, who had already resumed covering herself (this time by crossing her arms over her chest) shook her head. “No. It’s not my style. I only put it on because Rarity insisted.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and turned away. “All right. I’ll meet you at the front of the store then.”

She opened the stall door and carefully slipped out. It wasn’t until she was out of the fitting rooms and halfway across the store that she allowed the massive grin to spread on her lips.

She felt like she’d just won the championships.

---

They met outside the store, and together they made their way to the food court.

Rainbow’s hands slipped into her front pockets. “Man, I gotta say. For someone who’s been awake as long as she has, Rarity doesn’t look that bad.”

Fluttershy nodded. “She hides it well. No one else seems to notice anything off about her.”

“She’s scary good at playing it off. You think she does it often?”

“Staying up?” Fluttershy’s face tensed with worry. “Goodness, I hope not! It’s really unhealthy! I still remember the time you and Applejack tried to see who could stay up the longest.”

Rainbow snickered. “Oh man! If Rarity had been competing with me and AJ back in high school, she would have won, hands down! I’d only managed to stay awake for twenty-five hours. Applejack couldn’t get past twenty-two.”

She squinted her eyes, her humor fading. “What is Rarity’s deal anyway? If she was staying up for school, I might buy that. But she’s just out here shopping with you!”

“She was having a nervous breakdown this morning,” Fluttershy explained wearily. “I went to comfort her, and for a moment it looked like she was going to be fine…but then I accidentally set her off again. I’m not exactly sure how.”

The shy girl exhaled shakily. “Rainbow, I’m worried about her!”

Rainbow patted her back, a reassuring smile on her lips. “Hey. Don’t worry. I think I have an idea.”

Fluttershy looked at her, her eyes wide with hope. “Really? Oh, please tell me!”

The other girl let out a low chuckle. “Well, do you remember when it was that I passed out in school that day we did that contest?”

“Um… Around lunch?”

Rainbow nodded slowly, her smile curling at the tips. “And Applejack fell asleep during first period.”

“Rainbow, I feel that you’re going somewhere with this, but I don’t see where.”

Rainbow Dash patted her stomach. “It was the food, Flutters! Applejack always has those huge country breakfasts, and I had a monster-sized lunch! Nurse Redheart explained it to us later—y’know, after chewing us out—that it was because our bodies were so low on energy, that just the process of digesting food was enough to force us into sleep.”

She gestured ahead, where the food court could be seen getting closer. “If we can get Rarity to eat a full meal, she’ll pass out within the hour. I guarantee it.”

Fluttershy nodded, a little smile on her lips. “That’s a good idea! Rarity has only been snacking here and there. The biggest thing she had was a bagel this morning, but she had that with two cups of coffee.”

“Awesome. Maybe we can get her to try a sushi platter or something.” She wagged a finger. “But don’t let her on to why we want her to eat. It doesn’t matter what she gets. It could be made of sugar and coffee—by this point, even trying to process that could be enough to get her into a food coma.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

Rainbow shrugged as they entered the forest of tables and chairs at the heart of the food court. “Then it’ll take a bit more time, but she’ll eventually crash, and she’ll still go to sleep. The point is, so long as she eats enough, she’ll go down.”

They crossed the food court and headed toward the Japanese vendor, where Rarity could be seen standing with her hip cocked, her phone pressed to her ear. As they approached, she waved at them distractedly, her mouth screwing up as she ended her call.

“Something wrong?” Rainbow asked.

“I called Pinkie again,” Rarity said. “Honestly, it’s been days!”

“Pinkie Pie has gone missing. No one can reach her,” Fluttershy clarified at Rainbow’s bemused look.

Rarity looked up with a start. “Oh! My goodness, I apologize! Here I was speaking as if you had already been apprised of the situation.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged her brow furrowed. “No big deal. How long has Pinkie been missing?”

“Two days!” Rarity huffed. She gestured at her phone irately. “At this point, I can only think that she is avoiding my calls! I must have left her over a dozen voicemails by now.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.”

“Well she had better be,” Rarity seethed as she angrily stuffed her phone back into her purse. “I still remember that color spell Sunset Shimmer taught me. I’d like to see how funny she thinks being colored pink from head to toe would be!”

“She’d probably love it,” Rainbow muttered to Fluttershy out of the corner of her mouth. The other girl ducked her head to hide her amused smile.

Rarity flipped her hair back and took a deep breath. “Well, ladies? Any ideas on what to eat?”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash exchanged looks.

“Do we have to eat at the same place?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity pouted. “I know we’re in this tacky little food court, but it’s no fun if we all just split apart again!”

“Where do you want to eat, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked.

The fashionista tapped her chin in thought, her eyes scanning the food vendors. She froze when her eyes fell on one across from where they stood.

“Ice cream,” she said with a sudden smile. “I would like some ice cream.”

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy, and was confused to see her slouch.

“A-Are you sure?” she asked, her voice bordering on a squeak.

“Oh my, yes! I could do with a pick-me-up.” Rarity looked apologetically at Rainbow Dash. “Though I suppose that isn’t a very good dinner, is it?”

Rainbow shook her head. “No way! That sounds fine.” She jerked her head. “Come on. I could use a double scoop of butterscotch anyway.”

As they started for the ice cream vendor, Fluttershy fell into step next to her, with Rarity behind.

“Rainbow—!” she hissed.

“Relax!” Rainbow snapped under her breath. “It doesn’t matter if it’s sugary, remember?”

“You don’t understand,” was the harried reply.

“What is it?”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, but then she snapped it shut again. In the next instant, Rarity had appeared at Rainbow’s other side.

“I was thinking of a scoop of vanilla myself,” she said merrily. She peeked over her glasses at Fluttershy.

Rainbow’s eyes widened some to see how red and swollen they were.

“And what will you get, Fluttershy dear?” Rarity asked.

“Strawberry?” Fluttershy said with a wince. “I don’t know.”

Rainbow elbowed her and gave her a look that said, Will you buck up? Geez! She might realize we’re up to something!

They stopped in front of the vendor and got into the short line.

“You better think of something in a second,” Rainbow said pointedly. “The line is moving fast.” Then, after a quick scan of the overhead menu, she said innocently to Rarity: “So Rare, have you ever tried the sherbet sundae here? My vice captain tells me it’s pretty awesome…”

---

Getting ice cream. It should have been simple enough.

Only it wasn’t.

Rarity was still trying to play matchmaker. Fluttershy could see it in her friend’s eyes. Ice cream was her oldest trick—not for herself, but for the animal lover.

Back before Shy had revealed her interest in Rainbow Dash, there had been occasions when they had run into boys during their visits to the mall. If Rarity got it into her head that one of the boys was interested in Fluttershy, she’d suggest they all get ice cream.

Her reasoning was that the shy girl possessed an alluring femininity that shone best when she was eating something simple.

That, and you have a mouth to die for! Rarity had tittered. Better to bring all the attention to our best assets, don’t you think?

But Fluttershy didn’t want to bring more attention to herself. She had hit her limit on being in the spotlight, and while her meddlesome friend had no idea of what happened after she’d left the clothing store, it still frustrated her that Rarity would insist on scene-setting Fluttershy’s time with Rainbow Dash.

She would have suggested eating elsewhere, but she was dismayed to see that her entrapment was on two sides.

Rainbow was intent on carrying out her plan to get Rarity to eat enough to fall asleep. Since the fashionista had claimed to want ice cream, there was no way for Fluttershy to easily explain that this was not actually the case, especially without giving away the athlete’s plan.

Resigned to her fate, Fluttershy ordered a scoop of butterscotch ice cream. When Rainbow mentioned it, she figured it sounded better than strawberry. Her sporty friend also managed to convince Rarity to try the sherbet sundae with a promise that she would ‘help finish it’ if the other girl became too full. The soccer player ordered a double scoop of butterscotch as she’d said she would.

They all sat down at a nearby table. Rarity dug into her sherbet sundae with more eagerness than Fluttershy would have expected. Rainbow Dash ate her treat in silence. The girl supposed this was smart. If they started a conversation, Rarity might not eat as much, and certainly not as quickly.

The problem was, that meant Fluttershy had to eat her ice cream…and she didn’t want to. She could feel Rarity start to give her looks across the table, and even Rainbow Dash was glancing impatiently at her.

What do I do?

Fluttershy lifted the frozen treat to her lips, but in that moment, both of her friends looked her way, and her arm faltered.

“Fluttershy, you should eat before your ice cream melts!” Rarity scolded at her hesitation.

The girl quailed, her wrist turning just slightly, making the ice cream tip. She instinctively caught herself with a start, turning her hand right again, when her eyes glazed with sudden epiphany.

When neither of the other girls were looking, Fluttershy dropped her ice cream onto the floor.

Plop!

“Oh! I seem to have dropped my ice cream,” she said with wooden surprise. She chuckled nervously as they stared at her. Clearing her throat, she popped up to her feet. “I’m going to get some napkins and clean up.”

“Let me help you!” Rarity said with a fake smile.

Fluttershy paused, her expression falling as the fashionista hurried over and laced arms with her.

As they walked to the ice cream vendor, Rarity leaned in to hiss, “Fluttershy, what on earth are you doing?”

“I appreciate that you want to help me with Rainbow, Rarity, but I would like to do things my way!” Fluttershy whispered back with a frown. It softened as she added, “I-If you don’t mind, that is.” When they got to the vendor, she began carefully plucking out single napkin sheets from the dispenser.

She did this for nearly ten seconds.

Rarity ground her teeth and curled her fingers like she wanted to claw out Fluttershy’s eyes.

The shy girl paused to shrink, her eyes flashing with fear. Her friend managed to reign in her frustration with clenched fists and a deep breath. Snatching the dispenser away, she pulled out a small stack of napkins and grabbed Fluttershy by the elbow.

“You are impossible sometimes!” Rarity fumed through tight lips as she pulled the other girl behind her.

Fluttershy looked down at her passing shoes. “M’sorry…”

Back at their table, she took the napkins from Rarity and proceeded to clean up. When the fashionista sat down at the table, Rainbow glared at her.

“I thought you said you were gonna help her?” she asked.

Rarity made a face as she adjusted her sunglasses. “What? You mean wipe up sticky ice cream off these filthy floors? Don’t be silly!” She took her spoon and primly scooped up some of her sundae. “I helped her get the napkins. If we left it to our dear Flutters, she’d still be there, taking sheet after bloody sheet!”

Fluttershy blushed and tried to hurry her cleanup, but when she grabbed the cone and lifted, the ice cream scoop remained stuck to the floor. She tried to pick the scoop up with the cone, but it was starting to melt fast, and so it began to slide. Even when she tried to push it in with her thumb, she only succeeded in smearing it around.

“Geez, I can’t watch anymore!” Rainbow cried out with exasperation. She stood from her seat and approached, making Fluttershy stare up at her in surprise.

The athlete crouched down, grabbed the melting ice cream scoop with her bare hand, and took it to the nearby trash. She returned with her cone outstretched, a scowl on her face. “Take mine!” she snapped. “I’ll clean up the rest. My hand’s already gross anyway.”

Fluttershy shook her head frantically at the offered ice cream. “Rainbow, I can’t take yours!”

“You want a new flavor instead? I could get you—”

“No, that’s not…” Fluttershy bit back a sigh. “I don’t want to get a new cone.”

“O-kay…?” Rainbow’s face bunched in confusion. “Is it a money thing?”

Fluttershy flinched. She still couldn’t explain the real reasons why. “It’s not a money thing, Rainbow. Please. That’s your ice cream.”

Rainbow shrugged. “I got too much. Turns out one scoop is my limit. Here, just have a little! I barely touched the second scoop. I ate it going down.”

Fluttershy still didn’t move, her brow wrinkling. She hated to refuse such a generous offer, even if it was under a pretense. It felt rude. She couldn’t even say she didn’t like the flavor because she’d ordered butterscotch for herself.

Yet the fact remained that she didn’t want to eat any ice cream in front of Rainbow Dash.

Frozen by indecision, she sat and stared.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. She crouched down and muttered through her teeth. “Take. The. Ice. Cream.” She nodded her head discreetly toward Rarity, her eyebrows going high.

When Fluttershy still failed to take it, Rainbow leaned in closer and whispered, “Look, it’s just to keep Rarity from smelling a rat! You know she hates eating by herself. I was serious about not wanting anymore.” With that, she thrust the cone at Fluttershy, who took it with a grimace.

Rainbow Dash proceeded to clean up the rest of the mess. Fluttershy sat down and glanced over at Rarity, who was smirking at her. Her sundae was two-thirds done.

Fluttershy sighed heavily, the resignation making her sag in her seat.

Lifting up Rainbow’s ice cream cone, she proceeded to eat.

---

Rainbow made a face as she wiped up the last of the mess on the floor. She’d needed to use all the napkins Rarity had brought. She took them to the trash and left briefly to wash her hands at the restroom.

When she returned to their table, it was to find Rarity had finished her sundae, despite her prior claims that she couldn’t. She was leaning on the table with her chin in her hand, idly playing with her phone. Though her eyes were concealed, Rainbow detected an air of languidness about her. Fluttershy, meanwhile, was finally eating her ice cream, albeit very slowly.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms. She knew Shy was a dainty eater, but had she always eaten ice cream that way? So careful. So delicate.

So slow.

The athlete couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had ice cream with her friends, but she was certain Fluttershy’s method must have annoyed her back then too. At this rate, the treat was going to turn into a new puddle for them to clean up.

Seriously, who eats this way? It’s like she’s teasing it when she flicks her tongue like that. Is she afraid of getting it on her face or something?

Rainbow squinted one eye. Man, I never realized she had such a long tongue. Oh wait…not long enough. She got it on her bottom lip…

Her cheeks burned. Crap. She’s pouting. The look is even better when she’s eating. That shouldn’t be possible.

Rainbow’s eyes widened. Now she’s… Now she’s licking her lips.

She uncrossed her arms, her expression lengthening. The ice cream is melting too fast. It’s getting on her fingers!

She went to sit next to her friend in a hurry, saying as she did so: “Fluttershy, you gotta bite it, or—”

“Hmm?” Fluttershy sucked on her index finger and looked at Rainbow distractedly. Rainbow’s mouth hung open, but nothing came out. The ice cream dripped on Fluttershy’s lap, and she let out a little huff of frustration. Her finger popped free from her mouth, glistening wet, as she held a hand under her cone. “Rainbow, I’m sorry, but could you get me some more napkins, please?”

Rainbow Dash started to rise to her feet again. “Um, sure.” She pointed at one side of the ice cream. “Y’know, that side is about to—” she broke off as she saw a large glob begin to slip down the side of the cone.

It was going to fall onto Fluttershy’s skirt and probably leave a stain.

Rainbow quickly leaned in without thinking, just as the other girl began to lift the cone.

They both froze.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened, her body still in an awkward half-risen position from her seat, her mouth on the back of Fluttershy’s fingers.

She pulled away and looked at her friend. The other girl was staring at her with wide eyes, her body stiff and her face red. Rainbow hurriedly stepped away. She could feel her own blush burning hot on her skin.

“That, um…” She rubbed the back of her neck and took a step back. “You moved the cone at the last second—” Rainbow started to backpedal as she thumbed over her shoulder. “I-I’ll just get the napkins!”

She turned on her heel and jogged away, a disturbed look on her face.

What…just…happened!?

---

Fluttershy was aware that the ice cream was still dripping onto her clothes, but she couldn’t bring herself to pay it any mind right at that moment. The skin of her fingers was tingling, and she felt ready to spontaneously combust.

Her mouth touched my hand...

She kept repeating this thought over and over. It was almost too much to comprehend.

Rainbow Dash’s mouth touched my hand!

“R-Rarity,” she wheezed as she watched Rainbow grab a napkin dispenser across the way. “Wh-what… What just happened!?” No response. Fluttershy turned in her seat. Her eyebrows rose. “Rarity?”

The fashionista had slumped over the table, and she was snoring softly.

Next Chapter: Chapter 10 (2023 3rd Draft Edit) Estimated time remaining: 12 Hours, 52 Minutes