Her grip on her steering wheel was knuckle-white as she wrung it with both hands. At a stoplight, Rainbow Dash looked up at the roof of her red convertible and prayed for deliverance. Tank was on the back seat, strapped with a seat belt. He’d retreated into his shell the moment things went south. In the front passenger seat, Fluttershy was folded over onto her lap, her face in her hands, still freaking out about last night. At this point, it was hard to tell if the other girl was sobbing or trying to breathe. Awkwardly, Rainbow reached over and rubbed her girlfriend’s back.

“Shy, come on, I’m telling you it wasn’t that bad!”

Fluttershy mewled something into her hands.

Dash leaned in. “What?”

Shy shot upright. “You were shot at!”

Rainbow winced and took this opportune moment to look at her phone’s screen, pretending to check on the navigation to Sass’ home for the millionth time. She tried to assure herself that she wasn’t avoiding looking at Fluttershy’s blotchy tear-stained face, but was in fact just trying to avoid getting lost. When her vice captain had said, ‘my place’, she had assumed she’d meant her dorm, but on the drive over to Rainbow’s car with Pinkie and Rarity, Sass explained:

“I meant my parents’ place, where I grew up. They’re out of town for a conference or something, so we’ll have the place to ourselves!”

Since Rainbow had never been there, she needed the navigation. Desperately needed it, as it turned out.

“What if you or the others had gotten hurt?” Fluttershy asked yet again. She hugged herself, her body curling as she gasped at the dashboard. “And Tank! Oh poor Tank!” she fought for breath, her inhales short, sharp, and uneven while her exhales grew long and heavy.

The light turned green. Rainbow tried to accelerate smoothly as she squeezed Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Breathe, Fluttershy! You’re going over your limit!”

“There’s… a limit… to hyper-... ventilating?”

“In your case, there ought to be!” Rainbow glanced and flinched at her girlfriend’s watery gaze.

“Why didn’t you tell me what you were doing?” Fluttershy sobbed.

Dash made a face. “Is that a serious question?”

“Yes!”

“Because you would have tried to stop me!” Rainbow barely managed to keep from throwing a Duh! at the end of her words, but when she heard the impatience in her tone, she slumped in her seat and sighed. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“I’m going... to worry,” Fluttershy said. “Rainbow... I-- I care about you! Of course... I’m going to... worry!”

Rainbow slowed to a halt at a stop sign, and as she checked for oncoming traffic, she took a chance to look at the other girl-- really look.

Fluttershy had fished out a tissue from her purse and was using it to dab her face with a shaky hand. She was still breathing unevenly, but her inhales were fast improving. It was a small relief that Shy’s anxious fits were nowhere near the epic levels Rarity’s could get up to.

“I’m sorry,” Rainbow said. She lingered at the stop, listening as Fluttershy’s breathing balanced itself. Though she had ample chance to take a right turn, she felt like her attempts at escaping this talk had come to an end. Frankly, she was done trying to downplay it anymore. “It was a dumb idea. Maybe if I would have told you, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. Either way, I shouldn’t have dragged Tank with me. You left him with me to take care of, and I dropped the ball. I’d understand if you didn’t want to trust him with me anymore.”

There was a beat of silence. Then Fluttershy took a shuddering breath and murmured, “Rainbow, it’s true that I’m not pleased Tank was put in harm’s way. But what concerns me isn’t his safety anymore. It’s yours!” She put her hand on Rainbow’s arm. “What if you run into them again? You said a bunch of people came out of the pub when you were running away!”

“It was dark.”

“Dashie, your hair is the color of the rainbow.”

“We live in a big city!”

Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut and leaned her head back on the headrest. With pursed lips, Rainbow Dash eased the car forward. They were nearly there.

“Can I just point out that something good did happen last night?” Rainbow said, chancing small glances at her girlfriend as she changed lanes. “If we hadn’t been out there, we wouldn’t have found Rarity sleepwalking and using her magic! Who knows what could have happened if she’d been alone?”

“As silver linings go, it’s a small comfort. There's still so much we don't understand!” Fluttershy wrung her hands. “Rainbow, I’m scared for her. I hope Sunset knows what to do!”

Rainbow threw a hand up into the air. “Heck, I’m even worried about Sun! I’m telling you, Fluttershy, that Tambelon place looked rough. I don’t know why she’s around stuff like that. You shoulda seen that donkey-faced jerk she went with on Thursday!”

“She did text you Friday night, didn’t she? Maybe she’s fine?” Fluttershy hugged herself, her gaze turning out her window at the passing streets. “I hope she is.”

Rainbow sighed. “Me too.”

The last few minutes of the drive were spent in a stewing silence that left Rainbow fidgeting in her seat. She followed her phone’s navigation until they came to a quiet cul-de-sac of well-to-do upper middle class homes. Sassaflash’s place was a dandelion yellow two-story colonial house with black shutters, a wide porch complete with a porch swing, and a large green yard where a tall and healthy elm swayed gently with the breeze. Rainbow Dash parked on the opposite side of the street, a little smirk on her lips at how picturesque her vice captain’s childhood home was.

Sass was sitting on the porch swing with Rarity, and the pair were engrossed in animated conversation. Pinkie Pie was out on the lawn just under the porch railings, admiring the colorful array of flowers with all the newfound glee of a four-year-old.

“What a nice home!” Fluttershy said with some awe as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

Rainbow nodded, still smirking. “Makes me wonder what Sass’ room looks like!” She chortled evilly and rubbed her hands, picturing stuffed animals and embarrassing boy band posters. Her girlfriend only smiled with uncertainty at the scheming glint in her eye.

After retrieving Tank from the back seat, the pair crossed the street and were greeted with waves and warm smiles.

“Fluttershy come see these flowers! They smell super nice!” Pinkie bounded over and proceeded to pull her to the flower beds before even waiting for a response.

Shy smiled almost apologetically at Rainbow over her shoulder, but Rainbow only grinned and winked back at her. She went up the steps to join Sassaflash and Rarity on the porch.

“Sup,” she said with a tilt of her head.

“Sup,” Sass returned, but with a deeper voice.

The two soccer players snickered.

“My apologies once again about your car, Rainbow,” Rarity said. Her brow tensed and she fussed with her broad brim sun hat in her lap. “I hadn’t even realized what a bother it must have been without it until you mentioned it after practice! Won’t you reconsider me reimbursing you for the taxi fare?”

“No way!” Rainbow knelt to set Tank down. The tortoise had poked its head out and was sleepily gazing at the girls on the swing. After rising, she leaned on the porch rail and crossed her arms. “Dude, I already told you, it’s fine. All that matters is that we all got outta there safe.”

Rarity sighed, but smiled. “Very well.”

“‘Got outta there safe’? What’s that mean?” Sass asked curiously. She smirked at a paling Rainbow. “Dashie, did you forget to bring me along on a new adventure?”

The tomboy coughed. “Uh--”

Rarity interjected swiftly, a practiced smile on her face. “Sass has been telling me about her previous work as a teen fashion model!” Her eyes flared wide with suggestion when she looked Rainbow’s way.

The hint wasn’t necessary. Rainbow Dash’s mouth fell open with sincere surprise. She stared at her vice captain. “Whaaat? You worked in fashion?”

“For like, one summer! But yeah,” Sass replied. She picked up a magazine Rainbow hadn’t noticed next to her and held it up. It was a teen fashion catalogue from what could have been five years ago. A younger Sassaflash smiled from the glossy cover, wearing a long, unfastened, pink kimono jacket, a white crop top, light jean short shorts, and heeled cream boots.

“Whaaaat!” was all Rainbow could bring herself to say. She took the magazine and stared at it. Her eyes flitted from Sass, to the cover, and back.

Rarity nodded approvingly. “I remember when loose and layered was all the rage! You pulled it off well, Sassaflash.”

“Thanks.” Sass pulled her legs up and hugged them, a light blush touching her cheeks. “I would have kept up with it, but the photo shoots were starting to get crazy! I couldn’t do anything else! Even my grades started slipping. Which was still fixable, I guess. It wasn’t like I wasn’t enjoying all the attention. But then when my mom caught a photographer telling me I was too chubby and I needed to fast before our next shoot, that was it. Game over.”

“Chubby?” Rainbow’s grip on the magazine tightened and she glared down at it. She slapped a hand on the cover and snarled, “But there was nothing wrong with you!”

“Unfortunately it’s a prevalent attitude in the industry, darling,” Rarity said with a small grimace. “There are some who are trying to combat such practices and promote a more accepting approach to beauty, but I’m afraid it will be sometime yet before the fashion world at large abandons its narrow views!”

Sassaflash smiled at her. “Sounds like the fashion world is lucky to have someone like you in it! Me? I think I would have tired of it even if my mom hadn’t pulled me out. I like trying new things too much, and being a fashion model was way too time consuming.”

Rainbow frowned as she handed back the magazine. “Wait… So what else did you do? I know you got into competitive dance, but--”

The vice captain waved the question away. “We’ve got time! I’ll tell you that stuff later.” Her eyes sparkled. “First, I wanna hear about your date with Fluttershy! You two are together, now, right?”

Rainbow could feel a blush at Rarity’s knowing smile and Sass’ hungry gaze. With a rueful grin, she rubbed the back of her neck and nodded.

Sassaflash squealed, kicking her legs up in the air and making the porch swing wiggle. “Deets! I need deets so bad!”

Feeling like she was giving a report in front of an entire class in her underwear, Rainbow Dash punched a fist into an open hand, and with her voice turned husky from embarrassment, she gave a brisk retelling of Friday night’s events--though she pointedly left out how they snogged till they couldn’t breathe, then after stepping on the brakes they just stayed up watching cartoons till they fell asleep in each other’s arms. That felt private. In a weird way, the last bit moreso.

Sass, however, was not easily fooled. She squinted one eye at her sweating soccer captain, her lips curled in a mischievous grin. “You’re not telling us everything!” she sing-songed.

“Yeah? So what!” Rainbow snapped. “Not everyone likes to kiss and tell, Sass!”

“I think that’s very honorable of you, Rainbow,” Rarity said with an encouraging smile.

Sassaflash blew a raspberry, causing the fashionista to look at her with scandalized shock.

“Not me!” Sass declared proudly. She placed her hands behind her head and puffed out her chest. “I love to kiss and tell!”

Rainbow groaned and covered her face with one hand. “Sass, please. Don’t creep my friends out!”

“How would she creep us out?” Pinkie asked as she and Fluttershy joined them on the porch.

The tomboy waved both hands in warning. “Don’t encourage her!”

“Wellll!” Sass said, barely restraining the laughter from her voice. “Just the other night, Caramel and I tried this new position out, and--”

“Ah, ah! That’s quite enough!” Rarity covered her ears with her hands. “I am wholly uninterested in such talk!”

“Fine, fine!” Sass laughed. She held her hands up in surrender. “I’m just teasing.”

“A little too much,” Rainbow grumbled, her cheeks burning hot. Fluttershy joined her at her side and hugged her arm.

Shy’s eyes shone with pleasant curiosity. “New positions? Do you and Caramel work at the same place? How nice!”

Sassaflash and Pinkie Pie became swept up in a powerful gale of humor. Rarity shook with silent laughter that she tried to conceal vainly with a hand over her mouth. Rainbow couldn’t help but let a chortle escape her as she leaned in and whispered to a bemused Fluttershy what was actually meant.

The shy girl blushed and grinned sheepishly. “Oh.”

Still giggling, Sassaflash stood up. “How about some food and drinks? I’ve got a bunch of other people coming over later so I was gonna start cooking up some grub. I’m a vegetarian, but I think my dad has some meat in the fridge?”

“I’m a vegetarian too!” Fluttershy chirped, her face brightening. “I don’t mind helping you in the kitchen.”

“Oooh, I can help, too!” Pinkie said with a little hop and her hand in the air.

“Whatever you come up with ought to be fine, Sass. We’re not too picky,” Rainbow assured her. “Actually, I was wondering if I could invite our other friends over? They might be busy, but I’d hate to leave ‘em out.”

Sass nodded. “No problemo!” Then she gestured for Fluttershy and Pinkie to follow her. “Come on! With the three of us, this meal ought to be a snap.”

Rainbow did a double take when she heard Pinkie ask, just before the screen door shut behind them: “So what new position did you and Caramel try?”

The tomboy shook her head and sat down next to Rarity on the porch swing, making it sway back and forth gently. Tank had started a contemplative journey on the porch, his little head raised and turning side to side as he took in his new surroundings.

Rainbow coughed. “Er, sorry about Sass. I know she can be a bit--”

“Crude?” Rarity offered with a crooked smile. “Mm. Yes, I noticed.”

“She really isn’t trying to be a jerk. I think she was just testing the waters to see what you guys are cool with talking about. Now that she knows it bothers you, she’ll mind her manners.”

“You needn’t worry, Dashie. I think Sass is fun, in a risqué sort of way.” Rarity pushed Rainbow lightly at the shoulder, procuring a grin from her seat mate. “And don’t you go treating me as if I’m some delicate aristocrat, Rainbow Dash! I am perfectly capable of adapting to my surroundings!”

“Well you better!” Rainbow returned with a snicker. “Because some of the rest of our team are coming over, and we can get a little rowdy!”

Rarity smiled and daintily held up a hand. C’est la vie.

Dash’s grin faded and she leaned back, one elbow resting on the back of the bench. “You feeling okay, though?”

Rarity clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing as she glared across the front lawn at nothing in particular. “I suppose I’m going to keep hearing that question until this ‘sleepwalking’ trouble is settled, aren’t I?”

“Yep. Better get used to it.”

The fashionista shook her head, her glossy indigo locks sweeping her ivory shoulders. “Pinkie told me she informed you of the incident that likely led to this.”

Rainbow heaved a rough breath, the stress and dilemmas of the week escaping her like steam from a lidded pot of boiling water. “She did tell me. I hope you weren’t too upset with her? Shy and I were really worried.”

Rarity turned over a hand and quirked an eyebrow. “I didn’t swear her to secrecy on that count. She kept quiet for a long time, even when the situation clearly warranted intervention.” Her lips pressed together briefly before she turned her gaze down to to the sun hat in her lap. Her hands clenched the brim tightly.

“Rainbow we have these… these special abilities, yes? We can do such wondrous things! I wanted so badly to share the radiance I felt inside me. To help others bring the beauty that’s within, without.” Rarity started to chew on the corner of her lip, then a hand rose up halfway as if she were startled before her mouth puckered and she ceased what was apparently an undesirable habit.

She looked at Rainbow, her eyes moist, but her jaw tight like she was fighting to keep some composure. “I was at a fashion function downtown. I lost track of time and the hour grew late. I was able to call for a taxi, but apparently there was a bit of a wait. I thought I was safe.” Her brow furrowed and she looked down, through the porch to the meat of her memory. “The street was well lit. There was a restaurant nearby that was open and I could hear a live band. A couple was walking on the other side of the street, away from me. I even saw a police car pass by at one point.”

Rarity shuddered, her eyes widening. “But I was near an alley opening. He grabbed me from behind. Oh Dashie, I couldn’t even hear him!”

Rainbow’s fists clenched, her nails biting into her palms, but she kept quiet.

“He threw me up against a wall and hit me in my solar plexus so I wouldn’t yell. It was perhaps a full minute before I could even take a breath,” Rarity continued. “He forced a knife into my throat and ripped my purse away from me. When I tried to reason with him-- ‘What do you want, I’ll give you whatever you need!’ -- he backhanded me.” Rarity closed her eyes, her face tensing into a mask of stress and trauma. “Then while I was reeling, he pushed me down into a pile of garbage bags and fled. Rainbow Dash,” her words frayed. She took a breath and tried again, with almost exaggerated composure. “I didn’t move. I didn’t get up. Couldn’t. I was so frightened. I hid in that wretched, foul smelling garbage until I was certain he was gone, then I went to the restaurant and called for help!”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Rainbow half-snarled. “He ambushed you! It’s not your fault he was a scumbag!”

“Isn’t it?” Rarity bit back. “I have the power to conjure up impenetrable diamond shields. I can shoot magical gemstone constructs at my enemies until they are buried. Rainbow Dash, the simple fact is, I froze.”

“You were protecting us. Our secret. Not using your powers doesn’t mean--”

“I froze,” Rarity hissed again, her gaze sharpening. “And I won’t again. I refuse to be anyone’s victim!”

“What does that even mean, dude?” Rainbow asked, her face screwing up at where her mind took her. She didn’t like the destination of her thoughts. Not for Rarity. “You’re all about, like, giving to people. Don’t let these goons turn you into something else. They aren’t worth it.” When she felt her words were hitting a wall, Rainbow reached out and hugged her friend around the shoulders with one arm. “Hey,” she said gently. “Rares, seriously. You’ll get through this. We’ll get through this. All of us. Together.” When Rarity’s lip trembled a little, Rainbow found herself relieved to see this crack in the tough facade. She didn’t like the angry, distrustful edge to her friend’s eye, and though tears were certainly awkward territory for her, it was better than this foreign self-hatred and mistrust.

She gave Rarity a little squeeze and said with a grin, “We’re here to party, right? Let’s enjoy ourselves! Show us peasants how to kiki with class!”

Rarity laughed, delicately wiping at her eyes.

Entering the house brought them into the main foyer, where to the left was an open entryway into the living room, and to the right an open doorway to the dining room, from which the other girls clearly could be heard in the neighboring kitchen. A set of stairs led up to the second floor, and straight ahead there was another open entryway. Rainbow paused to peek into the living room, Tank in her hands. Rarity gazed at her curiously for a moment before going to join the others.

Dash stepped further into the room’s modest space-- it had two slate blue sofa chairs and a loveseat around a modest widescreen TV on a small entertainment station-- then pulled out her phone.

With a few quick taps of her thumb on the touchscreen, she had started a message.

>R: Hey guys! Me, Flutters, Pinks, & Rares r at this shindig @ my VC’s house. She said u guys r welcome! We’re probz gonna b here a long while so come over if u can

After adding the street address, she moved on to the recipients. She paused. Twilight was an easy one to add, but the other two… Was Sunset even ok to respond? Where was she? And was it really a good idea to have Applejack around her and Fluttershy after she’d just learned they were dating? Maybe seeing them together would just upset her?

Then Rainbow’s mouth set into a hard line. She added Sunset and Applejack to the recipient list and hit ‘send’.

I’m tired of worrying. We’re all friends and they either come or they don’t. Tonight’s supposed to be about fun!

She put her phone back into her pocket and left the living room. She turned left down the hall to the other open entryway, keen on exploring the house further before joining the others. The polished wooden floorboards creaked beneath her sneakers as she went. Passing through the entryway, she found a family room that was much bigger than the living room.

It had an almost sitcom-clean look to it that made Dash chuckle as she pressed in deeper for a better look. The house plants were all real and healthy, potted in cool blue pots that went well with the forest green couches, polished mahogany coffee table, and large coffee cream area rug. She whistled at the wall-mounted ninety-eight inch TV, the surround sound speakers installed strategically around the room. The rear windows had creamy and satin curtains pulled gently apart, filling the room with natural light as they offered a clear view of the patio and the large backyard. Adjacent to all this in a corner was a long entertainment cabinet where various old players sat-- one for CDs, DVDs, and even VHSes.

Rainbow’s eyes twinkled as she knelt by this, her ear tickling with the conversation trickling in from the partially open door leading into the kitchen, just right of the entryway she had just come from. Behind the glass doors, she could see VHS tapes for treasured family memories, each meticulously labeled. One was dated almost fifteen years ago and apparently contained footage for Sassaflash’s first overseas trip to Africa. Another, from just three years ago, was Sass’ prom night. Rainbow carefully balanced Tank on one thigh, then opened the cabinet and reached for this tape.

“Hey!” Sass barked behind her.

Dash yelped, the tape fumbling in her hands before she grabbed it and hugged it to her chest. Guiltily she turned her head to see her vice captain standing in the now open doorway to the kitchen. Behind her, the other girls were giggling and chatting as they busied themselves with whatever they were helping to cook.

“So,” Sassaflash went on, lacing her hands behind her back. “Trying to find something embarrassing to dig up?”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Maaaaybe?”

“Good luck! I’m pretty much cool with anything you find. Just stay out of my parents' room, ‘kay? That’s down the left hallway from here.” Sass winked. “But y’know, don’t blame me if your girlfriend decides she’d rather take a slice of this vegetarian goddess because you’re too busy snooping around!” Sassaflash skipped back towards the kitchen. “Oh, Fluttershyyy!”

Red in the face, Rainbow quickly replaced the VHS tape, scooped Tank under her arm like he was a basketball, and followed. They were going to be here a while. As badly as Rainbow Dash wanted to uncover details about her vice captain’s colorful past, she was here to hangout.

Preferably right next to her cute and gullible girlfriend.

Tank had been set up in the upstairs bathroom with a fresh bowl of salad and some water. Some of the rest of the soccer team had arrived. Among them, Spitfire, whom Rainbow Dash was very happy to see, because she could not take one more word about vegetarian diet.

“I made zucchini bread, once!” Pinkie Pie announced as she pulled out a freshly baked cheesy broccoli and rice casserole with bright yellow mittens. “It was a little heavy though.”

“How much flour did you use?” Sass asked, her eyes keen and bright.

“I was using a huge baking dish, so five cups. Then I tried using oat milk, only it seemed so thin, so I added--”

Rainbow Dash grabbed an amused Spitfire and a reluctant Fluttershy, dragging them into the dining room where she collapsed into a high back stained oak chair at the end of the rectangular table. The midfielder calmly seated herself adjacent to her captain, her smirk broadening into a grin. Fluttershy sat at her other side taking hold of her hand and squeezing it gently.

“Had enough of that, eh cap?” Spitfire asked teasingly. She had her aviator glasses pushed up atop her combed back hair. Her eyes flickered to their clasped hands and her grin grew a little.

“Aw dude, I’m so done!” Rainbow groaned. She waved an absent greeting as more members of the team filtered in through the front door. She was starting to feel underdressed. The other girls had changed into nicer digs than what they had brought to practice. It made her wonder just how ‘small’ this party was actually going to be.

“Sass says she’s got some party games on her game console. Want to try one?” Spitfire stood up.

“What games?” Rainbow asked, her expression brightening as she sat up. Almost without thinking, she took Fluttershy’s hand in both of hers and kneaded it softly with her fingers. She flashed her girlfriend a grin at the happy hum this elicited.

Spitfire crossed her arms and looked openly between them now, a full smile on her lips. “There’s that game that’s just a bunch of mini-games--”

“Pass.”

“A trivia game--”

“Hard pass.”

“And I think some fighting games and a dance game.”

Rainbow shrugged non-committal. “Those sound better.” Her eyes were still on Fluttershy.

Spitfire gave a thumbs up and started for the kitchen again. “Lemme ask Sass where it all is and I’ll get it booted up.”

When the other girl had gone, Rainbow turned her chair, and with an assertive tug, turning Fluttershy’s as well so that they were better facing each other. She scooted closer, stifling a laugh at how the other girl squeaked and tugged at the hem of her green skirt. When their knees were brushing each other’s, she leaned forward and took hold of Fluttershy’s hand again.

“You having fun?” she asked.

“Oh my, yes!” Fluttershy said, also leaning in. She had a slight blush on her cheeks. “Sassaflash is very nice.”

“Yeah.” Rainbow turned Fluttershy’s hand over and trailed a deliberate finger down her wrist and into her open palm. She repeated this and murmured next, “Still, I’m wondering if maybe we shouldn’t have just gone and done our own thing?”

“Y-You’re not having fun?” Fluttershy’s voice had dropped to a breath. She scooted to the edge of her seat so that her bare creamy knees were now between Rainbow’s jeaned ones.

“I only got a little bored when you guys started talking about cooking, but I’ve been enjoying myself. I like having Pinkie and Rares here. It kind of feels like old times.” Rainbow smirked and leaned down, planting a kiss onto Fluttershy’s wrist.

At the feel of Rainbow’s warm wet lips on her tender wrist, and the cool cascading touch of her prismatic locks as they teased the skin of her knees and inner calves, Fluttershy could feel a warmth flood her from the top of the head down to her toes. Her breathing deepened, her heart pumping hard in her throat, and all she could do was let out a little sigh as her girlfriend kissed next her sweaty palm. She was a little embarrassed just how sweaty it was, but even this anxiety was muted under the sweet sensation of Rainbow’s breath streaming over her flushed skin. As if aware of where Fluttershy’s mind had gone, the tomboy let out one low laugh before quickly darting her tongue over the salty landscape of Fluttershy’s hand.

“Mm. Tasty,” she said.

Fluttershy breathed in sharply, her senses igniting with Rainbow’s citrus scent, and for a moment she forgot just where she was and what she was doing there. Her mind honed in on the girl in front of her, this provocative force of nature that bewildered, fascinated, and terrified her in dizzying turns--but always holding everything up like a sturdy foundation was Fluttershy’s adoration.

It was this adoration that gave her mind courage to consider her other values: kindness and consideration for all. They were not alone, and they needed to remember this fact.

Fluttershy wasn’t against public displays of affection--hand holding and sweet kisses made her heart do happy somersaults, after all. She wasn’t even concerned of others learning she was in a relationship with a girl.

But more intimate displays in front of others, she was less eager for. What if someone walked in on Rainbow Dash all-out licking Fluttershy’s skin? Just thinking of how they’d react to this bold desire made her want to sprout wings and fly away. In addition, if this kept up, the animal lover wouldn’t be able to resist any more. Her body would start reacting in the most embarrassing ways possible. She needed to get ahead of this before Rainbow, in her recklessness, barreled them to a point of no return.

Again.

With just the briefest show of nervous hesitation, Fluttershy took hold of Rainbow Dash’s chin and firmly tilted her face up--perhaps with the intention of gently chiding her in that motherly way remarked on by their fellow friends, or to plead desperately and urgently for just a little bit more decorum (Pretty please?)--but in that split second where the shy girl forgot herself and just who she was dealing with, her girlfriend capitalized.

Rainbow Dash moved deftly: one hand planting itself on Fluttershy’s bare knee, the other gripping a shoulder before her lips captured Fluttershy’s in an arresting kiss.

Whatever Shy intended to do, it was lost.

Her hand trembled on Rainbow’s chin before falling away, only to be caught and held to the other girl’s chest, where she marveled at how the tomboy’s heart beat hard, just like hers. Dashie pulled away just enough to see into Fluttershy’s eyes.

“See?” Rainbow said with a half smile. “You make my heart race. You do that.”

Fluttershy swallowed audibly. Then with a shaky grin, she replied, “I suppose you like it that way?”

A wink from the tomboy. “Always.”

“Yo!” Sassaflash hollered from the family room. “Who’s up for Dance Kingdom 12!?”

Rainbow Dash sat back, her head turning, and Fluttershy did as well, feeling both relieved and disappointed. She was glad no one had walked in on them and become uncomfortable. At the same time, however, she wished she’d been more assertive about her concerns. Relationships were supposed to be about communication, right? How can Dashie know what I find important if I don’t speak up? The shy girl sighed as she rose with Rainbow to join the growing group in the other room. I should try again, the next chance I get.

Halfway down the hall, Fluttershy felt Rainbow’s hand find hers. She smiled, feeling a little better.

The tournament (for it could only be that with so many competitive people in the room) lasted an hour and a half. By the last half hour, the competitors had dwindled down to two groups. Sassaflash, Spitfire and Surprise faced off against Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. Fluttershy had politely declined participating, but she virtually had a front row seat on the long couch to cheer on her friends.

Sass and her team had just finished putting on a blazing last performance with an “insane” level difficulty song, earning an A+ score.

“Beat that, guys!” Surprise taunted with a flip of her vivid yellow hair.

Rainbow made a show of yawning. “Listen,” she said with feigned sleepiness. “This is getting dull. How about we raise the stakes a little and give this competition a more interesting ending, huh? If we win, Sass has to put on one of her family videos from when she was a kid! And yours truly gets to pick!” She was perfectly aware of how big this would be. Since starting up the game, more people had shown up at Sassaflash’s house. Her ‘little’ party was growing. And the sun had only begun to set.

The audience around them--school athletes, their significant others, and their friends--made ooh-ing sounds.

Sassaflash smirked, putting a hand on her cocked hip. “Fine. But if we win, Dashie has to wear the mascot uniform for the rest of the night!”

Rainbow Dash pursed her lips, the only sign of hesitation she dared allow. Was it worth it? Sass’ family video could last just a short 30 minutes, but if Rainbow lost this bet, she was going to be stuck in a smelly dragon costume for at least 2 hours before her vice captain let her escape.

Inwardly she sighed. Can’t back out now! We’re always in it to win it, aren’t we?

“Deal!” she said, thrusting out her hand. “And if it’s a tie?”

Sassaflash took it, grinning wickedly as a small round of applause and hoots broke out around them. “If it’s a tie, then you and me sing the school anthem in our underwear. After all...”

“A tie is just another way of losing,” the pair said in unison, then laughed.

Sass leaned in. “You sure about this hotshot?” she murmured with a glint in her eye.

“I’ve already got the tape picked out,” Rainbow said with a wink.

“Goooood luuuuck,” Sassaflash sing-songed as she went to sit down next to Fluttershy. Rainbow tried (and failed) to hide her annoyed frown when the vice captain put an arm over Fluttershy’s shoulders. She knew Sass was straight… it still bugged her though.

Nevermind, she’s just doing it to throw you off your game!

Rainbow Dash turned to Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they joined her in the glow of the large television. The fashionista looked flushed, having kicked off her wedge shoes and gracefully pinned her sundress up with a safety pin or two to better allow for those circle kicks and wide stances. Pinkie looked gratingly refreshed, but Rainbow hadn’t failed to notice the empty bottles of water and discarded cupcake wrappers near her seat.

Rainbow couldn’t have asked for better partners.

“All right, guys. Last dance. Either it’s a tie,” Rainbow made a face, “Or we win.”

“We win, of course!” Rarity scoffed. She fanned herself delicately with a hand. “We’re performers, aren’t we? We couldn’t possibly concede to amateurs!” The tomboy managed to bite back a groan at Rares snobby golf pronunciation-- am-uh-toors.

“Look we gotta get an A++ score at least. What standbys do we have left?” Rainbow said, picking up a game controller from the carpet in front of the TV. She scrolled down the game’s song list until she found a melodic metal song she’d done a few times. “‘Total Eclipse of the Angel?’”

“I’m all for making my arms and legs feel like grape jam, but I dunno if that’s gonna help us win, Dashie,” Pinkie said behind her.

Dash sighed and moved on. “‘Book Boogie?’” She grimaced. It was Twilight’s favorite, but they’d done the dance enough times to be familiar with it.

Rarity moaned. “Oh not that one! I loathe the fiddle sections and their blasted jigs.”

Rainbow shot her friends a look. “Well we gotta pick one guys!” She should have known that playing the game for over an hour would make selecting a new song all three of them knew quite the challenge.

“What’s the matter, Dashie?” Spitfire teased from her seat next to Sassaflash. “Gotta forfeit?”

“Hush you!” Rainbow shot back. She looked at her friends. “Don’t tell me we gotta pick something not all of us know?”

“Um…” the tomboy felt a tug on her shirt and turned around to see Fluttershy had risen from her seat. She was slouching as the room’s attention started to turn her way, but she didn’t hide in her hair. Her skin was turning a nice shade of pink to match, though. Rainbow pursed her lips at the interruption but leaned in close. Fluttershy took a breath and whispered, “Don’t you remember that time I uploaded one of our songs to your game account for the Dance Kingdom indie talent contest?”

Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah! We used ‘Shake Things Up’ for that!” She frowned. “But we didn’t win the contest, Shy. Besides, that was for Dance Kingdom 11. This is 12.”

“Yes, but even though we didn’t win the contest, it was still available as a free download along with the other runner-ups!” Fluttershy turned and cocked her head to one side. Twirling her hair with one finger, she asked Sassaflash, “Pardon me, but do you happen to own Dance Kingdom 11 as well?”

Sass blinked owlishly. “Uh, yes?”

Rainbow Dash actually had to have Rarity close her mouth for her.

Fifteen minutes later, and they had Dance Kingdom 11 on with ‘Shake Things Up’ downloaded.

As Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie tried to remind each other of the dance choreography the developers had given their song (a controversial topic amidst their group as not everyone enjoyed all the hip gyration and hair tossing) Sassaflash stepped in front of the TV and threw her hands up into the air. “Is no one going to point out how our soccer captain and her friends have a freaking song on Dance Kingdom!?”

Pinkie grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, college sorta made us forget.”

Rarity nodded grimly. “Exams.”

“Besides,” Rainbow added with a lopsided smile. “One: It’s just part of the game as a DLC. Two: We didn’t even win the contest or get a music deal out of it. Far as I’m concerned, it wasn’t worth mentioning!”

“It mattered to me,” Fluttershy mumbled with a pout from the couch.

Sassaflash squealed, her hands flying to her mouth. She rushed to the animal lover’s side and hugged her head to her chest. “Oh there, there sweetie! Don’t listen to your mean old girlfriend! She’s a butthead! Of course it matters!” Fluttershy stared wide-eyed through the other girl’s arms, her body not stopping at turning pink but fire hydrant red this time.

Rainbow Dash felt her face flush hot. “Wha-what? No, that’s not what I meant Flutters!”

“Quiet, you monster!” Sass spat at her with over-the-top disgust.

“Whatever! Let go of my girl, please!”

The only response she received was a stuck out tongue. Fluttershy started to lift a hand, then gave up with a little sigh. There was scattered laughter.

Dash ground her teeth. Hard. With not a little effort, she turned back to her friends. “Let’s kick some tail, girls. Start the song!”

Pinkie did the honors, tapping a button on the game controller before setting it down and hurrying into place. Rainbow Dash was in front with Rarity and Pinkie slightly behind at either side.

“Same old, same old
Same old story, same situation
Same old, same old
Goin’ out of my mind

I know, I know
Life’s too short
Gotta stand for somethin’
I know, I know
How to turn things around

Drop the beat now
Shake things up now
Spice it up, stir it up
Everybody mix it up

Drop the beat now
Shake things up now
Spice it up, stir it up
Everybody giddyup”

Two minutes of Applejack’s singing later and an S ranking displayed on the screen, eliciting a loud cheer from the room.

Rainbow Dash wiped the sweat from her brow and with her other hand high-fived Rarity and Pinkie Pie who were equally exerted. “That was awesome girls! Nice work.” She then looked down victoriously on a grinning Sassaflash. The vice captain wasn’t annoyed or nervous like she’d expected. She just appeared amused. Delighted even.

“Okay Rainbow Dash,” Sass said as she stood up. “A deal’s a deal. Which tape do you want to put on?”

Rainbow Dash put her hands on her hips as her other friends went to get a drink from the kitchen, her fellow soccer players and other guests congratulating them on their way. The tomboy had initially wanted to put on Sass’s prom video, thinking it would be embarrassing, but knowing her vice captain, she probably had on a smoking hot outfit and that dope Caramel as her date. Totally not interested in that, Rainbow thought with a grimace. Then she remembered the other video tape she had seen.

Turning, Rainbow went to the entertainment cabinet and pulled out the VHS tape of Sassaflash’s trip to Africa fifteen years ago. “How about this one? I wanna see what you were like when you were a kid.”

Blinking curiously, Sass came over. Her eyes widened at the tape’s label. “Woah! I forgot we even had this!” Then her face lit up with a smile that rivaled Pinkie’s. “You put this on, I’ll be right back!”

Before Rainbow could ask what she was up to, Sassaflash vaulted over the back of the long couch (startling Fluttershy in the process) and ran down the hallway towards the staircase.

“Okaaaay?” Rainbow said with an arched eyebrow. She held the tape up victoriously and said in a loud voice. “Who’s ready for a look at mini-Sass!”

There were some coos from some of the soccer team, but mostly some encouraging applause. Spitfire popped up from her seat and held her hand out.

“Here, I’ll put it on. When I was getting Dance Kingdom set up, I think I saw the stuff to connect the VCR,” she said.

Rainbow gladly handed over the tape. “Better you than me!”

Feeling weary, the soccer captain went and flopped down next to Fluttershy. “Hey, sorry I made it out like your song getting into Dance Kingdom wasn’t a big deal. It totally was!”

“That’s okay,” Fluttershy said with a little smile.

Dash felt her phone buzz and took it out of her pocket. Short-pressing the power button showed that she’d just received a message from Twilight Sparkle. The lock screen also indicated there was an additional, hidden message.

Swiping on the screen, Rainbow opened Twilight’s text.

>TS: I can come if you or someone else can give me a ride back home, please? I WAS gonna work on my joint physics project, but without Sunset I can’t make much progress, so I may as well have fun with my friends.

Rainbow tapped a quick reply.

>R: I can give you a ride home! You taking a taxi or something?

>TS: Yep! I’ll text when I’m close.

“Twilight’s coming over,” Rainbow said to Fluttershy as she pressed back on her phone’s screen to see her full message list.

“How wonderful!” Shy remarked.

Rainbow Dash sat up straight and her eyes went wide. “Geez, finally!”

“What is it?” The tomboy turned the phone so that Fluttershy could see too. The shy girl’s eyes went wide. “Oh!”

Sunset Shimmer had been the one to text earlier. Probably while they were doing their dance off.

>SSh: I’m pretty tired, but I can stop by 4 a few. Dunno when I’ll get there. I’m sure u got questions

Rainbow Dash replied:

>R: Darn right! We’ve all been worried about u dude!

She stared at the screen along with Fluttershy, hoping Sunset would reply just as quickly as Twilight had, but after a solid minute passed, Spitfire began to shout to the room with a voice that clearly came from her experiences in the military. With a puckered mouth, Rainbow put her phone away.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! I present to you a rare glimpse into my roommate and vice captain’s childhood!” She brandished the tape with a smirk, then stooped down and pushed the tape into the VCR she’d just hooked up.

Someone with the TV remote changed the input to A/V, and the fuzzy buzz of the tape’s audio track could be heard as the machine hummed and clicked loudly before playing the tape forward. It took a moment as twitching white lines of interference washed over the screen like sea foam from ocean waves. Then video blinked into existence. A tall blonde woman standing with a petite little girl that bore a strong resemblance to her, both standing in front of what looked like a dark entrance into a carved stone structure. The stone looked like sandstone--light but warm in color, washed by the glow of the sun that shone down in full brilliance from a high position in the sky.

Rainbow snickered as she put an arm around Fluttershy and pulled her close.

From the TV, a male voice off-camera began to speak in an announcer voice: “It’s time for yet another riveting adventure with the Flash family overseas! Here with me are the daring Parasol and Sassaflash, both of whom are about to delve into the deep cool depths of the famous Pyramid of Somnambula, a world wonder believed to have been erected around 3000 BCE--”

“Dad!” Sassaflash snapped with a stomp of her little foot. The room broke out in ‘awwws’. The little girl started to stalk toward the camera as a man chuckled nervously behind it. “How many times do I have to tell you, this pyramid was built around 2500 BCE!”

The camera dipped, showing a man’s scrawny hairy legs rooted in rugged outdoor boots. “Oh honey, I’m only off by a little!”

“That’s 500 years you’re forgetting! Whole civilizations rose and fell in that span of time.”

“Well hon, this was just for fun, it hardly needs to be--”

The video cut abruptly to the family inside the pyramid, where carefully installed lights illuminated with soft mystique the carved out tunnels. Sassaflash pointed at some hieroglyphics.

“This says, ‘One of perfect hope, who uplifts the oppressed’,” she said with certainty worthy of Twilight Sparkle.

The video continued to jump a lot, from looking at statues to close-ups of little Sass’ wide-eyed wonder. As the living room devolved into squeals and laughter, Sassaflash’s voice suddenly boomed from the hallway.

“Prepare yourselves, peasants! Your queen is coming!”

Rainbow and Fluttershy both craned their heads to see the small crowd behind the couch part to reveal the vice captain. She was dressed in an elaborate Cleopatra costume, her head tilted back and her hand waving regally. Her light yellow hair was concealed beneath a silky black wig, and she’d put on heavy eye makeup to give herself a more “ancient Egyptian” look.

Whistles and applause broke out. Spitfire ejected the tape, it having lost the interest of those in the room to this latest spectacle. Sassaflash smiled and gave a small bow of her head with eyes closed. Then her smile pulled back even further to reveal her tongue caught between her teeth as she pretended to peek around at them with one squinted eye.

Rainbow cupped her hands around her mouth. “Egghead!”

Sassaflash snorted into laughter. She leaned onto the back of the couch and gestured at her costume, chuckles still wracking her body. “Come on! I make a great Egyptian queen!”

“You look lovely, Sassaflash,” Fluttershy said.

Rarity, no doubt drawn by the call of fashion, suddenly materialized beside Sass and gushed. “Good grief, woman, you look smashing! Who made this superb ensemble?”

“I did, actually.” Sassaflash fidgeted. She picked delicately at the hem. “Here, see? I tried hemming this by hand with a catch stitch, but I sucked at it so--”

“Tut tut,” Rarity scolded, “This shows great care and effort, my dear! Why didn’t you mention you were into costume making?”

Sassaflash was pink in the face now. “You’re being way too generous!”

“That’s basically her thing,” Rainbow said with a grin.

“I assure you, I am not merely giving you empty praise. You show promise in fashion design!” Rarity insisted with a passionate flash of her eyes.

“I dabbled in making my own clothes while I was a fashion model,” Sass admitted. “But after my mom pulled me out of it, I just sorta stopped. I still make my own Halloween costumes though… like this one from senior year of high school.”

“Looks good, man,” Rainbow finally admitted. “Maybe you can make mine this year?”

Sassaflash seemed to relax at this, her smile turning relieved. “Thanks, Dashie. Maybe.” She placed her hands on her hips and said with enough sass to do her name proud, “And for your information, Ancient Egypt was awesome, so if me pulling off this costume and still being able to list off its historical capitals makes me an ‘egghead’ then I am proud to be one.” She flipped the hair of her wig and struck a dramatic pose. “After all, a queen of history must know of the people she once ruled!” Her eyes widened and she looked around. “Speaking of ruling things… Where the heck is Pinkie Pie?”

Dropping her regal act altogether, Sassaflash cupped a hand to her mouth and hollered, “YO! Pinkie Pie! I want a rock paper scissors rematch! This is for the crown!”

Rainbow Dash laughed as she watched Sass and a small group of their fellow soccer players go in search of Pinkie Pie. As the crowd that had milled about began to disperse, Rainbow stood to her feet and held out her hand to Fluttershy. “The food’s been ready for a while. Wanna grab a bite?”

They went to the kitchen and waited in a short line to get a plate of the dwindling vegetarian casserole that Sass and the others had made. The people in the room thinned till only another couple was standing at the other end of the counter, chatting animatedly about next week’s soccer match. Fluttershy was quite glad for a chance to eat--all the hullabaloo really stirred up her appetite. She spooned one large slice onto her plate, paused, then sliced off a fourth of it and put it back into the baking dish.

“Hey Flutters,” Rainbow said from behind her. Shy turned around to see her girlfriend holding up a light glass bottle filled with a rosy yellow liquid. She couldn’t read the label, but it looked like-- “One of the team brought some wine. There’s beer and cider too in a cooler over in the dining room, if you’d prefer those. The cider’s even from AJ’s farm. You want some?”

Drinking wasn’t unknown to their group, but it was certainly an uncommon affair. Starting from their junior year of high school, Applejack would bring out a batch of her family’s hard cider for special occasions. She only ever did this at the farm, and always under the watchful eye of Granny Smith, who only ever allowed for their weaker cider to be shared. As for anyone getting drunk? Very rare indeed. But then again, the animal lover wasn’t sure if these habits had increased for any of her friends since starting college. They certainly hadn’t for her. If anything she’d been ‘dry’ for almost two years now.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Oh. I don’t know…” Should I? We have Psych in the morning. Oh, but surely one glass wouldn’t hurt!

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Okay.” She set the bottle down on the counter. “I’m not drinking cuz some of the others might need a DD tonight, so I thought I’d just let you know… if you wanted to, you can.” She smirked. “Just promise me you won’t go climbing trees again.”

The animal lover blushed. “I only did that once,” she mumbled, letting her hair curtain forward.

A small chuckle. “It’s one of my strongest memories. Know why?”

Dash stepped in close, pulling back Fluttershy’s hair and kissing her cheek. She whispered near her ear. “Because while you were up there, I had a great view.”

Fluttershy let out a little gasp, her skin flushing red. Rainbow Dash laughed and hugged her. “Hey, hey! Don’t freak on me, featherbrain. I think I was the only one who noticed then.” She stroked Fluttershy’s hair. “Now that I think about it, even then, I think I was trying not to feel things for you…” Her voice grew quiet and distant. A pang of regret?

The shy girl pulled back to look in her girlfriend’s rose-pink eyes. Rainbow Dash gave her a little squeeze, her smile shrinking. “I wish I hadn’t been so worried about keeping things the same between us,” she murmured.

“We’re here now. Together,” Fluttershy said gently, stroking Rainbow’s face.

Rainbow caught her hand and kissed the palm, her smile flaring wide again. “Yeah.” She winked, “So like I said, if you have a drink or two, no tree climbing ‘kay? You’re wearing a skirt today.”

Fluttershy could feel her blush return, but even as she buried her face in Rainbow’s neck, a little smile was on her lips.

They stayed that way until a loud ruckus could be heard outside, coming from the front lawn. Fluttershy pulled away, blinking curiously as Rainbow Dash moved toward the dining room to peer out its windows.

“What the heck?” Rainbow said. “Aw man. That’s just great.” She lightly struck the entryway with her palm.

“What is it?” Fluttershy went to stand next to her, and when she looked through the windows, she saw that there had been a sudden influx of cars, with some people still vying for parking. On the front lawn, Sassaflash had gone out to greet a tall boy with light brown hair and a yellow polo shirt. Sass had her arms crossed, the boy clasping his hands and hunching as he pleaded. Approaching behind him were a rowdy group of young men, laughing and shoving each other. One boy tried to jump on another’s back, and they tumbled to the ground, laughing hard. Brown bottles were gripped in their hands, the liquid spilling onto the grass and their clothes. Sass gestured at them with disgust and threw her hands up.

“That’s Caramel and his herd of frat bros from Alpha Epsilon,” Rainbow Dash explained. “It’s an Arts and Entertainment fraternity so they are super obnoxious.” she said this last bit through her teeth.

“Sassaflash looks unhappy,” Fluttershy remarked.

“Heck, I wouldn’t be either! She wanted this to be a chill party with close friends, and now her boyfriend’s bringing his goon squad?”

Fluttershy heard Pinkie Pie speak behind them. “Are those guys who I think they are?”

Shy and Rainbow turned to see Pinkie gazing past them to the scene outside. Her expression was inscrutable. The front door opened and a new flood of booming male voices could be heard cutting through the party’s dull roar.

“What’s up laaaaadies! Alpha Epsilon has arrived!” a boy shouted.

Rainbow closed her eyes as a look of suffering pulled her features down. “Does that answer your question, Pinkie?”

Fluttershy flinched. “M-maybe they’ll make things more fun?”

“I know you’re just trying to be nice Shy, but these guys are walking natural disasters,” Rainbow said with a shake of her head. “Their parties are zoos. They’ll trash Sass’ place.” She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Damn it. She’s gonna need help keeping things from getting out of hand. If it was just party crashers, she’d kick ‘em out without batting an eye, but since Caramel is here she’ll probably cave and let ‘em stay a while.” The tomboy growled. “Urgh, he’s such an idiot!”

“I’m sure if Sassaflash talks to them, they can come to an understanding. Right, Pinkie?” Fluttershy turned, but Pinkie Pie was gone.

Instead, her voice could be heard booming from the living room. “Are you guys ready to party!?” There was a cheer. “Are you guys ready to raise the noise!?” Another cheer, louder. “Are you guys ready to get down like moles in the ground!?” She received some bewildered responses, nevertheless people still clapped and whistled.

Rainbow Dash started for the doorway to the family room. “Aw geez, Pinks! We don’t need you hypin’ up the frat boys!”

Fluttershy followed closely, her hands wringing. Oh dear.

As they pressed into the growing sea of bodies, she could feel the anxiety start to gnaw away at her insides. It wasn’t that she didn’t like parties, or even crowds. Attention was more the thing that got to her. But this was starting to feel… wild, like an uncontrollable fire being whipped up by fast winds.

And at the heart of it was Pinkie Pie, an almost manic grin on her face.

Pinkie Pie was standing on the coffee table, a fist in the air as if she was resisting some tyrannical regime against partying. With authority, she snapped her fingers and pointed at Spitfire. “Let’s get some tunes!”

Spitfire held her hands up, her aviator glasses sliding down to show a bemused look in her eyes. “Me? Again? Why do I have to hook up everything?” When Pinkie failed to stop pointing at her, the older girl sighed and went for the entertainment cabinet.

Rainbow Dash brushed and slid past the dense group of people that had collected into the family room. Many of whom she assumed were the newly arrived frat boys, but many others she realized she didn’t have the slightest clue who they were with or when they even got there. On top of that, she only saw maybe two other soccer team members besides Spitfire in the room.

Man that dancing game really put the blinders on me, she thought as she approached Pinkie on the coffee table. So many people are here! Were some of them outside, and that’s the only reason we didn’t notice sooner?

“Pinkie Pie, this might not be the best time to do this!” Rainbow said to her friend.

Pinkie put her hands on her hips and chuckled like one did when a child said something naive. “Au contraire, Dashie! This is the perfect time to turn on some tunes!”

Rainbow threw her hands up. “What are you talking about? These guys are crazy and they need to go!”

The pink-haired girl hopped down off the coffee table as Spitfire managed to start some music-- a throwback hip hop track that had been popular a few years ago. This earned some applause as people started dancing and singing along to the lyrics.

Pinkie put her hands on Rainbow’s shoulders and said with a smile, “Sometimes, the best way to handle icky stuff is to just throw your hands up and dance.” She gestured at a group of Alpha Epsilon boys who had started bobbing their heads to the music. “When people are having fun, they work with you better.”

Rainbow frowned. “Yeah, but you’re assuming these guys have the same ideas of ‘fun’ as we do.” This earned a laugh in response.

“Dashie, we won’t know till we try! Besides, I think Alpha Epsilon would get a teensy bit crazy if they didn’t have anything else to do besides drink.”

The tomboy pursed her lips. It wasn’t an illogical idea. She just wasn’t sure it was worth the risk. What if the frat boys got too comfortable and overstayed their welcome? If it were up to her, she’d have them all tossed out onto the street right that second.

Apparently her concerns weren’t shared by the rest of the partygoers. On the other hand, a glance at Fluttershy said the girl was just as uncomfortable, if not moreso. Rainbow held a hand out to her girlfriend, and she felt a small sense of relief when the shy girl sought shelter in her arms.

Pinkie clapped Rainbow on the back, “Rainbow have fun! You too, Fluttershy. You’re both stressed, I can tell. You know what the cure for stress is?”

Rainbow smirked sardonically. “A good party?” she replied flatly.

“Yep!” Pinkie Pie smiled and waved. “I’m--” she broke off, her eyes fluttering, before she said in a slightly higher voice, “Gonna take care of something. ‘Kay? Byeeeee.”

Rainbow Dash blinked as she watched Pinkie vanish into the crowd. “Take care of something? What does Pinkie need to ‘take care of’ right now?”

“I don’t know,” Fluttershy said, her head on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I could be imagining it, but Pinkie is acting a little funny.”

“A little,” Rainbow agreed. She looked down to see Flutters peering up at her with quiet affection. The tomboy felt her heart jump pleasantly. “Soooo…” she shrugged and looked around them. “Looks like this has become a dance floor.”

Fluttershy’s pretty blue eyes went wide. “Oh!” She started to blush, and Rainbow could practically feel the heat burning her through her clothes. “D-Did you want to, t-to--?”

“Dance? I mean, we could.” Rainbow Dash could start to feel a blush coming over her own features, much to her own annoyance. “Y’know, whatever. Do you even like this song?”

“It’s fine?”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

Fluttershy bit her lip and fidgeted, her body moving nicely against Rainbow’s. Aw geez, don’t do that Flutters. You’ll make me crazy!

“I’ve never been partial to hip hop?” Shy finally managed to say. More like squeak.

“Let’s ask Spitfire if we can find something else. I’m sure Sass’ has more CDs.” She started to pull Fluttershy toward the entertainment cabinet where Spitfire was still squatted down, rifling through the CD collection.

But Fluttershy held her back. “No, wait! I don’t want to be a bother. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “It’s not a big deal, Flutters. People make song requests at parties all the time!”

Fluttershy twirled a lock of her hair and looked down at her shoes. “I think--” A dancing couple bumped into her from behind, making her squeal.

“Hey, watch it!” Rainbow said, stepping forward, but her girlfriend quickly slid between her and the couple (the boy had paused his dancing to glare as well).

“Dashie, it’s okay! I’m okay! I just--” she took a breath. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer for a drink now? Please?”

Rainbow Dash took an extra moment to stare hard at the couple before allowing herself to meet Fluttershy’s eyes. She nodded.

Taking her girlfriend’s hand, the pair navigated their way back to the kitchen. There they found Caramel with Sassaflash, who was still in her cleopatra costume, but minus the wig. Rainbow managed to swallow down a groan at the sight of her vice captain’s boyfriend, and instead chose to focus on pouring Fluttershy a glass of moscato.

“Fluttershy, this is my boyfriend, Caramel,” Sass said behind Rainbow.

“It’s nice to meet you, Caramel. Sassaflash was, er… Telling us about you earlier.” Rainbow winced as she set the wine bottle back down, her mind having no doubt made the same realization Flutters had: Sass had talked about Caramel all right. It was mostly about his performance in bed.

When Rainbow Dash turned and handed Fluttershy her glass of wine, she was disgusted to see a smug look of knowing on Caramel’s face.

“You sure do like to brag about me, huh babe?” he said squeezing his arm around Sass’ shoulders.

Sassaflash gave him a lukewarm smile, obviously still sore about his part in his fraternity’s invasion of her home.

Maybe they’ll break up again, Rainbow thought hopefully. For good this time.

When she put an arm over Fluttershy’s shoulders, Caramel’s eyes widened. “Oh! Are you two--”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said with thin lips. “We are.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes flickering back and forth between them as he licked his lips. “Nice.”

Sassaflash elbowed her boyfriend. “Behave.” She looked at Rainbow apologetically. “Sorry, he gets obnoxious when he’s had a few.”

“Whatever, I’m fine!” Caramel snapped.

“Not really,” Sassaflash said under her breath. Before the boy could respond, she said to Rainbow Dash, “Listen, if you two need a breather, you’ll have better luck in one of the upstairs rooms. I’d just knock first, if you get what I mean. There’s also the second bathroom up there.”

“Thanks, Sass,” Rainbow said.

Sassaflash smiled at her, then turned her eyes on Fluttershy. “So you like wine?”

Shy shook her head. “I’ve never had wine till now.”

“What do you think of it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Fluttershy took a sip, a cute little frown on her face. This made Rainbow and the others grin.

“I think… I like it. It reminds me of cider, in a way, which I already know I like,” she said. She swished the wine in her glass. “I can hardly taste the alcohol.”

“Yeah, I think Rapidfire brought that. Speaking of whom,” Sassaflash snapped her fingers and started to pull Caramel toward a door. “Come on! Rapidfire has a new boyfriend I want you to meet.”

Caramel dragged his feet behind her as they went through the doorway to the family room. “Who is Rapidfire again?”

“The guy you met from last year’s Halloween party? The one who tried to hit on you, which made me so super jealous I almost clawed his eyes out, but then we talked and realized we were practically soul mates? That guy ring any bells?”

“...No?”

“Ugh, Caramel! Just smile and nod, okay?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head as she watched the couple leave. “Glad that’s not us, right?” She looked down and her eyebrows rose to see Fluttershy had drained her glass. “Um. You sure you’re okay?”

Fluttershy looked at her guiltily as she hugged the empty wine glass to her chest. “Yes? Sorry. I just really want to relax.”

“Mmmm’kay,” Rainbow gingerly took the glass from her. “How ‘bout we take a break from that and see how you feel in a bit?”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Fluttershy agreed. Her hands started to wring themselves.

Rainbow could feel her brow tense as she set the glass down on the counter, then shifted to stand in front of Flutters. “Is it the crowd, or…?”

“I was fine when it was just your team and some of their friends,” Fluttershy admitted reluctantly. “But I’ve never actually been at a party this large, with so many people I don’t know. Some of them are… a little scary to me.” She wrung her hands. Her eyes actually started to fill with tears.

Rainbow held Fluttershy’s face, her eyes going wide with alarm. “Woah, woah, woah! Fluttershy, hey. It’s all right.” Then her gaze hardened as a thought occurred to her. She nodded her head toward the empty wine glass. “Babe, you really think you need that to feel okay? Is it that you want to leave? Please, just tell me so! You don’t have to go downing drinks to get numb!”

When Fluttershy’s chin fell to her chest, sending her hair curtaining forward again, the tomboy sighed. “Flutters, speak to me.”

A small squeak.

Rainbow took a deep breath. Already in the last week she’d had to deal with this sudden onset of shyness more times than she could count, so she supposed she was getting better at it. Better at concealing her impatience at least.

“Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said slowly. “I can’t hear you.”

There was a small pause. Then Fluttershy’s voice drifted from behind her glossy pink hair: “Rainbow, I want to be brave enough to tell you what’s on my mind. I realize not every time is an opportune moment, but… b-but I also want you to feel like I can stand by you. You want to help Sassaflash. I won’t force you to leave just because I’m a little uncomfortable. I was hoping the wine would… would ease my anxiety. Not numb me.”

Rainbow Dash’s gaze softened. “All right. Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just don’t like the idea of you feeling like you have to be under the influence to hang with me. You never did it before, I don’t want you to start now!”

Fluttershy fidgeted. “This is our second outing together, I’d hate for you to think I’m a stick in the mud!”

Dash rubbed her arms. “No way,” she said. “You’re awesome to be with.”

Another pause.

“You called me ‘babe’,” Fluttershy murmured.

Now Rainbow could feel her cheeks burn. She rubbed the back of her neck. “Uh, yeah I guess I did. Is… that okay?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy said, a little louder now. She managed to peek at Rainbow through her hair, like a child peeking from beneath their bed covers. “I like it. I just… still can’t believe this is really happening. That I’m your girlfriend!”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Well believe it, featherbrain!” She pulled Fluttershy in close by the hips, then brushed back her hair. The shy girl exhaled shakily, her breath still fragrant with the fruity aroma of moscato. When Dash pressed her lips against her girlfriend’s, she felt a relief from tension she hadn’t even realized had been there. They stayed like that for a moment before Rainbow pulled away and murmured, “We’re together now.” She winked. “Babe.”

Fluttershy allowed a shy smile to cross her features.

Then a group of young men burst into the kitchen, all clamoring and speaking at once. Upon seeing the two girls together, one of them wolf whistled and the others laughed.

Rainbow Dash could feel her muscles tense but she hadn’t caught who had whistled. She settled for glaring at the lot of them before taking Fluttershy’s hand and leading her out into the hallway, then straight for the staircase. “Let’s go somewhere quiet.” Then she turned and smirked already anticipating the blush on her girlfriend’s cheeks. “I’ll behave, I promise.”

The second floor hall light was turned on, but all the doors were closed. Kinda wish Sass gave me a clue as to which room was which. Rainbow thought with a grimace. She really honestly just wanted a place to sit and talk to Fluttershy in a chill space. If anything one of the bedrooms was going to be host to… other stuff.

But there was nothing she could do. She had to just knock and hope nothing awkward happened.

There were four doors on the second floor. One door, she recalled, was the bathroom. It was currently occupied by a violently puking boy. Fluttershy couldn’t seem to resist asking if Tank was all right, then apologized profusely when the only response she received was the horrible wet sound of the boy emptying his stomach contents. Another door was to the guest bedroom, where someone had been cognizant enough to put a sock on the doorknob. Fluttershy didn’t understand why Rainbow didn’t bother knocking on that one, which led to a fumbling explanation as to what a sock on a doorknob signified. Both girls were pink by the end of it. It was at the third door that Rainbow paused, her ears pricking at the sound of a familiar voice on the other side.

At her hesitation, Fluttershy touched her arm. “Rainbow? What is it?”

“It’s Pinkie,” the tomboy replied, blinking at the wood. “She sounds like she’s really upset!”

Without even bothering to knock, Rainbow Dash opened the door and pushed her way in. She found she had entered a kind of small office study. Standing in the center of it was Pinkie Pie and a young man Rainbow had never seen before. He had gray blue hair with a lighter blue streak running through it. His eyes were a stormy blue, and they looked dark under his furrowed brow. If he realized others had entered the room, he didn’t show it at all. His eyes were fastened onto the pink-haired girl across from him.

“I just don’t get why you have to make such a big deal out of it!” he yelled at Pinkie. “It was an accident!”

Tears were streaming down Pinkie’s face, but her fists were clenched and her voice was shrill. “That accident had consequences, Party Favor! I thought you cared more than that!?”

“And I thought you just wanted to have fun!” he spat at her. Pinkie flinched, her eyes turning down.

Rainbow didn’t need to hear much more to know that she would be happy to kick in this guy’s face.

“HEY!” she shouted, stepping forward and shoving Party Favor. He crashed into the L-top desk behind him, and stared at her as if realizing she was there for the first time.

Pinkie Pie stepped forward and held up a hand, just as Fluttershy grabbed Rainbow’s arm from behind.

“Dashie, don’t!” Pinkie said.

“Rainbow--!” Fluttershy started.

She was cut off when Party Favor shoved off the desk. “I don’t have to deal with this.” He looked at Pinkie Pie stonily. “When you’re ready to let this go, gimme a call.” He bumped shoulders with Rainbow on his way out the door.

Rainbow Dash glared after him, then turned and looked at Pinkie. “Was that chump the guy you’ve been dating?”

Pinkie sighed and nodded. “He came with Alpha Epsilon. We met through my hospitality program.”

Fluttershy stepped around Rainbow and hugged her friend. “Pinkie, is there anything we can do for you?”

“What was that about?” Rainbow Dash asked brusquely before she could answer.

Fluttershy looked at her anxiously. “Rainbow, maybe we should--”

“No, I wanna know!” Rainbow Dash snapped. She pointed out the door. “Is Party Favor also the reason why you vanished on Rarity?”

“Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said more firmly. Her back straightened and she had an arm around a limp Pinkie Pie. Mothershy mode. “I don’t think this is a good time.”

The tomboy crossed her arms. “I just wanna know if that guy hurt her.” She glared down at the floor. “It seems like all my friends are getting hurt or having serious problems. I hate it!”

“Hitting that boy may make you feel better for a little while, but would it really help Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy asked gently.

Rainbow felt some of the tension leave her shoulders and arms. She slouched and shook her head reluctantly.

Fluttershy nodded. “Then maybe we should just sit down and--”

“Have fun,” Pinkie interjected.

Fluttershy blinked at her. “Pardon?”

Pinkie Pie wiped at her eyes and a smile rolled itself across her face. “This is a party, right? We should have fun!”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy exchanged looks.

“Pinkie,” Rainbow started slowly. “You’re obviously upset. We don’t have to--”

Pinkie blew a loud raspberry, then giggled. The tomboy winced. She knew Pinkie’s laugh. This didn’t sound right.

“Rainbow Dash, let’s just forget about that yuckiness, huh? Oooh! I know!” Pinkie Pie clapped her hands. “I know what this party needs!”

Now Rainbow’s face lengthened. “Pinkie, this party is as crazy as it needs to get. Don’t--”

“You’ll see, it’ll be a blast! Like a nuclear blast! Something that can make us forget about all of our problems!”

“Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said with exaggerated slowness. “I really think it would be better if--”

But the party girl had bounced right out from under her friend’s arm and practically twirled her way around Rainbow Dash to the door.

“Just you guys wait and seeeee! You’ll love it!” she sang as she vanished down the hallway.

“Oh dear,” Fluttershy squeaked again.

Rainbow Dash buried her hands in her hair. “Flutters, we gotta stop her. She’s not thinking straight! Did you hear that laugh?”

“She’s hurting,” Fluttershy said with a grim nod. She wrung her hands. “We should find Rarity. Maybe she can help talk Pinkie down before… before…”

“Before she riles up a mob? Yeah.” Rainbow felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out. She let out a sigh of relief. “Yes!”

“What is it?”

“Twilight’s here. Hopefully Sunset shows up soon too.” She looked at Fluttershy apologetically. “Flutters, I’m really sorry. Maybe we should’ve stayed at my dorm and just watched movies and worked on my project. I didn’t mean for us to be running around dealing with another problem.”

“It’s not your fault Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said, taking her hand. “And I’m never sorry to help our friends.”

Rainbow lifted her hand and kissed it. “Thanks. Okay, how about this,” she thumbed over her shoulder, “I try to find Rarity and Pinkie. You meet Twilight out front. Tell her I’m sorry I’m not the one doing it, but just get her up to speed on the sitch. She can help too.” She held up her phone. “Shoot me a text if you can’t find me. I’ll try to take Pinkie somewhere quiet where we can have a full on intervention. Pinkie’s time to handle this on her own is over, the same way Rarity trying to handle her problems alone are over. She’s going nuts, and it’s going to cause a bunch of other problems.”

Fluttershy sighed. “I don’t want to pressure her, but she’s not handling whatever happened to her very well. Maybe we can just gently remind her that we care about her?”

Rainbow Dash pushed her finger into her eyes. “Yeah, sure. But we can’t let her do anything crazy in the meantime.” She gestured angrily out the door to the chaos that no doubt awaited them. She even heard glass break as she did so. “We gotta get her to see that what she’s trying to do isn’t cool! This isn’t her party! This isn’t her house!”

“Pinkie’s in pain, Rainbow. We have to keep that in mind,” Fluttershy urged quietly.

Rainbow looked at her, conflicted. She was angry. Angry at Pinkie for being so reckless. Angry at Party Favor for whatever he did. Angry at all the party crashers who turned her chill night of fun into a mad scramble to keep from things getting out of control.

Angry at herself for being a hypocrite.

Accountability? Honesty? Had she demonstrated any of these things in the last week?

“Come on,” Rainbow murmured. “Let’s keep Sassaflash’s house from being wrecked.”

Thanks to Argenti Luna for proofreading!