When Rainbow returned from the gym, it was to find Sunset had left and Fluttershy was still studying in the clothes she’d slept in. The shy girl’s face lit up the moment the tomboy stepped through the door.

“Hey,” Rainbow greeted with a grin as she set her bag down on the floor.

She felt lighter. Less anxious. The endorphins from her workouts could always be relied on to lift her spirits, even for a short time.

“Welcome back!” Fluttershy chirped, setting Tank aside on the bed and standing to give her girlfriend a quick kiss.

“I missed you…” she whispered with a flirt of her eyelashes.

Rainbow blushed, but her grin remained as a nauseatingly sappy thought dared to pierce through her mind’s shield of coolness—

Wouldn’t it be awesome to come home to this every day?

As her arms wrapped around Fluttershy, one mischievous hand sliding around to squeeze her partner’s cute behind, the thought suddenly became much less lame.

Fluttershy squeaked, a rosy tinge warming her cheeks, but she pressed her soft body into Rainbow’s, petite hands gently squeezing at the shoulders, and just like that, the lust within flared hot.

Rainbow’s lips captured Fluttershy’s as she tightened her embrace. She let out a low groan as the kiss swiftly deepened, the other girl’s arms wrapping around her neck and holding her close.

She hadn’t intended to lead straight into this. Oh, certainly she’d hoped to get around to it. But Rainbow had meant to take Fluttershy out to eat first. Maybe nail down an actual plan for the day, even.

Screw it. She was more than happy to nail her girlfriend right now.

Rainbow broke the kiss, gently but firmly pulling Fluttershy’s arms from her neck. “Gimme a sec,” she breathed.

Fluttershy pouted, those rosy pink lips glistening.

Rainbow hesitated at the alluring sight, her teeth catching her own bottom lip, but she pulled away with a will and went to her study desk.

There, in the first drawer, was a cheap bracelet an old girlfriend had given her during her first year at Everfree. It had been a lazy gift from a girl who swiftly turned out to be faithless, but the item held little meaning to Rainbow, good or bad. She just liked to use it to hang on the door as a signal for Sunset to come back later.

She may have been a virgin before Flutters, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have some intense snogging sessions!

Taking the bracelet, she placed it on the entrance’s outer doorknob and locked the door. When she turned around, it was to see that Fluttershy had transferred Tank to the floor and put away Rainbow’s laptop. She’d even closed the curtains.

Rainbow smirked as their gazes met. Fluttershy, suddenly turning bashful, let her vibrant bubblegum pink hair slip forward around her face as she sat on the bed. Still, her one visible blue eye remained trained on her girlfriend, hooded with heated anticipation.

With slow steps, Rainbow closed the distance between them. On her way, she pulled off her t-shirt, revealing her dark sports bra. Her skin broke out in goosebumps from the cool air. The shirt she dropped onto the floor, her eyes never leaving Fluttershy’s.

“Flutters, you’re really pretty… You know that, right?” she murmured.

She stopped in front of Fluttershy, one hand brushing back the curtain of hair that concealed her girlfriend’s lovely upturned face.

“You may have told me as much before…” Fluttershy replied quietly. Then she winced and added with a nervous grin. “Maybe?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “But do you believe it?”

“Umm…” Fluttershy ducked her head, her shoulders hunching.

Nuh-uh. No way. Rainbow wouldn’t let that fly.

How could Fluttershy not know what a drop-dead gorgeous babe she was?

“Hey, listen,” Rainbow said with a little frown. She cupped Fluttershy’s face and gently guided it back up so that they met eyes again. “You are freaking hot, okay? Like. Supernova hot. Seriously.”

Fluttershy’s grin became crooked. “So I’m a dying star?”

Rainbow’s eyes turned large. “N-No! It was a metaphor! Or, uh… The other thing they use in books? A s-simi-something…?”

The tomboy grimaced and dropped her gaze. She hated sounding dumb!

Fluttershy giggled and laid a swift kiss on the edge of Rainbow’s wrist.

“A simile,” Fluttershy whispered kindly. She winked. “Your first guess was right, though. It was a metaphor. Saying, ‘like’ before was just an interjection, not a comparison.”

Rainbow’s mouth screwed to the side in an attempt to hide her sheepish smile. “Thanks, Sci-Twi.”

Fluttershy leaned back onto the bed with a soft toss of her hair, her mesmerizing chest pushing up with her arching back.

“I consider that a compliment, thank you!” she declared with something reminiscent of the supercilious energy that Rarity frequently made use of. Still, her meek disposition would not, or could not, give that biting edge to carry her statement over the line of truly forceful.

She eyed Rainbow sideways, her gaze squinted with an obvious mirth as her lips pulled up in a small smile.

Rainbow tried but failed to stifle down the laughter that punched up her throat. “Getting sassy with me, huh?”

Fluttershy cringed, but her smile persisted. She pulled her curvy legs up and hugged them to her chest. “Ummm…!”

Rainbow caught her tongue between her teeth as she reached over and pinched her girlfriend’s exposed butt.

Fluttershy actually let out a taut, “Meep!” as she retreated further back towards the wall.

Her predatory instincts ignited, Rainbow swiftly followed, her smile wolfish as she asserted herself over her girlfriend. “Where do you think you’re going, featherbrain?”

Fluttershy half-whimpered, half-giggled. “Mercy!”

“Fat chance!” Rainbow growled playfully as she tickled Flutters’ sides.

The girl beneath her shrieked and writhed. “Ha, ha! Rainbow! Rainbow, please!”

“Hmmm?” Rainbow leaned in, nuzzling Fluttershy’s neck. “Please, what?” she breathed.

Fluttershy whined softly, her petite hands finding their way around Rainbow’s torso and pulling her closer.

“Please, don’t stop,” she whispered.

How could anyone refuse such a request?

In the dimly lit dorm room, they both succumbed to lustful transformations. Rainbow, even in her hungry dominance, found time to show tenderness seldom seen when she murmured her love into Fluttershy’s flush skin. Flutters, meanwhile, displayed a rare forwardness when she caught Rainbow’s lips and held her tight.

It didn’t take long for their clothes to litter the floor.

For those precious moments, Rainbow forgot about her fears. Her worries. Fluttershy’s embrace was a soothing escape that left her feeling both drunk and energized. They rolled over and over on the sheets, because Rainbow couldn’t seem to decide how she wanted to have Shy. Every angle, every spot just seemed so good.

When she finally settled for a position, it was with Flutters on top, on hands and knees over Rainbow. The adorable red glow that came over the shy girl’s mortified face was just too rich to pass up.

Both to encourage her, and to keep her from curling up, Rainbow used her strong core to sit up partially and kiss the other girl. She held Fluttershy’s face for just a moment before letting her hands travel to all those soft, sensitive places she so adored.

The encouragement seemed to work, because when Rainbow relaxed back against the bed, Fluttershy followed her lips, pressing their bodies deliciously closer, chests brushing tenderly.

Without prompting, Fluttershy proceeded to travel down, laying wet kisses along Rainbow’s neck before finding her breasts. One hand gently stroked its way further down…

Rainbow’s eyes fell shut as she let loose a groan.

Fluttershy’s tongue teased one of Rainbow’s pert nipples whilst her fingers worked wonders on her lover’s clit. Dashie, meanwhile, returned the favor, whilst her other hand massaged her girlfriend’s plush breast. When their climaxes came, nearly in sync, it was a satisfying drop from a sweet building ache that had reached new heights.

Rainbow had to clench her jaw to contain her euphoric cry. Fluttershy was too overcome to make more than a whimper as she let her body collapse onto Rainbow’s. The girl shifted over some so that she curled up against Dashie’s side, and they lay for a moment in a blissful silence.

Rainbow indulgently licked her fingers, humming at the wild smell of Fluttershy’s femme cum, before wrapping an arm around her girlfriend and resting her wet hand on her sculpted stomach.

“See?” She murmured, grinning lazily at the ceiling. “Freaking hot.”

Fluttershy only hummed and kissed her shoulder in response.

They shared a hot shower. If Shy thought matters were over with in the bed… Rainbow grinned wickedly as she lathered her girlfriend’s slick breasts and smooth ass. Fluttershy’s sweet mewls were their own reward, but ever the glutton, Dash couldn’t resist giving a good thorough cleaning to her girlfriend’s tender pussy… with her eager tongue, of course.

Fun had and bodies cleansed, they got dressed.

Before they left the dorm, a thought struck Rainbow that made her blush.

Tank had been in the same room… that entire time.

The little tortoise was nowhere in sight. Rainbow peeked under her bed to find him fully in his shell.

She winced and picked him up gently. “Aw, man…”

Fluttershy approached her, frowning questioningly, but when her eyes fell on Tank, she turned a bright red and covered her mouth.

“Oh dear,” she breathed.

Rainbow held Tank in her palm, and with her other hand she gently tapped his shell. “Uh, Tank? Hey, are you okay?” She winced. “We didn’t scare you, did we?”

Tank’s head slid into view, but not totally. He blinked at her slowly.

She could feel her blush deepen. “Sorry about that, man. I should’ve like… put you in the bathroom or something.”

The tortoise emerged completely from his shell and continued to gaze steadily at her.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her heated neck. “You, uh… wanna come with us for some breakfast? Maybe some fresh air? You’ve been in here a while.”

Tank’s head tilted ever so slightly to the side. He blinked again.

“I think that’s a yes,” Fluttershy said, leaning down to pet Tank on the head. She cooed at him. “Would you like strawberries, Tank? Please let us make it up to you!”

He turned his head to look up at her slowly, and Rainbow thought his lips pulled up into a subtle smile.

Rainbow let out a little sigh of relief.

After the last few days she’d had, she hardly needed a “traumatized tortoise” on the list.

They gathered their things and were very soon in her car.

“So back to your house?” Rainbow asked as she buckled in.

In the passenger seat, Fluttershy nodded her head. Tank was in her lap. “Yes, please! I’d like to change.” She fanned her eyelashes. “Would it be all right if Angel came with us as well?”

Rainbow only just managed to keep the grimace off of her face. She didn’t hate Angel, but the pushy bunny clearly hadn’t forgiven her for how she’d treated Fluttershy over the years.

Still, if she wanted to win him over, she’d have to keep to her previous promise of not keeping Fluttershy from him.

“Sure. No biggie. Maybe we can do a picnic somewhere? All four of us?” Rainbow suggested as she started the car.

A short time later they arrived at Fluttershy’s home. Star Weld was already gone for the day.

Whilst Fluttershy went off to change and check on her pet, Rainbow lingered in the living room, eyeing the old knick-knacks lining the shelves on the walls. They had once belonged to Shy’s parents.

The tomboy’s expression turned somber as memories of the funeral flashed through her mind. She’d been thirteen at the time.

The somber day had been bright and sunny. Blaze didn’t accompany his daughter to the event, but he’d at least sent her with a signed sympathy card and a cash gift.

By that point, Rainbow and Fluttershy had become friends with the other girls, so it was Applejack’s family who had given her a ride to the service. Having their other friends there had been a big relief. She would have been there for Shy no matter what, but their long standing friendship left Rainbow feeling pressured to be the absolute best friend she could be…

Only how did one support a friend who had suffered an unimaginable loss? It was true that Rainbow had lost her mother, but she wasn’t dead. Fluttershy’s grief was of a different breed. Luckily, the others had been there to help her figure it out.

Rarity’s generous spirit reminded Rainbow to place Fluttershy’s needs first. Applejack’s steadfast authenticity informed her that she could confess ignorance when it was needed, but communicating her dedication and sincerity was paramount. Pinkie Pie made it clear that there was a time and place for levity, and that was not it. But even so, her optimism had never felt far, and she was always ready with an encouraging smile.

When Rainbow wasn’t by Fluttershy’s side, she was with their other friends, watching the shy girl carefully.

Fluttershy’s eyes had been puffy and bloodshot from crying, though when she had done this Rainbow never saw. The girl’s grief was both plain to see and well hidden, like she’d only broken down in private, but forced herself into a kind of decorum around everyone else.

Even in grief Fluttershy feared being impolite and causing a scene.

When it came time for the coffins to be lowered into their graves, Fluttershy’s face finally crumpled. At her side, Star Weld’s eyes streamed with silent tears, and he rubbed her back awkwardly.

Rainbow, at a loss, simply went to her friend and held her hand.

Fluttershy didn’t let her go for a long, long time.

Back in the present, Rainbow spotted a picture hanging on the wall and went to it. It was of Fluttershy and Star Weld’s parents. Mr. Shy with his curly white hair, neat mustache, and kind eyes. Mrs. Shy with her voluminous rosy locks and apologetic gaze behind thick teal glasses.

Rainbow shoved her hands into her pockets and gazed at them somberly.

“I promised you guys I’d be there for her after you passed,” she whispered. “I screwed that up more than once. But not anymore.”

She put her hand over her heart. “I hope you’re watching, because I’m gonna do everything I can to make her happy. I love Shy. Like crazy.”

She smiled softly. “So don’t worry, okay?”

The pictures didn’t respond…but she lingered, listening carefully for something. Anything.

Fluttershy didn’t have to look far to find Angel Bunny. The little rabbit was on her bed. Apparently he’d been napping. He perked up as soon as she entered the room, both ears going ramrod straight.

“Hullo, Angel Bunny,” she greeted warmly. She sat on her bed and patted his head.

But Angel snorted at her, his dark eyes narrowing. With a dramatic twist he turned his back.

She blinked at him in surprise. “You’re mad at me?”

He nodded his head once, his little arms crossing as he stamped his long hind foot. Of all the magical creatures she had come to meet, he was easily the most expressive. Jumping clean through a magical portal to a pony dimension did that, she supposed.

Fluttershy wrung her hands and gazed at him anxiously. “Oh, Angel… I’m truly sorry! I have been neglecting you lately.”

Angel nodded his head again, vigorously.

She lay on her side and tried to catch his gaze with her own, but the bunny only turned his head away with another little snort.

“Won’t you please give me a chance to make it up to you?” she pleaded.

He growled and stomped his foot again.

She clasped her hands and wiggled closer, making the bed quiver. “Pretty please?”

Angel’s ears drooped a little as he glared at her sideways.

Fluttershy smiled and softly sang, “I’ll get you lots of carrots!”

The bunny’s eyes went wide as his ears went limp. He hopped to her and nuzzled her eagerly. Giggling, she embraced him, pulling him atop her chest as she rolled onto her back.

She stroked his fur lovingly and lay there for a moment. Her smile flared at his contented sigh. Then she murmured, “We’re going on a picnic with Rainbow Dash and a tortoise named Tank that she’s caring for as a favor to me. Won’t that be nice?”

Fluttershy squeaked when Angel Bunny suddenly leapt off her chest. “Angel?!”

Shot shot upright, but he was already a little white blur zipping through her open bedroom door.

She pouted. She should have known it wouldn’t be that easy…

With a sigh, Fluttershy changed her clothes. Her phone’s weather app predicted a mild sunny day, so while she would have liked to have worn a light summer dress, she instead went with baby blue capris and a soft white blouse.

From her closet she extracted a large red and purple quilt blanket her mother had made when she was little. If they were really going to do a breakfast picnic, then this would be perfect to sit on.

When she returned to the living room, it was to find Rainbow Dash was missing.

Blinking in confusion, Fluttershy set her quilt on the back of the couch and looked around for any signs of where her girlfriend had gone. “Dashie?”

“Over here!” was the gruff reply.

Frowning now, Fluttershy followed the voice to the kitchen where she found Rainbow on her hands and knees by the back door.

She was gingerly trying to peer through the pet door. Tank was on the ground next to her feet, and he looked at Fluttershy with wide black eyes.

With a growl, Rainbow sat back on her heels and looked at Fluttershy with what seemed to be a mixture of chagrin and frustration. “Angel ran into the living room, kicked me, then ran out the back.”

Fluttershy groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I am so very sorry, Rainbow!” She parted her fingers to peek at the other girl. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine.”

“No biggie. You’ve been helping me after all.” Dashie’s lower jaw slid forward, and she added a little more sullenly. “I would have chased after him, but I figured it was safer trying to call him back. He’s ignoring me though.”

Fluttershy placed her hands on her hips. “Angel is a sweet little bunny, but I’m afraid he can get a little jealous. After I stopped fostering animals he sort of became accustomed to my undivided attention.”

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “It doesn’t seem like he’ll come with us…”

“I think I know how to reach him,” Fluttershy said. She came closer and crouched down next to Tank. “Will you help me?” she asked the reptile.

Tank blinked at her, then nodded.

A moment later, Fluttershy was in the backyard with Tank and a package of carrots in her hands. Rainbow glowered through the backdoor’s window, her arms crossed.

“Angel?” Fluttershy called.

Nothing.

Fluttershy’s lips pursed. Her little friend was going to play hard to get…? Fine.

She sat on the grass and set Tank down next to her. “Angel, this is my new friend, Tank. He’s such a lovely little tortoise.” She leaned down with a sweet grin and stroked the tortoise’s scaly head. “Aren’t you, Tank? Yes you are!”

Fluttershy sat up again and opened the bag of carrots. “Angel, if you’d care to, Tank would love to meet you! I even have some carrots here to share. He loves carrots, too. Isn’t that nice, Angel?”

She shook some carrots onto the grass in front of Tank, then winked at him. “If this doesn’t get him to show up, I don’t know what will!” she whispered with a small giggle.

Only a short moment went by before there was a rustle in the grass behind them. Fluttershy twisted around to see Angel Bunny staring at them both, his furry face tight and his ears perked.

“Hello again, Angel! Would you care to join us?” she asked him mildly.

Angel’s eyes narrowed and his ears lay flat on his head.

Fluttershy pretended to be surprised. “Oh my!”

She shrugged a little and turned her attention back to the tortoise. “Well, I’m afraid these carrots are for good little critters who want to have a good day. Isn’t that right, Tank?” She winked down at him.

Tank, with what appeared to be great effort, winked back at her.

Fluttershy leaned back onto her hands and looked up at the sky, feigning ease. In truth, she was quite anxious for her little pet to forgive her and join them, but she knew Angel was quite stubborn.

A full minute must have gone by. Somewhere far off, Fluttershy could hear a car door slam shut. Nearby, the rattling hiss of an automated sprinkler persisted. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sunlight.

Any moment now...

Without warning, she felt soft fur rest against the exposed parts of her shins. Fluttershy’s eyes blinked open, and she saw Angel Bunny sitting in front of her, a carrot in his paws. He pressed quite insistently against her, almost as if he were staking his claim, his body turned a quarter to the side as he eyed Tank suspiciously. He nibbled his carrot almost as an afterthought.

A crooked half-smile pulled at Fluttershy’s lips.

“Angel, this is Tank,” she said with a pointed lilt to her voice. Be nice, her tone warned.

She leaned down and pretended to whisper to her pet, “He’s magic touched like you!”

This made Angel squeak loudly in surprise. His ears shot up and he dropped his carrot altogether as he took an excited step toward Tank.

The tortoise simply gazed at Angel pleasantly. A carrot crumb was on his green face, one small carrot already partially eaten in front of him.

Angel took another step, then squeaked again, gesturing first at himself, then at Tank.

Tank just blinked at him.

Angel’s ears drooped and he turned to stare at Fluttershy with one eye squinted.

Fluttershy’s crooked smile gained more of a slant. “Give him a moment.”

The bunny rabbit looked skeptically back at Tank. He chirped with surprise when the tortoise nodded his head once.

“See?” Fluttershy giggled. “It pays to be patient, Angel.”

Angel hopped to Tank’s side and began squeaking excitedly. Tank took a moment to take another slow bite of his carrot before looking back at Angel with an evident smile on his face.

Fluttershy let Angel carry on for a moment like this. The poor thing, in fact, did not get to meet many magic touched critters like himself. From what she gathered, Angel was telling Tank all about how he’d come to an elevated consciousness, and then about the TV shows he liked, and his favorite foods.

Her little friend had trouble slowing down on a topic when in the grips of a thrill.

Sadly, she couldn’t let this go on forever.

“Angel,” she interjected smoothly, like an adult cutting through a child’s chatter.

The bunny quieted swiftly, his eyes fixed on hers.

“As I was telling you earlier, Rainbow and I were going to take Tank with us to a picnic,” she said. “Won’t you come with us? We were thinking of getting strawberries!”

Angel’s face tightened, his nose quivering.

He sat on the grass hard and crossed his arms.

Fluttershy sighed, disappointed by this show of stubborness. “Oh, Angel…”

She folded her hands in her lap and said quietly, “I know you don’t like how Rainbow treated me in the past, but I have forgiven her. Star Weld accepted that. Why can’t you?”

Angel’s ears wilted to the sides and his chin tucked to his chest. He looked away for a moment. Took a deep breath. Looked back at her and pointed at his eye. He chirped somberly.

She gathered his meaning right away.

Because Star Weld didn’t listen to you cry every night. I did.

Fluttershy’s shoulders sagged. Of course. Of course. No wonder it was harder for him to accept Rainbow. Of anyone on the planet, he’d been the only one she’d shared her every heartbreak with. He’d seen up close and personal how much she’d hurt.

This was the love and devotion so many others didn’t get to see from her spunky little friend.

She sighed and stroked his soft head. “You’re very sweet, Angel. I’m sorry that was so hard for you.”

Fluttershy smiled gently and cocked her head. “Not all of that was Rainbow’s fault. But you being there for me was really valuable to me. I need you to know that nothing could ever replace you. Not even Rainbow. Won’t you at least give her a chance? For me?”

Angel scowled at her.

Her smile brightened and she added more sweetly. “Pleeease?”

His expression remained for a beat longer before he sighed and nodded.

He hopped and squealed in surprise when Tank gently headbutted his elbow. The bunny looked at the grinning reptile with wide eyes.

Fluttershy giggled. “He’s glad you’re giving her a chance, too!”

Angel put his paws on his hips and let out a taut squeak. Don’t scare me like that! He seemed to chastise his new friend.

Tank only tilted his head to the side and let out a soft grunt. Sorry, was the apparent response.

As the two critters resumed their strange exchange, Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. She turned and signaled to Rainbow that she could come out.

The tomboy could be seen through the window tilting her head back and clearly groaning, “Finally!”

When her girlfriend joined them outside, she knelt by Fluttershy’s side, all the while eyeing Angel warily. “We cool?” she asked.

Fluttershy took her arm and leaned on her. “Yes, I think so.” She looked pointedly back at her pet. “Isn’t that right, Angel Bunny?”

Angel paused in his animated conversation with Tank to peer between the two girls. He snorted and shrugged, then turned his fluffy tail on them both.

For now, was the clear message.

Rainbow frowned and looked at Fluttershy with uncertainty.

Fluttershy giggled nervously. “He’s, uh...keeping an open mind?”

Hello again! Please pardon the fluff. After such a long hiatus, I thought it would be nice to transition with some lighter (and sexier) stuff before we get back into the nitty-gritty.

As always, your support is appreciated! Thanks for sticking with it this long.