Chapter 23

Sapphire Square Garden, Canterlot

The train ride from Ponyville to Canterlot had been short and relatively uneventful. That is… until the trio disembarked at Grand Celestial Station, the busiest locomotive hub in all Equestria. Even with Rarity as their guide and the supposed “Royal Decree” in full effect, Sunset had never felt more out of place in her entire life.

Back in the hospital, Sunset had promised herself that she’d never wear so much as a stitch of clothing ever again if she could help it. But now that she was actually out in public, amongst the populace of Equestria, years of stringent social conditioning suddenly came flooding back all at once. For the first time in nearly a decade, she felt completely naked.

Sunset let out a shuddering breath. “Damn it all! I didn’t think this would be so difficult.”

“Sunset, what’s wrong? You’re shaking.”

Sunset hugged Spike’s arm and drew him closer. “You’re gonna think it’s stupid…”

“No, I won’t. C’mon, you know you can trust me. What’s bothering you?”

Sunset looked down at the ground and blushed. “Well, you see, I thought that being nude in public would be a piece cake because I’d lived that way for years. But that was back in the forest where there weren’t any other people around. This is a totally different situation! I dunno, I guess I’m feeling really self-conscious all the sudden? Like people are constantly eyeing me up and judging me…”

Spike knew for certain that people were staring at them. Some out of curiosity, some out of utter contempt, and some… out of undisguised lust. It came with the territory. Equestrians were generally conservative and tended to wear clothing while they were out in public, so it was highly unusual to see anyone casually strolling around town in their birthday suits. The simple fact of the matter was: as Wyvertii, they were bound to attract attention no matter where they went. Even so, Spike did his best to reassure Sunset that she had nothing to be ashamed of.

“I’ll be honest with you, Sunset. People are always gonna stare at us no matter where we go. Mostly because we stick out like a sore thumb in modern society. But! You shouldn’t let it bother you. It’s all about attitude, you see.”

“Attitude?”

Spike nodded. “Mhmm. You’ve got to embrace your body for what it is: all the scars, all the imperfections, and, of course, all of the things that make you feel good about yourself too. Sure, anybody can wear the same clothes, shoes, makeup, and jewelry as you but no one else can compare to Sunset Shimmer in her natural state.”

“Arrgh! You make it sound like it’s so damn easy! I can’t—it’s not that simple for me, Spike! I’ve never considered myself to be particularly attractive or even girly for that matter. And let’s face it: I’m severely lacking in the social skills department too. I spent eight years living in a cave for Celestia’s sake!"

Spike wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Hey now, don’t be so hard on yourself. I never said that adjusting to your new life was gonna be quick or easy. Heck, I’ve lost count of how many times I was put into situations where I was unsure of myself. But you know what? I’m here for you, Sunset. We’ll work though whatever’s troubling you together. I promise.”

“Is everything alright back there, darlings? You two have been awfully quiet since we left the train terminal.”

“Yeah, we’re fine! Sunset’s having a bit of trouble adjusting to the sights and sounds of civilization. She’s—uh—not accustomed to being surrounded by so many people all at once. We’ll catch up with you in just a second!”

Sunset felt like she was going to die of embarrassment. “Great. Now, she probably thinks I’m some knuckle-dragging Neanderthal with an irrational fear of anything that isn’t make of sticks and stones. I might as well go running around shouting OOGA BOOGA while I’m at it! Oh, and let’s throw in my crippling social anxiety just for kicks and giggles! Way to make a lasting first impression, Sunset!”

Spike knew that Rarity would never judge Sunset so harshly, but he decided that it was best to keep his mouth shut and allow his companion to vent her frustration. He’d lived through enough of Twilight’s episodes to understand that Sunset wasn’t in the right state of mind to listen to reason at the moment.

Instead, he opted to use a tried and true technique that always seemed to calm down his sister. Spike placed his hand on Sunset’s back and massaged it in a gentle, circular motion. Within moments, he felt the tension in her muscles slowly melt away. It was a good indication that she was finally starting to calm down. Spike smiled when he heard her let out a contended sigh.

Although she still seemed somewhat nervous, Spike noticed that Sunset had relaxed enough to start walking at a regular pace once more. She even went so far as to comment on a few of the store displays they’d passed by. In particular, she was quite smitten with an adorable stuffed teddy bear that had been sitting in the front window of a toy shop. At some point, Spike mused, he would get around to buying her one. That is… once he remembered to start bringing his satchel along while he traveled with the girls.

The pair nearly rammed right into Rarity’s backside when she abruptly stopped in front of a white-colored building. Given Canterlot’s flair for modern architecture, it was strange to see a storefront adorned with classic Doric columns and a triangular, red-tiled roof done in the ancient Pegalopian style. Spike was under the impression that they were heading straight for Rarity’s condo to get settled in and perhaps rest a bit, but it was not meant to be.

“Good news, everyone! We’ve finally arrived at our destination~ It is my distinct pleasure to introduce the both of you to my favorite spa in all of Canterlot. Luxuria Maxmia!”

“Umm… what?” Spike and Sunset uttered simultaneously.

The main lobby of Luxuria Maxima was dimly lit using brass oil lamps suspended on chains or hung along the walls in specially designed sconces. While the interior décor wasn’t quite as garish as the outside had been, it stayed true to its ancient Pegalopian theme, featuring: marble floors, a wide array of colorful frescos, and statutes depicting both men & woman in various poses whilst nude. The irony of the situation was not lost on either of Rarity’s guests.

An impossibly large mountain of a man, wearing a red and white toga, stood behind the reception counter. His blonde hair was cut short in the style that the military typically preferred, and he wore a stern, unyielding expression. Oddly enough though, as soon as Rarity approached him, he smiled at her and gave the fashionista a hug.

“GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. RARITY. WE’VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Biceps. A pleasure as always to see you!”

Bulk nodded. “I TAKE IT THESE ARE THE GUESTS YOU MENTIONED?”

“They are. I wanted to ensure that they received the absolute highest quality treatment available. After all, one must look one’s best while attending a charity ball.”

Bulk bowed to his guests. “IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HOSTING THE ESTEEMED DRAGON LORD AND HIS COMPANION TODAY. PLEASE, ENJOY OUR SERVICES AND DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR ANYTHING.”

Spike and Sunset quietly thanked their host, but were utterly dumbfounded by the entire exchange. When Rarity noticed the confused expression on their faces, she urged them to follow her into one of the adjoining rooms that had a steaming water symbol above it. Once inside, Rarity immediately began to disrobe and deposited her clothing into a nearby cubby. After she retrieved a fresh set of towels, the fashionista turned around and offered a pair to her guests.

“Just remember: not matter how temping it may be to soak in the baths for the remainder of the day, we mustn’t stay in there for too long. You don’t want to get your skin all pruny before the ball. That and we’re scheduled to have a deep tissue massage done afterwards, as well.”

For many years, Spike had often fantasized about Rarity’s body and what she really looked like underneath all of her clothes. Now that he’d actually been given the opportunity to transform that fantasy into reality, the young Dragon Lord wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it. Rarity was every bit as beautiful as he’d imagined. She had blemish-free, cream colored skin, long, slender legs, and a toned physique that suggested she put a considerable amount of effort into maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Her teardrop shaped breasts were modestly sized, firm, and perky. They were capped by a surprisingly large, almost wine-colored set of areolae. Despite his desire to remain polite and not openly gawk at his longtime friend, Spike’s gaze inevitably crept downward towards her neatly trimmed strip of violet pubic hair, and the diamond-stud clitoral piercing located right below it. The very sight of her naked form made his mouth dry and left him with a big lump in his throat that he just couldn’t seem to swallow.

When Spike finally summoned the courage to look up at Rarity’s face, she was visibly flustered, her light complexion making the deep, crimson blush that spread all the way down to her chest stand out even more than usual. Had she noticed him staring at her?

Unsure how else to proceed, Spike attempted to retrieve the towel that Rarity had offered to him… only to feel the head of his penis brush up against his stomach. His eyes widened in horror as he looked down at his crotch. It was already embarrassing enough that he’d somehow gotten an erection right in front of Rarity, but what made the situation even worse was the shiny bead of precum that had already begun to ooze from the tip.

Rarity coughed awkwardly. “My goodness, I hadn’t realized how much you’d grown! You’re—erm—unquestionably a healthy, young man now. That’s for sure! In hindsight, I suppose I shouldn’t be terribly surprised at your excitement. Old habits die hard and whatnot.”

“Rarity, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things… weird.” Spike mumbled.

“No need to apologize, dear. In all honesty, I’m actually quite flattered that I was still able to elicit such a strong reaction from you after all this time. I work diligently every day to keep my body in tip-top shape, so it’s nice to know that someone earnestly appreciates my efforts.”

Spike slowly nodded. “Yeah, it really shows. You look amazing.”

“Thank you, darling. I should mention that Mr. Biceps always keeps a wide variety of toiletries in stock, in order to cater to his client’s needs. I believe there are even a few bottles of hand lotion available should you feel the need to—ahem—relieve yourself, as it were.”

Spike bit his lip and blushed. “Uhh… that’s probably a good idea. I don’t think the staff or the other patrons would appreciate me walking around like this.”

“Ah, well you don’t have to worry about other patrons. I reserved the entire spa just for the three of us today. Sunset, darling~ Why don’t we head off to the baths and give Spike some privacy, hmm?”

Sunset blinked owlishly and grabbed her towel. “Sure. Let’s get to it then. And Spike? There’s no rush or anything. Take as much time as you need. I guess… we’ll see you later then.”

“Yeah. See ya later…”

Spike made his way towards the baths at a languid pace. Since there wasn’t anyone else around, the only sounds that filled the air were his bare feet pattering against the marble floor and the constant rhythm of flowing water. As he got closer, he could hear the girls chatting softly, but it wasn’t distinct enough that he could make out what they were saying specifically. Spike stood in the entranceway and took deep breath to steel his nerves.

It had taken a lot longer than he’d anticipated to “relieve” himself, though not for lack of effort. More so due to the fact that he hadn’t had an opportunity to release any of the excess semen that had built up in his balls over the course of the past few days. Suffice to say: Spike experienced an absolutely mind-numbing orgasm as a result, but at the cost of making a big, sticky mess all over the bathroom floor. Even through the haze of post-orgasmic bliss, the young man felt incredibly guilty about leaving his… “mess” behind for some poor staff member to clean up afterwards, so he took it upon himself to tidy things up as best he could.

Both of the girls immediately clammed up as soon as he arrived. With as much dignity as he could muster, Spike slid into the water next to Sunset and tried to act casual. All the while, he pretended that everything was normal and the embarrassing events that had occurred earlier were well behind him. Unfortunately for Spike, neither of his female companions seemed inclined to follow his line of thinking.

Rarity cocked her head. “Are you alright, Spike? You were gone for quite some time. We were beginning to get worried that something had happened to you.”

“No, I’m fine. It took longer to… clean up than I thought. That’s all.”

Sunset lifted her foot out of the water and wiggled her toes. “Guess you must’ve been pretty backed up then, huh?”

Spike sank deeper into the water and hoped that it would be enough to cover up his blush.

“Sunset, there’s no need to be so crass!” Rarity admonished.

“What? You were probably thinking the same thing too. Did I say something wrong?”

Rarity daintily cleared her throat. “Be that as it may, there’s no reason for us to goad Spike any further about what transpired during his… private time. I think we should all move on to a more appropriate conversation topic. Does that seem fair to you?”

“Ok. Fair enough. What do you suggest we talk about?”

Rarity clapped her hands. “Why, I’m glad you asked! Now that you’re both present, I’ve been meaning to run an idea past the two of you that I’ve been cooking up as of late. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like your opinion on the matter.”

“We’re all ears. Shoot, Rarity.”

Rarity leaned back along the edge of the pool and stretched out her legs. “As you might well imagine, the primary purpose of the Ball is to distribute much-needed resources to various charities throughout Equestria and beyond. For many within high society, ‘charity’ comes in the form of direct monetary compensation. I, however, have always elected to donate clothing to the downtrodden.

“I intend to do so again this year, except with a slight twist. You see, I’d like to send a very important message to all of Equestria’s elite. Both as a sign of support for my friends, and to show my willingness to give the very clothes off my back to those in need, I plan on attending this year’s Ball completely in the nude.”

Spike nearly jumped out of the water. “But you can’t! What about your reputation?!”

“What about my reputation? I don’t give a damn what those pretentious aristocrats think of me. That’s not what my business is all about. That’s not what I’M all about. Furthermore, I have decided not wear any makeup, jewelry, shoes, accessories, or put much effort into styling my hair either. When the crowd fixes their gaze upon me, they shall witness one hundred percent, au naturale Rarity, the bearer of Generosity. Nothing more, nothing less!”

“Rarity, are you sure this is a good idea? It’s one thing if Sunset and I show up to this thing without any clothes on, but it’s an entirely different matter altogether if you do. I’m worried that you’ll get hurt or wind up losing a good chunk of your clients. Doesn’t any of that matter to you?”

Rarity waded over to Spike and placed her hand on his cheek. “It’s very sweet of you to be so concerned about my wellbeing, Spike. I really do appreciate it. However, I have already made my mind up regarding this matter. This is something that I must do. Besides, I’ll have two, big, strong, Wvyertii there to protect me in case anything goes awry~”

“I still don’t think this is a wise decision, but you have our support. Hold on a second. Didn’t you say that Coco was supposed going along with us too? What about her?”

Rarity rubbed her chin in thought. “What about Coco indeed. The poor dear is terribly shy whenever nudity is involved. Be it her own body or others. She often gets nervous around large groups of people as well. To be honest, I’m not entirely certain that I’ll be able to persuade her to go along with my plan. She might very well end up having a panic attack and hole up in a closet or some other confined space. It’s one of her—erm—coping mechanisms you could say.”

“Wow, I didn’t know her anxiety was that severe.”

Rarity let out a heavy sigh. “Not exactly. That is to say, she’s made significant progress in managing her personal issues over the past few months. However, what we intend to do at the Ball will be asking a lot of her. Oooh drat! I just don’t know what to do!

“For as long as I’ve known Coco, she’s always contented herself with playing the submissive role in our relationship. All it would take is little a bit of the old Rarity charm and she’d be putty in my hands! But on the other hand, I’d feel just awful for manipulating her into doing something for my benefit that she, quite frankly, might not enjoy in the slightest. Please help me, Spike! I’M AT AN IMPASSE!!!!”

The Dragon Lord found his friend’s choice of words to be somewhat strange given the circumstances, but he simply chalked it up to Rarity being Rarity and decided to focus his attention on resolving her little conundrum. The young man would never go so far as to say that he was an expert on interpersonal relationships by any means, but the time he’d spent with the girls gave him at least some insight to draw upon. In the end, he decided to take a page from Applejack’s book, and stick with the most straightforward approach to Rarity’s problem.

“Coco trusts you, doesn’t she?”

“Yes, of course. And I trust her implicitly as well.”

Spike placed his hands upon Rarity’s shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. “Then I think you should just be honest with her. Tell her exactly what you intend to do and let her decide if she wants to join in. The worst that can happen is she decides not to go.”

“How could I be so blind?! The answer was obvious from the very start! Coco deserves nothing less than the whole truth. Even if that may ultimately make her feel uncomfortable, I really do hope that she’ll decide to join us. Coco has become such an integral part of Carousel Boutique’s success and… my life as well. I simply can’t imagine attending the ball without her standing by my side. Does that make me sound selfish?”

Spike shook his head. “No, it shows how much you care about her. Trust me; I know that she’ll appreciate your honesty.”

“Very well then. I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I get there. Sitting here, stressing over something that may or may not happen is counterproductive. It will only serve to raise my blood pressure and give me wrinkles. Let us move on to a lighter topic then, shall we?”

Sunset slowly raised her hand. “Hey, I was—uh—kind of wondering if this place has a salon. You know, for… getting a haircut.”

Rarity chortled. “They most certainly do, darling. Are you interested in trying out a new style for yourself?”

“Well, it has been a really long time since I did anything special with my hair. If I’m going to be attending a fancy ball and interacting with other people on a daily basis again, I might as well make myself look more… presentable, I guess.”

“Oh ho~ Trying to catch anyone’s eye in particular? A suitor perhaps?”

Sunset felt her cheeks redden while she twiddled her fingers. “What’s it to you?! Am I not allowed to be girly every once and a while? Just because I look like an amazon doesn’t mean that I’m not interested in—”

“Relax, dear. I’m not bringing your femininity into question. Celestia knows, I’ve had this very same conversation with my tomboyish friend, Rainbow Dash, numerous times over the years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a woman wanting to pamper herself. In fact, I can think of no one more deserving of it than you.”

Sunset relaxed her shoulders and slid deeper into the water. “What would you suggest then? I highly doubt that dreadlocks are all the rage in Canterlot these days…”

“Hmm. I think you’d look fabulous with a shoulder-length, natural flowing perm. That is, if it’s not too difficult to get your hair straightened out in the first place. Pardon my frankness, darling but are you interested in having your privates groomed as well?”

Sunset looked down towards her crotch and frowned. “I hadn’t really thought about it to be honest. Is that something… people do on a regular basis?”

“It’s a matter of preference. Personally, I like to keep myself nice and tidy down there. It takes a considerable amount of time and effort to maintain, of course, but it makes me feel sexy. If you’re worried about the process, I assure you that the staff here are consummate professionals.”

Sunset subconsciously pressed her legs together. “Spike, do you think I should go through with it?”

“Huh? Oh—well, I—umm—I’m probably not the best person to ask.”

Rarity crossed her arms and stared at Spike. “Nonsense! A man’s opinion is exactly what we need right now. Go on. Don’t be shy~ Let her know what you really think.”

“Way to put me on the spot,” Spike muttered, “I think that you’d look good either way, Sunset. But—uh—there’s no harm in trying new things, right?”

My past is not today Sunset mentally intoned. “Ok, I’ll do it. But I don’t want my pubes fully waxed, you understand! Just a bit of trimming. Maybe we could… style it too somehow? I dunno. You’re the expert, not me.”

“An excellent idea, darling~ Oh and you don’t have to worry about wearing a towel or a robe. One of the best parts about this spa is its incredibly casual dress code. Just so long as nothing inappropriate occurs, patrons are free to roam the premises whilst nude, if they’re so inclined.”

Not wanting to interfere with what he deemed as a sacred feminine bonding ritual, Spike quickly got out of the bath and began drying himself off. After he was finished, Spike waved to the girls and headed out to explore the rest of the spa and see what else it had to offer. Since he was feeling a bit peckish, the Dragon Lord decided it was wise to check out the cantina first and ask some of the staff what they recommended.

For the first time in what felt like years, Sunset unfastened all of the leather bindings that held her dreadlocks in place. As she peered into the mirror that rested upon the wall, she was met with the visage of a woman who had countless tangles and split ends. She had expected as much. With a forlorn sigh, the bronze-skinned amazon took a seat in the styling chair and prayed to whatever god was listening that the hair dresser would be able to do something with her rat’s nest of a mane.

Rarity sat quietly next to her, browsing through a luxury lingerie catalogue while her stylist was busy applying some shampoo and conditioner. When the fashionista saw how sad her companion looked, she reached over and grasped Sunset’s hand as a gesture of reassurance.

“Don’t be so glum, dear. I know your hair looks like a mess right now, but the stylists know exactly what they’re doing. You’ve just got to have a little faith is all.”

“I know,” Sunset admitted while her hair was being rinsed, “I just don’t have the same level of confidence about my appearance as you do.”

“Now, now. I won’t hear another self-depreciating word out of your mouth! You’re a diamond in the rough, Sunset. A bit ragged around the edges to be sure, but I know for a fact that we can make you shine! That’s why I’ve often said that the woman makes the clothes rather than other way around. Especially in your case, since you don’t wear any most of the time. Oh ho~”

Sunset arched her eyebrow. “Seriously? That was a pretty lame joke, Rarity.”

“Perhaps. But it got you out of your funk, didn’t it? I count that as a success. In any case, I’ve been meaning to ask you a personal question now that we’re alone together. Feel free to remain silent if if it’s too uncomfortable for you to answer.”

Sunset took in a deep breath to prepare herself for Rarity’s question. “Sounds fair. Go ahead and ask.”

“When a woman decides to change something about herself, particularly a drastic one, there is always a catalyst behind it. A spark, if you will. Now, I have my own theory as to why you decided to go through with this makeover but I want to hear what you have to say first.”

Sunset bit her lip. “Part of it is because I want to get back in touch with my feminine side. I want to feel confident about the way my body looks. I want to… feel sexy. Does that make sense?”

“Mhmm. And the other part?”

Sunset felt her cheeks flush. “I also want Spike to notice me. As a woman, I mean.”

“Ah, so the truth comes out at last! Is this, by chance, the first time you’ve felt genuine, romantic affection towards anyone since you began living in the Everfree Forest?”

Sunset’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “Maybe…”

“There’s no need to be so embarrassed, darling. You have excellent taste!”

“Yeah, for guys who’re already taken…” Sunset muttered.

Rarity chose to ignore Sunset’s comment. “Knowing Spike as I do, I believe that he’s trying to keep things platonic between the two of you for the time being, both out of respect to your feelings and in his capacity as a mentor figure. There is also the matter of his other paramours to consider. I’m sure he already has his hands full dealing with them.”

Sunset let out a mirthless chuckle. “Tell me about it. That’s why I don’t want to screw up the good thing we’ve got going on between us right now. Besides, I don’t know if I—actually love him yet. I definitely like him; that much is for sure. But…”

“My word, this is quite the pickle indeed! I wish I could offer you more sound advice but, I’m afraid that I don’t have any experience dealing with polyamorous relationships.”

“No, I get it. The dynamic is super complicated and that sort of thing isn’t exactly commonplace here in Equestria. Ugh! Should I even bother telling him about how I feel? I really don’t want this to create any unnecessary tension amongst the four of us.”

Rarity tilted her neck slightly while the stylist cut her hair. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years: no matter how difficult it may be for you to admit that you have them in the first place, it’s unhealthy to keep your feelings hidden away from those who care about you most. Trust me, they’ll start to eat away at you from the inside out if you choose to bottle them up.”

“That’s not—I don’t—”

Rarity waggled her finger. “Ah, ah not another word~ Allow me to ask you a very simple question, Sunset. What is it about Spike that makes him so special to you?”

“He and I—we have so much in common. You know, like having to deal with all the prejudice and bullying while growing up. Plus, he’s one of the few people I’ve ever met in my entire life who never judged me based solely on what I looked like and offered me his friendship without so much as a second thought.”

Rarity smiled from ear to ear. “Go on, darling.”

“He’s smart, sweet, caring, easy to talk to, and he’s got a… rockin’ hot body to match. Oh, Gods! I can’t believe I just said that!”

Rarity giggle snorted. “I’m happy to see that you have your priorities straight, Sunset. Consider yourself fortunate because it’s exceedingly rare to find male suitors nowadays who’re courteous, handsome, and well-equipped. One could even say that Spike’s a package deal~”

“Geez, I get it already! It’s great to know that I’ve somehow managed to earn your seal of approval, but enough with the COMPLETELY OBVIOUS penis euphemisms.”

Rarity waved her hand. “Come now, Sunset. Don’t be such a spoilsport. You must’ve checked out the goods at some point, no? A man’s privates are impossible to miss when they’re quite literally dangling out in the open for the all world to see.”

“What kind of stupid question is that? Of course, I have! Like you said: impossible to miss. Now, can we please move onto a topic that doesn’t involve Spike’s junk, implied or otherwise?”

Rarity laughed. “An honest answer as any. On a more serious note, I’m convinced now more than ever that you should admit how you feel to him. Even if the two of you ultimately end up remaining friends instead of lovers.”

“But how? I’ve never done anything like this before…”

“Your makeover, a few dabs of scented oil, and Lord Fancy Pants’ villa will provide all the romantic ambiance needed to set up the proper mood. As for the confession itself: don’t be afraid to make mistakes, allow things happen naturally, and most importantly, just be yourself.”

Sunset threw up her hands in exasperation. “Look at me. I’m twenty-one years old, I’ve faced the deadliest creatures the Everfree Forest has to offer and lived, yet… I’m terrified of confessing to the guy I have a crush on.”

“Matters of the heart and matters of survival are two very different things, darling. If you want my honest opinion, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Call it intuition, but I believe that he’s just as scared as you are to admit that he might want something beyond mere friendship. All you can do is put your best foot forward and hope for the best.”

After about two hours’ worth of trimming, waxing, and styling, Sunset finally got the chance to stand in front of a mirror and observe all of the changes that were made during her makeover. She gaped in disbelief at the beautiful woman reflected upon its surface. Instead of gnarly dreadlocks, her hair now flowed down to her shoulders in a cascade of crimson & gold ribbon-like strands, curled at each end.

The bushy mass of pubic hair that had once covered her entire crotch had been reduced down to a single, modest patch. At Rarity’s insistence, the stylist had trimmed it into the shape of an open flame and the rest of her remaining pubic hair was promptly removed thereafter. Sunset slowly ran her fingers along the bare skin of her vulva, marveling at how smooth it was. The young woman couldn’t even recall the last time (if ever) she’d put any effort into grooming herself down there. After a few moments of deliberation, Sunset decided that she rather enjoyed the breezy feeling of freedom that came with having freshly waxed privates.

She definitely felt sexier, more confident about the way she looked. There was no question in her mind about that. However, one little detail emerged that she had forgotten to take into account. Sunset was acutely aware of the fact that she was tall enough to be mistaken as one of the legendary amazons from ancient Pegalopolan times. Apart from making her stand out in a crowd, Sunset’s height forced certain parts of her anatomy to become proportionately larger in kind.

This was why she’d been gifted with such an ample bosom and the same reason why her clitoris featured so prominently between her folds. Sunset wouldn’t go so far as to say that she thought her bean was freakishly large, but it was certainly bigger than what she assumed was the average size for most woman. Sunset frowned when she finally gathered the courage to look down towards her crotch, realizing that her lack of pubic hair made it all the more noticeable.

Rarity gently rubbed Sunset’s shoulders, noticing her pained expression. “Whatever is the matter, dear? You seem… apprehensive. Are you dissatisfied with your makeover?”

“No, I absolutely love it! The stylists did an awesome job! It’s just that my—bah—never mind! You’ll think it’s silly.”

“Sunset, we’ve been over this. You and I can discuss whatever’s bothering you. I promise that I won’t judge you for it, or think that it’s silly. Go on. Take a deep breath and let’s talk.”

Sunset shuffled her feet nervously. “As you can see, I have a pretty big clit. I didn’t realize how much it would… stick out now that there isn’t any more hair down there to cover it up. It’s kind of embarrassing, ya know?”

Rarity crouched in front of Sunset’s waist so that she could get a better look. With the same meticulous care that she used when sewing tiny details onto a dress, the fashionista peeled back the hood and gently rolled Sunset’s nub in-between her fingers a few times. When the taller woman shivered in response, Rarity ceased her ministrations, smiled, and stood back up again.

“R-Rarity! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!!!” Sunset squeaked.

“Relax, darling. I was merely testing out a hypothesis of mine. You are correct. It is quite a bit larger than average. However, rather than feel embarrassed about your love button, you should be celebrating it. Look how excited you got from just a few strokes!”

Sunset’s face flushed a deep crimson, whether or not it was more from embarrassment or arousal, she couldn’t say. “I can’t believe you just did that…”

“To be honest, I’m a little jealous. Mine isn’t very big, so it takes a considerable amount of effort to excite me that way. Hence, the reason why I decided to have it pierced. Adds that extra bit of stimulation and it makes my coochie look fabulous too!”

Sunset crossed her arms underneath her breasts and scoffed. “Great. I made a big deal over nothing again.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s nothing. Confidence in one’s body image isn’t something that happens instantaneously. By Celestia, it took me years’ worth of soul-searching to reach the point I’m at today. Why, you should have seen how gangly and awkward I was as a teenager! You simply needed a different perspective is all. Walk tall and stand proud, Sunset. Let everyone bear witness to all the things that make you beautiful and unique.”

“You really think so?”

Rarity embraced Sunset in a warm hug. “I know so. Speaking of walking tall: why don’t we start by showing off our makeovers to Spike. I’m sure he’ll appreciate the view~”