Ah, trains. Is there a more glamorous method of travel?

Rarity hummed quietly in her seat as she inspected her hooves. They were still polished from her last visit to Pamper!, Fillydelphia's trendiest spa and midtown resort, but their edges had already begun to dull from the wear of walking along the city's cobblestoned roads. She gave them a small frown, then shrugged. No one in Ponyville would care – if they noticed at all.

Outside, also unnoticed, the riotous forest sped by in a kaleidoscope of autumn hues. Rarity had pulled the window shades down as soon as she found her seat.

Her morning began with the usual awkward elisions that followed an evening of casual sex. Bright Mark had been a complete gentlepony, of course, even letting her use the shower first, but there was no disguising the hurry with which she retreated home. Important business, she'd said. Catching a train and all. It was even true.

She had not promised him another date. Well, technically she had. But she hadn't meant it, and she was fairly sure he understood it was just politeness speaking. One of those little social lies ponies used to lubricate their interactions.

Yes, you know all about lying, don't you?

Rarity let out a breath and turned back to her magazine. It included a photo shoot of her summer dress line, and she spent nearly an hour pouring over the pictures, flipping back and forth between the pages to see how the models looked wearing her art. They were fabulous, of course; it was their job, and they were as good at it as she was with hers. Still, she scribbled a few critical notes in the margins, little ideas to improve her wares for the next season.

Bright Mark was a good pony. He liked you. Maybe it's time you stop and think about what you really want in life.

She snorted at the thought. Her, settle? No, Rarity never settled. She set goals, and then she sped toward them like an arrow. Some goals just took more time than others.

The pitch of the engine changed, and a few minutes later the train's whistle shrieked its warning to the ponies waiting at the station outside. She waited for the train to stop, then began gathering her luggage.

She'd packed light. Only five suitcases this time.

Ponyville had grown while Rarity was gone. New homes and business sprouted on every street, and more ponies than she had ever seen filled its streets.

It was still just a shadow of Fillydelphia, but undeniably more urbane than the Ponyville she left. She could almost imagine herself living here again. It would be slower than the big city, but friendlier, with fewer cares and more friends. It would be like old times...

She shook her head. There would be time to daydream later, after she dropped off this luggage. As gifted as she was with magic, it was still a lot of dresses and accessories and shoes and makeup to carry around.

Carousel Studios was where she had left it, near the center of town. Now it was part of a line of buildings, all fancifully built to advertise their wares: a massive birdhouse that sold, she imagined, regular-sized birdhouses; a small greenhouse bursting with brilliant flowers abutted a terraced garden filled with vine-covered trellises and the sound of flowing water. She gave the new businesses an appreciative glance, then trotted up to the Carousel's door.

This part was a bit of a gamble – there hadn't been time to write her sister before grabbing a train. With any luck, there was still a guest bedroom upstairs. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Coming!” a musical voice sang from within. The faint sound of hooves descending stairs followed, and a moment later the door swung inward, revealing a white unicorn with a pink and lavender mane. “Rarity!” Sweetie Belle rushed forward and wrapped her sister in a hug.

“Hello, Sweetie Belle. Sorry for showing up unannounced.” Rarity returned the hug, amazed once again at how her sister had grown. Sweetie Belle was nearly as tall as her now, with the lean, slender grace that spoke of a mare on the cusp of adulthood. Her mane had lost most of its curls, and flowed down her neck and shoulders in a cascade of thick waves that danced absently between hues. Sweetie Belle would soon be turning stallions' heads – if she wasn't already. The thought made Rarity freeze for just a moment.

“It's your house, Rarity. You know you're always welcome here,” her sister replied, quickly backing into the doorway and pulling Rarity with her. She glanced outside at the mound of luggage. “Only here for a few nights?”

“Up to a week, perhaps. Is that a problem?”

“Nope!” Sweetie vanished through the door and reappeared a few seconds later with Rarity's collection of baggage in tow. “Do you mind staying in my old room? I, uh, I kinda moved into yours.”

“Oh, that's not a problem, darling.” Rarity followed her sister up the stairs. “Why, I expected to sleep on the couch.”

“I'd sleep on the couch before I let you do that.” Sweetie Belle pushed open the door to her old room and trotted through. It was still decorated with all of her old things – pictures of the Crusaders, macaroni art from Cheerilee's class, awards from singing competitions. A wave of nostalgia washed over Rarity at the sight, and she blinked rapidly.

Things used to be so simple.

“This will do just fine, Sweetie,” she said. “Just drop those anywhere, I'll unpack later.” She paused, searching for the best way to proceed. “You're sure I'm not imposing by staying here? I'd hate to be a drag on your social life.”

“Is that a Big Sister way of asking if I'm dating anypony?” Sweetie raised an eyebrow at her. She seemed to suppress a grin.

Rarity coughed politely. “Well, yes. I suppose it is.” She paused, then leaned forward. “So, are you?”

“How about we talk over lunch.”

They ate at an upscale salad bar that had opened after Rarity left Ponyville, and spent more than an hour catching up on each others' lives. Sweetie was impressed with Rarity's success in Fillydelphia, while Rarity couldn't help but envy the simple joy that Sweetie seemed to draw from her life here.

Sweetie, it turned out, was dating, but despite all her wheedling, Rarity couldn’t draw so much as a name from her sister. “You'll find out later,” was all Sweetie said. After a few more attempts to pry out the salacious details, Rarity pouted and moved on, and the rest of their chatter dealt with the more mundane details of life.

By the time they finished the deli was nearly empty, and the sun had begun to creep across the sky into mid-afternoon. They exchanged a long hug, and promised to speak more over dinner.

Until then, Rarity had some ponies to meet. She trotted away from the deli toward the center of town, passing by the Town Hall on the way to the towering, garish crystal castle that loomed over the otherwise bucolic skyline. The crystal gleamed in the late morning sun, and looked little changed from what Rarity remembered from her last visit. She wondered, absently, if the same could be said for the pony inside.

There were no guards at the entrance, which was nice. The main door was open, and the interior was just as she remembered: coolly lit walls, somehow more elegant than the outside would lead a pony to suspect. The draping and decoration was in the same tasteful style she recalled from years ago, though it seemed many of the rooms had been repurposed for one thing or another. The throne room was unchanged, with its map of Equestria in the center, but at some point Twilight had filled the massive central hall with dozens of bookshelves, each stuffed to overflowing. Isolated reading tables dotted the wide room, covered with runnels of wax from Twilight's late-night studies. She'd even kept the odd circular table with the horse head sculpture, one of the few surviving relics of the old library tree.

“Hello?” she called. “Spike? Twilight?”

Her voice bounced off the crystal walls and down the halls, and she heard the clip-clop of hooves grow near, followed shortly thereafter by the princess herself. Twilight gave a little gasp as the sight of her guest, and suddenly there was a bright purple flash. When Rarity could see again, Twilight was standing in front of her, bouncing from hoof to hoof with an exuberant grin on her face.

“Rarity!” Twilight leaned forward to touch noses, one of the fashionable greetings Rarity had taught her that were popular in such urbane locales as Fillydelphia. “Dash was right! You did come back!”

“Of course I came back, darling. You know I could never abandon Ponyville.” She smiled at Twilight and gave the mare a quick once-over. Not much different from the last time they'd met, almost a year ago now. Taller now, as tall as Cadence, and she'd finally done something with her mane. Her bangs were now elegantly swept to the side, just barely exposing the root of her horn. A rather daring statement for such a bookish mare. Rarity felt herself nodding in approval. Then the rest of Twilight's sentence hit her.

“Is Dash back already?” she asked. Rarity couldn't have said why, but for some reason it was very important that Rainbow Dash be in Ponyville.

“Supposedly. I haven't seen her yet, but Pinkie came by earlier and said she was back.” Twilight's horn glowed, and a pair of sitting cushions zipped across the room toward them. She took a seat on one before continuing. “She said you'd both be visiting for a bit.”

Rarity gratefully accepted the other pillow. Although she spent most of her day on her hooves back in Fillydelphia, she wasn't used to so much walking. “About a week or so, I'd venture. Enough to catch up on all the latest gossip.”

“Well, you heard about Fluttershy?”

“Oh, I have!” She clapped her hooves together. “Sweetie Belle told me earlier. Can you imagine, Twilight! Fluttershy, our Fluttershy, about to be a mother?”

“I know.” Twilight's eyes lost their focus for a moment, a dreamy smile on her face. “She's so excited. You should see her and Big Mac together. I've never seen two ponies look so happy.”

The smile froze on Rarity's face. So happy. Neat how that works, isn't it? You find the pony you're meant for, and live happily ever after.

“Yes, I can imagine,” Rarity said without missing a beat. “They seem perfect for each other.”

“As perfect as a couple can be.” Twilight turned her head, giving Rarity a sidelong glance. “And what about you? Still looking for your prince?”

Bitch! She clamped down on the words that threatened to pour from her mouth, instantly ashamed. Twilight had no way of knowing her particular... troubles... in that regard. Twilight was just being a friend – catching up on the very same gossip Rarity had expressed an interest in. She smiled, knowing from years of practice that it would look perfectly genuine, and waved a hoof dismissively.

“Oh Twilight, you and your jokes.” The word “jokes” came out with a bit more stress than she'd intended. “No, I'm afraid I'm too busy these days with my shop to be looking for love.”

You're getting good at lying.

“That's too bad.” Twilight gave her a little smile. “I still feel like that sometimes, when I spend the whole day cooped up with these books.”

“Mm? I thought you and that one fellow were seeing each other.” Rarity rubbed her chin with a hoof. What was that stallion's name? Turner something. “That chestnut stallion?”

“Oh, yes.” Twilight suddenly blushed furiously. “We, ah, we are still seeing each other, in fact. You know, casually. As friends.”

“Yes, good friends.” Rarity leaned forward. “You'll have to tell me more about him, one of these nights. And just how 'friendly' you two are with each other. Just between us girls.”

“Aha, yes, just between us girls.” Twilight glanced around the room as if searching for something. “So, ah, I heard you saw Dash in Fillydelphia.”

Oh yes, Rainbow Dash. The whole reason for her impromptu visit. The sudden change in mood was like a bucket of ice-water poured on her head.

“Yes, I did.” Rarity looked down at her hooves. When she continued, her voice was low and quiet. “She didn't look good, Twilight. Almost like she hasn't been eating enough. Truthfully, the whole reason I asked her to come to Ponyville was because I thought she needed help.”

Twilight listened in silence. Her brows drew together, and a tiny frown tugged down her lips. “It's been six months. Do you think she's still, you know... grieving?”

“I don't know what else it could be.” Rarity sighed. “I worry we didn't do enough for her. We could have asked her to stay with us for a while. Any of us could have.”

“She wanted to get back to the Wonder Bolts,” Twilight pointed out. “She insisted on it, remember? Said it's what he'd want.”

“Well, it's not working.” Twilight drew back from the snap in Rarity's words. “She's hurting, Twilight, and we need to help her. She'll be here for a week, maybe longer if we can convince her to stay. The Bolts can do without her, even if she doesn't think so.”

Wow, that sounded genuinely caring. Who are you and what have you done with Rarity?

Rarity scowled, then quickly willed her face into it's usual smug, impassive mask before Twilight could notice. She needn't have worried – Twilight was studying her hooves, a pained look on her face.

“I don't know, Rarity. I haven't seen her in a while, not since the funeral,” Twilight finally said. She took a deep breath before continuing. “But if you're right, then we need to try something. Count me in.”

A previously unfelt tension in Rarity's gut relaxed at Twilight's statement. Twilight was the smartest of them, and if anypony could help, it was her. She smiled at the princess.

“Thank you, Twilight,” she said. “Anyway, I suppose there's already a party being planned for tonight?”

There was a party, and it was incredible.

Pinkie Pie had always been legendary for her parties, but as she grew into adulthood she graduated from small, confetti-strewn celebrations that occupied a single room or house into massive events, the kind of party that ground the entire town to a stop and laid up most of its adult population for the next day as well. Parties that ponies remembered for years. More than one relationship owed its existence to her parties, and a few foals besides.

The transition took place right around the same time Pinkie was old enough to drink alcohol. Twilight Sparkle had once speculated (ruefully, in a bathroom with Rarity rubbing her back while she vomited) that those facts might be related in some way.

In sum, Rarity was already expecting a lavish party when she arrived at the town hall that evening. She dressed casually, selecting a simple black saddle with smooth lines and no frills. It had a matching bridle, but she elected to leave it at home – this wasn't going to be that kind of party. Sweetie Belle hadn't wanted to wear anything special, but Rarity successfully badgered her into at least bringing a scarf. Scarves were already coming back into fashion with the slow dawning of autumn and its colder weather.

Ponyville's entire central square had been cordoned off with streamers for the party. Hundreds of paper lanterns, each painted with some pony's cutie mark, were suspended in the air by a network of crisscrossing lines just above their heads. The candles within them cast overlapping circles of light on the ground below. Dozens of tables had been set up in a rough circle around the dance floor, and—

Rarity blinked and looked again. Yes, there really was a dance floor. In the middle of the town square.

“How long has Pinkie been setting this up?” she asked Sweetie. Around them, dozens of ponies milled about, with more arriving every minute.

“Several hours, at least,” Sweetie said. “She's been planning it since yesterday. Oh, look! There's your lantern!” She pointed her horn at a white lantern a few yards away emblazoned with a trio of blue diamonds.

Rarity wanted to go inspect it more closely, but a commotion on the Town Hall's patio grabbed her eye. Pinkie Pie and a white unicorn with an electric blue mane were pushing a pair of huge speakers to the fore. They connected some wires to the back, and then dashed off.

“And she got a DJ,” Rarity said. “Is there a cover for this party?”

“No, the town budgets for a certain number of these every year. Something about the historical—“

“HELLO EVERYPONY. CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Pinkie's voice, deafeningly loud, blasted from the speakers. There was a short pause while those nearest to the stage shouted at the DJ's table. Rarity could see the DJ adjusting something on her control board.

“Sorry, how about now?” Pinkie's voice returned, still loud but no longer painful. “Great! Welcome to the First Annual Elements of Harmony Reunion and Commemoration Party! Can you believe it's been...” She trailed off for a few moments. “Nine years, two months and twenty-nine days since we rediscovered the Elements of Harmony and rescued Princess Luna, right here in Ponyville?”

And... no. Rarity couldn't. Nine years? A crippling sense of age overwhelmed her. It seemed like just yesterday that she was meeting Twilight for the first time in her boutique, and now she was an old, single mare on the verge of—

“Oh, stop that.” Sweetie gave her a rough poke in the side. Rarity could barely hear her over the cheering crowd and Pinkie's continuing discourse on how old she was. “You're not old. You're not even our parents' age when they married.”

Rarity coughed. “Erm, sorry dear. Was it that obvious?”

“Blindingly.”

Rarity opened her mouth to respond when a spotlight swung across the crowd and pinned her in place. She froze, unable to see, as Pinkie's voice returned over the loudspeakers.

“And last but certainly not least, Rarity! Say hello, Rarity!”

Most ponies would have panicked at suddenly being thrust before a crowd, spotlighted and put on the spot. She hadn't even heard most of Pinkie's speech. Beside her, Sweetie Belle edged away from the spotlight's glare.

Fortunately, Rarity was used to the limelight. She reflexively struck a pose, her head raised high and tilted imperiously as she touched a hoof to her chest. “Hello, Ponyville! I hope you're all feeling fabulous tonight!” she cried, her voice as clear and ringing as a bell. The crowd answered with cheers.

“Oh, you.” Sweetie gave her another tap as the spotlight swung away. “Most ponies would just wave.”

Yes, yes they would. Rarity felt a smug little grin on her face and didn't bother bother to hide it. “Well, we can't all be glamorous, darling.” She leaned down and gave Sweetie a quick smooch on the cheek. “Now then, I need to go find the girls. Will you be alright here?”

Sweetie's eyes darted off to the side, then back to Rarity. If Rarity hadn't been watching, she wouldn't missed it. “Uh, sure. I think I saw some friends... I'll just go hang out with them.” She gave Rarity a grin, then trotted off toward the mass of ponies, gaining speed with every step she took away from her sister. Within moments she was lost in the crowd.

Indeed. Rarity scanned the crowd, wondering which colt it could possibly be. There weren't many here her sister's age, but then, she might be dating up a few years. Another mystery to consider.

Rarity wandered the square without aim as the party warmed up. She wasn't in a hurry to find her friends just yet, and the warm glow of socializing was just starting to settle in. Everywhere she stepped, ponies both familiar and unknown welcomed her back to town. She found herself smiling after a while, and wasn't able to stop.

You should have come home long ago.

Maybe. She didn't let the thought bring her down. This was a party, and parties were for happy ponies. And more importantly, she had to find some way to help Rainbow Dash. Moping wouldn't accomplish that.

You wouldn't have to mope if you'd stayed here. What has Fillydelphia gotten you?

She found Applejack at one of the tables, surrounded by another small crowd of well-wishers. The earth pony hadn't dressed up for the party, instead wearing her usual Stetson hat and nothing else. Rarity sighed quietly and sidled up beside her. “Hello, Applejack.”

“Rarity! How you been, girl?” Applejack wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug. “Gosh, I haven't seen you since, uh...”

Right. Since the funeral. Rarity wondered if Rainbow Dash ever got tired of hearing that. She gave Applejack a polite nuzzle and pushed forward with the conversation, to get it off that shaky ground. “I've been wonderful, darling. And how are you? I hear you're expecting a niece.”

“A niece or a nephew.” Applejack released her grip and settled back onto her hooves. “Mac and I have a bet going. If it's a filly, I get to name her.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I see... have you told Fluttershy about this little bet?”

“Heh.” Applejack rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. “Well, I get to suggest a name, anyway.”

“Mhm. On another note, then.” She took a seat beside Applejack and lowered her voice. The music booming from the speakers was loud enough to render her almost mute from more than a few feet away. “I heard Rainbow Dash stayed at your farm last night.”

Applejack's face grew serious. “Yup, she did. And she didn't look so good. You did the right thing, asking her to come back here.”

Rarity blushed and ducked her head. How long has it been since anypony said you did the right thing? She coughed into her hoof.

“Well, yes. Thank you. Did she come out here with you?”

Applejack nodded at her, then turned to peer at the crowd. “We walked together, but she wandered off somewhere after Pinkie's introductions. Honestly, I'd check the bar.”

Something about that nagged at the back of Rarity's mind. Not the bar part – the Wonder Bolts were all famous drinkers, and Rainbow Dash had developed a particularly outsized reputation for putting full grown stallions under the table. She puzzled over it for a moment, then filed it away for later.

“I think I'll do that,” she said. “We'll chat more later, hm?” She gave Applejack another nuzzle, then stepped back into the crowd.

The bar was crowded, but not with anypony resembling Rainbow Dash. Rarity sighed and pushed her way forward anyway. She could use a drink.

“Cosmopolitan, please,” she told the bartender. He gave her a short nod and turned to grab the requisite spirits, and a few moments of deft mixology later slid the drink across the counter to her. She pushed a few bits across the bar toward him, and was surprised when he pushed them back.

“On the house, ma'am. It's your party, after all.”

“Oh, thank you, darling.” She gave him a smokey smile and floated the bits into his tip cup instead. “I'm looking for a mare, Rainbow Dash. Blue coat, colorful mane. Do you know her?”

“Hard not to know her,” he said. He was silent for a moment as he collected empty glasses from the counter and dropped them somewhere below the bar. “Was here a few minutes ago. Got two drinks when I told her they were free.”

Now, that was a tempting idea. She took a sip from the Cosmo and immediately reconsidered – this one had enough alcohol for two drinks all by itself. That earned the bartender another sultry smile, and she turned back to the crowd. She wandered for a while, sipping at her drink and keeping an eye open for a garish rainbow mane. If she was around here, the pastel crowd was hiding her well.

Eventually, Rarity's wanderings took her back to the center, and she found an open seat at one of the tables. The other ponies there welcomed her warmly, and she made small talk with a younger pegasus mare about the benefits of living in a city like Fillydelphia while she finished her drink.

A few couples were already taking advantage of the dance floor. Rarity watched them silently from the sidelines. Hm, her dress is too tight. And toile? I really should have a talk with that mare. None of the dancing ponies seemed too interested in fashion at the moment, though. When the song ended, one of the couples bowed away and sat in the concealing darkness beneath a nearby tree, their sides pressed against each other, heads low as they whispered, the party forgotten.

Rarity sighed at the sight. She was about to get another drink when Twilight Sparkle sidled up beside her.

“Hey, Rarity,” she said. Her horn glowed with its faint purple light as she levitated a pair of drinks, one for herself and one for her friend. “Everything alright?”

“Oh, Twilight, you’re such a dear.” Rarity took the offered drink and drew a long sip from the convoluted neon green straw. A Manehattan, and not a bad one. “I was just watching those young couples. They don’t realize how blessed they are. Do you know what the rarest thing in the world is, Twilight?”

Twilight was silent for a while. She lowered her head in thought, then looked up with a cautious expression on her face. “Polonium?”

“Love, Twilight,” Rarity continued as though the librarian hadn’t spoken. “True love! And when we have it, we are so blinded by its brilliance that we do not realize what a treasure it is.”

“Oh, right, love.” Twilight took a sip from her drink, then mumbled something under her breath. Rarity thought she heard the word “metaphor.” They sat silently for a while, watching the dancing crowd.

“You haven't seen Rainbow Dash, have you?” Rarity asked once her drink was nearly gone.

“Did you try the bar?”

“Yes. I suppose I could just station myself there until she returns.” Rarity finished her drink off with a frown. “Or I could wander some more.”

Twilight got to her hooves. “I'll start looking too. If I find her, we'll come get you.”

“Mm, and where shall we meet?”

Twilight glanced at her drink. It was almost empty. “How about the bar?”

“Sounds good to me.” Rarity stood and stretched. She gave her friend a quick nuzzle, and then vanished into the crowd again.

She didn't have to search much longer. Rainbow Dash was sitting just a few tables away, surrounded by ponies yet somehow entirely alone. She was looking up at something, and when Rarity followed her gaze she saw a light blue paper lantern decorated with a rainbow lightning bolt.

“Hey,” Dash said as she approached, her eyes never leaving the lantern. She seemed as thin and wiry as before, but at least she'd styled her mane into something other than its usual bird's nest.

“Er, hello dear.” Rarity took a seat beside her and gave an apologetic smile ponies she crowded out of the way. When they saw who she was they smiled back and made room. “I'm glad you were able to make it. How are you feeling?”

“Great. Doing great.” She tilted her head at the lantern. “Did you know Apple Bloom made these? Nearly three thousand of them. It took her an entire school year.”

Rarity blinked. She hadn't realized there were that many ponies in Ponyville. “No, Sweetie didn't mention that. Did you see Apple Bloom last night?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, finally looking away from the lantern. “Nah, spent the night at the farm, though. AJ mentioned it when we got here.”

“Did you see Fluttershy?”

“Heh, yeah.” Rainbow Dash smiled. The mere expression seemed to lift years from her frame. “You should see her, Rares. She's starting to blow up.”

Rarity coughed and gave Dash a mock scowl. “It's not polite to mention that, you know.”

“Fluttershy wouldn't mind.” Dash's smile faded, and she looked out at the crowd. The song that had been playing came to an end, and there were a few seconds of silence as the DJ queued up the next. “She's going to make a great mother.”

Yes, she would. Images of Fluttershy, her mane tangled and her coat matted with sweat, cradling a newborn foal flashed before Rarity's eyes. A powerful swell of emotion rushed up from her chest, and she found herself blinking away tears.

“We'll have to come back before the birth,” she managed to say, once her voice had steadied.

Rainbow Dash nodded. If any similar feelings stirred within her breast, she concealed them better than Rarity could. They were silent for a while as the party beat on around them.

“Hey, you wanna dance?”

Rarity blinked. “Dance, together? You and me?”

“Yeah, we'd look silly dancing alone.”

“Well...” Rarity hedged. The song was some sort of techno track, with a heavy repeating base that was perfect for grinding and bouncing alongside one's partner, but not the sort of music she preferred. Classical waltzes, ball room, or even jazz she could easily deal with. The music beloved by socialites the world over. “This isn't really my kind of music, Dash.”

“Hey, no worry.” Dash waved a hoof. “It's no biggie. Not every pony can dance.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I assure you, Rainbow Dash, I know how to dance. This music is simply more... vulgar... than I normally prefer.”

“That's fine. I'm not judging you.” Dash leaned back against the table, her face a study in non-nonchalance. “Much,” she added, just on the edge of Rarity's hearing.

Ah, so it was like that. Rarity rose to her hooves and stretched elegantly, the kind of stretch more designed to advertise her body and its youthful suppleness than do anything for her muscles. When she opened her eyes Dash was staring at her, along with several nearby stallions (and even a mare or two). She chuckled quietly and brushed against a rust coated stallion as she stepped toward the dance floor, knowing without having to look that he would only be a step or two behind.

A new song started just as she reached the floor, loaded with strings and backed by an aggressive beat in a predictable twelve measure rhythm. She let the music play out for a few bars while her partner sidled up beside her, and then began to dance.

She kept it simple, more for the stallion's sake than her own. It hadn't been a lie when she told Dash she could dance – her shoulders bounced smoothly from beat to beat, her hooves landing with a sharp crack on the floor at the end of each measure. The song added a second bass rhythm, and she flicked her tail and mane in time with it. Every few beats she brushed up against her partner's chest or side, just to keep things interesting. By the time the song ended, she was breathing heavily, and a faint sheen of sweat lent both her and the stallion an attractive glow. She gave him a smile and turned back to Rainbow Dash.

“So, want to dance?” she called. The stallion made a disappointed sound behind her, but soon enough was snatched up by another mare. He'd be fine.

Dash rolled her eyes, but nevertheless trotted out onto the dance floor. Her gait seemed to gain an extra bit of spring the moment she crossed the threshold. “Show off.” She gave Rarity a little jab with her wing.

“What?” Her dancing hadn't been that good. Better than most, perhaps, but nothing that would stand out at one of Pinkie Pie's parties. “That was nothing.”

“Not the dancing, the stallion.” Dash started bouncing in time with the music as a new song began. She slid back and forth, fluid as water, stopping every few measures spin in place with her wings extended. Rarity quickly grasped the timing and stepped away each time to avoid getting thwacked.

“What about him?” She risked a glance away from Dash, trying to find him. He and a crème mare seemed to be having fun a few steps away.

“You just touched him, and he followed you out here like a puppy.” The song switched to a boisterous beat, and Dash switched to a simpler bounce, her wings extended straight up as though to grasp the sky. “You think most mares can do that?” She raised her voice to be heard.

Well, no. But then, she'd had plenty of practice with stallions. The rueful thought twisted her face into a frown, and she almost missed it when the song came to an end. Dash was staring at her from just a few inches away. She wasn't even breathing hard, Rarity noticed.

“Maybe he was just lonely.” Rarity said. He didn't look very lonely at the moment, but that was neither here nor there.

“Whatever.” Dash blew her mane out of her eyes. “Hey, let's get some drinks. We can dance later.

That they could. Rarity followed Dash off the dance floor toward the bar as another song began to play.

One drink quickly became two drinks, then three and four. When Rarity managed to put all those back without collapsing under the table, Rainbow Dash went back for another round. She returned with a pair of scotches, not the sort of drink Rarity expected from the pegasus. She raised an eyebrow as Dash set them on the table.

“What, I'm not allowed to like scotch?” Dash asked. The alcohol had softened her voice and attitude both, and she gave Rarity a grin as she settled down beside her.

“Mm, no complaints here, darling.” She levitated the glass and gave it a sip. Not top shelf, but still respectable. Certainly not what she expected from one of Pinkie's parties. She had long since developed a pleasing buzz, and leaned against Dash's side as they drank in comfortable silence. Around them the party had begun to wind down, with couples stumbling back to their homes. Above them, many of the lanterns had burned their candles down to stubs, and only tiny embers glowed from within.

“Hey girls,” Twilight's voice came from beside them. The alicorn trotted up and stopped when she saw the array of empty glasses on their table. “Whoa. You two okay?”

“Mm, just fine, thank you.” Rarity smiled a bit wider than normal and took another sip. “Dash, how... how are you?”

“Mmgood.”

“See? We're fine.” Rarity turned back to Twilight, who was looking at them skeptically. “How are you?”

“Sober.”

“That's too bad,” Rarity said. “Dash, do you remember the first time Twilight got drunk?”

“Yes!” Dash snorted, then lost herself in a fit of giggles. “The look on the mayor's face when she learned we broke into the school...” She ran out of breath and began giggling again.

“Yes, well, you two seem fine.” Twilight said flatly. “I'll be heading back—“

“My telescope! They stole my telescope!” Dash burst out. Rarity snickered beneath her breath.

“Right, leaving now. You two get home safe, alright?” Twilight shook her head and trotted away, muttering quietly. Rarity and Dash waited until she was safely away, then broke down in giggles.

“We'll... we'll have to apologize to her tomorrow.” Rarity managed to say. The alcohol was starting to hit her a bit harder, now. The previously level horizon was beginning to sway, as though they were viewing it from a boat.

“Eh, she'll be fine.” Dash rose to her hooves and took a few careful steps. Her balance seemed steadier than Rarity felt, and she tossed back the last of her scotch before letting out a satisfied sigh. “I think the party's about over, though.”

Rarity looked around the emptying square. The dance floor had long since been abandoned, and the DJ was packing up her table. Clusters of ponies huddled around the tables, chatting quietly as they finished the last of their drinks. Even the bartender seemed ready to pack up for the evening.

“Yes, I think we've shut the place down,” she said. “And Sweetie Belle is nowhere to be seen. I suppose that means it's time to head back to the boutique.”

“You're staying with your sister?” Dash gave her a shoulder to lean on as she stood, then trotted alongside her as they left the square. Within moments the commotion of the party had faded, and they were just two mares walking down an empty, dark street at night.

It was a short walk to the studio, though in Rarity's mind it would forever be her boutique. The carousel design was unchanged – only the sign indicated that some other pony had set up shop here. They stopped a few steps away from the door.

“You're staying here?” Dash asked. She looked up at the structure quietly, her wings fanning a light breeze around her.

“Mhm. I assume you're at your old...” Rarity trailed off. Hadn't someone mentioned that Rainbow Dash stayed with the Apples last night? Why wouldn't she have slept in her cloud house?

“Yeah, ah...” Dash looked down at her hooves for a moment. “I'll probably crash somewhere else tonight. It's too dark to fly home.”

Too dark to fly? Even through the haze of alcohol, that made no sense. Dash flew in the dark all the time. She flew in the dark when Nightmare Moon had returned without breaking a sweat, and that was as a filly.

Her incredulity must have shown on her face. Dash cringed and took a step away.

“So, uh, I'll just see if Pinkie's still up,” she said. “I've stayed at her place plenty of—“

“Nonsense,” Rarity cut her off. “I have a perfectly good spare bedroom. You can, ah, 'crash' here, if you like.”

“I don't wanna be a bother, Rares.” For all her alleged hesitation, the relief on Dash's face was plain to see, even through the alcohol and in the darkness. When Rarity pushed open the door, Dash followed behind her without complaint.

They tiptoed as quietly as two drunk mares could up the stairs, pausing halfway up for a short argument over who was stepping on whose hooves. They made it the rest of the way to the top without further incident, and Rarity ushered Dash into Sweetie's old room. The pegasus seemed to hesitate at the threshold for some reason.

“Is everything alright, darling?”

“Uh, yeah.” Dash stepped slowly into the room, giving it a long inspection in the dim glow of the lights outside. “Hey... has anyone else lived in here? Aside from you?”

“Well, it's Sweetie Belle's room, not mine. No one else has ever lived in it.”

“Right.” For some reason that seemed to put Dash at ease, and she climbed up on the bed without further complaint. “Hey, thanks for letting me stay here.”

“Of course.” She leaned over to give Dash a quick nuzzle, then yawned. The alcohol was finally catching up with her. “I'll see you in the morning, then.” She closed the door behind her as she left, and tiptoed back downstairs to the waiting couch.

So, Dash wasn't staying at her old cloud home. For all Rarity knew, the poor thing might have simply blown away in the years they were gone. Cloud homes weren't like farms or boutiques or libraries, she imagined. Like most things with pegasi, they lacked permanence.

But if that were the case, why not just say so? Why make up something silly about not wanting to fly? It was too much for Rarity's alcohol-numbed mind to deal with so late at night, and she settled onto the couch with a grumble. It was not as nice as her couch in Fillydelphia, but it was good enough for her purposes. She seemed to be saying that a lot about couches, lately.

Not a bad first day back, hm?

Not bad at all. Old friends, family, fun times. All that was missing was her fashion business, moored in the high society of Fillydelphia. And, of course, her prince.

Your prince isn't in Fillydelphia, either.

Perhaps not, but ponies like Bright Mark were. A small smile crept onto her lips as she remembered the previous night's entertainment. She could almost imagine him crowded onto the couch with her, his body pressing against hers, his hooves rough against her coat.

You need to stop pretending. This isn't healthy.

She frowned at the thought. Who was she to judge what's healthy in a pony's relationships? Plenty of mares were choosey about their mates. Better to be picky now than repent for the rest of her life.

You're not being picky, you're being insane. There's no fucking prince!

She rolled onto her back, trying to get comfortable. More memories of the previous night, unbidden but not unwelcome, flooded into her mind. She could have ignored them, certainly, but that would have meant spending all night listening to her own critical thoughts, and there was only so much of that she could stomach before screaming.

Giving in to her imagination had its own drawbacks, though. She bit her lip as the heat began to build between her legs, and she crushed her thighs together with a silent moan, a mere exhale of breath rather than sound. She closed her eyes and felt Bright Mark atop her again, his hoof exploring lower and lower. Yes, right there.

Her own hoof, undirected, began tracing circles over her belly, dipping lower and lower with each orbit. She spread her legs at last, and her hoof brushed teasingly over her lips, pausing for just a moment to press against the tiny nub at their apex. Her hips shuddered at the touch.

And then Bright Mark was... was... she opened her eyes in the darkness. For some reason she could barely remember what he looked like, much less how he made her feel last night. She could remember the sex, of course, but there was nothing to tell it apart from any of the dozen other stallions she had slept with during the past year. She let out a tiny frustrated growl and pressed her hoof against her crotch. Nothing.

Well, shoot.

This wasn't a problem other mares had, she imagined. Rainbow Dash, sleeping just one floor above, would never lack for fantasies to clop to. For all Rarity knew, Dash was up there now, slowly rubbing herself off.

It was a short leap from thought to imagination. She saw Rainbow Dash on the bed, atop the covers. Her garish mane was strewn about haphazardly, her wings twitching spastically in time with the pleasure pulsing through her body. Not one but both hooves were thrust between her legs and working furiously.

Rarity's hoof moved again, gently mashing her lips. She let out a silent breath as the images played out in her mind. Rainbow Dash rolled onto her back, her legs splayed obscenely wide, hiding absolutely nothing. Thick, clear fluid slathered her crotch and the insides of her thighs. Her hoof was a blur.

Yes, that was the ticket. Rarity twisted her hoof, pressing its edge between her lips. They were already disgustingly wet, and she could smell the tang of her excitement. She imagined leaning over Rainbow Dash's shaking form. What would she smell like? Dash opened her eyes, surprised, as Rarity gently pushed away her hoof, exposing her crotch. Her lips, wet and shining, lay open like the petals on a flower. She moaned as Rarity's muzzle lowered, and her tongue darted out to lap at that beautiful bounty. Dash's hooves wrapped in her mane and forced her head lower.

Rarity inhaled, and it was like breathing pure sex. Her tongue delved deeper between Dash's folds, teasing the loose folds. She took one of the lips between her teeth and tugged lightly, drawing a shuddering moan from the pegasus. Beneath her, her own hooves pressed into her crotch, rubbing her nub so furiously the sensation bordered on pain.

She pulled her head away, drawing a disappointed groan from Dash. Rarity grinned at her friend, then placed a light kiss at the top of her sex, her tongue darting out to flick at the nub hidden there. The firm point of flesh was like a beacon, and she slowly circled with her tongue, suckled at it with her lips. Rarity pressed the tip of her hoof between Dash's lips, opening and penetrating the mare in a single motion. She could feel Dash's heartbeat with her tongue. Wings beat a frantic tattoo against the bed, out of control.

She looked up along the length of Dash's body. Bright scarlet eyes, wide and shining in the darkness, looked back.

Rarity gasped, shockingly loud in the dark and silence of the boutique. Her hoof pressed frantically between her legs, and her eyes shot open as one of the most powerful orgasms she could ever recall having wracked her body. For minutes afterward she lay twitching on the couch, her hoof still between her legs, as though trying to hold in the pleasure she had just experienced. Everything below her waist felt sodden. She would have to find some excuse to clean the couch before the rest of the house woke up.

That could wait, though. She chuckled to herself as she slowly drifted off. The last thing she imagined was Rainbow Dash again, curled up beside her, a satisfied smile on her lips.

And what an odd thought that was.