At long last, the tumultuous events seemed to have winded down for the day in Ponyville. It was the middle of the night, and now the town was all but silent. That is, except for the small party of ponies making their way to the hotel near the outskirts of town.

After Rainbow Dash’s dramatic reappearance from self-imposed exile, nopony was expecting a marriage proposal...

...and nopony was expecting Fluttershy to say no.

After the scene at Fluttershy’s cottage that escalated quickly (and ended abruptly), Fluttershy sent everypony but Rainbow Dash away. The party decided to look for Rarity and Foxy (and they miraculously knew to look for them at Carousel Boutique. Whoda thunkit?).

Anyway, the party now consisted of Foxy, Rarity, Saltlick, Pinkie, Applejack, Twilight, and sleeping Spike riding on his master’s back (he is a baby dragon after all). Making their way to the hotel to drop off Saltlick and Foxy, the two new members of the group were brought up to speed on what had happened. Needless to say, lots of chit chat proceeded....

“Nooooooo! This is the worst thing everrrrrr!!!!!!”

“Pinkie! Get up already!”

Applejack made a swift buck to the back of a kneeling Pinkie, who was looking up into the sky and trying to do her best Rarity. The party pony jolted out of her position and vibrated mid-air before falling back to the ground on all hooves. After a shared laugh by the group, the conversation returned to the topic at-hoof.

“Guys, this is bad! Fluttershy’s gonna leave Dashie!!!!” Pinkie was clearly distressed at the supposed ship sinking.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Pinkie, Ah was there too. T’aint looking like they were breakin’ up. Shy just probably had a good reason not to get hitched just like that.”

Twilight nodded. “Applejack’s right, Pinkie. You saw that Fluttershy was determined to find Rainbow Dash before she came back. Obviously, they’re still in love, but everything that’s happened as of late makes the idea of getting married totally inappropriate.”

“They’re right, darling. Besides, love does not equal marriage.”

Saltlick interjected with sarcasm. “Just don’t go saying that around Flank Sinatra.”

The group shared another hearty laugh before Twilight continued, “The point is, Pinkie: don’t worry about it. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are both adults, so they’re most likely discussing what just happened like adults as we speak.”

Pinkie pouted. “Oh you’re right...but still, I was ready to start a party and everything!”

Foxy turned to Pinkie, “By the way, where did you get that champagne earlier?”

Rarity offered a hoof to her friend’s shoulder. “That’s just Pinkie, darling. Don’t question it or else you’ll go mad.” She turned to her fellow unicorn. “Isn’t that right, Twilight?”

Applejack and Pinkie laughed, remembering the famous “Pinkie Sense” incident, as Twilight rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Saltlick inched closer to his daughter-in-law.

“We gotta get back to Foalando first thing in the morning.”

Foxy nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I’m still pissed about him just taking the kids like that.”

“You worried about them?”

“No, they’ll be fine, but still. He’s got a hay of a lot to explain for himself.” Foxy’s diatribe then devolved into some mumbling and cursing under the breath.

Saltlick extended his hoof to the mare’s shoulder and whispered, “Listen. Whatever you do is up to you, but please, don’t do anything too rash. He’s my only son. Think about the colts too.”

“Well, obviously. Saltlick, I’m not leaving you guys out to dry. It’s just...that asshole at Fluttershy’s house wasn’t the stallion I married.”

“Well...I guess that wasn’t really my son either. We can get it sorted out when we go home.”

Foxy nodded. “Speaking of which...” she turned to unicorn beside her. “Rarity, do you wanna come with us to Foalando?”

Rarity’s eyes widened at the instant Foxy made her offer. She turned to the maroon earth pony and stammered out incoherent noises that could possibly be interpreted as befuddlement and surprise.

Foxy chuckled at the mare’s astonishment. “Can I take that as a yes?”

“Y-YES! Oh-absolutely, I’d love to come, but...might I ask why?”

Foxy blushed a tinge as she explained, “Well, you see, I know I’ve got family issues, but..” the pop star inched closer to the fashionista, her face slightly nuzzling the other’s. “It’s always nice to have a good friend to have your back.”

Rarity was positively beaming, incredibly tense and heating up, but beaming. “And I will be that friend for you... my friend.”

Now, admittedly, Rarity knew that she was sort of complicating things in her head. On the one hoof, she was determined to not try and get more attached to this mare she had met...let’s see, 28 or so hours ago than she already was. Make no mistake, Rare-bear really didn’t want to exacerbate her infatuation with a married mare; but on the other hoof, the unicorn was cursed with an insatiable id. She wanted to spend more time with this new mare against her better conscience.

‘Just look at dat plot. It be beggin’ to git spanked!!!’ said the very darkest corner of her mind which Rarity had long ago nicknamed “JR”.

Of course, Rarity had shook off some of the more carnal points of her subconscious (hard as it was: how could anypony forget how powerful her punch to Saltine was? So RAW...), whatever lusty spectres haunted her conscious mind had managed not only to stick around, but were also given fuel by Foxy’s invitation to Foalando and Rarity’s subsequent acceptance of the offer.

‘Saltine doesn’t deserve somepony like herrrrrr’

‘She needs a mare who caaaaaares’

‘And she’s so danged pretty, aint she?’

‘Applejack? Is that you?’

‘Hey Rare, what’s going on?’

‘What are you doing in our mind?’

‘Mind secks is best secccccks’

‘Hush, JR. Answer the question, Applejack’

‘Hay if I know. I aint the one who imagined me here’

“All of you, SHUT UP!!!!”

Total silence engulfed the travelling party and all eyes were on the hysteric unicorn. Rarity opened up her eyes and saw everypony’s dumbfounded expressions. Realizing where she was and what had just happened, the fashionista forced a grin, sweat beading down her forehead, and tried to laugh off her episode.

“Just, hehe, practicing a part...for a play! Yes...a play.”

Twilight and Applejack rolled their eyes at Rarity’s detour into crazy-town on trotted on ahead, while Pinkie giggled profusely next to Saltlick, who was still trying to gather what the hay he had just witnessed (a confused look bestowing his brow). Foxy tried to clear up the tension and threw her foreleg around Rarity.

“I-uh, would like to see that play” Foxy forced a chuckle before restoring her former composure. “Especially if you’re in it.”

Rarity, for like the 800th time this weekend, blushed profusely.

“I-i’ll tell you if I get the part.”

The two mares smiled at each other and continued walking on. Rarity’s tail was swishing at a faster pace than typical. This was a red flag for a certain pink mare who was trotting directly behind the fashionista.

Twitch-a-twitch-a-twitch-a-twitch-a-twitch.

‘........No.’

The right eye kept twitching.

‘Please. Please don’t be what I think you’re going to be.’

Blood began rushing to right foreleg. It was stiffening.

‘No! No! No! It can’t be!’

One. Two. Three shakes of the flank.

‘NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!’

Pinkie couldn’t deny it. The proof was in the pudding, or in this case, her Pinkie Sense. Although, that wasn’t meant to be a knock on pudding. Pudding could reveal truths that most ponies wouldn’t know of. However, we aren’t talking about pudding. Rarity had a crush on another mare!

This wasn’t too good. No, it wasn’t very good at all. Well, actually, it was a good thing. Pinkie would have to put on her happiest face, because this was a really, really happy thing.

It just....wasn’t for her.

____________________________________________________________

Pinkie and Rarity had spent the better half of the day trudging along the railroad tracks to Ponyville. However, they were barely halfway to their goal...which would have been unfortunate, but thankfully, the two made their way to Appleloosa. Rather than traverse the squalid wasteland that was Greater Equestria, Rarity and Pinkie could catch the next train to Ponyville in the morning.

It was lucky that they reached Appleloosa when they did, because with the combination of the desert heat, the demanding physical labor, and the incessant chattering of Pinkie Pie, Rarity was ready to kill herself, or her travelling companion...one or the other.

The two mares found an inn one floor above the salt bar that Braeburn had shown them the last time they were there. After a THOROUGH (and I mean thorough) expunging of all sweat and dirt from her body, Rarity was ready to plop down into her bed and pass-the-buck-out.

Unfortunately, the pink mare bouncing up and down on her bed had different plans.

“Ooh, Rarity! Let’s play the floor is made of lava! Now, you need to stay off the floor, because Twilight tells me that lava is really, really, really hot! Also, it’s supposed to be really spicier than a rainbow. Ooh, better than lava; the floor should be made of melted chocolate! So even if you do fall into the pits, you’re at least falling into a vat of delicious chocolate!”

At this point, Pinkie was bouncing back and forth between the twin beds in their room. Rarity decided to put an end to this sleep-preventing madness. Using a good deal of her magic, the unicorn seized the earth pony mid-leap in her distinctive blue aura, and with a swift cock of her head downward, sent the pink filly crashing to the floor. Rarity approached the poofy, party-loving, pink pile to check and see if she was still conscious.

Well...not only was she conscious, but she was perfectly lucid (by Pinkie standards) and giggling profusely.

“Ooh, that was funzies, Rare-bear! We need to do that again! Ooh, I got a better idea! A BODY SLAM CONTEST!!!”

“PINKIE!!!” screeched Rarity, as her eyes widened, veins beginning to protrude out her slender white neck.

Pinkie caught on to her friend’s irritation and retreated to her bed, her unease clearly evident.

Rarity released an exasperated sigh before sliding under her covers. “Terribly sorry, Pinkie Pie. I detest being rude, but a lady needs her sleep, and you were getting in the way of that. It boggles the mind as to how you still have this boundless energy after today’s events.” With this, the unicorn was actually speaking with sincerity.

Pinkie returned to her good-natured self and replied, “Well that’s obvious silly. I still need to know if you like Chimi-cherry or Cherry-changa better.”

One facehoof later and one sigh later, Rarity dryly replied, “Well I suppose we both had our reasons to keep pushing on.”

“Oooh, really? What was your motivation?”

Rarity turned over toward the wall and uttered through her gritted teeth, “revenge.”

“Did somepony break your heart?”

“....No?”

“Did somepony rob you?”

“No, Pinkie.”

“Ooh! Ooh! Did that villainous curr, Black Scarlet foalnap Sweetie Belle in the dead of night and is holding her for ransom, forcing you to assemble a comically mismatched motley crew in order to save her?”

Rarity struggled to formulate a response before turning over to face the pink mare.

“Pinkie, do you even remember how it is we got in this situation?”

“Of course, silly-filly, we had to get Applejack back!”

“No, after that: while we were chasing her.”

Pinkie pondered as hard as she could ponder for a few moments before a lightbulb went off in her head. “Oh yeah! That’s when I wanted you to catch me and you did! Thanks for catching me, by the way.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Yes, well...you’re welcome, I suppose.” Rarity turned over once again.

“When I get my hooves on that Rainbow Dash....” she uttered, her teeth gritted once more.

“Ooh-ooh! You can make her dress up in a silly outfit! Silly outfits are always fun!”

Rarity sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s befitting of me that my form of torture is making the likes of Rainbow Dash model in one of my more fastidious ensembles, but it’s not really what I want to do.”

“Really what is it? Ooh, ooh, help you move your furniture? Take you flying? Lunch? Fly your furniture out to lunch? Oh I know! You want her to finally finish that novel! I am so excited about finally reading it, especially if there’s as much as sex as Dashie promises there’ll be and-”

“-I want Rainbow Dash to finally confess her love to Fluttershy!!!!!”

Rarity froze for the longest time.

“You...you weren’t supposed to know that, Pinkie.”

Pinkie giggled, “Silly! I already knew about that.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “How could somepony like you possibly pick up on something like romance? Um, no offense?”

Pinkie stood up. “Duh!!” The pink mare wiggled her flank wildly in the air.

Rarity sat wide-eyed for a few moments. “I-uh...are propositioning something, or...”

Pinkie giggled once more, “No, silly! When my right eye twitches, my right foreleg stiffens, and my flank shakes three times, it means that somepony’s in love with somepony else, and I got it when Rainbow was talking to Fluttershy after she told her cutie mark story to the fillies.” Pinkie just kept on giggling. “It’s so awesome. They’re gonna be sooo cute together.”

“Darling, are you sure that Fluttershy feels the same way?”

“Duh! I got the vibe from Fluttershy when she was flying to catch Dashie after Discord brainwashed her. Seriously, that girl was ready to POUNCE on that flank.” Pinkie stood up on her hind legs and thrusted her pelvis into the direction of Rarity, howling at the moon and lapping her tongue like a dog in heat.

“PINKIE PIE!!! Honestly, darling, do you have no class?”

Pinkie laughed out loud as she fell on her back onto the bed. “Tee-hee-hee, sorry, Rare-bear. It’s just funny knowing how badly they wanna get all up in each other’s guts.”

“What did I just tell you, Pinkie? You are really being disgusting right now.”

“Ooh, I wonder who’ll be on top. Now, most will probably tell you that Dashie would wear the pants, but something tells me that that filly has a submissive side to her.”

“Pinkie, I swear to Celestia, if you don’t shut up, I WILL come over there!”

“Maybe they’ll let some other ponies in on the action. I know that AJ would love to finally get over her sexual tension with Dashie, and I betcha that Flutter-”

Pinkie was cut off when Rarity leaped over to the other bed and got on top of Pinkie. Rather than using magic, the fashionista was actually strangling her pink companion with her bare hooves. One could only guess that Rarity wanted the satisfaction that you just couldn’t get from magic.

Pinkie could have resisted. Let’s face it, Rarity wasn’t exactly Applejack here. Her grip was weak at best, and she didn’t have a lot of strength in her forelegs. The unicorn did keep a trim figure thanks to her diet and rigorous yoga, but at the cost of any substantial mass. The point being, Pinkie could’ve taken Rarity to the cleaners.

However, she didn’t. Why? Because Pinkie never expected this to feel so GOOOOOOD!!!!

Seriously, Pinkie had done a lot of things that felt good, but she never thought being choked would be on that list. She wasn’t in mortal danger (Rarity was weak, after all), but still, the sensation was irresistible. Her tail stiffened completely (only possible with Pinkie herself).

Then there was the pony choking her. Rarity had not reapplied her makeup when they settled into their room, and she had a face that befitted pure irritation, but...she was still incredibly pretty. Pinkie had always thought that Rarity had looked good, what with all the effort she put into her appearance, but for the first time ever, Pinkie saw the real mare under the mask, and it was every bit as beautiful as when she made an effort.

Pinkie admitted to herself that this was kind of crazy (even for her) that she was having this epiphany while being strangled, but you know what? Life was pretty random in the world according to Pinkamena D. Pie.

__________________________________________________________________

Over time, mere physical attraction to Rarity became....something more. At first Pinkie was hesitant to call it a crush. Celestia-forbid that she would have special favor for certain friends over other friends. However, the notion just became unavoidable in her head. Rarity was generous, affable, so so beautiful. Pinkie was starting to dream about her, about the kind of relationship they would have, what lovers quarrels they would get into, and what good times they would share. Pinkie just wanted to hold Rarity after Fluttershy called her a frivolous pony and tell her that everything would be okay. She wanted Rarity to know that she would never ever hurt her that way. Pinkie wanted everypony to smile, but making Rarity smile became her top priority.

Dear sweet Celestia, was Pinkie Pie-PINKIE. PIE.....falling in love? It sure seemed that way to Pinkie.

So why hadn’t Pinkie, a mare bereft of any senses of hesitation or diplomacy, told Rarity how she felt at this point? It was the same reason Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy went without being together for so long. Pinkie was afraid of being rejected, and this fear couldn’t be laughed-off. This fear festered in the very back of her mind every time she thought fondly of her alabaster crush.

‘She would never like a silly pony like youuuuuuuuuuu’

‘You’re so delusionaaaaalllllllll’

‘Get over yourselfffffff’

She couldn’t silence these voices, and now that it was clear that Rarity was infatuated with Foxy, a mare whose marriage was falling apart as far as Pinkie could tell, these voices would stick around just to tell her that they told her so.

Pinkie had lost her chance, and all she wanted to do was go to bed and cry. When nopony else suspected, she wandered off from the travelling group and made her way to Sugarcube Corner.

_______________________________________________________________

Fluttershy walked up her stairs into the bathroom. She had insisted that Rainbow bathe away her combination of sweat and “stank” from earlier, and whatever powdery substance was on her face. The shy pegasus had brought her sweetheart the last bottle of Applejack’s cider, hoping that it would lift her spirits. However, considering the prismatic daredevil was still in the bathtub with her head hanging low, it wouldn’t seem likely.

“Um...Rainbow?”

Dash grunted her acknowledgment

Fluttershy presented the cider. “Applejack brought me some of her own cider last night. I thought you might like a cold one.”

Dash didn’t move her body one inch. “Just put next to the tub.”

Fluttershy did so. As she got up close to Rainbow, she saw only pure despondency on her face. She extended a hoof to her marefriend’s shoulder, but Dash only inched away from it.

Fluttershy grew indignant, and in her stern (soft, but stern), voice she reprimanded her lover.

“Rainbow Danger DeJesus Beauford Dash, you are going to talk to me!”

Rainbow’s eyes widened and she turned to her marefriend. Fluttershy NEVER used her full name in conversation. She must have been really pissed. However, Rainbow’s countenance was still despondent and defensive.

“What’s there to talk about, Fluttershy?”

“You know darn well what. You can’t just shudder away just because I said “no.””

“Why not? I think it’s clear that there’s nothing to discuss after that!”

“What are you talking about?”

Rainbow started to tear up. “We’re over aren’t we? I mean, I get it. I just left you to dry because of a stupid misunderstanding. I don’t deserve you. I never did and-”

SLAP.

Rainbow needed a few seconds to regain her composure. She looked into the violent stare of her lover with pure astonishment.

“No. More. Of. That.” Fluttershy said with gritted teeth.

“Y-yes, ma'am.”

Fluttershy calmed down and let out a contented sigh. Now smiling, she brought her hooves to her lover’s face and brought herself in for a kiss. When they pulled apart, Rainbow was blushing brightly with a returned smile of her own, but it faded eventually when she decided to ask:

“Why did you say no, ‘Shy? Do you not love me anymore?”

Fluttershy brought her hoof smack to her own face. ‘Sweet Celestia, she’s blockheaded.’

“Rainbow, honestly, do you think that with everything that’s happened, NOW would be the good time to start talking about getting married? I have so much going on my brother right now.”

Rainbow sighed. “....You’re right. I’m sorry, I guess I just got over-excited about coming home to you. I guess I was just being silly.”

Fluttershy giggled and reached in for another kiss. “Yeah, but you’re my silly-filly.”

Rainbow chuckled and wrapped her forelegs around her lover, bringing her into a full embrace. When they separated for breath, Rainbow whispered:

“Are you thinking, what I’m thinking?”

Fluttershy kissed Rainbow’s neck and whispered, “No, not tonight.”

Rainbow separated from Fluttershy’s forelegs she indignantly replied, “Oh come the hay on! First you reject my marriage proposal, now you’re withholding sex! What’s next, we’re gonna start sleeping in separate beds?”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “Rainbow, we need a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, “For what?”

“We’re going to Foalando tomorrow with my dad. We’re going to talk to my brother and see if we can patch things up.”

“That scumbag?! Fat chance!”

“Rainbow! Don’t talk like that! He’s my family!”

“Exactly! He’s your brother, and he said all those awful things to you; in your house, no less!”

“That doesn’t give you authority to judge, Rainbow. He’s my family and my problem to deal with. So I’m going to deal with it my way, and you’re coming with me.”

“No! I almost lost you because of him!”

“Oh, bull-poppy!”

“Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy blushed slightly. “Sorry for the language...but I meant it. You left on your own terms. I’m not going to excuse what he did, but don’t go blaming him for your own actions.”

Rainbow hesitated before she sighed. “Yeah...yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Apology accepted.” She extended a hoof to her marefriend’s shoulder, and this time, Rainbow didn’t resist.

“Do you want to know what it is, Rainbow? I don’t want to get ready to marry you when I have this mess unresolved. I don’t want the next chapter of my life to start with this ugliness. Please, for my sake, for ours: can we please fix everything that has happened so that we can move on without regret? Can we promise each other not to hold secrets from each other, or to call it quits when things seem bleak? Can we become stronger for each other? Can we make this last?”

Rainbow was utterly stunned. Never before had Fluttershy been so eloquent. Never had she spoken with such depth or brevity. The daredevil had fallen in love all over again.

With tears trickling down her face, Rainbow replied, “You know it.”

The two joined in another embrace. Nothing was spoken after that.

Then again...nothing had to be.