Something Even Better

"Of course I meant it. I do love you Rarity. And when you told me how much you loved me back, I knew that there was and should be more between us.

Rarity’s heart had been answered. A small but sweet smile came over her face. She could have been at the top of the world, deep into space for all she knew. It wouldn't have mattered, Twilight had admitted to loving her back.

"But..."

And then she had plummeted back to earth.

"I have to find Trixie... It wouldn't be fair to her or myself to do this..." Twilight looked away from Rarity's dying smile and let out a heavy sigh. "You're an amazing pony and one of my best friends Rarity. Knowing that we have this special connection makes me realize how much I care about you, but Trixie is my friend too and I owe it to her to see our friendship through to whatever end it may find."

Rarity just listened. She knew this was coming and admitted that anything less would be unlike the Twilight she knew. Now that she thought about it, there were so many things wrong with what was going on, things that only till now could she see. The emotional haze was clearing, the shining link between her and Twilight was dimming and beyond the glare of bliss, she saw the ugly truth.

Wha- What have I done...?”

She had destroyed her dearest friend’s first love and then proceeded to selfishly interject herself between them. Any of Twilight’s other friends would have taken her in, been there to talk to her about it and then probably gone with her to help find Trixie.

Not me though... I had to go and be a complete imbecile...

She had caused all this heartache to Twilight, herself, Trixie and maybe Fluttershy by some distant effect. No pony came out on top.

She had so honestly pursued Fluttershy, professing herself to the pegasus and then gave it all up for a chance with Twilight. It just went to show how shallow she was and how she had no respect for her own emotions. That feeling plunged her into icy, frozen waters.

With every high comes a low and she was spiralling out of control.

Sweet Celestia... What have I done?! I am a worthless pest of a pony who desires nothing more than to destroy everything my friends hold dear.

Twilight’s words were distant.

"In all honestly wish I would have known about this before... About our connection... I don't think I would have chosen her..." Twilight’s solemn words hung in the air, a weak smile forming on her lips.

Just... j-just shut up Twilight... you don’t mean that. You don’t want to mean that...

For the second time Rarity had fallen short of happiness. She wanted to cry. She wanted to cry harder than she ever had in her entire life. She wanted to tell Twilight to just forget about the horrible pony that runs that second rate fashion boutique and go on with her life. Twilight was just being considerate, but Rarity knew what sort of pain she might be going through, because she felt it herself. It was the pain of her first love telling her that things weren’t going to work out.

Twilight read deeply into Rarity’s conflicted state. Neither of them truly knew what she was thinking but her silence meant that she still expected Twilight to speak for one reason or another.

She spoke calmly in contrast to the emotional storm inside Rarity. “I don’t know what happened with Trixie... I still love her and no matter what  small part of me will for the rest of my life... She’s out there somewhere and I still have the chance to find out what see she meant and make it right.”

Rarity wish she could do the same. She wanted to make something in her life right, anything at all, but she was useless, helpless and worthless. Her heart was tearing itself apart trying to find the solution, but nothing besides making herself disappear made sense.

“It’s horrible selfish of me to say this... but if something has happened between me and Trixie, I’d know that my place is with you...” Twilight said hopefully.

Rarity chuckled painfully.

“Twilight darling... Y-you don’t mean that...” A bittersweet smile came over her. Her eyes watered and tears fell with each suppressed sob. “You my dear deserve far better than a selfish old mare like me.” Rarity patted Twilight’s hooves.

Each word from her sundered the heart. Rarity had regressed back to her typical demeanour in an attempt to save her shattering psyche. She just couldn’t handle it. She had completely disregarded her own emotions, lost out on her chance and ended up hurting two or three of her friends and she couldn’t even explain to herself why she did any of it.

"Rarity, please don't cry..." Twilight begged, wiping a tear from her eye.

Rarity just shook her head. Her delicate heart had broken. She needed to be alone before Twilight saw the extent of her pain. Even if she had to throw her out of her house she wouldn’t put any more guilt on Twilight if she had something to say about.

"P-puuhlllease Twilight! A-a lady n-never cries!" Rarity took the last reserve of strength she had to steel herself for these last words. "Now off with you! I'm sure that silly Trixie is already pounding on your library door begging to take you back. It's easy to take what you have for granted until you’ve lost it." Rarity put on the best smile she could.

Twilight could read straight past her. Rarity's soul shone shamelessly though her eyes. It was wrecked and torn and Twilight didn't have the heart to say anything more. Rarity was truly hurt down to her core and there was nothing she could do about it.

After Rarity quickly showed her out, she watched Twilight run far in the distance, sadness wracking both of them for the same reasons. Rarity closed the door with her back to it and slid down as the tears did.

*

The next day was Friday. Rarity didn't know why, but she was sure that this was going to be a day of reckoning. The last few days had hit her like a hurricane. It slowly built up to the catharsis that was all yesterday, but now she was in the eye.

She woke up with a headache from all the crying, leaving her worn out and somber. Crying for fifteen hours on and off had a way of doing that to a pony. The morning was quiet. No unusual visits from one mare or another. Sweetie Belle had stayed in her clubhouse for the night so she didn't even have that distraction, just eerie quiet.

She was left only to her thoughts and yesterday had burnt all of them out. She found herself wandering from room to room with no real purpose. Periodically she’d fall into a short but silent spittle of tears, but nothing as dramatic as yesterday. Her mind was completely blank. Designing dresses was impossible. The few customers she did have she answered shortly and rushed them out unlike how she usually liked to chat them up and work them over.

To think that today was when she was supposed to go on a date with Fluttershy hurt a lot less than she predicted. Of all the things she really wanted to do, she really just wanted an emergency spa day. The spa was kind of her place to recover. She had a few girlfriends there that she could vent to if she needed to or she could get a private hot tub so no pony would see her crying. Mostly she just wanted to get out of the stupid boutique where everywhere she looked she saw her own failures.

Maybe the storm would just blow over.

*

The sun was reaching it's twilight hours. It was late when a knock sounded on Fluttershy's door. She went to answer it, already knowing who it was.

"Most dearest Fluttershy, I have brought thee a floral assortment and sweet confections so that thou may decoratest thine homestead and enjoyest the pride of Sugarcube Corner!" Luna announced happily.

Fluttershy just blushed as Luna piled her gifts on the pegasus. Luna smiled a toothy grin at her as she opened the box of chocolates and took one out, anxiously awaiting her approval. Each one looked like they were painstakingly crafted by hoof. The ornate lacing and individual decoration spoke leagues about how committed the Cakes were to all forms of sweets. Luna must have paid out the nose for them.

Fluttershy smiled and ate it. The flavour startled her, it was the most delicious piece of chocolate she'd ever had. "Oh my! These are really good!" she exclaimed before blushing more in reaction to her own outburst.

Luna giggled. "I am glad thou likest them, but enough! Shall we be on our way?" The princess cordially bowed and motioned out down the path. Fluttershy couldn't help but note that the Princess had just bowed to her, She wasn't a vain pony, but it brought a smile to her face.

Fluttershy cutely popped another one of the chocolates her mouth and thoughtfully picked one up for the Princess, before following her out the door.

"Mercy, tis art the most luscious sweets," proclaimed the pony who talks like that after testing it for herself.

They trotted down the road with good pace. Fluttershy did her best to push Rarity out of her mind, which proved fairly easy. Not considering the unspoken attachment that Rarity had to Fluttershy, little had actually transpired between them.

She had really only had one day to feel anything towards her, so it didn't seem entirely unfair to herself to go on a date with the Princess. Already, Fluttershy felt more mature taking time to try different options. The infatuation with Rarity had happened so quickly that she was kind of glad that the Princess came and forced her to slow down. She didn't want to rush into anything because nothing good would have come from that.

Besides that, Luna had proven to be a much kinder and gentler pony than the last time she came to Ponyville. She was a bit odd sometimes, and pray she never knew these thoughts, but Fluttershy found it endearing. The Princess was still ages behind the times and it allowed for her step up and correct the Princess whenever she made a mistake. Which was a lot.

For once she felt like she was the more graceful one in social situation. Being hoof-picked by the Princess was terrifying at first, but in only a few days, it had done a ton for her self-esteem.

The turning point was when she actually corrected the Princess on the one of the newer forms of crude entertainment.

"A hay ride? For what purpose would thou want to give hay a ride? Tis the most silliest of tasks!" Luna levitated eight more bales onto the wagon. "Now ride Big Macintosh! Entertain these stalks so that I may observe the peculiarity of this ritual!"

Everypony exchanged glances, none of them wanted to be the pony that corrects the Princess. Fluttershy just waltzed up to her though. Since Luna had insisted that they spend as much time together as possible Fluttershy didn't see her as a Princess anymore and more as a regular old pony.

"Luna, you're not giving the hay a ride. You ride on the hay," Fluttershy explained.

Luna looked from the massive tower of hay bales she just placed on the struggling cart to Big Mac who was just smiling awkwardly.

"Oh..." She flew the bales off back the field that she got them from and calmly stepped up onto the wagon with an adorably blank look on her face.

Everypony else would see that as just the evolution of a relationship, but to Fluttershy it was a victory. She remembered a day when even a unicorn as unassuming and friendly as Twilight would cause her to cower in fear. Now she was talking to royalty casually where even esteemed ponies wouldn't.

"So where are you taking me?" Fluttershy ventured.

"Pray, the itinerary for this evening shall remain a surprise.” Luna teased.

Fluttershy smiled. Going on a date with the Princess had terrified her, but she kept telling herself that she was a normal pony and that they were just spending time together. Once the repetition set in and she started believing herself, the idea of a date romanced her. She found herself giddy with excitement at the thought of a pony taking her on a romantic date.

Surely a Princess of infinite grace who has lived at least a hundred of her lifetimes would enchant her and take her beyond her wildest imagination. Fluttershy couldn't help but feel like the luckiest mare in the world. Her mind raced with the sorts of things Luna might show her. Spells? Secret places? Memories brought to life? Considering Luna’s unique powers, she wouldn’t be surprised if her very dreams came true.

"Behold! The finest dining establishment in all of Ponyville! The CherryCobbler Factory!" Luna announced to Fluttershy.

In front of her was the iconic, upper-middle range restaurant chain that most couples went to on their like, ninth, anniversary. Not exactly newly-weds, not a decade yet, but it was nice enough. It was technically the nicest place in town, but that's because no celebrity chefs had decided to invest into a town with such a low population yet.

It was extremely underwhelming to be brought to a chain restaurant on her first date with a princess, but Fluttershy grinned anyways. She liked their food and had that one item she always ordered. She knew almost everything on the menu was palatable, but the Trottingham Fortune Five was her favourite salad. Luna was just being a lady, letting her know that she wasn't going to skimp on feeding her. No, Luna was keeping it classy, mid-range classy.

Luna opened the door for Fluttershy, quite heroically. The light buzz of conversation and energy died almost immediately as they walked in. Also a vinyl scratch was heard somewhere in the distance. The presence of the Princess momentarily stunned the staff before they reflexively threw themselves at the couple.

One of the better dressed stallions that Fluttershy assumed was the general manager took point. "Good evening her Royal Majesty, Princess Luna of Canterlot. Welcome to the CherryCobbler Factory! Table for..." He looked down at Fluttershy,  "Two? Yes right this way!"  He shot death stares at multiple employees. They scrambled off.

"I have a reservation," Luna said startled by the sudden rush of attention.

"Of course you do! Royalty is always welcome and do we have the loveliest spot for you to dine in!" He bowed and motioned to a lone table that several employees were scrambling to decorate.

"Nay, it is under the name Fluttershy. I called earlier. Make sure that thou crosses it off thou’s list!" Luna cried as the mob carried them both off to the table and plopped them down.

They sat on luxurious foam cushion couches that formed to their every curve. The table was set in the traditional setting with an an artsy royal emblem sitting to the side. At least two dozen candles floated around them, their flames rollicking gently. Strangely enough, the glare from the candles made it hard to see anything beyond their sphere, giving them a sense of seclusion.

The entire restaurant was silent as they watched the Princess and her guest. A stallion whisked a few of the candles to the side and  gracefully entered the ring.

"My most graceful Majesty and honoured guest--"

"Fluttershy," Luna corrected flatly.

He looked at her shocked. He had never been interrupted like that before. His mind raced for how to use proper names in an an such humble greeting.

"Pardon me your Majesty," he recovered confidently. "Her majesty and the most lovely Miss Fluttershy. It would be my honour to personally welcome you to our humble establishment.--"

"Aye... Thou hast the lovliest decorations. Now..." Luna was already looking through the menu, clearly confused “Let us view thine selection. I do not even under--What is a New Colt City Philly-- Oh nevermind.” She mumbled before closing the menu in a fit. Blast these modern delicacies “Fair stallion, I desire thine finest waffles,” she announced.

The waiter blinked at her in a stupefied terror. He was their best, most experienced waiter, and he actually thought that waiting for the Princess would be easier because of all the implied manners and ceremony involved. Oh no, this was Princess Luna and he was definitely way in over his head.

"Luna, I think the stallion was trying to say something." Corrected Fluttershy. "He was going to ask us if he could get us some drinks." She shot him an approving glance.

He twisted his mind, trying to comprehend everything. Was this little pegasus, who he saw run away from a rolling tomato two days ago, lecturing the princess?

"Art thou sure?" Luna was endearingly skeptical, but Fluttershy just bobbed her head at her. "If thou sayest so... Proceed, continue fair stallion, I apologize for my brashness"

"... w-welcome to our humble establishment. May I start you off with your order?" He choked out. He was completely screwing up his line. His entire life flashed before his eyes. His boss was watching his horrible screw up. He was probably going to lose his job over this then his apartment, his pregnant wife...

Fluttershy spoke next before the Princess. Maybe it would be better if she just did the talking to spare this sweating stallion any more trouble.

"We'll have some Sweet Apple Acres Special Blend 4 Cider to start off with,” she said gracefully.

“O-of course.” He scurried out.

*

Fluttershy trembled with anticipation. The Princess really was going out of her way to keep the evening a surprise. Even though she had been walking blindfolded for fifteen minutes she couldn’t imagine what sort of wonders Princess had in store for her. Luna fine tuned Fluttershy’s exact position before ripping away the blindfold.

Fluttershy tore open her eyes and gasped. The enormous smile initially on her face turned hesitant and reserved. She looked from the picture to the princess with anxious eyes.

It was the swing set in the schoolyard.

Fluttershy assumed there was more to it. “Oh my... What is it?”

“Tis a swinging set! I will push thee on it so that thou may enjoyest it.” Luna was obviously excited.

“Oh!” Fluttershy exclaimed. Luna was so adorably awkward. “Heh, ok!”

Thus the best date ever began.

The swing set was clearly too small for the full grown mare. She had to duck a bit to even sit on it. Luna was forced to push her from a crouching position and because of the small arc Fluttershy moved a bit too fast. Luna was obviously challenging herself to get Fluttershy as high as possible.

Fluttershy voice wavered with each push.“So... w-where did you c-come up with a swing s-set Luna?”

“I learnt of it in one the thee’s modern theatre performances.”

Fluttershy thought for a moment. “You m-mean a movie?”

“Aye, taking one’s date for dinner and then pushing them on the swinging set is modern courting tradition, is it not?”

Fluttershy jumped off and hung in mid air, sending the swing back to Luna to catch. She was getting nauseous. Luna eyes glistened anxiously.

She frowned. “Is everything alright dearest Fluttershy? Art thou not enjoying thyself?”

“Oh I am! But I was just wondering if maybe instead of following what you saw in that movie you could perhaps maybe show me your traditional way of umm... courtship...” Fluttershy blushed.

“My way...?” Luna let go of the swing and looked down. “I... I never courted another pony before...” she admitted. It was a lie, but she didn’t really want to go into her last attempt. “I doubt I would be any good at it...”

“Oh my...” Fluttershy didn’t know she hit such a sensitive topic. She needed to think fast or else Luna might start spiralling. “Well neither have I...”

That seemed to return a little bit of her confidence. “ What dost thou wish to partake in together if not modern tradition?”

“We could always go for a walk and just talk.” Fluttershy suggested. The moon was clear tonight without a cloud in the sky, a perfect time for such an activity.

She smiled dubiously. “Very well, I have no objection. ”

They began down a path that would lead them into the quieter countryside. It was warm and comfortable out. Fluttershy stole a glance at her date and noted just how lucky she was. The Princess of the Moon shimmered in the moonlight. Her mane rippled in a lunar wind that she couldn’t feel it on her coat, but deep in the mysteries and doubt of her mind. Something about the unknown aura that surrounded Luna both unnerved her and brought her comfort. More importantly, it forced a sense of intimacy with Luna’s intrigue.

The silence between them was comfortable, but quickly forcing them to start opening up.

“So Luna... I umm... have been wondering...”

“What troubles thou?”

Fluttershy decided to get straight to the point. It had been bothering her ever since Luna came to her in her dream. “I was just wondering... why did you pick me? I mean you’re a princess and I’m just a normal pony. I’m not complaining! I mean you’re really nice and lovely and I’m probably the luckiest pony in the world.”

Luna blushed ever so lightly.

“I erhm... Watchethed thou for some time...” she began. “Thou hast a gentleness about thee and kindness in thine heart...I erhm have never sought a pony of gallantry, but one more delicate like a dove to uhmm... a falcon!... Since I am none of those things I envy and desire thee greatly...” She was tripping over her words.

Fluttershy just giggled at the flustered pony. Those last words made her heart skip a beat.

“I mean! What I intended to say was that I desirest thine traits and would like to imitate them. But with thee present of course!” Her blush heightened. “Oh Fluttershy, thou hast me tongue-tied!”

Fluttershy still giggled lightly at the Luna’s ever growing red face.

“Oh it is folly, in thine’s company I have become a bumbling jester.” Luna conceded.

Fluttershy mindfully brought her giggling under control. After a few moments of warm silence, she spoke.

“You’re really sweet Luna...”she admitted

“As art thou...”

They exchanged glances and continued on with shy smiles on their faces. They approached a small pond, whose perfect surfaced mirrored the sky far above. Luna saw an opportunity.

“Thou spoke of seeing traditional courtship, correct?” she asked coyly.

“Oh yes please!”

In the moonlight the royal regalia of the princess began shimmered brightly as they shared their first moment. It was nothing more than a quick glance into each other’s eyes, but a delicate and tangible magical connection was made. Fluttershy felt her head rush as she gazed into Luna’s matching teal irises.

“Now rest here in the grass and look at the night sky through my flowing mane.”

Fluttershy cutely stumbled onto her back as Luna instructed. Luna then drifted slightly above her to create a better angle, but also bringing them intimately close. Whatever Luna did to her, it affected her vision. The night sky was much clearer, the lights of the city had been filtered out and what remained was the constellations and nebula as they should be. The violets and blues of the distant universe shone with ardor in the small window of her mane.

With that moment came another. A harmonious ringing quickly grew and chimed off as Princess Luna’s accessories and crown disappeared. All the things that made her royal fell from her in a brilliant display. Their forms dissipated into a shower of sparkles that spun around her and dashed off towards the moon. The glow, illuminated both of their caste faces as they nervously smiled at each other.

Each sparkle as it passed through Luna’s mane lit the nebulae with a relative light as though it shot deep into space, giving it a tangible depth. Fluttershy couldn’t even grasp the magic of the spectacle. These celestial objects of truly universal sizes danced in Luna’s mane like a child’s plaything. Fluttershy swore she could have just reached out and touched an entire universe with her hoof.

It was like somepony shot a storm of sparkling rockets through the universe revealing objects in boundaries barely broken before.

What was left was of Luna was something both familiar and alien, a bare image of the beloved princess. One who felt intimate and personable. Her deep indigo coat uninterrupted by the break in colour from her accessories humbled her appearance. From the tip of her horn to her hoof she shone in the moonlight as a purely ordinary pony. No titles, no royalty, nothing besides her character, hopes and dreams to define her.

Fluttershy had never seen Luna this way, but now that she did, she preferred it. She knew she was one of the few who’d ever see Luna like this and that alone made it special to her.

Fluttershy gasped. “Oh my goodness! Luna, what happened to your crown and necklace?”

Luna blushed blazing scarlet. “Thou spokest of my tradition. Tis tradition to remove one’s adornments in company of a mare such as thee...”

Their eyes connected and Fluttershy expected that they’d kiss much like Rarity had implied before. While Fluttershy welcomed the idea, she mostly accepted it because she knew the Princess expected it. She delicately licked her lips in preparation.

Much to her surprise, something even better happened. Something that made her weightless with bliss and affection, something that felt infinitely more right than a kiss.

Luna slowly glided forward and just tenderly nuzzled the pegasus who could only blush back. Next Chapter: "...yes..." Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 44 Minutes