Back from the Forest

They took their time walking down the path, their eyes pealed to the wonder in front of them.

Fluttershy gazed into the majesty of the cave. The mushrooms and fireflies pulsed like a gentle heartbeat to the same rhythm. A silent heartbeat that found no envy of even the wildest imagination. Fluttershy felt like she was in a cosmic meadow as she surveyed the landscape developing slowly in front of her. Small mounds and valleys dipping up and down were outlined by the glowing fungi.

"This is so... wonderful." Her eyes watered and glistened.

Rarity gazed at the majesty of Fluttershy's flank. It shook to a hypnotic rhythm that entranced and enticed the poor unicorn.  Her eyes and coat gleamed in the gentle hues of the mushrooms. All the different colours reflecting off her turned her into something of the most inspired artistry. Fluttershy really did look completely divine, almost out of a dream.

It was a dream come true to be in such a beautiful place with this darling mare. Rarity's mind wandered to what loving memories could be made in such a place, some easily lasting a thousand lifetimes. The stories of their initially troubled, but legendary romance would be told for generations to come Rarity mused. Fluttershy turned around and said something, but Rarity was too busy sighing with a light blush on her face to notice. She was so cute when she said things.

"Yes. I agree completely." Rarity's replied mindlessly. She watched her love's lips move delicately as though they spoke her soul and trembled. She had to kiss Fluttershy.

This romance will start now! No more waiting! It is destiny for us to be together forever!

Rarity went in to kiss her cherished pegasus when Fluttershy casually turned around and kept walking, leaving Rarity kissing a very empty nothingness. She pouted and followed Fluttershy a bit further, running into yet another sight.

The deceptive nature of the lighting had greedily hidden the cave's finest gem. Almost as if by magic, a pool of perfect, clear water jumped out from behind a mound. It's smooth, undisturbed surface reflected the glory of the cave like a mirror, the pulse was carefully placed so that the reflection didn't break it and instead followed it without missing a beat.

'Fluttershy! Come now, I'm scared and need you close to me!" she pouted as Fluttershy blissfully trotted down to the edge of the pool.

Rarity caught up with her and stood their mouth agape at the magical sight. Oh yes, this will be a fine place for our first kiss. What was I thinking?

"Is this amazing Rarity? Who knew such a place existed? All right under our noses."

"Indeed, it kind of makes you think, doesn't it?" Rarity batted her eyes.

"It does."

"It makes me think about the pony who I wish would be my special somepony and how I'd do anything to be with them..."

Rarity's eyes sparkled, naturally.

"Oh? Whose that?" she asked with an innocent, friendly smile.

Just say 'you' and seal the deal. Come on Rarity, you can do it!

The dream word was about to leave her mouth, but Fluttershy had accidentally knocked a small rock into the pond. Ripples spread out in perfect circles as the rock sunk. The mirror like reflection distorted and that distortion resonated throughout the cave. The slow pulse surrounding them had become chattered and erratic like the ripples. The dreamlike atmosphere felt disrupted in ways that seemed alien and defacing. The fireflies began to fall slowly from their docile flight only confirming it further.

They looked in horror around them, as the very fibre of this dream had been destroyed. The reflected light in the pond started to shift, creating a message for only a few seconds.

The heart of dreams lies beyond

Awaken it and restore it's broken bonds

"This seems important..." Fluttershy observed, reading the short message before it finally fell apart.

No, do not let her get distracted, even though the cave isn't doing that lovely light effect it is still plenty romantic.

"Does it? Well it does seem odd, but I'm sure we could take a rest. Ooh! I have an idea! Let's play truth or dare! Doesn't that sounds like fun?" Rarity smiled and giggled girlishly.

"No time for games right now Rarity. I think we need to follow the path."

Was Fluttershy being brave?

She trotted off as Rarity let a out a sigh and drooped her head, slowly working her way up to Fluttershy's pace. She looked up and that wiggling flank wasn't helping the frustration. Rarity watched it with a defeated hunger. At least she had a nice view.

"What do you think it means? The heart of dreams?" Fluttershy was determined.

"I honestly don't think it really matters. The pre-classical era left behind a lot of melodramatic artifacts and such." Rarity scoffed. "Remember when we had to find The Griffon's Last Feather and it was just a quill that erased any grammatical error it wrote? I mean, hugely practical, but sort of underwhe--"

"...But I still think we should..." Fluttershy interjected

"I don't thi--"

"Please! I never get to do any questing!" Fluttershy turned around with her puppy dog eyes. "I think I can handle this one. It's just fireflies and mushrooms! If anything scary happens I promise I'll run away!"

Rarity couldn't say no to those eyes.

"Fine..." Rarity said defeated.

Fluttershy squee'd and trotted on happily. She was so cute when she was trying to be brave. Rarity smiled weakly.

Fluttershy, after we find this dumb heart thing, I am going to have you.

*

After walking for awhile through the vast subterranean landscape, they started to wonder just how far it would go.

A single titanic pulse surged through the length of the cave, illuminating the entirety of it for a few seconds. Every mushroom shone like a lamp and they covered their eyes to keep from the glare. As it started to subside, Rarity glued her eyes to the horizon and Fluttershy flew up to get a better view. They could barely register their surroundings as their eyes were desperately searching for the end.

They could see no end.

"I saw some trees over there," Rarity pointed. "Fluttershy darling, what do you see from your vantage."

"I saw a waterfall a little farther than the trees."

After the pulse subsided, a feeling of dread fell over them..

"Did it just get darker?" The mushrooms had lost some of their luminosity, leaving them in an advanced darkness "Fluttershy I think we should go back to the spa, immediately."

"Let's just go as far as the waterfall and then we can go back, please?'

"Ok fine..."

They quickened their pace and sure enough, the path led to the elusive waterfall. The fireflies were drawn to the splashing mist like a sanctuary. Their light refracted unusually off the mist, showing the warm colours like a soft fire. The gentle inferno was a lone ruby in the cave. It contrasted and broke the monotonous tones and they couldn't help but be drawn to it too.

Floating in the center, a few feet from the surface was the beating heart of the dream surrounded by the mist. It was a ruby with veins of light surrounding it, pulsing with pink magic. It struggled to pumped it's life, beating erratically in it's weakness. It was dying.

"Well this ought to be simple. Fluttershy, be a dear go retrieve that. I'd like to be rid of this dreadful cave. We are on the spa's clock and I'd like to get my money's worth." Rarity's sparkling eye appraised that gem. It would make a fine addition to her collection should she be fortunate enough to keep it.

Fluttershy daintily drifted over to the heart, but as she neared the mist, the eerie weight in the air dragged her down to the water. As she skimmed the water the ripples seemed to upset the fireflies, as they all sunk a bit more . Another long and bright pulse surged throughout the cave, leaving everywhere but the waterfall in near complete darkness. Like before, the ripples in the water formed to words that both seemed familiar and alien.

Dreams that are found

Will leave the heart unbound

Fluttershy screamed and flew over to cuddle her friend as the lights went out. Rarity read the message and let it stir in her head. She could definitely turn this into some action.

"Ra-r-rarity.... we c-can... g-go now." she stammered.

Rarity barely noticed her adorable whining until it stuck her. It was a cryptic riddle. The heart needed somepony's dream to come true to be released. Or at least that's what Rarity' was going to try first.

"Fluttershy, you need to kiss me." Rarity did her best to look focused and determined, despite her pounding heart and blushing face.

"Wh-w-what?"

"The mist will disperse if you do, quickly now." Rarity gave her a stern look.

"O-oka--"

Rarity grabbed Fluttershy before she could even finish speaking and embraced her completely. She passionately kissed her, stroking her mane and entwining tails with her. She wrapped her forelegs around her neck and brought her closer and deeper into the long awaited lip-lock. Rarity's blushed blazing scarlet as her drive soared even higher. She thought that a kiss would have sated her passion, but it just crazed her mind. She had tasted the fruit and now she wanted the tree.

She panted as she threw a barrage of short and fast kisses at her beloved pegasus, beginning to move her tongue in whetted anticipation for Fluttershy's. It was already past her own teeth and was almost inside Fluttershy's lips.

"Rwarity?" she heard in her passion.

"Yes, darling?" she barely whispered out between kisses.

"I theink... mmm.... the mist is.... mmm. gone," Fluttershy struggled to get out as Rarity constantly kissed her pursed face. "You can... mmm... stop kissing me.... now."

Rarity tore her eyes wide apart and looked stupidly at a blushing Fluttershy, backing up with her tongue still hanging out. She slowly drew her tongue back in and closed her mouth like a deer in headlights. Fluttershy didn't look like she enjoyed it quite as much as Rarity did and was giggling nervously. Rarity turned back and saw that the waterfall had retreated, leaving the heart untouched by the mist. She turned her face away and unraveled her tail from Fluttershy's, feeling that same eternal embarrassment come back.

Oh sweet Celestia I am an idiot...

"Uhhh... yes.... I was just being.... thorough. Go get it and let's be off," Rarity recovered messily, staring off into the distance.

Fluttershy obediently did just that.

"So uhh... what do we do with it?" Fluttershy asked, the heart in her hooves

Rarity took it from her with magic and suddenly the old pulse of the cave returned, exactly to that of her heartbeat. It was fast, pulsing a few times a second, but it was at least consistent. Of course it had to do that. It had to tell the entire world how fast her heart was beating and how crazy this mare had just made her.

"Mystery solved, just needed some magic. Come on darling." Rarity said tersely as trotted off, still hiding her face.

Fluttershy trotted behind Rarity, but had a hard time keeping up with her pace. The cave responded appropriately. Rarity had been defeated and was now sadly trying to trot away from her. A tear escaped her eye.

At least I got to kiss her. Even if she was disgusted by it.

"So are we going back to the spa now?" Fluttershy asked cheerfully.

"I don't even care." Rarity's spirits had been crushed completely. She had given up on Fluttershy being her special somepony. She just wanted to get away from her and be alone.

Fluttershy noticed the harsh tone of her friend and decided to change the subject. "So umm... Is it weird that my first kiss was from my best friend?"  

"I don't know, you sure looked weirded out. Maybe you should tell me..." That remark bit at Fluttershy a little harder than it probably should have, but she didn't care. It was her first kiss too and was nothing like she imagined it.

That was an understatement. It was horrible and embarrassing and Rarity was pretty sure she was going to do some extreme wallowing until later this year. She was going to find out what it was that ponies wallowed in. She'd run tests and write a journal so she could share her findings with the pony world about her completely pathetic wallowing.

That sounded an awful lot like Twilight, writing journals and all. Maybe she could go after Twilight next. Oh wait, she was busy being pleasured by that--

Fluttershy smiled and interrupted her thought. Next Chapter: Twixie Advice Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 57 Minutes