Angel, for the most part, kept to himself while the pink mare was around. Even if he didn't like her, the mare cared about his mother. She was as kind and thoughtful as she could be around her.

So Angel tolerated her. As Salad had managed to defeat an enraged Mr. Grizzles (whom was at least twice the size and weight of most ordinary bears) by herself, unarmed, she was currently the most dangerous in the area.

Aside from Angel himself, of course.

That fact aside, he still spent time calculating and plotting countermeasures to the mare just in case she stepped wrong. Mr. Grizzles would gladly get involved again if that were the case. And Angel could rally the rest of the animals on a whim, but that might result in casualties, which would cause his mother to cry.

Which wouldn't do.

A knock sounded from the door, and since mother was still resting, Angel answered.

Rarity and Rainbow Dash were at the door, in the middle of bickering about something.

“...but why wouldn't she tell me?”

“Because you go crazy when there's shipping ahoof.”

“I would have taken her seriously!” Rarity cried. “Fluttershy hasn't had... well any relationship that I've ever heard about. Do you know?”

“That's private.” Dash said. “Look. My point is, it's not that we like you any less that we keep these things from you until later. We try to keep them from Pinkie too, but she's just better at unburying secrets. Can't you just leave stuff where it is if nopony is willing to talk about it?”

“But I do!”

“...say what?” Dash asked, squinting.

“Nopony ever tells me 'no'! They just dance around the issue like they're embarrassed, and that normally means they want me to pry it out so they don't have to come clean on their own! Never once has a pony ever been frank with me and just said 'no'! Well except for Salad, and I did intend to leave the relationship alone for the most part, I just wanted to evaluate her to see if she was good for our dearest Fluttershy!” Rarity stamped her hoof, heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

“...um... wow. Really? I thought you were just butthurt because you weren't in on the loop.”

“Well, anypony would feel that way. At least a little. But I can at least set aside my own feelings for things that the ponies I love want to keep to themselves. I've only recently found out that everypony treats me like a slavering beast whenever issues of the heart come up. Granted I do get a little... excited, but...”

“...aw, geeze Rare, I'm sorry. I had no idea. It was just kind of like 'there goes crazy Rarity again, trying to surgically remove secrets from the brains of her victims-'”

“How dare you-!”

“I just said I was sorry for thinking that! Really! Look, come here.” Rainbow reached out a foreleg and pulled her startled friend into a hug.

“I'm sorry it took so long for us to see that we were hurting you. Come on, after we talk to Shy, we'll go talk to the others and write a letter to the princess. Sound good?”

“...yes. Yes I rather would like that.” Rarity smiled and returned the hug. And then they noticed that Angel stood watching them impatiently.

“...Huh, how long has that been open?” the pegasus asked

“I admit I'm not sure.”

“Hey buddy.” Dash greeted. “Sorry about that. Fluttershy around?”

Angel pointed up the stairs toward his mother's room.

“Huh. Still sleeping?”

The bunny nodded, and stepped aside.

“Eh, she's sleeping in. She probably won't mind a good morning from us. C'mon Rare.”

“If you say so. If she's vexed though, the blame falls on your shoulders.”

Though Salad tended to have his mother's best interests in mind, Angel still disliked her quite a bit. As such, he felt no guilt whatsoever over throwing her to the wolves like this.

He wondered how they'd 'evaluate' her character after entering the room.

--

Rarity wasn't prepared to find the mare she was out to protect, and the mare she was out to protect the aforementioned mare from occupying the same room.

She expected even less to find said threat playing the little spoon in Fluttershy's fores and wings.

Salad was wrapped up and being snuggled like a teddy bear, and she seemed to be quite content with said arrangement.

Fluttershy was nuzzled into the crown of Salad's mane, also quite content.

Rarity's mind reeled.

By the look of it, they may have fallen asleep this way, meaning that Fluttershy reached out and held her. Which implies that Fluttershy is the dominant personality.

...which... is... somehow possible?

Rainbow Dash could do nothing but gape at the fiery, uncontrollable, rude, violent mare, tame as a kitten in the grip of the sweetest and kindest pony she had ever even heard of.

Dash pointed.

“I know.” Rarity whispered.

Dash lowered her hoof, said something that could barely pass for shocked squeaks, and pointed again.

“Yes, I know.” Rarity whispered.

Salad stirred in her sleep and Fluttershy's eyes cracked open. She didn't notice that she and her bedmate weren't alone in the room.

Fluttershy hummed happily, still half drunk on sleep and the position she found herself in, and kissed the back of Salad's neck, hugging her closer and stroking her with her wings.

And Salad whimpered and melted against the other pegasus, and tried something that might have been turning around to better embrace Fluttershy.

Dash frantically pointed, mouth hanging open as the two intruders took in a scene that was entirely too intimate for an audience.

Or at least an audience that hadn't paid for the show.

“Oh my Celestia, I know.” Rarity gasped as she started to feel entirely too much like a voyeur.

Fluttershy apparently heard the additional voice and went rigid, slowly lifting her head, eyes wide in panic.

Salad moaned her protest as the TLC stopped abruptly and started to wake herself to find out what the holdup was before the rest of her brain kicked in and convinced her to get the buck out of dodge before she embarrassed herself or something.

Then Salad saw Rarity and Dash.

It took a moment. Rarity could see the gears turning behind those grey eyes. Those first few milliseconds as the eyes took in the scene and attempted to process what it was they were seeing. Identifying the factors.

Narrowing as Salad realized something was wrong with the picture, and a few more milliseconds as she tried to figure out what exactly it was.

Recognition. Eyes widening in horror.

Then blinding uncontrollable rage. Bared teeth, wing at full mast, feathers spread, and the breeze seemed to grow the slightest bit more turbulent as pegasus magic started to move and gather it.

Gnashing teeth parted and had Rarity had the presence of mind to move, she may have covered her ears.

The entire event took one single second. Rarity had read somewhere that the mind sometimes takes in more information during near death experiences.

Was this how superheroes felt?

And then she heard it.

--

“Well done Scootaloo, you didn't touch a single side!”

“You sure I need to know this to make stuff?” The little pegasus asked as she raised the face shield and turned away from the now extinguished welding torch.

“But of course! How do you think I got where I was today?”

“...building stuff that you didn't even know what it was at first in a dark room with a bunch of unsafe tools?”

“In my case, it was my mother's basement, and I was by myself. You get to do it in a well stocked workshop with a responsible genius overseeing your activities.”

“...well I guess that kind of rocks, bu-”

“!!!”

“...did... did you hear that?” Scootaloo asked quietly over the sound of several terrified birds fluttering from the trees, looking up at the now paralysed-with-fear Jerryrig.

“I tasted that.” Jerryrig replied in a whisper.

--

“I will kill you both!”

For a moment, Rarity glimpsed the reaper, reflected in murderous grey eyes.

“Save me Rainbow Dash!”

“Tactical retreat!” The unicorn felt the sensation of having her hooves knocked out from under her. A brief moment of weightlessness and then, held in Rainbow's fores, she was rocketing toward Ponyville at quite a good speed.

“Oh no please don-” Flutttershy tried, but Salad had gone to a place that none could follow.

“Waaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhh!!!”

--

Rarity saw in the distance a pink streak blast off through the window. And it was gaining.

“Rainbow, faster!”

“Alright, no. You do not tell me to mo-”

“Stop running so I can rearrange your organs in alphabetical order!”

“Right, faster. Got it.”

Rainbow Dash was certainly not scared of the threat behind them, but whenever a pony was that mad, it was best to get out of her way.

The fact she was moving so fast had nothing to do with the fact that alphabetically, appendix came before brain.

Alright Dash. You've got an incredibly pissed off pony on your tail, and she has legit reason to want your guts for garters.

Why do I know what garters are?

Stupid Rarity.

Right, plan. I'm protecting Rarity, can't just fly out of reach and hang out on a cloud. Yes you get to cuddle a hot pony to keep her on said cloud, but then Pinkie would find you and join in and you would get crushed under sexy flank.

And that's only number four on my list of ways I want to die. Why settle for less then one?

“Rainbow, she's frothing at the mouth-”

“If you keep running, you're only going to die tired!”

Right, plan, need one. What can stop Salad?

Fluttershy is back there, turning around is risky with another pony, and seeing poor Shy will probably remind Salad to keep trying to kill us. Also she's probably panicking. That too. Best to leave her to Angel right now.

Ivan? I dunno where he is right now. And if I happen to find him in Cheerilee's room, I really will die. And then Salad will kill us again while we're corpses that can't run.

...wait. What else did that invitation say?

“Got a plan, Rare! Hold on tight!” Dash put on a burst of speed and pulled farther ahead of the crazed mare.

--

Big Mac tossed the last bit of corn into the wagon and made to hitch himself to it when he heard screaming.

“...Salad?” No, he supposed it was 'Sally' now. Still, it reminded him of that one noise of concentrated bloodlust he and probably everypony else in town heard a few minutes ago.

Did that mean that was also Salad?

“Mac ya gotta help us! She's out of control!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she landed nearby.

“What'd ya do this time?”

“No time to explain just stop her! She's going to do to us what she did to Mr. Grizzles!”

Big Mac followed the pointing hoof and saw a pink blur coming closer.

He sighed.

Salad landed nearby and angled sharply, moving at a speed that Dash herself would've accepted as 'not bad' toward her two targets.

“Nnnope.”

Salad stopped on a dime.

“Come the buck on Red! You don't know what they did!”

“Tell me then.”

“They snuck into Shy's room like a couple of perverts and just they were standing there watching us!”

“...beg pardon?”

“And, and, they were just standing there, and they saw Shy...” Salad blushed hotly, trailed off, and found herself unable to elaborate further. Big Mac took this opportunity to make irresponsible use of his imagination.

In lieu of an actual explanation, Salad instead flailed a hoof wildly in the direction of the two criminals.

“They saw!”

“It's not like we went in there to see any of that!” Dash protested. “We just happened to walk in on something we shouldn't have!”

“Then why did we even catch you in the first place?! Why didn't you turn around and leave when you saw?! No, I had to chase you outta there!”

“Of course we ran, you tried to kill us!”

“So you would've stayed?! Thought we'd start charging by the hour?! Spread it around and throw a bucking party why don't you! I can't imagine what Shy's going through righ-” Salad's eyes widened fearfully.

A second later, she was blasting off in the direction she came from.

“Whew, thanks Mac, I don't know how we would've gotten out of that without a fight without you.” Dash said, wiping the sweat from her brow with a laugh.

“No trouble.”

“I suppose we'll be off now. Give our reg-” Rarity was cut off when Bic Mac turned his eye off of the retreating Salad and toward them.

“Nnnope.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Salad,” He began, deciding that 'Sally' was a private name, “fell outta the sky an' accused you two of bein' peepin' toms. And while ya said it wasn't yer intention, she said some mighty incriminatin' things, and neither o' ya denied anythin'.”

“...what's your point?”

“Mah marefriends might'ave bin wronged. It's yer turn to make yer case.”

“You can't be serious.” Dash said. “You think we would do that?”

“You tell me.” He said. “Ah don't think ya would mahself, but there's stuff here Ah don't know. And Ah'll need to tell Salad somethin' to make sure she don't come after ya again.”

“...could we tell you later?” Dash asked, wondering how powerful Big Mac's stern gaze was compared to Fluttershy's stare.

“Nnnope.” The Stare was probably magical, and probably unmatched, but hay if the stallion didn't give it a darn good try.

Darn good.

“...Ah.” the pegasus replied, wondering how to start. Thankfully, Rarity took the reins.

“We had intended to speak to Fluttershy about that business with the invitation, but you told us to wait until the following day so that you might attempt to calm her and Salad down, yes?”

“Yeah?”

“A short while ago, we were let in by Angel and found Fluttershy in bed with Salad. And... I admit that the scene of Salad doing something that wasn't scowling or threatening was... shocking. So much so that we may have stared for a a few moments too long.”

“Moments? How long exactly?” Mac asked.

“We weren't even in there for half a minute!” Dash said. “They just happened to wake up and then Salad tried to make our insides our outsides!”

“Well then.” Mac concluded, easing off the pressure. “Ah suppose Ah'll see 'bout clearin' this up next time Ah see 'em.”

“...couldn't you go now?” Dash asked. “I could totally take her in a fair fight, but she doesn't do fair fights.

“Ah've got a farm ta run.” He replied. “After Ah'm done, Ah'll head on over an' see what's what. Odds are she'll be there an' this can get nipped in the bud.”

“I suppose we'll leave you to it then.” Rarity said. “You haven't broken a promise to me yet.”

“No ma'am.”

“Ugh, fine... but if I get stuffed and mounted over the fireplace, you totally owe me a barrel of cider.” Dash said as she and the unicorn walked off, probably to barricade themselves somewhere while it all blew over.

Macintosh redoubled his efforts to get everything done. While before, he was motivated by whatever surprise Salad had made the previous day, now he had other work to be done. One of his girls was a time bomb and the other was probably a wreck.

...It'd probably end in another cuddle fest. He liked those.

It would later be acknowledged as one of the fastest work days of his life.

--

Salad touched down at Fluttershy's doorstep and took a second to steel herself.

This was the last chance to wear some pants in this relationship. Here. Now.

There was absolutely no way she was going to out-steady Mac, and Fluttershy was constantly serving her (and it bothered her how much it didn't bother her that this was going on) at being steady despite being in pieces half the time.

And yes, her first and foremost goal here was to make sure she was alright after putting up with a pair of voyeurs whom she was going to gut later (Red would cave eventually, this was serious), but it would end with her actually not being the bottom rung.

...not that she actually felt like a bottom rung, but it kind of stung that her two lovers seemed to be, on a regular basis, blowing her mind, picking up the pieces, and putting them back together into something slightly better every time. It stung mostly because it felt like she was doing absolutely nothing for them in return.

But in that innocent looking cottage was her chance to finally give something back.

Another moment to take a breath and plan out things she could say, and...

“Oh, welcome back. Would you like some tea?”

“...um...”

Shy was seated at the table enjoying brunch. There was actually extra set out for Salad, and a place made at the table.

...that meant that Shy didn't spend much time, if at all, being a wreck. She got out of bed and made sure there would be something to eat and drink while they talked about what had transpired.

Alright. What.

“Hang on, shouldn't you be like, falling apart right now?”

“...s-should I be?” She asked. “Am I acting... wrong somehow?”

“No, you're acting like what happened before didn't bother you.” Salad continued. “Like, at all. What the whating what?”

“Um...” She paused, demurely setting down her tea cup and looking back at her timidly, one eye shielded by her mane.

Hnnnnggggg.

“Stop being cute and tell me.”

“Cute?”

Buck. Divert attention. “Ignore that. Talk.”

“Well... Rarity and Rainbow Dash are two of my best friends.” She said. “It was very embarassing being seen in a position like that, but... they wouldn't just go out and tell anypony. It'll be a little while before I can look them in the eye, but it could be... worse?”

It was rational, thought out, and a realistic reaction to what happened. Salad felt foolish now for expecting otherwise.

“I'm more worried about you.” Fluttershy continued, settling herself off her chair and walking toward her. “You were ever so angry, are you feeling better now?”

“...are you real?”

“Your voice sounds strained. Did you yell too much?”

“Well, yeah, I was kinda out for blood.”

“Oh. Well some tea with honey sounds like just the thing I think. And I probably have a lozenge or two somewhere...”

“W-wait.” Salad said, holding up a hoof before Shy could dote on her any more than she had. “You're seriously alright? You looked terrified earlier.”

“Oh I'm fine. It took a few minutes to calm down, but this isn't even the most embarrassing thing I've been through. Far from it really.”

“And you're totally alright with those two just walking in on you- wait, what were you even doing back there?” Flushing against her will, the thoughts of what might've been if they weren't interrupted started dancing through her mind.

“O-oh, you didn't like it?” Fluttershy asked, now starting to look a little less alright with life. “I-I thought you did, since you like cuddling, and you seemed very receptive-”

“Wait, no, that's a tangent, buck that, we're talking about you.” Salad wanted to avoid that subject like the plague before it reduced her to a stuttering mess. “I, just... didn't think you'd be this alright with what happened.”

“...I suppose I'm not really the most...” Fluttershy trailed off, now a little depressed and Salad wanted to bang her head against the wall for successfully doing the exact opposite of what she set out to do when she returned. “A-and I, um... maybe I shouldn't have... in the bed...”

“No, no, I liked that, just-”

“Y-you did?”

“Yes!” She yelped a bit louder than she meant to. “I, I just... wasn't expecting that. At all.”

“U-um...”

“Yeah...” And it was the most awkward moment they had shared yet.

Alright, buck this. I need some time to think.

“Hey, Shy, I'm gonna go.”

“W-what?”

“And you are not going to think it's your fault.” Salad ordered. “Because it isn't. If it was, I'd tell you.”

“T-then why-”

“I just want a bit of time to myself. I like what you did, I like that you're alright, and I like you, so don't assume that I'm doing this because you stepped on a landmine I'm not telling you about.”

“...a-alright.” Shy said, still looking crestfallen. “Will you come back?”

“...yeah.” She replied. “Yeah, I definitely will.”

“Alright.” She gave a small smile, turning her head up to look at her. “I'll, um... see you soon.”

Hnnnnngggg.

“See ya.” Salad slung on her bags, still sitting by the door from where she had left them the previous night, and departed.

Once outside, Salad jumped.

Unlike most other times she did so, however, she decided to instead practice something she had been trying to get the hang of for some time.

Once she reached the apex of her leap, her wing spread, and she began to glide. Sort of.

In her own right, she had become quite skilled at air manipulation. So instead of constantly hitting the ground and jumping again, or dashing in mid air, she instead attempted to ride the wind as it churned around her.

When she and her father had come up with it, he had called it 'a wonky cross between gliding and sailing.'

It was a far cry from flying, and she had yet to get good enough at it to actually gain height while doing so, and it would probably be tiring as hay once she managed, but it was self improvement and it felt good as she noticed she was better than she was.

Maybe if it became an actual thing, she could stick her name on it or something.

She finally touched down near Twilight's tree. Her form of glide was a slower form of travel than her regular jumping, but she wasn't in any hurry to go anywhere.

She pondered for a moment, and entered the library.

“Oh, welco- oh my.”

“Hey.” Salad greeted as she walked in. “As far as I'm concerned, that elephant in the room is going to stay ignored.”

“Bu-”

“Ignored.”

“...alright.” Twilight agreed uneasily.

“I just want to get that library card form out of the way. Then I'll be gone and you can pretend I was never here.”

“...if you say so.” Twilight agreed as the form floated out on magenta magic.

The reply hadn't been negative at all. Twilight agreed because she didn't know how else to respond.

So at the very least, there was no bad blood between her and the librarian. This was good.

“The party's been cancelled.” Twilight said at one point.

“What did I sa-”

“I am ignoring the elephant.” Twilight replied. “There's other stuff I could be talking about.”

Salad huffed and went back to her form.

“Why are you telling me that?”

“So you know that a bunch of ponies won't be gathering in one place and gossiping about three other ponies who'd be absent.”

“...fair enough.” she conceded, as she signed her name. “So, here.”

“I'll have your card tomorrow. If you'd like to take a book out now, you could bring it back when you get your card?”

“Isn't that against the policy or something?”

“Small, easy going community.” Twilight said with a smile. “Policy only becomes necessary if a pony makes it necessary. “

“And you think I won't?”

Twilight shrugged. “I trust Fluttershy.” She returned. And Salad decided that was best left alone.

“Well... I'm not really in a reading mood yet.”

“Alright then. You should know though that Ivan took out that one cook book you were looking at earlier for you.”

“He did?”

“Said you might want it.” Twilight said. “In case you didn't get what you needed from it.”

“...Good to know.” Salad said, nodding. “See ya later.”

“Good day.” Twilight said as she returned to whatever she was doing when Salad entered.

The scarred mare shielded herself from the sudden glare of the noon sun with a wing for a bit as she thought about how easy that all had been. She honestly expected worse, given that the last time she was there she emotionally destroyed one of her friends and bucked another into her wall.

...come to think of it, why wasn't she getting flak for that?

She considered the possibility that nopony involved thought that any part of it was her fault, but decided not to get her hopes up.

“Please wait.” Another voice said from behind and Salad had a slight case of deja vu.

She turned to see oh sun kill her kill her kill her-

“What do you want?” Salad demanded, deciding that even Mac would be proud of her self control at not ripping Rarity in half.

“To apologize, actually.” Rarity said. “Please believe that I do in fact feel terrible about what happened.”

“Hey mare that's great, so can I go now?”

“...well I was actually hoping I could make it up to you.” Rarity continued.

“And how would you be planning on doing that?”

“By making you a dress, if you'd like.” the unicorn said. “I'm really quite talented at it you know.”

Salad couldn't help but laugh a little.

“Wow, no. The thought of me in a dress is just that depressing.”

“So depressing that you laugh? Truly?”

“I don't think I have to tell you why a dress wouldn't work for me.” Salad said, now notably less amused.

“I'm afraid you do.” Rarity answered. “I'm quite puzzled.”

“Dresses are for pretty ponies to look prettier. I'm not pretty.”

“Wrong, on both counts.” Rarity said. “A dress is meant to accentuate what is already there. I'm quite sure I could make one that would suit you quite nicely.”

“What, exactly, is there about me that needs accentuating?”

“Your mane.” Rarity answered without missing a beat. Her eyes roamed over Salad, and the pegasus found herself suddenly feeling naked. Which was ironic in ways that made her want to bang her head against a wall.

“Then shouldn't I go see a manedres-”

“Your eyes.” Rarity added.

“That's so cli-”

“Your face.” She cut off. “Your coat. Your legs. Your tail. Your plumag-”

“My plumage? Really?” Salad growled, but stopped when Rarity didn't back down in the least.

“Yes, your plumage.” She said. “I will not pretend that your scars are something beautiful from any point of view. However you look at them, they ill suit you. But no matter how one side looks, I don't see how that makes your remaining wing any less impressive.”

“...What?”

“I have an eye for wings.” Rarity said. “Two of my best friends have very fine pairs. I can at least recognize when wings are well cared for and strong.”

Salad unfurled her wing and looked it over. Yes she preened on a regular basis, and yeah her wing got a work out doing the work of two (or at least as much as it could manage), but she couldn't quite see what Rarity was getting at.

“Silver, I think.” Rarity noted as she looked Salad over. “To bring out your mane and eyes. And black to compliment the silver, and the pink of your coat. An understated design. Your personality would clash with too many frills and lace.”

Salad wondered if this was the first time a pony looked at another pony and dressed them with their eyes.

“Would you like to see what I see?” Rarity asked, a gleam in her eye. “My boutique is nearby. A short walk. And I can see the dress clearly. It wouldn't take much of your time.”

Salad, despite herself, was curious.

“...Fine. But this had better be worth my time.”

--

Salad stood on the platform, having been measured, and had fabric and ribbons pinned here and there.

Rarity had thanked her for being so still, mentioning she wasn't exactly used to such co-operation. Salad wondered who would be stupid enough to squirm and shift while a pony was handling pins and needles nearby.

It was when Rarity started to sew in gemstones that Salad raised an eyebrow.

“I thought you said frills and stuff didn't suit me.”

“They don't. These gemstones however, do.”

“...Don't suppose I'd understand if you explained why?” And Rarity paused, as if writing her response out in her head before replying.

“After you left us at Sweet Apple Acres, and I parted ways with Rainbow Dash, I had gone to see your brother.” Rarity said. “I was overdue for a visit, you see. And I had questions I wanted to ask.”

“About what?”

“About you.” She answered. And Rarity paused for what was probably effect.

“Please understand.” The unicorn continued. “I wasn't sure at all what to make of you. The first time we met, you threatened that one pony with his life when he endangered your brother and a set of fillies. Granted, I was quite prepared to do the same. Probably the only pony who was not was Pinkie Pie.

“The second time I met you, I invited you to tea. This was after you had built up a reputation, mind. And suddenly you were friends with Fluttershy, a pony who I could not see enjoying your presence one bit.”

“Fair enough.” Salad agreed while Rarity continued working.

“I thought so. I offered tea so that I might get to the bottom of you, so to speak.”

“Never before the third date.”

“Charming.” Rarity deadpanned. “But no. I was concerned you were not good enough for her.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. However, I've reached a conclusion.”

“And what would that be?” Salad asked, rolling her eyes.

“Whether you are good enough or not isn't a concern anymore.” Rarity stated, straightening her glasses as she straightened up from where she had knelt, and moved to another side of the dress. “What matters now, is that Fluttershy herself is quite happy with you.”

“...Is she?” Salad knew that she should have phrased the question differently, disguised her tone, she knew she had given something up the moment she said it. And if Rarity was paying attention, she now knew how worried Salad was about the subject at hand.

“Forgive me for bringing up the no doubt ghastly memory, but when I saw her holding you... The way she smiled when she kissed you and drew you closer, yes, she was quite happy you were there.”

“A lot of ponies are 'happy' when they're not alone in bed.”

“Are you accusing Fluttershy of baseless lust?” Rarity asked sternly. “I think you're so convinced of the contrary that you're grasping at straws instead of acknowledging that you're worth the trouble.”

“Watch it.” Salad growled.

“There is a difference between genuine affection and lust.” Rarity said, ignoring the last comment. “And from what I saw, though lust might have entered the picture at some point, it had not at the time. And you know this.”

“You know.” Salad said, patience wearing thin. “I think I asked about the gems. What was the point of the story and psychoanalysis?”

“Context, dear.” Rarity said as she stepped away. “The gemstones are alexandrite. A personal favourite of mine. Have you heard of it?”

“No. And don't call me 'dear'.”

“Alexandrite is a particularly rare stone.” Rarity said, walking toward the window. Salad looked down at the stones now decorating her dress. An odd mix of pink in some places and green in others. Pretty, she admitted.

“And you sewed them all over this?”

“I did. They suit you.”

“And why's that?”

“Have you wondered what makes it so special?” Rarity asked, as she flicked off the light switch. The room was dark, except for what little light shone through the drawn curtains. “Alexandrite changes, based on what light shines on it. Only showing it's true colors in the right conditions.

“I might have caught a glimpse of yours.” Rarity said. “There, in her embrace, you were just as happy. I imagine Big Macintosh inspires a similar reaction, and you in him. I hope not to find out for sure in any similar way, but it's what I think.”

“...and?”

“I look at you, Salad, and find it difficult to know what to make of you. Several sides that make little sense and contradict the others. And I would consider myself privileged if I could get to know you so that I might be able to try and decipher it. You are an interesting mare, Salad. And by Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's choice, you are one of worth. So I ask you...”

Rarity drew back the curtains, and the sunlight spilled through the window and onto the platform that Salad stood on, blinding her for a moment.

“What are your true colors?” Rarity finished as she wheeled over the mirror. And Salad took a long look at herself.

Her mane wasn't brushed, still a little messy. And she wasn't freshly showered, or ready for a night on the town or some social gathering like the dress might hint at.

However, the black indeed made the silver and her pink coat stand out. And the silver shimmered in the light.

Glittering green with a hint of blue gemstones, a beautiful shade when she looked at them closer, decorated the dress just enough to be noticed, but few enough not to distract from the rest of the package.

The dress was backless, to allow for her wing. And it also left her scarred side bare.

Just as if I were any other pegasus.

The colouring of those scars didn't clash with the dress. It felt like they mattered less with what she wore, even if they weren't hidden.

All in all, she barely recognized the pony that stared back at her.

“...this is what you saw?”

“Exactly what I saw.” Rarity answered, a triumphant smile on her face. “A dress accentuates what is already there. It isn't something one can truly hide behind. What you see here was always there. Perhaps I wasn't the first to notice, I think. Have Fluttershy or Big Macintosh ever once hinted they thought you were ugly?”

“I... no, I don't think so...”

“I will ask you to leave the dress here.” Rarity said. “There are still one or two alterations that need to be made. Fear not, it will look almost exactly as it does now. And you'll have something nice to wear if the relationship ever leads you someplace, ah, how did Applejack phrase it? Frou-frou.” Rarity tittered to herself over what was undoubtedly a private joke.

“...Thank you.” Salad said. Rarity, not realizing the significance of Salad actually thanking anypony for anything, waved it off.

“Not at all, darling. I was compensating for my blunder, remember?”

“...I'm not thanking you for the dress.”

“Ah.” Rarity said, expression softening. “Even still, no trouble, not a bit.”

“Yeah?”

“Whatever else are friends for?” the unicorn asked, looking over the rims of her glasses.

“I think...” Salad mused, looking back at the mirror. “...that I'm starting to find out.”

--

Minutes later, Salad left the boutique and, for lack of any better places to go, made her way toward the farm.

Mac would probably still be around, and she had a story to tell at the least.

On the way there, she spotted an orange pegasus flying clumsily around Ivan's tree. The stallion though was nowhere to be seen.

Scootaloo hadn't noticed her, despite the pink of her body probably standing out amongst the grass around them. Salad approached, watching Scootaloo attempt a loop.

She saw the moment where Scootaloo's mistake caused her to fall out of balance. Corrective manoeuvres made it worse, and in a second she was spinning out of control.

Salad leapt, and landed.

“I-Ivan?” the foal asked from her back, before slowly opening the eyes she had shut in fear of the fall.

“Not quite.” Salad answered, shrugging Scootaloo off her back and back onto her hooves.

“Aw, why did you have to save me?”

“Nopony else was around.” Salad said. “The alternative is crashing into the ground and maybe breaking one of those wings.”

“Nuh-uh! Wings are stronger than that!”

“Not at your age they're not.” Salad answered. “So this is a pretty weird way to say 'thanks for saving my butt'. Is that how the kids are saying it nowadays?”

“...Sorry. Thanks.” the foal muttered, making Salad raise her eyebrows.

“Anytime, kid.”

“You mean that?” Scootaloo asked dubiously. “You're kind of mean.”

“The real monsters are the ones who'd just watch a foal take a spill when they could do something about it.” Salad said. “I'm not nice, yeah, but I try not to be a monster.”

“...Good job so far.” Scootaloo said, avoiding her eye.

“Out here by yourself?”

“I was learning science stuff from Jerryrig. Then he heard 'The Roar Of Tartarus' or something and locked himself in his room. So I came here.”

“Huh.” Salad said, looking up at where the little pegasus had been practising. “So, what was that supposed to be?”

“A loop.”

“Thought so. That's a little advanced for you.”

“Well Rainbow Dash can do it. She was doing Rainbooms at my age!”

“Kid, from what I hear, a Rainboom is just flying really really fast. Not everypony can probably go that fast, but anypony can try that if they've got a decent stretch of sky and not get hurt. A loop is a whole different bag.”

“How would you-” Salad at least credited the foal to know when she was about to misstep when she was talking. Recent events though had left her feeling indulgent. That and Ivan liked the little pegasus, so she'd let her live.

“Pretty sure Cheerilee could tell you that. And she's about as far from pegasus as you can possibly get.”

“...So what do I do?”

“Start with easier stuff. Before I lost my wing, I heard that when foals practice tricks at flight school, they get a huge bed of cloud so there's something soft to land on when they fail.”

“...we don't get a lot of cloudy days.” Scootaloo said.

“Well, your teacher is the one in charge at the weather station, right? She might have something planned at some point if she's going to do it properly. Ask her sometime.”

“...maybe I will.”

“Seriously though, Dash didn't teach you how to do a flip, did she?”

“Well no...” Scootaloo said.

“Then she probably didn't intend for you to actually try it. Otherwise she would've walked you through it. She's an idiot, but she isn't stupid.”

“Don't talk that way about Rainbow Dash!”

“I call 'em like I see 'em.” Salad replied, stretching her neck. “So, wanna learn something different?”

“...um...”

“I know what you want to ask. Go ahead.”

“Well...” Scootaloo said, fidgeting, “...what could you teach me?”

“Well, to use her as an example again, Cheerilee teaches you stuff without any wings.”

“...Well I kinda thought you were talking about flying. But you wouldn't know about that, right?”

“You'd be surprised.” Salad said with a slight smirk. “Half the stuff I could teach you though might get the schoolteacher mad at me for corrupting the youth though... but there's a few tricks I started learning when I was about your age.

“I can't really teach you much about proper flying, yeah, but I can teach you how to move. You do that on the ground or in the air.”

Scootaloo seemed a little sceptical, so Salad sharply raised her wing.

The air swirled for a moment, enough for Scootaloo to notice.

“I know that Dash mentioned taking off. You've seen her do it all the time. You think she does that just by flapping her wings and going from zero to ramming speed?”

“...well yeah I kinda did.” Scootaloo answered. “But she said something about a trick to it.”

“Pegasi have magic too.” The foal nodded in understanding, and Salad continued. “And you can learn how to use it conciously. It's how the weather ponies make tornados and use lightning. It's how you can make a springboard out of the wind-” Salad took this opportunity to crouch and jump a good distance past where Scootaloo had been flying before, up into the air.

And she coasted lazily back down, not quite as graceful as a leaf, but similar. She was showing off like an attention whorse, and floating down was a lot more difficult than the half job she had been doing beforehand, but somehow she managed to pull it off.

“...and take off.” Salad finished. Scootaloo started to get interested.

“...and you can teach me that?”

“It's pretty hard for beginners.” Salad said, speaking from experience. “And a lot of it you might not even really need, since you can actually fly. But it doesn't hurt to know. And being good at magic helps make you a stronger pegasus.”

“How quick did you pick it up?”

“I don't even remember.” Salad said. “I just practised, and I don't even remember when it became second nature. I'm still getting better even now.”

“...huh. How do I get started?”

“Well that's the thing.” Salad said, scratching the back of her head. “We can't really get started yet.”

“...what a gyp.” Scootaloo said, starting to turn.

“First you need to feel the difference between flying and not flying.”

Scootaloo turned back, and she didn't need to say a single thing. Salad knew what she said sounded incredibly stupid to the little filly.

“Alright, here it is. You're using magic to fly. You know that, right?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, do you feel magical when you do it?”

“...huh?”

Salad chuckled. Scootaloo sounded a lot like her when her dad was attempting to teach her the same lesson.

“You need to feel the difference between you using magic and not using magic. Once you've got that, you'll know when you're doing it right when you try other stuff.”

“How do I do that?”

“Keep flying.” Salad said. “But pay attention to yourself. Then land for a little while and try to find the difference.”

“'Kay, then what?”

“Play with it.” Salad replied, shrugging. “If you know the feeling, try to use it on the ground. Try to move the air around you like I did before. You remember, right?”

“Well yeah.”

“Once you've got that, just keep playing with it, without overexerting yourself. Once you're good enough, I'll try teaching you how to take off if Dash doesn't.”

“...alright, cool.” Scootaloo said. “Thanks.”

“Eh. No problem. Now climb on.”

“...why?”

“Getting high up off the ground is hard when you're at your stage. I'll take you up just this once.”

“Alright.” The little filly jumped up, and Salad poised herself for a leap.

“Hang on. And then let go when I stop going up.”

“You really think you need to tell me tha-AAAAAAAAAaaahhhhhhh?!” Salad ascended rapidly, and she felt Scootaloo's hooves slip off as she started to fall.

She hit the ground, shook out her limbs, and looked back up at the now gliding filly above.

“No more flips!” Salad yelled up at her. “I'm leaving, so you might not get caught next time!”

“I'll be fine!”

Salad watched the foal lazily circle, probably now trying to detect the magic lifting her wings. Then she turned and left. Sweet Apple Acres awaited.

--

“Well, howdy there.”

Big Mac turned at the sound of the familiar voice. “Howdy A.J.. That trip work out for ya?”

His sister chuckled to herself. “Ya might say that.”

Mac smiled, and took a moment to look his sibling over.

She was wrapped up in a brown traveling cloak, bags slung on over them. The cloak and stetson almost reminded him of Ivan. It made him wonder just how far she had traveled.

“Anythin' interestin' happen?”

“Let's just say Ah'm not sore at ya about that one trip ya took a while back no more.”

“Yeah?”

“Ah understand, is all.” He supposed that meant that he wouldn't be hearing much about the trip itself.

“Good ta know. It hurt not tellin' ya.”

“Ah get that.”

“Anythin' ya can actually tell me?”

“Well...” Applejack trailed off, and Mac surmised she was trying to figure it out.

“Ah'm involved.” the mare said after a while.

“Me too.”

“Well shoot, we both missed that?”

“Funny how the world works itself.”

“That it is.” Applejack replied with a laugh as she settled herself down under an apple tree.

“Anypony Ah know?”

“Ya've never been introduced proper.” Applejack replied smoothly. “But she an' I weren't strangers.”

“Can Ah meet her?”

“Only if'n Ah can meet yer sweetheart too.”

“What, both of 'em?”

The mare slapped the ground with a laugh. The earth shook for a moment, but neither decided to mention it. “Ya didn't!”

“Not really.” He said. “Ah helped. In the end, we all did.”

“Both mares Ah hope.”

“Eeyup.”

“Well good. If me and mine are good for the road, ya'll make enough kin fer the both o' us.”

“They'd be good moms.” Mac said.

“They couldn't be half the parent that ya'd be.” Applejack said. “If'n ya raise 'em half as good as ya helped raise Applebloom.”

“Not really done with A.B. yet. Still time ta screw up.”

“As if ya've ever screwed up in yer life.”

“Might be overdue.”

“If there's anythin' Ah know fer sure...” Applejack said in a moment of seriousness, “It's that when ya have a choice between screwin' up and doin' good when it's important, ya buck a house clear in half. No smart foal would ever ask for a better father. An' no foal ya raise is gonna be dumb enough.”

“...Thanks.” He said, unable and unwilling to keep to himself how satisfied the compliment had made him feel. “But Ah think we mighta got a bit off topic.”

“Well, if'n ya're gonna be like that...” She said, still smiling. “Ya can say hello. Meet, uh... Overcast.” Applejack said, shifting her eyes to the side.

The orange mare gestured behind Mac, and he turned to see one of the lovliest mares he had ever set eyes on.

She was tall, slender, white coat, and a pair of pristine wings. Her pink mane curled up near the bottom and framed her fair face. Her cutie mark was a sun, half hidden by clouds.

“Pleased ta meet ya ma'am.”

“Likewise.” She smiled good naturedly. “Your sister has told me much about you.”

“Good, Ah hope.”

“If your reputation precedes you, I'd enjoy talking at length with you very much sometime.”

“Ah'd have to.” Mac replied. “Ah'm curious as to how mah sister landed a mare like you. Normally she ain't that lucky.”

“Well she didn't do so by being as charming as you.” Overcast replied.

“Well,” Applejack interrupted, “Ah've shown ya mine, so where's yers?”

“By the moon, what the buck did I just walk in on?” Salad said as she approached.

“Howdy Salad.” Mac said. “Just in time.”

“For what?” She replied, only to narrow her eyes as the cloaked pony under the tree got up and looked her over.

“...really?”

“Eeyup.”

“...this one o' those 'hidden depths' things?”

“Eeyup.”

“Huh. Well thanks to her,” Applejack said, nodding her head to Overcast, “Ah kinda got an appreciation fer those.”

“You're Red's sister, right?” Salad said, probably quashing something much more rude.

“Eeyup!” The mare responded, holding out a hoof. “Name's Applejack.”

“Salad Shooter.” They shared a firm hoofshake, eyes locked as they studied the other.

“Ya're involved with mah brother?”

“Sure am.”

“Do him wrong and Ah'll bury ya deep.”

“Fair enough.”

“Who's the third?”

“Fluttershy.”

“Expected that. They've been skirtin' 'round eachother for 'bout a year now.”

“Still are sometimes.”

“Do her wrong and same applies.”

“Also fair enough.”

“Ah like ya.” Applejack said, releasing the hoof. “To the point. S'nice.”

“I know that feeling.” Salad replied. “Nice to know you say what's on your mind, with tact too. More ponies need that.” Applejack nodded and turned back to Big Mac.

“Ah approve, fer now.”

“Eeyup.” Mac returned with another nod. “So, are ya back now?”

“Still got a bit o' trip left. Jus' passin' through.”

“Good. A.B. misses ya somethin' fierce.”

“Ah'll be seein' her soon. She been behavin'?”

“Granny's been keepin' her in line. Most o' her time's bein' spent with her friends. Ivan watches after her sometimes. Good hooves all round.”

“Good ta hear.”

“Oh, Red.” Salad said. “I saw Fluttershy earlier. She's doing alright.”

“Ahh. Glad ta hear that.”

“Also saw Rarity.”

“...mm?”

“I didn't kill her.” Salad said with a bit of pride. “You totally owe me an apple.”

“Ah'm guessin' there's a story there?” the stallion asked, ignoring the disbelief on Applejack's face and the amusement on Overcast's.

“...sorta.” Salad answered, shuffling awkwardly. “So yeah, just wanted to say everything's alright.”

“That's good. If'n ya wanna head on over there, Ah'll be along pretty quick.”

“Nah, I'll help you finish up. Gotta spend some time with you too.”

“Ah'm 'bout finished, actually. Just gotta put some stuff away.”

“If I can't help, I'll wait.” Salad insisted. “We'll go together.”

“...if ya want.” Big Mac said, scratching the back of his head. “Grab an apple an' Ah'll be right with ya.”

“Sounds good.” Salad said as she wandered into the orchard.

“...She considers not killin' Rarity somethin' worth a pat on the back?” Applejack said.

“Today's been full.” Mac replied. “Good ta see ya Applejack. Stay safe.”

“You too.” She said. “Now Ah gotta find Applebloom.”

“Try Twist's.”

“Thanks.” Applejack bumped his hoof with hers, and turned to leave. Overcast followed after a parting nod.

Mac turned back to the barn.

Not long now...

--

“Hey, ya see a book 'round here?” Mac asked about ten minutes later, as he rounded the barn's corner to where Salad was waiting.

“Sure have.” Salad said, not looking up from said book. “Informative little thing, isn't it?”

“...Eeyup.” Mac replied.

“Thought you'd go to the library and get a manual to handling pegasi?”

“Seemed necessary after ya nearly took mah head off.”

“That was like, years ago.”

“Couple months, 'bout.”

“Whatever.” Salad said, rolling her eyes. “Actually kinda flattering.”

“Ah don't much care for makin' ya mad.” Mac said. “No sane pony would.”

“Well now I'm flattered.” Salad said with a smirk, closing the book and balancing it on her wing. “You know, there's a whole chapter on foreplay in there.”

“Eeyup.”

“Read that yet?”

“Nnnope.”

“...huh. Most guys'd just skip to that.”

“There's more to a mare then a pair o' wings she might not have.” Mac said, looking her over in a way that nearly knocked the wind out of her. “Ah don't need a road map to the rest o' ya.”

“...I-is that right?” She said, locked in eye contact and unable to do anything about the blush flooding her face.

“Eeyup.” He said, chuckling. “Maybe Ah'll show ya someday.”

“...here.” A flick of her wing threw the book at him, and he deftly caught it in his teeth. “Go put that away, I'll wait out front.”

“Eeyup.” He said, stifling a laugh as he went.

--

“So, you talk to all the mares like that?” Salad asked.

“Some. Not many.” Mac replied. “Usually not more than one at a time.”

“Usually?”

“Well, there's you an' Fluttershy now.” He said. “Haven't been with two before.”

“Mm...”

“Got the jitters?”

“No.” She lied.

“That's good. Was worried Ah crossed a line.” He totally knew she was lying. Horsefeathers.

“I'd let you know if you did.” Salad said.

“Hope ya would. Ah kinda want ta keep ya.”

“You do?”

“Wouldn't be with ya if'n Ah didn't.”

“...Well then.” Salad said, hopping up onto Mac's back. “If you want to keep me, then carry me.”

“Sure.”

“You're gonna let me walk all over you like that?”

“Might be a problem if ya weighed anythin'.” He easily replied. “Or if Ah didn't like ya this close.”

She said nothing for a bit, instead wrapping her fores around his neck.

“So.” He said after a bit. “Full day?”

“Yeah. Got a library card. Rarity made me a dress.”

“How'd that look on ya?”

“Tell me when you see it.”

“Eeyup. Anythin' else?”

“Spent some time with Scootaloo.”

“Mm?”

“Stopped her from breaking a leg or something and taught her something safer to practice.”

“Awful nice o' ya.”

“She's gonna be family soon.” Salad said. “So I want to like her.”

“Ah thought ya didn't care.”

“...I changed.” Salad replied softly, resting her head alongside his.

“Eeyup.” Mac agreed, slowing his pace a bit for a smoother ride.

The sun started to dip toward the horizon. And Salad closed her eyes and enjoyed his warmth and the gentle sway as he walked toward the cottage.

Once they got there, Shy'd probably ask them about their days. And she could tell a story or two.

'What are your true colors?'

She wasn't quite sure anymore. They were shifting every day.

There was probably some kind of metaphor about how the ponies in her life shed light on her, but no, she couldn't bring herself to care about flowery tripe like that.

She was more looking forward to finally serving that custard she had made the other day. She knew they'd like it.

Then maybe another sleepover with Shy, and Red. She'd be over the whole sexual intimidation thing by then.

...hopefully.