Spring 3rd, 1010 PN

Diary,
This marks my second consecutive day of writing in you, a mark I note as a personal best. As I write, a certain blue pegasus is sleeping next to me. I’m having far too much fun tickling and prodding her with my quill... but I digress. I left you eagerly awaiting our first “date”. Tonight was...Well, it was fantastic, frightening, and utterly confusing. I’ll try my best to give you all the details. If I’m honest though, today’s story actually begins with last night, where I left you hanging. I’d tucked Rainbow Dash into my bed after another... well, another round of fun... well, I’ll start by telling you the details.

Another candle reaches its end, and I can’t help but sigh. They don’t make candles like they used to. They don’t make anything like they used to. That’s what everypony always moans about, right? I step across my room carefully, avoiding furniture I’ve hit with my shins one too many times in the dark. I reach my bed and duck under it, pushing aside a wide variety of assorted scholarly tools I keep under there.
My hoof brushes the dildo I bought months ago, and I can’t help but blush. I’m not sure why I keep it with my spare quills, inks, books, and candles. One of these days, somepony will go looking for them and it’ll come back to bite me. It’s just the most convenient place to keep it though, same as the quills and other knick-knacks. I briefly consider bringing it out and waking up Rainbow for another round. I don’t think she’d complain. She’s been up late more than once. She thinks she’s sneaking out for quick night time flies without my noticing, but I’ve been woken up by her more than a couple times. Sometimes I let her know I’m awake with some more “aerobics” than her midnight flight might offer. I shut that part of my brain out as best I can tonight.

Tonight I’m the one who’s up late. I never get days off, even on weekends. Every Saturday and Sunday without fail somepony will show up early in the morning, and start me on a quest to repair everything in ponyville that broke during the week. The only other pony working her flanks off that often is the one who’s enjoying her sleep in my bed right now. I’m not about to rob her of that. I’m betting she knows me well enough to know I’ll spend my whole night reading an academic collection and taking notes.

Someponies notice the dedication and call me a workaholic. Dash has only ever called me a bookworm, or an egghead. She and the other girls understand that this isn’t work to me. Everything all the other ponies make me do is. If I had my way, I’d do this every day. My thoughts flit to the letter wedged in the back of my diary, an offer to move back to Canterlot, to teach and treat myself to academia forever. It’s so appetizing. While I’m under the bed, I yank it out and take it over to the windowsill again to reread it. By the time I’m finished, my head is swimming with the possibilities. It’s taken years to get three books into “The Collected Writings of A Princess”, a collection that spans roughly thirty volumes and dates back thousands of years. I can’t imagine how much I could get done in just a week if I could set my own pace.
I chance a glance back over at Dash, to make sure she’s still asleep. If I squint my eyes, I can swear hers are closed. Her breathing hasn’t changed.

I’m not sure why I care so much if she finds out. She’s been so good to me for these months, I don’t know why I’d hide this proposal from her. I wonder how she’d take it if she knew I was considering leaving Ponyville for bigger and better things. She, who tirelessly seems to have given up every dream she’s ever had for these ponies and this town. I wonder why she loves it so much. She shares my distaste for the neediness of the ponies. She loves her hometown of Cloudsdale. She has no real ties here other than the five ponies she’s endured a number of adventures with. Is that it? Can she not leave them behind?

Could I?

I swallow and check the letter again. No new text has appeared since the last dozen times I read it. No dispensation for moving, no offers to bring my friends with me. I pick up one of the collected volumes I haven’t gotten to yet and offer it a glance of contempt. This is always how She works. Her stupid words, and her stupid contradictions. She sends me here for a decade to work with ponies and make friends. Now, without an explanation, she’s offering to uproot me from them permanently. What must it be like to live so long, that breaking ties like ours seems like an inevitability? Could I do the things she does with eased practice and break ties with my pony friends?

I shift my gaze from the blank cover of a book to the subtly rising and falling blanket covers on my bed. Could I leave what I’ve only just gotten started? I set the book down, melancholy finally sweeping over me in its entirety, and creep over to Dash. I shake her just a little bit, and her eyes open. They shift from me, to the letter in my hoof. I drop it as if it were suddenly on fire. Her normally animated eyes shift slowly back to my face and she smiles.
“You comin’ to bed, egghead?”

I choke back a sniffle. How can she greet me so casually? She should be able to feel it. I’m planning on leaving her, and leaving all of them. Planning on it? Or just considering it? My hoof nudges the letter on the floor deeper under the bed, and I lift up my legs and try to climb into bed before missing a beat and letting out a choked sob.

I bury my head into her chest and she smooths out my mane and helps me into bed. I briefly apologize for waking her up.

“S’ok. Everything’s ok now.”

She rubs my mane a bit and I can’t help but tighten my grip around her waist. If I just fall asleep here, I won’t have to make the choice, right? I tilt my head to look over the already slumbering pegasus next to me and give one last look at the books piled up by the window, and I know it won’t be that simple.

My sleep brings me little comfort. Brief and quickly lost dreams of Spike leaving Ponyville, of me leaving Ponyville, of my friend’s reactions if I speak to them... They twist and turn bizarrely, and I twist and turn in my bed with them. Only a hoof-ful of hours have passed when I stir briefly in my bed and find it otherwise empty. I’m a sweaty mess, and my mane is a tangled knot of purple and pink. My hoof instinctively slips to where her body would be. The bedside is cooled. She’s been gone for some time. In the haze of sleep, the question rises up. Gone forever? I’m suddenly more awake than I should be. I jerk up into a sitting position, yank her covers away to be sure she hasn’t somehow sunken into the mattress. She really is missing.

I hop out of the bed and hurry to the window to light a candle. It’s still quite dark outside. The sun hasn’t yet begun to creep up, but the moon is low in the sky. I’d estimate it to be roughly four in the morning if I had to guess. I’m minutes away from staring the beginnings of a sunrise in the face. I light another candle, hoping they’ll guide my prismatic maned pegasus home sooner, before returning to my bed. On the way, my hoof bumps into my diary. I pick it up and reach under the bed, retrieving the letter and returning it to its proper position at the end of the book. I slide both under the bed, and briefly consider returning to my windowside work. My eyes burn, but... can I really fall asleep without her body next to me? My bed feels odd without her.

It’s another thirty minutes before I hear the creak of my skylight window opening. A trickle of light enters the room with it. I look up and catch her as she lights down on the window sill and tries to close it quietly behind her. It groans and squeaks in protest, rarely opened and rarely used. I clear my throat and she snaps her head around to see me sitting in bed, hooves crossed.

“Oh. You’re up. Sorry... did I?”

I sigh. I can’t possibly be mad at her for being Rainbow Dash. I want to yell at her, to tell her she shouldn’t leave my bedside when I need her but... The admission of need feels wrong. I admit that enough. I can’t admit it more than I already do. I decide to shrug and run the passive aggressive route instead.

“No. It’s fine.”

“Oh... Ok.”

She flutters down next to me, a little sweat still on her brow. I sigh and bunch the blankets up, lying back down and tugging them over me as I turn my back on her.

“You smell like a gym.”

“Oh. uhhh. Shower?”

My voice drips more venom than I mean for it to, but I quickly decide I don’t care.

“Just do it quietly.”

She tiptoes across my room and into the bathroom. The minute I hear the shower, I know it’s going to keep me awake. This is stupid. I get up and wander into the bathroom, where she’s soaping herself up.

“You have a good flight?”

She looks up, breaking her frown very suddenly into a practiced look of nonchalance.

“Y’know how it is. First flight of the spring and all that.”

It’s a stupid excuse, she’s flown as recently as last night.

“First flight? Really? I guess you walked to get our dinner last night huh?”

She sighs and drops the soap she was using. I watch it slip down into the base of the shower with a loud clatter. I see my chance and take a dig at her.

“I’m glad I didn’t try to go back to sleep.”

She roots around for it for a minute and chances a look up at me. I can tell by the look on her face that she’s getting mad. I’m glad she is. I shouldn’t be the only one who’s frustrated.

“You OK Twilight?”

“Me? Oh sure, I’m fine.”

“Really? You’re not acting fine. Feels like you got a-”

The soap slips out of her hooves and falls to the shower floor with a racket again. She’s scowling at this point as she stoops to pick it up again.

“A problem.”

She’s angry now, and it feels good.

“Why do you always have to leave in the middle of the night?”

“I like to fly. You got a problem with it?”

“Only when it wakes me up!”

“Did it? You seemed fine when I left!”

Her voice is raised at last and she’s pressing herself up against my shower door with a scowl.

“Well I woke up while you were gone.”

“How the hay is that my fault!?”

“I’m having trouble sleeping, it’d be nice if you acted like you cared!”

She snorts and looks away.

“Why do you care if I care? Aren’t we just screwing?”

I want to hit her now. I want to burst out every shard of glass in that stupid door and tackle her. How can she be so dense?

“Didn’t you ask me out? What’s that stupid play tomorrow supposed to be about then?”

She looks around the room for an answer, and the soap slips out of her hoof again. She lunges for it before it can hit the floor, and commences a strange semi-juggling act with it as it bounces and slips from hoof to hoof. She instinctively reaches out with her mouth and catches it. She holds it there for a minute triumphantly before dropping it and spitting furiously between gags.

My tension relaxes a bit. It’s a funny sight, I admit it. She sticks her mouth up to the falling water and swishes it before spitting and repeating over and over. I finally laugh.

“You ok?”

“Blauaaagh.”

“Yeah. I bet.”

She sits down and swishes water around again, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. I look away. Wallpaper’s peeling in my bathroom. Probably the humidity. Shouldn’t leave the door closed if I can help it, the steam builds up and wrecks the-

“Hey Twilight...”

“Yeah?”

“You still wanna go with me tomorrow, right? To the... stupid play?”

I think about it for a minute. I chance a look at her. She spreads a bit of soap across her haunches, oblivious to the fact that I’m watching again. Heat rushes to my face, among other places, and I curse my treacherous eyes. In seconds all my thoughts are of sliding the door aside and hopping in with her. Of grabbing each inch of her in my hooves and smearing soap and suds across them. Of grabbing the dildo from under my bed and-

“Twilight?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, I still want to go tomorrow. Of course I want to go. I’ve never even been on a d...”

I struggle with the word. It’s the right word for this, right? Yes? We Agreed?

“On a date with anypony before.”

She stops soaping herself up and chances a look at me. I try to stop gawking so obviously, but I’m sure she notices. She’s blushing too much now not to have noticed. She looks away to spare me from the embarrassment, and I take it as my cue to keep studying those toned haunches.

“Well, if you’ve never been on one, I’ll go easy on ya.”

I gulp audibly and nod.

“Yeah... I think you should.”

“I’ll try to... Maybe you should ask somepony else too, but... I’ll try to be a good date. I’ll let ya know when you can...”

She’s rinsing the soap off now. I’m sad to see it go. I can dimly hear that she’s still talking to me, but I’m not paying any attention anymore. I take an uncertain step toward the shower.

“...and when you should touch...”

She catches me staring again and laughs.

“You even listening?”

I nod reflexively at the question. What kind of trap is that? Zoning out 101 teaches you the answer to that.

“Tell me what I just said.”

Practice at being half awake during academic lectures surfaces as my mind unlocks the passive part of me that was still listening.

“You said you’d let me know when I could risk a kiss and when I could sneak my hooves onto you... You were about to tell me when I should touch you?”

She rolls her eyes at the failed trap with a smile and nods. That’s all the time I need to pick up on the reality of what she was saying.

“Wait. I should- I mean. Rainbow, Ponyville shouldn’t know that we’re-”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s why you gotta be good at sneaking it!”

I briefly consider the implications of being caught. Ponies talking, forever. Not terrible. I’m sure they already do. More than anything, it’s the pressure that would be put on Dash and I if everyone knew... If they all knew... wouldn’t we have to...”

“Hey.”

She’s so good at reaching me quietly. I barely notice that I helped close the distance to the shower. I’ve been walking toward her this whole time without noticing.

“Hey... It’s ok. We’re not gonna get caught, ok? To everypony else, it’s just two really old friends going to a play to chill together. Tell ‘em I lost a bet or something.”

I slide the shower door open, the last barrier between us. My reply comes out half thought, more a breath than an answer.

“...Yeah...”

I watch the drops of water slide off her cheeks and eyelashes... I close the distance and ease my lips against hers. They’re always so soft, so comforting. Her wet hoof finds its way into my mane, and starts untangling it as she slips her tongue into my mouth. I let her do it, I offer no resistance as she runs it on every surface inside my mouth. I find my courage as I work my tongue over hers and push back. She grins in the middle of our kiss and finishes smoothing my mane as she leads me steadily under the hot pouring water. Before I know it, I’m leaning against the shower wall with her over me. I ache to slide down to the floor and lick between her legs until she can’t stand anymore.

“Twi...”

“Huh?”

“Y’wanna save it up for tonight?”

I think about it for a moment. Our sex is so good... and I know she’d let me take control right now if I wanted to. I could say no. After the events earlier tonight, I bet I could even strap her to the wall of the shower and take it. So why is she asking? She looks away from me as she answers my unasked question.

“S’just that... sometimes it’s even better if you both wait on it... y’know? If you really want it?”

I bite my lip. Is it her time of the month or something? Why should she-

“It’s ok if you still wanna... I mean... Maybe I’m just being a sap, huh?”

I laugh as the puzzle piece falls into place. She’s trying to be romantic. Good old Rainbow Dash. So bad at things she’s unaccustomed to. But still...

“Ok. We can wait. It sounds... fun.”

My hormones scream otherwise, but I silence them. She has a point. Waiting can make it all the better. Our earlier sex is proof that even holding off a day can result in kinky new things. I smile and turn the tap off on both of us, pecking her lips before slipping past her and fishing a towel off the rack. I toss her one and she catches it awkwardly with her face. I laugh.

“You ok with this?”

I smile and nod, and assure her that I am.

“You sure? You seemed so grouchy earlier.”

Earlier? Earlier happened? I stretch my mind to it and bite my lip as I remember the way we were treating each other only a hoof-ful of minutes ago.

“I’m... Sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Yeah... It’s ok. C’mon, let’s get you to bed. Can’t have you grumping all over our date.”

I snuggle into bed next to her, her still damp mane filling our pillows with the scent of my shampoo and conditioner. My thoughts drift to the letter. I screw up my courage and try to bring it up. I won’t sleep unless... I whisper it.

“Rainbow...”

No reply. She’s already sleeping peacefully. We’ve been in bed for maybe a minute. I snuggle into her and try to push the letter out of my mind. It’s future Twilight’s problem.

I wake up five hours later still cuddled up to Dash. She’s awake, but she hasn’t left my side. Somehow, the letter doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore. I quickly decide it’s not worth bringing up anymore. I’ll figure it out. I kiss her cheek and thank her for staying with me until I woke up. She yawns.

“S’ok. I haven’t been up that long.”

I roll my eyes. She wouldn’t tell me the truth about that anyways.

“Hey Twi-”

I roll ontop of her. Our promise to hold off on sex hours ago seems distant. I brush the streaks of red, yellow and orange out of her eyes and away from her face and look down at her.

“Yeah?”

“Somepony dropped by... they need me to...Mnnnhhhuuuaaah.”

I stop rubbing her wings for a minute so she can finish. It might be important, but it better be critical if it’s stopping our sex.

“They’ve got some snow clouds creeping back in from the Everfree. It’s weird, and they want me there to make sure... nothing goes wrong.”

It’s a holiday weekend, I remind her.

“I know, I know... and I feel like somepony’s freaking tail feathers after last night’s no-sleep marathon... but somepony’s gotta get the work done, y’know?”

I sigh. The Rainbow Dash I met years ago would have said no. She’s gotten so serious about work in recent years. I try to internalize it rather than despise it. We’re stuck here, right? We should work the best that we can with it. It’s my own mantra. I try to remember if I was the one who taught her that years ago, but I can’t remember. It’s too early in the morning for all this. I roll off her and pretend to pout.

“You’re still going to make our date right?”

“Huh? Of course!”

“Well, Ok. Meet up at the theatre?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll see you there. Enjoy your day off, Twi!”

I get a kiss on the cheek, then she’s up and out of bed in a flash, briefly stopping to brush her teeth on the way out before exiting via my skylight in a streaking spectrum of colors. I watch her climb higher into the sky from my window, and catch her do a couple rolls and loops as she accelerates toward the clouds. As she disappears into their downy looking fluff, I return to the prospect of our date tonight.

I pull out a quill and parchment, and start to make a list. I’ll need another shower. A real shower where I can wash my tail and mane properly. I’ll have to break out the sweet smelling shampoo and conditioner. It’ll have to be earlier in the day... afternoon... if I want to be dry when I show up for the play tonight. I need to brush my teeth before I leave. I’ll need lunch. Can’t go adventuring on an empty stomach. Adventures... it’s hard to believe this one qualifies compared to the things that Dash and I used to gear up to do. This adventure list seems so strange. So insignificant. It’s my first date list. It shouldn’t feel so odd.

I realize I’m not sure what else needs to be on the list. I need somepony who knows. Dash has taken off for the day... Fluttershy? I laugh to myself. Pinkie Pie? Absolutely not. Applejack? Probably working. Sweet Apple acres isn’t going to be my first stop after I’ve freshened up for a date, either. I reluctantly add “Visit Carousel Boutique” to the list after “Shower”, and “Lunch”. In an hour, I’m slipping on my rain boots and levitating an umbrella as I make my way through the drizzly spring afternoon toward Rarity’s house. It’s not until I knock on the door that I remember they’ve temporarily moved, and probably aren’t at the Boutique at all. I’m in the process of turning around when the door opens, revealing a slightly pregnant and suddenly smiling unicorn.

She opens the door with a surprised smile and shouts over her shoulder to put the kettle on. I’m ushered in in seconds, and relieved of every wet article of clothing I own.

“There you are now. Goodness, somepony smells nice. Plans tonight?”

I nod, no sense in hiding them entirely from her. It’s what I’m here for after all. A knot begins to form in my stomach as I realize I’m going to have to navigate a barrage of questions now, and I pray to the sweet cloudy sky that I can do it without outing myself.

“Ohhh. Twilight! Plans? You’ve got plans!? I was just teasing but- Oh goodness me, sit down sit down!”

I’m lead past rows of stacked two-by-fours over to a cushy chair covered by a dust cover, and she’s brushing my tail before I can protest.

“Who is he? Do I know him? Oh of course I do. Such a small town. Unless he’s not from here? Canterlot perhaps?”

Her voice quivers on the capital city’s name, eager for the potential juicy gossip. She waits with a huge grin for my reply, and I remember that I’m supposed to be asking advise.

“A-actually... I’m... I’m going out with Rainbow Dash to a play.”

Her head tilts and she frowns. The knot tightens in my gut.

“Pardon? A play? Why in Equestria would you go with Rainbow Dash of all ponies? If you’d only asked I could-”

I cut in with the best excuses I could manage.

“I... I don’t want to bother you. You’re expecting! You need your free time.”

She looks around, her ears flattening dejectedly.

“Well, not exactly... Ever since... well, now all I do is sit at home. It’s so dreadfully boring. Oh, I wish somepony would at least take me to a play.”

She shoots a glance at her husband as he sets a tray of tea down. He rolls his eyes and rubs her behind her ears. She tilts her head into it appreciatively, but I can tell after all our time together that she’s still a little disappointed.

“It’s not what you think... I...”

Rainbow Dash’s excuse from the night before returns to my mind.

“Rainbow lost a bet.”

Rarity raises an eyebrow, unsurprised.

“Well obviously. I don’t think you’d find another way to get her into a play. Which play is it?”

I realize I don’t know. Isn’t there only one showing on holiday weekends?

“I... Oh shoot. I’m blanking on the name... What’s the one showing tonight?”

“The Wandering Magici-”

“That’s the one! Yeah. The Wandering Magician!”

“Hmmm... A very romantic play, Twilight. Rainbow Dash will be bored out of her skull, I fear. You might have won the bet, but are you sure it’s worth the torture?”

I bite my lip. How can she talk about Rainbow like she knows her so well? Rainbow suggested the play after all. She clearly... Clearly knew what was playing... and wanted to go see a romantic play... with me. I start to wonder if I really know about the pony sharing my bed.

I’m still reveling in how much nopony seems to know about Rainbow Dash after a decade of being her friend when Rarity cuts in.

“Is she meant to be your wingmare then?”

My what? Oh. Right. Helping me find a date? Sure why not.

“Yeah.”

“Rainbow Dash. Your wingmare. Are you sure you didn’t lose the bet? It sounds as though you certainly lost the terms. What on earth kind of pony would she introduce you to, darling?”

I shrug.

“I dunno... I’m not... particularly picky at this point, I guess.”

She pouts her lip and tilts her head.

“Twilight... just because it’s been a... a little while, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have standards. A lady should always keep her standards high., especially one as pretty and intelligent as yourself! I hope you’re not considering finding a colt and taking him home overnight... So risque!”

I look at the floor, never sure how to approach the subject of colts. Should I act boy crazy? Not at my age, right? Deny it? But it’s too late to make it sound like I’m not... I sigh. I suck at thinking on my hooves. I settle for a shrug. To my surprise, she squeals with glee and moves onto brushing my mane.

“Oh my goodness! You naughty thing you! Oh you simply must tell me how it turns out tomorrow!”

I promise that I will, and ask if she has any advise.

“For bedding a colt? Well... I don’t know... I always waited for a bit. I’ve never... I mean not on the first date, or even the third-”

She gets elbowed gently and frowns over her shoulder.

“Alright. The third date. Once.”

I summon up the maximum depths of my inner actress and pretend to act interested.

“Oh my gosh? Really? You two?”

She straightens up, trying to salvage her pride.

“Well... It only seemed... We’d already seen each other bare, and... Well it was only meant to be a little kiss at first before-.”

A lewd suggestion of where the kiss was placed issues from the chair next to her and she throws a pillow at him to shut him up. I laugh a genuine laugh. Who knew the only words out of his mouth this visit would be so on point?

“Oh you two are simply vulgar. Honestly Twilight, I expected it from him, but you?”

I take on an apologetic tone between chuckles.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh. So you’ve jumped into the business quickly before, but it’s not normal?”
She scowls at me.

“I mean... Rarity, what do you do on a normal date then? To find a normal date. I mean.To find and go on. I want to find him and date him in the same night. My books say... Strike fast.”

Moon and stars help me. I offer a prayer to every princess who’s ever lived. I’m so bad at this.

She gasps.

“Twilight, are you telling me this is your first time looking for or going on a date?”

Somepony hears my prayers and offers me a way out. I sigh as if she’s caught onto the dreaded secret I hadn’t meant to divulge. It should throw her off the trail. I wrap my tail around myself. I notice she’s braided it without even asking, and jump into her arena by looking as sad as possible.

“...Yes.”

“Oh my goodness! Well we’ve simply got to get you something to wear! Come now, into the back. It’s still a mess... Oh... dust everywhere. I hope it’s not gotten into the fabric. We’ve covered it but- Come over here and uncover it you! We’ve got work to do for Twilight!”

He gets up with a grumble and I make an apologetic face to him over Rarity’s back. He shrugs. I might not like him much, but he’s not complaining about the sudden change in plans for his afternoon. He lifts the plastic covers off of the rolls of fabric with an ease that only a giant could manage. Rarity hurries over to inspect them.
“Mmmmm... A few rolls are too dusty to use without cleaning, and we’ve no time for that. We’ll use...”

She pulls out a midnight blue and looks it over.

“Mmm... a couple years ago I might have, but now...”

She holds up a black cloth to me.

“Black is certainly in right now... but what to complement it with.”

I try to hurry this along, not having even gotten to the real issue.

“Maybe that grey and some whit-”

“No no. Shush for just a- Sorry Twilight. Just... one a second. Black grey and white are too tonal together... Although...”

She looks them over again and then looks back to me.

“No no... not with your coat, but if you’re here... then she’s bound to be.”

I interrupt, eager to try to throw her off the trail she’s apparently back on.

“Why would Rainbow Dash need a new dress? She hates being fitted for these things.”

“Mmmh. Yes... but on a date... No, she’ll come for help with makeup at least.”

“It’s not a date! For her. She’s not on the date. She’s not dating. I mean... She sure better not being dating on my date night!”

Rarity continues to hoof her way through rolls of fabric, commanding more and more covers be tossed aside in her search.

“Hmmm? Yes, yes. Of course not, dear. Of cours~ Wahaha! Perfect! Hold still!”

I’m wrapped in white and her horn bursts into light. When it clears I’m left blinking, and she’s moving the beginnings of a dress onto her work table. In only a half an hour she’s sending a lovely dress my way. Mostly the deep, dark blue she always shoehorns me into, but there’s a surprising amount of white in it. She’s worked delicate replicas of my cutie mark into the pure white hem on both sides, and into the snow white saddle she’s put together for it.

“It’s very bold. I don’t think I’ve ever been so... direct with a dress being made for somepony.”

She motions to the streaks that run down the very sheer drop on my chest and neck that match the colors in my mane and tail. All told, I look in the mirror and see something simple, yet...

“It’s very... sexy.”

She giggles girlishly beside me as we gaze at the mirror together.

“Yes, yes... Yes, it’s quite sexy. And quite accessable, for that spark of inner naughty mare.”

She motions to the back of the dress. It splits much earlier than most would, slightly exposing my haunches. Unlike most dresses, it seems to zip starting there and move up my back rather than the alternative. I’m fairly sure anypony could unzip it halfway and access my entire backhalf without ever removing it if they wanted... I briefly imagine Dash getting her hooves on that zipper and fondling my body throughout the play without a single pony noticing. Stylish, sexy, and functional. Nothing less from Ponyville’s resident fashionista.

“I... Thank you Rarity. It’s perfect!”

Yes, yes. I know, I know! Come now, get out of it before we get dust on it. Let’s sit down, and let’s go over the basics of the bases, how to tease... Oh we’ve so much to teach you.”
She shoots a look at the poor man who’s trying to cover up the fabric rolls again and rolls her eyes.

“Do that later. Ladies need to be left alone when discussing these... personal matters. Surely we have orders we put on hold for jewelry?”
He shrugs.

“Well... I’m sorry darling. I’m afraid I simply must kick you out for this. Mustn’t have a gentleman decoding the secrets of a lady.”

He sighs and walks through a door into a workshop. Even through the briefly cracked door, it looks like quite a mess. I can only guess it’s used for crafting the jewelry that he’s famous for making around town. I wish I could watch him, see how he does it... I admit that I’m curious. His methods could be invaluable for ponies who come after us. Somepony should chronicle them for the future.

“Twilight? Pay attention dear. Now we’ve only got a short time to get this right. Flirting... We’ll have to only go over the basics.”

For the next three hours, I attentively learn how to bat my eyes, how to walk in heels in the sexiest way possible, and how to sit properly. It all seems to connect with a central theme of teasing. Rarity’s method of being sexy is to offer the promise of sex in every step, and withhold it with every word and action. The constant tug of appeal and denial will drive Dash crazy. It’s exactly what she soaks her saddles for, and I know she’ll be horny out of her mind in an hour if I can master it. I try my best, and by the time evening is approaching, Rarity sends me home to do my makeup with a confident push out the door, still offering advice as we go.

“You’ll be fine! Remember, swaying walk, gentle sitting, firm leg cross!”
I turn and ask if she’s sure, but she waves me on.

“You’ve got to be going dear, it seems my six o’clock appointment is here!”
I look around, and see nopony. I look up and see Rainbow Dash preparing to set down next to me. When I turn around, Rarity has disappeared back into the Boutique.

“H-hi Rainbow.”

She shifts her saddlebags and looks at the sky.

“Hey Twilight. What’re you doing here?”

“I needed to... I needed something nice to wear.”

“Oh. Cool. I’m just here for... To see how Rarity’s doing. She had that whole fainting thing, right?”

“Yeah. It looks like she’s better now though.”

“Ok. Cool. I’ll just go ask myself.”

“Ok.”

We part ways, and as I walk past I try to sway my hips like Rarity showed me. I’m rewarded with a very sharp turn of my sky blue bedmate’s head. I wiggle my hips as I look over my shoulder, just like we covered. Dash takes a cautious step toward me. It’s working like a charm, but it’s working in both directions. I force the promise of sex back from my mind and try to cool my aching privates with careful self control. We’re in public. Anything more might attract attention, even on empty streets.

“Hey, Twi-”

“I’m looking forward tonight, Rainbow dear.”

“Rainbow dear?”

Address her like a proper pony and she has to act like one.

“Mmhmm.”

“Oh. Yeah. Me too...”

She bites her lip and turns back to the Boutique. I catch the motion, and suddenly the double meaning of what I’m doing hits me. Stupid Rarity... Dash likes her, right? I took lessons from... From the pony that... It’s both perfect, and insulting. I can win her over whenever I want with the tricks that won her from the start... but they’re not my tricks. I can’t do it alone. They probably weren’t Rarity’s tricks in the first place though, right? She had to learn them somewhere. Maybe a friend, maybe a relative? We’re all doing it to be on even hooves.

I decide to swallow my pride. I’ll get Rainbow into my bed before the night is over. Won’t that part happen pretty definitely? It’s not that though. I want her to get into my bed soaking through the sheets... She’s going out of her way to be nice to me, so I really want her to have a good time tonight... and I want a really good time too. I’ll do that whatever the cost.

“See you later tonight, Twi?”

“Mmhmm.”

I keep walking away, determined to make a turn out of sight as soon as possible. As I turn the first corner I find, I bump into the world’s softest wall. I look up at him as he towers over me. My stomach sinks. How much did he see? He’ll tell his wife, won’t he? I bite my lip. He holds out his hands. Something glistens in them. As he extends his palm, I see they’re ear-rings. They’re dwarfed by his hands, palms easily as big as my hooves cupping two lightning bolt shaped ear-rings in my size. As far as I can tell, he’s not made them on anypony’s orders... Why would he give them to me unless...

“You guessed?”

He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow. Maybe he doesn’t know? Maybe he’s just trying to make Dash and I match for our night out?

“Ok. Thanks.”

He nods. He’s gone before I can say any more. Two strides carry him back in the Boutique’s side door. It closes softly behind him, and I put the earrings on. They’re perfect fits, and I know they match my eyes. I hope it’s not too conspicuous, but... it feels right. It feels romantic. I look at the door one more time before heading back to the Library to get into my dress and prepare for tonight.

I’m hurrying through Ponyville’s night lights two hours later as I run into Rainbow Dash. Apparently we’re both running behind schedule. So much for getting to the play early for good seats. We don’t say a word as we meet on the street, two blocks to go. The silence is finally broken by my partner as we reach the door and duck in. I try to adopt the walk that Rarity showed me.

“Hope there’s still seats in the back.”

“Seats in the back? We won’t be able to see anything-”

I look down at her dress. It’s definitely got hints of the black cloth that Rarity hinted at before. It must have been made in the same record time as mine... Made to match. I’ve never seen Rarity dress her in anything but rainbow colors and cloudy white borders. She looks so much... older, and more mature in black. An ocean of shimmering sequins catches the light as we make it in the door. I can’t help but draw my eyes up the side of the dress, where gems of every color adorn the hem, all the way up to the collar of her gown. She’s got her hair in her customary casual ponytail. She’s worn it at every social outing we’ve ever been to together, but... I’ve never noticed just how good it looks on her. How it bares her back slightly, how it lifts her hair out of her eyes and shows off her ears. She’s wearing... replicas of my earrings. There’s no doubt they’re shaped like my cutie mark intentionally. Out of everything I see, I have to know the mystery behind them.

“Rainbow... These earrings... they must know. Right?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t tell me he didn’t give them to you.”

“Oh. Course he did. I ordered them!”

I have to fight to keep my voice a whisper as we sneak into the back of the theatre.

“What!?”

My stomach tightens. She’s outing us without even asking me! I lean in, my voice a sharp hiss in her ear.

“You promised nopony would know.”

She manages a few words out of the corner of her mouth as we find our seats.

“Easy Twilight... nopony does know. No... human either, for that matter.”

“How would he not guess?”

“Him? He doesn’t care about that kinda stuff. He’s super busy. He’s not gonna stop and think about why we ordered them. Hoof to the sky Twilight.”

I sigh. He does seem... very dense.

“What if he tells Rarity?”

“Confidentiality in the contracts. Nopony knows.”

“I’m sure he tells her.”

“You think after a day of not talking, they talk about business?”

“How do you know so much of what goes through his-”

We’re shushed by the older couple in front of us. The curtain is rising. I have to work hard to whisper directly in her ear.

“through his head?”

“Because we go out for drinks sometimes. Now take it easy. Show’s gonna start!”

The first act starts, but I’m a million miles away now. Why is Dash going out for drinks with some random guy? Does she really only like mares exclusively? We never really said... Well, we never said this was limited to just the two of us. That’s stupid though. He wouldn’t cheat on Rarity. Dash wouldn’t- It’s not technically cheating. Who knows what he would do though? Why is everyone in that stupid house competition? Am I going to be competing with the foal next?
Of course, it makes sense now. Dash has to talk to him to get details about Rarity’s life. I always seem to forget she’s still in love with a married pony. It must be hard. I guess I eat up news about Canterlot whenever I can get it... And still... I sigh in my seat. Rainbow and I won’t ever be an “item”. This date was a dumb idea. I’ll always be in love with... with Her. And Rainbow will always be in love with Rarity.

I sink lower into my seat, and find a hoof at the small of my back.

I look over and see her watching the play. A smile creeps onto her face. Her hoof navigates toward my zipper. Now I know why she wanted a seat in the back. I realize as I look around that she got them. Her hoof sneaks my zipper up a little bit. I consider removing it. I don’t really... feel like sex anymore. I can feel tears leaking into the corners of my eyes, and I try to blink them away. If I move to Canterlot, my life’s a lie. If I stay here, it’s just as bad. I get up and head to the bathroom. I can’t break down here, in front of everypony.

I make it to the restroom, lock myself into a stall, and sob into my hooves. I’ve got mascara on them in seconds. Great. No way to go back in after I get my shit together without everypony seeing. I don’t even know if I care. I’ll stay in here until I die. The door opens, and somepony comes in. I try to pull myself together. Whoever it is doesn’t need to-

“Twilight?”

Oh. It’s just Rainbow Dash. I make my intentions fairly clear with a single choked sentence.

“Go away.”

“Huh? You ok in there?”

“Go away! I hate this.

“Are you... Look, I’m gonna-”

She hops over in seconds without bothering to finish. It’s very crowded very suddenly. She’s very close to me. She brushes my mane out of my face.

“What is it? Is it the magic? I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to... We should have... this morning, and I-”

“It’s not that. Just please. Just please go away.”

Her voice drops to a whisper.

“You’re... you’re not in... danger?”

“No.”

“Oh thank Celestia. Look... if you needed to cry this badly, you should have-”

I push her away, and her back hits the door loudly.

“Don’t tell me what I need to do.”

“Hey... it’ll be ok. What’s wrong?”

The fact that we’re not in the right place for this conversation doesn’t matter. I’m sick of bottling it up as much as I have.

“Wrong? Everything is wrong! I hate this. I can’t...”
I struggle for my chief complaint. A minute ago I had a hundred. Now my mind is blank. I grasp at the only one I can think of that I can talk to her about.

“I’m tired of this messing around. Our sex is just... we’re just a lie.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not real. Neither of us is ever gonna get over the ponies we love. We might as well
just...”

“What? No way. Look, dry your eyes. I know it feels weird. I feel weird too sometimes... But it’s not bad. Is it?”

“Only when I stop to think about it!”

She looks away. No casual sex partner should look so wounded. She unlatches the door to the bathroom stall and walks out. I follow her.

“If you want lies...”

She turns around, suddenly angry. Her face stays fixated on my hooves the whole time. If we weren’t trying to argue quietly, I suspect she’d shout my shoes off.

“Why do you lie to me then?”

Me? Lie to her?

“Yeah. That stupid letter under your bed. Didn’t think it was important enough to share that you might be moving someday?”

How... How can she possibly-

“I found it under your bed last night. I saw you holding it... Why wouldn’t you tell me? It’s from freakin’ months ago! And you let me get all worked up over you and now-”

“I haven’t made a decision yet.”

She looks up, eyes teary.

“I know. That’s why you were so sad last night right. It’s why you can’t sleep? Why won’t you talk to me?”

I look anywhere but her face. She was snooping through my stuff. It’s her fault she’s dumb enough to make her sad. I tried to protect her from this. I tried to protect me from this.

“Why? Why’d you go looking? I wasn’t bringing it up for a reason!”

“I... You said last night you’d send the Princess a letter about your magic going nutso. I catch you holding a letter in the middle of the night, and then you go all crybaby on me and squeeze the life out of me? I thought you were dying! And then I check after you’re asleep and-”

“And I might as well be!”

She rolls her eyes, and can’t blink in time to stop a tear from trickling down her right cheek.

“Oh come on! Don’t be so dramatic!”

“No. You don’t... you don’t understand.”

It’s a lie. This is the only pony in Equestria who could understand getting a letter that big and having to choose between Ponyville and their dream job.

“I wouldn’t- I... I... I lo... Look.”

She sniffles and straightens her mane a bit in the mirror.

“It’s ok. You don’t have to make a decision.”

“Yes. Yes I do!”

“Not yet. Not now. You can put it off. Think on it some!”

I swallow and sniffle. The tightness in my chest is easing for the first time in days.

“It’s still going to have to be done... It’s not going anywhere just because I want it to.”

“Look. You’ve still got time... Just think on it! These things work themselves out.”

She pulls me into a hug.

“I don’t have long...”

“Psh. Sure you do! Nine months is plenty of time. Go back into that theatre and ask Rarity how long nine months is! It’ll work itself out if you let it!”

“Rarity’s here? I- What if it doesn’t work itself out? What then?”

She frowns and breaks the hug.

“Then you freaking go! If you’re honestly considering it, then you can already do without m- without us! Just go!”

I shove her, and she stumbles back into the wall behind her. It wasn’t supposed to be that easy... Rainbow Dash is normally so strong... A shove would have moved me.

She’s on me in a flash. My limbs are pinned. I struggle to focus on magic, to move her off me, but my mind’s just too much of a mess.

“You’re gonna shove me?”

“I’m... I’m sorry.”

I am. I’m sorry I’ve done this to both of us. I look up at her for what feels like the first time. I can’t read her face. It’s just... sad.

“Well fine. Shove away.”

She gets off of me.

“Shove all you want. But I’m sticking with you until you make your decision.”

I stop and think for a minute. What’s she trying to say?

“Rainbow... No.”

“Yes. Don’t act like you don’t want it. It’s not gonna break my stupid heart if you run off to your dream job or anything.”

She doesn’t even sound convinced herself. I pull her into a hug and apologize. I can’t believe I shoved her. I can’t believe I got... that angry.

“It’s ok.”

She’s smiling at me. She covered up that sad face so quickly... Her voice comes out a whisper in my ear.

“Why dontcha channel that kinda anger in the bedroom sometime, huh?”

“I doubt I could get you on your back if I tried.”

“Yeah? Well don’t get cocky. It’s these stupid heels.”

I laugh. She never walks anywhere. What does she need them for?

“Looking good, according to a certain somepony.”

“Rarity?”

“...yeah.”

I sniffle and check the mirror for the first time. I look like a wreck. Mascara, eyeliner, base, blush... it’s all run.

“Hey. One sec.”

She reaches into her petite saddlebag and pulls out a makeup kit. I try to form a sentence around the sniffling.

“I’m glad one of us thought to bring one... I never... thought it’d be you.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ll have to do it yourself... I can’t...”

I look over her face. Eyeshadow, a little base, and some mascara.

“You look great to me...”

“Yeah? I uhhh... I had a little help. I’m really bad at it.”

I laugh. Rarity was right after all.

“S’not that funny.”

She sniffles and looks away from me.

“I’ll let you borrow it, but you gotta promise me something.”

I reach out take the kit without asking what it is. She can have the sun if she wants.

“No more crying if you can help it.”

I scowl.

“I don’t choose to be an emotional wreck.”

“Yeah? Well keep it together better then. I don’t wanna see you crying until you make your
choice. That’s a choice worth crying over... but it’s not worth crying over this many times. Wait until you make it. Give it one good time. Then let it go.”

I stop mid-reach. This sort of wisdom is uncommon coming from Rainbow Dash. Unless...

I turn her face to me and kiss her, suddenly. It’s fiercer than I meant it to be. When we break, I make sure to make eye contact.

“You’re right. Thank you.”

She nods. I see a pout creep into her lips, but she forces it away. It only confirms my suspicions. I pull her into a hug.

“Don’t you cry then, either.”

“Not gonna. Made my choices a long time ago. Did my eyes... watering... then.”

I nod and accept the kit.

I finish my makeup in time to catch Dash trying to do hers. She’s not as much a mess as I am, but her right cheek has a noticeable smudge here and there. She seems good at taking it off, but when she tries to reapply it...

She sneaks a glance at my face for hints. It doesn’t look like it helps. In only a minute or two she’s a mess of mascara, lipstick, base, and blush. I help her take it off again and she looks at the floor.

“This stupid crap is... So totally not for me. Froo froo make up isn’t-”

I shush her. If she keeps talking, I’m going to slip, and she’ll have eyeliner on her cheek. When I finish up she looks at it and half-smiles.

“What’s the trick? Why does it always look so good when anypony else does it for me?”

I laugh. She tries to use too much.

“What’s... how do you tell what’s too much?”

“You’re naturally beautiful, Rainbow. You don’t need much more than a little base and-”

She mumbles and looks at the floor.

“’M not beautiful.”

I turn her head up until she’s facing me.

“That’s your problem... You really don’t think you are?”

“You’re beautiful. Rarity’s beautiful. Fluttershy’s beautiful. I’m...”

I kiss her. It’s softer than our last one. I wish I could suck the self depreciation out of her. There’s been enough of that tonight. My hooves wander through her mane. So soft. Her hooves creep up my back and rub between my shoulders. Before long I’m cupping her face in my hooves and breaking the kiss. She opens her eyes, and I meet them with every ounce of determination I can muster.

“Beautiful.”

She laughs, and we kiss again. By the time we’re done we have to straighten our manes for what seems like the dozenth time before we can walk back into the theatre. My steps are back to being my own. When we take our seats again, nopony seems to notice. I bunch as closely to her as I can manage. I don’t care who sees me leaning on my friend’s shoulder. I’m surprised when her hoof sneaks back down to my haunches though. I look around to make sure that we’re still the only ponies in our row. As soon as I’m sure, I reach back and guide her hoof to the zipper. She leans in and drops her words like a whisper of soft wind at the back of my ear.

“You sure? You’ve been all over the place up ‘til now.”

I smile and risk leaning into her to whisper back. I sneak a kiss on her cheek instead.

“A friend recently told me in no uncertain terms to get it together.”

I feel her inch the zipper up. She waits until somepony onstage is speaking so that nopony hears it. Before long she’s got easy access to the fullness of my flanks and haunches. I lean a bit so that she can grope them easier. I try to pay attention to the play, but my mind is occupied with how far she might go. I silently beg her to lean a bit more, to rub between my legs where I’ve been dying to be touched all day. I uncross my legs in case she wants to try coming from the front. I hope it’s a clear enough signal.

She kneads my haunches for a few more minutes before yawning and sitting up straight, leaving me wondering if I’ve completely misrepresented my intentions. A full minute passes before she unbuckles her saddle and mumbles something about it being too hot in the theatre. I see. Inconspicuous. She asks if I can hold it, and I set it in my lap. My legs spread as she creeps her hoof under it and brushes my lower lips. I find myself slouching, half wishing she’d out us both and drop to her knees to lick me into blissful oblivion. Her hoof is suddenly snatched away. The curtain drops and the first act ends. I realize I’m only barely cognizant of what this play is about so far. I stretch into my mind as I straighten up in my seat and try to quickly zip myself up amid the shuffle of ponies. Dash stands up and blocks me from their vision as I do it, asking me how I’m liking the show so far.

“Oh... I...”

The zipper hangs and I shift awkwardly.

“It’s been pretty-”

“Rainbow Dash! Twilight!”

Rarity sashays over among the crowd.

I manage to unsnag the zipper as Dash quickly intercepts her. As soon as I’m ready to go, I hurry over.

“Too hot? Honestly Rainbow Dash, you’ve no sense of fashion. This theatre is positively frigid, in any case. Oh! Twilight!”

“Hi, Rarity!”

She looks me over.

“Dress still intact. Mane not a mess. Makeup clean. You’re doing better than Rainbow Dash, which is to be expected. Don’t carry her things for her at any rate!”

She levitates the saddle from my hoof to Dash’s back.

“You’re supposed to be working for Twilight tonight, remember?”

“Huh?”

Dash looks to me for a clue and I jump in as quickly as possible.

“Not until we get out and mingle with that... that crowd there! Plenty of colts for Dash to introduce me to! Where’s your special somebody tonight, Rarity?”

She rolls her eyes.

“Too tall to bring into good seating. He’s in the back row.”

I look around again at our back row. There was nopony there before. Now I see him in the corner. Black suit, black tie. How can something so big escape notice two times in a day? I curse my early horny, hurried scans of the rows.

“O-Oh? How d’you suppose he’s liking the show?”

She turns her nose up and walks over, swatting him with her tail. He stirs, and a sigh of relief escapes both Dash and myself. Asleep all this time? Thank goodness.

“Asleep? Honestly? No culture! No class!”

Dash flaps over and joins in.

“Give ‘im a break Rarity. This play stuff is pretty dull.”

“I believe you would think so. Try not to lean all over Twilight during the second act, would you?”

“You- You saw huh?”

“Well, only because I was looking for you. But honestly. You’re no better than him. Honestly, if she falls asleep give her a good swat Twilight.”

I laugh and nod.

“I’ll be sure to give Dash more than just a swat before she can fall asleep.”

“Good.”

Dash tilts her head at my double entendre as Rarity joins the crowd.

“Twi? You wanna sneak out of here? I’m really sorry... I don’t even know what’s going on in it anymore.”

I really do. If we leave though... I chance a glance at Rarity. She’d notice. We’re supposed to find a colt tonight. I never thought she’d be here to see my lie through. I lead Dash into the crowd, talking out of the corner of my mouth as we approach.

“We need an excuse. I can’t go home with a colt tonight.”

“Yeah, what the hay’s with that?”

“I uhh... All part of the bet you lost.”

“Oh. Dang. I make really stupid bets.”

“Yes, you do.”

“S’ok, I got this one.”

She hurries off to the refreshments stand and leaves me to a slew of colts Rarity’s trying to introduce me to. I curse the name of Rainbow Dash playfully every time they ask who my fit friend was. Each of them makes his different advance. I try to send every signal Rarity taught me to tell them I’m not interested. For each one that takes the hint, two more are introduced. I look desperately around the room for Rainbow Dash once more. Soon I see her streaking through the swath of stallions now surrounding me. As she reaches the last one, she trips and dumps two glasses of wine onto me.

I’m not sure if it’s actually part of her plan, but everypony around us zips backward. Rarity lets out a dying gasp and practically swoons as I’m covered in wine. Dash is an explosion of excuses and apologies. She pushes back one of the stallions who’s offering a handkerchief and accuses him of tripping her. He departs infuriated and offended. Before long, every pony in the crowd is arguing over whose fault it was. Dash helps to pick me up and leads me out the door. As we hurry off, I shoot her a less than appreciative glare and wipe wine out of my mane.

“That was our plan? Leave to change clothes?”

“Huh? Sure. I got to flavor you up too! It’s the perfect plan!”

“Yeah. Perfect. Now we just have to walk home with me soaking wet during a chilly spring night.”

She laughs. “Alright, hold still. I’ll dry ya off.”

I push her back playfully. Every time she dries me off it curls my mane for weeks. Her “patented Rain-Blow-Dry” is a catastrophy.

“Nu-uh. Besides, everypony knows that’s only the regular. I’ll give you the super good one.”

I frown.

“What’s the super good one entail?”

“Well... First you gotta get outta that thing.”

I turn around and let her unzip me. As I step out of it, I’m swept into the air, dress in one hoof, me in the other. We’re a blur of color, and I watch my hooves leave the ground behind at high velocity. I’ve been carried by her before, but this... This speed. Is this what liberates her every night? I’d leave out my window if I could do this.

The wind bites at my still wet body, and I huddle in and grip her tighter. I shift my eyes from the quickly disappearing earth and look up just in time to see a wall of fluffy white rushing up to meet me.

We burst through the cloudy night into a clear ocean of stars. Up here I can see everything. I can see it all. She holds me in her arms and I look down at the clouds. Her wings barely have to beat to keep two bodies afloat. I look up at her face, and she’s not smiling as I’d expect.

“Up here... I can hear everypony below. They don’t see or hear me, but they know I’m there. If they shout, I come running. I help everypony I can, whenever I can. Kinda like you in your library.”

I kiss her chest and ask why she’s gotten so serious.

“It’s... Just hard to share this space with somepony. I always have to be up here alone.”

My jaw almost drops. I’d never expect Rainbow Dash to admit feelings like those so readily. I hug her to me, and she doesn’t even tilt in flight.

“Y’wanna go back to my place tonight?”

I nod. She’s off like a shot. There’s not a missed beat, not a moment where I worry about being dropped. Her hooves are strong, her wings tear through the wind up here as if it were a gentle breeze. She banks left and bursts through the floor of clouds beneath us. That floor becomes a ceiling as she touches down.

“You got a spell for this?”

I sift through my memory. Cloud walking... Yes. Easy spell. I nod.

“You need any help casting it?”

I dip into my will. It’s calm tonight. I can’t tell why. I’ve been an emotional wreck enough times, been deprived sex for hours... I’m out of theories as to the cause. I ease the spell out and twist in her arms until I’m standing on the clouds. I look over to her bed and levitate her easily.

“Are these walls soundproof?”

“Yeah... Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“You couldn’t hear thunder through them. I don’t think ponies are gonna hear us-”

I scrunch up my horn and pull clouds around her hooves. She tugs at them.

“Woah. You’re... Getting started really fast.”

I lean in and lick a line up her chest. My voice comes out husky and breathy.

“Where do you keep your toys?”

“Uhh... Under the bed.”

I reach under the fluffy structure and climb up. She’s been right all along. Her bed is the softest thing in Equestria. She told me so months ago, and I never came up here. Her words a few minutes ago echo in my ears. She has to be alone up here. The six of us have been friends forever, but... Of the five remaining, only one could join her in her home. Fluttershy’s not about to come into a high up cloud house. I wonder briefly if she’s ever had another pony in her home. I grab a particularly large dildo from under the bed. It’s rubber, and flexible. I hope I can make her home feel like a place she can share.

I kiss her ear as I climb back onto the bed. I’ll have to work hard to make her bed uncomfortable. I lean in and whisper as best I can.

“Are you... in the mood?”

She sighs and arches her back, hooves straining to reach her marehood. I secure the straps tighter and stiffen the mattress beneath her with a wave of magic.

“I’ve been ready since I first fumbled with your zipper.”

I lean in and nod. A belt materializes, and I clasp her wings to her side. Her eyes widen, and she heaves against the straps holding her.

“Nono. Not up here. Nonono.”

I lean in and nuzzle her nose before adopting a serious face.

“You have to rely on me now. You remember your safe word?”

She nods furiously. I wonder if she’s not fighting to shout it. Rely on a pony who’s never been in the clouds to make sure you don’t drop? I sit on her chest and slap her face with the dildo.

“Some bad pony went missing when I woke up this morning.”

“Nnnhhh. I’m sorry Princess.”

I slap her harder with it.

“Sorry? I got an apology earlier. I never got the part that came with it.”

She holds her tongue out, her breath already panting.

“You can have it. Please. Please Princes. Please... My wings... Don’t... Please... I’ll do it. I’ll lick you Princess, just please.”

I think for a moment. I’m not sure just how scared she is... The safeword... it’s here for a reason, right? I ease myself further up her body, resting my marehood on her mouth.

“If you have to talk, you slap the royal flanks. If it’s not important... You get punished.”

She nods and I lower myself until I’m sitting directly over her mouth. She buries her tongue inside me, and I moan. My spare hoof drops to my clit almost immediately. It’s going to be fast for me... I’ll have to make sure it’s slow for her to make up for it. She delves deeper, pressing her tongue all the way in and rolling it around. I gasp and grip her mane, hoof flying off my privates and onto her face.

“Yes... Good... Good pegasus. Good Dash.”

I stroke her forehead and she withdraws her tongue.

“No. Back in. You were a horny slutty mare not fifteen minutes ago. Groping the royal flanks in public... Unzipping my dress... Tongue me, or I’ll keep the belt on for the rest of the night.

I can feel her plunge it back in desperately. She’s eating me out with every ounce of vigor in her body. Kissing, sucking, licking as quickly and furiously as she can. I lean back and release one of her hooves. I need just a little more to push me over the edge. She misinterprets my command and yanks the dildo from my hoof. Before I can stop her, she’s slipping it in. I don’t get words out after.

The feeling of being steadily filled up by the monster tube I’d meant for her is overwhelming. My dildo at home is... Well, it’s not that. Every spare inch I could conceive of having is flexed and filled. I clench down hard. She slides it out and eases it back in. In seconds it’s slickened by my juices. I can feel the wetness trickling out of my quickly loosening hole and onto my leg. I’m a wash of hot wetness in moments. On a bad day I’d probably say no to the dildo I own, but this one... I finally get words out.

“S...sso big. You’re working it so... Nnnnhhh... Oh DASH.”

I free another one of her hooves, and she lifts one of my legs up a bit and eases me onto my side, somehow managing to fit the toy even deeper than it already was. I can feel it bump the very edge of my insides, and I grab and claw at her cloud mattress as she continues to punish my hole with it. In only a minute I can feel the cascading pleasure of a true orgasm rushing through my body. I lie there, aching and moaning for minutes. I feel something tighten, then loosen inside, and I can feel a rush of liquid gush from my legs. I sit up breathlessly to apologize for wetting her bed, but can only flop back down onto it. She leans down and laps at my marehood, and I try to stop her.

“Nnhnn.. Don’t... I just...”

I look down and realize I didn’t pee, I just... Gushed. A squirting orgasm? I figured I wasn’t the sort of pony who could... But then... I’ve never been filled up like that. I find my voice.

“Yes... Lick your Princess dry. That’s a good pegasus.”

As she licks, I cum again. It’s just too good. I want her to keep her face there forever. I beg her to keep going. She licks me into a third, softer orgasm. I manage to roll onto my back and spread my legs again.

“Put it back in... Naughty pegasus, put it back in.”

“But... But I thought the Princess didn’t like...”

She’s smiling. She’s enjoying being right about my needing to try dildos.

“You cocky bitch. You laugh at your Princess?”

I snatch the dildo from her and strap her back down. Fear rushes back into her eyes.

“Please... I’ve been a naughty pegasus...”

I lower my face to her marehood and lick. She’s drenched. She’ll enjoy it. I hold it out of reach and turn up my nose at her.

“No. None of this. You get nothing. Your princess... Is going to sleep.”

“What?! No! Please!”

I look down at her.

“Please what?”

“Please Princess. Please! Oh for hay’s sake, please!”

She wriggles against the straps, and I slip just the head inside her. She stops struggling and waits for the rest, but it doesn’t come. She cranes her neck to get a look at what I’m doing, but I just sit there. I twist it and turn it a little inside, earning a slight twitch of her leg.

“Princess... Please... Don’t tease.”

“Naughty Pegasi need to be teased.”

“I won’t do it again... I won’t leave.”

I slap her on the face.

“No. no you won’t. I’ll keep those perverted wings tied at your sides from now on.”

“No! Please no!”

I slide the dildo in an inch.

“Please what?”

“Please Princess!”

I ease it in the rest of the way, painstakingly inserting it inch by inch until it won’t go any further. She lies in my arms, panting from the exertion of taking it. I’m surprised she can take it all. I wonder if I managed to. I lower my tongue to her clit and lick ever so gently at every inch of her around the dildo. When I finally slide it out, I start to lick it.

“Nnnhhh...”

I catch her straining as I lick it.

“Do you want it?”

“Yes... Yes Princess!”’

I keep her fixed in the corner of my eye and lick it again.

“Mmm... goodness. We have such a good flavor together. Who knew a cheap slut of a pegasus could taste so good next to a Princess? Mmmhmm... I must be able to make even your soaked snatch taste good.”

“Please... Let me taste, Princess...”

I lower the dildo to her lips and lift it just out of reach of her tongue.

“Mmmm. What does your Princess get in return for such a kind act?”

“I’ll be all yours Princess. Any time. You can... You can call me whenever you want. I’ll be your toy. Just let me taste this one.”

I nod and lower it to her mouth. She snaps her neck up as soon as it’s in range and begins to lick it. I ease it down into her mouth. How much of it can she take? Her mane slips down and she spits a bit of her hair out of her mouth.

I brush the cascade of colors aside and let her take another inch of it. On the next inch, I feel a slapping on my flanks. I ease it down again, and the slapping gets more persistent.

“You dare to touch the royal-”

The realization that it’s our signal floods back. I yank the toy out as she sputters and gasps for air.

I wipe the dildo on the sheets and lean down to apologize, but she chokes out words before I can.

“I’m sorry... Princess, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t take all of your toy.”

I lean back. She still wants to play? Hearing her apology gives me an idea.

“Your Princess forgives you. But you have failed her twice tonight.”

“Twice? No. No!”

“Yes. You’ve read my letter as well. So tell me, bad pegasus. What else have you done wrong today?”

“I... I...”

She looks around as if the clues might be written on the walls.

“You may begin with ‘This dirty mare confesses that.’”

She gulps.

“This dirty mare confesses that she... she masturbated thinking about the Princess today.”

I smack her on the flank, hard. She yelps.

“You are now forgiven. Another confession?”

“This... This dirty mare confesses that she wanted to fuck the Princess in the bathroom.”

I can feel myself getting hotter hearing her confessions. I slap her other flank.

“You are now forgiven. Again.”

“This dirty mare confesses that she wants to fuck the Princess again.”

I slap her hard on the chest and unbuckle one hoof.

“You are unforgiven. Your punishment is to please the Princess.”

I give her the toy and rest my body on her bed. I feel it gently rub against my ass. What’s she doing?

“The dirty pegasus would be wise to-”

She slides the head in, the lubricant from both of our bodies more than adequate for the job. I stiffen, unsure of how to proceed. It doesn’t... feel terrible. I decide to roll with it, for her sake.

“Proceed.”

She slides it in a little further. I can feel my insides widening to accommodate every inch. It’s so big... Aren’t you supposed to stretch before these things? I feel a slight pain as I take another inch, and bite my lip. I hear her spit on the remaining length of the shaft, and then it’s all the way in.

“Holy- You actually took... I mean...”

I groan as I try to relax my insides.

“You will use the Royal... Nnnfff... Nnnggg... Name.”

“The Princess took the entire toy on her first try... She’s... amazing!”

I nod and reach behind me, easing it back out.

“There. Your punishment is complete.”

“But... I have more to confess, Princess!”

I sigh and lower my face between her legs. I’m too tired to keep going with the game... but I need her to cum for me at least once more. Our toy is dirty now, so...

“The pegasus will be silent.”

I work my tongue over her. In the months we’ve been together, this has been the easiest way to make her cum. I feel a bit cheap for bringing her to a climax so quickly and in such a foolproof way, but she’s squirming under my hooves in seconds. I count two orgasms before I have to stop and catch my breath.

“I... I’m sorry for tiring you, Princess. I’m a terribly naughty pegasus.”

I nod. She’s not making this easy. Who’s torturing who, again?

She strains to spread her legs.

“Would the Princess truly punish me again?”

I kiss her, and her tongue is in my mouth in seconds. She wants the taste that’s on my lips. I want to mix it with the taste that’s on hers. We’re a bundle of hooves and legs by the time I ease her onto her back, unstrapped. I lower my face between her legs to make her cum again, and she finally speaks.

“Canterlot.”

I sigh and flop onto the bed, exhausted.

“Sorry... I know you were tired but... Oh geez... It was just too good. I had to keep it going.”

I kiss her stomach. Its’ the closest part of her. She pulls me closer to her. Minutes crawl by as we both catch our breath. She rubs life back into her aching and unbound joints. The light of the stars and moon ease in through one of her windows. I manage to crawl up next to her and flop my face onto her chest. She says nothing, just smiles. Dash breaks the silence after a few more minutes.

“Hey Twi...”

“Hmmm?”

“You have any breakthroughs on that letter?”

I roll over. She’s done her job too well tonight... I honestly don’t care about it anymore.

“I... I think you’re right. I think it’ll work itself out. The decision will get clearer in time.”

I curl up to her and push it out of my mind. It’s getting a little clearer all the time. Just tonight I found out that there are still places in Ponyville that don’t feel like home. Maybe tonight I can-

“Hey... we... we’re not gonna be able to sleep up here are we?”

I’m brought back to reality as I start to sink through her cloud bed slowly. The last grips of my spell wear off, and I break through her cloud floor and start to pick up speed. I’m in her arms in a second, and she’s whisking me off toward the Library. She doesn’t set me down until we’re on the veranda. I make my confusion apparent as I pace around.

“That spell has a time limit?”

“Sure, yes... But it should still have hours!”

“How many hours?”

“I don’t know... It should last for four, five hours longer than it did.”

She bites her lip.

“Magic’s still crazy then? You ever gonna really write that letter to the Princess?”

I sigh and slump against the railing, looking back at the sky. Under my hooves, the hardness of my tree home feels odd.

“Yeah... I’ll get around to it.”

She nods and heads inside. I expect her to be in bed, but when I get to it, she’s not there.

“Rainbow? Did you run off for your midnight fly again already?”

She emerges from the staircase with a book in her mouth.

“Nnhffafffooff.”

I levitate it into the bed and climb in next to it while she tries again.

“Not going out tonight.”

She curls up next to me with it and I kiss her cheek. I check the title of her book, expecting a fantasy, an epic, or a detective novel. It’s a full blown academic book on magical maladies.

I snatch it out of her hooves and look it over.

“Why are you interested in magical afflictions?”

“I... Just wanna see if it’s got something you missed maybe. Maybe you caught something.”

I sigh.

“You used to look for the answer to stuff all the time in books. Why wouldn’t you do that now?”

I give the book back, not interested in arguing over it.

“Unless... You’ve already got an idea of why it might be?”

“I have some theories. It’s nothing you should worry about.”

I look over at my suspect as she sits next to me and force the worries out of my mind. All my life, my magic’s been my constant companion. I’d gladly trade it for a flesh and blood one. Wasn’t that why I fell in love with Her? Because she taught me how to handle it?

I cuddle up to my affliction and my medicine, and I try to assure her it’s all going to be ok.
“It’ll be ok. It’s happened before... and I’m tired of being stressed over it. A very special pony taught me recently... some things are only worth crying over once.”

She stiffens as her own advice is given back to her.

“Alright... If you think it’s not worth the stress.”

I pull her closer as she clicks off my bedside lamp.

“Maybe it is. Maybe you’re right. It could be a terrible affliction...”

She moves to click the light back on, but I ease her hoof onto my side instead. I slow my
breathing and ease her head onto the pillow next to me, kissing her goodnight.

“Don’t need the books for this one though. I’ve got the cure right here...”