//------------------------------//
// 1 of 4- This Day Was Going to be Perfect 
// Story: This Day Was Going to be Perfect 
// by NightCoreMoon 
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The morning sun slowly climbed the sky and its beams entered the bedroom window of a small village’s local librarian. The light gently rested upon a dark oak writing desk littered with scraps of crumpled parchment, empty inkwells, a bowl of sand, and a framed photograph of six people: one man with short, messy navy blue hair beset upon every side by five wildly different women. The six were all sitting in a donut shop, each wearing fine dresses (and a suit in his case) but for the fact that they all were torn and covered in various bits of food, animal hair, and who knows what else. Each bore huge, beaming smiles.

Songbirds began sharing the music of the morning as the sunbeams crept slowly along the walls, and crossed a cedar bedside table which held an oil lamp, a pair of horn rimmed glasses, and a stack of various books: A Brief History of Magic, Celsius 232.8, The Secret Life of Star Swirl the Bearded, Fallout: Equestria, two calculus textbooks, and Caring For Pet Owls for Dummies. Each had a different colored bookmark nestled between the pages exactly three centimeters from the spine.

The sun continued its ascent into the sky and the light began moving along a queen sized bed with a cerulean comforter adorned with decorations of small moons and stars. Underneath this comforter was the man from the photograph, Dusk Shine, and he was currently snoring with all of the grace of a panther, if it was attempting to fly a zeppelin that was rapidly losing air and was also on fire. His hair sprawled off in more directions than could be counted in just one sitting.

As the sunlight finally hit his closed eyes the snoring ceased as Dusk rolled just over enough for his eyes to open without being burned. He slowly blinked the sleep from his violet-irised eyes before wiping the grit from them with his fingers. He then leaned forward and stretched out his arms and back before absent-mindedly running his right hand on the scars underneath his chest, yawning, and reaching into the distance with his left hand. The magenta six pointed star on his dorsum began to glow faintly.

His door opened and a mug of steaming hot brown liquid soon came to his fingertips and, after blowing on it, he took a sip. He smiled: coffee, straight black, just the way he liked it. While he drank he extended his right hand towards the writing desk as the paper and inkwells found themselves floating into the nearby trash can. After this task was finished he levitated the pair of glasses on his bedside table into his hand and slipped them on.

Draining the last of the mug, Dusk sent it back out the door and down the stairs and into the kitchen sink, a feat accomplished by years of practicing NVT: non-visible telekinesis, a form of magic typically only accomplished by the mages of the highest order who were well into their 60s at the earliest. He had just turned 20 a few months ago.

Dusk slid out of his bed, returned the comforter and sheets to their respective rightful places, and continued to do another series of stretches, this time his legs. A small nearly inaudible sound then began, a sound that had taken Dusk a while to recognize, and Dusk sighed and shook his head slightly. Without missing a beat he telekinetically opened his window, then his closet, and removed a mattress, and moved it to a specific place on the floor. Then he cocked his head, listening intently, before rotating the mattress slightly and returning to focusing on his stretches.

After a few moments the sound got louder, and suddenly a multicolored streak shot in through the open window and onto his bed, then disappeared, giving way to a woman bouncing off of his bed and onto the mattress he just placed, landing perfectly even with it. A moment later a thin stream of water droplets shot in through the window and landed directly on the bed, soaking it through. At his disapproving stare that seemed to indicate he was approximately 312% done with her shenanigans, she chuckled nervously.

“Hey Dusk.”

Dusk nodded, muttering “Rainbow,” before standing up and reaching a hand out to his guest. He teased, “I see you're on time to crash land into my bedroom. As always.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes before taking his hand and letting herself be pulled up. She then dusted off her cutoff denim shorts, the only article of clothing she was currently wearing, and crossed her arms. She cracked her neck and then flicked her red, orange, and yellow bangs out of her eyes.

“This is only, like, the second time this week that I messed up that turn”, she retorted defensively as she glanced everywhere but at Dusk and ruffled her cyan-feathered wings. When her magenta gaze landed upon the now-wet bed, she then finally met his amused eyes with a sheepish half-grin before she faced the water and put her hands out over it. The rainbow toned lightning bolts on the backs of her hands began to glow.

“And besides,” she placated, “I'm still a little sore from the hurricane we did last week.” While she spoke, several small globules of clear liquid floated up and out of the blankets. Rainbow gently bit her tongue as the spheres began to merge. Once there was only one ball of water roughly the size of her head, she glanced back at Dusk, raising her eyebrows and motioning towards it.

“Well I suppose,” Dusk began, glancing between the water and his friend’s prideful smirk. “But Fluttershy’s doing fine right now and she gave her two hundred percent best effort while you were...” he trailed off as her smile melted and her eyebrows began to narrow, and after a brief moment of internal debate about whether he should say what he was about to say and if it would be worth what she would do in response, he decided that it was and continued.

“Barely even a hundred and ten,” he noticed that Rainbow cocked an eyebrow at this and the faint ghost of a mischievous simper began to grow ever more prominent. He pushed onward. “In fact, you seemed to be using your hydrokinesis a lot more than your actual flying that day, so in all honesty...” He dramatically shrugged his shoulders, turned his head to the side, and put his arms out palms facing upwards, now fully embracing the inevitable. “I think you're just getting sloppy.”

Dusk suddenly found his face and chest soaking wet. After wiping his eyes and opening them, he saw that Rainbow had her hands planted firmly on her hips as she gave him The Look: slightly squinted eyes, lowered brow, scrunchy half smirk, and the vague air of fake disappointment. She leaned forward and tapped on Dusk’s nose with a finger with each word.

“I. Don't. Get. Sloppy.”

And with the final tap she gave a gentle flick before taking a few steps back and falling back onto his bed with a mighty thwomp. She crossed her right leg over her left and rested her head on her arms as she faced the ceiling.

“I actually just wanted to chat with you a little.”

Dusk nodded before he cast a quick heat spell to evaporate the water on his body and turned to his dresser.

“I’m guessing it's about Rarity?” he asked, as he pulled some of his drawers open. As they spoke, he began to pull out a few articles of clothing, absentmindedly planning his attire for their plans later on in the day.

Rainbow groaned. “Well I was gonna warm up to that...” she turned her head to gaze out the window as she continued. “I both love and hate that you always know what I'm thinking...

“Oh yeah,” she said as she leaned up on her elbows. “I'm sorry we got in an argument in front of you and Spike, by the way.”

Dusk glanced up at this. He didn't expect her to bring up... that day. They had been arguing pretty much constantly when they were alone but had been keeping it pretty much held together around their friends. After the events of the Dragonborn Pilgrimage, however, emotions were a bit high...

“So whatcha gonna do with the egg, Spike?” Rainbow inquired, gently hovering above the trio. Dusk and Rarity were flanking the dragonborn who was clutching an egg and gently rubbing it with his thumb. Or at least, the claw that was the equivalent of a thumb.

“Well I can't exactly give it back,” he said, not taking his eyes off of the orb. “Phoenixes don't return to the nest if it's been disturbed by anyone, dragonborn or human or whatever.”

Dusk nodded. “I once did a study on Philomena, Celestia’s pet phoenix. Spike took notes for me.”

“Are you going to hatch it?” Rainbow asked, teasingly. “I think you'd be an ~adorable~ mama.”

Spike rolled his eyes while Rarity stuck her tongue out at Rainbow, before saying “You aren't wrong that he'd be adorable, Dash, but I don't think he has the right parts to be a mama.” Through her giggling she didn't notice the brief uneasy look that passed between Spike and Dusk.

“Definitely an adorable papa though.”

“Can I be a handsome papa instead?” Spike pleaded.

“Nope,” Dusk said, shaking his head. “That title goes to me.”

The girls shared a laugh at this before they continued walking through the forest back home. Dusk would have teleported them all back but he didn't have the energy to do so anymore. The fight with the three elder teenage dragonborn had not only depleted his own reserves, but Rarity had to bolster him as well. Rainbow was fine though, as her aquamancy took very little focus to use.

“Who would be the mama, though?” Rainbow asked.

Spike shrugged. “Having two dads probably wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.”

“Well you two have too many obligations to do so,” Dusk began, pointing to Rarity and Rainbow. “Pinkie’s got her hands full with the twins, and Applejack has too much responsibility on the orchard.”

“Fluttershy could do it,” Rarity interjected. “I'm sure if you asked her she'd love to do it.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow grumbled, crossing her arms and muttering under her breath. “I'm real sure she would if you forced her to.”

Rarity gave a sly, sidelong glance at her suddenly bitter for some reason girlfriend. “Excuse me?”

Dusk’s breath hitched. He'd been expecting this for a while. Spike just glanced confusedly at everyone, wondering at the sudden mood shift.

“Fluttershy just loves doing whatever you tell her to do,” Rainbow replied, voice sickly sweet. “Even if she hates it because she's such a good friend.”

Rarity stopped walking and crossed her own arms, leaning forward and giving Rainbow the evil eye. “Are you insinuating something, Darling?” This wasn't the darling that meant a term of endearment reserved for someone special. This was the darling Rarity pulled out when she was spitting angry.

“Oh, nothing,” Rainbow said, grinding her teeth. “Aside from driving her to a freaking nervous breakdown.”

“Rainbow if you had a problem with the miscommunication we had during her modeling career, that-”

“Oh, you mean the one that gave her such a bad anxiety attack that she's still having nightmares about it!?”

Rarity recovered from the shock of being interrupted and the resulting anger when Rainbow mentioned this. “She had an attack?”

“A huge one.” Rainbow responded with venom rather than mutual concern. She was boiling over. “You know that whole ballet opening? She came to my house after she missed your spa date, and I asked her what was up and she just burst into tears!”

“I... didn't know...”

“She had another attack because she was crying so much she couldn't BREATHE. When she calmed down I told her to tell you you couldn't do it anymore but she didn't want to disappoint you. I guess she just cares more for your approval than her own safety.”

“I already apologized to her!” Rarity yelled, defensively. “I know I made mistakes! I know I upset her terribly, and I know I did wrong. But we’ve both put it behind us, why can't you!?”

“Because you did it to her in the first place!” Rainbow screamed, now on the ground. Wings aflare, fists clenched, and her face in Rarity’s. “You cared more about your career than about my best friend’s feelings, all for the sake of impressing Photo Finish! Even if you say you're sorry now that doesn't mean anything. You would do it again in a heartbeat!”

SLAP!

Rarity’s hand lay extended for a moment, just long enough to let the moment sink in. Rainbow’s face, now frozen an angle from where it had been moments ago, sat in open mouthed shock.

“How... dare you.”

Hot tears began burning in both of their faces, the sting of regret coloring the air. The silence was broken by a single sob, and the pair slowly turned to face their audience. Spike was weeping, burying his head in Dusk’s chest. Dusk simply stared off in the distance.

They had always made sure to keep their fights private and out of detection from their mutual friends. Until now.

“It really wasn't cool to either of you,” Rainbow said, interrupting Dusk’s memories. “We just, you know...” she shrugged, or at least tried to. She then sighed and sat fully up, wrapping her arms around herself, and uncharacteristically staring at the ground.

“We finally broke up last night.”

Dusk had had in his arms a pair of khaki shorts, a white t shirt, and his underclothes, but the articles suddenly found themselves on the ground as he rushed to her side. He reached out his right hand, hesitated, and put it on her left shoulder. Typically she'd have immediately shrugged it off, as she was never one for what she coined “sappy PDA”, but this situation was different. Dusk began to regret jumping right into what Dash wanted to talk about, but knew she'd rather get this out and then be able to ignore it than to just let it fester and never addressing it.

“What happened?” he asked. Saying ‘Are you okay?’ would have been met with either a “Yeah sure I'll be fine whatever” or a “Well of course not, I love her, you idiot”, and saying ‘What did you do this time?’ was clearly not the right way to go for obvious reasons. He also wasn't enough of a jerk to say something like that no matter how accurate it probably was. At least... not on purpose, anymore.

Dusk mentally cleared a spot in the day’s schedule to buy a pint- no, a quart- actually, make that a full gallon- of vanilla oat swirl flavored ice cream and bring it to Rarity.

Maybe two gallons.

To his great surprise, Rainbow leaned towards Dusk and rested her forehead on his collarbone. Her wings had unfurled and slumped onto the bed, and moisture had begun to form in her eyes. She was too stubborn to let anything leak out if she had anything to say about it, but it was there nonetheless.

“I brought up stuff that we should’ve talked about months ago,” she began. “She was upset with me for never wearing the clothes she made me, which isn't true because I wear them all the time because they're awesome, and she was really upset and junk, and I felt really bad about it so I brought up my Nightmare Night costume, but she was all ‘that has nothing to do with what I mean because that's a special occasion’,” a pause to inhale and readjust her head.

“So I told her that I had a hard time with knowing what was a special occasion and what wasn't one, because I do, and then she got mad at me for ‘making excuses like always’ and that really ticked me off because she just doesn't get that I just don't get some of the things that mages like you guys do and say and stuff, so I started yelling at her about how she was making excuses for the whole deal with Gabby Gums up until it was hurting her too, like she didn't even care that I was hurt first!

“And then she got even more mad at me and was all ‘first of all that's a separate issue and second of all ~darling~ a lady’s private diary is different from treating oneself to a pedicure every once in awhile’ which is stupid because that's a super normal thing for you mages to do- no offense- but all of my avian friends were teasing me about being a mage on the inside and other dumb stuff like that which I mean I can deal with no biggie but she didn't even think it was important to me at all!”

Dusk listened intently as she began to ramble, even through her sentences blending together and losing their full coherency, because this was the most she had talked about the relationship with Rarity since they started officially dating during the Festival of Hearts. She had talked plenty about the sex (very much to Spike’s chagrin), but this was Rainbow’s first time actually talking about her feelings and her romantic life since... well, ever, and Dusk was determined to be there for her, no matter how much he didn't want to hear about Rarity’s scary side.

By the end of her ranting she had stood up and had begun pacing around the room in an agitated manner, emoting loudly with her hands, and wings aflare. Dusk had used this distraction to change his clothes while absorbing her diatribe. He still had time to discreetly write a note and he slipped it under the bedroom door, both telekinetically, before she took in the last breath of her tirade.

“And then she said ‘maybe we should take a break’ and I know that doesn't technically mean we’re totally broken up and everything but she's said that kind of thing to lots of people before, and all of those people are now her exes, and this was dumb mistake number six, I told her exactly that, and she said ‘well maybe you'd like to join them’ and she looked pretty serious about it so I tore out of her house and I started flying...” she looked up at Dusk. “And that’s when I came here. Wait, when did you change?”

Dusk offered her a solicitous smile and took a step towards her, holding his hand out.

“While you were talking. Are you going to be okay for today?”

Rainbow glanced between his hand, his outfit, and his face, before she gently bat his hand out of the way, blew her bangs out of her eyes again, cracked her knuckles, and put her hands on her hips.

“Tch, please,” she said, dismissively rolling her eyes. “I'm not gonna let a little drama get in the way of a little light weatherwork.” Her trademark cocky smirk had returned, as well as the rest of her brash demeanor and confident pose.

Dusk grinned at her newfound enthusiasm; she had just needed to vent a little, and for at least a little while she’d be just fine.

“And anyways, the silver lining is I’m single again so now I’m back in the game, baby!”

Perhaps even more than fine.

“You can serenade the eligible bachelorettes of Ponyville with tales of your awesomeness later,” Dusk replied with only a small amount of condescension, what little of which was rewarded with a punch to the arm. “But right now I need breakfast and I'm sure you didn't eat anything today yet.”

Rainbow made as if to say something but after a moment’s hesitation closed her mouth and then shrugged in affirmation. Dusk then walked to his door, taking notice by the note’s absence that Spike had indeed received the message, and walked down the stairs into the library with Rainbow in tow. She did a swan dive over the banister, performed a front flip, and then flapped her wings hard, landing with low velocity. She let out a small “ta-da” accompanied by jazz hands.

“Do you remember when you tried that at my housewarming and broke the railing and almost Pinkie Pie’s back?” Dusk asked, chuckling at her flustered reaction before opening a closet.

“I was a little drunk, okay?” she maintained defensively. It wasn't hard cider like she usually preferred but Pinkie sure made a mean bloody mary. “Anyways it’s pretty nice out- you're welcome, by the way- so you don't need a jacket.”

Dusk emerged from the closet holding a piece of fabric. Closing the door behind him, he handed it to her.

“I think you left some clothes at Rarity’s.”

“What do you-” Rainbow began to ask before looking down. “Oh.” With a sheepish grin and a muttered ‘thanks’ she took the sky-blue halter crop top and slipped the loop behind her head. After a moment of buckling the straps underneath the base of her wings so they were comfortable, she gave a quick flap to ensure that she still had full mobility.

“I actually went straight from my evening nap on the orchard to the boutique,” she explained as Dusk unlocked, opened, walked through, closed, and relocked the door. “The girls were having one of their sleepovers at Fluttershy’s last night so Rare and I weren't exactly planning on wearing much.” She laughed but then the smile that was plastered on her face faded slightly.

“Oh darling, I feel overdressed...”

Rainbow had just landed outside her girlfriend’s bedroom window and hopped in only to discover that she was lying supine on her bed wearing nothing but her underwear, surrounded by rose petals, and bathed in the gentle glow of candlelight. She could smell lilacs.

“No, you're...” Thwumpf. “You’re fine.”

The lacy black-and-red lingerie adorning Rarity’s contrasting pale white frame left very little to the imagination. Her thick violet hair fell around her shoulders, recently straightened. Rainbow had a hard time trying to furl her wings back up.

“So are you saying you don't want me to do...” she slipped a bra strap over her shoulder. Rarity’s quite sizeable breast threatened to spill out of the cup entirely as she seductively clambered towards Rainbow and breathed, “...this?”

Rainbow’s eyes traveled from Rarity’s endowed chest to her bare belly to her shapely thighs and then finally back up to her deep blue eyes. Lust. Desire. Hunger. Pure unbridled want. And also, if you knew what to look for, a little bit of fear.

“No, I mean...” Rainbow took a few tentative steps forward before gently placing her own hands on Rarity’s shoulders. “You're... fine. As hell.” She winked and then their lips met.

Rainbow pursed her lips and lightly shook her head of the memory so it didn't get to the bad part: the morning. Instead, she jammed her fingers into the front pockets of her shorts and hovered alongside her companion as he strolled to Sugarcube Corner. He offered her a comforting, sympathetic smile as they shared a silence, opting to listen to the birdsong and the town’s hustle and bustle.

Nothing that happened the night before was going to ruin her mood. This day was going to be perfect.

/x/x/x/

This day was going to be a disaster!

A man in a suit of armor threw open a door and slammed it closed behind him. Quickly he shucked off his helmet and unbelted his sword, carelessly tossing them onto the sofa sitting in the room. His short blue hair was molded from the helmet so he furiously rubbed at it to fix it.

“Darling,” the gentle lilting voice from another room cooed. He looks up as she enters and in a single moment his stress and anxieties melted away. Her long violet, fuchsia, and yellow colored hair was all she wore.

The angry scowl dissipated immediately and fell away into cool contentment. He approached her and got on one knee, taking her hand in his and kissing it.

“My queen,” he declared. “Well... my princess.”

She grinned as she stroked his hair with her free hand. He stands up and wraps his arms around her as they kiss. He stands nearly a full head taller than her and so leans down. She returns in full force and places her hands on his hips.

“How fare preparations for the wedding?” she asks when they finally break apart. His smile fades as he strolls over and sits on the salmon pink sofa next to his equipment, setting his feet on the matching ottoman in front of it. She steps behind him and massages his temples.

“The recruits are worthless,” he complains. “They wouldn't know the sharp end of a spear if it stabbed them. I wouldn't be surprised if the castle’s wait staff could defeat them with dining utensils... and not even the sharp ones!”

Behind his head, a green aura seeped from his ears into her fingertips, and her eyes began to glow the same color.

“I would surmise that you'll just have to literally whip them into shape,” she giggles. “And I'm sure you know exactly how much I'd like to see that happen.”

He sighed contentedly. “Perhaps tonight you could show me an example?” he craned his neck as she bent further down to encapsulate his lips in another kiss, but before they made contact a knock came at the door.

Within an instant she had taken a step back and motioned downwards with her hands, making a thin pink dress appear. They exchanged a brief look of surprise and annoyance as she approached the door, eyeing the figure through the peephole.

“Hey Shining Armor,” he yelled. “Hey buddy, you there? It's Spearhead!”

She turned back and raised an eyebrow at Shining. He contemplated for a moment before shrugging and giving her a thumbs up. She nodded and opened the door.

“Oh! Um, hey- hello there, Princess Cadance. Uh, I mean... Mi Amore Cadenza.” The burly man with a blue mohawk faltered a bit before pushing on. “I didn't know you two were, ah... busy. Sorry.”

Shining’s hand settled on the back of Cadance’s neck. Unbeknownst to Spearhead, as he was immediately embroiled in a conversation concerning bachelor parties and groomsman rituals and something about his younger brother, magical energy was transferring itself between Shining’s hand and Cadance’s head as her eyes glazed over. By the time he was finished she was back to reality.

“Will your painting be finished by the reception?” She asked after Spearhead paused to take a breath. His next sentence caught in his throat before a giddy smile overtook his face.

“Of course it will be,” he zealously exclaimed. “I'm really proud of this one too and I know you both will love it, and it'll make the whole aesthetic of the dance perfect for a partying mood!”

Cadance and Shining gave each other an awkward glance as fake smiles plastered onto their faces.

“Well we’ll be really looking forward to that,” Shining said, woodenly. “But right now we’re kind of in the middle of something, Spear, so...”

He closed his mouth and nodded in affirmation. “Yup, I totally get what ya mean, buddy,” he gave a conspiratorial wink, a knowing smirk, and a light punch to the shoulder. “I'll run the recruits ragged while you're gone, almost as ragged as you two are gonna get if ya catch my drift. I'll see ya later!”

He turned and walked down the front steps and off into the street as Cadance closed the door.

“I... guess I'm popular.” he deadpanned.

Cadance turned to Shining as he pinched the bridge of his nose. She placed her hands on his head as the turquoise crystal heart on the backs of them began to glow. An orb of green mist pulled out of his head and into her hands.

“I'll take care of the fake memories, you just stand there.” she flatly declared. She opened his pants and pulled her dress up and they began to have sex. It was quick, passionless, and over within a single minute. After it was finished and after a brief cleanup spell he gazed after her longingly.

“Will I see you again tomorrow morning?”

She turned back towards him, glowing orb still in hand. She waved her hand again as the dress disappeared from view, before she turned from him.

“Unless his family starts arriving early then I don't see why not,” she teased. “You just go back to the hive, Lilu, and ensure our strength in numbers. Soon enough we can be together for entire days.”

He nodded and turned before something clicked in his mind. “But, my Queen...” he began to ask. “When you kill Celestia and Luna there won't be days anymore.”

She placed her finger on her lips for a moment before she turned to him again, head cocked to the side and a mischievous grin plastered on her face. “Then for eternity.” and with that, she closed the bedroom door.

She stepped towards the Shining Armor lying down on the bed. His eyes were wide open, glowing green, unfocused and glazed over. She straddled his form and placed the orb by his head, slowly coaxing the energy into his ear.

“Hello darling,” she cooed, sickly sweet. “It's time to wake up now...”

/x/x/x/

“Honeybun, I need a half dozen cranberry muffins out here STAT!”

“You got it dearie!”

“And a bear claw!”

“Coming right up! And tell Lucky I said hello!”

A momentary break in communication passes.

“He says hello and that the new wallpaper looks lovely!”

“Tell him I said thank you!”

It was another typical day in Sugarcube Corner. Alongside the bakers’ constant seamless back and forth, the sizzling of deep fryers, the ka-ching! of the cash register, the whirring of electric mixers, and the babbling of two infants filled the air. The scents of various breads, pastries, and other baked goods accompanied a blue-eyed young woman holding the two aforementioned babies. She was sitting in a rocking chair in the childrens’ bedroom above the bakery proper, taking in the sounds and smells and threatening to fall asleep herself.

She turned her head slightly to the side, throwing her wild unkempt and poofy magenta mane around the opposite direction, and put her mouth around the end of a particularly long straw, beginning to suck. After about twenty seconds, her mouth filled with a sweet, creamy white substance. She savored the taste for just a moment before she swallowed and went back in for another drink. Just before she took a second sip, she quickly turned her eyes to face one of the walls in the room.

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” she whispered to no one in particular. “It's just a vanilla milkshake, silly!” Then with that, she dove back in.

The straw was actually composed of around a dozen individual straws held together in a line (if you could call it that), and each segment was held together by duct tape, tied ribbons, chewing gum, or some combination of the three. It went in multiple directions before settling itself into a malt glass situated on the nightstand to the right of the girl and the rocking chair that she was seated upon. The milkshake was piled high with what seemed to be a literal entire can of whipped cream and a single maraschino cherry resting atop the so-called Mount Diabetes. Despite looking incredibly structurally unsound, and possibly breaking a few laws of physics, the glass remained upright.

The girl kissed the nearly-asleep children on their foreheads: first the boy, with a small tuft of dark brown hair, then the girl, with orange. She chuckled lightly at the white splotches left behind, sighed contentedly, and continued to gently rock back and forth. She glanced out the window to her left out across town and watched the steady stream of foot traffic. She could see a fair distance because she was on the second floor.

She could see her friend Lyra sitting across a table from her other friend Bonbon, sharing a plate of what she knew were fried potatoes with a garlic aioli, which Lyra secretly hated but ate without complaint in the desperate hopes to advance the longtime silently-nursed not-so-secret crush held on Bonbon. She could see her friend Cherry Berry, performing some general maintenance on her hot air balloon, holding a wrench in her mouth and a screwdriver behind her ear, taking the engine apart and putting it back together again because she was still upset about the whole evil Fluttershy incident but wouldn't let anybody know that. She could see her friend Applejack manning her stall selling apples (what else?) as usual, ever-present stetson hat tipped just slightly to the left to block out the morning sun. She could see a dozen other people, all of whom she could safely refer to as “her friend insert name here”, milling about their business. She people-watched for a while before the two kids finally fell fully asleep.

“Alright, Pinkie Pie”, she said to herself. “Take the twins to the crib, swap shifts with mister Cake, bake the cake for tonight's picnic, take the register, finish delivering exposition, and then go to the picnic!”

She did these things while she said them in typical mini-montage fashion but was distracted midway through by some unexpected though not unwelcome guests popping through the line whilst she worked the register.

“‘Sup, Pinks!” greeted Rainbow Dash, offering a friendly wave with her right wing.

“Hi Dashie!” Pinkie cried before glancing to her companion on the right. “Hi Dusky!”

Dusk nodded. “Hello Pinkie,” he offered. “How are you?”

“I'm great!” she answered. “I got to eat a super yummy breakfast with biscuits and gravy and lots and lots of eggs and feed the twins their morning bottles and rock them back to sleep and they're so adorable when they try to keep their tired little eyes open even though I was like ‘hey now guys I know you're cute and all but you really gotta go to sleep and you gotta take advantage of this whole mandatory nappage they've got going on because no offense Dashie but not everybody can sleep for sixteen hours a day’ and while I was doing that I was drinking a super scrum-diddly-umptious vanilla milkshake through my patented ultra-mega-super-straw-nic and then I was delivering exposition like everybody’s used to by now and then I was peoplewatching for a little bit because what else am I gonna do while I'm rocking the kids to sleep because television doesn't exist yet and I'm not gonna just stare at the wall as if paint were drying because well I mean there isn't any wet paint on the nursery wall because Mister Cake and I already took care of painting it before Missus Cake even had the babies and the absolute last thing in the whole wide world I would ever wanna do is sit down and watch paint dry because if I did that I would probably just literally BOOM! explode from inactivity and then when Pound and Pumpkin were finally asleep I came down here to start working the register and then you two came here and Dashie said ‘Sup Pinks?’ all cool and stuff like she usually does and then I said “Hi Dashie” and “Hi Dusky” like I always do whenever I see you guys and then you said hi and asked me how I am and then I told you and now we’re here so now you're all caught up!!!”

Pinkie then took a deep breath that lasted about twelve and a half seconds before she asked, “What would you two like to eat?”

Dusk ordered an apple cinnamon oatmeal muffin and a straight black coffee, and Rainbow- after being gently nudged awake by her companion’s elbow as she’d slipped off somewhere between ‘vanilla milkshake’ and ‘watching paint dry’- ordered a half dozen malasadas and chocolate milk.

Dusk raised an eyebrow at her choice of drink, curious as he'd never seen her drink anything that wasn't carbonated or alcoholic... or both. Rainbow looked at him and shrugged her shoulders, as if to ask if she wasn't allowed to drink something that differed from her norm.

“Oki doki loki,” Pinkie said with a smile. She then turned her head towards the doorway to the kitchen and shouted, “I need a black mamba with a sweet apple special and a backwards discord with a sixer of triple Cs!”

Dusk and Rainbow shared mutual looks of confusion at their friend’s chosen nomenclature of baked goods. A “coming right up” floated in from the back room alongside the unmistakable sizzle of a deep fryer and a wafting scent of cinnamon and cocoa. Rainbow licked her lips in anticipation and rubbed her hands together, rocking her weight between her heels and the balls of her feet.

“That'll be fourteen bits.”

Rainbow brought her hand to her shorts pocket and suddenly froze. She then frantically began turning and patting at her pockets until Dusk put his hand on her shoulder, and with his other hand showed her his black leatherbound wallet.

“My treat.” he said.

Rainbow heaved a sigh of relief and placed her hands atop Dusk’s on her shoulder. “All right, you're the man, Dusk!” she cried triumphantly.

Both Dusk and Pinkie chuckled at this, and as he was pulling the bills out of his wallet, he said “I know.”

After the transaction was complete, Pinkie leaned over the counter and encapsulated the two in a hug. Dusk and Rainbow glanced at each other across the back of Pinkie’s neck before shrugging and linking their arms around her back.

“I'll see you guys later?” Pinkie asked as she pulled away.

“Absolutely!” Rainbow affirmed. “We can't have a decent party without our resident party master around, after all!”

“Well...” Dusk interjected. “It's not exactly a party, more of a social gathering.” He put his change inside his wallet which he put pack in his pocket. “A potluck, specifically, but we’re looking forward to seeing you then. What are you bringing?”

“Oh, I can't tell you that, silly!” Pinkie teased. “It would ruin the ~mystery~” she said in an ethereal lilting tone, wiggling her fingers and her outstretched arms.

“Betcha a bushel o’ apples it's a cake.”

Pinkie snapped her focus directly to the speaker, one sweaty stetson-adorned country-bred green-eyed sight for sore eyes she knew as Applejack. Dusk and Rainbow turned as well to address the sudden appearance of the trio’s mutual friend.

Aside from the hat, she was wearing a short sleeved plaid flannel shirt with a crimson and white color palette, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a simple white camisole underneath, a pair of denim knee-length shorts, and of course, a pair of dirty (but not *too* dirty) cowboy boots.

She pulled her hat back from off of her thin blonde tresses with her right hand while undoing the tie around her ponytail with her left, and her long locks fell in a cascade that fully enraptured Pinkie’s attention.

“Howdy, Dusk,” she greeted, southern drawl dripping with every syllable she spoke. “Rainbow. Pinkie. How's this fine mornin’ treatin’ y'all?” Once her question was spoken she took her hat in her mouth and began to re-tie her hair but this time in a loose bun.

“Hey AJ!” Rainbow replied, tilting her head slightly to the side and giving a smirk and a one handed wave.

“Hello,” Dusk also replied, nodding once. “We’re just getting a bit of breakfast before getting ready for later today. How have you fared?”

“Same ol’ same old,” Applejack said as she took her hat out of her mouth and planted it firmly back on her head, securing her hair in place. “Sold some pies n’ fritters, made me a mite bit peckish, and I got a hankering for some good ol’-fashioned Long Island Pinkie Pie-ced tea.”

A sudden clang brought everyone’s attention to the bakery counter, where Pinkie had just set down a tall glass of an amber-hued liquid, replete with a lemon slice and, of course, many ice cubes.

“One Pie-ced Tea, three bits!” Pinkie proclaimed. Rainbow and Dusk shared a knowing look as they stepped away from Applejack towards the doorway to the kitchen proper and waited for their order to complete, leaving the two druids to converse.

Dusk never minded the wait, as he would always stand and watch people go about their everyday lives. It was something he shared with Pinkie, though he wasn't always like that. When he was younger he didn't mind waiting for things because he could read another chapter of whatever book (or books, as was the case) he had his nose buried in. He still read, for several hours of the day and night, but not while out and about and running errands anymore. Reading people was almost as fun, anyways.

Almost.

Rainbow, on the other hand, hated waiting. She hated watching people, she hated standing around, she hated not being in perpetual motion. She hated having to keep her wings still because of one too many ‘incidents’ involving the appendages and high velocity impacts into- and one time through- the bakery’s ceiling, and the sign on the wall that read “All Avians please keep wings neatly folded while inside. Yes, Rainbow Dash, this includes you. Thank you!” did nothing to assuage her antsy restlessness. Though to be fair, she herself wasn't the only reason for the sign, simply... the biggest.

If she would deign to carry a purse, or if backpacks were useable by Avians, she would of course carry around a trove of the adventure novels she had recently fallen in love with. Doing so would entirely eliminate all further potential boredom for the rest of her life, but in all honesty she much preferred occasional boredom to the ideas of either surgically removing her wings or, ugh, actually carrying around a purse. Both options were equally undesirable.

“Order up!” shouted Carrot Cake from behind the kitchen door, before he stepped out holding a brown paper bag and a cardboard drink carrier with two coffee cups occupying half of the slots. Dusk took hold of the drinks as Rainbow took the bag, both thanking him as they did so.

Carrot surveyed the line, or the lack thereof, as he removed his paper hat and ran a hand through his short and messy orange hair. His apron used to be white but was currently beige and covered in bits of dough, powdered sugar, melted chocolate, and the like. He adjusted his red and white striped bow tie as he stepped towards the lively, animated discussion currently going on between Pinkie and Applejack. Carrot and Applejack began to exchange greetings, but Dusk wasn't able to hear what was said over the rustling of the paper sack in Rainbow’s hands.

He turned to see her pull out a small ball of fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar, grasped between her thumb and forefinger. She waved it gently in front of her nose, closing her eyes and inhaling before letting out a satisfied ‘Aaahh...’ and then biting into it. She pulled away about half with her teeth, exposing the chocolatey interior. A dopey grin crossed her face as she chewed, and after she swallowed she opened her eyes only to see Dusk grinning at her.

“What?” she asked innocently, unaware of the chocolate stain on her lower lip. Dusk tapped his own with his finger but her only response was to raise one eyebrow. He opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it, shaking his head. Dash shrugged and popped the rest of the miniature pastry into her mouth, and with her mouth half full she offered the bag to Dusk and asked “Want one? You paid.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Dusk said with only the barest hint of a grimace at the ball of deep fried empty calories. “But no thank you. We should sit, regardless.” he continued, motioning towards an empty table. She nodded and followed him over, plopping down in the chair opposite him, and fishing the smaller paper sack holding the rest of her malasadas. Dusk pulled out his muffin and they began to eat.

Rainbow took hold of one of the drinks and took a swig, only to violently pull the cup away from her mouth. Her eyes reflected the pain of tasting the wrong beverage, and she meekly offered the cup of coffee to Dusk. He chuckled and took it from her hands, and his laughter only grew more intense as she struggled to swallow. Eventually she did, wincing, and immediately shoved another piece of her breakfast into her mouth. She followed it with a drink of what was actually hers, and then relaxed.

Applejack and Pinkie then pulled up chairs, Applejack with a trio of blueberry scones in tow. Both were red-faced and trying desperately hard not to show that they were laughing. They were failing, though, as the glare Rainbow was giving them could attest to.

“Something funny?” she asked, fuming from embarrassment. Applejack just took a bite of her scone and shot a glance at Pinkie, who returned one before looking back at Rainbow. She reached a finger out and swiped it across Rainbow’s chin, coming away with a blob of chocolate.

Rainbow, who had been gaping open mouthed at Pinkie’s audacity, then shot an angry glance at Dusk, who was looking everywhere but at her. She held the glare, and tried to share it with all three of her companions, but eventually it broke and she found herself laughing along with the rest of them.

After the spate of laughter faded, Dusk took a sip of his coffee before turning to Pinkie.

“So,” he asked. “Not that I'm not glad to see you over here but isn't it your shift right now?”

“Kinda,” she replied. “But Mister Cake is letting me take five because there's nobody in line and you guys are all here right now and he’s always super duper lenient with my breaks and stuff because he says he appreciates all the hard work I do around here especially with the babies and the paint job and-” at Applejack’s touch to her arm, she took a pause to take a deep breath. “So I can hang out for a minute. What are you guys doing next?”

“Well...” Dusk glanced at Rainbow, who was chewing, before turning back to Pinkie. “I was probably going to go do a little shopping and then see Rarity, and then- are you okay Rainbow? ...then I was going to go home and do a little light reading before the picnic later.”

Rainbow recovered from her slight choking spat at the mention of her girlfri- of her ex girlfriend, and swallowed. “And I was gonna fly for a while,” she said as a shadow crossed her face. “And then I was gonna see Fluttershy because there's... something we gotta talk about.”

“Ooohh!” Pinkie cried. “Whatcha gotta talk about?”

Rainbow bit her lip while Pinkie patiently awaited a response. Applejack raised an eyebrow at Dusk and motioned her head towards Rainbow. Dusk glanced at Rainbow and tilted his head slightly to the side. Rainbow shrugged and Dusk turned back to Applejack before nodding. Applejack put her hand over her mouth and turned to Rainbow, who just gave a sad half smile. The silence, however, was getting just shy of oppressive when Dusk spoke out.

“It's probably private-” he began before he was interrupted by Pinkie’s gasp.

“Wait a minute,” she cried. “Did you and Rarity break up!?”

The trio of non-Pinkies collectively facepalmed.

/x/x/x/

“Did you and Rainbow break up?”

Fluttershy’s question struck Rarity as odd.

“Well... we’re taking a break,” Rarity began to explain. “But I still care about her and would like to get past this little roadblock as soon as possible.” She paused to take a sip of her tea. “This brew is very good.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Definitely bring this later on, I have the perfect tea set for it. Anywho, I've been formulating my own apology for my past misgivings as- though I regret to admit it- she did raise some valid points. I haven't been the best girlfriend I can be to her.”

“Oohhh,” Fluttershy said, slowly nodding with understanding. She sipped her tea, before furrowing her brow in worry and setting her cup back in its saucer, and onto the table at the center of Carousel Boutique’s kitchen slash dining room. “Does Rainbow know that?”

Rarity gave a short bark of laughter before she covered her mouth and excused herself.

“Darling, you should give her more credit,” she said. “Our relationship goes beyond words, and I trust her enough to trust me. A silly little fight like this isn't enough to drive a wedge between us.”

/x/x/x/

“And she's letting this big stupid fight drive a wedge between us!” Rainbow exclaimed in a fit of frustration and her waving arms. As the emotional high from her rant went down, she noticed the downcast eyes around her. She took a deep breath.

“I'm sorry, guys,” she said. “I just... really gotta go clear my head real quick, I haven't really flown since I went from the orchard to Rarity’s bedroom last night.”

“From the what now?” Asked Applejack, suspiciously raising an eyebrow. The previously dour mood faded and her accusatory gaze seemed to suggest that if she heard Rainbow say what she think she said... she had better not have.

Rainbow froze, mentally went back through what she just said, and then grabbed her cup and now-empty sack. She nudged Dusk’s shoulder, and said “Thanks for the food, see you guys later!” before briskly walking out the door. She sprinted down the street, stretched out her wings, and took off into the distance. Nothing betrayed her presence aside from the loose dust and wet spot on the ground.

“I swear that girl’s gonna fall outta one o’ them trees some day.” Applejack growled. “An’ when she does, I just hope she don't break her fool neck.”

“She hasn't fallen out thus far,” Dusk pointed out. “And if she's been doing that ever since she moved here it's probably not going to happen. Your trees all have sturdy branches anyway,” he continued, pausing to take a drink of his coffee. “So there really isn't anything to worry about for either of their sakes.”

“Well ordinally y'all’d be correct,” Applejack volleyed back through a mouthful of scone. “But a lot of ‘em are still upset after the whole slippy dippy... nine hundred... whatever.”

“Super speedy cider squeezy six thousand!” Pinkie offered.

“Yeah, that,” Applejack returned. “Only reason I’m gettin’ on Dash’s tail right now is I still don't know who’s ready to even be harvested yet!”

Quietly from Pinkie, “...but Dashie doesn't have a tail...”

“Flim and Flam did that much of a number on them, huh?” Dusk asked before draining the last of his coffee. He levitated the empty cup into a trash can near the front door as Applejack spoke.

“They darn near uprooted half the orchard we gave to ‘em when they saw they were losin’!” she cried. “If we’d known they were killin’ all those trees, Granny woulda whooped their butts back to their momma faster n’ y'all could say ‘frontier justice’.”

“Well hopefully you never have to see them again, right AJ?” Pinkie asked.

“If they got the nerve to show themselves to the people of this town after servin’ that sludge they called cider, only way they won't get run right back outta town on a rail is if they invent some magical tonic that cures everything.” Applejack took one last bite of her final scone before continuing. “And anyway, let’s talk about somethin’ else. I can't sell nothin’ if I'm in a sour mood. What kinda cake didja make, Pinkie?”

“Oh it’s a marbled yellow with a buttercream- wait a minute,” Pinkie narrowed her eyes at the smug look on her friend’s face. Dusk snickered a bit as he took Applejack’s empty bag in hand and took care of all the trash and Rainbow’s leftover cinnamon sugar on the table.

“AJ, you tricked me...” Pinkie gave sad puppydog eyes and a lip quiver. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Applejack chuckled, took her hat off, and set it on Pinkie’s head as best as her hair would allow. “Well it'll still be a secret to Rare, Shy, and Dash, right?”

Pinkie’s fake frown melted away, and she beamed as she pulled the Stetson a little tighter on her head. “You're right, AJ!” she exclaimed. “They all love surprises! Well maybe not Fluttershy as much because sometimes if she gets a really loud surprise she gets really scared and goes all kitty-tonic and sometimes she does that thingy where her eyes get all unfocused and she can't hear you when you talk to her anymore, and Rarity really doesn't like to be surprised especially when she's working on one of her dress orders, but if it's the whole pleasant and quiet kind of surprise when they're in the mood for a surprise then I know they really appreciate it especially if it's about something as yummy as cake! Dashie always loves surprises though, even if they're loud and scary like the only kinds of pranks I pull that work on her, and she also loves surprises like cake and stuff, so it'll be super duper funderful when I do the flavor reveal!” Pinkie finally paused in her speech to give Applejack a hug.

Pinkie was a little shorter than Applejack, whose tall and muscular frame stood about a head taller than Pinkie’s shorter, more stocky build. She put her arms around Applejack's waist and nestled her head on the taller girl’s shoulder. Applejack loosely linked her own arms around Pinkie’s shoulders and waited patiently for Pinkie to pull away.

When she finally did, she did with a jump backwards, and Pinkie rocked back and forth between the balls of her feet and her heels.

“Can I wear the hat until the picnic later?” she innocently requested, forefinger resting on her lips. Applejack just put her weight on one foot and crossed her arms, giving an expectant look.

“Do marmosets have mostly twins?”

Pinkie froze, unsure of what exactly a marmawhatever was, but over Applejack’s shoulder she could see Dusk nodding yes.

“Thanks AJ!” she cried. She reached into her hair underneath and pulled out a pair of sunglasses, handing them to Applejack, who thanked her and slipped one temple into her shirt.

Pinkie then stepped towards Dusk and hugged him. The two were of closer height, so she put her arms around his shoulders. He secured his arms firmly around the middle of her back. She took a step back, sliding her hands down his shoulders to his elbows before letting go, and grabbing her wrist with her other hand behind her back.

“I'll see you later Dusky!”

Dusk nodded and said “You too, Pinkie.” They then turned to part ways, Applejack following him out the door he held open for her.

“Thanks for grabbin’ my trash earlier, by the way,” she said, closing the door behind them. “I appreciate it.”

“Don't worry about it,” Dusk replied. “I’m just glad to be out of there. No offense to the Cakes but I can only be around the smell of deep fryers and baking bread for so long before I miss fresh air.”

“Don't I know it,” Applejack responded with a chuckle. “Uh oh. I gotta get back to my stall; my five minute break was a bit longer than that, and I can already see the line.”

Four people were standing in front of the apple cart. The first had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot, the second was staring intently at a pocketwatch, the third was smiling and waving at Dusk, and the fourth was counting coins in her change purse. Dusk gave them each a once over before turning to Applejack.

“You look like you have your hands full. We’ll talk later.”

“I'd rather deal with a hundred angry customers than a heartbroken Rarity.” she said, poignantly. “But yeah, we will.”

They bid farewell and headed in their respective directions, Applejack to her own stall and Dusk to a cart underneath a wide purple umbrella with saffron colored trimmings.

“Hey Dusk!” shouted the vendor, one Mint Chip. He brushed his dark brown hair out of his face as he rested a hand on the cooler. “What are we in the mood for today, buddy? Rocky road? Butter pecan? Or is this stuff for Spike, you want some of that salsa verde flavor popular with the dragonborn this season?”

“Oh no, Mint,” Dusk said, waving his hand. “It's not for either of us, actually. I'm here for vanilla oat swirl. Got any left?”

Mint clicked his tongue and winced. “Ooh boy,” he said, dismayed. “Is it for what I think it is?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Dusk said, nodding sadly. “Two gallons.”

“Oh man,” Mint shook his head and began tsk-ing, reaching into the cooler. He pulled out the ice cream and set it on the counter between the two. “When’s that dressmaker gonna find a guy who’s actually good enough for her?”

Dusk opened his mouth as if to correct the merchant but thought better of it, as it really wasn't any of HIS business what his own friends did, so he just shrugged as he pulled out his wallet. “I don't know, Mint. Six bits like normal?”

“Nah man, you're here like all the time!” he said, putting his arms out to either side. “Five is good, frequent shopper discount.”

“Oh,” Dusk said, surprised. He pulled out a 5¢ bill and set it on the counter between the two buckets before slipping his wallet back in his pocket. “Thank you.”

“It's totally cool, buddy,” he said, processing the transaction. “I gotta liquidate assets before next Nightmare Night hits and the weather people start dumping snow everywhere anyway. The boss ain't gonna be unhappy about a bit or two, ‘specially if it's to you.”

The boss in this instance was Milky Way, a polite young woman who lived up in Canterlot. She was a quite literal wizard who was very adept at frost magic. She had turned to the ice cream making profession at a very young age and was now one of the most highly esteemed of the city’s upper crust. Rarity and by extension Dusk had met her at his birthday party several months back.

“I'll have to thank Milky next time I see her,” Dusk said. He then levitated the two pieces of frozen cargo and encased them in a temperature sealing forcefield of his own design. “Thanks for your business, Mint.”

“Anytime, Dusk!” he said. Then, quickly, “Hey, how’s Fluttershy?”

“Uh...” Dusk knew of Mint’s romantic interest in Fluttershy, as did pretty much all of Ponyville, but as one of the select few people who knew that Fluttershy’s romantic preferences didn't exactly include someone of his... demographic... namely his gender... he quickly formulated a plan.

“Well I'll be talking to her later,” he said, “So I can tell you more next time I see you.”

Procrastination wins again.

“Oh okay!” he said, sated with this response. “Cool! Later Dusk!”

Dusk nodded before turning and walking away, a normal pace at first but becoming more brisk. He couldn't help but feel uneasy whenever Mint asked about or even looked at Fluttershy, but he couldn't put his finger on exactly why. He decided to push the thoughts aside as unimportant as there were bigger things to worry about.

Namely, getting out of the way.

“Onward, Crusaders, to find our marks!”

“Yahoo!”

“Hi Dusk!”

“Help!”

Four distinct voices screamed at once as a silver and red blur zoomed right over where Dusk was standing a moment ago. He recognized the voices as belonging to Scootaloo, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Spike, respectively. But wait. If Spike was with the girls, then...

Dusk sighed, muttered a curse aimed towards the young dragonborn, and broke off into a sprint.

/x/x/x/

“Don't look so glum, Minnie.”

Minuette sighed and poked at at her salad.

“Yeah, Twinkie’s right, Minnie, we’re about to be in a wedding!”

She popped a cherry tomato into her mouth, unfazed by her friends’ attempts to cheer her up.

“Well... most of us are. Sorry Lemons.”

“It's okay,” Lemon said, placating Lyra. “I didn't know Cadey much anyway, not as much as you guys did. But at least I’ll be working at the reception so we can all hang out a little bit!”

Minuette looked up to face their little group. To her left sat Twinkleshine, eating a risotto; to her right was Lemon Hearts, with a sandwich; and straight across was Lyra Heartstrings, who had eaten earlier with her roommate and so only had a small cup of soup. She pushed her salad away and sat back in her chair.

“He didn't even recognize me.”

The three sighed and went back to their food. The maître d’ came by and refilled the girls’ water and left again. After the silence grew to be too much to bear, Lyra audibly set her spoon down and spoke.

“He was talking to Applejack, Minnie. They're a lot closer of friends now than any of us ever were with him,” she stated. “And that's okay. A lot of stuff has happened in his life, like saving the world twice, and that's just what we know of!”

“Yeah, Minnie,” Twinkleshine joined. “In fact, she was the first person he met here. Well... aside from Pinkie Pie, but she said that didn't count because she didn't say hi. But Applejack was the very first real friend he ever made that wasn't family or the Princess.”

“Oh that makes me feel better,” Minuette grumbled. “He's got bigger, better, more important friends to talk to and we’re just, what, dust in the wind?”

“It's not like that at all,” Lemon interjected. “It's more like what happened to us after the Princess stopped proctoring classes. She just had other things to worry about, like her sister, and Sunset, and manually going through every single textbook she ever allowed to be printed and fixing all of the historical inaccuracies she had to let in to protect the Nightmare- er, Luna- and make sure she could get freed by Dusk.

“It doesn't mean that we’re all any less important to her,” she continued. “It just means that other things just got more important, and she doesn't have time to dedicate to us anymore because she's worried about the greater good, the good of all Equestria, and the good of the fireflies!”

Minuette groaned. “Not the fireflies again,” she complained. “That hokey religion just reminds me of Dusk even more.”

“But do you at least understand what I'm trying to say?”

“...yeah,” Minuette ceded. “I guess so. I just wish he at least said hi every once in awhile so I know he didn't just completely forget about us.” She pulled her salad back towards her and took a bite. “Maybe I'll try at the wedding. He'll be there since it's his brother and all.”

“Yeah,” Lemon sighed, seemingly in a trance. “Shining Armor.”

Lyra made a fake gagging motion at Twinkleshine, causing her to giggle which prompted Lemon to look up and see. Lemon frowned.

“Maybe I should talk about Bonbon instead, huh?”

Lyra blushed, and said “No, go back to talking about Captain Dreamy... uh... pants... please.”

The ghost of a smile crept across Minuette’s face as her friends fell into laughter. She still felt miserable even after nearly two years of Dusk’s abandonment, but she didn't have to feel miserable right now this minute. She elected to have a good time with her friends at the moment, and just worry about the sadness before she went to sleep that night.

One day she would talk to him again. One day.

/x/x/x/

Dusk’s sprint had slowed to a jog and then further to a brisk walk, and soon enough he found himself at Rarity’s house. Well, it was her business, it just was also furnished with a bedroom, kitchen, full bathroom, guest bedroom, half bathroom, laundry room, plenty of storage space... so, basically it was a house built on top of a regular dress shop and salon.

Carousel Boutique, where everything is sleek, chic, and c’est magnifique. At least, that's what her moniker proclaimed. It was accurate. The building’s color palette was a white base with predominant streaks of orchid, indigo, and marigold. There were many frills interspersed here and there in very specific patterns, and large ovular windows, and the whole building gave the illusion of being round despite being octagonal in shape. Definitely a far cry from its neighbors.

As he approached the violet front door, he cast an ambient noise dampening spell to hear if she was crying hysterically as she was particularly wont to do in breakup scenarios. Dusk still couldn't believe that Spike had abandoned Rarity in direct defiance of the note he’d left, not just because he was his own person (despite being a reptile) and wasn't Dusk’s slave, but because Spike had not only been in love with her practically since he’d first laid eyes on her, but considers Rarity to be one of his own closest friends as well. It didn't make sense but that wasn't important now.

Dusk didn't hear any crying, but he did hear her talking. “Oh no,” he said to himself. “She's past crying and right into talking to herself!” This is bad; when she was talking to herself she was in really dire straits. Dusk briefly reconsidered whether he should have brought three gallons instead.

He knocked three times, then winced at how loud it was before cancelling the ambience dampening spell. He hasn't used it often enough to get used to the non-ambient noises becoming so much louder in comparison.

As he recovered, the door opened. Rarity stood in the open doorway, wearing a simple yet professional white button-up blouse, a violet purple pencil skirt, and an apologetic smile. She opened her mouth as if to say ‘I'm sorry darling but we’re closed right now’ if it were anybody else, but after recognizing that it was Dusk she broke into a beaming smile rivaling Pinkie’s.

“Oh, Dusk!” she cried, embracing her friend. “What a pleasant surprise!” she stepped back and kissed him on the cheek. “Please do come in, darling. Fluttershy made tea.” She turned away and went back through the shop area into the kitchen.

Dusk stood there, dumbstruck. Her mascara wasn't running, her eyes weren't puffy and red, and she seemed positively radiant. In all his time knowing her, she had never reacted this way in any breakup scenario whatsoever. Granted there were less than a dozen relationships in that period of time and most of them (okay, all of them except for the one) were with men rather than other women, but that was a lot in his own experience.

Maybe... she was in denial?

Dusk decided whatever it was he shouldn't keep her waiting. He stepped inside, wiped his shoes on the mat, and pulled the door closed behind him. He released the ice cream from its force field and carried them by hand into the kitchen, checking behind him for muddy footprints just in case there were any. There weren't.

He stepped into the kitchen to see Rarity pouring a pot into a third teacup on the table in front of an empty chair, and Fluttershy sitting in another one with her own cup and saucer. Which was weird because Rainbow was supposed to be talking to her right now, which means... well, nothing right now, but potentially something soon.

“Hello Dusk,” Fluttershy said, quietly. She rarely did anything that ‘quiet’ couldn't describe, but she did things in varying levels of quiet. This quiet was sociable and boisterous for her, even though it would have been perfectly acceptable in the library. Still, she was louder than she was when they first met, considering now she was actually audible.

Her hair was bright pink and very long, coming down to her hips, and it was swept entirely to her left side. The right side of her head above her ear was buzzed, cut very close to the skin. A daffodil sat tucked behind her ear. She wore a sleeveless yellow turtleneck sweater over a long flowing skirt with color and consistency rivaling her hair, except with teal blue accents that matched her eyes.

“Hello Fluttershy...” Dusk responded, hesitantly at first, but not wishing to show his hand yet. He set the ice cream in Rarity’s freezer, unsure by the glance between the two if he really needed it in the first place. “How are you two this morning?”

A moment of silence passed as Fluttershy glanced at Rarity, who had sat down and was taking a sip of her own tea, waving at Dusk to sit down. Seeing that she wouldn't interrupt Rarity by speaking, Fluttershy answered Dusk.

“Oh, I feel very well today,” she said, voice wispy, silvery, and sweet as honey. “I came to have tea this morning with Rarity since we aren't having our regular spa date today.” She calmly took a sip of her tea before her eyes widened and she quickly set the cup back down with a gentle clink of porcelain. “Not that I have any problems with the picnic happening today!”

“I understand,” Dusk placated as he sat. “I didn't think that was what you meant.”

“Okay, good.” she took a breath, and took another sip of her tea. Dusk followed suit, awaiting Rarity’s response. The tea was... the body had... well, the aftertaste was... it was very... Dusk knew coffee, not tea, but it still tasted good.

“And I had a wonderful night, a bit of a rough morning, but I’ve been having a lovely chat with Fluttershy,” Rarity said with a smile. “But I’m sure you already knew most of that considering the two buckets of ice cream.” Smile faltering a bit. “Though I’m now a bit worried whether you got the full story...”

Dusk averted his eyes and took a sip of tea. He began to wonder how much of what Rainbow had said was the truth and how much was fabrication and embellishment. Or maybe Rarity was just pretending that everything was alright? He decided not to jump to any conclusions and just be there for his friends: all of them.

“The ice cream was a just in case kind of thing,” he said. “I wanted my bases covered for the worst case scenario, but I’m glad to see you're doing okay.”

“Why... wouldn't I be okay?” she asked, suspiciously. Fluttershy’s eyes began darting around the room, and she began to slouch, hiding behind her hair.

Oops. Dusk took another sip of tea. “I know you and Rainbow had a... disagreement,” he said, cautiously. “And I just wanted to make sure that you were doing okay.”

“Is that why you sent Spike to check on me?”

Shoot.

“I'm not upset with you, Dusk,” she continued. “I do appreciate the gesture, and the ice cream, but I really don't need any of it. Rainbow and I had a fight, yes, but all couples fight. We’re merely taking a short break from each other.” she took a sip of her tea before reading Dusk’s features. She frowned.

“What, may I ask, did you hear happened,” Rarity began to ask. “And who else heard it?”

Dusk tugged at his collar. Was it getting hotter in here? He decided it would be better to be direct and honest rather than dance around the issue. It's what Applejack would do.

“That you broke up for good,” he said, before sipping his tea and continuing. “And me, Applejack, Pinkie Pie... and probably everybody in Sugarcube Corner?”

The silence was deafening. Dusk briefly wondered if his noise dampening spell was still up.

“...well.” Rarity said, before draining the rest of her tea. “I thought I had a penchant for dramatics.”

Dusk looked at his half empty teacup and decided he’d had enough to drink. It was probably for the best he stopped anyway as he’d already had two coffees that day and it wasn't even noon yet. Also he found he really had to use the restroom but now wasn't exactly the time to ask to use it.

“She said she went directly from your fight to me, and I’ve been with her all morning up until I came here” he said. “You know she doesn't have a clear head until she flies around for a bit. I’m sure she’ll be fine later and she’ll apologize for being a jerk and you guys will be back together again soon enough.”

Rarity pursed her lips as she gathered her and Dusk’s teacups. “I believe the point of contention was that I am the jerk,” she said, pointedly. Then she sighed. “But you're probably right, Dusk, as you always are. I know you don't date women but your masculine objectivity in the field of romance still makes a world of difference.”

Dusk nodded, then noticed Fluttershy was gazing off into the distance... right at Rarity’s kitchen wall. It was a lovely shade of lavender but he had a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that she wasn't admiring the paint job.

“Pride lead me to hope that she would come to me to apologize so I could return in kind and it could be a positive experience that serves to strengthen our relationship but it seems that she mistook what I said and I will have to come to her first instead.” Rarity continued, not realizing that her audience was no longer listening. “Regardless, it's good that we both aired our dirty laundry, so to speak, and my attention was brought to things I must improve upon- Dusk... are you listening to me?”

Dusk’s eyes were fixated upon Fluttershy’s. Hers were empty and unresponsive. Another attack.

“Oh.” Rarity’s voice was sharp and clear. For a moment she sat looking between her friends, both in a stupor though for different reasons, and then she was off. In a flash she returned holding a very irritated and groggy rabbit, who immediately perked up when he saw Fluttershy.

Rarity set the rabbit down on the table (cringing slightly) and walked around to the other side of her paralyzed friend and surveyed the scene. The rabbit  trudged toward his master’s still hands and nudged one with his nose. Fluttershy blinked and began to slowly pet the rabbit, but nothing else moved.

“Fluttershy,” Dusk said now that her hands were occupied. “Can you tell us about your tea?”

/x/x/x/

Rainbow twisted, turned, dove and corkscrewed, banked left, dropped, turned headfirst towards the ground, and her hands began to glow. With the sky below her feet, Rainbow craned her neck upwards, facing the ground. Struggling only slightly against the wind whipping against her skin, she slowly moved her hands up her body and straight towards the earth. Suddenly, it seemed that gravity froze and she stopped falling, for only a second before time returned to her again.

The air started condensing around Rainbows body, collecting in droplets on her skin until the entire surface of her body was soaked. Fists clenched and arms locked, water vapor gathered 
around her hands. The ground was so close now, the horizon shrinking, but her heart was pounding not with fear and trepidation but with euphoria. The water began rising in temperature, and just before it got hot enough to scald her skin, Rainbow forced her arms back down the same direction as her legs.

The water blasted itself off of her limbs in a fountain, a spray of mist. She made a hard turn so she was parallel with the ground, close enough to touch it. Laughing joyfully, Rainbow spread her arms and wings, angling herself to gain altitude. The stream behind her scattered enough to catch the sun and reflect the light, leaving a contrail in the colors of her namesake.

Following the slight differences in air pressure only an avian could feel, Rainbow chased thermal updrafts rising higher and higher. She eventually found herself entering the lowest layer of clouds, bursting through until she was no longer able to see the ground anymore. Here she coasted, taking in the sun’s rays for a few minutes, minutes that to her seemed like hours.

All too soon, she felt the familiar tingling sensation in her skin that indicated that she should go back under cloud cover if she didn’t want an awful full body sunburn. On some days she would apply lotion specially designed for avians and make a little nest on a nice fluffy cumulus and just go to sleep for a while, but there was a time and a place for that. Today she had obligations, more important things to do than spend time in her true home, the sky. Things like hanging out with her oldest friend.

Rainbow folded her wings and fell back through the clouds. In a split second she calculated her speed, the time that had passed, and the position of the sun, and she mapped a trajectory back to town directly to Fluttershy’s cottage. She spun, turned, and rotated her body and wings to face the right direction, and repeated her earlier process. All that was left of her presence in the sky was mist and a rainbow.

Flying low to the ground again, but this time above the tree line, a much further and safer distance away if you had asked anyone else, Rainbow caught sight of the clearing that indicated the path to Fluttershy’s house. She fell through the tree line and glided along the path until she came to a small wooden bridge over a creek, signifying residency of the timid girl. She flapped her wings twice, glided a U shape in the air, and landed gently on her feet.

The tree to her right was covered in birdhouses, at least one hanging on every branch. Many of their occupants poked their heads out, sensing the light disturbance. Recognizing Rainbow, they chirped a greeting before pulling back in. Or maybe they just chirped for the heck of it, Rainbow didn’t know. She wasn’t the one who could talk to them.

As she stepped along the bridge approached the thatched cottage, Rainbow took in the details for what must have been the thousandth or so time. It was never boring, though, as Fluttershy usually always changed one thing or another at the request of her ever-changing clientele of roommates. Rodents, birds, reptiles, mustelids, and a bear; all needed slightly different living spaces after all.

Fluttershy was not a professional architect, and neither were the animals she’d employed to help build the house. However, there were four rough walls (or maybe five depending on what angle you looked at it from), a roof, a ceiling, and a few windows, and that was more than what Rainbow could say about her own house. Then again this cottage wasn't floating in the sky and didn't have a waterfall, but to each her own.

The front door was made of a red wood that Rainbow couldn't identify, and it was rounded at the top. It split horizontally through the middle for reasons unspecified, and its frame was dark brown. It didn't exactly match the rest of the house’s palette but it did its job well, and had surprisingly good insulation during the extreme months. Then again, Rainbow may have had a slight hand in lessening the temperatures in this area in particular. Perks of having a best friend on the weather team.

She knocked on the door twice before resting her hands behind her head. While awaiting a response she thought about how she would be breaking the unfortunate news. Fluttershy was very close friends with both Rainbow and Rarity, and Rainbow knew that she had to be very tactful about the way she approached it because Fluttershy was very prone to suffering from anxiety attacks when drama of any kind, romantic or otherwise, occurred between her friends. She relied on them to be a safe place away from the stresses of living with her... problems.

Rainbow pushed the gnawing sense of guilt away for the time being. No point stressing about it if it wasn't even a definitive. Plus it was mostly Rarity's fault anyway... what the heck is taking Fluttershy so long?

Rainbow knocks again. “Hey ‘Shy? It's me!” she calls, just barely loud enough to be heard but not loud enough to disturb any of the animals who were down for their midday naps. Although she may have slightly misjudged because a chipmunk threw an acorn at her. She rubbed her head and offered an apologetic smile to the rodent, who rolled its eyes and scampered back into its little hidey hole at the bottom of the external wall.

Rainbow would have scratched her head if that darn chipmunk didn't have such a strong throw. Either she wasn't home or she was oversleeping. Just to make sure, Rainbow took a few quick steps before pushing her wings down, and fluttered over to the bedroom window only to find it empty. She opened the window and slipped inside.

There were no sounds, no lights on, and it smelled like animals rather than tea. Fluttershy wasn't home. Rainbow leaned back against the window and pondered this for a moment... and then she remembered.

“Was I amazing or was I amazing!?” crowed Rainbow after coming off of her own high. Her hair clung to her forehead and back, completely drenched. She brushed her bangs behind her ears as she took a few breaths to bring her pulse back down. Rarity had given as well as she had gotten, and if Rainbow’s sore fingers could attest to, she had gotten a lot.

“Amazing,” Rarity said between pants. “Doesn't even begin to describe that.” Her lingerie had been discarded at some point, and she for the life of her couldn't remember when. That was typical for their midnight rendezvous. Her hair lay spread in every direction over her pillows, and it was also wet.

Rainbow smiled and crawled next to her girlfriend, and the pair laced their fingers together. She gave a tender kiss to Rarity’s forehead before setting her head down in the crook of Rarity’s neck. This was a lot more comfortable than an apple tree’s branches by a long shot.

Rarity turned her head and reciprocated the kiss, except on Rainbow’s scalp instead. She was pleased to see she left a faint outline of burgundy lipstick, before smiling and nestling her own head over Rainbow’s. She decided to worry about washing her sheets in the morning; now was the time for afterglow-fueled snuggles.

“So what are you bringing tomorrow?” Rainbow asked. “We’ve got tea, cake, something apple-y, and whatever Dusk decides on, doesn't that pretty much cover it?”

Rarity smiled and turned her body to the side, facing her girlfriend. Rainbow’s protest was cut short once she realized she had an unobstructed view of Rarity’s chest. They put their foreheads together and readjusted their grips on each other’s fingers before twining their legs together as well.

“Have you already pieced together the culinary contributions of the other attendants, darling?” she asked, whimsically, as she gently brushed her delicately manicured thumbs against Rainbow’s knuckles. “Surely Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack aren't that predictable?”

Rainbow turned her head up, looking Rarity in the eyes, and smirked. “Well you're the one who knew which one I was talking about,” she said before playfully sticking her tongue out. Rarity simply rolled her eyes dismissively before stealing a peck on the cheek..

“So anyways,” Rainbow continued, blushing (only slightly). “What's your plan for tomorrow?”

“Well,” Rarity began, turning again to face the ceiling. Only one hand continued to hold Rainbow’s, and the other rested on her abdomen. “As you know, it's the day of my spa date with Fluttershy. However, in light of our picnic later in the day, we’ve simply elected to have tea at my house. As always, you're welcome to join us.”

“Eh,” Rainbow replied, leaning on her side and propping her head up on her arm, releasing her girlfriend’s hand in the process. She started absentmindedly tracing patterns on Rarity’s belly with her free hand as she continued. “You both know I love you guys, but... I hate tea more.”

Rarity nodded. “I figured as much. What will you be doing instead?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno, I'll probably hang out with Dusk. I'm gonna say sorry about being a dumb jerk and almost ruining Spike’s pilgrimage.”

“Oh darling,” Rarity cooed. “We both had a hand in that argument; you shouldn't blame yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah...” Rainbow trailed off. “Still, I gotta work on taking count stability.”

“Accountability?”

“Yeah, that. I was close. Anyways, we haven't really hung out since I caught up on Daring Do, I've just been busy. It's been wet and wild.”

“RAINBOW DASH.”

“What!? I was talking about the hurricane!”

Rainbow smiled, bittersweet. Her wing was still healing when the Festival of Hearts rolled around. Applejack had her hands full with her siblings’ whole love potion fiasco, Dusk had a date, Pinkie was out of town seeing her sister at university, and Fluttershy? She always hated the festival and just stayed in her house all day, never answering the door (as with every major holiday). All of her avian friends were commiserating over being single in bars, on dates, or with family. Her parents were no doubt having sex the entire day. That left Rarity.

Back on Hearth’s Warming, after Commander Hurricane and Princess Platinum’s kiss during the play, Rainbow and Rarity both discovered that the other was really good at kissing, even if it was supposed to be fake. Since Rarity was between boyfriends and Rainbow didn't really do commitment, they later had a one night stand. One turned into two or three and then a month or so later they were seeing each other every day.

Rainbow figured they could just do it like normal but she arrived to find Rarity crying and gorging herself on ice cream. Apparently she’d developed feelings for Rainbow but knew that they wouldn't be reciprocated. Or so she had thought. Rainbow realized that she kinda had feelings for Rarity too, so instead of having sex, they just... had a date. Ever since then they'd been an official couple in a real relationship.

Well... until this morning, that is.

Rainbow wiped the little traitors that leaked from her eyes and went back out the window and into the clouds. Fluttershy was with Rarity so she could wait. She was fine. Rainbow needed to fly again.

/x/x/x/

“Alright troops!” Spearhead cried. “Captain Armor is currently occupied but that doesn't mean we get to slack off!”

“Is he bangin’ Cadey!?”

After a rousing bout of laughter, Spearhead included, he held up his hand and everybody quieted down.

“Come on, little bro,” he placated to the fellow blue haired speaker. “It ain't our business but... yup.” Everybody let out a whoop, and one person shouted ‘get it, Cap!’.

“So while he's gettin’ a workout of his own,” Spearhead continued to the assembled mass of nearly a hundred soldiers. “We’re gonna sweat too. Oh, quit bellyachin’, we can't all sit and play with ourselves just ‘cuz the captain’s busy! Find a stretch partner, limber up, and do a dozen laps. Move it, soldiers!”

After a chorus of ‘sir, yes sir!’s, everyone split off and followed their orders. These hundred or so were gathered for intensive training for some project that Princess Celestia was planning, but only a select few knew exactly what it was. Details were on a strictly need-to-know basis, and not even the Captain needed to know. Besides, with the recent threat issued against the city, there were bigger things to worry about.

The palace security had nearly doubled, watch towers were constantly full, the streets were on lockdown, curfew was in effect, and the faint glimmer of the barrier surrounding the entire city gave everything in the city a slight magenta tinge. None of the citizens were particularly worried though, everyone put a great amount of faith in the guards. Rigorous training and a strict screening process made sure only the best of the best mages, druids, avians, and everybody else made it into the ranks. There were no weak links, and the guards were like family.

Even the ones who weren't actually blood related.

Spearhead noticed his brother hadn't found a stretch partner yet and was doing them solo. Spear sighed and approached him, disappointed not in him but in the others around, standing warily and keeping from making eye contact. Sometimes even family had problems with those who were... different.

“Little bro,” Spear said, waving to get his attention. “Do my arms?”

“Sure, Spear!” he exclaimed. Spear linked his hands behind his back, and his brother took his hands and pulled them up, stretching Spear’s triceps and lower back. After ten seconds they alternated the process. Once they finished, they placed their right feet against each other and began leg stretches.

“So didja go solo on purpose so you could spend some time with your big bro?”

“Ahaha...” a nervous chuckle. “Sure, why not?” a fake smile. “Gotta learn from the best, after all.” the smile didn't reach his eyes. They switched feet.

“They'll all come around eventually,” Spear said, adopting a more serious and caring tone. “We’ve all known you for years, and finally letting us all know you like dudes too isn't gonna change anything in the long run. You know that, right?”

“...I guess.”

Spear gave a sad half smile to his brother. Ever since he’d come out to everyone as bisexual, as liking both girls AND guys, all the guards treated him... differently. Both the men and the women. They still sat next to him at the mess, they still changed in front of him in the locker room, and they chatted with him about things, but there was just something in the air that felt different. Strained. Awkward.

“Ya know,” Spear began, cutting the silence as they did their arms and neck. “The Captain’s little brother is gay too. He’ll be a groomsman with us, so it'll give you two some time to chat.”

His brother shrugged. “I guess it'd be nice to know someone else... you know, like me.”

Spear nodded in understanding, or at least some modicum of it. Spear liked women, through and through, and only women, so he couldn't really understand why his brother would feel the same about men too, but hey. To each his own, right?

Suddenly a whistle gave three short bursts, and a rough scratchy voice cried “Commander Sentry!”

Spear looked up at the disturbance and his official name being called. Shining was Captain of the Royal Guard, there was a Captain of the Naval Fleet, and there was a Captain of the Air Division. The third was a young spitfire named, ironically enough, Spitfire. Her orange hair stood upon her head like a wild flame, commanding attention just as much as her stance, posture, and general attitude. What she lacked in age she more than made up for in skill, determination, and sheer physical ability. Also she was incredibly scary if you kept her waiting.

“Oh boy,” Spear said, only trembling slightly in fear. “I'm, uh... gonna go see what she needs. Do the laps and stuff, okay Flash?”

Flash nodded. “Consider it done, big bro.”

/x/x/x/