Fluttershy had some considerable funds stashed away for later use, having racked up quite the amount of cash from the odd jobs and not spending much in general. Of course, she wasn't a millionaire by a stretch but she would be able to settle down someplace fairly respectable...
“What do you think, darling, this hat suits me quite well, doesn't it?” Rarity beamed as she went checked out another designer hat. Applejack having drawn the shortest straw and had to assist the white unicorn.
“Ya know Ah've got a terrible sense der fashion, Rares,” Applejack sighed, shaking her head as her saddlebags were already filled to the brim with objects of interest to Rarity. The white unicorn rolling her eyes in response.
“Fluttershy, what do you think? Isn't it fantastic?” Rarity tried getting feedback from the pegasus.
Fluttershy forced a smile along with Twilight. “It's uhhh... Great! Though maybe a bit expensive?”
Rarity took off the hat and held it in front of herself, looking it over critically again. “I suppose that I've gotten quite enough shopping done for today.” The three other ponies breathed a sigh of relief as Rarity threw in the towel. “Mind paying for the other items Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy smiled and shook her head as Rarity have the biggest pleading eyes she could. “I did promise to, didn't I?”
The four paid for the products They'd gathered, most of it for Rarity, and made their way out of the shopping district. “So, what now?” Applejack asked as they got into a cab.
“We'll go drop all this stuff off at my apartment and go out for dinner,” Fluttershy told them, having already reserved a spot at a restaurant while Rarity was plundering her bank account.
“That also being the place where I'll be staying?” Twilight asked, not having taken the time to ask more details about it.
“Unless there are more apartments I own I didn't know about,” Fluttershy chuckled.
“Right,” Twilight blushed, turning to look out the window. “This place is truly amazing...”
“It gets fairly mundane after a while to be honest, it's novel for some time but eventually it becomes more normal," Fluttershy sighed and looked out over the wards. "Though it will always keep some of its charm..."
"Well, I find it positively amazing," Rarity declared to them, trying a few of the bracelets she'd gotten around her hoof.
The four of them talked and laughed some more until they were dropped off at the habitation block where Fluttershy had her apartment, taking the elevator up to the living space. The pegasus and Turian had sealed the apartment and stopped the ventilation systems when they left so when she entered again very little dust had gathered in the apartment. She'd still advise Twilight to clean up but it wasn't so bad that it required immediate action.
"This ain't half bad," Applejack commented, checking out all the rooms she could. "Doors 'n stuff are made for creatures a mite taller then us but Ah could see how ya could bunk out here."
"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay in here?" Twilight asked meekly. "I mean it's your home..."
"Twilight, you sound like how I used to be," Fluttershy sighed and placed a wing on the purple unicorn's back. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like Twi."
"Right... sorry..."
Fluttershy rolled her eyes but still smiled, turning to Rarity who was inspecting the kitchen. "You can leave your stuff here while we go out to eat Rarity."
"Ah, thank you, Fluttershy." Rarity wiped off the table and placed her bag of clothes and accessories onto it. "So this place you have reserved..."
"It's closeby in the district," Fluttershy said, walking back over to the front door. "I hope you all know that the people around here eat rather... different things."
"We were all briefed on the fact that aliens all seem to be omnivorous, yes," Twilight was the first to answer as they followed their friend down to the mentioned place.
"Yes, though rather macabre we understand that not everyone is like us..." Rarity said, though still looked slightly disgusted. The crowd they passed through glanced at them as they walked by, not long enough for the others to notice but enough for Fluttershy, who was much more attuned to reading the mood of crowds, to pick up.
"The stuff they have in this place is artificially grown so no real animals were hurt in the creation of those foods," Fluttershy reassured them.
The word about the Vindica belonging to us is probably all over the newsfeeds right now... I'll check later.
The little restaurant was a couple of blocks over, a human standing at the door to usher them in after Fluttershy confirmed their reservation. The place didn't seem to be too busy when they entered, the few people mostly keeping to themselves while a few shot glances their way.
"Four salads please," Fluttershy said as an asari came to take their order, soon all four having the dish in front of them.
"So, Ah take yer gonna get in contact with Particle Bit ta get into that University ya were eyein' soon?" Applejack asked Twilight.
"No, we already figured that out. The Presidium college of science is taking me tuition-free, providing I help them with research on our magic." Twilight replied, chomping down on her salad.
"Well, that should be right up your alley, darling," Rarity commented before turning to Fluttershy. "I have to say this is tastier than I expected."
"It's pretty good, I'm glad I ran into this place when I lived here," Fluttershy nodded, shoveling some more of the salad into her mouth. "So what's the next destination for the Vindica? I can't imagine it'll stay here long."
Rarity and Applejack glanced at each other, the earthpony giving a small nod. "We were invited by the turians to Palaven for an exercise. The Princess wanted to keep it on the down-low for as long as possible and spring it onto the crew as a surprise to test them under pressure. Mind keeping that to yourself if you see any other ponies of the crew around?"
"My lips are sealed," Fluttershy promised.
"Fantastic... So, Fluttershy, what are your plans? Are you coming along on the Vindica or did you have other plans?"
Fluttershy took another bite of her salad to think that over. I mean, Garrus is on Palaven... but I also kind of don't want to leave Twilight here on her own... And if I'm back with Garrus, am I going to really head home again?
1. Go To Palaven, head down to the surface.
2. Stay on the Citadel with Twilight.
3. Go to Palaven, stay in the Vindica.