Chapter Thirty Eight: Of Needy Magicians and All Too Eager Hooves
Trixie watched feeling a little bit flustered as Twilight and Celestia sat at the kitchen table enjoying a snack. Celestia sat behind Twilight practically devouring the tiny unicorn with her body and making most of Twilight disappear besides her head and neck with those wings. Twilight was busy eating a dandelion sandwich and giggling every now and again. Even if Trixie was a little frustrated that only Twilight got such attention she was happy for Twilight. This was a like a dream come true for the small pony.
Still her thoughts pulled back to some of the recent discoveries that had been made. From Celestia tampering with Trixie's memories, to Celestia's initial disinterest in sexual or romantic activities, this felt off. Like perhaps it was all going too well? She had to make a mental note to ask Rarity for her opinion later. Not that Trixie didn't think she was always in the right, because clearly she was the most impressive of unicorns second only to her unborn foal. She still wanted a more... romantically inclined mare to offer their advice on this situation.
As for Luna who was back out on the loose, probably stalking Big Mac again, Trixie was unsure of that situation too. She had given her advice, be direct with Big Mac, just rip the bandage off and let whatever was meant to happen, happen. Yet she had a small fear that perhaps Luna was right. Assuming Big Mac really didn't have any romantic inclination to Luna, then he might just agree to it out of fear, not even fear of Luna herself but fear of hurting the poor mare's feelings.
Which made Trixie wonder if perhaps the bun in her oven wasn't the product of something similar. She rubbed at her belly curious if perhaps, Big Mac didn't enjoy the act that had led to this turn of events. She let out a sigh, she needed to be praised. "Twilight, am I attractive?"
Twilight murmured. "So warm."
Trixie glared at her from across the table. "Twilight, Trixie asked you a question."
Twilight blinked. "Oh. um... you are the most beautiful unicorn in all of Equestria."
Trixie smiled. "Thank you."
Twilight let out a sigh which sounded more relieved than anything else. Perhaps she wasn't actually paying attention, but it didn't matter because Trixie got what she wanted... no, actually she still felt a bit down. If that didn't work than what could Trixie do to raise her self-esteem? Perhaps she'd have Big Mac or Luna praise her. Or she could just ask Fluttershy too, the mare was obsessed with pregnancy like some ponies were ice cream. In both cases some form of licking was likely to be involved.
Well if Twilight couldn't make her feel better and watching how cozy those two were was not exactly the best use of her time she figured she might as well go somewhere and bug somepony else. She stood up and declared proudly. "Trixie is going to pester your friends... our friends. Perhaps Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash have some need of her brilliance?"
Twilight nodded. "Everypony needs your brilliance. They'll be happy to have you."
Trixie beamed. "I'm glad you agree my love. Toodaloo." Trixie trotted off feeling content that bothering love birds was the right course of action for a day where she needed all eyes on her.
***
Rainbow Dash was leaning back on the couch in Fluttershy's cottage as the homeowner herself was busy making some tea. Her mind adrift in the thoughts and feeling she'd been exposed to. Sure she still felt a bit icky over the whole scenario, but she couldn't help but to love both Fluttershy and Pinkie. It was almost with a heavy heart she had to admit that she wasn't entirely positive this would work in the long run, at some point somepony was going to get jelly and she was terrified it would be her who ruined everything. Rainbow Dash didn't want to spoil their good moods, they seemed so happy with this situation, but she was still scared that eventually she might get jealous and ruin it all. Of course Fluttershy had told her that was only natural to sometimes feel jealousy in a relationship like this but the important thing to remember was honesty about her emotions... something she'd been so catastrophically bad at so far that she went from getting engaged to her dream mare to being engaged to two of her best friends at the same time...
Not that it didn’t come with its own set of benefits that was. Fluttershy finally returned to the couch after what had felt like an eternity of waiting for her there. Once seated Fluttershy set down a cup of tea for Rainbow Dash and one for herself. Rainbow couldn't help it, she had to lean into Fluttershy's side and nuzzle into that soft warm neck. For a moment Fluttershy froze, but quickly enough a yellow wing that wrapped around her was as gentle and warm as ever before. How could Rainbow Dash be worried, when it felt so nice to be here like this?
Rainbow Dash picked up her neat and took a sip of it. Tasted like pumpkin spice. An odd flavor for a tea, but then again she really only drank tea at Fluttershy's house, and only because Fluttershy so rarely had anything else to offer, not that she'd ask her to change anything.
Fluttershy spoke gently. "So, we're getting married now. Like, really getting married."
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Sure sounds like it."
"Where are we going to um, live?"
Rainbow Dash looked over at her. 'Um... what?"
Fluttershy's wing tightened around her. "W-well I know that um, you've been staying with me quite a lot but um, I mean... married couples usually live in the same house... like... live together."
Of all the things that Fluttershy could have asked her, honestly, Rainbow Dash was prepared to be asked to have things shoved up her butt at this point, but this... was the hardest question she'd ever had to think about. "I... don't know."
Fluttershy took a sip of her tea. 'I see... well um... neither do I."
Rainbow Dash thought about it for some time in silence as they drank their tea and cuddled on the couch. "I don't want to interrupt your life at all... but I like staying here."
Fluttershy paused for a moment, it looked like something was on her mind. "You don't interrupt my life, Dashy. You make my life complete. I couldn't imagine being married to you and not living together. I just... don't... want to live up in the sky where it's scary, and I could fall, and no animal friends could visit me... oh no, am I being selfish?"
Rainbow Dash laughed. 'Well that settles it, love. You and me are staying right here. I... guess I'll need to bring more than just a toothbrush here won't I?"
"What about your mansion?"
"It can be moved, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "I'll just move it nearby so that we can use it as a guest house or something."
Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, okay. I d-didn't think about that. Now we just have one more question."
Rainbow Dash looked up at her, but Fluttershy's eyes didn't quite meet with Rainbow's. "What's up?"
Fluttershy let out a quiet breath. "Where is Pinkie going to stay?"
Ah, that was the real question, wasn't it? This relationship had a lot of questions that rolling around on Pinkie's kisses did not answer... not that it hurt. "I guess... huh..."
Fluttershy took a sip of her tea as if confirming Rainbow Dash's concern.
Rainbow continued. "Her lifestyle doesn't really suit yours too well. It's kind of chaotic. We might need to get a bigger house for the three of us."
Fluttershy let out a quiet sigh. "I was afraid of that. I d-don't want to move."
Rainbow Dash felt a creeping fear crawl up her spine. “You don’t have to move. I’ll do anything for you. Um, Pinkie can… visit?”
Flutters pulled away a little. "You don’t want this do you?”
Rainbow Dash bit her lip. “I do want this. You want this, so I want this. End of story.” Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. "Maybe we could just add to this house? Like a new room or something for Pinkie to play in?"
Fluttershy offered a weak smile, but it didn’t quite touch her eyes. "That might work. Then I'd have both of you here, all the time, and would never be lonely again."
Rainbow Dash stroked Fluttershy's cheek with a hoof. "Have you been lonely before?"
Fluttershy offered a weak smile. "Why do you think I let animals live inside my house?"
"Ah... gotcha. Well in that case, the three of us should totally live together, right here, forever and then you'd never be alone again."
Fluttershy gave Rainbow Dash a quick kiss on the cheek, but her body still felt tense against Rainbow Dash. "Thank you."
"No problem."
Rainbow Dash was about to go back to her tea when there was a knock at the door that startled the two of them. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. Knowing the rules of bad timing she was positive she knew just who it was. Rainbow hopped off the couch and trotted to the door opening it up and saying before looking, "Hey, Pinkie-"
Trixie stood there, looking mildly unamused. "Does Trixie look like the pink pony of chaos to you?"
Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and turned around to go back to her place at the couch. Trixie followed suit. Fluttershy's eyes lit up when she saw Trixie, those eyes trailing straight to Trixie's midsection, even Rainbow Dash couldn't miss the way Fluttershy's lips parted ever so slightly, her legs spreading just an inch and her tail lifting. Great, now that she'd been living with Fluttershy long enough she could tell hewn Fluttershy was turned on. Was this going to happen every time a pregnant mare was around her? Was Rainbow Dash really just supposed to sit here and deal with Fluttershy oogling other mares? She bit that thought and shoved it back down. Yes, if she wanted to marry her dream girl, she’d have to deal with it.
Trixie took a seat on the far end of the couch, seemingly having no idea that Fluttershy was casting quick glances to Trixie’s slightly larger rear end. Trixie spoke merrily. "So, how are the engaged couple doing? Well... one of the soon to be too many engaged couples that is."
Fluttershy gave a sideways look at Trixie, then noticed Rainbow Dash's glare and forced her legs closed. "Um, we're doing f-fine."
Trixie stared at Rainbow Dash. "And you?"
Rainbow Dash took her seat next to Fluttershy, wrapped a protective leg around Fluttershy's waist. "We're doing fine."
Trixie nodded. "That is good to hear. Trixie on the other hoof is not doing fine. She feels... off today."
Fluttershy sat up straight. "Oh no, do we need a doctor. Rainbow Dash, hurry-"
Trixie interrupted her. “Emotionally, not physically. Trixie feels healthy she's just... emotionally off today."
Rainbow Dash looked at her. "Oh, I thought you were always perfect."
Trixie glanced at her. "Would it surprise you if Trixie said she is merely near perfect."
"Surprisingly, no."
Trixie let out a small huff. "Thank you for the vote of confidence Rainbow Bright."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "You’re welcome, Prickly."
Fluttershy's ears were folded back. "Um... I... I think you’re perfect."
Rainbow Dash was getting a bit moody now herself, nopony was supposed to be perfect for Fluttershy, nopony except for Rainbow Dash and maybe, just maybe Pinkie. Trixie had no place in their relationship. Especially not with the way Fluttershy's eyes would linger toward Trixie's rump like it was a piece of candy she wanted to...
Trixie let out a sigh and leaned back. "Please don't patronize Trixie today. She is... she's feeling down today. This relationship with Twilight and Celestia is awkward and she can't help but to feel something is not right here and she is worried about it. She thought being praised and ogled would help, but Trixie does not feel better yet."
There was a lot to take in with that sentence but Rainbow Dash only focused on one thing. "You came here to be ogled?"
"Yes, is that surprising? But despite lingering eyes, Trixie doesn't feel better, she feels worse in fact." Trixie stared at Rainbow Dash. "You're staring too you know."
Rainbow Dash looked away sharply. "I am only trying to figure out what my fiancé finds so interesting about you."
Trixie shrugged. "Trixie doesn't understand it either, but apparently being with child means Fluttershy will stare. It is strange, but not unwelcomed... but it's not what Trixie needs. Perhaps Trixie needs to focus on her friends instead. How are you doing today?"
Rainbow Dash folded her legs over her chest. "Fine."
Fluttershy licked her lips. "Um... well... she uh... she might not be doing fine. She might need some help." Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow Dash as if asking for permission for something but Rainbow had no idea what she was looking for.
Anger boiled up in Rainbow Dash’s mind, she wanted to retort with a rude comment about how horrible that was to think about. She then remembered this was a part of Fluttershy and that anger vanished immediately, replaced by something that felt far, far worse. A cold gripping fear that told her if she was too strict she might lose Fluttershy altogether. She looked away and spoke quietly. “I’m okay. Thanks f-for the offer?”
Fluttershy let out a sigh. "I'm not doing fine then. I um... I need some help."
Trixie looked at her. "Trixie came here so she could get help, not to help you." Rainbow Dash looked over at her but noticed that Trixie had only paused to look at the cup of tea on the table. She then added, "But friends help each other. What can Trixie do for the two of you?"
Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow Dash again with expectant eyes. As if asking, no, begging for a question to be answered and Rainbow Dash really, really couldn’t allow herself to say yes to this. Of course, maybe she was wrong? Right, Fluttershy wouldn’t be trying to ask for something that would hurt Rainbow Dash’s feelings right? No, Rainbow Dash knew she wasn’t always the brightest pony of course she was misunderstanding this. "One minute, Trixie. I think me and Fluttershy need to uh, have a conference call."
Rainbow Dash led Fluttershy away. Once safely out of earshot in the kitchen Rainbow Dash turned to face Fluttershy. "Okay, give me the lowdown, what do you want?"
Fluttershy's tail was wagging like a dog. "Um... could we... you and me... and her... you know?"
Rainbow Dash sat down promptly. Oh, oh Goddess Celestia, she was asking for this wasn’t she. No, not this, Fluttershy could ask for anything else, with anypony else, but not Trixie. "Are you... are you seriously asking me that?"
Fluttershy nodded ever so slightly, looking more fragile than her mother’s china.
Rainbow Dash’s entire body was shaking. She… she already knew her answer. Yet she knew a way to maybe get out of this. “What ab-b-bout Twilight and Celestia?"
Fluttershy's ears folded back. "Oh... I um... I forgot they... you know."
"They've been obsessed with each other for weeks now and you forgot, just continently, that they were dating."
Fluttershy lowered her head. "I... I didn't think she'd be upset."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Oh, little crazy Twilight not upset that you want to buck her soon to be wife. I’m sure if she found out you ever did anything, even kissed Trixie, she’d probably kill both of us for good measure."
Fluttershy's head shot up straight. "What? No, that's not what I, oh my. N-no, Rainbow, I just wanted to give her a massage."
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Fluttershy nodded. "Y-yes. and then after she leaves, I'll uh... need you to go upstairs with me. For a more private massage."
Rainbow Dash had to pause, was her own jealousy so strong she misunderstood so gravely? Maybe, maybe she was too jealous. She still wasn’t totally okay with a massage, and the fact that Fluttershy was hinting that she was going to enjoy the massage too much was… gross. The only ponies that Fluttershy should be getting her kicks off about should be her and Pinkie. Still… a massage was harmless right? "Fine, but only a massage."
Fluttershy trotted back to the kitchen looking far too happy to be laying her hooves all over another mare. This... this was an awkward position to be in. Yet Fluttershy kept true to her word, she really did just give Trixie a massage, and for Trixie's part she seemed to enjoy it. The only pony in this house who was not enjoying themselves, just so happened to be Rainbow Dash.