//------------------------------// // Harmless Sleepovers // Story: Fair Exchange is No Robbery // by ElementOfFlutterSwag //------------------------------// It was a beautiful sunny day in Ponyville. Life was going as it had always been, and the familiar shape of Carousel Boutique came into view. “Sweetie Belle! If you don’t hurry up you’re going to be late for your sleepover at Sugarcube Corner!” Rarity called to her younger sister. “I’m coming sis!” The young filly called back, trotting into the room. “Now I want you to have fun with Pinkie Pie and the other crusaders, alright?” Rarity said warmly to her sister, “And remember that I want you back home before noon tomorrow.” “Yes Rarity, I promise!” Sweetie Belle called back as she galloped out the door. Rarity stared after her little sister as she left, smiling softly and closing the door behind her. She only had a little more work to do for the day. It had gotten into the evening by the time Rarity finished her work for the day. She let out a sigh of relief when there was a knock at her door. She walked over and opened the door to see her good friend Fluttershy standing there. “Why hello there, Fluttershy!” The white unicorn said to her friend. “Oh, um, hello Rarity,” Fluttershy meekly responded, “I just came by to get you for our weekly trip to the spa.” “Oh why yes of course dear,” Rarity replied, closing the door behind her as she stepped outside. “I had nearly forgotten about it, I’ve been so busy with orders lately.” Fluttershy looked down. “Oh...Well, you don’t have to come if you’re too busy...” “Oh no no no!” Rarity said with a smile, “I will always make time for my favorite pegasus.” The shy winged mare blushed and smiled softly, “Well, shall we go?” The unicorn looked back at her friend. Fluttershy nodded and they walked together to the spa. The two mares arrived at their favorite spa, and of course ordered their usual treatment. They both carried on light conversation as they got massages and their hooves filed. Talking about the animals Fluttershy helped during the day, and all of the work Rarity has been doing for her clients as of late. It was a casual exchange between the two as was usually the case when they came here together. Their conversation had died down by the time they had their face masks applied, Rarity’s face covered in the green mudlike substance, while Fluttershy just required two little circles on either cheek. It wasn’t until they stepped into the warm bath when their conversation picked up again. “So Rarity, what are your plans for tonight?” Fluttershy asked, sinking slowly into the warm water. “I’m not quite sure yet.” Rarity responded, “I will most likely read for a while and then go to bed as I always do.” Fluttershy’s ears perked up, a sudden burst of boldness coming over her. “Would you,um, like to maybe...” Her voice trailed off in a mumble. “I’m sorry dear, what was that?” The unicorn asked. She heard more mumbling from the pegasus again. “Fluttershy, you must speak louder!” “Would you like to...um, go back to your house after this and maybe I could spend the night tonight?” Fluttershy asked, looking away shyly. The wave of courage had already passed. Rarity giggled at the yellow pegasus’s shyness. “Why that sounds like a lovely idea to me.” She smiled. Fluttershy returned a soft smile of her own, and the two of them soon exited the bath and dried off. Sweetie Belle was gone for the night, and they headed back to Carousel Boutique in the late evening sunlight. It wasn’t a long walk, they were back in Carousel Boutique as the last glimmer of sunlight passed over Equestria. They immediately began discussing the things they could do. “What do you say you try on some of my dresses, Fluttershy?” Rarity asked with excitement. “Well, um, I don’t know Rarity,” the pegasus softly responded, “ I’m sure you would look much better in them than I would.” “Well now that is just nonsense Fluttershy, I just know you’ll look beautiful. Now let’s pick something out.” Without giving Fluttershy another chance to object, Rarity began sifting through her closet filled with various dresses she had made. She looked through her dresses for at least a good ten minutes before she finally decided on something. “There we are, you will look positively splendid in this dress!” Rarity exclaimed brightly. She helped Fluttershy, shyly accepting her fate, into the dress. After Rarity finished dressing the timid pegasus, she started to braid parts of her mane. She lifted Fluttershy’s mane into a bun and tied it back with the braid, leaving strands of curled bangs on either side of her delicate face. Sure enough, Fluttershy looked absolutely beautiful in the dress Rarity picked out. The blouse was a warm and soft green color, with small dark green gems lined along the sleeves and collar. The dress itself was long, white cotton with an ivory tint to it. Fluttershy’s mane was styled in a way that complimented her outfit wonderfully. It was a sight to see. “See, Fluttershy?” said Rarity. “You look stunning, just like I knew you would.” The pegasus blushed at this and smiled softly. “Th-thank you very much Rarity, this dress is so beautiful. “Oh you don’t need to thank me at all dear,” Rarity smiled, “ I want you to keep that dress, alright? A gift from me to you.” Ignoring Fluttershy’s modesty, the unicorn helped her dear friend out of her new dress. She folded it nice and neatly and put it up for Fluttershy to take home tomorrow. It was a wonderful night so far. Afterwards, the two ponies spent time sewing and sharing tips with each other about it, cooking a late night dinner, and finally getting nice and cozy in bed. They talked late into the night before Fluttershy fell asleep against Rarity, who in a rare event, held the pegasus gently. The white unicorn thought to herself, there’s something about her that is just so adorable you can’t ignore it..., She too, eventually fell asleep, still holding the kind pegasus in her hooves. The two ponies slept late into the morning, not waking until after ten o’ clock. Fluttershy awoke first, noticing Rarity holding her. She smiled softly and continued to lay in bed with her. Rarity woke soon after, looking down to meet Fluttershy’s eyes, who then blushed softly. The unicorn smiled, and stayed in bed a little longer before releasing Fluttershy and getting out of bed. She left the room, the pegasus following, and checked the time. Sweetied Belle should be home soon. “I certainly hope Sweetie Belle had a good time at Sugarcube Corner,” Rarity said as she entered the bathroom. “Oh I’m sure she did Rarity, Pinkie Pie is always a lot of fun to be around,” Fluttershy responded. The unicorn smiled for a moment. “You’re right, I’m sure she had a great time.” She turned on the bath water, preparing a back. “There’s room for two if you’d like,” Rarity called out to the other mare. “Oh, no thank you Rarity,” Fluttershy replied, “I’ll bathe at home, I need to back to my cottage to take care of the animals.” “Well if you insist,” Rarity said as she walked out of the bathroom. She boldly kissed the pegasus on the cheek, igniting a bright blush in Fluttershy’s face. “Let’s do this again real soon...okay?” She hugged her friend closely. “D-definitely.” Fluttershy shyly agreed. She let herself out, Rarity waving a hoof good bye and closing the door. She turned and walked back into the bathroom, stepping into the warm water and wetting her coat and mane down. She let herself soak in the water for a while before washing her mane and tail. She took her time washing the shampoo and conditioner out of her mane and tail, then washing her coat and hooves. She relaxed in the bath a little longer and then got out and dried herself, wrapping a towel around her mane. She used her magic to dry her tail with a hair drier and curl it with a curling iron. After perfecting her signature style on her tail, she applied the same technique to her mane, giving it the same beautiful curls. She fixed up her eyelashes and put on the light blue eyeshadow she lobed so much, and smiled to herself in the mirror. “Why Rarity, you look simply divine today,” She giggled to herself softly and exited the bathroom. Sweetie Belle should be on her way home.