//------------------------------//
// An Epilogue of Sorts 
// Story: Catching Butterflies 
// by SlightlyOnline 
//------------------------------//

The stairs quietly creaked as Rarity made her way down them, looking forward to heading down that familiar path to the Ponyville Spa. The cheerful mare hopped out of her door with a spring in her step, ready to meet a very special pegasus for a spa date once more, their spa time being one of their events of togetherness they so cherished. With a smile, she cantered on down that path, ready to spend another glorious evening with the mare of her dreams.

Though quick, the trip didn’t end soon enough for her as she listened to the familiar sound of the chimes that signaled a customer entering the business of Aloe and Lotus. The white unicorn happily trotted up to the front counter to be greeted by the pink form Aloe.

“Hello Aloe, I believe Fluttershy had taken care of our appointment this time.”

The earth pony sighed. “Listen, I know that this is probably the last thing you want to here, but we don’t have an appointment for you.”

Rarity sat back baffled and expressed her distaste. “Haven’t we been through this before? Do you really want to go through this again?”

Before replying with a smile she looked around and beckoned the unicorn closer. “Alright, now don’t tell her I told you this, but she seemed really adamant in not booking your appointment. I offered, and she said no with a grin; if you ask me, I’d say you need to go to her.”

A puzzled look creeped across the face of the white mare, but regardless she thanked the spa pony and trotted off back down the path at a slightly faster pace than before. Her hurried legs carried her at a brisk pace until the outskirts of Ponyville were once again in sight. She wasn’t worried, far from it, but she was extremely curious as to why Fluttershy was acting in such a way, her curiosity alone driving her to walk up the steps leading to the cottage and stand in front of the door.

She was about to immediately open the door, as she had done many times in the past as the pegasus’ home had become somewhat of a second lodging to her, but she stopped herself, thinking that it would be best not to let her curiosity autopilot. 
The unicorn lifted her hoof and gave a succession of swift taps.

A quiet squeak may or may not have been heard, but what succeeded it definitely was. In an almost singing voice Fluttershy answered with a “Come in!”

Accepting the invitation, Rarity led herself into the house to be greeted first by a wall of beautiful aromas due to various candles strewn about the room as she was secondly met by the ambient light they had created. Directly in front of her was a very happy pegasus clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers in her mouth, which she promptly offloaded to the pony in front of her.

“Happy anniversary, Rarity.”

The unicorn's own mouth was silenced speechless; of all the things she had expected her shy pegasus to do, this was one of the last, and it was beautiful. Her thoughts immediately transitioned to ones of her own folly; of all the things that she had to forget, it was their one year anniversary, and such a magical year it was.

Rarity playfully and lovingly tackled Fluttershy in an attempt to remedy her lack of words for the situation, both of them falling to the ground in a heap and laughing. The white mare looked around the room while on top of her and took note of all the beautiful ornaments placed and hung around her cottage.

“You did all this… for me?”

Fluttershy smiled a widest of smiles. “There’s nopony else in the world who’s worth it.”

Rarity leaned down and gave her mare a quick peck on the lips before falling down beside her. “I only wish I had something to give you, my dear. I… I just never gave it any thought and-“

Before she could continue she was interrupted by the muzzle of the yellow mare. “You being here is worth it,” she continued her thought. “You’re worth it.”

For another time they lay with each other upon Fluttershy’s floor, and for another time they share tears of true happiness; to have spent one year with each other was a momentous achievement for them. Each pony looked upon the other with pure adoration, gazing upon each and every quirk, flaw and difference, however few they may be, and loving every one of them. It was this bliss that was the magnetism, the gravity, the attraction; for every push there is a pull, and only in a balanced dance may two souls stand the test of time.

Rarity’s thoughts reflected this as she basked in the beauty of her marefriend, wishing to never leave this position she was in. In a quick motion, she pulled her into an almost crush yet loving embrace, enjoying the warmth of the other pony’s body.

“Happy anniversary, Fluttershy.”

**************************************************************