“Did you know that you can get poisoned from licking too many envelopes and stamps?” Twilight Sparkle was being her egghead self trying to break the silence of the whole room of the obligated volunteers of the ‘Thank You Card’ stuffing committee.
“Why don’t we talk about something more exciting…” Rarity pauses. “Like, what you were doing with Trixie, last week, at the 2nd wedding reception? I thought you were seeing a guy from a library or something.”
“She came out of nowhere… and that guy and I, we are not an item. He just so happens to have a crush on me and I let him take me out.” Says Twilight Sparkle, as a matter of fact.
“Taking after me are you, huh, Twilight! I am very impressed. And, Trixie?” presses Rarity.
Twilight Sparkle coughs a little bit before answering. “We were just catching up! I saw the fireworks…”
“You saw the fireworks, alright!” Rarity butted in.
“…in the sky and they looked like the works of Trixie. So, I calculated where the light show was being shot from and I traced it over to the corner of the house and there she was. At first, I hid behind one of the trees. And then, I…” constinues Twilight Sparkle.
“…YOU WENT UP TO HER AND SHE HUGGED YOU AND KISSED YOU!” Pinkie Pie interrupts.
“Yes, that happened.” Admitted Twilight Sparkle.
“AND THEN YOU TWO FELL BEHIND THE BUSH!” Pinkie Pie added on.
“And, that too…” Twilight Sparkle turns red in the face and throws a few pens from her work desk at Pinkie Pie.
“My, my… So scandalous you are!” Rarity comments.
“Talk about yourself, Rarity.” Rainbow Dash accidently says out loud after being silent the whole time.
“I have not the slightest clue what you are talking about, Dash…!” Rarity gasps.
“Of course not! On this note… hey, Scoots! Let’s see if dinner is ready yet… this is so lame stuffing these envelopes!” Rainbow Dash hurries out grabbing Scootaloo before the kid was able to reply. The office door shuts.
“But these are HER thank you cards! That I so happened to design. The cake-family shot insert was a nice touch, great idea Pinkie! You did put your business’s sticker on the back right?” Rarity tries to get off the topic of her love life questions that are about to be trampled on her.
“I did! Nice try Rarity!” Pinkie Pie gently pokes at her friend.
“It is between us girls, Rarity… do tell us what is up!” Twilight Sparkle speaks her soft demand.
“Oh, ummm, I believe that I just remembered to help Fluttershy prep something in the kitchen… I’ll call you ladies in a bit for dinner!” Rarity jets out the door faster than Rainbow Dash. ‘I am not ready. For this. But why? Dash and Fluttershy are happy… why can’t I be?’ she thinks to herself making it to the first floor.
The kitchen was pretty loud considering how quiet as a mouse Fluttershy is. Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were arm wrestling on one of the counters to see who the stronger one of the two of them and Scootaloo was laughing at their facial expressions and noises. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were chopping vegetables talking a mile a minutes about the new scary movie preview they saw on a commercial and want to take Babs to while she was still in town.
“Fluttershy, dear, I came down here to see if you needed help with the dinner you are preparing, but I see you already have two extra sets of hands!” Rarity says startling Fluttershy.
“Heh-hey Rarity! I didn’t notice you coming in the kitchen! Would you like to make the chili dip appetizer? The cream cheese and the chili can are sitting on that counter and the shredded cheddar cheese is still in the fridge.” Fluttershy softly says to Rarity. She notices her friend is a little freaked out but doesn’t know why… she doesn’t press her on the subject but says instead, “We can talk about it at our spa appointment tomorrow.”
“Fluttershy, you’re the best!” Rarity says and relaxes a bit starting her task.
The room quiets down after awhile. The arm wrestling challenge takes a break sitting as a tie. Rainbow Dash gives Scootaloo a noogie on the head and makes her way to her love.
Embracing Fluttershy from behind, Rainbow Dash kisses her cheek and whispers, “I love you, when’s dinner going to be ready?” She receives a giggle from her wife and ignores Rarity’s side comment of “How romantic”.
“Soon, Dashie… almost ready! Why don’t you go outside and check on the eggplants, onions and garlic on the grill…and bring it in. It’s in a foil pouch altogether. The Princesses will be here at 7 and dinner will be served at 7:30.” Fluttershy giggles again, especially when Rainbow Dash added the “ish” after each number. “Oh! And, I love you!”
“You got it, Babe!” Rainbow Dash waits for Fluttershy to kiss her again before leaving to the grill.
Cooking was the only noise heard in the kitchen again. The three younger girls decided to check and see if Babs fell asleep in her bubble bath and then to bother Spike in the basement playing video games on the big screen. Apple Jack decided to chill with Rainbow Dash outside on the patio.
Rarity could only hear her thoughts about Apple Jack and thoughts on what she promised the crusaders that she didn’t hear Fluttershy ask her what was on her mind. She shook herself and asked Fluttershy, “Fluttershy, dear, what would you say if I gave you two tickets for a week’s stay at a cherry vineyard & winery? I cannot go myself because…” she couldn’t think of an excuse so she continues on her pitch, “…otherwise I would… it has a tour and complimentary drinks and hotel stay at the site itself. It’s happening in the beginning of next month which is 2 weeks from now, the best time to go to these things, autumn.” Rarity sighs. She pictures herself going with a certain companion, walking through the cooler breeze hand in hand, and wearing the latest fall fashion.
“Oh, I don’t know Rarity! Rainbow and I haven’t even gone back to work yet. We start on Monday. We couldn’t possibly ask for time off so soon and we wouldn’t want to impose if you wanted to go on this trip with someone special!” Fluttershy starts to decline.
“DO think about this. Take it as a second honey moon! You did have a 2nd reception! I am sure there’s a way to get another block off of work. You two are like workaholics, well I mean, we all are but, you know? I am sure that you both still have paid vacation time that you have to use before the new year hits. AND, it isn’t a biggie… there are other invites to attend. AND it is a present. Please don’t refuse this gift. You’ll both have a marvelous time.” Rarity persists her offer that no was not an option to.
“What about Angel bunny and Tank? And the garden, it needs to prep for the colder weather and…” says Fluttershy pouring the water that boiled potatoes in the sink so she can mash them.
“Don’t worry about that. I am volunteering myself and Apple Jack to house sit for you the whole duration.” Rarity reassures her friend places three bowls of dip into the oven on the rack underneath the cheesy broccoli & cauliflower dish.
“Oh… that would be nice and all, but I still don’t know… I’ll have to bring it up to Rainbow.” Fluttershy seems a little hesitant about her friend’s proposal and adds the salt, pepper, and fresh parsley flakes in the potatoes.
“Splendid! You can bring it up at the dinner table! The Princesses and everyone would probably encourage this!” suggests Rarity.
“Oh, okay. I will.” Fluttershy says with a determined nod.
A delighted Rarity, smiles in a tiny triumph. “MMMM, this smoked brisket smells delicious! What time is it!? The dips are ready!”
7 o’clock on the dot the doorbell rings. DING DING DONNNNNNNNNNNNNG!!!! The Princesses have arrived. Rarity got her answer.
Twilight Sparkle answered the door “Hello there, Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence!” she greets them in. “Where’s my brother?”
“He really wanted to make it for dinner knowing that Fluttershy was cooking, but he has business to attend to at the Crystal Empire tonight.” Princess Cadence apologies after doing her childhood cheer with Twilight Sparkle.
“Got it. Hopefully nothing too troubling is happening over there!” Twilight Sparkle says back.
“I got your email explaining everything. I think it is rather cute. Very doable. But, you are correct. They are the ones that must agree it’s the right time in their lives to handle it. Did they take the vacation offer?” Princess Celestia whispers in Twilight Sparkle’s ear giving her a hug.
“I am not sure about that. Rarity is supposed to bring it up. I’ve been stuck in a room with Pinkie Pie doing the ‘thank you for attending’ cards…” Twilight Sparkle answers her uncertainties.
“Understood. I will check with Rarity on her progress later.” Princess Celestia says.
Princess Luna pushes her way to the kitchen “Smells scrumptious throughout thy whole house, Fluttershy! I cannot wait to dine with thee and the rest of the company.”
“Th-thank you, Princess Luna!” Fluttershy stammers. “You can wait in the living room. Dinner will be ready at 7:30. Rarity is bringing out the chips and dip to munch on in the meantime.” She starts to giggle as Princess Luna does Rainbow Dash’s impression of the word “ish”.
“Then that is what I shall do. Thank you.” Princess Luna exits the kitchen to join everyone else.
Rarity follows holding a bowl of chips in her hand and levitates the hot dip bowl in front of her. She catches the Princess up on how her end of the crusader’s secret plan was going.
Several minutes later, Fluttershy thanks her Dashie silently in her mind that there is an intercom for the house. She presses the button. CRACKLE CRACKLE. “Girls? Girls! Come upstairs and bring Spike with you. Wash your hands and set the table. We’ll start eating after you’re done doing that.”
The intercom crackles back. “OKAY! WE’RE ON OUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” chorused through the speaker.
At 7:30, everyone sits down at the table. The turn table was so full it took a little effort to turn it. Rainbow Dash offered tea, soda pop, wine, juice, etc. making sure everyone was content AND because Fluttershy said so. Everyone mumbles a prayer saying thanks to the Lord for the food they were about to eat.
‘It’s silent… that’s a good thing Fluttershy’ Fluttershy thinks to herself ‘that means they’re enjoying the food. her facial expression changes to a worried one ‘oh no! I have to bring up what Rarity and I talked about while cooking…’
Rainbow Dash notices Fluttershy is too busy in her thoughts that she wasn’t eating. “What’s wrong, Sunshine? The food is AWESOME!”
“Oh, Dashie… it’s… oh, never mind.” Fluttershy stammers getting nudged by Rarity under the table. “I mean, Rarity is giving us a trip to a cherry vineyard & winery. Isn’t that great? I told her you wouldn’t want to go for it… it’s for a couple weeks from now… and…” she gets stopped by a kiss on the lips to notify her to calm down and that it’s okay.
“How generous of you, Rarity… but I have to get back into the grind at work!” Rainbow Dash says to her friend.
“That’s what Fluttershy said earlier.” Rarity’s voice sounded a little low as she noticed her little sister’s upset face.
“BUT, I know I have some extra time off if I wanted before the new year comes! So, I’ll ask the big boss on Monday!” Rainbow Dash lifts her friends frown back up to her normal bona fide smile.
“AND that is what I told Fluttershy, back!” Rarity enthusiastically says looking at Fluttershy. She turns back to Rainbow Dash. “And, that Apple Jack and I offer to house sit for you.”
Apple Jack’s jaw drops because she doesn't know what's going on as Rainbow Dash says to Rarity, “EVEN BETTER! THANKS A.J.!!!” She punches Apple Jack's arm playfully.
Princess Celestia spoke up “If you have any problems, your bosses can talk to me or Luna!”
Dinner goes on for another hour. Everyone excuses themselves from the table to lounge around settling the food in their stomachs. The four crusaders are in the spare bedroom. Scootaloo designated it to be where she sleeps when she gets to spend the night.
“Ah say that went well!” Apple Bloom chirps happily!
“What do we do before their trip?” asks Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle lies down on the bed. “We can do that subliminal message thing.”
“Like, incorporate babies in day to day conversations… like to Dash when she goes flying with you, Scoots!” Babs got to put her two cents in.
“Great idea! Want to crash here with me tonight guys?” Scootaloo asks.
“YEAH!!!!! CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SLEEPOVER AT THE RAINBOWSHY FORTRESS!!!!!”
“Let’s go ask them then! RACE YOU DOWN!!!” Scootaloo jets the way Rainbow Dash would.