When Rarity finally caught up to Pinkie Pie, she suggested they think about how to handle the situation instead of just charging in, "Pinkie, I'm just saying that we don't even know if she likes one of us. As a matter of fact, she said she doesn't like any fillies currently."
"Right, so we go in and ask her if she would be willing to go on a date with one of us, easy peasy!" the pink pony said, still bouncing to Fluttershy's cabin.
"Pinkie, please just slow down, I'm beginning to break a sweat!" Rarity yelled dramatically, and Pinkie slowed with a chuckle, "Now, what you suggested would work... if you were Rainbow Dash. Neither of us have the guts to just go in there and confess our love for her like that. No, we must be more tactful, have a nice conversation with her for a while, then let it slip that we are fond of her."
"Why should we do it like that instead of just telling her?"
"Because, my dear Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy is quite the timid pony, so we want to tell her when she is relaxed. Such as after having had a meal and a nice conversation."
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Rarity set up the evening, "We could all go out to dinner together tonight. Pinkie and I were already planning on going, so we thought that maybe bringing a third would be a delightful idea. Besides dear, the three of us, we never do anything together, so this might be a fun way for us to forge a new kind of friendship."
"Oh, I don't know... What about Angel, and all the other animals?"
"Oh please please please pleeeeeeeeeeeeease!!! Pretty please with sprinkles on top? Sprinkles? Would a cupcake with sprinkles on top help you want to come with us?" Pinkie pleaded.
Fluttershy giggled, "Sure Pinkie, I would love a cupcake with sprinkles, maybe we can stop at Sugar Cube Corner for some on the way back from Rarity's lovely evening."
"So you will come?!?" Rarity and Pinkie screamed in unison.
"Of course," Fluttershy replied giggling.
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The place was beautiful; it was the sort of high end restaurant that neither Pinkie nor Fluttershy ever so much as dreamed they would have the chance to eat at. Even though their outfits, which they had taken from Rarity's personal wardrobe, could reassure them that they would actually be allowed inside, and the fact that there were many fancily dressed ponies waiting to be let in, their fears perpetuated.
"Hello Miss Rarity," the door guard addressed the white pony as they neared the entrance, "might I say, thank you for the wonderful gown you made for my wife last week."
"Oh, it was my pleasure Emerald Spotter. It was actually a very enjoyable dress to make," Rarity replied as she walked in, much to the distress of the waiting ponies.
"See? All it takes to get in is to know a very important pony, not hard, right?" Emerald Spotter called to the waiting ponies sarcastically, nodding to Pinkie as they passed.
"Oh my," Fluttershy gasped as she saw the inside, "It's so beautiful..."
The ceiling was deceptively high, with tables made from clouds dotting the upper portion of the building, and all throughout the restaurant there were statues of pegasus ponies and many fancily decorated columns, there was also much flowing water, most of which was pouring from the pegasus statues. Not even the waiters lacked in beauty, wearing their collars and bow ties.
"I never thought I would be in a place like this," Fluttershy said in awe, still looking around trying to absorb all the beauty.
"Well my dear Fluttershy, this is just one of the many benefits of being friends with an unicorn such as me."
Fluttershy giggled, "Well, maybe we should spend some more time together then."
Pinkie saw what was happening and began to worry, How can I compete with Rarity when she can do all this for Fluttershy? What can I do for her besides throw her parties? That's no life for a pony like Fluttershy, but this, this is where Fluttershy belongs. Maybe it's best that I don't tell Fluttershy how I feel after all and just let her be with Rarity...
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The dinner was just as beautiful as everything else; they had daisy salads to start them off, with cooked carrots, tulips, and roses for the main course. And for desert, they each had a piece of very rich chocolate apple cake.
"Well, what did you think Fluttershy? Would you like to come back with me sometime?"
"It was wonderful!" said the yellow pony in a most uncharacteristic way, "and I would love to come back with you anytime you would have me," she finished with a blush that went unnoticed by one pony.
"Anytime my dear, and what about you Pinkie? What did you think about desert? I specifically requested the chocolate apple cake for you." Rarity said turning to Pinkie.
"It was amazing! Don't tell the Cakes this, but," She said lowering her voice so the others had to lean in to hear the rest, "this is way better than anything I have ever had!"
"Well, then it should be a surprise to you that the Cakes actually make it and bring it in before dinner begins getting served," Rarity said with a giggle.
"Really?! I'll have to get them to make me 20 tomorrow!" the pink pony said, also giggling.
By this point Fluttershy was giggling too, and they were drawing attention from all the tables around them, but not even Rarity cared, they were having way too much fun.
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It had been a lovely evening, and as they walked Fluttershy home, all their minds were on one thing: love.
Finally, when they reached Fluttershy's cottage, they had all made a decision on the matter.
Rarity was the first to act, "Fluttershy, I have something I need to tell you," she said turning to Pinkie, expecting her to say the same thing, but she said nothing and only looked at the ground.
"R-really? I have something I would like to say too, but please, you first."
"W-well, I think that... no! I know that I love you, Fluttershy!" Rarity exclaimed with a cringe, expecting the pain of rejection, but what actually happened surprised her immensely.
"Really?!?! That's what I was going to say!" Fluttershy screamed, running to embrace her new filly friend.
Rarity was stunned, "W-what was that?" Please don't let this be a cruel trick, please Celestia, let me have heard her right.
"I said 'I love you' Rarity! And how could I not? You're kind, generous, and always there for me. Oh, and.. you're very pretty, too," Fluttershy said with a blush, giggling for the twentieth time that night.
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Epilogue:
"Why didn't you say anything?" Rarity asked Pinkie as they walked home from Fluttershy's cottage a few hours later.
"I don't know, I guess I thought she would just be better off with you..." Pinkie said sadly.
"Thank you Pinkie, thank you so much," Rarity said with great sincerity, although she couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend.
"Don't mention it. And I mean don't," Pinkie said walking into the Cake's shop in what could be interpreted as a cold manor.
"Oh, Pinkie.... Please let us still be friends..." Rarity muttered, with a small tear growing in her eye.
Also, a wonderful picture of the end http://valiantrarity.deviantart.com/#/d4npia5