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// 1: Wingmare [Sad] [Romance] 
// Story: Thirty Minutes Shy 
// by Esle Ynopemos 
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((Prompt: I don't need my own dreams if I can help you achieve yours.))

Fluttershy didn't do well in bars. Handling crowds of sober ponies was enough of a trial for her, but crowds of tipsy ponies that all laughed a bit too loud and had a bit of a problem with the concept of personal space... it was not her idea of a good time.

Fluttershy sat on her stool, sipping from a straw. She was grateful the bar had juice boxes; if she didn't have something in her hooves, ponies would try and buy drinks for her. She wasn't here to drink, and she wasn't here to have ponies buy anything for her.

She was here for Rarity.

Rarity sat a few paces down the bar, a measured smile on her face as she chatted with a dusky brown pegasus stallion. The martini she had in her hoof had been bought on his tab. Fluttershy couldn't hear all of their conversation, but from what words that did drift to her ears, it sounded like they were discussing weather work.

It was hard to keep from staring. There was no question what the stallion saw in Rarity. She was beautiful. Her soft white coat gleamed like a pearl even in the tavern's dim lighting. Her deep purple mane curled in a way only an artist could have designed. Her winning smile could—and had—melt the heart of anypony she chose to direct it at, and her eyes carried a canny glint of wit in them. She moved with such grace; her gestures were expressive yet subtle, and even though she swayed slightly from the night's drinking, her sense of poise and balance was never lost.

The juice box collapsed in Fluttershy's hooves. It was empty. Fluttershy quietly asked the bartender for another.

Rarity's airy laugh carried across the bar. Fluttershy's ear twitched. The stallion grinned proudly; apparently he had told a funny joke. She wondered if Rarity really thought it was funny, or if she was laughing for his sake. Fluttershy wasn't sure she understood the point of laughing if a joke wasn't funny, but Rarity had said it was important to make a stallion feel like he's clever.

She kept her eyes on Rarity as the bartender brought her another juice box. She wanted to make certain she saw the signal if Rarity wanted her to come in and get her out. Not that she was hoping Rarity would use the signal, of course. That would mean that Rarity didn't like the pony she was talking to, and while Fluttershy didn't really like the way he kept looking at Rarity and she thought his voice was a bit braying, she was sure he was a nice guy. Besides, Rarity would be so disappointed to go another night at the bar with nopony worthwhile to show for it.

A twinge of guilt made Fluttershy wince as she saw Rarity cough into her hoof—the signal. Though rationally she knew that she hadn't made Rarity send the signal just by thinking about it, she couldn't help feeling a tiny bit responsible for the night's failure. The tiny flicker of relief didn't help her guilt, either.

Fluttershy got off her stool and stepped up behind Rarity, tapping her on the shoulder. Both Rarity and the stallion raised their eyes to her.

“Um, I'm sorry for interrupting, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, shrinking behind her mane, “but I need to go home.”

Rarity smiled gratefully. “Of course, darling.” She turned to the stallion. “I'm sorry, dear, but my friend has to get up early tomorrow, so I need to walk her home. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

He stood up. “Oh... okay, have a good night.”

“Yes, ciao, darling!” Rarity winked as the two mares walked out of the bar.

As soon as the cool night air hit her face, Rarity sighed. “Still no prince.” She smiled ruefully at Fluttershy. “Thank you, darling, for letting me drag you out here. You are a life-saver!” She gave her a friendly peck on the forehead.

Fluttershy's blush could have been mistaken for modesty. “A-anytime, Rarity.”

Some day, Rarity would find her prince. Fluttershy would make sure of that. And only in the security of her own bed would she ever entertain notions of being a prince herself.