Big Macintosh was exploring around town, half looking for Fluttershy, half for the grey pegasus. He frowned as he passed the spa and then sugarcube corner. He noticed a waiter was grumbling as he was cleaning up the mess of a daisy sandwich that was spilled over an outdoor table at another place. He soon found himself at the library, where he knocked on the door three times and waited patiently.
An aura of unicorn magic opened the door and Princess Twilight Sparkle stood before him. "Oh, hello. What brings you here Big Macintosh?" She said, tilting her head to one side.
"Uhhm.. Well.." In sparing words as he usually did, the red earth pony asked if she knew where Fluttershy was.
"No, I don't. I'm sorry." She said, shaking her head.
He nodded and turned around.
"Why do you need to know where Fluttershy is? Well, if you don't mind my asking."
Mac thought for a moment, blinking. Then, in his need to talk to somepony, he entered the library and began explaining the situation. He spent a small while sitting and talking about his experience with Fluttershy and the light blue maned pegasus.
"Well, maybe you should wait for a while and see if you can find either of them..?" Twilight suggested, unsure herself of the situation.
He nodded, standing up from his seated position on a cushion. That was slightly pointless..
"Sorry I couldn't help." She added.
"It's quite alright. Ah should be dealin with mah problems by mahself, anyways."
Twilight sighed, staring at the floor. "See you, then.."
"Eeyup." Macintosh exited the tree, leaving Twilight now shuffling through a book that she really didn't care to read.
Twilight could barely stand watching him leave, but considering he no longer had a valid reason to stay, she decided not to try and make him. Why would he ever like her, anyways? He liked Fluttershy, the cute, shy pony. Not Twilight, the egghead, the nerd, booklover...
The lavender allicorn distracted herself by rereading the first book of Daring Doo for about the twelfth time and sipped halfheartedly at a cup of hot cocoa that Spike brought her upon a request. The small dragon watched her, confused by her suddenly depressed nature.
Fluttershy tensed up, the words from the other pony sinking in.
Soarin, meanwhile, felt a rock in the pit of his stomach. He definitely regretted saying that. Oh how he regretted it. He cleared his throat and looked away, the steamy room hiding the blush that would be clearly visible on his face otherwise.
He bit his tongue and turned his head to the ceiling.
Fluttershy blinked a few times, adjusting her position. Her wings twitched a little while she tried to restrict them. She looked at Soarin again and finally, changing the subject as best as she could, she said "I.. I think that maybe we should get out of the.. the steam room.. it's getting too.. t-too hot.. uhm... Unless you don't want to.. we can stay if that.. that's what you prefer."
Soarin smiled. Somehow, in her own little way that only Fluttershy can, her adorable awkwardness had broken the ice.
The pale stallion nodded, rising from his seat and opening the door for the butter yellow mare.
She smiled, visibly relieved as she went through the door, and looked around.
After a trip to the hot tub and a few amusing conversations, Fluttershy made a daring move.
"I bet I can stay in the mud bath longer than you can." She said, clearly more comfortable and less awkward.
"Oh really?" Ugh.. that gross slop pool? "Try me!" He laughed, really hoping his companion had a lower tolerance for such things.
They each climbed into the large tub, which was basically the same size as the hot tub.
Soarin cringed as the lukewarm slop closed around his hooves and body as he sank deeper in. He shivered as his most.. private of areas.. were covered in a mixture of different mud and herbs.
Fluttershy, however, didn't seem to mind, as she did come here regularly with Rarity, as far as he knew.
"This was a trap, wasn't it?" He said, grinning "You enjoy this slop."
She giggled as she watched him squirm. "Yup."
As Soarin got used to it, however, it started to feel sort of tolerable. Maybe just kind of, a little bit good.. like heaven.
As the spa date went on, Soarin didn't really keep his promise. He didn't do anything, really. It turns out Thunder Lane did mean not to touch Fluttershy's wings. They received massages from the two sisters and they enjoyed a few minutes in the sauna, and one more dip in the hot tub for good measure.
"That was really nice." Fluttershy commented as they were leaving. "With Rarity, it's not quite as.. fancy. Not as much stuff. B-but I still like my dates with Rarity. They're fun too. We get to talk and everything.
Soarin chuckled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." He replied, his dopey grin staying on his face as they walked.
"S-speaking of Rarity, uhm, she asked me if I wanted to visit her today and I.. uh.. I should go to the boutique." Fluttershy murmured.
He nodded. "I'll take you there."
Fluttershy smiled appreciatively and they made their way to Carousel Boutique.
Rarity was carefully stitching an indigo-violet colored silk accent onto a dress of pistachio and yellow-green. When she heard the little bell at her door tinkle and a soft voice call out she looked up. "Oh, come in, Fluttershy darling." The white unicorn welcomed her friend. When she saw, again, the pale pegasus with her, she smiled.
"And Soarin, hello dear."
He nodded quietly and looked to Fluttershy. "I have to go." He said, and he nuzzled her ear carefully before leaving.
"Oh Fluttershy!" Rarity exploded as he was gone. "You've got yourself a special somepony! And a wonderbolt, at that!" She rushed over and gave the little mare a tight, proud hug.
"Uhm.. thanks.. Rar.. ity.. I.... I can't .. hnng! .. Breathe!"
"Oh, terribly sorry, darling." Rarity muttered as she let go. "I'm so proud of you though! Oooh you two are so cute!" Rarity squeed, grinning ear to ear.
"Uhm.. Rarity.. that's not completely.."
"What is it, darling?"
Fluttershy then proceeded to explain her situation, from the first meet with Soarin and the pie from Big Mac, all the way up to the spa date. "I just don't know what to do because.. because I like them both, they're both great, great ponies, but... I don't know.. I like Soarin, I like Macintosh, but.. oh, Rarity, what am I going to do about all this?"
The white unicorn pursed her lip. "Do you really like both of them? Equally?"
"Y-yes, they're both wonderful and nice to me and-"
"I mean really, really like them? Physically attracted to both of them?"
"Well.. I mean, I haven't thought about it that way."
Rarity put a hoof to her chin as they sat on the sofa. "Have either of them asked you what you want?"
"You mean.. who I wanted to be with?"
"Exactly, darling. They should be considering what you have to say about the matter. From my perspective, it appears that they seem to each assume you like them."
"Well.. that makes them sound.. mean.. but they're not mean, Rarity, I know they're not."
The unicorn hugged her friend, careful this time not to suffocate her. "Even if a stallion isn't mean, if he really is a gentlecolt toward you, it doesn't always mean he's right for you. Sometimes, you need to have your opinion considered by them. Now, if neither of them are asking you about it, it seems to make the decision harder for you."
Shy thought carefully about what her friend was saying. "I.. I guess you're right, Rarity." she looked at the other mare for a second. "But.. but I can't make any decision that wouldn't hurt somepony though.."
The unicorn patted her friend's shoulder comfortingly. "It's an inevitable outcome, dear. Ponies get hurt, but they will heal."
Fluttershy nodded carefully, smiling at her friend. "Thank you."