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// Overwhelmed - Karrakaz 
// Story: Flarity Group Collab 
// by Jondor 
//------------------------------//


Written by: Karrakaz




Worry was never far from the mind of Rarity. She worried about the dates her clients asked for their dresses, even though she always managed to finish up with time to spare; she worried about her looks, even if she got compliments from many a pony every day; and she worried about her little sister, though perhaps that was warranted given the amount of crazy and dangerous stunts the Cutie Mark Crusaders pulled.

Currently, however, she was worried about her best friend’s behaviour.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Fluttershy?” she asked, trying to keep the concern out of her voice. “You seem a little... antsy?”

Her spa partner shifted restlessly once again, disturbing the mud and her cucumber mask alike in what could have been construed as an effort to find a comfortable sitting position. To Rarity’s keen instincts, however, it felt like something much, much more dire, and she couldn’t help but worry for her friend.

“It’s...” Fluttershy sighed softly and fluffed her wings as she always did when agitated. “It’s fine.”

Rarity didn’t believe it for a second. Something didn’t feel right and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Fluttershy hadn’t been the same ever since their little trip to Cloudsdale to watch Rainbow Dash take away the best young flier award.

If she was honest with herself, the event hadn’t left her unspoiled either. She didn’t think she could look at heights the same way ever again.

“You are not ‘fine’, darling. I can hear you fidgeting from all the way across the room.” Rarity paused to take a deep breath and calm herself down. Becoming too insistent with Fluttershy only ever served to make her withdraw into a shell of silence. Her way of protecting herself, I suppose. “Darling, you can talk to me about anything. You know that right?” she tried again once she had regained control of herself. “I promise not to judge, and if I can, help you with whatever is bothering you.”

Although Fluttershy probably thought she wouldn’t hear it, Rarity could make out the barest whisper of ‘You can’t.’.
It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

In a flurry of activity, Rarity got up from her own mud bath and, without even shaking off the mud that caked to her coat, marched over to her pegasus friend. She glared at her friend and ignored the cowering. “Fluttershy, darling. You know I care about you a lot. But so help me, if you do not tell me what is wrong this instant, I will scream until the building collapses.”

Whether or not she could even manage to bring down a building with naught but her voice was a question that would, thankfully, have to be answered another time as Fluttershy mumbled something incoherent before rising up from the mud as well.

Rather than immediately explain herself, however, Fluttershy chose to be somewhat more physical in her response. She tackled Rarity to the ground and kissed her until the air in their lungs ran out, and Rarity saw stars. “IwantedtosaythatIloveyouandthatIneverwanttoseeyoudoanythingthatdangerousagain,” she blurted out in a single breath.

Rarity could only look at her. “Oh...” was all she said before pulling Fluttershy close for another kiss.