> A Step Outside > by Horseshavehats > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carrot Top exhaled deeply as she tossed her last basket of carrots to her countertop. She yielded to the pleas her sweaty, aching body and toppled onto her worn brown couch without bothering to clean any dirt off herself. After a morning spent baking under the burning sun in her vegetable garden, a lazy afternoon felt like the perfect follow up, but she only just began to shut her eyes and release control of her limbs when a knock came on the door. “Come in!” she called, not yet prepared to get up, though she did have enough energy to lift her head and see Rarity daintily step into the house. When the white unicorn entered a room the whole atmosphere shifted to feel more eloquent and radiant as though attempting to match the eloquence and radiance in every step her groomed white hooves took and every tiny sway her glistening violet mane made. “Good afternoon, Carrot Top!” greeted her crafted, regal voice “I just wanted to see if any of your wonderful carrots were ready yet.” Carrot top lived up to her namesake year after year by growing unmatchable carrots, which the ponyvilians consumed vigorously. After years of gardening she grew to enjoy these frequent flattering visits. “You’re in luck today Rarity,” She said lifting her torso “I just brought them all in. They’re over on the counter” Rarity licked her lips when she saw the baskets on her counter. “How delightful! I’m sure Pinkie Pie would love if you brought some with you to FLuttershy’s ‘week-before-her-birthday’ party.” “I’m probably not going.” Carrot replied as she rose and made her way to the kitchen for a glass of water. “But why ever not?” complained Rarity “We see so little of you!” “No real reason,” She said in between sips of her drink “I usually don’t go out except for special occasions. And not being somepony’s birthday doesn’t sound like much of an occasion to me.” “You mean you never go out?” she asked.  “Well maybe never is laying it on a bit thick, but definitely not much.” “How sad. It’s a crime to deprive the world of somepony as friendly and giving as you. Not to mention beautiful.” Carrot allowed herself to gently blush. “How nice.  Do they teach you to flatter like that in the fashion world? ” “I consider myself skilled flattery, Darling,” Rarity giggled “But I did mean every word. If you put yourself out there you’d get a lot of attention from friends. And other more pleasurable company of course.” She giggled again, this time with mischief, but Carrot Top only rolled her eyes. “And here come The Romance Questions,” she groaned “So you’ve thought about it haven’t you? Finding somepony special and running away together? Beautiful thoughts like that!” Her dreaming knocked her off her hooves and into a seat at the table as she cradled her head in her hooves. “I have,” Carrot Top answered. “long enough to realize that stuff’s a bunch of crap.” For a moment, she thought she had actually upset the unicorn, who got on her hooves in a quick motion and began asking zealous, prying questions. “But why dear?!? Did you have a bad experience? A lost flame? An unrequited long-” “Rarity!” Carrot elevated her voice to silence the mare. “Calm down.” “I’m sorry, Darling. I just can’t understand it! There doesn’t seem to be any reason for you to have such a sour attitude to be involved with anypony.”   “Its not like I’ve never dated,” she responded. “Oh? When was the last time?” She paused for a moment to remember the answer, and hesitated for another when she found it. “...Back in school?” Her revelation only shocked and provoked Rarity even more. “But that is such a long time to be single!” “Trust me I know. My Mom makes it her duty to remind me every chance she gets.” A mother’s desire for grandchildren baffled Carrot Top. Parents always talked of wanting to do better by their children. Why then would they wish a foal upon them when they barely survived the experience themselves? “Just the same, I cannot accept this.” “ ‘Cannot accept this’? What are you gonna play matchmaker now or something?” “If need be.” “Surely you aren’t serious.” “But I am! I owe it to you to add you however I can.” “Why though? I know you and like you okay and all but we aren’t exactly the closest of buddies.” “Precisely why I need to loan you my skills, dearie! You, my distant companion, need the kind of help only a pony such as myself can give.”   “Holy crap, do you hear yourself? What cheap novel did you step out of?” “Well, theres no need to make fun! Carrot Top allowed some venom came through now. “Yeah there is! You don’t sound like a normal pony, you sound like a filly playing with her dolls!” “ And what the hell can you teach me anyway? I don’t exactly see a line of ponies giving you flowers at your door! I don’t think I’ve even seen you with a coltfriend!” All of the power in Rarity’s face and stature vanished. Her head drooped down and her hooves twiddled as she tried and failed to counter. The fight also died out of Carrot top when she saw how badly she wounded her friend. “Sorry. That was kinda bitchy.” “No it’s okay Carrot. I crossed the line more than a bit myself. And you’re right. I don’t have the proudest romantic history.” Their apologies did nothing to put either of them at ease. Her head remained slumped upon the table focused on her hooves while Carrot Top shuffled a back leg nervously and stared at the downhearted mare at her table. Finally she took a seat and made an attempt to lighten the unicorn’s mood. “Well, however bad you may have done, I can promise you I've done worse..” “I don’t believe you.” “No really! Pretty much everypony in my pathetic little love life has been a total disaster. Like when I was a teenager, There was this one filly i was after-” Rarity finally lifted her head,but in surprise and not happiness. “Filly?” She asked. “Yeah?” Carrot answered “You’ve never heard of a fillyfooler before?” “Oh no I have. I just did not know you were one.” “Is that a problem?” “Of course not! In fact, I think it’s quite interesting.” She looked at Carrot Top and batted her deep blue eyes. “I’m sure you do,” Carrot replied with a hint of a smirk. “Anyway, can I tell my story?”  Rarity nodded and she went on. “So there was this filly in my class who as far as I could tell she was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. Her name was Seashore Treasure. She had a great face and a gorgeous wavy aqua mane. And I’m not gonna lie, she had some nice things going on in the back.” “ A friend dropped me a tip that she’s into fillies, so I decide to buck up and go for her. I thought it went well when I asked her out. We made plans to go to Sugarcube Corner and get a slice of cake or something. I got there first. I’m not there longer than a minute before one of her lackeys shows up.  “She says to me ‘Yeah so, Seashore Treasure? She decided to bail. She wanted me to tell you, like, no offense but you’re kinda really uninteresting? Like yeah you’re ok and all, but you’re cutie mark is carrots. And those are great but carrots are like good for your eyes? So, she’s worried you’ll feed her a bunch of carrots and her eyes will become, like, too good. Also gardening is pretty to look at but dirt? Ew. So no hard feelings and thanks for letting her copy off you in trig! Byeeee!’”  “I never found out how much, if any, of that story was bullshit but at the time all I wanted was to go home and let myself get super pissed. That was my go to response to anything when I was a teenager. “It rained that night, so when I pass her outside school the next day I just go over and shove her into a mud puddle. I start to stomp away but then this dainty little blue unicorn just up and grabs me by my mane and throws my ass in with her. We end up fighting in the mud for a while until a teacher broke us up. “That was a tough one to explain to mom and dad. But we got both got a bit more attention from some excited young colts. Worked for her because she swung both ways but all I got was a whole year of idiots hitting on me. I got some interesting yearbook signatures, I can tell you that. How’s that for ‘romantic history’, Rarity?” As Carrot Top told her story, Rarity moved from weakly chuckling to genuinely laughing. Her eyes perked back up and her smile returned to her face. “Well I’ll admit that is far from ideal,” she said “ But your teenage flame is an absolute gem compared to the lummox I wasted an evening with at the grand galloping gala!” “Do tell” she said, pulling her seat in closer. “Well, I went to the Gala eager to find woo a handsome, charming  prince. Though I did find Prince Blueblood, charming was the last word I would use to describe him. He had none of the chivalry of a stallion of royalty but all of the stuffiness and self obsession”. “ I’d dreamed of this kind of chance for years so I tolerated him for most of the evening. But near the end of the evening a cake somehow ended up flying through the air as we entered the main hall. Before I can react the buffon shoved me in front of him to shield himself.” “Now I am a very controlled sort of lady, I swear. But getting an entire cake all over my best dress and my hair will make me lose my temper. After I yelled all the words I had held back that night at him, I splattered all the cake I could on to him and sent him shrieking backwards.” “He ended crashing into a statue and ,with the help of my friends and I, ruining the whole gala but the cathartic satisfaction was enough at the time. Looking back, I do feel mothan a bit embarrassed about the whole ordeal.” “I don’t know Rarity,” chortled Carrot, “I think I’d call that a happy ending.” They spent some time laughing before they settled and returned to conversation. “If those are the kind of dating highlights I’ve got, it’s no wonder I am how I am” “Oh but they can’t all have been bad Darling!” Rarity suggested. “There has to be a pleasant memory in there somewhere!” Carrot Top searched her brain for a happier memory. “I guess there was one filly. There was this little green pegasus who was one of my first teenage loves. We didn’t last more than a few weeks together but we spent most of that time kissing and cuddling and just being all over each other. But that was just me being young and stupid I guess.” “Oh not at all. That’s quite nice actually. I would have loved to have somepony like that.” “Really?” Carrot Top asked, surprised by this “ You’ve never had anything like that?” “Not exactly no...” “...but?” “But what?” “You’re not telling me something.” “You certainly know how to pry don’t you? You’re correct. While I made it a rule years ago to avoid the local selection there was one night I made an exception.”         “My dress shop was just getting on it’s hooves at this time and my parents dragged me to some hoedown to take my mind off business. I was prepared to be bored for an entire evening until this sturdy, maroon earth pony started to come on to me.” “I did try to push him away at first, but he was such a gentlecolt, and quite sight to behold, That I relented to him. He gets me to dance and when mother and father go home I linger with him at the party. “We went back to my house to have a nice talk. Talking turned into touching, and then kissing, and eventually...” She blushed brightly and meekly dropped words dropped off her lips before picking her story back up again. “Well, we both got lost in the night.” Carrot’s heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened. “Oh. uh. gosh. that’s sure...something.” Rarity formed a forlorn smile pointing at Carrot Top but not aiming at her. She laughed mirthlessly and went on.  "Nothing came of it though. We met a few more times and shared some pleasant words, but he decided a week later to seek his fortune in Baltimare. He told me in an afterthought one afternoon and left without saying goodbye. All I had to remember him by was my disappointment.” “But despite everything, I find myself looking back at that little fling fondly every now and again. I would love something  like that in my life again, especially now that i’ve stepped out of the world of fairy tales just a bit. But I wouldn’t have any idea where to look.” The two sat silently, looking away from each other. Carrot occasionally opened her mouth to speak but found nothing to say. When she looked at her long enough she decided to make a decision instead "Then lets look together." She said kindly. Rarity jerked her head and snapped her focus back to the earth pony “What do you mean?” “I mean let’s talk a page out of your book go to Pinkie Pie’s ‘it’s almost somepony’s birthday or some crap’ party and see who we can meet there. ” “But I can’t make you to do that for me.” “I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for me. Of course, I’m also hoping you do it for you too cause I don’t wanna go without back up.”   Rarity just sat as her mind tried to accept that Carrot meant what she was telling her. Finally she beamed and leapt to her hooves in pure jubilation. “Well  that would be wonderful, Darling!” she cheered “ You won’t regret this! Pinkie really does throw the best parties in Equestria! And I’m sure you’ll find the selection of mares to your liking! ” She moved to gave her a large hug but stopped when she noticed how soaked in sweat she still was. Carrot noticed her recoil and wiped her forehead and the amount which ended up on her hoof shocked her. “Maybe It’d be good for me to freshen up before then.” “Right.” Rarity agreed, already making her way out. “I’ll just be on my way then. I’ll see you at Sugarcube Corner at seven. I’ll be on pins and needles until then dear!” “Fine by me!” Carrot yelled back as she stepped out of the house “I’m not promising I’ll bring any carrots though!” “You are so cruel, Darling!” she answered as she walked out of view. Realization sank in as the highs of Rarity’s visit died down. The frightening reality of breaking an unspoken rule of her closed off existence ent her scrambling  to the glass which remained face up on her table.  She looked at her reflection and saw nothing but faults: Dirt and sweat covered her body and her perpetually curled, orange mane looked messy in a way she thought showering could not fix. She thought her coat looked like an offensive dull yellow rather than it’s true golden. She smiled wide to see her teeth and saw more bits of vegetables stuck between them then would expected to. Nothing was exactly wrong with the rest of her face, but she still saw a problem in that there was also nothing particularly memorable about it neither. “ Crap. What did I do.” --- Anxiety forced Carrot out of her house and on to Sugarcube Corner an hour before she needed to. The sun was barely starting to set as she began the walk from her house. Judging by the masses on the road, She believed most of the town was going to the party. While Ponyville was a small town, it still contained far more ponies than she believed should all be in one place at the same time.   She hoped arriving would give her a chance to wait outside and spend a second with herself, but when she reached her destination she saw that even outside there was more activity than she found comfortable. Music could faintly but distinctly heard through the walls and ponies outside already started to dance and holler before they even reached the door. “Carrot Top!” She turned and saw Rarity approaching. She did not wear any dresses or hats, but she still looked impeccably groomed and hooficured. She stepped deliberately sharper and cleaner than she did earlier and held her chin slightly up. “I’m glad you could make it.” “If only I was glad I could make it, too.” “Don’t get discouraged ,Darling. The hard part is getting through the door. Once you do that the rest  will be smooth sailing.” “Right. Just surviving a party full of ponies I don’t know and looking for a new fillyfriend for the first time in years Easy.” “Dearie, A pony as beautiful as you will have to fight off all the mares after you.” “That doesn’t sound all too great either.” They stood at the entrance to the bakery, a literal candy house and a haven for hungry stomachs everywhere. Standing in front of the unassuming house made Carrot unbearably tense and made her muster a great deal of inner strength to beat the urge to turn right around and run as fast as she could. Rarity, either sensing her nerves or hearing her racing heart, took the first step in and held the door open invitingly. You can do this Carrot.Buck up. Deep breath. Let’s go.  She stepped through the door to confront the world of a party. The bright paint of the room and the colorful arrangement of liberally applied streamers, confetti and balloons adorning the space shocked her eyes as she walked in. While her eyes tried adjust to the light, her ears attempted to bear the blaring music and ceaseless loud voices of the partygoers.   Her nose, however, received a treat when it smelled of the contents of the food table, an endless line of cakes, candies and several other varied sweets. Despite her assaulted eyes and ringing ears, the table made Carrot Top believe for a moment the whole trip worth whatever happened. Before she could move toward the food, the host appeared at their side as if by magic, despite definitely being an earth pony. If the party could take physical form gain sentience, it would look and act exactly like the loud, hyperactive and unfalteringly happy pink mare in front of them. Her cotton candy hair moved with her as she hopped in place and ran her mouth at breakneck speeds. “Hi there Rarity!” She cried “ I can’t tell you how absotively-posilutely happy I am to see you!” “It’s nice to see you too Pinkie Pie,” she replied, startled but friendly “Do you still remember-” “CARROT TOP?” Pinkie shouted “I haven’t seen you at a party in five-hundred and thirty two whole days!” Pinkie had a prodigious memory and meant well by her habit of memorizing these kinds of details about literally everypony she knew, but Carrot still found that knowledge unnerving. “So do you the party? Having fun? Laughing enough?” questioned Pinkie frantically. “Well it’s a bit loud for my taste. The food looks great though.” The words barely escaped her lips before Pinkie placed a large slice of bright blue frosted chocolate cake in her hooves. “Then eat up! There’s plenty more where that came from and we’ve got a the whole night to eat it all!” Carrot Top happily obliged and took a large bite of the sweet, sugar loaded treat. As soon as she swallowed Pinkie was gone just as quickly as she appeared. “I promise not everypony here is like her.” Rarity assured. “As long as they feed me cake, I think I’ll be okay.” The song changed as she finished off the desert, which Rarity saw as an opportunity. “Time to dance, Darling!” “You do that. I’ll be at the snack table offering moral support.” She did not believe in her ability to dance, but had complete faith in her ability to eat. Rarity though, was not prepared to let her escape. “Absolutely not! You can’t experience a party from the sidelines.” She did not give her friend a chance to protest before she pulled her right into the thick of the crowd. It felt entirely different on the inside. Carrot could barely see the room beyond the rainbow assortment of mingling ponies who blended together and surrounded her like a towering wall. The music hit her ears just as louders but through the filter of the crowd’s noise it sounded like atonal rhythmless noise . The delightful smell of food vanished under the cocktail of perfumes, colognes and body odors and physical contact with other ponies was seldom and brief and startling. Her fear that somepony would notice her dancing seemed impossible, for nopony could possibly discern anything out of this crowd they were not already searching for. She started moving to the music as well as she could, while still trying to avoid drawing attention, “Well hello.” crooned a voice. She turned and saw a purple earth pony with a puffy, deeper purple mane leering at her with taunting eyes and making large strides her way. “Now what is your name cutie?” Her eyes looked up and down all of Carrot Top in a few quick movements of her purple eyes and a grin grew across her faintly flushed face. She moved her head and took an unmistakable look at her rump which made her grin grow exponentially. “C-Carrot Top,” She answered, shaken by the purple pony’s boldness. “Well Car*hic* Carrot Top, My name is Berry Punch. And I you *hic* you-you are a delight.” “You just met me.” she countered. “I like what I know so far.” Berry Punch bounded forward and despite herself, Carrot Top did not step away. When the song changed the she stopped and leaned into Carrot’s ear. “we’ll continue this at my table. ” she whispered. As she moved away she gently nibbled Carrot’s ear, who gasped as  the chill of pleasure moving through her. “I’ll be waiting!” She sang. She winked and left, swaying her backside all the way.  The golden pony lingered a bit and let her eyes take in Berry Punch as she walked away, which may have driven her to pursue the inebriated temptress. She only waited to look for Rarity in the crowd. When she found her she gave a strong nod of approval and motioned her to go on. Carrot pushed her way through out of the crowd and felt a heavy weight lifted off from her mind  when she escaped. Her ability to think, and her ability to worry, returned to her. She spied her admirer at a table in the far left corner, behind a sea of empty glasses. Berry took one of the three unconsumed glasses left on the table and slipped some clear liquid into it before downing it all in a flash. Carrot wanted to slip away and disappear but Berry spotted her before she could get away. “Hey cutie! I’m *hic* It’s nice see you.” Somehow she got more intoxicated in the space of a minute. “Wanna drink? Take some edge off?” “I prefer to keep my edge on. Thanks.” She knew she needed no help with finishing the rest, but when she saw  how she reacted to the a second spiked drink, it crossed her mind to drink the last one, if only to prevent her from dying of alcohol poisoning, but she dismissed the as a silly notion. “So. Wanna cut *hic* wanna get right to the chase?” If heavy drinking inhibited her libido at all, Carrot could not tell. “What do you mean?” The mare answered with a snorting, squeaking giggle and leaned in close enough for the foul smell of vodka to hit Carrot Top’s nose. “I mean. *hic*. I’m saying. You and me.*hic* us. Go to my place,” she attempted another giggle which a hiccough undercut “and mingle.” Carrot shifted a few inches away in her seat. She looked around to find Rarity who she saw standing by the kitchen door with a rainbow maned pegasus and violet unicorn. She pretended her focus was on whatever they were talking about but Carrot caught her making concerned glances in her direction she was not meant to notice. For Rarity’s sake, she decided to remain civil. “I’m flattered really. You’re a beautiful pony and I’d love to get to know you better. But I haven’t done this in a while. I’d like to slow down a bit.” “Oh I get you.” Berry replied through an off-kilter smirk. “You do?” “Yeah. You’re just a little*hic* just a bit shy. You just need some*hic* you need a little courage put in you. I’ve got stuff at home that’ll fix that.” “You’re still just talking about booze right?” “Maybe.” She poured the last of her flask into the final glass and inhaled it instantly. This last shot made her reel back for a second and twist her head, but she recovered quickly. “Got enough courage for this?” Berry Punch asked her. “What the hell are-” was all she could get out before Berry placed a rough hoof on the back of her head and shoved them both together for a surprise kiss. Berry shut her eyes and moaned as Carrot Top widened her eyes and made sounds of protest she could not hear. She was far too engrossed in widely gaping her mouth over the whole lower half of Carrot’s face and snaking her tongue in, out and around her mouth. If there was any pleasure in the kiss, Carrot did not feel it over the stinging taste of alcohol on her mouth.  When she finally let go Carrot breathed frantically to try and wash out the bitter taste of alcohol with fresh air . She did not notice Berry going green in her face. She vainly attempted to engorge her cheeks and hold back her throat but the she failed to stop the evening's hors d'oeuvres from making a dynamic exit from her stomach. Carrot only just resumed normal breathing when she received the full brunt of Berry’s reversal of fortune. All heads turned to the pair and an atmosphere of shock and disgust silenced the room, save for a few who audibly fought back flabbergasted laughter. Carrot Top just stared vacantly. Shock launched her into a plane of existence where sight and sounds were beyond comprehension. Berry finally broke the silence when she grew coherent enough to form words. "Holy shit. Carrot. Somepony threw up on you." And she thunderously toppled to the ground. She successfully shook the ponies out of their daze and they all moved and spoke again, though the light hearted atmosphere would not resume for a while. As soon as the crowd dispersed Rarity rushed to her friend. Her words died as soon as she saw her covered in bile but her return brought Carrot back to Equestria.She looked at herself reflected in an overturned glass and burst into a long and raucous laugh. “Ready to go?" she asked the confused unicorn. --- They both walked back to Carrot Top’s home without saying a word to each other, though Carrot seemed in surprisingly high spirits. Once at her house, they headed straight upstairs to the bathroom. While Carrot felt eased enough to ask her for a towel and sponge, Rarity only silently obliged and waited on her bed. When Carrot stepped out of the shower and stepped into the bedroom in her bright green robe, Rarity was sitting on the same spot on the bed’s green comforter as when she left, but she was looking her in the eye again. She took a seat beside her and sighed. “So?” “I admit it. The evening was very...” “Shitty?” “Exactly, and I’m so sorry for everything.” “What are you sorry for? It’s not like you got drunk off your ass and threw up on me.” “But I should have known I was forcing you into something uncomfortable.” Carrot Top laughed warmly and fell back first onto her bed. “Like I said. I did everything because I wanted to. If I wasn’t prepared to go to not have fun and have an awful date, I wouldn’t have gone. Yeah I didn’t expect things to happen exactly like that, but maybe that’s okay. Maybe taking a step outside every now and feeling something new is worth it enough.”   “There’s definitely more lounging on my couch in my future, but I appreciate things like the rush of  a new place or a sexy stranger. Even getting thrown up on is funny in it’s own kinda fucked up way. Laughs have to be worth something, right?” Rarity allowed herself to gently fall beside her and listlessly turned to look at her friend. “So then I’m forgiven?” “ Just promise me one thing.” “Anything.” “Whenever I get the urge to go somewhere again, you’ll be there to make sure it doesn’t go quite as bad.” “Promised.” “And if you could possibly find some place calmer and with a better ‘drunk to sober’ ratio, that’d be great.” “I’ll do what I can.” They shared a laugh but had nothing to talk about when it after it ended. So they just silently looked at each other for a minute. The gems on Rarity’s flank were incomparable to her shining blue eyes glistening under the light of the room, and though she could never see it for herself, Carrot’s eyes could warm and welcome anypony who looked into them. Carrot noticed Rarity blushing and realized her own face felt considerably warmer. She jolted upright on the bed and nervously cleared her throat “So I noticed you spent the evening less busy than I did. you couldn’t find a perfect stallion?” She felt a warmth on her golden cheek and felt Rarity leaning against her, adventurously moving her other hoof across her back. “Maybe I decided to look for the perfect mare instead.” The breath left Carrot’s body and she trembled as she raised a hoof to meet her’s. She scrambled for something to say but only gasps came out. “So what did those schoolfillies think of your kissing, Miss Carrot?” Rarity’s eyes connected with Carrot Top’s and she inched ever closer with a daring smile sprawled across her face. “I think I did okay.” “Now Darling,” she teased “I believe you did much better than that. “ They slowly brushed their lips , but the small taste did not satisfy Carrot Top, who greedily pulled her in tighter. Rarity gasped but then she moaned, losing herself in the warm wave of sensuality. they fell onto the bed rolling in each other’s embrace. They parted and Rarity ended up lying on her back looking up at Carrot Top, whose bathrobe exposed luring pieces of her body as it barely held on. Endorphins gave her a powerful desire as she laid a hoof on Rarity’s frantically moving chest and felt her heart race as is slid over her. “So. What did that stallion think of your prowess, Miss Rarity?” “ I was acceptable.” “Now honey,” She cooed as she leaned in and stole a swift peck “I think you did a lot better than that.” She dropped her robe, wrapped the mare in her hooves and together, the two got lost in the night. --- Beams of sunrise entered the bedroom through Carrot Top’s perpetually open window, warmly awakening the pair wrapped under sheets. Carrot gently removed the covers and exposed them both but waited to wake up her partner and admire her without makeup. Her coat was pale and bright, and without the various highlights her eyes looked almost innocent. Even when uncombed and messy her glistening violet mane was lovely to behold. “Morning sunshine.” swooned Carrot to her sleeping bedmate. When she opened her eyes and saw Carrot Top looking at her, Rarity realized she was exposed and attempted to retreat to the bathroom. “DON’T LOOK I’M HIDEOUS!” She shrieked, but Carrot grabbed by the tail and pulled her to a stop. “You? Never.” She rose up to her and placed steady kisses along the length of her neck and when she reached the top they locked lips again. She crashed with her onto the bed wearing a blissful grin that vanished when she noticed Rarity’s nervous frown. “What’s wrong?” “It’s nothing really.” “I can’t help you if you lie to me.” Rarity sighed.  “I just want to know if this can last.” She rolled to her side and looked at the window. Carrot immediately rolled after her and pulled them together so she could cuddle her close and massage her belly. “I don’t know about you, but I would hate to only do this once.” Carrot Top’s reassuring smile met Rarity’s hopeful eyes and the unicorn eased herself in her lover’s embrace. “We both want forever,” Carrot said “and that’s got to start by taking every day we get.” Rarity initiated an unexpected, but welcomed kiss and shifted herself to be on top of her lover. The unicorn rubbed her hooves all over her body. “I’m ready to take the morning,”