A collection of short prompts from the RariPie group. Warning: copious amounts of d'aaawww.
A collection of prompt-based minifics written by the wonderful people over at the RariPie group on Fimfiction. Individual authors are linked at the top of each prompt.
Indeed, everything’s back to normal now. We've just defeated Discord and Ponyville’s no longer the chaos capital. I shuddered at the memory of the horrific things he did to our home. Rose and lavender checker pattern? Seriously? But more than that, I shuddered at the pony I became under his thrall. The humongous diamond I coveted so much turned out to be a plain old boulder, but I could have lost so much more in that fiasco.
The worst part was that I knew my greed was not entirely caused by the thrall.
I studied my friends as we headed towards The Golden Oak Library, to see if they felt the same way. Fluttershy was understandably wracked with guilt for being cruel to everypony, especially Pinkie Pie. Applejack walked especially close to Twilight for some reason, while Rainbow Dash kept apologizing and hovering over all our heads. Pinkie Pie...
Pinkie Pie was giggling.
Now, I was not my pink friend. I was not at all a connoisseur of smiles and laughter, as she liked to put it. But I knew enough to notice the way her nose scrunched up with each giggle and the way her lips twitched with each smile. I knew enough to differentiate a hollow laugh from a real one.
When we reached the library, I cut Pinkie off from entering and called over my shoulder to the rest of the group.
“Twilight, darling, would it be all right if Pinkie and I stay here for a while? I’d like to have a word with her, privately.”
“Sure, Rarity. Just let me get your Elements first.”
I lit my horn and wrapped a levitation field around the Elements of Generosity and Laughter, and almost tossed them over my head. Thankfully, Twilight caught them in her magic. Even more thankfully, she didn't say anything about my urgency but simply closed the door for us.
“What’s up, Rarity? Whatcha want to talk about?” Pinkie was rocking her weight forward and backward, an odd smile plastered on her face. I felt the wrinkles forming between my eyebrows.
“You’re not all right.” It wasn't a question.
Pinkie giggled in reply, but the scrunching of her nose was more noticeable now. Her irises did not quite sparkle like the Grade-A sapphires they were. Carefully, she tilted her head to one side. “What do you mean?”
“Pinkie Pie, please,” I sighed and stepped closer, practically nose to nose with her. “I've known you since we were little school fillies. It’s okay to let it out.”
Pinkie’s smile dropped so fast, it literally felt like she took off a mask. She sunk to the ground, making herself as small as possible. I immediately wrapped my forehooves around her and held her close.
“I was so scared, Rarity.” It was barely a whisper, but I felt her whole body tremble with each word. “One minute we’re all super-duper friends. The next, everypony is laughing at me and calling me names. It was horrible.”
Pinkie Pie never cries.
Or rather, she never lets anypony see her cry. So I yanked a couple of flowering bushes with my magic and made a small enclosure around us. I’m sure Twilight will understand when I apologize later.
“It’s all okay now, darling.” I whispered between her sobs, my hoof smoothing over her mane. ”We’re all still super-duper friends.”
“I thought everypony hated me. I thought you hated me.”
“Come now, darling. You know I’d never hate you.”
She pulled away enough to look me in the eye. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were covered in tear stains and bits of grass. Her smile was not as wide as earlier, but there was no twitching or scrunching of nose.
It was beautiful.
“I still wish the chocolate rain was permanent, though.”
“Oh, you.”
She giggled at that so much, our makeshift bush house shook and rained us with leaves. But this time, her laughter was warm and real. I chuckled along with her.
Rarity pursed her lips thoughtfully as she eyed the dressform. The gown needed something more. Ruffles? No... Dozens of possibilities went through her mind, but nothing quite fit.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Fretting. I need to finish this design for the Countessa.” Rarity’s right ear flicked as somepony’s tongue teased the outer edge. “Pinkie, that’s delightful, but not now, please.”
Pinkie grunted irritably. “Awww, you need to play more.” She did as Rarity wished, however, and settled for wrapping her hooves around Rarity’s neck in a comfortable reverse-hug.
Rarity sighed in contentment. It was wonderful to have an understanding marefriend like Pinkie. So giving, but also obedient— She’s doing it again! “Pinkie, please, I need to focus!”
“I know!”
“So, then, will you please explain why you are teasing me like that?”
“I’m not!”
Rarity opened her mouth, then closed it again. Pinkie was many things, but a liar? Never that’s she’d known of. The tongue was back, on her left ear this time. “If you aren’t doing it then who, pray tell, is?”
“I did!” said Pinkie.
“Will you make up your mind? Are you the one licking my ear or not?”
“Yes!” said Pinkie.
“No!” said... Pinkie?
Rarity’s head turned so quickly her glasses nearly flew from her face. Pinkie was still wrapped around her back, but she was also just to the side, having stood back when Rarity turned.
“Hi!” said the second Pinkie.
“Oh...” Rarity’s face fell as she ran through the possibilities of how this could be happening. Changeling, mirror pool, or Discord...
“Quick, how long till my birthday?”
“Ninety-one days two hours thirty minutes twenty-one seconds,” the two said, simultaneously.
Rarity’s eyes bulged. Clone or changeling were out. “Explain, please?”
Both Pinkie’s began to animatedly talk. Unfortunately Rarity could not make out a word of it as they talking over each other, and apparently about two different things.
“One at a time!” Both went silent so quickly as to give her auditory whiplash. “Um... the one on the left, please.”
“Well, we had this idea. You told Pinkie, I mean me, or her... Sorry, it get’s confusing. You told one of us that you had this dream about the mirror clones, all having sexy-times with you at once, and Twilight was doing this thing with some of the water from the mirror pool and she needed somepony to test it on and then there was two of me but it wasn’t like before, she’s me but I’m me too and we can hear each other and she loves you too and I thought hey let’s go play with Rarity!”
“I... I see.”
The Pinkie on the right grinned happily. “So, do you wanna play? Twilight said it’s gonna wear off in a little while and the other me will just be a puddle or something. Can she play with us while she’s here?”
The Pinkie on the left mirrored the Pinkie on the right. “Please?”
Rarity eyed them both, a slow smile growing on her own face. “It would hardly do to be rude to our guest, would it? Come here, my loves.”
---
A short time later, a very concerned Twilight Sparkle teleported into Rarity’s showroom. “Rarity! Listen, I don’t want you to panic, but I kinda cloned Pinkie. She was supposed stay put while I took notes but I looked away for one second and she was gone!”
Twilight blinked, looking around for the first time since teleporting to the scene. What she saw made her flush hotly, and she turned away quickly. “I can see you’re busy now gotta go!” she said as she teleported away in a flash.
I feel a wave of anger crash every time I think of that word. Sure, it ebbs almost right away but it still dampens my mood to a 65.
Rarity is at a 40, and still dropping.
She's sobbing on the floor, still in her sticky, cake-ified dress. I talk over her sobs about how much un-fun I had in the Grand Galloping Gala, playing up the funnier-on-hindsight parts and sprinkling in a lot of side jokes. She eventually stops crying, sits up, and looks me in the eye.
She’s stuck at 22. But at least it stopped going down.
“So this is how it feels to have one’s hopes in such heights, and then helplessly watch everything go down in flames.”
“There are a lot of other ponies out there, Rarity.”
“Well, yes. But, yes, they are other ponies. Not Him.”
Frivolous.
Of course nopony’s feelings are frivolous, no matter what they are, but the word won’t leave me alone. I mentally buck myself for letting it worm its way to my brain.
59.
“Does it really have to be Him?”
“Yes!” she answers too quickly. 31. So talking about Him is good? I frown at that, but not with my face.
53.
“Even after being a complete un-gentleman, insulting your friends, and treating you so horribly with icing on top?”
She hesitates. “...It must be an off-day.” She looks away. 34.
“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s my job.”
49. My mane droops ever so slightly. Ponyfeathers.
“Ridiculous? Ridiculous?! Do you even know how it’s like if everything you’ve ever wanted, that pony of your dreams, turned out to be such a brute who would not give even a single flying feather of thought your way, let alone care about your feelings?”
“Of course I know that feeling so well. I live with it everyday! But I don’t let my fantasies get in the way of how things really are, do I?”
We stare each other down, nostrils flaring, breathing heavily. Our words hung between us like a thick wall of fog. We can’t seem to see each other, even if we try.
Rarity slumps to the floor. She fluctuates so much, I can’t get a good read of her mood.
The gazes of the Canterlot elite were cold, judging Rarity harshly. It wasn’t like she’d done anything wrong, but when her marefriend had her face buried in an expensive cake brought for the occasion, it did tend to bring attention to one’s self. Rarity sighed. She was going to have to fix the mess she had started.
“Pinkie Pie,” Rarity moaned softly, trying to ignore the disapproving looks shot at the pair. “Please, calm down little. Hold still, you’re all messy.”
As if Pinkie were a foal, she floated a handkerchief from a pocket in her dress, wiping her face clean carefully. Pinkie Pie grinned, bouncing down to join her, her dark pink dress flowing around her as she did so. “Aw, but it’s so delicious!”
“Pinkie,” Rarity said sternly, the regal ponies breaking out into fits tight laughter. “This is a very important event, and we were lucky to get tickets to it. You know I love you so darling, but you simply must behave.”
Pinkie giggled, her eyes glinting mischievously. Before Rarity could register what had happened, warm lips were pressed against, kissing her softly. Rarity was left gaping as Pinkie bounced off, oblivious as always.
***
“And this is Rarity,” Pinkie Pie finished her introductions with a squeal, flingings her arm’s around the embarresed unicorn’s neck.
“She’s my, um, marefriend.”
“Your marefriend?” Pinkie’s father raised an eyebrow. “How surprising. She doesn’t seem to be your type at all.”
“Oh no, Rarity’s amazing,” she squeezed her tightly. “We love each other so, so much!”
“Indeed we do,” Rarity smirked, wrapping her forelegs around Pinkie’s waist and dipping her backwards, sweeping her into an elegant kiss. It didn’t last long, just a few seconds, but that was long enough to set fire to Pinkie’s cheeks.
“Revenge, darling,” Rarity whispered huskily into her ear before promptly letting her go and sauntering out of the door.
Rarity loved the daytime. Despite the late hours she sometimes kept, she, like most ponies, was a daylight creature. Feeling the warmth of sunlight on her muzzle, seeing the colorful bustle of daily life in Ponyville, being able to work on her designs without needing to gather fireflies for her lantern, these were all wonderful things. Rarity had no problem with the sun.
But right now, just at this moment, Rarity conceded that perhaps eternal night may not have been such a poor idea after all.
Standing before her, Pinkie Pie wore three things. The first was her smile, which Pinkie never left home without. The bright, beautiful little piece of joy manifested itself tonight in a rarely-seen demure grin, traces of anxiety and anticipation tempering her usual display of passion and exuberance.
The second thing she wore was the dress Rarity had made for her. Red and white silk adorned her body, smoothly following her curves here and flaring out into a wide skirt there and always giving Pinkie plenty of freedom to wiggle about; Rarity knew just how much Pinkie loved to wiggle. The curls of her mane were up in tresses and adorned with gold and silver. From her ears hung a matching pair of amethysts from her family's rock farm, which Rarity had set into earrings for her upon hearing the story of how Pinkie and her sisters had found them.
And the third thing Pinkie wore was the moonlight. The silver sheen cascaded over her, glinting off of her earrings and sparkling in her eyes. It was as though Luna herself poured the soft blue-white light on the mare like a physical thing.
Rarity's breath left her. She was not sure which enhanced Pinkie's beauty more, though against such titans as the moonlight and Pinkie's smile, she imagined her dress would have difficulty competing. The ultimate effect of all three, though, was enough to give Rarity a tingle in her hooves and a lightness in her head.
Pinkie Pie rubbed her foreleg, a nervous giggle on her breath. “Does this look okay, Rarity?”
“Darling,” Rarity gasped, taking Pinkie's hoof in her own, “you look wonderful tonight.”
I pulled away from listening to my partner’s heartbeat to peer at her face. She was lying on her back and staring at the ceiling. Even with the moonlight seeping through my curtains, I found it hard to make out the expression she wore.
“May I know why you would suggest...?” I paused. Something deeply troubling was adding up in my mind. “Oh no, you’re regretting.”
“No!” She almost yelled in my ear, but calmed herself almost immediately. “Noppity-nope to that. Tonight’s the best night ever, yessir!”
“Then why?”
“It’s just a silly and selfish little thing. Sillfish? Sillyfish? Anyway, I’m just being a little-wittle bad greedy Pinkie Pie.”
I put a hoof over her lips. “Stop. I will not listen to you debase the mare I love.”
“Sorry.” She rolled to her side to look me in the eyes. I could see her eyebrows furrowed together. “I don’t want to share you with anypony.”
“Well, that goes without saying, love...”
“No. I mean, it’s like, um...” Her face scrunched up even more as she struggled with the words. “You know how when your stomach’s all growly-rowly and you bake a dozen of the perfectest yummiest cupcakes ever, but you don’t tell your friends about it because you want to have all twelve or thirteen for yourself. Does that make sense?”
“That’s not being greedy.”
“Yep. I mean, nope. I mean, that’s not what I mean.” She tried to make some demonstrative gestures, but that’s rather hard to pull off with somepony in your embrace. “You know how everypony have so many different kind of smiles? Like how Applejack has a different smile for when she’s applebucking than when she’s with us during pet play dates than when she sees Dashie and Fluttershy nuzzle when they think nopony’s looking.”
“So, you don’t want anypony to be jealous of us? Is that it?”
“No. Well, maybe a little. I don’t want our friends to act like we’re different ponies just because we’re together. But more than that, I just don’t want anypony else to see all the secret smiles you make. Just like that one you’re wearing now.”
I almost instinctively turned away to hide the blush threatening to bloom all over my face. Then I remembered who I was conversing with, and that the darkness made my hiding pointless anyway.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re just making excuses for being ashamed of our relationship.”
“Why would... I-I’d never! Rarity, you’re the beautifulest and most wonderfulest...”
Pinkie smiles, the sight of her happy face sending my heart a flutter, feeling a quivering in my voice as I speak my next words.
"Pinkie darling.... tell me the story of how you got your cutie mark..." I ask of her. She smiles, looking at me with a nod of her head. "Well... it was a bright and sunny day at my family's rock farm.... Papa Pie wasn't too happy with me for some reason, and told me to move all the rocks from one field to the next one." she starts, sighing happily with the memory. "I'm moving the rocks from the fields, just like he said, a super big frown on my face, when I hear a boom."
I smile, nodding my head, motioning for her to continue. She nods, giggling a bit.
"When I look up, I saw a big colorful explosion, Dashie's Sonic Rainboom! It made me super duper happy! And i just had to spread it... so, I spent all day, and all night, working in the silo on my farm... and when they came in, at first I thought Papa Pie was gonna yell, 'Pinkamena Diane Pie, what did you do to my silo?!' but he started smiling, and so did the rest, and we partied all day! And than my cutie mark appeared!"
I smile as she finishes her tail, nuzzling her gently.
I am sure right now you are rather confused as to who would send you a bouquet of the freshest red camellias on Hearts and Hooves Day, yet not have the daring to do so personally. Please forgive me for being presumptuous and cowardly in my confession.
You are such a wonderful mare, Pinkie Pie. You brighten my life as much as Celestia’s sun would brighten the world each morning. Unfortunately, that is also the reason why I cannot come forward. You shine so beautifully that I fear tarnishing that light. I admit I am not the best at being agreeable or adventurous, so I am afraid I might just hold you back. Again, please forgive me for my cowardice in deciding to love you in silence.
Yes, I love you. I love you more than these silly words and flowers can express. Sometimes, I wish I could show you just how much you mean to me and what you mean to my life, but... For now, this should be enough.
Sincerely, your elusive secret admirer
*
Rarity woke up to an incessant knocking on her bedroom window. Grumbling, she threw off her sleep mask and trotted to the window, ready to berate Rainbow Dash for the hypocrisy of disrupting somepony else’s sleep in time. Who else would knock on the window instead of the door, after all?
To her surprise, she found a pink earth pony tangled in balloons and streamers. She held a bouquet of red-orange blossoms with her mouth.
“Pinkie Pie, what in Equestria are you...?” Rarity shook her head when Pinkie started mumbling through flowers. “Look, just come inside first. Then you can explain.”
As soon as she set foot in Rarity’s bedroom, Pinkie Pie carefully laid the bouquet at Rarity’s hooves and spoke the words of a famous poem:
I choose to love you in silence for in my silence, I find no rejection I choose to love you in my loneliness for in my loneliness, no one owns you but I I choose to adore you from a distance for distance shields us both from pain I choose to kiss you on the wind for the wind is gentler than my lips I choose to hold you only in my dreams for in my dreams, there is no end
“Pinkie Pie, I...” Rarity felt her cheeks burn strong enough to show on her face. She briefly wondered if Pinkie was blushing too, as the other mare’s coloration lent well to hiding such things from sight. Sighing, she continued, “I’m sorry, I didn't quite understand what you’re trying to say, darling.”
At this, Pinkie Pie simply chuckled. "Silly Rarity. I’m saying I love you, too!”
"Hi, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie squeaked, rushing through the door of the Carousel Boutique.
Rarity looked up from the dress she was sewing with Spike. "Oh, hello, Pinkie! What can I help you with?"
"Well, today is the day you promised me a makeover, remember? Remember?" She said, bouncing up and down.
"Oh, yes, I completely forgot!" Rarity replied. "But, a good mare is nothing if not true to her word, so let's get started, shall we? Spikey?"
"Yes, Rarity?" the young dragon replied with a salute.
"If you would, please seat Pinkie in the vanity chair in the bathroom, and bring her the newest copy of Fashion Weekly, will you darling?"
In flash, Pinkie found herself being led to the bathroom and sat in a chair in front of a giant mirror.
"Here you are, Pinkie," Spike said, placing a magazine in front of her. "Rarity will be in just a moment."
"Thanks, Spike!"
Pinkie bolted through the pages in search of the perfect style she wished to emulate. As Rarity entered the room, she came to a stop on the exact look she wanted.
"So, dear, have you found something to your liking?" Rarity asked, levitating an arrangement of various makeups and other cosmetic equipment.
"Uh-huh! I wanna look like this mare right here!" She shoved the magazine up to Rarity's face.
"Okay, let's see he-AHH! Goodness, a-are you sure this is what you want?" Rarity stared in shock at the mare in the picture, who was sporting a spiked, neon green mane, horrific looking face paint and and an allover angry demeanor.
"Yep! She looks wild, and crazy... like me!"
"Spike!?" Rarity called out to the young dragon, who promptly popped up next to her. "What do you know of this mare?"
Spike looked at the picture and a smile instantly materialized on his face. "That's Glamour Killer, the lead singer of Arch Nemesis, the most hardcore female-fronted metal band ever! She's so hot, it's gotta be illegal in some states."
Rarity facehoofed at the mere thought of the fashion travesty she would be inflicting on Pinkie, who was beaming like schoolfilly in wait of her makeover.
Even after all those years of being married to her, I can still never get over her smile—the same smile that causes everyone to stop and stare with awe. The same bright smile that can cut through even the darkest of night. The same infectious smile that can even leave a cranky donkey in a plague of joy and laughter. The same sincere smile that she uses to say she loves me.*sigh* Sometimes I just wonder if that’s the only reason I married her… not that it’s the only reason of course. Her for her frivolously fluffy pink mane, her positive outlook on life, her cute little gestures when she gets excited and her carefree yet affection nature are reasons enough why I love her but it’s something about her smile that I just adore. Every time I see her beam, I feel drawn into it. Almost entranced, like she was a snake charmer and I was her pet snake.
“Rarity?” a voice pulled me out of my trance. “Are you alright?”
I turned to the source of the voice to see the “snake charmer” herself lying next to me, awoken from her slumber. Revealing her sky blue eyes filled with worry and a hint of drowsiness.
“Yes darling.” I nodded in assurance before flashing her a smile of my own “Everything is wonderful.”
She stared at her for a couple more seconds before she snuggled closer into me and once again gave me her signature Pinkie Pie smile that set my heart aflutter once more.
Soon after, sleep has embraced us both, leaving me dreaming about my snake charming wife and her beautiful smile.
Jealousy was an unattractive look. Rarity of all ponies knew that. It was the facial expression you wore once your mask had slipped away, and it just wasn't becoming. Jealousy was ugly, green and sharp and sinister. It did bad things to a pony, mad things, and jealousy was a cruel master. You'd do things you would never normally do.
That was exactly the reason Rarity refrained from being jealous. Oh, she might have been in the past, but now she was wiser, now she knew that it just was not worth it in the slightest. She didn't need to be jealous. She had brilliant friends, she'd saved Equestria several times and her business was booming. She had everything she'd ever dreamed of as a little filly. Life was beautiful.
But then again ... she always felt something was missing. She felt empty inside sometimes, like there was a hole that needed to be filled, a gap in her perfect world. She threw herself into her work, into making her friends happy, yet there was still something wrong. But no matter. It could be ignored.
But it couldn't. When she saw Pinkie Pie with Cheese Sandwich, laughing and spending all their time together, perfectly in sync, she knew what was the matter.
Some people got lucky and found their soulmate early. Others had to work harder for it.
Rarity had missed what had been staring her in the face for years and now ... Pinkie Pie was gone.
Rarity could feel the jealousy bubbling up inside her like a potion, spitting and shrieking and she shoved it back down again unpleasantly.
She wasn't going to get jealous. It just wasn't becoming for a lady like her.
The next dress she had to make was a wedding dress. She still didn't get jealous. The years passed, and she learnt to reel in her emotions, make a mask of perfection and forget all the pain she felt.
But when she had to make a dress specially adjusted for pregnancy, she did allow herself to get jealous. Just for a little bit, a bout of self-loathing.
After all, this was all her fault. If she hadn't been so stupid all those years ago she would have realised what Pinkie Pie meant by how she was always hanging around Rarity, always ready to help.
Then she wouldn't have to get jealous, have to break her mask.
But Pinkie Pie was with Cheese Sandwich now. They were married, and now expecting a foal. Jealousy was useless. She couldn't change anything, as much as she wished she could.
Wishing was for idiots. And so was jealousy.
Rarity guessed that made her the biggest idiot of all time.
"Check." Dashie tossed a purple one over to Fluttershy, who tied it into one of the four clusters that were placed around Sugarcube Corner.
"Streamers that match? Rarity likes it when they match."
"Check." Twilight and Applejack finished putting the streamers up, Twilight adding a little extra shimmer to them with her magic.
"Rarity's super-special-ultra-favorite crystal berry tarts with fresh crystal berries? Check!" Tossing a proud glance at Rarity's favorite treats that I made myself a little while ago, I rolled up my checklist and tossed it aside. Everything was all set up, now I just had to wait for Rarity.
Oh! Wait! My dress! I ran upstairs, shouting a quick "Be right back!" to my friends behind me. After a little digging, I found my flapper dress that I'd worn in Appleoosa for my dance number. Afterward, Rarity had confessed that she really liked it when I wore it. So it only made sense to wear it at her birthday party!
I walked down the stairs really slowly like Rarity does when she wants me to notice her outfit - right as she came in. I tried to scramble the rest of the way down, but she had already noticed me and caught her breath. "Pinkie, you look lovely." She turned to everypony else. "Thank you for setting all this up for me." She smiled her beautiful Rarity smile.
"It was all Pinkie." Dashie said, winking at me and mouthing the words "Go get her.".
I made my way downstairs, Rarity watching me the whole time. I felt really blushy. I stared into her big blue eyes on the last step. "Happy birthday, Rare-Bear." Then I smiled and kissed her full on the lips.
The cloying scent of cherries wafted in as soon as the door loudly slammed open. In response, Rarity lowered everything in her telekinetic hold. She didn’t bother turning around to see who it was, though. There was only one pony who would make such an entrance. So she continued to push the fabric through her sewing machine until a pair of pink hooves draped themselves around her neck.
“You’ve been working all this time?” Pinkie’s breath was hot against Rarity’s ear, which flicked involuntarily. The sweet scent was also stronger then. The unicorn pushed away from the sewing machine and turned around within Pinkie’s embrace.
“I was just about to take a break, actually.” She smiled then locked lips with Pinkie Pie, body pressing against body. That sudden movement caused them to topple to the floor, but Pinkie didn’t seem to mind cushioning Rarity’s fall. In fact-- as her tongue slipped just past Rarity’s lips, eliciting a delighted groan-- Pinkie Pie didn’t seem to even notice what had occurred.
Rarity, on the other hoof, noticed everything. How the pink fur tickled her nose as she trailed a thousand kisses and kitten licks down Pinkie’s neck. How Pinkie’s breath would catch in her throat with a nibble here and a nibble there. How the scent of cherries and all the other mares had clung to Pinkie’s skin, masking and mixing with her natural one until it was barely recognizable.
Rarity paused just over Pinkie’s belly, inhaling deeply.
“You were with Fluttershy just now, weren’t you?” It wasn’t an accusation, but it could have been one.
“How can you tell?”
“That mare simply loooves her cherry pies. But don’t tell Applejack.”
Pinkie tried to giggle at that, but a moan escaped instead as Rarity continued her ministrations, trailing lower and lower and...
"I love you, Rare."
Her breath hitched and she froze, sure that her heart had just skipped plenty of beats. Slowly, Rarity raised her gaze until blue eyes met blue. Her jaw must have dropped as well, because she felt a hoof not her own gently pushing up her chin until her mouth closed. “I love you,” Pinkie repeated, caressing Rarity’s cheek. The smile she offered was much more subdued than her usual fanfare-- just a tiny, almost imperceptible upward curl of her lips. Her eyes were impossibly huge as she seemed to take in every teensy detail and maybe something more. They glistened in the light, adding to the overall softness of the view.
Rarity wanted to believe her then, she really did. Just like all the other times before. But she could never be certain how many times Pinkie Pie had said those same words to how many other ponies.
After all, how could she ever know she wasn’t just another appointment on the schedule or another tickmark on the guest list?
My smile melts away as I roll that thought in my head again, slower this time so I can taste its meaning properly. It isn't a particularly strange idea to have about a friend-- believe me, I've had way stranger ones before-- but for some reason this one hit me like a boulder to the head.
Probably because I've never noticed it before.
“Pinkie, darling, could you pass me those pliers over there?”
My eyes trace the lines of her pointing finger before I turn around to get what she asked. Her fingers always look so pale and thin, as if a single breath could break them. And yet, as she takes the pliers I hand over, I could feel the strength in her grasp. Firm, but not overpowering. It has a certain warmth to it that’s comforting, much like a soft blanket in a chilly day.
I want to drown myself in it.
“Um, Pinkie Pie?”
“Hmm?”
I look up to see the averted eyes, the uncertain smile, the red cheeks. Instinctively, I lean closer, but she clears her throat and keeps her gaze away.
“I, ah, can’t finish your necklace if you don’t let go, you know,” she said.
On the table between us are our hands. Between our hands is the pliers awkwardly squished underneath interlaced fingers. I reluctantly let go and start fidgeting with the tools, gems, and other assorted materials in a haphazard attempt to make something out of the awkwardness. Rarity has drifted back to the sapphire and tourmaline set she is making, her lips pursed tight as she works the pliers on the wire. I furtively watch the way her knuckles would rise or fall as she grips, how her wrist would turn with each twist, how the muscles in her arm would tense then relax.
“There, all done! Now to see how it looks...” She moves behind me before I could stand, finished necklace in hand. And then, the small weight of the pendant between my breasts. And then, her long nails lightly scratching skin. And then, the hot breath against my nape... “R-Rare, what are you--” The words got stuck on my throat as soft, moist lips press on my shoulder. She hums lightly with each kiss trailing up my neck; I have to bite my lips to keep the moans bubbling up from my pounding chest.
“You’re strangely quiet.”
“A-aah!” Unfair! Licking shouldn’t be allowed!
I grip on my new necklace in hopes of steadying myself somehow, the wires and gem edges poking my palm. My eyes roll to the back of my head as she nibbles on my earlobe, occasionally dipping the tip of her tongue for a taste, before she whispers, “This really suits you, Pinkie.”
Another moan escapes me, then another, and another, as she continues to kiss and to nibble and to lick until I am nothing more than a puddle of bliss on my seat. In the end, she has her arms around me, pale fingers kneading my shoulders.
"Do you, Pinkamena Diane Pie, take Rarity Belle..."
I'm barely listening to the priest. I still can't believe it's really happening. That me and Pinkie Pie are getting married, and her hair had actually obeyed the stylist. It had been tied into a plait that fell over one shoulder, with a crown of aqua blue flowers sitting on top of her head. Her dress was creamy white and hugged her curves, the skirt flowing. She looked beautiful.
I had proposed, at Sugarcube Corner late at night, when the world didn't exist and there was nothing but us. I'll never forget it. I told her that I loved her more than anypony else, and I couldn't think of anypony who I'd rather spend my whole life with. That she always made me smile and made the worst day worthwhile. I meant every word of my little speech.
"Gosh, Rare, you really mean all that?" Pinkie blushed.
I smiled. "Yes."
And then I took out the little black box that held the rest of our life, got down on one knee, and asked for her hoof in marriage. She said yes, and made such a ruckus that the whole neighborhood woke up. Pinkie had shouted the news to everyone that came to Sugarcube Corner wondering what the fuss was, and then she conjured her party cannon from nowhere and fired it into the sky. Everypony cheered.
"Do you, Rarity Belle, take Pinkamena Diane Pie to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and health?"
Pinkie looked me right in the eye. Do it. I smiled and nodded. "I do."
Rarity looked at the room in satisfaction. It had been painted a light purple, with darker purple flowers scattered about. There was a mural of Celestia and Luna on the wall above a cot, and the carpet was a soft pale pink. The room was covered in toys, from a stuffed plush pink dragon to a working train set. There was even a pillow made to look like a cupcake. The room was perfect.
Rarity smiled, looking down at her swollen belly. The little filly would be coming any time soon, and Rarity really shouldn't have been up and about - Pinkie Pie insisted that she rested properly, the mare could be so protective when she wanted to - but she wanted to see the room one final time before the intended owner took over.
She wondered what their little girl would look like. Would she be a unicorn or an earth pony? Would she have a wild curly mane like Pinkie Pie or would it be curled like Rarity's? Dark or light eyes? A light pink or grey coat? Rarity almost squealed with excitement. She had been looking forward to this moment for the better half of six years, and now it had finally arrived. She and Pinkie Pie were finally going to have a family, a real family.
And Rarity almost couldn't believe it. Ten years ago if anypony had told her she'd be married to and have a daughter with Pinkie Pie, she would have scoffed in their face. But now it was reality. Pinkie Pie wasn't a prince in shining armour, she wasn't a high society businessmen, she wasn't even a rich model or actress. She was simple baker and party planner from a small town, and she was about as different from Rarity as night was from day.
But she wasn't simple at all. She was the most complex, beautiful, hilarious mare that rarity knew, who valued her so much and made her feel that every day was perfect when they were together.
Yes, they were different, but Equestria itself proved that night and day together were a strange but wonderful match. Together, they completed each other.
Rarity smiled, tears in her eyes as she thought about the years she'd spent with Pinkie Pie and the years that were to come - with their daughter by their side, a perfect combination of night and day.
Rarity's life was in no way going in the direction she'd planned, but just like her wife, it was full of unexpected twists and turns.
And just like her wife, she wouldn't want it any other way.
I stood at the doorway of Sugarcube Corner, lowering the book in my telekinetic grasp, my eyebrows raising to heights I didn't think was possible on a pony's face. It wasn't the flurry of activity inside the shop that surprised me, since this was quite a popular venue for socializing and treats. Neither was it the pink pony that appeared and disappeared at random places, putting up colored streamers or balloons or what have you. I was too used to Pinkie's frantic pace and impossible feats, after all.
No, what surprised me was how quietly she moved around the small space. Not a single word left her lips, even as she tasked Rarity to pass her whatever tool she required at the moment. Rarity, to her credit, seemed to know exactly what Pinkie Pie needed, wordlesssly magicking things such as double-sided tape she cut beforehand, a rubber mallet, and even a jar of pickled cherries, before the party pony even asked.
I remained there by the doorway, standing still as I watched my two friends seamlessly work together as if they were a single pony. That little thought caused a giggle to slip from my lips. Rarity and Pinkie Pie, a single pony? They were as different as night and day! But then, Celestia and Luna, too, were so different and so complementary to each other, so perhaps the idea wasn't too preposterous. They had centuries of sisterhood to fall back on though, so I wondered, how long had Pinkie and Rarity known each other to be able to do something like this?
"Twilight, could you be a dear and pass me that banner you are stepping on?" Rarity batted her eyes at me, and then the silent spell was over.
"Sure," I said, trotting over to help them out.
We talked and chatted and giggled and laughed as our hooves and mouths and horns finished up the preparations for the day's party, and that noisy cheeriness of ours continued well into the party itself.
But during the lull between conversations and dancing and games, I would catch Rarity and Pinkie Pie looking at each other from wherever they were in the room, no matter how far apart. A small smile here, a quirk of an eyebrow there. They were talking to each other, I knew, trading tales of their night so far without speaking a word.
And that, I believed, was something absolutely awesome.
Not because she yells or throws things or wonders why I even feel the need to make so many cupcakes anyway. Though she does do that sometimes.
When she's really angry, she's completely quiet for a full minute. Can you imagine?! A full minute?! Then she just asks me, super calm, "What is the meaning of this?" Like she just did.
"I woke up and you were already working so I asked you if you wanted me to make you some breakfast and you didn't say anything so I decided that meant yes and I made you a cinnamon bun and some coffee and brought it up here but then I tripped and I might have knocked your sewing machine over?" That comes out as a question. It shouldn't have.
"Ah. So that's it." Rarity was sketching her fall line when I came upstairs. With a grunt, she picks it up in her magic and gently places it back on its table. She smiles when she sees that it isn't that damaged. Good. Smiling is good. She's like a dragon. That would make me dragonshy. Ha.
She turns toward me - ever so slowly, that's the key - and raises one eyebrow. I can't help but notice how adorable she is with her measuring tape dangling around her neck and her pair of little red glasses on. "Your breakfast is still safe." I mention. I just barely managed to catch the little plate and white mug and put them right next to where her sewing machine would have been.
Rarity picks up her cinnamon bun and takes a bite, smiling again. "Yes. Yes it is. Thank you for making me breakfast, Pinkie."
"It's no problem. I'll remember not to trip next time."
I scrutinize my reflection for any errant strands, but there are none of course. I expect nothing but the most fabulous perfection from myself, especially when it comes to making first impressions, as is the agenda of the day. One's first day in junior high comes only once in a lifetime, after all.
Sunbeams are shining through some wispy clouds, washing Ponyville in a soft morning light. This is definitely my kind of weather, not too cloudy but not scorching either. The pegasi have simply outdone themselves with this level of fair weather. I trot down Main Street, pleasantly greeting ponies as I pass.
This day is totally shaping up to be perfect!
SPLAT!
Sweet Celestia, what is a horrid sound! It's like when some kind of sticky oozy substance hits your coat and the stains will take forever to get off. Something warm seems to be dripping down my chest, and is that the divine scent of Belgian chocolate I smell?
“Ohmigosh! I am super-duper sorry about that! Here, lemme help you clean up!”
Something warm is moving down my chest again. Warm and wet and SUN AND MOON! SOMEPONY'S LICKING ME!
“Mm-hmm! That was the best lava cake EVER!” The perpetrator beams at me. How dare she! Who smiles after assaulting somepony with cake then licking the messy remains?
"That was the most disgusting!" I growl.
“Aww, but I thought I finally got the recipe right!”
“Not. The. Cake!”
“Oh. Well, at least you won’t have to walk around looking like a giant lava cake fell on you!” She's still grinning at me as if we're good friends chatting about the latest gossip. My Gods, I want to smack that smile off her face! “I’m Pinkie Pie, by the way. What’s your name?” Whatever, filly. I am outta here! Good riddance! “Um, I didn’t quite catch your name.”
“Because I didn’t give it.”
“Silly, you don’t have to give me your name. I already have one and it’s Pinkie!” So instead of smacking the crazy pink filly following me, I end up smacking myself on the forehead. Repeatedly. Well perhaps this is just a nightmare I'll be waking up from any second now... Any second... “Oooh~ Where are we going? I’m new in town, so I don’t know where all the cool kids hang out yet. Oh! I know! Maybe I should throw a party and invite everypony and--”
When Pinkie Pie re-entered the Boutique, Rarity hadn’t shifted in the slightest. There she still was; hunching over her space, sheets of papers in front of her with no distinguishable order to them.
“Hey, Rarity, I’m back!” Pinkie announced, closing the front door behind her and bouncing towards the unicorn with the box of fresh cupcakes on her head.
Rarity did not turn around, or acknowledge Pinkie’s presence with a reply. Pinkie could sense the vibrant feelings of tepidness lingering around Rarity, and quickly sprang into action, tossing the cupcakes beside her in the process.
Rarity soon felt them—Pinkie’s hooves. Those beautiful, pink, cordial hooves that she’s had the pleasure of holding many times before. They clung around her neck in their always-affectionate embrace.
She smiled, and lent down to plant a soft kiss on one of them. “Hello, Pinkie.”
Pinkie recognised that voice. It wasn’t Rarity’s; any hints of happiness were forced. She abruptly reacted, extending further with her muzzle, tracing her warm breath along the back of Rarity’s neck in quick, palpable waves, before giving it a playful nuzzle. “What’s wrong Rari-berry?”
Rarity’s smile increased from her marefriend’s affection. She always enjoyed it—openly welcomed it rather—whenever Pinkie did that. Once again, she gave Pinkie’s hoof a kiss, then in a comforting tone, said, “Nothing’s wrong dear.”
“Nuh-uh,” Pinkie replied, sliding herself along Rarity’s cheek from her neck, planting peck after peck as she travelled. “Come on, you know I know that voice. You don’t have to worry; Pinkie’s here.” She kissed Rarity’s check, much deeper this time. “What’s wrong?” she asked again, fully intent on receiving an answer.
Rarity dropped her mask and sighed, raising her hoof and stroking it along Pinkie’s. “Just look before you,” she said.
Pinkie’s eyes trailed towards the object Rarity was referring to, checking out the work she had made.
Or rather, lack of work. Pinkie knew immediately what to do, and played with her hooves around Rarity, rocking her side to side in a playful fashion. “Still nothing?”
“Nothing!” Rarity cried, “Why can’t I come up with something—anything! I keep getting ideas, but I just don’t know where to start!” Pinkie could already sense the rising blood vessels, the annoyance boiling up like an unattended kettle. She had to act quickly to save her marefriend. She had to! For the good of Rarity and for the good of herself—
Without a shred of doubt in her heart, Pinkie used her hoof as a tendril to bring Rarity towards her, and planted a deep, massaging kiss on her lips. She could taste it; any sense of fury was being drained from the unicorn. Pinkie absorbed it, all with the lightening suction of a kiss.
“Better?” Pinkie asked calmly after pulling away.
“Better,” Rarity replied, giving Pinkie a peck on the lips. “Thank you.”
“Great! So here’s what we’ll do,” Pinkie said, releasing her grip around Rarity and bouncing across to the other side of the table. “You’ll have a cupcake,” she said, picking out a treat from the batch and offering it in front of her, “and we’ll come up with the bestest story ever!”
It ate at her, consuming her every thought. With each passing second, Rarity drew further away from her.
And she could do nothing about it.
A tear dripped from her eye. Her ears became heavy. Energy drained from her limbs within the blink of an eye, and she collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud. She lost control.
The tears streamed out like a fountain. Seconds it had been—not even close to a full minute. The train was still audible, carrying hope with its sounds.
Hooves began to caress her skin. She paid them no heed.
“Pinkie, are you alright?” The voice belonged to Fluttershy; Pinkie could tell by the affection in the tone she carried.
Alas, Pinkie did not reply. Her eyes were fixed solely on the gradually shrinking train while her vision faltered; her head flat on the wood, lifeless. She fought the pain; pain in her heart from her lovers’ departure. Just for two weeks, Rarity had said.
They cuddled for hours and hours. Pinkie claimed the unicorn for herself with her limber lips, and she had no intention of letting Rarity slip away by her watch. They made passionate love that night.
“My love, even while we may be apart, we are still bound by what brings us together. We may not be together physically, but our love remains.”
They were lies, and Pinkie hadn’t realised the horror and anguish of that until now.
Being apart... Being distant... No matter how far...
It did hurt. It stung her. A spear pierced through her, and Rarity hurled it.
It was a curse, tearing away at her flesh, slowly, painfully with laughter as it tormented her. Could she not give in, lie on that train platform for all of eternity, watching the Sun cycle pass her by until her lover returned to her?
Could she delay the bliss that awaited her the day when Rarity came back?
As Rarity faded away further in the distance, becoming nothing more than a speck, her vision filled with liquid of her own, nothingness took her.
In that moment, everything collapsed. Never before had she wanted to sit in perpetual darkness and let chaos envelop her, corrupt her and her innocent heart.
Perhaps, just this one time, she would let it consume her.
Not the kind of excited you keep bundled up inside you in a tight round ball like a happy secret, but the infectious kind of excitement that showed in your mannerisms and made everypony else around you happy too. The kind of excited her marefriend perpetually was.
She hummed and smiled and wore the frilly apron Pinkie got her last year for her birthday, even though she didn't wear it most of the time. Love triumphs over many things, that was true, but it was no excuse to make terrible fashion choices. Except for today. For today was Rarity and Pinkie Pie's anniversary.
She had prepared an extra-special, quiet little party for two at her Boutique, lighting several of the strawberry candles Pinkie so loved, dimming the lights, preparing chocolate cupcakes with berry frosting and rainbow sprinkles that Pinkie especially loved - the reason for wearing the aforementioned apron - and she had placed a very special song request. Which should be coming on any minute. Rarity bit her lip, allowing a seed of worry to plant itself in her mind.
No, no. It would be alright. Pinkie made absolutely sure that she could get home at the specific time Rarity wanted her to. Rarity had reminded her of the time just before she headed off to Sugarcane Corner. It would be fine. There was the bell alerting her to someone entering the building, and there was Pinkie bouncing in to give her a hug. She slid the tray of cupcakes in the oven to bake just before Pinkie tackle-hugged her.
"Gooood evening, Miss Equestria and all those yummy cupcakes I smell in the oven!" Pinkie buried her muzzle in Rarity's mane. "Hi."
Rarity giggled. Something about that mare just compelled her to giggle. "Hello, darling." She snuggled a little tighter into Pinkie's embrace before they broke apart.
Pinkie took a deep whiff of the air. "Chocolate, berry frosting. Tastes best when paired with rainbow sprinkles."
"Correct as you always are with these things, but I have a question."
"Fire away."
"How do you know exactly what kind of sprinkles to pair with a specific flavor of cupcake?" Rarity inquired as she glanced at the clock. One more minute until her request came on. "Simple! I eat lots of 'em." Pinkie maneuvered around Rarity to plunk herself on the kitchen floor and watch the cupcakes bake, as she always did.
Rarity darted to the radio and turned it on, hopping stations until she found their favorite - the one that played Bridleway music.
"Hinny of the Hills, always a classic. And coming up we have Without Love, requested by a pony who wishes to remain anonymous, dedicated to her beloved. It's apparently their third anniversary tonight."
"Aaw."
The slow beats of their favorite song began to start up. Rarity began to sing along. "Once I was a selfish fool, who never understood. Never looked inside myself, but on the outside, I looked good!"
Pinkie jumped up as Rarity began to sing. Her aqua eyes, shining with happiness, spurred Rarity on. "Then we met and you made me, the mare I am today. Pinkie, I'm in love with you, no matter what you weigh!"
"Cause without love," they both sang, "life is like the seasons with no summer. Without love, life is rock 'n' roll without a drummer. Pinkie, I'll be yours forever, cause I never wanna be.." Rarity barely noticed Pinkie replacing Tracy with 'Rare-Bear'.
"Without lo-o-o-o-ove...Pinkie, never set me free."
They continued to dance and sing, all around the kitchen, reveling in the closeness of the other. Rarity knew the neighbors would inevitably hear them, and she really could not find it in her to care. "Darling, I'll be yours forever, cause I never wanna be, without lo-o-o-o-ove..."
The song eventually ended, like all good things, leaving both of them panting with the exertion involved in dancing on one's hind legs. Eventually Pinkie reared up again, wrapping her forelegs around her fillyfriend.
"This is the best anniversary present ever, Rare-Bear. Play it again?"
It was said that whenever Pinkie Pie smiled, somewhere, far or near, a filly was having fun. Such a moment was not uncommon to see, and I didn’t doubt for a moment that whatever legend it may be was untrue.
Spending hours upon hours of each and every day next to her told me that. It was hard not to see a grin of some serenity spread across her muzzle. Whatever I did, whatever I suggested, she seemed to approve with one of her smiles or, sometimes, a nuzzle.
Honestly, I preferred the latter. Pushing myself aside, if Pinkie smiling meant that a filly was having fun, what did a nuzzle insinuate? In either case, I won.
Nuzzling was only the tip of the iceberg, though. It was certainly a lovely gift of affection to receive—and dish, for that matter—by the numbers. But, even when her muzzle would grace along my neck, or she would plant a loving peck on my skin, a voice in the back of my head told me something, and, every time, it was the same.
I wanted... more. More than just a nuzzle, more than just a partner to cuddle with.
I wanted a kiss: Full, spur of the moment, romantic.
But therein laid the problem. How did one kiss Pinkie Pie; to break that first barrier and mesh lips up against a mare like her? Given that she was unusually still, such a moment seemed... well, a rarity.
Though, somehow, the eccentric mare was always calm within my grasp, as if I gave off a soothing aura that would ensnare her and her alone to my will, like she would follow my every command without hesitation. On some occasions, Pinkie Pie was lax and quiet.
I often asked myself if I was even dating the mare I knew with how she acted. But that doubt would be dispelled just as swiftly when she would stare right at me, penetrating me with her hypnotic, trancing shades of cerulean.
And that’s what she did to me now.
A wave of strong, burning desire swept along my bones. I leant forward, firmly planting my lips unto my marefriend’s cheek. Oh, sure, it seemed like any old innocent act, except for the fact that my hoof grazed her other cheek at the same time, and that meant business when it came to Rarity.
I took the tiny giggle that escaped her lips as my cue for continuation.
It was a rush when I tugged on my hoof and met Pinkie’s lips with my own. A cataclysm of emotions piled out, escaping in the eruption of bliss and euphoria that came over me. Her little gasp came off as so cute that I wanted to hug and give her my warmth even more, and the way she returned my affection soothed my very soul, not to mention her hooves snaking around my body flamed my passion, which, after a split second, was openly invited.
As we shared our electric kiss, our hearts beat as one like a fluttering melody as I poured everything I had into it. I ellicited a note of a moan while my lips massaged my pink partner's. Not too forceful, and not too gentle, my mile-a-minute shrills reminded me.
Instead, somewhere, lost in the middle of the symphony: Perfect.
Pulling away (after seeming like a lifetime) was a shame, but inevitable. Pinkie’s continual traces of warm breath tickled my lips as we sat there in comfortable harmony, holding one another in a loving embrace, gazing into each other’s eyes.
