The Only Chapter
"Thread by thread, stitching it together..."
Rarity's voice was soft, the words more whispered or murmured than sung. She tugged the thread through the silk, then paused a moment as she yawned wide, swaying tiredly on her hooves. Bags hung under her eyes, and had she been in front a mirror she'd likely scream...that is, if she could summon the energy to even go so far as to do so. Need to finish...finish this dress...
"Rarity, are you all right?"
Rarity jerked awake, wiping drool from her mouth. She could have sworn she was working on a dress a moment ago. Was she now dreaming about working on dresses as well? Could she not escape from these loathsome garments even in her dreams? Wait...they are not loathsome! How could you even think such a thing about the most elegant of couture?
"Um...Rarity? Helloooo?" A yellow hoof waved back and forth in front of her eyes, and it took her a good deal of effort to blink and focus on the mare before her.
"Oh! Fluttershy, darling, h-hello. Hi. How...how are you?" she asked, covering her mouth as another yawn fought for its freedom.
"I'm fine, but it appears you aren't. When did you last sleep?"
"Uh...I...sleep?" Rarity giggled deliriously. "Not sure. Probably a good while. I've been trying to get these orders ready for the Manehattan boutique." Fluttershy sighed and sadly shook her head. "What? They need to get done, and yesterday!" Fluttershy shrank back at the volume of Rarity's voice. Rarity quickly looked mortified, just as shocked as Fluttershy was at her outburst. "Oh, Fluttershy, do forgive me for yelling, I'm just a little...stretched thin."
"Th-that's okay. You're just really tired and worn out. I understand. Come, time for a tea break." Fluttershy grabbed Rarity by the hoof and lead the weary unicorn to the kitchen, Rarity too tired to resist. Fluttershy lead her to the kitchen table and helped her up into one of the chairs. Rarity then slumped against the table, resting her head on the cool, varnished wood, watching as her friend busied herself making the two of them some tea.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, darling, but what *yawn* brings you here today?"
"Have you forgotten, Rarity? It's one of our spa days. I always come to the boutique and then we head to the spa together."
"Wait...that's today?" Rarity summoned some energy, sitting up straight in the chair, giving her a rather remorseful look. "I am so sorry, Fluttershy. I am so, so sorry!" Fluttershy smiled softly and turned on the stove, tendrils of flame reaching up to heat the kettle.
"It's all right, Rarity. A slight change of plans, that's all." She moved over to the table and climbed into the seat directly across from Rarity. "You and I will have a little tea...and then you're straight off to bed, missy."
"B-bed? But...my order, I can't...I can't possibly..." Rarity spluttered in protest, only to be met with The Stare. She shrank down in her seat. "Y-Yes...bed it is, then..."
"You wouldn't be able to properly enjoy the spa if you completely slept through the entirety of it. Sleep is what you need, first and foremost. And then, when you wake up, if you still feel a little off...why not go see Tree Hugger?" she suggested. The suggestion brought Rarity up short, the fashionista's brow furrowing.
"Tree Hugger...you mean...your, erm...'unique' friend? The one with the...the...d-dreadlocks?" she asked, shuddering at the thought. Fluttershy nodded, reaching across the table to give Rarity's hoof a squeeze.
"Yes, her. She's helped me on several occasions to relax and cleanse my chakras. Working with animals, as much as I love it, can definitely be difficult and frustrating at times, and her help has been invaluable."
"Hold on...back up a little...cleansing 'chakras'? What even is a chakra?"
"Chakras are points in the body that collect energy from the Universal Energy Field all around us, and..." She frowned as Rarity burst into a fit of giggles.
"I fear you've been heehee spending a little too much time hee with her, Fluttershy. That sounds utterly silly."
"Rarity..." Rarity heard the warning in Fluttershy's voice and she quickly collected herself, not wanting to be on the receiving end of another Stare.
"My apologies, Fluttershy. I just...it seems all a little ridiculous to me. Surely you must see how off the beaten path it is." The kettle whistled on the stove and Fluttershy jumped off the chair, going over to turn off the heat.
"A lot of ponies think she's crazy." Fluttershy began, gripping the handle of the tea kettle and pouring hot water into each of their cups. "But she isn't. Everything she does, she does for a good reason. It may look or sound silly, but...it usually works. Remember how she calmed the Smooze?"
"How could I forget?" Rarity shuddered, remembering the feeling of the goo all over her body. "It took at least four or five washes to get that dress clean." Fluttershy placed Rarity's cup in front of her, then sat down in her own seat, gently blowing on the steaming Earl Neigh tea.
"Everypony doubted her then, and yet she saved the day. And she's really saved the day for me on multiple occasions. Please, Rarity, at least give her methods a try." Fluttershy pleaded. "You know I only want the best for you." Rarity took a careful sip of her tea, eyes downcast, the mare lost in thought.
"...very well. I trust you, Fluttershy. Of our circle of friends, I think you are the one I am closest to, and I do value your advice. So yes, I will go see her, even though I still have doubts about the efficacy of her 'methods'." Fluttershy's face lit up with happiness, and the sight made Rarity's heart melt.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" Fluttershy clopped her hooves together happily. "I just know you're going to love her." Rarity's smile faltered ever so slightly, but she quickly fixed it, putting on a brave face for her friend. She would do this, she would go to see that hippy healer. For Fluttershy.
* * *
After a soothing cup of tea and some gentle, trivial conversation, Fluttershy had helped Rarity into bed, tucking her in and affixing her sleeping mask over her eyes. It took mere moments for her to slip off to sleep, and she slept heavily, sleeping through the afternoon, evening, and night, not stirring from her well-needed slumber until the next morning.
When she awoke, she was groggy and her mouth was dry, but she already felt a sight better than she had. She forced herself to wave away the worries about the tardiness of her order, knowing she'd likely just get right back to it if she gave it much thought. She knew she had something else she needed to do first, something...something that Fluttershy had said...
Oh. Now she remembered. Tree Hugger. Fluttershy wanted her to go see Tree Hugger, claiming that the odd mare would be able to help her...what was it again? Oh yes, 'cleanse her chakras'. She let out a rather unladylike snort and rolled her eyes, then let out a heavy sigh. She had promised Fluttershy she would, and she wasn't about to renege on that promise.
"I suppose I must go, Opalescence." Opalescence, snoozing in her little cat bed next to Rarity's bed, cracked open her eyes, gave her owner a rather disinterested look, and then closed them again. "Yes, I suppose I must." Rarity said nervously. Opalescence didn't bother to open her eyes again. Whatever it is her owner was on about, it had nothing to do with her, so she couldn't care less. Rarity harrumphed at Opalescence and then left the bedroom, which greatly pleased the feline, who had a full day planned of napping, napping, and more napping.
Rarity left her boutique a few minutes later, following the directions Fluttershy had given her to Tree Hugger's house. Rarity walked slowly and cautiously, as if she were taking part in some sort of clandestine operation. In her mind, it might as well have been clandestine; she didn't want anypony to know where she was going or why. Oh please oh please don't let me run into anypony I know, she prayed. Whatever gods looked down on Equestria seemed amenable to her supplication, as she hardly ran into anypony on the way, and those she passed were little more than acquaintances.
The directions had her on the road out of Ponyville proper, the road which she walked many times to head to Fluttershy's house. But the directions had her veering off shortly before Fluttershy's place onto a hoofpath of sorts that led her along the edge of the Everfree in the opposite direction. All she had to do was keep on that path and she would eventually reach Tree Hugger's house, which, like Fluttershy's sat right up close to the Everfree Forest. While she was thankful not to be heading into the Everfree itself, skirting the edge of it was still rather nerve-wracking. By the time she finally found Tree Hugger's place she was the opposite of relaxed.
Calling Tree Hugger's house a 'house' was being generous. It was more of a cabin or a large hut, and it was surrounded by thick, overgrown grass and flowers. At least Fluttershy keeps her property neat and tidy, she thought. But then, she does have quite a few animals who eat it all up. Shaking herself from her thoughts, she picked her way through the wither-high grass to the door, and rapped smartly on it with her hoof. She fidgeted from hoof to hoof while she waited for Tree Hugger to answer the door, looking about nervously, hoping no animal from the Everfree would leave the forest and fall upon her. When she heard the telltale sound of hooves approaching the door, she let out a sigh of relief. The door slowly opened and Tree Hugger peered out from under her dreads, a lazy smile on her face.
"Yes?"
"Oh, h-hi, um...Tr-Tree Hugger, right?"
"Mmhmm. You must be Rarity. Blessings! Fluttershy stopped by this morning to tell me you'd be coming by."
"O-oh, she did? Well, that's awfully kind of her, to notify you in advance and all and...um...what exactly did she say?"
"She said you needed a chakra cleansing, and bad." Tree Hugger's eyes flitted up and down the tense form of the prissy unicorn. "Oh yeah, you really do need it. Your chakras are so far out of balance, it's no wonder you're all tense. Come on in." She stepped back, holding the door open, gesturing for Rarity to step inside. Rarity hesitated a moment, hoof hovering over the threshold...then she swallowed audibly and stepped inside.
Immediately she was assaulted by the scent of dope and incense, which hung thick in the air, the whole house a haze of incense smoke. She also caught a rather strong musk coming off of Tree Hugger as she stood beside her. Tree Hugger closed the door, then turned to look at her not once losing that lazy, sleepy smile that practically lived on her face. "Come, into the next room." The next room proved to be the only other room in the two-room dwelling, and it was very dimly lit, only a few candles here and there to cast a soft light upon everything. Tree Hugger stepped over to a divan that lay in the center of the room. Not having seen any beds in the outer room, nor any other beds in this room (there were an excessive amount of large pillows, though), she guessed that it must have been Tree Hugger's bed. "Lay down, and we'll get those energy flows all sorted." Rarity did as she was told, and wrinkled her nose as she laid down on the divan, smelling Tree Hugger all over it. Yep, this was definitely her bed, all right.
"So...what exactly is involved in this...erm...chakra cleansing?" Rarity asked. Tree Hugger gently prodded at Rarity's form, inspecting her closely, and Rarity forced herself to be calm, to accept this indignity. For Fluttershy. This was for Fluttershy.
"It varies, depending on which chakras need attention." She said softly. "OMMMMM...hnnneeeeee~" Rarity cringed at the sounds coming out of Tree Hugger's mouth. "OMMMMM...hmm...definitely the Sacral chakra." She left Rarity's side, moving across the room to rummage through a hodgepodge of mystical healing implements. She returned shortly with a metallic bowl and wooden mallet, as well as an assortment of gemstones: carnelian, orange agate, and jasper.
"What is all that?" Rarity asked, lifting her head to inspect the motley assembly of items. Tree Hugger gently placed her hoof on Rarity's forehead and pushed her head back down.
"Relax. With these, I'm going to make you feel absolutely righteous." Rarity nodded slowly, then gasped as she felt the coolness of one of the gemstones on her lower belly. Then she felt another to the left of it, and then another to the right. Without looking up, she could tell by her movements that Tree Hugger was also laying some of the stones around the divan. "Now, when I strike the singing bowl, that's when I'll begin, all right?"
"All right."
"Righteous. Well...here we go." Rarity's ears flicked as she heard the ringing tone that filled the room, a strike from the mallet making it vibrate and resonate in a way that not only made her hear it but also feel it in her body. The tone gradually diminished, only for Tree Hugger to strike it again. This pattern repeated itself, and Rarity found herself actually enjoying the tone that the bowl made. It was not unlike a bell, only it was a lot richer and the sound lingered on much longer. She closed her eyes and let the sound wash over her. The sound really was quite soothing, and—
Rarity gasped, feeling Tree Hugger's warm breath washing over her exposed marehood. "G-getting a little close, aren't we darl—ahhh!" She felt a jolt of pleasure as the other mare dragged her tongue along her slit. "Nggh...that...what are you..."
"Relax," came Tree Hugger's slow voice. Another strike of the bowl filled the room with ringing sound, and Rarity's moan echoed it as Tree Hugger's tongue licked along her puffy lips once more.
"Ahh...Tr-Tree...ohh..." Rarity's face was flushed red with a mixture of embarrassment and arousal, though it couldn't really be seen all that well in the dim light of the room. When Fluttershy had sent her here, she had no idea what to expect, but definitely not this! She wondered if Tree Hugger had done this to Fluttershy as well. Then, her wonderings melted away as Tree Hugger's mouth clamped around her marehood, thrusting her tongue inside Rarity's damp cunny and suckling fiercely on Rarity's winking clit. Rarity slammed her head back against the mattress and bucked her hips, her body responding to the stimulation, the unicorn moaning loudly, begging for more.
Rarity had fooled around with colts and stallions in the past, but never had she engaged in any amorous activities with other mares. This was a new experience for her, another mare's soft muzzle and lips servicing her marehood, pulses and jolts of pleasure tearing through her with each lick, flick, and slurp of that tongue. Tree Hugger struck the bowl again, filling the air with that sweet, pure tone again, then she grasped Rarity's rump with both hooves, holding her tight. The gemstones on Rarity's belly slid off with her frenzied twisting and shaking, clattering softly onto the floor. Both mares paid little attention to that, Tree Hugger much too busy with eating Rarity out, and Rarity completely lost in the sensations she was receiving.
"Yes...yesyes!" Rarity cried, feeling the familiar tightening in her belly that preceded a climax. "Ahh...Treeeee...TreeHuggerrrrrr!" Tree Hugger didn't respond, though she did start to hum, the vibrations only increasing the stimulation of the unicorn's pussy. "Nggh...Treeeaahhhh!" Rarity's cry rose several octaves into a sound that an opera singer would be impressed with, and she bucked hard at Tree Hugger's muzzle, spurting her femcum into the earth pony's waiting mouth. Tree Hugger happily lapped it all up, Rarity's walls squeezing and grasping at Tree Hugger's tongue as her orgasm rushed through her.
Rarity twitched and giggled as she relaxed, her orgasm fading, her tongue lolling indecorously out the side of her muzzle as she softly panted. She felt Tree Hugger press a soft kiss just above her pussy, then a kiss to each inner thigh, and then kisses up her belly to her throat. When Tree Hugger's face came into view, she smiled at her, then closed her eyes and whimpered happily as her mouth was claimed in a sloppy, Prench kiss. She could taste her sweet but musky fluids on Tree Hugger's lips and tongue, and she shuddered with delight. The kiss wore on, their tongues sliding against and around each other, and then they parted, sucking in breath.
"Well...how do you feel?"
"I...oh...I feel...mmm...so gooooood~" Rarity giggled again, sitting up and nuzzling Tree Hugger. Now that she was properly relaxed, more relaxed than she had been in ages, she was able to appreciate the scents in the air and on Tree Hugger with an open mind. "Do you...have you ever done that...t-to Fluttershy?"
"I've cleansed Fluttershy's chakras on many occasions, but she's never really had any trouble with her Sacral chakra. So no...I have not."
"What exactly is the Sacral chakra?"
"It's the chakra right here." Tree Hugger pressed her hoof to the spot on Rarity's lower belly where she had placed the first gemstone. "It's the chakra of creativity, and from what Fluttershy tells me, you're very creative. You probably rely on this chakra a lot." Rarity nodded. "It's also the seat of emotions, desire, and...sexuality."
"Oh...s-so...that's why you...you...um..."
"Performed cunnilingus on you? Yes."
"And...and the kiss?"
"Well...the kiss was just an added bonus, and it was a righteous kiss. I could kiss you again for sure."
"...I think I could as well." Rarity murmured rather bashfully, looking down at the divan she was sitting on. She felt Tree Hugger's hoof on her chin, lifting her head so that their gazes met, and then Tree Hugger went in for the kill. The two of them collapsed on the divan, lips and tongues entangled, followed closely by their bodies. Tree Hugger took the lead, and Rarity found herself meekly and eagerly following, whimpering and whinnying happily as she made out with the hippy mare. More kisses followed, and then Tree Hugger cleansed Rarity's chakra again, their pussylips squelching lewdly as they ground them together. She held on tight, burying her muzzle against Tree Hugger's neck as she came again, squirting all over her lover's lower lips...and then she closed her eyes and drifted away on the tides of sleep.
* * *
Rarity hummed happily as she put the finishing touches on a new dress. It felt like ages since she had designed anything new. In putting herself out there across Equestria she had increased her notoriety but also stifled her creativity, and for that, she had suffered. But now, she felt like a new mare, her head swarming with newer, better designs, and she couldn't wait to bring them to life. Of course, there was something else on her mind as well. Well, somepony to be exact. Just thinking of her made her heart race about in her chest.
Rarity's giddy thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door of her boutique, and she went over to open it, throwing it open with flair.
"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnif—oh, hello Fluttershy!" Rarity smiled and threw her hooves around her friend, hugging her tight. Fluttershy returned the hug, nuzzling her.
"Hi Rarity! Just thought I'd come see how you were doing. I've been pretty busy the past few days and I just wanted to find out how things went with you and Tree Hugger."
"Oh, absolutely splendidly, Fluttershy. I was wrong to doubt you, or her, for even a moment. She really did help. She did wonders for me."
"Yay!" Fluttershy clopped her hooves together happily. "I'm so glad to hear it. I was a little worried you wouldn't get on with Tree Hugger, but it seems things turned out better than I expected!"
"Yep! I feel great, my work has become enjoyable again, and Tree Hugger and I have a dinner date tonight!"
"That's gr—what?!"