> Sunset's Rarity. > by JediWyrm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Two Talks and a Sleepover. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rarity walked into the mall and headed to the designated rendezvous spot that she had arranged with the girls she wanted to talk to. Coming up on the large display in the main intersection of the mall she spotted the couple sitting on a bench waiting for her. “Lyra, Bon-Bon. Hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long.” She greeted them. “We only just got here. How have you been?” Lyra said, standing to give Rarity a brief hug. “I'm fine darling. Why don't we walk about a little and browse some of the shops.” She offered. The three set off to explore the variety of stores in the mall with Rarity helping the other two with some fashion choices. After some time and a few purchases the trio made their way to the food court for a snack. Sitting around a table with the items they had bought safely stashed underneath they got down to why they had met up. “So I wanted to talk to you girls about something that came up recently for me. As you two have some experience in it, I felt that you would best be able to advise me.” Rarity stated, her voice filled with trepidation. “Some romance trouble? Never thought you'd be someone in need of that kind of advice.” Lyra said. “Yeah, you've always seemed to know what you're talking about when it comes to that. Practically every girl who needs suggestions for a date or help with outfit choice goes to you first.” Bon-Bon agreed. “My mind is a tad to confused to think straight right now.” Rarity sighed. “Well, just start at the start. What exactly has you confused?” The minty teen asked. “To put it simply it's about a girl. I've come to realize I might have feelings for her and it's really jumbling my thoughts.” The purple haired teen confessed. “A girl huh? Do you think that your internal conflict is related to your sexuality” Bob-Bon offered. “I don't think so. I, ummm, did some research and I still find mainly guys attractive so it's more of this one girl is an exception.” Rarity explained. “We're going to need a bit more information.” Lyra stated while taking a drink of her milkshake. “Well, I've known her for a while, but an incident a couple of days ago shifted how I viewed her. She had asked me to swing by in the morning to wake her up as we had plans later on in the day. What I didn't know was that she has a tendency to sleep in the nude.” Recounted the young fashionista, a blush forming on her cheeks. “Oh. That can certainly kickstart some things. You should be certain that this isn't just a physical attraction for you.” The other teen said with a firm resolve. “Well as I previously stated it's only her that I feel an attraction towards in regards to women. We were already good friends and get along quite easily.” Rarity replied. “Good friends don't always equate to good partners. Though it can be a good start.” Bon-Bon stated. “I think I don't have much advice to give you. There is someone else who would probably be a better choice. You should talk with Octavia and Vinyl. I will pass along something my parents told me when they met Bon-Bon. We're at the age when we are supposed to be figuring this stuff out. Making mistakes, learning from them, and even seeing what our sexuality is. We are only young once.” Lyra said, nodding her head in an attempt to appear wise. “Okay darling. If you feel that they would have a better grasp of my situation I'll talk with them.” Rarity said. They finished their snacks and went back to browsing the mall again. A couple of days later at school Rarity met up with Octavia and Vinyl. They sat in front of the school enjoying the warm sunny day. Octavia sat next to Vinyl who was listening to music as usual. "So Lyra gave me a brief summation of your problem. Something with a girl you know caused you to change the way you see her from being a friend to something more. You still like guys only with her being an exception, and you have no idea what to do about any of it." The cellist stated. "Pretty much." Rarity said. "I would suggest waiting for a bit, just give your feelings a chance to either set or clear up. These things can get quite confusing when you try to deal with them right after they crop up. It took me weeks to be able to think straight once I realized how I felt about Vinyl." Octavia said, a small smile on her face as she glanced at her DJ paramour. Vinyl nodded her head, whether to the beat or in agreement is debatable. "Actually, maybe hearing about us might help you out. When I first met Vinyl I didn't have all that good impression of her. She was blaring out her music and it bothered me since at that point it was just noise to me. Shortly after she scared off a couple of bullies and we became friends. "We had our differences but got along very well. Then one day I got very sick and she came by after school to check up on me and drop off notes she had taken in class as well as homework. She stuck around for hours and ended up having to eat at my house. I was still sick that weekend, which a concert I was looking forward to was being held on. So Vinyl spent the day with me playing nursemaid. That afternoon I took a nap and when I woke up she had transformed my room into a private concert hall. "At first I thought she was going to do her DJ thing and play her dubstep techno stuff but instead it was a variety of stuff from my favourite composers. Her actions really stuck with me. It changed how I saw her and threw my feelings into chaos. Once I had everything sorted out I dropped little hints about how I felt. "One evening I was backstage at one of her shows. She finished her set and the crowd was very much into it and then she came over to me, hugged me and being so caught up in the atmosphere of everything I just kissed her. We spent some time in that spot before gathering up her stuff and heading home." Octavia sighed in happy remembrance and placed her hand over Vinyl's. Vinyl shifted her hand so their fingers interlaced. One of the male students walked by, drawing a quick glance from both Rarity and Octavia. "Course I do still find guys attractive, and on occasion another woman. Hard not to check out a girl like yourself who knows how to flaunt what she's got and still be classy, but Vinyl's the one for me." "I see." Rarity replied, blushing at Octavia's confession. "Giving my feelings some time to sort themselves out does seem like a good idea. Though I should probably have a plan just in case they turn into something more tangible." "Being direct about your feelings for her is likely the easiest route." Octavia stated. "I want to be swept off my feet, not do the sweeping." Rarity said. "Plenty of little tricks you can do to let her figure out your feelings and act on them. Probably best to start out finding out what she wants out of a relationship and if she wants to be romanced or do the romancing." The refined teen remarked. Vinyl smirked at the conversation the two classy girls were having, nodding or shaking her head at some of the ideas being presented. Eventually the bell rang signalling them all to head to class. A couple weeks later the girls all met up at Sunset's apartment for a sleepover. They had moved the couch back, though not before snatching the cushions from it, as well as their host's mattress and all the pillows to build a large lounge for them to lay about on. Rarity had brought a magazine with her as part of a plan. She wanted to know what Sunset would like in a partner. The magazine talked about such things. Her plan did require them to all start talking about it, though finding an opportunity for such would be difficult on her own. Though there is a way to do it without any effort on her part. Get Pinkie Pie interested in the topic. In order to get that to happen, Rarity sat slightly to one side while reading her magazine. Slowly reading through it, hmm'ing at appropriate points. When she got to the part of it she needed to she gave a quiet 'oh' and a small titter at the article. She wasn't surprised when her periphery was filled with pink. "Ooooh, what'cha reading Rares?" Pinkie asked. "Just a lovely little article about what attributes you should look for in a potential suitor." She replied, handing her bubbly friend the magazine. "I know what I want. A nice guy who knows how to laugh and make others laugh. Who can keep up with me at a party and help me throw the best ones ever." The pink girl started, not stopping as her friends began to tune her out. "The only way I'd consider someone if they could keep up with my awesomeness and is always there to cheer me on." Rainbow said, jumping up and striking a pose. Applejack nudged her so she fell back on her butt before saying "Ah'd want an honest man. He has to be willing to help out on the farm, and eventually give me some little apples to raise." "Oh, um. For me, I'd like someone who knows what they want in life and dedicated to it. Brave, loyal to those they care about and wanting to help out whenever I need it." Fluttershy quietly stated, hiding behind her hair and glancing about the room quickly. That her eyes kept glancing at a spot occupied by a certain rainbow-coloured hair girl was only noticed by one bouncing pink girl. Though she already knew which of her friends like which other ones. "I'm waiting for a prince-like person, even just someone who was noble or just high-class, to come-along to romance me before sweeping this fair maiden off her feet." Rarity remarked, pretending to swoon at her potential lover. The girls all looked over at Sunset, who had been taking in the antics of her friends with mirth. "It's been a long time since I've given any real thought about dating. Wasn't really that interested in Flash other than using him to boost my own popularity. Still feel a bit bad about that." She started, noting that all her friends were waiting for her to continue. "They would need to be able to take care of themselves and not totally dependent on me. Be supportive when weirdness creeps up into our lives, and most definitely they have to be caring and intelligent." Sunset finished. As the girls returned to their previous activities, though with Fluttershy still hiding in her hair stealing the occasional glance at Rainbow. Rarity mentally marked down what Sunset was looking for. Once they got dinner ready and were sitting around eating the topic of the upcoming friendship games came up. "Still surprised at how fierce everyone is getting over a supposedly friendly competition. I do get the competitiveness, though I guess the schools back in Equestria worked a bit differently. Although thinking on it, sports aren't as big over there as here so that might be a part of it." Sunset stated. "Well, as long as we all compete and give it our all we have a chance at winning. I'll easily win any physical contest. However, no sports in Equestria? Kinda makes me feel sorry for them." Rainbow Dash said. "Didn't say there were no sports. They just don't has the same fanatical following they seem to have over here." Sunset retorted. The girls kept talking over dinner and when finished got changed into pajamas. They then turned the lights low and watched movies and chatted about other things until they went to bed. > A New Friend and a Bake Sale. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 teenaged girls sat at a table. Most enjoyed sipping their milkshakes and eating their food, though 2 of them seemed to seeing who could eat the fastest. Normally there were only 6, but a familiar looking but altogether new girl had joined them. Getting to know her properly was the agenda for the day. Of course the comparison to her counterpart was discussed. "Huh, guess we didn't really know that much about Princess Twilight. Though she was only ever here for what four maybe five days total?" Sunset said. "We spent a couple minutes talking when she showed up. We do share some of our interests, but how we grew up and much of our lives are quite different. I mean, I wasn't personally tutored by a princess who could move the sun and moon." Twilight stated. "Anyways, we want to get to know you Darling. You must come by my place later, I'll help you with your wardrobe. Maybe we can go do some light shopping." Rarity offered. "Yeah, you do any sports?" Rainbow Dash asked between gulps of her extra-large milkshake. "Not really. You saw how I did at the games." Twilight started before switching her voice to sound like her previous principal. "Archery is a standard course at Crystal Prep, ANY student should be proficient at it." This set all the girls laughing. "Oh what about baking, we all had to team up for that part of the acadecathalomics." Pinkie remarked. "Well, baking is science, specifically chemistry. I also enjoy making cookies and stuff at home with my mom." The bookish teen replied. "Speaking of baking, I have an idea for the fundraising fair being put together. We put up a bake sale booth." Sunset stated. A blue hand shot up as the girl it was attached to finished chugging her mug. The girls gave Rainbow a moment to say what she wanted. "I thought we would do a music thing. Rock out Rainboom style." She said. "There are already 3 music booths planned. Flash and his friends, Vinyl and Octavia have another set up that will alternate between DJ-ing and classical, and I think someone was wanting to set up a karaoke booth. "A couple other students are planning on doing fair food, but I think a proper baked goods booth, placed near the entrance so we hit people when they are leaving, would do well. They enjoy the fair then buy some cupcakes or something to have as dessert once they get home and eat dinner." Sunset explained. "Great idea. I can bake and decorate the cupcakes, Twilight could bake cookies, Fluttershy can make those awesome brownies and Applejack can bring out fritters. We could even do scones, with all kinds of fillings." Pinkie Pie started, pulling out a notepad and pencil from her hair and started jotting down ingredients and amounts. "How does this work?" Twilight asked. "Ostensibly we keep our receipts and the school will reimburse us. However, Ah'm willing to put my own money in on this. Maximize the profits that go into the fundraiser. Booths like ours contribute the most." Applejack replied in the middle of her burger eating race with Rainbow. "If a booth makes a thousand dollars, but spends $350 to do so, then the school only makes $650. Students who can cover their own costs usually prefer doing so, or cover what they can before asking for reimbursement. The school does have some money set aside if a booth requires some help to handle starting cost." Explained the bacon-haired girl. "Then what about the music booths then?" The teen asked adjusting her glasses. "While game booths can charge a buck or two, most of the other ones just have a donation box set up. You like the music or other entertainment, you can drop some cash in." The athletic teen answered, noting that she was losing the race before focusing solely on eating. "The booths cover a large variety. Some are selling hand-made items, others are just trying to give the fair-goers fun things to do." Sunset stated. "We should figure out shifts. The fair is Friday to Sunday. It starts mid-afternoon on Friday so we get a half day then to set up after lunch. For Saturday and Sunday it goes from 9 am to 7 pm. If we think that most of our business will be closer to the end of the day then doing three 3 hours shifts with 2 people on them. With the last shift picking up the last hour and having someone join them for it. Switch that person out day to day." Rarity started. "We all help out on Friday for setup. Then Rainbow and Fluttershy handle that first afternoon and Sunset you can join them for the evening and break down. For Saturday, since I know you aren't much of a morning person Sunset, we'll leave that to Applejack and Pinkie. They'll also be able to restock then and be available to whip up fresh food as needed. Sunset and myself will take lunch. Twilight, you and Rainbow tackle the afternoon Fluttershy joins for the evening." Turning to pat the timid girl on the shoulder, Rarity stated "I know you have some obligations at the shelter on the weekend, that will let you handle those and still help out at the bake sale. "Sunday, AJ and Pinkie handle the morning again. Fluttershy and Twilight take lunch while Sunset and Rainbow take over for the evening. I'll join you two for the last hour and help with the final breakdown." Rarity finished. "Ah'll swing by to help put things away." Applejack said, watching as Pinkie slid her notebook over to Sunset. Leaning over to look at the total the farm girl then stated, "Ah have some money to toss in the pot to help cover all this." Even though most of the other girls knew Sunset could've paid for it all herself, they all promised to chip in. Rarity managed to glimpse the large total and figured that their friend would still be handling most of it. A few days passed with each of the girls spending time getting to know their world's Twilight. Rarity helped her freshen up her wardrobe and all the girls worked on what to offer at the upcoming fundraiser. On Saturday Rarity and Sunset arrived and relieved their friends. After checking over the stock the two sat down to deal with the occasional customer. Sunset busied herself with checking the notes left by the others. "Neat. They totaled about $400 yesterday." She stated. Rarity looked up from the book she was reading and remarked "That's excellent for the first day. Looks like we should go a long way for the fundraiser." As someone came up for a few cookies Rarity placed a bookmark on her page and set the book to one side. Her friend checked out the title as she handled the transaction. Once she sat down the girl noticed her friend's interest. Picking up her book she returned to her page and resumed reading. "So what's the book about?" Sunset asked. "Romance novel. Noble thief steals a princess's heart." Rarity answered. "Let me guess, her father disapproves and he must prove his worth." The other girl remarked. "Actually I just got to the part where she gets kidnapped by some ogres. He's rounding up his ragtag group of friends to go save her. Not every romance lacks action." She retorted, flipping a page. "Sounds a bit interesting. Heh, reminds me of some of the Ogres and Oubliettes campaigns I've seen." Her friend said, leaning back in her chair. Rarity raised an eyebrow questioningly. "It's a table top role-playing game. Roll dice, move miniature figures about, 'I cast magic missile on the darkness.' " Sunset stated, her voice changing to a somewhat high-pitched and whiny tone at the end. Rarity giggled bringing a sly smile to her friend's face. "Played a bunch when I was younger, though the last couple years before I left Equestria I was more focused on other things so I didn't have a group to play with." She began a bit sad in tone before snorting. "Anytime I played with Princess Celestia was interested. She always played an evil character, probably due to her being so good in life. My favourite build was a Gryphon monk/paladin. Had a lot of fun with that one." Sunset ended with a smile on her face. Noting that, Rarity slid her book over. "Why don't you read the first couple chapters. If you like it I'll lend it to you once I've finished it. After this I have the latest in a detective series I follow and then a Sci-fi romance. Guy falls in love with an android and has to fight society for acceptance." Sunset picked up the book and checked the summary on the back before opening the front cover. The seamstress pulled out some needlework to occupy her time. They took turns dealing with customers, and Pinkie would swing by occasionally to restock if they ran low on something. As it was lunch time they sold plenty of fresh scones with a variety of fillings. For her lunch Rarity took one of the scones, making sure to put some money in their cash-tin, and filled it with some of the apple filling AppleJack had whipped up that morning. Sunset made a quick run to stock up on drinks. "Have you had a chance to walk around the fair yet?" Sunset asked. "A little when I got here, but I wasn't really checking out the booths. Figured I would properly walk around after our shift. Anyone doing something interesting?" Rarity replied. "Trixie set up a stage and has been doing magic shows every couple of hours. She even offers a class on a couple simple magics tricks between shows. Snips and Snails have a creepy crawly showcase. Bon Bon and Lyra have a sweets booth set up. Bulk Biceps, Aloe, and her sister Lotus have a booth offering spa supplies and massages." The teen continue to rattle off several more booths. Rarity was surprised by what some of the other teens were doing. She made a few mental notes about which ones to check out. Eventually Rainbow Dash and Twilight showed up to relieve them. Sunset gave Rarity her book back, mentioning how she'd like to borrow it later. They quickly packed up their stuff so the next shift would have some space before walking off into the fair. They walked together with Sunset guiding Rarity to a few of the more intriguing booths. Occasionally one or both would purchase some of the product of another group of students. When they got to Trixie's booth it was in time to catch the later half of her show. Noting it was fairly packed, they stood near the edge and were amazed by her performance. Though they shared a slight frown at the end when they noticed that of the 4 donation boxes around the booth, one of them was labeled with 'Tips' rather than the school's logo. Sunset took the opportunity to have some fun with her friend as they checked out the booth ran by Snips and Snails. Picking up one of the snakes carefully she spooked Rarity. Though once she took a moment to calm down she was enticed to pet the snake a little before Sunset returned it to its enclosure. Later when they swung by Trixie's again they saw curtains drawn around it with a sign stating that the magic class was going on. After a couple hours of enjoying the fair the two went their separate ways for the day. The next day the fashionista arrived near the end of the evening for the last hour of the fair. Noting that the booth was quite busy she slipped right in behind the table and started helping the final rush of customers. Once all the fair-goers had left and the students started to break down their booths the rest of their friends showed up. Pinkie Pie picked up all the remaining food items and made a round handing them out to the other teens. The break down went quickly with those who didn't have much to do assisting those with more complicated decorations. With as many of the students helping the breakdown of the fair was managed very quickly. As the group took a breather, Twilight totaled up their earnings. "Wow, we almost hit two thousand dollars." She stated. "That's good. The fair seemed to be a big success. Later on in the week Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna will make an announcement about what we earned overall." Rainbow remarked. The girls all went home to get dinner and some sleep. During the school week it was made known that the fair made more than enough money to cover the trip to Camp Everfree. > Diamonds, Discussions, Dinner and Dancing. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walking down the hallway at Canterlot High School with a purpose to her step, Rarity sought out her friend. Seeing Sunset Shimmer up ahead she hastened her step enough to catch up to her. "Hey, Sunset. How's your day been?" Rarity asked. "Morning Rarity. Been good so far, how about you?" Her friend replied. "It's been fine. I wanted to ask you something." The white skinned teen stated. "You want help mastering your new magic? A couple of the others already asked me and I figured all of you would get around to it eventually." Remarked the red and gold haired girl. "Well, you are the most experienced with magic darling. So will you?" Rarity asked, flipping her hand lightly in the air. "Of course. Do you have some time this weekend? I can think up a couple of tests and some exercises for you." Sunset said as she pulled out a schedule and a pen. "Just text me with a time and place." Rarity started as the class bell rang. "See you at lunch Sunset." Sunset made a quick note in her schedule before heading off to her own class. As Rarity walked away she threw a quick glance over her shoulder to see her amber-skinned friend and taking in the view of her back as she walked. Rarity pulled up to the football field at the school. Sunset had told her to meet there mid-morning on Saturday. Once she had parked she walked over towards the field. She had noticed that Applejack's truck was also there. Arriving at the field itself she saw Applejack and Sunset sitting on one of the bleachers discussing something. When she got close enough to hear that they were talking about the farm girl's super strength. The two waved to her before greeting her. "Applejack is here to help test the durability of your shield. A couple normal hits, then using her power to land stronger hits." Sunset stated as the three set up. "Tomorrow Ah'm going to join Sunset at her gym to try and get a number for what I can lift." Applejack remarked as she stretched. "So that's how you are practicing, have you had ideas for the others?" Rarity asked Sunset. "Yeah. I gave Twilight a few exercises to help her learn to control her telekinesis and increase it's power. Rainbow Dash didn't need much, she just needs to practice on controlling her speed and the distance she runs. Also braking. Fluttershy doesn't need help since she can talk to the animals at the shelter. Since she wanted to be a veterinarian Rainbow made a joke about that movie with the guy who talks to animals." Sunset stated before taking a breath. "Pinkie Pie. Hardest thing was convince her not to blow things up inside. It does seem to only work on party and cake/cupcake decorating stuff. She's working on not charging stuff she's holding, also on delaying the triggering of the explosion itself." She finished. "What about your mind-reading?" Applejack asked. "Fluttershy helped me practice with that. I have a handle on it not triggering when I touch someone. Does help I only have that power when wearing the pendants. Now Rarity, I want you to put up a shield." Sunset said, before moving over and putting a hand on Rarity's arm. "Since we're testing when they break, you might not want to stand behind the shield." Rarity gave a short laugh, blushing lightly. She took a few steps to one side. As Applejack finished her stretching, and was rotating her arms, Sunset looked over the shield. "Intriguing. Your shields hold the same crystalline structure as a diamond. No surprise that it's magically enhanced considering how it's made. Probably explains why it can hold up to a crushing force." The red-haired teen said. "Ah thought diamonds were already tough." Applejack stated. "Mohs hardness, darling. A diamond can't really be scratched and can cut most everything else. If you were to hit one with a hammer it'd crumble to dust." Rarity explained. "Ah." The farm girl said with some disinterest. "You can hit it now AJ. A couple light taps, I want to see if Rarity can detect you hitting it." Sunset remarked. Applejack nodded before putting a few quick punches on the shield. Every few punches she stepped up her power and was soon hitting the shield with her full normal strength. "I can sorta feel her punches." The fashionista said to her friend. The other two nodded and Applejack retrieved her pendant to utilize her super strength. Though before she could start punching again, Sunset pulled her aside and gave her a few pointers on her form. As the girl began her renewed assault there was a more noticeable difference in the effect on the shield. Applejack hit the diamond several times and was getting to around half-power when Sunset called a halt and had Rarity replace the shield. When the power of her punches was at full power they stated to place small cracks in the diamond. Once the cracks had spread to cover most of the shield another break was called. Sunset walked over to the girl as Rarity replaced the shield again. "Applejack lets try a kick. Something Princess Twilight told me about your counterpart clicked in my head." The teen who has been running the tests said. A quick lesson on kicks later Applejack used her full strength to land a powerful blow on the diamond. All three were surprised as the shield broke apart. Having helped with her part, she bid farewell to her two friends. She did leave behind a few apples for them to have as a snack. Sunset picked up one of the apples and held it in her palm out and away from her body. "There's something I want to test real quick. Can you put one of your shield through the apple?" Sunset asked Rarity. The teen concentrated on the apple and took a few tries to get a shield horizontally bisecting the fruit. Once it was there Sunset lowered her hand. The apple stayed where it was in mid-air. Keeping her hand under it she nodded at Rarity to cancel the spell. Looking over the fruit she stated, "Okay, so it didn't cut the apple. That's good to know that the shield going through something won't damage it." It took a moment before both girls shuddered at the thought of what could've happened, and what it might've happened to. "Now for your exercises. First is precision." Sunset started, tossing the apple in that air a couple times. Lifting her other hand up she moved her hand over and caught the apple at the apex of one of the tosses. "I want you do that this, but instead of your other hand, make a shield to catch it. Without the shield going through the apple. Only make the shield when the apple is at the highest point. The closer you can do it to the apple the better, and try to make the diamond just big enough to hold the apple." Sunset finished tossing the fruit once more, this time towards Rarity. Sunset watched her friend try out the exercise a few times before grabbing one of the other apples to eat. It only took a minute before Rarity started to get the hand of the trick. While the apple would fall briefly before being caught, the size of the shield was getting smaller each time. "I'm going to go hit up the vending machine, want anything to drink?" Sunset asked the purple haired teen. "Some juice would be lovely darling." Rarity replied, focusing on her practice. A few minutes later Sunset returned with two bottles of juice in her hands. Handing one to Rarity, she grabbed the apple as it traveled upwards. "Of course a ball, or other easily tossed object could be used. Now lets try out a couple other ideas I had about your shield. We know you can link them to make a wall or a sphere, but I want to see if you can stack them. Layering them should create a stronger version which would last longer when under attack." The red haired girl stated. The two teens sat on the bleachers as Rarity tried varying things with her magic. Mostly trying to make different structures out of it. She also practiced making tiny shields and building small things with it. "Oh. Just remembered something. I finished that one book and brought it along so you could borrow it." She stated before digging in her purse for the book and handing it over to Sunset. "Thanks. I had been wanting to get into it. Only reading the first couple chapters was bugging me a little bit." Sunset replied. "Actually I was wondering. Are the books we have here much different than the ones you had in Equestria?" Rarity asked. "Not really. I mean the exact content is probably different, but the genres and even many of the tropes are the same. If you want I could ask Princess Twilight to send some over. She could even get your counterpart to send you some of her favourites. Might be interesting to find out if your tastes differ. Though from what I've been told, she'll probably include a few fashion magazines." Sunset said with a sly grin. Rarity perked up at that. "If it's not too much of a bother. Thanks in advance darling." "Hmmm. There were a few series I really enjoyed that probably have a few new books released since I left. I'll have to have her send me those over as well. My favourite was this series about pirates. They started as crew for this dread pirate, who was actually just a title. Every few years they would hand the mantle off and retire on their riches. Anyways, Rogue Wave was the main character. She was this awesome pegasus who gathered up a mishmash of a crew and stole her own boat." Sunset began, soon losing herself to the telling of the plot line of the books. Rarity listened to her friend, caught up in her excitement of the story. The two chatted about each of the books they've read over the years for over an hour before heading off to tend to other business. Before they left they made plans to meet up again next week to check on Rarity's progress and practice some more. With them meeting up every week Rarity had grown very confident in her new powers. She had also learned more about Sunset during the time they spent together. However they had to change their plans this day. The 7 girls were all hanging around the ruined statue in front of their school. Sunset had called them there and they were waiting for another girl to arrive. While they were waiting Rarity and Twilight were practicing their powers by bouncing a ball between the two of them. As the ball traveled in the air it collided with the head of a teen as she came out of the statue with a wagon with several bags being pulled behind her. "GAH!" She shouted as she landed face-first on the ground with the ball rebounding and passing through the portal. A couple of the girls rushed to help her up. "Hey Princess." Sunset said as she helped bring her to her feet. "Sorry. I didn't know you were coming through right then." Twilight started to apologize to her counterpart. "Don't worry about it. So how have things been for all you?" The visitor from the other world asked. "Pretty good. Had a fundraiser, went to a camp in the woods, got new magic, fought off a person corrupted by magic, built the same dock like 6 times. Just the usual kind of stuff, how about you? Anything exciting?" Sunset quickly summarized. "I fixed the cutie map, my niece was born, she destroyed several parts of a castle with magic blasts before destroying an ancient artifact holding back endless winter, a few friendship problems around the world me and my friends fixed, made a changeling friend, my student Starlight Glimmer mind-controlled my friends to cheat on her lessons, Chrysalis and her changelings practically successfully conquered Equestria but were stopped by Starlight, her friend Trixie, Thorax the changeling, and of all beings Discord. That caused most of the changelings to transform into a new species, or at least sub-species." Twilight responded. "Wait, niece? I... you.. we.. Shiny had a daughter? With whom? What's her name? Got any pictures?" The other Twilight asked. "Yes, I have a niece. Shining Armor and Princess Cadance named her Flurry Heart. I don't have a picture on me, but I can see about bringing one over sometime. Wonder how the portal would affect it? Actually I wonder how it affected the books I brought with me this time." Stated the Princess. "Shining and Cadance? That brings up other questions. I mean if our worlds mirror each other does that mean my brother and Dean Cadance are dating?" Twilight questioned quietly to herself. "You know darling, Dean Cadance seemed quite happy you had friends when you transferred her. She'd probably be willing to meet up with you for lunch to see how you've been doing." Rarity started as she stepped over to Twilight, pulling her away from the group slightly, "In fact, you could probably get your brother to drive you there, and of course it'd only be polite to have him join you." She continued before lowering her voice as she helped her friend scheme. Rolling her eyes at the pair, Sunset turned back to the princess. "You said Trixie, she that one showmare who tried to one-up you a couple years ago?" She asked. "Yeah. The Great and Powerful Trixie." Princess Twilight said somewhat mockingly. "I know I shouldn't be making fun of her since she's Starlight's friend, but she just gets on my nerves. When they first became friends I thought that Miss Lulamoon was trying to get back at me again." "Lulamoon?" Sunset asked quietly enough that no one heard her. She thought back to what Twilight had told her about the magician and the trouble she had caused in the past. Shaking her head lightly she heartened her thoughts by the recent heroics the mare had accomplished. "That's odd. My cart turned into a wagon." Twilight remarked as she looked at what she had brought along through the portal. By this time Rarity and the other Twilight had returned to the group. The fashionista moved over next to Sunset as the red haired girl picked up a book out of the bag. Sunset opened it to checked the contents. "Quite a stylized font, but at least it's in our language. I was worried it'd be in some weird foreign text." Stated the porcelain skinned teen. As the two girls from the other world looked over the words in the book, they were somewhat surprised at how little the text had changed. One of them picked up a book that had cover art on it and was intrigued by how the picture hadn't changed. While the princess caught up with her other friends, Rarity and Sunset moved the bags over to the former's car. Now that the two were separated from the rest of the group, Rarity put her hand on her friend's arm. "I caught the name Twilight mentioned. Lulamoon. Do you think that she is the same one as your friend from childhood?" She asked. Sunset lowered her head slightly. "It's likely. Trixie is more stage-worthy than Beatrice." Rarity slid her arm around her friend and pulled her into a light hug. Sunset leaned into it briefly before they separated and walked back to their friends. They arrived as the group were showing off some of their powers. Rainbow was dashing around the front of the school. "So Applejack has strength, Rainbow speed, and Fluttershy can talk to animals. What about the rest of you, do your powers match the ones held by your counterparts?" The Princess asked. "Well, Rarity can make shields. Twilight has telekinesis and I can read minds." Sunset stated, causing one of the Princess's eyebrows to raise at her power. "Mind-reading huh. Bit of a dangerous power." She stated, causing all the non-Eqestrian's to be confused. Looking at her friends, Sunset explained. "Mind magic is a dark grey area. Those who are licensed to use it are given such authority by Princess Celestia herself, and there are only a dozen or so ponies who have it. Because if you can read a mind, you should be able to affect it, and even control it." Her friends all nodded as they understood what she meant. "Oooo. You haven't heard my power yet. It's awemazing!" Pinkie Pie stated, pulling out some confetti and tossing it high into the air. Her friends all ducked as Princess Twilight looked up in confusion as the pieces of paper started to glow. She was stunned when they exploded in various coloured flashes. Twilight stood there slack jawed. Glancing between the portal and Pinkie, her face shifting from confusion to worry. "Now you are thinking if you should mention this to your Pinkie Pie. I would suggest not doing so if any of the stories about her you've told me are true." Sunset remarked. "Why, is hers that different from ours?" Rainbow asked. "If our Pinkie is a 10 on the weirdness scale, her counterpart is a 15. On a tame day." Sunset replied. It took a moment for what that meant to sink into her friends minds. How long it took them to understand was indicated by when they shuddered. "Lets go get some milkshakes and cupcakes!" Pinkie Pie suggested. They all headed over to the couple of vehicles they came in and moved over to Sugarcube Corner to enjoy a snack while they talked about all that had occurred since Princess Twilight's last visit. After seeing Twilight back to her own world, Rarity and Sunset headed back to the latter's apartment. The purple haired teen in her car followed her friend on her motorcycle. Once they arrived they moved a the bags containing Sunset's books upstairs. They set the bags next to a bookshelf to be sorted later. After arranging their next training session they parted ways. The next Friday after school the two meet up so Rarity could practice her new powers. Sunset had her friend make shields for them to stand on and then move them around. They had fun racing about on them with the occasional prompt from Sunset causing Rarity to vary the path above and around the bleachers and goals on the field. A couple hours later the pair sat on the bleachers drinking a soda as they chatted about some of their schoolwork. During a lull in the conversation, Sunset seized upon an opportunity. "So Rarity, do you have anything planned for tonight?" She asked. "Nothing in particular. Why?" Rarity replied. "Vinyl mentioned something about having a gig at a club tonight, figured it'd be something fun to hit up." Sunset answered. "I would love to go out dancing. Did you want to meet up after dinner?" The fashionista questioned. "Actually I thought we could swing by your place to get cleaned up and some outfits, then hit up a restaurant before going to the club." Stated the red haired teen. "You're almost making this sound like a date." Remarked Rarity as a blush started to form on her cheeks. "Only almost?" Sunset said teasingly cause her friends blush to grow. The two shared a giggle before heading over to their vehicles. Sunset put on her helmet after mentioning to her friend to follow her so she could drop her motorcycle at her apartment first. Several minutes later the pair arrived at Rarity's house. They headed inside and alternated who was showering with Rarity going first so she could arrange their outfits. She had decided on a purple tank top with frills for herself tied with a tight skirt as well as several tastefully pieces of jewelry. For her makeup she chose some light greys for her eye shadow and lipstick. Sunset had a silvery top and and shorts combo with some darker red eye shadow and pink lipstick. Rarity picked out a pair of tasteful high heels for herself and for her friend she chose a pair of knee-high boots with a 3 inch heel. Once they had gotten changed and applied their makeup they headed out to get dinner. Since they were planning on hitting up a club they weren't dressed specifically for high class dining. A quick discussion they pulled up to a Prench restaurant. Walking into the building they were seated quickly. They decided on their dinner shortly after being handed the menus and sat back to wait. Rarity lead the conversation in the direction of the what type of music the club would be playing. Since they had both asked for a vegetarian dish it wasn't long before their entrees were brought out to them. They ate quickly and after Sunset made a small showing of handling the bill, left to head to the club. Arriving at the venue they briefly waited in line before entering. They sidled over to the bar and picked up some non-alcoholic drinks. As the first song seemed to lack any real beat to the two they waited until their schoolmate's set was up. The volume of the music was counterproductive to any conversation so they just enjoyed watching others out on the floor. When the current DJ stepped off the stage and was replaced the music switched to a more interesting techno beat. Feeling that they could dance to it, the pair walked out to the floor and began moving to the beat. Losing themselves to the music as they danced with each other they barely noticed the changes in the songs until the set was finished. They cheered along with the others to show their appreciation of the DJ and cheered louder to welcome Vinyl onto the stage. As she got her dubstep going they began to dance with the flow of the music even if they couldn't detect the beat. Their friend managed to notice the two enjoying themselves out on the floor so she improvised some light romantic music into her beats. Sunset and Rarity didn't really notice the addition but did end up dancing closer to one another. Soon enough they were practically arm in arm as they moved with each other on the dance floor. All their dancing drew them more into the music and neither could say if it was that or their closeness which made their hearts beat faster. After Vinyl had finished Sunset noticed the time and motioned to Rarity to leave the club. They made their way back to Sunset's apartment where they went up to the roof. Having timed it the pair watched the sunset together. Sunset had an arm around Rarity pulling her close. As the sun sank below the horizon Sunset used a hand to turn her date's face towards her. She then leaned down and proceeded to kiss Rarity. Their arms found themselves wrapping around the other, with Sunset's hand placing itself on the other teen's lower back and pulled her deeper into the kiss. Several minutes later they separated breathing heavily. "Oh my." Rarity said between breathes. "I take it you enjoyed our night." Sunset stated. "It was a wonderful date." Remarked the porcelain girl. "I'm hoping you'd be open to changing a few more friendly moments into romantic dates." Sunset said in a tone that implied a question. Rarity smiled, before leaning in and planting a small kiss on Sunset's lips as her answer. As she kissed back the red haired teen slid her hand down and gave her girlfriend's butt a quick grope causing her to gasp lightly. They spent some time on the roof making out before heading back inside for warmth. After a quick discussion on their relationship where they decided to see how long it would take their friends to figure it out, Rarity left for her home. Her lips were now a mix of their lipsticks. > Those Little Moments. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset arrived at Sugercube Corner to meet up with her friends. They had all sat around on the couch. She sat down next to Rarity who had saved her a spot. Now that all 7 had gathered Pinkie Pie stood up excitedly. She bounced to the back of the store before returning with several cupcakes and small party supplies. Five out of the other six girls shook theirs heads lightly at the impromptu party. "So what's the reason this time Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It's a secret." Pinkie replied, a smile beaming on her face. As the girl handed out drinks and cupcakes, Sunset swore she saw a knowing twinkle in the girl's eye. Looking at the cupcake she saw it was frosted with red and purple. She bit into the treat with a small smirk on her face. "Are completely random parties this normal?" Questioned Twilight. "Yeah. She has even literally thrown a party over a dropped hat." Sunset answered. "Wasn't that one more for Applejack catching the hawk who caught her hat when it fell down a ravine." Fluttershy quietly stated. "Ah like my hat. Though due to the holes in it now, that one is more of a workin' hat during the summer since it has ventilation." Applejack said. After a ripple of laughter spread through the girls, the conversation turned to more mundane topics. Sunset moved through the hallways at CHS with a quick pace. She wanted to meet up with Rarity before heading to lunch. When she met up with the fashionably dressed teen she snacked an arm around Rarity and pulled her up close. "Hey beautiful." Sunset greeted her girlfriend. Rarity tittered before replying "Hey yourself." The red-haired girl leaned in and gave the other girl a quick nuzzle. As she leaned back she took a half step away and they headed towards the cafeteria. Suddenly a smirk appeared on Sunset's face. While walking next to Rarity, she side-stepped lightly and gave her girlfriend a small hip bump. The bump didn't have any effect on her stride, but did bring a smile to her face. She then returned the bump as a show of affection. Both girls walked up to their usual lunch table with smiles on their faces. Sitting down with trays full of food, they greeted the couple of their friends who were already seated. While taking a bit out of the pizza that was on the menu for lunch, Sunset snaked her foot around Rarity's. She then returned the subtle look tossed her way with a small grin. Noticing that her girlfriend kept their feet hooked even when she moved hers, it was clear to Rarity that this was a discreet means of hand holding. She had a little trouble focusing on the conversations being held by her friends due to Sunset's foot. As lunch came to a close they all started to head to their next class. Sunset and Rarity had the same class so they walked there together. After school on Friday found Rarity fitting a helmet on her head. She was going to be given a ride home by Sunset. Rarity then climbed up on the back of the motorcycle and wrapped her arms around the other girl. Once Sunset made sure Rarity was properly situated, she started up her chopper and drove off slowly. When she got onto the road and sped up she felt her girlfriend's arms squeeze tighter. A short while later found the two pulling into the driveway of Rarity's house. Said girl got off the motorcycle and watched her friend maneuver it around her own car so it was pointed towards the street. Sunset shut the bike off and parked it before following the purple haired teen inside. She then headed to the kitchen for a drink as Rarity went upstairs. This allowed her to find a note left for Rarity by her parents. Looking it over she smirked before grabbing a soda and opening it. When Rarity came back downstairs, dressed in a different outfit for lounging about her house, she found Sunset standing in the kitchen smiling. "So it seems your parents stuck you with some babysitting." Stated the red-haired girl who nodded at the note on the fridge. "What? Oh, I guess it's a night in with my little sister then." Rarity said, reading the note for herself. "If you want, I can stick around. Could even make dinner of all three of us." Sunset offered. "That would be a big help, plus we would get to spend an evening together." Replied the relaxed teen. Noting the time Rarity then sidled up to her girlfriend and gave her a kiss before saying "We've a little time before Sweetie Belle gets home." A couple hours later found the pair on the couch waiting for their toenails to dry as the front door opened. The younger girl strode into the house and saw the two girls. "Hey sis, didn't know you had your friends over." She stated. "Actually it just Sunset here. She heard that the parents have left us on our own and offered to make dinner." Rarity explained to her sister. "Really? So what's on the plate?" Sweetie asked. "Something I usually make for myself. Already checked your kitchen to see if all the ingredients are there." Sunset answered. "Now deary, why don't you go upstairs and get changed. Once you've got your homework done we can watch a movie." Rarity told the younger girl. Sweetie Belle nodded and went to her room. Some time later she returned and laid out a couple of her books to work on the work she was assigned. When the young teen had finished she got to pick the movie to watch. As the plot about a singing competition played out (with Sweetie adding her voice to every song) Rarity played with Sunset's hair. Halfway through the movie Sunset got up and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. The two sisters heard her as she moved around cooking and smelled the food whetting their appetites. When Sunset told them that dinner was ready they paused the movie and moved to the dining table where 3 bowls were waiting. "This is oyakodon. A Neighponese dish with chicken, egg, and rice primarily." She stated before picking up a fork and frowning slightly at it. With the hunger possessed by the young, the three ate their bowls as well as refilling and emptying them again. Once dinner was over they sat back down on the couch and finished the movie. Sweetie Belle retreated upstairs to her room for the last couple hours of the day. Sunset and Rarity could hear her music muffled by the house. They turned on the television and watched a few normal shows to fill the time. Eventually the heard the music turn off, and Rarity went up to find that her sister had fallen asleep. Returning to the couch she dimmed the lights and put on a horror movie. This gave her a good reason to snuggle up to Sunset on the couch. Later they shared a kiss before Sunset left for her own home. That weekend the 7 friends met up at Fluttershy's house for a sleepover. Once the girls had wrestled some clear space from the variety of animals in the teen's room, they settled down to enjoy the night. Sunset had focused on helping reposition and left her sleeping bag placement up to Rarity. This ensured they were next to each other. Discussions ranged about as the girls spent their time entertaining themselves. Fluttershy, Rarity and Sunset were messing with each others hair while idly gossiping. Rarity used that to cover her giggling from the little tickles and touches that Sunset was giving her under guise of styling her hair. After dinner there was a movie lined up and Sunset had stretched out so Rarity laid down and used her girlfriend's legs as a pillow. The movie was quite action packed and distracted the other girls from noticing. Another weekend found Rarity on her girlfriend's couch. They were both lounging with Rarity laying on top of the other woman. She wiggled a little snuggling back into the arms of Sunset. "So what should we do for dinner?" She asked. The red haired girl took a moment to think before answering, "I know a curry place that delivers." After spending a few seconds they agreed to order in. Sunset got up and retrieved the menu from a stack on her counter for them to peruse. When they had decided on what to get she placed the call. Within a half hour there was a knock at the door requiring Sunset to disentangle herself from Rarity on the couch. She paid the delivery man and brought the food to the coffee table. "I'll grab us a couple drinks from the fridge, what do you want?" Rarity asked as she got up. Sorting out the food on the table, Sunset replied "Grab me on of the bottles in the box on the middle shelf." The purple haired teen walked over to the fridge and after grabbing a soda for herself, reached into the unmarked box on the shelf. Feeling several bottles in it, she chose one and pulled it out. Reading the label gave her pause. Setting the first bottle down she pulled out a couple more to determine that the box was filled with all the same kind. "Sunset. Why do you have beer in your fridge?!" Rarity questioned loudly, anger beginning to tinge her voice. "Because I drink it?" The other girl answered hazily. "You are underage!" Stated the outraged teen. "No I'm not. You and the other girls are, but I'm at least 21 in this world." Sunset explained. "What?" "I've been here for about 5 years, and when I arrived I was already around high-school age. That makes me around 21, so legally I can purchase and drink alcohol." She finished. Rarity stood still for a couple minutes. Sunset walked over to her, picked up the soda and beer, and guided her girlfriend back to the couch. "The age difference isn't a problem is it? Here it's only a few years." She asked. "Oh, um. No, it's not a problem. Just unexpected. I always thought you were the same age as the rest of us." Rarity said, coming out of her haze. "I've chatted with Princess Twilight about this. She hasn't had too much time to examine and study the portal due to her other duties, but we came to the conclusion that there is some kind of time dilation between our two worlds. Probably why the portal could only open once every so often." Sunset mentioned, giving the other girl something else to think about. "Really? Did you figure out how much of a difference there is?" She asked, glad to have time to think over her own thoughts. "So the portal opened up around every 2 and a half years here, but it was 8 years over there. Which means while it has been about 5 years since I arrived, they've experienced around 16." Stated the red haired girl as she placed the top of her beer bottle against the metal on the edge of the table and opened it. "Wait, then how old are you over there?" Rarity asked. "Hmmm, about 30 I think. Princess Twilight said her friends range from 20-21 to the mid 20's. Your alternate is around 24. She also has 3 clothing stores around Equestria. The one in Ponyville, one in the capitol of Canterlot, and on in Manehatten." Sunset remarked. "Really! I, she must be quite famous in the fashion scene over there." The fashionista said excitedly, thoughts of their ages driven out of her mind for the time being. Sunset smiled at her girlfriend as she started to go on about fashion, and discussing some of the fashion magazines she had exchanged with her counterpart. Deciding to start eating before the food got cold, she picked up her dinner. Once they had both eaten, and Sunset had swapped her empty beer for a soda, they returned to their talk. "Thanks for distracting me there. My mind needed a moment to process the fact that you're older than you seem. Though I must ask why you've never mentioned it before?" Rarity asked. That earned a small glare from Sunset. After a second she replied "A lady never reveals her age. Anyways, it doesn't matter for the most part. Of course there were a couple small reasons once I could legally buy beer not to say anything. I doubt Rainbow would let up on asking me to let her drink some. Pinkie might do the same, and depending on how much she is involved with the farm's business, Applejack might already know since I bought some of their hard cider." Rarity had tilted her head a couple times as she thought on that. "Yeah it doesn't really matter, and I thank you for not contributing to our friend's delinquency." She stated. Sunset gave a smile before leaning in and nuzzling the younger teen. Several days later the pair were walking in the park. They were enjoying the time together as they moved through the scenery. It was a nice day and there were many other couples who had the same thought. As they crested a hill Rarity noticed a blue-ish blur. Pausing to get a better look she pulled Sunset off the path to hide behind a tree. Before the red haired girl could say anything she found a porcelain finger against her lips. Looking at the owner of said finger she was motioned to look further up the path. She could make out two teens near a small pond with several animals next to them. The teen with rainbow coloured hair was moving about seeming playing ball with a couple of the critters. While this was going on, the other one was sitting on a blanket with a large basket of food that she was using to give small tidbits out. "No doubt that's Fluttershy and Rainbow." Sunset said quietly. "Yes, and it seems like they are on a date." Rarity remarked. Sunset looked around some and noticed a bush somewhere between their hiding place and where their friends were enjoying themselves seemed to be half pink. She smirked at how Pinkie seemed to be spying on the pair, but lost it when the thought that the party girl might also be watching them. "There was an offshoot a little bit back. Lets go that way, leave them to each other." The red-haired girl stated. Rarity smiled and followed her girlfriend back down the path. "Rarity, I need your help." Said a very quiet and nervous girl. "Fluttershy, of course I'll help you. What do you need?" Rarity replied. "Some shopping. I want to get something nice to wear, for a special occasion I'm planning for -" Fluttershy started, getting quieter and quieter until she couldn't be heard. Noting how her shy friend had pulled her hair in front of her face to hide in, Rarity put on a comforting smile. Stepping up to Fluttershy's side, she put an arm loosely around her. "You had me at shopping, darling. Though I will need to know exactly what kind of clothes you are looking for for this occasion of yours. Need to make sure you are properly dressed, it simply wouldn't do to show up to something formal in pajamas." Rarity said quietly, before tittering softly. "More like properly undressed for what I have planned." Remarked the girl, a blush turning her entire face red. Once she calmed down enough to register on the decibel meter again, the two teens arranged to meet at the mall in a couple days. Rarity pulled up to the mall and parked her car. She had tried to talk to Fluttershy again in regards to what she was looking for but only caused her friend to blush and lose her voice. Once she had arrived at the pet supply store in the mall, a favourite meeting place for the animal lover, Rarity headed over to the small display area for the few pets the store sold. It was her hope that having seen the animals would give her shy and timid friend the courage needed to actually talk about what she needed. Unlike most other stores the small cages the animals were kept in were very well arranged, in no small part to all the pestering Fluttershy had done to the staff in the store. The girl herself was watching several spiders and snakes eat. Rarity shivered lightly at that thought, not sure how the girl who literally couldn't hurt a fly with feeling sad could watch animals kill and eat each other. "Afternoon Fluttershy." She said approaching her friend. "Eeep. Oh, hey Rarity." Fluttershy greeted her with a lot of pep. "You know, you still haven't told me what exactly I'm helping you shop for." The fasionista remarked, pressing lightly. "Ah, well, you see." Started the shy girl, before taking a breath, and released it along with several words. "IneedyoutohelpmepickoutsomesexyunderwearsoIcandosomethingspecialforRainbowDash." Rarity paused as she parsed what Fluttershy just said. Luckily being a friend of Pinkie Pie has taught her how to understand when someone talks in a rushed manner. She looked over the girl who was hiding in her hair and blushing hard enough that it affected her ears. "I know just the place darling. We'll have you looking so good she'll have to visit the doctor to get her jaw reattached." She stated, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. Fluttershy smiled at that, and leaned into the contact taking in the comfort offered. The two left the pet store after a few moments that the timid girl needed to reinforce herself while looking at the animals. Rarity lead the way, stopping in a couple normal clothing stores to pick up a few pieces here and there for her wardrobe. Eventually the two walked into a well known brand for undergarments. Fluttershy was fairly hesitant but followed her friend around the store. The two looked over several sets of lingerie before deciding on picking pieces from different sets to create an unique menagerie of both style and colour. Rarity figured that dressing up in a rainbow might help draw in the athlete's interest. She also picked up a tight-fitting red and gold number before exploring the make-up section. Discussing what to do in regards for that with Fluttershy, they determined that she already had what she would need at home. Taking just the outfits up to the counter together, Fluttershy let her more confident friend handle the cashier. Rarity walked Fluttershy back to her vehicle to help her friend with her embarrassment of being in public with a bag of sexy underwear. Sunset and Rarity were sitting in the former's apartment. Spending time together there had become commonplace for the couple. This day found them enjoying tea. Sunset took a deep breath of the freshly brewed cup, allowing her mind to wander back to Equestria where she had occasionally enjoyed a break in studies with her mentor over tea. As she returned to the present she noticed her girlfriend smiling at her. Raising an eyebrow at the teen brought about a giggle. "Sorry, but every so often you zone out over the tea. Your face always get this wonderfully peaceful expression on it." Rarity stated. "It's okay. The tea just brings about thoughts of Princess Celestia. We frequently had tea together and I always cherished the time she would spend with me. Even when I started getting self-absorbed, it was always very comforting to me." Sunset said. Rarity leaned over and placed a small kiss on her girlfriend's cheek. "Sounds like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon." She remarked. Sunset nodded at the statement. Looking over at the purple haired girl, she noticed that she was fidgeting slightly. Deciding on watching her as she seemed to come to a decision internally rather than outright ask. Rarity noticed the other girl watching her and made her choice. "Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. What do you think about us taking our relationship further?" She asked somewhat timidly. "If you want to go on a vacation with me, might be a bit hard scheduling it what with school still going on. Though if you mean sex, I don't want to pressure you into anything." Sunset answered, smirking at the reaction her joke caused. Rarity shook her head at her girlfriend's words before stating, "Yes, I mean sex. Becoming intimate with each other feels right to me, but I haven't been sure about how to touch on the topic. Not sure how close you and Flash were, or if the portal changed anything about your preferences when you went through it." Sunset placed her hand on the other girl's shoulder to interrupt. The blushing girl paused and looked over at the red haired girl. "I only dated Flash for the popularity of it, we never did anything. The portal hasn't really changed anything about what I like and don't like. Though it did take a little while for me to get used to how everyone looked. I'm guessing sex is a more private topic over here than in Equestria. Well estrus might have something to do with that, kinda hard to ignore something when every so often your body literally yells at you to go have sex." Sunset said while giggling. "You didn't have periods over there, lucky. Your first one here must've been quite the surprise." Rarity giggled herself, batting lightly at Sunset, who just smiled awkwardly. Looking over the other girl trying to avoid eye contact, she figured something out. "Sunset, you don't have periods do you?" "No. The portal didn't seem to change absolutely everything about my biology. I still go into heat every so often." She replied blushing lightly. They finished their cups of tea in an awkward silence, with Rarity casting the occasional glance at Sunset. A few weeks later Rarity had arranged to stay over at Sunset's. She made sure to include the lingerie she had bought in her bag, as well as the make-up she selected to go with it. Parking her car, she headed up to the apartment with her bag. There were butterflies in her stomach due to the surprise she had planned. Knocking on the door brought a quick response as Sunset welcomed her. Rarity went back to the bedroom and dropped her bag off. She stretched a little before moving the additional toiletries she had brought along into the bathroom. When she went over to the couch, Sunset had already got a movie set up. The pair cuddled up as the movie started. After the movie they got dressed up and went out to eat at the Prench restaurant from their first date. They enjoyed both the meal and the nostalgia it invoked. Sunset then took them to the park where they walked off the food they had eaten. She paid attention to the sun's position in the sky, taking them home once it got close to setting. Up on the roof they kissed as the sun set, a habit for them whenever they were alone together. Once it was dark they moved inside, where Rarity made a small showing of pushing Sunset towards the bathroom. It wasn't long before her girlfriend had gotten washed up, and was in just a pair of panties and a large t-shirt rather than the pajamas she wore whenever the other girls were over. The younger girl gave her a hug before going to the bathroom herself, teasingly dragging a hand as they separated. Rarity hit up the bedroom first to retrieve her lingerie and make-up. Once she had showered and dried off she brushed her hair and applied the make-up. Putting the sexy clothes on, she admired herself in the mirror. Peeking carefully out of the door to ensure she could get to the bedroom without notice, she dashed over. Taking a moment to sexily pose on the bed, she called for Sunset. "Did you forget something Rarity?" She asked as she entered the door. "Only you my darling." Rarity replied. Sunset's mouth hung open as word's failed her. She took in the sight of her girlfriend laying on the bed, her form mostly exposed but for a few barely hidden places. Rarity gestured her to join her on the bed. As Sunset moved over to the bed, her clothes were left behind on the floor. The pair kissed as their hands roamed each other's bodies. It wasn't long before the lingerie joined the small pile of clothes on the floor. It was closer to being the next day when they finally fell asleep embraced with the one they loved. > Morning After and Revelations. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rarity noticed three tings when she woke up. First was the sunlight on her face helping bring her out of slumber. Secondly was the presence of another body pressed up against her own. The last thing was that she could feel her skin touching the other girl's. Opening her eyes brought the vision of Sunset's sleeping face. The mussed up red hair framing a peaceful face, with the slightly open mouth and trace of drool added a cute factor to it. Carefully extracting herself from the bed so not to wake the still slumbering woman, Rarity made her way to the bathroom. On her way she picked up the lingerie that had spent the night on the floor and after folding them, placed it next to her bag. Stretching in front of the mirror she admired her own form, but also noticed a couple additions. Rarity lightly touched the hickey Sunset had left on her shoulder and figured any number of shirts would be able to cover it. The teen then frowned at how messed up her make-up had gotten, then gasped at how much of it had to have rubbed off onto Sunset's pillowcase. Rarity was finishing up brushing her teeth when Sunset arrived to handle her own morning abulations. She planted a kiss on the porcelain teen before taking a sidelong glance at the shower. "Easily enough room for two in there, and we could both probably use a good cleaning." She offered to Rarity. "Don't know how much cleaning would happen. Let me go get the teakettle going first." The other girl replied, leaving the bathroom and giving Sunset a few minutes of privacy. Once the kettle was heating up on the stove, Rarity stepped into the bedroom and laid out a couple outfits for them. She finished up as the kettle whistled. Moving back to the kitchen to take it off the stove, she heard the shower get started. On her way to the bathroom, she caught Sunset stepping out into the hallway to fetch her, a toothbrush still in her mouth. Laughing a little at her girlfriend, Rarity checked the temperature of the water before stepping in. A moment later Sunset joined her, wrapping an arm around the other girl and kissing her on the lips. When they separated, Rarity bopped her on the nose. "We can have our fun cleaning each other, you don't want your tea to get cold." She said smiling. The pair let the water run over themselves first before shampooing each other's hair. Once they had rinsed it out they applied the conditioner and turned the water off to let it soak in. They used that time to soap up one another. After Sunset had gotten Rarity's back, the purple haired teen turned them both around to soap up the older girl. Shifting the mass of conditioned red hair out of the way she noticed several lines on the girl's back. "Oh, did I scratch you during?" She asked, blushing at the memory of the previous night. "A little, nothing to bad though. Just the throes of passion." Sunset replied. As ivory fingers traced the amber skinned back, feeling the taut muscles just underneath, she became aware of two pale lines running down the upper back that crossed the lines the finger's had made. Rarity gently followed their path down the shoulder blades and felt Sunset shiver. "Sunset, these seem old." She said in a concerned voice, posing a question without asking. "Yeah. Transforming into a demon isn't exactly a pleasant experience." Sunset answered in a quiet voice, leaning back into the hands for comfort. "They've healed nicely at least." Rarity stated, trying to think of something right to say. She slid her arms around her girlfriend to offer more comfort. "Not at first. They never bled or anything, but they weren't exactly sealed. Those first couple weeks were almost as painful as the transformation. After a month the pain was mostly gone, unless I slept wrong or didn't stretch out properly. In fact it wasn't until I became, what did the boys call me, Daydream Shimmer? That was when they scars went away, for the most part." The red haired girl explained, snuggling back into Rarity's arms. "I'm glad that they've healed. Wait, does Twilight have the same scars?" The fashionista asked, worried for both girls. "No, I asked. Her transformation was different than mine. I tried to force someone else's power to my whim while she was corrupted by raw magic." Sunset said, allaying some of Rarity's worry. The shower was finished up quickly after that, the mood having been dampened by the conversation. Once dried up they cuddled on the couch with tea, finding comfort in each other. A few days later at school, Rarity met up with Fluttershy on the way to band practice. Once they had greeted one another, Rarity's curiosity got the better of her. "So Fluttershy, how did your little plan work out?" She asked. "What, oh that plan." The timid teen stated before looking around checking their vicinity for possible eavesdroppers. "Rainbow really liked the outfit." She managed to say before blushing and hiding in her hair. "Well it's good to know that the two of you are doing well." Rarity remarked. A few minutes later, when she had found her voice again, Fluttershy asked "Are you and Sunset not doing well?" Rarity stumbled. Once she recovered, and made sure no one had saw her misstep, she looked her shy friend over. "Weren't aware we were that transparent in our relationship. We're doing just fine, as well as you and Rainbow if I'm not off my mark. I take it all of you know then?" She answered, a light blush on her cheeks. "Yeah, though I had to tell Rainbow. Applejack took a while to figure it out, though I'm not sure if Twilight knows." Fluttershy responded. The two smiled as they entered the band room. Ignoring Rainbow Dash's complaints about taking forever and her posturing, Rarity stepped over to Sunset and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thought we were trying to see how long we could fool the others?" The red haired girl questioned, putting an arm around her girlfriend. "For the most part, they all know." The teen remarked before going to get her keytar setup. Utilizing the brazenness of their friends, Fluttershy took the opportunity to plant a kiss on Rainbow. This surprised everyone, though less for the action itself than who took said action. Rainbow Dash, of course, was the most surprised, but wrapped the shy girl up in her arms and really kissing her. A minute passed by before a loud cough drew the pair back to the world. "I guess the cat's out of the bag now." Rainbow stated. "It's about time the two of you were open about your relationship. Pinkie, you owe me 10 bucks." Applejack said, holding a hand out to the other teen for her winnings. "You all already knew?" Fluttershy asked. "More of a guess, really." "It was obvious, darling." "Yuparooni." "Looking over the facts, it was clear." "Of course." "Pinkie Pie, if you knew we were together, why didn't we get a party like Sunset and Rarity did?" Rainbow questioned. "Don't be silly, I threw that party ages ago. See." Pinkie replied, pulling her phone out to show off the pictures of the party. "Wait, this was back during freshman year. We only started dating after the Fall Formal." The athlete remarked. "I knew that you two would be together eventually. It was just so obvious that I couldn't wait to throw the party." Pinkie explained. The other girls just shook their heads as they finished tuning their instruments for practice.