> The Beach House
>  by NightCoreMoon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Thursday Afternoon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

/x/x/x/

“Can someone remind me again why I'm doing this here with you girls?” asked a bored-looking Flash Sentry in between sips of a frozen slushie. His other hand rested in the front pocket of his cargo shorts. A charcoal gray muscle tank, sunglasses resting on the bridge of his nose, and a pair of unremarkable sandals completed the ensemble.

Sunset, in a gold-studded black crop top and a flowing skirt that matched her hair color, smirked and nudged him in the shoulder. “As if you've never been a human privacy curtain before,” she commented. “Except this time instead of me forcing you into it because I was an evil and manipulative bitch, you offered out of the goodness of your heart!”

He blinked at her slowly as the hustle and bustle of the mall’s food court echoed around them.

“And... because we offered to buy you lunch.” She finished, nervously giggling and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Flash heaved a heavy sigh before taking another sip. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, before flashing a small though sincere smile. “Happy to help.”

“You know, I still refuse to believe you were ever evil,” Twilight offered, stepping behind the pair. “I think it was just a hallucinogenic fever dream or pesticides in the groundwater at Canterlot High.”

Sunset glanced over her shoulder before turning around fully and stepping to the new arrival. “Hey, Twilight!” she greeted, opening her arms. “Good to see you. You looking forward to today?”

Twilight nodded and hesitantly returned the hug, wrapping her arms around Sunset’s waist and blushing slightly. She looked up to see the impassive look on Flash’s face, and his own slight nod of greeting. She gave him the kind of smile you give people when you aren't exactly in the mood to actually smile at them but you still don't want to be rude, and you end up looking like you're trying to pretend that you didn't just loudly pass gas, or are overhearing a loud argument from across the room, or are greeting somebody who used to date what basically amounts to your clone and he still inexplicably has feelings for you as well despite the fact that he's a man and you're a lesbian.

... Wait a minute.

Sunset pulled her arms tightly around Twilight’s shoulders for a moment before she pulled away and rested them behind her back. “Oh, and by the way, thanks again for talking to Dean Cadance for us. This weekend is going to be great!”

“Yeah... it's really not a problem. What else am I gonna do,” Twilight nervously muttered, trying hard not to stare at Sunset’s exposed belly. “Just not talk to her after Rainbow brought it up? I don't think so. You girls deserve to have a good time.”

“And we will, all because of you!” Sunset smiled encouragingly. “And since we have some more privacy than we usually would at the public one, I get to learn how to go swimsuit shopping like the humans do. Back home we didn't really have that because, you know... we didn't really wear clothes.”

Twilight blushed furiously at this while Flash merely raised an eyebrow.

“You know,” he said. “Up until this moment I never really put much thought into the fact that both you and Princess Twilight really are ponies... do I have a type?” After a moment of puzzled confusion, his face blanched. “Oh my god... I fucked a horse...”

Sunset merely shrugged. “I’ve fucked both a human and a horse before too, so don't worry, I'm pretty sure that you're in the clear.”

“Guys,” Twilight interjected. “You’re talking kind of loud...”

Sunset and Flash glanced around to see that there were indeed nearly a dozen people standing there gawking at the two apparent zoophiles. They exchanged glances before their minds kicked into overdrive.

“We’re rehearsing for a play!” They both shouted simultaneously.

“The Legend of-”

“Stony Terror-”

“The Centaur King-”

“Picture Show-”

“Director’s Cut!”

The smiles on their faces rivaled the size of the average Pinkie Pie grin, even if they had the sincerity of her pretending to enjoy watching paint dry and the awkwardness of both Twilight and Fluttershy on their worst days combined. Twilight herself watched the scene unfold through her fingers as half of the crowd dispersed in varying levels of convinced.

Sunset groaned and hid her face in her hands. “Oh Creator, please just strike me down right now...”

Flash just clapped his hand on her shoulder before tossing his empty cup into a nearby garbage can. “Hey, at least Rainbow Dash wasn't here to see anything.”

“Yeah, good thing,” said Rainbow Dash, who was standing right behind him and struggling to keep a straight face. “Otherwise she’d totally rub it in your guys’ faces all day because it was fucking hilarious!” She finally let a smile crawl across her face and send her doubled over laughing at the pair.

“Just kill me, right here and now...” Sunset muttered. “It's okay, I’ll accept death, please just... give it to me.”

Flash heaved a heavy sigh. “Man, I was really hoping that karma would smile on me today for taking time out of my busy Thursday.”

By then, Rainbow had regained her breath, and started to wipe her now-wet eyes. “Oh man, that was priceless. I just wish I got that on tape! But, whatever. Hey Flash. Sunset...” her smiled faded imperceptibly as she placed her hands on her hips and nodded. “Twilight.”

Despite the outfit consisting of a sports bra and shorts that seemed much shorter than they had any right to be, Twilight had no difficulty at all keeping eye contact with her ex-girlfriend. “Hi Rainbow... you look nice.”

Sunset looked up as she heard the slight strain in her friends’ voices.

“You too.” Rainbow crossed her arms and leaned against a support pillar. “But I kinda disagree with your choice in clothes. It's like ninety degrees out, why are you wearing pants and a t shirt?”

Twilight glanced down for a moment and back up. “They're, uh... not pants. They're called capris. I think. Rarity picked them out for me.”

An awkward silence would have rang out if not for all of the busy people walking around them, and it grew slightly until it was luckily interrupted by a steadily loudening and unmistakable voice.

“And then I was like ‘nuh-uh, cupcakes are WAY better than muffins’, and then she was like ‘you're crazy, muffins are a bajillion times better than cupcakes’, which I mean is a total lie because no offense to your apple cinnamon muffins which are super scrum-diddly-umptious, they just don't even hold a candle to our apple cinnamon cupcakes we made that one time, especially when we put on that icing with the caramel in it, ooh! After this we should go and get a caramel apple, or even better we can make our own caramel apples! WAIT! We should totally make our own caramel apples this weekend when we go to the beach house! And speaking of which I’m super excited to pick out my swimsuit, I can't believe I haven't gone shopping for one since last summer and even then it had to be all ‘appropriate’ and stuff or else Maud would have probably killed me but- oh, there’s Dashie! HI DASHIE! HI SUNSET AND TWILIGHT AND FLASH!”

Applejack, who had been steering Pinkie Pie through the throngs of shoppers with an arm around her shoulders, raised her free hand in greeting as she brought in the proverbial S.S. Pinkie into harbor. Both were in shorts and tank tops. Various verbal greetings were passed around.

“Alright, so all we’re waiting for now are Rarity and Fluttershy,” Rainbow remarked. “So, Flash, you're sure the jeef’s not coming?”

Flash raised an eyebrow. “...jeef?”

“G F. Girlfriend. Ball and chain. Boo, beaux, honey,” she started making a lewd jerking motion with her arm. “...right hand personified.”

“Alright, I get it!” He cried, face red. “June’s not feeling well.”

“Alright, sorry to hear that. Maybe next time...” Rainbow turned to survey the surroundings. “Aw man, they got rid of that old Asian place I love... oh well, I guess we really do need a third Starbucks.”

“They what!?” Flash cried, wheeling around. “No! Why!? I loved that place!”

As he and Rainbow commiserated, Sunset leaned in to Twilight. “What's Asian again?”

“The northeastern part of the continental landmass separate from the one we’re on,” she answered. “Think rice and noodles cooked in sesame oil, plenty of vegetables, flavored with pepper, ginger, garlic, onion, soy sauce, and horseradish... sushi, sake, sometimes curry.”

“Oh sweet Celestia that sounds amazing,” the former pony said, staring starry-eyed off into the distance as her mouth began involuntarily salivating. “I haven't had Nipponeighse in years. I gotta go to one of these places... oh, I just hope there are vegetarian options.”

“They have tofu,” Twilight answered. “It's made out of soybean paste and it tastes like whatever you cook with it. And like I said, there's also a lot of vegetable options and stuff.”

Sunset clapped her hands together in glee. “We gotta go together some time, just you and me. But, uh... how do you know so much about this?”

Twilight ignored the fact that Sunset basically just asked her out on a date, albeit probably a friend date but a date nonetheless. “I, uh... ordered a lot of takeout at Crystal Prep. The cafeteria closed in the afternoon and sometimes I did work straight through the evening, and the Chinese place was the only one that did delivery to the school. And it really helped that I knew the kid who brought the food, and I always made sure to tip him well.”

“Who was he?”

“He was Sugarcoat’s cousin. She and I were never close friends but we were at least... eh... okay so she was kind of a bitch but she was a little less of a bitch to me than she was to everybody else. So anyway, his name is Scarlet Scribe. I don't know much else about him besides the fact that he does edits for the local paper. But it doesn't matter, I’ll totally take you out for Chinese or something some time. I'm... somewhat of a master at it. Not much dairy in it, too, so that's a bonus for me.”

Sunset smiled and tilted her head slightly to the side. “Well, I'll be looking forward to it. It'll be fun!”

Twilight bit her lower lip. ‘God, she's adorable...’

Suddenly Applejack cut through the group and started waving an arm in the air. Everyone turned to face her direction to see none other than Rarity with Fluttershy in tow. Both were wearing strapless sundresses, powder blue and seafoam green respectively, and Rarity in a straw sun hat. She returned the wave before grabbing Fluttershy’s hand, nodding her head, and making her way to the group.

“Sorry we’re late, darlings, the parking lot is an absolute zoo right now!”

“I should have left sooner...” Fluttershy murmured.

“Hey, it's all cool!” Rainbow assuaged, pulling her oldest friend in for a hug. “You're here, now, that's all that matters. All you guys missed was Sunset and Flash yelling about how they’ve both fucked horses.”

“RAINBOW!” The duo screamed.

Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy merely gaped at them before Pinkie started tittering. Applejack and Rarity merely rolled their eyes, and Fluttershy effectively bluescreened.

Rainbow, however, cackled as she headed deeper into the mall proper. Twilight sighed and resolved to follow her, not quite in the mood to feel the potential amusement garnered from seeing Flash flustered.

‘Wish I was Fluttershy...’ she mused. ‘Holding Rarity’s hand, hugging Rainbow...’

She blinked when she realized she was absentmindedly staring at Rainbow’s shorts. She shook her head and brought her eyes up. Behind her she could feel the heat of embarrassment radiating off of Sunset and Flash. She slowed her pace slightly so she was even with them.

“I don't know where that girl thinks she’s going,” Rarity said from behind them. “She wouldn't know a Rue 21 from a Forever 21.”

Rainbow stopped in her tracks as another girl in a similar outfit to her own walked by. She checked her out with all the subtlety of a monster truck in a china shop. This gave everyone else the time they needed to catch up to her. Twilight grit her teeth slightly but her own eyes followed as well. But at least she wasn't glaringly obvious about it.

“Rainbow, my dear, much as we appreciate your enthusiasm, perhaps I should lead this expedition. I do have the most experience in this department after all...” Rarity paused for a moment, chuckling to herself. “Oh my, no pun intended.”

“Yeah, sure Rares,” Rainbow replied, distracted. “Whatever you say.”

“Alright, lovergirl,” Applejack exasperatedly sighed. “I’m gonna just pick ya up in a sec if y'all don't quit starin’ at every girl who shows an inch o’ skin... an’ you too, Flash!”

Twilight crept past to get in step with Rarity and Fluttershy, who began to lead the procession. Pinkie and Sunset merely giggled as another girl in a crop top walked by, drawing the attentions of the totally oblivious Rainbow and Flash. Applejack facepalmed and proceeded to literally pick the two pervy teens up and sling them over her shoulders.

“So, Rarity,” Twilight began to ask. “Where will we be shopping today? JC Penney?”

Rarity whipped her head around and placed a hand on her chest, mouth frozen open in shock. “Never say that to me again, Twilight! Obviously we will be going to the J Crew.” She stepped towards the mall directory and scanned through the store list. After a moment of searching, her face blanched.

“Okay, never mind,” she said, utterly defeated. “We’ll be going to...” Rarity sighed, slumping her shoulders. “...Macy’s.”

“Oh, that's great, I love the Macy’s!” Applejack cried, Flash and Rainbow in tow.

Rarity gave a knowing look to the girls at this.

“I remember when I was real little, mama took me there to look for dresses for my first day o’ school. We were gonna do that the year after that, but...” she smiled melancholically. “It's always gonna have a place in my heart. Good choice, Rarity!”

Rarity didn't answer, and instead stared at the directory, grimacing. She pressed a fist to her  mouth and closed her eyes. Flash and Rainbow exchanged a worried glance behind their mount’s back. After a few moments Rarity looked back up with a smile on her face and made her way back to Applejack.

“But of course, darling, it's a respectable establishment if not exactly the highest of class. And sentiment is, um, of course a factor to be considered...”

As she continued to chat with Applejack, the rest of the girls followed suit. The suddenly tense mood evaporated as they walked, if no conversation occurred. Even Pinkie’s step had slightly less of a spring in it, but by the time they got to the entrance, it had become resprung as Applejack showed no signs of sadness or regret.

“Hey, uh, AJ?” Rainbow asked, shifting around. “Can you, like... put us down now?”

“Yeah, no offense but your shoulder is a bit...” Flash scrambled for an inoffensive word for horribly uncomfortable. “...muscular.”

She made as if to drop them like two sacks of potatoes, chuckling at their brief yelps of panic, then gently set them down on their feet.

“Only if y'all agree to behave,” she said. “There ain't no... reason to... uh...”

A man in a small piece of fabric masquerading as an a-shirt revealing the entirety of his huge biceps, the sides of his heavily sculpted pectorals, and part of his well-defined abs walked by, turning the farmer's head on a swivel as she gaped like a fish out of water.

Once he was passed she turned back around to see a very cross Flash and Dash, in identical positions, with their arms crossed and tapping their feet in tandem. She chuckled nervously at their twin expressions of ‘are you kidding me?’.

“Alright, point taken, let’s just go.”

The group followed after Rarity, who was now approaching the swimsuit section. Luckily it was devoid of life, but full of bright colors. Pinkie started to squee as she slipped around straight to a large mass of pink. Fluttershy stepped towards Rarity as the rest simply glanced at the selection.

“Alright girls, find a few pieces you might want, and we’ll all meet in the dressing room! And Flash-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know the drill,” he said, pulling out his phone. “Sit down, shut up, and make sure that no creepy dudes get inside. Right?”

She nervously laughed in reply. “Well... in different words than I would have said, but you seem to know what you're doing.”

Sunset shrugged. “I taught him well. So uh... what do we do?”

“Yeah,” Twilight said, stepping forward as well. “I haven't exactly done this before either.”

“And where are the one-pieces?” Applejack asked. “Or at least the, uh... more than just triangles and string ones?”

“And why are they all in pastel colors!?” Rainbow exclaimed.

Rarity turned to Fluttershy. “Would you be a dear and help Rainbow and Applejack find things more suited to their tastes while I give the rundown to Sunset and Twilight?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Okay. Follow me, girls, an extra pair of eyes won't hurt...”

As the trio left, Rarity clapped her hands together as her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Girls, let’s find you some suits!” She quickly reached out and grabbed their hands before pulling them along into the throngs- and thongs- of fabric.

Twilight barely had time to blush before she found herself surrounded by bikinis, bikinis, and even more bikinis. She glanced up to see her friends scattered about picking out different ones from different parts of the section, before she brought her attention to her own situation.

“I assume neither of your measurements have changed much since the last time I took them?”

“Yeah, no, I’m pretty sure I’m the same,” Sunset said. “And uh... you would know considering the blog...

“Uh... yeah...” Twilight blushed yet again as her mind was on the concept of measurements and the implications of today settling in. A small fire started to kindle in her belly and her pulse started to increase.

“Splendid!” Rarity turned and started rifling through one of the racks. “All you need to do right now is to find a few matching tops and bottoms that will fit your bust and waist, and then we’ll try them on after that’s done. There's really not much to it. Oh my goodness, this one is simply gorgeous... perhaps I've misjudged this place?”

She pulled out a hanger upon which sat a royal purple twisted bandeau. Twilight’s eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. There really wasn't that much of it.

“Awww yeah!” Rainbow cried from a few racks away. “Now that's what I'm talking about!” She held up a hanger that held two very small black triangles with yellow lightning bolts on the front. “Does this say awesome or what!”

“Or what!” Applejack volleyed. “That’s barely a sleep mask! What in tarnation are they tryin’ to sell here, cuz it sure ain't clothes!”

Twilight returned her eyes to her immediate surroundings, trying to quell the thoughts of seeing Rainbow in something like that. Not that she hadn't already seen her in her underwear before, but that was different. And her bra covered a lot more skin anyways. Which meant that this would definitely be an... interesting weekend. She cursed both her sister-in-law’s privilege and Rainbow’s memory.

“Hey Rarity,” Sunset chimed. “Is something like this what we should be looking for?” She held up a pale blue halter top that also wouldn't be covering very much skin. Pure willpower kept Twilight’s jaw from falling open.

“Oh my goodness, Sunset, I think that would be perfect for you! It would go so well with your eyes!” Rarity jumped in place. “I don't think you'll even need to pick anything else, but... you probably should still, just in case. This is a fun excursion, after all, not utilitarian. Just save that one for last.”

Twilight pursed her lips as she turned her head away from the spectacle, and absentmindedly rifled through the selection, not particularly paying attention to any of it.

‘Easy, Twilight, just play it cool. So they're all going to be trying on bikinis, no big deal. It's just a little bit of borderline nudity among friends... friends who are way sexier than they have any right to be and don't have very many boundaries when it comes to physical affection and oh my god I am literally going to die!’

She pulled her legs tightly together as a warmth churned between them.

‘This is the worst, this is the absolute fucking worst, they're all gonna think I'm a perv and kick me out of the friend group and then I'm going to be all alone again...’

“Hey Twilight!”

“Hey Pinkie.”

Beat.

“Pinkie!?”

Twilight jumped as the rest of her mind became suddenly aware of the party girl’s presence right next to her.

“Don't scare me like that!” She exclaimed, catching her breath.

Pinkie giggled. “I didn't scare you, I startled you. There's a big difference. I know that I’m stealthy and stuff so I sometimes startle people which I'm really sorry for by the way, I’m not just completely ignoring that like some kinda meanie-pants, but I know that I'm not scary or anything like a monster or a serial killer like in one of those slasher movies Dashie really likes unless somebody has some kind of irrational phobia about teenage girls and the color pink and as far as I know the only phobia you have is turning into a monster yourself which is totally not gonna happen and isn't a problem anymore because Midnight is donezo so there's really not a very good chance of me being actually scary to you, does that make sense?”

Twilight blinked, pulse having returned somewhat to normal. “Surprisingly, yes... what brings you to me right now?”

Pinkie shrugged and held out an armful of suits. “I got all of the things I wanna try on already but it isn't time to go try them all on yet and stuff so I looked around at everybody else to try to see what my options for spending time with my friends were and I saw that Rarebear and Sunnybunny were together working through their stuff, and I can see both Flutters and AJ looking for more conservative pieces while Dashie helps them because I think she looks pretty dead set on the black one with the lightning bolts which I think look super awesome and cute but anyways I figured I would go and help them out but I saw that you were all lonely and not really focused and kind of sad looking so I came over here to help you out and see if I couldn't cheer you up a little!”

Twilight felt a slight headache coming on but she managed to push it down as she thought about how Pinkie’s thought process made perfect sense even if it was a bit long-winded and tangential. No wonder she did so well on essays in English class. Aside from the massive run-on sentences, of course. Anyways, she could also recognize a kind-hearted gesture of friendliness when she saw it.

“Thank you Pinkie, I appreciate the help... but I'm fine,” she lied. “I'm not really upset about anything, I’m just... overwhelmed by the... choices here.”

Ah, yes, the choices. Skimpy style #1, skimpy style #2, slightly less skimpy style, way skimpy style, and would it even be legal for a teenager to wear this in public style. At least they came in different colors and designs.

“Are you suuure you're not upset?” Pinkie inquired. “Dashie might not look it but I know she is a little bit. So i’m just a little concerned for you, you know? Not that I think you're weak or anything, because I know you've got a lot of emotional strength and stuff like that, but because I know that breakups can be hard for anybody to go through...”

“I'm fine.” Twilight stated, more firmly than she meant to. “Really. I am. I just...” she sighed. “My problem is more that, you know. I'm gay. And me being here and seeing all of these really tiny two piece swimsuits is... kind of a lot, emotionally.”

Something clicked in Pinkie’s head. “Ooohhh... that's right, you haven't done this before...” she smiled. “Well, don't worry, I know how you feel. Kind of. I can at least imagine it. This is kinda the first time I'm going bikini shopping at all, let alone with my best girl friends. Are you worried about us thinking you're pervy and stuff just because you like girls?”

Twilight shrugged. “I guess, yeah...”

Pinkie rested her arm around Twilight’s shoulders. “Well, Dashie and I both like girls. Fluttershy too, sort of. And Sunset likes girl ponies. But just because AJ and Rarity are straight doesn't mean that they're gonna judge you for who you wanna dance the sideways samba with.”

“Pinkie!”

“Aww, you're cute when you’re flustered. And hey, I can say that without it being weird or creepy or anything, right?”

Twilight opened and closed her mouth a few times as she pondered this. She did have a point. It was not exactly much of a secret that Pinkie at least kind of thought that Twilight was attractive. She wasn't overt about it, but she wasn't secretive either. It didn't change anything between the two of them, even if there was some level of mutual attraction in place.

But there was still a difference. Pinkie had only ever seen Twilight in full dress. The least she had ever seen was a sleeveless tank and gym shorts. Twilight had of course accidentally seen her naked in the school locker room once for about half a second before she covered her eyes and promptly walked into the wall. But it was at least somewhat obscured by steam.

Regardless, it wasn't just Pinkie. Twilight thought that every single one of her close female friends were the proverbial bees’ knees. All of them. She liked Rainbow enough to date her, after all. Rarity was beautiful, Applejack was practically made of muscle, Fluttershy was gorgeous, Pinkie was sweet and very well-endowed, and Sunset... well...

Sunset was perfect in every single way, and externally seemed visibly comfortable with her body, and was always there for her supernatural insecurities, and always considerate and kind and caring, and sure she sometimes made mistakes but always atoned for them, and had a really nice butt, and gave really nice hugs, and was super cuddly when she was high back when they all still smoked, and she was just basically perfection personified. Or... would it be ponified...

“It's... not weird or creepy... right?”

Twilight blinked a few times as she realized she had totally spaced out for a second. She shook her head and turned her eyes to Pinkie, adjusting her glasses which had come slightly askew.

“Yeah, no, it's not! I'm... flattered, actually. And I know that a lot of you girls are on different levels of, you know, sapphic proclivities. But I just...” she sighed. “It's different when you like the person than it is when you just like people of their gender, you know?”

Pinkie slowly nodded. “Right... look, um. Can you keep a secret?”

“Yeah, sure. What?”

“Pinkie promise.”

Twilight nodded before pantomiming the process.

“I swear, Pinkie, whatever you're about to say stays between you and me.”

Pinkie leaned in and conspiratorially whispered into Twilight’s ear. “I have a crush on Dashie too.”

‘Too?’

“Okay?” Twilight asked.

“And you remember what I said earlier about the lightning bolts?”

“It was like two minutes ago so yeah.”

“I'm actually... really looking forward to seeing her wear that.” Pinkie pressed her forefingers together in thought. “Dashie is really hot. I've seen her naked before but, I’ve eaten freshly baked chocolate chip cookies a hundred times before, and each time you make another batch it doesn't make it smell any less delicious, you know?”

‘I’d like to eat Rainbow like a hot cookie...’

‘Now is NOT the time for that, brain!’

“Well then how do you do it?” Twilight asked. “How do you just not feel like you're betraying your trust and friendship in someone by thinking about them in a sexual manner?”

Pinkie gave her a sad smile. “Because it isn't... it's okay to think your friends are hot stuff. I know I do. And I'm sure Dashie does. I mean, she thinks half of the girl Wondercolts are sexy and she's still super close with all of them. She even showers with them after games. And just because she’d have sex with them given a moment’s notice doesn't mean that she's any less of friends and teammates with them.”

‘But she’s not... like me...’

“And,” Pinkie continued. “I’m friends with a lot of boys who like girls. A lot of them like me, and I like a lot of them. So if boys and girls can be friends and everything be fine, then gay girls can do it too. It's just logic. It's like that one math thingy where, like, if a plus b is c then b plus a equals c, right?”

“I... think I understand.” Twilight forced a smile, recognizing Pinkie meant well despite ultimately missing the point. “I should be fine... thanks Pinkie.”

“No problem-o, Twi Twi! Now, uh... you should probably pick something. I think AJ and Shy-Shy found some stuff. What color do you want?”

Twilight tried to shrug her sadness out. “I don't know... pink, I guess... but you don't know my size.”

Pinkie pulled out a pale pink set. “Yes I do,” she said, handing them to Twilight. “And I think this would look really cute on you.”

Twilight took the fabric in her hands. The top was comprised of two intersecting pieces of long, curved trapezoids that connected to a mesh with a small circular gap in the middle of the upper one. It seemed like it was made to cover and support at the same time, and seemed secure enough. The bottom was the same exact color and followed a similar style, the mesh on for her hips, and it was a lot thicker of material.

And it was exactly her size.

“Pinkie, how did you-”

Twilight turned to address the apparent psychic with a luck stat of 21 but she was already right next to Fluttershy, who threw something in the air and let out an exclamatory noise of shock. Despite herself, a small giggle made its way to her lips as she looked back down at the material.

It was smooth, and cool. Breathable. She turned it around and looked at the price tag, before shaking her head and looking more closely at it. No, she was not hallucinating, the decimal point most certainly was right there. Twilight did not hurt for finance but hot DAMN was that a tall order. Still, she felt herself pulled to it. A small though genuine smile crawled across her face. She would feel like a literal princess in this.

She fingered the strings. They were very thin, but they felt sturdy. She wasn't big on fabrics, but she could tell that it was very high-quality. Then again it could also just be polyester or something and Rarity would literally faint at the sight.

Speaking of Rarity, Twilight could see that she was heading to the changing room. Sparing one more look at the swimsuit in her hands, she nodded and made her own way over.

By the time she arrived, the other six were standing in a semicircle around Flash, who was still fiddling with his phone. Rarity cleared her throat and he looked up.

“Hats and purses?” He asked.

“Ever the gentleman, Mister Sentry,” Rarity answered, gently placing her hat on his head.

He grimaced and sighed before glancing back down at his phone. “Don't worry, I'll break the fingers of any would-be pickpockets. And I’ll make this hat look good while you're busy in there and doing...” he waved his hand. “Your girl stuff.”

“You're a dear,” she said, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek before walking into the dressing room proper. He merely rolled his eyes. The girls all followed suit, leaving their purses and such with him, and stepped into the changing area. Once they were all in, Flash set his leg in front of the doorway, and started to scan the area every few seconds.

“Now,” Rarity stated, turning around to face the girls. “I know that it's not technically store policy, but we should at least pair up for those of us who are new at this in each room. The rules do say that only one person is allowed in each room at a time, but that rule I’m sure only exists to prevent sexual encounters. I doubt that this will be a problem here, however.”

“I dunno, Rares,” Rainbow said with a sly wink. “Unless you wanna taste the rainbow?”

Applejack sighed exasperatedly, grabbed her hat, and whipped the back of Rainbow’s head with it.

“Thank you, Applejack. Anyway, assuming you all are wearing some kind of underwear that isn't a thong or... less... and you have all deposited your bags and accessories as I have done so, we shall separate into pairs for the sake of the ones of us who haven't done this before. Sunset, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, each of you should enter a room with either myself, Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash. Any of the three of us should help get you sorted with any complications. Is that agreeable with everyone?”

Sunset stepped forward. “I have no problem with it, I don't know the first thing about...” she lifted one of the suits, two small ivory triangles dangling on her fingers. “...these things. And you've already seen me naked before so, mind helping me out, Rarity?”

“But of course, Sunset! Let's go.”

The two girls stepped into one of the rooms and closed the door behind them. After a moment, a dress, skirt, and crop top hung over the door. Twilight’s skin turned several shades darker, and her mind turned several shades greener.

Applejack stepped forward next, and glanced briefly at Rainbow’s suggestive face and eyebrow waggle. “Fluttershy?” She asked, causing Rainbow’s expression to shift to that of pure shock. She stuck her tongue out briefly at the stunned athlete before taking Fluttershy by the hand.

The shy girl nodded and the pair stepped into another room. A pair of shorts, a tank top, and a dress soon draped over the door, leaving a trio.

Rainbow gently laughed to herself before she glanced at the two remaining as her face blanched. “Uh... Houston, we have a problem.”

Pinkie glanced between the other two as the pieces instantly clicked into place.

Twilight’s face was now almost completely flushed, and her body started to tremble slightly.

Rainbow sighed. “Look, this doesn't have to be weird. We’ve all seen tits before. I've seen you both in, well. Pretty much exactly what we’re gonna see here.” She spared a wink to Pinkie. “And I've made out with both of you. So come on, let's just... you know.”

Twilight brought her doe-in-the-headlights gaze to Pinkie, who mouthed ‘its okay’. Twilight merely shook her head, and took a step back.

Rainbow frowned. “Look, Twi, I thought we were cool. If there's a problem, you gotta let me know so I can find a way to fix it. Whatever I did to hurt you, I'm sorry, alright?” She spread her arms to either side. “I still wanna be your friend.”

“Tha-that's... it's not... I...” Twilight swallowed, back growing moist. She couldn't get the words out, and worst, Rainbow thought she was upset with her. She tried to get her breathing under control, and was very nearly able to, before one of the doors opened up.

“Well, darlings?” Rarity asked, proudly displaying her body clad in just the set of violet bandeau and matching bottom over a pair of simple white cotton panties. Her top was only a few inches thick, even slimmer in the middle, and it couldn't have been covering much more than her nipples. One hand was on her hip and the other was behind her neck. “How do we look?”

Behind her and to the side was Sunset. She was gripping her arm with the other hand behind her back, and looking off to the side. She had on a simple white triangle-cut bikini that seemed a bit small, and still showed a little bit of the bottom and sides of her breasts. Her lower piece was black over her crimson underwear.

“You two look amazing!” Pinkie cheered.

Rainbow nodded, distracted. “Yeah, queens of the fuckin’ beach. Look, Rare-”

She was cut off by a sudden stamping of feet heading out of the room. The girls all turned to glance at where Twilight had left the room sprinting.

“Damn it!” Rainbow cried before shoving the contents of her arms into Pinkie’s, and running after her. Turning the corner, she smacked right into Flash, and the two went sprawling onto the ground.

“Aw, fuck!” Rainbow shouted from atop him. She glanced up to see Twilight sprawled out on the ground, bringing herself up and grabbing her glasses before she went running again.

“Jesus Rain, what the hell-”

“I'll explain in a sec, sorry!” Rainbow yelled to him as she scrambled to her feet and began to chase after her ex-girlfriend. She made her way through all of the racks to the open area. She glanced to the left to see nobody, but to the right she could see the shrinking figure she was seeking.

“Holy shit you're fast,” she muttered to herself as she set off. Instantly she regretted leaving her geode in the wallet that was currently sitting right next to Flash Sentry, but there wasn't time to go back for it now. If what she thought was bothering Twilight was actually what was bothering Twilight, then it was a problem that needed to be rectified as soon as possible.

Rainbow dodged and weaved past the few groups of people, and nearly smashed into another. She ran through a pair and behind her she could hear glass shattering. She shouted an apology behind her before almost accidentally running into a large man. She cursed and hopped on one foot before resuming chase when he was out of the way.

She was just getting into the run when Twilight tripped again, and fell to her hands and knees. Rainbow slowed her roll to a brisk walk and came to Twilight’s side, noticing that she was sobbing.

“Twi...” Rainbow got on her knees next to Twilight and set a gentle hand on her heaving shoulder. Twilight shoved her hand away and leaned to the other side, gripping the grate of a divider sitting between the two halves of the walkway.

Rainbow sighed and crawled around to be in front of the crying girl, sitting down and leaning her head on the divider. “You don't want me to touch you, that's fine. But I'm gonna be here until you at least talk to me, okay?”

Twilight continued to cry, but she nodded.

“Alright, good.” Rainbow looked around to see a crowd of gawkers. “Move along, people, nothing to see here! We’ve got a very sick grandma at home, and it's emotionally traumatizing!”

A few of them shrugged and carried on with their business immediately. A few others simply stared suspiciously, but moved on after a moment. One other furrowed his eyebrow.

“Hey, isn't she the demon monster from the friendship games?”

Rainbow glared at him before jumping up and taking a threatening step forward. He yelped and scrambled away, before heading into the nearest store. He then immediately came out of the lingerie shop, red-faced, and went to the next nearest one, a candle shop.

Rainbow sighed before sitting back down, putting her knees to her chest. She absentmindedly looked at some of the lingerie, furrowing her brow. After a moment her eyes widened. She spared a glance to Twilight, who started sniffling and wiped her own eyes.

“I'm guessing your problem isn't with me, is it...”

Twilight brought her bleary eyes to Rainbow, and slipped her glasses back on. She gently nodded.

“Uh... is that a no meaning no, or...?”

She nodded again. “No meaning yes...” Twilight croaked, throat raw. “I don't have a problem with you... or about you. It's just... it's with me.”

Rainbow jumped up and held her hand out. “All right, I think I know what's up then. Come on, let's go get something cold in you.”

“But, the girls-”

“Will be fine trying on swimsuits without us. You and I only picked one each anyway, and we’ll just be gone a few minutes. We just have to clear the air a little bit. Now come on, get up.”

Twilight grimaced but did as she was told, taking Rainbow’s hand and letting herself be pulled up.

“Luckily you ran almost right to the food court, and double luckily there's no line here. You took your milk pill this morning, right?”

“Um. Yeah, I... yes. Why?”

“Good.” Rainbow lead the procession forward by her hand, Twilight following after. “You know, we never did have milkshakes again, after that night. Considering what this was all about, I figure it's only fitting, don't ya think?”

Twilight didn't respond, but simply relished the physical contact. A small part of her gave a dark chuckle as she thought about how the only times she ever got to be affectionate with somebody was after she broke down in tears and wasn't even in the mood to appreciate it fully.

Suddenly Rainbow stopped in her tracks. “Mother fucker...” she patted her shorts pockets before slumping her shoulders and sighing. “This is just un-fucking-believable. Flash has my wallet.”

Twilight fished her hand into her pocket and pulled out her own. “Here, I... I'll pay.”

Rainbow furrowed her brows before shrugging. “Alright, fine, but next time we all do something, I’m paying for you. Got it?”

Twilight gently nodded as she handed over the black leather.

“Okay, cool.” She turned around and continued her walk. They were silent until they came up to the counter.

“‘Sup” she greeted. “One small choco and one small nilla, please.”

“That’ll be two fourteen.” Said the lady behind the register. Her blue hair stuck up in the air before falling down to frame her face, and her nameplate read ‘Milky Way’. “Here’s some extra napkins. Are you alright, baby?”

“She’ll be fine,” Rainbow answered. “Love trouble, some dude was a dickhead. I'm here to cheer her up. Good friends and all. Thanks,” she said, taking the napkins and handing them to Twilight. Her eyes shifted down to the milkshake girl’s sizable chest before snapping back up. “Here ya go.”

Milky took the card and swiped it before handing it directly back. She turned her head to her partner, whose long brown bangs somehow were not impeding his vision. His own plate read ‘Mint Chip’. He handed over two glasses, and Milky turned to Rainbow and handed them over as well.

Rainbow thanked her and turned to Twilight. “Come on, let's go sit.”

The two made their way through the food court over to an isolated table and sat down across from each other. Twilight wouldn't make eye contact and made no move to drink either shake.

“You pick.”

“...I want whatever you don't want.”

Rainbow sighed before pulling the vanilla one towards her. “Alright, this mopey melodrama isn't gonna last longer than this conversation, all right? You're gonna clear this cloud or we’ll be here all night.”

Twilight pulled the chocolate shake towards her, but made no move to drink it.

“My guess here is you feel guilty n’ shit because you're gay, and we’re all putting on swimsuits, don't you...”

Twilight didn't react.

“You know, at first I thought it was because of me. Of course I would, right, since I'm kind of a major narcissistic blowhard.” Rainbow took a sip. “And I know that I'm not exactly the nicest person in the world so of course I was kind of a dick about it. Which, you know, I’m sorry for. Communication and stuff is not exactly our strong suit, it's part of why we broke up. But that doesn't mean we can't talk to each other as friends, you know?”

Twilight took a small sip but still refused to look up.

“Now, look,” Rainbow continued. “I'm not gonna even begin to pretend to understand what it's like to feel like shit because of who you love and stuff. My parents kinda ingrained into me the whole ‘be who you are and be proud of it’ thing since before I even came out the womb. And through sports and stuff, I’ve seen more naked girls so far than most straight dudes ever do in their lives, so when I figured out I was gay, it was no big deal to me at all. But that's just me, not everyone else, and it took me a little bit of time to figure that out, but I know that now.”

She took another sip. “You told me that your mom and dad and brother were the only ones in your huge-ass family who didn't throw a bitch fit when you started being open about your sexuality. And you also mentioned a lot of the trust fund brats at CP weren't, you know, dicks because of it, but that because you’re the smartest person there they tolerated you, but that was it. Plus they're already all kinda dicks anyway. You've faced a lot of shit in your life for being who you are, and it's made you stronger. But it's still left scars. Right?”

Twilight snuck a glance but looked immediately back down again, and took another sip.

“I know I can say this without any amount of conceit. I, Rainbow Dash, am one of the hottest girls in Canterlot High. Hell, even the district. My workout routine blows our fuckin gym teacher out of the water. And, you know, fuck clothes, right?” She motioned to her body. “I'm sure that's part of what made you wanna date me the most, as opposed to someone you have more in common with. Like, I dunno, what’s her face who sat next to us back in Hardass’ class?”

“...Moon Dancer?”

Rainbow snapped her fingers. “Yeah, the redhead! Probably the biggest egghead in school other than you. And yeah, considering that you're only really friends with us because we’re the human version of the pony version of you’s friends... man, that's confusing to say... But look at us. You've got an athlete, a farmer, a supermodel, Rarity, a magic horse turned human with an ass that won't quit, and the best boobs in the whole school. We are a pretty hot group of friends. And then you come along and make us even hotter.”

“Whatever,” Twilight denied with the ghost of a smile on her face.

“I'm serious, man, why do you think I agreed to go out with you? You're a fuckin’ catch. Any girl would be happy to be with you... I know I was, for a little bit... but that's not the point. You're not just hot, you're smart, and a good person, and nice, and fiercely protective of your friends, and you stand by your beliefs, and you're always willing to help out a friend in need. You’re, like, all the best parts of all of us combined. The only character flaw you really have is, you know, nothing I haven't dealt with with Fluttershy. You’re kinda shy sometimes, and a little socially awkward, but you know what. I'm awkward too. I just own that shit.”

Rainbow took another sip of her shake. “And part of your awesomeness is that you're gay as hell. I don't mean that, like, gay people are better than straight people or anything. But it's a huge part of what makes you you, and since you're awesome, it automatically makes that awesome too. If you changed that about yourself, you wouldn't be you anymore. You know? Being a lesbian is something you should be proud of, especially when there are people out there who are stupid and ignorant enough to hate you just because they don't like it.”

A small smile graced Twilight’s lips as she fingered the straw and took another small sip.

“Now, part of being gay is thinking people are hot. But here's the thing, that's part of being straight too. Flash thinks you're hot, he thinks I’m hot, and if he has working eyes, he probably thinks that every single one of us is hot. Does it bother any of us when he hangs out with us? Don't answer that, it's one of those questions you aren't supposed to answer. Rheto-something. You taught me that word. It doesn't bother us.”

“Rhetorical...”

“Thanks.”

“But-”

“Lemme finish, I’m almost done. Now, we didn't let him into the changing room with us because, you know, other than the fact that the girls would feel better if we have our own private bouncer, he is a dude. With, like, a dick. He doesn't have the same parts as all of us, his brain juices all say dude and not girl, and it's just... it's different. It's different than when it’s a girl with the brain juices and the tits and, you know, the girl stuff. With you, with Pinkie, with me. It's fine to be a lesbian and be around girls even if they're in bikinis. Or naked.”

Rainbow took one more sip from her shake. “None of the girls are weirded out or anything by me being the way I am. Yeah, sometimes I'll find myself staring or something, but I don't creep anyone out on purpose, unless they know it's a joke. I wouldn't have fucked around with Rare and AJ today like I did if I’d known there was a problem with it. And you don't fuck around with anyone at all. Neither does Pinkie, unless she’s alone with me, and... well...” she blushed. Slightly.

“But... that's neither here nor there.” Rainbow threw back the last of the shake before she continued. “And yeah, I think you girls are hot. Like I said before. I fucked Pinkie. I would have fucked you if you wanted to keep going. If I didn't grow up with Fluttershy and it wouldn't make things weird between us, I’d fuck her too. If Sunset was into human chicks, I'd fuck her. If AJ and Rare were gay, I’d fuck the shit out of them too, if they'd let me. And I’m of course hella excited to see what kind of bikinis you'll all be wearing this weekend. But I also love you all as friends and I would never, EVER do anything to mess up our friendships. And I know that you're the same way. You wouldn't ever do anything purposefully to fuck up our friendships. We all know that.”

“Maybe not on purpose...”

“Twilight. Look at me.”

She reluctantly brought her gaze to Rainbow’s.

“Would Sunset abandon you just because you thought she was hot?”

Twilight sighed. “No...”

“Would Rarity?”

“...no.”

“Name one of our friends who would ever think any less of you just because you thought they were attractive when they were wearing a bikini.”

Twilight took a sip. “None of you...”

Rainbow leaned back in her chair and rested her hands behind her head. “We won't have a problem with it. If they can tolerate my gay bullshit, they'll all be totally fine with your gay not-bullshit. So what we’re gonna do here is we’re gonna go back to Macy’s, we’re all gonna try on swimsuits and tell each other we look sexy as hell, and we’re gonna have a good time. And then we’ll get food, and then we’ll have a sleepover at my place, and then we’re gonna have an awesome time at your sister’s beach house for an entire weekend. And you're not gonna feel bad about any of it. All right?”

Twilight sighed again before taking one last sip of her shake. “All right... I'm sorry about this whole... everything.”

“Hey. We gays gotta look after each other.” Rainbow reached across the table and took Twilight’s hand in her own. “Don't be sorry. Take this as a learning experience, grow from it, and move on.”

Twilight nodded and smiled before drinking the last of her milkshake. “You know, these really do taste great...”

Rainbow started snickering and thunked her forehead on the table.

“They are better for your tongue than they are for your hair.” Piped in a new and all too familiar voice.

Rainbow’s laughter cut off abruptly and she jumped out of her chair, stepping protectively in front of Twilight.

“I suggest you take your posse of inbred preppy douchebags as far away from this place as you can in as little time as possible, Jet Set, before you find yourself owning less teeth than you woke up with.”

Jet and company stood in front of Rainbow with trays of salads in their hands.

“Easy, Rainbow Dash,” he teased. “I'm not in the mood to get my ass handed to me today. And don't worry, I’m not going to get on my soapbox either.”

She crossed her arms. “Then why did you walk up to us?”

He smirked at her and cocked his head to the side. “Oh, I just wanted to satiate my curiosity a bit. Word was that you two were no longer an item. And yet, here you are on a date?”

“We’re friends having food together. Unless you and your friends here are about to have an orgy.”

He snorted. “Crude. But, whatever. Just wanted to keep up-to-date on the rumor mill.” He leered at her stomach. “I see you're keeping in shape. It's good, I don't want you to go easy on me next month for tennis.”

“I'll crush you like a grape.”

Jet grinned. “Now that's the attitude I wanna see on the court. Let's go, boys... oh, and Twilight?” He sniffed as his eyes softened slightly. “Good luck on your entrance exams. Not that you'll need it.”

Rainbow grit her teeth after him as he left, but she grounded herself and stowed away her anger for future use. She turned to Twilight, who had a perplexed look on her face.

“What's up?”

“Did Jet seem like... slightly less of an asshole, to you?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno, I don't like to spare much thought to him when I can. Are you okay?”

Twilight pursed her lips in thought. The logic was sound. Everything that Rainbow said made sense from a factual standpoint. Analytically, everything fell into place. Granted, it wasn't operating on the full set of data, but she meant well. And in the grand scheme of things she was at least 90% right about everything. The last 10% stayed niggling at the back of her mind, but she figured it was more worth it to ignore it for the time being for the sake of appeasing her friends. This whole trip was for their enjoyment, after all, and they did care about her well-being. If she was miserable and bad at hiding it, or worse, didn't even go, they probably wouldn't enjoy themselves as much, and that just wouldn't do.

“Yes,” she answered with just a splash of lie. “I'm... I’m okay.”

“Good,” Rainbow said with a nod and a smile. She stepped forward and pulled Twilight into a hug.

She accepted it, setting her arms around Rainbow’s waist. The skin contact sent a small wave of warmth up Twilight’s arms. She smiled in spite of herself: hugging Rainbow was always nice. She was tough and muscular, but soft in all the right places, and when she didn't smell like sweat, she actually smelled really nice.

“Now come on,” she said, taking Twilight’s hand. “I'm sure the girls and Flash are worried about you. Let's go see you burn down the house in that pink mesh.”

Twilight felt her cheeks color as a gentle warmth enveloped her hand and crawled up from her chest. She nodded and let herself be swept away by her former lover.

She no longer felt the butterflies that welled up whenever she thought of Sunset or any other person she had a crush on. Instead, it felt as it threads of pure golden sunlight entwined themselves around her arms and legs, connecting them to Rainbow.

She didn't feel anxiety, or any complicated emotions, or infatuation. This was love, pure and simple. Not love for a paramour, but for a friend. For someone who had your back through thick and thin, no matter what pain they may have undergone by your hands. For someone who could understand you in a way others couldn't.

She felt safety.

She felt home.
> Thursday Afternoon pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

/x/x/x/

As the pair approached, Pinkie Pie- waiting outside of the changing rooms- jumped up and waved before heading inside. Rainbow and Twilight exchanged a glance before looking down and unentwining their fingers.

“Look,” Rainbow said, stopping just out of earshot of Flash. “This doesn't mean I’m chill with the hand holding and hugging and stuff yet. Unless you, like, really really need it. Okay?”

Twilight nodded. “Yeah, I... I understand.”

“I'm not mad at you, I just have my thing about, you know. PDA.”

“I know. I know you do. I respect it and all. I just... yeah.”

They made eye contact for a few moments before turning and stepping forward.

“There you guys are,” Flash said, standing up. “One minute everything’s fine, the next, Twilight comes running out and tripping over my leg, and I get up to check that you're alright and Rainbow fuckin steamrolls me from the back? What's up?”

Twilight opened her mouth as if to explain but found herself cut off.

“She really had to use the bathroom. And I went after her because, well, it's not a good idea for girls to use the bathroom on our own especially this time of year. There are prowlers everywhere, man!”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at Rainbow, and raised her other one at Flash when he shrugged and sat back down. ‘Holy shit, that worked?’

Rainbow cocked her head in as she walked inside, picking up the discarded pink bikini from the ground and tried handing it to Twilight, who wasn't exactly paying attention.

“Twilight, there you are!” Rarity called, still in her suit. She stepped forward and pulled Twilight into a hug. “We were all so worried about you, what happened?”

Rainbow answered again as Twilight’s brain was short-circuiting. “I wondered too but she just really needed to use the bathroom. You ever get that sudden urge to just, go, like right now?”

“I hate that,” Sunset murmured. “One of the many things I hate about the human body.”

As Rarity pulled away, the rest of the scene settled in Twilight’s vision. Sunset was still in her white suit, Applejack was in a red underwire set, and Fluttershy was in a pale green tankini. She felt her eyes dart back and forth across all the bare skin and felt panic welling up from her gut.

“You okay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, stepping forward. “Y'all ain't lookin’ too hot.”

‘No, but you are!’

“I'm... fine.”

Rainbow clapped Twilight’s shoulder and nodded.

Twilight sighed. “It's... it’s the suits.” She took her glasses off so she wouldn't have to see the looks on her friends’ faces.

“Wait, Twi,” Rainbow said, voice low and warning. “You don't have to-”

“I want to!” Twilight took a deep breath before continuing. “You don't have to lie for me. My whole life I never really saw very many girls in bikinis, and now that I am, it's just... there's a lot of skin showing that I don't usually see. It's just confusing and overwhelming and emotional, and that's why I ran. I just... felt guilty and ashamed...”

Silence rang for a few moments as she felt tears well up, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see a fuzzy yellow figure. She slipped her glasses on to affirm it was Sunset, who wore a compassionate smile if not much else. Twilight panned her vision over slightly to see similar looks on the rest of the girls’ faces.

“Twilight, you don't have to feel bad about that!” Sunset indicated, hugging her. “You shouldn't ever feel ashamed about who you are.”

“Darling, you're one of us,” Rarity said from behind her. “We trust you implicitly!”

Applejack shrugged. “It ain't like these don't cover everything they need to, least the bare minimum. I can't say I'd be comfy gettin’ naked in front of you, but in time I’m sure I’ll build the level of trust I have with the rest o’ y’all. And since you're a girl, we’ve got the same parts. ‘S why I'm okay with RD after all, and y'all don't flirt with me nearly as much as she does.”

“Oh, um. If I had to I wouldn't mind that, but, um...” Fluttershy brushed her hair out of her face. “It's just a swimsuit. I can't speak for everyone else but I don't mind if you see me like this. You're our friend, and you're not going to do anything... untoward.”

Pinkie glomped Twilight from behind. “Like I said earlier, it's okay to be gay!”

Rainbow shrugged. “Fuck it, group hug.”

The girls all did so, encircling Twilight with their arms. Tears welled up again, but this time they weren't those of sadness. She tried to bring her hands up to return anything, but her fingers accidentally grazed against smooth skin and fabric. She frantically pulled away, but two hands took hers and brought them up to rest on shoulders. She could see by the colors they belonged to Rarity and Fluttershy.

“Thank you girls...” she whispered. “I'm sorry about, you know. Throwing things off.”

“You're fine, dear!” Rarity assuaged. “You were only gone for a few minutes, and there's still plenty of daylight left. We still have time to do everything we set out to do.”

“Incoming lady!” Flash called from outside. The girls quickly disentangled and unclogged the walkway, bikini-clad girls retreating to just inside their rooms. A moment later, a short woman with tall hot pink hair stepped around the corner holding a sleeve of dresses draped over her arm.

“Missus Cake?” Pinkie asked.

“Oh, hello Pinkie!” She greeted, surprised. “Always a pleasure to see you and your friends. Oh my, don't you girls look beautiful?” She gave a brief once-over of the suits. “I remember back when I could wear a two-piece. Heading to the lake this weekend, are you?”

“Yup!” Pinkie cheered, placing an arm around Twilight’s shoulders. “This girl got us a fun few days of partying at a private beach house!”

“Ooohhh, what fun! Well, I hope you girls enjoy yourself. Now, uh, if you don't mind can I borrow one of these rooms here?”

“Ain't nobody in that one, ma’am,” Applejack indicated, gesturing towards the unused room.

“Well thank you very much, Applejack.” Her smile turned melancholic. “Oh my, you’ve grown so much... you know, you look so much like Buttercup...”

The farmer rubbed the back of her head. “I should hope so... thank ya kindly, Chiff.”

Mrs Cake smiled and nodded once more at the girls before making her way into the spare changing room. Once she clicked the door shut, Rarity stepped forward and cleared her throat.

“Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any if anybody wants to change partners. Sunset, Applejack, I’m sure you understand the basics now?”

Sunset rolled her shoulders. “I’d, uh... prefer to stay with you, if that's fine?”

“But of course. Applejack?”

She turned to look at the trio remaining for a moment before she pursed her lips. “Ya know,” she began. “I didn't really put too much thought to it earlier but maybe I should go it with Rainbow.”

The group silently contemplated her meaning.

Fluttershy stepped forward around her and towards Rainbow. She tentatively held a hand up. “Tag team?” She asked.

Rainbow rolled her head and stuck her tongue in her cheek out of pride. “Hell yeah,” she muttered, giving her oldest friend a high five. She glanced back to Twilight and Pinkie, flashing them a thumbs up, before patting Fluttershy’s shoulder and moving past her into Applejack’s room.

“Oh yeah,” she said, stepping back out and tossing something pink to Twilight. “Here's this.”

Twilight barely managed to catch it, as her thoughts were racing. She was totally over the anxiety of stripping and baring her chest in front of Rainbow for the sake of swimwear, and was close to getting there for Pinkie, but now that Fluttershy was thrown into the equation everything just got thrown all helter-skelter.

“Splendid!” Rarity exclaimed. “We’ll see each other in just a few minutes!”

She closed the door and turned to Sunset. “Well, darling, I must say that though you look absolutely stunning in white, this particular suit seems more suited for someone... less endowed.”

“You think?” The former pony asked, sarcastically, as she pinched at the tiny fabric and pulled down slightly. “If this got even the slightest bit wet it would totally sag down enough so you could see my nipples!” She shrugged, snapping it back. “Not that I care, but I know that Twilight would probably have an aneurysm. Why are girl nipples even a problem, anyway? Guys can go shirtless, why can't we?”

Rarity shrugged as she pulled the rear knot free on her bandeau. “It's a long story involving deeply set misogyny, scientific misunderstandings about what constitutes sexual organs, and I believe some religious conflicts from a few centuries ago.”

“Really?” Sunset asked, pulling her own knots free. “Oh hey, I got it first try! I can kind of get the sexism thing, even though it's kind of opposite in Equestria, and Twilight told me about the whole sex organ thing when I asked how these things are different from equine teats. But what’s this about a religious conflict?”

Rarity pulled off the purple bottom and set it on the bench next to the top before readjusting her underwear. “Well I can't say I know the full story, but- well, how much art do you know?” She bent down to grab a hanger with a yellow set, pulling the metal clips off of the fabric.

“You mean like modern art or...” Sunset attempted to pull down the white but the strings got caught so she yanked on them but they wouldn't budge. “Hey, little help here?”

Rarity placed her second suit on the bench before kneeling down to work at the knots. “I mean more classical art. Renaissance paintings. The ancient cultures. Older paintings that were more free with depicting nudity. Gods and goddesses, that kind of thing? There we are! Oh wow, I didn't even notice the lace on this, that's pretty.”

“Thanks Rare, you're a lifesaver,” Sunset muttered, tossing the bottom to the side before picking up a red set. “And yeah, I never really got lace when I had my fur, but now that I don't have it anymore it feels nice. So yeah, I think I know what you mean. Is religion really why humans aren't okay with breasts anymore?”

Rarity turned and presented her back. “Tie this for me? Thank you. There's a long and complicated story behind that, but... it's part of it. It all started when one group translated some holy texts into one language badly, then another... it was all a mess. Like the world's worst game of telephone. Eventually people got it in their heads that things like modesty and lust were something other than what they were originally intended, and those ideals got so ingrained we now have people protesting things like public breastfeeding, of all things.”

“Yikes. Is this tight enough?”

Rarity worked her arms. “Yes, darling, I do believe so. You're a quick learner. Anyway, I’m sure it's not the only reason, but there are cultures all around the world that are indiscriminate about nudity taboo among sexes that haven't so much as been touched by organized religion.” She slipped her fingers underneath the top and pulled it down a little, analyzing it in the mirror. “It's called correlation and causation, but it would make a lot of sense.”

“Thanks,” Sunset replied, shrugging as she reached for the red pieces. “I try. But, uh, I can't reach around.”

Rarity nodded. “I've got you.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I...” The fashionista bit her lip as she worked at it. “History intrigues me. Particularly when it comes to art and religion. With parents like mine, one sort of has to become accustomed to an interest. And I have spoken about this with Twilight before. But regardless of why, breasts are sexualised by society so we girls must cover up for modesty’s sake, else we be ridiculed or worse. There we go, this should be right.”

“Well that's dumb... but, whatever. Back home, the pegasi have to be careful about how they hug other ponies because we have a huge thing about touching wings to cutie marks, feathermarking. Yeah, this fits way better. I kinda like the color but it's just... I like the blue one better. What do you think?”

Rarity pulled the yellow article up her legs and settled it over her panties, slipping two fingers between the suit and her skin. “If you like the blue one better, then get the blue one. But that scarlet fits you well. It's a very good color with your goldenrod complexion. And this one certainly fits you much better!”

Sunset cupped her breasts which were now much more covered and supported. “Yeah, way better.” She cast a glance to the lower piece. “You know, I have another question. I know that lace and stuff shouldn't touch water, but shouldn't there be some kind of underwear you can wear in the water too? It seems silly to have to have two different things when guys can just put on a pair of trunks and jump in.”

“Well, guys don't usually have vaginas, Sunset.” Rarity winked. “But regardless, I understand. However, when it comes to gynecological health, there are very many complications. Menstruation and infections and such aside, wet underwear, especially with raw sea water, can leave a terrible rash. Trust me, you don't want your lady bits to itch... especially at a wedding. Or worse, a funeral. Trust me.”

“How is a funeral worse than a wedding?” Sunset asked, slipping the bikini over her underwear.

“It just is, darling,” Rarity said, admiring herself in the mirror. “Oh, don't we look just fabulous?” She asked.

Sunset shrugged. “We look like we’re wearing our underwear. I honestly just wish we would just be able to go swim without wearing anything. Ugh,” she slumped her shoulders. “I hate your society sometimes!”

“Well don't worry, you definitely look nice by human standards. And you don't just have to take my word for it anymore, you know.”

Sunset smiled. “Right... thanks again, Rarity,” she said, hugging her from behind. “I can't believe just how many people are being so nice about those pictures. We’re still on next weekend for another session, right?”

“Of course, dear,” Rarity replied, placing her hands over Sunset’s on her stomach. “And I think I have something just perfect in mind. Now come on, let's go see what the others have!”

Meanwhile in another cubicle...

“I'm surprised you even put on one of the tiny ones,” Rainbow remarked, stripping off her bra and tossing the phone that was slipped inside of it onto the bench. “Ah, I can breathe again!”

“As if I had much of a choice... she changed my diapers, it shouldn't be a big deal...”

“You grumbling about Miss Cake?”

Applejack harrumphed as she pulled off both articles at once, flinging them across the room. “I was hopin’ only you girls were gonna see me like this...”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the blonde’s slight blush as she balled a second blue set into her fist. “Hey, uh... not to pry, but you don't exactly seem like you're being a hundred percent truthful. Did you, uh...” she slyly indicated. “...want someone else to see you?”

“Drop it, Dash!” She snapped, rapidly standing up.

Rainbow’s eyes shot wide open as she put her hands up in a defensive position. “Whoa, alright! I'm just teasing, I didn't think you actually did-”

“An’ who says I did!?”

Rainbow sighed. “Nobody, alright? I didn't mean to trod on any sore topics. I just wanna try on suits, I didn't mean to make you upset.”

Applejack breathed for a little bit before she relaxed her posture and returned to her seat. “Y'all didn't make me upset. I'm just takin’ it out on you, an’ I'm sorry. I shouldn'a done that.”

“AJ, look, it's cool. I'm not mad. I just won't talk about whatever’s got you... affected.” Rainbow took her black suit in hand and stared down at it for a moment. “But... if you wanna talk about it, I can listen.”

Applejack sighed and hit the back of her head on the wall. “I didn't want anyone to see me in a suit like this who ordinarily wouldn’t have an issue with it. Any... women.”

Rainbow set a comforting hand on Applejack’s knee as she awaited continuation.

“Girls are... y'all are obligated to compliment each other. Whether it's true or not. When you're friends or family or friends of family or whatever, you just say you look nice. You don't gotta mean it, it's just what ya say. An’ I’m not saying I want friends to lie to each other or nothin’, I just would rather avoid a situation where someone has to lie to me.”

Rainbow grimaced in confusion. “What would someone lie to you about?”

Applejack motioned for a bit, unable to find the right words. Or the courage to say them.

“AJ, are you... insecure?”

“No!”

Rainbow pulled her legs up and crossed them underneath her. “So... you don't want girls to lie to you about being pretty when you're wearing a bikini... Well, what about boys?”

Applejack huffed.

“Or...” Rainbow changed tacks. “Boy... singular?”

Applejack blushed.

“Oh my god, AJ, do... do you have a crush on someone?”

She crossed her arms and looked off to the side, blushing furiously. “Yeah, yeah, whatever, laugh it up, Dash...”

Silence.

“I'm not gonna laugh at you for that. If I do it'll be because of who you like.” Rainbow put a hand over her mouth as she looked up in thought. “Now, I have no idea what guys are desirable at the school other than your brother and obviously it's not him. Do I know him?”

“He's...” she mumbled something.

“Fluttershy, is that you?”

“He’s sitting right outside the changing room...”

Rainbow’s mouth couldn't have opened more if she unhinged her jaw like a snake

“Holy shit.”

“Y'all can laugh now...”

“Bro, AJ, I’m not going to laugh at you about that! As far as dudes go he's pretty cool, I guess. How long have you liked him for?”

She shrugged. “Less time than I’ve met Princess Twilight... more time than I’ve known the other Twilight for.”

Rainbow leaned back. “Jesus AJ, that's... years...”

“He likes Juniper, Juniper likes him, I ain't gonna mess with that. But if I wanted anyone to see me like this, it'd be him...”

“You care about his opinion of you that much?”

“Look, ya don't like guys so I can't explain it to ya.”

“Sure you can, is it really that different than liking girls?”

“I don't know, okay!” Applejack took her hat off. “I don't know...”

“Hey...” Rainbow ran through her options before thinking ‘fuck it’ and going through what she instinctively knew would be the best bet, and leaned in for a hug. She slipped her arms around the thick corded muscle of her best friend and pulled her in close, resting her head on her shoulder. “You don't have to know... Dating and feelings and romance and all this junk is gonna come hard for people our age.”

Applejack turned her body and pulled Rainbow closer to her as she took in a few shaky breaths. Rainbow’s eye twitched as their chests made contact but she pat her friend’s shoulder as she heaved the sads out. Luckily she wasn't a crier, at least not a wet one.

“Thanks, Dash...” she said after a few moments before pulling away. “I needed that.”

“Feel better?”

Applejack nodded. “Yeah, I just... needed to get that off my chest. Nobody else knows. And I plan to keep it that way.”

“Yup, understood. No telling anybody. Cross my heart, hope to fly, yadda yadda. Now come on, let's get these suits on! Unless... heh, unless you don't wanna.”

“Y'all see me naked every time we shower after the gym, can ya calm down a spell?”

“I see the sunrise every day, doesn't mean I’m tired of it!”

AJ rolled her eyes. “Sap. Now come on, help me tie this thing then I'll do you.”

“Will you, really!?”

There was a loud *whap* sound.

“Varmint.”

In the third room...

Twilight sat in the corner looking everywhere except for her two companions, who in turn were exchanging looks of concern. After a minute of silence, Pinkie and Fluttershy nodded at each other and sat on either end of their mutual friend.

“Twilight...” Fluttershy gently almost-whispered. “You don't have to do or see anything you don't want to.”

“Yeah, Twi-Twi!” Pinkie loudly exclaimed from her other side. “We aren't gonna be mad at you if you wanna leave and get dressed by yourself.”

Twilight stood up and walked to the door, placing her hand on the knob. She ruminated on the choice. Leave and wait for Mrs Cake to get out so she could have her own room- which would be fine considering she was slender and agile enough she would have no problem whatsoever putting on the bikini- it couldn't be that hard- or stay here and be fine with showing her breasts to her friends.

Technically either option would have the same end result. Sure, Fluttershy had dated girls before, Pinkie had sex with girls before, and both bore attractions towards women, but they had both been nude around other women before, as well as seen other women nude. Twilight hadn't. Well, except for that time she saw Pinkie, but that didn't count.

It wouldn't be weird for them. Twilight was fairly sure she wouldn't gawk. Unless she would gawk and make them uncomfortable and ruin everything and-

No.

No, no, no, this is stupid! If Applejack was fine with Rainbow seeing her despite her sexuality, then  Fluttershy would, and certainly Pinkie would.

And while Twilight definitely thought that Fluttershy and Pinkie were attractive, she didn't harbor any romantic desires for them. She didn't want to date them. She didn't want to make out with them. In fact, she didn't even really want to have sex with them either. Sure, it would be nice, but sex with any girl would be nice. And if either of them had propositioned her for sex, who was she to say no? Hypothetically speaking, of course. There was at least one reason why that was off the table for a while yet.

But in all honesty, just cuddling would be great. As if she would be able to explain that, or convince them that it was the truth if she was given two weeks to compile empirical evidence in an essay. But it was still true. Pinkie was big and soft and warm and cuddly, and Fluttershy smelled nice and was a constant envelope of positive energy. They were clearly the best cuddlers of the whole group, sans a stoned Sunset, who only came in first because she was willing.

But they wouldn't be cuddling in here. They would be taking their clothes off. Twilight could almost hear the cheesy slow saxophone music in the background. And as if she could cuddle with other girls without it being automatically sexual, especially considering...

But wait.

They'd be keeping their panties on so that wasn't a problem. Right?

Since it would be a major health risk to try on a bikini bottom directly in a store, they had to wear underwear underneath while they were trying it on. Swimsuits expanded by a couple inches when they got wet anyway. So if they kept their genitals covered, it could still be innocent. Breasts weren't sex organs, after all. Could this work?

Twilight moved her hand and balled it into a fist.

*
Yes... yes it could.

She placed the suit on the bench before reaching for the hem of her shirt and, with no hesitation, pulled it up her body and over her head, leaving her standing in the changing room in her bra.

“Are you sure about this, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, hands neatly folded in her lap. “You don't have to do anything you don't want to.”

“I want to.” She stated, readjusting her glasses. They had come askew because she had forgotten to remove them. No surprise, as her thoughts were elsewhere. “I want this to be normal to me. I don't want my sexuality and my anxiety and all this... bullshit to rule my life.”

Pinkie and Fluttershy exchanged yet another glance as the words hit far too close to home.

Twilight fumbled with the button to her pants and unzipped them fully, quickly pulling them down her legs. Until she got to her ankles and started to slowly fall down. She flailed her arms out and fell over, finding herself in strong and capable arms.

“I, uh... forgot about my shoes.”

The combined might of the pink-haired duo was in no way sizeable, but they were enough to carry the lavender toothpick to the bench. She fumbled with the shoelaces before removing the last obstacle for her clothes, and slipping her feet through the denim.

“Thanks, girls...” she stood up, sliding the capris across the floor. “Now, uh...” Twilight took a deep breath and, before fear paralyzed her from moving any further, she unclasped her bra in one quick movement before tossing it into the pile with the rest of her clothing. “Okay, I’m ready. I'm... cold. I’m na- oh dear, I'm regretting my decision. I'm not- oh god, what did I just do!?”

“Twilight-”

“No, nonono don't look at me!” She lurched for the pile of clothes, hands shaking. “I'm sorry, I’m just gonna wait in the other room, I have no idea what just came over me there, why can't I pick this up, fuck me everything is terrible!”

Twilight felt two slender hands on her shoulders and a soothing, melodious voice in her ears.

“Twilight, relax,” Fluttershy whispered, rubbing her fingers into the tense knots in the panicking teen’s back. “Breathe in, okay? Can you do that? Can you try to count to eight breathing in?”

She shook her head to either side before pressing her palms over her glasses. “One, tw- one, t- I'm sorry, I can't do this! I need to get out of here!”

Fluttershy moved her arms around Twilight’s stomach and pulled her into an embrace as Pinkie came around and sat on her knees, taking Twilight’s hands in her own. She leaned in to kiss the top of Twilight’s head, and rubbed her thumbs over the lavender knuckles.

“What are you... doing...”

The trio sat for a minute as Twilight’s breathing slowed, her pulse returned to normal, and her eyes dried up. Pinkie eventually let go of her hands. Fluttershy moved back so she was fully on her knees, and pulled Twilight’s head into her lap.

“Twilight, can you please listen to us?”

She nodded, grasping the pale yellow fingers that reached out for her own. She instinctively pulled her knees up, peaking them in the air, but she felt every other muscle in her body relax, one by one.

“Twilight, what is your biggest concern right now?”

“I...” she shuddered once as she breathed, but immediately took control back. “I don't want you to feel uncomfortable because of me... like this.”

Fluttershy looked away and whispered something before turning her maternal, compassionate gaze upon her charge. “Neither of us are uncomfortable. What bothers us is seeing you so upset. Can you tell us why you're crying?”

Twilight gripped harder. “Because I... all I'm wearing is...”

“And why is that all you're wearing?”

“...because we’re trying on swimsuits...” Twilight let go of Fluttershy’s hands, removed her glasses, and dug her palms into her eyes. “Ugh, and I let my stupid emotions make me overreact again!”

She felt movement above her and opened her eyes. Fluttershy seemed more yellow than usual.

“Uh... I'm gonna leave my glasses off for a sex. UH, I- SEC. A sec. One second. Until you, uh... put something. On.”

“Twilight, if you're worried about your body, there isn't any shame in that. We’ve both been in your position. So if Pinkie and I take our tops off too-”

“That's not what I'm afraid of!” She cried. “I just... I don't want to feel like I’m... you know. I don't know. I feel like it's wrong for me to be like this in front of you guys, or you to me. Like I'm, you know, being creepy. Or like I’m being... slutty... and pervy.”

Somebody sighed. “Twi-Twi,” it was Pinkie. “We’re not gonna think that you're creepy for taking off your bra in front of us when all of us are doing it. And you didn't do it to come onto us, you did it to try on a bikini. And before you say anything about it, no, we aren't worried that you're gonna do or say anything weird to us when we take our tops off.”

“But!” Twilight sputtered, sitting up and waving her arms. “But, I... but what about- but I’m gay!”

“Me too!” She cried in exasperation. “You have a really cute booty, I can freely admit that. Does that creep you out?”

“I...” she blushed. “N... no.”

“Well how about your boobs. They're nice too. What about that?”

“Uh, I... not really...”

“Okay, so if I can do it and it isn't a problem, then why can't you do it without it being a problem?”

“Because I-!” Twilight stood up. “Ugh, you don't... it's different!”

“How is it different!?” Pinkie cried, this time in utter confusion, following her up. “Why is it so bad that you take off your shirt in front of us, or see us with our shirts off, just because you're a lesbian?”

“You- because- I’m physically attracted to you! To you, to both of you, to Rainbow and Applejack and Rarity, and... and Sunset! You're all so pretty and, and sexy, and... I wanna cuddle you girls, and kiss you, and hold hands and hug and see you all half naked and stuff. I want to. I wanna do all that, so I shouldn't get to! I don't deserve to! I shouldn't be like this to my friends...” she sat down on the bench. “It's sick, it's predatory, it's voyeuristic... I didn't even wanna go on this stupid shopping trip! I only came because I didn't want Rainbow to think I was avoiding her just because she dumped me...”

The room’s other occupants held a silent conversation with their eyebrows and hands for a moment before they just stared at Twilight.

“Twilight...” Fluttershy murmured, sitting down next to her. “Can you talk about your attraction to me? Please? I promise you, no judgment. I'm not mad, not at all, but I want to understand your feelings better. So, can you please put your glasses on, look at me, and tell me what you see?”

Pinkie took her other side. “Me too, I wanna know too!”

Twilight shook her head. “Don't you get it?” She asked, standing up. “Flash Sentry is attracted to all of us too. You might as well have him in here too!”

“He's a boy! And what about Dashie!?” Pinkie cried. “She and I have had sex, actual sex!”

“Wait, you...” Fluttershy leaned back. “What?”

“Long story, Flutterbutter. But what about Dashie? I think she’s made it really clear how she feels about every single one of us!”

“Rainbow would date anybody!” Twilight cried. “She has the standards of a starving bohemian rifling through a garbage can!”

“Whoa there Twilight, you-”

“She dated me!” Twilight placed a hand on the opposite wall. “She’d date anybody... but I... my standards are really high. Fluttershy, you’re a literal former supermodel. Your legs are so long and shapely, god I wish I had legs like yours. And your butt is, like, the perfect shape! You're just made of gentle sloping curves, and hugging you is always great because your breasts are really nice! Not to mention you’re one of the few girls in school who have a flat belly, and you don't even do anything for it! And your hair, oh my god, it's so long and beautiful, I just wanna run my fingers through it all day. Plus you eyes are gorgeous, and I've always wondered what it would be like to kiss you. And your singing voice is just delightful. It's like butter. I've always wanted to just fall asleep to you singing a lullaby, and... and yeah, I wanna know what you look like naked. A lot. But since I feel this way about you, I should earn it! Right? The only reason I even know you is because my clone is friends with your clone, and from what I know from Sunset, they only know each other because of a fluke! If it wasn't for Sunset’s mistake and coming here, I would still be all alone back at Crystal Prep! I only know you because of the magic. I didn't do anything to deserve your friendship, I just... I just got lucky...

“And Pinkie Pie, you... you're like on the complete opposite end of things. You've always been a friend to me, always good for a hug and holding hands and just affection in general. And I love it. I love touching and being touched. With you it can be innocent. But you're also really really cute, too. You’ve got the best boobs in school, so says everyone, and they're all right! And sure, you're thick, but nobody ever said that was a bad thing! It's just more of you to love. And you're just so warm and inviting, and your smile is infectious, almost as much as your singing. Whenever you burst into song, I wanna be there. You're just so happy, and friendly, and I wish I'd always known you. And on my worst days, you can always bring me back up again... and you always smell good. I could tell you all about Rainbow, and Applejack, and Rarity, and... and Sunset, I could talk about her for hours. You're all so beautiful and amazing in your own ways... and it's only you girls. Rainbow has fucked dozens if not hundreds of girls, but me, I’m still a virgin, and I've only dated her. I only have these feelings for you six...”

“Twilight...” Fluttershy growled. “That's nice and all, but are you insinuating that Rainbow has low standards because she dated you?”

Fear gripped Twilight’s heart as she fumbled to put her glasses back on and turned around to see a shadow over Fluttershy’s face.

“No, that's not- I didn't mean- what I meant was, that... I didn't intend to imply anything negative about Rainbow! I just meant that... she... are you crying?”

She let out a sob and stepped forward, pulling Twilight to her. “Oh, Twilight...”

Over her shoulder, Pinkie was staring at the wall in thought.

“Fluttershy, you... what’s going on?”

“Rainbow Dash does not have low standards.” She sniffed and took a step back before crossing her arms. “She may have a lot of sex with a lot of girls, but very few of them does she talk to afterwards. Even less does she see a second time. And far, far less of them can be considered to have dated her. Twilight, can you even tell me the names of any of her other exes?”

“Uh... I...” She racked her brains looking for an affirmative answer but found nothing. “...no?”

“Because she has none!” Fluttershy wiped her eyes. “You're the only girl she’s ever been in an actual relationship with. She's gone on dates before but we never met any of them. And her eyes never lit up when she talked about them. But you... you made her so happy, for so long! She loves you, even if not romantically. You are so, so much more than you seem to think you are. You are not low standards. Is... is that what this is all about? Do you really think that little of yourself?”

Twilight sat down again. “...I guess... but that doesn't even matter right now.”

“Of course it matters, Twi Twi!” Pinkie shouted, stamping her foot. “You said that Rainbow would date anybody, because I told you that Dashie is attracted to us, which is the exact same reason you gave about why you shouldn't ‘get to’ go bikini shopping with us like any other girl!”

“Who said anything about shopping!?” Twilight yelled. “I'll go shopping with you girls all damn day, that's not the problem! It's the...” she shook her hands before swinging them down and back up to grip her hair. “It's the you! And the- the- naked!” She started chopping her hands through the air. “Why can't we all just go in one at a time behind closed doors, or- or- or better yet, just fucking wear a one piece that doesn't show off your everything! It's driving me nuts!”

Pinkie stepped forward and eased the neurotic mess down back into a sitting position. “Okay, calm down. Let's think about this logically, okay? Dashie has a normal amount of standards. You're a good catch who would make any girl happy to be with you. Dashie is attracted to us. Dashie can go bikini shopping with the, what did you say, with the naked? We’re fine with that. I’m attracted to us, I can go bikini shopping with the naked. And you're attracted to us. So, if all the... uh... the very a bowl something are all the same, why shouldn't you be able to do this with us normally? What's so much different with you than with me or Dashie?”

Twilight ground her teeth. “...nothing...”

Fluttershy sat on Twilight’s other side. “Twilight, would you be more comfortable wearing a one piece?”

She shrugged.

“Or going one at a time?”

Twilight sighed and leaned back. “Not really... ugh, I’m being a control freak again... I only said that because if I had my way, that's how we would all do it, and I wouldn't have to get over all my stupid shit on my own. But you girls wanna wear bikinis and pairing up makes it easier to try them on and it logically makes more sense, but... but I have to deal with the fact that I feel the way I do around you girls...”

“...do you, though?” Fluttershy asked.

“What?” Asked Pinkie and Twilight at the same time.

She shrugged. “I don't really understand what the problem is. Twilight, you want to have sex with us among other things, and us wearing swimsuits makes you aroused, and your arousal makes you feel like you’re being perverted when really all you're doing is admiring the aesthetic beauty of the female form in a perfectly natural sexual manner, and your biggest problem here seems to be with making us feel uncomfortable... am I right so far?”

“Y... yeah?”

Fluttershy looked down and back up again. “Well, all three of us are just wearing panties, and you don't seem preoccupied enough with our nudity to be making me uncomfortable. Pinkie Pie, are you uncomfortable?”

She glanced between the two girls. “Uh... no?”

“Well, then, what's the problem?”

Twilight’s eyes glazed over before she lurched forward. “Wait a minute!” She cried. “You two are-”

“Yes.”

Twilight slowly stood up and was followed by the others. She glanced down and back up before looking between the two girls. “How the hell...?”

The pink-haired duo stepped back and smiled.

“Well now, Twilight,” Fluttershy giggled. “It sure seems like you were making a big deal out of nothing this whole time.”

“How long have you...?”

“Since you got up from the floor.”

“But- but that was-”

“Several minutes ago, yes.”

Twilight just stood and blinked for a short while. “So, uh...” she eventually began, before shrugging and sighing. “I guess let's try on some swimsuits?”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Fluttershy supplied.

“Already on it!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Or, uh... already in it.”

Twilight and Fluttershy did a double take as they saw that Pinkie was already in a hot pink flounce top and matching skirted boyshorts.

“How the-”

“Don't ask.”

Twilight lightly sighed before ambling over to her own lighter pink ensemble. “Okay so, uh... Fluttershy?”

“Yes Twilight?”

She turned the hanger upside down. “How do I... take this off?”

Fluttershy reached over and undid a knot before opening a clamp and pulling the entire fabric out of the apparatus. She set in in Twilight’s other waiting hand. “Practice. Here, I'll help you tie it. Are you sure you're okay?”

Twilight tried not to look at Fluttershy’s breasts and so locked her own eyes with the teal orbs, rather than the yellow ones. Peripheral vision still existed and she would admit to her subconscious mind looking, but was surprised by how much will she had over her neck and ocular muscles. They were, of course, very aesthetically pleasing, and Twilight would be lying if she said she didn't want to touch them, but she just nodded her head. “I think so.”

The two girls then proceeded to securely fasten their tops in place before they turned back around to compare. Fluttershy’s was a simple dark green triangle top. Twilight’s was a bit more complicated than that.

The lower trapezoid on either side stretched from the bottom of her breast to well over the nipple, and an interior string traveled around, providing support. Another string connected the two separate pieces before coming around to tie in the back. A gap showed around a square inch of skin on the upper half of the tissue, and a triangle of mesh connected the strings on either side, consolidating them into one. It went around the back of her neck and lead to the other cup.

“I sure know how to pick ‘em, huh?”

“That's really intricate...” Fluttershy muttered. “It isn't too loose, or... too tight?”

“N-no, it... feels... perfect.”

“Good!”

Twilight smiled as she looked down at herself, then into the mirror. She lightly jutted her chest forward and her butt back, turning slightly in either direction.

“You look good!” Pinkie encouraged.

“...thank you.”

“No biggie!”

“No, I mean... thank you both...”

“What for?” Fluttershy asked. “You're our friend. You just happen to like girls. This is nothing that I haven't dealt with before with some of Dashie’s friends. It's normal for gay girls to have a lot of the fears and anxieties that you're having right now. Pinkie?”

She nodded. “It was a little easier for me when I came out because the first time I did it was with Dashie, but I was still scared for when I told the rest of you. I was scared that I'd never get to hug you again without you thinking that maybe I was just trying to feel you up, but it was fine. You girls are all really accepting of people who are different. Once I realized there was nothing to worry about, I stopped worrying!”

Twilight bit her lip. She of course knew about the fear of appearing predatory. Experienced it. But they just didn't get it. It was different. She just... couldn't explain why. Not yet. That day was so far off in the future she hoped the natural heat death of the universe would occur sooner. But they didn't have to know that. She looked down. She could keep it secret. She could pretend.

“Okay... but I can still be thankful for your kindness and acceptance, right?” She joked with a fake smile.

“Of course you can,” Fluttershy whispered, hugging her again. This time Twilight was acutely aware of every square inch of soft butter-yellow skin pressing into her stomach and chest. Warmth welled up from her belly and spread up to the back of her neck. Fluttershy’s hair smelled lightly of coffee beans. Which was weird because she was a tea drinker. “You deserve it.”

Pinkie came in from behind, sandwiching Twilight. “Yeah, Twi Twi, we’re your friends!” And now she could add her back and shoulders to the equation. “Nothing could keep that from happening!”

Twilight froze for a second before placing her arms around Fluttershy in front of her. She was tense at first, but slowly relaxed herself, and leaned into the hug. This was nice. She rested one hand on the back of Fluttershy’s shoulder and the other on her hip, and she did the same in return.

They stood like that for a minute. Half of Twilight wondered what the girl in her arms used in terms of body wash and exfoliating scrub to get her skin that soft. The other half wondered what she would feel like while applying it, until the first half rolled up a newspaper and hit the second half in the head with it.

“Thanks girls...” she muttered. “I was so scared of what would happen if I saw you in bikinis, but... I was freaking out over nothing this whole time. This is nice, and...” she swallowed. “And I honestly don't feel bad or weird or anything right now. It just feels like any hug with you girls, just...”

“Nicer?” Fluttershy asked, giggling.

“Hugging is better the less clothes you're wearing!” Pinkie exclaimed. “It's a science fact! More oxycontin!”

Twilight snorted. “Pinkie, it’s oxytocin. Oxycontin is a painkiller. But... you're right.” Her eyes snapped open. “Wait, you're right! Skin contact really does increase oxytocin production! How did you know that?”

“I have approximate knowledge of many things.”

“She’s Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “I'm pretty sure she knows everything there is to know about partying, hugging, and confectionaries.”

“That's not true,” she said, pulling away. “I'm always learning about new ways to put together baked goods. Just last week I thought about putting together peanut butter and jelly and guacamole together into a cupcake and I did but then Applejack tried it out and she said that it was too many flavors going on at once so I learned that I shouldn't try to just throw together too many things at once because some people aren't as adventurous as I am with my taste buds which I mean makes sense because I really like hot sauce in my cupcakes but the whole sweet and spicy thing hasn't really taken off yet. Hey, are you two trying to go for the world record of world’s longest hug?”

Twilight and Fluttershy snapped their eyes opened and realized that they were still embracing, and quickly pulled away from each other. Twilight could have sworn that she had seen blushing but merely attributed it to a trick of the light.

“Sorry!” They both uttered.

“Wait, what?” Twilight asked. “Why are you sorry?”

“I didn't pull away because you didn't and I didn't want to pull away sooner than you wanted to but then I thought that maybe you were doing the same thing so I apologized to make sure that you knew that I didn't mean to do whatever it was I did that you didn't like!”

Twilight blinked. “Oh. Well... then, apology not necessary. You didn't do anything wrong. I, uh...” she chuckled nervously. “I could honestly have sat there for a few hours...”

“When's the last time you did that?”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “Did what?”

“Hugged someone for a few hours?”

“Oh...” she shrugged. “I don't know. Never? The longest I ever did was... well, with Sunset, when we... smoke.”

The expression on Fluttershy’s face was unreadable. Pinkie stepped between the two.

“Speaking of smoke, are you guys ready to show off those smokin’ hot bods?” She asked.

“Uhh...” the two simultaneously emoted.

“Good!” She cried, flinging the door open. Across the room, two other doors opened at much lower velocities, revealing the rest of the friend group.

“Twilight, my goodness!” Rarity exclaimed, throwing a hand in front of her mouth. “Where on earth did you find that piece? It's magnificent!”

“Dashie, you look so cool!” Pinkie cried.

Twilight’s eyes zeroed in on Sunset’s suit. She forced herself to bring her eyes up further, and gave a thumbs up to cover up the brief moment of thirst.

The girls all remarked on each other’s choices and talked up a storm. Just outside, Flash sighed and hit his head on the wall before resting his chin in his hand and scanning the surroundings.

“Man, guard duty is so boring... I could never do this for a living...”

Suddenly his phone buzzed. He glanced down and saw he got a Snapgab message from Rainbow. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the door to the changing room before returning his gaze to the phone.

“O...kay?”

He swiped it open to see “(1) picture message” in the text. He tapped the message and blinked, before his face turned red. “Oh.”

She had taken a selfie in her suit, two fingers on one hand making a V shape and her tongue out. On it was a small text box that read ‘sorry I smashed into you’ in multicolored lettering that was also on fire.

“Well, uh... alright then.” He exited the app and stared at his home screen. To be more specific he stared at the girl in the picture. She was dressed in a Daring Do cosplay and, off the screen behind the crop, she was standing next to AK Yearling herself. She was positively beaming.

Flash grinned to himself before returning to the app.

‘I mean I’d already forgiven you, but you look nice.’ Was his only reply before he put his phone away in his pocket