Chapter 8
R: Morning!
F: Rainbow… It's just after 6 am…
R: Oh crap. Did I wake u? :(
F: Lol, it's ok. I'm usually up early
R: Cool. How ya doin?
F: Fine. Did u sleep better last nite?
R: Like a BABY. :D Just got outta the gym
F: What did u work on 2day?
R: My core. I got abs of steel :)
F: Lol, I believe u…
R: Hey, so u free again for another project session 2nite?
F: Yes! I don't have class or work 2day.
R: Sweet!
F: RD, can u do me a favor?
R: Sure!
F: Plz take a picture of the sunrise 4 me?
R: No prob! Can't see it that gr8 from ur house, huh?
F: Oh, I can see it just fine. I'm just going back 2 sleep. ;)
R: LOL! Ok, get some rest sleepy head
Fluttershy awoke to her phone buzzing. Her eyes felt scratchy. Her body protested being awake. She lifted her head to check the clock. It was half past six. Feeling very confused, she grabbed her phone from her nightstand and unlocked it. There was a new message from Rainbow. The screen icon indicated it had an attachment. Her eyes widened, and she sat up as she brought up the text conversation.
Her breath caught.
Rainbow Dash had indeed taken a picture of the rising sun, but she had gotten creative in doing so. It was a very kinetic shot. No doubt with the aid of a selfie-stick, the unabashed show-off had ponied-up and flown high over the Canterlot Mountains to take her own picture. Her face was dim from the rear lighting, but the sun had risen just high enough that her features were discernible. Her grin was broad as she threw up a peace sign. Fluttershy covered her smiling mouth as her eyes drank in the majestic spread of her friend's blue wings; the way the sunlight flared into the lens just past the curve of her exposed neck; the wild dance of her colorful hair as she wheeled through the air.
Shivering, Fluttershy typed out a reply on her phone.
F: Amazing! I love it!
Then she hugged the phone to her chest and flopped backward with a happy giggle.
Rainbow Dash was strutting. Not just walking. Strutting.
Ever since her text conversation with Fluttershy that morning, she had felt effervescent and jovial. She had nailed it with that selfie. Taking the risk of ponying up had been more than worth it in her opinion.
It delighted her to imagine what Fluttershy's face had looked like when she first saw the picture. Did she blush? Did she laugh? Did her eyes widen in that adorable way of hers whenever something stunned her?
She was glad her friend had sent her a positive reply. She'd been half-afraid that the other girl would express alarm at the fact that she'd risked exposing their powers. While it was true that their magic was at one time a well-known secret at Canterlot High, that didn't mean the rest of the world could ever find out about them. The students and faculty at their old high school owed their lives to their group. Government scientists would be loyal to only one thing—the pursuit of answers. That was why if Rainbow ever took to the sky, it was usually when most people were asleep.
With this in mind, she had tried to offset the risk of sprouting wings that morning by flying over the Everfree forest, to the far mountains.
If given the choice on whether or not she'd do it again:
I totally would! Rainbow drew her shoulders back as she puffed her chest. Fluttershy said it herself. It was amazing. Man, I'm good!
That day, she had a team meeting. She was heading to the quad to meet with Sassaflash for lunch before going. But when Rainbow got to their usual meeting spot at the maple tree, she couldn't see her vice captain anywhere. She took out her cell phone and sent a text.
R: Sass where r u?
A response came a second later.
S: Look up.
Blinking, Rainbow Dash did just that.
Sassaflash was up in the thick branches of the maple tree. She had her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and was waving frantically for Rainbow Dash to come up.
"What the…" But Rainbow just shrugged and grabbed the lowest branch she could reach. With little difficulty, she ascended to join her friend.
"Thanks," Sassaflash with a sigh of relief as she settled down.
Rainbow gestured at the branch they sat on. "Sass, what the heck are we doing up here?"
The vice captain flashed a wicked grin and pulled her backpack from further up the branch. From it, she produced two horrible masks. She handed one to a startled Rainbow Dash. It was an angry demonic clown monkey. Sassaflash's was an undead gorilla clown.
"We're going to give someone a few gray hairs!" the blonde said with diabolical eagerness.
A slow grin spread across Rainbow's face.
A prank? Oh heck yeah!
They moved to crouch on individual branches, with Sassaflash keeping a lookout for prime scare subjects.
"So how ya doing, anyhow?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"All right. Why?"
"I meant to ask at practice, but—"
"You were distracted?" Sassaflash interjected with a smirk.
Rainbow tried to lance her with a stern look. Her friend failed to wither as she so wished. "I was gonna ask about Caramel," she said.
Sass inhaled deeply, her eyes casting upward. "Oh boy…"
"Have you talked to him?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And we had angry hate sex last night."
Rainbow Dash pretended to gag.
Sassaflash grinned. "I know! Breeders, right? We're so gross!"
"But why!?" Rainbow exclaimed.
A giggle. "Why are breeders gross? Dashie, I thought that was obvious!"
"No, no, I mean—why would you—?"
"Sleep with my boyfriend to get over a fight we had?"
Rainbow Dash grimaced. "Yes. That!"
Sassaflash shrugged. "Heck if I know. I like to think of it as give and take."
"And how's that?"
Sass shot her a devious look. "As in he gives it, and I take it!"
Rainbow stared, her face slack. "Right," she said slowly. "Now that I've sailed straight past grossed out…I'm gonna put that whole conversation in a box, and bury it."
Sassaflash wagged a finger. "Watch! Someday you're gonna have angry hate sex too, and then you'll understand!"
"Moving on! I've got a new set I wanted to float at the next team meeting."
"Yeah? What kind?"
"A free kick attacking run."
"Don't we already have three of those?"
"Yeah, but it's like you said before. We have to change things up or the other team will get wise."
"Oh is that what you took away from our conversation on Monday," Sassaflash muttered with an eye roll.
A sigh. "Sass—"
"So what's going on with that 'emergency' of yours?" her friend interjected pointedly.
Rainbow Dash stiffened. "I'm working on it."
"Rumor is, you're on your way to being removed from a class," Sass glanced at her. "If you were, you'd lose your scholarship, wouldn't you?"
"Where'd you hear that?" was the irritated reply.
"A secretary in the dean's office told a little birdie, who told another, and another… Look, don't get so sore about it. No one thinks less of you. All everyone cares about is you being able to stay on the team!"
"It's still none of their business," Rainbow Dash griped. "And anyway, I'm not going to get kicked out of my class."
"So the rumors are true."
Rainbow grimaced. "Sass, are you looking for people to scare, or are you trying to interrogate me? The least you could do is pull this somewhere with a door I can storm out of. It's not as cool to jump out of a tree like a monkey."
"A demon clown monkey," Sassaflash corrected innocently as she pointed at Rainbow's mask.
"Whatever."
"Hey, I'm not trying to make you feel judged, Dashie. I mean," she arched an eyebrow. "Would it have been cool if you'd told me this to begin with? Yeah. But I just want you to know that if you need help, then I'm here. I mean, I'm not a brainiac or anything, but I can do some stuff." She smiled gently. "Besides, if the team loses you, who else is going to keep me on my toes at practices?"
Rainbow smirked. "You could just play in high heels and a skirt."
Sassaflash gave her a cheeky wink. "I guess that'd be one way to get you to keep showing up."
Without missing a beat, Rainbow said huskily, "Hey baby. I won't give you a yellow card if you take off your shirt." She wiggled her eyebrows for added effect.
They shared a quiet laugh.
"Rainbow Dash, you're such a keeper," Sassaflash giggled. Her smile turned mischievous. "Does Fluttershy like it when you talk to her like that?"
Rainbow blushed, her eyes shifting nervously from the walkway below, to her friend, and back. "I don't talk to her like that."
"Why not?"
"Because when we do it, we're just fooling around. If I did that to Fluttershy, she'd probably run the other way!"
"Ah. So she plays hard to get."
Rainbow could feel her blush deepen. "Will you knock it off? I already told you, we're just friends! Half the reason we're even spending time together again is because she's helping me deal with my problem."
Sassaflash whistled. "That's nice of her!"
"That's pretty much Shy in a nutshell."
"Next time, you should introduce us. I know you were in a hurry last night, but she sounds like someone I'd get along with."
"At least you two could relate on being grass-eaters."
Sassaflash gasped her face lighting up. "She's a vegetarian?"
"Yep."
Rainbow Dash stared as her vice captain squealed and clapped her hands softly.
"Now I have to meet her! We could trade recipes!"
"Oh yeah," Rainbow muttered sarcastically. "You could even cook together. Wouldn't that be lovely?"
Sassaflash covered her mouth with both hands, her amber eyes becoming wide like saucers. When she removed her hands, she squeaked, "That…would be so…awesome!"
Rainbow wrinkled her nose. "Who are you, and what have you done with Sassaflash?"
The other girl rolled her eyes, her smile turning crooked. "I already told you, Dashie. You don't know me nearly as well as you think!"
"But we talk all the time!"
Sassaflash's smile turned somber. "Sure we do. Considering the incredible 'trust' and 'depth' our conversations usually entail, I can totally see why you would feel betrayed at not knowing every single thing about me."
Rainbow Dash flinched. "Dude, that's not cool. You're not just a distraction for me. You're my friend!"
"I know that, Rainbow Dash. But I think you're content to maintain the status quo." Sassaflash's head tilted to the side. "Y'know. Like with Fluttershy."
"Now just wait a minute—!"
Sassaflash shushed her, a finger shooting up. Rainbow ground her teeth, but fell quiet. Her friend had spotted something down below, and she started to wave a frantic hand. "Ooh, ooh! Derpy's coming. Get ready!"
"Don't think this conversation is over, Sass!"
"Shhh!"
Rainbow muttered irritably under her breath as she jammed the mask on her head. Through the eyeholes, she could barely see Sass hold up three fingers.
1…2…3!
They dropped down, cackling evilly as they waved their arms and danced around like lunatics.
"Aaaaah!" a woman screamed.
Uh oh. That didn't sound like Derpy.
Rainbow Dash ripped the mask off. Derpy was further up the path, nowhere near them. Apparently, she'd paused to tie her shoe. She stared at them with her one straight eye, a muffin in her mouth. When Rainbow Dash looked at the individual that they had actually surprised, she felt her stomach bottom out.
Sassaflash, unaware, just doubled over, laughing hysterically. She was still wearing her mask.
"Sassaflash," Rainbow croaked. When her friend didn't heed her, she snatched the mask off her friend's head. "Sass!"
Her vice captain frowned at her, but her grin remained. "What? What is it?"
Rainbow Dash swallowed and pointed, the sweat forming on her brow.
Sassaflash finally looked. Her face paled as she went ramrod straight.
"P-Professor Yearling?" she managed to squeak.
The bookish archaeology professor had her hand on her heaving chest, her navy neck tie askew, while her other hand pulled back her brown blazer to grip what looked like a whip. Rainbow had heard the rumors, of course, but somehow seeing the coiled weapon was far less sexy than she'd imagined.
She looks like she could hang me with that thing!
When the professor gathered herself, she pushed up her thick red glasses and growled, "Clowns… Why did you have to use clowns!?" Her look was practically murderous.
Rainbow threw an arm around Sassaflash's shoulders and blurted in a rush: "We're so sorry, it'll never happen again! You're all right, right? Right! Great, so we'll just be on our way then, m'kay? Bye!" Then to Sass, she hissed out of the corner of her mouth, "Run!"
Her vice captain didn't need telling twice. Together, the two soccer players took off at a sprint, practically leaving a dust cloud behind them.
Fluttershy had every intention to stay in her pajamas all day and study, but when Rarity had awoken her with a tearful, incoherent call, all thoughts of such things had been doomed. She leapt out of bed, her cell phone pressed to her ear as she turned on her shower, then hurried to her closet.
"Rarity. R-Rarity, I can't— Please slow down? Or, or maybe…use words?" She tried, vainly to understand what her friend was sobbing on about. She thought she caught something about coffee in there, so she assured the fashionista that she was coming with refreshments. After calling for a cab, she showered, dressed, and hurried out to her waiting ride.
"The coffee shop on fifth and eighth, please!" she told the driver breathlessly.
At the shop, she bought three coffees (an extra in case Pinkie Pie was there) and bagels with extra strawberry cream cheese. The drive to the Delta Alpha Kappa house was relatively quick—it was located in the same region of town as Fluttershy's home. There was a bit of a chill in the air, as the sun had only just risen over the hills. She wondered, anxiously, just what new disaster may have struck. The only real way to tell was to get Rarity to calm down enough to be intelligible.
We'll see what it is this time… Fluttershy thought with a sigh as the cab arrived outside of the sorority house. She paid the driver and exited the car, hurrying up the cement pathway to the Victorian house's paned double-doors.
She didn't even get a chance to ring the doorbell. Before she knew it, the doors flew open and Fluttershy was dragged inside.
Rarity was already hanging on to her, sobbing uncontrollably. Her arms hugged around Fluttershy's torso, and the animal lover struggled to keep from spilling the coffee from the cup tray. Her friend's normally beautiful hair was mussed and dull. Covering her was a purple night gown and a silk grey bathrobe. Past the foyer, just to the right of the staircase, a girl with thick, curly, two-toned hair the colors of orange and warm yellow poked her head through the entryway that led into the kitchen.
"Oh thank goodness!" she groaned.
Fluttershy smiled at her nervously. "Um, hello Junebug."
Junebug's lime green eyes narrowed as she pointed at Rarity. "That has been going on since midnight. If you can get her to stop, there's a luxury bouquet in it for you!"
Rarity slipped down to the floor, now just a crying heap at Fluttershy's feet.
Fluttershy asked with a hint of panic. "Is Pinkie Pie here?"
Junebug shook her head before retreating back into the kitchen. "Nope!" she called back. "Haven't seen her in two days. I think she's with her new boyfriend."
Fluttershy frowned. Pinkie Pie is seeing someone? She let out a little sigh as she knelt by Rarity.
"Rarity…" she murmured, brushing her friend's hair back from her tear-stained face. She pointed meekly at the coffee and bag of bagels on the cup tray. "Look! I brought you some breakfast!"
Rarity wiped at her eyes and pouted her lip. With great effort, she managed to whimper out between hiccuping sobs, "Did—Did you bring…bagels?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"A-And did you get…extra…extra—"
"Extra strawberry cream cheese? Yes, I did."
Fluttershy squeaked as Rarity hugged her around the neck. Hard.
"Oh Fluttershy, you are simply the best friend a woman could ask for!" Rarity wailed.
Fluttershy tapped her on the arm frantically.
"Best…friend…can't…breathe!" she gasped.
Rarity would not be moved from the floor of the foyer until she'd devoured exactly one and a half bagels, and guzzled down both of the remaining coffees. After that, she rose from the floor, raised her quivering chin, and announced that she needed a moment to freshen up in the bathroom.
Fluttershy waited in her and Pinkie Pie's room. The space was an even split of two personalities. One side was almost entirely pink, and filled with various novelties and party supplies. The other side was a neat, organized, and sophisticated array of white and indigo with just one small island of fashion-fueled chaos at a work desk.
Fluttershy barely had time to sit down before Rarity was bustling into the room, her hair combed back into something resembling her usual style, and her eyes done up with makeup.
She's always so fast! Fluttershy noted with wonder.
Rarity sat down next to her with a dramatic groan. "Thank you so much for coming on such short notice, Fluttershy!" she said with a grateful, but exhausted smile. Even with her makeup, Fluttershy could see how missing a night's worth of sleep had taken its toll.
"Rarity, what has you so upset?" Fluttershy asked. She fished a bagel from the bag she'd brought and tore off a small piece to eat.
The fashionista put her wrist to her brow and fell backward onto the mattress. Tears misted her already red, swollen eyes.
"I don't know what I'm doing, Fluttershy," she said, her voice choking with emotion. "Yesterday, one of my teachers told me that I'd never make it as a fashion designer!"
Fluttershy gasped. "You poor thing!"
"Oh I know! He told me that my work was gaudy and juvenile. Can you believe that!?" Rarity clutched at her bed covers and bared her teeth. "Just because I don't subscribe to that dreary, minimalist, gothic nonsense that everyone else at the design college is so keen on! I mean what is the point of expressing yourself if all you ever use are blacks and grays? We can't all be Mauds, can we?"
"Goodness, no!"
"And that isn't even the worst of it! I've been struggling with the decorations for the costume party, and yet Pinkie Pie has gone AWOL for the past few days! The day after the dinner, she said she had a doctor's appointment, but she never came back to the sorority house, and no one seems able to reach her on her cell! We're supposed to start ordering our supplies by tomorrow so that we'll have everything ready the following week, but that hasn't happened! My sorority sisters keep asking questions about what we'll need done, and I have no idea what to tell them! My job was the decorations! Pinkie Pie was supposed to be handling the logistics! I don't know how to organize anything bigger than a private tea party!"
Rarity covered her face with her hands. "Oh, but then I feel horrible, because what if Pinkie is actually in trouble? Here I am just worrying about this party—which, by the way, I haven't had a chance to work on my outfit for—and to make matters even worse, Blueblood and his fraternity are going to be there—and yet every time I look at my work table to start on my outfit, I just think of that dreadful teacher's words, and, and—"
Fluttershy touched her friend's knee before she could start going further down her slippery slope.
"Rarity?" she prompted gently.
Rarity peeked at her from between her fingers.
"First, I think you need to practice those breathing exercises I mentioned to you last we met."
"Fluttershy, I don't think I can—"
"In through your nose." Fluttershy paused to take a breath, and the fashionista followed suit. "And out through your mouth," They both exhaled together. Shy smiled. "Good!"
She set aside her bagel and laid onto the bed next to Rarity with her body turned on its side and her head propped up on her hand. With a stern look, she said, "Now you simply must get some rest."
"But Fluttershy—!"
"Ah, ah!" Fluttershy frowned and Rarity pouted at her. "You're caught in a loop! You need to disconnect for a moment. Don't try to solve anything until you've gotten some sleep. Once you wake up, you can try and meditate on your decoration ideas. All right?"
Rarity nodded like a child.
Fluttershy smiled gently. "Good." Her expression turned stern again. "Now as for that teacher… Don't listen to him! He sounds like a big," she inhaled and forced out next, "meanie! Meanies aren't worth losing sleep over… Okay?" She hated using the 'm' word, and she hated for her words to be at odds with anyone (even if they weren't even in the room) but sometimes, she reasoned, you couldn't avoid it.
Rarity managed a weak smile. "Yes. You're right, of course."
"And about Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy bit her lip and thought about her next words carefully. When she spoke it was very slowly and gently. "Don't worry about her. Trust that she's doing what she needs to do. I'm sure that wherever she is, she's safe and doing what she does best. She's in touch with her family nearly every day, the way she tells it. They would know if something was amiss."
Rarity nodded and took a deep breath. On her exhale, she sat up, and Fluttershy sat up with her.
The fashionista smiled warmly, some of the gleam restored in her eyes. "Thank you, Fluttershy. You're so good to me." She took hold of her friend's hand and squeezed.
Fluttershy returned the smile and put her hand over Rarity's. "I care about you, Rarity. I'll always be here when you need me!"
They sat in companionable silence for a time.
Then Rarity cocked her head to the side and asked, "Well, now that I've had my hissy fit, we should talk about you a bit! How are you doing, dear? Those dinners we have every month are pleasant enough, but it seems you always fade into the background. Is everything all right?"
Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "Well, to be perfectly honest, I was feeling quite unhappy, but then…"
When she didn't continue, Rarity leaned over to better peer up into her face. "Fluttershy?"
Should I tell her? Fluttershy wondered. Rainbow Dash didn't say her psychology project was a secret per se, but I can't imagine she'd want people knowing about her situation. Her brow furrowed. Then again, do I even need to mention the project at all? We're in the same class, after all. I could just say we're studying together. Then I'd have someone to talk about— Her eyes widened and she bowed her head, letting her hair hide her face. Wait, what am I thinking? I can't talk to Rarity about my plan! She'll think I'm so conniving! I mean, it is—I mean, I am—I mean—!
Fluttershy flinched when Rarity brushed back her curtain of hair, her brow wrinkled with concern. "My goodness!" she exclaimed. "It appears you are having quite the inner debate!"
Rarity sat closer and hugged Fluttershy around the shoulders. "Darling, if you really feel unable to speak to me, then I understand. But you should really know that I am here for you, whatever the case may be!"
The hug felt warm. Safe.
Fluttershy's spine straightened as the affection blossomed in her chest. "Oh Rarity, I don't even know where to begin!"
The other girl's lips quirked into an encouraging smile as she ended her hug. "Why not start with what you feel is simplest to explain?"
"I suppose that'd be school, then."
"Oh? Are you having trouble with your classes?"
"Not really. But…" Fluttershy bit her lip. Her chin tucked as she murmured, "Remember that new job I was starting as part of my work study?"
Rarity nodded. "Yes! Are you not enjoying it?"
Fluttershy sighed miserably. "I hate it!"
"Really? But I thought—!"
"I'm working with animals, so I must love it. Right? That's what you were going to say, weren't you?" Fluttershy scowled at her friend's guilty look. "But it's not that simple! The hospital is nothing like the animal shelter! They can be so cold! The people running it seem more concerned with money than the well-being of their patients." Her eyes misted. "I don't fit in. They all think I'm strange and sentimental."
"What cads!" Rarity said fiercely. She struck her knee with her fist daintily. "Why, I ought to go over there and give them a piece of my mind! How could anyone discredit you, Fluttershy? You're a wonder with animals!" Her eyes narrowed. "I have half a mind to bring Opal in under some pretense. I'd like to see them try to attend to her needs as finely as you do!"
Fluttershy's eyes widened. "R-Rarity, I don't think that would help."
A sigh. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I can't afford to pay for someone else's emergency room bills this year. How fortunate for them that I am such a lady!" She flipped her hair back, then paused and added reluctantly, "And also short on funds."
"Yes, my work has been difficult. Although…" Fluttershy smiled. "I've had something new to look forward to that might make it bearable!"
Rarity's eyebrows lifted. "And what ever would that be, darling?"
"Rainbow Dash and I are studying psychology together. In private."
Her friend's eyes grew very wide. Out of all of their friends, Rarity had been the only one Fluttershy had confided in about her hidden feelings.
"My goodness!" the fashionista exclaimed with a large smile. "That is something to look forward to!" She leaned in, her smile curling. "And how has that been going?"
"It's not as interesting as you think."
"Surely you must be enjoying yourself, though?"
Fluttershy blushed and looked at her lap. "Yes!"
Rarity giggled at her friend's demure reaction and gently bumped shoulders with her. "How wonderful! You must be delighted to have Rainbow Dash all to yourself."
"I am, very much so!" Fluttershy began to twirl a lock of hair around her finger. "I've even found the courage to try and…well…"
Rarity gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "My goodness! Fluttershy, do you mean to tell me that you intend to—" she leaned in and stage whispered, "Seduce her?"
Fluttershy's smile was wiped from her face as she shrank back. "N-no, that's not quite the word I would use—"
Rarity leapt to her feet, her hands clapping excitedly as she squealed. "Fluttershy, this is fabulous! I am so excited for you! When do you see her again?"
"Tonight, actually."
Rarity froze, her eyes going up and down her companion.
Fluttershy paled. She knew that look.
Her friend put her hands on her hips as her gaze took on an edge. "You don't intend to woo her in clothes like that, do you?"
"Um, well—"
"Fluttershy, I'm disappointed in you! When was the last time you've been shopping?"
"Rarity, I don't have time to—"
"Oh, pish posh! Of course you have time. As I recall, your Thursdays are free, are they not?"
Fluttershy wrung her hands. "I mean, they are, but—"
Rarity grabbed her wrists and hauled her to her feet. "Then we are going shopping. Tout de suite!"
"B-but Rarity you need to rest!"
The fashionista zipped to her closet and began energetically rifling through its contents. "I cannot possibly sleep knowing you are having a fashion emergency. No, certainly not!"
"Then can't you just give me something from out of your wardrobe?"
Rarity gave her a scandalized look. "Fluttershy, don't be silly! You have a completely different palette from me. And anyway, I'm not even sure we're the same size anymore." She stage whispered, "You should have kept up with those yoga classes, dear. They did wonders for you!"
Fluttershy started pacing, her eyes scanning for something, anything, to dissuade her friend. Her eyes fell on her fashion work desk.
"Make me something, then!" she blurted. "Why go to the bother of going from store to store, getting undressed in cold dressing rooms, and trying not to let people see what size pants you're looking at…" Fluttershy's eyes went distant as a haunted look overcame her features.
Rarity stiffened, her hands stilling on the hangars. After a long pause, she said with just the smallest turn of her head, "I'm...low on fabric." She resumed rifling through her closet, but the enthusiasm felt contrived. "Also, It's been almost two years since I've measured you."
"But-"
"To make matters worse, my sewing machine is on the fritz, I can't find my fabric scissors, and oh heavens, don't even get me started on my stock of thread." Rarity flashed a fixed smile. "Besides, coming up with something by tonight is a tall order for even me, don't you think?"
"Rarity I don't have any money to spend on clothes!" Fluttershy squeaked. She could feel her hope for escape pulling away from her.
"Don't you worry about that, darling. I shall take care of everything."
"But you just said you don't have much money!"
Rarity shot her a look. "Fluttershy, credit cards exist for a reason! And nothing brings me more happiness than giving to my friends." She went to her, with hands clasped, her lower lip pouting. "You wouldn't deny a lady one of her few comforts in this world during her time of need…would you?"
Fluttershy's shoulders hunched around her ears.
Was this the same person I was worried would think me too conniving?
After her team meeting was through, Rainbow Dash returned to her dorm room to find Sunset Shimmer sitting on the Equestrian's bed. She was leaning on her knee with her head in her hand, her red and yellow hair clipped back and looking more frizzy than usual. Her other hand pressed her cell phone to her ear. She didn't look up as Rainbow crossed the room and sat down on her bed.
"Sir, I understand that, but—" Sunset bared her teeth as a voice squeaked something over the line. "Well can't you stop the transaction? I didn't authorize it!" A short reply. "But I already paid that bill!" She pinched her brow and growled as the other person responded to this. "Fine. I suppose I'll just call the company then. Thank you for your help."
Sunset straightened and ended the call. She looked at Rainbow Dash, but the glaze of her eyes suggested she was still wrestling with her latest dilemma. "Hello, Rainbow."
"Hey Sunset." Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as she started to unlace her shoes. "Everything cool?"
"No," her roommate answered honestly. "But I'm dealing with it." She stood, stretched, then dropped back down onto her bed. "Ugh! I don't think I can study right now. I feel too tense."
"I know how you feel," Rainbow said with a nod. She pulled her shoes off and laid back on her bed. "I really do." She drummed her fingers on her stomach as she gazed up at the ceiling. "Hey. Sunset Shimmer?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you… Do you miss Equestria?"
Even without turning her head, Rainbow could sense the stillness of her friend.
"All the time," was the quiet reply.
"Why don't you go back?"
"Because."
Rainbow Dash turned her head. "Because what?"
Sunset's eyes held her roommate's with focused intensity. "Because I have a responsibility to this world. I brought magic here, when there was none. You guys have it. But there's no telling where else it may have gone."
"Is that why you major in quantum physics?"
Sunset swallowed audibly and gave one stiff nod. "I want to understand this world. Find its limits."
"What for?"
"Because the magic will find those limits and break them. I need to know the damage won't cause this world harm."
Rainbow Dash whistled. "Sunset Shimmer, the real hero."
Her roommate smirked. "Heroine."
"Whatever." Rainbow returned her gaze to the ceiling. "So that's what has Sci-Twi playing mad scientist these days."
"Don't call her that. You know she hates that nickname. It hurts her feelings."
"Well it gets confusing when the princess visits! What do you want me to call her instead? Four eyes?" Rainbow frowned across the room.
Sunset Shimmer tongued her cheek, her eyes penetrating.
The athlete groaned and covered her face with her hands. Into her palms, she said, "Okay, okay, fine! That wasn't cool to say." She sat up and stared straight.
"Rainbow, can I ask you something?"
Rainbow Dash didn't turn her head. "Shoot," she murmured.
"Why did you tell me about your plan with Fluttershy?"
"Because it slipped out," was the flat response.
"Not really. You could have tried to bluff your way out of it, couldn't you?"
"I dunno, Sunset. I thought you said I wasn't exactly a master at mind games?" Rainbow shot her a friend a look.
She was satisfied to see Sunset wince. "I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't trying to suggest you're dumb, Rainbow."
"Yeah, well…"
"Look, what I was trying to get at is—" Sunset broke off with a rough exhale.
Rainbow looked at her sidelong. Her roommate unclipped her hair, letting her thick wavy locks free to frame her face. With a weary expression, she pointed at her nightstand, where next to her alarm clock, rested her magical book. The sun symbol on the cover seemed unusually bright in the late afternoon light.
"I took that book with me when I betrayed my teacher and guardian. It was my last link with her. Even when I was consumed by anger and greed, I couldn't bring myself to leave it because I knew. I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I'd need a way to call back home. I think you told me what was really going on because you wanted someone to understand, Rainbow—"
"And do you?" Rainbow asked sharply. She threw her feet over the side of her bed and leaned onto her knees, her neck and shoulders tense. "Do you have any idea what it feels like knowing I have to choose between one of my best friends and my father? Between ruining a friendship or shaming my family?"
"But it doesn't have to be that way—!"
"Oh yeah? Well in the fifty-five hours I rack up between school and soccer, you tell me when the heck I'm supposed to type up a fifteen-page report, then still be prepared enough to give a psychology presentation at the end of the month! And get this—the end of the month is also when the regional championships is supposed to be happening." She jabbed a finger at her roommate, then herself. "So you tell me when I'm supposed to pull this miracle out of my butt!"
Sunset pursed her lips, her gaze averting.
Rainbow cocked an ear. "I'm sorry. What was that? Nothing? No one-liners about the power of friendship or any of that?" She snapped her fingers. "Shucks, that's right! Our friends only see each other once a month now." She snorted and laid back onto the bed. "It's too bad. It'd be really awesome to take the friendship beam to Dr. Axon's face."
There was a long pause. Sunset, sounding resigned, muttered, "Actually, I'd think your dad would benefit from it more."
Rainbow thought about that seriously for a moment. Then she shook her head.
"Nah. I'm pretty sure it'd just return him to his natural state."
"And what would that be?"
"A velociraptor."
A snicker. "Your dad's a dinosaur? He struck me as a wolverine."
"Well he's old, and he's fast, and he's mean, so…"
Some of the tension dissipated as the two girls chuckled weakly.
When they quieted, Sunset went and grabbed her riding jacket and motorcycle helmet from the chair and desk at the foot of her bed. "I'm going to go for dinner. You want anything?"
Rainbow shook her head.
Sunset paused at the door and looked back. "I won't bring any of that stuff up anymore, okay? But…if you want to talk to me—"
"Sure." Rainbow lifted her head and gave a thumbs up. "Thanks, Sunset."
Her roommate nodded her head and left the room.
When the door shut behind her, Rainbow Dash pulled out her cell phone and sent a text to Fluttershy.
R: I'm bored. Wanna hang out?
The response took a long time. The sky turned warm outside as sunset approached.
F: I'm with Rarity. She says u can meet us, but…
Rainbow grimaced and texted back:
R: U guys r shopping, aren't u
F: Yes. She keeps making me try things on :(
The athlete groaned and let her phone drop on her chest. She wiggled a foot as she thought, making the bed mattress squeak.
Should I go? But it'll be boring watching them shop.
Rainbow jumped when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and unlocked it. Fluttershy had sent her a text with an attachment. Curious, she opened it…and gaped.
The animal lover was wearing a small dress with a white laced top and light blue floral skirt. She had taken a high-angled selfie so that Rainbow could see down much of the length of her body. Rainbow noted with a healthy blush that wasn't the only thing she could see down. The dress had a scoop neckline, exposing quite a bit of flesh in the process. Like it had its own gravitational force, the girl found her eyes going to the warm shadow of Fluttershy's cleavage. Just at the place where the valley of her breasts met her shirt's neckline, something else could be seen, shadowed, but visible. Apparently the pink-haired girl had chosen to wear a light green bra today.
Fluttershy was biting her lip, her brow wrinkled like she wasn't sure the picture would even come out right. Rainbow noted absently that Rarity could be seen smirking with arms crossed on a chair behind her in what had to be a cramped dressing room.
A short message was under the picture:
F: Rarity insisted I share. I look silly, don't I? I keep telling her this is a waste of time!
Rainbow tried to type out a reply, but she only got as far as-
R: U look super gr8
-before she feverishly deleted it all. When she tried to think of something cooler to say, her thoughts kept trailing off.
They're in the dressing room together? If I go, will they let me…?
Rainbow slapped a hand to her forehead. "Get a grip, Dash!" she hissed.
Her phone buzzed again. She picked it up.
F: R u still there? Rarity just went into the lingerie department! Plz help?
In one fluid movement, Rainbow Dash sat up, grabbed her shoes, hit the call button, and pressed her phone to her ear. It only rang once.
"Rainbow, thank goodness!" Fluttershy whispered hurriedly. Her voice was tight with panic. "I know you hate shopping, but please—"
"Where are you guys?" Rainbow asked as she jammed a foot into a sneaker.