"So, Rarity," said Dash, once they were out of earshot [of Fluttershy's cottage], "there's someth--"

"Rainbow Dash, what do you think you're doing?"  Rarity's calm demeanor began to slip; she pressed her lips together, something Dash only noticed when her friend was really angry.  "What did I say yesterday, mm?"

"Something about broken hearts and buying things?"  It was a lame defense, but Rarity's anger took Dash by surprise.  Something told her she wasn't going to get her questions answered.  Not by her and Fluttershy's unexpectedly-irate friend.

"I said `break it and you buy it - that goes for hearts as well,` but I [i]meant[/i] you were to [i]console[/i] her, not- not [i]bed[/i] her, you stupid, [i]stupid[/i] pony."

Rainbow Dash could have pointed out that she woke up that morning in the guest bedroom.  Alone.  Feeling great, yes.  And maybe something happened, yes, but it didn't count.  Probably.

But she didn't feel like explaining herself to Rarity, justifying what she did with her best friend since forever to some overdramatic, prissy, know-it-all drama queen who seemed to be looking around for something to box Dash over the head with - literally and figuratively.  Instead of being helpful.

Because backrubs didn't count, and even so, it wouldn't Rarity's business anyway.  There might have been a little bit of spite involved too.

~ ~ ~

Night had fallen outside Fluttershy's cottage, and the guest bedroom was lit by two stout candles on night-stands, orange wax glowing from inside.  Next to one, a brazier held some kind of incense, which smelled like vanilla and other things - Dash wasn't sure what, but they were very relaxing.

The bed had been cleared of its covers, and Dash lay in the center, freshly bathed, her face buried in the valley between two pillows.  Her forelegs were - as instructed - relaxed along either of her flanks, and a sheet lay across her croup just above her hips, covering her hindquarters and tail, similarly extended and relaxed.

Fluttershy had pulled a short couch into the room, to the left of the bed, on which to set her hindquarters.  From there, she stretched up to Dash's ears, where she was speaking, and the base of Dash's neck, where she softly set her right forehoof.

Rainbow Dash couldn't actually see any of this.  Fluttershy had just told her: "Close your eyes and relax."  But she had seen the layout of the room when she entered and lay down, and she felt her new marefriend's hoof and breath.  Imagination filled in the rest as Fluttershy's soft narration continued.

"Now, this might be a teeny bit uncomfortable at first, but that should go away.  If something actually hurts, say `ouch,` and I'll go lighter.  Oh, and, take a deep breath."

Dash did so.  Fluttershy's hoof rode her rising spine, and her wings shifted against her body.

"Good.  Let it go.  The way this works is I'm going to press your muscles, hard enough to squeeze the blood and lymph through them.  Your body's natural response will be to tense up that muscle.  Instead, I want you to focus on taking a deep breath and letting all that tension blow away."

[Sequel warning: retelling of the last story next three paragraphs.]
Dash murmured agreement into the pillow.  This wasn't exactly what she expected, but she had already made up her mind.  Fluttershy hadn't come out and asked to be marefriends; she had turned all mopy and withdrawn except for sudden outbursts of clinginess that really didn't suit her.  Dash had to twist her ears to confirm her feelings, and then she faced a choice.  She could let Fluttershy work things out herself, or...

Dash had self-doubts of her own, whether she was attracted to ponies at all, never mind deciding between stallions and mares.  And the only way to decide what she wanted was to experiment a little.  Her conversation with Fluttershy made her realize she was overdue to try a romantic relationship with somepony, except that she liked Fluttershy a lot, and didn't feel right treating her like some sort of toy.

In the end, she dug deep and realized that was her only objection.  She couldn't imagine a more trustworthy pony.  And when she had tried to warn Fluttershy, her response had been dramatic.  Lusty, to be exact, much more than she imagined her quiet friend to be capable of.  So, Rainbow Dash took the plunge: when she knocked on Fluttershy's door that evening, she was resolved to let the kindest pony do as little or as much as she wanted with her body.

Dash was maybe just a little turned on by what was happening - not desperately so, but very eager to feel what would happen next.  Certainly, something good, not something painful.

She felt Fluttershy's hoof slide along her left shoulder, applying enough pressure to print her shoulder blade against her skin.  It found a high spot and suddenly rubbed hard.

"Ow," Dash yelped, barely remembering to draw breath.

"Good girl," said Fluttershy, softening her touch at once.  "You're very brave, but don't be for now, okay?  That was a test; I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you let me bruise your entire back."

Dash took another deep breath.  Perhaps her trust was a tiny bit misplaced, but probably not.  It was very kind, for a pressure-poke.

"I'm actually going to start with your longissimus muscles, but your wings are in the way, so..."

Fluttershy traced down Dash's spine to her left wing-elbow.  There, she lifted with one hoof and pressed with the other, pulling Dash's wing up and out and letting it drop softly against the bed.  She repeated with her other wing: lift, pull, place.

Dash heard Fluttershy shift, leaving a hoof centered between her wing-shoulders, and twist back.  Something dripped on her back and soaked warm into her hair.

"Oil," Fluttershy explained, painting it up and down Dash's spine to her hips.  Now [i]that[/i] felt awesome.  "Don't worry about it.  I'll towel off any extra when we're done."

Then Fluttershy skimmed a hoof to the top of Dash's back and pulled it down firm and fast.  Dash had to take another breath, but Fluttershy didn't stop, alternating hooves with each stroke.

One deep breath.  Another.  Fluttershy's hooves didn't hurt, but they felt intrusive at first.  A few breaths later, though, the muscle seemed to melt and soften.  Dash gave a happy little moan.

"Harder?" asked Fluttershy.

"Mm," agreed Dash.

The cycle repeated with more pressure and muscles learning to accept it.  Fluttershy switched to the other side, light strokes to firm, the occasional soft word keeping Dash informed.

Even so, Dash felt herself slipping deeper and deeper under the massage's spell.  Mostly, she was aware of her breathing, a gentle tide of tropical warmth in and out.  Next she noticed the motion happening atop her back, a good distance away.  Finally, her thoughts floated by with bemused detachment.  Switching sides.  A little bit harder.  Feeling too nice for horny.

"Now, circles," murmured Fluttershy.  She put both hooves down at once, shaking Dash's skin and flesh in opposite spirals, working down and back up her spine.  She paused.

"Feeling good?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Good.  Shoulders are next.  Remember to speak up if I hit a bone or rub the wrong way.  They're... complicated on a pegasus, all four of them and all, so..."

Dash turned her head through the haze.  "Y'doin' great.  Don't worry and take your time."

"Head center, please.  Otherwise your spine twists."

"Back 'appy place," slurred Dash.  She meant, "I'm going back to my happy place," and knew it didn't come out right, but didn't really care.  Fluttershy knew what she meant, she was sure.

~ ~ ~

Anyway, that was all that happened: a backrub, and chest-rub, too.  Fluttershy had softly insisted on working Dash's flight muscles as well.  And then, Dash fell straight asleep: the last thing she remembered that night was Fluttershy toweling off her chest.  Then she pulled a quilt over the sheet, half climbed over Dash, blew out one candle, kissed Dash's nose, blew out the other, and left the roocm.

"Don't just stand there with a stupid grin, Rainbow Dash!" interrupted Rarity.  "What do you have to say for yourself?"