//------------------------------//
// A Heart-Felt Bond 
// Story: The Threads of Love 
// by frenettek314 
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"FLUTTERSHY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" echoed Pinkie's loud, booming voice in a panic, frantically searching Ponyville high and low for the upset pegasus she had caused so much grief.  

She searched through trinkets and alleys, through buildings and stores,  she even looked inside a few baby carriages or two but still no sign of the creature anywhere - all that she found was her heart aching with worry as well as sadness from the few mothers who did not appreciate Pinkie scanning their infants.  

As sunset approached,  Pinkie was beginning to think she'd never find the mare, she all the sudden gasped as there - on top of the same hill she interrupted Pinkie and Flutterdoll's picnic was the silhouette of the pony she had been looking for.  

Thankful that the pegasus's sobs had dissolved into mere sniffles, Pinkie galloped up the peak, determined to make things right no matter what.  

"Fluttershy! I found you!"  Pinkie exclaimed as she approached Fluttershy's sitting form from behind.  

At the sudden exclamation,  the mare immediately tensed up, before turning around to address the new arrival. What Pinkie saw however shook her to her very core as Fluttershy's eyes were bright red and puffy from all the tears she had shed today.  Her ears drooped and eyes narrowed in a motion that indicated there was still quite a bit of anger mixed in with the layers of sadness.   

"I never want to see that face again..." Pinkie internally shuttered as a soft, airy voice interrupted her thoughts.  

"What do you want?" Fluttershy droned, her voice barely above an audible whisper as Pinkie could detect the feelings of hurt brought upon by her presence.  

Pinkie gulped for a second, before taking a deep breath,  rationalizing what she wanted to say.  

"I was looking everywhere for you!" Pinkie explained genuinely, "You really scared me back at the castle, Flutters.  Listen, I..."

"Leave me alone, Pinkie. I don't want to talk to you right now." the pegasus huffed, as she turned her body away from the party pony before bringing her front hooves crossed against her chest as her eyes harshly closed in frustration.  

Pinkie could've respected her wishes.  She could've left her friend alone to wallow, but she knew as a friend, she couldn't just abandon her. She had to set things right.  Slowly trotting alongside her friend, she cautiously took a seat a few inches away from the pouting pony before collecting herself with a deep sigh, her eyes shifted downwards in intense compilation.  

"That's ok, you don't have to talk - but please, just listen. You deserve to know the truth - as my friend, you have the right to understand what exactly is going on..." her eyes steeled in focus, "...no more secrets, no more hiding. The truth."

Fluttershy peeked one eye open curiously, her hooves still crossed.  "Where's Flutterdoll?" she asked rather coldly. 

"Gone." Pinkie retorted simply.  

Her own eyes finally daring to look at the pegasus with sheer sincerity.  "She's not important anyways. What's important is you."

Fluttershy's open eye widened in surprise, not expecting the goofy mare to speak with such conviction. While she was still quite upset at her supposed friend, she now had her full attention and interest as to where this conversation was going.  

Pinkie's eyes began watering as she knew that once she started revealing everything, there was no going back.  Despite being incredibly nervous -  fearing the worst as to how the mare next to her would react, she decided to open up with a metaphorical ripping of a band-aid.  






"Fluttershy?  Do you remember the Ponytones?"

This brought Fluttershy to a halt as she wasn't expecting the former music group to be brought up in this conversation.  She was wondering how this was relevant, but a glance at Pinkie's serious downcast expression told her that it indeed was.  

No longer crossing her hooves and fully looking at the earth pony with puzzlement, the pegasus replied.

"Yes... why?"

Pinkie sighed again as she felt a new emergence of tears threatening to take control of her, but she had to be strong. She had to get through this.  

"When we found out you had such an amazing singing voice,  I was so excited for you.  I wanted you to share your gift with the world and see you shine brighter than any star."

Pinkie continued,  "But I thought the way to help you succeed was by trying to pep you up. By showing you that if you conquered your worst fears,  I thought you would no longer be afraid of singing in front of everypony.  Instead all I did was the opposite;  I made you more nervous and frightened than ever before and I didn't even realize." she said as her eyes began focusing on the brilliant orange glow of the sunset, her gaze transfixed in emotional recollection and contemplation. 

Fluttershy's stare softened as she stared at the emotional Pinkie Pie with a pang of sadness in her own heart.  

"Even after, when you were revealed to everyone as 'Flutterguy', all I did when we got to your cottage was remind you or your own personal, worst nightmare.  I..." Pinkie paused, as her eyes wavered, staring at the brilliant orange glow, before her head crooked downwards, eyes clenched in pain.

"I made you upset, Fluttershy!  I made you storm out of your house in tears when I thought I was trying to help.  But all I did was hurt you in a way I or anypony else had never seen before!"

"That was the worst day of my life because I... I thought I had lost you forever.  I thought you'd never want anything to do with me ever again and it was all my fault!  I thought I was going to lose one of the best things that had ever happened to me all because of my big dumb mouth!" Pinkie finally concluded as her mane began to grow flat, a single tear finally managing to escape her still shut eye.  

Fluttershy's eyes softened with that returned sense of kindness and concern as she finally scooted over to her aching friend and draped a careful wing over the shuddering pony's back.  

"Pinkie..." her voice was incredibly soft.  "Pinkie...it's ok. Everything worked out and I forgave you. I know you didn't mean it." she said in a comforting smile, her previous traces of anger forgotten as she hugged her friend in sympathy.

But then, as Pinkie released herself from the wing-hug, she said something in such a quiet, sincere tone that the pegasus could've never expected. 

"But I never forgave myself!" Pinkie explained her eyes gleaming at the pegasus, indicating she was barely holding in a breakdown.  Fluttershy's smile was now replaced with a worried frown.

"I never wanted to hurt you like that again.  I was so scared I was going to make things worse if I was around you. I couldn't afford to lose you so that's when..." she began, before the pegasus's eyes widened with a sharp gasp of realization.  

"That's when we started hanging out less..." she realized, a hoof hovering over her opened mouth as began putting the pieces of the puzzle together in her head.  As Pinkie nodded her head silently, Fluttershy asked an important question: 

"Why?  Why were you scared?"  

"Because you make me feel special!" Pinkie exclaimed suddenly, before realizing how loud that confession was and dropping her voice down several octaves.  

"Because you've always held a special place in my heart.  You've meant so much to me over the years - always offering a helping hoof, being there for me whenever I needed your kindness.  That warm, inviting smile of yours that told me everything was ok.  I couldn't stand to lose you, even if it meant having to stay away."

Fluttershy shakily wrapped her wing around the earth pony's frame again. "You really mean that?" she asked innocently,  hoping that everything she had just heard was true.  

Pinkie looked at her in defeat.  "Of course I do!  I..." she paused as she visibly struggled to finish her sentence. 

"I..."

"Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked worriedly, wondering what the secret Pinkie had been meaning to reveal back at the castle and now could be. 

"I LOVE YOU!" Pinkie blurted out as both ponies froze in shock - Fluttershy's eyes froze in shock, while still hugging the earth pony as Pinkie placed both her front hooves over her mouth -  both ponies producing a light warm blush on their cheeks.  

After what seemed like minutes,  Fluttershy finally processed what had just happened as she spoke in pure awe.

"You... you l-love me?" she squeaked.   

Pinkie nodded her head again, as she managed to say, "I have for a while, Flutter-butter.  You're the kindest, sweetest and most loving pony I have ever met." she finished with a sigh. 

Fluttershy's eyes began to sparkle in the evening sun with a mysterious, yet captivating aura as she asked breathlessly:

"How come you never told me?"

Pinkie, finally began openly shedding tears as she nuzzled her head into Fluttershy's chest with full force, shocking the pegasus.  

"Because after the Ponytones, I realized we were too different.  I'm too loud, energetic and crazy while you're quiet, soft, and reserved.  I knew it would never work between us as I knew the minute our differences showed, I was going to hurt you like I did with your stage-fright." Pinkie gasped as more tears returned full force, dampening the yellow pony's soft, fuzzy coat. 

"I could never tell you Fluttershy.  I didn't want to hurt you.  You deserve to be the happiest mare in the world, and I knew I couldn't deliver!  If I made you anything but smile, I...  I would hate myself for ever! I just want you to be happy, so I spared your feelings!"

Fluttershy's eyes began free flowing like waterfalls as she forcefully buried herself in a returning embrace, her face buried in Pinkie's shoulder.  

"Oh, Pinkie..." she muttered. 

Pinkie opened her eyes with visible frustration.  

"But some job, I did there huh?  After thinking that I could use Flutterdoll to release my feelings, I ended up accidentally leaving you behind and hurt you in the process.  After I promised myself, I would never hurt you again, I made a big goof of everything and ruined our friendship!" Pinkie openly sobbed holding her hooves tight around the pegasus's frame.  "I don't deserve your love. I don't deserve to be your marefriend, your friend, ANYTHING!" she exclaimed as she began heavily sobbing.  

Suddenly, Pinkie felt the embrace of the other pony end as she herself found her sobbing faces being lifted up by a gentle, yellow hoof although her hardened, aggressive stare at the pink pony suggested otherwise.  

"Pinkie, stop! I never ever want to hear you say that again! Yes I was very upset by Flutterdoll, but I could never hate you, Pinkie!" 

Pinkie froze as she pondered Fluttershy's words,  her tone carrying out an inflection of protection, like... like they were worried about her.

"Back at the castle, I said that I always loved how you would encourage me, protect me, love me for who I am, and I meant every word of that!  Even if we are different, I know you'd never purposely hurt me! I don't want you to think I'll ever leave you because..." she paused, developing a soft tender smile on her face, to look at the taken back Pinkie one more time. 

"...because I'll always be there for you." she quoted the words the pink pony had long said to her, Pinkie's face smiling as her lips quivered, her mane gradually poofing itself back up as she felt the love from her friend pouring into her very soul, never wanting this moment to end. 

Then the unexpected happened.

"I love you too." Fluttershy heavenly spoke, as she gave a soft, tender peck on top of Pinkie's head, causing the pony's brain to malfunction.  

Pinkie froze in shock naturally.  "Wha... but wha...?" Pinkie muttered, seriously questioning whether this was reality or a very cruel dream.  

"Wait... you love me too?" Pinkie asked, finally gathering her surroundings as the pegasus, taken out of her passionate trance, blushed profusely behind her mane with a nod. 

"Mmm hmm"

"Bu.. but I... and you... we.... if we had just..." Pinkie stammered, trying to process what had been going on before it finally clicked.  

"We both loved each other, but we were both too afraid to tell the other." Pinkie concluded with a sort of wisdom that more closely resembled the studious Twilight Sparkle. 

Fluttershy seemed to realize this at the same time as she snapped out of her blush and pondered, "Yeah... I guess we did."

Pinkie added, "Rarity... she was trying to tell me..."

Then Fluttershy gasped as the mentioning of the unicorn's name brought upon a memory, "Wait! she tried to tell me too... before the meeting..."

Both pegasus and earth pony stopped and stared at each other speechless for a few seconds before they both simultaneously began laughing hard - chuckling at the discovery they both could've known a long time ago, their past drama concerning Flutterdoll and the fight seeming like a funny anecdote to the both of them.  

After several moments of continuous laughter, Pinkie finally managed to get a few deep breaths in before her smile turned into a casual frown, one more thing still pestering in her mind.  

"Hey Fluttershy?"

"Hmm?" Fluttershy asked, finally managing to stop laughing herself. 

"I'm sorry I made you upset by using Flutterdoll. I should've realized it would've hurt you, but I guess I didn't think hard enough about it." 

Fluttershy's smile ceased as a neutral thin line was made with her mouth.  

"I'll forgive you on one condition."

"Anything!" the pink party pony instantly pleaded, not caring what it was. 

"From now on, if something is bothering you, please know that you can always tell me. I promise we can work anything out if we talk about it - but if you try and avoid others or hide your problems, they'll only come back stronger later.  And besides, when you hurt yourself, you hurt the others around you." Fluttershy explained in her soothing voice, akin to a mother lightly scolding her child.  

Pinkie's smile returned as she leapt and hugged the startled (yet quickly recovering) pegasus. "Deal!"

Fluttershy smiled blissfully as she returned the hug, a light blush returning.  

"So... does this mean we're a couple now?" she asked, hoping for a positive response.  

Pinkie released herself from the hug and looked at her new marefriend with a warm, cheerful smile. 

"If you're comfortable and willing, I am too. We can go at whatever pace you want and I promise I'll be more open with you." she spoke.  

Fluttershy's smile grew even wider as she nuzzled the pink pony's round cheek.  

"I'd love that. And just remember that because we may be different, doesn't mean we don't love each other any less. We complete each other - make each other strong and negate any weaknesses. That's what love is all about!" Fluttershy warmly concluded the lesson both she and Pinkie had learned after a long day. 

"So does this mean I can still use your toothbrush?" Pinkie asked excitedly with a hopeful grin. 

Fluttershy smirked as she playfully raised her eyebrows.  "I think we need to have a discussion about that later." 

The two ponies began laughing again, as they fell into each other's embrace - no longer worried about the future.  For no matter what happened next, the two would be always be there for each other.  






Epilogue:


"Ah hope those two are..." Applejack began, leading her friends on a search to find the two missing ponies who have been gone without a trace for hours now,  Luna's moon brightly glistening in the sky alongside a sea of stars.  

Suddenly as they approached a familiar hill, Applejack paused her speech as she gave a muffled chuckle, holding her hooves to her mouth as she witnessed the cute display. 

The other three ponies and Spike, making their way up the hill wondered what caught the cowpony's attention until they saw it themselves - cooing at the adorable sight they were currently witnessing.   

On top of the hill laid two now sleeping ponies snuggled on top of each other.  A pink and poofy earth pony laid her entire body underneath the comforting wing of a yellow pegasus as both had well-visible smiles on their faces.  

As everyone smiled at the happy sight, knowing everything would be alright, Rarity lightly chuckled as she covered her hoof with a light, teasing smirk.  

"Looks like Flutterdoll will need a Pinkiedoll." 




THE END