//------------------------------// // Advice // Story: The Very Pink of Perfection // by Noash123 //------------------------------// All my life, my heart has yearned for a thing I cannot name. - Andre Breton Looking at her pink-maned friend, Fluttershy apprehensively spoke out. “Um.. Pinkie..? I’ve been wanting to tell you something..” Pawing at the ground nervously, she looked towards the wood. Hesitance resided in her eyes, and her cheeks began to turn a light crimson. “Well.. uh.. I.. I.. l-love..-” Stopping Fluttershy before she could finish, Pinkie enthusiastically began to bounce up and down. “Oh, I just love guessing games!” Fluttershy, after asking the Cakes if she could speak privately with Pinkie, stood inside Sugarcube Corner with the hyper earth pony. The smell of sweets was prominent, filling their noses with the aroma of soft cinnabons and warm strudels. Pinkie Pie seemed to carry the same delicious smell every day. Jumping around her light yellow friend, the pink pony excitedly began to take guesses as to what Fluttershy wanted to say. “Oh, oh! You love candy don’t you?” “Pinkie.. I.. love-” “No no, don’t tell me! Give me more chances. You love cupcakes?” “No, Pinkie Pie.. I um.. love-” Cutting her friend off mid-sentence again, Pinkie began to guess faster. Not being able to predict what her shy friend loved only encouraged her to try harder. Words began to fly out of her mouth at an even more accelerated pace than before. “Parties? Cake? Trees? Big Mac?” Fluttershy questioningly looked at her friend, the suggestion of the stallion catching her off guard. Taking this as a sign that she wasn’t guessing correctly, Pinkie stomped her hoof in frustration. Confidently chancing another attempt, Pinkie Pie took a final guess. “Me?” Fluttershy’s expression changed as she looked up. Smiling slightly, she stopped pawing at the ground. Knowing she had guessed correctly, Pinkie Pie began to jump around triumphantly, happy that she had finally figured it out. “Well, you didn’t have to walk all the way over to Sugarcube Corner to tell me that, silly! I love you too!” Pulling the pegasus into a hug, Pinkie smiled warmly. Fluttershy’s face turned darker crimson as she hugged the pink-maned pony back. Fluttershy quietly spoke up, and hoped to savor this moment. “You.. you mean that..?” “I sure do! You’re a great friend, Fluttershy!” Fluttershy cringed, her heart dropping to her stomach. ‘Friend’. Pinkie Pie hadn’t meant anything more than friendly affection. Slowly, Fluttershy pulled out of the warm embrace of the sweet-smelling pony. Obvious melancholy entered her voice, a tear forming in her eye. “Um.. yeah.. you’re a great friend too.. Pinkie.. but I should.. I should go back home. Angel is.. probably hungry.” Knowing it was not even close to feeding time, Fluttershy made up an excuse, wanting to leave the shop. “Alright, Flutterpie!” Pinkie Pie giggled, ignorant of her friend’s distraughtness. “Get it? It’s both of our names!” Pinkie giggled again. Heading out the door, Fluttershy gave her friend an artificial smile. “Alright, see ya’ Fluttershy!” Pinkie smiled, waving the pegasus goodbye. Closing the door behind her, Fluttershy’s fake smile faded away, and she walked towards home. Her head hung in dejection, a tear escaping her eye. Fluttershy began to question herself within her own thoughts. “Why do I like her?” She knew the answer already. Pinkie Pie was hyper, a “party pony”, and wasn’t afraid to state whatever came to her mind, which did end up getting her into some strange and humorous situations. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, was quiet, timid, and shy. It was the contrast. The differences were what pushed her affection for Pinkie Pie forward. What challenged Fluttershy, however, was how to tell Pinkie Pie her feelings. And while she had, just barely, worked up the confidence to finally admit her liking for the earth pony, they had been turned down, being bent in to another one of Pinkie’s games. Looking up, Fluttershy glanced at her surroundings. The sun hung high in the sky, and Ponyville stood quiet, a scarce amount of people on the roads. Ahead of her lied Sweet Apple Acres, it’s orchard in clear view. ”Maybe I could talk to Applejack?” While usually she would go to her cottage and talk to the animals, Fluttershy knew she needed input from someone who could reply to her. Troubling her, though, was the thought of how Applejack might react. And while she was usually caring and accepting, love between two mares was something not many people embraced. With a last unsure look towards home, Fluttershy opened her wings, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy lowered herself gently onto the dirt. Taking her no longer than three minutes, she landed at the entrance to the Apple family’s farmhouse. Hesitantly, Fluttershy stepped up to the old wooden door. Raising her hoof, she knocked on it quietly. For a moment, there was silence; and, to a small extent, she hoped no one would answer. This hope was thrown aside when the hinges squeaked, and the wooden door was pushed open. “Why hey there, sugarcube.” Applejack stood in the doorway, tipping her hat to greet her pink-maned friend. “Uh, hello Applejack.” “Somethin’ you need?” “Um, yes. Could we.. talk about something?” “Sure. You can talk to me ‘bout anything.” ”I sure hope so.” Fluttershy stated in her mind as she stepped inside the farmhouse. Closing the door behind her friend, Applejack beckoned for Fluttershy to follow her. Nodding, Fluttershy was guided through the well taken care of interior. Various heirlooms were mounted on the shelves, and pictures dotted the walls. One picture in particular stood out, though. Stopping to look, Fluttershy gazed at a picture of what seemed like a younger Granny Smith, a determined look spread across her face. Standing alongside her was a strong looking, light-brown stallion. The two stood in front of a sign that read, “Sweet Apple Acres”. Applejack called from a room on the otherside of the house. “Fluttershy, you comin’?” Noticing she had fallen behind her orange friend, Fluttershy began walking again, taking a final glance back at the photo. “Um.. yes. Coming.”