//------------------------------//
// chapter 1 
// Story: Since I Met You 
// by Shiningblade-pony 
//------------------------------//

	A distinct knock came on a wooden door. Though loud and sharp, the sound was not unrecognizable as that of a pony’s eager hoof that awaited to be welcomed in. Fluttershy, who floated around the almost-corners of her quaint, wooden cottage, brought herself over to the window near the front door and glanced out, although she was sure of whom the knock of the hoof had belonged to. She nodded upon seeing the face of the familiar friend she had expected, her gently fluttering wings carrying her to the door that she then opened.

“Come in, Rainbow Dash,” the yellow pegasus’s soft voice genially invited.

“Thanks, Flutters,” answered the pegasus entering the building, a close friend with a brightly-colored mane striped with six vibrant colors of the rainbow. 

“Another early morning visit, huh?” Fluttershy started while giggling and making her way back to a chipmunk who expectantly sat on the floor in front of a small, green bowl. The nature-loving pony flew toward a wooden shelf full of supplies and took down a bag of seeds, then smiling while shaking the contents into a bowl with a light clattering sound.

“Yep,” said Rainbow Dash. She looked through the window behind her to notice the dim, blue-gray sky that was not yet lit by the rising of the sun. “Just thought I’d visit before I had to move that storm over to Ponyville, heh heh.”

There was something serene about Fluttershy’s dwelling, everything within it. Though the animals were already awake, and some skittered about or made their own noises, it was all very calm and under control with Fluttershy’s newfound, quiet confidence. Normally such a peaceful setting might get on Rainbow Dash’s nerves, but she wasn’t quite awake enough to notice this early in the morning. It had become a sort of instinct just to drop by and see her close friend now and then before the day really began. It was a nice way to ease in to the events of the day, especially one that was bound to be busy.

“Well, have a seat, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said. She glanced back at her friend with a smile before placing the large bag of chipmunk feed on its place on the shelf, then hovering over to a spot on the pale floor where an impatient bunny waited to be fed.
As Rainbow Dash found herself a place on the soft, light green couch as suggested, the little white rabbit defiantly raised an empty bowl into the air before his pegasus owner’s face. Fluttershy, however, did not show the agitation that Rainbow showed watching the scene from where she sat. The soft-yellow pony simply showed an uneasy sort of look and pulled a ripe red apple out of her saddlebag. 

“Eat up now, Angel.” Fluttershy set the apple in the center of the snow-white bunny’s bowl. She then leaned down to nuzzle him on the side of his face. Angel sighed, but his expression softened. Rainbow Dash watched these gestures and simple changes of emotion in confusion. Angel casually proceeded to devour the shiny, fresh apple. Before long, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but speak.

“Uh, Fluttershy…?” She started, tilting her head. Fluttershy turned to look at her winged blue friend with wide, seafoam green eyes. It turned out that Angel had turned his huge, whiskered head to face Rainbow as well, with his barely-intimidating beady, black eyes and delicate pink nose. This caused Rainbow Dash to stop for a moment, rubbing the back of her head undecidedly. It felt to her as if the whole world was looking at her at that moment, or maybe it was just the suspense of not having a sudden or violent response from the unexpectedly intense bunny before her. But it was just a question, and hating to leave a friend waiting, the hasty pegasus continued. Perhaps a bit too suddenly after all. “W-why are you so nice to Angel?” She blurted out.

Rainbow Dash realized her mistake as soon as she said it, and to think she had uttered such a question as a guest in the house of such a kind, willing, generous friend! Fluttershy indeed looked taken aback. “What do you mean?” She asked, as simply as Rainbow Dash’s question had come.

“I…” The now feeling foolish mare trailed off. You know what? Nevermind. That’s what she meant to say. As much as she didn’t want to continue this mess and make the day continue peacefully perfectly without conflict, the explanation came rushing out of her mouth, the meaning of her question she hadn’t meant to reveal. “I mean, he’s never nice to you. He’s always pushing you around—Why…” She gulped. “Why are you always nice to him?”

Fluttershy stared at the ground. Her expression was hard to interpret when all Rainbow Dash could see was the top of her eyelids, facing down. But she assumed that the calm yellow mare’s look was one of disdain. She must have been holding back from giving Rainbow what for, the guest knew. After all, Fluttershy wasn’t always a pushover. Fluttershy could teach you a lesson
“Rainbow Dash, you know I’m not always the most patient, kind, obedient mare everyone expects me to be. And you know I could very well be very strict to Angel if I wanted to.” She lifted her head to give her friend a look of sympathy. “But the truth is… I just don’t feel it’s my place to.”

Rainbow Dash was flabbergasted. Out of all the ponies/animals Fluttershy had the right to talk down to, it was probably Angel. Out of all the times there were individuals who were snappy or rude or impatient toward the gentle mare, it was usually Angel who acted that way. Fluttershy had the authority, and she was in the place to get even with this…this bunny, Rainbow Dash thought. 
Fluttershy could see Rainbow Dash was thinking that, and her expression was changing swiftly as she rethought what to say. She seemed unsure almost, in a process of thought.

“Okay, I know that may seem strange to you. I guess…there are some things you don’t understand.” Her eyes glanced across the room, first to one side and then the next.

“Well, no duh!” said Rainbow Dash. But she didn’t go on. She’d had enough “elaborations” of her sudden bursts of speech for that visit. It was time for Fluttershy to explain this mystery of her own. And, in fact, Rainbow Dash was curious. It seemed like there was more behind what Fluttershy had started to say than just some impulse like Rainbow own speech. Yes, it was interesting. So the energetic, rainbow-maned pegasus settled down.

“You see, Rainbow,” Fluttershy began. Giving personal eye contact, she was speaking to a friend. And Rainbow Dash nodded her on. “That dragon that we saw, the one that scared my friends, the one that threatened you, I needed to teach it a lesson. There are times and places when I feel the need to show my strength. But with Angel, I don’t want to “get even” with him when he’s harsh. It’s…It’s hard to explain… But it all started when I met Angel.”