The next day, Fluttershy arrived at the pool, ready for her next lesson, and saw Rainbow Dash wearing shades, a red lifeguard-like swimsuit and her red whistle around her neck. She was laying down next to the pool reading a Daring Do book in a lawnchair.
"Hello Rainbow Dash... Are we going to get started?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow Dash looked up from her book and noticed Fluttershy didn't have her water wings on.
"You forgot to put on your floats. Lemme give you a hoof." Rainbow Dash offered, putting her book down.
Rainbow Dash blew up Fluttershy's water wings and then stood ready to begin their training, adjusting her shades a bit.
"Today we're going to learn the back crawl and butterfly kick which is very similar to what you learned from Twilight. All you have to is get on your back first and I'll guide you through it." Rainbow Dash instructed.
Fluttershy obeyed and Rainbow Dash adjusted her position so that she would be able to swim properly with her back hooves. Rainbow Dash laid down beside her, stretching her wings out.
"We're also going to be learning how to use your wings to glide more gracefully through the water." Rainbow Dash explained.
This time, Fluttershy noticed Rainbow Dash was not alone. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom had joined the lesson, all wearing cute pairs of water wings matching their colors: Yellow and red for Apple Bloom, Orange and Purple for Scootaloo, and Pink and White for Sweetie Belle.
I was sitting down next to the pool. I was also wearing a matching red swimsuit, which felt appropriate since I was dating Rainbow Dash.
He jumped into the water and paddled next to Fluttershy and helped Rainbow Dash adjust her wings. Pinkie Pie was relaxing on a pool float sipping some kind of tropical lemonade.
"I'll be here if you two need me. Don't fight!" Pinkie Pie teased. I chuckled at Pinkie Pie's remark, and winked at Rainbow Dash.
I wasn't a very strong swimmer, but I did know the basics and I was more than willing to help out my childhood friend and my fillyfriend.
After her position had been adjusted, Fluttershy looked eager to begin her lesson.
Rainbow Dash then backed away so Fluttershy could have enough room and got herself into the same position that Fluttershy was in. She stretched her wings out and waited for me to help Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom into their swimming positions.
"So! Today we're going to be practicing the back crawl and butterfly kick as I've said before. First, I'll demonstrate this maneuver." Rainbow Dash said.
Rainbow Dash spread her back hooves and used her front hooves in a rotary motion kicking with her back hoofs, and keeping her head turned so she could see behind her. Once she had turned around the pool, she brought her back hooves up forty five degrees and kicked her legs in a scissor-like motion and used her wings to add momentum and velocity until she reached the other side of the pool.
"The first move I demonstrated was the back crawl. The second move I demonstrated was the butterfly kick which is sometimes referred to as the scissor kick. Just copy what I did and make sure your head is turned so you can see where you need to turn. I have set up an obstacle course for you all to attempt. You must use the back crawl, front crawl, and the butterfly kick to go through it. When I blow my whistle, you will begin the course. I will blow it again after everypony has completed the course to signal everypony to turn back and come through the course. If you crash into any obstacles or get stuck, Crimson Azure will aid you. Everypony got it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes!" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle cheered, Fluttershy cheering a little less enthusiastically.
Rainbow Dash noticed this, swam over to Fluttershy and whispered encouraging words into her ears. I couldn't quite hear what she said, but I could tell by Fluttershy's face lightening up that it did some good.
Rainbow Dash swam to the side, raised her whistle to her lips in one hoof, and the other hoof up high.
"Three... Two... One... Begin!" After Rainbow Dash said that, the whistle blew and the swimming ponies sped off on their backs. Fluttershy was making sure she was going at a speed that she could easily turn past the obstacles and swam to the left under a rope.
Eventually, the four ponies had finished the obstacle course and Rainbow Dash blew her whistle again to get them to come back. Scootaloo seemed to have zero issue with swimming, and was beaming at the thought of impressing her new big sister.
After they had completed the course, Rainbow Dash had them do some exercises in the water. Fluttershy was struggling to keep up, but she could feel her confidence rising.
Rainbow Dash noticed Fluttershy take off her water wings.
"Huh? What're you doing, Flutters?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't need these anymore. I can swim fine without them now." Fluttershy said with confidence.
"Well... okay, but if you start sinking, I'm gonna rescue you." Rainbow Dash was unsure whether or not to let her friend swim without her swimming aid, especially since Fluttershy's fear might bubble up again.
"Now then! I'll pass the lesson on to Rarity." Rainbow Dash said and stepped aside to let Rarity jump into the pool.
"I didn't think Rarity liked getting wet." Scootaloo shrugged.
"You'd be surprised. She might be a better swimmer than Rainbow Dash." Sweetie Belle said, proud of her older sister.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle had really bonded since Rarity had saved Sweetie Belle from a crocodile in a swamp. She was now much less hesitant to get dirty and even enjoyed it.
"Now then, darlings. Today we will be learning how to rescue someone from a dangerous situation. After this, you will be ready to complete your final exam with Applejack using all the skills you have learned." Rarity explained. "Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Diamond Tiara, and Pipsqueak have volunteered to be rescued by you."
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to object, but Rarity cut her off.
"All you need to do is rescue your designated pony from the dangerous whirlpools." Rarity explained. "To do that, you simply must untie their front and back hooves from the buoy before they are pulled underwater."
Whirlpools suddenly formed in the water and Fluttershy shivered, but told herself she had to do this for her friends.
The four ponies got ready. Apple Bloom was to rescue Diamond Tiara, Sweetie Belle was to rescue Pipsqueak, Scootaloo was to rescue Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy was to rescue Rainbow Dash.
"You're lucky." Scootaloo said. "You get to rescue Rainbow Dash. I wanted to show her how heroic I am."
Since Scootaloo had become Rainbow Dash's adopted sister, she tried her hardest to impress Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash constantly tried to explain to Scootaloo that it was unnecessary, but Scootaloo wouldn't listen. Now, Scootaloo could finally prove to her big sister how heroic she was.
There was a sad story that really linked the two though. It was because of this especially that I took interest in Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was an orphan and Scootaloo's parents were never around. Rainbow Dash dropped out of flight school because she had no real guidance and the coach even said she could have made the Wonderbolts. She still finished high school though.
But I knew deep down that Rainbow Dash's wish more than being in the Wonderbolts was to have an actual family. And I could give that to her. Then she wouldn't be so out to prove herself the best.
I stood on the pool deck watching the four swimming ponies regain their composure. Suddenly, I saw Spike creep up behind Rarity and he tickled her back hooves.
"Spike? I told you not to sneak up on me. Now behave and I'll give you a nice massage after this." Rarity scolded.
Spike's crush on Rarity was so obvious, everypony in Ponyville knew about it. But Pinkie Pie had forbidden us to discuss it with anypony with the threat of "Foreveeeeer!". Since I had come to Ponyville before Nightmare Night, I had no idea about what that meant, but I knew nopony should break a Pinky Promise. Rarity actually fond the crush quite cute and she gave Spike some gems whenever he got hungry.
Anyway, Rarity let out a small burst of magic from her horn and the three fillies and Fluttershy began swimming towards the whirlpools.
Apple Bloom got there first and dove underwater, using her teeth to undo the knots around Diamond Tiara's back hooves. Once she had undone them all, she moved on to the top knots around Diamond Tiara's front hooves.
Scootaloo had got there second and was already undoing Twilight Sparkle's front hooves from the buoy. Scootaloo glanced at Rainbow Dash who simply responded with a wink giving Scootaloo some kind of hidden power, allowing her to undo both knots on the top.
Sweetie Belle got there third and seemed quite happy to be undoing the knots for Pipsqueak. The two seemed to have a cute friendship between them which Rarity really supported, hence why he was chosen to be rescued.
Rainbow Dash gazed in Fluttershy's direction willing her to come. But Fluttershy was struggling herself and Rainbow Dash slowly began sinking.
"Fluttershy! Don't think about the water, just think about rescuing Rainbow Dash." I called.
Fluttershy finally managed to get there after everypony else had been untied. Fluttershy immediately focused on Rainbow Dash's back hooves to keep her afloat. After she had untied Rainbow Dash from the buoy, Rainbow Dash gave her a hug.
"You saved me..." Rainbow Dash whispered.
"I had to. I couldn't bear to lose a friend." Fluttershy said.
"Thanks, Flutters." Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy a hoof bump and the two got out of the water.
"That was really brave." Scootaloo admitted. "I wish I had been the one to save Rainbow Dash, but you did great!"
"You may not have done it the fastest, but you did do it the most efficiently." Apple Bloom added.
"Thank you!" Fluttershy smiled and hugged the three crusaders. Applejack came out from the small office which had a panel to control the whirlpools and smiled.
"Ah'll be danged, girl. You did very well. So well that ah don't even want you to take the test. You have successfully overcome your fear of water." Applejack congratulated.
"It was only because of all of you that I did it. Thank you for teaching me." Fluttershy burst into tears and we all shared a group hug.
The End