//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Strong Cider, Weak Hearts // by Toiski //------------------------------// "Fluttershy? Fluttershy, dear, are you home?" Rarity tried to keep a frown from her face – for frowns grew into wrinkles – and knocked on the door again. "You didn't show up for our spa date, so I was worried that you might be – oh!" The door swung inwards halfway , leaving Rarity's hoof swishing in thin air. The one who had opened the door was not the expected pegasus, but a scowling rabbit. Rarity lowered her hoof and nodded politely at the little white creature. "Why hello, Angel. Might I inquire after Fluttershy's well-being? As I said, she didn't show up today and I'm dreadfully worried for her." Angel scowled harder and tapped his foot. Eventually he seemed to come to a conclusion of some sort. He opened the door the rest of the way and pointed a fluffy forepaw towards the back of the house. The bunny mimed laying his head on a pillow, and then covering his ears. Rarity cocked her head. "Sleeping? And... Trying to ignore me? Oh my, what could have brought about such a situation?" Urged on by the bunny's frantic pointing, she stepped into the house. "Thank you for inviting me in. I suppose you'd like me to see what's upset her, would you?" The rabbit nodded and bounced off ahead of her. Even though Rarity couldn't recall ever entering Fluttershy’s bedroom, the principle of exclusion quickly pointed her to the stairs to the second floor. Strictly speaking they weren't the only flight of stairs, but the rest were at most a few hoofwidths wide and led to a variety of perches, nests and hidey-holes in the walls and ceiling. The stairs led directly into a spacious room encompassing the entire second floor. The bed was in front and to the left of the stairs, and upon it was a heap covered with a red-and-pink checkered blanket. The covers rose and fell slightly in rhythm with the breathing of the pony hidden underneath. Rarity wrinkled her nose at smell of old sweat emanating from the dirty bed sheets lying crumpled on the floor. Ducking under a low-hanging birdfeeder, she turned her attention to the bed and the mare rather obviously cowering thereon. "Fluttershy, dear. Angel let me in to check on you. Are you feeling unwell?" The blankets twitched and fell still, but remained silent. After a few seconds, the breathing resumed, though it appeared to have quickened slightly. Rarity took a step closer and lifted the corner of the blanket with her magic, peeking under it warily. As expected, Fluttershy was huddled on the bare mattress underneath, hooves draped across her face. Rarity considered nudging her, but remembered that the pegasus might have some contagious illness and thought better of it. "Now, Fluttershy, if there's anything at all I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask.” She folded back the blankets to reveal the yellow pony's head and disheveled mane. Fluttershy lowered her hooves and rolled onto her side, facing Rarity. She seemed very upset, but not sick. "Oh, Rarity. There's nothing you can do for me." She turned her gaze down to her hooves. "I've made a terrible mistake, and I've decided I have no choice but to become a hermit. So, um. I'm never going to come out again, so I'll have to cancel our spa meetings." She looked up at Rarity, and then down again. "If that's okay." Rarity was shocked. "No, that is not okay." Fluttershy flinched, and Rarity realized her tone had been quite stern. She continued in a softer voice. "Whatever it was, I'm sure it's not that bad. Tell me all about it, and let me at least share your worries. You and I have no secrets from each other, correct?" Fluttershy's face fell even more at the last sentence. She drew in a deep breath and blurted out, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, there's a really big secret I've kept from you, and from everypony else. But now she knows and I can never face her again. You see, yesterday..." -O-O-O- Rainbow Dash yawned as she balanced her now empty breakfast plate on a tower of unwashed dishes. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she looked out of the window, where the sun was already beginning its descent. It was early in the afternoon, but she had just woken up less than an hour ago - she'd been tossing and turning in her bed until morning, finally tiring herself out with her worries. I’m not worried. I was just thinking, that's all. It's gonna go alright. She paced back and forth a few times, sinking back into the same thoughts that had kept her occupied all night. Oh boy, Fluttershy's gonna be so bummed. And I don't exactly like this idea of Rarity's either. I mean, what if it goes bad and she doesn't want to see me anymore? That thought scared her – I'm not scared! – because of all that she might lose. Fluttershy was her oldest friend after all. They had an understanding that their other friends, close as they were, couldn't begin to fathom. Whenever Rainbow Dash was troubled with something, Fluttershy saw through her bravado. Of course Rainbow would deny everything when asked, but she knew Fluttershy knew how she really felt. And Fluttershy knew she knew. It was almost a game, a masquerade. It had started when Rainbow took the shy pegasus under her wing way back in flight camp. It had soon become apparent that Rainbow’s competitive and brash attitude didn't earn her new friends but instead created rivals. So after she stood up to the bullies bothering Fluttershy – something she would have done in any case – she found it easy to let the shy filly grow close to her. At first it was just cool to protect somepony. Plus she had somepony to brag to occasionally , without being challenged to prove her claims. Especially when I might have exaggerated just a tiny bit. But when Fluttershy told her she was her first real friend, she began to feel bad about using her. So Rainbow Dash promised to herself she’d always be the best friend she could. And now it feels like I’m breaking that promise. Rainbow Dash’s hooves were wearing a groove into her cloud floor. She stopped her pacing and flew out the window, heading in the direction of Fluttershy’s house. I’ve been over all this once. I’ve been over it a dozen times. I think Rarity’s right. The wind in her hair cleared her head somewhat as she accelerated in a shallow dive. Finally she was doing something, instead of just thinking of doing. Paradoxically, the more risks she took while flying the calmer she felt. No time to fear failure when it’s just one flap away, she reasoned as she slalomed through a small grove of trees, her wingtips barely brushing the leaves. If you worry in a turn, you will crash and burn, she chanted to herself. But it’s Fluttershy who’s doing that this time, because I’m shooting her down. That thought eradicated her temporary confidence all over again and she slowed to a more sedate pace. Rainbow kicked at the air in frustration. For a moment she wanted to blame Fluttershy for busting out that confession, or Rarity for making her go through with this plan, but she knew they weren’t at fault for the mess she found herself in. If anything, it was her own fault for being so cool she made mares and stallions alike fall for her left and right. Maybe she could afford to turn off her swag every now and then. -O-O-O- “… and then Rainbow Dash flew after me, and, um, she caught me. And then I sort of… k-ki… eep.” Fluttershy blushed again. Rarity waited a few seconds for her to continue, then sighed. “Fluttershy, dear, do you mean to tell me you’ve been hiding, all alone in your room, because you accidentally fell off a cloud? There was something most strange about that cider, I hear. I’m sure Rainbow Dash doesn’t think… that you’re… Oh. Oh my.” Suddenly she felt like the floor was trying to retreat from under her hooves. Rainbow Dash. Yesterday. “You told her that-“ Before she could steady herself, there was a knock on the window. Rainbow Dash was peering in through the glass, hovering in place while she squinted and held up a foreleg to see past her own reflection. “Fluttershy? I’m coming in.” She awkwardly grabbed a muntin in her hooves and swung the window outwards on its hinge. Swooping in, she spotted the still reeling pony on the other side of Fluttershy’s bed. “Rarity? What are you doing here?” Rainbow didn’t sound angry, just surprised. In the space of a second, Rarity formed a plan. She’d tell Rainbow Dash she had been wrong, she had been mistaken, that it was a better idea to give the relationship a try, because Rainbow would regret it if she let a chance like this slip by. After a few dates she would find her true feelings, and she would be so happy with Fluttershy, and nopony would have to cry- “I’ll be downstairs.” For a moment Rarity didn’t believe she’d just said that. It took her another second before she turned in place to face the stairs. Between lifting her hoof and setting it down, she realized she’d have to talk to Fluttershy right away. Rainbow Dash wouldn’t, couldn’t be gentle enough. The fragile sculpture that was Fluttershy would break into teeny tiny pieces that nopony could ever put together again. Rarity had to tell her that she was sorry, that sometimes life didn’t go the way it was supposed to- “Take your time, dears.” Again her lips betrayed her. She began to descend the stairs shakily, leaning on the bannister as her heart screamed for her to run back and undo her mistake. She didn’t. She’d meddled enough, and for better or for worse, the two pegasi deserved some privacy for their delicate situation. -O-O-O- Rainbow Dash scraped the floor with her forehoof and looked away. “So... (It’s about yesterday.)” The unsaid words were clearly transmitted to Fluttershy. “Um. Yes? (Oh my. Which part exactly do you mean?)” Rainbow Dash, likewise, could easily decipher her oldest friend’s intentions from the subtlest movements of her ears and wings. Just remembering it brought a blush on Rainbow’s face, adding unintentional undertones to her nonvocal communication. “I caught you and you told me that thing (I hope you remember what you said / I’m both embarrassed and flattered)...” Rainbow bit her lip, blushed harder, and inclined her head a few degrees while turning her ears just so. “…and then passed out. (You kissed me / super embarrassed / I appreciate the feelings, but I can’t handle this right now.)” For the first time she looked Fluttershy in the eyes. “So I couldn’t talk to you right away (because I had to get my head on straight). But now I am. (And I’m sorry, but I can’t do it.) So, uh. (Will you be okay?)” Fluttershy seemed strangely relieved, and Rainbow Dash wondered what in this situation could cause that. “Oh, it’s fine. (Nothing else happened? That’s good.) I’m sorry. (Sorry for keeping it hidden / for accidentally revealing it.) Sorry. (I hope you don’t hate me for that.)” Rainbow Dash felt as if there was something lodged in her throat. “It’s... OK. (I could never hate you.) So… see you around. (We’ll be friends just like before, right?)” Fluttershy seemed to be taking it better than expected, even if she was apologizing for something that definitely wasn’t her fault, and for a moment Rainbow Dash dared hope… Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, fidgeting nervously. “Yes. (I’m going to need some time.) See you around. (I’ll tell you when I’m fine again. Sorry.)” Rainbow Dash nodded (I’ll be waiting). I did what I came to do, but it still feels like I failed. I suppose this is as good as I could expect. She turned to the window and clambered onto the sill. Even if there had been anything else she could think to say, the tightness in her throat wouldn’t have let her. Suddenly, she could feel Fluttershy’s stare on her back, but she didn’t turn around. She’s gotta be hurting worse than me. I don’t want her to see how much this is tearing me apart, too. Without a word, she leaned forward into a low glide that carried her over the little stream outside Fluttershy’s house. From thereon she walked back into Ponyville. I don’t feel like flying.