Ponyville, 7:43 A.M., October 16th, 2012
Rainbow Dash looked around Ponyville for where she had left Fluttershy behind. She spotted Fluttershy down in the center of town, still collecting frogs right next to the poster of The Wonderbolts. “Oops. I guess that one was my fault.” Rainbow Dash flew back down into Ponyville to help Fluttershy out. She had just finished re-gathering the frogs that Rainbow Dash had dropped as she landed down next to her. “Hi Fluttershy. Sorry I just ran off on you like that. I kinda got caught up in the situation.”
“Oh no, it’s fine, Rainbow Dash. It did take me a while to get all of the frogs together, but I think I handled it just fine on my own. You shouldn't worry yourself about it. I am an expert with animals after all.”
“Oh, okay. Well do you want me to help you bring these to the pond still? I could lend a hoof if you need it.”
“Um, if you want to. I mean, I could use some help.”
“Okay, let’s get going then. To the pond!” Rainbow Dash picked up the newly refilled basket she had been carrying earlier and rejoined Fluttershy heading to the new pond. One of the good things about Fluttershy was that she would forgive just about anything that any pony could ever do, so she wouldn’t worry too much about what happened for now.
Fluttershy knew the way better than she did, so Rainbow Dash waited for her to take the lead. Fluttershy took her basket handle in her teeth and took off, heading towards the forest. Rainbow Dash was following close behind. The shy yellow pegasus had a much slower pace than she was used to, and Rainbow Dash quickly found herself looking around at the landscape out of boredom.
The path Fluttershy chose was taking them over the woods just outside Ponyville. They continued for several minutes, just gliding with nothing much else to do, and Rainbow Dash decided to join Fluttershy up ahead, she had been trailing behind for a while, no reason to stay close together really. They couldn’t exactly make conversation with basket handles in between their teeth. Once she got up to her, she decided to give her a little smile. She was still feeling somewhat sorry for abandoning her earlier. Fluttershy smiled back and then, being the shy pony she was, broke eye contact after a few seconds. She looked down toward the ground of the woods. By the look in her eyes, she had seen something in the trees below. She suddenly changed course and began flying downward. Rainbow Dash wasn’t expecting such an abrupt change in plans from Fluttershy, but welcomed the opportunity to gain some speed, and did a few quick aerial tricks, making sure to keep all of the frogs in the basket, before she caught up with Fluttershy, who was making her way down towards an opening amongst the dense maze of trees.
They landed in a clearing in Whitetail Woods. Rainbow Dash didn’t know why, but the place that they stopped had seemed oddly familiar to her. They set down their baskets of frogs, and took in the peaceful serenity of their surroundings.
“Ah, I always love coming here in the morning. It’s the most beautiful part of Whitetail Woods.” Fluttershy was looking around peacefully, admiring the setting around them. “Whitetail Woods is always so nice and peaceful. I just love everything about it, the trees, the animals. It’s always so beautiful.”
Rainbow Dash was still trying to figure out was what so familiar about this place. “Uh...yeah, it’s um...beautiful, Fluttershy.” She tried her hardest to keep Fluttershy from noticing that she was trying to remember how she knew this place so well, but Fluttershy still saw through it.
“What’s wrong Rainbow Dash? You seem a little out of it.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, just-” And that’s when it hit her. The peaceful clearing, the nice aroma, soft ground... This was where she and Midnight first made love, the place where Rainbow Dash had finally forgiven Midnight for leaving her for an entire year. Rainbow Dash could feel her face start to burn up.
“Um, hey, Rainbow Dash? Why are you blushing? I mean, if it’s okay with you that I ask...”
It didn’t feel like it to her, but it had been 6 months since that night, but she was still a little surprised that it had taken her this long to recognize the spot. Maybe it was the fact that it looked different in the daylight, but she wasn’t completely sure. Despite Fluttershy sitting with her just a few feet away, she couldn’t help but run those memories through her mind, feeling more than a little awkward as she did.
“I-It’s nothing. C’mon, we gotta get these frogs to the lake, quick.” She grabbed the basket with her mouth and started to lift off the ground, and took off ahead of her.
“Oh, wait for me please.” Fluttershy picked up her basket and flew after Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash for a bit, not sure if everything really was alright, then decided that Dash would have no reason to lie to her.
They flew at Fluttershy’s slow pace for a few minutes until they finally reached the pond, a small green patch among the green trees. Rainbow Dash had no idea how Fluttershy remembered where to find it. After landing and setting the baskets down, they helped every frog out.
Once they were finished, making sure each and every single frog was there and had been accounted for, Fluttershy asked, “So what exactly happened after you flew away so quickly?”
Rainbow Dash had almost forgotten about ditching Fluttershy already, she was so used to her just letting things slide, but maybe she felt a little hurt this time. It was a bit rude, even for Rainbow Dash. She really did owe her an explanation though, leaving her to re-capture all those frogs by herself. It was for a good reason though.
“Didn’t you see the poster for The Wonderbolts right next to where I left you? They’re performing in Cloudsdale on the 28th and I couldn’t miss it. I had to go talk to Midnight right away about getting tickets to the show. I’m sorry I left you in such a rush, I just was so excited to see them.”
“Oh, I see... that’s okay, I understand.”
“Anyway, he agreed to pay both me and him in.”
“Oh well that was really nice of him.” Rainbow Dash could never quite read Fluttershy’s expression, but she seemed perhaps a little disappointed.
“Oh my gosh! Would you like to go, Fluttershy? I think it’d be really fun if the three of us were all there!” Rainbow Dash felt so rude for not asking Fluttershy earlier.
“Oh no, I couldn’t. I hear there are very loud noises, and you know how I get... I don’t think I’d have much of a good time there. Besides, I have little creatures to take care of here. I think I’m going to be busy for quite some time.” Not disappointment, then. Too bad, Fluttershy was a good friend, but she was so timid sometimes.
“Well, if you say so, but if you happen to change your mind, the offer is still on the table!” She started flapping her wings, getting ready to leave, “See you later Fluttershy! Midnight should be awake by now, I hope, so I’m gonna go talk to him about getting our tickets.”