Pre-canon. During their time in Flight School, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are friends - at least until the new transfer student, Gilda, monopolises Rainbow Dash's time. Fluttershy is genuinely happy Rainbow Dash has someone she can practise flying with properly, but life can get lonely for a pegasus who just wants to go down to the ground for some peace.
After an incident with a pair of bullies, Fluttershy does something drastic to her appearance and Rainbow Dash must return to her role as friend and reforge the bonds between them that have grown so thin.
Cover image is the fanart by hirurux that this fic is based on.
Now with a dramatic reading by DaBoy2187!
Astro Brony, Gina M and CassyPony did a full cast reading too!
Chapters (1)
Pretty awesome one-shot you got here.
I wanted to see a little more in-depth between the Gilda/RB/Fluttershy friendship triangle, but meh. This was just simply heart-warming.
Fave, Like, and a watch
And I love that story photo! It's adorable!
Beautiful, just beautiful. A mustache for you.
I had quite the heartfelt moment there.
Good show, my friend. Good motherbucking show.
Hmm, not bad. I'm guessing by pre-canon, it means before "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", considering that the bullies were in "Sonic Rainboom". Well, even though it does express Dash's disloyalty to Fluttershy in favor of Gilda before this event, it does show her (Rainbow Dash) I guess, who her more important friend probably was. Lot of adorable moments, even if the face of such a sad event.
Well done! 
This, my friend, was an excelent read. Definately worth my time, and a great slice of life read.
This, my friend, was an excelent read. Definately worth my time, and a great slice of life read.
Liked and faved
butt faces die everywhere
Nicely done. I enjoy sad stories like this.
1540969
Thank you.
you should check out the rest of the artist's gallery - it has some gorgeous stuff in it!
1540981
Thank you.
And one for you too! 
1541017
Thank you.
1541162
Actually, this is meant to be shortly after Cutie Mark Chronicles, since I don't think Gilda was in the picture at that point and here Fluttershy is already going down to the ground a lot, when she only just started in that ep.
1556759
Everybody needs a bit of catharsis sometimes.
Thank you.
1561530
I meant more like, WHEN did you write this during the series as it was airing, assuming it was presumably before "Cutie Mark Chronicles" first aired. If you labeled it pre-canon in the beginning of your summary. Still, pre-canon or not, I did enjoy this a bit, showing who really mattered (I think) to RD.
1561551
Oh RIGHT. Sorry.
I wondered myself whether to label it pre-canon or not, since it's previous to the main storyline but not to all the flashbacks.
Thank you for commenting.
Heartwarming little story.
She looks kinda like Babs!
Its so cute! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Now I will go and take a nap.
i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/cloudstarwolf/real-longtail.gif
1561565
It should be "And next time I'll let it grow even longer." Flows better that way. And I think it should be "practicing" not "practising." Other than that, this was a really good story and I love Fluttershy's haircut! MUSTACHES!
OH NO my phone decided to make me click the down vote fix it fix it now ... ah much better.
Anyway I always enjoy these Fluttershy & Rainbow Dash back stories. As the oldest friendship of the mane 6 they are perfect for friendshipping , and this is a great story that's fits perfectly with my headcannon for them.
kudos
This is deplorable.
"They are not worth it" is the worst idea ever.
Sure, it feels nice to be "above" them. But what happens to people afterwards? More specifically, what happens to kids who go through the school thinking they can do anything with impunity? A good deal of them end up as petty criminals - a fate that could be averted if kids were taught to fight back and not "be above it".
2684054
As an educator in a rough area I wholly disagree. I see every day what happens when kids are taught to 'fight back' and the ratio is generally that bullies remain bullies but become increasingly disaffected, leading to social, educational and emotional problems all around. There is much truth to the idiom 'violence is not the answer' and while I will agree that sometimes there are occasions where words alone will not solve a problem, in school? I'm not in the habit of teaching students the lowest common denominator response first.
2684063
You can`t teach integrals before you teach arithmetics.
2684063 Teaching kids to fight back isn't about fixing the bullies. It's about not getting walked on. The bullies remain bullies, yes, but they stop fucking with YOU.
Fixing the bullies is the bullies' problem. "Ignore it and they'll go away" does not work: They don't.
This really touches my heart, because I was bullied in school last year
. And I was having a pretty rough time. But, my friend(didn't have much cause I was new) told me to stand up for myself, and I did. I told a teacher, and then they stopped. So this is a sure like and favorite.
AAWWW. Gorgeous!
Cute and very heartwarming. I enjoy stories like this where Fluttershy and Dash are buddies in Flight Camp. Nice job.
This was a nice and heart warming story. Violence should never be the first solution to a problem. Yes sometimes there are exceptions but most of the time they can be solved using just words. If someone made a friend of mine cry like they did to Fluttershy, I will admit that I would be like Dash in this case, wanting to go out and get back at those people. But in the end what they would really need is for me to be with them and comfort them and that's what we all should do for our friends.
great story! i am a huge fan, i love your work.
i also am auditioning for your radio play, 'there's no place like home'. im auditioning for several ponies including 
and a bunch more!
could I do a reading on this one on my youtube?
im trying to get into fixing up my narration skills and this one
was fun to read, I know alot of people im my class enjoy me reading
the MLP fanfics for them and I know your a good writer and story reader
soo, could I?
4959278
By all means, go ahead. I look forward to hearing it.
4959422
thank you
ill do my best
4959422
Done
http://youtu.be/02OR7v4Vx44
this is the first ive done while NOT SLEEPY
I Like to read things before I sleep and I did this at 5:20
The usual time I read and record is at 2 or 3 am when im working on some stuff
4970480
Wow, that was fast!
Thank you very much!
4971041
its my pleasure
making people happy feels better then getting
Murder is not the answer. The answer is taking SnowFall and Comet, who hate weak fliers, to the EverFreeForest, break their wings, and leave them stranded on the ground, in the most dangerous part of Equestria.
Wonderful story, yet again.
5117247
So, murder. Sounds good.
5160333
It is assault —— ¡not murder! Nopony can blame RainBowDash for what vicious monsters do to pegasi with broken wings.
You can has review!
She kinda looks cute with short hair
Beautiful, simply beautiful...
This was so adorable! I can relate to this! Thank you for writing it! Wonderful story!
Obsessive writing, sewing, family-ing, and so forth keep me from reading as much as I ought to, and as a result, I am not good at searching for a fic to coze up with. Thus I admit that I found this because it was listed as a 'recommended story' in line with my own latest release. I am now of the belief that Fimfiction is rather good with its recommendation system.
At any rate, I know I found this rather late, but it was soft, sweet, and offered a fine message, for I am of the belief that a good friend need not always seek to solve your problems. Sometimes it is enough to just be there - to listen and provide support. It offered a lot in but a few words, and was well true to the characters. Nicely told, and I thank you for it