> The Hopeless Shipper
>  by randomkid
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A small mix-up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy looked around at her class of young students, a slight smile on her face. Harry stood next to her, holding a happy looking Angel eagerly munching away at some feed in his hands. 

"Alright class, what did we learn today?" She asked as she looked to the class. A small yellow and orange changeling raised their hoof. "Yes, Clementine?"

The changeling stuttered a bit, either a little unsure of their answer or just nervous to speak up. "Oh! That... That friendship can happen even if you can't fully understand each other...?"

Fluttershy beamed at the child's answer, giving them a soft nod. "That's right~ Friendship is possible with all creatures, even if they don't speak the same language, or speak at all. The friendship between a creature and their pet is just as important as with their other friends! And understanding somecreature you can't speak with is all about respect and empathy."

The students all took note of their teacher's words as the bell rung, dismissing the mare's class. As everycreature started to file out, Fluttershy called to them, giving them a reminder for the weekend. "Remember class. On monday, I want you to all come in with your projects ready on the topic of unspoken friendship." She got a few mutterings of acknowledgement from her class but they were more focused on the end of their school day.

Once all her students were gone, Fluttershy let put a soft sigh and slumped in her chair. Fluttershy never was a super social and outgoing pony. Being a teacher helped a bit, but it was still stressful. She nursed a soft bruise from when Harry accidentally fell on her during the demonstration. Harry noticed this and set Angel on Fluttershy's desk before giving his caretaker a light massage. Fluttershy smiled and lifted her head to look at her friend.

"Thank you Harry. Apology accepted. I know you didn't mean to hurt me." Harry let out an ashamed whimper but Fluttershy just shook her head. "It's alright. It wouldn't be the first time you fell on me. I'm alright."

That seemed to be enough to calm the guilty bear. Fluttershy relaxed more as Harry relieved the pain in her side. As she let her friend massage her bruise, her gaze went over to the picture on her desk. It was a framed picture of her friends, the first one in fact, taken the day after they defeated Nightmare Moon. 

She smiled, remembering those old days. When was the last time she was with the girls? It was the council of Friendship about half a moon ago. Since then, the six struggled to find time for them to all get together. She turned to the door, getting an idea.


* * *


Fluttershy walked the halls, heading to the office of the one friend who still taught at the School of Friendship, Pinkie Pie. As she trotted on, she overheard several conversations. Ones about upcoming assignments, friends telling jokes nocreature understood except those two, a pony getting scolded for pranking somecreature else. But there was one thing that caught her attention, slowing the pegasus' trot.

"Would... You go out with me?" a purple scaled dragon asked a green colored fluffy maned kirin. The dragon held out a bouquet of flowers to his crush. The kirin's eyes went wide as he tackled the dragon to the ground in a hug, giving him his answer.

Fluttershy stared at the pair for a bit. It wasn't rare that she'd overhear some sort of confession while walking the halls, and young love was always cute to see. She smiled softly, but there was a slight twinge to it.

Fluttershy shook her head, breaking herself out of her daze. She resumed her trek to Pinkie's office, getting there after a minute or two. She knocked on Pinkie's door before carefully opening it to see if her friend was inside or not. "Pinkie? Are you here?"

When the door swung open, she found a colorfully decorated empty office room. She frowned a bit, thinking maybe Pinkie had gone home already. She stepped back outside and found Starlight stepping out of her office across the hall.

The yellow pegasus slowly approached, catching Starlight's attention as she closed her door behind her. Starlight waved and spoke with a cheery tone. "Hey Fluttershy! How was class today?"

Fluttershy waved back and gave the unicorn a tired expression. "Exhausting... But productive. Harry and Angel did a great demonstration today and I think the students are really starting to understand," Fluttershy said before glancing back to Pinkie's door. "You wouldn't happen to know where Pinkie is, do you?"

Starlight thought for a bit before chuckling. "Pinkie? She ran like a bat out of Tartarus screaming about needing to get home to Cheesie or something. I think Cheese is out of town so she's had her hooves full lately."  

Fluttershy nodded softly, knowing just how chaotic Lil Cheesie could get without momma Pinkie around. She sighed, a slight ache in her heart forming when she heard Pinkie would probably be too busy today. At least she still had three other friends she could spend time with.

"Oh, that's alright. Thank you Starlight. Did you have any plans today?" Fluttershy asked curiously. 

"Oh! Sunburst and I were going take a trip up to the Crystal Empire this weekend. Flurry's been asking about us. You know how she gets when she's upset." Starlight seemed rather chipper about this trip. It did make sense. Starlight and Sunburst were basically Flurry's second parents with how much time they spent taking care of her. Any time Cadence and Shining weren't available, those two would jump at the opportunity to fill in. "Plus it'll be nice to have some us time. We're not needed until tomorrow but we're heading over early for a date~"

Fluttershy gave a weak smile, that ache growing a bit more. Two friends busy with other things. But she still had AJ and Rarity. Maybe they could go to the spa. "That's great Starlight. I'll see you monday then."

Starlight nodded and gave Fluttershy another wave before excitedly trotting off to meet with Sunburst. "I'll see you monday Fluttershy~!"

Fluttershy waved to Starlight until she was out of sight. The pegasus sighed, drooping her head near the floor. She looked out the window to see the rest of her home town. 

Fluttershy shook and stood up tall, psyching herself up and out of her dour mood. "Come on Fluttershy! You have other friends that would love to spend time with you. I'm sure somepony will be available!"


***


The door to Canterlot Boutique swung open before Fluttershy could even give it a good knock. She was greeted by a large silhouette that took her a second to recognize. "Oh! Hello Yona~ It's good to see you~ Is Rarity here?"

Yona excitedly bounced, shaking the entire shop with her immense strength. She stepped back, letting Fluttershy walk inside as she spoke. "Fluttershy always welcome at Canterlot Boutique! Yona not know where Rarity went. Sandbar last saw her."

Yona called out Sandbar's name from the entrance. Fluttershy instinctively covered her ears and grinned sheepishly. It wasn't long before Sandbar joined them downstairs in the main storefront.

"Yeah, Yons? Something wrong?"

"Nothing wrong. Fluttershy looking for Rarity. Where she go again?"

Sandbar looked to Fluttershy and greeted her before rubbing his chin. "I think she said she had an important client to meet in Manehattan. She rushed outta here so fast she almost forgot the dresses."

Fluttershy slumped again, that ache from earlier returning. She spoke in almost a whisper, "Oh... That's alright then... I was hoping she would head to the spa with me but if she's in Manehattan... Maybe Applejack is available..." Fluttershy started to head to the door.

Yona took a step to follow after her before speaking up. "Why pony sad?"

Fluttershy did her best to hide the exhaustion in her smile as she replied to the yak. "I just wanted to see if any of the girls wanted to spend some time together. But it looks like most of them are too busy. I'll be alright Yona."

Yona and Sandbar looked to Fluttershy then to each other. Something was up but they weren't sure how to broach this subject. It was Sandbar who spoke up first. "Well, I hope Applejack's up for some fun. You deserve it for dealing with those kids. But I bet they aren't as bad as us~"

The three shared a laugh but Fluttershy's was a little forced. She shot them one more smile before heading off. She did catch the two move closer to each other as she flew away, Sandbar seemingly comforting Yona for something. That didn't really help her mood.

She picked up her pace, knowing she'd have to move pretty fast to get to Sweet Apple Acres before it got too dark. While flying, she passed over Sugar Cube Corner, overhearing the chaos occurring inside.

Screams and yelps of a familiar pink pony echoed from the upper floor of the sweets shop, followed by giggling of a newly born colt. The building practically shook as Fluttershy assumed Pinkie was trying to get Cheesie under control. There was the sound of a party cannon going off as streamers flew out the window followed by flour. Pinkie definitely had her hooves full with the child and Fluttershy didn't feel up to wrangling a child right now. So she kept flying to Sweet Apple Acres.

Once she arrived, Fluttershy was met with a hectic sight. Apples, both the fruit and the ponies, were scattered about the property, ponies chasing after runaway fruit that moved like they had a mind of their own. Fluttershy groaned to herself, seeing exactly how this was going. She landed next to Applejack, who'd just caught a bunch of animated apples in a bushle. She was standing on top of it, wondering what to do when she realized Fluttershy was here.

"Howdy Fluttershy. Sorry if Ah look a little rugged. Some weird critter came out of the forest made a whole section of our orchard move on it's own. It's been a real hassle to get them under control." As she said that Applebloom jumped at a herd of apples with a large net, catching them. She had a victorious look on her face until one of the apples used a particularly sharp leaf to cut a whole in the net. 

Fluttershy slumped and looked back to Applejack with a deep frown. "I guess you're too busy to spend time too..."

Applejack immediately picked up on Fluttershy's gloomy mood and knew something was wrong. She grabbed a heavy looking rock and placed it on top of the bushle of apples. 

Applejack placed a hoof on Fluttershy's cheek and lifted her head to meet her gaze. "What's wrong sugarcube? You feelin' a little stressed and nopony else is free?"

Fluttershy's eyes watered slightly as she gave a quick nod. Applejack always could tell what was wrong with somepony with only a glance. And she knew she had to do something to help.

"Why don't yah head inside? We should have this under control soon. Then we can have a nice dinner with friends. Would that make yah feel better?"

Fluttershy nodded as she wiped away the tears that had started to well in her eyes. This is what she really needed. Somepony to put her first tonight after such a stressful day. She muttered a soft, "Thank you Applejack," before heading into the barn. 

Inside was the final missing Apple, or technically, Belle. Sugar Belle was inside the house, seemingly baking something for dinner. Sugar Belle didn't see who entered so she called out to the pony entering.

"I know you're hungry, but dinners not ready yet, silly~" When she stepped into the main room to see Fluttershy she paused, clearly not expecting her. "Oh. Hi Fluttershy~ Are you joining us tonight~?"

Fluttershy nodded and happily approached Sugar Belle. "Applejack invited me~ It was a rough day at the School today."

Sugar Belle seemed delighted to have another pony to bake for tonight. She bounced slightly and urged Fluttershy to follow her into the kitchen. "You have to try this new recipe Fluttershy~ I've been working on it all day~"

Fluttershy was more than happy to walk with Sugar Belle and try some pastries. While she wasn't as big of a sweets addict as Pinkie, Fluttershy loved some sweets every now and then. "What flavor is it?"

"It's Apple, Pear and Sugar Plum! I uh... Thought it was fitting." The mare giggled softly and pulled the pie out of the oven before placing it on the table.

"Are you sure we can try it now? I don't want to eat before everypony else is ready." The pie did smell delicious, baked to perfection. She'd never tell either pony directly, but she always preferred Sugar Plum's pies compared to Pinkie's.

"They should be back soon. We're just getting prepared~ I need a taste tester after all." Sugar Belle was her usual upbeat self when a red stallion's head popped in through the window. His expression worried Fluttershy. It seemed like he had some bad news.

"Oh no... What's wrong dear? Is it not going well?"

"Nnnnnope."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come help?"

"Eeeyup!"

"Well... Do you know how long it'll be until the family can join us?"

"Nnope."

Sugar Belle frowned before gently nuzzling against her husband. "We'll be in here when you're ready. I love you dear~"

"Ah love you too. Just sit tight and we'll be as soon as we can." With that, Big Mac went back outside to help the rest of his family.

Fluttershy's mood had plummeted once again. She made a frustrated squeak that caught Sugar Belle's attention. Fluttershy was face down on the table, the rest of her body slumped on the ground. "Oh... Why is it so hard just to spend time with my friends...? We saved Equestria from basically everything at this point, but we can't even see each other?"

Sugar Belle approached and gently pet the pegasus' head, doing her best to speak in a calming tone. "Oh I know what you mean. Me and my friends from the village struggle to meet up too. But that doesn't make you any less close. I'm sure the next Council of Friendship will come along sooner than you think~"

Fluttershy didn't stop Sugar Belle but it didn't seem like she was really helping. "But I don't want to only see them for the Counsil of Friendship... I miss us all being here... Together..."

Sugar Belle's ears drooped realizing just how down her friend really was. She wanted to help in any way she could. She opened her mouth to speak when a sudden wave of dizziness struck her. She wobbled a bit but Fluttershy saw it and caught her. 

"Are you alright Sugar Belle...? What was that?" The concern for her friend had temporarily overcame her depression.

Sugar Belle stuttered as she tried to come up with something to say. In the end she decided to go with the truth. She didn't want to lie to Fluttershy when she was in this state. "Well... Don't tell anyone this but... The Apple family is about to get a bit bigger~"

Fluttershy immediately froze in place. This was great news, amazing news even. One of her friends was going to become an Aunt. But it just heightened that aching feeling she'd been feeling all day. "Wow... That's great..."

Sugar Belle regained her balance and walked over to the table, starting to cut a few slices of pie for her and her friend. "I know~... We've been trying for a while now and it's finally happened. We want to keep it a surprise for now, but it's all been worth it once we see the look on everypony's face~ Now, do you want any-" when Sugar Belle turned back around, Fluttershy was gone. She just stood there, pie slices at hoof but no pony to serve it to.


***


Fluttershy sniffled as she flew away from her friends orchard. She just couldn't handle it anymore. Everyone seeming so happy and content when she was felt so alone. She wasn't heading in any particular direction, just away from the orchard. But while flying, the tears started to blur her vision. While trying to clear her eyes, she bumped into what felt like a cloud. She was about to get angry at a cloud flying so low when she realized it wasn't any old cloud she bumped into. It was Rainbow Dash's house, floating low to the ground so she could hear anypony coming to visit her.

She huffed and landed in front of the door. Rainbow's house was always so breathtaking to Fluttershy. The beautiful mix of clouds, she sheer size of it, the flowing rainbow pools. It made Fluttershy's home pale by comparison. She didn't knock on the door. It wouldn't do any good. Rainbow hadn't come back to Ponyville in a while. Ever since Twilight's coronation, Rainbow has been traveling all over to perform with the Wonderbolts. And her husband, Soarin. 

It started with her, Fluttershy's oldest friend. Fluttershy knew that Rainbow didn't leave her because of some stallion. She was living her life long dream, flying with the Wonderbolts, her icons since fillyhood. But it didn't help that when they started dating, Rainbow got increasingly busy. Even when she was in Ponyville, Rainbow was either practicing for the next show or too exhausted from the last one. They never got any time together. And Soarin was always there, right next to her.

Then it was Pinkie and Cheese. While Pinkie didn't move away, the reckless pony already had a child with Cheese, making it so what little time Pinkie had off from work she was with them. She didn't resent Pinkie for having a family now but... Why did it seem like their friendship was the cost? Twilight already moved back to Canterlot and Rarity's growing popularity kept her from staying in one place for too long. The only constant was Applejack. And Applejack has always been busy on the farm. Fluttershy was a pretty patient pony but it was getting to be too much. She couldn't even remember the last time she saw her friends all together except during the Counsil of Friendship. She huffed again and lightly kicked the ground, sending small puffs of cloud free from the structure. 

Fluttershy plopped her flank on the cloud floor, trying to compose herself and keep from breaking down completely. She whimpered softly before her eye caught a picture frame in the window. It was the picture of Rainbow and Soarin from the Grand Galloping Gala. And that was it. The straw that broke the camel's back. She flew off again, ready to throw herself in bed and cry herself to sleep. She took off to her cottage, her tears leaving a damp trail behind her.


***


It was about an hour of crying that finally calmed the pink haired mare down enough to register her surroundings. She had a few of her critters nearby for support but Fluttershy didn't seem to even notice them until now. She looked around at her animal companions and tried to calm their worries.

"I'm so sorry little ones... I didn't mean to worry you all. I just... Why can't I be happy for my friends? They're off doing what they want... Living happily with their new families. But I'm just here. Still alone with my animals..." Fluttershy hugged the pillow she was holding, tears staining the case. 

Several animals chirped in worry for the yellow pegasus, hoping to offer some ideas to help her relax. "No Mr Beaverton Beaverteeth... I don't think food will help..." A squawk came from a nearby bird. "I already tried flying... It didn't help." One more voice chimed out from the chaos. Angel thumped his foot loudly before bringing over some paper and a quill.

Fluttershy looked to the parchment for a bit before taking it in her hoof. "A story...? I haven't written one in years. I... I didn't feel the need to." She examined it again, a fond memory passing her mind. "Maybe your right. Now is a perfect time to cheer myself up. But... What to write?"

Fluttershy's mind immediately went to her friends. Her breath caught a bit as she steadied her quill. The one she wanted to see the most now was Twilight. She was the busiest of them all, so Fluttershy settled on a story about her. Her and a certain orange pegasus Fluttershy remembered seeing the princess ogle a few times. It was perfect.

The quill glided effortlessly along the page, the story spilling forth from her with ease. Her creativity sparked life and soon she was focused on her writing. It wasn't anything special, a simple love story between a princess and her royal guard, but it was her creation and she loved it. It made her happy to have made something, even if she had no intention to show anypony. 

When she finished, she really did feel better. She scooped up Angel and hugged him close, snuggling the bunny despite his pleas to let go. "Oh, Angel that was a lovely idea~ Thank you so much~ I feel so much better now. I just needed that out of my system."

Finally, the bunny squirmed from her grip and stomped, looking rather cross with her. Fluttershy sheepishly grinned and started to fluff his tail that she'd messed up. "I'm sorry Angel. Thank you for the suggestion." Angel seemed at ease now, accepting her apology for now. 

As she fluffed Angel's tail, Fluttershy's eyes drifted back to the quill and paper. She finished up with Angel before grabbing the quill again and grabbing a new piece of paper. She started writing words that were definitely familiar to her.

Dear, Princess Twilight Sparkle...


***


Fluttershy woke up rather late that morning, sleep not finding her until late in the night. The letter she wrote last night was a simple one, just telling her about her day and asking how Canterlot was treating her. Fluttershy knew that Twilight was fine, but the simple gesture of writing a letter to her friend was relaxing. Her morning however, was anything but.

Animals cried and chirped and squawked to get the caretakers attention, all starving for their morning meal. Fluttershy scrambled to get everything in order and get the right food to the right critters. Her breakdown last night involved her leaving her cottage in a sad state of affairs that made it hard for the pegasus to find what she wanted. 

Fluttershy's letter sat on the counter, nearby the story she'd written last night to calm her mind. As she brought the food over to the squirrels, it took her just a second too long to realize she was pouring the wrong bag. Bear chow tumbled out, leaving the small mammals in a confused state. As soon as she noticed that, she tried to correct her mistake but one of the squirrels got antsy, jumping up on the counter to reach the right food. The squirrel found himself on unstable ground as he landed on Fluttershy's letter to Twilight. He slipped, scattering the pages on the floor. In a last attempt not to fall, the squirrel grabbed at the counter but only found purchase on the story, scattering more paper with the letter, down below.

Luckily, before the squirrel could hit the ground, Fluttershy swooped in and caught him, breathing a sigh of relief. She scolded the small beast. "What did I tell you about being patient Nutella? You almost got hurt. And you made a mess. Say you're sorry." Nutella chattered out an apology and Fluttershy set him down on the ground before grabbing the proper food.

Once everyone was fed and happy, Fluttershy started to pick up the pieces of paper on the floor to put them back when she suddenly heard the clopping of hooves. Fluttershy gasped and quickly folded the pages away into an envelope. "The mail pony is here already! I have to get this letter to Twilight now!"

She rushed outside, just in time to meet the mail carrier. She happily handed over her letter, hopeful the princess would send her a letter back soon. Unfortunately, Fluttershy's letter still laid on the floor of her cottage, unknown to the pegasus as the envelope with her new story made it's way to the main character's mailbox. Fluttershy just went about her day, humming a soft tune as she headed towards her sanctuary.
> Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The newly appointed Princess sat in her throne, a dull ringing in her ears as a pair of dignitaries bickered on and on about... Something. Truth was, the Princess had stopped listening ages ago. The problems in Canterlot were always the same, rich ponies upset that they weren't getting preferential treatment over other rich ponies. Rarely, she'd get diplomats from far off lands but with the School of Friendship established, disputes didn't last longer that a couple minutes. Now she understood why her teacher was always so chipper in the presence of Chaos.

Twilight's eyes drifted to the window, looking past the stained glass of her coronation to see Ponyville down in the valley. What are the others up to? Maybe Pinkie has some new crazy party she was throwing. Or Rarity some extremely picky client. Rainbow Dash trying out some new trick leading to property destruction. The princess sighed in her seat, finally catching the attention of the royals in front of her.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, surely you can see why the strict rules of the Metroponytan Gala must be upheld! What this stallion is suggesting simply isn't proper," suggested a yellow unicorn with a white, curly mane and tail.

"I think you'll find it's quite proper. Stallion fashion is already limited enough without placing pointless restrictions on it. Forcing stallions to wear neckties?!" The grey stallion spat, that word clearly not agreeing with the pony's mouth. "The least you could do is allow bowties. Bowties are cool."

"Enough!" The princess groaned. She looked between the two fancy ponies in front of her and sat up properly to emphasize her point. "Allons Zekiel has a point. It's a rule that just doesn't make sense.  If we won't limit a mare's fashion, we shouldn't do the same with a stallions."

Allons beamed, shooting the mare across from him a toothy grin. He bowed before the princess as he spoke. "Thank you, Princess. The Zekiel family is very grateful." The other mare glowered, but she bowed as well, conceding that she'd lost this debate.

Twilight raised a hoof for them to stand. I will never get use to that."Now, please send in the next group as you leave. You are both dismissed." 

With the two unicorns gone, Twilight relaxed back in her seat, the alicorn's entire body visibly slumping. Twilight's eyelids drooped as she struggled to stay awake. Luckily, the next guest was someone she was more than happy to see.

"Spike!" The Princess shot up in a rather unprincess like manner, before recomposing herself to greet the young dragon properly. 

Spike had definitely grown since they left Ponyville. He was a lot taller now, standing above even Applejack. He was in a bit of a weird phase where his upper body developing more than his lower body, giving him a triangular silhouette.

Spike snickered as he approached the throne and Twilight. He'd come to expect this kind of reaction whenever he returned from his duties. "Hey, Twilight. Let me guess, another exciting day in Canterlot with lots of interesting ponies to talk to."

Twilight rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh yes. I just, love, love, love, hearing ponies talk about their vast amounts of bits and why they should get free tickets to the Gala. It's my 4th favorite thing!" Immediately after saying that, the Princess made a very irrate face for a brief moment. 

"That bad, huh? Well... I did have some news from King Thorax, buuuuuut... It's not urgent. C'mon! Let's go get some fresh air! If anyone asks, we'll just say we're on official Princess business," Spike offered with a wide smile.

Normally, Twilight would turn down such proposals, seeing them as an irresponsible use of her time, but nothing had happened in days! And it didn't need to be a long break. Twilight relented and gave Spike a quick nod. "You know what? We do have official business! We have no time to spare!" With that, she stood up and quickly trotted past Spike and out the main chamber.

Spike thrusted a fist in the air before quickly following after her. Several ponies tried to grab their attention but they were brushed off rather easily as the two made their way to the courtyard. 

"So... Spike, how are things going with the dragon lord~?" Twilight asked, playfully.

Spike narrowed his eyes at Twilight. "Twilight, I've already told you, I'm not telling you about dragon courting rituals. Ponies don't know about them because they're private. And Ember would KILL me if I told you."

"Why would you think I'm asking about that~? I'm just curious how you and your new girlfriend are doing~" Twilight feigned ignorance. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was going to document everything about dragon society one way or another.

Spike groaned and shook his head. Looks like she wasn't getting it today. That was fine, she didn't really want to pester her friend today. She was just happy to spend some time with him away from work.

As the two walked the castle halls, they trotted past one of the various classrooms of Twilight's students. She paused for a bit, her eyes landing on a familiar sunset colored filly. She was absorbed in a book, seemingly having finished the class magic project while the other students worked with their partners. Luster sat alone, finished but shutting herself in from her classmates.

"That looks familiar, huh Twilight?" Spike's voice snapped the princess out of her trance, drawing her attention back to her draconic companion.

"Yeah. Almost too familiar. I'm a little worried about Luster. I would've thought she'd open up by now, but I guess what she's been through left her worse off than I thought," Twilight continued to walk with Spike, her gaze still partially on the window.

"She's been through a lot. Even with Sunburst and Starlight taking her in, it's gonna be hard for her to form connections. But that's why they sent her here! They believe in you. I'm sure things will work out. Now, enough work talk! Where do you want to go? Donut Joe's? Hayburgers?" Spike's enthusiasm reminded Twilight of younger years, back in Ponyville. She couldn't help but get a bit more pep in her step.

"Hungry, huh? Well, I know just the place," Twilight had a slight sing-songy tone to her voice as she took the lead.


***


The two trotted out of the Tasty Treat, their bellies full and Twilight's mouth still burning a bit. Spike seemed perfectly fine, his pallette more well adjusted to the sting. Despite that, Twilight enjoyed herself.

"Pinkie and Rarity were right, The Tasty Treat is amazing. Even if it was a bit much for me," Twilight giggled sheepishly.

Spike grinned and patted his tummy before turning to Twilight. "I'm surprised you could eat anything in there. You can't handle any spice at all."

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck with a wing, knowing she really didn't have much of a response to that. Instead she tried to change the subject. "I wonder how the others are doing? It's been a while since we last saw each other."

Spike smiled as he thought about the other ponies who helped raise him. "Well, Pinkie probably has her hooves full with Cheesie, Rarity's probably schmoozing up some nobles for sales, Applejack's up to her usual chores, Fluttershy's would be teaching right now and Rainbow... OH! I totally forgot! I was going to tell you. The Wonderbolts moved up their air show next week to today!"

"Wait... The Wonderbolts are performing today?! Where?" Twilight's mood definitely improved, despite the change in schedule. It meant that she would actually get to see one of her friends today. 

"Where else? At the cloud stadium. But if we want to make it we should probably-" Spike didn't have time to finish his sentence before Twilight grabbed him and they were on their way to the stadium.

Once there, despite the ticket booth being closed, it wasn't hard to convince the workers to let the Princess of Equestria and her Ambassador in to the VIP box. Once they found their spots, the show started.

"Ladies and Gentlecolts, put your hooves together, for the Wonderbolts!" Six pegasi, all wearing the trademark Wonderbolt flight suits flew up from the Cliffside just below the cloud stadium, all trailing lines of dark clouds before hudling together and kicking off each other's hooves to form brightly colored fireworks. The colored light spread down the cloud trails, bathing the stadium in light as ponies ooo'd and ah'd. 

Twilight kept an eye out for Rainbow but couldn't see her in the initial lineup. In fact, nopony looked familiar. This group of six seemed comprised of all new members. Or at least, Wonderbolts Twilight didn't recognize. The show continued as Twilight kept searching for Rainbow, getting increasingly worries that she wouldn't see her. She did see some other familiar faces. Spitfire, Fleet Foot, Misty Fly, Surprise. But no Rainbow Dash and no Soarin either. She sighed, wondering if the two got themselves into some problem again where they couldn't perform.

Then the air started to sizzle with a tingly feeling. The air seemed electrified as the Wonderbolts parted, giving way to a Rainbow colored blur. Rainbow Dash charged at the stadium with blinding speed, coming from over the mountains behind her. Twilight knew what to expect but she was still caught off guard by the loud burst of Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom. But the Wonderbolts weren't done yet. As the rainbow colored shock wave expanded from the multicolored pegasus, another Wonderbolt trailed her, Soarin. He met with the shock wave and, with his weather manipulation magic, grabbed it before flying up, curving the blast. The other Wonderbolts did the same, grabbing points on the burst before curling it up and around into a large sphere of rainbow sound energy. And then it burst, sending Rainbow colored lights in all directions, bathing the entire stadium. The ponies went wild.


***


Once the show was over, Twilight and Spike made their way backstage to meet with their friend. The locker room was filled with the various Bolts from the show, all relaxing or celebrating with the conclusion of a successful show. Twilight looked around for Dash, finding her with relative ease. She seemed tired, which was strange for her, but it was Rainbow who spoke up first.

"Spike, Twilight. I thought I saw you in the audience. Come to see how much I've improved~?" Despite her clear exhaustion, the joy on her face to see an old friend was clear.

Twilight snickered before looking over to one of the new Bolts. "Oh, were you in the show? I didn't notice. I was here to check out the new fliers."

The two shared a laugh before Rainbow waved Twilight off with a wing. "Sure, sure. How's it been being Princess? Tear your hair out yet?"

"She's getting there," Spike muttered as he walked up to Dash.

Twilight lightly bumped Spike with a quick scowl before following after him. "I have an important job here. It's going perfectly fine."

Rainbow gave her a side eye before nodding. "Yeah, that's why you're here and not at the castle."

Twilight looked away bashfully before sighing. "Okay yeah. I really wanted to come see you. It's the same thing every day here in the castle. I felt like I could use a little Rainbow excitement."

Rainbow Dash let out an amused grunt before getting up from her seat. "Look Twi, I'd love to hang out. But we've got a signing in a few minutes. Wanna meet up at the castle afterwards? I can tell you all about the crazy things going on in Saddle Arabia."

Twilight beamed as she heard that and gave Rainbow a quick nod. "Of course. I'll let you get to that. We should probably be heading towards the castle anyway." Twilight turned and started to head back to the castle.

"Bye Rainbow! See you at the castle!" Spike quickly followed after Twilight, waving as he went. Rainbow waved back as the two left the locker room.

A strange heaviness came over Twilight as the took to the air with Spike. She held a hoof to her chest feeling it get worse the farther she went. "Spike... You ever... Wish you could go back to another time?"

Spike thought about his Twilight's question before giving his answer. "Well... Sometimes. But I also don't want to give up what I have now. I may think things were easier in the past but... What I have now is good too. And I want to enjoy that."

His answer made Twilight smile, helping relieve the weight in her chest. "Yeah. Me too Spike. Thank you."


***


After a few minutes, the Princess and Ambassador arrived back at the castle. Twilight was almost immediately bombarded with questions and things she missed. It would take her another few minutes before she could get away to her private quarters.

Twilight huffed as she closed the door behind Spike. "I swear, I'm gone for a few minutes and ponies go crazy!"

Spike chuckled and walked away from the door before a loud knock rang out. It looked like Twilight was ready to burst a blood vessel, so Spike decided to take the door himself. 

"What is it? The Princess is very busy right now," Spike said in as calm a manner as he could.

The pony on the other end of the door had a brown coat and had frizzy hair. He was also rather skinny looking with a mail bag on his side. "Oh! Uh... I just have a letter for the princess and I-"

"Put it in the mail room. The princess gets a lot of letters," Spike interrupted before starting to close the door on the mail pony. 

The stallion stuck his hoof between the door and the wall and continued. "Well you see, this one seemed important. It's from Ponyville.

Twilight perked up, walking over to the door from her bed to greet the mailpony. Spike stepped away and allowed Twilight to handle it.

"From Ponyville? Let me see it please." Twilight held a hoof out to the courier, opening the door a bit wider.

The stallion pulled the letter from his bag and handed it over to the princess. As she examined it she found the sender to be Fluttershy. Her eyes widened a bit as she turned back to the mail pony.

"Thank you." With that, Twilight levitated over some bits as a tip for the stallion before closing the door on him and opening the envelope. 

She started reading, but was confused by the start. This letter didn't start with any sort of addressing Twilight. Instead it seemed like... a story? Spike walked over to Twilight, curiosity on his face.

"What's wrong Twilight? Is something wrong back home?" He looked over his shoulder, trying to get an idea of what she was looking at.

"I don't think so? It just seems like Fluttershy sent me a story of some kind. And it's about... Me?" Twilight questioned as she read on. 

The story was indeed about her. But it was also about Flash Sentry, someone she hadn't thought about in a while. She read as the Twilight in the story pined for the stallion, swooning every time he came by, but she couldn't find the right words to say. It was... Surreal. Twilight had read romance novels before. They weren't usually her thing but she could still enjoy one every now and then. But reading a romance story about herself was odd. She couldn't help but think about all the small things that seemed out of place for her. Things she wouldn't say. Things Flash wouldn't say. She wasn't upset by it just... confused why a story like this was sent to her. Though she had to admit, it wasn't a bad story. It wasn't high art but it seemed like the author wrote it with passion. And all evidence pointed to that author being Fluttershy. 

"I don't understand? Why would Fluttershy send me something like this? Why would she write something like this?"

Right in the middle of her questioning, a loud knock came from her door, followed by a familiar voice. "Hey Twilight! I'm here. Spike told me I could find you here," Rainbow called from the other end of the door.

Twilight looked over to the clock on her wall. Apparently she'd been reading the story for an hour and a half. She must've been so wrapped up that Spike left and Rainbow had finished with the Bolts.

"O-Oh! Uh, yeah. Come in Rainbow." The princess debated hiding the story but decided on something else.

Rainbow walked in confidently, an amused look on her face. "That the thing you were so caught up in reading? I heard you got a letter or something and Spike couldn't break you out of your book trance. That good, huh?"

As Rainbow approached, Twilight nodded softly, gathering the pages back up. "I guess you could say that."

Rainbow flew up, trying to spy a peak at the mysterious letter. "Can I read it~?"

Twilight moved the pages out of sight, wondering if she really should ask Rainbow about this. She decided that even with as nosy as Rainbow was being, she'd know best what this means from Fluttershy.

"I'd... Rather you didn't. But I do have a question. Does Fluttershy ever... Write stories?" Twilight's tone was hesitant but curious.

Rainbow cocked her head to the side, thinking back on her time with Fluttershy. "I mean, yeah. She did that when she was a filly. She'd write stories all the time. You know she wanted to be an author before she got her cutie mark?"

"That's news to me." Twilight found that hard to believe. But it at least made sense for the quality of the story. She pushed further. "What about... Romance stories."

Something clicked in Rainbow's eyes when she heard that. She got closer to Twilight, a concerned look on her face. "Wait... Did Fluttershy write some sort of love story between you and another pony?"

Twilight was baffled that Rainbow caught on so quickly. Clearly this was something she knew about. "Rainbow, is this normal for her? Cause it seems like she wrote this story and sent it to me for some reason."

Rainbow's worry shifted to confusion when Twilight mentioned that. "Wait... She sent you one of her friendfictions? I found mine one day after flight school. Why would she do that?" Rainbow rubbed her chin with her wing before turning back to Twilight. "As for this being normal I mean... Kinda? Or at least it was. She told me whenever she was having a really bad day she'd write stories to make herself feel better. But that was when she was a filly. She hasn't done that in years."

"This doesn't look like a filly's hoofwriting... And there's no way she knew about either of us back then. So this has to be recent! Which means... Maybe I should check in on Fluttershy." Twilight held the letter tight, only now realizing there were subtle tear marks on the pages.

Rainbow looked unsure. "I don't know. Knowing her, she probably sent the story by accident. And when she finds out what she did, she's probably going to hide from you. Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Twilight nodded, a newfound confidence overtaking her. "I do. I don't know what kind of state Fluttershy is in but it's my job as her friend to check in on her. If she's in a bad enough place to resort to something she hasn't done in years... Will you go with me?"

Rainbow thought about it before giving Twilight a salute, a determined look on her face. "Always! If Fluttershy is in trouble I'll always help. I could try to find the others too?"

Twilight nodded and started to gather a few things. "I think that's a good idea. If you're right about her hiding, we'll need all the help we can get finding her."

With that, Rainbow and Twilight's evening was cut short. Out of worry for their friend, the two rushed out of the castle to find Fluttershy, hoping that she was okay.


***


Fluttershy clung to the loose branch that kept her from the rocky depths below. She skittered, her hooves finding no purchase on the rocks above. She looked down, seeing only mist below and her own limp wings. She called out, but in the middle of the Everfree, no one could hear her. Her worst fear was going to become a reality. Only one thought ran through her head as the cracking of the branch got louder.

I'm going to die alone.

And then the branch snapped.
> The heart of the issue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Earlier that day.


Fluttershy was out, running her usual errands for the day. She had to pick up some more feed for her animals in the shelter. It didn't take long for her to finish up and get distracted window shopping. While she felt a little better than yesterday, she wasn't back to her usual self. An unnatural amount of couples had swarmed the marketplace. Fluttershy just tried to keep her head down.

Once she arrived back home, Fluttershy sighed and started to get everything ready for the day. It was a nice distraction! Until she noticed the paper's on her counter. Her pupils landed on the opening sentence, "Dear Princess Twilight," and her heart sunk. 

Fluttershy quickly grabbed the papers and skimmed them, realizing the true extent of her mistake. The timid pony's knees started to buckle as anxiety overwhelmed her.

"Angeeeeeel!" Fluttershy screamed out to her loyal pet. He hopped up onto the counter, rubbing his eyes since he was so rudely awoken. He was then scooped up by Fluttershy. "Oh Angel! I sent the wrong letter to Twilight! Now she's gonna read that terrible story I wrote about her!"

While this was clearly a big deal to Fluttershy, Angel didn't really care, yawning loudly as he tried to escape her grasp. Fluttershy only panicked more, releasing Angel so she could pace.

"Ooooh no! What do I do? I don't know if I could face Twilight if she reads that story! It'll be so... Embarrassing." Fluttershy looked out her window, weighing her options. "Maybe it hasn't been sent yet! I could go down to the post office and tell them I sent the wrong letter. Yes! That's it. Oooooh. I hope I'm not too late."

Fluttershy rushed out of her cottage, making a beeline for the post office. Once she arrived, she found a massive line leading out the building. Fluttershy's worry only grew as she heard loud voices from inside. It was clear something was going on today and somepony was not happy about it. Fluttershy meekly went to the back of the line and tried her best to wait patiently. 

That would only last so long as she saw a familiar grey pegasus pony leaving the office with a courier bag. Fluttershy eyed a letter sticking out of Derpy's bag and immediately followed after her. That was Fluttershy's story! She had to catch up with Derpy and get that story back!

"Derpy! Derpy wait up," Fluttershy called out to the mailmare, which made her pause. The grey mare turned her head towards Fluttershy and smiled before waving.

"Sorry Fluttershy, I can't talk right now. I got a bunch of letters to deliver," Derpy responded, taking off again before Fluttershy could catch up.

Fluttershy picked up her pace, getting more desperate now as she tried to speak with Derpy more. "I just... I need to grab something before you go! I sent something I didn't mean to and I'd like it back." 

Fluttershy lunged at the grey pegasus but she simply dodged out of the way before Fluttershy could catch her, causing Flutters to crash into a nearby cloud. "Nooooo can do Fluttershy~ I can't let anything get between me and delivering the mail~ It's my sacred duty as a mail carrier," she sung in a sing-songy voice.

Fluttershy was getting frustrated now. She charged again, trying to catch Derpy off guard by feinting at the last second, but it didn't work. "Derpy! Give me that letter!"

The mailmare clutched her bag as she dropped from the sky, falling below Fluttershy's most recent attempt at mail fraud. "No! It's my mail! If you want to deliver it, become a mailmare yourself!"

With that, she disappeared below a cloud barrier and sped off, leaving Fluttershy in the dust. Fluttershy tried to get any sight of her but Derpy was just gone. Honestly, Derpy could probably give Rainbow Dash a run for her money if she was motivated enough.

Luckily, there was something left behind! In the mare's haste, one letter floated down to the ground. Fluttershy snatched it up quickly, realizing it was the one she saw before! Only to then realize it was somepony else's letter. It looked a lot like her own, but this was not her story that she accidentally sent to Twilight. And now Derpy was gone. 

Fluttershy brought herself to the ground, landing as tears welled up in her eyes. A few teardrops fell onto the lookalike letter before she tossed it aside. The letter was picked up by the wind and carried off... directly into the face of a certain pink pony on a walk.

Pinkie's eyes buldged out cartoonishly from beneath the letter as she let out a playful, "Ooooooo~ Somepony's not getting their mail today~" She giggled as the foal sitting on her back reached for the letter. Pinkie shook her head before Lil' Cheese could get ahold of it and grabbed the letter with her hoof. "No, Lil Cheese. It's bad to read other pony's mail. Oh! Hi, Fluttershy!"

As soon as she called out to her, Pinkie could tell something was wrong with Fluttershy since she didn't respond to her. Pinkie called out again, but much louder this time. "Heeeeeeeey! Fluttershyyyyy! Are you okay over there?! You look reeeeeally mopey!"

That seemed to snap Fluttershy out of her daze, making her head shoot up to Pinkie. Now she could see the tears in the Fluttershy's eyes. She wiped them away before speaking. "Oh... Hi Pinkie Pie. I'm not in the mood to talk right now." It wasn't a complete lie. She wanted to talk to her friend but the anxiety of wondering how Twilight will react was making her want to run away and hide forever.

Pinkie bounced closer and gave Fluttershy a bright smile. "Okay~ We don't need to talk. Wanna hold Lil' Cheese?"

Fluttershy seemed confused, looking to the tiny, messy haired foal Pinkie was now holding out to her. "I... I don't..."

"Holding Lil' Cheese always makes me happy when I'm feeling down~ He's just a ball of fluffy energy~!" Pinkie giggled as Lil' reached out to Fluttershy. He coo'd softly, wanting to play with Fluttershy's long hair.

This did not make Fluttershy feel better. Instead, she felt angry. She narrowed her eyes and started to step closer to Pinkie, making the Earth Pony recoil. "Why don't you hold your own foal? Not everycreature wants to carry around your kid!"

Pinkie head Lil Cheese close as the baby started to tear up. Pinkie did her best not to do the same as she lightly bounced Lil' to calm him down. "You could've just said no... I didn't think-"

Fluttershy's anger boiled over as she interrupted Pinkie. "That's right. You didn't think. Cause all you ever think about is yourself and that... That... That damn kid! We get it, you're a mother now! Well good for you! Nocreature cares!"

Lil' Cheese was full on crying now, scared by Fluttershy's loud words and angry tone. Pinkie tried to remain calm and soothing her child. "Well... I thought as my friend... You would be happy for me..." Pinkie's hair drooped a bit, still rocking Lil' Cheese. 

"Well I don't! Why would I be proud of you for an accident?! We all knew why the wedding happened when it did. The only ponies who didn't were your parents!" As soon as she said that, Fluttershy's hooves quickly covered her mouth. She knew she overstepped and the anger started to leave her body. 

"P-Pinkie... I'm sorry I-" Fluttershy reached a hand out to Pinkie, but the usually bubbly pony turned away from her.

"I... I need to put Lil' Cheese down for a nap now. I'll see you later Fluttershy." Pinkie walked away from Fluttershy, too upset to even bounce right now. 

Hot tears burned Fluttershy's cheeks as she watched her friend leave. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Fluttershy burst into a run, heading straight to the Everfree forest. 


***


Small flowers and grass were trampled under hoof as Fluttershy desperately tried to find a place to hide. She whimpered and whined while desperately trying to catch her breath. She had been running for far to long, that scene with Pinkie playing over and over in her mind. Why did I say that? Why did I want to hurt Pinkie like that? Jealousy and rage bubbled up in her again as she kept running. How come she can be so happy all the time? Why can't I be happy like that? Thoughts kept swirling and swirling, sending her into an abyss of anger, regret and despair. Why am I the only one who doesn't have things figured out? Why can't I- 

A loud crunching sound echoed through the woods, followed by an intense shot of pain through Fluttershy's wing. Blood dripped onto the floor and on the bark of a nearby tree as Fluttershy realized her wing slammed straight into the side of sharp branch. Fluttershy screamed in pain, still not fully aware of her surroundings and moved too close to the chasm separating the castle of the two sisters from the rest of the Everfree. She didn't fall in, but the loose stone started to crumble beneath her weight before giving way. Fluttershy tried to fly up but her wing was in too much pain to move. She desperately reached of for anything, finding purchase on a loose root sticking out from the new cliff face. It creaked under her weight, making Fluttershy panic more.

"Some creature! Any creature! Help me!" She cried out, but she knew it was pointless. No one was out here this late. Fluttershy had to face it. Her worst fear was going to come true.

I'm going to die alone.

And with that thought, the root snapped. She screamed, but something caught her before she could be splattered or impaled. Fluttershy had kept her eyes shut tightly, unsure if she'd just died too quickly to notice it, but with the straining grunts of a familiar voice, she realized that wasn't the case.

"I... I got you Fluttershy!" Twilight's voice rang out, both comforting and worrying the yellow pegasus. 

Twilight dropped Fluttershy off on more level ground, huffing softly from the exertion and adrenaline. She looked up to Fluttershy with a tired smirk. "I... I got here just in time, huh?"

Fluttershy stood stock still, too paralyzed to speak. She wanted to run and embrace her friend for saving her life and just enjoy the moment of meeting up again, but her mind wouldn't stop reminding her. She couldn't stop thinking about the letter. It felt like it took forever before Fluttershy found her voice.

"Thank you... Twilight. I... I was scared that would've been the end... I should... Probably get back to my cottage now." Fluttershy tried to brush past Twilight, but she held her wing out to stop her.

"Can I... Come with you?" Twilight had a bright, curious look on her face. Maybe... Had Twilight not read the story?

"I... It's a bit of a mess right now. Everyone's been a little rowdy lately."

"That's okay! Rowdy animals has to be better than rowdy Canterlot ponies. C'mon. It'll be nice to catch up." Twilight smiled and started to walk towards the cottage, letting Fluttershy have some time to gather her thoughts.

Fluttershy still couldn't tell if Twilight read her story or not. She didn't want to ask, on the off chance she had, but maybe Twilight never got it. Or left before she could read it. The suspense was killing her, almost literally! 

The walk back was quiet, with neither pony making any sort of move to speak up first. It wasn't until they got back to Fluttershy's cottage that the two decided to speak up again.

"I can make us some tea Fluttershy. I think I remember where everything is still." Twilight stepped inside and started to search the cabinets, finding what she was looking for pretty quickly. 

"Oh. Uh... Thanks Twilight. I'd like that..." Fluttershy sat down and slumped in her sofa. She hated this feeling of tension! Why was Twilight here if she didn't read the story? Did she read it and just isn't bringing it up? Was she sparing Fluttershy's feelings? Or was she just waiting for her to calm down before talking? These thoughts made Fluttershy want to leave again, but before she could, Twilight returned with a teapot. 

Twilight poured them each a glass before levitating a chair over for herself. She calmly took a sip from her glass and gave Fluttershy a calming smile. She had to ask.

"Twilight... Why were you in the Everfree forest?" 

"I had a feeling you were in trouble. I could ask you the same Fluttershy. Why were you out there so late? And what happened to your wing?" Twilight gestured to Fluttershy's blood stained wing. Luckily, it had stopped by now, but she would definitely need to stay grounded for a bit.

Fluttershy sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "I... I hurt Pinkie's feelings... I got really angry at her and said some things I didn't really mean."

Twilight frowned, setting her cup down on the table. "Why'd you get into a fight with Pinkie?"

Fluttershy hesitated, still not sure where Twilight landed on the story issue. She just shook her head. "It was something dumb. I shouldn't have snapped at her and I need to apologize next time I see her."

Twilight didn't seem to like that answer. She leaned in close, giving Fluttershy a serious expression. "Fluttershy. Is there something you want to ask me?"

Fluttershy almost crumpled under Twilight's steely gaze, but she knew she had to ask. She couldn't leave the answer up in the air anymore. "Twilight... Did you... Get a letter from me today?"

A weight felt like it had been lifted, only for it to be placed right back onto Fluttershy's shoulders. "Fluttershy, I get a lot of letters. Was there anything more specific about those letter you sent?"

Fluttershy stammered and stuttered, struggling to figure out what to say. "It... Was a letter... With a story..."

"A story? About what?"

Fluttershy locked up. She knew. She definitely knew. Twilight just wanted to hear the words leave Fluttershy's lips. "It was... A story about you. And... Flash Sentry."

Twilight nodded and relaxed more. "Ah. Yes. Now I remember the one. It was a love story, right?"

Fluttershy just nodded meekly. She felt like she could explode from embarrassment right about now. 

Twilight noticed this and sighed. "Fluttershy, I'm not mad. I'm just wondering why you would send me something like that? Did you mean to?"

Fluttershy shot up, shaking her head. "Oh no! Why would I ever send something so embarrassing? Especially to the pony it's about..." Fluttershy recoiled again, still anticipating some sort of call out from Twilight.

"Fluttershy... Are you alright? I talked to Rainbow Dash and she said it's been a long time since you've done something like this." 

Fluttershy paused, hearing no accusations or malice in Twilight's voice. "Dashie... Told you about this...?"

Twilight made a noncommittal sound as she rocked her head side to side. "She told me a bit. Like how when you were feeling down as a filly you'd write stories about your classmates. Why?"

Fluttershy wished nothing more than to die of embarrassment in that moment. "I... I don't know... Maybe it just... Helped to make ponies a bit nicer than they were? Make stories where... I could be friends with people... Instead of them laughing at me."

Twilight nodded, like she understood Fluttershy. "Okay. Then why write romance stories with them?"

"I... I guess it was to help with my own lack of romance in my life." Fluttershy sat up a bit more, trying to relax herself.

"You're interested in romance? I never would've guessed."

Fluttershy giggled quietly. "I love romance~ It's one of my favorite subjects to read about." She then slumped back down. "Not like I have a lot of it in my own life..."

Twilight was definitely starting to understand now. "Well... If you want romance in your life, why don't you go out and talk to ponies? There's plenty of ponies looking for relationships."

"That's easier said than done, Twilight. I may be better about my shyness but it's hard to put myself out there... Plus I... I can't just be with somepony on their looks alone. I... I need a connection. And I don't think I'm all that impressive on a first impression... How do you just make somepony like you with one interaction?"

"I guess you have a point but... You're a great person Fluttershy. You're sweet, kind, passionate, you have a lot of great qualities." 

"Qualities that I can only show around people I know. Whenever I meet someone new I just... I don't know what to say. Unless there's something I know we'd get along on, I'm terrible at making connections." 

"I wouldn't say that Fluttershy. You take care of all these animals. Plus, I've seen you make friends with all manner of creatures! You were the first one to become friends with Discord." 

"That's different. Animals ARE what I'm passionate about. And that doesn't exactly help with the lack of romance in my life. And Discord... Well Discord and I aren't like that. I know some ponies think that way but he's just a friend." Fluttershy sighed and stood from her seat, getting tired of conversation. "Twilight... Why haven't you mentioned how you feel? Do you not care about the story I sent you?"

Twilight stayed down, her size making it so she was still at eye level with Fluttershy. "The story isn't what I'm worried about. It wouldn't be the first time I've read stories about myself. I'm just worried about you Fluttershy. Why write that story now?"

Fluttershy was relieved, but it still felt weird that Twilight didn't care. "I... I guess I've just been feeling lonely lately... It seems like everywhere I look I see happy couples and... I want something like that... It's something I've wanted since I was a filly. But it never works out."

"So... You write romance cause it's what you want, but something you feel like you can't have?" Twilight cocked her head to the side, seeing if she got that right.

"Kind of? I write romance cause it's an expression of who I am too. The kinds of... Acts of love I'd like to see or think are cute. These stories they're... They're a part of me."

"I think I see now. Is there any particular reason you write about ponies you know?"

Fluttershy hesitated a bit, but the calming smile Twilight gave her made her push forward. "Well... I know we have the Counsil of Friendship but... I can't help feeling like we're drifting apart. Like our time together is... Over. Writing about you guys it... It's a way to keep us together. At least in my mind. It keeps our friendship alive. It means that our time together never has to end. This... This is probably all stupid..."

Twilight stood and shook her head, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "No Fluttershy... It's not. I... Think I see where you're coming from. I've been feeling lonely too. Not in the sane way you have but I miss our friends. I miss seeing each other every day. I miss the wacky antics. I miss the chaos. And yeah, our days of spending every day together are over, but that doesn't mean we are. We can keep our friendship alive as long as we keep living. We just need to keep each other in our hearts. If we do that, we can always meet again."

A tear rolled down Fluttershy's face. She looked up to Twilight, an unsure expression forming. "But... What about the time between...? It doesn't help the lonely nights where I just want someone to be there... I... I don't want to die alone..."

Twilight ran her hoof through Fluttershy's mane. "You won't die alone Fluttershy... We'll all be here. If not in person then in spirit."

"That's not what I mean Twilight... I don't want to be alone all the time... I want someone to struggle with, to fight with, to love with. I want someone through the good times and the bad times. I want to wake up and have somepony there with me. That way... At least the bad times wouldn't feel so bad anymore..."

"Why does that need to be a romantic partner...? You have friends who can help you. Friends who love you." 

"I... I don't know! I just... I don't want to be alone anymore..." Fluttershy was fully crying now, having let out the deepest part of her she kept hidden. This desire, just to feel like someone was there for her through it all on a deeper level than a mere friendship having finally revealed itself.

Twilight held her friend there, gently hugging her as she sobbed. Twilight thought about it more. She didn't really have the same feelings as Fluttershy. She didn't need someone that way. But she understood that Fluttershy felt like she did. 

"Fluttershy. I'm... Not sure I can help you with your love problems. I'm not Cadence. But... I think I can alleviate some of your loneliness. I think you've undervalued your friendships. You may feel like you need to be with someone to be happy, but you don't. Happiness is a choice. A choice to enjoy the moment and take in what you do have. You have loving friends and found a purpose in your life. I'm not saying not to shoot for love or want for more. Just... Realize that what you do have, is really incredible."

Fluttershy sniffed and considered her words. Despite the strange circumstance, Twilight was still here, comforting her and supporting her despite sending a weird letter to her and hurting a mutual friend. It wasn't romantic love, but it was love.

"I... I guess you're right... I just... I'm just tired of feeling alone." Fluttershy hugged Twilight again, just enjoying the warmth of her friend.

"I understand Fluttershy. Just remember you're not alone. At least consider that before you go running off into the Everfree next time." The two ponies shared a chuckle before separating. 

Fluttershy rubbed her forehoof before sighing and looking to the ground. "Do you... Think it'll end? That feeling... If I found the right pony. Would the loneliness end?"

Twilight considered her words before speaking. "I'm not sure Fluttershy. But I think, whether you find your special somepony or not, I think you'll be fine. You're stronger than you know. You can keep going. And when it's hard, you've got good friends by your side."

That made Fluttershy smile. While she still felt lonely and worried about her future, it felt a little brighter now.

"Besides. Maybe you could write more. The story you sent wasn't half bad." Twilight giggled softly. 

Fluttershy blushed a bit and rubbed the back of her head. "I... Might. I really just write for myself. But maybe I can write something for others. And maybe the next one won't have any romance at all!"

"Well, I look forward to it Fluttershy~ You know, for when you accidentally send me that one too~" The two ponies couldn't help but giggling at the thought.

After a while, Twilight started to head for the door, gesturing for Fluttershy to follow after her. "We should probably tell the others that you're fine. We kinda formed a search party."

Fluttershy sheepishly followed after, a little sad she'd made her friends worry like that. "Twilight... When we get everyone back together, do you think we could all go to Pony Joe's?"

Twilight beamed brightly at her friend. "That sounds perfect."