“So, tell us about yourself, Blazing!” Twilight said with a smile to the newcomer Pegasus.
“Well,” Blazing Comet began, thinking for a moment. “I'm from Cloudsdale, my parents are personal trainers at this gym in Canterlot and...well, I don't want to brag or anything, but about five years ago or so, I was actually a Wonderbolt.”
Unnoticed, Fluttershy's ears drooped.
“WHAT!” Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped, her eyes wide. “You were a WONDERBOLT?! And you didn't tell me?! How come I had no idea?!”
Comet giggled, shaking her head. “That's because I didn't want to brag about it, so that I could see if you really liked me for me, Dash.”
“Fair enough!” Rainbow Dash snickered. “Wow, though! I cannot believe YOU were a Wonderbolt! That's SO AWESOME!” She brought her hooves her cheeks in an excited fangirl kind of way.
“Well shucks, that's mighty cool!” Applejack grinned. “How was it, bein' a Wonderbolt?”
“It was okay, really! I enjoyed it a lot! All that fast flying, doing some aerial stunts, that kind of thing!” Comet said as she hovered in the air, making some little spins and dives before settling back down. “I enjoyed it, really!”
“So why'd you leave?” Rainbow Dash wanted to know. “It's the WONDERBOLTS!”
“It was a personal choice, really. Not because I didn't get along with them or anything, no! They were my friends, but then my little sister was born, Mom and Dad were busy a lot, and so they needed my help. Being a Wonderbolt, I traveled all the time and couldn't be home. I was under a different name as a Wonderbolt, I called myself Asteroid Field, and I had my mane and tail dyed a different colour. Besides, I pretty much lived the dream of being fast and cool, so I was glad to just be me again and then do daring flying and tricks whenever I wanted!” Comet said, smiling widely.
“Oh, don't we all know the deals with little sisters, dear!” Rarity exclaimed. “I have a sister also, she was born barely a few years before I moved away from home! Her name is Sweetie Belle, and while she can be trouble, I do love her so!”
“Ah gots a li'l sister, too!” Applejack grinned. “Name's Apple Bloom, an' she's the greatest!”
Comet grinned widely. “Hey, awesome! My sister's name is Star Line, and she just started going to school here in Ponyville. She's staying with me and our aunt while Mom and Dad are busy in Canterlot. Star's pretty sweet and a lot of fun, you'd love her! At least, you better!”
“That's awesome! I don't have a sister, I'm an only child, but I did sign up for the Big Sister/Little Sister program, and this filly named Scootaloo is my little sis!” Rainbow Dash said proudly. “She's also a Pegasus, and let's just say I'm her own little hero!”
“Ooh, I see!” Comet laughed. “Well, I'M a hero to my little sister, too!”
“Kinda hard not ta be one to a little sis!” Applejack chortled. “Ah mean, there ya are, all big an' older, all kinds a' things under yer belt, an' they wanna feel like ya!”
“You said it!” Comet agreed.
“Certainly so, darling!” Rarity nodded. “While I am certain Sweetie Belle differs from myself when it comes to fashion, however, it certainly doesn't hurt to know that I do help to inspire her!”
“Same for me, really! I teach Star to fly all the time, even if she can't quite fly yet.”
“Hey, neither can Scootaloo! But I do my best to teach her! Hey, late bloomer!”
“I think that's wonderful,” Twilight said kindly. “So, you said you're living with your aunt?”
“Yeah, she's not doing so well, so I volunteered to help out, since our relatives all live out across Equestria!” Comet explained. “So, I brought Star with me to stay with our aunt, her name's Neptune, by the way, until she gets better!”
“Well darling, that certainly is very generous of you!” Rarity proclaimed. “I dare say, your aunt and parents must certainly appreciate it!”
“It's not easy,” Comet admitted. “But it's worth it. They can see that, and to know I managed to help 'em out makes it worthwhile. Besides, I still get some freedom here and there, kind of like a reward!”
“Now that's what I call awesome!” Rainbow Dash grinned widely.
“Oooh oooh oooh ooh! Pick me!!” Pinkie Pie came back again, waving her hoof frantically as if she were in class trying to answer a question.
“Sure thing, Pinkie,” Comet pointed to her, humouring her.
“How did you and Dashie meet?” Pinkie queried, grinning.
“You tell 'em, Dash,” Comet smirked.
“Don't mind if I do!” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “It was last week, actually! I went to Cloudsdale for a while, and was practising some tricks, right? Then I see Blazing Comet there watching me, she came over and offered some tips on what I can do to make my routine better. At first, yeah, I thought it was dumb, but she challenged me to try them and prove it. What do you know, they were awesome! So there I was, trying these new ideas, with her there watching and cheering me on, it was great! Boy can her voice carry out! So, then after I was done, we got to talking, we hit it off, and then the next couple days following, after my weather duties, we met up! Had some races, practiced and showed off our tricks, all that good stuff! Then we just became pals, and here we are! Today I decided to show her around town and introduce her to you guys!”
“Hoof to Celestia on everything!” Comet held up her hoof.
“She's awesome!” Rainbow Dash brought her foreleg around Comet, grinning widely. “And we're gonna be the best of pals pals!”
Comet laughed and did the same. “You said it, Dash!”
It was then that Fluttershy couldn't take it anymore. Unnoticed to anypony, she slipped outside where she could get some air and just think on her own.
She could not believe she was actually jealous. Fluttershy wanted to kick herself for feeling this way. How could she? Rainbow Dash made a new friend, so why wasn't she happy for her? It wasn't as if Blazing Comet was her marefriend or anything, right? At least there, she'd have reason to be upset.
'No. Even then I wouldn't, because it wouldn't be as if I claimed her.' Fluttershy thought miserably.
Now the tears were building up. Great, now she was going to start crying. For no good reason! She felt like a childish filly who didn't like to share her best friend, which shamed her. Rainbow Dash had every right to make a new friend if she wanted to, so why did that have to be such a problem?
Fluttershy sighed, and then started to walk away from the bakery. She just couldn't take it right now. She wanted to go home, to curl up on her bed and just sleep this misery away. This was just not her day, or her night at all.
“Fluttershy! Fluttershy, hey! Wait up!”
Freezing in place, she couldn't move as Rainbow Dash flew over her and then landed in front of her. She was trapped, and could do nothing to escape.
“Fluttershy, why did you leave? I saw you walking out, and...well, sorry to say, but you look upset. What's wrong? Did Angel eat another sock?” Rainbow Dash asked, concerned.
“...N-No...no...it's just...I...” Fluttershy looked down in shame, sighing.
“Come on, tell me what's wrong,” Rainbow Dash brought a hoof around her shoulders, looking into her eyes.
A tint of a blush formed on Fluttershy's cheeks as she looked into the expression of genuine concern on her friend's face. Heart melting, blood flow quickening, all Fluttershy could possibly do to assure her friend was nothing but the truth.
“It's...Blazing Comet! It's because of her!”
“Why? What'd she do?” Rainbow Dash sounded surprised. “She didn't hurt you, did she? What happened?”
“No! She didn't, she's very nice...I don't...you see...it's just...”
“Just what? Tell me, Fluttershy. What's bothering you about her?”
“It's because....I just can't compete with her, okay?!” Fluttershy shouted.
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. “What? Compete with her? What are you talking about?”
“You know what I mean! She's...perfect! She's the perfect friend for you! Fast, daring, confident, interesting! And me? Shy, meek, average flying, scared-of-everthing Fluttershy! Just go back to the party, I'm sure you'd rather spend more time with her than with little me!” Fluttershy started to walk off again, tears running down her face.
“What? Whoa whoa whoa whoa!” Rainbow Dash stopped her by standing in front of her again, placing her hooves on her shoulders. “Fluttershy, will you stop trying to get away from me already?!”
Eyes wide, the timid mare's ears drooped as she realized how unreasonable she was being. And for what? Envy because of a new friend? “Oh, Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!”
“Fluttershy, cool it already and listen!” Rainbow Dash snapped. Biting her lip, she looked at her friend, and then sighed. “I mean...please, just listen to me. You don't need to compete with Comet! That's just crazy. So she's fast and daring like me, but so what? That's just how she is! But I don't need you to be like me, or like her! Fluttershy...you're my best friend, we've been friends since we were fillies. We have a history together! I'm not about to throw that away just because something new and flashy comes along! I wouldn't be the Element of Loyalty if I did that! ...It's just...well I...” She rubbed the back of her head nervously. “Come on, I'm no good at this sappy stuff! But seriously, you're fine the way you are! Comet's a new pal, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to toss you aside like an old rag doll! You're fine the way you are! You don't have to feel intimidated. So come on, please come back to the party? Pretty please?”
Bringing on the artillery, Rainbow Dash's eyes glimmered and seemed to grow bigger as she gave her the biggest pleading puppy dog eyes she could muster.
Fluttershy yet again felt her heart melt, smiling almost immediately at the adorable sight. “...Of course, Rainbow Dash...I'll come back to the party. I'm...I'm sorry for the way I acted. I really had no right to be so jealous.”
“Oh, don't sweat it!” Rainbow Dash gave her a hug, grinning. “I can understand, anypony can feel a little intimidated by that kind of thing! But you don't have to, because even though Comet's awesome like me, doesn't mean you're not awesome in your own Fluttershy way! Always!”
Blushing, Fluttershy hugged her back tightly, closing her eyes. “Thank you, Rainbow...”
“Aww, you're welcome!” Rainbow Dash squeezed her, and then pulled back.
Before Fluttershy could suggest they head back, she felt her breath hitch in her throat. It was the hour of twilight, Celestia's sun was just setting within the horizon, bathing the atmosphere in an orange-yellow glow. Seeing her friend in the light of the evening, only then reminded her of just how beautiful she really was. The way the bangs of her mane, the fiery colours, contrasted beautifully with the glow of the twilight. How her blue coat added something of a clashing, yet still interesting contrast to the rest of the picture. It was taking her breath away.
'I have to tell her. I have to...this is perfect...we're alone...it's a beautiful sunset...and she'll listen to me... Oh, what a beauty...where's my camera...'
Taking a breath, she managed to look her best friend in the eye. “Rainbow Dash...?”
“Yeah, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash titled her head in curiosity.
Swallowing, Fluttershy looked toward her shyly, her cheeks heating up more.“...Well...I wanted to say that...”
Curious, Rainbow Dash came closer to her, taking the shy mare's cheek in her hoof to turn her gaze back to look into her eyes. “Say what, Fluttershy?”
Stricken, Fluttershy could only stare into her eyes. Those vibrant cerise eyes she loved so much. She gulped again, opening her mouth to respond.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash...I wanted you to know that I-”
“Hey! There you guys are!”
Behind Fluttershy, Blazing Comet came trotting over to them, looking concerned and confused.
“I was getting some punch, and then your friend Twilight came and said she saw you guys leave. So I came to check it out, see if everything's okay,” Comet explained. But then she blinked, looking surprised for whatever reason. “Oh, I'm not interrupting anything, am I?”
'Yes.' Fluttershy wanted to say, but decided against it. “N-No, you-”
“Actually, kinda. Fluttershy was trying to tell me something!” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “What did you want to say?”
“Oh, um...I forget. It doesn't matter, it'll come back to me,” Fluttershy lied.
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, but didn't press. “Okay, then! Tell me when you remember, pal. C'mon guys, let's get back to the party!” She winked, and started to head off.
“You said it, Dash!” Comet laughed, and then approached Fluttershy. “Hey, you all right? I noticed you were looking kind of bummed before you left.”
“Y-Yes...I'm fine, really...thank you,” Fluttershy said softly.
Comet studied her, and then smiled. “Okay, then. Well, I know we don't really know each other, but you know, I'm here to listen if you ever want to talk, too. I know that's probably not much, since you do have all your pals, but I'm here, too. Any friend of Dash's is a friend of mine! Besides, you're very nice, I like you. You're a good mare, Fluttershy.”
Considering, Fluttershy looked at the other Pegasus and could see that there was no trace of deceit or irony. She was offering genuine kindness. A little smile came to her lips. Rainbow Dash was right, there really was no reason to feel threatened. She was an especially nice pony, so why not take the chance to get to know her?
“Thank you, Blazing Comet...you're very kind to say that. I like you too,” Despite how much she had felt envious, she really had no reason to dislike her at all.
“Please, just Comet's fine! But you're welcome, Fluttershy! C'mon, let's get back, shall we?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Sure.”
“Great! Now wait for us, Dash!”
“Eat my dust, slowpokes!”
Fluttershy smiled as she followed the two Pegasi, feeling a warmer resolve in her heart. Despite the pit of despair knowing that she had failed in expressing her feelings, which came to tear a hole in her gut.
'I'll tell her...I'll tell her during the fireworks show...just as I planned...this is okay...it was too early and fate was making sure I didn't do this too fast. I can wait...just a few more weeks...and then I can tell her how I feel.'
“So, then Soarin' had this fan come up to him, right? She asked for his autograph, and he asked who to make it out to. She said she wanted it to be made out to her sister named Cherry Twist, who has a disease that rendered her unable to walk, so she was confined to a wheelchair. She had wanted to see the Wonderbolts all her life, but never could due to her illness. Well, he signed the autograph, and then had us all take one big picture, which we all signed with our wishes of goodwill. Framed and signed, we had it shipped over to Manehattan, where she lived with her family.
A month or so later, we all went down there to see her at the hospital with a surprise visit! We hung out there with her until visiting hours were over, just chatting, playing games, taking pictures, it was a blast! Then the following week, we had her as a special guest at our next show in Trottingham! Gave her a VIP box with her family and some friends, and she finally got to see us in action!”
“Wow! That's awesome!” Rainbow Dash praised, looking to her friend with bright eyes glazed in awe. “You guys actually did that for somepony? Not that I'd doubt it, but it's amazing to hear first hoof!”
Comet grinned and nodded. “Thanks, Dash! I'm always glad to reach out to kids, and especially to making the dreams of sick kids come true. Unfortunately, she died six months after when the illness took a turn for the worse. We even attended the funeral, and put on an awesome show just for her. But it was pretty sad, you know? She was such a sweet filly...and she didn't deserve to die so soon. To be honest...it was shortly after that I left the Wonderbolts.”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash looked to her with astonishment.
A bit of a sad look came to her face as she nodded. “Yup. Like I said earlier, my sister was born around that time, and I wanted to be home so I could help my parents take care of her. I guess...I was just afraid something would happen to her. I feared that if I was away, and she got sick, or died while I was gone. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to her. Just like with Cherry Twist. I never got to say goodbye to her, and I kept her close to my heart. Those couple of times I saw her, she was like a sweet little sister or little cousin. When she died, well, it was sad... And I guess I just wanted to be close to my baby sister,” she smiled a bit then. “I even gave her a middle name. Star Cherry Line. Right after sweet little Cherry Twist.”
“D'awwww....didn't quite take you for the sentimental type!” Rainbow Dash snickered, nudging her.
“Hey, I've got a heart!” Comet laughed, sticking her tongue out at her. “Unlike you! Oooh, look at me, I'm Rainbow Dash, I'm totally awesome and I have an ego twice the size of Equestria! Hahaha! Bow to me, minions!”
“Oh yeah, here we go, make me sound like an evil overlord why don't you!” Rainbow Dash playfully rolled her eyes. “Ooh, look at me, I'm Blazing Comet! I was a Wonderbolt but I totally left 'cause I'm sooooo edgy! Yeah! Gasp in shock! Now I'm a homemaker in an apron and covered in flour!”
“Oh ha ha. Oooh, I'm Dash, I'm super fast and the best in the world! Even though Blazing Comet is totally 20% cooler!”
“You did not just go there! Fine! I'm Blazing Comet and I will forever concede that the Great and Awesome Rainbow Dash surpasses me in every way!”
“Oh yeah?!” Comet stopped in her tracks, looking to her with a smirk.
“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash got nose-to-nose with her.
“Wanna bet?”
“Name your price.”
“Fine. Beat me in a race and then maybe I'll call you the best.”
“Done! Where to?”
“My aunt's place.”
“Okay, Comet... it's ON!”
The two Pegasi stood nose to nose for a few moments, smirking as they tried to stare each other done. Rainbow Dash eventually pulled away and blew a raspberry. Comet turned, her hoof pawing at the ground before crouching. Rainbow mimicked her stance, crouching low. Twin snorts, wing flexes, more dirt-pawing, and lick-lipping ensued between the two daredevils, about ready for takeoff.
“GO!”
Rainbow Dash zoomed up into the air with great speed, hooves outstretched. She grinned widely, the freedom and adrenaline of flying filling her very essence. The wind in her mane, the scenery zooming past her in a steady blur, her wings flapping with no intentions of stilling, and her entire body practically weightless. As if nothing could possibly stop her!
To her left, Comet was breezing along beside her, the two of them almost neck-to-neck. Smirking, the former Wonderbolt pulled ahead. Rainbow Dash smirked also, and flew faster to catch up to her, doing so in an effortless manner.
She could not believe this wondrous moment. Ever since meeting Blazing Comet, she had found such a joy, such a relief to have somepony who could fly, but also who was as fast and daring as she was. Somepony who could actually keep up with her. Never had she met anypony like that, aside from Gilda...but that was a past she was none too fond of looking back on anymore. Not that it mattered. Rainbow Dash felt blessed to have met Comet. Finally, somepony who could really keep up with her.
“I just can't compete with her, okay?!”
“She's...perfect! She's the perfect friend for you! Fast, daring, confident, interesting! And me? Shy, meek, average flying, scared-of-everthing Fluttershy! Just go back to the party, I'm sure you'd rather spend more time with her than with little me!”
A stab of guilt ran through Rainbow Dash then, inevitably slowing her flight down a little bit. Did she really make Fluttershy feel that way? Was that how Fluttershy felt back when they were fillies, and she had spent more time with Gilda than her? Because she finally met another flier who was a fast daredevil? Because Fluttershy wasn't able to keep up with her?
Looking down a bit, Rainbow Dash heaved a sigh. 'Great. No wonder Fluttershy feels so threatened by Comet. This is Junior Flight Camp all over again! ....No. I am NOT going to make Fluttershy feel neglected! Nor any of my friends! I'm still Rainbow Dash, I'm still gonna spend time with them, and I'm especially going to let Fluttershy know that she doesn't need to be fast like me to be my friend. I don't even care about that! Fluttershy...means more to me than her speed. ....Fluttershy...'
Images of the said Pegasus entered her mind, flashing to various times spent with her, good and bad. Rainbow Dash felt herself relaxing, her wings slowing in flapping. Then again. Fluttershy had that effect on her. Letting her just relax. She was somepony she was comfortable being vulnerable and emotional with on a deep level, somepony she could get comfortable with and not feel she had to fly around like a maniac to impress her. She could go into her house, kick back on the couch and just enjoy some downtime. The fresh smell of nature and delicious cooking always filled Fluttershy's home, the way she'd smile brightly upon going about her little routines...
“Dash! Watch out for that-”
Rainbow gaped, and didn't even have time to react before she crashed into a tree. A pained grunt escaped her before she fell to the ground, dazed.
“...Tree,” Blazing Comet said sheepishly as she slowly landed on the ground near her. “You all right? I'm sorry, I tried to warn you! You were flying straight into that tree and not paying attention! What in Equestria were you thinking?!”
“Ugghh...can you stop the room, please? I'd like to get off...” Rainbow Dash fell to the ground on her back, dazed and dizzy. “Sorry, Fluttershy...”
“...Fluttershy? What? I'm not Fluttershy.”
“Fluttershy....pretty Fluttershy...” Rainbow Dash smiled goofily. “Pretty pony...”
Blazing Comet raised an eyebrow, then sat down as she patiently waited for Rainbow to recover from her accident.
Dazed, not at all sure what she was seeing, Rainbow lay there on the ground on her back, wings spread, legs wide and sprawled. Her goofy smile remained, her eyes spun about, and her tongue hung out of her open mouth. She giggled, and then shook her head wildly, recovering. Only now she had an aching pain in her skull, along with the throbbing pain on her nose.
“Ugh...I'm okay!” The cyan Pegasus shakily sat up.
“You sure?” Blazing Comet looked at her quizzically. “I mean, you took quite a hit there.”
“It's okay, I wasn't flying that fast, anyway,” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head a bit, trying to recover from the headache.
“You were distracted by something,” Comet told her bluntly. “Believe me, I know these things. It's no wonder you not only slowed down, but weren't paying attention to where you were flying. Is something on your mind?”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to answer, but reconsidered. She wasn't sure that she wanted to share Fluttershy's previous moments of envy, especially since it didn't seem to matter in the long run. But she also didn't want to lie, because she didn't exactly do all too well with that. She bit her lip, trying to gather the words she could say about the situation, despite that her growing nervousness and uncertainty.
“Yeah, I guess. ...I was feeling kinda worried about Fluttershy, so I guess I got a bit distracted,” Rainbow managed, shrugging a little.
“Oh...” Comet nodded slowly. “I guess after how she walked out earlier? Is she doing okay?”
“Oh, she's fine! Just still worried none the less,” the cyan Pegasus shrugged a bit. “Don't worry, I'll take care of it. ...So...what say we just go to your Aunt's place?”
Chuckling, Comet nodded. “Sure, Dash. Let's go.”
The two Pegasi took off again, this time in a regular flying cycle to head the rest of the way to the home of Comet's aunt.
All the way there, Rainbow Dash's thoughts never left Fluttershy.