The party had been going on since just before sunset, and ponies were still rocking out like there was no tomorrow. The crowd pulsed with the music, every pluck from the strings and bass roaring in chorus with hundreds of voices. Shouts and screams of energy and ecstasy pierced the air and blended together into a deafening roar. It was, in the kindest sense of the word, a ‘symphony’. It was sweaty, it was dimly lit, it was loud, but most of all, it brought everypony together.
Maybe that was why Fluttershy loved these parties that Pinkie Pie threw every now and then, not that she was actually into the surge of ponies that attended. Sure, there was almost always a random party, and a guaranteed weekly party just because there was likely of a chance of there being a disaster in that same week, but this was different. This was one of those “party so hard you forget everything” parties.
And it wasn’t just the music. It wasn’t the crowds; especially the crowds. She still had a severe aversion to such large gatherings. No, it was the feeling of belonging these parties fostered and the friends that were made with every new song.
Of course, thinking about it now, it sounded incredibly cheesy, but she knew it was true. Well, mostly, and right now, she was having the most fun she could possibly be having: standing in the back near the punch bowl so that she was as far away from the actual horde as possible.
The next song was one everypony knew quite well, “Vitality” by Songbird Serenade. Fluttershy smiled as she bobbed her head to the beat and the lyrics, humming the tune jovially and sipping on punch. She especially liked it because it spoke of pushing through hard times even when it was rough. As much as she had grown in character and confidence, she still found herself struggling when confronted. It was a nice tune—
“Heya, Fluttershy!”
“Eep!”
Yep, there it was.
“Hey Fluttershy, I thought we got that bat stuff out of your system already. You alright?”
Shivering from her clutch on the nearest light fixture, Fluttershy squeaked out a response. “I’m fine, Rainbow Dash. Just sur-pr-prised, is all.” Now quite flustered, ignoring the fact that her cheeks were burning, Fluttershy let go of the light. Not realising her wings were still locked with fright, she widened her eyes and dropped like a rock.
With another whimper, she waited for the ground to say hi. Instead, she found herself embraced with two lithe forelegs, a soft chuckling accompanying it. The next thing she saw was the grinning face of her best friend since Flight School—Rainbow Dash. If Fluttershy’s face wasn’t burning before, it was now.
“Whoa there, Shy,” Rainbow laughed, “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I didn’t need help,” Fluttershy whined weakly as Rainbow set her down. “I would’ve been fine on my own.”
Rainbow cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side with a smile. “The way I saw it, your wings locked up again.”
Fluttershy pawed the ground for a second as she sighed deeply. “...Yeah, they did.”
“Hey.” Rainbow put a hoof around Fluttershy as she led her back to the punchbowl. “It happens.”
Fluttershy muttered “It seems to happen a lot more to me though.”
This elicited another fit of giggles from Rainbow Dash. Taking a few seconds to pull herself together, Rainbow Dash managed to shake her head. “Come on, Fluttershy. When did you start getting pessimistic?”
This made Fluttershy look up from behind her mane with a small smile. “I hung around you.”
At that, Rainbow Dash gasped dramatically. She did a spot on impression of Rarity when circumstances called for it. “Egads!” Rainbow cried. “I’m a bad influence!”
“Egads?” Fluttershy asked, giggling behind her hoof.
Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno. I heard Discord say it once when he was doing one of his sketches.”
“Then he must be the bad influence… but it’s not his fault he’s like that.”
For a second, Rainbow Dash blinked. Once she had finished processing Fluttershy’s words, she blinked again. “Huh. You’re right. What would Discord have to say about you talking about him behind his back?”
Fluttershy hummed, pondering the question. It was answered when a door appeared in front of them and opened, a plethora of white light spilling out along with the snaky night-capped head of Discord. “I’d say she’s finally gaining a sense of humour,” Discord muttered, yawning widely. He then eyed the two carefully before settling on Rainbow Dash. “You take care of her, got it?”
Fluttershy frowned, looking from Discord to Rainbow Dash and seeing a rosy tint colour the latter’s cheeks. Seemingly satisfied, Discord winked at Fluttershy and finger-gunned her. “Ta.” With that, the door slammed closed and winked out of existence.
“Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked, “What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Rainbow answered quickly, waving her hoof and downing the rest of her punch in one gulp. She flapped into the air, getting ready to do something. “Discord just being Discord.”
Finally, what had been nagging in the back of Fluttershy’s mind, so imperceptible in Rainbow’s presence that she had forgot about it, came to the forefront of her thoughts. “Hey, Rainbow, didn’t you have a meeting or something to go to with the Wonderbolts tonight?”
Rainbow froze, meeting Fluttershy’s eyes for a second. “No. Yes. I mean, I was, but I’m here now. Going to hang out with friends and dance. I’ll come back later. Kay thanks Bye!” In the blink of an eye, Fluttershy’s hair blew backward in a breeze created by the now non-existent mare.
“...Bye?” Fluttershy mumbled, blinking. “That was weird…”
She watched with mild amusement and confusion as Rainbow flitted away, dropping beside ponies all across the party. She then watched as Rainbow laughed with them at a couple jokes before blending into the moving crowd, joining in the pushing and shoving and bounding energy of the many mosh pits.
But the thing was, why had she been so averse to talking any longer with Fluttershy? Was it because she was a killjoy? That couldn’t have been it. Just minutes before, she had been having the time of her life with her. Was it Discord? No, because that would mean he was messing with things again and Fluttershy knew that Discord knew what Fluttershy would think of him if he were to do that. If anything, it seemed suspicious. Maybe it was her. Was it something Fluttershy had said?
No, Rainbow was just… flustered. That was it.
But why?
“You know…” Pinkie Pie paused as she suddenly appeared beside Fluttershy, “This party isn’t going to last forever, and Rainbow Dash didn’t leave her super-duper important meeting to come here for nothing, you know.”
Although her heart jumped out of her chest, Fluttershy was surprised she wasn’t as reactive to Pinkie as she had been to Rainbow. At least she only yelped this time. “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “Of course the party isn’t going to last forever.”
Pinkie shook her head, her curls going everywhere. “I meeeeean that Rainbow’s here for a reason, and it’s not for nothing. You just don’t see it yet! Oh, and the party’s ending at ten-thirty, which iiiiiiiiiiiis—” Pinkie pulled a watch out of her mane and glanced at it before shoving it back in, “—fifteen minutes from now! That means four more fast songs and a slow song. Haven’t you noticed that ponies are already leaving?”
Fluttershy looked around, taking note that Pinkie was right. The crowd was beginning to wane, but there was still a good chunk of ponies sticking around. Just as well, the disc jockey, DJ Pon-3, had indicated that there was, in fact, four fast songs a slow song left. And if Fluttershy knew Rainbow, then Rainbow would soon evacuate the dance floor.
Fluttershy knew Rainbow disliked slower songs, and if the last few were as such, then Rainbow would disappear before it ended along with the others. For some reason, the thought slightly dampened Fluttershy’s mood.
“Yeah…” Fluttershy said. “I’ve noticed.”
Pinkie grinned, slapping Fluttershy on her back, causing Fluttershy to cough on her punch. “Don’t worry, Flutters. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.”
“You say that all the time, but half the time I don’t know what you mean.”
Pinkie Pie shrugged. “It comes with my archetype.” With those cryptic words, Pinkie bid her farewell and bounced away, somehow doing so above the heads in the crowd without annoying anypony. Fluttershy stared on, wondering what in the hay just happened, but thinking about Pinkie’s words all the same.
The next fifteen minutes blew by as if they were dust in the wind, a final slow song marking the end of the party and the beginning of the after-party, which consisted of even more slow songs until there were no more ponies left to dance. Fluttershy bobbed her head along with the music, enjoying the party just as much as those jumping and shuffling with the songs.
Only when the party was nearing its end and ponies had started to leave that Fluttershy noticed Rainbow was still around. Granted, she was standing around awkwardly beside one of her friends who had found a dance partner, but she was still there. Still at the party. Still around.
Their gazes met for a brief moment, but it was enough for the both of them to avert their eyes and faces lit with a shy fire that made Fluttershy’s chest burn. Was she having heartburn? Was she dying? No, she was just letting her feelings get the best of her. Fluttershy cursed her easy readability. Hiding behind her mane, she cast her eyes upward, discreetly spying Rainbow again.
Rainbow had fled the scene.
“And that’s it, folks!” A familiar high-pitched voice boomed across the speakers. “Party’s over! I know how much everybody was having fun, but we all need sleep, and I have five bits on the next crisis happening tomorrow!” Those still remaining chuckled at Pinkie’s words before the party mare continued. “That’s a wrap. Thanks, DJ-Pon3, for taking care of audio tonight, and the Cakes and myself for catering. Have a good night’s sleep and rest easy, everyone, pony or not. Goodnight!”
And that was that.
Fluttershy could feel a pit developing in her stomach, an indescribable feeling that was like blending joy, disappointment, and something else together and drinking it all in one go. Whatever Discord and Pinkie Pie had been talking about, they were wrong. Rainbow Dash was gone.
Why did she care so much? Fluttershy had never wanted a party to overstay its welcome before, but now here she was, longing for one more song. Sighing, she grabbed her plate of goodies and prepared to head home—
“Wait, everypony, er, everybody, somepony’s requested one more song. ‘Tomorrow Or Today’, from Coloratura’s latest album Return From Rara. Grab your special someponies, because this one’s for the loverrrrrrs!”
Fluttershy straightened up and watched those around her who had been leaving to turn around in mild confusion. They then nodded their heads with approval at the song choice before slowly making their way back to the dance floor. Fluttershy then watched as some mares and stallions even asked one or the other to dance, while many more left, swaying softly to the beat. Those that remained pulled each other close and gently spun to the gentle keys and melancholic melody of the piano.
Fluttershy sighed as she started down the path to her cottage, smiling wistfully as Rara’s voice sang the first verse.
“Yesterday was just the beginning of it
The last moments of hesitation
I don’t know if today’s the day
But I know now it’s just you and me.”
Something in her peripherals caught her eye, making her pause. Turning around, she saw Rainbow coming down from the stage, looking around nervously. Why was she still here? Fluttershy had thought she already left. Could it be… that she was the one to suggest the slow song? But Rainbow Dash hated slow songs!
“Last I saw you, I thought I lost you
Yet I knew better, it was just my night terrors
One hug from you was all it took to
Understand the reason love comes in twos.”
And now Rainbow Dash was idling her way, breathing in and out while a strange mixture of emotions danced across her face. What was Fluttershy going to do? Would she still keep walking away, or would she wait until Rainbow talked to her? With the whirlwind of emotions in her head now swirling like a hurricane, it was of no surprise that she melted into a puddle when their eyes met.
“Fluttershy, hey,” Rainbow called, “Wait up!”
“R-Rainbow?” Fluttershy stammered. “I thought you left already.”
Rainbow flapped her wings, landing next to Fluttershy with a small woosh. “What? No, why would I do that?”
Fluttershy looked at Rainbow. Clearly, something was up. “Well, you usually leave before the party’s over, and even if you do, you leave during the slow song because you hate slow songs.”
Rainbow sputtered, getting caught red-hoofed. “Well, yeah, slow songs suck! I mean, they drag you down and force you to find somepony to dance with and-and…”
With each word spoken, the last slow song of the night shortened, and Fluttershy looked a little bit more crestfallen. Rainbow was just sticking around. Even if it didn’t make sense, it didn’t matter. She wasn’t here for her.
“It’s okay, Rainbow, you don’t have to explain it to me. Just have fun with whoever you want to dance with. I have to get back and check on my animals anyway.” Fluttershy sighed, her mane casting a shadow over half her face.
But as she turned back to the path,a gentle hoof grabbed onto her shoulder, making Fluttershy freeze. “Fluttershy.”
The tone in Rainbow Dash’s voice sent a shiver down her spine. “Y-yes, Rainbow?” she asked, turning her head back. She watched as Rainbow retracted her hoof, her face lit aflame in a red blush. Rainbow was fidgeting, her feathers ruffling more and more.
“Do, uh, d-do you want to, um, maybe wanna dance with me…?”
“I’m still waiting for the next big thing
That lasts forever in a see-through chest
So if we find ourselves together
Let’s make it happen, tomorrow or today.”
Fluttershy could almost feel the world stop around her, as if Nightmare Moon had suddenly made good on her promise and made the night last forever. The music became a dull roar, while the lights around her blurred together. She could only focus on Rainbow Dash. “W-wait…” Fluttershy stuttered, “Y-you want to, want to, d-dance with me— eep!”
Rainbow pulled her onto the dance floor a little forcefully, Fluttershy going limp in her grasp. “Yes. Now let’s dance before somepony sees me and laughs at us.”
Fluttershy knew she should’ve found offense to that since it implied that Rainbow cared more about appearance than her, but her tone suggested otherwise. Nodding her head dumbly, she said, “Okay.” Rainbow then swiped Fluttershy’s paper plate and set it on the table as they passed, finally ending up on the dance floor.
Fluttershy found herself in a very uncomfortable position. She did her best to squirm and find something better, but Rainbow’s hind legs kept tripping her up and she couldn’t see a compromise. It was like fighting a tangled hydra while trapped in one of it’s knots. Giggling lightly and a little painfully, Fluttershy tapped out.
“Rainbow, that’s not how we slow dance. Here.” Fluttershy waited patiently as they untangled and separated. When they did it was a second too long, as Fluttershy suddenly felt the need to be in Rainbow’s embrace again, so she quickly put Rainbow’s hooves on her shoulders and placed her own just below Rainbow’s wing joints. Rainbow squeaked uncharacteristically, fluttering her wings as they settled down.
“Perhaps a date on the countryside
Gazing at the stars tomorrow or today
Helping one another, being there for each other
Laughing all the while, tomorrow or today.”
“Are you sure about this?” Rainbow asked. “Shouldn’t we be, like, closer or something?”
“Only if-if you want,” Fluttershy said. Truthfully, her heart was pounding at the thought of being closer to Rainbow. Fluttershy wanted nothing more than to be closer, but she couldn’t. Her mind screamed that it would only be taking advantage of her friend. Another part of her mind was yelling about the possibility of doing it, and then getting shot down as a million different scenarios of it all going wrong flew through her mind. “I mean, it’s not like we’re—!”
Fluttershy gasped as Rainbow pulled her closer. This close to her, Fluttershy could feel Rainbow’s cheeks, and they were unreasonably as warm as hers. In surprise, and with Rainbow’s forelegs hanging behind her, Fluttershy had grabbed onto the nearest thing she could into a tight hug. That thing was Rainbow Dash.
“Fluttershy, is—is this close enough?”
Fluttershy let out a high-pitched noise of assurance. “Y-yes! I mean… yes?” Realising what she had been doing, she quickly loosened her grip, but Rainbow’s foreleg kept her in place. Blushing, she decided to just keep on hugging her. She wasn’t… opposed to the idea.
“Wasting time just because we can
And losing light as the night grows late
As long as you’re with me I’ll stay awake
Through thick and thin, let’s share the pain.”
They stayed like this for a while, holding each other in close proximity. In the presence of waning energy, the moment seemed to never end. Well, that’s what Fluttershy thought. She could barely concentrate, just focusing on her breathing and the scent of Rainbow and the feeling of her heart thumping against hers…
Steeling herself, Fluttershy tried to calm her cherry-coloured face. “Rainbow, were you the one who suggested this song?”
“W-what?” Rainbow said. “Of course not! That wasn’t me, that was some other mare. I mean, I just stuck around cause I wanted to, uh, talk to the DJ about the song track she had, and uh, uhm… You’re not buying any of this, are you?”
Fluttershy didn’t want to make Rainbow feel bad, but she didn’t want to be dishonest either. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded her head. Rainbow sighed. “Yeah, I’m the one who asked to play this song. It was just so good and I thought it was nice and you were looking really pretty— wait, no, I mean, I just wanted you to teach me how to... dance and stuff.”
Fluttershy’s face went from a cherry-red to a deep crimson as she gasped. “You— you really think I look pretty?”
Fluttershy could feel Rainbow pause, tensing up at her question, and suddenly she wasn’t feeling so hot herself. She understood Rainbow’s hesitation. She wasn’t really pretty— “Of course you’re pretty! You’re, you’re, uh, yeah!”
“And if you think you could lose me easily
If you thought some words would make us break
Stay around, don’t disappear
And we will see tomorrow fly away
Fluttershy blinked, and she could tell her rainbow-maned friend sensed her self-doubts. Fluttershy yielded as she felt Rainbow’s forelegs grip her shoulders tightly, watching her sparkling magenta eyes stare into her own. Goodness, Fluttershy could just lose herself in those twin pools of reddish-purple wonder… “Fluttershy,” Rainbow said, “You are the prettiest mare I know. Don’t doubt yourself. You are one of a kind. Got that?”
Fluttershy could feel her eyes tear up at the sincerity behind her words. She broke from Rainbow’s grip and hugged her, notwithstanding the many thoughts she could feel galloping in her mind. “Thanks, Rainbow. You’re the greatest best-friend a pony could ever ask for.”
“Take my hoof and show me truth
Dancing away tomorrow and today
Live and let live, I love you too
Won’t you take me, tomorrow and today?”
Now Rainbow was fidgeting, hugging Fluttershy back. Slowly, she heard Rainbow ask “...Just best-friend?” The hope dripping from her words immobilized Fluttershy, trying to comprehend the query Rainbow had just made.
Did Rainbow just—did she actually—she, she—!
“Will you catch me if I start to fall
Carry me right through it all
Help me when I promised you
I’d do the same for you?”
“Rainbow, are you asking what I think you’re asking me? I mean, are you, no, I can’t ask, but you, you, you asked, and I, and I, I—DoYouLikeMe?— EEP!” Fluttershy stammered out, but was surprised to feel a hoof over her mouth. Just as well, because she would’ve done the same as she realized what she had just asked Rainbow Dash.
Staring into Rainbow’s eyes, she knew Rainbow could read her like an open book, and that thought made her want to fly. “I never thought I’d say this, ever,” Rainbow said, “But Fluttershy, you’re talking too much.”
In that next instant, Fluttershy felt her entire body melt as a million different synapses fired simultaneously. Her face was on fire. She couldn’t decide between closing her eyes and drowning in the feeling, or opening her eyes to take in every small detail of the mare in front of her. She could now smell the faint and watered scent of perfume drifting from her, the merge where one colour of Rainbow’s hair started and the next began, the taste of her lips.
She was kissed by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy thought dreamily. It only lasted a moment, but it was an eternity. It was a dream come true. And that was just it. Was it a dream? Would it all shatter the moment she pulled away?
“Tomorrow or today, I’ll love you all the way
Tomorrow and today, I’ll spend all my time with you
Tomorrow or today, the dreams might fade away
‘Cause tomorrow or today, we make it all come true.”
Her answer came when Rainbow Dash ended the kiss, bringing the whole world back into sharp focus. Fluttershy gasped for air, squeaking as she breathed in and out, hard. It was finally over, and now that Fluttershy had proper time to realise what had just happened, she felt her entire head erupt in flames that would make Tirek’s skin look pink. She was blinking rapidly, mind on overdrive, and probably a million hormones screwing around with her as a cherry on top.
“Oh my gosh, you don’t like me back, do you?” Rainbow said. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy, I just thought that since you were talking fast and asked me if I liked you that I thought you liked me back and—mmphmhm!?”
This time, Fluttershy shut Rainbow Dash up, pressing her muzzle firmly into Rainbow’s. It lasted a lot less longer than their first, but it was just as invigorating, if not euphoric, for them both. When Fluttershy pulled away, Rainbow was just as dazed as Fluttershy had been.
“Are we just going to do that all night?” Rainbow asked dreamily, “Because I would be totally cool with that.”
Fluttershy’s ears twitched as she realised that the final cadences of Coloratura’s song signified it’s closing. With a soft smile, Fluttershy chose to quickly peck Rainbow on the cheek. “We can’t, Rainbow. The songs already over. Besides, I really need to… get home and tend to my animals.” True to her word, the last chord rang. DJ-Pon3 nodded with a smile, looking at the two lovebirds on her dancefloor. Fluttershy watched as Rainbow Dash noticed this too.
Now that that the music had stopped, they both noticed they were one of, if not the last dancing couple on the floor. Beginning to feel self-conscious for thinking that ponies were looking at them, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash separated. The feeling grew when a cold tickling remained where the other had previously been.
“So, uh, are we cool?” Rainbow asked, rubbing the nape of her neck.
Fluttershy shyly cast her gaze over before pawing the ground. “I-I guess. I mean, are we, you know, girlfriends now, since you, you kissed me?”
“You kissed me back,” Rainbow smirked. “That means yes.”
Fluttershy’s ears perked up at that, finding a smile of her own reaching her face. “Oh, okay… I just never thought I would get a special somepony, much less you.”
“You never thought…?” Rainbow mused. “Seriously? You’re the kindest mare I know, Fluttershy! Heck, you’re the Element of Kindness for Celestia’s sake! You’re like, twenty-seven percent cooler than anypony else I know and I went to this dance just hoping, hoping that you liked me too.”
“Really?” Fluttershy said more than asked. “Is that why you skipped your Wonderbolts meeting?”
“I asked to leave early, Flutters, don’t worry.” Rainbow waved her hoof. “It was because we’re going on tour, and we’ll be spending a lot of time away from home, and I just, I couldn’t let you get away any longer, and, and… I just wanted to see what it was like to dance with you.”
“Even to a slow song?” Fluttershy asked. “Because I know you don’t really like them.”
“Especially to a slow song,” Rainbow nodded. “I see all those ponies every time Pinkie hosts a party, and a slow song comes on, and all the couples are just so close and enjoying each other and staring into each other’s eyes, and…” Rainbow’s eyes widened quickly. “But, uh, that’s not the point! Not the point at all!”
Fluttershy gave her a soft smile. “You danced great, Rainbow. And, the kiss, well, that was really good too.”
Rainbow blushed a little. “It was pretty awesome, yeah…”
Fluttershy ruffled her wings and looked around, seeing that the party was nearly done being cleaned up. Pouting slightly that the treat plate she had set aside for her animals had disappeared, she sighed and turned to the door. “Well, I’ve got to go, Rainbow. It’s getting really late and my animals still need a light snack before they go to sleep too.”
“Aw, already?” Rainbow pleaded. “We were just getting started!”
“Just because we’re girlfriends now, doesn’t mean you get to steal all of my time, Rainbow,” Fluttershy reasoned, already walking out the door and into the open night. “I have a life too.”
“Can I at least stay with you until I leave?” Rainbow asked. “I don’t really want to sleep alone, and you’re already taking care of Tank because of that weird cold he got.”
“Oh, Tank doesn’t have a cold,” Fluttershy said, frowning. “He was like that because he really wanted you to ‘make the first move’. Now I know what he meant.”
Rainbow stared at Fluttershy, looking betrayed. “Wha—Tank? Why that little rascal! When I get to him…”
“When you get to him, you’ll thank him for being so considerate,” Fluttershy suggested. “Right?”
Rainbow flapped her wings in place for a bit. “Yeah, okay. Fine.”
“And yes, you can stay with me until you leave, whenever that is,” Fluttershy said.
They trotted and flew for a while longer as the cottage came into view, a question that had been brewing for a while now dominating Fluttershy’s thoughts. It was a simple one, really, but she knew it would make Rainbow uncomfortable. She didn’t really want to do that to Rainbow, but it had to be done.
“Hey, Rainbow…”
Rainbow dropped to the ground beside her, quirking an eyebrow as they reached the cottage. “Yeah, Fluttershy?”
“Why’d you do it?”
Fluttershy watched Rainbow take a half-step back. “What do you mean?”
Fluttershy steeled herself. “I mean, I know you’re the one who suggested the slow song, but why that one? I know Rara sang it, but why would you choose it?”
Rainbow blushed, blowing the bangs away from her face as they fell. “Well, I just kept hearing the song, you know, and I, those words just kept coming up. Tomorrow, or today. Tomorrow, or today. And I just kept thinking, when will I ask Fluttershy to a dance? When will I ask her out? Tomorrow, or today, you know?”
Fluttershy held her hoof against her door for a few moments while she processed Rainbow’s words. Finally coming upon a proper response, Fluttershy glanced at her with a smirk, hiding half of her face behind her mane.
“Aw, that’s so nice.”
“Thank you-”
“And cheesy. Really, really cheesy. So cheesy that I think I see some on you. Did you eat any cheese before you came to the dance?”
Rainbow Dash huffed, pouting deeply. “You don’t have to be so mean.”