Canterlot High was widely considered to be one of the liveliest schools in the city. With such an active and enthusiastic student body it was almost impossible to find any place in the school that wasn't buzzing with activity at any given moment. Even while classes were in session one could usually find students coming and going down almost every hall. Whether it was for some club activity, a student forgetting something in their locker, or just friends hanging out during a free period, there was always something happening.
However, this fact was proving to be a nuisance for one particular student. They moved like a shadow through the halls. Ducking here, diving there, desperately making sure not a soul spotted them as they went. From behind a trash can they watched with frustration as a conversation at a locker dragged on into its sixth minute, the participants selfishly preventing their progression. It was with a mixture of joy and dread that they noticed the pair finish and begin to move away from where they hid. They could move now, but of course every move risked exposure. But they were in the clear now. Muscles clenched, they prepared to move, just this one hallway left between them and their final goal...
"Hey Shy."
"Eep!!!"
Fluttershy stumbled from behind the trash can, immediately curling into a defensive position as her usual anxieties flared up and rendered her helpless. After nothing happened for a minute she finally looked out from behind the defences of her hair and hands covering her face to see what had triggered her. What she saw was Rainbow Dash crouching down next to her with her usual smug smile.
Seeing this Fluttershy relaxed considerably, but still had to sit where she was and breathe heavily for a minute. Rainbow knew this, and knew she had to wait until at least step three of a Fluttershy freak out to talk to her. Luckily she noticed her begin to nervously comb her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make it look like she hadn't been hiding behind it again, so she decided to proceed.
"So, what's wrong and who's butt am I kicking this time?"
Fluttershy tensed again, but this wasn't a full freak out so Dash just waited briefly. She knew there was a good chance her friend would accidentally spill the beans if she just left the question awkwardly hanging for a minute. That didn't seem to be the case this time though.
"No no Dash, there's nothing wrong. I just... I'm just late for class and you startled me is all."
"Shy," she said, raising a questioning eyebrow, "you're not late for class. Class is already more than half over. If you get there now Mr. Doodle is just going to send you to detention for the rest of the period. I'm only here because we were doing the mile run in gym and coach Spitfire said I could leave when I finished. You'd be better off skipping and coming up with a good excuse for it tomorrow."
Fluttershy made a shocked expression before reaching into her pocket and pulling out her phone to check the time. A pained and embarrassed expression followed, one that saw her retreat behind her hair again while mumbling. "Oh, I... I guess you're right. I... Umm. It's just...."
"Of course I'm right. So you and me might as well go get our lunches and get a start on that." She said this while rolling back on her heels and standing. She reached back down to offer the other girl a hand up.
"Oh, uh... I guess that sounds like a good idea." She reached out and took hold of the hand, letting it ease her up from the floor. "Thank you Rainbow."
"No problem." Fluttershy was now standing, but Rainbow did not release her hand. Rainbow didn't notice color just start coming to Fluttershys face as she turned, still holding onto the hand. "And while we're there we can get back to the subject of what's wrong and who's butt I'm gonna be kicking.
Fluttershy tensed up yet again, but Rainbow had a firm enough grip to pull her in the direction of their lockers.
***
Both girls usually brought their own lunches for different reasons. Fluttershy because the schools vegetarian options were often limited, Rainbow because she was on an athlete's diet for the upcoming soccer season. But while they were lucky enough to have managed to get lockers next to each other at the start of the year, they were not lucky enough to get them in a convenient location. Thus they had had to double back across the school before doubling back again to the lunch room. That being said, they still had about ten minutes before any other students that hadn't had free periods before lunch started funneling into the lunch room by the time they got there.
They sat at the back at their groups usual table. Being saviors of the school meant no one bothered questioning that this definitely was the Rainbooms table. Thus they had a fair bit of privacy as they set their lunches out and Rainbow immediately launched back into her questioning.
"So spill. What or who has you on edge this time?"
"It was nothing Rainbow Dash. I just didn't want to interrupt Lyra and Bonbons conversation is all." She smiled sweetly. Fluttershy had been expecting this, but she still wasn't very good at lying, especially to Rainbow Dash. So while the explanation had come out quickly and did make sense in a very Fluttershy way, Rainbow was still very unconvinced.
"Yeah no. I watched you for probably over ten minutes. You were jumping around like you were in a bad spy movie, and probably only like half of that was spent hiding behind that trash can. So it definitely has nothing to do with them."
Fluttershy looked away. She raised her sandwich to her face and took the smallest of bites, nervously chewing away to avoid the question while somewhat hiding behind it. Rainbow Dash had to steel her resolve not to be won over by the display. She continued staring, which continued to make Fluttershy's gaze turn further away from her. It wasn't until she couldn't turn away any more without straining her neck and she was completely hiding behind her lunch that she finally spoke. "I... It's not something you can help me with Rainbow."
It was said at a barely audible volume, but years of dealing with Fluttershy had granted Rainbow with an unmatched ability to hear such things. "That's what you always say Shy. And every time it is totally something I can help you with. I'm Rainbow Dash remember, there's nothing I can't do. So come on, we both know you're gonna spill eventually. And we both know I'm not gonna stop until you feel better. So just tell me who's butt I'm kicking and we can get to the fun part. I mean after all," she paused to direct a smug smirk at her oldest friend, you can't help me with Cranky's homework if you have to keep ditching his class right."
The attempt to lighten the mood didn't seem to work. Fluttershy finally turned to face Dash with an earnest look in her eyes. "No Rainbow, it's really not something you can help me with. It.. it's something completely different and I'm not sure what to do about it. No one's being mean to me, not really anyway. And even if that was the case, you couldn't help because you can't beat them up and not get in trouble."
"A day in detention is something I can handle if it makes you safe. I always get off with a slap on the wrist because I'm defending you anyw..."
"It's not the same this time Rainbow!" The outburst was only loud by Fluttershy standards, but it still took Rainbow aback a little. "You.. you can't beat up that many people and not get in serious trouble. And.. and I wouldn't let you anyway."
"That many people? Shy, what's going on? Seriously. If this thing is this big I'm definitely doing something about it."
"I already told you you can't." Fluttershy looked at her friend in earnest again, hoping to calm her down before she continued. It didn't seem to be helping. "It.. it's because of prom." Rainbow had been scowling at Fluttershy to press her on, now the scowl added a squint out of sudden confusion. Fluttershy took a deep breath to push herself further. "Apparently it's gotten around that I, umm, have a hard time saying no to people. So, umm, a bunch of people have apparently decided that if.. if they keep asking me to prom, eventually I'll say yes to one of them."
A look of shock had come over Rainbow Dash. That quickly morphed to a mixture of anger and disgust as the words sank in. "What!!!???" That outburst was loud even by Rainbow Dashes standards, so the few students that had started to enter the lunch room that were now standing in line waiting for lunch to officially start were now staring in their direction. "Fluttershy, that's not just bullying, that's straight up harassment!!!"
"No it's not Rainbow. I mean, I'm not interested in any of them but, I guess they're doing it because they like me. I mean, I guess that's the reason."
"Fluttershy you're awesome, but I can guarantee this has nothing to do with that. They're just doing this because you're hot." Rainbow was no longer paying attention to what was coming out of her mouth. Her vision was on the border of going red as she was becoming lost in her rage. The words brought a slight bit of color to Fluttershy's cheeks for a moment, but the moment came and went as Rainbow Dash slammed her fist against the table and stood from her chair. She began to pace behind her friend as she mumbled plans of what she might do.
This went on for several minutes as the lunchroom started to fill up. The attention it was causing was making Fluttershy more and more uncomfortable. Rainbow finally stopped pacing and turned back to Fluttershy. She put her hand on her shoulder and turned the pink haired girl to face her. "I want names Shy. A full list of every guy doing this to you, and I want it now."
Fluttershy didn't like when Rainbow let her anger get the best of her. She shied away as she tried to avoid her friend's piercing gaze. "Rainbow please. I ...I don't like it when you get in trouble for me. A... And it's not just the boys anyway."
"WHAT!!!!!?????" That was apparently a misstep. Fluttershy didn't know why, but that seemed to set Rainbow Dash off even more. The pacing resumed and Fluttershy thought she could now hear long streams of obscenities coming from her usually laid back friend. The display of anger was the reason neither girl noticed a figure approaching.
"Well hello there Fluttershy. Fancy meeting you here." A very over groomed young man took a seat next to Fluttershy, pushing Rainbow Dashes lunch aside casually as he did so.
Fluttershy let out a small "eep", having not noticed him coming. "H.. Hello Blueblood. It's, umm... Nice to see you again." Fluttershy was suddenly very uncomfortable. She attempted to move as far away from him as she could on her chair.
He didn't seem off-put by this at all. He only took it as a chance to move closer, thoroughly invading the meek girls personal space. "Yes well, I'm sorry you had to run off so quickly last time. You didn't let me finish telling you of my grand plans for me and you next Friday."
He was just about to go into details of tuxedos, limos, and all the usual gaudy aspects of a prom date when a fist came down on the table next to him. "Hey buddy, clearly the lady isn't interested. So how about you get out of here."
The pompous young man didn't seem to react to it, barely turning his head to address the girl attempting to glare holes in the back of his head. "I'm not your buddy and this discussion does not concern the likes of you. I believe the lady can decide for herself whom she wants to talk to."
Rainbow noticed Fluttershy giving her a pleading look. Despite having been worried about Rainbow getting in trouble just minutes before Rainbow noticed the same look she had seen in her oldest friend's eyes many times over the years. Fluttershy needed help, and Rainbow Dash was the only person who could give it.
Rainbow forced her fist against the table harder, causing her knuckles to crack loudly. "This isn't a discussion. This is just me telling you to get lost before I make you." The words came out through gritted teeth.
"Listen here you uncultured ruffian," he said while finally turning to address Rainbow, "your little friend here is currently the most sought after prize in the school.."
"She is not a prize." The words were roared through Dash's clenched jaw.
"Whatever you say, but you cannot possibly keep upstanding gentlemen such as myself from coveting her." He began to turn back towards Fluttershy as he continued. "You have no claim to her, so remove your tomboyish vulgarity from our presence while I..." He raised his hand to give Rainbow a shooing gesture, and that was all the opening she needed.
In one fluid movement Rainbow grabbed the offered wrist and twisted it around to the back of its owner. The arm that was not currently wrenching that arm up towards its own shoulder found itself pressed against the back of the boy's head. Both pressed the rest of the body forward until the side of his face met the table with a gut wrenching thud.
The howl of pain didn't stop Blueblood's arrogance for long. "Unhand me you lowly...aggghhhh.'' Whatever he was going to say was cut off as Dash forced up on his arm some more for a second. As soon as she stopped he started again. "What makes you think you can do such a thing to me."
"I'm doing it ain't I?" Another groan of pain as Rainbow forced up again.
"You have no place here. You can't stop interested parties from approaching her. What do you think you are, her girlfriend or something?"
Rainbow Dash was a very passionate person. She often acted more off instinct then thought. While this usually worked out for her, there were many times where she wished she could take the time and really consider her actions. She wasn't sure which it was going to end up being this time.
With a twist Blueblood stumbled off his stolen seat. With one final jerk on his shoulder she violently shoved him away with a kick. Looking down at where he fell she exclaimed loudly. "Yes she is, you prick!"
With that she turned to the stunned girl next to her. Too fast for her to offer any protest Rainbow quickly but delicately raised Fluttershy off of her seat, brought her close, and planted what looked like a deep, passionate kiss on her lips right in front of the assembled student body, all of whom were currently watching.
Not a soul in the room moved for the next five minutes.