//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Living in the Present, Hoping for the Future. // by FlutterDash979797 //------------------------------// "Ready ‘Shy?” A cyan hoof squeezed a contrasting yellow. "Together..." Fluttershy equalized the pressure. The train began its descent, slowly but surely. The tracks skidded a loud thunder as the brakes began to close. "How many times have we said that this weekend?" Rainbow laughed softly. "Quite a bit. Still, it's true!" Fluttershy nuzzled Rainbow a few times before gazing into the window. "And how are our boys? You guys ready?" Rainbow gazed at Tank and Angel. "Well, Angel is still asleep. I think Tank can speak for himself." Fluttershy scratched the tortoise's forehead, "he looks as ready as ever!" "The doors will open soon. Please depart one at a time. Enjoy your stay at Ponyville! We hope you will travel with us again!" The train worker began to open the doors and direct traffic outward. Fluttershy and Rainbow patiently waited for all of the ponies in front of them to depart before standing up and contently walking outward. Celestia's sun pierced their pupils; hiding the sight of a very special friend. "Oh my gosh! Dashie and Fluttershy! My pinkie-sense led me here and I totally get it now! You returned! Oh my gosh, this calls for a party! How was your trip! Did you do lots? What happened? Come on, tell me girls!" Pinkie Pie spoke with the speed of lightning. The sight of her friends forced her to literally bounce in the air. "Slow down Pinkie! We had a nice time. But get our friends together. We have an announcement to make," Rainbow hugged Pinkie and let Fluttershy do the same. "It's important." "What, that you're a couple now? Oh, I totally knew that when I saw you Dashie!" Pinkie giggled several times before proceeding to continue her bounces. "How did you know?" Fluttershy asked, trying to comprehend the pink earth pony's insane breed of logic. "Well you see..." Pinkie began to blurt out several hundred words in a few seconds, a feat both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy thought was previously impossible. "So I counted your hooves seven times... added the amount of feathers on Rainbow's right wing and Fluttershy's left..." Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both stared at each other, attempting to piece together any basic level of sense to their friend. Pinkie proudly continued her speech "So I added those together and counted the twirls on my first part of my mane, and add them together and divided them by the amount of days you were gone... and that's how Celestia created the sun!" "What?" Both Rainbow and Fluttershy paused for a brief second, before erupting in laughter at their friend. "It's okay girls. I just know these kind of things. But anyways, that also calls for a party!" Confetti spontaneously erupted around the pink mare. "Two parties in one day?" Fluttershy clearly didn't like the thought of so much attention. "Weren't you listening, silly? We are having five parties today! But in the meantime, let's all meet up at Sugarcube Corner for some treats! Your Auntie Pinkie Pie has got it covered!" Pinkie dashed towards her home, warping reality in every step. "Umm... what just happened?" Rainbow laughed, slightly tilting her head sideways. "I'm a still a year older than her!" Fluttershy snarked. "Well, it looks like our friend just set up a meeting. I'm sure Pinkie won't tell anypony, so we will have to. I'm looking forward to it. I'm so proud of you!" Rainbow threw her foreleg on Fluttershy's shoulder. "I can't wait! I love our friends so much! We are truly lucky to have them." Fluttershy attempted to gently wake Angel, "Angel Bunny? We're home sweetie. We are going to Sugarcube Corner to get some snacks with our friends. I thought maybe you and Tank would like to join us? We could get you some treats." Angel awoke softly; a rare sight indeed. He gently agreed to his mother's offering and kindly nudged her as a sign of approval. "Oh my goodness, you are really great today! I will make sure you get a ton of sweets!" Few things warmed Fluttershy's heart quite like her bunny's happiness. The trip had changed him for the better; learning how he could change his mother's life for the better. Angel also gained an understanding of Rainbow Dash; in particular, the traits she helped arise in Fluttershy. In the presence of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was more confident, assertive, and laid-back; things Angel learned to love. Ponyville was much the same; feelings of comfort and security were found in familiar places. Several pegasus tended to the clouds, content without Dash leading them. A few select pegasus offered waves to the couple; which they promptly returned. Rainbow felt a drive to return to work; however, she knew know that the weather would function in her absence. In the future, she would lessen her schedule to allow free time with Fluttershy, Tank, and all of her friends. Sugarcube Corner was as bright as ever. Pinkie quickly opened the doors and bounced towards the new couple. "Okay, so I got everything ready! We are totally going to have such an awesome time! Every one of our friend is in there! I haven't told them yet; they don't know my awesome way of knowing everything! But I bet they are expecting something! Go on in! I made every single tasty thing ever invented!" Pinkie clearly did not spare her usage of words. "Thanks Pinkie for being so understanding. We are really excited." Fluttershy quickly hugged her as a thanks. "We'll head right on in!" "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie bounced alongside the couple into Sugarcube corner. "Welcome back! How was your weekend? Your pets are perfect, no worries!" Twilight quickly trotted over to the pair, hoping for a hug from each. "Oh darling, both of you look absolutely splendid despite being in ruffian country for a weekend! How was everything? Did you have lots of clothes? Oh, I should have made you something!" Rarity greeted them in a similar manner as Twilight. "Ah shucks, you got me hugging y'all as well. You gals look like you had a great time! The country can do that for any folk!" Apple Jack greeted both ponies with her usual approachable attitude. "We had an awesome time! We did a lot; swimming, boating, island-exploring, walks... Everything! But most importantly, we learned a lot!" Rainbow said. "Oh, you know, I bet this would make a perfect letter to the princess!" Twilight levitated a quill and paper. "Well, this is a little more personal, but I'm sure you could write down some things." Fluttershy replied. "What's the news?" Applejack investigated. "Oh, I must know! Did you meet new people? Did you fall in love with a stallion up there? Oh, tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" Rarity couldn't withhold her enthusiasm for gossip. "Well... not a stallion..." Rainbow gripped Fluttershy's hoof. "Fluttershy and I are in..." "Love. We love each other!" Fluttershy cheered. "Oh, how wonderful! You guys are just the cutest couple; y'all bounce off each other perfectly! Congrats!" Applejack shook their hooves proudly. "This is news! Oh Celestia, I am so happy for you! Rainbow Dash, we'll need to correct a few of your manners if you are going to be dating such a graceful and elegant pony like Fluttershy, but you seem to really bring out the best in her!" Rarity never withheld the chance to educate a pony on proper etiquette. "Gee thanks Rarity... don't worry, Fluttershy can teach me a few things along the way," Rainbow tried to ignore her friend's strict social rules. "How did it happen? The romance I mean... how did you guys fall in love?" Twilight was ready to take a note. "Well, all I can say is that Fluttershy really opened my feelings up. She's really special like that." Rainbow's compliments brought about a slight blush on her marefriend's face. "Anyways, I've always sort of had this crush on Fluttershy. And after this weekend, I finally fell in love with her. And she realized that I was an alright marefriend myself. So it made sense. And we did a lot together; we kind... of..." Rainbow searched for the proper word. "I think what Rainbow is trying to say is that we learned a lot from each other. I showed Rainbow that it's okay to be a little open with your emotions, while Dash taught me a thing or two about being confident and assertive. We're better ponies when we're together. It's as simple as that," Fluttershy pressed hard against Rainbow’s figure. "We also talked to a older couple while we were there; we found out about life. The past is the past; you can't change it, so it's probably not worth it to dwell on the bad stuff. ‘Shy and I learned to live in the moment. Did you girls know Fluttershy is an awesome swimmer? ‘ Cause' she totally rocks!" Dash cheered with pride in her marefriend. "Oh my gosh, friend beach party!" Pinkie exploded confetti. "Now that is an awesome idea! But back to the story, we learned also to look forward to the future; even it may seem a bit unrealistic. You know, hope?" Rainbow stood proud of her advice. "Hope is a tremendous thing. Even when ponies have nothing more, hope can get them through," Twilight jogged down all of the lessons. "It is so kind of you all to understand. Rainbow and I love you guys so much!" Fluttershy smiled heavily. "Group hug, come on y'all!" Applejack gathered the group together. All six gathered in a warm hug, giggles and smiles colliding within the circle. "Promise you won't laugh!" Rainbow leaned close to Fluttershy. "I'm not promising any such thing!" Rarity showed clear excitement at the pair's romance. Fluttershy's and Rainbow's lips met for several seconds, passionately and proudly displaying their affection. The four ponies cheered in a manner reminiscent of an annoying TV audience. "Get used to it girls! ‘Cause you're going to be seeing it a lot!" Rainbow giggled. "Holy carrot! Angel sprung next to a massive salad, specially prepped to his expectations. "Tank, you did this? The tortoise was relaxing on a chair, sipping a pop and going easy on the sweets. "I don't break promises, man." Within seconds, the bunny consumed the entire plate; clearing eating several times his bodyweight. Any explanation of how this was possible only made Tank's head hurt. "Tank, how did you get this here?" "I signaled Pinkie before she left to go get the party started. I swear, that pony can read minds!" "For what it's worth, I enjoy seeing our moms together more than I ever enjoyed this salad." "Angel, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."