//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: By a Fireplace // by TheGentlemanCreeper //------------------------------// For what feels like an eternity, Fluttershy just stares at you as you sit across from her at the kitchen table, her eyes wide and pupils constrict. How long is she going to just keep staring? you think as you shift uncomfortably in your seat. “C...Could you just... Um... You know, start from the beginning again? Please?” she asks with a growing smile. “I... I just still can’t believe it...” You let out a long sigh before leaning back in your chair. “Sure, sure...” you say, growing rather tired. “Well, it all started when I was working on Dewdrop Inn-” “M-My favorite book,” Fluttershy says giddily. “Oh, um sorry for interrupting...” You were sorry the last three times you think with a tired smile. But you have every right to be so... so... happy. “I hit a dry spell,” you continue. “I had all the energy, but no motivation to write. It was frustrating, so I took a sabbatical, hoping that I could get a look at it with fresh eyes. It was during that time I came across a little book called-” “Healing Blitz,” Fluttershy squealed happily. “It was my first book...” You nod slowly before reaching behind you and holding up your copy of Healing Blitz again for her. “I got it when it first came out those few years ago. It looked good, so I picked it up and took it home... I ended up reading it in a weekend and started up on Dewdrop Inn that coming Monday. Sure, I was exhausted from staying up until the wee hours of the morning, but I wanted to write something. Something that good.” Fluttershy blushed heavily as she smiled from ear to ear. “I-I-I still can’t believe it, I-” “Please don’t make me say it all again,” you say with a nervous giggle. “We’ve been at this for over an hour and I’m getting pretty hungry.” “Oh! Sorry!” Fluttershy cried as she got to her hooves. “I should have started dinner earlier, it’s just-” “Oh no, don’t apologize,” you say as you join her side. “I like talking to you like this, about our books and projects... Tell me, what are you cooking up next?” “Well, I was going to start on the green bean casserole,” she says as she pulls a medium sized pan from the cupboard. “And-” “No, I mean books, ya silly filly,” you say with a chuckle. “What’s ‘Butterscotch’ got planned for their next book? You’ve been hinting at something in Violet Fog.” Fluttershy’s face goes red as she puts a can of cream of mushroom soup in the can opener. “W...Well, nothing at the moment...” she says rather bashfully. “But I’ve had this idea I’ve been wanting to do for a while... But m-my agent thinks it’s too, well... Risky.” “Oh come now,” you say as you pull the green beans out of the refrigerator. “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t write.” Fluttershy turns a deeper shade of red as she continues to work on the casserole. “Okay... Well... The, um... Topic is sort controversial,” she says above a whisper. “I... I was thinking about a story about a mare named Summer Heart who trusted someone. Someone they loved. And they betrayed them by... by well... Forcing themselves on them.” You look to Fluttershy in surprise, causing her to visibly shrink from you. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I knew it was-” “A great idea?” you interrupt, catching her off guard. “Well, a great idea if you’re going where I think you are with it.” “W...Where do you think I’m taking the story?” Fluttershy asked with a look of surprise. “I-If you don’t mind me asking... You walk back over to the kitchen table and take a seat and a deep breath as you watch Fluttershy pop the casserole into the oven. “Well, I was thinking that Summer Heart would start isolating herself after she was well... Raped... She’d start closing up and pushing herself away from family and friends,” you say as you fiddle with a stray napkin on the table. “She’d think that there’s no such thing as love anymore and that’s where a new and sudden friend comes in and helps her open up her heart and she’d fall in lo-” You stop dead when you hear Fluttershy sniffle and look to her, eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong?” you ask in panic. “What did I do, what-” “No, no... It’s nothing,” she says as she takes the napkin away from you and dries her eyes. “I was just... Thinking. About the story,” she says with a small smile. “About how... Nice it would be if it was that simple. But I don’t think the lead the leading mare would be able to love that quickly, especially after g-getting hurt like that.” Fluttershy lets out another sniffle before getting to her hooves. “Sorry f-for crying like this. I-It’s just that this story is pretty sad and I can’t help but just tear up when I think about it...” “Then why not give the story a happy ending?” you ask as you get to your hooves. “If the story makes you sad, then change the story. It’s that simple.” “I-I don’t know if I can,” she says with a heavy sigh. “I don’t see how I can just make it better, I-” “I could help,” you say as you gently put a hoof on her shoulder. “I figure we could put our heads together and give Summer Heart the story she deserves. Fluttershy looks to you with a small smile. “R-Really? You would h-help me? Even when you have to write y-your own stories?” “Sure, I don’t mind,” you say as you start grabbing some plates. “I can work on By a Fireplace while I’m helping you out with... What are you calling it?” Fluttershy blinks a few times in surprise before giving you a bashful smile. “Actually, I um... I haven’t named it yet.” “Well then, why don’t we name it now?” you say as you start setting the table. “Anything come to mind?” “I...I don’t know, really,” she mumbles as she rummages through a nearby drawer. “I was thinking of calling it, well... Loving Touch. Because, well, that’s what Summer Heart needs. Someone to come along and-” “Give her that special, loving touch she so rightly deserves?” you say with a warm smile. Fluttershy looks to you with a deep blush and nods slowly. “Uh-huh...” “Well I think it’s a perfect title,” you say as you take a look into the oven. “How long do you think until dinner is ready?” “Well, um, I think...” she says with a sheepish smile, doing her best to hide her blush. “About an hour,” she finally says with a straight face. “If you want to go work on your story, I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.” “I’ll do just that, thanks Fluttershy,” you say as you make your way to your room. “If you need anything, just ask.” Fluttershy mumbles something under her breath as you make your way down the hallway, already thinking about the next scene in By a Fireplace. Carmella’s little trip to the big city is bound to be a little hectic, even with Breeze tagging along... It’s a little cliche, but what if it starts raining? you ask yourself as you close the door behind you. Or maybe they get chased by something... I gotta get them alone somehow... As you sit down at your desk, a thought crosses your mind that makes you grin from ear to ear. Carmella’s parents... They give chase and end up forcing Carmella and Breeze to hide in a nearby hotel. Problem is, there’s only one bed. They end up sleeping together and they grow a little closer together. Stretching out your hooves and neck, you bring up the magic inside you and start hammering away at the keys, the words coming naturally and freely. ***************************************** “Breeze, I-” “Keep yer mouth shut, Carmella...” Breeze said above a whisper. “We don’t want them to hear us.” Carmella nodded quickly and huddled closer to her friend, close to tears. She could hear the heavy hoofsteps of her father walking down the hotel hallway, getting closer and closer with each step. The closer he got, the more scared she got, squeezing Breeze tightly. The only thing stopping her from breaking down and crying was the way Breeze ran her hoof through Carmella’s mane, whispering into her ear. “Shhh.... It’s okay hun, it’s okay. I’m here... I’m here...” That was all Carella needed to know that everything was alright. As she curled up next to Breeze and smiled, she didn’t even notice her father’s hoofsteps getting quieter and quieter until the only thing that Carmella could hear were three words whispered to her that made her ***************************************** “Umm... Sorry to bug you,” a voice behind you says, almost startling you out of your seat. “Oh sorry! I’ll just-” Turning to face Fluttershy, you give her a smile and get to your hooves. “No, no, don’t apologize. I was just getting really into my work,” you say with a laugh. “But did you need something?” “Oh, well... I just wanted to let you know that, um, dinner is ready,” she says with a bashful smile. “B-But if you want to keep writing I’ll make you a plate for later.” “No, I’ll join you,” you say as you turn away from your typewriter. “I’m starving.” “That’s good,” Fluttershy says as she walks walks with you to the kitchen. “We kinda made a bit extra and wouldn’t want to see it go to waste.” “Well alright then,” you say as you walk up to the table. “I’ll try to eat as much as I can and then some.” Fluttershy’s eyes go wide and puts her hooves to her mouth to stifle a gasp. “Please don’t! You’ll get sick and then I’d feel just awful for doing that to you, I-” “Fluttershy, calm down!” you say with a nervous chuckle. “I won’t eat myself sick, I promise.” “Well that’s a relief...” she says with an elated sigh as she sits across from you. “If you got sick, I’d have to nurse you back to health.” You blush slightly at the thought. “Well, I’m not really against the idea...” you mumble under your breath. “Are you a registered nurse?” Fluttershy shakes her head as she spoons some of the casserole onto your plate. “Umm, not a pony nurse... But I like to think of myself as an animal nurse, like my mother. She taught me everything I know about medicine...” “Oh? Like what?” you ask idly as you nibble on your dinner. “W-Well...” she says slowly after swallowing a bit of casserole. “Like, what kind of herbs help close wounds... What grasses are good for a sour tummy... How to set broken bones... That sort of thing,” she tells you with a sheepish smile. You nod slowly as you grab your empty glass. “A writer and a practitioner of medicine?” you say with a smile as you make your way to the fridge. “Color me impressed.” Fluttershy almost turns scarlet as she hears that. “W-Well, i-it’s nothing really, I, umm...” “Want anything to drink?” you ask her, hoping to redirect the conversation. “Y-Yes,” she says, her blush slowly fading. “Apple juice would be nice...” Grabbing the jug of apple juice from the fridge, you uncork it and put yourself a glass before pouring Fluttershy one as well. “So, after this, care to do a little a group writing?” Fluttershy gives you a nod as she brings her glass to her mouth. “Thank y-” She stops and shakes her head before setting her glass down. “S-Strong...” “Strong? What do you mean?” grabbing a hold of your own glass, you take a swig and quickly realize what Fluttershy meant. “Tastes like hard cider...” you say before taking another sip. “Oh no!” she cries out as she picks up the jug. “I must have grabbed the wrong bottle at Applejack’s Farm... Oh, I’m so sorry! I’ll just take it back and-” Taking the jug of hard cider from Fluttershy, you pour yourself a new glass and give her a smile. “Oh come on, it’s no big deal... I’m not mad or anything and there’s no sense in letting it go to waste.” Your smile slowly dims when a thought crosses your mind. “Unless you don’t like it, then sure, we can take it back,” you say as you push your dinner around your plate with your fork. Fluttershy stares at you for a moment and then to the jug of hard cider before letting out a long sigh and smiling. “No, it’s alright...” she says before taking a little sip of her cider. “I... I just don’t really drink that much. Only on special occasions or to celebrate something...” Glancing at your glass, you pick up and hold it in the air in front of Fluttershy. “May I be so bold as to propose a toast? To new friends?” you ask warmly, the cider already working its way through your body. “I... Umm... S-Sure,” Fluttershy says bashfully, her cheeks turning rosy red as she lifts up her own glass to meet your own. “T-To new friends.” You can’t help but smile back at her as your eyes meet hers. “To new friends.” ***************************************** “Oh dear Celestia, that’s amazing!” you cry out as you fall back onto the bed. “Y-You really think so?” Fluttershy asks as she looks up from the typewriter. “I know so, ‘shy...” you say as you sit up and stumble towards her before leaning on the back of her chair to steady yourself. “You are... An amazing writer. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.” Fluttershy blushes deeply and gets out of your chair slowly, a little unsure of her own footing. “I-I’ll remember that,” she says, smiling from ear to ear. “Now, where should I go now?” “Read it out to me again, something will click...” you say as you pour yourself a new glass of cider. “Want some?” you ask her as she grabs the latest page from the typewriter. “Umm, that’s alright...” Fluttershy says as she sits besides you. “I think I’ve had enough for tonight.” Coughing into her hoof, she settles down and starts reading out what both you and she have been working on through the night. “Summer Heart stared at the stallion standing in the doorway. The world slowed down and everything went quiet, save for a low, dull thud in her ears that she knew was her own heart. ‘R-Rainy!’ she cried out in surprise. ‘What are you doing here, I thought-’ Summer Heart gasped out and took a step back as Rainy Skies took a step towards her. ‘I couldn’t stay away... After you ran away last night, I couldn’t get you out of my head, I-” You feel yourself blush and shift a bit in your seat as you feel something warm and soft touch your side. Looking down, you see Fluttershy’s wing wrapping itself around your side. As you follow her wing up to her body and then her face, meeting her own eyes. “I-I-I...” she stutters, her cheeks crimson red as she tucks her wing back and shifts nervously in her seat. “I’m sorry, t-that’s never happened before, I-” “It’s alright, it’s alright...” you say bashfully. “It... It’s kinda cute...” Fluttershy’s eyes go wide and stares up at you, her jaw slightly agape. “I-I’m sorry!” you say nervously, your cheeks growing red with embarrassment, “I didn’t... I mean...” “I-It’s okay...” she says with a small smile. “Really.” You feel yourself blush as she stares at you and look away as you cough into your hoof. “W-Well, umm...  So, is that everything or-” “Oh! Umm, I have a bit more here...” Fluttershy says bashfully as she looks back to her writings. “... ‘I needed to see you. Talk to you. Please, just listen.’ Rainy pleaded, his eyes staring forward, right into Summer’s. She wanted to run, but her legs were frozen in place,” Fluttershy read aloud, smiling a bit as she leaned on you. “Good, good...” you say with a slow nod. “She’s being forced to confront this issue... Her new boyfriend getting a little frisky the night before. She’s so scared of confrontation, she’s stuck there. She wants to run, but her body locks up and she’s forced to listen.” “Thanks~” she says with a bit of a giggle. “That’s exactly what I was going for...” Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy goes back to reading. “After what happened last night, she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. ‘I...I’m sorry,” Rainy started as he took a step forward. ‘I... I didn’t mean to be so forward. I just... I just don’t know what came over me and I know that’s no excuse,’ he said, his eyes tearing up. ‘Just... Please. Give me another chance.’ Summer Heart sniffled aloud and looked to the ground, not wanting to see those big, green eyes look into her. ‘I... I don’t know...’ she said glumly.” “And that’s where you stopped?” you ask as you look over her shoulder. “Umm, yes...” she says as she sets the paper on the stack next to the typewriter. “I was thinking of having Rainy Skies keep walking towards Summer Heart, his words getting more and more sincere until he leans forward and kisses her, sho-” “Wait, wait, wait...” you interrupt as you get to your hooves. “He just... Kisses her?” Fluttershy falls back in her chair and gives you a puzzled look. “Well, yes... He kisses her. What’s wrong with that?” “Well, it just feels really mechanical, you know?" you say as you get to your hooves. “I mean, he’s the one kissing her. It’s not how I would do it.” "Well, how would you do it?" Fluttershy asks, turning to face you with a curious expression. "How would you write this scene?" "Well. Summer's unsure," you say, standing and pacing a little. "Part of her wants to trust Rainy again, but she's afraid. And then she looks up, and he catches her gaze." You glance up to Fluttershy, meeting her eyes, a small smile spreading across your lips. "And he just... tells her. Everything." Your voice softens, taking a step towards her. "He'll come closer, she'll step back, but she's leaning in, as afraid as she is she wants to hear this. He tells her how he feels about her, how beautiful he finds her, how he admires her strength of spirit, how he loves her. And then he'll just go quiet for a moment, staring into her eyes." You hesitate, drawing a steady breath, holding Fluttershy's gaze. "And it's like she could fall forever into that look..." She murmurs softly, as though in a dream - or a story. You smile. "And there's a spark, a charge in the air..." "The kind that sends shivers down your spine?" "Mmhmm. And for all they know each other, it's-" "Like they're looking at each other for the very first time- "But familiar, under all the excitement there's something welcome between them." "Yes..." "And then, the spark just ignites, and-MMPH!" You gasp out as you feel Fluttershy’s lips press against yours, frozen in place as she gives you a soft, tender kiss on the lips. You stare into her eyes as you start to kiss back, slowly and unsure of what to make of all this and are rewarded with a soft moan from the pegasus in your hooves, encouraging you to continue. The kisses come hotter and faster as you hold her a bit tighter, moaning back into her mouth as you’re lost in the throws of ecstasy. Ripping your glasses off while you continue to kiss her, you toss them across the room and run your hooves through her mane as you push your tongue into her mouth playfully before falling back onto the bed with her. As soon as you and her hit the mattress, she lets out a startled gasp and tenses up in your hooves, feeling as stiff as statue as her eyes go wide. Slowly breaking the kiss, you look to her nervously. “F-Fluttershy, what’s-” was about as much as you could get out before she scurried off the bed and galloped out of the room and into the hallway. “I gotta go!” she yells. Getting to your hooves, you take after her, shouting at her. “Fluttershy, wait! Stop, please!” “I-I gotta go! I gotta go!” she cries out, her eyes tearing up as she bolts out the front door. Reaching out to stop her, you’re far too late as she flaps her wings and takes off into the night sky, leaving you stuck there on the ground. “W...Wait...” you say above a whisper, your heart wrenching in your chest as she flies out of sight. For the longest time, you simply stand there, staring into the starry sky, hoping she’d turn around and come back any second now, but it was all for naught. Turning back into the house, you close the door behind you and collapse onto the couch. “S...She’ll back back any moment,” you say aloud as you stare at the front door. “I’m sure of it.” Five minutes pass. Then ten minutes. Thirty minutes. Then an hour. By then, you could feel your gut twisting into knots as you hold your hooves over yours. “Great...” you sigh out as you lay out on the couch. “I chased her out of her own home...” Rolling over onto your stomach, you bury your face into the couch cushions and let out a wordless yell of frustration. “...Great job, numbskull. When am I going to get this right?” ***************************************** A loud, heavy knock startles you awake and sends you sprawling off the bed. “I’m coming! I’m coming!” you yell out as you get to your hooves shakily. As soon as you stand up, you feel your legs give out from under you and your head pound as you lay on the floor. “Son of a...” you groan out as you haul yourself to your feet. Stumbling towards the front door, you run focus through your hangover and make your way to the door. Opening it just a crack, you find yourself staring face to face with a sky blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane that made your eyes ache just looking at. “C-Can I help you?” you ask as you open the door slowly. “Oh, hi there,” she says with a smile. “Is Fluttershy home? I’m supposed to meet her for lunch today.” “Lunch?” you ask with a puzzled look. “Isn’t it a little early for lunch?” The blue pegasus points inside the house to a nearby wall. “No, I’d say it’s almost about time.” Following her hoof, you blush with embarrassment as you realize you’ve slept most of the day away and that she was right. It was almost noon. “Oh, sorry... I, um... I had a long night,” you say bashfully. “I don’t think Fluttershy’s home, but I’ll check. Umm, what did you say your name was?” “I didn’t. Name’s Rainbow Dash,” she says as she pushes her way into the living room. “Might as well wait for her to come back-” “I don’t think sh-” Rainbow trots past you and sits down in a nearby chair with a smug grin. “Oh it’s cool, she said I could hang out already.” You blink a few times in confusion as the pegasus already settles down and grabs a nearby book off of the bookshelf. “Any idea where she went?” she asks as she flips through the pages idly. Running a hoof through your mane nervously, you let out a nervous chuckle. “I... I really don’t know.” Looking up from the book, Rainbow Dash shoots you a glance. “You know, you’re a lousy liar.” You feel the color run from your face as you do your best not to completely break down. “I-I-I don’t know what you mean, I well, I woke up and-” Rainbow simply stares at you as you stumble around for an excuse, leaving you to sigh heavily as you collapse into the chair next to her. “You’re right... I can’t lie to save my life...” you say as you bring your hooves to your face, blinking back tears. “I screwed up. I screwed up and I don’t even know what I did wrong...” “What are you talking about?” she asks curiously. “What happened?” You let out a little sniffle as you try to gather your thoughts. “We...Fluttershy and I were drinking and we started to kiss when-” you stop suddenly and turn to Rainbow desperately. “Please don’t tell anyone! I couldn’t live with myself if anyone found out about this...” “Why?” Rainbow asks with a scowl. “Something wrong with Fluttershy?” You feel your jaw drop slightly as you move to the edge of your seat. “No! Not at all! She’s smart, she’s talented, she’s... She’s... She’s wonderful. And I couldn’t bear the thought of someone so fragile being in the public thought of her because of me...” Rainbow’s face softens as you run your hooves through your mane nervously before giving you a small smile. “I promise, whatever’s said between us stays between us. Cross my heart and hope to fly.” You smile back and relax a bit as you sit back in the chair. “Thank you... Well... Like I was saying... We were drinking. Hard cider. We were working on... My latest story.” Best to keep Fluttershy’s stories close to the chest for now... She did say something about keeping it from her friends, you think with a little smile. Sweet Princesses above, I could use a smoke right now.... “Oh, you write stuff?” she asks with a growing smile. “Like what? Action? Adventu-” “Romance,” you tell her bluntly. “Romance novels.” Rainbow lets out a low sigh and shrugs. “Whatever, I guess... So, what happened next? What’d you do to make her run off?” “I have no idea,” you say as you shake your head grimly. “"I don't know whether it was the cider, or something about the story we were working on, or what, but she kissed me. And well... I... I kissed back. And then she just... froze up. And bolted. I tried to chase her, but-" You stop and grow quiet as Rainbow Dash stares at you intently, her face contorting in confusion. Oh crap... What did I do now... you think as you shift restlessly in your seat. Oh sweet Celestia do I need a smoke... “Wait... What?” Rainbow asks sharply. “Say that again. Back at the beginning. She kissed you?” “W-Well... Yeah,” you say with a nervous chuckle. “Trust me, I was just surprised as y- What’s wrong?” you ask her as Rainbow starts to get to her hooves. “Nothing’s wrong,” she says with a heavy sigh. “I just... remembered I gotta go see a friend of mine about a dress. Tell Fluttershy when she gets back that I stopped by, okay?” Before you could even get a single word out, Rainbow bolted out the front door, taking to the skies and leaving you there with your mouth agape. “I... I...” letting out a heavy sigh, you get to your hooves and look around the room. “Where the hell are my cigarettes?” ***************************************** Carmella let out long yawn as she rolled over on her side, her eyes slowly flickering open as she pressed into something warm. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared face to face with Breeze, close enough to feel her breath on her skin. “Hey there cutie,” Breeze said with a wide smile. “W-We didn’t... We did, didn’t we?” Carmella asked as she set up quickly, her heart racing in her chest. Breeze sat up and wrapped her hooves around Carmella’s waist, nuzzling into her neck lovingly. “Mmm, we did hun... And it was amazing...” “Oh my gosh... Oh my gosh...” Carmella said again and again, shaking in Breeze’s grip. “I can’t... I just...” Breeze let go of her slowly and pulled up a seat beside Carmella at the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong, hun? Was it something I did? I thought-” “No, no... It’s not you, it’s just... I-I never thought of myself a... a... like that, you know? It’s just... I don’t know what to think...” “Carmella, sweetheart... Why should it bug ya? I mean... I never thought I’d love a mare, let alone sleep with one... But I loved what happened last night,” Breeze said as she put a hoof around her shoulder. “And I thought you did, too...” Carmella looked to Breeze and gave her a small smile before letting out a long sigh.“W-What about my parents, what would they think? O-Or the talent agents in the ci-” In one quick motion, Carmella was spun face to face with Breeze, merely a hair away from meeting lips. “Honey, ya don’t need to worry about them at all... My daddy used to say me ‘those that mind don’t matter and those that matter don’t mind’” “W-What does that mean?” “It means the only one you should be worrying about is the mare that loves ya, hun...” “Breeze, I-” ***************************************** A knock at your bedroom door sends a chill down your spine, stopping you mid sentence. Turning around from your typewriter, you try to swallow but your throat goes dry. “C-Come in...” you say shakily, your heart racing in your chest. Slowly, the door opens and Fluttershy peaks in, looking just as scared as you. “Oh! You’re busy, I-I’ll just-” “No, no! I’m not busy, not at all,” you say as you get to your hooves. “W-What do you need?” Fluttershy stands in the doorway for few moments before walking in slowly, keeping her head down and away from you. “I...I, umm... I-I just wanted to... to see how you were doing... And well... I... I also wanted to...” Slowly, she takes a deep breath and looks to you, her eyes tearing up a bit. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I was so stupid last night and if you’re mad with me I under-” You get to your hooves quickly and put a comforting hoof around her shoulder. “Fluttershy, you didn’t do anything wrong, so stop apologizing... If anything, I should be sorry. I was way too forward and should have just stopped, but well... I... I couldn’t stop myself. I don’t know what came over me, and I’m sorry for taking advantage of you like that.” “No, no, no...” Fluttershy says as she shakes her head quickly. “I was the one who kissed you first, I started the whole thing... You probably think I’m-” “A good kisser?” you ask with a nervous laugh. Fluttershy looks to you in shock, her entire body tensing up in your grip. “W-Wh-What?” Clearing your throat, you give her a shaky smile and nod. “Y-Yeah... You’re a good kisser... Really good.” “You’re just saying that...” she says above a whisper, her cheeks bright red as she tries desperately to hide behind her mane. Carefully reaching out, you push her hair away. “No, I’m not... You’re a good kisser. Really.” Fluttershy smiles from ear to ear as her entire face turned scarlet. “W-Well... You’re a good kisser too...” You look at her with a bashful smile. “Oh come on, now you’re just saying that...” you say with a nervous laugh. “I’m not that exp-” You gasp out as you feel Fluttershy’s lips press against yours and can’t help but moan out as a shiver goes down your spine and press into her, kissing deeply. After what few seconds that felt like an eternity, Fluttershy slowly breaks the kiss and giggles. “No... I mean it.” Slowly, you open your eyes and look to her with a goofy smile. “W...Wow...” “What? What’s wrong? Was I too forward again?” she asks nervously. “I didn’t mean... I-” “Fluttershy, have you eaten yet?” you ask idly as you gaze at the clock. “Umm... I had breakfast...” Moving past her out of your room and down the hallway, you grab your coat and throw it on. “Well, I haven’t had breakfast and it’s getting close to lunch. How about we go out and get something to eat? My treat.” “Ohh! Umm... Sure,” Fluttershy says with a small smile. “I don’t usually eat out that often... What’s the occasion?” Trotting up to the front door, you open it up for her and smile right back at her. “A date.”