//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Friends // Story: In One Month // by Cadencebutterfly //------------------------------// “Oh, Rainbow Dash, isn't it just lovely at Canterlot?” The poor bag boy that Rarity drug along plopped all her bags on the floor of a humble hotel room. With his knobby knees and his acne ridden face, the boy hardly looked strong enough to carry them in the first place. Rarity, however, hadn't noticed this and simply insisted that she couldn't carry them herself. The sun sat in the middle of the sky, hardly held back by any cloud coverage. Rainbow Dash found herself tracing the horizon with her wavering eyes, wondering if her choice to come along was the smartest. Rarity, however, appeared to be beaming with pride in her decision. “Lovely, er, yeah, you could say that.” Dash said, wrinkling her nose at the word 'lovely.' She outstretched her wings, wiggling the feathers that were collecting dust from the ride here. As she flexed them outward, she felt the urge to fly hit her with massive force. With discipline she decides to unpack her bags first, slipping her Wonderbolts picture on the stand next to her bed. She looked at it carefully, her body quivering slightly in anticipation of the show Rarity promised admission to. As her imagination went wild, she found herself grinning widely without noticing. Unpacking the rest of her bag went quick, what with her minimalistic needs, and she unwound by shaking her head and messing up her mane. Stretching her wings in and out again in excitement she began trotting towards the door. “I'm going out for a fly.” Rainbow Dash said with a spark in her tone. Rarity hardly noticed, as she lifted dress material and held it to the light. “Uh-huh.” Rarity laid the magenta fabric down, stroking her hoof over the texture, memorizing the hues. She opened the window and allowed the light to affect the shade, tilting her head slightly. With a pout, she sighed and let her muscles relax in disappointment. With her focus where it was, the pale unicorn failed to notice her roommate’s absence fully. She paced over to another opened suitcase, peeling more untouched fabric from its opening and elevating it. She put it next to the previous magenta fabric, observing the two colors and their harmony together. Once again, the feeling of defeat crept over her. Maybe inspiration couldn't be expected to hit so rapidly. She proceeded to open up another suitcase, neatly labeled “mannequin,” and revealed her pony mannequin pieced apart and looking depressed. She pulled the several body parts of it out one at a time, and began piecing them together to repair it's disheveled appearance. As the body came together, Rarity sat it down on it's stand in an open area in the middle of the room. She gave the mannequin a frown and laid her fabric upon its back appropriately. She let out an unappreciative groan. “These colors simply do not go together.” Her head slumped down and her shoulders went slack. Glancing out of the window, she noticed Rainbow Dash buzzing to and fro. She pouted humbly, leaning against the leg of her bed. “Just how am I going to make this work? I have...” She shuddered slightly, feeling a sort of hormonal emotional breeze brush through her. “I have simply never had artists' block this severely.” The distant sound of Rainbow's laughter and the buzz of her feathers slicing through the air left Rarity feeling breathless. She felt her mane tickle the tip of her nose, and hurriedly brushed it off. “Oh, what am I going to do?” She returned to one of her opened bags, lifting her sketching journal out of it. Flipping through her pages, she felt her lips contort further and further into a frown when she decided to place it on the bed and look away. The ideas were awful. The art was awful. The color palette was awful. She was simply awful. “No, I came here for a change of scenery.” She whispered quietly. “So that's what I am going to get. I need to get out, and I need to socialize with other ponies. Maybe they can help me.” The day was still young enough, and the hour was ripe. Although her voice shook with disappointment, her determination drove her to the front door. Taking a scarf, she loosely decorated her neckline and with one last glance at her mane to assure perfection, she left the room for her fresh air. ----- “Fluttershy?” Big Mac's tone sounded confused as the pale pegasus entered his quarters. “Umm, a-are you feeling okay, Big Mac?” A familiar bitter smell was adrift in the air. The bedroom was neat and humble, fully reflective of the pony who makes his home in it. Big Mac lay uncovered by his sheets, hiding from the heat. There was a tight wrap and splint on both of his legs, and his mane looks frazzled from lack of cleansing. “Eeyup.” “U-um...” There was silence. Fluttershy fidgeted uncomfortably. Applejack's and her conversation before she came inside left her reeling in possibility. She was no stupid filly, it was almost crystal clear what Applejack meant by what she said, but to believe that Big Mac had anything to do with the anonymous gifts meant that he was parading down to her cottage on his injuries. Her throat knotted at the thought, and that thought worsened as she saw his condition. “I like the new hair clip.” Big Mac spoke slow and soft enough for his voice not to startle her regardless how sudden it was and how clearly it broke the silence. Nevertheless, Fluttershy still shuddered in fear as he addressed her appearance. “Th-thanks.” She said quietly. As she peered over to him, an overwhelming awkwardness obsessed her mind. She put a hoof up to the new accessory and assured it was in her hair tight. Her eyes, however, stayed near Big Mac's general area, keeping an eye on him without the direct contact. The silence dragged on, eventually becoming deafening. What kept Fluttershy in the room was her innate curiousity but her shyness to mention anything. She opened her mouth to speak but backed out too many times to count, and the situation began to become far too heavy. As she backed away and prepared to say goodbye, Big Mac interrupted her. “I may not be the sharpest of nails, Fluttershy, but I reckon you're tryin' to ask me something.” “O-oh, it's really nothing, I...” Fluttershy withdrew from the accusation, turning her head in such a way that her mane covered her face. Big Mac smiled patiently. “I'm fine waiting if you want to stay and gather the courage.” “N-no, it's fine, really...” “So be it. Goodnight, Fluttershy.” As he chimed her queue for her exit, Fluttershy felt a ping of guilt. As she turned away, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and called upon what there was of her courage. With a sudden rush of air, Fluttershy turned back to face Big Mac, exhaling her words one after the other. “I-I wanted to know if you were the stallion leaving the gifts at my door!” After she breathed a few more times and stepped backwards in embarrassment, Fluttershy refused to make eye contact. Her face burned with a passionate blush that drove her face to a deep red. Big Mac patiently waited for her to feel brave enough to look at him again. A few more moments of silence passed, and Fluttershy glanced at the injured stallion between strands of hair. He laughed softly, his deep voice bellowing affectionately. “Fluttershy, Applejack told me about the extra tickets. I was just wonderin', if you ain't considerin' a better guy if you'd like taking me.” “A-as friends?” Fluttershy stuttered uncontrollably as her blood rushed back into her face. She felt her muscles tremble in embarrassment and shock, as her wings clung nervously to her back. “If that's what makes you comfortable, then we can go as friends.” Fluttershy's dire silence clearly swelled up discomfort in Big Mac. He once again remained patient, awaiting her response. “Uh...” She said at almost a whisper. “I suppose as friends would be fine, yes. B-but, d-do you, u-um, y-you know... is this...” Big Mac shook his head. “I reckon it's high time you get some rest, Fluttershy. Feel free to come back and talk to me about this some other time.”