//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Just a Dash of Shy 
// by Musical_theatre_demon 
//------------------------------//

A day has passed and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were adapting to the ways of the past. But on the other hoof, Gallus and the others couldn't wait to break free from the revolting jerkwads that called themselves griffons. 

"Can you believe that it's been a day?" Rainbow Dash said, stretching her hooves as she awoke, "You know, it's kinda nice to share a bed with you... I mean, not like that... but you get what I mean."

"Uh, yeah. It did feel nice," Fluttershy said, "But where exactly are we?"

Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her head. "Geez, my head hurts all of a sudden! I hear so many ponies screaming, taunting the words 'Rainbow Crash'. It feels so familiar, so real. Please make me feel like I'm not going crazy."

Fluttershy put her hoof on Rainbow Dash. "I understand. I hear the bullies too in my head. You're not going crazy, trust me," she reassured Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow Dash was relieved. "Oh, thank goodness it's not only me! Are you OK?"

Fluttershy had no idea how to respond. She was in her own thoughts, desperate to find a way to escape these taunting voices.

"Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked, concerned.

She could hear the voices as clear as day. 

Those jeering ponies chanting:

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly! Fluttershy, Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!"

Fluttershy flew around, full of anxiety. She held her hooves to her head. Was she losing her mind? No, it couldn't be.

"Fluttershy, Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!" she heard the ponies echo.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash cried, running over to Fluttershy. She held Fluttershy in her hooves to the best of her ability. "Flutters, do you hear me? If you can, please snap out of it!" 

Fluttershy grabbed tightly onto Rainbow Dash. She was crying. "I'm scared," Fluttershy said. 

"Uh, if you need somepony to cry on, I'm here," Rainbow Dash said.

"N-no, I'll be fine," Fluttershy said, wiping her tears.

"Are you sure? I-I'm here if you need me," Rainbow Dash said.

"I said I'm fine," Fluttershy replied firmly, "Don't worry about me." 

"You're my friend. If you're hiding something, you can tell me. You trust me, right?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah," Fluttershy said.

"Then, you don't need to act all tough for me. Let all your emotions out. You can talk to me," Rainbow Dash reassured her, putting a reassuring hoof on Fluttershy. 

Fluttershy hesitated. She was scared, there was no hiding it. It was stupid of her to try to pretend she was OK when she wasn't. She had somepony she trusted, who wouldn't judge her for being herself. Crying, Fluttershy laid her head on Rainbow Dash.
"I heard them," Fluttershy said.

"Heard who?" Rainbow Dash calmly asked.

"The same ponies who called you Rainbow Crash as a filly," Fluttershy replied, "I heard them when they went after me, teasing me because I wasn't as good at flying as the other pegasi."

"Is that it?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I heard their voices echoing inside my mind like it was real! I was so scared! I thought I was going insane!" Fluttershy sobbed. 

"There, there," Rainbow Dash said, "Do you mind if I stroke your mane?"

"Whatever you do, it's never gonna work. But yeah, you can try," Fluttershy said in reply.

Rainbow Dash stroked Fluttershy's silky pink mane in an attempt to calm her down and reboost her confidence. 
"Shh, shh! I'm here," she said, "Shh! It's all gonna be OK! Just think positive thoughts!"

Fluttershy cried herself to sleep on Rainbow Dash, who smiled warmly and continued to stroke her mane. 

Then, Rainbow Dash kissed her head. "I love you," she whispered, "I'm sorry this is happening to us, but it'll all be over soon. Trust me, Flutters. My sweet, sweet Flutters."