Pinkie Pie’s lips tasted sweet on Fluttershy’s. Maybe it was all the cupcakes?
No, Fluttershy presumed it was simply because Pinkie had a sweet personality.
Fluttershy giggled as she pulled her lips away from Pinkie’s, but no one could possibly hear it under Pinkie’s snorting laugh as she held onto Fluttershy’s hands and beamed. Pinkie almost always laughed when she kissed Fluttershy; Fluttershy thought it was because Pinkie was nervous, and perhaps it was at first, but Fluttershy soon learned that Pinkie simply loved to laugh.
Fluttershy was starting to love it too.
“I have to gooooo,” Fluttershy pleaded, trying to stand up but Pinkie refused to let go of her hands.
“Nooo, just one more!” Pinkie whined, looking up at Fluttershy with big puppydog eyes and a pouty lip. “Just one more smooch, then I’ll let you go, I promise!”
“You said that about the last three smooches,” Fluttershy laughed, snatching one hand away from Pinkie and holding it up to her mouth, biting down on a thumbnail.
“I know,” Pinkie huffed, crossing her arms and puffing up her cheeks. “And I’m really glad you’re taking this trip with Rarity! I can’t wait for you two to become best friends!” Pinkie wrapped her arms around Fluttershy’s waist and buried her face into Fluttershy’s stomach, Fluttershy putting her hands on Pinkie’s shoulders and massaging them gently. “But I’m gonna miss you!”
“I know,” Fluttershy sighed, a grim frown creeping across her face as she looked over to the other side of the inn lobby and saw Rarity coming down the stairs with Applejack. “I’ll miss you too. I really wish you could go with us.”
That statement held more truth than Fluttershy wanted to admit.
For just like Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy understood the importance of this endeavor; Rarity wanted to see Fluttershy’s true form since apparently her shell of bigotry she had encased herself in was starting to fall away— at least according to Rainbow Dash, since Rarity almost never talked to Fluttershy directly.
Fluttershy was initially excited when Rarity told her, but as minutes that felt like hours dragged on, Fluttershy only became more and more nervous. She was walking alone into an unknown forest with a goddamn Slayer of all things.
She was practically asking to get killed.
But she wanted to trust Rarity.
Why?
Rarity had shown Fluttershy nothing but contempt since learning she was a dragon. Even before that, Rarity barely showed her any respect in her own forest! Rarity was a ruthless barbarian who slew animals as soon as look at them, and this is the pony Fluttershy wanted to put her faith in? WHY?
Fluttershy had no answer.
She simply wanted to.
“Are you ready to go?” Rarity asked coldly, staring listlessly at Fluttershy.
“Are you?” Fluttershy hissed back. Fluttershy wasn’t the one who needed to tell every pony in town where they were going and do her makeup or whatever else Rarity had decided to do to drag her hooves—
No, no. Fluttershy had promised herself, and Pinkie, that she would be nice.
“I am if you are,” Rarity shrugged.
“Good,” Fluttershy forced a smile. “Then we should get a move on. We don’t want to be in the forest all alone after dark, right?”
“It’s barely mid-morning,” Rarity sighed and ran a hand through her mane. “But you’re right. Let’s—”
“And yer sure you don’t want me or Rainbow Dash to come with ya?” Applejack interrupted, grating on Fluttershy’s nerves.
“I’m sure, darling,” Rarity smiled sympathetically at Applejack.
“Yeah, Applejack!” Pinkie added, jumping up to try and reach Applejack’s gaze, and Fluttershy had to admit that she felt calmer when watching Pinkie. “This is Rarity and Fluttershy’s special time! We can’t interfere or we’ll mess up their big character moment!”
“I know, I get it,” Applejack groaned and rubbed the back of her neck. Fluttershy heard a ticking clock in the back of her mind. “I’m just worried about y’all. Be nice to each other, got it?”
“Of course, darling,” Rarity said charmingly, like she hadn't a care in the world.
“I promise to be on my best behavior,” Fluttershy said with a thin smile, even though she hadn't done anything.
These ponies were all suspicious of her because of her claws and fangs, completely ignorant of the way their swords and magic and their damn alicorns cast a shadow of fear over Fluttershy’s home and any place she tried to run to.
Fluttershy took a deep breath. This would be fine.
She mused that perhaps because she so enjoyed the company of the pony Pinkie Pie, and also Rainbow Dash from their admittedly limited experiences together, that being in the presence of ponies so obviously and shamelessly suspicious of her grated on her nerves more than usual thanks to the contrast.
Did that even make sense?
Fluttershy chuckled under her breath. What even was ‘sense’ anymore?
Rarity opened the doors to the inn, and Fluttershy dragged herself toward them, tearing herself away from a tearful Pinkie and waving goodbye to her as she threw herself into Applejack’s embrace.
Fluttershy grit her teeth.
It hurt her pride to see Pinkie seek comfort from that pony, the one who just seconds ago had verbalized her doubts about Fluttershy’s character, the one who took Rarity’s side every time, the one who was trying to STEAL PINKIE AWAY FROM H—
“Wait! Hold on!”
Twilight Sparkle’s voice cut through Fluttershy’s thoughts like a sword slicing through a snow fort, and Rarity’s groan fell on Fluttershy’s ears like an anvil that made Fluttershy grind her teeth painfully against each other with a wince of her eye.
Twilight ran down the stairs into the lobby, nearly tripping over her own hooves as she raced toward Fluttershy, finally stopping in front of her and gasping for breath.
“I heard you were—” Twilight panted and paused to catch her breath. Fluttershy put her hand on Twilight’s shoulder and whispered a small spell on her lips, rejuvenating Twilight, who took a deep breath and smiled at Fluttershy. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“My pleasure,” Fluttershy chirped, brandishing a sincere smile and cocking her head slightly. It felt good to do something nice for someone, and even better to be appreciated.
“I’ll wait outside,” Rarity growled, not even waiting for Fluttershy to respond before closing the door behind her, and by the way Twilight cringed you’d be forgiven for thinking Rarity slammed the door right in her face. In a way, Fluttershy supposed she did just that.
“I’m sorry,” Fluttershy said without even thinking, almost as if it were habit or something.
“Don’t be,” Twilight batted her hand. She took a deep breath and grabbed Fluttershy’s hands. “I wanted to check on you though before you left! I heard about your little outing from Rainbow, and I know you must be pretty stressed out right now.”
“Me? I’m not stressed out,” Fluttershy wore a paper thin smile, and all it took was one arched eyebrow from Twilight for it to crumble into a weepy frown. “I am so stressed out, thank you so much for noticing!”
“It’s no problem,” Twilight gently rubbed her thumb in the crease between Fluttershy’s thumb and forefinger. “No one else here gets it, not really. Even if we tell them we’re as afraid of them as they are of us, they don’t get it.
“Everyone’s gonna be thinking about Rarity and her feelings, and I’m thinking about her too, but I wanted to make sure that you have someone looking out for you, and I will be there for you, no matter what.”
“Even if you have to choose me over Rarity?” Fluttershy said bleakly, almost sarcastically since she knew the answer alrea—
“Yes,” Twilight said instantly, cutting down Fluttershy’s thought before it was even fully formed. “I will choose you over Rarity if I need to, because I refuse to let you be alone in this. We agreed when we left the forest that we would stick together, and I intend to keep that promise.”
“Twilight Sparkle,” Fluttershy blubbered, trying her best not to cry and failing completely miserably.
“Do you want a hug?” Twilight asked, and Fluttershy nodded ecstatically before Twilight wrapped her arms around Fluttershy and Fluttershy returned the favor.
“I just feel like such a fool,” Fluttershy said, wiping her eyes. “I feel like I’m being set up for the world’s cruelest prank.”
“I understand,” Twilight whispered. She tilted her head down, and Fluttershy bent her knee to put her forehead against Twilight’s. “For what it’s worth, I don’t believe that’s what’s going on here. I do believe that Rarity, and the others too, are genuine in their intentions.
“But I understand your fear. And I want you to know that no matter what, I’ll protect you.”
“You’re sweet, Twilight Sparkle,” Fluttershy chuckled, and she didn’t bother to try and stop the tears streaming down her face. “Why would you put yourself out like that for me?”
“Why would I—” Twilight said incredulously, shaking her head a bit and blinking. “Fluttershy, I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you!” Twilight chuckled. “Actually, I literally wouldn’t be here, because you saved my life, but!
“My point is, it’s your conviction and your faith that allowed me to be strong enough to offer to take the others to the Crystal Empire. And your kindness to travel with me, to leave your home for my sake— for our sake, yours, mine, even the ponies’— I draw strength from that kindness every day. When I wake up under an unfamiliar ceiling, I think about you and that helps me to put my feet on the ground every day.
“So don’t ever ask me why I would do something for you. It’s because you’re important to me, Fluttershy.”
“W-waow,” Fluttershy stammered and blushed, and now she was the one out of breath.
“D-did I lay it on a bit thick?” Twilight smiled awkwardly and let out a wheezy chuckle, but Fluttershy just shook her head and giggled.
“No,” she said, “that was perfect.”
Fluttershy bowed her head, and Twilight returned the gesture. With Twilight’s assurance keeping her strong, Fluttershy felt ready to walk outside those doors now, but Twilight was still holding onto her hand.
“One last thing,” Twilight said.
“Hm?” Fluttershy chirped, slight smile still on her face as her heart buzzed with affection for Twilight Sparkle.
“I think—” Twilight paused, measuring each word before she spoke it. “It was kind of you, to accept Rarity’s proposal. It’s kind of you to see it through with her, even though you’re scared. That kindness is inspiring, Fluttershy, and I refuse to believe that a decision made in kindness could be the wrong one, even if it ends up burning you.”
“I would love to believe that you’re right,” Fluttershy sighed, “but I don’t always feel so confident.”
“I know,” Twilight nodded, and Fluttershy could almost see tears sparkling in her eyes. “But if your heart gets burned by your kindness, I’ll always be here to cradle it in a soft blanket until it cools.”
The only thing burning now was Fluttershy’s cheeks, and she swore she could hear her heartbeat thumping in her ears.
“Thank you,” Fluttershy said softly and bit her lip. “When I return, will you have tea with me? Give me something to look forward to when I come back?”
“Absolutely,” Twilight said with a smile and a firm nod; she didn’t even have to think about it.
Fluttershy exhaled sharply. She could feel Twilight’s faith on her back as she turned toward the inn doors and opened them, and when she looked at the sullen unicorn leaning against the wall and waiting dourly for Fluttershy to arrive, Fluttershy almost saw her like Twilight saw her.
With hope in her heart.