Three months later…
“Ah, that was a great lunch!” Rainbow Dash patted her stomach happily. “Nothing beats the hay sandwiches that place makes.”
Fluttershy tittered as she walked alongside her friend from the restaurant. “Careful – they say those go straight to your thighs.”
“Ah, you listen to Rarity too much. There’s just grass and dandelions in there after all.”
“Ten is ten, no matter how you look at it.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Guess I’m just gonna have to work it all off.”
She looked at Fluttershy hopefully.
Fluttershy inhaled deeply and shook her head with a sad smile. “I’m sorry. I… just can’t.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, disappointed but resigned. “Maybe next time, then?”
Fluttershy shrugged. “One day, I’ll be able to fly by your side again. But not now.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Rainbow Dash promised. With a hop, she took to the air and flew off, shouting, “Count on that, Flutters!”
Fluttershy watched her disappear over the rooftops.
She heard somepony approach her from behind.
“Hey.”
She turned around, meeting Derpy’s bashful grin with her own. “How are you today?”
“Better,” Derpy flexed her wings. “I can go up to twenty feet without panicking. How about you?”
Fluttershy looked to the side.
Derpy nodded. “You’ll get there.”
“It’s just… hard to get out of my head.”
“I know. But that’s what I’m here for, huh? You and me were both up there, so we both understand.”
Fluttershy breathed in deeply. “Y-yes. Thank you for saving me.”
“That’s the twentieth time you’ve said that,” Derpy smiled good-naturedly. “Kidding. Do you wanna talk about it? I was gonna ask earlier, but you were with Rainbow Dash, so…”
Fluttershy mulled it over. “… No. I think I’ll just go home and have a nap. Sorry.”
“No problem,” Derpy patted her on the shoulder, both her eyes managing to focus for a split second. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
Derpy flew off, taking careful measure not to go too high over the rooftops.
Fluttershy’s smile fell once she was gone.
Since that day, they hadn’t found any evidence of what had been lurking above the clouds, nor any sign of the pegasi.
Since that day, there weren’t any other incidents of similar like, though there were rumours that ponies in various parts of Equestria mentioned seeing strange shadows on the clouds.
The official story was that a freak weather anomaly had been the cause for the disappearances, no matter what she or the others said. Apparently, it was easier and less scary to put the blame on the weather.
Fluttershy could understand that.
At least she had her friends to confide in, even if she suspected they might not all believe her entirely.
At least she had Derpy, who understand what she had gone through.
Fluttershy turned her gaze to the overcast sky and suppressed a shudder.
One day, she’d brave the skies again.
But until then, the grey clouds would ever loom closer.