//------------------------------// // Episode 9: Twins and ships // Story: Evanstallion: Neon Friendship // by Short-tale //------------------------------// “Ah can’t believe she’s so popular,” complained Applejack as she walked down the hallway in school. She eyed the stallions that surrounded the cyan menace in exasperation. “I mean, I think somepony else would have noticed her attitude.” “Well she has captivated all the ponies here with her “can-do-ness,” pointed out Sunburst as he swerved to avoid the large hallway blocking cluster. “It’s a trick,” accused Applejack as she continued her malicious-intent stare.”She’s just tryin’ ta be popular rather than be who she is. Tain’t being honest. ‘Course who she is, is a self centered showoff.” “I don’t know, AJ,” Sunburst pondered, stroking his bright orange goatee, ”maybe she truly was just a little clumsy about your hat. Starlight seems to like her, and you know how picky she can be.” “Well, she certainly got off on the wrong hoof with me,” she admitted rubbing her hoof on the back of her head. “Maybe Ah’m being too pigheaded again, and it was an honest mistake.” “Rainbow Dash was right,” exclaimed a bright blue unicorn with a darker blue mane. She stole a glance at Applejack and snidely said to her friends, ”Applejack does dress like a stallion.” “Why that gold-darned, empty headed...” Applejack spat and she tried to rush in their direction. The way was blocked by the ever popular Rainbow Dash as she hovered between them. “Ha ha, I’m just messing with you AJ,” she claimed as she landed. “So how awesome do you guys feel knowing you have such an awesome friend.” “Awesome friend?!” gagged Applejack. “You’re more of an awesome pain in the—” “So, third filly,” interrupted Rainbow, which caused Applejack to seethe further, “doesn’t the first filly go here?” “First filly? Oh, you mean Maud?,” asked Fluttershy who had been quietly hidden by her two friends. “I saw her outside in the meadow.” Maud sat peacefully in a meadow in front of the school. She was looking for pieces of feldspar amongst the pieces of sandstone. She peered close to what could be a piece of clear quartz when the light suddenly dimmed. She placidly looked for the source. Rainbow Dash hovered over her with a smirk on her face. Maud remained unfazed.  “Hey, first filly,” began Rainbow Dash, a bit taken back by her lack of response. “We should totally chillax.” “What is chillaxing?” asked Maud, sounding more bored than intrigued.  “It’s the best of both worlds. It has chilling and relaxing.” Maud simply stared. “Can I bring my rock, Boulder?” she asked, holding up a small grey rock.  “Umm, I’ll get back to you on that,” answered Rainbow Dash uncomfortably while she backed away and smiled a little too large. She flew off from Maud’s icy stare and found Fluttershy and her friends watching with knowing smiles.  “Is she always that weird?,” she asked them.  Applejack merely nodded.  “Sounds like you two should be besties, ”teased Applejack. Rainbow Dash glowered at her. “Umm, I’m all about cool, but that pony is ice cold.” She flew back to her eager fans and continued on her way. *** The central command was oddly subdued. Twilight found it comforting. She found her favorite spot in her studying chair and nestled in for some reading. She studied the comforting facts and figures from the last series of tests she ran.  Suddenly darkness fell over the book-loving unicorn’s beloved work. Her brain slammed into disarray as her figures disappeared from view. It took a second longer than she would have admitted to realize some pony had placed their hooves in front of her eyes. “Guess who,” asked a voice she recognized immediately.  “Cheese Sandwich,” gasped Twilight. Her realization brought with it all sorts of memories of her, Cheese and Pinkie in college. Things that she hadn’t remembered in a lifetime. “Oh my goodness, it’s been so long.” “It’s good to see you, Twilight.” “You as well. All though I don’t think somepony is excited.” Twilight could see Pinkie leaning with her face pressed against a window. The pink pony glared at their interaction with unabashed anger. “Yeah, looks like somepony is a little jealous,” laughed Cheese. ”’Guess Who’ used to be Pinkie’s favorite game when we were dating.” Pinkie sauntered through the door with her chest puffed out. She nonchalantly looked at the pair.  “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Pinkie demanded of Cheese. “Yeah, but here is a lot more fun,” grinned Cheese. A stern look from Pinkie made him quickly add, “but the commander asked me to stay a bit longer. I told him your beauty is reason enough.” “Well why don’t you admire it from afar,” demanded Pinkie coldly. “Like way over there.” Cheese looked hurt. “You wish is my command, fair mare,” he dramatically said then bowed. “Nice to see you again, Twilight. If you ever need a party you have my number.” He skipped past Pinkie with his normal goofy grin and left the room. “Aww, sounds like he really misses you,” sympathized Twilight, with a slight twinge that she had so little time to catch up with her old friend.  “Well, he can just go on missing me then, Mr. Jerky McJerkerson,” blurted Pinkie with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance. “What ever happened between you two anyway?” inquired Twilight. She had fond memories of the happy couple as they threw party after party together. They had looked like the fairy tale prince and princesses she used to read about as a foal. “It looked like you guys were the perfect match.” “It was super fun in the beginning,” sighed Pinkie. “It was like a party everyday. But then I asked him if he was serious about me. He’d say he was but then he would put on a mustache and squeeze a whoopie cushion afterwards.” “That sounds like something you would do.” “It’s something I do do, but when i do it’s to help ponies enjoy the moment and remember the silly times. When Cheese used to do it it was a distraction.” “A distraction from what?” “Himself. He was feeling fears. I could Pinkie Sense it. He said he loved me, but the fears were pushing him towards the silliness.  Not the silliness drawing him closer to me.” “Well, he’s here now.” “I still see that look in his eye, Twilight. And that same whoopie cushion in his pocket.” Suddenly the many ears of the control room curled back in pain as a warning alarm began to sound. Trixie, Bon Bon and Lyra began to type like mad. They scanned through the data as quickly as they could.  Twilight didn’t need to see the data. She knew what the alarm meant. “The next angel,” she shouted as she got up from her chair and trotted to the central command terminal. “A large form has been spotted over Silver Shoals,” informed Bon Bon. “Didn’t we go camping there or something?” asked Lyra.  “Not now Lyra,” reprimanded the yellow mare. “I want to see Unit-02 in action. Send her and Fluttershy,” commanded Discord. “And get me some popcorn.”  *** Fluttershy’s necklace began to glow and she turned and looked at Rainbow. Rainbow was busy talking to a group of fillies.  “Um excuse me, Rainbow?” she harshly whispered. She didn’t want to interrupt the group and certainly didn’t want everyponies’ eyes on her.  “Hey, Rainbow!” shouted Applejack as she noticed Fluttershy’s feeble attempt. “Fluttershy’s necklace is glowin’. It means ya better high tail it out o’ here and get to CAKE. An angel is coming.” “Finally,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash,”You’ll get to see my awesome battle prowess up close.” “Ummm, it’s not quite as easy as it looks,” suggested Fluttershy. “We’ll see. Let’s go already.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew to headquarters. It wasn’t long before Rainbow out stripped the timid yellow pegasus and was miles ahead. She desperately tried to catch up and idly wondered if this was how Maud felt.  Fluttershy landed as Dash was flying out of the locker room with her entry plug suit on. Fluttershy felt a sharp slap to her flank as the blue blur soared past. She looked back in confusion but no explanation was given by the grinning speedster. Fluttershy resumed her course and donned her suit. Unit-01 was up and running while Unit -02 was all ready to launch.  “Come on, slowpoke!” shouted Dash through her loud speaker. “The angel’s gonna get old and die of boredom before we get to it.” Fluttershy thought it would be nice if she didn’t have to kill it, and climbed into the entry plug.  “Geez,” came Dash’s exasperated tone. “You take forever. Let’s get up there. Now.” As if on cue the Evanstallions were launched to the surface towards a waterfall of confetti. They passed a banner that read, “Happy first Evanstallion launch Rainbow Dash!” on the way out. “Wow, Pinkie is really on top of things,” commented Fluttershy.  “That wasn’t Pinkie,” argued Rainbow. “That was Cheese. Look.” Fluttershy looked and saw the orange stallion tipping his cow pony hat with a paint brush in his hoof as they left. “Now he’s stealing my launchfetti,” shouted an irate Pinkie through the com link. The Evas reached the surface and galloped to the awaiting angel.  It stood stories tall as the others had. It looked like a strange bird with talons on the ends of its wings and no feathers. It glared at them through a strange two toned head that looked like a yin and yang symbol.  “Be careful Dash,” cautioned Fluttershy. “They can be very tricky and meaner than they look.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” dismissed Rainbow Dash. “I got this, watch.” Her Eva opened its wings and flew straight at the angel. In its armored hooves it held a building length lance. “You take the pony glaive and slice it in half. Like this.” Unit-02 brought the sharpened glaive home on the angel’s head. The impact sliced easily through its skin and its body with no hesitation. The angel fell into two roughly even chunks.  “Oh my goodness,” gasped Fluttershy. “Ha ha ha,” cackled Rainbow,” easy peasy.” “I don’t know, that seemed too easy. Angels can be very tricky.” “Fluttershy, I just cut it in half. How can it hurt us now?” “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy,” screamed Pinkie Pie, “my Pinkie sense is telling me something awful is about to happen!” “You too? C’mon, I totally killed it. What could possibly—” began Rainbow, until she noticed the angel’s halves begin to move.  Suddenly, each half rose from the ground and formed two angels. They looked like the larger angel, somehow even angrier and more hateful than the original one had been.  “What the what?” shouted Rainbow. “That’s no fair.” “Oh my,” cringed Fluttershy as the large starfish-shaped forms descended on the stunned Eva pilots. “Oooo, now the angels are becoming twinsies,” Pinkie’s voice marveled through the speaker. “What was that Twilight? Oh yeah! You guys need to retreat. Now!” ** The debriefing room felt stuffy and claustrophobic. The occupants looked at each other with solemn looks and saddened eyes. Mud Briar stood in front of the assembled employees and led them through the events of the fight. “8:15 this morning the next angel, Israfel, attacked Equestria. At 8:30 both Unit-01 and Unit-02 encountered it. Unit-02 bisected the target but it formed into two targets. At 8:32 both Unit-01 and Unit-02 were thrown into the ground,” he informed plainly. He coldly clicked a button causing a slide to display each Eva firmly planted into the ground with only their rear legs protruding from the hole. Mud Briar continued to drone the minutes of the battle. “At 9 o’clock Celestia’s forces dropped an N2 mine on it to slow it down. It has been rendered immobile but it’s shown to be healing. By the projected estimates we have 2 days before it has recovered enough to move again. I believe we should make a plan of attack in the time given.” An awkward clap sounded through the room but stopped as everypony glared at Pinkie. “Looks like Rainbow Crash and Klutzerfly messed up,” snickered a white pegasus to his giggling cohorts. “None of this would have happened,” whined Rainbow Dash pointing her hoof,” if Fluttershy had told me they could do that regrow-from-its-bits thing.” “I’m sorry but I didn’t know,” apologized Fluttershy earnestly. She tried to shrink behind the pony sitting next to her but he backed out of the way. “Yeah right,” shouted Rainbow,” you were trying to throw me off my game.” “I’m sorry it did, but I still didn’t know,” Fluttershy apologized even more quietly. “Well, next time just stay out of my way,” she threatened and barged out of the room, straight through the jeering jerk squad. “This bickering is pointless. We still need to defeat the angel despite your foalish temperaments,” observed Mud Briar. “You are all dismissed.” Fluttershy watched Rainbow sail down the hall. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the second filly. Rainbow had tried so hard, only to be shoved into a hole and yelled at by her superiors. She felt awful that she seemed to be the source of Rainbow’s pain but didn’t know how to fix it.  *** Pinkie sat at her desk covered with various letters and notes. She stared intently at the paperwork she held in her hoof. She squeezed her eyes and scowled her face in thought.  “Having a rough time on this one?” asked Twilight, appearing over one of the smaller paper towers.  “Yeah, this planning thing is super duper hard,” Pinkie complained. “I have blueberry cupcakes for Rainbow Dash and vanilla sSwirl carrot cake cupcakes for Fluttershy, but I don’t know what the commander or Mud Briar likes.” “Umm, that’s the plan for the angel attack?,” asked Twilight in disbelief. Although she felt used to this line of thought by Pinkie. “No, silly. The after party when we succeed. Angels don’t like cupcakes.” “You’re supposed to be making the plan to defeat the angel. Oh, never mind. Look, I have a plan right here.” “Thanks, Twilight,” squeaked Pinkie as she took the offered binder. “Oh, this isn’t from me,” teased Twilight. “This came from Cheese. I think. He said it was from Boneless 3, something like that.” “Boneless 3 was always the smart one.” Twilight sighed. She never understood those two. Still, part of her was a little jealous of their connection. If only she could have that in her relationship.  Pinkie threw the binder aside and returned to her list. She knew she could count on Cheese’s plan. But some part of her still wished she could count on him for more. *** Fluttershy felt awful for letting down all those ponies. She didn’t know how she was going to make it up to them. She even felt bad she let down Rainbow Dash. She was the experienced pilot and should have helped her somehow. The truth be told Fluttershy didn’t feel very confident in her abilities as pilot at all. Most of her other fights she won through dumb luck and circumstance. She didn’t think there was anything she could teach Rainbow Dash at all. The little pegasus returned home to find all her things in boxes. She sighed. CAKE didn’t want her anymore. She had failed them. She was about to collect them when she noticed a shadow moving around her old room. She poked her head in and found Rainbow Dash surrounded by a wall of boxes, arranging a collection of antique Wonderbolt miniatures.  “Oh hello, what are you doing here?,” Fluttershy found herself asking. “Putting up my Wwonderbolt collection in my room.” “Oh,” she sighed. “So they have gotten rid of me. I’m sorry I was a lousy angel instructor.” “Oh they haven’t gotten rid of you, I just needed more room. Your earth pony- based home is too small,” explained Rainbow Dash. “Your room had enough space for my trophies.” “Oh ok, but then where will I sleep?” “I don’t know. You could find a spot on the floor out there or something. I just don’t know how you got used to the cramped earth pony lifestyle.” A pink blur bounced its way inside and sped right for them. Fluttershy nearly fainted in terror before she realized it was Pinkie Pie carrying a bunch of boxes. “Oh, you’re both here,” Pinkie said looking around. “Oh, you all have boxes too. Yay! We can totally have a box party. I’ve never had a box party before we could decorate them and hide in them and pretend we’re cats and flip them over and pretend we’re turtles. Oo and a fort. We can build the biggest box fort.” “Pinkie?” Fluttershy quietly but firmly interrupted. She learned that ponies like Pinkie needed to be redirected sometimes. She took a slow breath. Then calmly asked,” why do you have so many boxes? Are you switching rooms too?” “Silly filly, these aren’t moving boxes. These are your new clothes. Remember how much you liked dressing like twinsies?” Fluttershy’s heart sank. *** Sunburst and Applejack walked to Fluttershy’s apartment. They normally checked in on her after an angel fight.  “Ah’m just glad to be done hearing that Rainbow Dash brag herself to death,” complained Applejack. “You said it,” agreed Sunburst,”of course we wouldn’t hear it if you would stop following her around.” “Well, Ah don’t want anypony else swayed by her boasts is all.” They arrived at her door and found Starlight Glimmer by the same door. She turned around as they approached and immediately looked embarrassed. “Hi, Starlight,” Sunburst began excitedly,”what are you doing here?” “Oh, I’m here to see Rainbow Dash,” she responded. “What are you two doing here?” “We’re here ta see Fluttershy,” answered Applejack. “What is this about Rainbow Dash?” The door opened and both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash answered dressed like hedgehogs. They looked miserable.  “Yer dressin’ like her again,” pointed out Applejack. “We’re twinsies now,” they said together in unison. “Pinkie made us dress alike, talk alike and do everything at the same time.” “Everything?” gasped Starlight. “How horrid.” Pinkie appeared behind the twinsies. “It’s part of their training. Come in and see.” They cautiously entered and found a Pone Station attached to the latest DJ Pon3 dance dance revolution. The two pilots were struggling to keep time with the game and each other while in the uncomfortable suits.  “Why didn’t ya tell us it was fer work?” giggled Applejack. “That’s hysterical.” “I’m glad you’re having fun,” sulked Rainbow as she fell in her dance suit. “It was actually Cheese’s idea—well, Boneless 3’s, he’s so smart,” informed Pinkie. “Actually he suggested you guys should just attack it in unison but this seemed a lot more fun.” “I can’t work under these conditions,” whined Rainbow. “Fluttershy is too slow to keep up with me.” “Maybe you should try slowing down to work with her,” suggested Pinkie as she shrugged her shoulders. “No way I would lower myself to that.” “Well why not let Maud give it a try then?” Pinkie recommended.  “Her? Please, then it would be even slower. There is no way she could keep up.” “Maud?” asked Pinkie. “Could you and Fluttershy give it a whirl?” “Maud and Fluttershy?,” gasped Rainbow. “But—but I’m the best fighter you have!” Maud wordlessly got up and put on the ridiculous hedgehog costume. She and Fluttershy turned on the same dance song and began to dance in perfect unison.The DJ Pon3 on the game scratched her vinyl records and praised their good coordination.   “How… what... that’s just—”Rainbow stammered. “Aaargh!” She shrieked and flew to her room in frustration.  “Oh my,” said Fluttershy as Rainbow left. “It must be something I’m doing.” “Nah,” assured Starlight,” she’s fine.” “She probably just needs some time to sulk, Sugarcube,” dismissed Applejack with a slight smirk on her face. “She’ll be ok.” *** Rainbow Dash sat in her room to regain her composure. She didn’t like to feel left out or not in control. She felt hurt that Fluttershy could sync so easily with Maud. She wondered why that hurt so much. She took a few deep breaths and saw the inspirational Wonderbolts posters on the walls. She knew she couldn’t back down now. She steeled herself and re-emerged from her room.  “Ok, third filly, I’ll show you, Maud and Pinkie that I am the best. I’m going to give it 110%. You better be ready for some hard training,” Rainbow growled. Fluttershy gulped. She wasn’t sure what sort of training Rainbow had in mind, but the look on her face was scary.  Rainbow restarted the game and began to dance with much more zeal. She noticed Fluttershy had started to wilt and forced herself to slow down. “Come on, Fluttershy. You can do this. I’ll slow down a little bit if you can speed up a little bit more.” Fluttershy nodded. She felt closer to the young pilot and didn’t want to let her down this time. She pushed her sore muscles just a little harder and fell into sync with the gyrating blue pegasus. They danced harder and Fluttershy could feel her movements matching Dash’s. She glanced over and saw the smug look of satisfaction on Rainbow’s face. The thought that she was able to help produced a smile. The two continued to dance through the night. Pinkie gave them pointers, sugary energy drinks, and encouragement. Each dance felt like more and more wonderful. Fluttershy had never experienced such an intense feeling as she and Rainbow danced the night away. The self consciousness she normally felt slipped away after physical exhaustion made it impossible to keep up.  “This is amazing,” the yellow pegasus thought. “This must be the feeling of letting everything go and focusing on one goal. I wish I could hold on to it forever.” “She’s pretty amazing,” thought Rainbow Dash. “Who would have thought she could step it up this much in a single night. She even looks like she’s enjoying herself. Why does that make me feel so light? My gosh. She’s even smiling. Why does it have to be so cute?” The night wore into morning as the dancers passed out on the mats they danced on. The digital DJ Pon3 tried to encourage them with pointers about which hoof should go where but it fell on slumbering ears.  Pinkie looked down at them with satisfaction. They had partied their flanks off. She began to straighten up the living room and prepared for the long day at work. She also had to make those cupcakes for the victory party.  *** Rainbow Dash snored herself awake. She looked around the bright living room and felt every muscle ache. She looked around through squinted slits and found her yellow dance partner sleeping very close by, who cooed as she slept. The poor yellow pegasus wasn’t used to all night training sessions, Rainbow concluded. Something about that soft look on her face made Rainbow’s own heart skip a beat.  It was then that she knew. She couldn’t let a filly this cute slip past her. She had to do something to sweep Fluttershy off her hooves. Something deep down told her she had to move fast. Fluttershy felt the morning’s glow on her eyelids. She opened them and found the pink eyes of her rainbow maned dance partner staring at her.  “Good morning,” Fluttershy said softly. “Good… good morning,” Rainbow stuttered. She felt totally uncool. “Um, let’s get to work. Right away.”  “What was that?”Rainbow chastised herself. “Sweep her off her hooves, not stumble over your own.” “Before breakfast? I admire your dedication, but we really should take care of ourselves too,” Fluttershy suggested. “Breakfast. Right. But then we hit the dance floor.” “Um if it’s ok with you I would at least like to take a bath. I want to clean all the sweat off from yesterday and all my muscles are sore. I’m not sure why Pinkie wants us in these hedgehog suits. We might dance better without them.” “Oh ok. You um bathe. I’ll get breakfast,” Rainbow explained. Her thoughts immediately turned to Fluttershy in the bath.  “Oh my, are you ok? You seem to be a little flushed?” “No, it’s fine! I’m just pumped. I like to get pumped up before training.” “Well as long as you're fine. I don’t want to see my dance partner take ill,” Fluttershy giggled at the weak joke she made. She was unused to attempting humor, but felt light enough to try it. She walked to the bathroom and began her bathing ritual.  Rainbow purposely focused her attention on getting something for breakfast. She thought, Maybe if I put together a fancy pancake breakfast she’ll see how awesome I am and probably ask me out! Rainbow tried her best to find all the right ingredients and a recipe. She didn’t think it would be too hard.  Fluttershy got out of the bath and dressed. She left the comfort of the bathroom to find Rainbow Dash covered in flour, sugar all over the ceiling and something burning on the stove. The prismatic speedster looked up with a strained smile. “Grub’s done,” she said. Fluttershy cast her discerning eye on whatever it was in the pan. It was dark and crispy and refused to come out of the pan despite Rainbow Dash’s spatula.  “Umm I think I should cook...if that’s ok,” the yellow pegasus decided.  The mares ate their food of oatmeal and toasted oats, then hit the game once again. It took a little warm up but soon they were back in the groove. They could almost anticipate the other’s rhythms. Rainbow had never felt so connected with anypony. But she felt herself wondering how to impress her dance partner. She felt her speed returning to her as she began to show off her true talents in dancing. She spun and shook and found her hoof wrapped around Fluttershy’s waist in fluid motion. Fluttershy tried to look around her to see what move she was supposed to do but a set of blue wings blocked her view.  “Umm I’m sorry I kind of forgot this part in the dance,” said Fluttershy.  Rainbow looked at those big blue eyes again. She found her face getting closer to the pegasus she held in her arms.  There is no way this pilot could resist a kiss from somepony as awesome as me, she thought. Pinkie Pie returned with lunch for them. “Aww, you guys looked so good yesterday. What happened?” Rainbow stiffened and nearly dropped Fluttershy on her back.  “I’m, um, not sure,” Rainbow huffed. “We might be too sore or something.” “I thought we were doing well, but I forgot this part of this dance,” sighed Fluttershy. She wondered if exhaustion from yesterday was causing her to forget. She had no memory of Rainbow dipping her at all.  “Oh, why are you guys still wearing those silly hedgehog outfits?,” Pinkie chuckled. “You’ll dance better in those dance clothes I brought.” “But you were the one who said to wear them,” blurted Rainbow. “I thought you guys would smile if you saw how silly you two looked and loosen up. But you’re going to hurt yourselves dancing like that wearing them. Now go change. Oh, and I brought you lunch and dinner. I’m not going to be home tonight. Apparently they want a lot of paperwork before they let you dance together in Evas.” “You’re leaving us alone all night,” gasped Rainbow. She couldn’t help but see it as a sign. There was no way she could fail to impress Fluttershy at night. She could pull out all the stops uninterrupted. “You’ve been alone together all day silly,” Pinkie reminded her. “What’s one night? Seriously Rainbow, you’re the one snoring, not her.” Rainbow looked at Fluttershy with utter confidence. The little yellow filly would be hers by the end of the night. She just had to think of how.  As Pinkie left for work, Rainbow’s mind was already putting a plan in motion. She looked at the dance suits in the box. They didn’t leave much to the imagination. Once Fluttershy caught sight of Rainbow’s well chiseled curves there was no way she wouldn’t fall into her arms. “Let’s get these silly rodent suits off and put our dance suits,” suggested Rainbow excitedly.  “Rodents!” cried Fluttershy. “Hedgehogs might be rodents but they deserve to be treated with more respect than that.” The blue pegasus’s mind was temporarily jarred. Was this pony defending some sort of mouse costume? Why was she getting so mad?  Rainbow shook her head. It didn’t matter. Once Fluttershy caught sight of her in the suit everything would be forgotten.  Rainbow excitedly grabbed the dance suits and ran into her room. She slid into the thin sleek suit and admired the parts it accentuated. Fluttershy didn’t stand a chance. She almost felt sorry for the third filly. Then she began to wonder if it was too much. The little yellow filly didn’t seem all that strong. The poor thing might collapse in excitement. Well then it was up to Rainbow to swoop in and save her. Rainbow confidently trotted out of her room only to be met with a plume of pink hair hiding around a corner. “Fluttershy?” she asked. “What are you doing?” “Oh,” answered the pink plume. “I just didn’t realize how umm tight these suits would be. I feel a little exposed.” “Come on third filly, it can’t be that bad.” Of course it won’t compare to me.  Fluttershy slowly emerged from behind the corner. The dance suit hugged her in just the right places. Rainbow couldn’t keep her mouth from hitting the floor. Any thoughts she had fell out of her head. She felt herself outright gawking at the timid filly. “Is it that bad?” asked Fluttershy trying to hide from the wide eyed pegasus behind her hair. “You’re gorgeous,” gasped Rainbow in the uncoolest manner.  “What?” “I mean you don’t look bad.” “Thanks you don’t look bad either.” “I don’t look bad either?” thought the exasperated Rainbow. She was supposed to be gushing over me. Why is she making this so hard? “Let’s dance,” Rainbow said, trying to distract herself from how massively she was failing. Once again the lightness of last night returned. Rainbow seemed to forget her failed attempts. They danced and matched each other’s rhythms. Perhaps the suits had worn them out more than Fluttershy had thought. They danced with renewed vigor, and all the while DJ Pon3’s visage complimented their hard work.  Night fell and the pilots finally collapsed. They were wrecked from so much movement. Rainbow splayed out on the couch and Fluttershy followed suit. Rainbow huffed and puffed large breaths of air, matching Fluttershy’s own softer breaths. They were even breathing in rhythm. The annoyance and frustration started to plague Rainbow Dash’s mind again. “Maybe that bath idea from this morning wasn’t that bad,” Rainbow Dash found herself saying. “I’m going to try it out. I mean I know how. I just… yeah.” The second filly quickly scooted away from the situation. She knew if she had stayed on the couch she would want to pull Fluttershy closer. She had to get Fluttershy arms in a bolder manner.  Fluttershy watched Rainbow’s face fall in defeat. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had failed her dance partner somehow. She resolved herself to ask as soon as Rainbow was done with her bath. Well, perhaps after they got dressed. But before they went to bed. She didn’t want awkwardness to creep into their fight with the angels tomorrow. Rainbow Dash desperately tried to figure a way to get Fluttershy to fall for her. She’d never had to throw herself at a filly before. Of course, she’d never had a filly she liked before.  “How do adults do this?” thought Rainbow. “Oh yeah, I know! The towel drop. I’ll leave the bath pass by Fluttershy and ‘accidentally’ drop my towel. There is no way she could ignore that.” The second filly hopped out of the tub and wrapped herself up in a nearby towel. She tucked it loosely around her neck so she wouldn’t have to pull hard to cause it to drop. She mentally prepared herself to be fully exposed. Then opened the door to the hallway. Rainbow was immediately set upon by Fluttershy with a look of determination. She took a quick step back.  “Fluttershy, wha?” “I’m sorry to scare you. I just wanted to know what I did wrong? I can see something is bothering you but I don’t know what I did. But for whatever it is, I’m sorry.” Rainbow felt pinned. She didn’t want to throw the towel off now. It would seem odd and garish. She had to come clean.  She drew in a deep breath but realized she had no idea what to say. She didn’t want to sound stupid or worse, uncool. She mentally kicked her brain for seizing.  “Look, uuuh, it’s not something you did. It’s kind of my own problem. Well not really a problem, just a something. Something I’m not quite sure how to deal with yet.” “Oh, I’m sorry to bring up something to make you uneasy,” apologized Fluttershy. “If you need me to, I can listen. I heard that it can be helpful.” “Uhh sure, but maybe I should put some clothes on first.” “Oh my! I’m sorry to be so bold. But it looks like you better hurry. I think your towel is about to fall off.”  Fluttershy began to back away quickly and changed all shades of red. It caused Rainbow to ache to see her like that. Everything was screaming in Rainbow’s being to rush in and hold her. She used that energy to rush to her room. She found a plain T shirt and pair of overalls and threw them on. Then she tried to think her way through the situation. She tossed the thoughts aside. Thinking was something eggheads did. She was a doer, and this was a doing situation. The determined blue pegasus found Fluttershy sitting uncomfortably at the table. The fading light of the evening cast strange shadows. Rainbow continued to the table unfazed. She was met with a cup of tea and a disarming smile. “So Rainbow,” Fluttershy began. “What is bothering you?” Rainbow slowly drank the offered tea and gathered her courage. “Well, there is a pony I like, but I tried everything I could think of to get her attention, but she hasn’t noticed,” Rainbow admitted. “Is it Applejack?” “What? No. Why would you think that?” “Well the way you two argue it reminds me of ponies that really like each other but don’t want to admit it.” “Really!? That stick in the mud. I—” Rainbow caught her tirade before she began and looked at Fluttershy’s I-told-you-so expression. “No,” she said decidedly, “it’s not Applejack. It’s a different pony.” “Have you tried talking to her?” “Umm. Well, no.” “I think telling the pony you like is the best thing you can do. You’d be a very brave pony. I don’t think I can do that.” “Brave has nothing to do with it. If it’s something I want then I just go for it. Not much sense in thinking about it.” “Well I hope you get your chance. I’ll root for you and help any way I can.” “I think I could use your help...“ Rainbow sighed. It was now or never. “Look, Fluttershy, it feels like we have gotten closer since we’ve been working together. But I think I would like to get even closer.” “Oh thank you, that means so much. I always wanted a best friend roommate.” “Not the best friend kind of close. The... uhh... girlfriend kind of close.” The pegasus cringed a bit as the words left her mouth and with it all moisture. She tried licking her lips again but it felt more like scraping sand paper.  Rainbow watched Fluttershy with her tea cup midway to her mouth, which was hanging open. Her eyes looked like they were to different sizes and one wing dropped awkwardly to the side. Nothing betrayed her thoughts other than shock.  “Look, you don’t have to answer now. I’ll let you sleep on it. I think it would be good to turn in now,” Rainbow hastily said as she disengaged. “Need to get a good sleep for our fight, right? Hehe. Good night!” The fleeing pegasus unfurled her wings and swooped down the hall to her room. The door closed before Fluttershy’s body even moved.  The thought that some pony wanted her as a girlfriend had never crossed her mind. Especially not a pony as brave and confident as Rainbow Dash. She forced her shaking hoof to move and drink the tea she made to cheer them up. It felt warmer than ever and caused her to sputter a bit. She had to come up with an answer, but didn’t know what yet. She focused on getting to bed instead. *** Pinkie found her lips moving of their own accord as they interlocked with Cheese Sandwich’s lips. Pinkie felt the natural warmth and joy that she always had kissing those lips. All the mess with the angels, Commander Discord, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash melted away. Those things belonged to a distant future that couldn’t have happened yet. Then she opened her eyes and noticed behind Cheese’s frizzy mane was the bright blood red logo of CAKE. It was a picture of a half a cake with the words “God’s in heaven and everyone needs cake” written around it. Reality rushed its way back to her.  “Wait, wait, wait, Cheese,” Pinkie said gently pushing him away. “We know where this goes. We know the punchline. Do we really want to rehash the same material again?” “We can try changing it up. You know,” he suggested,”get goofy and silly like we used to.” “I love goofy and silly, but nowadays I need more,” she sadly explained. “We can’t do this again.” “Your words say no but your mane says yes. Which do I trust?” Pinkie glanced up at the pink tuft of mane that always hung in her face. In the past she had been able to use it to pick up things and hold things for her. Now it betrayed her by spelling out “yes” in neon pink letters. She quickly backed out of the elevator.  Cheese stared at her and waggled his eyebrows. She watched as he disappeared behind the closing elevator doors.  Pinkie found Twilight engaged in her favorite activity, reading. She looked up as Pinkie wandered in and immediately saw a puzzling sight. “Why does your mane say yes?” the observant unicorn asked.  “It’s Cheese again,” Pinkie sighed. “It’s like I can’t control my own body when he’s around. I know how this goes, Twilight. Why doesn’t my mane understand?” “Well maybe your “mane” knows that it was a long time ago. Ponies change. We learn and grow and develop new things. Maybe your mane is acting like your Pinkie Sense and is telling you things might be different.” “It’s my mane, Twilight,” dismissed Pinkie,” it’s not been the greatest advice giver in the past.” “Pinkie, your mane is a part of you. Perhaps you just need to trust yourself. Even if it’s scary.”  Pinkie sat down and mulled it over. Giving Cheese another chance seemed like a great idea, but she was still afraid. She didn’t want to feel that used feeling again. But perhaps Twilight was right. That was a long time ago. *** Fluttershy laid in bed wide awake and listened to her bird tape. She didn’t know what to think or how to feel. She never had somepony confess before.  Could she see herself with somepony like Rainbow Dash? Applejack and Sunburst said the speedster was just a braggart and full of herself, but was that really true? Rainbow certainly didn’t look that confident when she confessed how she felt.  Fluttershy didn’t know what to do. She had always felt that anypony, no matter who, deserved a chance at happiness. If she could be the one to help provide that happiness to Rainbow, wouldn’t that be a good thing? But she knew that a relationship had to be something she wanted as well. She had never really thought about relationships before.  So many questions ran through the little yellow pegasus’s head that she barely heard Rainbow get out of bed. The groggy blue mare stumbled to the bathroom, then wandered in a daze and collapsed in the first bed that she found. It just happened to be Fluttershy’s bed.  Fluttershy nearly fell out in shock. She rolled as fast as she could and found the sleeping face of Rainbow inches away from her face. She tensed. Then forced herself to relax.  This was how it felt to be this close to Rainbow. She looked at softened features of the sleeping suitor. Rainbow didn’t look filled with malice and boasts. It was a normal pony face. A sweet face. She wondered if this was a face that she could love. Was it a face that she could kiss? That’s what girlfriends did, right?  She found herself staring at Rainbow soft moist lips and wondering how it would feel to kiss her. She felt herself leaning in to give it a try when no pony was looking. She could feel her lips reaching out for a connection. They stopped dead when Rainbow opened her mouth with a loud snore.  “What am I doing?” Fluttershy thought as she realized she was about to kiss another pony without permission. She abandoned the bed to the snoring mare and found sleep finally on the couch.  *** The sun shone bright on the angel as its melted form solidified. The horror took a shambling step forward. Unit-01 and 02 were waiting a few feet away. The Evas burst to life. The angel turned and was struck simultaneously by both Evas’ hooves immediately. Again Rainbow slashed it with the lance and split it in half. It took less time for them to reform into two separate angels.  “Ok you guys,” shouted Pinkie over the com. “Start plan Dance Dance Execution.” “You are having way too much fun with these plan names,” observed Twilight. The two Evas began to move in unison. The angels fired a volley of explosives but the Evas dodged them. They began to dance as they had in practice. Each movement was felt by the other. The angels watched in interest. Then they began to dance in challenge.  “We can’t let them beat us,”Rainbow insisted. Fluttershy nodded in response. The pilots pushed their Evas harder and began vicious spins and kicks. Music poured out of their cockpits and through the loudspeakers of the Evas . Fluttershy felt all her apprehension drift away as she and Rainbow showed the angels their moves. She felt a connection to her fellow pilot that she never felt before as she danced.  The angels tried their best to out-step their opponents. They popped and locked and started rearranging their bodies in ways that the ponies couldn’t even fathom.  The Evas watched the movements with deep discernment. Suddenly Unit-01 and 02 jumped in unison and stuck their opponents exposed cores with their back hooves. The angels tried to escape but the force cracked their crystalline epicenters and the angels exploded. **** The dust from the explosion cleared and revealed Unit -01 and Unit-02 collapsed together in a heap. “Hey,” Rainbow shouted. “Get your Eva off of mine. “ “I’m sorry,” apologized Fluttershy. “Couldn’t wait to jump on me huh?” Rainbow said, trying to bolster her awkwardness.  “No, I’m not like that!” Rainbow sighed. “I know. I’m just trying to gauge what you’re thinking is all. I might be a little overzealous.” “Is that why you ended up in my bed?” “I was sleepwalking,” explained Rainbow turning bright red. “You didn’t try anything, did you?” “No,” Fluttershy responded as she shrank and blushed along with her. “You totally did, didn't you? You tried to kiss me didn’t you?” “How did you know?” “You really did? Does that mean you wanna go out.” “I… I’m... still not sure.” “Umm,” interrupted Twilight over the intercom. “You do realize everypony can hear you right?” “Oh man, now I look l totally lame,” pouted Rainbow Dash. “Oh my!” squeaked Fluttershy, and hid. **** The ponies in the control room snickered at the two pilots. All except one and a dragonequus. “I do not think this is the image we want to send,” informed Mud Briar. Discord watched and felt his jaw bounce on the floor. Then his eyes narrowed. “No, Mud Briar, most assuredly not.”