//------------------------------// // Flutter Dream // Story: Friendship, Love, and Harmony // by LovelyFlowerBloom //------------------------------// Star Dream carefully opens the door of the Ponyville Day Spa. She looks around nervously as a worker approaches her. “Good Afternoon! How can I help you today?” The worker says with a smile.      Star Dream prepares to speak but suddenly, Amber Gem is heard, “She’s with me.” Star Dream looks to see Amber on one of the seats. She’s started with her facial. Star Dream walks up to the elongated seat. Amber is about to place cucumbers on her eyes before she sees that Star Dream is just standing there, “Well? Have a seat, hon. It’s your day off, you know.”      Star Dream sits on the chair adjacent to Amber’s and smiles, “Sorry, I was just a little confused on what to do.” Amber looks at Star with a raised eyebrow, “You didn’t know that you had to sit?” “Well…no, it’s just that I don’t usually do well without a Plan. I don’t typically get days off.” Star Dream says, lying down on her front.  “Do you really never get any days off?”: Amber asks, finally placing the cucumbers on her eyes and laying back.  “No. I don’t have use for free days. I only ever took a break once in recent months and that was when we had that Picnic.” Star Dream says as a worker begins giving her a facial.  “Oh, yes. Too bad that didn’t go well. Did you hear that Slither was abusing Hazel?” Amber says.  Star Dream lies on her back as a worker places cucumber’s on Star’s eyes, “Yeah, Blossom told me.”  “That reminds me. You never came to me about that offer I made you. I get around, and I can set you up with anypony.” Amber says.  “I don’t know, Amber. I don’t really have the time for a relationship or anything.” Star says.  Amber lifts an eyebrow and takes off one of the cucumbers in order to look at Star Dream, “Not even if it was…Fluttershy?”  Star Dream quickly springs up quickly, causing the facial and cucumbers to spring off, “WHAT?! What are you talking about?” Star Dream blushes heavily as she rubs the back of her head, “Wh-Why would you say that?”  Amber stares at Star Dream with an unamused expression, “Star, you’re not fooling anypony. We all know how you feel about Fluttershy.”  Star’s eyes curve as she sits down, “I know. It just gets me nervous.”  “I can set you two up on a date. What do you say?” Amber says, sitting up.  Star Dream puts her front hooves together, “Well, I was actually thinking of asking her out myself.”  Amber raises her eyebrows, “Oh? Really? That’s a change of pace. You’re usually terrified about stuff like that.” “Well yeah. But it’s been years. Ever since I was a little filly. Honestly, I think it’s about time I act.” Star Dream says.  “That’s the spirit.” Amber says.  “Asking out Fluttershy, huh?” Blossom asks.  Star Dream and Blossom Night are sitting at a table having lunch. Star Dream nods nervously, “Yeah, and I don’t know how I feel about it.” “Then just…feel like yourself.” Blossom says, lifting a hoof.  Star lifts her eyebrow with an expression of confusion.  “No point in masking your feelings. Just be true to yourself. How do you really feel about this?” Blossom says.  Star Dream places a hoof on her chin as she looks away from Blossom, “I guess I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I’ve had a crush on Fluttershy ever since I was a filly and I never got the chance to really…hang out with her.”  “Well there ya go. You’re feeling Nervous and Excited. Or nervouscited as that prancy pink pony calls it.” Blossom says.  “Don’t you mean Pinkie Pie?” Star Dream asks.  Blossom rolls her eyes, “I don’t care enough to remember her name. Point is, just feel how you feel. It’s not like you can choose how to feel.”  Star Dream lays her head on the table, “I guess you’re right. But what if she doesn’t like me?” “If she doesn’t like you, then she doesn’t like you.” Blossom says as the waiter arrives with their food and sets it on the table.  Star Dream sits up, taking her head off the table in order to allow the waiter to place the food, “That’s a bit harsh.”  “It ain’t harsh, Star. It’s the Truth. If you two aren’t meant for each other, then that’s that. It’s not like you can do anything to change it.” Blossom says as she levitates her daisy sandwich with her magic and takes a bite out of it.  Star Dream goes wide-eyed, “So you’re saying that no matter what, it’ll be fine. Because if she likes me back, it’ll be a win. But if she doesn’t, it’ll still be okay because if we aren’t meant for each other, there’s no point in being together.”  Blossom swallows her food and nods, “Yeah, sure, something like that.”  Star Dream smiles, “Thanks for the advice, Blossom. You’re always the best to go to for this stuff.”  Blossom shrugs, “I just tell ponies what’s on my mind and what I think about the situation. I don’t sugarcoat like others.”  “Exactly!” Star Dream says.  Star Dream made her way down to Fluttershy’s secluded cottage. Fluttershy is outside, feeding the birds. Star takes a deep breath as she prepares to approach her. Star Dream slowly lifts her front hoof and steps forward, knowing that there’s no going back at this point. “Um…Hey!”  Fluttershy flinches as she looks up quickly in surprise, causing the birds around her to all fly away. Fluttershy’s eyes go wide as she reaches her hooves out, “Wait…come back.”  “Oh no! I-I’m sorry.” Star Dream says as she approaches closer to Fluttershy with a guilty expression.  Fluttershy looks at the ground with a frown before turning to Star Dream and Smiling, “Oh, that’s okay. They’ll be back.” “Can I help get them back?” Star Dream asks.  Fluttershy places her hoof on her chin, “I suppose. But you have to be mellow with them. They scare very easily.” Star Dream looks up at the tree where the birds are sitting and walks up to the base of it. She lifts her hoof up gently and puts on a mellow voice, “Come on. It’s okay.” The birds look at Star Dream with fear, but quickly lighten up as a few fly onto her held out hoof. Star Dream smiles as she brings her hoof closer to look at the birds. Fluttershy looks on with wide eyes. She carefully approaches Star Dream, “Oh my. You’re really good with animals.”  “I just did what you do every time I watch you.” Star Dream says.  “Wh-What do you mean?” Fluttershy asks.  Star Dream goes wide-eyed with embarrassment, “U-Uh…nothing!” Star Dream says as she leans her hoof closer to Fluttershy, “Here you go.”  Fluttershy smiles as she presents some seeds for the birds to chow on. Star Dream moves her hoof closer to Fluttershy’s in order to allow the birds to feast. Her hoof gently clops against Fluttershy’s as they allow the birds to eat. Star Dream opens her mouth to speak up in order to ask Fluttershy out like she planned, but she closes her mouth and decides against it, not wanting to spoil the pleasant moment she finds herself in.  “Thank you for helping me with the birds.” Fluttershy says, looking up at Star Dream.  “Oh, it was nothing. It’s my pleasure.” Star Dream says.  The birds eat the last of the seed and fly off Star Dream’s hoof. Fluttershy smiles, “Would you like to join me for some tea? Consider it a thanks.” Star Dream’s eyes light up, “I’d love to.”