//------------------------------// // Winged and a miss // Story: The Dreaded Love Bird // by Darkonshadows //------------------------------// Rarity sat up in her bed in Canterlot Castle thinking before she went to sleep. She was thinking how she had not seen it before; Rainbow Dash was actually returning Fluttershy’s feelings. In hindsight it had been obvious without how they tended to gravitate towards each other. She didn’t think Rainbow was a first pick for a choice of love given her bias for princes and handsome stallions, she couldn’t understand what Fluttershy felt even if she was supportive of the relationship. Wait, she was supportive? When did that happen? She would seriously need to talk to Fluttershy to see how they were doing; they were acting skittish around each other throughout Pinkie’s all night party. Rarity slowly worried about whether or not her friends had stopped being friends over a mistake, checking the time she really should get to sleep. She had to talk to Fluttershy later today after all; better yet she’d talk to Rainbow first. Rarity started to snuggle down into the bed to sleep when a flash occurred and she felt the weight of two bodies on the bed with her, she blinked once and then twice in surprise. On the bed were two ponies and floating above it was a cloud, she saw that rather dreadful old friend of Pinkies that she got a glance of during that short attack on Ponyville. Looking slightly up from the red pegasus with a blue backpack she saw a cotton candy cloud which was a familiar sight. The cloud seemed to rear up and looked at her; it formed a heart shape and spat a dollop of her favorite flavor of ice cream complete with cone on the bed without causing a mess. Rarity didn’t know how it knew what her favorite flavor was and this scene left her entirely perplexed since Discord… well Distress, didn’t exactly have the power to do anything at the moment. Looking to the other pony to see what she was holding… Rarity’s eyes widened, they glittered at the size of the gem in the swirly eyed pony’s hoof. Rarity slowly reached out for it as it seemed to call out to her, she was thinking of so many ways to use it in an ensemble. “You took the left turn at the Albuquerque junction in space time didn’t you? Just get us out of here please.”Kazooie said amiably to her pony companion, it wasn’t like she wanted to avoid a solar powered pony at the moment due to some unforeseen incident of her mouth opening. It was just large coincidence that things like this happened back when she and Banjo could have just solved some things with boring peaceful negotiations. Rarity didn’t get a chance to say anything as they disappeared in a bright flash when the swirly eyed pony held up the gem. Rarity pouted sadly at not being able to touch the gem with her hoof. Seconds after Pinkie slammed the door open leaping into the room with a dynamic pose and her eyes went everywhere looking for any sign of something. Pinkie took notice of the ice cream cone standing upright on the bed and smiled brightly. “Hey, ice cream! Are you going to eat that? Thanks Rarity.” Pinkie took the cone in hoof and started licking the ice cream as she trotted out of the room on three legs; ice cream always made Pinkie Pie a happy pony as did eating cupcakes or sugar in general. Rarity just sat there, she didn’t know whether to scream or just go to sleep and worry about it later. She had so much on her mind and she hadn’t expected a first up close encounter with Kazooie to be so short. She seemed rather crude, but there was something charming about her in a roguish kind of way. Elsewhere ‘in a different castle’ room from Rarity, Rainbow Dash was on her back with her front hooves behind her head staring at the ceiling in deep thought as she lay awake in deep thought. The thing with the party had gone reasonably well, all things considered. Why did Fluttershy have to bring up the Wonderbolts on their first date? She knew they were going to discuss it eventually but Fluttershy had brought it up almost immediately when they were having such a good time; Rainbow guessed that’s why she brought it up to make it easier to discuss while she was in a good mood. The Distress isn’t going to bother us for a long while party went considerably well, but Pinkie was still a bit twitchy and the princesses had to leave on some urgent business. Now that Rainbow thought of it, could she really love Fluttershy like she loved her? Well her heart raced, she felt cozy and always enjoyed Fluttershy’s presence considering how cuddly she was when she held her friend on a few occasions before Fluttershy showed Rainbow how she felt. Fluttershy had at least agreed to take it carefully with her, maybe help Rainbow understand the concept of love and so far… things were looking pretty good. Rainbow wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy tugging her closer; Fluttershy was now currently snuggled into her side using all four hooves and wings to hug Rainbow. Rainbow could even hear Fluttershy cooing in her sleep as she hugged her back. A twitch and a second later Rainbows wings shot through the cloud bed and into the floor, she silently bit her lower lip at the sudden pain of her wings slapping into the floor. Why had she allowed Fluttershy into her bed again? Oh right, she was having nightmares that Rainbow didn’t like or accept her anymore. Fluttershy actually did have awful nightmares about how the Wonderbolt conversation had actually went, so she was quite surprised that she was sharing a bed with her best friend… well at least until Rainbow said she loved her back. They were still friends and it has been a while since she slept on a cloud. Fluttershy couldn’t believe Rainbow was so willing to let her sleep next to her, much less agree to another date and offer her the comfort of a friend. She sleepily nuzzled deeply into Rainbows neck as she continued her full body hug. Rainbow leaned back and closed her eyes, yeah loving Fluttershy wasn’t bad and she would have to be stupid not to accept her friend’s feelings as true. It was about time someone spent their time making Fluttershy happy, instead of the other way around with her pandering to everypony’s needs and apologizing all the time. She even remembered hearing of what happened when Fluttershy met that Iron Will guy, it sounded like a nightmare from the way Pinkie told it and so many ponies were still picking on her friend even now. “I need you more than ever…” Rainbow mumbled as sleep overtook her, thinking back to when she needed more wing power and Fluttershy came through for her. If you had to have a number for what cloud they slept on, it would be a nine. Later that morning in the dining area, Twilight trotted in looking for Lunch and found Pinkie snoring on the table with a cupcake sticking halfway out of her mouth. The cleanup must have taken a while; Pinkie was definitely out of it. At least she wasn’t looking as bad as she could have been considering how Twilight herself looked like a train wreck waiting to happen, she was worried about Luna and Celestia they should have been back by now. The sun was at least moving, proving somewhat that her worries were unfounded. “Come on Pinkie.” Twilight magically lifted Pinkie from the table and slowly rubbed her throat with a hoof causing Pinkie to swallow the sugary confection and mumble about throwing an ‘I finally caught that bird party’, this caused Twilight to giggle. “Only you Pinkie, only you… let’s find you a nice bed to sleep in.” As she trotted out of the area levitating the pink pony she wondered how her friends were doing, she thought something was odd with Fluttershy and Rainbow last night as Fluttershy and Rainbow kept wandering towards and away from each other. It was like watching two stars orbit each other. Rarity seemed to be alright and was hanging out with Fancy Pants and introducing her friends to all his other high class but not stuffy friends. Pinkie was constantly looking for anything that was the color red and yellow, it was a bit worrying that she still called Kazooie a friend and had a secret Pinkie Promise she wouldn’t tell to anyone involving the frustratingly elusive being. Twilight paused for a moment to check in Fluttershy’s room, well everything seemed normal and the bed was made. Fluttershy must have gotten up early to go frolic in the gardens, Twilight shrugged wondering how the shy mare was doing after being kidnapped and hoofed back to them almost as quickly. Apparently Fluttershy was perfectly fine. If only she knew the bed spread had been in disarray before Celestia’s servants fixed it, she would have been more worried and might found out about what was going on in another room. In Rainbow Dash’s room Fluttershy awoke with a start and realized she was wrapped around something. It only took her a moment to realize it was Rainbow Dash, she carefully unwrapped herself and when she tried to get off she found out quickly enough that something was wrapped around her. Rainbow’s hooves, in a gentle cuddle and in a bed, made of clouds, with her. Fluttershy’s face went bright red; she didn’t want to disturb Rainbow’s sleep and this was so comfortable. A loud growling sound was heard. Fluttershy squeaked and dug her face into Rainbow’s neck, causing the mares hooves to tighten their hold on her. That wasn’t the only reaction to her squeak, Rainbow was immediately awake and eyes that snapped open were darting around the room, she heard her stomach grumbling. Oh, she was hungry and what was that in her… oh right it was Fluttershy, who was trembling against her body. Rainbow could even feel the heart beating in her chest and felt her own trying to catch up with it as she didn’t like to lose even in a fastest heartbeat contest. In a haze of early morning affection she carefully unwound her hooves from Fluttershy and started to run a hoof down her mane, trying to get her to calm down with a gentle petting. “It’s okay Fluttershy, I’m here and I’m your brave pony... well your brave hungry pony anyway. What time is it? I wouldn’t mind getting some lunch with you. I’m used to waking up at odd hours so I know it’s well past time for breakfast.” Rainbow watched as Fluttershy calmed down and lifted her head to smile at Rainbow, a blush running through her cheeks. Rainbow could even feel her own cheeks heat up at how adorable Fluttershy was; Fluttershy was a mare with no need for makeup to be extravagantly beautiful. Rarity may use the stuff to accentuate her looks, but Fluttershy didn’t need it and it was no wonder Rarity got so jealous of her when she became a popular model for Photo Finish. None of that stuff was really Fluttershy though, this was her close friend and things were about to get closer for them. Make no mistake though, Rainbow was going to try out for the Wonderbolts and she was going to pass their test. Rainbow had it all figured out what she was going to do when she did make the Wonderbolts and since she was in Canterlot for the tryouts. “Excuse me darling, but is there a tiger in your…” Rarity opened the door and immediately saw Fluttershy holding Rainbow who was petting her gently. Fluttershy lifted her head and looked to Rarity and smiled a bit when she saw that there was a mare looking in on them. “Oh well, ahem sorry for interrupting your moment.” “Rarity…” Fluttershy said with a bright sunny smile, Rainbow thought that Fluttershy would have been shy to be caught like this in a compromising position. “I have to warn you about something.” “What?” Rarity said trying to see where this was going; she still couldn’t understand why Fluttershy was smiling so brightly. “I’m going to kiss Rainbow now!” Fluttershy said it so fast it took a moment for Rainbow to register that her face suddenly had a mouth over it having been pulled into a quick kiss. A loud screech sound was heard beneath the cloud bed and Fluttershy pulled back quickly as Rainbow yelped in pain. Rarity looked perplexed until she crouched down and saw Rainbows wings had scraped themselves against the floor and were bleeding slightly. They even dug a deep groove in the floor beneath the cloud bed like it was made of butter; Rarity would never question the power of Rainbows wings ever again especially when it comes to the fact that the castle was mostly made of solid stone. “Fluttershy what did I say about kissing me?” Being said in a slightly stern tone, Rainbow pushed Fluttershy back a bit. “I did exactly what you said.” Fluttershy said promptly, closing her eyes giving Rainbow a cute smile. “Which was?” Rainbow wasn’t going to say anything, but she kind of forgot what she told Fluttershy. “You said to warn a mare next time, I warned Rarity who is a mare and then I kissed you.” The color in Fluttershy’s face was so red at having to kiss Rainbow in front of Rarity like that, but it was worth it. “You… but I…ugh….” Rainbow continued to sputter for a few moments trying to come to terms that Fluttershy of all ponies did something that silly, it was really cute of her too and a good joke considering it was rather devious. “Warn me specifically next time and be very slow about it, please.” “Rainbow… are you okay?” Now came the deer in the headlights moment when Rainbow realized that Rarity had seen them kiss and was in fact in the room with them. It took her this long because she doesn’t wake up to well. “Uh, what are you talking about Rarity?” As she sat up another sound of something being shredded was heard and Rarity once again crouched down after seeing some rocks fly into the air as Rainbow sat up. Now there were much deeper grooves in the floor beneath the cloud bed and Fluttershy looked down sadly tearing up. “Fluttershy what’s wrong?” Rainbow noticed Fluttershy eyes filled with tears and she pointed behind Rainbow who looked back and saw a small speckling of red and some dust floating around in the air. “I don’t see anything.” “Rainbow are you telling me… are you saying you can’t even feel that?” It was said in such a panicked way that Rarity really confused Rainbow with how shrill her voice was getting. “Huh, feel what?” Rainbow heart was now pounding in her chest from the quick kiss she received from Fluttershy, this kind of adrenaline was unheard of to her and she liked it. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head with her left hoof sheepishly wondering why Rarity hadn’t said anything about Fluttershy kissing her, Rarity would have been all over her in a minute talking about all the dresses she would be shoved into and forcing her into a spa visits. She shuddered coldly at the thought of Rarity messing up her mane; she’d swear Rarity was into Trichofillia. “I’ll go get a first aid kit, Fluttershy you stay with her and maybe play doctor.” Rarity smiled and gave a little wink to Fluttershy as she turned and galloped away from the room. All Rainbow did was sit there looking confused. “I’m sorry I hurt you Rainbow.” Fluttershy cried into her chest as she wrapped her hooves around Rainbow. “Huh?” It was the most intelligent reply that Fluttershy could get from Rainbow, who had yet to notice her scraped up bleeding stiffened wings. “Um… your wings are kind of… injured, I’m sorry.” Fluttershy felt Rainbow’s hooves wrap around her upper body, she looked up to see Rainbow actually taking notice of her wings for a moment. “Aw come on shy, it’s only a flesh wound and I get those from stunt flying every day!” Rainbow chuckled heartily as she really couldn’t feel it, soon they were both standing up and Rainbow moved the bed aside to stare at the large grooves in the floor dug out by her wings. She was a bit shocked that her wings were strong enough to pass through solid stone. It was a bit more shocking that she sat up without any resistance whatsoever if her wings were embedded in the floor. “I’m back girls, here Fluttershy you patch her up and I’ll see you both at lunch.” Not once did Rarity ever consider making fun of Rainbow or telling Fluttershy it was a truly bad idea to fall in love with her, she just dropped the first aid kit on the floor. “I shall not speak of this, but do please hurry up as we’ve already missed breakfast. I will not have my stomach growling like an uncouth manticore, I am a lady after all.” Fluttershy opened the first aid kit and then thought of something to ask Rainbow as Rarity left without saying anything else head held high in a proper saunter. “Do you want me to kiss your injuries to make them feel better?” Even if she was teasing, Fluttershy couldn’t help herself and she knew Rainbow would be fine. It was still kind of disconcerting that her wings were that tough. “Nope, I already got my kiss to feel better, now I just need some help to actually get better before the kiss wears off. Hurry up I’m starting to feel a dull throb here in my stomach.” With a cheesy hay fries eating smirk from Rainbow, both ponies starting to laugh. Fluttershy carefully started working her hooves on Rainbows wings carefully wrapping the injured ends with a careful tenderness. After she was done Rainbow flapped them twice get a little lift and nodded to herself before heading out of the room with Fluttershy following her with a gentle sigh. As they sat down for lunch the strangest thing occurred as Rainbow dug into her simplistic meal as Fluttershy and Rarity partook of something more elegant. One of Celestia’s guards that all of the elements of harmony were familiar with came walking up to them. Currently Pinkie was not with them as she was catching up on sleep and Twilight was reading a book at the table completely in her own little world, which was until her brother spoke up. “Excuse me Rainbow, but you really need to sign this.” Slapping the sheet of paper along with a pen onto table, Shining Armor really looked like he didn’t want to be there. His mane was a darker shade to Vinyl’s electric blue and his flank was marked with a shield that had a spark in the center, this unicorn’s specialty was of course barrier magic and using it in an offensive form when needed. “Huh, what the hay is this?” Looking at the paper and reading its contents Rainbow looked up at Shining Armor with something approaching disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me...” “No ma’am it’s quite serious, oh hey Twily hope you’re not stressing yourself out over the changelings still.” Waiting for a moment to see if his sister responded, Shining watched as Twilight looked up with a smile and gave him a cheery wave before she went back to studying a book titled ‘shape changers and you: a reference guide to theoretical insanity’. “What does it say Rainbow… um… if you don’t mind me asking that is.” Fluttershy watched as Rainbow blankly slid the paper over to her right for her and Rarity to look at. “Well now, this has certainly got to be some sort of joke. A rather sick one if it is and a rather funny one if it isn’t.” Even Rarity could see this was a tad ridiculous as she turned to her left to get Fluttershy’s opinion on it. “I had no idea this kind of stiff… I mean stuff, was taken so seriously. Please tell me you’re not serious about this Mr. Armor.” Even Fluttershy was a bit mortified and this finally earned Twilight’s attention as she levitated the piece of paper over to herself and gave it a once over. As Twilight read the sheet of paper she lifted a glass of milk to her mouth drank it and swallowed a bit all in the midst of reading it before she got to the end of the sheet of paper that requested a signature. Slowly she turned to Shining Armor and quirked an eye. “It’s serious and yes it is a real concern Twily, no matter how ridiculous it seems.” The fact that Shining managed to say this with a straight face to his own sister caused a small delayed chain reaction. First a crinkling of Twilights lips started and suddenly orange juice spurted from Rarity’s nose in a fashion that wasn’t very ladylike, followed by milk flying from Twilights as they burst out in laughter. Fluttershy just blushed ducking down at the table hiding behind her mane as she gave gentle smile with a slight giggle putting a hoof tenderly up to her mouth trying to hold back her laughter and was doing a pretty good job of it. Rainbow slammed her head into the table, wondering why she really needed to sign this. “I can’t believe I have to sign off on my own wings because they are now considered lethal weapons.” Rainbow muttered, it was embarrassing and yet oh so cool at the same time.