//------------------------------// // Fluttershy // Story: Jumper // by KMCA //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash looked at me with an amused expression, “What was that for?” I coughed into my hand in embarrassment only to have it turn into the real thing. “Sorry, don’t let this go to your head but I’m kind of a fan of yours and that was kind of a fanboy moment. Basically I just high hoofed my version of a Wonderbolt.” “Ugh, you watched that stupid show too? Just how popular was it?” “What? You don’t like the idea of over a million people thinking that you’re super cool?” “Well, yeah of course I do. But I don’t like them knowing all the bad stuff too.” “Like your meltdown at the Best Young Flyers Competition?” Dash cringes at the mention of what to her was probably a terrible moment. “Trust me, you’re still the coolest pony that we were ever introduced to. Just answer me this, Daring Doo. She’s a really cool pony right? Is she perfect, no. She has flaws just like everyone else, it doesn’t make her less cool it just makes her a better person. Sorry, a better pony.” “That stupid show just tees me off. It’s like I’ve been dumbed down to a foal. I mean yeah I did most of that stuff, but it doesn’t show why or if it does it’s the shallow or stupid reasons.” “Dash it was made originally for little kids. People like me and probably Alex watched it because we could read between the lines. If you think that it seems preachy you should see the other stuff for kids in that age group, trust me you’d be flattered.” “Whatever, how would you feel if you discovered that someone took your life, twisted it around, made you look like an idiot then showed it to the world.” “Yeah, that’s why I try not to talk about it too much, besides some of the stuff that the fans write... Let’s just say you don’t want to know.” I tried to keep my face neutral so she wouldn’t push the issue. "Yeah, I was curious, and with Twilight's help, we looked up some fanfics with me in them. My Little Dashie was sad. It was also totally weird and totally wrong," she shrugs. "But, some of the, what are they called? Clop? Yeah. Those were so funny and so wrong. I mean, according to them, I slept with every mare in Ponyville. Especially Applejack, that girl is straight as an arrow." I had taken a sip of my tea at exactly the wrong moment. I coughed before choking on it, then murphy’s law had decided I hadn’t gone far enough and somehow forced me into a spit take. Leaving Rainbow Dash covered in tea and me with my head down trying to breathe, still coughing up tea. “You what!? Oh god! Umm... I can explain?” My brain locks up, I have no clue how to reasonably explain this away. She looks at me with an expectant look on her face, I don’t think it helped my thought process at all. I also completely missed the fact that she had just told me that Alex somehow had a working internet connection. “Ok, I got nothing. Lay it on me Dash. At least I can try to explain it.” I felt myself blushing, how do you justify your race pleasuring themselves to the idea of a creature that actually exists. Rainbow Dash looked at me with an odd expression, but there was no mistaking that tone of voice. “You know, I’ve also seen some pictures. They got it all wrong.” She got a coquettish grin, ”Would you like to see the real thing?” She then flicked her tail in my face. I paled and wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d suffered a mild heart attack. Was she flirting with me or just pulling a prank. ‘That’s a horrible prank to pull but there’s no way she was serious, right?’ “Uhh... I’m flattered Dash, but isn’t it more romantic if we wait?” Please let her be joking. It was her turn to look stunned. “Hey, uh Matt?” She looked really uncomfortable, it was a sign that I could relax. It had all been a cruel joke. “Relax Dash, you aren’t the only one who can joke around you know.” I hold out my fist for another brohoof, she gives me one but it’s hard enough to hurt. I must have touched a nerve. “Don’t worry I’ll get you back.” Her confidence sounded forced, part of me wanted to pry but I doubted she’d open up to me. “Everyone needs a goal in life to struggle towards Dash.” I reached over and gently tapped her on the side of the head, not like an animal but I thought she could take a good ribbing. I was wrong, and I paid for my mistake with a hoof slapping my wrist, hard. I could feel it bruise almost instantly and I cried out in pain. “What the hell Dash! Don’t you think I have enough injuries without you trying to break my wrist?” I held my wrist  in my right hand and worked it through it’s motions. Nothing felt broken but I knew I’d have one hell of a bruise. “Hooves off the merchandise, buddy. Only one guy gets to touch me now and it ain’t you.” Her nostrils flared and her hoof pawed at open air, she floated muzzle to nose with me. “Calm the fuck down Dash, you started the joke so you don’t get to be pissed off. Besides, it was only a joke.” She looked ready to drag me kicking and screaming to the nearest cliff and throw me off. Fortunately for the both of us Fluttershy reached between us with her hooves and pushed us apart. Dash didn’t budge but I fell back onto my stool. I hadn’t even realized that I had stood up. “Oh my, would you look at that. Matthew seems to have had enough excitement for today. How about you come back tomorrow Rainbow Dash.” With both of her hooves Fluttershy managed to push her out the door, but Dash’s eyes stayed on me the whole time. I swear I could see a hint of tears. I’d apologize the next time I saw her. Fluttershy followed her outside to talk. I don’t know why they talked so loud, heck they might as well have stayed in the house. “Fluttershy, how can you stand him?” “He’s not so bad once you get to know him. I mean as long as you don’t scare him or make him angry.” “Yeah, well he looked pretty violent to me. I don’t think he’s safe to be around, you should get rid of him.” “Rainbow Dash you were just as aggressive as he was. Besides, your special somepony has more blood on his hooves then he does.” That one stung, Fluttershy had no clue how much blood I had on my hands. It was more than any pony would have, that’s for sure. “That’s not fair Fluttershy, he was protecting us. He hasn’t killed anything that wasn’t trying to hurt somepony.” “Are you saying he has? You should see him at night Rainbow, he wakes up screaming then breaks down into tears, it’s terrible.” Rainbow Dash was silent for a minute. Something rustled in the bushes at the back of the cottage by the kitchen window. Deciding to respect their privacy I went to investigate, it was probably just a loose chicken or something trying to sneak into the house to steal Fluttershy’s attention as every animal tried to do. Most made it no farther than the window ledge before being assaulted by Angel Bunny... That rabbit is a menace. I don’t think I’m going to get firewood again for Fluttershy. Not without her to keep him under control, or better yet a weapon to defend myself with. I’m not going to gut him but without my baton or having access to the riot setting on my sidearm I’m not going to risk what would be an extremely embarrassing death. As I limped closer I noticed a unicorn horn sticking out of the bush, it was very quietly calling my name. I walk over to the window, reach out tap the horn on the tip. It squeals and hides deeper in the bush. I pulled my hand back, the tip of her horn had punched through the glove of my bodysuit and pricked my finger. Ponies were a lot tougher and more dangerous than I had believed. “You know you’re really bad at this, if you’re going to hide you need to remember your horn, silly... Why are you hiding in a bush anyways?” “Quick, while they’re busy you can escape.”