//------------------------------//
// The Obligatory Shipping Chapter 
// Story: The Equestriaball Run 
// by Treblebeat 
//------------------------------//

	Pinkie couldn't sleep. She was so concerned about her parents and why they were racing and everything else. She just lied in her bed, tossing and turning. Sleep would not have been easy to obtain or maintain. She sighed and got out of bed, going to the hotel sink and taking a cup, pouring a glass of water to drink. She drank it slowly, looking at the time, 3:00 AM. There was no one to talk to, no one to calm her mind. 

Then, she heard a faint knock on her door, alerting her attention. She went over to the door and looked through the peephole to see who it was. It was Fluttershy of all people. She was in her yellow nightgown, wearing slippers and was waiting there patiently. Pinkie opened the door for her, not showing her face. She didn't know why she was doing this, but she felt it was fitting. Fluttershy looked inside and looked around, wondering why the door opened. She walked in anyway, hoping to surprise Pinkie when she returned. 

Fluttershy sat down on the bed, waiting patiently for Pinkie's return. The door closed, Pinkie right behind it, looking directly at Fluttershy. She walked over to her as Fluttershy smiled softly at the pink haired girl, "Oh, good, you're here," she said, getting off of the bed, walking over to the depressed girl, "I wanted to see you...," she said quietly.

Pinkie stopped in front of her, standing still, looking down when she suddenly hugged Fluttershy tight, needing to be hugged by one of her best friends. By her best of best friends. She sniffled, feeling tears form in her eyes, needing somebody to cry to, somebody to hold. Fluttershy merely hugged back, holding her close and petting Pinkie's straight hair. Pinkie had been through a lot and it was no surprise that she needed to cry to someone. Fluttershy took Pinkie to the bed and sat them both down, holding Pinkie close as she rested her head on Flutters' shoulder.

After about 20 minutes of crying, Pinkie finally calmed down to let her speak her mind to the girl whose shoulder was soaked by her tears. She told her everything, about her past, about her family, about how she hadn't visited them in years. She stopped at times in her monologue to cry some more as Fluttershy waited for her to stop, just comforting her the entire time. When Pinkie stopped crying, she started to talk to Fluttershy again. When she was finally finished an hour later, her eyes were soaked with tears.

Fluttershy hugged her tight, petting her softly, "I'm so sorry to hear that," she said, "I wish there was something I could do...." Fluttershy sighed softly, feeling helpless when it came to helping Pinkie. She was her best friend, the one she cared about the most. 

"It's okay Fluttershy," Pinkie said, nuzzled in against Flutters' shoulder, "As long as you're here with me...."

Fluttershy sighed and kissed Pinkie's cheek, blushing deeply, "I'll always be here for you," she said, smiling weakly.

Pinkie blushed as well, feeling Fluttershy's soft lips pressed against her cheek. She looked up at her in shock a bit before Fluttershy leaned in and kissed her on the lips, the blush on her face even deeper than before. When the kiss broke, Fluttershy said nothing, her face a deep crimson as she looked away, Pinkie just sitting there in awe. "Fluttershy, do you... like me...?" she asked, still unable to believe that had just happened.

Fluttereshy nodded softly, having felt this way for a long time and took advantage of when they were both helpless to ask her. "I've liked you for the longest time...," she said as quietly as she could.

Pinkie hugged her tight, smiling softly, "I've liked you too," she said, "I just wasn't sure if you felt the same way about me...." She let go of the smaller, shy girl. "Someone actually cares about me...," she said quietly to herself, a soft squeaking sound resonating through the air as her hair starts to frizz up. "Someone cares about me!" she cried out, a loud pop sound coming from her hair as it turns into its large poofy mess as she kisses Fluttershy deeply, holding her close, "Oh thank you Fluttershy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Fluttershy giggled softly and hugged her as tight as she could which still wasn't that tight, "You're welcome," she said, "Now if you don't mind, it's nearly 6 AM and I need to sleep to cheer you on tomorrow, you should sleep as well."

Pinkie nodded and climbed under the covers, holding Fluttershy like a teddy bear and closes her eyes. "Oh, well I meant in my own bed, but I'm just as fine with this," Fluttershy said, leaning her head back against Pinkie and falling asleep. Tomorrow would be an important day for Pinkie.