Fluttershy stirred under the blanket. She was very relaxed and at ease. There was no reason to get out of bed. This was bliss. All that mattered was getting to be closer with her crush. Something seemed missing all of a sudden. There was a tension in the blanket that was missing. Fluttershy opened her eyes very slowly.
Rainbow Dash was no longer there, curled up and sleeping next to her. She wasn't anywhere in the room. Fluttershy pushed away the blanket and got up. She stretched out a little and looked around in confusion. There was a piece of paper on their little table. On it was messy hoof writing. She read it carefully.
Fluttershy I woke up before you so I decided to visit Twilight and figure out what else we can do on this weird vacation. Just stay in our room. It'll be quick
Fluttershy read it again. There was no questioning that Rainbow Dash wrote it. She sat down at the table and stared at it for about five minutes. she couldn't wait any longer. There was nothing to do in this little hotel room. Finally, She decided to go back to the exercise room.
'A little workout never hurt. Just some little push ups and a short walk,' Fluttershy thought.
She assumed that Rainbow Dash had taken their key. Fluttershy didn't have an extra one though. If she came back too early, she would be locked out. However, if she just left the door open, there would be no need to worry. They were the only ponies staying at this place.
Carefully opening the door, she placed a bag in the space and walked out. Fluttershy started walking down the hall and then stopped. One of the rooms had its door slightly open and she could hear talking. Fluttershy moved closer to the door and hide herself from sight of the ponies inside. She recognized the voices as Twilight's and Rainbow Dash's. She leaned over and listened in on the conversation.
"I don't know, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, her voice sounding tense.
"It's a simple question. Are you physically attracted to her?" Twilight asked in a calm voice.
'They're talking about me? Does she find me attractive? Oh no, I forgot about to think about that. How do I even know that she thinks I look good?' Fluttershy asked herself.
A minute passed before one of them spoke up again.
"I guess?" Rainbow Dash said. Her voice was strained. "I.. she does look pretty.. I mean cool!" she said, raising her voice a little.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. She just looks nice to you. You don't have to try to save your image and just say she looks cool," Twilight said in a relaxing tone.
"Ok, I admit it! She looks beautiful! But I just don't think I should do this!," Rainbow Dash said. She sounded really confused in the last sentence.
Fluttershy slowly slid down from leaning against the wall. She was now laying on the light red carpet, a look of relief was on her face.
'She thinks I look beautiful!' she thought, smiling to herself. 'But, she still doesn't know?' she asked, her smile fading a little bit.
"What do you mean? Why don't you want to date her?" Twilight asked.
"We have been best friends for the longest time. It's so weird! I don't think I can date my best friend! It's just.. awkward, I guess," Rainbow Dash said in hushed tone.
"Well, it might be a little awkward at first but if you spend more and more time with her, it won't be awkward anymore and you'll feel more comfortable around her," Twilight said.
"Ok.. but what should I do?" Rainbow Dash said.
'Please, just go out with me! I need you, Rainbow Dash!' Fluttershy thought, shaking her hooves.
"It's pretty obvious, Rainbow Dash. Just go out with her," Twilight said.
"But I don't know-"
"-You do! We went over this ten minutes ago! You went on about how much you liked her personality and that she was the type of mare that you always wanted. Don't tell me something like 'I don't have feelings,' because you already made it clear that there were a lot of them for her!" Twilight ranted, taking a deep breath after.
'Oh Celestia, just do it! Say it, Rainbow!" Fluttershy thought.
"Look, can't I just wait until this vacation is over?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"No! You can't leave her hanging like this. If you don't do it soon enough during this vacation, you'll break her heart!" Twilight said, getting more irritated.
Suddenly, loud hoof steps were coming from the stairs. Fluttershy was caught off gaurd and she almost let out a squeak. She hurried back to the room and pulled the bag inside. Quickly, she creaked the door shut and then slipped back into bed. Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. If she had been caught, this would have been one sticky situation.
She waited for Rainbow Dash to return. After about ten minutes, Rainbow Dash came back to their room. She closed the door quietly and turned around. Fluttershy opened her eyes and looked at her expectantly. A minute of awkward silence filled the room.
"Oh hey, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash said, rubbing the back of her head.
"Hi, Rainbow," Fluttershy said with a smug grin. "Do you have something on your mind? she asked.
"Uhh.. yeah? We are all going to eat at this nearby restaurant for dinner soon," Rainbow Dash said in a slightly nervous voice. She blushed a little too.
'Shoot! Did my smile throw her off? Why did I do that?' Fluttershy thought.
"Oh.. okay. Wait, we missed lunch?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow Dash rubbed her foreleg. "Well, actually you did. I woke up but you were still asleep. I ate with Twilight and Pinkie Pie. I uh.. got all caught up in the planning.. sorry I took so long!" She said and gave a fake smile.
"It's um.. okay, Rainbow. What do you want to do before we eat?" Fluttershy said with disappointment behind her voice.
"I don't feel like going anywhere else today. We can just read some of my Daring Do books," Rainbow Dash said and started going through her duffel bag.
'Daring Do? I never read anything like that,' Fluttershy thought.
They both laid down on the bed and started reading. Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy the first book in the series to try to get her hooked. It wasn't something that Fluttershy loved reading. She did like how that Daring Do's intentions were pure and for the good of everypony. Rainbow Dash was too absorbed into reading Daring Do. However, her eyes darted back and forth sometimes as if there was something bothering her.
A knock on their door interrupted both of them. They had been quietly reading in peace for some time. Both of them had given each other quick looks but never said anything.
"Fluttershy! Rainbow Dash!" an excited voice from behind the door called. "It's time to eat!" Pinkie Pie said.
Rainbow Dash groaned and got up. They both were reluctant to leave their cozy room. Upon opening the door, they were greeted by the pink party pony.
"C'mon you guys!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing in place. "Everypony is waiting on you!"
They both sighed and followed her down the hall and out of the hotel. There really wasn't much to see around town. Only several other buildings were in this place. There was a general store, a restaurant, and some other places that didn't have signs. It really was a lovely looking town but it was not lively at all. They came to the restaurant.
The furniture inside was very similar to what the hotel had. The place was filled with tables and chairs crafted from logs and varnished. There was a bar area for ponies to sit and drink on the side. Their friends waved over at them, sitting at a table in the middle of this small restaurant.
Pinkie Pie took her seat next to Twilight. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sat next to each other. The waiter came over to their table. He must have been the owner because it seemed like nopony else was here.
"Ah, you are finally here! What would you like to drink?" he asked.
"Um.. do you happen to have apple juice?" Fluttershy asked the unicorn.
"Yes, we do of course and you miss?"
"Root beer please," Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack let out a little laugh that earned a look from Rainbow Dash. The waiter left and disappeared into the kitchen. Fluttershy looked down at her menu. Not a whole lot of things looked appetizing. A look of uncertainly filled her face as she tried to decide.
"Fluttershy, are you having trouble deciding?" Rarity asked.
She sighed. "A little. I don't know if there's anything I want," Fluttershy said, resting her head on a hoof.
"Well, they do have soup," Rarity suggested.
"I'm getting the macaroni and cheese, Fluttershy. You should too," Rainbow Dash said.
"Who eats that anymore, Rainbow Dash? It's such a foalish dish," Rarity said.
"I do and it tastes awesome!" Rainbow Dash said, stretching out her forelegs.
Fluttershy looked through the menu again. The kind of soup that was in it seemed questionable. Macaroni and cheese seemed to be the most appetizing meal at this point.
"Why can't ya'll just mind yer own business," Applejack said in a serious tone.
The waiter came back, levitating their drinks. Everypony seemed ready to order what they wanted. Fluttershy ended up ordering the same thing as Rainbow Dash. She knew that Rainbow Dash didn't take much of a liking to restaurants like this. She could only stand fast food and disliked waiting for it.
Fluttershy was so close to having Rainbow Dash as her marefriend. Just as she rested her head on both hooves, she let her thoughts slip out. Immediately, she covered her mouth but it was too late.
"Why can't you go out with me?" She let out, blushing furiously.
Everpony was silent. Rarity and Applejack both were shaking their heads at Fluttershy as if they were saying, 'Why did you say that? You're not supposed to say that!' Pinkie Pie and Twilight were looking at Rainbow Dash, expecting her to admit the truth.
'Oh no! This can't be happening! How did I let that slip?' Fluttershy thought.
"I.. um.. well.. I have to tell you something," Rainbow Dash finally got out.
Nopony said anything in response.
"I-I do.. like you.. Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash nervously said, blushing. "I.. was going to tell you later tonight. I want to be your.. marefriend, I guess," she said.
There was an uneasiness in her voice which made it unclear if she meant it. Fluttershy couldn't help but notice how she tried to look away from her. Everypony sat still in their chairs. Pinkie Pie didn't have anything to say and sat trying to piece this mess.
'What did I do? She doesn't sound serious at all!' Fluttershy thought.
"R-really?" she asked. "So, we are going out?"
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said and put a hoof around on her shoulder.
"Well, that's great you two!" Twilight said, winking at the.
"Yeah," the others agreed, nodding their heads.
This had to be one of the most awkward moments for Fluttershy. None of her friends could break the awkward silence that had been created. Even when the waiter returned with their food, there was only quiet small talk. Fluttershy was so confused. Love couldn't feel like this. It had to be something more natural. Rainbow Dash didn't really show any signs of love.
"Do you mean it?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow Dash stopped eating. "Yeah, Fluttershy," she said in her usual tone.
Fluttershy wasn't convinced. Rainbow Dash got up and excused herself to the little filly's room. Her friends were all looking at her. She waited for her 'marefriend' to disappear out of hearing range.
"How did this go wrong?" Fluttershy asked her friends.
"It's obvious, dear. You forced her to play her card too early," Rarity said and took a sip.
"I don't understand. Why did she accept my offer then?" Fluttershy asked.
"Rainbow Dash is just finding it hard to show her affection for you. Since you have been friends for such a long time, it might be a little awkward at first for you two," Twilight explained.
"Twilight is right. Ah don't think that this won't work out," Applejack said.
Before they could continue this discussion, Rainbow Dash returned and sat down. Everypony was done eating already and the waiter came with the bill. Twilight paid for the food and they got up to leave. Fluttershy walked next to Rainbow Dash back to the hotel. She still wasn't sure about this. When they got back to the room, it was time to talk this out.
"Are you sure that you like me?" Fluttershy asked, sitting down on the bed next to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head. "I do, Fluttershy. Why do you keep asking me?" she said, sounding a little irritated.
"Then why are you acting so strange?"
"It.. just feels weird. I don't know if I even was ready for a relationship," Rainbow Dash said, looking down at the wooden flooring.
"What do you mean?"
"Look, I'm a little weirded out that we're dating now. We were best friends. I'm not saying that I regret doing this but right now I want to take things slow and get used to the idea of dating you," she explained.
Fluttershy wrapped her in a small hug. "I don't want this to be ruined. So far, you're going to be the only pony that I have ever gone out with," she said, teary and sad.
Rainbow Dash returned the hug. "It won't be ruined. I promise. You're also the only pony for me," she said, tightening the embrace.
"Really?" Fluttershy asked, looking up into her.
"Yeah, how 'bout this to make up everything so far?" she asked and planted the smallest of kisses on Fluttershy's cheek.
They both blushed and smiled at each other. Almost all of Fluttershy's doubts were erased with this small moment. Rainbow Dash turned her face so that her cheek was close. Fluttershy returned with a small, tender, and sweet kiss on her cheek. They stayed in this warm embrace for a minute until Rainbow Dash let go.
"Heh, alright that's too much for me," Rainbow Dash said and nervously chuckled.
"Oh sorry, Rainbow!" Fluttershy apologized.
"It's okay, Flutters! I think that I might be already getting used to this," Rainbow Dash said and crawled into bed. It was already pretty dark outside.
'Am I dreaming or is this real? Was it that easy for her to get over with it?" Fluttershy asked herself as she climbed into bed too.
As they got comfortable underneath the blanket, she couldn't help but wonder how this relationship will turn out at the end of the vacation. She wanted to cuddle with her marefriend so much now but she knew that Rainbow Dash could be very touchy sometimes. Maybe Rainbow Dash could truly love her back.
"Good night, Rainbow," Fluttershy said as she turned off a lamp.
"Night, Flutters," Rainbow Dash said back.
They both fell asleep facing each other. As Fluttershy slept, her mother's words started to come back from a long time ago in Cloudsdale. She strained and twitched in bed.
You need to give up on this pointless crush, Fluttershy. She might be your only friend but it will never work out. How can you possibly win that daredevil's heart? She's nothing like you. She can't love you..
Fluttershy woke up and tried to clear her head. There was no reason to start worrying now. After all, it seemed like she already had won Rainbow Dash's heart so easily. She drifted back to sleep again, trying to get these doubts cleared forever.