"Look at that!" exclaimed Twilight, staring up in awe. "Are you seeing this, Fluttershy…? Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy snapped back to reality in a heartbeat, quickly jerking her head up to look at the sky. Her cheeks bloomed like roses, and she felt Twilight staring at her, with a confused expression on her face.
"You all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
With an unbelieving look, Twilight turned and looked back at the sky, making a few notes on her charts.
Fluttershy stared down at the ground as she shuffled her hooves on the soft grass. Fluttershy had been having feelings for Twilight for a couple of weeks now, and at first she couldn't understand them. Then, the first time she and Twilight stargazed together, she realized that she loved everything about Twilight-- the way she looked, her love and compassion towards her friends, and the best part about her-- the ways her eyes would sparkle and gleam when she talked about books, or magic, or the stars. To Fluttershy, Twilight's enthusiasm for knowledge was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. But she couldn't bear the thought of telling Twilight how she felt.
"So, Fluttershy," began Twilight as she stared up at the flaming meteors streaking across the night sky. "How's life?"
"Well, it's been... average, I guess." She paused, thinking of what to say next. "Lonely," she blurted out, instantly regretting her impulsive statement. "That's why I like going stargazing. Oh! I mean, I still like learning about the stars from you, though... I mean--"
Twilight giggled, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's muzzle. "It's okay, I understand. For now, let's just watch the stars."
Fluttershy gave a slow nod, feeling calmed by Twilight's presence. She really loved Twilight but the unicorn was oblivious as to feelings. She wasn't sure if Twilight would accept her feelings or not, so for the past weeks she was keeping them a secret. But suddenly, she felt a burst of passion-- fiery and fierce-- and she slowly leaned in towards Twilight, who didn't notice. "Twilight, I--"
Just as Twilight began to turn to face her, there was a loud rustling from behind them and Twilight leapt up, looking towards the location of the sound.
Fluttershy turned around more slowly, thinking about how close she had come to professing how she felt to Twilight. With a sigh, she looked towards the location of the sound.
"Pinkie? What are you doing here?" Twilight exclaimed, staring at the pink heap next to a tree. "And why do you have night vision goggles on?"
Pinkie giggled nervously, brushing off some bits of the tree that had gotten stuck in her mane. "I was in the tree..."
Twilight nodded, rolling her eyes. "I figured as much; the question is why were you in the tree?"
Pinkie glanced from side to side, before looking at Twilight. "Oh, you know... stargazing! Looking at the, um, shooting stars!"
Twilight laughed, glancing back at the streaking lights dotting the sky. "Pinkie, those are meteors burning up in the atmosphere, not stars. If those were stars, we'd all be dead--" Twilight shook her head, looking back at Pinkie more seriously. "Well, care to join us?"
Pinkie's eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head, her pink mane bouncing characteristically. "Oh, no... It's getting kind of late, so I better get home. You two have fun!"
Twilight looked at her, inquisitively. "I guess you're right. It is kind of late... I better get home."
Fluttershy nodded, secretly feeling miserable that they were ending already. With a sigh, she stood up, picking up Twilight's star charts and placing them in the unicorn's saddlebags.
"Bye," she murmured, starting off towards her cottage.
"See you, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy continued on her way, wondering if she'd ever be able to confess how she felt to Twilight.
Before she knew it, she was home. As she went to open the door, she noticed a small note pinned to it.
Meet me at the spa tomorrow,
11 am
~Rarity
She paused-- that wasn't their normal spa day. With a sigh, she went inside, wondering why Rarity had scheduled such a spontaneous meeting.
Rarity relaxed, leaning back into the soft fabric that lined the chair. She glanced at the clock on the wall-- 11 am. Punctual as usual, she thought to herself smugly.
There was a ringing as the door to the spa opened up, the bell clanging loudly.
"Fluttershy! Come in, come in!" called Rarity, grinning brightly. She paused, shaking her head as Fluttershy moved to the counter. "No, no, no! It's all paid for-- come in, have a seat, relax!"
Fluttershy bowed her head as she trotted towards Rarity, not liking all the attention that Rarity's calling had brought about.
"Glad you could make it!" Rarity said cheerfully. "Now, let's get started, shall we?"
* * *
Rarity relaxed, letting the warm water soak into her coat. She glanced over at Fluttershy, who seemed deep in thought.
"So, Fluttershy, I know it's a personal question, but I've been wondering lately," she finally said, breaking the silence. "Got any crushes on anyone?"
Fluttershy seemed to freeze up, looking rather uncomfortable. "No... nopony."
Rarity rolled her eyes extravagantly. "Oh, please. There has to be somepony."
"It's really not important--"
"Of course it is! These things matter, dear!" Rarity sat up, the water around her rippling. "Now, tell me."
Fluttershy sighed, knowing that Rarity wasn't going to give up until she confessed. "Okay, fine. But... you have to promise not to tell anypony."
"Of course, of course!"
Fluttershy gave a deep breath, pausing. "Twilight."
She instantly lowered her head, fearful of Rarity judging her choices. "I know, it's stupid of me..."
"Stupid?!" exclaimed Rarity, standing up so abruptly that water went flying. "This is perfect!" Rarity giggled delightedly, stepping over towards Fluttershy.
"Wh...what?" said Fluttershy, confused by Rarity's apparent excitement. "You don't have to make fun--"
"I'm not making fun of you!" called Rarity. "Oh, this is excellent!"
Rarity reached over towards Fluttershy, grabbing her front hooves. "I happen to know that Twilight likes you too!"
Despite Rarity's enthusiasm, Fluttershy looked suspicious. "Oh, Rarity... You don't have to try and make me feel better..."
"I'm not!" cried Rarity, looking Fluttershy in the eye seriously. "Why do you think Twilight's always so eager to stargaze with you?"
"Well, it's because…well…I... I guess you have a point."
"Then go! Tell her how you feel about her!"
Fluttershy nodded, feeling a surge of energy go through her body. Twilight loved her! It was the most amazing feeling she ever felt. This feeling filled her with pure joy.Feeling elated, she dashed out of the spa while Rarity smiled smugly behind her.
The box of sponges was very small. That was Pinkie's thought process as she climbed into the small box to watch Rarity's meeting with Fluttershy. The two had been painfully slow and boring for the first two hours, until Rarity finally carried out the plan.
She listened slowly, taking in every word. Very good... Very, very good... she thought as Rarity convinced Fluttershy.
It took a lot of convincing to make Fluttershy understand, she noticed. If only Fluttershy could be more open and trusting-- maybe then life would be easier for her.
That was how Pinkie lived every day, after all.
Finally, Fluttershy had listened to what Rarity told her, and it was time for her to follow Fluttershy and see her confession-- if not for the itchy right hoof.
Fluttershy's heart pounded as she raced down the road to Twilight's library. She couldn't believe what Rarity had told her-- the actual possibility that Twilight liked her too. The thought made her heart skip a beat.
As she approached town square, she heard a noise behind her. Stopping abruptly, her hooves skidding across the loose pebbles, she turned around.
"Pinkie Pie?" she murmured, seeing the pink pony racing up toward her at breakneck speed.
"Fluttershy! Stop! Stop, stop, stop!" Pinkie shouted, finally catching up to where Fluttershy stood still.
"Umm... can I help you? I really need to--"
"Twilight..." Pinkie gasped, "...doesn't.... like you that way..." she finally blurted out.
"…What?" Fluttershy managed to respond, confused.
"I... I overheard her talking to Spike... she said something about only, um, taking you stargazing because she needed someone... um, stupid enough to teach it to."
"What…I…she... she thinks I'm stupid?" Fluttershy whispered, tears forming in her eyes, instantly doubting what Rarity had said. "I…I… knew it. She was just trying to make me feel better..."
"W...wait..." Pinkie said, realizing the stupidity of her impulsive decision.
"Oh!" Fluttershy cried, tears flowing openly down her face. "I'll always be alone!"
"No! Fluttershy--" spluttered Pinkie desperately. But Fluttershy had already run away, dust going everywhere from her rapid flight.
Pinkie's mane deflated, and she slumped down, looking down at the ground defeatedly. Suddenly, she heard someone running down the road, and she quickly looked up. "Fluttershy?" she called out hopefully.
Instead, she saw Rarity dashing down the road, her mane flowing behind her."Pinkie! What happened to Fluttershy?! Why is she running away crying?!"
Pinkie stood silently for several moments, before she finally said, "I... I got an itchy right hoof... so I told her that... that Twilight thinks she's stupid."
"What? You're kidding!"
"I... I got an itchy right hoof..."
"You know what?! I don't care about your stupid Pinkie Senses anymore! Argh! Why Pinkie, why?! You ruined a chance for love!"
Rarity stared angrily at Pinkie, more furious than Pinkie had ever seen her. Pinkie's normally bright, happy eyes began to water up, and soon she darted away, leaving Rarity alone in the dust..
Rarity stomped her hooves, staring down at the ground furiously. How did this get so messed up?
Spike hummed happily as he
sweeped up the floor of the library. "Done!" he called happily, throwing his broom down. He glanced around, looking for Twilight.
"Twi?" he called.
"In here!" she responded over the sound of pages turning.
I should have guessed, he thought dully. Reading.
He walked into the room where he heard Twilight calling from. "Hey Twi! I'm done."
"Lovely," she murmured, her face buried in a book that he’d never seen before. "I'm reading a romance novel right now."
"Ooh! A loooove novel, huh?"
"Oh, shut up. Anyways, the characterization in this book is absolutely atrocious."
"How so?"
"Well, the main character is just plain stupid. I mean, she's a bookworm, but she's just so clueless when it comes to romance."
"Gee, I wonder who that sounds like," Spike muttered under his breath.
"Anyways, there's tons of signs that she's in love. I mean, she spends massive amounts of time with the other character. She’s also always thinking about her-- I mean, how in Celestia’s name does she not get it?!"
"How stupid," Spike said, not paying attention.
Suddenly, Twilight dropped her book, her eyes growing wide. "Yeah... really stupid..."
Before Spike knew it, Twilight had leapt up from her seat. "Be back later!" she shouted as she ran out the door. Weird, he thought, jumping up on the table where Twilight had left the novel.
I wonder why she was reading a
romance novel in the first place. I mean, that section of the library is so unused there’s literally dust all over it With a shrug, he hopped down again, not thinking about it further.