//------------------------------// // The Next Day // Story: The Fine Line // by nutcase4real //------------------------------// The Next Day Rainbow Dash felt the sun's warmth kiss her face and lull her out of her slumber. She finally gave up and allowed her eyes to open. Her sleepy gaze fell upon Fluttershy, who was sleeping peacefully next to her. The steady rise and fall of the cloud blanket, the gentle snoring, and that small smile Fluttershy wore made her all the more irresistible, but Rainbow Dash was able to not attack her sleeping marefriend amazingly. 'I don't know what came over her last night. She was just not herself. She was shy at first, but then after I let her in she was determined to get want she wanted.' Rainbow's gaze lazily switched over to the clock on the nightstand, which read seven o'clock. She looked back over to her marefriend and said to herself, 'I hate having to do this.' "Fluttershy? Fluttershy, it's time to get up." Fluttershy's eyes slowly opened. She yawned cutely, before turning her gaze to Rainbow Dash with a small on her face. She stared into her lover's rose colored eyes and felt as if she could just lie there forever. "Good morning Rainbow Dash, what time is it?" Rainbow Dash stared right back into the lipid teal pools that were Fluttershy's eyes and said, "A little after seven." The expression on Fluttershy's face suddenly changed to one of horror. "My animal friends! I need to go Rainbow Dash! I have to give them food!" Fluttershy jumped up out of bed and started running for the door. Rainbow Dash followed suit and soon the two were on their way back to Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash charged through the door, and there standing in the doorway of the kitchen was Angel Bunny. Angel Bunny pointed to his stomach and began to tap his paw on the floor. Fluttershy emitted a small "Eep" and trotted into the kitchen with her head lowered to the floor with Angel right behind her. 'Why is she beating herself up this hard over this?' Rainbow Dash asked herself. Suddenly Rainbow Dash heard a sound come from the kitchen. 'That sounded like a slap.' Rainbow said to herself. She half trotted, half flew into the kitchen only see Fluttershy cowering on the floor and Angel standing over her with a disgruntled look on his face. "What did you do to Fluttershy?!", Rainbow Dash bellowed. The bunny looked over at Rainbow Dash and had a look of utter shock on his face. Fluttershy jumped up on her hooves, and ran over to Rainbow Dash. She began to cower again behind Rainbow Dash with tears in her eyes. When Rainbow Dash saw this she glared directly into the bunny's eyes. "Get... Out... Of... Here... NOW!", Rainbow Dash screamed as she tried with all her might not to attack the bunny. "Oh, h..he d..doesn't h..have to leave.", Fluttershy said almost as silently as a pin dropping on the floor. "Fluttershy! He hurt you! Don't defend him! Stand up for yourself and kick him out!" Rainbow Dash hollered, but more out of love rather than anger. Fluttershy looked at the bunny, who now had a tear forming in his eyes. "Rainbow," the bunny began to perk up a little, "you're right." Fluttershy turned to the bunny and glared 'The Stare' directly into his soul. "Leave. Now.", was all she said to the bunny. The bunny turned and walked directly out of the cottage. Fluttershy turned to Rainbow Dash with tears in her eyes. "Oh Fluttershy, I know it hurt, but it was for the best. Trust me.", Rainbow Dash said as she wrapped Fluttershy into a hug. Rainbow Dash felt tears dropping from her marefriend's eyes landing on her shoulder, slowly make their way down her shoulder leaving streaks in her fur, and finally down her back where they fell to the floor. Rainbow Dash stood there holding Fluttershy for what seemed like hours. Each tear that landed on her felt worse than any crash she had ever been in. This pain was a new type of pain for her. The one she loved with all of her heart and soul was sad. She fought hard to hold back the tears swelling in her eyes. Reluctantly she broke the hug after Fluttershy had stopped sobbing, looked lovingly into her eyes, and said, "Hey Flutters, are you still up for feeding your other animal friends?" Fluttershy gave a sobbing laugh and said, "Oh my yes. They are relying on me. I'd hate to disappoint them." "Do you want some help?" Rainbow Dash asked while still staring into her eyes. Fluttershy began to blush and said quietly, "Yes, i...if that's okay with you." Rainbow Dash just laughed and said, "Well, we better get started." The two mares worked diligently until the job was done. After all the animals were given food and plenty to drink, Fluttershy made Rainbow Dash and herself some lunch, which consisted of daffodil sandwiches and a juice squeezed from various berries. After lunch the two decided to go into Ponyville and see their friends to tell them everything. All of their friends basically teleported to Sugarcube Corner after hearing that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy wanted to talk about their date. "So how did it go darlings?" Rarity questioned. "It was... magical.", Fluttershy responded with a blush. "What did y'all do?" Applejack chimed in. "We spent the day in Cloudsdale! It... Was... Awesome!" Rainbow Dash excitedly reported. "But where did you guys go in Cloudsdale? Where did you guys eat? What did you eat? Was the food good? What did you guys do after eating? Wha..." Twilight finally put her hoof in an electric Pinkie's mouth. "Wh...what did you say?" Fluttershy asked for she couldn't follow the excited earth pony's questions. Pinkie began to inhale deeply so she could start again, until Twilight stuffed her hoof back into Pinkie's mouth. "That... won't be necessary." Twilight said to Pinkie. "I think what she's trying to ask is did you guys have a good time?", Twilight asked which earned an excited nod and a lot of muffled noises from Pinkie Pie. "Yes." Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy replied together. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash answered their friend's questions for another hour before calling it a day. As the two walked back to Fluttershy's cottage Fluttershy turned to her marefriend and asked, "Do you think we can make it work? I mean you want to go join the Wonderbolts and all I would do is slow you down." Rainbow looked over at Fluttershy and she could swear that in this lighting she could see their entire future together. Her response was simple, but powerful. It was filled with love, and came from the very depths of Rainbow's heart. "Yes. Yes we can."