//------------------------------// // The meeting... // Story: Once Upon a Starry Night Sky // by Theater Critic //------------------------------// The silhouette of a certain yellow pegasus could be seen standing out over the crest of Apple Grove Hill, her outline framed by the gentle glow of Luna's moon. The figure stood there, wings stretched wide open in the cool breeze, still and waiting, the desire to flee coursing through her veins. But no. She needed to talk with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy could not bare to hide any longer. A nervous hoof dug its way into the soft and fertile dirt beneath it, twisting a small clod out, the moist form staining her hoof just slightly with brown. She really wasn’t sure how Rainbow Dash was going to react to her words tonight. She almost did not ask Rainbow Dash to come to the hill, Dashie was her oldest friend, and for the longest time she was her sole pony friend. Fluttershy did not want to ruin that sort of relationship just because she wanted more. She let out a small whimper of frustration over the situation. Slowly Fluttershy became aware of the soft clip-clopping sound of hoof steps growing near. Turning her head she saw her. Rainbow Dash. Her toned flanks swayed confidently and that same confidence radiated forth from the smile on her face. A flick of her prismatic mane and she sat down right alongside the shy mare. "What's up Flutters?" Rainbow Dash asked a playful grin on her face now, happy to be spending time with one of her dearest friends. "Well... I... uh... you see..." Fluttershy could not even complete a full thought now once faced with the prospect of actually talking to Dash. And talking to Dash about such a formidable subject. "Yeah? You know you can talk around me Fluttershy, I won't bite" She jokingly nips at her timid friend, laughter in her eyes. Fluttershy looked up at those magenta eyes, so caring, worried over her friend, she knew this despite the laughter there at their surface. How could this be so hard, so hard to just admit something, all it would take is three small words. Three words. That should be nothing. She stomped a hoof and sat her flank down, distancing herself slightly from her friend. "Is there something wrong?" Rainbow Dash smile fading ever so slightly at her friend's unusual behavior. Fluttershy let out a muffled squeak, “No!” "Then why are you scooting away?" Rainbow Dash moved closer to her. "Fluttershy, you can tell me anything." Reaching a hoof out she slowly started to massage the soft butter yellow shoulder of her friend's, frowning more as she felt how stiff she was, "Fluttershy?" Fluttershy looked once more to her friend’s eyes. And then she looked to the night sky, of all the twinkling stars in the sky. She remembered one night at flight camp where the two of them snuck off and just spent the night watching meteors. Of course, it had been all Rainbow Dash's idea. It had been terrifying at first, such a silly thought now, but at the time seeing those speeding balls of fire particularly hurtling at them left her trembling against her friend's soft blue fur. That time spent with her best friend made it one of her treasured memories. That’s why she chose tonight to tell Dashie. Tonight, under the beautiful moonlit sky. That was the night she had realized her true feelings... “I have something to tell you, Dashie…” "I figured as such." Rainbow Dash said, "Though I don't know why you're being so nervous..." “Eep!” Fluttershy buried her face in mane and hooves, not even peeking at the cerulean form next to her, “I can’t say it!” "Hmmm," Dash stroked her muzzle, "Is it about my birthday coming up?" Fluttershy simply shook her head weakly, a muffled no coming forth from the mussed up mane. "Didn't think so. What is Fluttershy? You know I'm no good at guessing games...Not that any pony needs to know that!" “RainbowDashIthinkIloveyou!” Fluttershy said in all one breath and in a manner most incomprehensible. "What?" A single teary eye peaked out through the pink tangled mess its depths swimming with emotions torn between disbelief and love, “I love you Dashie…” "F-Flutters, I..." Rainbow Dash was blown away by this revelation, struck speechless. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to tell you because I was so worried you’d hate me forever and not want to be my friend anymore and..and …” Fluttershy trailed off as she felt Dash’s muzzle nuzzle up against her cheek, licking up her trail of tears. "I love you too, Fluttershy," She kissed her, lightly on the tip of her snout, as she confessed her own feelings, "I think I've loved you for a long, long time. I'm so glad you feel the same." With a gasp and sudden speed yellow hooves darted their way around her friend, no, her lover's neck and hugged her close. "Oh Dashie, I love you so much!" And that night the newfound, deeply in love couple spent the night together, tightly curled up in each others legs. It was a night much like the one they both remembered from their filly hood. A night looking up at the star's, a night looking into each other's eyes. A night keeping each other warm. They spent the night there, watching a show that seemed specially made for them, a gift from Luna to celebrate their love as it were. As the first rays of Celestia's dawn peered over the hills of Canterlot, it was to the sight of the two mares wrapped tightly in each others hooves, wings layered over each over. Asleep in each others embrace neither one of them noticed this.