//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVII // Story: A Dash of Shyness // by TM2 Dinobot //------------------------------// Chapter XXVII Rainbow Dash awoke the next morning feeling sore yet refreshed. Her head and her wing both throbbed, but the fuzziness clouding her mind and vision for the past two days was gone. Granny was right, Pegasi did have hard heads. Rolling out of bed, she arched her back, stretching like a cat before landing on the floor with a plop. The sun shone brightly through the window, but not high enough to warrant concern. It was still morning, and an important day at that. Today was the day she and Fluttershy went home. Wandering down the stairs, she found the youngest and oldest members of the Apple clan in the kitchen along with Fluttershy. Her yellow friend perked up, rushing over as she entered the room. "Oh! Dashie, I'm glad you're up. I was just about to come get you." "What's going on?" Dash leaned around Fluttershy, sniffing. "Here ya go, young'uns. Flapjacks fresh off the griddle." Granny Smith set down a stack of pancakes. Dash and Fluttershy sat down as Applebloom tore into them, gnawing on one as large as her head. She held it between her hooves, trying to tear off chunks with her baby teeth. Without saying anything Fluttershy leaned over and began cutting the foal's food into bite sized pieces. "Where's Applejack and Little Mac?" Dash noted their absence. "Mac's already at work in the back forty. Applejack is upstairs in the stall gettin' herself ready." responded Granny. "She's gettin' gussied up. She thinks she's pretty." Applebloom snickered. "She is pretty." Granny smacked her with the spatula and went back to cooking. "Now finish up so you can do your chores." "Yes, Granny." Applebloom chewed faster. The three fillies ate the rest of their meal in silence. Dash had to admit, it was good. She'd had pancakes before, at home. Firefly used to make them. The texture was a bit off, but Dash suspected that had more to do with the ingredients than the cooking. Granny Smith could be the cafeteria lunch lady and the food would still be amazing. Several minutes later, as Dash licked the syrup from her face and Fluttershy slowly finished chewing, Applejack came clamoring down the stairs, descending with all the quiet dignity of a cacophony. She stopped and stared at their table guests, a slight rose blush on her cheeks. Dash had to admit, she did look pretty. She'd spent enough time longing to sit at the popular table to tell that's where Applejack wanted to sit too. She'd bathed, scrubbing the dirt and grime accumulated over the weekend from her coat. Her mane was neatly combed, sinning straight and healthy. She must have gotten up before sunrise to accomplish that feat. She even smelled nice. Who was she trying to be, a proper city miss? Applejack averted her eyes, rushing up to Granny to kiss her on the cheek. Grabbing a pancake between her teeth, she rushed for the door. Fluttershy and Dash just stared at one another before scrambling to their feet, rushing to catch up. "Don't forget your chores!" Granny called. "Ah won't!" AJ was almost at a dead run now. Rainbow Dash poured on the speed. "Thank you for... for everything." Fluttershy paused at the doorway. She couldn't cry this morning. She wouldn't. This wasn't goodbye; this was a happy day. "Oh, my dear." Granny smiled, hugging her. Fluttershy clung tight, holding on even after Granny tried to push her away. "You'd better go. Go!" "Eep!" Fluttershy looked back. She'd never catch up with Dash now. But she'd try. Rushing after them, she called back one last time. "Goodbye, Granny!" "G'bye, child! You take care of your friend, y'hear?" Applebloom took that moment to squeeze out the kitchen window. "I will!" Fluttershy waved. Waved? Yes, she had a free hoof. Four free hooves in fact. She was flying and hadn't even realized it. Letting out a contagious giggle, she flapped harder, pretending she was Rainbow Dash. Even with her minimal air speed she'd catch up to her friend for sure now. The light clopping beside her nearly sent her spiraling into the canopy. Applebloom ran along, wobbling her short legs for all she was worth. "Hi, Fluttershy!" "Hello, Applebloom. Um, are you supposed to be out here?" "I can go as far as the gate." Applebloom huffed. "But we'll never catch up with mah sister." "Oh yes we will!" Fluttershy scooped her up, holding her close. It put an extra strain on her wings, but she found the strength to compensate, as if she'd been meant to fly all along. It wasn't like Applebloom weighed more than a bunny anyways. Pulling up, Fluttershy went sky born. She forgot how mush she loved the air. The earth was interesting, but kind of boring. It held far too many dangers, and the dust and dirt got everywhere, filling your nostrils and lungs. Too many smells and no clear line of sight meant a limited sense of danger, and a failing to appreciate nature. Nothing lived down there save for dead and dying farms; no cute animals or pretty bugs. Not even a simple bird. But here, up here in the sky where she was born, Fluttershy felt at peace in the only home she'd ever known. Pulling higher, faster, she began to feel a little ripple in her mane as her speed picked up. With training, one day she might even get up to half a wing speed. Applebloom loved it, squealing and laughing the entire way. Fearless, she tried to let go three times. Fluttershy, not so fearless, nearly screamed each time. The wriggling bundle might get them both killed. Flying over a hill, the two fillies looked down to see Little Mac struggling to cut a plow through the compacted dirt. "HI LITTLE MAC!" Applebloom waved ferociously. Little Mac tracked them overhead, watching his sister fly so far off the ground. "Enope." He went back to plowing. Tired and slowing down, Fluttershy made a bee-line for the dirt track beneath the trees. It was a good thing she hadn't tried to fly the injured Rainbow Dash back herself that first night, or they never would have made it. She couldn't carry a little pony more than a few dozen yards, thirty feet up. Coming in for a landing, Fluttershy spotted Dash trotting just ahead. She also saw the gate entrance with Applejack still reigning towards it. She also managed to catch a very large glimpse of the ground, coming up very fast. Holding on tight to Applebloom, she slammed into the hard dirt, tucking and rolling like Rainbow Dash taught her. If she thought impacting with tough clouds hurt, then she got a very real lesson on dirt and exactly how much it moves. Answer: none at all. Cart wheeling once, twice, three times, Fluttershy came to rest on her bum, still holding fast to her tiny, giggling charge. Applebloom leapt from her arms, rushing for her older sister while a look of expressionless shock rested on Fluttershy's face. Wide eyed and tiny pupiled, she barely noticed as Rainbow Dash came cantering up. "Show off." "My life flashed before my eyes." "So? How was it?" "...Boring." Fluttershy climbed to her feet, rubbing her rump. "Ouch. Not an experience I'd recommend." "Yeah, tell me about it." Dash gestured to her wing. "You'll live. Come on, let's catch up." The two Pegasi raced after Applejack, who was now moving at a much slower pace, being annoyed by Applebloom. "Didja see me? Huh? Didja, sis? I was flyin'! Like a bird. Hey! Hey, AJ? Didja hear me? Didja hear what I said?" "Yeah, that's great, Applebloom." AJ impatiently stamped her hoof. "Would you two come on? Y're gonna make me late for class!" The two Pegasi caught up and the three of them stampeded through the gate, riding towards town. Applebloom followed after them, hanging onto the fence post and waving. Fluttershy waved in return. "Bye, Applejack! Bye, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash! I'll never forget y'all!" "Yeah, bye, Applebloom. Whatever." Applejack muttered. "You don't get along with your sister much?" Fluttershy asked. Running at an acceptable speed, she was able to keep pace with the other two. "What, y'er gonna tell me you get along with your siblings?" Fluttershy and Dash looked at each other. "We don't have siblings." Dash replied. "Lucky." Applejack put on just that much more speed, pulling away and leaving the two Pegasi behind as she headed into town.