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// Shooting for the Stars (2) - Red Rover 
// Story: Flarity Group Collab 
// by Jondor 
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Written by: Red Rover




It was the middle of the night and the two mares were perched upon a high hill just outside the town of Ponyville. The rolling hills around the small village made for spectacular views of the quaint town in the day, but also made for spectacular star gazing after the sun went down. The stars twinkled happily above the pair as they watched quietly.
A purple-maned unicorn sat quietly looking to the sky while a yellow pegasus companion leaned against the Unicorn’s side. The Pegasus’s eyes fluttered sleepily trying not to drift off while her marefriend sat resolute with her eyes to the sky. Fluttershy was never really a night pony. She preferred to be up bright and early with her critter friends, but Rarity was more accustomed to staying up later.
“Gorgeous aren’t they?” Rarity whispered wistfully as to not disturb the peaceful night.
“Mmm, yes. They are lovely.”
“What do you think it would be like to be up there, with them? Hypothetically, of course.”
“Oh, um, I don’t really know. I’ve never really thought about it. Stars are pretty to look at, but I’ve never really wanted to be all the way up there. I’m happy down here on the ground with my friends.” She smiled, reaching up to nuzzle Rarity’s cheek and added, “And you.”
Rarity smiled warmly to Fluttershy for a moment, but looked back. “Yes. I know. But, have you always been happy where you are? You’ve never wanted something greater? Never had a dream?”
“Hmm.. Well, yes. I’ve always had a dream. I’ve always wanted to live a simple, quiet life with the ponies I care about. Now I get to live that dream every day.”
Rarity didn’t reply.
Fluttershy thought hard trying to discern if she’d said something wrong. “So, what’s your dream, Rarity?”
Rarity took a quiet breath to gather her thoughts. “To be great, I suppose. To be respected and revered for my talents.”
“But Rarity, you are great and everypony does respect you.”
"Yes, I know you do and it does mean a lot to me, but it's still not quite the same."
"What do you mean?"
"Fluttershy, do you know when I first discovered my passion?"
The pegasus tapped her chin with a hoof, but came up with nothing. "I don't know. I don't think I've heard you mention it before unless I forgot. I didn't forget did I?"
"Don't worry, Darling. It's just never come up. I'll tell you."
"When I was a young filly my parents loved to travel. One summer they decided to visit Canterlot and they took me with them. During the day we would visit the Royal Castle, the Sculpture Gardens, the Museums and such. I remember there were fliers all over the city advertising a fashion show. I was curious and after seeing the posters dozens of times I begged my mother and father to take me. They gave in rather quickly come to think about it. I had my ways of getting what I wanted back then.
Fluttershy giggled picturing Rarity’s distinct whine she used when she didn't get her way from time to time.
"Anyway, they took me later that night. The studio was full packed with ponies from all over. Watching the ponies in their gowns on stage was the most magnificent thing. There I will always remember. She had a flawless pale yellow coat, golden mane and a flowing white evening gown. She was the most beautiful lady I'd ever seen. I simply had to meet her so I snuck away backstage. I found her on the way out of the dressing room. I went up to her and told her that I wanted to be pretty like her one day, but she just looked annoyed. By then my parents had caught up to me and apologized profusely. They tried to make me leave, but I just had to know something."
"What was that?"
"I asked her what it would take for me to be like her."
"And..?"
"She looked at me and my parents and said, 'Mostly likely, a miracle'."
"Oh, no! How rude!" Said Fluttershy abashed.
Rarity waved her hoof disarmingly and continued her story. "I thought a lot about what she said over the next few days and do you know what conclusion I came to?"
"What?"
"Though she wasn't very polite, she did have a point. I'd lived in Ponyville my entire life. I had never really thought about trying to be ladylike. I mean my father still wears the same straw sun hats to this day! I wanted to be a very important pony; somepony even Canterlot elite couldn't stick up their noses at and if no one was going to help me be fabulous I'd have to do it myself. And now, here I am."
"Rarity.. I never knew."
Rarity stayed quiet.
“So, what about stars then?”
Rarity paused. “They’re so beautiful, but so far away. Just like the mare from Canterlot when I was a filly.” She reached a hoof to the sky. “I just hope that if I keep reaching for the stars I’ll be with them one day.”
Fluttershy smiled and leaned against her marefriend. “You will be.”
“You think so?”
“You’re already my star.”
Rarity giggled and kissed Fluttershy’s cheek. “Thank you, Darling.”