//------------------------------// // Brewing up Something Special // Story: Undeniably, Unquestionably, Unsure // by Dashromu //------------------------------// Rainbow's words hit Fluttershy like a ton of bricks. She slowly stepped back a few steps and started to sweat. D-did she just say what I think she said? The faces of both mares were quite pink by now, and neither one of them had said anything for the past two minutes. The blue pegasus shuffled around on the grass nervously. The heat that was building up beneath her coat was becoming extremely uncomfortable. Maybe it wasn't such a bright idea to confess. thought a rather uncomfortable Dash. Maybe I can skedaddle while she's still in shock... She spread her sky blue wings in preperation for takeoff. Before she could make her daring escape, the pegasus in front of her decided to break the silence. "Um... You have a crush on me?" This was all too much for her to take in. Her fillyhood pal wanted to go out with her? Well, even if she didn't want to, the rainbow maned mare still decided to admit her love for her. Although, Fluttershy didn't see why she would say something like that unless she wanted to be her marefriend. "Er, yeah. That's.. heh.. that's what I said..." Rainbow Dash wasn't quite sure whether Fluttershy returned her feelings or not. The only emotion she could make out on her burning face was embarassment. Though it was hard to tell if there was anything else, for most of it was obscured by a soft pink mane. This scene would be so much less awkward if she'd just say whether she likes me back or not!! She mentally face hoofed. "Look, do you feel the same way about me or not?" Fluttershy flinched at her friend's impatience. "Um... I'll need some time to think about this, Rainbow..." she muttered in a quiet voice. Rainbow sighed. If she wants time, I guess I'll give her time. "Fine. I guess I'll see you later, Flutters." she growled. And with that, she made a swift departure. Fluttershy watched her as she flew off, tears stinging her eyes. The gray sky overhead let out a threatening rumble before letting millions of fat raindrops fall onto the unsuspecting ponies down below. She sniffled, then turned and ran inside her abode. "Woah. Did you guys just see that?" "Ah didn't see anythin' that we should be concerned about!" "Guys, I think we should just forget about this..." Three little fillies had been sheltering from the rainstorm in a rose bush outside the cottage. Before the town got drenched, they had been trying to earn their cutie marks in tree climbing. After numerous attempts, (all of which failed), they had decided to head to Fluttershy's in search of some soothing chamomile tea to calm their over excited spirits. It was then that it showed signs of pouring, and they had to run for cover. Being the naive, shrimpy little fillies they were, instead of going inside the cottage, they had dashed into the nearest bush they could find and hid there until the rain stopped. Having arrived in the area before any of the real weather problems started, they had overheard everything that Rainbow had said to Fluttershy. "No way am I forgetting about that,Sweetie Belle! I mean, we just found out some crucial information about the most awesome pegasus in all of Equestria!" marveled Scootaloo. Her two friends scowled at her. "Ah can't believe that you'd be interested in Rainbow's preference of mate, Scoots! Ah'm ashamed of ya, honestly!" scolded an upset Apple Bloom. "Uh, guys! Do you think that we should get some better shelter than this measly little rose bush?!" Sweetie Belle suggested bluntly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gave her a small nod, and they all leaped out of the exquisitely scented shrub and galloped over to the cream colored cottage, using their capes to protect their frail bodies from the relentless downpour. One by one, they knocked steadily on the slightly damp door of the cottage. Knock! Knock! Knock! A slightly disgruntled pegasus opened it with watery eyes. When she saw her visitors, she quickly brushed the tears out of her eyelashes and frowned. "What do you want?" she she asked impatiently. Realizing how harsh that had sounded, she tried a different approach. "Oh, um, sorry girls... But if you don't mind me asking, why are you out in this weather?" The three fillies shook with cold. "Oh, we were just out and about, heard the signs of the rain, ran for cover in that bush, and overheard your conver-" Scootaloo was cut off by Sweetie Belle. "Er... She means and overheard the little squirrels in your house sounding... uh... happy, and wanted to be satisfied just like them?" Apple Bloom forced a smile. "Yeah, that's totally what happened, ain't it, Scootaloo?" The orange pegasus grinned sheepishly. "Ha ha... Yeah..." Fluttershy gave a wry smile and moved away from the entrance. "Come on in, then, girls." The Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted into the cozy house with acceleration. It smelled of green tea, and looked very neat save for the cubes of rabbit feed scattered across the wodden floor. "Make yourselves at home until this storm stops." Scootaloo turned to the yellow pony with a mischevious grin. "So, what're you gonna say to Dash?" Her friends quickly stood in front of her and gulped. "Uh, she means, has Rainbow taught you anything about flying recently, and if so, how did you respond to it?" quickly covered a nervous Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy gave them a curious look, but after a few seconds of silence, dismissed her suspicions and sighed. "No, she hasn't taught me anything recently. She's been too busy to even come and visit." she replied. The Crusaders raised their eyebrows in turn. "Are ya a hundred percent sure about that, Fluttershy?" asked Apple Bloom. "I'm sure, Apple Bloom, now go and get some rest. I'll wake you up when it's safe to go back outside.The you can go back to what you were doing." The three fillies groaned, but did as Fluttershy had instructed and snuggled up on her bed, trying to shake of the chills that still ran up their spines. A few hours later, the sun finally shone on the drenched grass. There was a faint rainbow curving from one side of town to the other, and the clean air smelled a little damp. Fluttershy floated over to the sleeping fillie's little shapes and gently nudged them awake. Scootaloo managed to crack her sleepy eyes open first, then Sweetie Belle, then Apple Bloom. The yellow earth pony yawned. "What time is it? Ah don't think the storms over yet. Maybe we should go back ta sleep." The two fillies beside her nodded in agreement. "It's over. Look out the window!" said Fluttershy. The Cutie Mark Crusaders galloped over to the glass and stared outside with wide eyes. The grass glittered with millions of sparkling raindrops from a few moments ago, and the sun shone like amber. They all gasped at the artistry before them. "Would ya look at that, girls! It looks so beautiful!" marveled Apple Bloom. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were lost for words. Fluttershy smiled. "It is gorgeous, isn't it? Now, I'm going to be busy for the rest of the day, and it looks safe out there, so if you want to you can go and crusade. I'll be here if you need anything." She didn't want to sound like she was shooing them away, so she cleverly added the 'if you want to' to the middle of her sentence. They all thanked her for lettting them stay, and darted out the door like a bunch of caffinated bunnies. Apple Bloom smirked sheepishly and called over her shoulder, "It feels like a good day for makin' desicions!" Back at her house in Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash dumped her demotivated body onto a poofy cloud couch in the corner of her living room. She exhaled severely, sadness clouding her rose colored eyes. She wished that Fluttershy would make up her mind soon, for she wasn't quite sure how much of this 'waiting' she could take. Why couldn't life be simpler? Why couldn't Flutters just say yes, right there on the spot? The action would've saved me a lot of crazy trouble. It would have been so easy to ask out a stallion, but not a mare! And anyway, even if I was the most corageous pegasus in all of Equestria I still coudn't guarantee that she'd feel the same way about me! Buck this place... Suddenly, a though entered her mind. Maybe if she completed this mission swiftly enough, she'd be able to face Fluttershy without the jitters like she used to! All she need was a unicorn's help... And she had to motivate that unicorn to do just as she pleased... Rainbow Dash quickly did some research on her new computer, then flew out through door and into the afternoon sky. Twilight Sparkle sat at her desk in the main room of Golden Oaks Library, rapidly scrawling words on her piece of parchment. Sodium, magnesium, potassium, calciu- "Twilight!" A loud yell echoed through her house, breaking her concentration. She groaned. Rainbow Dash came gliding through her door without knocking and came to a standstill beside her table. "What do you want, Rainbow?" she inquired irritably. Rainbow beamed. "I need you to brew a courage potion." "But.. Why? Those things are dangerous if not used properly! And the effects only last for half an hour!" Rainbow Dash was fully prepared for this comeback. "If you do it, I'll get you that book about advanced magic spells that just came out." she countered. Twilight Sparkle's intrest was piqued. "Hmm... Okay, I'll do it." she agreed slowly. "But if anything goes wrong, you're not allowed to blame me. Got it?" Her friend nodded enthusiastically. The unicorn pulled out a large blackened cauldron and some jars stocked full of strange substances. "Let's get started, then."