//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Trust // Story: The Untold Secret // by Rubez2525 //------------------------------// "I don't think we should be friends anymore." "But why?" "I don't want to hurt you again. You must think I am terrible." "No, you got it all wrong." Fluttershy groaned and sat up on the couch. Ever since Twilight left, she had been laying there, staring at the ceiling. She remembered the look on her face, a mix of disbelief, surprise, and something else. Perhaps it was fascination? She heard a slight thumping on the rug and looked down to see a grumpy white bunny giving her an angry look with his arms folded. Fluttershy snapped out of her glazed state when she realized that she must had forgotten her responsibilities of the day. "Oh Angel, I'm sorry. I forgot to make your dinner." Angel's expression had not changed. A little paw pointed to the clock, his foot still stamping the floor. Fluttershy was nearly shocked on how much time had passed. "Oh my, it’s very late. I’m guessing that you want me to put you to bed then?" Angel nodded. Fluttershy scooped him up and carried him to his little bed basket. ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ The next day, Fluttershy went about her usual business. Ignoring her lack of sleep, she traveled to the markets in town and gathered food, all the while never running into her friends. She also did some housekeeping and finished up the cleaning she started yesterday. It was relaxing to say the least. Later in the afternoon, she prepared for the slumber party which was already planned days in advance. Admittedly, her stomach tightened at the thought of seeing her friends again, especially Rainbow Dash and Twilight. She knew she was being silly, they were her best friends. But, she felt sorry for embarrassing Rainbow and making her feel guilty, and she could not gauge Twilight's reaction to her secret, but she still expected the worst. Fluttershy packed the essentials: a sleeping bag, a pillow, and her silken, butterfly patterned pajamas. The slumber party was to be held at the library, and Twilight figured it would be fun to make it a pajama party. After packing her saddlebag, Fluttershy immediately left for the library. She figured it was best to just go instead of hesitating and making her friends wait for her. ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ "Hi Fluttershy, I’m glad you could make it" said a cheery Twilight. She stepped aside to let the pegasus walk in. "Of course, I wouldn’t want to miss out on a sleepover with my friends" said Fluttershy. She had taken on a new positive attitude. Her mind was set that she was going to have a good night with her friends, nothing more, nothing less. She pushed her worries away in favor of just having a good time. Inside the library, the rest of the group was sitting in a circle on their individual pillows, already sporting their pajamas. It seemed like they were starting a card game when Fluttershy walked in. "Howdy Fluttershy, looks like you arrived jus' in time. We was starting a game of Ponies-to-Ponies" said Applejack. "Yes, please join us" chimed in Rarity. "If you want, you can change first. We will wait for you" said Twilight as she closed the door and walked in. Fluttershy walked past the group and headed towards the bathroom. She caught a glance at Rainbow Dash as she walked past. Rainbow looked up from her cards and instantly looked back down when her eyes met with Fluttershy's. Fluttershy bit her bottom lip when she saw Rainbow's evasiveness. After changing, Fluttershy unpacked her pillow, took her spot in the circle in between Applejack and Rarity, and drew her cards. "Alright, I think Rainbow was going to be first to judge" Twilight said. Rainbow Dash drew her green card and looked at it. "Loyal" she said as she placed down the card for all to see. "Now, what do I think is loyal? Go!" "Heh heh, if only I had a ‘Rainbow Dash’ card here" said Applejack. Rainbow could not decide whether to take it as a complement or a tease. The five pony friends each placed down their selected card. Pinkie placed hers down with a confident smile. Applejack tossed hers down without giving much thought. Rarity gave a little chuckle as she levitated hers down. After a little while, Twilight placed hers down after a long analytical stare at her cards. Finally, Fluttershy slid her card into the pile. "Let’s see now...no, no, no, no" Rainbow said as she read the cards and tossed them aside. "Who threw down 'friendship'?" she asked as she held up her choice. "Umm...I did" Fluttershy said as she hid behind her mane. She had her trademark look as if she had done something wrong. "Really Fluttershy, did you have to pick the obvious answer?" Rarity said as Rainbow Dash gave the green card to Fluttershy. "I'm sorry. You can have the card if you want." "Oh, no, no, no, I'm just teasing you. It's all in good fun” Rarity said with a motion of the hoof. "Oh…right" Fluttershy responded. I am going to have fun with my friends, nothing more, nothing less she thought to herself. The rest of the evening involved more games, s’mores, makeovers, pillow fights, and whatever else Twilight found in her book. It was a fun, normal time that the six best friends usually share. However, Fluttershy noticed Rainbow Dash to be more elusive, quieter, and shyer than her usual self. She also seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Fluttershy. The behavior was subtle, not even noticed or at least not mentioned by the rest of the pony friends. It did become more noticeable when she barely put any effort into the pillow fight, even letting Applejack beat her. One little fact that Fluttershy knew about Rainbow is that she actually is a caring pony. Fluttershy can only assume that Rainbow still felt guilty from pulling away when Fluttershy needed her. They have not even talked for over a day. Fluttershy thought that if Rainbow wanted to talk to her or get something off her chest, she would have come over and done so, but that did not seem to be the case. Twilight seemed to be no different from normal. Fluttershy thought that maybe the unicorn is not affected by what she told her last night, or that she is better at hiding her emotions that Rainbow Dash. "Fluttershy?" Twilight said. Fluttershy looked up. She noticed a little drool on the corner of her mouth. She flushed lightly as she wiped it away with her sleeve. She realized that she must have been dozing off when Twilight disturbed her. The rest of her friends were looking at her as well. "You look a might tired there sugarcube" Applejack said as she chuckled slightly. "I think it is time we turn in for the night anyway" Twilight said, officially putting an end to the party. "Aww come on. How about we do makeovers again?" Pinkie Pie said. She was still full of energy and was not the one to go to sleep at a regular time. "Sorry Pinkie, but we are all pretty tired." The six ponies carried their pillows and went to their respective sleeping bags. Fluttershy rolled hers out on the floor and shifted herself into it. She enjoyed the warmth of the sleeping bag combined with her pajamas. After a while, she slowly drifted off, giving herself some much needed sleep. "It wasn't your fault Fluttershy. It was nopony's fault. She loved you. She would have given anything for you." ... "I love you Fluttershy." "I love you too mom." "You know, you are the most wonderful daughter a mother could ask for." "That can't be true. I can't be the 'most wonderful'." "Well you are in my eyes, and I'm sure you will grow up to be a great mother." "Not as great as you mom." … "Omigosh, Fluttershy wake up!" Rainbow Dash said in a harsh whisper as she shook Fluttershy's shoulder. Fluttershy stirred from her slumber, slightly annoyed by her sleep being disturbed again, but any annoyance she had washed away when she saw how flustered Rainbow was. "What's wrong?" "I heard you whimpering, I thought you were hurt." "I'm ok, I was just having a dream" whispered Fluttershy. Although she said dream, it felt more like another vision, a vision of her past. She felt like they were occurring more often, and she did not know why. Fluttershy looked around the room. The moonlight casted through the windows in the front of the library and provided enough illumination to show that everypony else was still sleeping. "How loud was I?" asked Fluttershy. "Well, actually, there's something I need to talk to you about" Rainbow whispered as she sat and rubbed her front hooves together. Fluttershy gulped. She did not expect to be having this conversation in the middle of the night. But, they were already having it, so she decided to just go along with it. "What’s the matter?" she asked. "Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked which semi-answered Fluttershy’s question. Fluttershy sat up. "I’m doing just fine, really." she whispered. "Are you sure? You must’ve been very upset when I pushed you away or when I flew away from you." "No Dash, not at all. What is this about anyway?" Fluttershy asked. "I can’t help but think that you don’t trust me anymore, and I keep screwing things up. You must think I am a terrible friend." Rainbow Dash nearly choked when she whispered those words. You must think I am a terrible friend. That comment brought Fluttershy back. This was not the first time Rainbow Dash had this mindset. It must have really bothered her if she actually had to wake Fluttershy up in the middle of the night to say that. The yellow pegasus wondered if Rainbow was losing as much sleep as she was. "Rainbow Dash, I--" Fluttershy was cut off by Rainbow’s hoof on her mouth. "I can tell this little secret of yours is really bothering you. Remember what we said when we were younger, that we would tell each other everything no matter what?" Fluttershy lowered Dash's hoof in order to speak. "Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy whispered as she held the blue pony's hoof. "You have to trust me. This has nothing to do with you, or rather what you have done. I am only keeping this secret as a secret for your own good." She started shaking after she said those words. Rainbow Dash looked away and nodded. She felt terrible. "Well, is there any way I can help?" Rainbow asked. She still was looking to the side. "This is something I need to solve on my own. Oh, I hope you understand." Fluttershy whispered as she took her hoof away from Rainbow's. "Are you sure?" Fluttershy placed her hoof on the blue pony's cheek. She turned her head in order to force eye contact. "Rainbow, you are a great friend, more than you know. Like I said, I just need some time. I promise that I will tell you when I am ready." She started tearing. She hated to deny Rainbow Dash of her thoughts, and she felt like this conversation left them in the same place as before. Rainbow Dash was about to respond when Fluttershy moved her hoof to the other pony's mouth. "Trust me" Fluttershy whispered. Rainbow Dash simply nodded. She had that look of defeat on her face. Fluttershy pulled her hoof away. "I think we should be going back to sleep. We wouldn’t want to sleep-in on Twilight’s breakfast." She forced a grin, trying to hide the fact that she was on the verge of crying. Silence fell between them until Rainbow Dash whispered her response. An uncomfortable look was prevalent on her face. "Umm...well...is it alright if…or rather, is it too late to return the hug? I mean, it is not like we are in the middle of the street anymore." She shuffled on her haunches, and she seemed very embarrassed by asking such a question. Fluttershy figured that the secret was not the only thing that bothered Rainbow Dash, but she did not expect the hug denial to be something that would bother her that much. It did calm her a bit that Rainbow Dash asked that question. It was as if the blue pony knew exactly what she needed. "Of course it's not too late" she whispered. She completely slid out of her sleeping bag and shuffled over to Rainbow. Rainbow leaned forward and wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy. Fluttershy returned the embrace. Fluttershy felt comforted. She managed to completely calm down and quell her tears. Rainbow Dash was warmer and more comforting than the sleeping bag Fluttershy was sleeping in moments before. Her eyes grew heavy as she realized how tired she really was. She rested her head on Rainbow's shoulder and slowly began to tip over as she relaxed. Rainbow Dash appeared to follow suite as her own drowsiness overtook her as well. They both ended up on the floor side by side, forelegs still wrapped around each other. Fluttershy sighed as she closed her eyes, and she slowly dozed off. ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~ "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy?" "Hmm?" "Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!" Rainbow felt something poking her side as she stirred from her slumber. The scent of pancakes drifted across her nose. "Come on girls, I don’t want you to miss breakfast" Twilight said, still prodding Rainbow’s side. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to see the unicorn staring down at them. The three other pony friends were standing right behind her, each with a silly grin on their face. Applejack, in particular, looked the giddiest. "Golly RD, Ah never realized you are the cutesy, cuddly type" Applejack said as she started chuckling. When Rainbow Dash gained her bearings, she realized that she was on the floor next to Fluttershy, still in their hugging embrace and must have dozed off in this position. A look of utter horror came across her face. "GAH!" Rainbow Dash shoved Fluttershy away so quickly that it was just short of punching her across the room. Fluttershy instantly awoke to see Rainbow’s predicament. Applejack busted out laughing, and Pinkie Pie started laughing as well. Rarity also began chuckling, but Twilight did not seem so amused. Rainbow Dash flushed. She never felt so embarrassed in front of her friends in her life! Tears began to run down her cheeks, which only made the situation worse. She was actually crying in front of her friends from her own embarrassment. Before any of her friends could react, she quickly flew out the door and took to the skies still clothed. Seeing how they drove their friend away, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie instantly changed from laughter to guilt. "Wait! Rainbow!" Applejack ran out the door after her, but it was too late. Even if Rainbow Dash did hear her, she would not be turning back. Fluttershy just sat there. Everything happened so fast that she nearly did not comprehend what had happened. The four other ponies collectively looked at her. "Fluttershy, are you ok?" Twilight asked. She helped the pegasus onto her hoofs. "Yea, I’m ok" Fluttershy said. She had to admit, Rainbow Dash has one heck of a kick. "Maybe you should go talk to her" Twilight said. "No, no. I think she wants to be alone right now. Besides, I don’t think I could catch her if I tried." "Ah...Ahm sorry everypony, I thought Rainbow Dash liked to be teased." Applejack looked at the ground and hung her head low. "Maybe we should just get some breakfast" Twilight said. A small sneer came across her face as she looked back to Applejack and the others. Fluttershy followed her friends into the kitchen. A table with six plates each with three pancakes had already been set up. Fluttershy figured that they must have waited to wake them up last. They each took a seat at the table. They started eating, trying not to stray the subject of their idle conversation towards what had just happened. Rarity, however, could not resist asking the question. "Fluttershy, darling, how did you and Rainbow Dash end up on the floor like that?" "Well, um, you see. I think she was a bit upset and well, needed somepony to hug." "Aww shucks. Ah should’ve seen it, the way she was behaving last evening and such" Applejack said, a frown came across her face. So they did notice Rainbow’s change of behavior Fluttershy thought. "I guess she did not expect to fall asleep like that. I mean, we were both very tired" Fluttershy said. "I never expected Rainbow Dash to be the hugging type" Rarity said. "Please don’t tell anypony" Fluttershy said. "I don’t think that is kind of rumor that she would want to spread. It was not even something that she wanted you girls to find out about, which is probably why she flew away." "You have our word" Twilight said. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, giving her usual Pinkie-promise. A long pause came across the five ponies, before Applejack finally asked “why was she upset?” Fluttershy thought about that question. Twilight was the only other pony that knew what was going on. She could not run the risk of having her other friends realize how she felt lately, and that Rainbow Dash was only upset because of her. She still regretted telling Twilight her secret. She did not want to run the risk of her other friends feeling concern for her. That could only lead to them figuring out the secret as well. Fluttershy decided to go with the coward’s way out. "I’m not really sure. She was just…well…upset. Don't worry. I'm sure she'll come around. She always does." After breakfast, the ponies began packing their things. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were the firsts to leave after saying their thank-yous and goodbyes. Rarity left shortly after, being the one to make sure she did not miss anything, leaving Fluttershy and Twilight alone. "Thank you Twilight, it was a wonderful slumber party" Fluttershy said. Twilight handed a bag to her. "Here, this is Rainbow Dash's breakfast. Can you do me a favor and deliver it to her?" Twilight asked. "Of course" Fluttershy responded. Twilight paused. "You know, you should tell her." She did not need to say anything more for Fluttershy to know what she was talking about. "But, Twilight, I still don’t have the courage to tell her." Fluttershy backed away and shrunk down slightly. "It’s not fair to her." "I thought you said that it wasn’t about her or anypony else" Fluttershy said, now being elusive of any eye contact. "That was before you told me. It involves her as well." "Are…are you ashamed of me?" "No Fluttershy, not at all. You are still my friend no matter what, but you need to let Rainbow know." "I just need some time Twilight. I already mentioned that to her." Twilight walked up to Fluttershy and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I don’t know how long she will last." Fluttershy looked at Twilight in the eyes. She could not quite process what the unicorn meant. Was she really hurting Rainbow by keeping the secret? She just wished that she got nopony involved in the first place. Fluttershy knocked Twilight’s hoof away. “I should get going” she said as she made her way to the door. "Just think about what I said" Twilight responded. "I will, don’t worry."