//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: The trip to Canterlot 
// Story: Fall of the Rainbow 
// by sigges15 
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Chapter 2: The trip to Canterlot

Nine days earlier.

Fluttershy flew up to Rainbow Dash's house and gently knocked on the door. She heard nothing from inside so she knocked again. Yet again nothing happened. 

"Rainbow Dash, are you in there?" 

Fluttershy tried to open the door and surprisingly the door opened. She took a step inside and looked around. Rainbow's house was quite big on the inside and she looked around the room. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She walked into the kitchen and looked around. The kitchen had alot of empty food boxes and junk on the floor. Fluttershy kept walking towards Rainbow's bedroom. She knew where it was because Rainbow Dash had invited her over when she got the house. Fluttershy knocked on the bedroom door gently before opening it. She looked inside and saw a rainbow coloured mane in the bed. 

"Rainbow Dash? Are you awake?" Fluttershy asked gently without being to loud.

"Huh, w-who's... what?" Rainbow Dash said confused and sleepy.

"It's me, Fluttershy. Did I wake you up?" she asked feeling a bit guilty.

"What... no you didn't... I have been up for a while now..." Rainbow said with a big yawn.

"Oh, good." Fluttershy knew it was a lie. "Are you ready to go?"

Rainbow Dash looked up at her yellow friend. 'Go where? What does she mean? Why is she in my bedroom?' was the only things Rainbow thought of. She tried to remember what she was supposed to do.

"Go where?" Rainbow felt stupid for asking that and she tried to cover up her question with another yawn.

"You don't remember?" Fluttershy asked with a slight disappointment in her voice. "We were going to the new carnival in Canterlot. You promised me that we would go."

"Oh I remember now. Sure Fluttershy, just let me get ready and we'll get going." 

Fluttershy looked happy towards her rainbow friend. She nodded and left the room. She decided to pass the time by making Rainbow Dash breakfast. She cleared a bench and opened the fridge. She was surprised to see fresh fruit and vegetables in there. She took a few ingredients and made a small salad for Rainbow. Fluttershy put the meal on the dinner table, which had a few letters on it, but was otherwise clean. After a few minutes Rainbow Dash entered the kitchen, surprised for what she saw. Fluttershy sat at the table, looking happy and pushed the salad towards her friend and signalled her to sit down and eat.

"Did you make this Fluttershy?" 

"Yes, you don't want to leave hungry do you?" Fluttershy asked with a smile on her face.

"No. What is it?" Rainbow wondered at the sight of the bowl.

"It's a fresh salad," Fluttershy said happily, "I hope it taste good."

Rainbow walked slowly towards the table and sat down. She looked at the salad, which actually looked quite good. She ate it slowly, savouring the flavours. She looked up at Fluttershy.

"You are an awesome chef Fluttershy. This is really amazing."

"Thank you Rainbow, I'm  glad you enjoyed it." Fluttershy felt a little blush creep up on her face. "Are you ready to get going?"

"Sure."

Rainbow and Fluttershy made their way to the train station. Both of them were silent the whole way there, but they had a smile on their faces. The trip to the station took a few minutes and they were a bit early for the train. They waited in silence for the train to arrive. The train rolled into the station and they walk on it. They found a good seat and sat down. As the train departed and they were on their way to Canterlot, a familiar voice was heard. They both looked back from where the voice came and they saw Twilight. 

"Hey guys, why are you two on this train?" Twilight asked with a happy tone.

"We are going to the new carnival in Canterlot," Fluttershy replied with a smile, "Rainbow promised me to take me there."

"How nice of you Rainbow Dash."

"Well, I am the element of loyalty after all. I wouldn't leave my best friend hanging." Rainbow looked at Twilight with a questioning look. "Why are you going to Canterlot Twi? Another test?"

"No actually, Princess Celestia wanted to meet me."

"What an honour." Fluttershy said with a happy tone.

Twilight giggled and started to turn around.

"Well you two have fun," Twilight said with a smile, "I'll go continue reading my book."

"You to Twilight." Fluttershy replied.

Twilight walked back to her seat and picked up her book with her magic. Rainbow Dash was looking out the window, looking towards the sky with a bored look. They both sat quiet for a long time, the only sound was the train cart bumping occasionally.  Twenty minutes passed and Rainbow was really bored at this time and she looked toward Fluttershy. Rainbow got surprised at what her friend was doing. Fluttershy stared at her with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Um, Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked confused.

Fluttershy noticed her friend and looked away with a squeak. She felt so ashamed for what she had done and she hid her face behind her mane.

"Fluttershy? Are you okay?" Rainbow asked softly.

"Um... I... " Fluttershy became silent.

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing... I was looking out the window." Fluttershy replied quickly.

"Um... If you say so." Rainbow looked even more confused. She felt hungry and said, "Are you hungry Fluttershy?"

"No... I-I mean yes." Fluttershy was really jumpy and tried to calm down.

"I'll go get something to eat, you stay here Fluttershy." She said with a smile as she stood up.

Fluttershy tracked her cyan friend as she walked off. She looked out the window and felt a bit lonely. A hoof got placed on her shoulder and she jumped and squeaked. 

"Relax Fluttershy, it's just me." Twilight said reassuring.

"Sorry Twilight, what do you want?" the shy pegasus asked softly.

"I noticed that you were looking at Rainbow. I just wanted to ask why."

"I...I.. don't know..." Fluttershy's voice was really quiet.

Twilight tried to get some answers from her shy friend.

"It's okay, you can tell me. You don't have to be ashamed."

Fluttershy shook her head and moved closer to the window. She didn't want to talk about it and stared toward the sky.

"Come on Fluttershy, you can tell me. I wont tell anypony." Twilight tried without success.

"Please Twilight, I don't want to talk about it."

"Is it about Rainbow Dash?"

Fluttershy moved even closer to the window and slowly nodded.

Rainbow came back with three meals and sat them down next to Fluttershy. She looked a bit worried for her friend who was curled up, looking out the window. Twilight stood beside the seat without a single expression on her face.

"Fluttershy? Are you feeling bad?" Rainbow's voice was filled with worry.

A small shake came from the shy pegasus. Rainbow looked at Twilight. 

"What happened, Twilight?"

"We were talking and I pushed her a bit to far. I didn't mean to make her feel like this." Twilight's voice had a bit of worry in it.

"What were you talking about?"

"Something personal to Fluttershy." Twilight didn't want to cause any more trouble.

"Can we eat now?" The quiet voice cut them of.

"Um, sure. I brought you a meal Twi, since you haven't had anything since we stepped on." Rainbow said with a small smile.

"Thank you Rainbow," a smile came to Twilight's face, "I'm starving."

The three ponies sat down and enjoyed the food the cyan pegasus had brought them. Fluttershy was still looking out the window, not saying anything. Twilight ate without saying anything, fearing to cause her shy friend to feel bad. Rainbow Dash looked between them, wondering what they were thinking. The silence was finnaly broke by the cyan mare. 

"How are you feeling Fluttershy?"

"I.. um... I'm fine."

"You sure? You have been quiet for a really long time and you have been staring out the window."

"I'm fine." Fluttershy's voice got a little louder.

"Please Fluttershy, look at me." Rainbow said gently and placed a hoof on her friends shoulder.

Fluttershy slowly turned around to face her cyan friend. Twilight stood up and walked away to give them some privacy. Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on Fluttershy's cheek.

"What's up Fluttershy? I know something is wrong."

"Um... it's private... I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay Fluttershy... if you say so." Rainbow Dash looked disappointed and looked away.

Fluttershy wanted to say something, but she couldn't come up with anything to say. They sat in silence for half an hour before they felt the train cart shake as it slowed down.
They arrived at Canterlot train station and the took their bags and walked off. They said goodbye to Twilight and started to walk towards their destination. After a small walk in silence, Fluttershy finnaly spoke.

"I'm sorry for before."

"What?" Rainbow looked at her friend with a confused look.

"I'm sorry for what happened on the train. I didn't mean to worry you."

"Fluttershy. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Thank you Dashie." Fluttershy leaned on her cyan friends side.

"Fluttershy? What's with you today?" Rainbow looked at her friend with a confused look.

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy stopped and looked at Dash.

"The breakfast, the weird mood, the staring and now the leaning." Rainbow Dash looked at her friend. "You have been acting weird all day."

Fluttershy shrugged back and hid her face.

"I'm sorry Dash... I didn't..." she was cut of by her friend.

"I don't mind very much, I was just wondering why you did it."

"Um... I..." Fluttershy tried to come up with a answer but couldn't. She took a few steps back.

"It's okay Flutters, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Let's just go have fun okay?" Rainbow said with a smile.

"But... I didn't answer..."

"It's okay Flutters. If you don't feel comfortable answering, I wont force you." Her smile was still there.

Fluttershy looked at her friend, "Are you sure?"

Rainbow Dash answer by nodding. She signalled for Fluttershy to follow and they started walking towards the carnival. After only a few minute they arrived at the carnival entrance. 

End of chapter 2