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// Chapter 9 - Checking in: Fluttershy 
// Story: New Toys in Town 
// by Derpator 
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Rainbow Dash only waited for the inevitable. She knew Fluttershy would be arriving at some point. She was likely coming by later since she always kept herself so busy. Rainbow Dash didn’t know how she couldn’t grow tired of looking after animals that can’t seem to care for themselves. If she said anything though, she knew that Fluttershy would only dismiss the claims.

Many ponies didn’t think Fluttershy’s special talent to be something ‘special’. They mostly said that, because they knew that they’d fail miserably if they attempted to look after an animal themselves. Rainbow Dash thought the same, even knowing that she’d mess up in some way, the exception being Tank. She could look after him, and it was far easier to look after the tortoise than that blasted bunny in her opinion.

But that wasn’t important. She knew Fluttershy wouldn’t just come by for a casual visit. She’d want to ask her regarding the toys. But that was something Rainbow Dash was unsure of.

She didn’t know what to do.

There were many arguments to both sides. On one side, she was already good friends with Fluttershy already, and for all she knew, the toys might actually be cool.

But on the other hand, it could affect their friendship. What if Fluttershy wanted a serious relationship after a while? Rainbow Dash didn’t want to deal with that. There were too many variables to both sides.

She’d have to make a decision quick, since Fluttershy just knocked on her door. At least she implied it was Fluttershy. “It’s open Fluttershy” she called out, inviting her in.

There was a brief silence, before the door was pulled open rather slowly, revealing half of the yellow pegasus in the doorway. She looked like she didn’t want to be there. Rainbow Dash could see why, considering her shyness in coming to her about the toys.

The way Fluttershy came into the home almost made Rainbow Dash want to lunge forward and hug her. But not only would that cause her pain from the movement, but she had a feeling Fluttershy would try to run away. So instead, she just waited anxiously for Fluttershy to approach her.

Fluttershy understandingly was inching towards Rainbow Dash, while not making eye contact. She gazed towards the cloud floor below her as she approached the bed and its current occupier, who just stared at her movement.

Fluttershy had reached the side of the bed, finally giving her the confidence to look up. Her eyes travelled upwards until they met the cyan pegasus with a blank face, blinking every now and then. “Umm... hi.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Hi?”

Fluttershy pawed at the cloud ground. “H-How are you?” she asked in such a low voice that Rainbow Dash almost didn’t hear it.

“I’m doing good. How about you?” Rainbow Dash leaned forward slightly, hoping that Fluttershy would actually speak up.

“...I’m ok.”

Rainbow Dash darted her eyes around her room, noticing the awkwardness. “Could we possibly talk more open? It’s getting a little creepy here.”

Fluttershy bit her lower lip. “...Ok.”

Fluttershy finally attempted to perk up, spreading her body around more to feel more comfortable.

Rainbow Dash scooted over to the side of her bed and patted next to her. “You want me to...?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Come on, join me.”

Fluttershy almost felt the heat coming from her straight away, before she finally plucked up the courage to join Rainbow Dash. She sat on the bed, next to her friend. “T-Thank you.”

“What’s wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked, already knowing the answer.

Rainbow Dash could only hear squeaks forming from Fluttershy’s mouth, as she desperately tried to speak her mind. She knew she’d have to try a different approach. There was no way Fluttershy would ask her about the toys in the current state she was in. She had to open her up a bit more, and she knew just the thing.

“You know,” Rainbow Dash begun, “I always thought you were a great singer.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened at Rainbow Dash, before attempting to hide herself. She lost her eye contact with Rainbow Dash, feeling the blush come over her at the compliment. She thought she was safe, until she felt Rainbow Dash’s hoof touch her. She twisted her head around as a reflex, to see a smiling Rainbow Dash.

“I mean it Fluttershy. You have an amazing voice.”

Rainbow Dash could spot the flushing Fluttershy clear as day. But she knew it would give her more confidence. It was a good way too, since it could lead her into the singing lessons for Sweetie Belle.

“Thank you” replied the not-so-much-shy-anymore Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously before her request, knowing it seemed like a cop out. “Could I ask something of you?”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind giving Sweetie Belle singing lessons?”

Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash, who was exposing all of her teeth at an attempt to pass off the severity of her request. She remained stationary for a few moments. “What?”

Rainbow Dash brushed the back of her mane. “I sort of told her I’d ask you. She figures that singing might be her talent, and I knew you had such a lovely voice and all...”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. Think of it as how I got you your cutie mark. Well this time, you could be me! What do you say?”

Rainbow Dash had reformed her show of teeth, while Fluttershy pondered over it for a moment. It certainly was true that she got her cutie mark because of Rainbow Dash, but then she’s always shy. She wouldn’t know how to start. But she felt that she owed Rainbow Dash, considering she was the reason she found her purpose in life and all. This could be a nice way to repay her.

“Ok.”

“Really!?”

“...Yes.”

“Aww yeah!” Rainbow Dash brought in Fluttershy for a deep hug, the action itself causing Fluttershy to let out a small scream as the blue hooves grabbed her into Rainbow Dash’s hold. It was sudden for her, but she couldn’t deny it felt rather nice.

However, Rainbow Dash had brought in Fluttershy for a hug for another reason. “Since you’re doing something for me...” she started, tightening her grip on Fluttershy, “I figure I should do something for you.”

Fluttershy felt cold as the hooves held her tighter. She was afraid of what Rainbow Dash was about to do.

“Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said, increasing the grip some more, “I will try out the toys with you.”

Rainbow Dash had grabbed Fluttershy for a reason. She knew as soon as she would mention them, Fluttershy would try to squirm and get away as fast as she could. As a result, she had a pegasus in her hold trying to wriggle her way away like a worm on a hook.

“Stop. Stop” Rainbow Dash spoke, trying to get Fluttershy to stop, “I know you wanted to ask me Fluttershy. And so I’ll do it.”

Fluttershy seemed to struggle for a few more seconds, before stopping completely. She figured that since Rainbow Dash now knew, she shouldn’t try to avoid it. She turned to face Rainbow Dash, completely nervous as she did so.

“...You will?”

Rainbow Dash presented a friendly smile. “Sure!” And then she adapted a more serious face. “But I have a few conditions.”

Fluttershy gulped, as she failed to notice Rainbow Dash’s hooves still wrapped around her.

“First, you shall not tell me what they are.” Rainbow Dash waited for a nod before continuing. “Next, I shall give you only one session, and depending on what I think, that may or may not change.”

“Only one?” Fluttershy asked, a bit quiet and disappointed.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I don’t hold it against you Fluttershy, but I’m not fully committed to this. I’ll be happy to try them out with you, but I don’t want to continue with them if I don’t like them. To be honest, I still haven’t fully decided. Can you understand?”

Fluttershy, while slightly down at the truth, could understand where Rainbow Dash was coming from. After all, it wasn’t her place to force a friend to do something she wanted; no matter how much she wanted it.

“Tell you what. After you leave, go and order them. Then, after we play with them, if I’m not satisfied, I’ll pay you for them. Does that sound good?”

“...Ok.” In all honesty, the offer of Rainbow Dash paying for them if she didn’t like them wasn’t the main thing Fluttershy was most focused on. She was just glad that Rainbow Dash had accepted her wish. She knew that she wouldn’t have a few days ago, especially when she was at the picnic. She was glad Rainbow Dash had changed her mind since then.

Fluttershy gave her gratitude by leaning forward and drawing Rainbow Dash in a big hug, wrapping her hooves around her. She was now extremely happy, and even couldn’t wait to get home and order them straight away.

Rainbow Dash hadn’t moved her hooves ever since they were around Fluttershy’s body. It was only when Fluttershy got in close and was the one to hug her that she noticed her hooves had been around the pegasus the entire time. And the strange thing was she was enjoying it. But she was certain it wasn’t anything more than a friend thing to her.

“Thank you.” Fluttershy broke the hug and faced Rainbow Dash again, now wearing a more proud smile. However, the smile soon faded slightly as she looked back and forth between Rainbow Dash and the door.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t help laughing at the display. “It’s alright. Go home and order them. I’m fine here.”

Fluttershy didn’t say a word, but showed her thanks by hugging Rainbow Dash again. After she broke off, she made her way for the door, ready to get right to ordering the toys. She opened the door.

“Hey Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash called out before Fluttershy was out of sight, “I expect Tank back here tomorrow.”

Fluttershy turned around; her cheeks now full of a shade of red. She backed her way through the door, attempting to hide herself from Rainbow Dash’s view as she did so.

When the door closed, Rainbow Dash sighed. She laid back, letting her hooves go free. She figured that she pulled off the situation with Fluttershy well, while expressing her own views on the subject. She still wasn’t clear if she wanted something more with Fluttershy though.

But she would find out soon. All of her friends had visited her, so all she had to do was wait until the next day, where she’d be up again. If Fluttershy ordered the toys as soon as she got home, it’d give her two days minimum before they arrived. Plenty of time to fly and hang out with her friends.

She turned her attention to her bedside cabinet. Opening the drawer that contained the dating guide, she pulled it out as well as grabbing a muffin from the basket. She might as well look up some things while she had nothing to do.