//------------------------------// // Inspirational (FlutterDash, Slice of Life) // Story: Bombastic Bookpony's Bazaar of Oneshots // by Bombastic Bookpony //------------------------------//         Fluttershy readied herself as she and her marefriend Rainbow Dash stood at her father’s door. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to be home, at her cottage. But Dash wanted this, wanted to meet her parent, because that’s what couples do and wasn’t Fluttershy proud to have a marefriend like Dash? Didn’t she want to show her to her dad? She wasn’t ashamed of her, was she? If only she had the strength to tell Dash the truth... Everything’s going to be okay, she told herself. She was worrying over nothing, like always. Dash was there, right next to her. Things were always okay when Dash was with her. She wasn’t alone. She’d be okay.         After several agonizing seconds, her father finally opened the door. Fluttershy could see her marefriend restrain herself from squeeing in fangirl joy. “Right on time!” her father enthused. “Of course, I know I should expect such punctuality from Equestria’s Best Young Flyer!”         Dash blushed and nervously laughed it off. “Hey, what can I say? I have just enough class to not be late to a dinner with my marefriend’s dad, who just coincidentally happens to be flying legend Lightning Speed!” More nervous chuckling. “Just enough class, mind you. Dressing up in this nice suit and showing up on time took up pretty much my whole class capacity, so don’t be surprised if I just shove my face in the food and bounce like a monkey.”         Lightning bellowed a deep laugh. “A world class athlete and a wonderful sense of humor! How my little filly snagged a catch like you, I’ll never know!” Fluttershy winced for a brief moment. Dash seemed to notice, or be put off by something in his tone, and looked like she was about to comment on it before Fluttershy hurriedly interrupted her.         “Well, I’m feeling a bit peckish, how about we just go inside and, er, chow down?” She put on a nervous smile. Her father let out a long suffering sigh.         “How rude, Fluttershy, cutting to the chase like that. But not out of character. Don’t let that meek demeanor completely fool you; back when she lived here all she would do was complain in the most passive aggressive ways! Ah, but what child doesn’t? Anywho, come on in, you two. I’ve already got the food ready.”         As he led the two in, Dash whispered to Shy, “What was that about?”         “Nothing! Just some good natured ribbing!” Another nervous smile. Dash raised an eyebrow, but let the matter drop. Lightning brought them to his table, where many plates of delicious food laid.         “Wow, this food smells amazing!” Dash exclaimed as she sat down in her seat. “I mean, don’t take this the wrong way, Lightning Speed-”         “Please, no formalities between fellow athletes. Just call me LS, like my team used to back in the good old days.”         “O-Okay, LS!” Fluttershy could see Dash hold down another squeal. “Like I was saying, I just didn’t expect a big star like you to know how to cook!”         “I didn’t, for a while. But when my dear Flower passed in childbirth and I had to retire and take a less 24/7 job to support and feed this filly here, well, I had to learn fast.”         There was an awkward silence as Fluttershy shielded her face from her father’s sad, oh so slightly accusing eyes. Finally, Dash broke the silence with, “Do you miss her?”         “Every day,” he said, weakly smiling. “Bah, I’m so sorry to have brought down the mood like that!” His usual bravado had returned. “Dash, I have heard the most wild rumors about you. Is it really true you pulled off a Sonic Rainboom in flight school?”         “Yup!” Dash answered, her chest puffed out in pride. “A couple of bullies were picking on Shy, so I challenged them to the race to defend her honor! As you can guess, I dominated them and pulled off a Sonic Rainboom into the finish line!”         “Amazing! To think, at such a young age to pull off that legendary trick! As I recall, while you soared to new heights, Fluttershy gave up and what is it you do now?”         “I take care of animals. I’ve told you a million times, Dad,” she said in an unusually irritated tone.         “Ah yes, animals. While Dash here became a legend, you quit out of flight camp against my wishes and without telling anypony, putting the school and me to great stress and worry, and threw away any chance of becoming a success to tend to some bunnies,” he jerred derogatively. “I suppose not everypony can be as inspiring and amazing as Dash.”         Fluttershy was trembling, and Dash quickly rose to her defense. “Woah, woah, listen LS-” But Dash was interrupted by the sudden slam of Fluttershy’s hooves on the table.         “I save the lives of animals every day,” she stated in an eerily calm tone. “I have saved Equestria twice, against Nightmare Moon and Discord, and stood up to a Changeling invasion. I became a fashion idol, have four of the greatest mares in the world as my best friend, and have the most beautiful, amazing pony ever as my marefriend. You, on the other hand, were a flyer for two years, then spent the rest of your life doing a routine job and tearing down your daughter. And I took that for so many years. I tried so hard at flying, at being brave, at being somepony I wasn’t just to get you to love me. But I learned I don’t need the love of a meanie like you. Not when I have the love of the pony I hope to spend the rest of my life with, while you rot alone and get overshadowed by my heroic, legendary, painted on the Canterlot Castle’s windows shadow.” She turned her head to the side and smiled.  “How’s that for inspiring, Dad?” His shocked silence spoke volumes. “Come on, Rainbow. We’re going home.” Dash stuck a tounge out at Lightning as she followed her marefriend out of the room.