For The One We Love

by bahatumay


Interlude: Foalsitting

“Are you sure you can handle him?” Fluttershy asked, wringing her hooves. “He can be a little bit of a hoofful at times...”

“Yeah, we’ll be fine!” Rainbow said flippantly, holding Fritter above her in the air. “I mean, he’s almost three months old.”

“Are you sure?” Fluttershy persisted. “He can’t even hover yet, and it’s not safe for him to go into the forest or anything like that,” she fretted. “Oh, maybe I should bring him with me…”

“No,” Rainbow said firmly, pulling Fritter down and pushing Fluttershy back. “You need this break. We’ve all decided, and you’re going. Don’t make me get Applejack, she’ll drag you there herself. And besides, it’s just a lunch thing. You’ll be back in no time.”

“All right,” Fluttershy said hesitantly, still unconvinced. “But promise me you won’t do anything silly while I’m gone, like try to teach him to fly.”

“Scout’s honor,” Rainbow said with a salute.

Fluttershy frowned. “Didn’t they ask you to leave when you got into the cookies you were supposed to try and sell?” she asked.

“It was Gilda’s idea, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” Rainbow said firmly, if a bit quickly.


Once Macintosh had pulled the little wagon away carrying his wife and a few of their possessions out of sight, Rainbow Dash pulled Fritter up off the ground and placed him on the counter. “Now, what’s the first thing you need to remember about flying?” she asked.

Fritter cocked his head.

“That it’s awesome!” Rainbow crowed. “And totally not silly and therefore I didn’t lie to your mother.”

Fritter opened his mouth and made a sound that sounded vaguely like an affirmation.

Rainbow squee’d. “Ooh, you are adorable!” Her eyes narrowed. “That never leaves this kitchen.”

Fritter giggled and thrashed his forelegs.


Rainbow flew slowly on her back. Fritter stood perched on her stomach, eyes crinkled, smile wide, and wings outstretched to catch the breeze.

“See, you’ve got this,” Rainbow said excitedly. “Now just flap them a bit, get used to how that feels.”

Fritter did, his tiny wings moving up and down far too slowly to keep himself aloft but enough that he could feel the breeze. His smile grew even wider, something Rainbow Dash hadn't thought possible.

“Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow flipped over in surprise. “Cloud Chaser?”

“Rainbow!” Cloud Chaser shouted, pointing down and looking horrified.

Rainbow looked down to see Fritter falling, cartwheeling down through the air. “Oh, geez!” She tucked her wings in and dove, easily catching up to the baby pegasus. She scooped him up in her forelegs and held him up. “Don’t tell your mother,” she pleaded.

Fritter laughed. Apparently, he’d enjoyed his little freefalling excursion.

Rainbow looked up. “What is it, Chaser?” she asked irritably.

“There’s been an accident at the Cloudsdale Weather Center,” she panted. “Long story short, clouds are coming in fast and strong. They need every weatherpony if we don’t want another flood!”

“I’m a little busy,” Rainbow said, hefting Fritter demonstratively. He wiggled his forelegs, enjoying the little ride.

Cloud Chaser couldn’t suppress a little “d’aww,” but then quickly serioused back up. “We have to get all the stray clouds into the Everfree or all of Los Pegasus is going to be underwater!”

Rainbow exhaled. “Can’t it wait?” she asked hopefully.

“No, it can’t. They’ve declared it a class three emergency, and that means you kindof have to be there so we can start,” Cloud Chaser pointed out.

Rainbow sighed sharply this time. Stupid pegasi militaristic structure… “Yeah, fine; but I can’t exactly bring Fritter here along for the ride.”

Cloud Chaser winced. “I’m sure you’ll think of something!”

“I’d better,” Rainbow muttered.

Cloud Chaser flew off to go rally more troops, and Rainbow paused, thinking to herself. “Who else does Fluttershy trust in this town?”


Rainbow pushed the cloud at an angle, tweaking it as it left her hooves and spinning it away from herself. Raindrops spun her own cloud in the opposite direction, and pushed it towards Rainbow’s. The two collided, and their momentums cancelled each other out. Both clouds disintegrated into smaller, much more manageable chunks.

Rainbow pumped a hoof in celebration. Worked every time.

“Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow jumped. She looked back down, where she saw two very familiar ponies. “Oh, hey, Fluttershy,” she said, completely not nervously at all. “Y- you’re back early.”

Fluttershy flew up. “I heard the news and…” Her eyes narrowed as she noticed a distinct lack of little pegasus. “Where’s Fritter?” she demanded.

“I couldn’t bring him along, so I left him back in Ponyville. He’s in good hooves.” Rainbow Dash paused. “At least, I’m pretty sure they’re good hooves, anyway. I’ve never actually... ”

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy growled, making Rainbow shiver. “Where is he?”


Fluttershy sprinted up to the spa door reading ‘Staff Only’, skidded to a stop, and gently pushed it open.

Her wing flared outwards in surprise at what she saw.

Aloe was pressing Lotus down to the ground with a rear hoof, and triumphantly held Lotus’s tail firmly in her mouth. Lotus, for her part, was angrily struggling to get any advantage she could, and her perfectly hooficured hooves scrabbled for purchase against the smooth tile.

“I am oldest sister! I get first turn for cuddles!” she snarled.

Aloe released her tail to respond. “By three minutes!” she spat. “Years later we are still having this discussion?”

“Is not what you said last time when stallion-”

Aloe flushed bright red. “Is because is completely different!”

“Excuse me!”

Both froze at Fluttershy’s voice. They looked up, and, recognizing a client, quickly got to their hooves and readjusted their manes and headbands to appear professional, even going so far as to tilt their heads simultaneously and put on their most welcoming of smiles.

Of course, as both mares’ coats were messy, Lotus’s tail somewhat resembled a moist rat’s nest, and Aloe’s headband was ripped and half of her mane fell down to cover one eye as she held that smile, that illusion was quickly shattered. But it was a valiant attempt nonetheless.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen Fritter around, have you?” Fluttershy asked, somewhere between a plea and a demand.

Both mares pointed over to another room. Fluttershy quickly rushed over and opened the doors, unsure of what to expect.

She found Fritter wrapped in a warm towel and sleeping soundly on the massage table. It had been dismantled and placed on the ground, and the legs had been replaced to act as walls for the makeshift crib. Soft music played on the phonograph, and he looked quite comfortable. Fluttershy was impressed; it was usually hard for anypony but her to get him to sleep.

The sound of the door opening roused him, and he sat up and turned. Recognizing his mother, he let out a joyful babble and reached out for her.

Her worry now completely gone, Fluttershy scooped him up and held him close. “Oh, little Fritter,” she murmured, “I am never leaving you alone again.”

A small noise made her look up. Aloe and Lotus stood, one on each side of the door, looking in longingly.

Fluttershy sighed, relenting as a small smile played at the edges of her lips. “Yes, you can hold him,” she said.

Both grown mares squee’d.

And, of course, under Fluttershy’s eye, there was no more bickering.