Today was going to be a big day for the one and only Rainbow Dash. Well not necessarily that big, but it was important to her.
In truth it was just ordinary flight practice like she had done nearly every day since she learned how to fly, but today was going to be different. She had finally convinced Fluttershy to be her spotter in case she crashed and needed to be rushed to the hospital... again.
Sure Fluttershy was very jumpy and might panic at the slightest little collision with a leaf, but that was one of the things that made Fluttershy so cute. It was all she could do on a daily basis to not simply tackle the yellow Pegasus and cuddle her for hours... Wait, what? No no no! She was Rainbow Danger Professionalism Dash, the coolest pony in Ponyville. Cool ponies didn’t cuddle, cool ponies didn’t snuggle, and most of all cool ponies didn’t giggle like a filly when they thought about how nice it would be to cuddle, nuzzle, snuggle, and fondle the most adorably gorgeous pony to ever walk under Celestia’s sun.
“Maybe asking Flutters to spot me was a bad idea...” Rainbow let out a heavy sigh as she looked at Fluttershy’s cottage. Though, she was quite early... the sun wasn’t even up yet... maybe the object of her snuggle fantasies would still be asleep. Was she really so excited to see Fluttershy that she had gotten up before the Apples? For Celestia’s sake, she was like a foal on Hearth Warming morning far too excited about the new toys to go back to sleep even if there was still an hour until sunrise.
She wanted to run, she wanted to hide and tell Fluttershy later, when they were with their other friends, that something had come up... but no. No, she could not do that. Such a deception went against her very nature... it went against the Element of Harmony she represented. She would be loyal to Fluttershy... and if she ever found the courage and her luscious sunshine mare would have her... she would be loyal to her forever, Semper fidelis. It meant, ‘always loyal’ and it was the motto her father had drilled into her head since the day she was born.
He often told her that, if you can’t be anything else, at least be faithful and everything else will follow. She would always quickly ask him what she should be faithful to and his grinning response was always, “Dashie, be faithful to your princess, be loyal to your country and to your friends, but most of all, my little Dashie, be loyal to yourself. Never let yourself be anything other than you.”
Rainbow let out a heavy sigh. She steeled her wits and put on her bravest face as she spoke quietly before advancing on Fluttershy’s home, “Semper Fi, Dad... Semper Fi...”
With renewed confidence she strode up to the door and just as she was about to knock the door opened revealing Fluttershy’s rabbit. Angel stood with his arms crossed in front of him as he tapped his lucky foot impatiently.
Rainbow quickly opened her mouth to speak at her regular volume, “Hey An-” only to be silenced by a kick to her shin. She was about to yell at the little hellion when she saw him miming for her to speak more softly. Apparently Fluttershy was still asleep... or some of the other animals? So she took a few steps inside and with a softer tone Rainbow still managed to speak without an ounce of respect for the vile rodent, “Well is it Flutters? Is she still asleep?”
Angel only indicated the stairs behind him and after Rainbow had looked at them she turned back to try and tell him that she didn’t want to wake her friend and would come back another time. Of course that was impossible as Angel had walked out the open door to the cottage and closed it with Rainbow inside. The blue Pegasus almost cursed out loud at being outsmarted by a bunny, but remembered her sleeping beauty at the last moment. So instead she silently cursed herself for once again thinking about her friend’s long flowing mane and smooth shiny coat. Both of which would be wonderful stroking targets during an hour long pre-cuddling snuggle.
Of course it was something that would never happen for many reasons. One was the cool pony thing. Another was the fact that she didn’t have anything soft or nice for petting during a friendly nuzzling. Fluttershy was amazing, but that mare would never be interested in Dash’s more angular body with its uncomfortably hard muscles.
Still she couldn’t stop herself from gently flapping her wings to take her quietly up to the second floor, if only to just see the mare of her dreams while she was dreaming. Rainbow would have giggled at the thought, but cool ponies didn’t laugh at their own jokes. Then like so many times before, Rainbow considered whether being cool was really that important. Still she didn’t really have the time as she landed in front of Fluttershy’s door finding it cracked slightly open. Likely so Fluttershy could hear if one of her animal friends needed her.
Rainbow pushed the door open slowly and it moved as if on silent hinges. Then she took a few light steps forward before closing the door inaudibly behind her. She cursed herself for that stupid move when she realized that she would need a means of quick escape if Fluttershy woke. Still it was too late as she began looking around the room at the drawings and photographs of animals decorating the walls. In one part though, in a place of honor, was a framed document that claimed to be a college doctorate in the field of cuteness, a PhD in adorableness so to speak.
All their friends thought it was a joke, but for some reason Fluttershy was happy, even though it came from an unnamed admirer. Twilight was beside herself that somepony could so easily fake such a document. Rarity was beside herself with joy that her shy friend had managed to acquire a secret admirer. Pinkie wanted to find the pony so they could celebrate. Applejack only glared, becoming quite protective of the naïve Pegasus while Rainbow only hoped she wouldn’t be discovered as the sender of the gift.
Pinkie of course found out, but had promised to keep it a secret, but only until Dash kissed her mare.
Rainbow blushed, but quickly remembered all her steps for removing such an uncool facial expression quickly while still advancing on the bed at the yellow mare sleeping in it. Her heart rate was through the roof as she caught the aroma of Fluttershy’s honey and wild flower scented shampoo when she was still two yards away.
She swallowed hard as she stepped close enough to touch her friend and felt her heart skip a beat when she was close enough to kiss Fluttershy’s cheek. All attempts to stop her blushing failed and Rainbow’s cheeks burned with heat as she dipped her muzzle closer. The smell of honey and dandelions was intoxicating and the athlete considered the possibilities of giving up everything she had worked for, just to spend the rest of her life surrounded by that aromatic feast.
Inches away, Rainbow Dash clenched her eyes shut and pursed her lips to be ready when they made contact with Fluttershy’s cheek. As long as nopony found out, they would never know how truly uncool Rainbow Romantic Snugglebug Dash was.
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Fluttershy giggled. She had been so excited to spend the day with Rainbow Dash that she had gone to sleep early in the hope that the next day would arrive quickly. While the plan did not necessarily fail outright, she had failed to realize that she would also wake up early and with about an hour until sunrise she still had an hour and a half until their agreed meeting time.
The plan was simple, they would meet at her cottage. Then they would go to Sugar Cube Corner for breakfast before finally taking a walk to the outskirts of town so her handsome friend could practice some of her more dangerous tricks. Fluttershy knew she would partially cover her eyes to keep from watching the nearly sonic free fall dives and tight aerial turns. She would see just enough to panic once or twice and when it was all over Fluttershy knew she would embrace her friend under the cover of relief that Rainbow had not hurt herself.
It was true that she would be relieved at her friend’s safety, but more she wanted to feel comforting strength of the object of her affection.
Fluttershy curled tighter under her covers in embarrassment at thinking of such things. Even if Rainbow was her oldest friend, the rainbow maned Pegasus would never have the kind of feelings for her that would let them cuddled under the covers or snuggle together in front of a fire on Hearths Warming, and with Rainbow being so sensitive about her hooves, there would be no way Fluttershy would get the chance to nuzzle Rainbow’s powerful wings.
Fluttershy shivered as she thought about how safe it would feel to be held close to Dash’s muscular body by those wings. Of course her disappointment over shadowed her fantasies as she knew it would never happen. Rainbow Dash was just too... cool for such things... cool and beautiful.
Of course her Dashie had no idea how attractive she was, but to Fluttershy, that made her even more desirable. Naiveté like that made Fluttershy even happier to have such a friend. After all if Rainbow were not naïve, she would know about Shy’s feelings and hate her for them.
This was not a thought she liked having so she quickly turned her thoughts to her dream mare’s well-toned flank. It was a thought that would have made her squeal in embarrassment if she hadn’t heard her front door close.
Dashie! It was still to early, but Fluttershy knew that her Rainbow was here. She quickly considered jumping out of bed to greet her... no that would be too embarrassing. Maybe if she waited at the top of the stairs? No. No no no no no. Fluttershy’s mind tumbled over plans on how to greet her friend when she heard quiet hoofsteps outside her door. It was too late, her only option was to play dead... or at least pretend to be asleep.
She had to listen closely to hear Rainbow approach. Each hoof fall made her more nervous.
One step, Fluttershy’s heart quickened its pace.
Two steps, she clenched her eyes.
Six Steps, she could hear Rainbow’s breathing.
Ten steps Fluttershy could smell Rainbow’s scent. She was saturated in the smell of spring rain, winter snow, autumn breeze, and ozone, with a spicy hint of rainbows. Fluttershy nearly gave herself away as she wondered if all weather ponies smelled that way or if it was a scent that belonged only to her still advancing Rainbow.
The thought almost distracted her from hearing the step that brought Rainbow close enough that Fluttershy would swear she felt her breath on her cheek. Stay still, she had to stay perfectly still as her hairs bristled at the warm breaths caressing them. Fluttershy felt like a princess cursed to sleep forever until her prince leaned down to kiss her waiting lips. It was a thought she would always regret as at that moment she turned her head toward the approaching lips. Lips that immediately moved back along with the pony they were attached to.
Fluttershy’s confusion was met with the whispered words of her prince charming, “No, what was I thinking? I can’t kiss Fluttershy... she... she’ll hate me if I take advantage like this... I... I got to think...” It was then that Rainbow saw Fluttershy’s eyes slowly opening. She thought quickly and came up with her escape plan in the face of those sorrowful blue eays, “Oh sorry Flutters, did I wake you up? I’m really early so if you want to sleep a little more... yeah I.... I’ll just come back later to pick you up...” The whole lie was spoken with a nervous grin and a hoof rubbing the back of her head. Fluttershy barely heard Rainbow’s last words as she left the room, “Just wait a little bit... I’ll be back soon.”
So Fluttershy waited, curled up in bed shivering because she had ruined her chance to be kissed by Rainbow Dash.
The sun rose and Fluttershy waited clinging to the hope that her true love would return.
Her stomach growled at noon and she waited unwilling to leave in fear that Rainbow would return and be heartbroken at not finding her waiting.
The sun set and she waited shivering at the early evening chill.
The moon rose shining brightly through her window and she waited with tears falling from her eyes.
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The sun rose over Equestria and Fluttershy’s tears had soaked her pillow which only caused her to cry more until she felt the only thing that could stop these tears.
It was the touch of something familiar. It was strong and soft as it caressed her back. The feathered wing of a large bird, or... a Pegasus?
“Oh thank Arion.” Fluttershy gasped as she turned and wrapped her forelegs around her beloved, “Oh Rainbow, I was so scared.”
Rainbow Dash smiled as she accepted the embrace without an ounce of shame or fear. In fact she actually began nuzzling Fluttershy’s neck as she spoke softly to reassure the frightened pony holding her, “It’s okay Fluttershy, just tell me what happened and I’ll make everything all better... I promise.”
Rainbow promised to make everything better and Fluttershy knew that apart from Applejack, Rainbow Dash was the most honest pony she knew. She pulled her wings close to her body when she felt a pair of much stronger wings begin to wrap around her to keep her safe from harm.
She finally spoke after curling even closer to Rainbow and began returning the nuzzle, “It was awful, I had a nightmare about the day you first kissed me. But you didn’t kiss me and you left me alone forever...” Rainbow didn’t flinch even as her coat became saturated in Fluttershy’s warm tears.
Still smiling, the blue mare moved her head to begin kissing Fluttershy’s neck and move in a trail of kissed that would eventually lead to the shy mare’s lips and allow Dash to look her true love in the eye as she replied, “Okay Flutters, I’m gonna tell you this as many times as it takes, I will never abandon you. Kissing you was the best thing I have ever done in my life. I don’t care how uncool it sounds when I say that I love you Fluttershy. I love you and if you asked me I would let all of Equestria know it. Now let’s get back to bed, I have to make up for that stupid dream version of me.”
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Rainbow’s lips trembled until they finally touched Fluttershy’s. With her closed eyes she had not seen Fluttershy move and the contact caused both of their eyes to spring open. Rainbow’s magenta orbs stared into Fluttershy’s now tear filled eyes.
Breaking the kiss, Dash pulled back and began pleading, “No no no no no, please don’t cry Fluttershy... please don’t hate me... I... I’ll never do it again, just please tell me you don’t hate me.” Seeing Fluttershy move forward and open her lips to speak she cringed waiting for those three awful words that would end their friendship.
However instead of words Fluttershy replied with another kiss. Fluttershy would say it felt nice, but Rainbow would only call it the most amazingly cool and undeniably awesome feeling she had ever felt.
They separated only a moment then Dash returned Fluttershy’s kiss like a steam engine forcing Fluttershy backward. Upon reaching the bed Rainbow simply continued pushing causing Fluttershy’s front hooves to lift off the ground and her body to tumble back onto the bed. The kiss remained unbroken this time as Rainbow Dash used her wings to aid her in remaining fully attached to her friend’s lips until they were both ready to begin their cuddling.
Rainbow nuzzled Fluttershy’s neck with shy hesitation.
Fluttershy caressed Rainbow’s back and wings with determined confidence
Rainbow kissed Fluttershy’s ears with soft gentleness.
Fluttershy pressed aggressively closer to Rainbow’s warmth as she felt the early morning chill. Still she shivered until she found Rainbow’s wings wrapping around her like she was a young foal.
The pair twisted and snuggled, curled and cuddled. They tickled each other joyfully and after giggling and nestling together for what seemed like hours they curled into bed together with Fluttershy’s back pressed firmly into Rainbow’s chest.
Rainbow fell asleep first still rubbing Fluttershy’s belly as she held the mare of her dreams who was just as soft and warm as she had imagined.
Fluttershy quickly followed suit, lulled to sleep by Rainbow’s powerfully rhythmic heartbeat and the comforting strength of the wings and hooves that held her.