A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
"He what?!" Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and even Applejack exclaimed in astonishment as the five sat in each of their thrones in the Crystal Castle.
"I know, it surprised me too." Fluttershy replied softly.
"Heh, Ah always knew mah brother liked ya but Ah never expected him to actually summon up the courage to ask ya out. He's usually quiet and shy like most of the time." Applejack remarked with a smug grin.
"That's why they are super perfect for each other!" Pinkie Pie erupted suddenly as she bounced over to Fluttershy, wrapped her right hoof around the mare and proceeded to give her a nuggie. "You lucky mare, you!" She added before she bounced over to Rarity. "Hey, I bet Rarity can make you the perfect wedding dress!" She exclaimed with a wide smile only for everypony in the room to look at her with a confused look.
"Uh, Pinkie? He's only asking her out on a date to the gala, not to marry her." Twilight remarked as she placed a book she was reading prior to Fluttershy's annoucement down in front of her.
"Ah think yer gettin ahead of yerself thar sugarcube." Applejack added with a light laugh.
"Or Am I?!" Pinkie Pie replied in a mysterious tone as she made weird gestures with her front hooves as if to imply something more was amiss.
"I'm pretty sure the two are only going on a date, darling. Though the idea of making a wedding dress for Fluttershy is tempting." Rarity mused aloud with a thoughtful glance.
"Would you two cut it out? He's taking her on a date to the gala, not marrying her! Geez!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed aloud with an irritated glare at the two as she crossed her front hooves in front of her chest and huffed in annoyance.
"What's got yer tail in a knot Rainbow?" Applejack asked curiously as she took note of the cyan blue Pegasus's behavior.
"Nothing's in a knot! I'm just not having a great day today, okay?!" Rainbow Dash snapped back at the farm pony.
The other five mares exchanged worried glances at one another before looking back at their friend who seemed to be refusing to look at them at the moment. "Rainbow, is something bothering you?" Twilight asked with a concerned expression.
Rainbow Dash remained silent which caused the five to once again exchange worried looks at one another before looking back at the Pegasus.
"Darling, if something is truly bothering you, you know we are all here for you if you need an ear to listen." Rarity said in a supportive manner.
Rainbow Dash let out an irritated groan in response to this but still said nothing.
Pinkie Pie then seemed to rush over to the cyan blue Pegasus and put a hoof around her as she held her close. "Come on Rainbow Dash! You can tell old Pinkie Pie anything! I Pinkie Pie promise!" She exclaimed with a wide smile before her face seemed to become suspicious of the others. "Not sure about those four though." She whispered which caused Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy to give the pink mare annoyed looks.
"This wouldn't by chance have to do with Big Macintosh asking me to the gala would it?" Fluttershy asked curiously as she walked up to Rainbow Dash.
"No! I mean yes, I mean, ugh! Forget it!" Rainbow Dash stuttered as she abruptly shoved Pinkie Pie off her and began to walk towards the castle door.
"Rainbow, please don't leave. Do you not like Big Macintosh or something?" Fluttershy asked curiously as she quickly flew over and landed in front of Rainbow Dash.
"Of course not! Big Mac's a cool pony! It's just… Ugh, never mind." Rainbow Dash replied as she pushed past her friend and towards the castle door.
Fluttershy watched her friend continue to the door for a few moments longer before she took a deep breath, flew over to Rainbow Dash, grabbed her by the mane, and tossed her back a few few harder than she meant to. "Ow! What's your deal?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she rubbed the back of her head where Fluttershy had seized her mane and tossed her back.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I'm just trying to be assertive!" Fluttershy exclaimed in an apologetic manner as she helped her friend up only for her to swat her hoof away.
"Not the time, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash remarked with a mild glare as she walked past her once more towards the castle doors.
Fluttershy however landed right in front of the castle doors which barred Rainbow Dash's way out. "N-No! You're going to tell me what your problem with Big Macintosh is! You've been acting funny ever since he sent me those flowers and letter!" Fluttershy exclaimed doing her best to hold an assertive attitude despite the clear unease in her voice.
"I already told you! I have no problem with Big Mac!" Rainbow Dash retorted back with a glare as she attempted to move Fluttershy to the side but the meek yellow Pegasus summoned every ounce of strength she had not to budge. "Move, will you?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed irritably as she attempted to move Fluttershy once more but to no avail.
"Is it me? Do you think I'm too good for Big Mac or something?" Fluttershy asked as she continued to refuse to let her friend pass.
"Yes! I mean, no! I mean, ugh! What's the big deal with wanting to know so badly anyways?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed angrily. her temper was quickly rising and she just wanted to get out of here at the present time.
"Rainbow Dash, I've known you since we've been fillies and nopony knows you better than me. I know something is bothering you, you can tell me." Fluttershy replied softly, dropping her assertive demeanor in an attempt to get her friend to tell her what's been bothering her.
"Yeah, something is bothering me right now." Rainbow Dash began to say at which Fluttershy thought she had finally gotten her to spill what's bothering her only for the following word to shatter that thought into a million pieces. "You!" She screamed into the yellow Pegasus's face before she shoved her to the side, bucked the castle doors open, and took off to the skies without another word.
Fluttershy looked as if she was on the verge of tears now as she watched Rainbow Dash quickly soar out of sight.
Pinkie Pie walked past Fluttershy as Twilight and the others put a supportive hoof on the now sobbing yellow Pegasus. "Wow, what an ass." she remarked as she watched Rainbow Dash fade out of sight only to notice Matilda walking by. "Eh-heh-heh… no offense." She remarked sheepishly to the mule who simply smiled back at her.
"None taken, Pinkie" Matilda replied as she continued on her way.
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"Why would Rainbow Dash behave this way towards Fluttershy?" Twilight asked herself aloud as she paced back and forth. She was upset with Rainbow Dash for upsetting Fluttershy but she couldn't help but wonder what spurred the Pegasus to act this way towards her in the first place.
"Ah wish Ah knew but right now, Ah'm a tad too ticked off at her to even bother to try and figure out her problems." Applejack remarked sourly as Fluttershy sobbed softly into her shoulder.
"If this is upsetting her so much, maybe I should just tell Big Macintosh no." Fluttershy remarked softly between sniffles and sobs.
Upon hearing this, Applejack's expression became one of annoyance as she gently moved Fluttershy back so she was making eye-contact with the puffy-eyed Pegasus. "Now ya listen here sugarcube! Don't let Rainbow's sour attitude sway yer decision to go on a date with mah brother if yer heart is set on goin'. Ya need to decide for yerself." she said with a supportive smile as Fluttershy sniffled once more and began to wipe tears from her eyes.
"Applejack's right, Fluttershy. Just because Rainbow Dash was rude to you for wanting to date Big Macintosh, doesn't mean you shouldn't go on a date with him just because she doesn't like the idea." Twilight added as she walked up to her friend and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Say… you don't think that she's… Nah!" Pinkie Pie remarked aloud thoughtfully before she dismissed the idea entirely.
"She's what?" Twilight asked curiously as she looked at her pink friend.
"Well, I just had this crazy idea that Rainbow Dash might be jealous of Fluttershy going on a date with Big Macintosh but that's just plain silly!" Pinkie Pie replied followed by a snorting laugh.
"Actually, you just might be onto something, Pinkie Pie." Twilight remarked aloud thoughtfully. "You don't think…" Twilight began to say only to trail off.
"That Rainbow Dash really likes Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie interjected which caused a awkward silence to fall upon the room for a moment before Twilight slammed her hoof against her face and groaned aloud.
"No, Pinkie. I think that Rainbow Dash may have a crush on Big Macintosh too. That's why she's jealous." Twilight finished.
"Ooooh…." Pinkie Pie replied upon hearing this only to give a thoughtful expression. "Huh! Wow, was I completely off target with that one!" Pinkie Pie remarked aloud and began to laugh loudly. "I mean, can you picture it? Rainbow Dash wanting to date Fluttershy?! Bwhaha! Wow, I need to lay off the sugar filled cupcakes! It's making me think silly things!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she fell to the floor and continued to laugh even harder now.
"Yeah… Silly." Fluttershy remarked aloud though her face showed a bit of uncertainty.