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// Needing Comfort 
// Story: A Not Quite So Daring Dash 
// by darbselah 
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	"So... uh - I guess I'll see you later Dash," Fluttershy said quietly. They had just landed in front of Rainbow Dash's Cloudsdale home.
"Right," Rainbow pawed at the ground looking forlorn, "later." 
Fluttershy could barely hold back tears seeing her friend like this. "I guess," she started timidly, "I could come in for a bit. That is if you want me to."
"No-no. I'm Fine!" Rainbow blurted out, but Fluttershy could see that this just wasn't the case. She watched as Rainbow Dash made her way inside, ears drooped and hooves barely getting off the ground. She didn't know what to do. Rainbow had always been there for her and she so wanted to return the favor. 
"B-but... Please!" The desperation in Fluttershy's voice stopped Rainbow Dash at the threshold of her home.
"Whatever," Rainbow rolled her eyes, "come in if you feel you need to. Just so you know I'm headed to bed. A Pegasus needs her sleep." 
Rainbow Dash always acted so tough but this time Fluttershy could see her friend needed some comforting. True to her word Rainbow Dash headed straight for her room and threw herself down on the bed. Fluttershy stood in the doorway feeling very awkward. The earlier encounter with the Rock Golem really hadn't gone well at all. 
The ponies had been sent by Princess Celestia to see why supplies from Fillydelphia hadn't been arriving with their usual regularity. It hadn't taken much in the way of investigating to discover that a giant Rock Golem had decided to start charging a toll to all convoys heading through his canyon and when anyone refused he simply took his fee by force. Of course Rainbow tried to deal with the creature in her usual straightforward way of a kick to the chops but this time the creature was having none of it. With a giant hand he blindsided the unsuspecting pony and sent her crashing into the canyon wall. It would have been even worse if Rarity and Twilight hadn't softened the blow with their magic. The ponies eventually subdued the creature and convinced him that there were better, more honest ways to earn money, but Fluttershy had noticed that Rainbow hadn't been the same after being hit. 
Once they returned to Ponyville all the ponies went their separate ways but Fluttershy had noticed that Rainbow still didn't seem right and offered to fly with her to Cloudsdale. Rainbow had ignored all attempts of Fluttershy to start any conversation during the flight.  She even, surprisingly, declined a desperate suggestion of a race. She had Fluttershy very worried.
Fluttershy stood in the doorway a minute more before deciding that her uneasiness wouldn't keep her from helping her friend. She made her way to Rainbow's room and peeked inside. The only light came from a moonlit window at the far side of the room. She could just make out the silhouetted shape of her friend curled up on top of the bed. She couldn't stand seeing Rainbow this way. She stood for a few moments more, building up the courage to speak.
"Umm... Rainbow?" 
No answer.
"Rainbow?" she repeated. Although Rainbow Dash had her back to her Fluttershy could see her shoulders shaking and hear the muffled sobs. "Oh Dashie!" She ran to Rainbow's side and threw her arms around her. At first Rainbow Dash went silent and stiff, but only for a minute before she simply melted into her friend's embrace.  
"Oh Fluttershy," Rainbow turned towards Fluttershy and buried her face into her chest. She sobbed uncontrollably now her slight frame shuddering. She didn't  seem to be able to form any words and Fluttershy pulled her in closer.
"It's alright Dashie." She stroked the troubled pony's multicolored mane. "We all need to be held by a friend sometimes."
"But I'm not supposed to need it," Rainbow Dash bawled between bitter sobs. "I'm supposed to be the tough one, remember?" She looked up at Fluttershy through teary eyes. Fluttershy had never felt closer to her friend than at this moment. All along Fluttershy had felt like the weak link between her friends. She was afraid of everything, she worried about everything, and she didn't even know how to stand up for herself. The others had always supported her and she felt that they probably got sick of it from time to time, especially Rainbow. Fluttershy had always admired Rainbow's courage and impenetrable bravery. Admittedly, she had more than admired Rainbow, but it had never really mattered because she was sure Rainbow had never seen her as anything more than a crybaby. She never in her wildest dreams would have thought the current situation was even remotely possible.
Without thinking she pulled Rainbow in even closer. Rainbow's head nuzzled right up under her chin. She continued stroking the agitated pony's mane as she slowly rocked Rainbow back and forth. "It's okay now, Dashie," she said soothingly, "I'm not going anywhere tonight."
"I've never really felt so scared before Fluttershy," Rainbow said brokenly. "I actually thought that that was the end." Fluttershy gently wiped the tears from Rainbow's eyes. 
"We all have something were scared of. What's important is that we are always here for each other." She closed her eyes relishing the feeling of Rainbow in her arms.  After a bit Rainbow's whimpers turned to sighs and the little Pegasus curled up comfortably against Fluttershy's body. 
Fluttershy looked down at her friend with a timid smile and more confidence than ever. "I'll always be here to protect you Dashie," she promised quietly.