Fluttershy closed her eyes and exhaled her breath like Twilight told her to and winced as the wave of magic washed over her front to back and again. “Okay, you can breathe now,” Twilight said as Spike gasped for fresh air outside the window by the desk.
Fluttershy opened her eyes and inhaled deeply refreshing her body with air that she needed so desperately. The library was bright and clean and the sight of the baby dragon smiling as he turned to Twilight and ran to the center of the room to Twilight’s side.
“Wow, that was a stink that I thought was gonna last for weeks. Good thing you learned that cleansing spell last year, Twilight.”
Twilight smiled slightly looking at Spike. “I learned it because you, Spike, kept helping the Crusaders and-”
“Yeah yeah,” he interrupted turning to walk away to a bean bag in the corner of the room with a small stack of comic books, “tree sap and mud and blah blah blah.” He waved a claw dismissively as he walked away.
“Sorry to be a bother, Twilight but thank you for helping me.”
“You haven’t told me why you got skunked Fluttershy. Usually animals love you, was this one crazed? Let me know so I can prevent another panic,” Twilight said with great concern.
“No, nothing like that. You see I was pranked by Pinkie.”
“Pinkie pranked you?” Spike said loudly, “that was a bit rough but I guess as far as jokes go it stunk.”
Twilight and Fluttershy rolled their eyes. “It was supposed to be funny but she didn’t know it wouldn’t be as not funny as it was. Some things happened and I found her at home and well,” Fluttershy began to look at the floor.
“Wait, you two? Are you two,“ Twilight leaned in close to whisper, “special somponies?”
“What? Oh, um. Maybe, I guess.”
Twilight slowly smiled wider and wider until she couldn’t hold back anymore. She lunged Fluttershy into a hug. “I’m so happy for you! I always hoped you’d find a special somepony!”
“Fluttershy has a special somepony? Who’s the lucky stallion?” Spike asked looking over his comic book in detached interest.
“Oh just read your comics this is girl talk. C’mon Fluttershy, let’s go for a walk and tell me everything,” Twilight said hopping to the door.
“Twilight, you’re very happy about this, are you okay?”
“I’m fine Fluttershy, I’m just happy. I’ll tell you why when we’re out and away from dragon ears.”
Spike grumbled something under his breath but kept reading as Twilight opened the door and motioned for Fluttershy to lead the way out.
“I’ll see you soon Spike. Um, enjoy your time alone.”
Fluttershy left and Twilight followed turning to poke her head in before she closed the door. “Spike, make a list of ponies in town that would be a good match for me. I’ll be back soon and I want to go over it with you. Try to find stallions but maybe a date with a mare would be okay too. Oh, include Canterlot. Some royal guards are really-”
“Twilight, are you coming?”
“Be right there. Hurry Spike, this’ important.”
Spike waited until the door closed before lowering the comic and glaring at the door so hard it could have caught fire before he grunted. “I’m finishing my comic then I’ll start her new love list. Every time a pony finds a special somepony I have to make a list. Good thing I got smart and made a dozen copies of the same list.” He smiled and sagged deeper into the beanbag sighing, slightly pleased with himself.
“Pinkie, it’s so good to see you’re okay. Fluttershy said you were sick, would you be a dear and help the customers at the counter? I have to help Carrot in the kitchen.”
“Okie dokie Mrs. Cake,” Pinkie said trotting happily to the counter and greeting the first customer in line. “Hiya Roseluck, would you like a fritter today?”
“Pinkie, you always know exactly what I need.”
“So Fluttershy,” Twilight said slyly, “now that you’re in a relationship have any advice?”
Twilight was walking close to Fluttershy as they walked into town from the library. The market was set up so Twilight figured a pass through wouldn’t hurt while they talked.
“Advice? What do you mean?”
“Well, since I finally have a friend in a relationship I was really hoping you could give me advice on starting my own.”
“Twilight, I don’t really know what to tell you. Just, I don’t know, take a chance and go for it.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before. What about details? How many flowers should I expect to get on the first date? Should I bring some if I’m going to their house? Cider or wine? Where should I go on my first date? I like burgers but what if he, or she, doesn’t? How far should I compromise?”
“Twilight, you’re overthinking this. Just let it happen. Let them make the choices if you have too many options. Then, plan based on what they like and just, I don’t know Twilight. I’m not too comfortable talking about this.”
“But you’re the first one to be in a relationship that I know. A real one, not like that time Pinkie wanted to marry that cheesecake she made.”
Fluttershy giggled softly. “Sir Fromage of Cakington. She’s so silly.”
“SEE! That’s what I mean, how can I get that?” Twilight emphasised.
“Twilight,” Fluttershy said stopping to look at her unicorn friend, “you have to find the right pony and earn it. I have to get back to my little friends but I enjoyed this talk, I guess.”
Twilight was about to ask another question but Fluttershy opened her wings and took to the air and flew over the houses to the next street before landing. “As much as I love to talk with Twilight she can be a bit much.”
“So, what you’re saying Pinkie is that you weren’t sick?” Cup Cake asked looking at Pinkie from the kitchen sink. She was finishing the last muffin pans before starting the cake pans.
“Nope Mrs. Cake. I had a fall and Fluttershy made sure I was okay.”
“Do you need to see a doctor? A real one? Any injury that can make you go to sleep must be dangerous. And what were you two doing when you got hurt?”
Pinkie’s smile faded slightly. “We were talking in the woods and I fell over a little cliff. I’m fine though. I woke up in my room and Fluttershy was so worried.”
Cup looked at Pinkie before nodding. “I’ve never had a reason to doubt you Pinkie, but if anything feels wrong please let somepony know.”
“Right-o Mrs. Cake-o.”
Pinkie turned and happily trotted out of the kitchen through the doors and into the living room. Letting out a sigh she dragged her hooves to the couch and laid on it. I didn’t lie but I still feel bad for fibbing to Mrs. Cake.
Pinkie reached up and into her mane and pulled a small wooden framed picture out and looked at it. She felt a smile cross her muzzle but this was different. A rare smile she felt that happened when she was truly happy and not just happy for somepony else. The photo was of all 5 of her friends and herself posing outside the library.
She traced Fluttershy’s silhouette and looked at herself in the photo and huffed humorously as she noticed her eyes in the photo looking at Fluttershy. I hope you don’t smell so I can hold you again. “I’m sorry I skunked you ‘Shy, I’ll make it up to you somehow. But first,” Pinkie said returning the photo to her mane and standing up, “I need to bake a sorry cake.”