It was a cloudy, gray day in Ponyville, promising rain, but it didn't stop one huge event going on! The Wonderbolts show that had come to town! One particular excited Pegasus, none other than Rainbow Dash, was heading along the outskirts of the town to reach her best friend's cottage.
'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I can't believe I won VIP tickets to this Wonderbolts show!' Rainbow Dash inwardly squealed. 'Talk about amazing luck! I hope Fluttershy's as psyched for this as I am!'
As Rainbow Dash neared the cottage, she saw something small and white come scurrying out, looking frantic. The white fuzzball approached her, and it turned out to be Angel, Fluttershy's pet rabbit. He tapped on her foreleg, looking panicked as he did so, and tried to point back to the cottage frantically.
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash glanced down in confusion, meeting Angel's frantic face. "What's the matter, Angel? Is something wrong with Fluttershy?"
Angel nodded, beckoning for her to follow him frantically, hopping up and down. Complete worry etched his features, as if to tell her it was serious.
"Okay, okay! I'm coming!" Sensing the urgency that Angel was trying to convey, Rainbow Dash followed him back to the cottage, curious as to why he was so frantic. 'Fluttershy better not be trying to bail on me...'
Angel led Rainbow Dash back to the cottage, and upon arrival inside, there was the very unsettling sight. Fluttershy was on the floor, whimpering and moaning in pain, while her left foreleg looked very swollen and was even at an awkward angle.
"Ow...ow...ow....ow...oooh....ow....ow...." The yellow Pegasus whimpered, not even noticing them.
"Fluttershy?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in horror, zooming over to her filly friend. "What happened to you?! Are you okay?!"
"My....my leg!!!" Fluttershy wailed in pain, coming to see Rainbow Dash there. She looked so relieved, pained, but relieved. "Oh...Rainbow Dash...."
"Oh, man!" Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy's swollen foreleg worriedly. "What happened?! How did you hurt yourself?!"
"I...I don't know! Owwww!! It was a blur! I...ooowwwww!! I was..helping Angel....with making a new bed for him, but...I don't know...I tripped and and slipped...and I...oowww...found myself here on the floor! My leg!" Fluttershy whimpered, crying more.
"Hang in there, pal..." Being as careful as possible not to jar her injured leg, Rainbow Dash managed to get Fluttershy onto her back, with Angel's help. "I'll get you to the hospital...you'll be okay..."
"Ow ow ow ow..." Fluttershy whimpered, but managed a small smile. "Thank you, Dashie..."
"Hey, no problem, Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash smiled back over her shoulder. "You know I've always got your back..."
"We'll be...back, Angel..." Fluttershy assured her pet with a pained smile. "Don't you worry..." Angel nodded, looking up at his owner with worry, his little forepaws folding together.
"All right...hold on tight, Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash stepped out of the cottage and spread her wings, preparing to take flight. "I'm going to get you to the hospital as fast as I can, but I'll try not to fly TOO fast, so you don't injure your leg worse than it probably already is..."
"Okay, Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy nodded a bit, snuggling into the other Pegasus' neck.
A light blush dusted the cyan Pegasus' cheeks at this gesture. "All right...here we go..." She took off into the sky, flying at a brisk, but steady pace, headed towards Ponyville Hospital.
Thankfully, they managed to make it to the hospital without too much jarring on Fluttershy's leg. But it did still prove difficult for her, despite Rainbow Dash's best efforts. When Fluttershy was admitted and examined, the Doctor bandaged her leg along with a split, and tying on an icepack to bring down the swelling. An anxious Rainbow Dash was in the waiting room, waiting for the results. The doctor came out, and found her there. "Ah yes, Rainbow Dash. You're the one who brought her in?"
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash raced over to the doctor, grabbing his lab coat with her hooves. "How is she, Doc?! Is she okay?! Is she gonna be able to walk again?!"
"Okay, settle down now," The doctor assured as he gently pulled away, levitating a clipboard with magic. "Fluttershy has sprained her leg, even twisted it quite a bit. She's going to need an ice pack every hour so, to bring down the swelling. I prescribed a pain medication if it gets too painful for her. She just has to stay off it for a couple of weeks, but rest assured, she'll walk again."
"Oh, good!" Rainbow Dash let out a relieved breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "So can she go home right now? Or does she have to stay here?"
"Oh yes, you can take her home," Said the doctor. "Just let us know if anything goes wrong."
Fluttershy hobbled out of the examining room, her foreleg bandaged with a splint and ice pack, along with a sling to hold it up.
"Hey, pal," Rainbow Dash greeted Fluttershy with an anxious smile. "How're ya feeling?
"Okay....it doesn't hurt as much as before," Fluttershy said, sniffling a bit.
"That's good," Rainbow Dash nodded, nuzzling her friend gently. "C'mon, let's get you back home."
Fluttershy's cheeks pinkened slightly and she nodded. "Yes, please... Thank you so much for your help, Rainbow Dash..."
"Anytime, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches, to give the yellow Pegasus easier access to climb onto her back.
Carefully, now that her leg was in better control, Fluttershy was able to climb onto her best friend's back, adjusting herself comfortably.
"All set?" Rainbow Dash asked her best friend, once she was settled.
"Oh, yes...I'm set," Fluttershy nodded.
"Okay, then let's get you back to your cottage." Standing, Rainbow Dash trotted outside the hospital.
Then, she took flight, being careful not to fly too fast, despite that Fluttershy's foreleg was now bandaged and held with a splint.
They made it to Fluttershy's cottage without a hitch, and soon she was placed on her bed where she could relax. "Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash...." Fluttershy smiled. She then looked at the calendar...realizing what day it was, given where she had circled. "Oh no!! That's right! Today was the Wonderbolts show! Oh...Rainbow Dash, I'm so sorry..."
"Don't even worry about it, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissively. "I know you didn't plan on this happening. Besides, there will always be other Wonderbolts shows. It's not like this is their last one, ever."
"Well, no...." Fluttershy bit her lip, still looking guilty. "But I'm sorry....you were so excited, and I wanted to go there and have fun...with you.... I'm so sorry..."
"Don't be sorry. You couldn't help getting hurt." Rainbow Dash gently put her foreleg around Fluttershy's shoulders. "We'll always have other chances to see the Wonderbolts together. Right now, though, I just want to make sure you're okay, pal."
Fluttershy smiled, looking relieved. "Okay... I'll be fine... Um...would you mind...staying with me tonight? I....well I ...need some help with my...animal friends...and all...." she said shyly, not quite wanting to admit that she didn't want to be alone and also just wanted to be with her.
Rainbow Dash smiled and nodded. "Not at all, Fluttershy. I won't leave you alone. I'll be right here for you."
"Yay!" Fluttershy made a soft cheer, and giggled. "Erm...I mean...yay...thank you, Rainbow Dash..."
"Don't mention it, pal," Rainbow Dash winked at her best friend. "So, can I get you anything?"
"Um...just some water..." Fluttershy said. "Oh, and can you check on the chickens? Elizabeak is due to lay leggs any day now!"
"Sure." Rainbow Dash nodded, trotting downstairs to get Fluttershy a glass of water. On her way, she spotted Angel trying to fix his bed. "Hey Angel, think you can help me out, a little?"
Angel nodded, and went over to her, looking at her as if to say "What should I do?"
"Fluttershy asked me to check on the chickens, but I have no way of knowing how to tell when they're ready to lay eggs. Can you do that for me?"
Angel nodded, and then went outside to the chicken coop.
Rainbow Dash watched Angel head outside, before making her way to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She took a glass down from the shelf, and filled it with cool tap water, placing a flexi-straw in it before returning upstairs. "Here you go, pal."
"Oh....you even put a straw!" Fluttershy took it in her hooves, and drank from it.
"Thought that might help." Rainbow Dash chuckled, standing near the bed.
Fluttershy giggled, and placed it aside. "Oh, did you check on the chickens?"
"Angel's got it covered." Rainbow Dash hovered just off the floor, crossing her forelegs. "So, anything else you need right now?"
"Um...well....would you mind terribly going to buy these list items? I need some food for the week, and to make dinner tonight...oh! But I'll give you the bits you need for them." Fluttershy held up a list.
Rainbow Dash took the list and studied it, nodding. "No problem! I can get your groceries!"
"Oh, thank you!" Fluttershy beamed. "Don't worry, I'll even help you make dinner. I can do some things with one hoof, and also stirring."
"Okay, then! I'll be back with the stuff in a jiffy!" Rainbow Dash grinned, heading downstairs with the list in her saddle bag.
Angel came back into the house, wiping sweat off his forehead. He looked at Rainbow Dash quizzically. Knock knock knock!
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash trotted to the door. "Who the hay could that be...?"
The door opened, and three grinning faces peered up at her before rushing inside.
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders have arrived!" The three fillies said unison.
"Now, wait a minute!" Rainbow Dash shut the door and stepped in front of the fillies. "What the hay are you three doing here?!"
"Fluttershy said she'd make us some cookies!" Scootaloo explained.
"We helped her with her chickens yesterday, and she said we could come over and help her bake cookies today!" Sweetie Belle smiled.
"Where is she, Rainbow Dash?!" Apple Bloom piped up.
"Well, girls...y'see, there's a slight problem..." Rainbow Dash bit her lip, unsure how to explain to the fillies about Fluttershy's condition. "Let's just say you'll have to wait a few weeks for those cookies..."
"Awww, but why?!" Scootaloo complained.
"Is something wrong with Fluttershy?" Sweetie Belle queried, looking a bit worried.
"Yeah...about that...Fluttershy sprained her leg, and she's gonna have to stay off it for a few weeks..." Rainbow Dash explained, rubbing the back of her head with her hoof.
Apple Bloom frowned. "Awww, poor Fluttershy! Hope she gets well soon!"
"Hey, why don't we help?!" Scootaloo suggested.
"That's a great idea! We can help take care of Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Maybe we'll even get our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash slapped her hoof over her snout. This was going to be a long day...
"Even if we don't, at least we'll have helped Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle said. "Where is she?"
"Oh, I'm up here, girls!" Fluttershy called from upstairs.
"Where are you going, anyway?" Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash.
"Fluttershy asked me to run some errands for her." Rainbow Dash produced Fluttershy's grocery list from her saddle bag. "I won't be gone long, though."
"Hmm...maybe two of us should stay here with Fluttershy, an' somepony else can help you, Rainbow Dash?" Apple Bloom suggested with a grin.
"I'll go along!" Scootaloo said eagerly, zipping up beside the cyan Pegasus.
"Okay, and we'll stay here with Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle agreed.
"Okay, squirt. But you'll stay out of trouble and do as I say, understand?" The older Pegasus sternly told the filly Pegasus.
"No problem, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo saluted, her little wings flapping rapidly.
"Awright! Cutie Mark Crusader caretakers!" Apple Bloom slapped high hooves with Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah! Cutie Mark Crusader caretakers!" Sweetie Bella grinned.
"All right, come on." Placing the list back into her saddle bag, as well as the sack of bits Fluttershy had given her to pay for everything, Rainbow Dash left the cottage with Scootaloo in tow.
"C'mon, Nurse Sweetie Belle! Let's go see how we can help our patient!" Apple Bloom trotted up the stairs to Fluttershy's room.
"Yay!!" Sweetie Belle followed after her.
They came into Fluttershy's room, where the said mare smiled upon seeing them.
"Hello, girls. Oh, I'm so sorry we couldn't make cookies today..."
"Awww, shucks! That's awright!" Apple Bloom smiled at the bedridden Pegasus. "Anythang we can do fer ya? Rainbow Dash an' Scootaloo jus' left to do yer shoppin'!"
"Oh, that's nice of her to help, too..." Fluttershy smiled. "Um...can you two make sure the bird houses have some bird seed?"
"Sure, we can do that!" Sweetie Belle nodded.
"No problem!" Apple Bloom declared. "C'mon, Sweetie!"
The Unicorn and Earth fillies went downstairs, looking for the bird seed.
"Gosh, poor Fluttershy. Her leg looked pretty bad." Sweetie Belle said sadly.
"Ah know..." Apple Bloom shook her head. "An' Ah think she an' Rainbow was gonna be goin' to that Wonderbolts show this afternoon...Rainbow mus' be really disappointed..."
"That's what Rarity said!" Sweetie Belle remembered. "I wanted to go too...I guess Rainbow Dash was pretty disappointed. It sounded like an awesome show..."
"'Specially since Rainbow Dash won them VIP tickets..." Apple Bloom recalled. "Oh well, maybe they're not a one-event-only thang, an' she can use 'em some other time?"
"Ooh, here they are!" Sweetie Belle took one of them in her teeth. "I found them on the table!"
"Rainbow must'a left 'em there!" Apple Bloom took the other one. "Wonder why she left 'em on tha table..."
"Ooh, looks like they're season VIP passes!" Sweetie Belle marveled, and put it back down.
"So Rainbow can use 'em anytime she chooses!" Apple Bloom carefully put the other one down, also.
"Cool! So she can just use them for the next show! Yay!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly. "Okay, so where does Fluttershy keep the bird seed?" She trotted over to a couple of lower cupboards to look in them.
"Ah don' remember..." Apple Bloom thought for a moment. "Maybe we should go an' ask Fluttershy?"
"Wait, here it is!" Sweetie Belle pulled a large bag out from a lower cupboard with her teeth.
"Awright, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom trotted over and helped her pull out the bag of bird seed. "Now we jus' gotta fill up tha bird feeders!"
"There's a measuring cup inside of the bag." Sweetie Pall patted it with her hoof. "Let's get it open!"
"You got it!" Apple Bloom took hold of one side of the bag, while Sweetie Belle took the other side. "Ready?"
"Ready!" Sweetie Belle took the other end in her teeth.
"On three!" Apple Bloom counted down, although it was muffled because of the bag in her teeth. "One...two...three!"
Sweetie Belle pulled with all her might on her side, while Apple Bloom did the same. She pulled, pulled, and then let go gently. "It's not working!"
"Maybe we gotta try somethin' else?" Apple Bloom suggested.
"How about scissors?" Sweetie Belle pointed to a pair of scissors sitting in a cup of pencils and pens.
"Great idea!" Apple Bloom trotted over to the table and carefully removed the scissors from the cup with her mouth. "We can cut tha bag open with these!"
"Perfect! I'll hold the bag down, you can run the scissors on it!" Sweetie Belle said, placing her forelegs over the bag to keep it steady.
"Got it!" Very carefully, Apple Bloom opened the scissors, holding them with both hooves. She then took them and closed them over the bag to make a small cut, before dragging the blades across the top of the bag slowly.
"All right! We did it!!" Sweetie Belle helped her pry open the bag further. "Whew! It stinks!" But she reached in with her hoof to draw out the measuring cup, taking it in her teeth.
"Ewww, that stuff does stink!" Apple Bloom cringed, pressing her hooves over her snout to block out the smell.
Sweetie Belle trotted over to a ground-level bird feeder, placing the bird seed into it. "One down!"
Apple Bloom nodded. "Ah think three more ta go!"
Filling the measuring cup again, Sweetie Belle went up the planks to reach a higher bird feeder, but couldn't reach it. "Mmmph....awmosht..." The birdseed fell to the floor below.
"Shoot!" Apple Bloom went to retrieve a broom to clean up the mess.
"Darn it...now I'll never make it! Poor birds...they won't get their food!" Sweetie Belle trotted down to the floor with dejection.
"Well, we'll try again! Ah'm sure we'll get it if we work tagether!" Apple Bloom brought over a broom and began to sweep up the spilled birdseed.
"Yeah, you're right!" Sweetie Belle immediately felt better. "I bet we'll be able to reach it if we work together!"
"That's tha spirit!" Apple Bloom smiled. "We'll work tagether an' fill that bird feeder!" The filly then frowned. "Still too bad Rainbow's missin' tha Wonderbolts show."
"That's what Rarity was talking about earlier!" Sweetie Belle said, and thought a moment. "Now Fluttershy is hurt, and Rainbow Dash is missing out completely! Well, at least she does have a season pass ticket!"
"Careful, now!" Apple Bloom stood up to give Sweetie Belle more height. "Can ya reach it?"
"Almost...!" Sweetie Belle said. "A little closer, then I'll reach it!"
"Okay!" Apple Bloom manoeuvred closer to the bird feeder, being careful not to lose her balance.
"Careful...almost...." Sweetie Belle reached it high enough to pour the birdseed into it. "Yay!! We did it!"
"Hooray!" Apple Bloom cheered.
Later on, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo returned with the groceries. The Crusaders took it upon themselves to put the food away, to which Rainbow Dash helped them with when things were needed to be placed on a high cabinet shelf, but mostly let them do it themselves at their insistence.
"We did it!!" Sweetie Belle cheered. "Everything's put away!"
"Nice job, pipsqueaks," Rainbow Dash smirked playfully. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to tend to my patient!"
"Okay, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo nodded.
"We'll be right here!" Apple Bloom saluted.
Chuckling to herself, Rainbow Dash then flew upstairs to check up on Fluttershy.
"Hey, I have an idea! Let's make those cookies for Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle suggested. "It'll make her so happy!"
"Hey, that's perfect! She'll have something sweet and delicious to take her mind off the pain!" Scootaloo agreed.
"Awright! To tha kitchen!" Apple Bloom announced, trotting towards the kitchen.
"Yay!!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders cheered happily. "Cutie Mark Crusader Bakers!"
"Hey, pal. How're ya feeling?"
"Oh, I'm all right," Fluttershy smiled with a small blush. "Did the shopping go okay?"
"Yep!" Rainbow Dash nodded. "Got everything on your list, and then some! Figured it couldn't hurt to pick up a little extra. Don't worry, I used my own money."
"...Wha...W-What? Oh, but Dashie! I should pay you back!" Fluttershy now reached for her bag of money. "How much did you use? Oh, I'll reimburse you right away!"
"Only about 25 extra bits, but don't even worry about it!" Rainbow Dash waved her hoof. "You don't have to pay me back, Fluttershy."
"But...but...." Fluttershy tried to protest, despite that Rainbow Dash wasn't budging. "....Are you sure?"
"Fluttershy, I wouldn't have bought extra if I expected you to pay me back." Rainbow Dash pointed out. "I told you I wanted to help take care of you, didn't I?"
"...Oh....well...thank you...." Fluttershy looked down at her bed shyly.
"Don't mention it, pal." Rainbow Dash winked at her friend. "Can I get you anything? Do you need your pain medicine?"
"Just to replace the ice pack..." Fluttershy said, indicating to it.
"Sure, no problem!" Rainbow Dash picked up the ice pack in her mouth. "Be right back!"
She flew downstairs to get a fresh pack, and saw that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were busy in the kitchen.
"Now we add the eggs!" Scootaloo said.
"Adding them!" Sweetie Belle cracked two eggs into the mixing bowl.
"An' now tha sugar an' flour!" Apple Bloom read off a recipe card.
"What are you squirts doing?" Rainbow Dash asked the fillies, trotting to the freezer to get a fresh ice pack.
"We're making Fluttershy some cookies!" Scootaloo explained, adding some sugar.
Sweetie Belle added some flour. "So that we can make Fluttershy feel better and give her something sweet and tasty!"
"An' maybe even earn our cutie marks as bakers!" Apple Bloom piped. "An' now we add tha butter an' mix!"
"Well, just don't make a mess, you three." Rainbow Dash sighed, placing the spent ice pack into the freezer and removing a fresh one.
"Don't worry, we won't!" Sweetie Belle cut the right amount of butter, and added it in. "We took some lessons with Pinkie Pie last week!"
"We managed to make muffins without burning them!" Scootaloo said proudly.
"An' without turnin' them inta baked "bads", neither!" Apple Bloom giggled, taking a wooden spoon into her mouth to stir up the cookie batter.
"Uh-huh..." Rainbow Dash then trotted out of the kitchen and went upstairs again.
"....You think she believes us?" Scootaloo sounded disappointed.
"Nah, she's just busy with Fluttershy," Sweetie Belle reasoned.
"That's all it is, Ah bet," Apple Bloom nodded. "Ah'm sure she knows we're tellin' tha truth."
"I guess you're right." Scootaloo shrugged, and went back to the baking. "Okay, now we add the chocolate chips!"
"I'll get them!" Sweetie Belle eagerly dashed to a cupboard to find them.
"Jus' don't get tha potato chips!" Apple Bloom snickered, recalling when her sleep-deprived older sister had made a disastrous batch of muffins that sickened half of Ponyville.
"Don't worry, I won't!" Sweetie Belle came back with them.
"Oh boy!" Scootaloo tasted one. "They're awesome! Let's put them in!"
"These are gonna be tha best chocolate chip cookies ever!" Apple Bloom declared, stirring in the chocolate chips as Scootaloo added them to the batter.
"They sure will!" Scootaloo agreed. "They'll have the...the...um....the fact we made them!"
"Ooh ooh! The Cutie Mark Crusaders Seal of Approval!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly.
"That's perfect!" Apple Bloom grinned. "We shall stamp these cookies with tha Cutie Mark Crusaders' Seal of Approval!"
"Yay!!" Scootaloo sauntered to the oven to check the temperature. "The oven's at the right level! Let's put these guys on the cookie sheet and get 'em in there!"
"I've got them right here!" Sweetie Belle fetched the cookie sheets, placing them on the counter.
"Awright, it says we need ta drop 'em on tha sheets in one-half inch balls." Apple Bloom read from the recipe card. "...How do we know if they're one-half inch? Do we need ta measure 'em?"
The three fillies looked at each other in confusion.
"Maybe we do?" Sweetie Belle guessed.
"But that would take forever!" Scootaloo whined. "Can't we just second guess?"
"Hmm...Ah think Ah remember Pinkie Pie tellin' us that one-half inchi was tha size of a spoonful of cookie dough." Apple Bloom said after a moment of thought. "Should we go with that?"
"So if we use a spoon, we'll know!" Scootaloo remembered.
"Then let's get some spoons!" Sweetie Belle rejoiced in relief.
"Good idea!" Apple Bloom grinned and nodded.
They got three spoons, each taking turns to spoon the batter onto the cookie sheets.
After they were done, they stood back to admire their work.
"Um...those two are bigger than the rest..."
"No, the others are too small!"
"Well...we can try ta fix 'em, or jus' put 'em in as they are..."
The Cutie Mark Crusaders shrugged, and tried to fix them. But it only made them flat.
"Awww..." Scootaloo pouted.
"I guess we should just put them in, I guess. It shouldn't be too much of a big deal." Sweetie Belle reasoned.
"Ah guess not...put 'em in, Sweetie." Apple Bloom nodded to the Unicorn filly to put the cookies into the oven to bake.
"Okay!" Sweetie Belle smiled then, taking the cookie sheet in her mouth.
Scootaloo opened the oven for her, and pulled out the rack with the mouth oven mit. Sweetie Belle placed the sheet on the rack, and Sootaloo pushed it back in, closing the door.
"All right! Time it, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo pointed toward her with her hoof.
"Awright!" Apple Bloom took a nearby timer, turning the dial to 35. "They need ta bake fer about 35 minutes!"
"Awesome!" Scootaloo grinned. "...Now what?"
"Let's go see Fluttershy! We can read her a story!" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Okay! Let's go!" Apple Bloom agreed, trotting out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.
But the fillies were stopped by Angel, who was blocking their path to the stairs. When they tried to get past or around him, he only moved in front of them all the more to make sure they didn't get past. The Crusaders looked confused, wondering what could possibly have lead him to block them from seeing Fluttershy.
"Uh...is somethin' wrong, Angel? We were gonna go entertain Fluttershy..."
Angel shook his head, pointing upward and then motioning for them to back away.
"Why not?" Scootaloo wondered. "Is she okay?"
"Is she sleeping?" Sweetie Belle cocked her head.
"Does she wanna be alone?" Apple Bloom blinked her amber eyes.
"With Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo said, surprised. "Well, they are best friends!"
Sweetie Belle shrugged. "C'mon guys, let's go wait on the couch!"
"Okay, Sweetie!" Apple Bloom trotted over to the couch, sitting down.
Scootaloo nodded, following them. "Sounds good to me!
Apple Bloom stared all around the cottage as she sat on the couch with the others, wondering when they would be allowed up to visit Fluttershy.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle joined her, all three of them waiting on the couch. Angel meanwhile remained at his post, whistling and twitching his whiskers.
"Hey, pal. Fresh ice pack for you," Rainbow Dash announced, coming up the stairs and bringing the pack to Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled brightly, adjusting her position a bit. "Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow Dash nodded, trotting over and gently placing the ice pack on Fluttershy's foreleg. "There you go. Feel better?"
"Oooh! Cold!" Fluttershy giggled, nodding. "Yes, that's much better... Oh, how are the girls? What are they doing?"
"They're making the cookies you promised to bake with them." Rainbow Dash chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, though. The kitchen is still intact."
"Oohh." Fluttershy giggled. "That's so sweet of them... Awww...I even let them down today, too..."
"Don't even worry about that." Rainbow Dash chided the timid Pegasus. "They're holding their own just fine. The baking lessons they had with Pinkie Pie are really paying off!"
"Really?" Fluttershy smiled then. "Oh, well that's good. I wonder how they'll turn out!"
"We'll find out soon enough, pal." Rainbow Dash chuckled.
Fluttershy smiled and then nuzzled Rainbow Dash a little. "You're all wonderful to do these things for me... Thank you so much!"
Rainbow Dash's cheeks were dusted pink with a blush as she nuzzled Fluttershy back. "No problem, Fluttershy. You're my best friend, after all. Why wouldn't I help you?"
Giggling, Fluttershy blushed a bit. "And why wouldn't I help you too?"
Rainbow Dash's cheeks pinkened more. "I guess that's true, huh? But you're the one who's bedridden, not me."
"Still, I would help you, always." Fluttershy giggled.
"Heh heh, I know you would..." Rainbow Dash chuckled.
Fluttershy nuzzled her best friend again, even keeping her cheek there. "Well, friends are always there to help..."
Rainbow Dash felt her cheeks heat up. "Yeah...that's true, after all..."
"If it weren't for you, Rainbow Dash, I think Angel would have been in way over his furry little head!" Fluttershy smiled some more, beckoning her fellow Pegasus closer. She lay her head on her shoulder, sighing happily. "You were so helpful to me, and you even stayed with me at the hospital!"
"So I figured." Rainbow Dash smirked lightly, nuzzling her head against Fluttershy's as she rested it on her shoulder. "Like I said before, I wouldn't leave you hanging like that. We've been friends since junior flight camp, haven't we?"
"Yes, we have...." Fluttershy blushed a bit at the memory. "You were always so nice to me, and you even defended my honour! ...I don't know how I've ever been able to thank you for that."
"Well, of course I'd defend your honor!" Rainbow Dash smirked a bit. "I wasn't gonna let those bullies push my pal around like that!"
Fluttershy looked down coyly. "I wish I could have done the same."
"Awww, you know you don't have to." Rainbow Dash nuzzled her friend again. "But I know you, and I know you're gonna try to make it up to me, no matter what I tell you."
"Heee....yes..." Fluttershy giggled. "Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today!"
"I guess that's true, right?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, throwing her foreleg around the other Pegasus' shoulders.
"Oh, yes!" Fluttershy blushed a bit more, and nuzzled her. "And, well....you know how we all got our cutie marks, so look at all of us now!"
"Hey, that's true, too." Rainbow Dash nodded, nuzzling her back. "If it weren't for my awesome Sonic Rainboom, then none of you would've probably gotten your cutie marks when you did!"
"And we're thankful for it! It's just as Twilight said, we were all connected before we met!" Fluttershy giggled, and pulled back a little to look at her longtime fillyhood friend. "You were the only friend I even had, until we got to know the others, and then Twilight."
"Speaking of Twilight, if it weren't for her, then we wouldn't have found out we're the embodiments of the Elements of Harmony!" Rainbow Dash pointed out with a grin. "How cool is that to be a hero of Equestria, not once, but twice?!"
"Oh, I know!" Fluttershy giggled. "Well...even if I....would prefer not to get the attention about that, I am glad to help save Equestria..."
"Fluttershy, I have GOT to help you get over your confidence issues..." Rainbow Dash sighed, shaking her head.
"I know..." Fluttershy looked down in shame. She paused. "Oooh....do you hear that?"
"Yeah, I do..." Rainbow Dash nodded. "Sounds like it's coming from downstairs..."
~Sometime earlier...~
Scootaloo flattened herself, already bored as she sighed. Sweetie Belle rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling, occasionally wiggling her legs. Apple Bloom flopped over onto her stomach, her left foreleg and hindleg dangling off the side of the couch, breathing a heavy sigh.
Scootaloo sighed again, rolling onto her side, nestling her head in the crook of her foreleg. Sweetie Belle began to hum, and then sing a little,
"With a smile and a song
Life is just a bright sunny day
Your cares fade away
And your heart is young..."
"That's a lovely song, Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom remarked with a smile. "Where'd ya hear it?"
“A movie...
With a smile and a song
All the world seems to waken anew
Rejoicing with you
And the song is sung..."
"It's from what?" Apple Bloom blinked, cocking her head to one side, but she continued to listen to Sweetie Belle sing, smiling all the while.
"It's a movie..." Sweetie Belle smiled.
"Ohhh, that movie! No wonder, you sing it well!" Scootaloo grinned.
"There's no use in grumbling
When the raindrops come tumbling
Remember, you're the one
Who can fill the world with sunshine..."
"Ah know that movie! Applejack brought it over when she took care o' me when Ah was sick!" Apple Bloom smiled in realization.
"...Ah gee, yes, I like it..." Scootaloo blushed.
"That's okay, Scoot! It's that good!" Sweetie Belle giggled, and kept singing.
"When you smile and you sing
Everything is in tune and it's spring
And life flows along
With a smile and a song..."
"It's nothin' ta be ashamed about, Scootaloo." Apple Bloom giggled.
"Exactly!" Sweetie Belle agreed, nodding. "We all love it!"
Scootaloo smiled. "Okay, I guess you're right.”
"Ooh, it's Sweetie Belle! She's a good singer." Fluttershy smiled. "Aww...what a sweet song! It's from my favourite movie!"
"I know that song, and that movie." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I heard Blushy singing it while she was working at Sweet Apple Acres, when she first arrived here in Ponyville."
"Oooh, really? That's sweet..." Fluttershy smiled. "Oh, I remember...that night of the Grand Galloping Gala...I was trying to get the animals' attention, and I was singing the song that Snow White sang into the well. And Mr. Greenhooves was whistling Whistle While You Work."
"...Well, if my crashing in through the door, yelling at them about how they're going to love me...is any indication..." Fluttershy looked away in shame.
"Hee..." Fluttershy looked embarrassed. "Ooh, why don't we call the girls up? I'm sure they must be so bored waiting..."
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Rainbow Dash nodded. "When those three get bored, it tends to lead to disaster."
"Keep singin' Sweetie!" Apple Bloom urged, smiling.
"Oh, the song was over...but um...ooh! I know another song!" Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves excitedly.
"Go ahead! Sing it!" Scootaloo urged.
"I wonder, I wonder,
I wonder why each little bird has a someone
To sing to, sweet things to,
A gay little love melody..."
"What a sweet song..." Apple Bloom said dreamily.
"Well duh, it's a love song!" Scootaloo rolled her eyes, but still smiled.
Sweetie Belle laughed and finished the song,
"I wonder, I wonder
I wonder if my heart keeps singing,
Will my song go winging
To someone, who'll find me
And bring back a love song to me..."
"Oh, girls! Won't you come up here?" Fluttershy called from upstairs.
"Huh?" Apple Bloom's ears perked up. "Okay, Fluttershy!" She looked to Angel, to see if he would allow the fillies to go upstairs.
Angel nodded, smiling as he stepped aside to let them go.
"Thanks, Angel!" Sweetie Belle trotted up, alongside the other two fillies.
"There you girls are..." Fluttershy smiled as they came to the top of the stairs. "We heard you singing, Sweetie Belle!"
"You're pretty good at that, Sweetie squirt!" Rainbow Dash remarked with a grin.
"She's really good!" Apple Bloom giggled, nudging Sweetie Belle. "Ain't that right, Sweetie?"
"Well, I just like to have fun with it..." Sweetie Belle giggled, shuffling her hoof on the floor bashfully.
"Why do you have your foreleg around her, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo queried, seeing the position of the two Pegasi.
"O-Oh!" Fluttershy blushed a bit.
"Oh...no reason..." Rainnbow Dash quickly removed her foreleg, holding it behind her back with a nervous chuckle.
"Okay!" Even Sweetie Belle wasn't too phased. "We wanted to tell you a story, Fluttershy! Kind of like you did for us before, and our sisters and parents do!"
"Oh, really? That's very nice of you girls!" Fluttershy smiled. "What story are you going to tell?"
"Um...Ah dunno..." Apple Bloom shrugged. "Scootaloo, any ideas?"
"Let's make something up!" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Okay!" Scootaloo nodded. "Rainbow Dash, you're gonna be one of the main characters!"
"Because I'm so awesome!" Rainbow Dash smirked proudly.
"An' Fluttershy, you're tha main character's special somepony!" Apple Bloom giggled.
"Huh?!" Fluttershy's entire face heated up.
"Only 'cause we can't figure anypony else out..." Scootaloo admitted.
"That's okay! It's all fun and pretend!" Sweetie Belle giggled.
"Right...of course!" Rainbow Dash nodded, her cheeks red. "It's all pretend! Right, Fluttershy?"
"Y-Yes...pretend..." Fluttershy looked away shyly.
"So let's begin!" Scootaloo said excitedly. "Once upon a time, there was a pony Princess in a faraway Kingdom!" Sweetie Belle narrated.
"An' she was locked in a tower by a wicked ol' mare!" Apple Bloom added onto the story with a giggle.
"She was lonely, and so sad all the time! And she kept saying," Sweetie Belle prompted Fluttershy.
Deciding to humour them, Fluttershy giggled and joined in, narrating. "'Oh, I wish I wasn't so alone...'"
"Her only friend in the world as the coolest, fastest, most awesome pony in the Kingdom! She was known as the Rainbow Queen! And her name was...." Scootaloo thought a moment.
"Rainbow Flash!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed. "I know, real original. Definitely not me but is me!"
"Okay, Rainbow Flash!" Giggled Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah, and Princess Butterfly wanted Rainbow Flash to be her special somepony!" Scootaloo said.
"She sang sweet songs about it!" Sweetie Belle added.
Fluttershy giggled and decided to play along. "Okay...how about this?
Someday my Queen will come
Someday we'll meet again
And away to Cloudsdale we'll go
To be happy forever, I know..."
"Yes!! She was always alone in the tower, waiting for her friend to come see her!" Sweetie Belle said.
"And the ever-awesome Rainbow Flash...where does she come in?!" Rainbow Dash prompted eagerly.
"Hold yer horseshoes, we'll get ta her!" Apple Bloom chuckled.
"Uh-huh!" Sweetie Belle nodded. "So, one day, Princess Butterfly was called down by her eeeevil stepmother!"
"And she goes down, and is told to go buy some fruits at the market!" Scootaloo threw in.
"Oh, so she gets to go to the market...." Fluttershy smiled.
"But everypony in the marketplace is rude ta poor Princess Butterfly!" Apple Bloom pouted.
"Oh, no! Rainbow Flash is NOT gonna stand for THAT!" Rainbow Dash shook her head angrily. "Nopony messes with her friends while she's around!"
"Nope! She'd never let anyone trump against Princess Butterfly's honour!" Scootaloo agreed.
"So the Princess went to the market, trying hard to ignore everypony's insults...it wasn't her fault, they were influenced by the evil Queen herself!" Sweetie Belle went on. "So then, she was buying some fruit at one of the stands...."
"An' somepony pushed poor Princess Butterfly outta tha way!" Apple Bloom said. "An' they didn' even apologize or offer a hoof ta help 'er up!"
"And then Rainbow Flash sees it and swoops in to save the day, right?!" Rainbow Dash prompted, sounding like an excited schoolfilly.
"Yep!" Sweetie Belle nodded.
"'Oh...I'm sorry...please....go ahead.'" Fluttershy said as the Princess.
"And the Princess didn't even notice the approaching flash of a rainbow!"
"'Ya watch where yer goin', Princess!'" Apple Bloom said with a nasty sneer, in character as the rude villager pony.
"'And YOU leave Princess Butterfly alone, foul colt!'" Rainbow Dash declared heroically as Rainbow Flash.
"It was Rainbow Flash! Come to save the day and make sure no one messes with her special friend the Princess!" Scootaloo declared.
"'Oh, Rainbow Flash!'" Fluttershy gasped in-character.
"'These rude village ponies have no right to treat you this way, Princess Butterfly!'" Rainbow Dash proclaimed in-character. "I shall see to it that the ruffians leave you be!'"
"'Oh....Rainbow Flash...thank you....but oh, I'm sorry to inconvenience you..I just..wish I had your confidence." Fluttershy said in-character, yet the words somehow rang true.
"'Princess Butterfly, you mustn't let these ponies push you around! They are all influenced by that wicked old mare! You must get out of that tower, you cannot continue to live like that!'" Rainbow Dash said in-character.
"'I would, but I can't! I...I can't! It's not that easy....'" Fluttershy acted sniffling.
"'Princess, I shall help you!'" Rainbow Dash wiped Fluttershy's face, to the fillies' amusement, and Fluttershy's mild embarrassment.
"'Oh...thank you, Rainbow Flash....'" Fluttershy even faked giving her a hug to stay in-character.
"Now that Rainbow Flash and the Princess could spend time together some more, she decided to take her for a walk!" Said Sweetie Belle, giggling.
"So they walked all around tha village, an' Princess Butterfly soon fergot she was s'pposed ta be gettin' fruit fer tha wicked ol' mare!" Apple Bloom said with a giggle.
"'Um...I think...I was...here for something...'" Fluttershy said in-character.
"'Oh, you were doing something? Well, no matter. Whatever you were supposed to do, it can most certainly wait!'" Rainbow Dash said in-character with a smirk.
"'...A-Are you sure?'" Fluttershy stammered.
"'Of course I am!'" Rainbow Dash threw her foreleg around Fluttershy's shoulders.
The three fillies giggled, grinning.
"So they walked around, just hanging around together!" Sweetie Belle went on.
"But then they were....spotted by one of the Queen's Royal Guards!" Scootaloo threw in.
"An' tha guards didn' like what they was seein' one bit!" Apple Bloom said with a horrified look.
"No, they didn't! They knew something was not right!" Said Sweetie Belle.
"'Rainbow Flash...I wish I could just go away with you! This isn't right...'" Fluttershy faked a sniffle.
"'Princess Butterfly, what I wouldn't give to take you away from your horrid, wicked stepmother and bring you back to Cloudsdale with me!'" Rainbow Dash wiped Fluttershy's face again, causing her to blush, and the fillies to giggle.
"'I wish you could, oh, but my stepmother would cause more trouble...I can't let that happen to you or to my people...'" Fluttershy acted as if she were going to cry.
"'Then I shall have a talk with your wicked stepmother! She cannot keep you locked in a tower forever! You must get out and experience the joy of life in Equestria with me!'" Rainbow Dash nuzzled Fluttershy, which made the fillies giggle even more.
"'Oh, but she would turn you into a toad!'"
"'Then I will recruit my Pegasi friends to assist me! She cannot stand up to the mightiest flyers in all of Cloudsdale, Princess!'"
"'You'd...do that?'"
"'Yes! I will not stand for you to be treated this way any longer! You are a Princess, and you should be treated as such! Not locked away in a tower and treated as a prisoner!'"
"'...Oh, Rainbow Flash...I....I wanted to tell you for so long, that I-'"
"But that was when the guards came!" Said Sweetie Belle.
"They didn't want their Princess being around her!" Scootaloo said in terror.
"An' they seized the poor Princess an' took her away!" Apple Bloom cried in horror.
"The Princess screamed and was crying, practically begging for her saviour to stop this!" Sweetie Belle said dramatically.
"But Rainbow Flash could do nothin' ta stop tha guards from takin' Princess Butterfly away!" Apple Bloom said with a sad pout.
"Oh no!" Fluttershy brought a hoof to her mouth. "So...what happened?"
"The Princess was locked away, this time for good!" Sweetie Belle cried.
"Nooooo!!!" Rainbow Dash looked positively horrified.
"Yup! Tha Princess was forbidden ta ever leave 'er chambers again after that!" Apple Bloom whimpered, her eyes even beginning to tear up a bit.
"Days went by, and Rainbow Flash was despaired at never seeing her dear friend again!!" Scootaloo wailed.
"But she devised a plan to get her out of there for good!" Sweetie Belle said.
"What kind of plan?!" Rainbow Dash prompted with eagerness.
"A good plan!" Apple Bloom looked to Sweetie Belle to fill in the details.
"Um...she would....fly to her window, and carry her out!" Sweetie Belle said.
"But tha wicked stepmother had iron bars put over her windows!" Apple Bloom countered.
"Um....she would...pose as a royal guard, get into her room, and put her in a disguise and sneak her out!" Scootaloo suggested.
"But tha ever-vigilant guards were very good at catchin' an' recognizin' impostors!" Apple Bloom countered again.
"Oh dear, then this should be interesting..." Fluttershy giggled.
"Um...well then she had no choice...she had to fight the Evil Queen! And...get her magical staff!" Sweetie Belle said, grinning.
"Yes! Now THAT is what I'm talking about!" Rainbow Dash grinned.
"So then it was settled! Rainbow Flash would fight tha wicked Queen, with Princess Butterfly's freedom as tha reward fer defeatin' her!" Apple Bloom declared with a grin.
"So Rainbow Flash gathered her other Pegasi friends, telling them to stay clear until she would give them a signal that she would need backup!" Scootaloo grinned.
"Armed with a mighty weapon. she was ready to go out there and defeat the Evil Queen!" Sweetie Belle went on.
"Oooh....how exciting..." Fluttershy smiled.
"But tha evil Queen was well-prepared! Her guards were not only loyal ta her, but they was also well-trained fer battle!" Apple Bloom said with wide eyes.
"But Rainbow Flash will do it!" Scootaloo declared. "And that's because..."
"She loved the Princess more than anypony in the world and was willing to do all she could to save her!" Sweetie Belle giggled.
"Oh..." Fluttershy giggled, blushing a little bit.
"That's right!" Rainbow Dash declared proudly.
"And so off she went! Ready to strike the Evil Queen down!"
"She flew to the castle, and snuck into the Evil Queen's throne room!! Just like that!"
"But tha Evil Queen was ready an' waitin'! She stood behin' her army o' guards, all of 'em prepared ta attack on the Queen's command!"
"'Well well well, what have we here? Rainbow Flash, the Rainbow Queen! Finally made it, huh? Oooh, I'm really scared!'" Scootaloo said as the Evil Queen.
"'You should be scared, you wicked old mare!'" Rainbow Dash said in-character. "'Your army does not scare me in the least! For I have a mighty army of my own!'"
"An' then Rainbow Flash gave tha signal fer her Pegasus army ta help her!" Apple Bloom said heroically.
“'Ha! You say such silly things, you mere Pegasus....but I am an almighty Alicorn with magic beyond your wildest dreams! No such force of your own can take me down!"
"'You say you are an almighty Alicorn, but you are old and weak! Whereas my Pegasus army is strong and powerful! Do you really believe your frail magic can-'" Rainbow Dash said heroically before she was cut off.
Knock knock knock!
"Who the hay could that be?!"
"Whoa!!" The three fillies jumped.
"Could you get that, Rainbow Dash? We'll wait here." Fluttershy said.
"Sure, Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash nodded, trotting downstairs and going to the door, opening it to reveal a certain lavender Unicorn.
"Oh, hi Rainbow Dash!" Twilight Sparkle smiled upon seeing her friend there. "I heard about you and Fluttershy having been at the hospital, and that you came back here. Is everything all right?"
"Oh sure, we're fine, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash grinned and beckoned her Unicorn friend inside the cottage. "Fluttershy just twisted her leg pretty badly, so I'm staying the night to help her out for a while!"
"Oh, well that's very nice of you!" Twilight smiled, coming inside. She had saddle bags on her back. "I was just bringing a couple of books that Fluttershy wanted to borrow."
"Oh, that's cool!" Rainbow Dash nodded, closing the door behind Twilight. "C'mon upstairs. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are here, too. They were just entertaining Fluttershy with a thrilling improv story!"
"Ooh, that sounds fun! Would you mind if I stayed and watched for a bit?"
"Nope! Not at all! I don't think Fluttershy'll mind, either!"
They rejoined Fluttershy and the girls upstairs then, with Twilight sitting on a chair by the bed.
"Hi, Twilight!" Chorused the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Scootaloo bounced excitedly. "We were just telling a story!"
"Want to hear it?" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully.
"Sure!" Twilight smiled, nodding.
"Awright! Everypony get comfy, an' let's get back ta tha story!" Apple Bloom announced.
"Allow me!" Rainbow Dash cleared her throat, and then began to speak in-character. "'You say you are an almighty Alicorn, but you are old and weak! Whereas my Pegasus army is strong and powerful! Do you really believe your frail magic can defeat over a hundred powerful Pegasi?!'"
"And that was when the Pegasi army swarmed in!" Scootaloo declared.
"Then the army of royal guards shot out as well, and there was a huge battle!!" Sweetie Belle said dramatically.
"The Princess heard the commotion!" Fluttershy said. "And she sang out her window, calling her animal friends to come and help!"
"So then dozens an' dozens o' birds an' critters swarmed in!" Apple Bloom cried excitedly. "An' they began attackin' tha Queen's army!"
"There was a biiiig battle! But in the end, most of everyone lay tired and or unconscious. Then, it was JUST Rainbow Flash and the Evil Queen!"
"'You...will never win, Rainbow Flash! She shall never be free!'"
"'I will never let you have her, you wicked Queen! She is the Princess of this land, and she shall be free! And nopony will ever bow to you again!'"
"'You speak foolishly, Rainbow Queen... May you perish forever!!'"
"The Evil Queen fired a beam of magic from her staff, toward Rainbow Flash!!"
"Rainbow Flash tried ta fly outta tha way, but her wings had been badly injured in the battle! She couldn't fly!"
Rainbow Dash recoiled, acting in-character. "'Drat! It looks like this is really the end for me...Princess Butterfly, I...have failed you...'"
"But then a harmonious voice shouted 'Stop!'" Twilight threw in.
The fillies giggled in delight. "Oooh!!"
"And then what?" Fluttershy was wide-eyed.
"The beam of magic stopped in its tracks and dissipated!" Twilight went on. "Through the rising sun, in came the true Queen of all of Equestria! She had been sealed away in the sun all these years by the Evil Queen, and was now coming to stop the evil madness!"
"Whoa! And who is the true Queen of Equestria?" Rainbow Dash quipped with a smirk.
"Yeah, who is it, Twilight?!" Apple Bloom smiled eagerly.
"Queen Celestia, the true Queen of the land!" Twilight declared. "'Stop this at once! Your tyranny ends here!"
"What nonsense do you speak?! You're supposed to be gone!'"
"'Queen Celestia...you are alive...'" Staying in-character, Rainbow Dash bowed low on the floor before Twilight, which made the Unicorn giggle.
"'That I am, dear Rainbow Flash. I was but sealed away into the vast depths of the sun by the dark magic of my sister.'" Twilight said in-character.
"Ooh ooh!!" Sweetie Belle waved her hoof. "And then Queen Celestia broke the evil spell over the Evil Queen....and it was revealed that she was....um...."
"An evil phantom spirit possessing the real her!" Scootaloo added.
"It turned out to be Princess Luna! Her sister!" Twilight went on.
"'Oh, Princess Luna...you are free, at last!'" Apple Bloom said as one of the guards, also bowing before Twilight. "'Tha spell has been lifted from us, your loyal guards, as well!'"
"'What...? I...I'm all right?" Sweetie Belle said as Princess Luna. "Oh...big sister! I...I am so sorry! Oh, please forgive me!'"
Twilight giggled before going on in-character. "My dearest sister, you are forgiven. It was not your fault, but we're all here for you now.' So then Queen Celestia healed everypony, and cleared the entire Kingdom of the evil influence! Once everything was okay, she turned to Rainbow Flash! 'Rainbow Flash...I think it is time you went to the tower. I believe your beloved Princess will be happy to see you.'"
"Yes, dear Queen Celestia..." Rainbow Dash said in-character, a very light blush dusting her cyan cheeks.
"An' so Rainbow Flash, tha Rainbow Queen, flew up ta tha tower where Princess Butterfly was waitin'!" Apple Bloom said with a giggle.
"She came into her chambers, seeing her there, in all her bright and sweet beauty!"
"'Oh...Rainbow Flash! You...you came for me!'" Fluttershy said in-character, trying not to giggle.
"'Yes, my Princess! The evil spell upon the Queen has been broken, and Princess Luna was set free!'" Rainbow Dash tried to fight back her blush as she nuzzled Fluttershy. "'And now you are free, and I shall take you to Cloudsdale to spend the rest of eternity together, for you are my very special somepony!'"
"Awww!!!" Apple Bloom giggled behind her hooves.
"'Oh Rainbow D-...Flash! Yes! I will! You are my special somepony and I love you!'" Fluttershy squealed happily.
"Awwwww!!" Sweetie Belle mimicked Apple Bloom.
"...Oh, what the heck, awwww." Scootaloo smiled.
Twilight giggled knowingly behind her hoof. "Awwww..."
"'And I love you, Princess Butterfly! Please let me take you away to Cloudsdale, and then we may rule together, as the Rainbow Queen and the Butterfly Queen!'" Rainbow Dash nuzzled Fluttershy again, and even gave her a discreet little kiss!
Fluttershy blushed heavily and then nuzzled back. "'Yes! Let's go away together to Cloudsdale! Forever!'"
"An' so Princess Butterfly an' Rainbow Flash flew away to Cloudsdale, where they spent tha rest of eternity rulin' alongside each other, happy ta be tagether at last!" Apple Bloom concluded, giggling at the two Pegasi.
"The end!" Sweetie Belle giggled.
"Oh, that was very fun!" Fluttershy clapped her hoof against her hind legs.
"And that was a Cutie Mark Crusaders Production!" The three fillies chorused, taking bows.
"Well done, everypony!" Twilight clapped. "What a fun story!"
"Yeah, squirts! That was pretty good!" Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Where'd you learn to storytell like that?"
"From Miss Flower Heart!" Apple Bloom replied. "She was foalsittin' us one day while Applejack an' Big Macintosh was busy with tha orchard, an' she taught us ta make up improv stories!"
"We all made a few together!" Sweetie Belle giggled. "It was so fun!"
"Yep! So we're going to take our routine around!" Scootaloo said. "Maybe our cutie marks will come from storytelling!"
"Well, you never know...." Twilight said knowingly.
"Awright! Cutie Mark Crusader storytellers!" Apple Bloom announced, high-hoofing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
Riiiiiiiiiing!!!!!
"Oh! Tha cookies mus' be done! Let's go check on 'em!"
"Oh, I'll come with you girls and help out!" Twilight offered, getting up. She placed the books from her saddle bags onto Fluttershy's bedside table.
"All right!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders then hopped off the bed, scampering to get downstairs.
"We'll be right back with the cookies." Twilight winked, following them down.
"Take your time, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash winked back, turning to Fluttershy. "Well...I dunno about you, pal...but once the squirts are gone...that story gave me some ideas..."
"W-What do you mean?" Fluttershy blinked, wide-eyed, oblivious, but she was blushing.
"Relax, Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash nuzzled her lightly. "I don't mean anything like that...I just mean some snuggle-time!" As much as the cyan mare wouldn't admit this to anypony, she was pretty partial to getting close with Fluttershy.
"O-Oh! Well...sure...of course." Fluttershy blushed a bit.
"All right, then once the squirts leave, it's just you and me." Rainbow Dash chuckled softly, nuzzling Fluttershy again.
Fluttershy blushed some more and giggled happily. "Yes, I suppose it will be..."
Rainbow Dash chuckled, nuzzling her some more. "Just you and me, pal..."
Downstairs, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with Twilight's help, checked on their cookies. "Mmmm! These smell so yummy!" Apple Bloom declared as Twilight opened the oven.
"They certainly do, girls!" Twilight pulled them out with her magic, as well as closing the oven door. "I think you did a good job!"
"Well thank you! We hope so!" Sweetie Belle giggled.
"We ARE the Cutie Mark Crusader bakers, after all!" Scootaloo said proudly.
"Now fer tha taste test!" Apple Bloom announced, reaching for a cookie. But Twilight stopped her before her hoof could touch one.
"Just a minute, girls. Let's not get too excited," Twilight smiled. "They're very hot, so let's give them a minute to cool down. Besides, hot sugar can really burn your tongue if you're not careful."
"Oooh, thanks Twilight." Apple Bloom pulled her hoof away. "Ah don' wanna burn mah tongue, or mah hooves."
"No kidding! I did that once, and it hurt!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Don't worry girls, we'll just give them a minute or two, and I'll even try to speed things along." Twilight used her magic to cool the cookies down a little bit. "But there is nothing like eating them fresh from the oven, so let's not wait too long."
"Mmmm, fresh-baked cookies are always the best!" Scootaloo declared, jumping up and fluttering her little wings.
"Ah'll get us some milk ta go with tha cookies!" Apple Bloom trotted over to the fridge, pulling it open and trying to remove a jug of milk without dropping it.
"Do you need help there, Apple Bloom?" Twilight sauntered over to the little filly.
"I'll get some plates!" Sweetie Belle said, going to find them.
"Yes, please!" Apple Bloom nodded to the Unicorn. "Ah don' wanna spill tha milk!" "Lemme help you, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo trotted after her friend.
"All right, well since you got the fridge open, that'll make this easier!" Twilight smiled, and used her magic to levitate the milk jug over to the counter. "Why don't we get some glasses?"
"Here they are! Just where we left 'em!" Sweetie Belle reached for a few, with Scootaloo's help.
"Got 'em!" Scootaloo boosted Sweetie Belle up to reach them.
"Twilight, can ya pour tha milk?" Apple Bloom looked to Twilight pleadingly.
"Of course, Apple Bloom!" Twilight waited until the cups were set on the counter, and proceeded to pour the milk with her magic.
"Got 'em!" Sweetie Belle managed to take six small plates. "Lower me down, Scoot!"
"Going down!" Scootaloo giggled, crouching down so Sweetie Belle could get down.
"Thank ya!" Apple Bloom smiled, carefully taking two cups to the table.
Twilight inspected the cookies for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay girls, I think they're perfect now!"
"Yay!!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly, placing all the plates down. "Let's dig in!"
"Mmmm!!! These look delicious!" Scootaloo took a few cookies and set them on her plate.
"Uh-huh!" Apple Bloom also placed a few cookies on her plate.
"They smell awesome!" Sweetie Belle took a couple for herself.
"They certainly do! Why don't you girls try the first bite?" Twilight smiled, taking two for herself with her magic.
"Don't mind if I do!" Scootaloo bit into a cookie. "Mmmm!!! Delicious!!!"
"Ah'll try one!" Apple Bloom took a bite of a cookie, too. "Yummy in mah tummy!"
Sweetie Belle took a bite of one. "Mmm! They did turn out awesome! This is yummy!"
"Well then!" Twilight took a bite of one, and smiled brightly. "Wow! Delicious, girls! You did a wonderful job on them!"
"Thank ya, Twilight!" Apple Bloom beamed at the older mare.
"Hey, you know what this means?! Maybe our talent really is baking!" Scootaloo eagerly checked her flank, but it was still barren of a cutie mark. "Awww...maybe not..."
Sweetie Belle checked hers also. "Nothing here, either..."
"Now girls, don't worry about that." Twilight said gently with a smile. "Even if they may not result in your cutie marks, it is always nice to find things you like to do and are good at, right?"
"...Yeah, I guess you're right. Baking and cooking can be pretty fun!" Sweetie Belle smiled.
Apple Bloom also checked hers, frowning. Then she smiled at what Twilight said. "Yeah, yer right. It is fun tryin' new thangs, at least."
"It is pretty fun." Scootaloo nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, part of the fun of growing up, and even when you get older, is finding new things to try." Twilight said. "And hey, you three have found some fun things like you to do, right?"
"Yeah, we definitely have!" Sweetie Belle smiled brightly.
"There you go! And isn't it better, sharing it together?"
"Sure is!" Apple Bloom giggled.
"You bet!" Scootaloo hopped up and down, fluttering her wings as she did so.
"And at least we know we can bake! Finally!" Sweetie Belle giggled. "Thanks to Pinkie Pie! Ooh! Do you think Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy will like them?"
"Oh, I think they will." Twilight winked.
"Then let's bring some ta them!" Apple Bloom grinned. "They mus' be able ta smell 'em, an' they're prob'ly hungry!"
"Good idea, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo grinned, too.
"All right, put some on those two plates and we'll bring them up!" Twilight nodded.
"Yay!" Sweetie Belle took one of them, placing a couple of cookies on it.
"We should bring 'em some milk, too!" Apple Bloom suggested.
"Yeah, nothing goes better with cookies than milk!" Scootaloo piped.
"All right, well you bring up the cookies, and I'll bring the milk for them." Twilight said, pouring some milk into two glasses.
"Great idea!" Sweetie Belle took the plate in her teeth.
Angel then stood by, looking at them pleadingly, and sniffing for the cookies. He clearly wanted one, too.
"Awright, Angel! Y'all can have one, too!" Apple Bloom took a cookie and gave it to him, smiling.
"Can I help you, Twilight?" Scootaloo asked eagerly.
"Of course, Scootaloo! Go ahead!" Twilight encouraged the Pegasus filly.
Angel smiled gratefully at her as a way to say thank you before taking the cookie and happily eating it.
"Let's go, guys!" Sweetie Belle said, heading to the stairs.
"Comin'!" Apple Bloom trotted after Sweetie Belle, glancing back at Twilight and Scootaloo to see if they'd need any more help.
"Okay!" Scootaloo took a plate, balancing it carefully and trotting after her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders.
They came back upstairs, just as Rainbow Dash separated herself from Fluttershy (both of them blushing...), and offered them the cookies and milk.
"Here you go!" Sweetie Belle said. "They turned out great!"
"Oh, I could smell them from up here!" Fluttershy smiled, taking a cookie. "They look delicious!"
"They really did turn out good, actually." Twilight confirmed. "They did a good job!"
"These look and smell awesome, squirts!" Rainbow Dash grinned, taking a cookie, as well.
"Here's some milk ta go with 'em!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo each handed over a glass of milk to the two Pegasi.
"I even put a straw in yours, Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle said brightly.
"Oh, thank you!" Fluttershy smiled, and tasted the cookie. She lit up and nodded. "Mm-hm! This is delicious, girls!"
Rainbow Dash bit into the cookie, grinning and licking her lips. "This is incredible! You squirts really did an awesome job! Even better than Pinkie Pie!"
"We won' tell 'er y'all said so..." Apple Bloom giggled.
Twilight giggled, smiling warmly. "You girls really did a good job on them, I hope you'll make them again sometime."
"We sure will!" Sweetie Belle promised. "We can still be the Cutie Mark Crusader Bakers!"
"Even if we won't earn our cutie marks as bakers!" Scootaloo nodded.
"It's still fun ta bake!" Apple Bloom agreed.
"That's very good to hear, girls!" Fluttershy said, finising one cookie and starting on the next before taking a sip of her milk.
"Well, I'm going to get going now." Twilight said, taking her saddle bags. "I have to get back to the library, anyway. Thank you so much for the cookies!"
"You're welcome, Twilight! See you later!" Sweetie Belle waved.
"Bye, Twilight!" Apple Bloom called, waving.
"See you, Twilight!" Scootaloo waved, as well.
"Thank you for coming Twilight, I'll see you soon, of course." Fluttershy smiled. "No problem! Bye, guys!" Twilight waved, and descended down the stairs.
"So! Now what?" Scootaloo asked the older girls.
"No idea. Maybe we should let you rest a while?" Rainbow Dash asked Fluttershy.
"Oh, I'm all right." Fluttershy giggled.
Knock knock knock!
"Who could that be?" Sweetie Belle blinked.
"I'll go see!" Rainbow Dash zipped down the stairs and answered the door. "Hey, Rarity. What's up? You looking for Sweetie Belle?"
"Why yes, I came to pick up the girls and bring them home!" Rarity nodded. "Sweetie Belle had said she and the girls were coming here today. Are they still here? Oh, and for that matter, what brings you here, Rainbow Dash?" The designer Unicorn tilted her head slightly.
"Guess you didn't hear about Fluttershy, did ya?" Rainbow Dash hovered in the doorway, crossing her forelegs.
Rarity gasped. "What? Fluttershy?! Oh!!" Without waiting for an explanation, she dashed in and went upstairs. "Oh my! Fluttershy, darling! You're injured!! Whatever happened?"
"Oh, Rarity!" Fluttershy blinked, and looked down a bit. "I don't know how it happened...I was helping Angel fixing his bed, but then I fell and tripped..and I ended up with a sprained, swollen leg. Then Rainbow Dash found me here, and took me to the hospital."
"Hiya, Rarity!" Apple Bloom waved her hoof at Sweetie Belle's older sister. "Ya here ta pick us up fer tha sleepover?"
"Yep! Sleepover at Rarity's tonight!" Sweetie Belle answered for her.
"You poor dear!!" Rarity said dramatically, before composing herself. "Don't you worry Fluttershy, I'll be sure to help if you ever so need it, of course! Until then, I do apologize for my departure, but I am to watch the girls tonight, since our parents are out of town for the weekend."
"Oh, I understand, Rarity. I hope you all have a lovely evening!" Fluttershy smiled.
"This is gonna be so much fun!" Apple Bloom cheered.
"Yeah, it's gonna be awesome!" Scootaloo piped, jumping up and fluttering her wings excitedly.
"Well then girls, get your things, and we'll be off!" Rarity said cheerfully.
"Yay! Sleepover!!" Sweetie Belle hopped off to find her saddle bags.
"Wanna try some of tha cookies we baked?!" Apple Bloom offered with a bright smile.
"They're delicious! Even Twilight Sparkle thought so!" Scootaloo proclaimed.
"Oh, well all right!" Rarity trotted downstairs, going over to where the cookies sat, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders following her. She levitated one to her, and ate it. "Oooh! Well, how divine!"
"Yay!!" Sweetie Belle beamed, clearly happy for her sister's approval.
"Awesome! Four out of four ponies agree, Cutie Mark Crusaders' chocolate chip cookies are delicious!" Scootaloo grinned, high-hoofing the others.
"Yeah! Oooh, Ah should take some fer Applejack, Granny Smith an' Big Macintosh!" Apple Bloom gathered some cookies into her saddle bags.
"That's a great idea, Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle approved.
"Simply divine indeed, I'm sure anyone who tries will just loooove them!" Rarity proclaimed.
"Yeah, you should totally bring them some!" Scootaloo agreed.
"Ah will! Maybe they'll even make Miss Flower Heart feel better!" Apple Bloom said hopefully.
"Well come then girls, we can give her some on the way home!" Rarity proclaimed. "Come now, then!"
"All right, let's go! Cutie Mark Crusaders cookie delivery!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly.
"Yay!" Apple Bloom cheered. "Let's go!" Scootaloo called excitedly.
"Goodbye now!" Rarity called upstairs to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "Do get better, dear!"
"Hee hee, I will... Bye, girls! Bye Rarity!" Fluttershy called back.
"Bye, Fluttershy! Bye, Rainbow Dash!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders called to the older Pegasi.
"See ya, squirts!" Rainbow Dash called back to them.
The front door closed as they left. "Well, that was a lovely little visit." Fluttershy smiled. "Maybe I should get injured more often..."
"Don't give me ideas, pal..." Rainbow Dash chuckled, smirking a bit. "I might have to see to it that it happens..."
"Oh, Dashie...that's just silly." Fluttershy giggled.
"You know I'm only messing anyway, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash grinned. "And now that the squirts are gone...it's alone time for us now."
"Shall we make dinner?" Fluttershy suggested, smiling.
Grinning, Rainbow Dash nodded as she helped her friend out of bed. "Sure, pal! Let's go!"
The rest of the evening passed without much of a hitch. Despite that Fluttershy's injured foreleg did end up bothering her at times, it was overall very pleasant for them. Both of them made a simple but delectable dinner of grilled cheese and daisy sandwiches with some leftover soup, all the while just sitting together and nattering about whatever was on their minds. It wasn't the first time they had dinner together, but it was still all the more enjoyable to share together.
"Phew! Okay, I think we're done with everything and interruptions for the night, pal," Rainbow Dash said, helping Fluttershy onto her bed, making sure she was comfortable.
Fluttershy blushed, and then scooted over to make room for her on the bed. "Yes...I don't think...we'll be interrupted again."
Rainbow Dash chuckled, before sliding into bed next to her best friend. "Nope...don't think...we'll have any more interruptions...tonight," she yawned.
Smiling more, Fluttershy snuggled against the cyan Pegasus with glee. "I'm so happy you're here with me, Rainbow..."
Giggling and smiling, Rainbow Dash snuggled the creamy-yellow Pegasus in return. "Hey, I told you before, Fluttershy. I've always got your back..."
"I've got...your back, too..." Fluttershy giggled, and gave Rainbow Dash a little affectionate lick, followed by a butterfly kiss.
"Awww, Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash giggled and blushed, before playfully nibbling on her ear and then nuzzling her.
"Oooh!" Fluttershy squeaked, and then giggled.
"At least now..." Rainbow Dash nuzzled Fluttershy again. "...we can have our snuggle-time, pal..."
"Yes, we can have our snuggle-time..." Fluttershy smiled more. "That should be nice..."
"Uh-huh..." Rainbow Dash yawned again. "Snuggle-time at last..."
Yawning as well, Fluttershy snuggled more into her. "Mm-hmm...finally it's time for snuggle-time..."
Chuckling softly, the cyan Pegasus snuggled into her as well. "Snuggle-time...and sleepy-time, too..."
"Hee...yes, time for sleepy-time, too... Mmm...would you like me to sing a lullaby?"
"Heh heh...you can if you want..."
"Okay..." Fluttershy closed her eyes and cleared her throat.
"Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed
Drifting off to sleep
The exciting day behind you
Drifting off to sleep
Let the joy of dream land find you
Hush now, quiet now
Lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed..."
By the time Fluttershy had finished her lullaby, Rainbow Dash was sound-asleep, snoring softly. She wrapped her forelegs around the shy Pegasus and pulled her close, nuzzling her head.
Fluttershy giggled, snuggling into her best friend. “Goodnight, Rainbow Dash...” as she too slowly drifted off to sleep, nuzzling her back.
Now re-written!
This was co-written by a friend of mine and I, which started out as an RPG. :D She plays Rainbow Dash, I'm Fluttershy! X3 So credit for some of the writing, some character ponies, as well as the titles goes to her! I just managed to edit it as best as I can into story form!
Once again, part two (and mentions in part 3) contain mild sexual content, but nothing huge. Just warning you!
The Disney songs are With A Smile and A Song (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and I Wonder (Sleeping Beauty)
Hush Now is from the show itself.