//------------------------------// // 10 - Expectations (Best Night Ever) // Story: A Slice of Flutterdash // by UnlicensedBrony //------------------------------// It was well after midnight, and the Canterlot Palace Gardens were peacefully quiet. Moonlight played over the winding trail, lighting the way for the two pegasi who walked alone, careful not to disturb the silence. The many little critters, who called the Gardens their home, watched from bushes and tree branches as the smiling ponies passed, and every now and then a couple of birds would flit overhead, drawing attention to themselves only long enough for them to vanish into the night. Rainbow watched the spectacle with an honest smile on her face. Even she had to admit that the Gardens were awesome, and walking them with Fluttershy by her side brought a strange sense of peace to her mind after the rough evening. It wasn't so much the cute animals and decorations that made her smile though. The look on Fluttershy's face, as she drifted along the trail in her flowing gala dress, could well have been the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. “This is wonderful,” said Fluttershy, smiling back at the pair of squirrels who watched her from the hollow of a tree. “I can't believe you convinced the princess to let us come back here after hours.” Trying to play it off as no big deal – though she knew it was – Rainbow shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a pretty awesome marefriend.” Fluttershy drifted across and pressed gently up against her. “That goes without saying. Thank you for this, Rainbow.” Pleased with herself, Rainbow wrapped a wing around her partner as they turned another corner. “Hey, I figured at least one of us should get her Best Night Ever. Especially after how long we've been waiting for it, right?” “Mm”, said Fluttershy, closing her eyes and resting her head against Rainbow's. “For what it's worth, I'm sorry tonight wasn't what you were hoping for.” “It's not the end of the world,” said Rainbow. And it wasn't. Sure, she was a little put out that she didn't get to spend more time with the Wonderbolts, but there'd be other chances. She squeezed her wing around Fluttershy, enjoying the warmth between them. “Besides, it all worked out pretty well in the end. Didn't think I'd get a chance to go on a 'long walk in the moonlight' with you. I bet Rarity would be jealous.” “Oh, I felt so terrible that her prince didn't turn out to be very... princely. She was so excited about meeting him.” “Yeah, she thought it'd be 'love at first sight'.” Rainbow gagged. “She'll get over it before long. It's not her fault he was a jerk. Maybe when we get back to Ponyville she'll actually start paying attention to all the nice guys chasing her.” She paused, then shook her head. “But probably not. She's holding out for her fairy-tale prince.” Fluttershy turned her eyes skyward, as another couple of birds flew past. “Do you think she'll find him?” 'How should I know?' Rainbow curled her lip and watched the trail ahead for a moment, thinking about it. “I think she'll find someone,” she said at last. “It might not be who she's expecting, but he'll make her feel special. Or she'll make her feel special. However it turns out, I guess.” Fluttershy giggled. “You're so romantic lately.” “Wonder why that is,” said Rainbow, grinning. They followed the trail in silence for a while longer, content to just hold one another close and enjoy the walk. Fluttershy would pause now and then to get a closer look at a foraging critter, but they didn't stop to rest properly until they reached a cute little stone bridge over a stream. They leant out over the side, watching all manner of colourful fish swimming past, and enjoying the gentle babbling of the water. Again, Rainbow wasn't all that interested in the creatures themselves, but her mouth did drop a little when she saw a very big, very cool-looking fish swim by, with rainbow fins that left sparkling trails behind it in the water. An excellent fashion choice, if she did say so herself. “...Rainbow?” said Fluttershy. Rainbow turned slowly, to see her smiling down at the water. “I can't thank you enough for this.” Rainbow blinked, then gave her an arch smile. “But you're gonna keep trying, huh? Seriously, you're welcome. I just wanted to make tonight special for you, that's all.” “And it means the world to me,” Fluttershy said. Her eyes drifted shut, and she said nothing more. Somepony who didn't know her as well as Rainbow did wouldn't have noticed the way her smile flickered, or the little nervous gulp. Rainbow noticed though, and she recognised the signs. Hoping to make Fluttershy feel more comfortable, Rainbow averted her eyes and pretended to be watching the fish again. She let the silence hang in the air for a moment, before speaking up in her gentlest voice. “Was there somethin' else you wanted to say?” Fluttershy let out a long breath through her nose, which sounded relieved. “Yes,” she said, followed by another silence. Rainbow didn't press, she gave Fluttershy time to gather herself. After a few more moments, in the corner of her eye, Rainbow saw her lift her head and open her eyes again. “I've been thinking about you quite a lot lately--” She paused, then corrected herself. “An awful lot, really.” Rainbow nodded understandingly. “Happens to everyone.” Fluttershy giggled and shook her head. “I mean, I've been thinking about us,” she said, more relaxed now. “There's something I've been meaning to tell you. I've been waiting for the right moment, and after how lovely tonight has been...” There was suddenly a lot of unexplainable tension in Rainbow's shoulders. She tried to play it off, and she thought she did a pretty good job of hiding her own nervous gulp. “G-go for it.” “I know I rushed into this before,” said Fluttershy. “But I've had a lot of time to think about it now. I've thought, and I've waited, and-- Well, I don't need to wait anymore.” She turned to smile at Rainbow, and with only the slightest hint of pink in her cheeks, said, “I'm ready.” After the second it took to process that, Rainbow felt a rush of heat come over her, starting from her heart and washing all the way out to her face and hooves. “You're ready,” she repeated, trying the jostle her brain into action. Unable to decide whether to grin like an idiot or frown in concern, she settled for something in between. “Y-you sure?” It was a stupid question. Rainbow could see the surety and intent behind those eyes. All the same, Fluttershy gave her a gentle smile and nodded. “I've never been more sure of anything in my life,” she said. “You're special to me, Rainbow. Very special. I want to show you just how much you mean to me.” Rainbow's mouth had gone dry. There was a definite smile on her face now, though she was quaking a little. She shook her head slightly. “You don't have to do anything different to show me that, Fluttershy. I already know how you feel about me – I see it every time you smile – 'cause it's the same way I feel about you.” Fluttershy hid one eye behind her mane, though it was more playful than timid. “Well, I may also have a slightly selfish ulterior motive,” she said, which only made Rainbow blush brighter. “I want this,” Fluttershy insisted. “But this time, I'm not just thinking about me. I want us both to remember this night forever. So I'm not telling you, I'm asking you...” Her eyes literally twinkled in the moonlight. “Would you please stay with me tonight?” If a question could ever come close to making Rainbow tear up, that was it. As cool and together as she was, she managed to play if off, but even so... The sincerity Fluttershy put into the words, the intense emotion behind them, and above all, the renewed trust in her eyes. After that one night, which seemed so long ago now, she'd been afraid that Fluttershy would never trust her enough to ask again. But she did, and she had. And there was only only answer Rainbow could give. “Yeah,” she whispered, with a smile that said more than the word alone ever could. “Yeah, I'd love to.” She crossed the distance between them, closed her eyes, and met Fluttershy in a long, tender kiss. The tension that'd built up in her shoulders melted away as quickly as it'd come, leaving behind only a comfortable, buzzing feeling. It was the most a kiss with Fluttershy had ever meant to Rainbow – and that was saying something – conveying all the relief and excitement and joy that she didn't even know she'd been feeling. She knew Fluttershy felt it, too. They didn't part, so much as they moved closer and wrapped together in a hug, nuzzling into one another's manes and relaxing into the embrace. Fluttershy made a quiet noise of contentment, and simply murmured, “Yay.” Rainbow chuckled and held her tight. She hadn't gotten her way with the Wonderbolts, and nor had any of her friends got what they expected from the evening. But whether by chance or some grand design, for she and Fluttershy, it'd still turned out to be the Best Night Ever. * * *