//------------------------------//
// Dashie's Lovesickness 
// Story: Love Cures All 
// by NintendoGal55 
//------------------------------//

A few weeks later, Fluttershy's injured foreleg was finally healed. She was able to walk again, move it again, and just do things again! She was happy about it, and so was Rainbow Dash.

Speaking of, Fluttershy was heading up to Rainbow Dash's home in Cloudsdale right then. They were going to see a movie together, and she was going to pick her up.

But upon arrival, something was wrong.

"Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy came inside the house. "Are you home? Hello?"

Tank, Rainbow Dash's pet tortoise, blinked at Fluttershy from inside his aquarium, opening his mouth and emitting a croaking type of noise.  But that wasn't the noise that alerted the creamy-yellow Pegasus.

It was the noises coming from Rainbow Dash's bedroom.

"...Rainbow?" Fluttershy slowly approached her best friend's bedroom. "Are you all right? What's going on?"

There was no immediate response, which worried Fluttershy to no end.  But after a moment, she heard something on the other side of the door.

"Ah...aaah...aaaaachoo!!!!!"

"Oh dear!" Fluttershy opened the door and then flew into her room, worried. "Rainbow Dash, are you all right??"

Rainbow Dash was lying in her bed, the covers pulled up to her neck.  Her eyes were bloodshot and watery, her cheeks were flushed, and her snout, especially around her nose, was bright red.  She sniffled, blinking bleary-eyed at her best friend.

"Hey, Fwuddershy...don'd gobe doo glose...I thigue I've god a...a..."

Fluttershy shook her head and flew over to her. "No, there is no doubt. You have a cold. Oh...are you all right? Symptoms?"

"By thwoad's sore...by head is boudigue...ad by dose is blogued..." Rainbow Dash sniffled again, reaching for her bedside table as she tried to fight off an oncoming sneeze.  "Ah...aaah..."

"Oh!" Fluttershy grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.

Rainbow grabbed it, covering her snout just in time.  "Aaachoo!!!  ...Thagues, Fwuddershy.  I don'd thigue we're baguigue de bovie, dough..."

"Oh, it'll be playing for two weeks," Fluttershy said, waving it off. "We'll just make it when you're better. You poor thing... Do you need some medicine? Some water?"

Rainbow wiped her nose and tossed the tissue aside.  "Wadder would be dize, if you don'd bide.  Bud I don'd have ady bedizide, begause I don'd ged sigue hardly ever..."

"You should always keep some on hoof, just in case." Fluttershy told her. "Hold on, I'll send for some right away! Just a moment." 

She left the room for a few minutes. Then she came back with a glass of water.

"I just sent a couple of birds to bring some medicine from home, so we'll have some in a few minutes." Fluttershy assured her, giving her the water.

"Thagues a wod, Fwuddershy..." Rainbow sniffled thickly, coughing into the crook of her foreleg for a minute.  She took a drink of water once the coughing fit subsided, swallowing gingerly.  "Dis sdigues, dough...I don'd wadda be sigue...dod whed we had pwads, ezpeziawwy..."

"Awww...it's okay, Rainbow...these things happen," Fluttershy assured her kindly with a sweet smile. "I'll take care of you, don't you worry."

"Bud den you bide gadge by gode..." Rainbow sniffled, shaking her head.  "Ad I'd feew bad if you did..." She scrunched up her snout, feeling another sneeze threatening to come.

Fluttershy handed her another tissue. "Oh, don't even worry about that, I washed my hooves and I won't get too close."

Rainbow took it, covering her snout just as she sneezed.  "Weww...if you're sure aboud dis...den I guezz I gan'd say or do adythigue do godvidze you, otherwise..."

"Not at all, no," Fluttershy shook her head. "After all, you took care of me ever since I injured my leg...and well...I'm returning the favour. Not that I would need to owe you to take care of you, of course!" 

"As wog as you don'd dwead be wigue a foaw..." Rainbow rolled her bloodshot eyes.

"Can't say I wouldn't want to!" Fluttershy giggled, winking. "Now then, do you need anything else?"

"Dothigue off de dob of by head..." Rainbow sniffled, shaking her head.  "Dot undil de bedizide arrives, adyway..."

Fluttershy heard twittering at the open window, and flew over to greet a few birds who gave her a bag. She thanked them, and then returned to Rainbow Dash's bedside. "Here we go!" She pulled out some medicine. "This is grape-flavoured medicine, Flower Heart made it.... It's very sweet and delicious!"

"Bwushy bagues bedizides, huh?" Rainbow sniffled, eyeing the medicine curiously.  "Ad I guezz you've dagued her rebedies?"

"Oh, yes!" Fluttershy flew out again, coming back with a cup filled with medicine, and some more water. "It's also quite potent. She makes them with natural herbs and other medicinal extracts."

"Oh weally?  Whad'll dis bedizide gwear ub?" Rainbow asked, reaching to take the cup of medicine.  "Evewythigue dat's wrogue wid be, I hobe?"

"Oh yes, this one works on multiple symptoms! It does work on fevers, but only to relieve them a bit. She has a better medicine for fevers. She used to make them in needles, to inject them directly into the forehead."

At the very mention of needles, Rainbow Dash's teary, bloodshot eyes went wide. "Deedwes?!  Uh-uh!  Doe way!  I don'd do deedwes!"

"Oh, don't worry. She has since then managed to since then develop them into pill form. It took some help from hospitals, but it worked!" Fluttershy assured, taking out a small container of tablets. "They've been tested by a couple of hospitals across Equestria, and they're proven to work very well."

"Is Bodyviwwe Hosbidaw ode of dose?" Rainbow asked warily, sniffling.  "Id's dot dat I don'd bewieve you or Bwushy...I'be jusd woderigue..."

"Oh yes! She brought both prototypes to the hospital here in Ponyville." Fluttershy nodded. "They were tested there and the results were that of the same. If you want to take one if you feel feverish, I made sure to have some brought here."

"I feew bore achy dan fevewish..." Rainbow Dash groaned, falling back into her pillows.  "Eved by wigues are sore..."

"Awww...." Fluttershy flew over, adjusting her blankets. "You just get some rest. I'll make you my special soup for you to eat, and I'll be right here if you need me. Don't you worry about a thing."

"Ogay den...souds good do be..." Rainbow snuggled under her blankets, nuzzling into her pillow.  "Ub...do you thigue you gad feed Tague for be?  I was doo sigue do ged oud of bed dis bordigue..."

"Of course! I'll certainly feed him." Fluttershy promised with a smile. "You just rest, and I'll take care of everything else." She kissed her on the forehead, and then trotted out of the room to take care of everything.

"Thagues, pal..." Rainbow yawned and coughed, her eyes drooping closed as she slowly drifted off to sleep.





Some time later, Fluttershy made some soup, her specialty sick soup. When she came into Rainbow Dash's room, the sick mare was awake and reading comic books.

"Hello, Dashie...I hope you're hungry!"

Rainbow Dash glanced up from her comic book, smiling a bit as Fluttershy came into her room.  "Hey, pal.  Yeah, I think I've got a bit of an appetite back." She sniffled.  "Don't know how much I'll be able to taste, though."

"I suppose we'll see, won't we?" Fluttershy hovered next to her bedside, placing the tray down.

"Guess so," Rainbow Dash nodded, sniffing the bowl of soup.  "Well...I can kind of smell it, at least..."

"That's good to know," Fluttershy smiled. "Will you be able to feed yourself, or would you like some help?"

"I think I can handle it myself..." Rainbow Dash chuckled, but coughed a bit. 

"Oh, if you can do it, I won't have to." Fluttershy giggled. "Go right ahead."

"No. You go ahead," Rainbow blushed mildly, giggling a bit.  "I told you earlier I've almost never been sick, so I've never had anypony take care of me, before."

"Hee....I suppose. All right, then..." Fluttershy sat down, and then held the spoon to her. "Open wide for the train! Choo choo!" She threw in for good measure, playfully.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but opened her mouth wide so Fluttershy could feed her.  "Aaahhh..."

Fluttershy giggled and fed her the spoonful. "What do you think?"

Rainbow swallowed the soup, licking her lips.  "Not bad.  I can see why why anypony would eat it when they have the pony pox or something!"

"Oh, thank you...." Fluttershy blushed a bit, flattered. "I try..." She fed her best friend some more. "I'm glad you like it..."

"It's good." Rainbow nodded, swallowing more and enjoying the warm liquid cascading down her raw throat.  "And it feels good going down."

"Oh, that's good! Exactly what I intend for." Fluttershy looked relieved, feeding her some more. "That its warmth and texture feel good going down and won't scratch your throat or make your fever worse."

"You must've taken lessons!" Rainbow grinned lightly, swallowing more of the soup.  "Not to say that I don't think you could've developed the soup on your own, I mean..."

"Oh, I did develop the soup on my own. I did receive some ideas and tips, but it was mostly my own..." Fluttershy smiled, feeding her some more.

"And this is what you give to your critters when they don't feel well, isn't it?" Rainbow swallowed another spoonful, sighing with relief as the soup seemed to soothe her sore throat.

"Yes, it certainly is." Fluttershy nodded. "It didn't quite work with Phillomeena, though..." She giggled at the memory.

"You mean Princess Celestia's pet Phoenix?" Rainbow chuckled lightly, though it caused her to cough.

"Hee...yes." Fluttershy giggled, feeding her more soup.

Rainbow swallowed the soup, wincing a bit as it went down, but soon feeling its healing warmth relieving the pain.

Fluttershy kept feeding her, giggling and then soon finished it. 

"There you go. Feel better?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, licking the last few drops from her lips.  "Yeah.  That helped.  Thanks, pal."

"You're very welcome, Dashie..." Fluttershy took the dishes away. "You just rest some more, and let me know if you need anything."

"Will do, Fluttershy..." Rainbow snuggled back down into her blankets, picking up her comic book to continue reading.  "Thanks a lot..."

"You're welcome..." Fluttershy smiled at her over her shoulder and flew out of the room.





The next morning, Fluttershy had stayed over night at Rainbow Dash's home (having consulted with Kitten and Flower Heart to look after her animals the night before). She awoke, and didn't hear a peep from her room.

To begin with, Fluttershy fed Tank, and then went to her best friend's bedroom.

"Dashie? Are you up?" 

Rainbow Dash groaned and tossed under her blankets, her rainbow mane sticking to her sweaty forehead.  Her cyan cheeks were flushed red, but her complexion was otherwise pale.

Fluttershy gasped, and zipped right over to her in worry. "Rainbow! Rainbow Dash, are you okay? Oh...you're feverish!" She zipped over to her bag, digging for the fever pills.

Rainbow Dash blinked her eyes open, staring at the hazy image of Fluttershy in her bedroom.  "Flutter...shy...?  Izzat you...?"

"Yes, it's me! Hold on!" Fluttershy zipped out, and came back with a glass of water, and one of the pills in hoof. "Here Dashie, take one of these."

Rainbow blearily reached for the pill, nearly knocking it out of Fluttershy's hoof. "Hold still...which hoof..."

"I'm not moving..." Fluttershy blinked, and shook her head. "It's in my left."

"Left hoof...right..." Rainbow grabbed hold of Fluttershy's right hoof, attempting to grab the pill with her mouth, not realizing that she still had the wrong hoof.

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy pulled away, placed the pill into her mouth, and then had her drink and swallow it down with water. 

"The fever is affecting you..oh...don't worry, once the pill kicks in, you'll be able to relax and it'll relieve it and reduce it."

"Uh-huh..." Rainbow said dazedly, staring at Fluttershy.  "Hee hee...you're pretty...pretty Pegasus..."

Fluttershy blushed, placing the glass aside. "Um...thank you?"

Rainbow giggled, grinning goofily and blushing, too.  "Pretty pony...you're so pretty..."

"Um....that's sweet of you to say...but oh, that's your fever talking..." Fluttershy said softly.

"I wanna special somepony...be my special somepony..." Rainbow's goofy grin stayed in place, as she clumsily took Fluttershy's hoof.

A look of disappointment came to Fluttershy's face. "Oh...who?"

"You..." Rainbow Dash giggled, still holding Fluttershy's hoof.  "I wanna special somepony that's you...pretty pony..."

"Ah...." Fluttershy blinked, wide-eyed, and blushing heavily. "M-M-Me? ...You...want to be with me?"

"Yeah-huh..." Rainbow smiled dazedly, nuzzling her hoof.  "You be my special somepony...I love you..."

Fluttershy's heart just about stopped. She was...baffled. And just...wasn't sure how to feel. She loved Rainbow Dash, she loved her and wanted to be with her, so hearing these words out of her mouth was a dream come true. It was beautiful. She wished she had it on tape so she could listen to it over and over...

But reality set in. Rainbow Dash was feverish. It was the fever talking. There was no way she knew what she was saying or doing. And even so, wouldn't even remember.

Tears pooled in her eyes. It was hopeless. Her dream of being Rainbow Dash's special somepony was never to become.

"...Rainbow Dash...." Fluttershy managed, deciding to just take one chance to tell her, without telling her. "I want to be your special somepony. ...I...I...I... Rainbow Dash, I love you, too. I've always loved you. That's why I reciprocated when we made out...because I wanted to kiss you so much. ...I am so sorry. I love you," Tears streamed down her face.

"I love you...pretty pony..." Rainbow murmured again, not seeming to notice Fluttershy's tears as she confessed her feelings.  "Be my special somepony..."

"....I will, Rainbow Dash...if you'll have me, I will." Fluttershy sniffled. "I'll be your special somepony."

"I'll have you...Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash whispered, smiling softly, but still not noticing Fluttershy's tears.  Unbeknownst to her, the fever medicine was finally kicking in, and Rainbow's fever was beginning to drop. "Mm-hmm..." Rainbow said sleepily, her eyes beginning to close as the medicine was taking effect against her fever.

"....I would...if you weren't speaking under the fever's influence and meant it," Fluttershy said sadly. "Now go to sleep," She sniffled, turning to go.

"Mm-hmm..." Rainbow nuzzled into her pillow, and was soon fast-asleep once more.

Fluttershy looked back at her, tears running down her face as she slowly exited the bedroom. 

"Will we ever...end up together?" She sighed then. "No, I think not...it's never to become. ...For I am not the one..."

There was only one thing she could do right now.




Fluttershy was knocking at the library's door later on, frantic by this point!

"Just a minute!" Called a voice from behind the door.  A pinkish glow surrounded it as it opened, revealing Twilight.  "Hi, Fluttershy.  ...What's the matter?  You seem upset."

"Well....I...I hope I'm not bothering you, Twilight...but I...didn't know who else to turn to," Fluttershy said in a small voice.

Twilight stepped aside to let Fluttershy enter the library.  "What's wrong?"

"It's...about Rainbow Dash...." Fluttershy managed, sniffling a bit. "And I..."

"Say no more." Twilight smiled gently, sitting down near her writing podium. "Come on inside, and tell me what's going on with you and Rainbow."

Fluttershy stepped inside, and the door was closed behind her. "I....well, you see...I..."

"You like her, don't you?" Twilight filled in the blank for her.  "As more than just your best friend, I mean?"

Fluttershy gasped, looking up at her with surprise. "H-How...did you know?"

Twilight just smiled.  "I have my ways.  But let's just say I've happened to notice that you always seem to be happier, and even a little more confident whenever Rainbow is around. The way you look at her...isn't exactly subtle."

"...Oh...." Fluttershy looked down shyly. "...Yes, Twilight...you're right. ...I'm in love with her...I have been for a long time. Um...but....I don't think she loves me."

"Oh?" Twilight tilted her head to one side.  "Well, what makes you think that, Fluttershy?  As far as I can tell, Rainbow cares about you a lot."

"I know she does...but...I don't know... You see, she was accused a lot our fillyhood together of being....a fillyfooler. And it hurt her very much. I don't think she'd appreciate love from a mare," Fluttershy sighed. "But um...it's not just that..."

"Well, what else is it?" Twilight inquired.  "Please, tell me, Fluttershy."

"....When we're alone, we're very close." Fluttershy admitted. "We cuddle. Sometimes we even kissed each other...o-on the cheek! Um...but one day...while I still had my leg injury...something....happened. Rainbow was over at my house, and we were sitting together. I had my head in her lap, we were talking...and then...all of a sudden..we...we...we kissed. O-On the mouth..."

"Ohhh..." Twilight slowly nodded in understanding.  "And...you've been feeling awkward about your feelings for Rainbow ever since then, am I right?"

"A little...oh, but Twilight, it wasn't just a kiss. ....We....we...." Fluttershy blushed. "We made out! We were kissing so much....!! It happened twice in that span!"

"Ah, I see..." To Fluttershy's surprise, and utter relief, Twilight smiled.  "That's nothing to be ashamed of, if that's what you're feeling.  Especially if it was reciprocated, and not just one-sided."

"Well, no...it wasn't one-sided...we even....Oh, Twilight, I don't even KNOW how it happened but she did....something and it just...these feelings! I didn't understand them! They didn't feel...bad, but...so....strange!"

"What did she do?"

"....I don't know...I couldn't specify...she was lying on top of me, and...our hips were kind of...I don't know...I felt strange in my stomach and...o-other places!" Fluttershy blushed heavily at the memory.

"I think I understand what you're saying, since I've just been reading up on intimacy between mares and colts.  But given the position you've described, Flower Heart might be the pony you should talk to. Maybe Rarity, but definitely her," Twilight suggested with a giggle.

"Um...why?" Fluttershy blinked, confused.

"Ohhh...let's just say that Flower Heart has had some experience," Twilight giggled again, shaking her head.

"...Oh....I see...." Fluttershy mumbled. "Well, all right, I suppose I can talk to her. But Twilight, it isn't just that! Rainbow Dash has been sick since yesterday, and I've been there taking care of her. Oh, but...she had a nasty fever this morning, and I went in to see her... She...told me she loved me and wanted to be special someponies.... But...it was the fever talking! It had to be!"

"Ohhh...is that why you're so upset?" Twilight realized with a frown.  "You think Rainbow Dash was only confessing that she loved you and wanted to be your special somepony due to her fever making her delusional?"

"Yes!" Fluttershy whimpered. "She can't possibly like mares....let alone me!"

"Fluttershy, you don't know that for certain," Twilight reasoned.  "It may not have just been the fever talking.  I read somewhere that while being ill can make a pony say something they may not mean, sometimes while under the influence of certain medicines, or even a high-grade fever, a pony may admit to hidden feelings, or make some other kind of similar confession.  You won't know unless you talk to Rainbow about this."

"I-I know....but I don't know what to say!" Fluttershy whimpered, shaking her head. "If I say the wrong thing, I might ruin our friendship and I don't know....!"

"Well, just keep in mind that Rainbow may not remember certain things she said while she was feverish," Twilight gently explained.  "Don't make it seem like you're accusing her of lying, especially because she may not even have the slightest idea of what you're talking about."

"That's just it! She won't even remember!" Fluttershy stammered. "I-I just...don't know what to say! What if she would think I was lying?!"

"Well, did she say anything that may have possibly not been her fever talking?" Twilight questioned.  "Like did she say anything after you gave her something to bring down her fever?"

"Well, yes....I gave her medicine to help the fever, but I wasn't sure when it kicked in. She just called me pretty, wanted to be my special somepony, said she loved me...and all that..." Fluttershy looked down a bit.

"Was there anything else she said?  Perhaps in response to anything you said?" Twilight asked, placing her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.

"No...she just...kind of said mm-hmm's," Fluttershy shook her head.

"That may have been after the medicine started taking effect. But that's the intention, so the user can sleep off the fever comfortably," Twilight said thoughtfully.

"Well...Rainbow did fall asleep after I gave her the medicine," Fluttershy said.

"See?  She may have meant some of the things she said.  All you have to do is talk to her." Twilight smiled a bit.

"....All right...but I don't know how I'll get to bring it up....I mean, I can't just go back to her home and say. 'Hi Rainbow Dash, how are you feeling? Fever any better? And by the way, you told me you loved me while you were feverish! Is it true?'! That...would be too much." Fluttershy sighed. "Oh...I just don't know..."

"Oh no! I didn't mean for you to bring it up like that!" Twilight shook her head. "Like I said, you don't want to sound accusing, since Rainbow was feverish when she made her confession.  Just bring it up casually, maybe something like 'Not to upset you, Rainbow Dash, but you said some things to me while you were feverish.  I'd just like to know which things were true?'  Do you think you can handle that?"

"....Well, I...suppose I could try..." Fluttershy was shaking a bit. "But what if she doesn't remember?"

"Hmm..." Twilight thought for a moment.  "If she doesn't remember, you could just brush it off by telling her it wasn't important.  But I have a feeling that she'll probably remember at least some of the things she said. Trust me," She winked at the Pegasus, offering an encouraging smile.

"Well....okay. I guess I can try. Oh, I'd better go....I have to go see if she's awake yet." Fluttershy headed to the door. "Um...thank you anyway for that, Twilight..."

"You're welcome, Fluttershy.  Hope it all goes well." Twilight followed her to the door, opening it for her with her magic.

"Me too...more than anything, I'd rather lose a lover...than losing a friend." Fluttershy walked out the door.

Twilight watched her go, frowning slightly.  "For her sake...I hope she doesn't lose either one..."





Fluttershy made it back to Rainbow Dash's home, coming inside quietly. She came into her room, finding the rainbow-maned daredevil awake in her bed reading comic books again.

"Um...Rainbow Dash?"

Glancing up from her comic book, Rainbow Dash managed a slight smile as Fluttershy came into her room.  She was sniffling constantly, however.

"Oh...hey, Fluttershy.  What's up?"

"Oh, nothing...I was just making sure you were okay. You had a nasty fever earlier this morning. I gave you one of the pills..." Fluttershy said, shifting her weight on her hooves. "Um...how do you feel?"

"Fine, I guess." Rainbow sniffled, turning a page in the comic book.  "The pill must've helped, I don't feel all that feverish right now."

"Oh, um...well...that's good!" Fluttershy smiled nervously. "I um...told you they worked!" She gave a big, nervous smile.

"Didn't doubt that you were telling the truth." Rainbow nodded, sniffling.  She continued reading her comic book, not making eye contact with the other Pegasus.

"Hee...okay. ...Um...so...do you...need something?" Fluttershy swallowed a bit.

Rainbow nodded to the empty box on her bedside table.  "If you wouldn't mind? I'm all out, and like I told you before, I don't normally keep things like that around, since I don't get sick hardly ever."

"Oh...well, just a moment, then." Fluttershy nodded, and trotted out again.

She came back a few moments later. "I already fed Tank, and he's doing just fine. Um...anything else?"

"Nothing I can think of..." Rainbow sniffled, shaking her head.

"All right..." Fluttershy gulped a bit. "Um...Rainbow Dash...you...um...s-said...some things...under the influence of your....fever...do you...remember at all?"

"Hold on..." Rainbow held up a hoof, scrunching up her snout.  "I think...I'm gonna...ah...ah..."

"Oh!!" Fluttershy squeaked, wide-eyed. She eventually grabbed a few spare tissues from her little bag, and held it to her snout.

"Ah...achoo!!!" Rainbow sneezed into them, sniffling.  "...Thanks." She realized after a moment that Fluttershy wasn't pulling them away, and blinked at her.

"O-Oh...sorry." Fluttershy wiped her nose and then tossed them away.

"S'okay." Rainbow sniffled.  "Uh-oh...hold on...here comes...a-an-noth-ther..."

"Oh...." Fluttershy took another one out, holding it to her snout.

"Achoo!!!" Rainbow sneezed again.  "Thanks, again..." She sniffled.

"You're welcome..." Fluttershy tossed them aside, hovering near her bedside. "So...um...about what I said...."

"Yeah...?" Rainbow sniffled, blinking at her.  "What about it...?"

"I...wondered if you...remembered?" Fluttershy brought her forelegs behind her back, looking away shyly.

"Well...no, not really...I don't think..." Rainbow sniffled and shook her head. "Why? What did I say?"

"...Oh...well...never mind," Fluttershy lowered down to the floor, and started to trot away.

"What's wrong?" Rainbow called after her, sniffling and muttering something under her breath.  "What did I say?"

"...It's nothing...you probably didn't even mean it..." Fluttershy responded.

"Didn't mean what?" Rainbow asked in confusion, sniffling and scrunching up her snout yet again.  "I don't get it..."

".....You said....something...." Fluttershy came to her bedside. "Please...I hope you know I'm telling you the truth...but...if you didn't mean it...I will understand."

"Just...tell me...what I...said..." Rainbow insisted, her snout scrunched up.  "I want...to know...what you think...I didn't mean...?"

"...You said...you...you...." Fluttershy mumbled incoherently.

"I said...I...what...?" Rainbow Dash prompted, sniffling a few times and relaxing her snout for a moment.

"You...said...you...." Fluttershy looked down. ".......L-Loved.................me."

"...I...don't rem-memb-ber th-that..." Rainbow sniffled.  "B-but if I s-said it...I p-prob-bably m-meant i-it..."

"...I didn't think you meant it...that's all right..." Fluttershy was about to leave, sniffling also.

"F-Flutters-shy...I s-said...I m-meant i-it..." Rainbow repeated, sniffling a couple of times, her snout scrunching back up.  "D-did-didn't you h-hear m-me...?"

Fluttershy stopped, and turned around, her eyes wide...and hopeful. "Wait...you....you did?" She trotted over to her bedside. "....You mean....you really do?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, still sniffling with her snout still scrunched.  "I d-did...I d-do-o...ah...aaah..." She prepared to turn away, then.

Fluttershy responded quickly, coming forth with another tissue she brought to her snout. "Dashie...I....guess you don't remember what I said...when you did, then..."

"Aaachoo!!!" Rainbow sneezed, shaking her head.  "No...I do remember...you said....you loved me...and would be...my special somepony...if I'd have you..." She sniffled.

Eyes wide, Fluttershy froze in place. "You....you remembered that? ...Really?"

Rainbow nodded, sniffling again.  "Of course...I do.  Because I said...I would have you.  ...Don't you remember?  ...I wasn't...dreaming...and it wasn't...the fever talking...either."

"....So the medicine kicked in when you said...." Fluttershy's eyes were wide. She came closer again, this time on her haunches next to her bed. "Oh, Rainbow Dash...it's true! I...I....I love you! I love you so much! I was just afraid to tell you because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, and because I knew how much it hurt you to be called a fillyfooler..."

"Fluttershy...how could you even think...a confession like that...could possibly ruin our friendship?" Rainbow Dash chuckled softly, still sniffling.  "Don't you remember...what we did on your couch...when your leg...was still messed up...?"

"Oh....you mean when we..." Fluttershy gave her a tissue to blow into, to further reduce her sniffles. "...Yes...when we....made out....and....you rubbed your hips along mine and we...felt that strange feeling."

Rainbow nodded, blowing into the tissue Fluttershy gave her, tossing it aside and holding out her hoof for another.  "You mean...when I pressed our hips together...kinda hard...and created that strange, yet awesome feeling...?"

"Um..." Fluttershy held a tissue to her snout again. "Yes...that strange...yet awesome feeling..."

Rainbow blinked a few times, before blowing into the tissue.  "You enjoyed that as much as I did...didn't you...?"

"....Oh Dashie, of course I did! I liked it so much... I wanted to do it again! I didn't know what the feeling was or what it meant...but it felt amazing, and knowing we were sharing it together made it even better..." Fluttershy blushed heavily, looking down a little.

"Heh heh...guess it's a good thing I borrowed a book from Twilight..." Rainbow chuckled, still sniffling a bit, though not as much as before.  "If you wanted to do that again...then all you had to do was say so..."

"Um....well...okay.....I-I'll....remember that..." Fluttershy shuffled her hoof on the floor.

"...And you took a page from Blushy, didn't you..." Rainbow smirked a little, referring to what Fluttershy had just done for her.

"Yes, I did..." Fluttershy giggled. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist doing that."

"...The only bad thing about it is that my snout's sore, now." Rainbow winced a bit, rubbing her tender, reddened snout with her hoof.

"Awww....that does sometimes happen, so I suppose you should leave it be." Fluttershy waved her hoof. "Are you hungry? Would you like some more soup?"

"You have more?" Rainbow's eyes lit up.

"Of course, I made enough to last you a while!" Fluttershy nodded, smiling brightly.

"All right!" Rainbow Dash grinned.  "Sure, I'll have another bowl!"

"Okay....I'll get you some! ...Um...Rainbow...if uh...oh....this will sound silly, but um...could you...um..." Fluttershy blushed, looking away with a shy smile.

"What?" Rainbow looked at her questioningly.

"Um....well um...oh, I'll get you the soup first!" Fluttershy dashed out.

"Okay...?" Rainbow Dash blinked, and then picked up her comic book and read while she waited for Fluttershy to bring in the soup.

A couple of minutes later, Fluttershy returned with a soup bowl on a tray and a spoon. 

"All right, here it is!" She placed it on the bed. "Um...well, dig in!"

Rainbow blinked, and shook her head.  "You were trying to ask me something, before you got the soup.  What were you trying to ask me?"

"Um! ....Oh...um....I know....how you feel...and all...but um....would you...t-tell me...? Um! If you don't want to, that's fine! I know you don't have to and I won't force you!" Fluttershy blushed heavily. "It's silly...I'm sorry...."

"Sure, pal," Rainbow chuckled, and gently took Fluttershy's hoof in her own.  "I can tell you.  And it's not silly, at all."

"Oh...um...well, okay then..." Fluttershy gave a nervous, toothy grin.

Rainbow chuckled, before speaking the words she knew Fluttershy wanted to hear. "Love you, Fluttershy.  And I really do mean it, too."

"I know you mean it..." Fluttershy beamed with a blushy smile. "And I...love you, too..." She giggled a little.

"I know you do..." Rainbow smiled back, chuckling softly.  "Now, I see the way you're looking at me, and at the tray...and I really didn't mind when you did this, yesterday..."

"Yay!" Fluttershy giggled, beaming and taking the spoon, dipping it into the soup and holding it to her. "Open wide for the train! Choo choo!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, chuckling and opening her mouth wide. "Aaahhh..."

"Hee...." Fluttershy plopped it into her mouth. giggling. "Well, Dashie....after you're better...I guess our....movie and Wonderbolts outings...are...um....dates?"

Rainbow nodded, swallowing the soup.  "Sure...if you want to call 'em dates, I mean...I don't care, either way...it's whatever you're comfortable with..."

"Oh, I don't mind at all... Um....Well....I....oh! I forgot! I'm so sorry! I have to do this properly!" Fluttershy kneeled down again, feeding her again. "Rainbow Dash, would you be my special somepony...my marefriend? I would love to court you..."

Rainbow giggled, swallowing the soup and extending her hoof down towards Fluttershy.  "I would be honored to be your special somepony, Fluttershy.  From now on, I'm your marefriend, and you're mine."

Fluttershy beamed, and nodded, placing her hoof over hers. "Yes...I'm yours, and you're mine..."

Rainbow nodded, giggling softly.  "And I wouldn't have it any other way, pal..."





A few days passed since Rainbow Dash was sick with a cold, but now she was back on her hooves! Thanks to Fluttershy's help. They weren't quite ready to come out with their newfound romantic relationship yet, but soon on they were going to at least tell their friends about them. 

And on this fine day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were going to pay Fluttershy a visit! They had more cookies for her, on top of that. 

"So you think she'll like the raisin cookies this time?" Sweetie Belle queried to her friends. 

"I bet she should! Pinkie Pie liked them so far!" Scootaloo said excitedly.

"An' it was even nice o' Tiger Stripes ta stop inta Sugarcube Corner ta help us bake 'em!" Apple Bloom smiled brightly. "She sure does know a lot 'bout bakin'!"

"Oh yes, with her helping us, we were able to make awesome cookies!" Sweetie Belle giggled. 

"I'll say! They're mouth-watering!" Scootaloo agreed.

"Even the Cakes wanna know her recipes!" Apple Bloom grinned. "An' mah big sister Applejack says Tiger Stripes is soon ta be openin' a restaurant!"

"Rarity was talking about it, saying that she's opening it in Canterlot!" Sweetie Belle remembered. "It sounds awesome!" 

"I hope we get an invitation, too!" Scootaloo flapped her wings.

"Ah'm sure we'll get ta go along!" Apple Bloom nodded. "Tiger Stripes sayed she was gon' be havin' Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity an' Twilight as her firs' customers!"

"All right!" Scootaloo flapped her wings harder. "Sounds great!" 

Sweetie Belle grinned, and looked up ahead. "There we go, Fluttershy's cottage! The top half of her door is open, she must be home!"

"Maybe we oughta knock firs', anyway?" Apple Bloom suggested. "Even though the door's open, she might have comp'ny."

"I'll look in and see!" Scootaloo declared. 

They approached the house, raising their hooves to knock...but then heard some laughing. The three fillies looked at each other in confusion. Then stood up on their hind legs, peering over the open half of the door. On the couch were Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, cuddling and laughing together. Rainbow Dash whispered something to Fluttershy, who giggled in response. 

"Oh, Dashie..." She cooed lovingly, and then leaned in to kiss her right on the mouth.

"Whoa!" Apple Bloom gasped. "Ah've never seen Fluttershy an' Rainbow Dash behavin' like that!"

"They're....kissing each other...like they were special someponies!" Scootaloo gaped. Sweetie Belle blinked. "Are they....marefriend and...marefriend, now?"

"Ah guess so..." Apple Bloom nodded, observing the two Pegasi for a moment, before smiling and giggling. "They sure seem ta be happy, at least!"

"They look so sweet!" Sweetie Belle giggled, smiling. 

"...Yeah, I guess they...kinda are nice together..." Scootaloo smiled a bit too. 

It took a turn for the interesting when the two Pegasi then rolled over on top of each other, with Rainbow Dash on top of Fluttershy. 

"...What are they doing?" Scootaloo wondered. 

"Ah dunno. They're lyin' on each other?" Apple Bloom shrugged. 

"It looks.....weird." Sweetie Belle blinked. "Maybe...we'd better go..." 

"Yeah, we'll just come back later!" Scootaloo dropped down on all fours.

"Sounds good ta me!" Apple Bloom agreed, her snout red in embarrassment.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders hopped down, all of them heading back down the path. 

"Oh well! Maybe we'll see if Twilight wants some cookies?" 

"Good idea! Let's go, Crusaders!"

Inside the cottage, Fluttershy giggled, pulling back from Rainbow Dash and gazing up at her with wonder, and yet, knowingly. "You knew they were there too, didn't you?"

Rainbow Dash snickered behind her hoof. "Knew it all along, pal. Kinda hard to ignore three sets of staring eyes, anyway..."

"Should we tell them?" Fluttershy winked at her. 

"I think they might've figured it out, but what the hay? Might as well." Rainbow winked back at her.

"Oh, won't they be surprised we knew." Fluttershy giggled. "Oh...Rainbow Dash, there's something on your lips."

"Is that so?" Rainbow smirked lightly. "Wanna get it off for me?”

"Oh, yes. But actually...what are on your lips are..." The creamy yellow Pegasus leaned in, barely touching her mouth. "Mine." And then she pulled her down into another kiss. 

The End