As Rainbow Dash sat there, next to Fluttershy, in her cabin on the train, her mind wandered. Being so close to the creamy yellow Pegasus felt to be slightly unnerving, all things considered. But it had been in recent weeks and even months, that being around her was far better than ever.
It still brought that wonderful feeling. Rainbow Dash smiled just a little, as the warm, comforting feeling washed over her at being near her best friend. The setting was ideal, to be sure. They were alone together, the air in the cabin felt warm and inviting, the seat below their hooves and flanks was comfy and soft. She could even smell Fluttershy's flowery perfume, sweet shampoo combined with her natural scent. There was something of a sweet comfort in the way Fluttershy's scent gently floated to her nose, the way it always made her feel like home.
Long ago, Rainbow Dash may have denied it. Moreso to anyone else than herself, but even her mind would try to rid her of such thoughts. But Fluttershy's sweet scent never failed to calm her senses, especially that of her sense of smell. Even long ago...
Brief recollection of the past brought on a new train of thought for the rainbow-maned daredevil. Thinking back to the days between her and Fluttershy, good times and bad, she lost herself in memories. Something she didn't often focus on, even when alone. But sometimes, she just needed a moment to reflect. Especially right now, in order to really further understand a recent revelation.
~X~
“Ugh! What's wrong with you?! I don't get it! You were able to stand up to that stupid dragon before, when you're scared of them the most, and yet you can't even stand up for yourself like THIS?” Rainbow Dash covered her face with her hooves as she groaned in frustration. “What's WRONG with you?!”
“I...I...I...” Fluttershy looked down at the ground in shame. “I'm sorry...”
“Sorry. You're sorry. That's all you can ever say! Don't apologize! DO something about it! I swear, you need to work on your confidence and assertion issues! Otherwise, you're just going to keep on slowing us down!”
Fluttershy's eyes went wide, seeming to brim with tears by this point.
At that moment, Rainbow Dash just stopped. That weird feeling was coursing through her again. As well as that, the sight of Fluttershy about the cry just struck her all the more. It had before, especially when she spoke tough to her, and now, it just stabbed her in the stomach like a knife.
“Th-That's all you seem to do is slow us down! You're the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy, but that doesn't mean you have to be a shrinking violet doormat all the time!” Rainbow Dash ranted on, trying hard to push back the feeling.
“I know...I know...I shouldn't be,” Fluttershy managed, her voice breaking.
A frustrated sigh escaped the younger Pegasus.“Then why don't you DO something about it?! Just sitting there and spouting out words about it don't do a thing! Be more assertive, more confident! You're pathetic, Fluttershy! You are and always have been PATHETIC!”
All she seemed to be getting in response was a trembling, crying Pegasus. For a split moment, as the feeling washed over her yet again, Rainbow Dash wanted to take it all back. All she wanted to do was fly down to Fluttershy, hold her in her hooves and tell her she was sorry. To hold her with the warmth and comfort she completely deserved. To just hold her, soothe her, rock her, and just tell her-
Throat tightening, Rainbow Dash instead grumbled and flew off. She had to get away. Just away.
In doing so, a tear fell from her eye, then another. Tears of regret, as if leaking right from her soul deep inside.
XXX
How had this happened? Rainbow Dash wasn't even sure where this came from. Being around Fluttershy felt even weirder than usual. Which was saying a lot, considering she never felt weird around her. If anything, ever since she knew her, she felt the most normal around her. Like she could be herself. Even if Fluttershy was very different from her in some ways, it still didn't stop how well they connected.
Now there was this odd feeling. She'd felt it in the past, but in a very small way she didn't comprehend. Now, it was much more prominent. She couldn't place it. It wasn't a physical feeling, like feeling sore or achy, or even pained. More or less, it felt to be a mental feeling, as if her mind was clouding over with it. And somehow manifested into a strange physical feeling inside of her. As if it filled her with a strange essence, like butterflies, or leaves flying in the wind. That was as far as she could ever come close to describing it.
Rainbow Dash, sitting on a cloud, gulped a bit. The feeling scared her. Really scared her. As if it were a terrifying entity she didn't understand or expect. But that may have been stretching it a little. Regardless, she didn't understand it, and it only ever seemed to manifest itself when she was around Fluttershy. That was when it was especially strong in its own way.
A similar feeling attributed to whenever she was flying. A rush, an unquenchable happiness. The wind in her mane, the speed at her hooves, it was as if she were flying free forever.
However, this feeling wasn't the same. Far from it. Not only was it strong in a sense, but it even made it feel as if her heart was racing. Constantly. This was familiar to her, considering she was often burning a lot of fast energy when flying or running. But the way he heart responded to the feeling around Fluttershy, it was strange to her, especially when she wasn't even moving or flying very fast at all. When there was no reason for her heart to be racing.
What did it mean?
Rainbow Dash almost felt the urge to shiver, despite that she wasn't cold. All that she could understand was how unfair she had been to Fluttershy. The way she had acted just now, as well as times from before. Most especially prominent had been back when they had to “persuade” a monstrous dragon to leave the cave of a high mountain outside of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash by now, just about regretted her behaviour. Rather than helping Fluttershy, or even encouraging her, all she did was gripe and groan. Making it no secret to the other Pegasus that her slowing them down was completely displeasing her.
In her own defense, they did have an important job to do and had to make sure it would be done swiftly so that Equestria wouldn't be engulfed within a veil of darkness for a whole century. So yes, naturally, she didn't want anything slowing them down, and the way Fluttershy acted like a frightened doe the entire time just didn't help matters.
But it still didn't excuse the way she treated her. That much she knew. And right now, the way she had just ripped into her and yelled at her out of frustration only cemented it. It left her wondering why she did that.
The strange feeling didn't cease even when she acted out. In fact, anytime she yelled at her, all she wanted to do was take it back. To apologize profusely and hug Fluttershy. Every frustrated thing she had said, she regretted it the moment the words would leave her mouth.
Twilight called it speaking before your brain could catch up.
Frustrated, Rainbow Dash slumped over on the cloud and groaned. She was frustrated with the whole situation, with herself, and with Fluttershy. What was she supposed to do?! Nothing made sense anymore! She felt as if she could explode with stress and frustration. Why did nothing make sense? What could she even do about it all?
That was it...Rainbow Dash had no answers. She drew blank answers to any kind of solution to the problem, as if nothing could possibly work if she tried. But she couldn't just sit on a blank answer. She had to figure something out! But what?
“Darn it! Why does this always happen?! I don't get it anymore! I'm sick of this!” Rainbow Dash wailed to nopony, met with only the silence of the sky and clouds around her. “What the hay is wrong with me?! Why do I always-”
“Rainbow Dash!!!” A voice called out.
Rainbow Dash felt her blood run cold. She knew that voice, and groaned. She didn't want to be bothered by anypony right now. That didn't seem to stop the Pegasus approaching her, the sound of letters flapping sounded from behind her...followed by the scent of muffins.
“There you are, Rainbow Dash!” Derpy Hooves said excitedly, taking something out of her mailbag. “You kept taking off whenever I saw you! I wanted to leave your mail at your house, but I knew how you'd be excited for this, so I had to give it to you in person!”
Sighing, Rainbow Dash turned to the mailmare, deciding to humour her long enough for her to go away. “All right, Derpy. What is it?”
Amidst the mail, there was a golden envelope, which made Rainbow Dash's eyes widen. Could it be...?
“You got an invitation to participate in the Best Young Flier's competition!” Derpy grinned. “Isn't that great?”
“Well, yeah! Of course it is! It's awesome!” Rainbow Dash managed to crack a smile. This was good, she could feel a surge of relief and excitement. Now she had something to focus on, something she could look forward to. “Well uh...thanks, I guess.”
“You're welcome! I'm in it, too! This is awesome!” Derpy then produced a clipboard with a pen attached to a string on it, holding it to her with her mouth. “Just sign on the dotted line!”
Rainbow Dash took the pen in her mouth, and promptly signed her name. She thanked the cross-eyed Pegasus once more before she flew away. The rainbow-maned daredevil then eagerly flew to her home, her worries forgotten for the moment.
-------
You are cordially invited to participate in the Best Young Flier's Competition to be held in Cloudsdale Stadium. It is to be held upon the first day of Summer.
Judging will be the acclaimed aerial stunt team known as the Wonderbolts, along with the graced presence of Princess Celestia herself.
Any kind of aerial stunts, be they fast or graceful, tricks of any sort, so long as nopony is harmed, are encouraged. Do your best, and prove to us that your unique tricks will win the grand prize.
The aforementioned Grand Prize will be an entire day spent with the Wonderbolts.
If you wish to participate in these grand events, fill the attached application form and send it back to the return address within two weeks time of receiving this invitation.
We hope to see you there.
Rainbow Dash must have read over the invitation at least five or six times. She just couldn't believe it! A chance to actually participate in one of the most anticipated competitions in Cloudsdale! With every kind of wonderful prize she could ever have imagined!
“A day...with the Wonderbolts! My heroes!” Rainbow Dash gushed in excitement, holding the letter tightly to her chest. “I'm gonna enter this contest and I am going to WIN! Yeah!! Me and the Wonderbolts! This is awesome! Best ever! I've got to train! Train hard and get ready! ...Even better! I'll impress them with the SONIC RAINBOOM! I did it once, I'll do it again!”
She danced around her living room excitedly, beaming with bright happiness. Her day was made. She felt as if she had flown thousands of miles and came back with nothing but exhilaration and satisfaction, not an ounce of fatigue. Like a wondrous dream come true. Being a Pegasus was the main qualification, but so was especially being a mare. Since she qualified for both, and had some great skills to back it up, she was more than ready for it.
“I better go tell Fluttershy! This is awesome news! She's going to be so-!”
Rainbow Dash paused then. She and Fluttershy weren't....speaking. It had only been barely two hours ago that she turned away from her in scorn. Frustration, annoyance, much like that of an insect buzzing around your ear.
For the first time that she could recall, Rainbow Dash realized...she couldn't go and tell her. She couldn't share the exciting news with her, to share news that meant so much to her. To the one pony she enjoyed sharing things with. Fluttershy, who had always been there for her, who she had always been there for. Somepony she trusted more than anypony to share this kind of thing.
The invitation fell from her hoof, floating gently to the floor like a leaf. All of the happiness, excitement, just drained away from her. It showed in how her excited expression had now melted into a look of blank despair. Even her wings were no longer flapping as she lowered herself to the floor. She just felt so stricken, as if offered a huge piece of candy, and then to have it taken away from her. But even worse than that.
Her cerise eyes then fell on some photos hanging on the wall, and a couple on a dresser below. A lot of them consisted of photos of Fluttershy, and them together. There was one in particular that caught her attention. Much like a lovely photo she had taken of her as a filly, there was another she herself had taken last year.
The photo was in an intricate frame (provided by Rarity), and depicted Fluttershy sitting in a patch of wildflowers, surrounded by a couple of bunnies, a squirrel, butterflies, a honeybee, and a ferret. The creamy yellow Pegasus was just smiling in great joy, her mane flowing in the wind with tender grace, and the sunlight illuminated all around her in a soft glow.
Rainbow Dash felt her throat tighten. She remembered that day. She had brought her new camera to show to Fluttershy, and upon seeing her like that, asked if she could take a picture, to which Fluttershy happily agreed to. The photo showcased the moment perfectly, a moment she never wanted to forget.
The strange feeling was back again, pooling in her stomach. As if she were looking right at the real Fluttershy.
“Man, she really is beautiful... Look how happy she is there...Heh, I guess I was lucky to find her in such a perfect moment, wasn't I?” Rainbow Dash murmured to herself, a small trace of a smile curling at her lips.
But then it melted into a sad frown before she slumped onto the floor, her ears flattening sadly, and her wings drooping as if they would never flap again.
All those things she ever said to her...about her...especially that one day against the dragon.
“You're pathetic, Fluttershy! You are and always have been PATHETIC!”
“COME ON! You can fly better than that! Stop lagging behind already!”
“Are you sure you want Fluttershy to come along? I mean, that pony's afraid of her own shadow. She's just going to slow us down!”
“Well, it is a cliff. You could just, I don't know, fly up here?”
“Still think it was a good idea to bring Fluttershy along?”
“Oh, great. She's scared of caves now, too.”
“Not your fault.”
Many more, before and after that had come as well.
Trembling a little, Rainbow Dash felt tears stinging her eyes again. She felt ready to sob, but didn't allow herself to cry any further.
“Darn it! What have I done?! I've been so mean and unfair to her all this time! And for what, because she makes me feel weird?! All because I'm scared?! No! I'm not scared!” Rainbow Dash yelled to herself, holding her head in her hooves. “What am I supposed to do now?! I can't even enjoy this without Fluttershy! The others can't even come to Cloudsdale with me to see me compete! I can't compete without her! I...I....I...”
A sniffle escaped her. She looked at the photo again, and then pounded her hoof against the floor angrily.
“Fine! I need her! I need Fluttershy's support! Without her, it's all a bunch of empty meaningless...nothings! I don't know! But what do I do now?!”
Knock knock knock!
“Now what?!” Rainbow Dash zipped around to face the front door. Grudgingly, she went over to answer it. “What do you want?!”
Derpy stood back, her crossed eyes wide and a bit afraid. But she held her ground and held out another envelope to her. “Sorry to bother you, Rainbow Dash! But Fluttershy saw me in town and asked me to give this letter to you. Sure, I'm already off-duty, but I never turn down making a rush delivery! So, here you go!”
The anger fading from her countenance, Rainbow Dash took the letter. It was no mistake, the butterfly envelope was definitely Fluttershy's. She thanked Derpy again, then closed the door.
Quickly, she grabbed the letter opener and tore it open. Taking out the flowery, butterfly stationary, she quickly went to reading the letter.
Dearest Rainbow Dash,
I'm very sorry for what happened earlier. But I'll understand if you maybe don't want to be my friend anymore. Everything you said was correct. I am pathetic, and I need to be more assertive. I don't know how, but I know that you're right. You really shouldn't have to put up with my shyness. All it seems to do is slow you down. You have far more important things you could be doing than dealing with me.
I'm so sorry. You deserve better.
Anyway, I wanted to write you this letter because I too had gotten the invitation to the Best Young Fliers Competition in Cloudsdale. So, I knew you had to have gotten yours by now, too!
No, I won't be participating, but I know you will be. After all, the grand prize will be a day with the Wonderbolts! Oh, Rainbow Dash, I'm so excited for you! I know how much you have always wanted to participate in the competition! Not to mention having the Wonderbolts judging and seeing you in action! This is just wonderful for you, and I know you're going to do very well. Better than well!
I just wanted you to know, even if you don't want me as a friend, that I will always support you. You follow your dreams, and you do what makes you happiest. I know you can do it, Rainbow. I believe in you. I always have, and I always will. No matter what.
Best of luck to you, Rainbow! I hope you're getting ready to start your training! Remember to eat plenty of healthy foods, lots of protein, drink plenty of water, and definitely work up your Iron intake, as well! Train as hard as you can and do your best. But don't overwork yourself! Take plenty of rest as well, that's just as important, if not far more important.
I hope you do well in the competition, you deserve it very much.
Sincerely yours,
Fluttershy
Hooves trembling, eyes stinging with tears, Rainbow Dash felt as though she were hit with a baseball bat, but then fell onto the comfiest cloud ever to be made. Fluttershy just had a way of completely overtaking her like this. With her kindness and sweetness, her caring ways, it made her heart drop. Even at a moment like this, when Fluttershy had to clearly have been upset by the way she yelled at her...and yet still didn't hesitate to extend a hoof in kindness.
“She really is...the Element of Kindness...” Rainbow Dash managed, her voice cracking. Tears flowed down her cheeks yet again, despite that she tried hard to fight them back. “Even after I'm a jerk...she still shows me kindness... Darn it Fluttershy, why do you have to be so nice?!”
The strange feeling was back again. It pooled in her stomach like boiling soup sitting in there, then filled with butterflies. Even her heart was beginning to race. She felt warm, really warm, and then her cheeks heated up. What was all of this? Why was she feeling it? She didn't understand it, it scared her all over again.
“Okay, I was being unfair! I shouldn't act like that with her!” Rainbow Dash admitted out loud, as if she had to speak of this to somepony listening. “Why, just because I'm scared?! Scared of this feeling! No, I won't let it take charge of me! The only pony who takes charge of me, is me! I'm going to recruit Fluttershy to being my cheering squad! Yeah! I'll go right now!”
Determined, Rainbow Dash flew out the door in a burst of speed.
She came back a few moments later, filled out the information on the application sheet, tucked it into the return envelope, stamped it, and then flew back out again.
~X~
“-Dash? Rainbow Dash?”
Lost in her thoughts, she could barely hear Fluttershy speaking to her. At least not until the shy pony's whispering were dangerously close to her ear, which made her jump a bit, blinking.
“Huh? What? ...Oh, sorry, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly, her ears flattening in embarrassment. “I was just lost in memories.”
“Oh, I see...” Fluttershy smiled a little. “Me too. Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt.”
Normally, she'd chastise her for apologizing for a reason she didn't even need to, but for once, Rainbow Dash just smiled and shook her head. “Nah, don't worry about it, pal.”
Pal. It had been a while since she actually called her “pal”, hadn't it? She smiled at the thought a little. But in the midst of her thoughts, Rainbow Dash sighed quietly through her nose as she gazed out once more at the darkened landscape, feeling a tinge of distraught stinging at her heart. Part of the very feeling she had once tried hard to avoid.
Avoidance.
There had been a time Rainbow Dash had actively avoided Fluttershy. If she could help it, of course. Why she did, even now, she couldn't quite place a direct answer about it.
Perhaps because she continued to fear the strange feeling. Or perhaps because she was afraid of ever lashing out at her again out of frustration, given that she had a habit of doing so. Maybe it was both. Either way, it pertained to her fear of the feeling and what it brought to her, essentially why she acted out. At least, one reason she acted out on them, anyway.
Those had been lonely days, to say the least. Rainbow Dash felt her ears flatten slightly as she recalled those lonely days. Seeking the company of their friends, especially Applejack, did come to help, even if it wasn't the same. Hanging out with Fluttershy was always different, to be sure.
It even made her think back to the days of Junior Flight Camp, shortly after she had met her once-friend, Gilda. The intriguing fact that she was a Griffon, and that she was just as fast and daring as she was. A fellow daredevil, it had been, at the time, quite a change from hanging around Fluttershy, who was always meek and quiet. Hanging around Gilda was really something, considering they were always competing, playing a prank on somepony, and shared laughs over awesome things.
That had lessened her time with Fluttershy, to which she hadn't even realized at first. She was just glad to hang with someone who could keep up with her for a change. A lot of fun was had, but when the last day came and Gilda had to return to her family in a further cloud city where Griffons resided, it meant that Rainbow Dash lost a cool friend.
~X~
“You're leaving? Aw, come on! There's still so much to do!” Rainbow Dash protested.
“Hey, come on, it's not like it'll be forever!” Gilda gave a smirk, placing her claws on her hips. “After all, who could forget somepony as awesome and cool as you, Dash? Don't sweat it, I'll come back again sometime. Then we can have that rematch!”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash grinned, feeling better. “You better come back! I'll be waiting to beat you!”
Gilda laughed, also grinning. “I hope you'll be hungry by then, because you're going to eat my dust!” She looked back over her shoulder, seeing her family waiting for her. Sighing, she turned back to the Pegasus filly. “I'd better go, Mom and Dad are waiting.”
“Okay,” Rainbow Dash sighed again. “Just um...can we do the chant one more time?”
“Again? We just did it this morning!” Gilda said, but she smiled. “Ah, what the hay. Only for you, Dash.”
The two got into formation together before reciting the ever-known chant, the Junior Speedsters Chant.
“Junior Speedsters are our lives
Sky-bound soars and daring dives
Junior Speedsters, it's our quest
To some day be the very best!”
The two laughed, before Gilda then shook her hoof.
“See ya around, Dash. Keep on being awesome!”
“Heh, you can count on that! See ya, Gilda!”
The Griffon winked at her before she then flapped her wings, rejoining her family before they flew off into the horizon.
Rainbow Dash watched after her for a few moments, and then sighed a bit heavily. It was going to be tough without such a cool friend like her. She could feel it in her stomach, how much it was going to be...lonely. Lonely without someone as cool and daring as Gilda to keep up with her. What was she going to do now?
Right then, some yellow appeared next to her, and a head followed by a soft mane snuggled up next to her. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. She knew this scent...this feeling, and that yellow colour.
It was Fluttershy.
“Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked gently.
Tears pooled in Rainbow Dash's eyes. She didn't say anything, but she did snuggle against the older filly with gratitude. Normally, she didn't care for such close contact like that. But Fluttershy...just strangely made it bearable.
To think that the one friend she had shamefully neglected over Summer Flight Camp to spend time with someone cooler...was still right here waiting for her. She didn't feel so lonely after all. A warm, joyous feeling coursed through her little body, and came to her heart, as if it were melting.
~X~
What it all seemed to come down to, she thought, was that she never quite realized how much she truly missed Fluttershy until she made herself known. All of that was made clear.
Even during her period of actively avoiding her if she could help it, she of course felt inklings of how much she missed her. Especially if she was by herself, doing nothing, going to bed, or getting up in the morning. It was no wonder she always had to be doing something to keep her mind off things, and then the strange feeling wouldn't get to her, and she wouldn't miss Fluttershy to the point that she had to see her.
But at the time, she feared something would come. Fluttershy always had a strange way of bringing out a whole new side to Rainbow Dash that she didn't prefer to show around others. Not unless it counted, anyway.
She felt her heart pound, and warm up all over again. Rainbow Dash trembled slightly, hoping Fluttershy wouldn't notice. Her memories drifted to that one day when the Cutie Mark Crusaders dying to ask her (and ended up talking to her friends) how she had earned her cutie mark. Always proud to tell that story, especially since it also led to her creating the first ever Sonic Rainboom on accident, but having led to a grand finale. The beautiful spectrum of exploding colours had been probably the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen...
But when she shared the story, it was then that Fluttershy revealed how she had heard the sonic boom itself, and had learned to communicate with animals because of it. Everypony else was affected by it in different ways as well, either by seeing the rainbow, or hearing the explosive noise. She even had revealed a very important factor of it, that the six of them were connected to each other before even having met.
It was the first time in such a while, that her smile was directed at Fluttershy, combined with a few threatening tears. It was at that moment, then one soon to follow, that she grew to love the feeling she felt when she was around her.
After it was all over, Rainbow Dash had felt a strange compulsion to take Fluttershy home. She hadn't been sure why, but maybe because it was going to be raining soon and she wanted to make sure she was home safe? She didn't know. But yet, the feeling inside she had always felt even before then was prominent as ever.
~X~
“Rainbow Dash...thank you so much for taking me home,” Fluttershy said softly, looking at her with a bright smile. “I...I...you didn't have to, but...thank you.”
“Ah, hey, no sweat it, Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash waved it off. “Gotta make sure you and the critters are going to be fine when the rain falls, you know! Element of Loyalty and all!”
Fluttershy smiled, and looked down with a soft blush. “And um...well, I want to thank you once more, really... If it weren't for you, in so many ways, I would never have gotten my cutie mark. ...Or would have met our friends. You're...you're amazing, Rainbow Dash...you always have been.”
Rainbow Dash felt struck, and as if her heart just about skipped a beat. She was used to praise, especially from Fluttershy, but at this moment, she felt absolutely...wonderful. To think her accidental Sonic Rainboom could have led to all of this, to bring a connection between them all, and between the two of them. It was...humbling, not to mention very...beautiful in a way.
All this time, avoiding her, because of her fear of the feeling, or because she feared she would lash out at her again...just felt awful. She didn't want to be away from her. The feeling she felt was actually a wonderful feeling. It was as if she were flying free on a beautiful day, but without the rush and adrenaline. It was the happiness, the joy of the feeling. And it all came through around Fluttershy. She just couldn't avoid it. All it did was make her miss her.
This wonderful feeling, maybe she still didn't understand it, and maybe she never would, but she liked it. Really liked it. Especially that it happened around her best friend in the world. Somepony she never wanted to leave again.
“...Fluttershy, come on...you're making me feel silly!” Rainbow Dash laughed a bit. “Oh, what the hay!” She went over to her and gave her a hug. “You're my best friend, Fluttershy, and you better know it!”
Fluttershy giggled with delight, and hugged her back. “Oh, I will never forget that. ...You're my best friend too, Rainbow Dash...you're the greatest friend I could ever ask for.”
A stabbing feeling of guilt coursed through her as Rainbow Dash pulled back from her a bit, looking into her aquamarine eyes. “...Really? Even after I've been such a jerk to you, and even didn't spend much time with you lately?”
“Of course,” Fluttershy smiled warmly. “Just because friends sometimes hit hardships they can't help...doesn't mean it's worth ending a friendship. You've been my best friend since we were fillies, and I could never let anything like that come between us. Don't ever forget it...I'm always here for you, and I'll always be your friend.”
Feeling teary again, Rainbow Dash hugged her once more. The feeling escalated, and her heart pounded vigorously. But she didn't care. She welcomed it. She savoured the contact, and the sweet, flowery scent of her best friend.
“Fluttershy, darn it, you're too good for me! What'd I do to deserve you?”
“I ask myself what I did to deserve you too, Rainbow my dear...”
The two Pegasi continued to embrace, even when the clouds rolled in and brought upon some rain. It was at this very moment, no, even earlier back in Sugarcube Corner...that their friendship was finally rekindled. A wondrous moment that Rainbow Dash knew she would never regret this.
~X~
Feeling her cheeks heating up, Rainbow Dash swallowed and tried to think of things that were less...blush-inducing. Flying, kitties, her pet tortoise Tank, bunnies, Daring Doo stories...
Managing to calm her racing heart, she then realized it didn't help.
After their friendship had been rekindled, and better than it had ever been before, Rainbow Dash could recall she spent a lot more time with Fluttershy. The feeling never strayed, but only whole-heartedly remained. There even came the time that physical contact with each other was no longer an issue. She could never believe just how close they could get. Especially since at times, they would snuggle. Not doing anything in particular, just kind of sitting there snuggling.
It was weird.
Sure, Rainbow Dash was no stranger to physical contact with her friends, and oftentimes didn't mind. But in all, she felt the most comfortable getting close to Fluttershy. Personal space and all. She actually enjoyed being that close to her. Someone so soft, sweet, kind, and meek as Fluttershy was kind of like snuggling up to a cloud. Only this cloud was a pony, and could talk to you.
But looking back, especially now, she could understand it. They were getting closer. Their friendship was better than it ever was. They were more comfortable with each other, despite their differences.
Then of course, came the events of Tornado training. At the time, the closest they'd ever been.
Now Rainbow Dash smiled at the memory. It had been then, for the first time in what seemed like forever, that she was prouder of Fluttershy than she could remember ever being. That had been, by far, one of the greater moments of their friendship, to be sure.
'Yeah, it really was a great time, wasn't it? I never thought that Fluttershy would have been able to muster up the courage like she did, and give it her all. It was awesome for that! ...No, SHE was awesome,' Rainbow Dash thought, her smile growing. 'I'll never believe it! But I do, I knew she could do it. She just had to try, to believe in herself. All this time, I kept telling her to keep trying and work hard. And she did! Hey, her being there made it even better. Heh...if somepony told me about that maybe last year, I'd have thought they were nuts. Yeah, good ol' Fluttershy... She's the best.'
Stealing a glance at her best friend, she could see her staring thoughtfully out the window, clearly lost in her thoughts. Rainbow Dash wondered what she was thinking about, what could be on the mind of her little friend?
She took a moment to full admire her profile for a few moments. Fluttershy really was a gorgeous pony. In such an adorable, sweet and bright kind of way. Sure, Rarity was exceedingly beautiful, but even that was universally accepted by any who lay their eyes on her.
Fluttershy was a different story. With her sweet, tender grace, softness, and just how bright she was, feminine charms, made her radiate a soft beauty like no other.
Of course, on an objective level of simply seeing, yes, Rainbow Dash always knew that Fluttershy was attractive. But when she really looked at her, combined with the wondrous feeling in her heart, she could really see something more.
Twilight had always said that sometimes, a pony's inner beauty could reflect within how they look.
That seemed the best to describe Fluttershy. She was truly beautiful, inside and out. But not simply because she was beautiful, but simply because she was Fluttershy.
Heart pounding, Rainbow Dash looked away from her, the blush rising to her cheeks yet again.
Especially since her thoughts now came back to what had happened during the events of fighting against the Changelings, and then the wedding procession soon after.
The heat of the moment. An impulse like no other. A moment she never thought would happen. A moment that struck her heart like never before.
Rainbow Dash felt her heart swell, her body tremble inwardly, her stomach pool with hot soup and butterflies. A shiver coursed up her spine, she could feel as if she were caught in an embarrassing moment, and yet, a moment of pure joy at the same time.
~X~
Seeing Fluttershy's tactic of tricking her own image Changelings, it gave Rainbow Dash an idea. When three more Changelings taking her own image came near her, she joined in with them, making them think she was one of them.
'Thanks, Fluttershy!' She thought.
Fluttershy was timidly moving away, coming toward them, unbeknownst to her. But when she turned around, coming to see four Rainbow Dash's ready to ambush her, she immediately cowered in fear. Rainbow Dash hated scaring her friend like this, but knew that she had to. Just long enough that the Changelings wouldn't suspect a thing, and wouldn't see this coming...
They all rose up, ready to attack. That was her cue.
Rainbow Dash smirked, easily kicking aside the two Changelings on her right side. She then delivered a left hook to the Changeling on her left, knocking it aside as well. Free from danger, Fluttershy looked up at her with amazement and widened eyes.
No words were spoken as Rainbow Dash smiled widely, relieved that her best friend in the world was safe. Protecting her was something she always vowed to do, and was sure glad to uphold. All part of her undying loyalty to her. In all, she felt joyous that Fluttershy was going to be okay. They were all going to be okay. They were going to make it through.
In all, she was relieved to know she hadn't lost her.
Whatever came to her, she didn't know, but it was a moment she could never have passed up if she tried.
Rianbow Dash smiled more, helping up Fluttershy, and then in a moment of weakness...and yet letting her know everything was okay, she had done the one thing she never imagined.
She kissed her on the nose.
Fluttershy looked at her with wide, almost frightened eyes, and yet, she didn't move away. She relaxed slightly, and was looking at her with surprise, and yet a dab of curiosity.
It didn't even occur to Rainbow Dash until later on that she just kissed Fluttershy.
~X~
The blush returned full force.
Rainbow Dash had never kissed anypony at all, except maybe her parents or a relative. But never somepony outside her family. She never even thought of it. Not until the very moment she kissed Fluttershy's nose.
Why did she do that? It had been a mystery, and yet, the stunning revelation that had come to her added a whole new angle to it. The revelation had been almost scary to her, to think she could ever feel this way about it, about anypony. Yet, it was also by then that she fully accepted it. Rekindling her friendship with Fluttershy had been when she liked the feeling, despite its mystery to what it meant.
Now she knew. Since she had all that time to enjoy it, and now fully realize it, it was almost no wonder she could accept it now. What else could she do? Nopony could help how they felt about anything. It was just how it worked. Even if before, she never thought she could feel it. But it did. Rainbow Dash knew she had no choice but to face it. Like the daredevil she was...she could never turn down a good challenge.
It was how she came to see it. A challenge. But rather than a physical challenge that included flying, a sport, a game, it was a challenge of the mind. Of the heart.
Rainbow Dash exhaled quietly, feeling her heart pound all the more. It had been at the moment she kissed Fluttershy's nose, and had been thinking of it after everything was okay again.
During the wedding procession, aside from having stood next to each other on occasion, they had also been further away from each other. Especially during the reception. Fluttershy just didn't go near her at all. As much as she herself had wanted to, she just couldn't muster up her own courage. Not until now.
Of course, she was distracted at times too. She had been dancing with Soarin' every now and then, just happy to be in the presence of one of her idols. Hanging out with the Wonderbolts for a while had been part of the highlight of the evening, to be sure. Of course, Rarity had even dropped a not-so-subtle hint about the possibility of Rainbow being the next bride, to...well, who would you think?
But Rainbow Dash denied any of that nonsense. She admired and respected the Wonderbolts completely. She had fun dancing with Soarin', she enjoyed conversing with them. But romantically? That was silly. She wanted to fly with them, she wanted to perform with them, hang out with them, not kiss them! The idea of romance with either of them made her feel awkward. She never even thought of any of them romantically. Just as awesome teammates or friends one day, if she ever came to join.
She did like Soarin', he was fun and laid-back, and was enjoyable to talk with. Spitfire was nice and kind, despite how much of a daredevil she could be in the air, but she was calm and level-headed, but had a fun sense of humour.
But beyond that, the idea of romance with either one just made her feel funny. And not in a good way. That was fine though, she was content knowing where she stood.
After all, her heart by now, belonged to somepony else.
Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy once more, feeling her throat tighten. Her revelation had not been easy, and yet, she fully accepted it now. There was no turning back. No denying it. Her heart pounded, she felt sweaty, she felt shivery, she felt too hot, all of these conflicting feelings were getting to her. As if she would burst.
The feeling, all along, had been love. More than just the feeling of friendship. It was more than that.
It was that time, and this night, that Rainbow Dash knew, and accepted one simple, yet very complex factor about the strange feeling she had always felt around Fluttershy.
She was in love with her.