//------------------------------// // Rainbow Rescued // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Alternate Season Six) // by FlareGun45 //------------------------------// One peaceful day in Ponyville, a pack of timberwolves were attacking Ponyville, causing all sorts of havoc. Lemon Drops screamed her voice out as everypony in Ponyville was running around all over the place. Just as a pack of timberwolves were attacking, Lyra grabs Bon Bon’s arm as Bon Bon was dressed in a tuxedo, sunglasses, and had rope around one of her arms, and Lyra yells, “No! Don’t do it! It’s too dangerous!” “I have to do it.” Bonnie said. “For when creatures attack Ponyville I must do what I can to protect it. For my name is Bon.” She then looks at the audience and says, “Bon Bon.” “I thought your name was Sweetie Drops?” Lyra asked. “Don’t ruin the moment, Lyra.” Bonnie instructed her while still posing for the audience. Just then, something swoops by the duo real fast, and just like that a timberwolf was blown into a hundred pieces. The other timberwolves were pretty surprised as whatever it was as the mysterious figure flashed across the sky, and the ponies in Ponyville looked up at it. “Look! Up in the sky!” Parasol cried out. “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” Sassaflash cried out. “Actually it is a bird.” Crescent Moon pointed to the bird flying across the sky. “See? There it is. No plane though.” “No!” Derpy cried out. “It’s… Rainbow Dash!” Just as Derpy cries out her name she lands on another Timberwolf smashing it to pieces. “Have no fear! Your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash is here!” Everypony cheered at her. “Hey! This is my territory, Rainbow Dash!” Bonnie cried out. “Sorry, agent, but its first come first serve!” Rainbow said as another timberwolf was just about to pounce on her, but then Bonnie uses some kind of gravity device to have it collapse and fall apart. “You were saying?” Bonnie asked mischievously. “Hey! No fair! I was distracted!” Rainbow complained. “Whatever. My work here is done.” Bonnie said as she takes off her sunglasses and walks away. “Oooo! You got schooled!” Lyra taunted Rainbow as she followed Bonnie. “Heh! Whatever! I still destroyed more than her!” Rainbow said. “You’re the best Rainbow Dash!” Parasol cried out. “Aww no, no. I wouldn’t say the best.” Rainbow blushed as the timberwolves started to regenerate behind her. “I mean… I am pretty awesome! I saved Ponyville multiple times, I’m almost a Wonderbolt, I’m the Element of Loyalty, and… huh… you know what? I am the best! I actually agree with you! I should’ve never doubted you for a minute, Parasol! Uh, Parasol? What’s wrong?” “LOOK OUT!” Parasol yelled. “What?” Rainbow asked as she looked behind her and saw that the Timberwolf regenerated into one bigger one. “Heh! No problemo! Watch this!” Just then, Rainbow removes a little piece of stick from the timberwolf on its knee and then it automatically falls apart again. The whole crowd cheered afterwards, but Rainbow Dash stops them. “Hang on! Hang on! I’m not done yet! Watch this! I call it the whirlwind blowdry!” That was when Rainbow started to fly real fast around the timberwolf debris. She spun around them as fast as she could and created a rainbow tornado which blew the debris right back into the Everfree Forest. “HA! Now that sure blew you away, huh?” Rainbow taunted them and everypony started to cheer. “Wow, Rainbow Dash! You saved us all yet again!” Parasol said. “We owe you a debt of gratitude for saving us all the time!” Sassaflash said. “Indeed.” Mayor Mare said. “You have shown great service to our community, Rainbow Dash. What has inspired you to have the courage to protect us all the time?” “I dunno.” Rainbow shrugged. “I just want to be there for my community. I don’t just do it for the awesomeness. I mean c’mon, I’m not THAT boasting. I just want to be there for everypony in their time of need.” “I see.” The mayor said. “Have you ever had the need to have the favor returned?” “Pfft! Nopony needs to return the favor!” Rainbow said. “I insist on helping my fellow ponies. Ask any of my friends!” Rainbow looks over and sees Fluttershy flying by in the distance. “Hey, Fluttershy! You want to tell the mayor here that I’m happy to help and don’t need anything in return?!” “No thanks!” Fluttershy called out. “I’m sure she’ll take your word for it!” “You heard her there, mayor. You should take my word for it.” Rainbow said. “But of course!” the mayor agreed. “Well gotta dash!” Rainbow said as she flies off, and the crowd cheers as she dashes off. She flies over to Fluttershy and calls out, “Hey, Fluttershy! Wait up!” “Oh… hey, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said. “Hey.” Rainbow said as there was an awkward silence in the middle, and the two flew side by side down the Ponyville streets. “So did you see me take out those timberwolves?” “Oh, no… I was just helping the birds feed their young when I heard the commotion.” Fluttershy said. “Awww! You should’ve been there!” Rainbow complained. “It was so awesome!” “I’m sure it was.” Fluttershy said. “Uh, was that sarcasm?” Rainbow asked. “Wha- no!” Fluttershy said. “I’m never sarcastic. It’s rude to be like that.” “Eh, not all time.” Rainbow said as the two of them unawaringly fly into the Everfree Forest. “Sometimes it’s fun to be sarcastic. It helps lighten the mood, and prove that I’m no square.” “But I don’t think you’re a square, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said. “Of course I’m no square! That’s Twilight’s department, and sometimes AppleJack’s.” Rainbow said. “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked as evil eyes were spotted them in the shadows. “I mean when Pinkie Pie says something that doesn’t make any sense or she makes up a new word, AppleJack or Twilight go right in and correct her. I mean really! She’s just having fun. No need to ruin the joke.” Rainbow explained. “I guess. I don’t really pay attention to that sort of thing.” Fluttershy admitted. “Heh, who’s the square now?” Rainbow chuckled. “Umm… Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked. “When did we end up in the Everfree Forest?” “We didn’t.” Rainbow said. “We were just flying over the Ponyville streets and we somehow ended up in Everfree- Fluttershy why are we in Everfree Forest?” “I dunno.” Fluttershy said frightenedly as she leans close to Rainbow. “You tell me!” “And why are we still flying forward?” Rainbow asked. “Um, not that I’m blaming you, but… umm… I’m just following you.” Fluttershy said as she smiles embarrassingly. “Well then let’s go back.” Rainbow said. “I’m really not in the mood to seeing Zecora right now.” “If you’re going to turn around, why haven’t you done it yet?” Fluttershy asked as she starts shivering in fright and hides behind Rainbow’s back. “I can’t turn around when you’re holding onto me like that.” Rainbow informed her. “I can’t… I’m too afraid to let go.” Fluttershy said. “Why? We’ve been in this forest a hundred times already, even at its worse, and we always end up escaping alive!” Rainbow reminded her as something started to sneak up on them. “It was just pure luck.” Fluttershy said. “Luck? Ha! There’s no such thing as luck! Just courage and awesomeness!” Rainbow said. “Well… umm… courage and awesomeness is your department, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said. “I’m just… cowardness and patheticness.” “Hey at least you’re not a square.” Rainbow teased. Just then, they started to hear breathing sounds. “Please tell me that’s your stomach!” Fluttershy hoped. “Uh, that’s not even how a stomach rumbles sounds.” Rainbow reminded her. “Well if it’s not you, then… what is-“ Rainbow and Fluttershy both turned around and saw what was behind them. “Well my first guess was timberwolf but I guess I thought wrong.” Rainbow admitted as a cragadile was crawling up from behind and roared at them. Fluttershy started to scream. “Ha! You call this a problem? Stand back, Fluttershy and let the pros do the work.” “Um, actually, I don’t think-“ Fluttershy started but Rainbow cuts her off. “Nope, say no more, Fluttershy, I insist. Let me help you through this.” Rainbow insisted. “Ok, Mr. Cragadile, I’m giving you this one warning to go back where you came from and leave us alone, otherwise you’ll be bringing out the big guns!” The cragadile just roars at her, letting out some saliva on the process, which turns out to be mud. Rainbow wipes the mud off her and says, “Ew! Say it, don’t spray it!” The cragadile roars at her again and lets out a big chomp, but misses. “Ok then, I gave you your warning, now feel the wrath of Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow let’s out raging scream as she charges towards the cragadile and starts spinning around it, trying to build up another tornado, but it doesn’t affect the creature one bit and in the process, the cragadile whips Rainbow with its tail which causes Rainbow to crash right into a tree. After she rubs her head in pain, she gets back up quickly. “Ah a real challenge! You’re no timberwolf that’s for sure!” The cragadile starts charging towards Rainbow and as it got close, Rainbow swoops up into the air forcing the crag to crash into the tree. “HA! Is that the best you got?” Rainbow taunted. Just then, the crag whips Rainbow with its tail again and makes Rainbow crash into a rock. “Oh my. I can’t watch.” Fluttershy covers her eyes. “Is that the only tactic you got that’s effective?” Rainbow taunted. “You fail to impress me.” The crag looks right back at Rainbow and then uses its breath on Rainbow. “Oh pee you! What is that stuff? What do you eat? Onion garlic bean stew? Why am I feeling… sleepy?” Rainbow suddenly falls right down onto the ground and starts to feel drowsy. “No! No… I can’t sleep! Fluttershy! I… must… protect her!” “RAINBOW! Get back up! You can do it!” Fluttershy cheered. “I… I… I… ugh!” Rainbow’s eyes suddenly become to heavy for her as she passes out from the cragadile’s breath. The crag licks its lips and begins to crawl over to Rainbow’s passed out body and it opens its mouth. As the crag got closer and closer, Rainbow was more doomed than ever. Just as the crag was about to chomp at her, Fluttershy swoops over and catches Rainbow and begins to fly as she could. The crag roars as it begins to chase Fluttershy. Fluttershy tried to fly faster and faster at the same time dodging trees, even though Rainbow’s passed out legs hit a couple of objects along the way which made Fluttershy say ‘sorry’ a lot. The crag started to gain up on them. It gives out a big chomp when it got close, but Fluttershy moves her tail aside and the crag completely misses – this was when Rainbow started to wake up. “Huh… huh? What? What’s going on? Why can’t I feel the rest of my body?” Rainbow asked. “Where am I going? Fluttershy, what’s going on?” “No time to explain! Cragadile… gotta… get away!” Fluttershy said. “Huh?” Rainbow asked as she turns her neck around slightly and saw the crag gaining up on them. “Whoa! Fluttershy, you have to fly faster!” “I can’t!” Fluttershy whined. “I’m getting tired! Why don’t you fly?!” “The rest of my body is still asleep!” Rainbow yelled. “Oh my!” Fluttershy cried as she started to get teary eyed. “I can’t do this, Rainbow Dash! I’m getting tired!” “Keep going! You can do this, Fluttershy! I believe in you!” Rainbow yelled. “I think… I think… I think I’m going to…” Fluttershy starts to fly slower and slower out of exhaustion, and the crag began to gain up on them. “Fluttershy NO!” Rainbow yelled. Just then, just before the crag was able to catch up to them, it hits its head on a rock which leaned on a tree, and that’s when a bunch of coconuts fell from the tree and landed on its head. The crag began to act all dopey as a bump appeared on its head, and then it passes out. “Fluttershy!” “What? Are we dead?” Fluttershy asked as she flew much slower with her eyes closed. “No! You did it!” Rainbow cried. “You defeated the crag!” “I did?” Fluttershy asked as she looked back. “Yes you did! You’re a hero, Fluttershy! You saved my life!” Rainbow said excitedly. Just then, her excitement suddenly died down. “You… saved my life.” “I… I saved your life?” Fluttershy asked. “Umm… yeah… I guess you did.” Rainbow said upsettingly. “Oh… my… this is… so wonderful!” Fluttershy said excitedly. “I don’t know what to say, accept… woo hoo!” she cries out gently, but as she cheers, she accidently drops Rainbow. “Oh… sorry.” “It’s ok. I think I can move my body again.” Rainbow said as she helped herself up. “Wow! I-I know how it feels to be you now!” Fluttershy said excitedly. “I was the one that saved Rainbow Dash’s life!” “Don’t get too cocky, Fluttershy. I saved your life many times before. Don’t forget that.” Rainbow reminded her. “Oh good, I didn’t want you to owe me a life debt or anything. Remember what happened last time?” Fluttershy reminded her. “Don’t worry. It’s what friends are for.” Rainbow smiled. “It’s… what friends are for.” “I’ll probably get praised in Ponyville!” Fluttershy said. “Oh… no, I wouldn’t want that. Too much attention. That’s your thing.” “Well I don’t want to lose that praise!” Rainbow said. “I mean… I’m the one that saves ponies’ lives. Me getting saved by somepony like you? I think my ego is going to drop, big time!” “Oh… I… I didn’t mean to drop your ego.” Fluttershy said. “Whatever that means.” “Fluttershy, I got a favor to ask you.” Rainbow requested. “I know you saved my life and all, and I am truly grateful for it. But… I dunno, if everypony knows that you were the one that saved my life instead of me saving you? I mean… my popularity would collapse! I can’t have that. Can I?” “No, I… I guess not.” Fluttershy said. “Exactly!” Rainbow said. “So, when we get back to Ponyville, how about… I dunno… we reverse the story a bit?” “What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “I mean… instead of you saving my life, I was the one that saved YOU from the crag!” Rainbow suggested. “Oh, but… that would be lying.” Fluttershy said as she holds onto her tail. “Uh, we’re Elements of Loyalty and Kindness, Fluttershy. AppleJack’s honesty.” Rainbow reminded her. “Oh… right.” Fluttershy understood. “Look, Fluttershy, you’re a hero in my eyes, but like you said, you don’t want to be praised by Ponyville.” Rainbow reminded her. “Let me take the attention away from you. I’ll still have my ego, and you can be left alone by the public. Sound like a deal?” “Oh… I… I dunno, Rainbow.” Fluttershy said. “It just… doesn’t seem right lying to everypony.” “If we tell them you saved my life, I won’t be a hero in anypony’s eyes anymore, and you will have all the attention. If we tell them I saved you, it would be a win-win scenario!” Rainbow explained. “We’d both get what we want!” “Well, umm… ok, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy smiled. “You have a deal!” “Thata girl, Flutters! Put ‘er there!” Rainbow takes her arm out wanting a hoof bump, but Fluttershy was scared after she stuck out her hoof. “No, Fluttershy, it’s a hoof bump. It’s a way two friends are excited, like…” she pounds her hooves together, “POW!” “Umm… POW!” Fluttershy said as she bumps her hooves together too. “No, not like that.” Rainbow corrected her. “It’s just a friendly tap. Just pounding the hooves together. Kind of a way of saying ‘hey, friend!’. “Umm… hey.” Fluttershy said, still not getting what she’s talking about. “C’mon, hoof bump!” Rainbow yelled as she sticks her hoof up in the air, and Fluttershy flinches in fright, thinking she was going to get punched. “Umm… I guess we’ll work on that later.” She chuckles. Once Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash leave Everfree Forest, Twilight, Pinkie, AppleJack, and Rarity were waiting outside for them. “Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy! Oh thank goodness you’re ok!” AppleJack said in relief. “You had us all worried, dears!” Rarity said. “Why did you wander into Everfree Forest?” “Did you say hi to Zecora?” Pinkie asked. “Sorry, girls.” Rainbow said. “But, umm… we just got distracted and wandered off the trail accidently.” “Well we’re glad you two are ok.” Twilight said. “Did you two run into spooky monsters while in there and get eaten by them?” Pinkie asked. “Uh, Pinkie, how can they get eaten if they’re right here?” AppleJack asked her. “They got digested, duh!” Pinkie informed her. “How else are they here? I’m not a square like you, AppleJack!” She boops her nose. “HA!” Rainbow laughed. “But Pinkie does make a good question. Did you two run into anything?” Rarity asked. “Well, umm… we did run into a crocodile.” Fluttershy admitted. “WHAT?!” the Mane Four all yelled in surprise. “Is that true?!” Rarity asked. “Sure is! But we showed ‘em who’s boss!” Rainbow said. “We thought we were done for!” Fluttershy explained. “Rainbow fought that huge beast real well, until she got tail whipped, so I came in and saaaaa… umm… umm…” She froze as she knew she was close revealing the truth. The rest of her friends were paying attention in suspense as Rainbow shook her head worryingly. After thinking about what to say, Fluttershy finally said, “I got saved by Rainbow Dash after the croc nearly ended me!” “Well it ain’t no surprise.” AppleJack said. “Rainbow Dash is always there for her friends in distress.” “She sure is!” Rarity said. “I just hope you’re not feeling chills right now, Fluttershy. Crocadile’s are most dreadful creatures!” “Oh, I’m fine, Rarity.” Fluttershy smiled. “I am a little shaken, but it’s not going to scar me for life. I’ve faced things that are much worse.” “Like TWO crocadiles?” Pinkie asked with a couple of crocadile stick puppets. “EEP!” Fluttershy gasped as she covered her face with her hair. “Two?!” Twilight asked. “It’s bad enough being face to face with one! I was never so scared in my life when I ran into one of those guys! Even dragons are walk in the park!” “Because she lives with one!” Pinkie said. “So please, Rainbow. Why don’t you tell us your experience with the cocadile?” Twilight asked. “They will be most useful for my research!” “Totally!” Rainbow said. “It’s got like a hundred teeth, and claws that can scratch the strongest of rocks, and not to mention that tail! That’ll knock ya right out of the sky!” “And probably eyes that stare directly into your soul!” Pinkie said as she stares into Rarity’s eyes. Rarity was feeling a little uncomfortable after she did that. “Please, Pinkie Pie, you’re invading my personal space.” Rarity informed her as she slightly pushes her away. “Tell us more about how you rescued Fluttershy!” Pinkie requested. “Ah! I can tell you that in FULL detail!” Rainbow started. Fluttershy suddenly sighs. After a few hours went by, Fluttershy was at her cottage filling up some compost for her pigs. “There you go, little piggies! I hope you enjoy your neutrinos meal!” One of the pigs smile at Fluttershy showing some of the compost stuck on its teeth. Fluttershy smiles brightly, but just until Angel pulls on her tail and shows her his empty bowl. “Ow! Oh, Angel. You must be hung- wait a minute. Didn’t I just feed you 10 minutes ago?” Angel stamps his foot with unamusement. “You must still be hungry. I probably didn’t give you enough lettuce. I knew I didn’t have enough for your salad. I’ll go get some more right away.” Angel smiles as he starts to hop away, but Fluttershy stops him. “Hang on, Angel. Remember our deal. I give you what you want if you give me something in return.” Fluttershy reminded him. Angel sighs and rolls his eyes as he jumps up on Fluttershy’s shoulder and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Fluttershy giggles and blushes and said, “I love you too, Angel! Ok, I’ll get your lettuce for you.” So Fluttershy flies out of her yard and starts heading over to Ponyville to get Angel what he wants. That was when a group of ponies walk by and looked right at Fluttershy. She heard them whispering to eachother about how she was face to face with a crocadile. Fluttershy felt a wee-bit concerned to how they knew that. Up ahead by the grass area, a school-aged pony roared while wearing a crocadile outfit. “Rawr! I am a scary crocadile! I will eat you, Fluttershy!” “Oh no, no! Please don’t eat me! I am so vulnerable!” another school-aged pony cried. “Rawr! I am going to eat you with my hundreds of stoney-sharp teeth!” the crocadile pony said. “No please! Somepony save me!” the Fluttershy pony cried. “Dun dun dun duuuuun! Have no fear! Your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash is here! I’ll save you Fluttershy!” a school-aged pony in a Rainbow Dash outfit yelled as she play-punches the crocadile pony in the face as he cries out in pain and falls to the floor. “I have been defeated!” the cocadile pony yelled. “Yay! Rainbow Dash! My hero!” the Fluttershy pony cheered. “Mmph.” The actual Fluttershy groaned. “Hey, Cloud Kicker, look! It’s Fluttershy!” Merry May pointed out. “Wow! That’s so cool!” Cloud Kicker said excitedly. “You actually went face to face with a crocadile?” “Umm… yes?” Fluttershy said. “Wow! I am so envious of you, Fluttershy!” Cloud Kicker said. “It is so totally cool to actually confront a crocadile and survive!” “Yeah, Fluttershy! That’s rad!” Merry May said. “And then Rainbow Dash comes down to rescue you. She may have saved you, but you’re a hero too, Fluttershy! You gave Rainbow Dash the confidence she needed!” “She’s so lucky to have a friend like you!” Cloud Kicker said as the duo walk passed Fluttershy and away, but not before Cloud Kicker asked, “Hey Merry May? Did anypony ever told you that we kinda look alike?” “Huh?” Fluttershy asked curiously. “How does everypony know about this?” That was when she saw a crowd of ponies over at Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy glides on inside and sees Rainbow Dash telling the story on how she rescued Fluttershy at Everfree. “And I thought I couldn’t stand a chance! I thought I was done for! The crocadile was too powerful, but that’s when Fluttershy who was cowering in fear yelled out that I could do it! She gave me the confidence I needed to save her from- oh, Fluttershy! There you are! Come up here!” The crowd cheers for Fluttershy, but Fluttershy felt a bit nervous that all the attention was focused on her. Rainbow smiles as she said, “C’mon, Fluttershy! Don’t be shy! Prove you’re better than your name!” Fluttershy gulped as she flew up to where Rainbow is. Rainbow puts her arm around Fluttershy and continues the story. “This here is the pony that gave me the confidence to save her from the crocadile. I flew up to the crocadile, grabbed it by the tail, swung it around, and threw it way deep into the Everfree Forest! Fluttershy thanked me for saving her life. But I said, ‘No Fluttershy. It was you that saved me. For I wouldn’ve had the confidence to do it if you didn’t think I could do it’. So you see, I’m not the only hero here. Fluttershy here is a hero too.” The crowd cheers for her. “Umm, Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked. “Right, right. How silly of me.” Rainbow smacked herself on the head. “Fluttershy here doesn’t feel like you should praise her. She told me after we left Everfree that she doesn’t want to have all this attention. She may be a hero, but I’m still everypony’s favorite neighborhood Rainbow Dash!” The crowd cheers again. “WOO HOO! Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie cried out in excitement. “To celebrate her, cupcakes on the house!” The crowd cheers yet again. “Mmm, yummy! Thanks, Pinkie!” Starlight Glimmer said as she takes a cupcake. “Are you sure the Cakes would allow you to do this?” Spike asked as he takes one. Pinkie starts to laugh. “I have no idea! They’re out making a cake delivery! I’m supposed to watch over the place while they’re gone!” She continues to laugh. Spike and Starlight both look at eachother in confusion. As Rainbow smiles at poses at the cheering crowd, Fluttershy tries to sneak away. As she tries to sneak over to the kitchen, Twilight stops her. “Fluttershy, where are you going?” Twilight asked. “I don’t want to be here. Too much attention!” Fluttershy said. “Yeah I gotta say, Rainbow Dash knows you too well. She should’ve known that giving you all that attention made you uncomfortable.” Twilight thought. “It does. It would appear that either way, I’d be getting myself too much attention, and I don’t like it!” Fluttershy said. “Wait… what do you mean ‘either way’?” Twilight asked. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I-I, I gotta go.” Fluttershy said as she rushed through the kitchen and out of Sugarcube Corner. Twilight started to think as Rainbow continued to boast. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Sassaflash called out. “Yes, Sassaflash?” Rainbow asked. “How does it feel to fight two beasts in one day?” Sassaflash asked. “Yeah, first the timberwolves and then the crocadile. Doesn’t it tire you out?” Parasol asked. “HA! As if! This pony never gets tired out.” Rainbow said. “I might’ve had a little bit of a weakness back in Everfree, but it’s really nothing. We all have our weaknesses at times.” “IT’S TRUE!” Pinkie yelled as she puts her arms around Sassaflash and Parasol’s necks, surprising them in the process. “We all have weaknesses all the time! Also, you two look so much alike!” “Yeah, we get that a lot.” Sassaflash said. “A bunch of us do.” Parasol said. “Umm, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight called out. “Twilight! You have a question?” Rainbow asked. “Yes I do.” Twilight said. “I just wanted to ask: is everything that you’re saying true?” The crowd gasped. “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rainbow stopped her. “Where did… where did that come from? Of course it’s all true!” “But we weren’t there. Were we?” Twilight asked mischievously. “Of course you weren’t.” Rainbow said. “You don’t know what’s actually happened, but you have no proof that what I’m saying isn’t true either. I mean, we saw results on how much of a hero I am. You saw it this morning! I fought a timberwolf in front of the whole town! Don’t believe me? Ask Mayor Mare.” “It’s true. It’s all true.” The mayor said in the crowd. “Exactly!” Rainbow said. “I mean if I said that I just rescued Fluttershy without her giving me her confidence, then maybe you’d act suspicious, but you shouldn’t, because she’s a hero like me!” The crowd all nods in agreement. “Hmm…” Twilight thought. “What’s wrong, Twilight?” Starlight asked. “Something just doesn’t add up.” Twilight said. “I think I should do a little bit of investigating.” Over at the market place, Fluttershy was buying some lettuce at one of the stalls. “Thanks.” Fluttershy said as she takes the lettuce. “No prob! I hope you don’t find any crocs on the way home!” the merchant teased. Fluttershy gets embarrassed and starts running away. Rainbow witnesses what’s happened, so she decides to see what her friend’s problem is. She flies over to Fluttershy, walks along side her, and says, “What up, Flutters?” “Oh… hey, Rainbow.” Fluttershy said upsettingly as she looks down on the ground. “Don’t let that pony bother you. He teases everypony that visits him.” Rainbow said. “It’s just his way of humor. Like… think about the humor in between Pinkie Pie and Discord.” “Sure.” Fluttershy said. “Hey, what’s going on? What’s bothering you?” Rainbow asked. “Oh, it’s… nothing.” Fluttershy said. “C’mon, tell me. Is it something I did?” Rainbow asked. “No.” Fluttershy said. “It’s something I did, isn’t it?” Rainbow asked. “No.” Fluttershy said again. “Ugh! It’s the attention I gave you!” Rainbow groaned. “Fluttershy, I’m so sorry! That wasn’t intentional at all!” “It’s… ok.” Fluttershy said. “No it’s not!” Rainbow said upsettingly. “Look at me, bragging about how I saved your life just to avoid the attention. But no, I had to bring you into it saying you’re a hero too. But I can explain it!” “No, really. It’s ok.” Fluttershy said. Rainbow wasn’t paying any attention to what Fluttershy was saying, so she continued, “When I was going around telling everypony how I rescued you, I started to feel bad because I wasn’t giving you enough credit. So I decided to add into the story. Say that you were the one that gave me the confidence to rescue you. I know you didn’t want that kind of attention, but it just didn’t feel right. Then knowing how ponies are usually doomed when they go face to face with a crocadile, we both became renowned, so either way, you would’ve gotten the attention anyway.” “Rainbow, it’s ok.” Fluttershy said as she stopped and turned to look at her. “Are you sure?” Rainbow asked. “Absolutely.” Fluttershy said. “Whatever makes you happy. I’m happy.” “You don’t seem too happy.” Rainbow said. “Well… actually… I’m not.” Fluttershy admitted. “Ah ha! I knew it! I knew those nos weren’t real!” Rainbow said. “I know, but I just don’t like this attention.” Fluttershy said. “I know you like being the hero and all, and you love to be the center of attention. But I’m not like you, Rainbow Dash. I just want to blend in the background as you make a show for everypony. It’s where I belong.” Rainbow sighs. “Ok, Fluttershy. If that’s how you want it,” she smiles, “I won’t bring up this story anymore. I’ll just go back to being the hero of the town, and this story won’t be brought up again.” Fluttershy smiles back. “I can live with that.” Just then, as things were couldn’t get worse; a pony shows up in front of Rainbow and Fluttershy. He was a light blue unicorn, he had blue eyes, wore a tan trenchcoat and a dark journalist hat with a little white tag on it, and had a notepad for a cutie mark. He also had a pencil on his ear, had a camera around his neck, and carried a satchel too. “Um, excuse me?” he asked. “Are you two the pegasi that go by the names of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?” “More like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy but go ahead.” Rainbow said. “My name is Blue Print.” The pony said. “I’m a journalist for the Ponyville Chronicles. We at the Ponyville Chronicles would like to give you an interview on your actions in Everfree Forest. It was a crocadile incident, was it not?” “Well, umm… we-“ Fluttershy started. “We have nothing more to say on the subject.” Rainbow interrupts her. “Can we move on with our lives please?” “Oh of course, Fluttershy.” Blue Print said. “I’m Rainbow Dash.” She corrected her. “Really? Oh, beg your pardon. All I got was your names, not between who is who.” Blue Print admitted. “I mean the names ‘Rainbow Dash’ and ‘Fluttershy’, those names don’t resemble you two at all.” Rainbow and Fluttershy both glare at him. Blue Print then uses his magic to take a notepad out of his satchel, and then he takes his pencil and places the point on the notepad. “Now then. How about you both tell me what happened?” “Oh it was nothing really.” Rainbow said. “Fluttershy and I were just flying around Ponyville, but as we were talking, we got distracted and accidently wandered into Everfree Forest. Then a crocadile attacked, I got incapacitated, Fluttershy gave me the confidence, and just before the crocadile could attack Fluttershy, BOOM! I saved her life. Is that enough information?” “I see.” Blue Print said as he wrote the stuff down. “How about you Miss Fluttershy? How did you feel about the incident?” “Oh, umm… pretty scared.” Fluttershy said. “Crocadiles are pretty dangerous creatures. We could’ve been eaten.” “And did you do anything about it?” Blue Print asked. “All I did was coware in fear.” Fluttershy said. “I’m sorry, Mr. Blueprint… sir, but can we not talk about this anymore?” “Absolutely. I just have a few more questions and you can be on your way.” Blue Print said. “Well make it quick! We have things to do!” Rainbow complained. “This shouldn’t take long.” Blue Print said. “Now then, Fluttershy, what were the exact words you said to Rainbow Dash when she was feeling like she wanted to give up?” “Hey, hey! Why do you keep asking her all the questions?” Rainbow complained. “Am I going to going to get any?” “You pretty much said everything you needed to say at your story sessions.” Blue Print reminded her. “Oh… right.” Rainbow remembered as she chuckled embarrassingly. “So how about it, Fluttershy? What did the words you said to Fluttershy mean to you?” Blue Print asked. “Well, umm… umm…” Fluttershy thought, but she couldn’t think of anything. “It felt… good? I guess?” “C’mon you do better than that! Something the readers would want!” Blue Print requested. “I mean, all we get on the news these days is tragedies. We want good news for a change!” “Umm… well… I… I felt… I felt….” Fluttershy stuttered. “I think we’re done here. C’mon, Fluttershy. Let’s go.” Rainbow said as she started to fly but Blue Print stopped her. “Wait! Just one more question!” Blue Print begged. “Just one more question, and I’ll go! I promise!” “Ugh!” Rainbow groaned. “Make it quick! Fluttershy here has animals to tend to!” “Fluttershy,” Blue Print started, “when Rainbow Dash saved your life, how did you feel?” “Good.” Fluttershy said as she started to lose her patience. “Can I have a better answer than that?” Blue Print asked. “She said ‘good’! Now go away!” Rainbow ordered him. “But we need a better answer than that!” Blue Print demanded. “It’s not for me! It’s for the readers!” Blue Print started to blow a fuse and Fluttershy got scared and flinch in fright. She even started to whimper with tears in her eyes. “All of Ponyville wants to know the big news! How did you feel when Rainbow Dash saved you?! You must feel some gratitude of some sort for your friend!” “PLEASE STOP!” Fluttershy cried. “ENOUGH!” Rainbow yelled. “Ok?! Enough! I did NOT save Fluttershy’s life, ok?! She saved my life! I made up the whole story! I didn’t want to lose my ego when everypony thought I was the one that had my life saved! But it was Fluttershy! It was all Fluttershy! I fought the cragadile but failed, and Fluttershy saved my life!” Rainbow Dash turns to Fluttershy and smiled at her. “And I’m not ashamed to admit that anymore! She deserves it! She’s my hero! And my thanks is all she needs!” Rainbow turns towards the Ponyville ponies that were listening the whole time. “And she doesn’t need any praise, or hero parties, or stories about how she saved me! All she did was save me! Fluttershy’s the hero here, and she wants to be left alone about it! Capiche?!” All of the Ponyville citizens spoke to one another concerningly, and then they all turned around and walked away. Blue Print says, “I… I’m sorry for… bothering you two. I… I guess I can just… make up a story. Nopony would know the difference. You proved that. I guess… I guess I’ll be on my way.” Blue Print walks away. “Wow, Rainbow Dash! Thank you so much for standing up to me like that!” Fluttershy said happily. “But… you would lose your ego and popularity now.” “I don’t care about that anymore.” Rainbow said upsettingly as she then smiled at Fluttershy. “I had to tell them the truth. I should’ve given you more credit for saving me. No amount of popularity and praise would make-up the fact that you are my hero!” Fluttershy and Rainbow both hugged. “I guess it makes up for all the times you rescued me?” Fluttershy asked. “Hey, whoa there!” Rainbow stopped her. “I sacrificed my popularity for you. Don’t push it.” The next day came, and Twilight, AppleJack, Pinkie, Rarity, Starlight, and Spike all met up at the castle throne room where they all gathered around for a meeting. “Ok, so once Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash get here. We can get started on our meeting.” Twilight said. “Ah wonder what’s takin’ them so long?” AppleJack asked. “Is it another crocadile attack?!” Pinkie asked worryingly. “Yeah, I doubt that would happen twice in a row.” Rarity said. Pinkie suddenly covers Rarity’s mouth and says, “Don’t jinx it, Rarity!” “What’s there to jinx? Ah’m sure they’re fine.” AppleJack said. “Of course they are!” Twilight said. “They’ll be here in no time!” Just then, the doors suddenly open and Rainbow and Fluttershy fly on inside. “Here we are! Sorry we’re late.” Rainbow said. “AH! See, AppleJack? See?! Jinxes DO happen! They came in no time at all!” Pinkie yelled. “Ah’m sure it was a coincidence.” AppleJack said. “Yeah, try telling that to your barn, AppleJack.” Spike teased. Starlight starts to laugh hysterically at his joke. Like so hysterically that she could hardly breathe. “This guy! This guy right here!” Starlight said as she continued to laugh and hug on Spike. “Wow, heh… didn’t think it was THAT hilarious.” Spike said. “You’re hilarious!” Starlight yelled as she continued to laugh and hug on Spike, and she starts to rock him. Rarity angrily walks over and takes Spike from her and hugs him. “Hey! Find your own dragon to laugh at!” Rarity yelled at her. “Ooooook then.” Twilight said awkwardly. “Now that everypony is here. We can get started at our friendship meeting.” “What’s the good word, Twilight?” AppleJack asked. “Well, the map hasn’t called us recently so that’s out of the picture.” Twilight said. “But I called you all here just to see if anypony had any friendship problems lately.” “Nope. None recently to be honest.” AppleJack said. “Not really, no.” Rarity said. “Does accidently burning a pie for a customer and then forced to just buy one from a nearby market stall and charge double for what I pay for count?” Pinkie asked with her arm up. “Does the customer know?” Twilight asked. “No.” Pinkie said. “Is the customer happy?” Twilight asked. “Absol-poset-lutely!” Pinkie said. “Then I don’t see how that could be a problem.” Twilight said. “Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? Do either of you have anything to share?” “I do have something to share.” Rainbow said. “Ah, so you admit it then! The boasting you made at Sugarcube Corner wasn’t true then!” Twilight said mischievously. “Wow. Where have you been hiding? Under a rock or something?” Rainbow asked. “I just admitted it yesterday in front of the whole town!” “Yeah, Twilight, don’t be such a square.” Fluttershy said mischievously. “Oooooo SNAP!” Pinkie yelled. “That was a burn!” Rarity said. “Heh! For once ah wasn’t called the square!” AppleJack laughed. Twilight glares at them as everypony else started laughing, and just then, Rainbow Dash sticks out her hoof, and Fluttershy didn’t even flinch this time. Fluttershy picks up her hoof and was about to hoof bump her, but she completely misses and punches her in the nose. “OW!” Rainbow yelled as she held her nose. “Oh my gosh!” Fluttershy said worryingly. “AAH! My muzzle! My muzzle!” Rainbow cried. “Rainbow, I am sooooo sorry!” Fluttershy said upsettingly. “My muzzle was nowhere near my hoof! How can you miss by that much?!” Rainbow yelled as she gets teary eyed. “Like you said, I need to work on it.” Fluttershy smiled embarrassingly. Just then Rainbow smiles back and removes her hooves from her face. “Meh, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad!” Rainbow said happily as everypony gasps over Rainbow Dash’s very swollen nose. Rarity was about to barf, and Pinkie’s jaw drops right on the table. “You didn’t even punch that hard, Fluttershy! That barely hurt!” Just then, the Ponyville Chronicles newspaper article gets released with the title ‘Shy pegasus pony saves hero’s life, and then gets punched in the muzzle for lying’, showing a picture of Fluttershy hugging Rainbow with her bandaged nose and tissues tugged inside her nostrils, and Rainbow got surprised at the camera for taking the picture.