Fluttershy had been having a quiet afternoon. She was sitting on the couch in her living room, running a brush through Angel Bunny's coat to get all the knots out. All manner of other little creatures lounged around her as well, just relaxing and enjoying her company.
They all scattered in a panic when the door burst open. Fluttershy dived behind the couch in fright.
“Fluttershy, you've gotta hide me!” said Rainbow, jumping inside and slamming the door behind her.
When she recognised her marefriend's voice, Fluttershy stood up. She saw that Rainbow had her back pressed to the door, and was panting heavily. It looked like she'd been running. “Goodness, what's the matter?” said Fluttershy, voice filled with concern.
Rainbow gulped. “You remember how we kinda left Rarity and Pinkie in the middle of the desert when we were chasing Applejack?”
“Yes,” said Fluttershy. “Um, but they weren't there when we went back. I thought we decided that they must have gone back to Dodge Junction, and caught a train before we did?”
“Well, turns out they didn't,” said Rainbow. “They turned up in Ponyville just now, on a railroad pump car. They found it on the old tracks and wheeled themselves all the way back here.”
Fluttershy covered her mouth. “Oh my goodness! I didn't realise-- Oh, and we just left them there. I feel just awful!”
“Yeah, not as awful as I do,” Rainbow hissed. “Because Rarity's convinced that it's my fault! And now she's--”
“Rainbow Dash!”
At the sound of Rarity's yell from outside, Rainbow darted across the room, past Fluttershy, and dived behind the couch. She peered up at Fluttershy with pleading eyes. “She's gonna kill me! You've gotta hide me until she calms down.”
“H-hide you?” said Fluttershy. “B-but I don't-- I couldn't possibly--”
“Please!” Rainbow whispered, as if afraid her voice would carry outside. “I swear, I'll do anything to pay you back. Anything you want. Just please don't let her kill me!”
“I-I'm sure she won't really--”
“As Celestia is my witness, Rainbow Dash, if I find you in there, I am going to kill you!”
“Oh my...”
Rainbow gave her the puppy eyes. Fluttershy could not resist the puppy eyes.
Hearing a loud knock at the door, Fluttershy had to think fast. She guided Rainbow to lay down on the couch, then grabbed a nearby blanket and threw it over her. Then she gave a sharp whistle, signalling her animal friends to form up and climb on top of Rainbow. Once her marefriend was completely covered by a mound of fur and fluffy critters, Fluttershy hurried over to the door, gulped, then opened it.
“O-oh, hello, Rarity,” she said.
Rarity was standing there, and she looked like she'd been dragged backwards through a thorn-bush. Her mane was out of control, her pristine coat was marred with dirt, her face was beet red, and she was clearly out of breath. She also looked very angry about the whole thing. It was scary, even though Fluttershy knew none of that anger was directed at her.
“Hello, Fluttershy, darling,” she said, in a even tone. “So sorry to bother you, but I was wondering whether you perchance knew where Rainbow Dash--” She scowled and tried to look around Fluttershy. “--might be hiding.”
“R-Rainbow Dash?” said Fluttershy. She knew that she wasn't a very good liar, and felt herself starting to shake even as she stood there. “No, I-I haven't seen her today. Are you sure she came this way?”
Rarity gave her a look. “I didn't say that she came this way.”
Fluttershy's cheeks burned. “N-no, I didn't mean-- I-I just assumed, since you're here, and you look like you've been running, that you p-possibly might have been chasing her this way. Not that I'm saying she did come this way, o-or that that's what you're doing. Goodness, it's hot in here...”
“Mhm,” Rarity hummed, raising an eyebrow. “So, Rainbow Dash didn't happen to burst in just before I arrived and beg you to hide her from perfectly calm and not-murderously-vengeful little me? Are you sure?”
Fluttershy shifted on her hooves, getting more and more anxious by the second. 'I can't do it. I can't do it. I can't--'
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Fluttershy blurted out.
Rarity blinked. “Pardon?”
'WHAT?! Why would I say that?!'
“I-it's just that you look quite flustered,” said Fluttershy, trying and failing to think on her hooves. “I thought you might like to sit down and have a drink.”
There was a long moment of stunned silence, for both ponies. Rarity's eyes narrowed, as if trying to pick out some trace of a lie. Fluttershy gave her a too-wide smile.
Then Rarity sighed, and let her shoulders slump. “I think you may be right. Yes, Fluttershy, I would love a cup of tea. Thank you.”
“O-oh, good,” said Fluttershy. “Come on in. Just, um, don't sit on the couch. My... animals are sleeping.”
Fluttershy was careful to keep her eye on Rarity while she was brewing the tea, to make sure she didn't go snooping around the couch and find her fugitive pegasus. Once it was ready, they sat down on the rug beside the fireplace, with two steaming cups between them, and Rarity started talking. Venting, really, about her long and arduous trip home.
When it came to it, Rarity brushed aside Fluttershy's apology, saying that it was her own fault for agreeing to follow Pinkie to the old train tracks, rather than staying there and waiting for the group to return. Once they'd established that, Rarity's anger at Rainbow Dash started to mellow out. The tea seemed to help, too, and by the time she came to the end of her cup, there was no more murderous glint in her eye.
When she took her last sip, Rarity let out another sigh. “I am so sorry for rambling on, darling. I fear I got a little carried away with myself.”
Fluttershy shook her head with pursed lips. “Oh no, not at all. I'm glad I could help you get it off your chest.” She spared a glance for the couch, where the mound of animals shifted again. Rainbow had certainly been under there for a long time. It was a miracle that Rarity hadn't noticed her fidgeting.
“Darling?”
Fluttershy snapped her eyes back to Rarity. “Y-yes?”
“Are you sure that I didn't interrupt anything?” said Rarity. “You seem very distracted.”
“Oh, not at all!” said Fluttershy. “I just... have a lot of things to do before this evening. I keep thinking about it. Them. I'm sorry.” It wasn't a total lie – she did have a lot on her to-do list – but it was still uncomfortable to keep misleading her friend.
Rarity got a kind smile on her face. “I understand, darling. I've taken quite enough of your time for one afternoon, and I really should be getting home, myself.” She got to her hooves, then lifted one of them to give it a pitying look. “Perhaps via the spa. I must look a state.”
Fluttershy shook her head, but felt too awkward to comment. She stood up too, and walked Rarity to the door.
“Thank you for the tea,” Rarity chirped, as she stepped outside.
“You're welcome,” said Fluttershy. “It's no bother. But, um...”
Rarity looked back. “Yes?”
Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Well, if-- W-when you see Rainbow Dash, maybe you could, um--”
“Don't worry, darling, I shan't be chasing after her anymore,” Rarity assured her. “If you see her before I do, tell her that there are no hard feelings.”
Fluttershy smiled. “Okay.”
“Ta-ta!”
Rarity left, trotting over the bridge and down the trail towards Ponyville. Fluttershy closed the door, then let out a sigh of relief as the tension left her shoulders.
The couch exploded as Rainbow burst up from beneath the blanket, gasping for air. Most of the critters had already vacated the couch as they saw Rarity leave, but those that hadn't were flung off onto the rug, where they bounced harmlessly... and made annoyed noises in Rainbow's direction.
Fluttershy crossed the room to her. “Are you alright?” she asked, seeing that Rainbow's face had turned very red.
“Hot under there,” Rainbow panted. “And hard to breathe... Something kept jabbing me in the side.”
Angel Bunny hopped over to Fluttershy's leg, folded his paws and gave Rainbow a look that said it was him, and he was proud of it.
Rainbow didn't seem to notice, but she jumped off the couch and flapped her wings, bringing herself to hover in front of Fluttershy. “I can't believe you invited her in for tea!” she said, with a tone of irritation in her voice. “I was under there for like half an hour.”
“Sorry, I panicked,” said Fluttershy. “I'm not used to, um, harbouring fugitives.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes, but her expression softened after a moment. “I guess you did get her to calm down,” she said. “And she didn't find me. I owe you one.”
Fluttershy found a smile at that, and shook her head. “Oh, don't be silly. You would've done the same thing for me.”
“Well, yeah,” said Rainbow, “but that doesn't mean you don't get a thank you. Besides, I promised to pay you back, didn't I? 'Anything you wanted'?”
Fluttershy's cheeks flushed a little as she remembered. “Oh, I suppose you did.”
Rainbow alighted in front of her with a grin. “So, what do I owe you, pal?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.
“I-I accept 'thank you's in the form of kisses and/or food,” Fluttershy mumbled, eyes on the floor.
A short silence followed.
“...Wow,” said Rainbow. “Smooth callback.”
“Thank you.”
“Buuut, you know I can't cook,” Rainbow said. “So I guess that kinda limits my options, huh.”
Fluttershy looked up at her, just in time for Rainbow to close the distance between them and pull her into a deep, surprisingly gentle kiss. As always, she was more than happy to return it, and as always, she had a glowing smile on her face when they parted.
“Thanks for having my back, pal,” said Rainbow, mirroring her smile. “Means a lot.”
* * *