//------------------------------// // I: The Night Before // Story: Overslept // by FS713 //------------------------------// Fluttershy shook with anticipation. The monthly sleepover was fast approaching. It was an event so cherished, it could almost be considered sacred among her group of friends. A night to tell stories, drink cider until thoroughly smashed, pig out on pizza and ice cream, sing, laugh, play games, and grow closer as friends; a night of both mindless fun and meaningful bonding. And this month, for the very first time, it was finally Fluttershy’s turn to host. Fluttershy had worked hard, taking all the necessary steps to make sure everything would be perfect. She found somepony to take care of everyone’s animals, including her many own, for the weekend, and shelled out extra bits from her savings account to make sure everypony had a nice comfy bed. Last Tuesday she got her hooves the latest edition of of Ogres And Oubliettes, the unrated violent cut of the new film adaptation of Daring Do And The Quest For The Sapphire Stone as per Rainbow and Twilight’s request, cards for Pony Poker, a few dozen flavors of ice cream from Sugarcube Corner, and of course, the most important item of all: The Apple Family's Hard Apple Cider. Everything was looking to be lined up perfectly, yet Fluttershy still had that ever-present little inkling of stress in the back of her mind; after all, there was always the possibility that things could go catastrophically wrong. And if they did… oh, she didn’t even want to think about it. She just hoped what she had done was enough to make this night as epic as past ones had been. But just as she was anxiously going through her mental checklist one last time, she heard a loud knock on the door. She let out a shrill yelp. "Who could that be!?" she wondered, opening the door. Her purple Alicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle, stood sheepishly in the doorway. “T… Twilight! What is brings you here? The sleepover isn’t until tomorrow!” Twilight inhaled sharply. “Yeah… see, about that… I’m afraid I’m not gonna be able to make it”, she replied with a heavy tone of regret in her voice. “What!? Why not?”, Fluttershy questioned, suddenly somewhat panicked. “Celestia has summoned me to Canterlot. She says a very serious problem has come up and I must be there immediately,” she answered urgently. “I’m afraid I’m gonna be in Canterlot all weekend.” Fluttershy’s heart sank. “We can wait another week, can’t we?” “No, we can’t! This sleepover is tradition, and as the tradition goes, it has to be on this weekend.” “Oh…” “I guess you’re just gonna have to do it without me. I’m sorry,” Twilight concluded before turning around, opening her wings, and flying off towards Canterlot. Fluttershy exhaled. “O… OK, Fluttershy, get a hold of yourself. So Twilight isn’t gonna be there, it’s fine. At least the other four are still gonna be there!” “What do you mean you’re not gonna be there!?” Fluttershy sat at a roundtable in Joe’s donut place with Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. “I’m really, really, reaallly sorry Fluttershy, but Limestone’s birthday is tomorrow and I have to show up! Believe me, when her birthday doesn’t go perfectly, things aren’t very pretty,” Pinkie Pie said, her voice losing its signature bounce and growing very serious on that last point. “And I’m afraid the Sisterhooves Social is this weekend, ‘nd we promised Sweetie ‘n Apple Bloom we’d be able to take ‘em this year. We tried lettin’ ‘em down easy, but we just couldn’t stand to break their little hearts again.” Applejack gestured at Rarity, who promptly nodded. “Besides, you simply cannot resist those sad eyes of theirs.” AJ shuddered a bit. “Oh Celestia, those eyes.” “But… but you can’t all be unavailable! This sleepover is supposed to be special and I can’t have it be all messed up on my first hosting! Oh what do I do, what do I do!?” she cried out, slamming her head down on the table. Looks of concern for Fluttershy flashed across the three ponies’ faces. “Oh, please relax, dear”, Rarity chimed in, lifting Fluttershy’s chin up. “Rainbow Dash told me she will still be in town for the event, and I’m sure you two will have a lovely time together.” Fluttershy calmed. “Yeah, I suppose.” She smiled, drifting off a bit. Although she couldn't quite put her hoof on it, there was a special little feeling Fluttershy always felt whenever she was around Rainbow Dash. They had been friends longer than most of their circle even knew eachother, ever since Rainbow stood up for her against those horrible bullies that fateful day at Flight Camp. Since that day, Fluttershy felt a strong, almost supernatural connection with her. Fluttershy's thoughts couldn't help but drift to images of her sky blue friend. That brash, tomboyish personality. Her unstoppable courage. The way she always pushed Fluttershy to be the best she can. Images of those gorgeous ruby eyes filled Fluttershy's mind, along with those stunning outstretched wings, that flowing prismatic mane, those... “Darling, are you alright?” Fluttershy snapped out of her little trance. “Oh! Um, y- yes, I’m… I’m fine. I’m sure the sleepover with Rainbow will go great”, she stammered, blushing a little. “I have to go.” Fluttershy slowly trotted back through town towards her cottage, the cool night wind flowing through her mane. The walk was really helping to put her mind at ease, just her, the gorgeous moonlit sky, that cold yet subtle breeze, the solitude… it was pleasant, almost ethereal. That is, until a blur came and socked Fluttershy straight to the ground. She looked up. Of course it was Rainbow. “Oh, ah, hey there Fluttershy. Sorry ‘bout that, didn’t see ya there, heh.” she stammered while backing off of her yellow friend, rather uncharacteristically apologetic of her. “I’m fine, Rainbow. Don’t worry.” “Are you sure? Because I can get you some bandages or something if you need-” “Rainbow, calm down. I’m okay.” Fluttershy said, chuckling a little. “Heh, cool. So, uhh... how ‘bout that sleepover tomorrow? You excited?” Rainbow asked, playfully giving her friend a light punch on the shoulder. “Yes… yes, yes I am.” Fluttershy responded nervously. Rainbow picked up on Fluttershy’s nerves, which seemed tense tonight even for her. “Fluttershy, is everything…” “YEP! Never better!” At least, that’s what Fluttershy said, when in her mind she was just praying for Rainbow to leave to end the awkwardness. The two stood in silence for a good ten seconds. “OK, well, uuh, good talk. I gotta go. Sorry again.” Rainbow said before bolting off, leaving Fluttershy on her own once again. Fluttershy just stood there, looking wistfully in Rainbow’s general direction, before turning around and continuing the trek back to her cottage, trying to put herself back in the relaxed mindset she was at before. As Fluttershy made the final preparations for the following night's event, she couldn't help but let her mind wander. Rainbow Dash inevitably entered her mind once more. Her eyes, her smile, her passion... Fluttershy snapped out of it once again. “Get it together”, she told herself. There was no escaping the truth anymore. She had to face it. "I… I have a crush on Rainbow Dash," she stated out loud to herself. Admitting it made her feel a little better. It had to be true. There was no other explanation. She was in love; powerful, unfathomable love. But what would she do? What COULD she do? Fluttershy's nervousness swelled up inside her as she subconsciously spoke her thoughts aloud. "Should I confess? If I confess, what if it makes things weird? What if… could it end our friendship?" Fluttershy shuddered with fear. So many things could go wrong. She eventually vowed to keep quiet; after all, who knew what kind of issues that would create? What if Rainbow didn’t love her back? What if she did completely screw up somehow and ruin their friendship forever? She vowed to herself she would keep quiet during the sleepover; the night was going to be as special as ever even with only two ponies, and she wouldn’t dare squander it with her possibly moot attempts at romance. She laid herself into bed, closed her eyes, and visions and memories of her and that wonderful blue Pegasus began to dance in front of her eyes as she slowly drifted off into the land of dreams.