Futures

by HauntingSpiritRisingMoon

A secret

Arrow paced the floor of his cloud-home. He kept beating himself up over previous events. "C'mon, I thought I got over this! But then I just..... Ugh, why did this have to happen to me...?"

A cyan hoof rested on his shoulder, stopping him. "What's the problem, kid?" Rainbow Dash said. Her son was quiet, and Rainbow felt concerned. "You can tell me bud! If any pony is threatening or bullying you, I'll send them all the way to Timbucktu!"

Arrow giggled, but quickly regained his solemn expression. "I.... don't wanna talk about it..." He trotted to his room, a concerned mare in his wake. A light blue stallion soon joined her.

"What's wrong honey..?" Soarin' asked. He knew it couldn't have been his job, as Arrow had envied him and no pony took notice of him being sad when he went on shows.

"He's keeping a secret from us. I can't help him if he won't tell me..." Rainbow frowned. Suddenly an idea struck her. "I have an idea."

Soarin' looked at his wife warily. Considering the disaster when she didn't want Tank to hibernate, you could never predict her plans. "And that is...?"

She grew a small smile. "It's time to call in a friend."

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Fluttershy carefully dusted the Discord-shaped lamp. It was one of her prized possessions, even if it showed her husbands massive ego. "Hmm.... Hmm..... Ahahah...." She hummed a song as she cleaned.

"Your singing is so beautiful..." Discord sighed, watching over Mind Melt's shoulder as she did her homework.

Mind slammed her head on the table, startling Fluttershy. "Why is math so HARD!!??"

Discord patted her back comfortingly. "It's fine, I struggle with math all the time, so your mother has to help me."

His daughter looked at him in doubt. "Really..?"

"Really." Discord responded as he heard a knock. He opened the door, somewhat surprised to see Rainbow Dash. "Hello Rainbow Dash! I got your tail!" He waved the rainbow colored hair in his claw, to an unamused Rainbow.

"Actually, Discord," She responded trying to grab her tail back. "Can I talk to Fluttershy for a minute?"

Discord finally gave her the tail back. "Sure. OH FLUTTERSHY! RAINBOW'S HERE TO SEE YOU!" His voice shook the cottage a little.

The yellow pegasus flew out of the living room and towards Rainbow, seemingly unacknowledged to the fact her house just shook. "Oh, hi Rainbow! What can I help you with?"

Rainbow frowned a little. "Could you help out with Arrow?"

Fluttershy looked worried. "Is he sick?"

"No-"

"Is he hurt!?"

"No-"

"IS HE DEAD!?"

"NO!" Rainbow shrieked, interrupting her. "HE'S NOT HURT!"

Fluttershy blushed at her foolishness. "Oh, sorry... What is it then...?"

Rainbow looked at her strangely before continuing. "He's keeping something from me, and it's apparently really bothering him. Could you help..?"

Fluttershy smiled and started flying to Rainbow's home. "Of course. Discord, make sure she does her homework, or Mind Melt doesn't get chocolate milk, and you KNOW what you won't get."

Discord blushed and turned away. "Yes, my dear..."

As the two pegasi flew Rainbow smirked at her. "You really tamed him. What did you restrict?"

The butter colored pegasus blushed. "Butter. Butter and cotton candy for dessert."

Rainbow nudged her playfully. "Nice innuendo." The yellow pegasus blushed and didn't talk for the rest of the flight.

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Once at the floating home, it was unnaturally quiet. That was evidence for Rainbow. "See? It's NEVER this quiet. Even at night." She lowered her voice to a whisper as Fluttershy blushed. "Soarin' snores."

Fluttershy was led by Rainbow to her son's room, where muffled sobbing was heard. Rainbow's frown deepened. "I'll wait out here."

Fluttershy opened the door, and silently flew over to the colt, the door closing behind her. She hugged him, and neither said anything for a while.

Finally, Arrow spoke up. "My mom asked you to come, huh?"

Fluttershy nodded. "But if you don't want to share what you tell me with her, that is your decision."

Arrow adored his aunt. She was kind, caring, and would keep a secret to the grave if necessary. The colt was silent, thinking if he should trust her with his most guarded secret. "Fluttershy.... Don't tell Mom but I...."

The kind pegasus hugged him." Hm...?"

Arrow had a war raging in his mind.

Tell her.

Don't tell her.

Tell her.

Don't tell her!

Tell her!

DON'T TELL HER!

TELL HER!

Arrow broke the enlonged silence, his secret so guarded. The one he kept from his own family. The one that haunted him. The one that raged in his mind.

The one that made his wings stick up when he saw handsome colts.

"I..... I like colts..." Silence stretched.

"I know."

Arrow stared at her. "What?"

"Mind Melt told me what happened at school. The way you flushed when you drew near, as she was talking with Lightning. How you had never done that near her, ever before. I knew from that. But don't worry, it's your choice who you tell."

Arrow Feather stared up at her. "Can you tell Mom and Dad...? I... I want to be alone right now."

Fluttershy smiled, her soft and kind way. "Of course."

And with that she left his room, going to tell Rainbow and Soarin' the news.

---------------

Arrow sat on a cloud in silence, two different shades of blue pegasi next to him.

"Why didn't you tell us..?" Soarin' asked.

"I.... I was scared...."

Rainbow put a comforting wing around her son. "We're not like Caramel's parents, Arrow. We wouldn't judge you."

Arrow smiled, a soft smile.

"Thanks."

Author's Note:

Yeah. I don't view Rainbow as gay, but I thought it would be interesting for Rainbow's son, the inheritor of coolness, to be gay. It's hard to explain, but I just like him this way.

When did you guess his secret?