• Published 5th Dec 2019
  • 3,025 Views, 273 Comments

Why She Serves - Natedogg2006



Tempest Shadow never served the Storm King for honorable reasons. So what are her reasons for serving Twilight now?

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Interlude: Crushes

"Hold still you rotten rabbit."

Fluttershy couldn't help but laugh as Angel Bunny once again broke free from Fizzlepop and now decided he was done. He ran over and managed to jump onto his owners back and bury himself in her wings.

Fizzlepop held a brush in her now violently sparking magic. The glare she now directed to the other mare could curdle milk, but it was met with a giggle.

"I told you dealing with Angel could be a hoofful."

"I have toppled empires, I will not be defeated by a spoiled brat rodent."

Fluttershy was caught off guard, but only flinched a little as her friend quickly but gently lifted her wings out of the way. Fizzlepop growled as she found no white mass of fuzz hiding there. "Where the hay did he go now?"

Fluttershy now openly laughed as she felt familiar tiny paws working their way up her neck from below her mane. "It's Ok Fizzlepop, you've already helped me plenty. It usually takes me half a day to get my weekly shipment of animal feed home and put away."

Thursday afternoon had found Fizzlepop without much to do. Twilight had some official meetings to take care of to make up for the time she'd missed earlier in the week. And she'd received surprising news about the current status of her recruits and just how they were managing in their survival training. The news had shocked her enough that she decided to venture out into town to clear her head and find something to occupy herself with. That was when she came upon a dainty yellow pegasus attempting to pull a cart full of various animal feeds down a fairly lightly used path near the outskirts of Ponyville. A cart that was so over packed it looked like it would give Applejack a hard time pulling it.

She had immediately volunteered to help her friend with the burden, and somehow that had led her to decide she would help her with her seemingly endless list of bunny related duties as well.

"The physical burden is of no consequence to me. You've continued to help me with my crush on Twilight so I must find other ways to help you. There you are!"

Fluttershy seemed confused by the statement as Angel now popped out on top of her head. She had to raise a hoof to keep the other mare from lunging at him and bringing her down along the way. "I haven't done anything for you and Twilight. What do you mean?"

Fizzlepop glared at the rabbit, but relented and set the brush down. "Twilight informed me that you expressed a desire for me to join you and the rest of the Element bearers tomorrow. I assumed you did it so that I could spend more time with Twilight."

"Oh that." She seemed to remember as she reached up to lift her pet bunny from her head and place him on one of his many cushions scattered around the cottage. "Actually I didn't even think of that when I asked her. I just thought it would be nice for you to come along. We've had other friends come along before, and you've practically become part of the group as it is. Although I guess you probably would like to spend more time with Twilight specifically."

Fizzlepop felt herself blush a little at the insight of her pegasus friend. "It will be interesting to see what it's like for her to be inebriated. Her and you now that I think of it. You are both ponies I would not have thought I'd get the chance to see in a bar of any kind."

Fluttershy smiled bashfully at that. "Oh, well actually I don't drink very much, even when we do go out specifically for that reason. I'm very much a lightweight, more than a few drinks and I'll end up spending the night in the bathroom. But there is one thing..."

Fizzlepop noticed the hesitation of her friend and the slight blush that came to her cheeks. She smiled as she had some idea as to what she was trying to say. "I imagine Rainbow Dash is not a lightweight by any measure other than her actual weight class. Such a bold pony will probably be consuming as much as a pony twice her size just to prove she can. And I'd think she'd be in need of some gentle and kind assistance before the end of the night as a result. "

Fluttershy's blush grew even more pronounced. She took up the brush Fizzlepop had previously been struggling with and began brushing her pet rabbits tail to occupy herself, much to his delight. "She usually ends up too drunk to fly, so I bring her here to take care of her. She usually assumes she did something bad while she was blacked out and assumes I was the one who had to clean it up. It's so cute, she always tries to make me breakfast in the morning as a thank you and apology. She always burns it and I end up cooking for her. I love it."

"And a pony as pure as yourself has never even thought to take advantage of that situation I presume? A shame really. At the very least it would be the perfect chance to tell her if you thought she wouldn't remember in the morning. Get some practice in."

"I could never take advantage of her in any way while she was so vulnerable. But...Umm. Well there was this one time... she did fall asleep on my lap." Fizzlepop flashed her a smirk. "I was still afraid she might puke, so I didn't want to properly lay her down just yet. So I decided to leave her there like that for just a little while longer than was totally necessary. And that's where we woke up the next day."

"Bravo my courageous friend. She'll be yours in no time."

"That was two years ago actually."

"Ah. Sorry."

"It's ok." She looked a little downcast at that, but recovered to direct a questioning gaze to the pony glaring at her now contentedly squeaking rabbit. "I wanted to ask you though... Were, were you also trying to do something to help me with Rainbow?"

"I don't think what I did really qualifies. She needed some kind of an out in a situation she clearly didn't like being caught in. I provided that, but I phrased it in such a way that you would seem to be her savior. Why, did it actually have some sort of an effect?"

"Um, well you could say that." Her blush had been subsiding but now came back in full force. "Everypony knows she actually loves going to the spa, it's probably the most widely known secret in Ponyville, followed closely by how I really feel about her. But she can get so hung up on ponies not thinking she's going soft that she's never admitted it to anypony. Not even when ponies catch her literally mid-way through and thoroughly enjoying a spa treatment. But.." her blush got even deeper, "yesterday she asked if I wanted to hang out with her at the spa the next time she went."

Fizzlepop couldn't help but to pump her hoof in triumph. "I knew it. You're a wonderful mare, I knew it wouldn't take much for you to get her."

Fluttershy had to bite her lip to restrain her smile. "It's not that impressive, it's not like it's a real date or anything. We hang out as friends all the time. I'm sure the fact that I'm the first pony she wants to go to the spa with is just a coincidence."

Fizzlepop smiled deviously. "It has to mean something, does it not?"

Fluttershy let the smile come to her lips just a little. "You really are such a great friend Fizzlepop. Most ponies tell me I should just tell her, or say that they're just going to tell her for me to get it over with."

"That would be very presumptuous and rude. I'm a novice at interpersonal relationships and even I know you can't take away another's chance to tell somepony how they feel."

"Yes, you get it. Thank you so much for what you've done, and all that you didn't do."

"Wishing to see others happy is a surprisingly good feeling. If I can make two of my friends happy at the same time, then all the better. I imagine the two of you will be happy together, possibly very soon."

Fluttershy now smiled brightly. "Like you and Twilight. The two of you sound like you're so happy together."

Fizzlepop let out a content sigh, looking up to the ceiling in what appeared to be contemplation. "I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life. All these feelings are new, exciting, but also terrifying. I think I'm becoming a better mare than I ever was by indulging and facing them." Fluttershy smiled happily at the look of contentment on her friend's face, but was confused when it faded away quickly and she gave her head a casual nod to the side. "It will be over soon though."

Fluttershy was taken aback by this heavily, dropping the brush she had been automatically using which caused Angel to glare at their guest once again. "What, what are you talking about? I thought things were going great between the two of you. Are you planning on breaking up with her? And why?"

Fizzlepop almost seemed confused by the questions, but decided to explain calmly. "I merely have a crush on Twilight, it's not like the romantic feelings are really that deep. I only needed the time to explore them so that I could put them behind me. Besides that, the attraction is one sided. Sparky just has an endlessly accommodating nature and has been indulging me this whole time. It is better for the both of us for me to get past it so that I can work effectively without causing her more burden."

Fluttershy now sat looking dumbstruck at the statement. "So you've... been dating her this whole time while assuming you were going to break up eventually?"

"It's not really breaking up. We aren't really dating after all. We aren't marefriends, or special someponies, or lovers. Not like you and Rainbow will be."

Fluttershy seemed to finally shake off the shock, now looking at Fizzlepop with undisguised scrutiny. After a few moments of this something seemed to harden in her eyes. Fizzlepop was shocked at herself when that action seemed to make her gulp. "Ok, I don't believe any of that for one second."

A few layers of Fizzlepop's internal defenses crumbled at the softly spoken words. She didn't let it show. "Even if you don't, it's true. If I didn't even know what my feelings for her were then they can't possibly run deep enough to sustain a real relationship. Not to mention, it would be improper for such a union to occur in the first place."

Fluttershy now turned to face her friend fully, taking a deep breath to steel herself. In her eyes Fizzlepop found a menace like she'd never seen before, but in a moment it was gone. "Twilight's brother literally married the princess he was assigned to guard. It was a celebrated occasion for the entire kingdom and even beyond. They are now genuinely and deeply in love and even have one of the most adorable little baby fillys I've ever seen together. There shouldn't be any problem if you wanted to be with her for real. "

"I'm sure there were exceptional circumstances to that situation," Fizzlepop tried to latch onto some train of logic. "I'm sure major exceptions had to be made and however they were made I'm sure they couldn't be made a second time. And besides that, Shining Armor didn't have a checkered past like mine. It was probably barely allowed and there's no way such exceptions would be made for..."

Fluttershy held up a hoof to stop what she couldn't possibly have been able to tell was a mare flailing for an answer. "More importantly, your feelings are definitely not fleeting. They clearly run much deeper than you realize. You can't just decide they don't mean anything because they might be inconvenient for others."

"I just have a crush on a pony who has helped me more than any other in my life. Nothing more, nothing less. You even agreed with that yourself."

"I didn't say anything like that. What I told you back then was that the way you described how you were feeling reminded me of what I felt for Rainbow Dash. I never said what that was."

Every wall inside Fizzlepop shook. "And.. what are you implying exactly."

Fluttershy blushed a little but maintained her resolve. "I moved past my crush on Rainbow Dash a very long time ago. What I have for her now is love. I love her more than I've ever loved anypony in my life."

Another massive shockwave seemed to go off inside of Fizzlepop. "What.. what's the difference..? I mean, what exactly does that feel like?"

A serene smile came to Fluttershy's lips. "It's so easy for me to picture the rest of my life with her. Even if I never have the courage to tell her how I feel I can't imagine ever not being around her. I know that no matter what happens to either of us in life, I'll find a way to stay with her no matter what, because I can't imagine my life without her."

Every defense in Fizzlepop's heart fell. They were not smashed, they simply crumbled and scattered in the wind. "Oh, oh...no. This can't be."

"It pretty obviously is. Rarity has been talking about it ever since you went to her for an outfit. She usually doesn't get into a creative frenzy that leaves her passed out for thirty-six hours unless she feels like she's going to change a ponies' life with her design. Rainbow saw it in just whatever time you were all together at the spa. It was so obvious to her that there was something else going on that she accidentally admitted to being at the spa to me. That's how she ended up deciding to ask me to go with her. Even Pinkie knows. Apparently she's been planning a party for the two of you for months. And all of us are OK with..."

"That's not the point!" Tempest's rage flared as she growled out the words. A carrot to the side of the head made her realize she'd actually managed to scare her usually timid friend. "I'm sorry. But you don't understand. I can't be in love with her."

"Why not? We all know you're your hardest critic, but you have to realize we've all figured out what a good pony you are. You've been our friend for a while now and you deserve to be happy."

"That's not it. I'll never go back to my old ways. Being good is so much more fulfilling than being bad ever was. It's just that," Fizzlepop felt a confusing sensation of her nose suddenly feeling full while the corners of her vision became blurry. "It's just that," she suddenly felt the need to inhale quickly, the intake seeming to pass loudly through her now nearly running nostrils. "I can't fall in love with her because, I know she'll never love me the same way."

Both mares, and even Angel were now shocked as tears began to run down the face of the mare who had once brought the country to its knees nearly on her own. Fluttershy moved quickly, wrapping her friend in her forelegs and wings. A slightly awkward position considering her imposing stature. Fizzlepop surprised even herself as she took to the hug immediately, wrapping her forelegs around the other mares back and burying her face in her shoulder.

Fluttershy did her best to try to comfort her usually indomitable friend. "Shhh, shhh, it's ok. Why would you think Twilight wouldn't love you back? You're a pony worth loving."

"I, if my feelings were so obvious to others, then why did it take a near confession of them for Twilight to realize? It's clear that she didn't imagine me as a potential romantic option to start. I, I'm also fairly certain, that she isn't even attracted to mares. Even if she is, then not to me. She's complimented me on my appearance a few times before, but it never sounded the same way as when I told her. She always seems like she's just making an analysis of the situation, not like she's actually moved by it."

They remained like that for a minute, until the tears finally stopped soaking into the buttery yellow fur of the pegasus's shoulder. Fizzlepop finally felt able to pull away and looked down to her friend hoping for answers.

"I don't know what to say Fizzlepop. I'm sorry, I didn't even consider that. I just assumed that if Twilight was going on dates with you then she probably at least liked you. Honestly, before you came along I didn't even think of Twilight as a pony who would think about romance. And I definitely never wondered if she liked mares or stallions. I really don't know."

"Is.. is there any way to know?"

Fluttershy looked strained. "This will sound really hypocritical coming from me considering my track record. But I think the only way might be for you to just ask."

A pang of something Fizzlepop now recognized as fear ran through her chest. Fluttershy seemed to notice and pulled her in for another hug. "I'm not sure I can."

"It's hard I know. If you don't have an answer then at least the answer isn't no. But you're closer than I've ever gotten. If I was where you are now, I don't know if I could stand not knowing for sure."

"I don't know if I can either. Why do both options feel so wrong?"

"Because she's already the most important pony in your life, and imagining more can make you feel selfish. But you should be happy. And not knowing at this point won't make you happy." She paused and seemed to think for a minute. Due to still having Fizzlepop pulled in close to her she could feel her face begin to warm at whatever she was thinking. "How about this. It's easier to face your fears if you're not the only one facing them."

Fizzlepop pulled away, giving her a questioning look as she did so. "What are you proposing?"

"Just a little push for the both of us. If one of us manages to work up the courage, then so does the other. No backing down, and they have to do it within twenty-four hours of when the other does." She tried her best to put on a smug smile. "Do you really want to be beaten by a coward like me?"

Despite the situation, Fizzlepop felt the need to smile. She finally pulled away from her friend's embrace, wiping her face and straightening herself up as she did. "I do believe I recently said that I would not want to face you in a competitive situation ever again. You really are much more formidable than you give yourself credit for." She inhaled to steel herself. "But I'm not one to back down from a challenge. We have an accord." She extended a hoof, one which Fluttershy took and shook with a smile.

"Umm, you weren't planning on doing it now were you?"

"No, of course not. If I did that it might cause problems with our plans tomorrow. That would be unfair to the other girls, it could ruin their night."

Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah. Just in case it's my last chance, I'd like it if I got to bring Rainbow home after a night out one last time."

"And I still have to fill out the next round of my parole papers with Twilight the day after. I wouldn't want her to be too embarrassed to see me to do that as well."

The pair smiled to each other. The moment was interrupted by a persistent thumping. They looked over to see a very impatient looking Angel Bunny gesturing to his mouth.

"Oh, it seems in all the excitement we ran into the afternoon feeding. Would you like to help out Fizzlepop? I promise you won't have to deal with Angel. I can make you something for dinner after as a thank you if you like?"

Fizzlepop smiled at her. "That sounds great. I'd drive myself crazy if I was alone for the next few hours."

Fluttershy laughed. "I know the feeling, why do you think I wanted you to stay."

Night had fallen by the time Fizzlepop returned to the Castle of Friendship. She found herself hesitating as she walked down the long hall to her room. She absentmindedly wondered just why she hadn't decided to take the alternate route that led straight to her room. It also occurred to her that she could have been taking that route for the entirety of the months she had been living here.

She stopped in front of the heavy double doors of Twilight's room. She remembered that after discovering the shorter route to her room that she decided it was better to keep taking this one, so she could make one last security sweep for good measure before going to bed.

She let out a sigh. "Just how long have I been lying to myself?" She lingered a few seconds more, trying to imagine what the mare beyond the doors was doing right now. More than likely she had her nose in a book, adorably oblivious to the rest of the world. With one last sigh she resumed her course to her own room.

"Friendship. Love. Honestly, war is so much easier."

Author's Note:

Not sure what came over me, but this chapter just flowed out of me. Why is writing for Fluttershy so easy for me? Hopefully this works as an apology for taking so long with the last chapter. If it works out the way I'm thinking, there will still be another two chapters to this story, plus an epilog obviously. The next chapter promises to be difficult, I have found in not very good at imagining what ponies are like when they are drinking or drunk. Not to mention it's going to be all hoofs on deck, and I have a heck of a time writing for the whole cast at once. So please bare with me if it takes a while. Enjoy and let me know what you think. I've missed hearing from everyone while I struggled with the last chapter.