Mixed Emotions
A gentle breeze fluttered across Rainbow Dash's face. She lay back on her poofy white cloud, unsure of what to do on this fine afternoon. Everypony else seemed to have something to do, so why should she have to waste her precious time being bored? Determined to find entertainment, she leaped off and zoomed down to Ponyville. She looked around at her surroundings instead of where she was going like she was supposed to, and crashed right into her fellow pegasus pal Fluttershy.
"OUCH!" yelped Rainbow as her and her yellow friend went tumbling over the grass. She sat up and rubbed her head. It was after her vison cleared that she noticed who she had bumped into. "F-FLUTTERSHY? I thought you were back at your cottage helping those squirrels!" her face went crimson as she realized how close they were.
"Oh.. um.. well, you see, I finished and was going to visit Pinkie..." Pinkie Pie. Hmm... Well, I have nothing to do, so I think I'll go with her. Rainbow got up, and gave a huge grin. Finally! Goodbye boredom!
"Well, maybe I could walk there with you?" Not wanting to give away that an awesome pony like herself was bored, she quickly decided to pretend she was headed there all along. "I was just heading to Sugar cube Corner myself." she lied. Fluttershy gave a small smile and nodded.
"That would be nice." Dash helped her up, and they trotted to their destination.
Pinkie Pie inhaled deeply as the scent of her new flavor of cupcakes wafted through the kitchen.
"Oh Triple Chocolate Surprise, how I love you so!" she sighed with delight. Suddenly, two familiar looking mares walked into the sweet shop. "Oh, hey girls! What brings you here?"
"Hey, Pinkie!" replied Rainbow and Fluttershy in unison. Rainbow Dash grinned.
"Well, I was just.. uh..." She realized that she had no real reason to visit Pinkie other than following her friend, Fluttershy in search of something to do. Of course, she wasn't going to tell them that. "I came here to... to... try out one of your new cupcakes, Pinkie! Heh heh..."
"Wow! Well, you came in at the right time! They're almost ready!" chirped Pinkie. Rainbow wiped a bead of sweat off her brow, relieved that she had bought it. It was at that moment that it struck her. Maybe there was another reason that she came. Not believing it, she quickly brushed that thought aside.
"I came here to do the same. I wanted to support you and your cupcakes!" said Fluttershy. A loud ringing sound came from the oven, indicating that the cupcakes were ready. The pink pony bounced over to the source of the great smell and took out the freshly baked treats. After placing them on the table, she turned to her friends.
"Sorry, girls, but you need to wait a few minutes so that they can cool off. Until then, feel free to help yourself to the cranberry-oat muffins!" Rainbow greedily turned and dashed towards the cupboard storing all the desserts. Pinkie and Fluttershy laughed. "Wow, does she like her muffins!" giggled Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah! Although, I'm a little hungry too." They both followed Rainbow's actions, and started eating the cakes. Dash gazed at the yellow mare's face, and the unwelcome though popped back into her head. Grr... NO! I do NOT like Flutters! It.. it's not possible... Fluttershy noticed her friend's stare, and blushed a little. Rainbow snapped out of it. CONTROL YOURSELF. She'll start to question your sexuality if you keep on freaking her out!
After the three had finished off the muffins, the two pegasi felt the need to get home. After a warm goodbye, they galloped off to their houses.
Rainbow Dash soared through the night sky, regardless of the chill that swept through her body. Get home, Dash. Ignore Fluttershy, just get to your bed and think about this tomorrow. Yet she still found herself worrying in spite of herself. Could I really be a lesbian? No, no... I'm NOT. No cool mare like me could feel that way about somepony of the same gender! Heck, I'm not even sure if they can... A memory of Lyra and Bon Bon swiftly bought itself back to the front of her mind. Okay. So maybe they can. But that doesn't mean that I have to! Too busy caught up in her little 'am I or am I not' conversation, Rainbow Dash swerved off course causing her to begin drifting closer and closer to the Everfree Forest. She finally snapped out of the trance, and realized that she was right over Fluttershy's house. Hmm... Well, I am kinda cold, so it wouldn't hurt to sleep at Fluttershy's tonight.
Rainbow knocked on the small oak door that filled the gap between her and a comfy bed. Fluttershy trotted over and opened it up.
" Oh, hello Rainbow!" she greeted. The blue pegasus smiled at her friend, and found herself admiring the mare's looks once more. Dangit, Dash! You're just trying to get a simple nap!
"Uh... Hi, Flutters! Could I stay at your place for tonight? I lost my way, and got too cold to find my way back." Fluttershy's face brightened up.
"Of course you can, Dash! Come right in!" Rainbow Dash gratefully went in and got welcomed by a surge of warmth. Her friend walked over and stopped by a large bed. "I.. Um... wasn't expecting your visit, so I didn't prepare another bed... You can share mine, if you want..." Rainbow blushed. Mother of Luna! I get to sleep with her?! Uh, I mean 'have' to sleep with her. Have to.
"Rock on! I mean, Oh, that's fine, Fluttershy. I'll just get in then..." she trotted over to the bed and snuggled in. She felt Fluttershy get in next to her, and her face got hot. Try not to think about it. Maybe then you'll get some sleep. The last thing she remembered was smelling the lavender shampoo in her shy friend's mane. The she drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Rainbow Dash was floating lazily above the ground, wondering about how she'd deal with her feelings for Fluttershy. At that precise second, Twilight Sparkle strolled up.
"Uh, hey Rainbow! What's wrong? You look a little upset." Rainbow sighed, and began her story.
A few minutes later, she was done.
"...And that's how I found myself falling for her."
"So that's how you feel, huh? Well, all I can say is that you should tell her about it as soon as possible, before it's too late. I've read plenty of romance novels to know that the longer you wait, the harder it will be to confess. Pony up!" The cyan pegasus was amazed by her friend's understanding. Maybe she should confide in Twilight more often!
"I guess you're right... I'll tell her right now! Thanks, Twilight!" she beamed.
"No problem! Oh, and good luck!" she called after her now rather enthusiastic buddy. She sighed, then continued walking to her home at the Golden Oaks Library. "I sure hope Fluttershy feels the same way..."
Now, there was a reason that Rainbow Dash wasn't the Element of Honesty. Instead of going over to Fluttershy's place, she decided to go to Rarity's instead.
"Hey Rares..." she greeted glumly. Rarity looked taken aback by her friend's sadness.
"Why the long face, Darling?" she asked. Rainbow's face fell even more, and she turned away from the unicorn. "I'm taking that as a 'you don't want to talk about it'." The blue pegasus nodded grimly. "Alright then, Dear. Feel free to make yourself at home on that sofa over there." She gestured to a couch in the corner of the room with her manicured hoof. Dash slowly made her way towards the couch and slumped down on it.
"I need to do something about my feelings for Flutters, and fast." she sighed.
"What was that?" inquired Rarity.
"Nothing..."
Applejack strolled along the cobblestone pathway until she reached Twilight's house. She casually walked in, knowing that she was close enough to her friend by now that she wouldn't mind her not knocking.
"Twilight? Ah have somethin' ta tell ya!" she called. Twilight Sparkle came galloping down the stairs, a look of worry on her face.
"WHAT IS IT? IS THERE A FIRE??!!" she half-screamed. Applejack chuckled.
"Nah, sugarcube. Ah just came ta tell ya that Pinkie's feeling sick, and Ah thought it'd be nice if we took over for her. Whaddya say? Are ya in?" The violet unicorn nodded.
"That'd be nice! But first I need to ask you something." Applejack's ears perked up and she directed all her attention to Twilight to show she was listening.
"Ah'm all ears, partner."
"Did you see Rainbow Dash heading over to Fluttershy's?" The earth pony shook her head.
"Nope. Ah saw her flying over ta Rarity's." Twilight's face dropped.
"She LIED to me?!" she yelled. "Come on, Applejack. We're going to Carousel Boutique!"
Rainbow Dash lay back on the plush cushions. She was about to fall asleep, until she heard the thundering of hooves and an angry cry.
"RAINBOW DAAAASH!!" She peeked out of the window to see who could be rudely interrupting her nap. She was shocked at who she saw.
"Twilight?" she sat back down and laughed. "I didn't know she could yell so loud." Twilight Sparkle and Applejack came galloping into the Boutique, both looking quite angry, but mostly Twilight.
"I can't BELIEVE that you would lie to me, Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow stiffened.
"Uh... I didn't lie to you, I just... uh... procrastinated! Ha, silly me..." Rarity turned to her and frowned.
"What exactly did you lie to her about?" The cyan pegasus groaned. Twilight Sparkle raised an expectant eyebrow, and Applejack gave her a nudge.
"Twilight told me everythin'." she whispered. "And Ah wanted ta say that Ah support yer actions, and agree with her that ya really should confess." Rarity overheard the conversation, and stamped her hoof.
"Confess to WHO?" Rainbow Dash buried her face in the pillow supporting her neck.
"Fluttershy." she mumbled inaudibly.
"Who?" asked Rarity.
"Fluttershy." Her friends all gave her a stern look. Although she couldn't see it, she could feel it burning her soul. She pulled her face out of the pillow and took a deep breath.
"FLUUUTTERRRRSHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!"
Back at the cottage, Fluttershy could hear her name being called.
"I wonder who wants me?" she pondered out loud.
"Fluttershy?" repeated Rarity. Everypony in the room nodded.
"Yes, Fluttershy." said Rainbow through gritted teeth. "Do I need to repeat myself again?" A guilty feeling stung her heart as she realized that she had lied to her closest friends, and had been dishonest with herself. "Fluttershy... I have feelings for Fluttershy..." Tears stung her eyes as she was forced to face the fact that she wasn't as awesome as she thought she was.
"Rainbow... Are you okay? It's nothing to be ashamed of, honestly!" said a concerned Twilight. Rarity and Applejack agreed with a nod of their heads.
"Bein' in love with somepony of the same gender ain't nothin' ta be ashamed of! Love is love, and it don't matter what nopony says; you're still the most awesome pony in all of Equestria." comforted the orange farm pony.
"I agree with Applejack. You're still utterly fabulous no matter who you have feelings for!" Rarity smiled at her sad friend.
"You guys are right. Ya know, Twilight, I think I'm gonna go confess to her right now." She picked herself up and zoomed out the door, a new flash of determination burning in her eyes.
Fluttershy hovered an inch above the luscious grass, feeding a very picky and ill-tempered Angel.
"Come on, Angel Bunny... I'm sorry that there's no cherry on top, but it'll have to suffice until they have more back in town..." She was getting tired of her pet's demands, and wished that he'd just settle for a healthy salad instead of getting into all of this 'huge fancy bowl full of exotic fruits with a cherry on top' stuff. Out of nowhere, she heard a very desperate yell coming from a couple hundred snouts away.
"FLUTTERSHY!!!" It was Rainbow Dash, the very mare she wanted to see at that moment. Perhaps she could convince Angel to just hurry up and eat the food? The pegasus zoomed through the sky towards her cottage at breakneck pace. "I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU!" Oh. I wonder what she wants to say? pondered Fluttershy. Once Dash was right in front of her, sweaty and panting, Fluttershy could finally get her to answer the question.
"Um... what is it, Rainbow?" she asked. Her friend smiled slightly, then blushed a deep red.
"I was... Uh... going to ask you, I mean tell you..." She didn't know how to say it. Her lungs felt like they were about to implode, and she couldn't stand still for more than three seconds. Awkwardly shifting her weight to the opposite hoof, she mentally screamed at herself. Buck! Just spit it out already! You're the iron pony, and yet you're standing in front of a shy, beautiful pegasus like Fluttershy with wobbly knees? Eventually, Rainbow Dash mustered enough strength to yell it out with a little more force than she had intended. "I... I HAVE A HUGE CRUSH ON YOU!!"