Chapter 1
Rainbows and butterflys
By Alex
Author’s note: Yes, I know, another flutterdash fanfic, but I really like this duo, they make a good couple. This is also my first fanfic, so please feedback and criticism would be helpful! One more thing, during the story, I cannot tell whether to use lay or lie in a couple situations. So please, do not hate me for it. Unless you want to…I mean…if that is okay with you.Sorry if i misspelled mantior. (WARNING: WALL OF TEXT INCOMING)
Rainbow dash was flying around ponyville, finishing her weather chores. Her chores involved clearing the clouds, moving a big storm, and at one point, dodging thunderbolts because she ventured to close to a thunderstorm scheduled for tomorrow. After she finished her chores, she felt exhausted. She flew around, looking for a cloud. When she found a cloud, she puffed it up, lay down, and let her eyes lazily close, happy she finished her chores.
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK”
The shriek was ear piercing, waking rainbow dash up with a jolt. It had been 2 hours since she fell asleep. She flew over to the source of shriek. She saw flutters, hiding from something. ‘Wait, why did I call her “flutters”?’ she thought.
“Flutters-“she began, but got cut off by something.
“ROAAAAAAAAR”
A loud roar and rainbow knew why flutters was hiding. A manticor had wandered out of the ever-free forest near flutters’ cottage. Rainbow was stunned in horror, and then she sprung into action. She flew around the manticor, kicking up a dust storm. After the dust storm began forming, she knew the next logical thing the manticor would do.
‘All right, he is probably going to try to stop me with his tail’ she thought. And right as the manticor reached out his tail, rainbow shot up into the air at alarming speeds.
‘I have to do this. For flutters -‘her thought got cut off. ‘There it is again. Why do I keep calling her flutters?’ She pushed the thought out of her head so she could focus.
She started to descend, picking up speed, careful to go slow enough so that a mach cone does not start forming. As she reaches the ground, she does a 90-degree turn, so she is parallel to the ground. She starts rocketing towards the manticor. As she does so, she begins building speed again. Right before she runs into the manticor she flips, extending her back hooves. Hitting the manticor right in the chest, the manticor reeled back, giving rainbow dash enough time to rocket back into the sky. She went about 30 feet, flipped, and shot herself towards the ground landing on the manticor. As the manticor began to pass out, rainbow struggled to pick it up. She flew around for 10 minutes, looking for somewhere far away from fluttershy’s home. Then she set the manticor down. After the manticor was on the ground, she flew back to flutters’ cottage to check and see if she was ok.
******
Back at flutters’ cottage, a friendly sight greeted her. Fluttershy, standing there with her soft yellow coat, teal colored eyes, pink mane and tail, and butterfly cutie mark. For some reason, rainbow began to blush. She quickly tried to control herself, hiding her blush.
“Hey fluttershy, are you ok?” rainbow said, glad she did not say flutters.
“O-oh, h-h-hey rainbow dash, thanks for saving me from the manticor.” Fluttershy said. Fluttershy looked up, to meet rainbow dash’s magenta eyes. Rainbow dash looked tired, her cyan coat looked messed up, the feathers on her wings were out of alignment making it look like she flew through a tornado, and her rainbow colored mane and tail was frazzled.
“Rainbow dash, are you ok? You look hurt!” fluttershy exclaimed, looking at rainbow’s wings specifically. She looked at rainbows face quickly looking over her, seeing if she was hurt, and she noticed rainbow was leaning left and right, almost uncontrollably.
“R-r-rainbow dash?” fluttershy asked. Rainbow dash did not respond. She only fell to the floor.
“Oh my gosh! Rainbow!” She yelled as she ran to catch rainbow dash, and then took her to the clinic.
*****
Rainbow dash awoke in an unusual room. It was all white, but not the cloud home she was used to. There was a stiff and uncomfortable bed, an itchy blanket, and a pillow that could be covered in sandpaper. As her eyes began adjusting, the room began to look more and more familiar. Until she realized where she was. ‘Why am I at the clinic’ was the only thing in her head.
“U-u-um, rainbow dash?” a familiar voice asked. Rainbow dash looked around to find the source of the voice. As she turned, she met fluttershy at eye level. “A-a-are you ok? How are you feeling?” fluttershy asked, the worry coming across in her voice.
“Flutters?” she whispered, hoping fluttershy did not hear her. After no response from fluttershy, she knew she was all right.
“Fluttershy? Yeah, I am fine. What am I doing here?” rainbow dash asked, putting a hoof to her head in pain. “And why does my head hurt so badly?”
“W-w-well, you saved me.” Fluttershy started to explain what happened.
“I was attacked by a manticor, and you must have heard my shout…” Fluttershy started to trail off a bit, not wanting to admit she shrieked. “You flew over, gave that manticor a piece of your mind, then you collapsed. So I brought you to the clinic and had them take a look at you.”
“Well, thanks fluttershy.” Rainbow said with a smile.
“Oh no, I should be the one thanking you! You saved me from that manticor!” She paused, “Well I better get going, I have animals to take care of!”
“Oh, well I don’t want your animals to get to upset with you. See you soon” Rainbow dash said, almost regretting it a second later. Fluttershy only nodded and smiled. Then thoughts started to creep back into her mind. She did not have much to do, as there was no one in the room. She closed her eyes and drifted into a deep, dream filled sleep.
*****
The walk home for fluttershy was one filled with worry. ‘Would that manticor be back? Would rainbow dash be ok? How would I stop the manticor if it DID come back?’ she thought to herself, her mind racing a mile a minute. Then she thought about her animals. Angel bunny, all the birds, squirrels, rabbits, and the other various animals she had under her care. ‘What would happen to them? Who would take care of them’? She opened the door, her mind still trapped on worrying thoughts. Trying to get her mind back on a cheerier subject, she fed her various animals, filled up their water bowls and gave angel bunny a carrot. After her animals were taken care of, she made herself a quick dinner, a simple grass sandwich, garnished with daisy. She ate rather quickly. After dinner, she noticed she was getting a little drowsy. She went up to her room and lay in bed.
“What am I going to do? And why did rainbow go through all that trouble just to save me?” she said aloud as her eyes began to grow heavy. Her mind started to ease up as sleep crept up and overcame her.
******
Rainbow dash looked at her surroundings, noticing nothing. There was nothing around her. Just a white, cloud covered floor, a deep blue sky, and her. Then she started to fall. The cloudy floor crumbled under her. She hit the ground, expecting to be in pain, but she was not. She could still feel, but just was not in pain. She examined her surroundings again. A small hill, lit by Luna’s moon. A tree sat on top of the hill, overlooking a rolling valley. The stars were out, and the clear night sky was beckoning all of the ponies to a quiet sleep. All except rainbow dash. Rainbow dash was drawn to the hill. As she climbed the small hill, she noticed another pony. It was fluttershy.
“Oh dashie isn’t it just beautiful?” fluttershy began to speak.
“Yeah, but not as beautiful as you” rainbow responded, but then realizing what she said, she tried to fly away, but her wings would not open. She could not take flight. Because her body wasn’t letting her. Her body had different plans. She started to walk up, and sat down next to fluttershy as she spoke. Fluttershy began to blush at this statement.
“You always had a way with words.” She said, smiling and gently nuzzling the cyan colored pony.
‘What’s going on here?’ The thought entered her mind, but was immediately expelled from her head. ‘I don’t care what’s going on. I could be drugged for all I know, but I still want this moment to last.’ She thought to herself.
“D-dashie?” fluttershy began speaking.
“Yes fluttershy?” was the only response dash could think of.
“I-I-I love you dashie” Fluttershy said, an unmistakable calmness in her voice.
Rainbow dash did not know how to respond. Then she started to panic. Even though it was still dark, she started to hear birds chirping. Her eyes were blinded, and then she woke up.
“Oh, it was only a dream…” she said to herself, as she trailed off and looked out the window. ‘ Only a dream, but why did I have it?’ She knew why she had it; she just didn’t want to say why.
*****
Fluttershy woke up from a dreamless sleep. A very unfriendly looking Angel bunny greeted her. She was holding a watch. As fluttershy began waking up, she realized what day it was. It was Friday, the day rarity and fluttershy go to the spa
together.
“Oh, thank you angel! I had totally forgotten!” Fluttershy yelled, causing angel bunny to cover his ears. Angel bunny simply pointed at the watch, then the door. Fluttershy got the hint, and galloped to the spa.
“Well, there you are! I have been waiting for you!” rarity shouted. Fluttershy winced.
“O-oh I’m sorry, I fell asleep. I had a rough night.” Fluttershy whispered.
“What happened?” she said to fluttershy. She walked up to the receptionist, and simply said “The usual.” As they walked into the back, where they would be pampered, fluttershy began to sort out what she wanted to say.
“O-oh, well, rainbow dash…” her voice trailed off.
“What about rainbow dash?” Rarity said a sense of confusion obvious in her voice.
“W-well, a manticor had walked out of the ever-free forest and-“She started speaking.
“Oh my! A manticor! What happened? Are you all right?” Rarity asked, worry coming through in her voice.
“W-well, Rainbow dash saved me. She beat that manticor, knowing the risks of fighting one. With her, bare hooves no less! No magic to help her at all! Then after all of that…she fainted.” Fluttershy said, worry for her friend clearly in her voice.
“Well, how is she?” rarity said, trying to console her.
“She’s fine, she’s in the hospital.” Fluttershy responded. Rarity nodded, and the silence lasted for too long. Conversation was slow and dull. The spa day, no matter how dull with conversation, ended to quickly for fluttershy.
******
Rainbow was relaxing on a cloud, marveling at a clear blue sky. As she lounged on the soft cloud, memories of fluttershy began to flow into dash’s mind. She was lost in thought when she heard a soft voice that made her heartbeat skyrocket.
“U-um, Rainbow dash?” Fluttershy said, giggling for some reason.
‘That giggle. That soft giggle. I love that sound.’ Rainbow dash had thought for a bit too long causing fluttershy to repeat her question.
“Oh, Hey fluttershy, How was your spa day?” rainbow asked, trying to hide a deep blush.
“O-oh, it was…nice. Is something wrong?” Fluttershy said.
“No, why?” rainbow dash asked, confusion in her voice.
“O-oh, n-n-no reason.” Fluttershy said.
“Okay….well, I’m going to practice some new tricks, want to come?” rainbow asked, again, trying to hide a deep blush.
Fluttershy, noticing dash’s out of character shyness, only nodded.
*****
As rainbow flew around the clouds, fluttershy cheered with a soft “yay.” Rainbow, during her tricks, occasionally looked over at the yellow mare. As she did so, she noticed that soft, sweet, smile. This only made rainbow dash try harder to impress the mare she had a crush on. Rainbow lost herself in thought, though still maneuvering. As she landed next to the shy pony, she looked up at her handiwork, noticing it was fluttershy’s cutie mark, three butterflies in a circular pattern. Rainbow dash blushed, being less able to control it. Fluttershy didn’t notice, she only smiled at the cloud pattern.
“Wow, that’s impressive dash! How did you do that?” fluttershy asked, the excitement in her voice almost making her question sounding like a scream.
“I-I…I don’t know.” Rainbow started, “I just….stopped thinking and it happened.”
“Oh, well it’s very nice, dashie” Fluttershy said, hugging rainbow dash. For some reason, she tensed when she hugged rainbow.
“Well, anything for you fluttershy. You are my best friend, and you have been since we were fillies.” Rainbow dash said, the sincerity in her voice was soothing to fluttershy, who relaxed.
‘Is this really happening? Right now? I cannot let this chance slip through my hooves. I HAVE TO act, and damned the consequences.’ Rainbow though as she tried her best to figure out what to say.
“Hey, uhh…Fluttershy?” rainbow dash said, her voice going from soothing to worried.
“Yes rainbow?” fluttershy answered, confused about the sudden change in her best friend’s voice.
“I….” rainbow trailed off.
“You…what?” fluttershy responded, now noticing the cyan Pegasus’ worried expression.
“I…I know I’m not a mare of many words.” Rainbow began cringing at her word choice. There was no stopping it now. The dam had burst, and the river was flooding. “But I…I want to be with you. You’re sweet, kind, gentle, caring, and absolutely beautiful.” ‘Way to go dash, just get to those 3 words.’ “I…I love you fluttershy.”
Fluttershy was stunned at rainbow’s words. She stood there, completely motionless, for a good minute before starting to back away from rainbow dash. Rainbow tried to move closer to the pony she desired, when she was gone. She had flown away. ‘Nice going rainbow, you screwed up your friendship.’ Was the only thought that went through rainbows head.
*****
Fluttershy was flying, and getting weak. She noticed she was not far from rarity’s boutique. She landed and knocked on the door.
“Come in! It’s open!” rarity shouted.
“R-Rarity? I need to talk to you…” fluttershy said, trailing off.
“Of course! What do you want to talk about?” rarity said.
“W-w-well, rainbow dash said she…she said she l…” fluttershy trailed, ending her sentence with an embarrassed squeak.
“Well? She said what?” rarity insisted.
“She said she loved me” The last part of her sentence was barely audible. Nevertheless, rarity still heard it.
“OH THAT’S FANTASTIC!” rarity shouted in excitement, “What did she say, how did you respond?”
“W-w-well, I just…flew away.” Fluttershy said her tone close to a whisper.
“What!?”
“I-I-I didn’t know how to respond. I had never felt feelings for another pony.” Fluttershy said.
“Well, how do you feel about her?”
“I…I don’t know.” Fluttershy squeaked.
*****
Rainbow dash flew to sugar cube corner, hoping to see pinkie. Pinkie was always good at cheering her up. Rainbow knocked on the door. Pinkie opened it with a massive grin on her face.
“Hey rainbow dash, how are you? What is going on? How are you? How long did the c-“pinkie said, getting cut off.
“Pinkie, I need advice.” Rainbow said, worryingly. Pinkie had gotten serious.
“What’s wrong dashie?” pinkie said.
“Well, I’m in love.” Rainbow dash said.
“OH MY GOSH WHO?” Pinkie shouted!
“F-fluttershy.” Rainbow said, her thoughts trailing to the pink maned pony, smiling.
“Aaaaaaaaaaw!” pinkie said, “You two would make such a cute couple!”
“W-well, it didn’t exactly go well…” Rainbow dash said, a frown returning to her face.
“O-oh, what happened?” pinkie asked.
Rainbow dash started explaining, pinkie looked at dash, expressionless, listening to the story. After the story, pinkie sat there, unmoving, for what seemed like hours. Rainbow dash took a nap, leaving a note saying, “Wake me up when you start moving again.”
*****
Fluttershy, a renewed sense of confidence, went to twilight’s library. She was not home, or was asleep. Either way she was getting tired, so she flew to her cottage. Angel bunny, as usual, was upset. Fluttershy, not noticing, went to her nightly routine. Feeding all her animals, giving angel bunny a carrot, making her dinner, and going to bed. Her dreams were filled with thoughts of rainbow dash.
Fluttershy was in a small room. White, sterile, cold, lonely. It was a hospital room. Rainbow dash was on the hospital bed. She was in bad condition.
“F-fluttershy?” dash said.
“Y-yes dash?” fluttershy said.
“I…I love you fluttershy.” Rainbow dash said her cheeks red.
Fluttershy was stunned. She knew what she had heard. She just couldn’t believe it. When she felt the silence had enveloped the room for far too long, she responded.
“I-I-I love you to” was the only thing fluttershy could say. Rainbow dash began blushing, Fluttershy, seeing this, started blushing as well. Fluttershy went to hug rainbow dash and rainbow dash blushed a lot more with the wave of warmth that came from fluttershy’s hug. She was returning her fluttershy’s hug, nuzzling her as well. Fluttershy was leaning in to kiss rainbow dash, her lips pursed. Rainbow eagerly returned her kiss, a chill shooting up both their spines.
Fluttershy woke up, feeling her blush. She knew what she had to do.
*****
Rainbow dash was not woken by pinkie pie, but by a blinding light. When she woke, she noticed a MASSIVE amount of clouds. She sighed. She knew she had her work cut out for her today. As she flew around ponyville, she had seen fluttershy. ‘Oh no, there she is, what do I do?’ was the thought that dominated her mind. Fluttershy simply walked past, noticing rainbow but simply moving on.
When rainbow finished her cloud chores, it was nearly nightfall. ‘A lot of work’ the thought echoed In her mind. She flew around, finding a cloud. She took a nap. When she woke up, there were a lot more clouds, creating a floor. Rainbow dashed was connecting some dots in her head, when the cloud under her dissipated. She landed on a clearing near some rolling hills. She glided to her feet. There was a slight slope, a single tree, and a rolling hill in front of it.
As she climbed the hill, she noticed fluttershy, crying, and looking over the hill.
“F-fluttershy?” rainbow dash said. Fluttershy, surprised by her friend, swung her head so fast, her mane looked as to sway lightly in the breeze.
“O-oh hey, rainbow dash.” Fluttershy said.
“What’s wrong fluttershy?” rainbow asked more insistent than usual.
“O-Oh, n-nothing.” Fluttershy started, “Beautiful night isn’t it?”
Rainbow dash walked up to the crying mare. “Not as beautiful as you.” She said, a soothing calmness in her voice. She sat next to the pony, wiping the tears from her cheek.
“You always had a way with words. You always know how to cheer me up. H-Hey rainbow dash?” Fluttershy asked, nuzzling her best friend.
“Yes fluttershy?” Rainbow dash asked.
“I-I…I love you dashie.” Fluttershy said.
It was playing out exactly like her dream. Her dream was literally coming true. She didn’t want to let this slip through her hooves.
“I love you to flutters” Rainbow said, looking straight into fluttershy’s eyes.
They looked at each other, gazing into each other’s eyes. Fluttershy leaned in, pursing her lips. Rainbow dash retuned the kiss, shivers going up her spine. They lay there, sitting in each other’s arms. Rainbow had never been happier.
‘I love you flutters.’ The words echoed in rainbow’s mind. ‘I love you.’