> The Warmth of a Fire > by EpicGuy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Sparks Fly > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluttershy lowered herself to the soft, mossy ground, the feel of grass soothing her skin. She was beyond tired after the annual Ponyville hurricane, which was a huge success. Rainbow Dash said it was all because of her, but deep down she thought she didn’t do anything at all. The rustle of woodland creatures at the edge of the forest signaled to her that they were bursting with pride and happiness, and she beckoned them into the fading daylight. At once it seemed like all the rabbits, all the birds, all the badgers, all the animals in Equestria bounced forward to greet her with warm congratulations and hugs. “Why, thank you critters!” She exclaimed. Once they had settled down a little and each got to nuzzle the meek pegasus, Angel Bunny hopped up to her hooves with a beautiful bunch of flowers in tow. “Aww, they’re so pretty, Angel!” She took them and set them beside her to free Angel’s paws so that the bunny could hug her as well. “You were fantastic!” He said. Fluttershy blushed. “It was nothing, really...” “Nothing?! Without you, there would have been no water for Cloudsdale! Rainbow Dash and the rest of those pegasi owe it to you for getting that water to where it needed to be.” “I helped, sure, but they did all the work-” Angel lightly slapped some sense into his keeper. “You’ve gotta boast a little, Fluttershy! Nobunny likes a humble doormat!” Fluttershy wanted to argue, but her fatigue got the better of her. She yawned, waved Angel away so she could rest her head on her hooves, and let the other animals form a cocoon around her as she drifted into sleep. There was the sharp crack of a tree’s branch being broken. Some footsteps, cautious but clumsy, sounded from the same direction. “Crap!” Whoever the creature was, it began to come closer to the sleeping Fluttershy. It almost reached her before falling into the shallow river, sending a huge splash through the air. It cursed, got itself upright, and reached her tired body. “Hey, Fluttershy.” The yellow pegasus shot up, fully awake, at the sound of her name. “Who’s there?” She cried out, her muscles tensing. The circle of animals that used to be sleeping soundly beside her had fled, probably when the creature came stomping into the woods like a bear. She looked up to see a pegasus standing over her with a familiar smile across her face. “Spitfire?” Fluttershy asked, confused. “Why are you here? Did I leave my goggles back at the lake? Oh, I knew I forgot something!” She began to get up from her spot, but Spitfire stopped her. Her warm gaze was like the light from a fire, as was her mane, which was like the flames of a fire. “Easy there, Fluttershy,” she calmed the pegasus, “you didn’t forget anything. I just came to talk to you, one-on-one.” Fluttershy sat back down and listened. “I was watching you at the event today. And... Wow.” Spitfire leaned back in her seat. “That was the best flying I’ve seen since the Young Flyers Competition. You’ve got a strong, fast pegasus in you, Fluttershy-” she poked Fluttershy’s chest- “But it’s locked up deep inside. You’ve got that key, why not use it?” Fluttershy rubbed the spot where the Wonderbolts captain had poked her. “Umm... Thanks, Spitfire.” She blushed. Spitfire’s warm gaze became one of deep interest, one of a more devious motive then simply talking. Admiration, perhaps. “I don’t say that to every pegasus I see,” she went on, “you’re special. Not only in the flying category, but in the looks and personality ones too. Your mane is dazzling, as is your figure. How do you do it?” Spitfire gazed with surprise at Fluttershy’s gorgeous figure. “I... Umm... Exercise when I’m feeding my critters... And sometimes I go swimming in that little pond by Sweet Apple Acres...” “Wow! Just that?” “I guess I don’t eat that much... Not as much as Pinkie, at least.” Spitfire’s eyes brightened beneath her goggles. “She’s known in Cloudsdale for breaking the record of most cakes downed in a single bite. I think she got twenty in about three minutes.” “Woah, she didn’t tell us about that. But yes, she eats quite a bit. She doesn’t look that bad, either.” “I don’t know how you Ponyville ponies do it. My team’s on the larger side, if you know what I mean.” “Oh, what is their usual schedule? Twilight put on some weight one time when she was really, really stressed out by her schedule.” “Twilight’s the unicorn that was at the event, right? The one with that huge machine?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, they have a few laps of practice in the morning, then some agility courses, then a lunch break. After that there’s another few laps of practice, some cardio stuff, then one final lap during the evening before the day is done.” Fluttershy was astonished. “Oh my, what a busy schedule! I can see why they’ve been having issues! You’ve got to give them a little slack, Spitfire.” The other pegasus smiled. “Thanks, Fluttershy, they kinda need to shed those extra pounds.” The two laughed awkwardly, exchanging small glances. Then Spitfire yawned and looked towards the sky. The moon had risen already, and the light only intensified Spitfire’s outrageous mane-style. “Perfect time for a late-night flight, don’t you think?” She began to unfold her sleek wings. Fluttershy squeaked. “Well, Spitfire... I was kind of sleeping, and I’m really tired right now... Maybe in the morning would be- AHH!” Spitfire didn’t hear the other pegasus, and she took off with her in her hooves. “Spitfire! Please let me down!” Fluttershy wailed as they passed over the tree. “Just a short flight; I promise.” Spitfire pleaded. Fluttershy reluctantly agreed. The sky was gorgeous at this time at night; fireflies flew around the two as they steadily rose, and the music of crickets was soothing and amazing. Everything below them was dark and colored in shades of blue and navy, highlighted in some spots by moonlight. Fluttershy squeaked as Spitfire’s powerful wings carried them higher and higher, now above Canterlot. The city’s bright lights were dimmed from this height, and some of the brighter-colored late-night shoppers could be seen examining the fancy dresses and restaurants. “Do you like it?” Spitfire asked from above. “Yes... Yes I do. Very much.” The meek pegasus whispered. Suddenly Spitfire did a backflip, letting go of Fluttershy and letting herself go in a circle. Fluttershy screamed as loud as possible, but as soon as she began Spitfire was holding her once more, but this time from the front, as if she were cradling Fluttershy. “Then you’ll love this.” She murmured. The Wonderbolts captain planted a kiss on Fluttershy’s confused lips, and the later squealed in surprise. She tried to brace free of the loving embrace, but it felt so good- so right. Her eyes closed in bliss, everything in perfect harmony. Spitfire let go, her forehead glistening in the moonlight with sweat. Her eyes were warm and milky, her mouth still opened. “Did you love it?” Fluttershy curled closer to the pegasus, feeling emotions she had never felt before to her fill her body. She felt as if she and Spitfire could be hovering over Equestria forever, firmly rooted in this position. She never before this had thought of Spitfire as a potential lover, but now she thought that she had been kissing frogs (which, in some cases, she had) the entire time when the perfect pony was right in front of her. “Yes, yes I did.”