> The Wrong Card > by ConfusementIsKey > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a hot, hot summer day in the lovely town of Ponyville. Everypony was out, doing what almost entirely all ponies do every other day.The flower shop was full of earthy healthy flowers, and the fragrance roamed the air freely of all the different kinds of scented weeds.The bakery around the corner with the most popular party mare known as Pinkie Pie worked, had tasty, delicious cakes fresh from the oven that most ponies simply walk by and their eyes are locked upon the sight of the dessert on the other side of the plain glass in which they press their muzzle against to observe the baked good even more. They continue to drool, as a little more down the road- you'll find a lovely cottage right on the outskirts of Ponyville, where a Pegasus known as the kind and quiet Fluttershy stays in her humble home to treat and care for any and every animal she isn't afraid of. On what I believe to be the opposite side of Ponyville, you have a smart princess who runs a small local library,(silly as it sounds,) with a faithful assistant of a dragon known as Spike. And somewhere in all of that, a boutique is also famous for the wonderful and cultural wear throughout the town. Rarity, generous as she is, is the one mare who works on this profitable technique. The thought that comes to everypony's mind is how good and cherishable Ponyville is. Shame. What everypony doesn't know, is that there are two very important mares that are to complete this balance of peace. But as we observe on the two mares this moment, we see that there is no peace between the two at all. A sudden crash is heard from the barn doors of Sweet Apple Acres, bits of wood fleeing from the one piece that it was only seconds ago. Rainbow Dash is to be blamed for the immediately destructive act. She bolts out of the exit that she has just created herself, flying quickly away with her muzzle scrunched up in anger. Applejack trots out of the wide gap where the symmetrical door once was, her eyes formed into an expression of anger as she hollered at the Pegasus, "And ya fix my door too!" She turns to walk away as a ungrateful breath heaved from her mane, "Damn complicated pony..." Rainbow doesn't hear her words, but keeps flying as she goes higher into the sky and a tad of tears start to form into her deep pink eyes as she goes to look for a cloud to sit on. What we have guessed is that the two mares were fighting before hand, and it is only proven true as we are to understand that the earth and Pegasus pony were in a relationship. But the following statement, I fear, will not be the same one for long... Rainbow Dash threw herself at the cloud, punching it and screaming as her anger and adrenaline rose and was taken out upon it. Dash proceeded to beat up the cloud as more tears of anger spilled down her face when she slowed to a stop. She then stared at the cloud for a long while and her pupils quivered and she laid down, covering her face and quietly sobbing. The tears seeped into the cloud, and it began to turn from a upbeat white into a more morbid theme of gray and it started to release the percentage of tears from the rainbow maned pony. The rain quietly picked up over time, and eventually downpoured. Rainbow was one thing and only that one at this time. Heartbroken. Earlier, Applejack had pulled Rainbow Dash aside and talked to her about how much she needed help from her beloved...marefriend. Rainbow whined about the instructed schedule, and proclaimed that it would take up her time to learn new stunts and other uses of her free time. Applejack saw nothing wrong in this, for she believed that the mares were to always spend their time together, and the argument moved from that topic on. She was actually expecting Rainbow to move out of Cloudsdale to stay with the farmer pony on that farm, but Rainbow Dash completely disagreed. Her true home was there, and she wasn't going to become grounded for any means necessary. The topic phase then ended, and turned into names like "speech-incorrect horse," and "stubborn twat with her head in the clouds." The situationed did nothing but became worse. Neither pony backed down, and neither pony stopped. That was when Rainbow couldn't take it anymore and exclaimed, "I quit. I quit working with you on this farm, I quit trying my hardest just for you to put me down, and I quit loving you. We're through." "Good!'' Said Applejack. "I've lost interest in you a long time ago anyways!" The Pegasus then let the anger push her into raising a hoof and buffing in the earthpony's face. She grit her teeth as the hoof only stayed there in midair to threaten a punch right in the dead center of Applejack's face. "Go on!" She stated, "Hit me. I know ya won't do it, Dash." As angry as Rainbow Dash was, her words were right. She then slammed the hoof down into the ground and trotted to the barn door, raised her hind legs, and kicked the door down. The single piece of wood exploded, and Rainbow Dash dashed out of the barn. She is now quietly grieving over her harsh actions... And spoke in a quiet and shaky voice, "...What have I done..?" Fluttershy shut the door behind her, her attitude risen as her voice was a hum, and a bag to her side. She trotted over the bridge to her home, and made her way into town. Her destination was to retrieve a few groceries, and to make a quick stop by Twilight's. Before she knew it, she was in the streets of Ponyville when she looked up at the sky. The blue color inspired her to wear a smile, and it even reminded her of the one mare she loved...Fluttershy has harvested the biggest crush on Rainbow Dash, that it shouldn't even be considered a crush. Rainbow Dash has always been on her mind, nothing like anypony else has ever encountered in her entire life. She's known the mare every since they were only fillies. They went to school together, and have progressed into the greatest of friends since then. Not only that- but the very reason Equestria is no longer in jeopardy as we speak! But what no other pony knew was her true emotions on Dashie- let alone the fact she even liked the same gender. Being quiet and keeping emotions in to where no pony could even suspect that type of thing was something that Fluttershy was good at. "I wonder if she'd have the time for me to stop by..." She thought. "I would love to see her again." This caused Fluttershy to quicken her pace, that is until she realized... She hasn't seen Dashie in three days. She shrugged it off, and thought to just question Applejack of it after visiting Twilight. Applejack was her marefriend after all- and Fluttershy was most definitely jealous. Ever since she got the news, it was just a topic that she couldn't get over. Poor Fluttershy. A while later after getting the groceries she needed, she then found herself in front of Twilight's door. She raised her hoof and gently tapped it three times. Spike answered the door, and his face relaxed as he saw it was just the calm and quiet Pegasus. "Hi Fluttershy." "Oh, uhm... Hi Spike.. Twilight doesn't happen to be home, does she?" Said the pony, barely enough to hear. He nodded and opened the door wider, gesturing for Fluttershy to make her way inside. She walked in and saw Twilight sitting with her stand and was magically moving objects around. Fluttershy stopped and watched for a minute when it came to Twilight's realization that she was standing there watching. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you come in..." She said, making the objects rest in one place for a moment as her attention then turned to the yellow mare. "What can I help you with?" "Oh, I actually just came to stop by... but now that I think about it, I haven't seen Rainbow Dash in three days, is she perhaps on a wonderbolt mission that I didn't know about?" The expression on Twilight's face dropped, her eyes widened and her mouth opened just a tad. A snicker erupted from Spike as he started walking up the stairs with a broom in hand. "Celestia, have fun explaining that to her, Twilight." He said as he left the room. Twilight then looked down at the ground and shuffled her right hoof along the floor.She suddenly flapped her wings once and close them as if she were to break the silence for a second. "Fluttershy... Rainbow isn't out on a wonderbolts mission. She and Applejack broke up about three days ago when they got into a horrible argument. It was a bit tragic for Rainbow, so she hasn't come down from the skies in which i'm aware of." Fluttershy froze in shock at the news. "R-Rainbow Dash and Applejack... are over?" "Yes.." She said, looking away,"Sad, isn't it?""Psh, yeah!" Said Fluttershy a little too happily. This caused the purple alicorn princess to raise a brow at the sudden exclamation, and Fluttershy quickly stuttered to correct herself. "Oh, uh- I mean, that's horrible... I thought they were going to last..." She said out of costumed sympathy. Twilight ignored it, and turned to her stool as she raised a paper with the glow of her magic and moved it towards the shy Pegasus pony. "It's for Rainbow Dash. My wings are sore from the training I've had the past days, so I'm in a bit of recovery for a little bit. Do you mind taking it to her?" Fluttershy smiled wryly and spoke softly, "Of course not. I'll take it to her." "Thank you, Fluttershy." Replied Twilight. The two mares chatted for a while more, but despite whatever topic they were on, the idea of Rainbow Dash and Applejack no longer being a couple, saddened by it only a small percentage. The rest of it was filled with joy. The more she thought about it, she's come to this conclusion: Dashie is heart broken, and previously needs a friend to talk to. A friend who understood, and would actually care a lot to listen. A friend that Fluttershy would love to fill in the spot for her. The two friends continued chatting until the sun went down, and then Fluttershy said she needed to get home. As the door behind her shut, Fluttershy sighed as she looked at the night sky above. The heavy weight of her heart was risen, for she saw that there was an opportunity here. It was sad that two dear friends of hers were no longer happy with each other, but instead angry at one another. It saddened her move that the blue pony was depressed, but then it gave her the huge opportunity to get even closer to Dashie, and maybe...Just maybe... Confess those feelings to Dash...? > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky the next day was a beautiful blue, the colors fading from the darker shades into the lighter as it dawns along the end of the skies. Fluttershy, outside of the cottage, whistles a tune to summon the birds as she carries a medium size of bird seed in a bag. As she whistles the melodic tune, more and more herds of birds surround her as she pours the feed into the trays that she had set a few days before. The birds began to peck at the feed as Fluttershy flew back to the small shack she had in her backyard. She opened the doors and set down the bag in the far corner, still humming the same peaceful tune to which called the birds to her. She then retreated from the shack, closing the door and locking it securely. The birds were the final animals that had to be fed for the morning, which now brought her to her mobile chores around Ponyville. She trotted inside and went to look at her calendar for the things that she had to do for today. But when she went to look, the small area that filled the date, the 21st of May, left her a smudge in shock. The area was blank, leaving her nothing but clear, white paper. She sighed on relief, a day off would be a magnificent and dandy- Wait a second... Fluttershy knew- she was sure that something was planned for the day. It was...unlikely. She distinctly remembered- something important hit her. Then it snapped into place- she was to go see her dearest friend, Rainbow Dash. Not just for her own preoccupation, but a letter that was written for her was to be sent there as well. Fluttershy had taken this chore, and little did she know, it was going to be a difficult one. She searched around the one-roomed cottage, throwing things around to look for her bag that had the letter. Soon, she found it and adjusted the strap to her side securely, and set out the door. She then locked it behind her, and quickly trotted into town. Looking up at the sun in the sky, she could tell that it was reaching a rather late time for the morning, and before even she knew it- it would be noon. Her trot paced into a run, and she gulped hard when she realized that in order to get there as soon as possible, she'd have to fly. Flying- (she'd willingly admit)- was NOT a favorite in her capabilities. If she could, she'd give her wings away. But it was also important that she did this not only for Twilight, but she secretly longed to see the cyan-coated mare. Her deep crimson eyes, and to hear her voice was almost a fairy-tale. As clarified before, Fluttershy raised her wings, and eventually, raised herself off of the ground. Defeating gravity, she let the air beneath her raise her up with her body's support. Hooves set in front of her, the flying wasn't impressive by any means, but she was going a good 30 miles per hour. She emotionally saddened when she began to levitate herself off of the ground even further, and in the slightest movement, made her way to Cloudsdale. It was as she knew it to be, and the far building on the end was her destination. She trotted on the cloud-type surface beneath her, feeling a humid and slightly damp touch to the rim of her hooves. She wasn't remotely bothered by strolling through the floating city, it was just then when she caught eye of a Pegasus flying above her that just pinched her nerve a bit. She didn't want to fly anymore than what was recommended. She let out a sigh as more Pegasi begin to fly above her, the town no longer servants to her fear of those who surrounded her. All airborne, and none grounded, (or clouded, if you insist.) Relief struck her as about twenty more minutes down the city highways she had reached the Pegasuses street. As she approached the well- mannered home, something didn't come together right in her mind. A chill went down her spine as the door that marked 35 gave of a strangely tragic vibe. Ignoring this, Fluttershy then proceeded to knock on the wooden door. One minute later, nothing happened. Sadness started to spread through her heartstrings as she turned to leave, but then remembered; there was an important side to this too. Or what she believed. It's something that simply inspired her to do whatever it took when measured to the limit, if her friend wanted it done, then accomplished the mission will be. For she was the only mare known close to presenting to the depressed mare. Encouraged by this new encounter, she whirled around and started for the door once more, even louder this time. No answer. She no longer knocked, but she started beating on the door, when suddenly it unlatched, and quietly opened with a low creak. Fluttershy did not take this anymore than an invitation to invite herself in. She quietly entered, looking around, and was bewildered by what she saw. Glass, showered practically from one end of her living room to the next, making her a bit careful as she took a first step to move around to see more. The house was dark, but the place was a wreck. Rainbow Dash's fine leather couch was imbedded with rips and tears all along the seat and the backboard. Different colors were splattered on the walls as if they were thrown, and the coffee table was broken, laying on the ground. Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hoof, bearing herself from the tears that stung her eyes. Dashie was in a primarily aggressive state while in which this had happened. Nothing else could explain it. Fluttershy then heard a clicking noise that made her ears ring from a certain direction. She turned to see the hallway, and gently started walking to it. It wasn't as much of a tornado storm afterwards as the living room, but the pictures on the walls, as well as certificates and trophies were hanging, broken from the single thumbtack that held them all in. So much for that. Fluttershy wasn't one to forget, Dashie had a very pleasant home. Fluttershy could never live in it, but she would agree that it was a delicately designed home. She then walked by a room, the door opened a tad and the light shined in. She gently shoved it open, to reveal Rainbow Dash's bedroom. Fluttershy's gaze scattered around the room, papers on the floor and trophies, medals, certificates, any rewarding object knows well to mind could be found around the room- lucky if it was in one piece. She looked around, the only window in the room had it's curtain ripped as it dangled from the last little bit of garment that hanged. Fluttershy felt her heart ache as she started to get photographic guesses to how this all could have happened, like a video in her mind. She moved towards the window to observe a crack where Dash could have punched the glass pane, when she looked over in the corner of the opposite side of Rainbow Dash's bed, she nearly fainted. Her heart dropped as she saw Rainbow Dash, laying on her side on the floor. She quickly ran towards her and moved some papers that covered the cyan mare, turning her over. Her eyes scanned Rainbow Dash's body, fear engulfing her as she didn't see Rainbow Dash's chest rise and fall like it was supposed to. Fluttershy felt warm tears start to form in her eyes as she threw her body onto Rainbow Dash's, crying and softly sobbing into the mare's coat. Then suddenly, thump thump. Fluttershy wheezed in as she remained quiet once more, and pressed her ear against Dash's chest to listen carefully. Thump thump, thump thump. The pattern then continued to form, a weak thump after another. Fluttershy then looked at Dash happily, and started crying with joy. She then paused as she saw something roll on the floor, and bump into Dash's unconscious body. She looked down and picked up a small bottle, and pulled it close to her face to read the label. Sleeping. She took sleeping pills, but as Fluttershy examined the container a bit more, it had made it clear than an overdose could cause you to rest longer intended, and slow down your heart. Take all pills, could be a risk to death. Fluttershy opened the bottle to see to her relief that there was a good 10 pills that remained, even though there was thirty to the container. Fluttershy looked back at the Pegasus, and she knew it was wrong to... But there was only one mare in the entire land of Equestria she blamed for this. Fluttershy took Rainbow Dash to Cloudsdale's closest hospital, waiting and waiting for hours of the doctors to tell her Rainbow was going to be okay. Nurses asked her if she would like a drink, or something to occupy her time, but she refused every single offer that was thrown at her. Evening arrived, and Fluttershy remained right where she's been for going on 9 hours. Her stomach was growling at her to get an appetite, but she ignored it. Her eyes were beginning to become weary, and heavier by the minute, but she refused to shut them. That is when finally, the doctor walked out of the room. Before he could shut the door, Fluttershy was at his side, hooves pressed together and her eyes bloodshot as she stared up at him with giant, green eyes. "Oh doctor," She began, "Please tell me she's okay..." The doctor smiled down at her humbly, and said in a soothing and tired voice, "Of course she's fine. She's previously in a coma, and by the looks of it, she'll be awake tomorrow good as new. It's a great thing you brought Rainbow Dash here so quickly, if she wasn't treated in time- we could've lost her." Fluttershy sighed and she looked down happily. She was so relieved to hear that Rainbow was okay! Her heart fluttered as the doctor began to walk by, leaving Fluttershy alone as she turned and called to him. Her turned around and gave a sly grin as he pointed to the door. "It's unlocked. There's a chair that has some blankets to keep yourself warm, and don't forget to lock it back when you get in there." "How-" He then trotted over and rested a hoof on the yellow Pegasus' shoulder, looking her in the eyes. " You don't stay sitting in a lobby for hours and expect to leave her here right after knowing she's going to be okay." Now let's admit, this Pegasus knew what he was doing. Well at his job, she could tell. He then turned around and made his way towards the main office to sign out for the night. Fluttershy stayed sitting in the middle of the lobby before walking quietly to Rainbow Dash's room, She shut the door and locked it as instructed, and she turned to see Rainbow laying on her back, wearing a face mask and a couple of cords coming from her arms. Fluttershy walked to her side, staring at her resting body. She looked so peaceful, and beautiful- it should be illegal. No mare should look this good as they slept. It nearly brought Fluttershy to tears at the thought that she could have lost her today. If Fluttershy didn't go to see her, she could have died. She'd never forgive herself if that was to ever happen. Fluttershy rested her head at the side of Rainbow Dash's bed, and quietly cried. "Don't worry, Dashie. I'll never let you go... I love you." The next morning, Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eye lids. It was a surprise to herself that she was even awake- that's when she tried to remember about the pills. Didn't she take all of them? She couldn't remember. Her head slightly throbbed as she looked over and nearly jumped out of the sheets. Fluttershy was at her bedside, laying her head down and sleeping softly. Her sides heaved up and down as she was breathing, and Dash could tell the detail of tear stains that was around the area her face was. Oh no. Rainbow Dash sat herself up, and moved some of the light pink hair out of Fluttershy's sleeping face. Rainbow froze at the sight of Fluttershy. She looked like a sleeping angel... Rainbow Dash shoved this thought aside and gently shook Fluttershy's shoulder. "Fluttershy... Fluttershy, wake up." Fluttershy groaned as she slowly started to turn awake, she sat up and stretched as she rubbed her right eye with her hoof before opening both of them. Fluttershy blinked a couple of times, and then smiled as she threw herself at Rainbow Dash. "Dashie, you're still alive! Thank Celestia, I thought I lost you!!" Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She couldn't say anything, it would kill her to. Fluttershy was the one that brought her to aid in the hospital, and she probably knew that she had found out about the pills. Fluttershy looked Rainbow in the eyes, tears in her own. "Dashie... Why'd you do it?" Rainbow couldn't explain, not even if she wanted to. She felt guilty, and she knew that it would be hard to explain to her Pegasus friend. "I-I was angry, and sad... and I just..." "You couldn't take the heartbreak, could you?" Dashie looked away. "That's not what I'm saying." "It's the only explanation," She said, wiping away tears on her face. "Rainbow, I know that you and Applejack have had your problems, but that isn't a reason to go off and do something like this. Have you forgotten? You're needed! Even if you don't think so, we all need you. You're a big part of the causes we have. When we're all afraid, guess who stands up and looks danger right in the face? You. You Dashie, you're brave, loyal, and awesome in every way. You're very good at what you do, and you wanted to throw your life away because you're heart broken?!" Rainbow Dash looked down. She was right. It was a dumb thing for her to do- and it could have wrecked everything. It could have wrecked harmony, friendship, and... it could have wrecked Fluttershy. Fluttershy is the most sensitive out of us all, so if she were to get the news That Rainbow went ahead and punched her own ticket, she'd be more heart broken than Rainbow Dash has ever been. Fluttershy just stared at her, watching Rainbow for a response. "I know you don't like to confess to these kind of things. I get it. It's what a tough pony has trouble with, but I understand, Dash. You may not think I do, but just because you defend me all the time doesn't mean that I-" Fluttershy stopped talking as Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around her, embracing her in a tight hug. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat there for a couple of seconds, not anticipating to say anything until Dash spoke in a quivery voice, "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I was upset... and I thought it was the way out. I didn't think about anypony else at the time because I was... heartbroken." She smiled as she raised her hooves and hugged Rainbow Dash back, quietly thankful that Rainbow finally understood. "It's okay Dashie. You don't ever have to keep something like that to yourself, I'm here, and I'll always listen." "Thanks Shy." Said Rainbow, closing her eyes as she took in this moment with Fluttershy. She stayed this way for about twenty minutes before a nurse came in for a check up on Rainbow Dash. After that, Rainbow Dash was clear to leave. With a few recommendations as she walked out of the hospital from the nurse, Rainbow Dash walked with Fluttershy out of the hospital. They walked with each other as Fluttershy soon came to the point where she realized that she probably should get back home. Fluttershy raised her wings to fly off, and started to fly back to Ponyville when Rainbow Dash spoke up, "Wait!" Fluttershy nearly fell trying to stop, and she turned to look at Rainbow. Rainbow smiled slyly as she looked at the sky. "You know... I'm feeling kinda hungry. You wanna... grab something to eat?" The yellow Pegasus smiled happily as her eyes sparkled with excitement and delight. "I'd love to." > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash awoke the next day with a minor headache, her head throbbing as she sat up in her room. It was still a disaster, it's been on her mind to clean it, but she just never got to it. She threw the sheets on her bed over her hind legs, throwing them off her bed on her haunches before she got up and walked to her bathroom. She fumbled along the wall with her hoof to try and find the light switch, which eventually she did. She looked in the mirror, her vision the slightest bit blurred, but she could still see the crimson eyed Pegasus staring at her. Her rainbow-colored mane was a frenzy and one eyelid was more open than the other one. She covered her mouth with her hoof, yawning before grabbing a brush and brushing out her mane. She normally just flies through the air to get her mane to do what she wants it to, but this was one of those 'oh well' mornings. She felt as if she was up a little earlier than usual, and glancing on the clock on her bathroom wall, she was right. It was 6:47 a.m., which was normally a bit early for her. Since waking a bit before she had to, she decided to get a shower as well. She took a nice, warm shower and dried off her mane. She then remembered that she had just brushed it, and now she would have to do the same thing again. She sighed and decided that a bit of flying would fix it, just like any other normal day. She felt a little preppy brushing her mane twice- Rarity would probably throw a fit. It made her chuckle to herself as she walked out of the bathroom, steam following behind as she made her way back to her room again. She had cleaned up some of the glass that was on the floors before- (of course when she says "she", she means her house keeping)- the glass that was all over the floor the few days before. She dried off the rest of her fur, and set the towel on her bed. She walked into the kitchen and looked outside the window. Sunny. That's how it was to be for a long time in Ponyville, minus the small storms that were to be in certain spots. Like Sweet Apple Acres... Rainbow's mood suddenly changed as she became depressed of the flashbacks from when her and Applejack got into the argument. She did something that she had to for a while now- things weren't working out between the two. Not to mention it was a constant fight of dominance about 67 percent of the time. As these thoughts flooded into her mind, a clear, smooth, soft voice rang in the back of her mind. "I know it's a hard thing for tough ponies like you to go through, but you should know how important you are. I will always be there to listen, Dash. Always.'' Always... Her thoughts were then interrupted by a loud ringing. Rainbow Dash looked on the counter next to her bread basket to see her phone, and walked over and picked it up. "Hello?" "Hey Dash! How have you been?" "Fine... Who's calling?" "I'm Pon-3, Vinyl Scratch? I was wondering if you could help me with a album I'm doing- I need somepony with a raspy voice, ya know? I've got it all set up if you wouldn't mind swinging by about noon or so?" "Yeah, sure." "Great!" Exclaimed the pony on the other line, "I'll see you then?" "Surely." Replied Rainbow Dash. "Alright, bye." "Bye." With that, Rainbow ended the call. She put the house phone back on charge, walking to her fridge to get a glass of orange juice. While retrieving the juice, she shut the door and saw the Weather Plan for the end of May and the beginning of June. Today's schedule was a light rain cloud over towards the west of Ponyville, and if Rainbow Dash remembered correctly, that was somewhere around where Rarity lived. Shrugging it aside, she proceeded to pour her glass and drink it, finishing it with a loud sigh. "Refreshing..." Mumbled Rainbow Dash to herself. She set down her glass in the sink, and decided that before she went out to the radio station where Vinyl was, she'd set out to grab some breakfast. Rainbow Dash stopped by the local bakery, and settled down at one of the tables. Pinkie Pie stopped by the table with a happy, bouncy expression while balancing a tray on her fluffy, pink mane. "Hiya Dashie! Haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" She exclaimed happily while setting down the tray on the table in front of her. Rainbow smiled and said, "Things have been fine, I just..." She swallowed, "Have had some issues, that's all." "Oh..." Said Pinkie, her tone dropping and she sat on her haunches and and folding her ears down onto her head. "So... what happened?" "It's complicated..." She looked into my eyes. "You and Applejack didn't work out, did you?" Rainbow Dash widened her eyes. "How did you..." Pinkie Pie raised a brow. "Your body language says it all, Dashie." Rainbow looked away sadly. "Right..." "But hey," Pinkie Pie started, "You don't need to be brought down into the dirt because of it. If she isn't the right one, then the right one will come around eventually." She smiled and grabbed the tray and asked with a light tone, "So, what can I get you this morning?" Rainbow Dash flew to the radio station, a gray bricked building that was three stories high and had large, glass doors with numerous numbers of windows. As Dash approached the doors, she saw a poster for Vinyl's newest album-(the one that Rainbow Dash herself came to help with)- taped from the inside out. She opened the doors and walked through to see the front office. A mare with a light green coat and a black mane was reading a newspaper while chewing bubble gum. Rainbow Dash approached her and she set down the article and gave Rainbow a small smile. "Good afternoon miss, how may I help you?" "Yeah I'm here to help with a cover for Pon-3." "Yes ma'am," She said, getting up from the desk and walking alongside the cyan mare, "Right this way." Rainbow followed the earthpony through various hallways, until they came to a room with a glass push door. The pony walked in, Rainbow following closely behind as she tapped through the glass walls to where Vinyl's main studio was. The white unicorn removed her headphones as the mare spoke, "Rainbow Dash has arrived for the cover, ma'am." "Already?" Asked Vinyl, looking at her watch and looking back up. "You're a bit early, but doesn't hurt anypony." The green coated mare announced that she was returning to her office. Rainbow thanked her for her services as she left the two ponies alone, Vinyl turning and grinning at Dash. "You ready to get started?" "Yeah." Said Rainbow Dash, smiling at her halfheartedly. The unicorn nodded with a "Okay, this way." she lead her to another room, the walls were red and instruments were propped onto the wall and she noticed a section of the room was parted with glass. In the glass section, were the arrangements. Various nobs and remotes with computers were hooked into speakers that were pointed towards outside of the glass, and on the outside of the walls were three microphones each paired with stands and lots of paper was stacked on each one. "Just look here," Said Vinyl, pointing to the paper that was on the first/nearest stand closest to them. "These are the lyrics to the song, sing them however you want, just as long as it has a rockin' sound." "A rockin' sound?" "Yeah." She said, "A rockin' sound. I know you know what to do." "Yeah I do!" Said Rainbow with a cocky tone. Vinyl chuckled and started heading to the glass portioned part of the room, and using her unicorn magic to move some of the nobs on the dashboard and the volume to the melody up. The melody had a heavy tune, with guitar and percussion rock solo's. Rainbow liked the sound of it as Vinyl motioned for her to put on the headphones that was laying right next to the lyrics. She grabbed them and slid them over her ears, looking at Vinyl for what to do next. She gestured for Rainbow to look at the flash board above her head that visualized a countdown for when to start. A few seconds was left as Rainbow leaned her head towards the microphone, getting ready to say the first few lyrics when it hit the number zero. Rainbow spoke in a high, raspy voice as she proceeded to read the lyrics from the piece of paper. While singing, she looked up at Vinyl Scratch, seeing that she was smiling slightly as she was nodding her head slightly to the tune. Rainbow smirked as she continued to sing in her most "rockin'" voice as possible. As she was singing the last verse, she glanced over to the window that was to her right to see Fluttershy looking at her while she sang. Wait, Fluttershy? Rainbow jumped back from shock before she nearly fell over, catching herself as she took off her head phones. Fluttershy blushed as she giggled at the startled Pegasus, and even Rainbow herself felt her face get warm. Fluttershy walked through the glass door into the studio, her eyes wide with excitement. "Oh wow Rainbow- that was really good!" Rainbow rubbed her shoulder with her hoof in nervousness. "Yeah... What are you doing here?" "Oh! Um, well..." She started, looking away. "I just came to stop by. I see you're working on something, so I'll just be on my way..." "You don't have to go, I-I mean," Rainbow Dash stuttered, "You could stick around if you want. I don't mind, and I think Vinyl would mind either." Vinyl looked up and took off her glasses to see the yellow Pegasus, looking her up and down before nodding in approval. Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy, raising a wing and resting it over Fluttershy's back as she spoke to Vinyl, " You see, Shy here has a voice too!" "That's great," Said Vinyl, making her way out of the glass bordered area of the room. "Can you sing with a hard core tone?" "Oh, um...no...not really." Replied the yellow Pegasus. " 'S all cool," Said the unicorn, "We can work on the next one some other time. Hey Dash, there's going to be a photo shoot for the album some point late tomorrow. Interested in coming?" "Sure," Rainbow said with a cool tone. Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow, admiring her quietly. Her smile caught just the right angle that her perfect white teeth glistened in the light. Fluttershy blushed and looked away, quietly thinking more about Dash to herself. Vinyl nodded and gave her a hoof bump, and then told her that she'd give her a call when the ponies would come to take the photos. Rainbow agreed, and bid Vinyl a goodbye as she walked with Fluttershy, a wing still wrapped around her out through the glass door. They walked through the hallway's of the station, and right before exiting the main doors the same mare from before bid Rainbow Dash a goodbye. "Come again," she said politely. "Anytime." Said Rainbow Dash with a wink. This made the mare blush and look away with her ears folded onto her head and she covered her face with her black mane. Rainbow opened the door as her and Fluttershy both walked out together. "Did you see that?" Asked Rainbow looking into Fluttershy's green eyes. "What?" "The way I made her nervous..." "Oh..." Said Fluttershy, looking away. "I wasn't paying much attention," She lied. Rainbow looked the other way, thinking maybe it wasn't such a good thing to bring up. She took a deep breath and looked at Fluttershy. She looks so cute when she's tucked under my wing... Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She then looked away, blushing only a little. Fluttershy then looked up at her and Rainbow tried to avoid direct eye contact with the shy pony. "So..." Said Rainbow Dash, "Where are you headed?" "I guess nowhere in particular, considering that you have your wing around me." She replied with a small smile. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize-" She said, raising her wing and retreating it back to her side. Fluttershy frowned, but Rainbow didn't see it. Fluttershy liked it when she wrapped her wing around her. It made her feel safe and loved, and that's how she always felt around the cyan mare. Rainbow turned directions, whirling right in front of Fluttershy and looking her in the eye with a devious smile. "Hey, it's an hour after noon, wanna find something to do?" "I'd like to, but some of my animals that are at home haven't been fed yet," She started, looking away sadly. "Maybe some other time?" "Right.." Said Rainbow, her smile fading into a sad look. "Well then, I guess I should be heading on my way anyways. I'll see you later, okay Shy?" "Of course." She said with a grin. Rainbow returned her smile and started the other way, giving her a final bid goodbye as she walked the other way. She looked down as she slowly walked away, leaving Fluttershy as she walked the other way. It made Rainbow have this... strange feeling around Fluttershy. She kinda felt happy when she wrapped her wing around her. It made her feel so... So... A sudden loud noise filled her ears- a panicking, tires running against the gravel ground when she noticed the sound came from behind her, and when she whirled her head around, she saw Fluttershy, standing frozen in her spot and her eyes wide with fear as an oncoming carriage was racing towards her direction. And it didn't have a single intention on stopping. "Fluttershy!!!," yelled out Rainbow as by instinct her wings flared open and she dashed right in front of the carriage and shoved the yellow Pegasus out of the way. A shot of pain shot into her wing as their direction spun all the way around causing Fluttershy to land her back onto the ground, and Rainbow landing right on top of her, all of her limbs guarding around the Pegasus as she looked up. "Fluttershy, are you alright?!"