> A Year of Seasons
>  by The Rising Tide of Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> And We Run Through the Rain - Spring (Part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy glanced apprehensively up at the gathering clouds as she approached Twilight’s castle, on her way to a long-overdue slumber party.  She had an immense amount of respect for those pegasi brave enough to push around those dark masses of rain, let alone the heavy thunderheads they had pulled out for tonight’s spring storm.  She shivered as a brief thrum of fear ran through her while she watched the minuscule forms of the pegasi surrounding the clouds, knowing that she certainly couldn’t handle that job.  With all of the flying, the dangerous clouds, the flying, the heights, being close to a certain pegasus, and well… the flying, her poor fragile nerves would shatter after the first day.
Well, she might be able to handle the flying.  Maybe.  If  that certain pegasus was there to help her…
She shook her head, catching herself searching the flying forms for one specific form.  A light blush crossed her face as she started up her journey to Twilight’s once again.  Stop that.  You can’t think like that again.  Remember, you promised yourself you wouldn’t ruin your friendship with your silly feelings.  
Ever since they had been foals together, Fluttershy had always felt a certain attraction to Rainbow Dash.  The brash and beautiful pegasus was everything she wasn’t, and would never be: confident, outspoken, an amazing flier, and an all-around wonderful, loyal friend.  For the longest time it had felt like her affection was a friendly one, a sisterly one.  
It hadn’t been until Rainbow had moved to Ponyville that she’d realized that something about that affection had changed.  Odd feelings would crop up whenever the two of them were together, and Fluttershy began to notice certain other aspects of her friend.  Oftentimes she would find herself studying Rainbow’s shapely legs or her well-toned flank, or even losing herself in Rainbow’s hypnotic eyes.  An unusual heat would build within her chest whenever the two of them were close together, and she would be hard-pressed to focus on anything else.
Not that any of this seemed to bother Rainbow the slightest.  If she took notice of Fluttershy’s odd behaviors, she certainly didn’t let on.  She probably just brushed off all of her nervous blushing or her embarrassed twitching as normal, nervous Fluttershy.  It wasn’t like she had to look at that gorgeous, flowing, rainbow-colored mane all the time, or admire those strong, powerful wings – 
Stop it.  You need to keep your word and stop doing this to yourself.  What would anypony say?  They might laugh at me, chase me out of town, or hate me for messing everything up.  I’m sure that’s what would happen.  It just wouldn’t be good.  I’m sure of it.
Applejack’s wedding last fall had been the hardest.  Everypony had been so happy, so full of love and life, and it had started to affect her quite keenly.  Rainbow had been talking with Rarity, standing there in that lovely bridesmaid gown Rarity had designed, so happy and smiling.  Like a moment out of a storybook, the sunlight had hit her just right, enveloping her in a golden glow that had taken Fluttershy’s breath away.  If it hadn’t been for her deep-seated fears of losing her beloved friends, embarrassing herself, and well, just about everything to do with relationships, she just might have blurted out something inappropriate then and there.
Lost in her own thoughts, she failed to notice that she had already arrived at Twilight’s castle and was standing silently at the front door, as if willing it to open on its own.  Letting out an embarrassed squeak, she quickly glanced around, praying that nopony else had noticed her staring off into space.  Satisfied that nopony was nearby, she reached up to knock on the great doors of the castle before a familiar voice caused her to freeze in shock.
“Why, hello there, Fluttershy, darling,” Rarity called excitedly as she trotted up to the castle with a smile.  “Fashionably late as I am, I see.”  Mistaking Fluttershy’s sudden blush as being due to her tardiness, she hastened to reassure her.  “Don’t worry about a thing, dear, I know Twilight doesn’t care that much.  As long as we’re all together and having fun, she’s happy.”
“O-Oh, I’m not worried about that…” Fluttershy replied, trailing off inaudibly while averting her eyes from her good friend.  She shuffled her hooves as Rarity gave her an oddly penetrating look, one that set her on edge for some reason.
“I’m sorry, darling, what was that?” Rarity asked as she sidled up next to Fluttershy, reaching up to knock on the castle doors.  The unicorn seemed unable to contain her excitement at the prospect of a slumber party, as she kept shifting from side to side and glancing over at Fluttershy expectantly.
“Oh, nothing…” Fluttershy replied quietly, which seemed to do nothing for Rarity’s expectations as Fluttershy could see her face fall.  Anxiety began building within her and she hastened to reassure her friend.  “It’s ok, Rarity, I-I was just… thinking… umm… about… umm… when Rainbow Dash was going to show up…” she trailed off once more, feeling a sense of relief as Rarity’s eyes lit up once more and a bright smile crossed her face.
“Oh?” Rarity asked with a tiny grin.  “Is that so?”
“Umm…” Fluttershy was spared having to elaborate by the opening of the castle doors, revealing Spike in his familiar apron, a big grin on his face.
“Hey there, Fluttershy, Rarity,” he greeted them, his voice changing with obvious affection as he turned to Rarity.  He stepped back from the entryway, ushering them in with a gallant bow.  The two of them entered with a friendly smile for the little dragon, Fluttershy’s smile perhaps a little more grateful than Rarity’s.
Desperate to keep the conversation away from herself, Fluttershy turned to Spike, who had joined them after closing the doors.  “How are you doing, Spike?” she asked.
“Eh, can’t complain,” he replied.  “It’s been nice and quiet today, so I’ve managed to catch up on my reading and get a head start on the food for tonight.  Twilight gave all the servants the day off today, so it’s just gonna be the seven of us here.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely,” Fluttershy replied as some of the anxiety eased from her bearing.  She never really like the feeling of being waited on every time she came to visit Twilight’s home, so the news that it would be more like old times was a welcome relief.  “Has everypony else arrived yet?”
He nodded.  “Yep!  Well, almost everypony.  Applejack and Pinkie Pie are here, but Rainbow Dash still hasn’t shown up.”
“Oh, good,” Fluttershy replied before catching herself.  “O-Oh, I mean, it’s good that Applejack and Pinkie are here.  Rainbow Dash is still working, so she’s probably going to be rather late.”
“I do say, that’s quite the storm the weather team is putting together, isn’t it?” Rarity said with a shudder.  “I would hate to be the pony caught outside tonight.  I’m sure it’s going to be dreadfully loud and wet.”
“It’s just rain,” Spike said dismissively as they found themselves approaching Twilight’s room, where they would all be staying.  “I love listening to the sound of rain while I’m trying to sleep.”
“I don’t mind the rain,” Fluttershy replied softly.  “I just don’t care for the sound of thunder.  It’s always… frightened me.”
She found herself pulled into a reassuring hug.  “Don’t worry, darling,” Rarity said.  “There’s nothing to worry about tonight.  We’re all here for you, so you have nothing to be afraid of.”
Fluttershy smiled in reply and pushed open the door to Twilight’s room, only to be greeted by an explosion of color, sound, and paper.  When her vision finally cleared, she found herself staring up at what she eventually determined was the ceiling, with a vague sense of being hit by a runaway cart and an odd ringing in her left ear.  Her vision was suddenly filled with a riot of colors, and after letting out a squeak she realized that it was Pinkie Pie leaning over her, covered in confetti and streamers.
“Heya, Fluttershy, what’cha doing on the floor like that?” Pinkie asked, a bright smile on her face.
“Carnsarnit, Pinkie, you know dang well why she’s down there,” came a frustrated drawl from out of Fluttershy’s vision.  “Ah swear, some ponies got no respect for others…”  The drawl grew louder even as it drifted off into mumbling, and Fluttershy felt strong legs under her shoulders, gently lifting her into an upright position.  She looked up at the pony helping her up, only to see Applejack’s kindly smile.  “You ok there, Sugarcube?” she asked as she got Fluttershy on her hooves.
Shaking her head to dispel the ringing, she nodded to Applejack while looking around apprehensively.  “Y-yes, I think so,” she replied.  “What happened?”
Applejack gave Pinkie a glare, the party pony just letting it wash over her obliviously.  “Some ponies need ta learn when to check to see who’s at the door afore surprising them,” she said with an air of disapproval.
Pinkie giggled, and gave Fluttershy a big smile.  “Sorry there, Fluttershy.  I coulda sworn Dashie was gonna be the next one here!  I guess I got a little mixed up.”
“Oh!  I’m sorry, Pinkie,” Fluttershy replied.  “I didn’t mean to ruin your surprise like that.”
“Nah, it’s alright.  I always keep a spare party cannon around anyway.”  Pinkie reached behind a nearby pillar and pulled out another cannon.  In her excitement, she quickly pulled the trigger string, setting off another loud explosion of color and sound, and Fluttershy found herself inspecting the ceiling once more, the ringing now in her right ear.
A moment later, Fluttershy had once again been helped up by a disapproving Applejack while Rarity gave Pinkie a stern lecture.  Looking suitably guilty, Pinkie apologized to Fluttershy once more, and the four of them made their way into Twilight’s room where they found the bookworm princess hard at work setting things up for the night.
“Hey, Twi, Fluttershy and Rarity’re here,” Applejack called.
Glancing up from where she had been carefully aligning the snack trays, Twilight gave them a big smile.  “Fluttershy!  Rarity!  It’s great to see you girls,” she said, enveloping the two of them in a hug.  “I’m glad you both could make it.”  She glanced around them, eyes searching anxiously.  “Has Rainbow Dash arrived yet?”
The two of them shook their heads.  “No, she’s working right now,” Fluttershy replied.  “She’ll be here soon, I’m sure.”
“Oh, good,” Twilight said, relieved.  “I really wanted everypony here tonight.  It’s been so long since we’ve had a proper slumber party, it just wouldn’t be right without Rainbow Dash as well.”
Just then, a window high above them burst open and Rainbow Dash came rocketing into the room in a blaze of color.  She swooped around the room just barely above their heads, finally coming to a skidding stop in the middle of the room.  Twilight, her wings flared in surprise, glared at Rainbow, who carelessly flung her saddlebags over in the corner of the room.  “You know, Rainbow, I have a door for a reason,” she said in a snarky tone, which Rainbow ignored.
“Yeah, well, since I’m already at the window, why should I bother going all the way around just to open the door?” Rainbow replied.  Looking around as Twilight continued to glare at her, she gave them all a big smile.  “Hey, guys, how’s it hanging?  Ready to get this party started?”
None of them had a chance to reply as shortly thereafter, Pinkie Pie’s third party cannon went off, showering them all with confetti and streamers.  Once more, Fluttershy found herself on the ground, but instead of inspecting the ceiling like she’d expected, she found herself looking up at an upside-down Rainbow, who was giving her an odd grin.  “Hey, Fluttershy,” Rainbow said.  “You ok?  Here, lemme help you up.”
Fluttershy let out a squeak as Rainbow hauled her to her hooves, and she blushed.  “Thanks, Rainbow,” she said softly.
Rainbow hesitated for a brief moment before giving her a smile.  “No problem,” she said, turning to Twilight.  “Oh, Twilight, you might wanna close the window.  The storm’s gonna start any second now.”
Twilight, in the process of cleaning up the confetti, immediately began to panic.  “WHAT?” she cried, confetti flying everywhere as she spun around.  “Rainbow, why didn’t you tell me sooner?  Oh, I need to make sure all of my windows are closed, or the rain will get in and ruin all my books.  SPIKE!” she yelled, before noticing that the little dragon happened to be just a few feet away, covering his ringing ears.  “Oh, there you are, Spike.  Can you please make sure all of the windows in the castle are closed?  I’d hate to have water getting in.”
Spike rolled his eyes.  “Twilight, I already took care of that as soon as I heard there was a storm planned tonight.  Now, can you close that one?  I can’t reach it from here.”
Twilight immediately began to relax, her self-imposed crisis averted.  “Of course, Spike, thank you.”  Her horn glowed briefly and the window closed and latched itself.
Spike absently buffed his nails on his apron.  “Yeah, I know, you’d be lost without me,” he said simply, before heading to the door.  “Anyway, I’m gonna get out of your hair for now.  Call me if you need anything.  Enjoy yourself, ok?”
A few minutes later, the soft sound of rain striking the castle began echoing through the room.  Applejack smirked at the sound before turning to Rarity and Twilight.  “Remind y’all of our first slumber party?” she asked with a grin.
Twilight and Rarity both fell to giggling, and the three of them began reminiscing together, while Rainbow and Pinkie made a beeline for the snacks.  Fluttershy idly watched them go, finding herself unconsciously watching Rainbow, admiring her – 
No!
Rainbow suddenly turned around, catching her eye with an odd look.  Fluttershy immediately averted her gaze with a blush, embarrassed to be caught staring, before heading over to talk to Rarity once more.
Pretty soon, as the rain began to pick up strength and lash the castle, the party was in full swing.  Everypony was having a great time talking, laughing, and playing games, even Fluttershy.  From what Fluttershy could tell, though, Rainbow didn’t seem to be having as much fun as she usually did.  She would be standing with an unusually pensive look on her face, only to quickly turn away any time Fluttershy noticed.  Or she would catch Rainbow and Rarity talking, Rarity with that bright look in her eyes, and Rainbow looking uncertain.
The strangest thing was more than once, Rainbow seemed on the verge of saying something to her, but what would come out of her mouth was something either completely mundane or off the wall, and Fluttershy would notice a brief flash of frustration on her face.  It happened only a few times, but it was enough that Fluttershy noticed.  Once she contemplated asking Rainbow what was going on, but her fears got the better of her, and the moment passed by as Pinkie started up another game.
Eventually, the evening wore on into night and the thunder began to rumble in, setting Fluttershy’s nerves on edge.  Every now and then, a particularly close lightning strike would light up the room, followed by a rumble of thunder that would shake the castle to the core.  Each time this happened, Fluttershy would let out a squeak and dive under the nearest pony, which more often than not happened to be Rainbow Dash.
After the fifth such instance, Twilight suggested that they all pull out their sleeping bags and get settled in for the night.  “We can still talk and everything,” she said, “but that way we’ll all be a little more comfortable.”  She gave Fluttershy a wink as she rolled out the sleeping bags, settling into her own.  The rest of them followed suit quickly, and somehow Fluttershy ended up between Rainbow Dash and Rarity.  She wasn’t complaining, not by any means, but it was a little surprising as Rainbow usually ended up between Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
After they were settled, Twilight glanced around them, smiling.  “So, anypony got any good stories for tonight?”
Rarity gently cleared her throat, and all eyes were immediately on her.  “While I don’t happen to have any good stories, darling, I do have something else to say.”  She smiled, and with a dramatic flair, gestured around the room.  “Now, I do happen to know of a certain somepony that’s been hiding a secret tonight that she’s been just dying to share, but somehow hasn’t quite worked up the courage yet.”  She gave a covert glance in Fluttershy’s direction, and Fluttershy felt her heart leap into her throat.
She can’t know! she thought, panic gripping her chest like a vise as she heard Rainbow gasp beside her.  How can she know?  I’ve never told her!  Nopony should know!
Rarity continued speaking.  “I would just like to say that this certain somepony should feel free to share this secret with the rest of us, as we are all good friends here, and will not judge one bit –”
Her speech was cut off by an exasperated drawl.  “Aw, c’mon, Rares, Ah gotcha,” grumped Applejack, a half smile on her face.  “Ah’ll spill, Ah’ll spill.  Though Ah can’t rightly say how ya know, Ah do got something Ah’ve been hiding tonight.”
Rarity simply stared, completely flabbergasted by Applejack’s announcement.  Opening and closing her mouth a few times, she gaped at her friend, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow and a grin.  Applejack took a deep breath before letting loose her secret: “Ah’m pregnant!”
The shocked silence after Applejack’s announcement was deafening, only broken by the sound of rain on the castle walls.  Finally, as Applejack began to look slightly uncomfortable, Twilight spoke first.  “Applejack, that’s wonderful!” she said with a big smile.  “When did you find out?”
“Just earlier this week,” Applejack replied, relieved.  “Ah haven’t told anypony ‘sides mah family yet, so Ah’m a little confused ‘bout how Rarity knows.”  She gave Rarity a half-smile.  “Though Ah suspect it’s got something to do with a certain pair of little sisters.  Apple Bloom could never rightly keep a secret.”
Rarity, for her part, had an expression that was torn between confused and overjoyed.  “While I am ecstatic to hear about your impending motherhood, that certainly was not what I was referring to.  I honestly had no idea.”
“Really?” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down in her sleeping bag.  “’Cause what could be more awesomely fun and surprising than a new baby?”
“Well…” Rarity began, shooting another glance in Fluttershy’s direction.  Fluttershy shrank down slightly, averting her gaze as she felt Rainbow shift slightly next to her.  A moment later, Rarity spoke up again.  “You know what, it doesn’t matter right now.  Perhaps we can discuss it another time.”
As the conversation quickly changed over to baby-related topics, with Twilight offering all sorts of advice based on books she had read and Pinkie chiming in with things she’d heard from the Cakes, Fluttershy looked over at Rarity.  Her friend had an odd look on her face: a strange combination of wistful, disappointed, and joyful.  “Rarity?” she asked softly, so as not to interrupt the conversation.  “Are you ok?”
“Hmm?” Rarity replied, before jumping slightly and looking back at Fluttershy.  “Oh!  Oh, yes, I’m fine, Fluttershy, darling.”  Her eyes darted away, looking behind Fluttershy for a moment before meeting her gaze once more.  “It’s just… well, there are a few things on my mind at the moment.”  Her gaze narrowed as Fluttershy felt movement on the other side, and she turned to see Rainbow getting up and heading towards the door.  “And one of them appears to be leaving…” she heard Rarity mutter.
The others had stopped their discussion to watch Rainbow’s departure.  Rainbow gave them all a smile and said, “Hey, sorry guys, but I’m feeling a little cramped at the moment.  Gotta take a quick walk.  Congrats, Applejack, by the way.  You’re gonna be an awesome mom.”
As Applejack blushed and thanked her, Fluttershy felt a nudge on her shoulder.  Looking over at Rarity in surprise, she saw the unicorn gesturing after Rainbow’s retreating form.  “Why don’t you go with her, darling?  I think she could use the company.”
Fluttershy’s heart, which had finally managed to settle down to her normal nervous rate, leapt into her throat once more.  “M-Me?” she said apprehensively.  “W-Why me?  Wouldn’t Pinkie Pie be a better pony to go with her?  Or Twilight, or Applejack, or –”
Rarity silenced her with a look of determination.  “Fluttershy, I will brook no more excuses tonight.”  Her gaze softened slightly, and she motioned towards the door.  “Please, Fluttershy.  Rainbow has something I know she’s been dying to say to you tonight.”
Her nerves working on overdrive at these words, Fluttershy could only nod in the face of Rarity’s insistence.  She slowly got to her hooves as the rain outside began to pick up tempo, beating against the palace walls like a frantic drum that matched the tempo of her heart.  The others, their attention drawn by her movements, looked at her quizzically.  “I-I’m going to go walk with R-Rainbow,” she said softly, barely audible over the sound of the rain.  “B-Be right back…”
Without waiting for a response, she carefully made her way out of the room.  She walked along hesitantly, searching for any sign of Rainbow in the darkened, shadowy halls.  “H-hello?” she called quietly, her eyes darting this way and that.  Another flash of lightning followed by a roll of thunder caused her to freeze up with a soft squeak of fright, but in the brief glimpse of light, she was able to catch sight of Rainbow’s still form staring out of a nearby window.  
“Rainbow…” she breathed, uncertain whether or not to approach her friend.  Rarity had said that she wanted to say something to her.  What could it possibly be?
And was it something that she honestly wanted to hear?
She shook her head, doing her best to push away her worries.  She had promised herself that no matter what, she would always be Rainbow’s friend.  Steeling herself, she slowly made her way over to where that friend was standing, ready to face whatever hard news she was about to hear.
However, the first words she heard Rainbow utter were definitely not ones she expected to hear.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Rainbow muttered harshly, absently scuffing her hoof on the floor with each word as Fluttershy approached.
“What was that?” Fluttershy asked uncertainly, coming up behind Rainbow.  
Rainbow started violently, spinning around only to find herself nose-to-nose with Fluttershy.  “F-Fluttershy!” she sputtered, jumping back in surprise.  “What are you doing here?”
Fluttershy shrunk back from the harsh tone in her voice, ears folding back uncertainly.  “Umm… you left… and Rarity said you needed some company…”  She fidgeted slightly before continuing, her voice trailing off nearly inaudibly.  “She also said you had… something to tell me… if you don’t mind, that is…”
“She did, did she?” Rainbow growled slightly, looking a bit put out.  When Fluttershy let out a soft squeak and huddled down even further, Rainbow immediately became apologetic.  “Oh, sorry, Flutters,” she tried to reassure her friend.  “Not mad at you, promise.  She’s just been getting on my nerves a little lately, that’s all.”
Fluttershy perked up slightly at that.  “Oh, ok,” she replied, as another rumble of thunder rattled the windowpanes, and she shuddered.  The two of them stood there for a long moment, the rain pounding the castle the only accompaniment to their fidgeting.  
Finally, Fluttershy broke the silence between them, her insides churning.  “Um… did you want to tell me something?”
Rainbow shuffled her hooves once more, staring into Fluttershy’s eyes, her expression torn between fear and longing.  The seconds started to drag by as the two of them stood there, and Fluttershy was just about to apologize profusely and leave when Rainbow shook her head slightly.  Her eyes hardened, and she nodded to herself.  
Rainbow took a deep breath, and opened her mouth.
> And We Run Through the Rain - Spring (Part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The rain pounded the ground in torrents, obscuring her vision as she ran.  It was as if the pegasi had a feud with the ground and were using tonight’s storm as a way of venting their anger.  All she could hear aside from the pounding heartbeat in her ears was the harsh sound of water striking the ground and the occasional rumble of thunder.  She felt the mud under her hooves as she ran, the earth doing its best to suck her in with each step, while the sky attempted to beat her into submission with powerful raindrops.  Her body was screaming at her to stop running and rest, to find somewhere warm and dry to relax, but she ignored her body’s demands, her mind focused on something entirely different.
Why did she do this to me? Fluttershy thought as she raced on, her emotions beating her in time with the rain.  Why did it have to happen tonight?
“Yeah… I-I’ve got something to tell you.”
A flash of lightning illuminated her surroundings, and as the rumble of thunder washed over her, she began to panic once more as she realized just where she had run to.  I-I’m in the Everfree Forest… she thought, recognizing the plant life of the dangerous forest bordering Ponyville.  Oh, Celestia, I’m in the Everfree Forest.  Alone.  She stumbled in her run, tripping over a tree root that sent her tumbling through the underbrush, branches catching harshly at her waterlogged mane and tail and scratching up her side.  
She finally stopped her tumble when she fetched up hard against a tree trunk, stars briefly erupting in front of her eyes as she struck her head.  She lay there for a short while, the stitch in her side forcing her to pause for a time even while the rain continued its relentless assault.  Her eyes searched through her surroundings, hoping for a hint of anything familiar, but despite all of her efforts she was unable to recognize anything.
“Something I’ve been hiding for a while now.”
She let out a soft moan of frustration before burying her face in her hooves, ignoring the mud she was smearing all over her fur.  Why did I run? she berated herself, her thoughts jumbled.  Why did she have to go and say that?  Why couldn’t it have been something easier to deal with, like she was moving away?
The events of the night played through her mind, repeating over and over again with crystal clarity.  The slumber party.  Rarity’s announcement.  Rainbow’s departure, and Rarity sending her following.  Finally, in that dark hallway, the only light coming from the occasional flashes of lightning, Rainbow’s heartfelt confession.
“I… I love you, Fluttershy.”
The words echoed through her mind, each repetition sending her reeling.  Those words had sent her into a rapid spiral of fear and longing, the two emotions warring within her until her deep-seated fears won.  With those words, she had felt like her entire world had shifted from comfort and happiness to fear and uncertainty.  She had barely managed to say… something… before her mind had kicked into overdrive, sending her fleeing from Rainbow and out into the pouring rain.  
A sudden sound on the periphery of her hearing caught her attention, snapping her back to the reality of her location.  She couldn’t make out just what the sound was over the pounding rain, but this deep in the Everfree, it could be anything.  A quick glance around her gave her an inkling of the direction she had come from, and she carefully made her way away from the tree and back through the underbrush, her eyes darting this way and that in an effort to spot potential dangers.  
Maybe if she hurried she could make it back to her cottage before Rainbow or any of the others found her, and she could barricade herself inside, never to come out again.



For the longest time, Rainbow simply stared at the place where Fluttershy had stood.
What… just happened?
After her confession, the shy mare had stared at her for a long moment, not saying anything.  From what Rainbow could tell, there had been something going on in the back of her mind, though it seemed that her fears had won the fight.  As Rainbow stood there, feeling both hopeful and foolish, Fluttershy’s eyes had widened to the size of saucers.  After stammering out something vaguely resembling an apology, she had bolted from the castle as fast as her legs could carry her.
I thought… I hoped…  Oh, buck, I’ve messed up. Rarity, why’d you have to push me to say it tonight?  I coulda done this when I was ready.  Stupid bucking feelings and all the frustrations that go with them!
A crash of thunder shook her from her paralysis, and she realized what had happened: Fluttershy had run outside alone into the biggest storm of the season.  Quick, gotta go after her.  If I go now, I might be able to catch her.  But if I can’t see her, I won’t be able to find her.  Gotta go back and get my flight goggles so I can see in the rain.  But if I take too much time, I might lose her…  Her eyes darted this way and that as if searching for a solution to her problem, before she just shook her head.  Ugh!  Ok, let’s do this. Go get the goggles, tell the others, and go find her.
Rainbow quickly flew back into Twilight’s room, determination mixed with panic on her face as she burst open the door.  “Fluttershy’s gone and I’m going after her!” she cried, darting across the room to grab her saddlebags.  However, she only made it halfway back across the room before she found herself halted in her tracks, enveloped in a purple aura.  Shifting her eyes to look at the alicorn responsible, she growled, “Lemme go, Twilight!  I gotta go find Fluttershy!”
“What’s wrong with Fluttershy?” Twilight demanded, having extricated herself from her sleeping bag and trotted over to where she held Rainbow.  The others were following suit, having recovered from the shock of Rainbow’s sudden entrance.  
A blush infused Rainbow’s cheeks, but she dodged the question.  “She just ran outside!  C’mon, lemme go, I gotta go find her!  It’s a huge storm tonight, and she’s gonna get hurt!”
“What?” cried Applejack.  “What in tarnation is that girl thinking, running out there like that?”  She motioned to the others.  “C’mon, let’s get going.  Rainbow, where’d you say she ran off to?”
“I… I’m not really sure.  She’s probably trying to get back to her cottage, though.”  Rainbow’s voice dropped slightly, and a measure of guilt crept into her tone.  “It’s where she usually goes when she’s upset…”
“Upset?” asked Rarity, a look of horror on her face.  “Why, Rainbow, darling, would she be upset enough to run out in this storm?  She hates thunderstorms!”
Rainbow felt Twilight’s aura vanish from around her, and she turned to give Rarity a venomous glare.  Rarity stepped back slightly as Rainbow spoke in a harsh tone.  “Rarity, if she turns out to be ok and this all works out, I just might kiss you.  But if she gets hurt because of this, you and I are gonna have a talk.  Got it?”
Without waiting for a response of any kind, she turned away and dashed out of Twilight’s room, saddlebags slung over her back and wings already spread.  For a brief heartbeat everypony stared at Rarity at a loss for words, before realizing what had happened and dashing out after Rainbow and out into the pouring rain.



Fluttershy carefully pushed her waterlogged mane out of her eyes, searching for any sign of a familiar path or location.  Wind was tearing through the forest, pulling her this way and that with a ferocity that frightened her.  Broken twigs and leaves knocked down by the rain and wind continued to collect in her mane as she moved, while her tail was becoming caked with mud and leaves and all the detritus of the forest floor. 
Another unexpected sound caught her attention.  The storm muffled any sort of identifying aspects of the sound, but to her the low rumble sounded harsh and animalistic, raising her hackles high.  The thought of flying away crossed her mind, but a moment later another lightning strike quickly shattered any desire to take to the air.
Spinning around, she desperately searched for any sign of the source of the sound.  Unconsciously, she began to back up as her head lowered towards the ground.  A moment later, she felt a sharp pain in her flank, like claws digging into her flesh, and she screamed before bolting off into the forest.  She raced between the trees and through the bushes, desperate to get away from whatever had attacked her.
This night was quickly shaping up to be one of the worst nights of her life.
Dark shapes loomed ahead of her in the darkness, frightening outlines on the periphery of her vision.  Her already anxious mind immediately took those shapes and twisted them, changing them into some of the most terrifying things she had ever seen.  After what felt like an eternity, she finally forced herself to stop running, coming to a halt in the middle of a small clearing.
What do I do? she asked herself, chest heaving and eyes twitching back and forth.  It’s dark and raining and I’m lost and I think something’s following me.  What do I do?
A sudden rustling in the brush caught her attention, drawing her out of her thoughts.  She stared, wide-eyed, at the place where the noise had come from, hoping against all hope that it was something friendly or at the very least something she could reason with.  “Umm… H-hello?” she called, so softly that she could barely hear herself over the sound of the wind and rain.  
When nothing was forthcoming, she started to relax, just a tiny bit.  Another rustling jolted her back out of her sense of security, sending her whirling around to face the opposite side of the clearing.  She waited for some sort of sign; anything to show her what was making these noises.  “I-Is somepony there?” she said, but once more no answer came.
Instead she heard what could only be identified as a loud growl coming from somewhere off to her left.  She let out a scream, immediately turning once more to face the source of the sound, only to hear more rustling coming from behind her, followed by another growl off to her right.
Her entire body was frozen in terror at this point.   She carefully huddled down in an effort to make herself seem as small as possible, even as the rustling and the growls began to grow in volume and frequency.  Her mind raced with all of the possibilities: she was surrounded by a pack of Timberwolves.  There was a hydra toying with her, using its many heads to surround the clearing.  Discord’s plunder vines had come back and were after her.
What have I done? she thought.  I’ve put myself in such danger.  All because I was afraid of truly admitting my own feelings to myself.  The growls rose to a cacophonous level as her thoughts turned towards her friends.  I’m sorry, everypony.  Rarity, I’m sorry I messed everything up tonight.  I now know that you were just trying to help Rainbow talk to me.  Applejack, I’m sorry I’ll miss out on seeing your new foal.  Pinkie Pie, I’m sorry for doing something that’s going to make you sad.  Twilight, I’m sorry I messed up your slumber party.  Rainbow Dash, I…
Rainbow Dash, I…
By now, everything around her was moving.  The wind was tearing violently through the clearing, ripping at her mane and tail, sending leaves and twigs spiraling around her uncontrollably.  The growls had merged together into one long, loud roar, the only thing she could hear aside from the pounding of her heart.  She could feel the harsh sting of rain and debris against her skin as nature railed against her.
Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry for everything.   I’m sorry for letting my fears get the best of me.  I’m sorry for running away from you.
She closed her eyes as tightly as she could, folding her forelegs over her face and ears, readying herself for the end.
I love you, Rainbow Dash.  I’m sorry I never told you.
Suddenly, the noise and wind that had been assaulting at her stopped, and the clearing went silent aside from the sound of the rain.  Slowly, she uncovered her face, only to find herself completely alone.  She scanned the edges, searching for any sign of movement, but saw nothing beyond the occasional soft gust of wind rustling the trees and the gentle sprinkle of the rain.  
A moment later the underbrush rustled, and she spun around just in time to see a figure emerge into the clearing.



“She’s not here!” Rainbow cried as she rushed out of Fluttershy’s cottage, the others finally catching up with her.
“What?” cried Twilight, pausing to catch her breath as she shook the rain out of her eyes.  “Where else would she be?”
“I dunno,” Rainbow replied, wings flaring as she prepared to take off once more.  “But I’m gonna find out!  I gotta find her!”
“Hold on, Rainbow!” Twilight called, holding her fast in her magic, much to Rainbow’s displeasure.  “We need to get organized and do this methodically.  If we split up into a standard grid pattern, we should be able to cover the town efficiently enough to eliminate all possibilities.  Now, Pinkie and I will cover the south end, while Rarity and Applejack will –”
Twilight’s planning was quickly interrupted by Rainbow’s impatience.  “Buck that, Twilight.  We’re not gonna get anywhere looking in town for her!  She’s not gonna go anywhere but here, and if she’s not here, that means that something happened to her!”
“I hate to admit it, but Rainbow Dash is right,” Rarity replied.  “I know Fluttershy well enough that she would never seek refuge from anypony in town aside from one of us.  Since we were all together at the castle, she would have little choice but to come back to her cottage.  The fact that she is not here certainly leads me to believe that she has gotten lost somewhere.”
“She’s right!” Pinkie piped up, bouncing in place, her curls staying in place despite the pouring rain.  “Fluttershy’s not in town.  I already checked!”
“Wait, what?” replied Twilight, giving Pinkie an odd look.  “How…?”  She shook her head.  “Never mind.  In that case, where would she be?  If she’s not in town, where would she go?”
The five friends looked at each other for a moment, before the answer dawned on them as one.  “Oh, Celestia, she’s gotta be in the Everfree!” Applejack said.  “She must’a gotten lost ‘cause of the rain!”
“How are we going to find her?” Rarity asked, shuddering.  “The Everfree is a dangerous and dark place during the day.  However would we be able to find anypony at night?  And in such dreadful weather?”
“We gotta split up,” Applejack said.  “Ah’ll head over Zecora’s way, and see if she went thataway.”
Rarity glared at her.  “Applejack, you will do no such thing,” she said definitively.  “You will stay here and wait for Fluttershy in case she makes it back home.  I will not have you endangering yourself in your condition.”
“Now hold on a darn minute,” Applejack glared back.  “Ah’m just as fit to run as the rest of y’all.  Don’t go making me out ta be some kinda weakling just ‘cause Ah’m pregnant now.”
“I am merely looking out for your well-being, dear Applejack,” Rarity replied, stepping forward.
“And Ah don’t need that kinda help,” Applejack growled, stepping forward as well.
“You know what?” Rainbow interjected.  “I don’t really care.  I’m gonna go find Fluttershy.  You two figure out what you’re gonna do and I’ll let you know when I find her.”  She spread her wings and took off into the pounding rain before anypony could react, her flight goggles keeping the heavy rain out of her eyes.
She felt a slight pang of guilt at leaving her friends behind, but quickly pushed it away in favor of guilt at driving Fluttershy out into the storm.  If only I’d just said something a long time ago, she thought.  At least mentioned something.  Ask her if she had any stallions in mind?  Or mares?  She snorted, water spraying from her nostrils.  Yeah, right.  Like I’d ever say anything like that.  She’d probably drop dead from shock.
She quickly reached the edge of the Everfree, hovering indecisively for a brief moment.  She scanned the forest’s edge, searching for any sign that a pony had entered recently.  Unfortunately, the forest seemed just as impenetrable as always, thwarting her search.
A sudden lightning strike illuminated Twilight’s castle for an instant, giving her an idea.  She turned to face the castle and flew upwards into the air, heedless of the charged atmosphere.  From here, she had a bird’s eye view of the roads between the castle and Fluttershy’s cottage.  Following the pathway with her eyes, she spotted a few places where in the dark and rain, it would be easy enough to lose your way and go off the path.  Quickly tracing each path, she found one that was both an easy mistake and would lead directly into the Everfree if the pony following it wasn’t paying close enough attention.
“There,” she muttered to herself.  “Hang on, Fluttershy, I’m coming.”
She flew down towards the forest, initially planning on flying over the treetops and searching that way, but the thick canopy quickly proved too difficult to see through.  Diving down into the forest itself, she carefully zig-zagged her way through the trees, calling out for Fluttershy as she went.
Gotta find her and apologize, she thought.  I owe her big time for doing this to her.
Somehow, through the sound of the storm, she heard a familiar noise: a scream echoing through the trees.  A scream that sounded like…
Fluttershy!
She flew as fast as she could while trying to follow the sound through the trees.  The wind and rain lashed at her, testing her strength and agility to the limits while trying to drive her into a tree or to the ground.  It felt like the harder she pushed against the forces arrayed against her, the stronger they became, until it seemed to her that she was hovering in place.
What the buck is up with this place? she thought, straining her wings to the limit.  Stupid Everfree weather!  Nothing’s keeping me from Fluttershy anymore!  Not tonight!
Suddenly, just as quickly as the weather assault began, it vanished, sending her tumbling through the air.  She managed to right herself, landing on the ground in order to catch her breath for a moment before rushing forward through the underbrush and into a small clearing, where she found herself facing a bewildered Fluttershy.  Stopping dead, she stared back at her friend as both of them waited for the other to make the first move.



Fluttershy stared, open-mouthed, as she found herself facing the soaked and bedraggled form of Rainbow Dash.  Having just emerged from the underbrush, Rainbow was also caught by surprise, quickly wiping her flight goggles in an attempt to verify just what she was seeing.  Slowly, as if in a trance, Fluttershy made her way across the clearing towards her friend, who was watching her uncertainly.  Fluttershy couldn’t see Rainbow’s eyes through the goggles, but the set of her jaw and the sudden motion of her throat as she swallowed nervously told her all she needed to know about Rainbow’s feelings for this moment.  It was something that the two of them shared, the feeling of both relief and apprehension.
“Rainbow…” she breathed as she approached, her steps faltering briefly before picking up once more.
“Fluttershy…” Rainbow replied, moving forward for the first time since they had found each other.  “I… was afraid you’d been hurt or something.”  She paused for a brief moment.  “You… are ok, right?”
Fluttershy nodded in return, continuing her approach.  The clearing may have only been a few yards wide, but at the moment it felt like miles as each step took all of the energy she could muster.  She could feel her body shaking from within, though whether that was due to the cold of the water soaking her or the apprehension causing her heart to flutter madly, she wasn’t certain.  “I-I’m fine, Rainbow,” she said softly, her voice trembling.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the two of them were face to face, Rainbow’s rain-fogged goggles obscuring her eyes.  Fluttershy looked up at her impassive face, desperate to say something about her earlier behavior, but unable to form the words.  She swallowed with some difficulty, her throat inexplicably dry considering all of the moisture in the air.  “R-Rainbow…” she began, but was forestalled by an upraised hoof.
“I’m sorry, Fluttershy,” Rainbow said, her voice unusually somber.  “Sorry for what I did tonight.  I didn’t wanna hurt you, or make you uncomfortable or anything like that.  Just forget I said anything, ok?  I’ll take you home and you can get warm and dry.”
Caught off-guard, Fluttershy could only stare in confusion as Rainbow abruptly turned around, flaring her wings out in preparation for a takeoff.  This couldn’t happen.  She couldn’t let this happen.  There was so much more that needed to be said, and she had to be the one to say it.  “R-Rainbow,” she stammered, drawing her friend’s attention once more.  “Rainbow, I… I…”
She couldn’t do it.  She didn’t know how.  Asking for something this big from another pony was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life, and she had no idea what to say.  
Rainbow, seeing the hesitation on her face, turned back around to face her, her head tilted slightly as she waited for Fluttershy to finish.  Fluttershy, however, just stood there, mouth hanging open slightly as she searched for something to say.  Finally, Rainbow began to grow impatient, and started turning back away, preparing to fly once more.
No!  
Fluttershy hadn’t realized that she’d spoken out loud until Rainbow spun back around, irritation plain on her face.  Finding herself just inches away from Rainbow, Fluttershy did the only thing she could think of at that moment to get her intentions across.
She kissed her.
It was by no means a perfect kiss.  In her haste she’d ended up kissing the side of Rainbow’s muzzle, and though she quickly corrected herself, she was certainly not an expert kisser.  Her entire body was trembling violently due to both her anxieties and her slowly dwindling terror, making her teeth chatter against Rainbow’s.  The two of them were tired, wet, and cold, and Fluttershy was still a muddy mess.  
At that moment, however, it was possibly the most magical thing Fluttershy had ever experienced.
As they finally broke apart, Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow, waiting for some sort of response.  When none came immediately, Fluttershy began to shiver once more, her head lowering to face the ground, water trickling down her cheeks to mingle with the tears that were forming.  She had just opened her mouth to apologize to Rainbow when she found herself swept up in a bone-crushing hug.
The words began spilling out as she melted into Rainbow’s embrace.  “Oh, Rainbow, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you or hurt you or anything, I don’t know why I did it, I just –”  Her words were cut off by Rainbow’s lips pressed against hers, and her mind went blissfully blank.
When they finally broke apart, Rainbow reached up to remove her goggles, revealing magenta eyes filled with hope.  “Fluttershy, before you say anything else, just give me an answer: do you love me?”
“Rainbow…” she replied softly, a smile on her face and wings on her heart.  “I love you.  I have for a long time now.”
The hope changed quickly to joy, followed by confusion.  “Then why…?”  
“I… I don’t know,” Fluttershy replied, shaking her head.  “I… I never wanted to admit it to myself for the longest time, and when you said you loved me, I… got scared…”
Rainbow was silent for a moment.  A touch of hurt crept into her eyes as she spoke.  “…Am I that scary to you?”
“No!” Fluttershy cried.  “You don’t scare me at all.  I… sometimes I’m scared of myself.  Scared of what other ponies think of me.  Scared of so many things…  I’m sorry, Rainbow.”  She sniffled slightly, her head drooping once more.  “I-If you don’t want to be with me because of that, I’ll understand…”
There was a moment of silence before she heard some shuffling coming from Rainbow’s direction, followed by the feeling of something sliding into her tangled mess of a mane.  She started, and looked up to see a soft smile on Rainbow’s face as her hoof slowly withdrew.  Fluttershy carefully reached up to the new object, carefully extracting it and bringing it up so she could see it.
Her eyes widened as she found herself holding a jeweled hair clip in the shape of a butterfly.  Amazingly crafted, the butterfly itself was made of pale rose-colored gemstones, with glittering white diamonds for accents.  The stones themselves we set in a finely spun web of pale gold, almost exactly the shade of Fluttershy’s coat.  “Oh, Rainbow, it’s beautiful,” she breathed.
Rainbow blushed slightly at the praise.  “Yeah, I thought so too,” she replied.  “Took a bit of my savings and I had to borrow from Rarity to get it in time.  I… I hoped you’d like it…”
“I love it,” Fluttershy replied, hugging her close.  “Thank you, Rainbow. I love you.”  She marveled at how easy the phrase rolled off her tongue, and she said it once again, as if to test the feelings the words brought out of her.  “I love you.”
“I… I love you too,” Rainbow replied, before she suddenly stiffened in Fluttershy’s grip.  “Flutters?  What happened to your flank?”
Confused, Fluttershy released Rainbow, turning to look back at her flank.  “What do you mean?  Nothing happened…”  Her voice trailed off as she noticed three deep cuts resembling claw marks on her left flank, right where she’d felt the sharp pain earlier that night.  Pain that was even now registering in her mind once again as she noticed the blood slowly dribbling down her leg.  “Ah… ow…”
After all she’d been through that night the sight of those wounds was the final straw.  Her eyes rolled up in her head, and the last thing she heard was Rainbow’s panicked voice calling to her as she fell into darkness.



Slowly, Fluttershy awoke to a feeling of comfort and security, very different from the cold and fear she’d felt earlier.  Eventually, she opened her eyes, only to find that instead of the Everfree Forest or even Twilight’s castle, she was back inside her own cottage, lying on her couch and covered with a warm quilt.  Confused, she looked around the room, wondering if the events of that night had been but a dream, when her gaze landed on the snoozing forms of Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie lying on a blanket on the floor in front of her hearth.  A fire was merrily burning in an effort to ward off the chill spring air following the storm, casting a flickering light across the sleeping pair.
She gently shifted herself in an effort to get a little more comfortable, and the movement revealed two things: One, her flank still hurt from the cuts she had received, and two, there was a warm weight resting up against her that she hadn’t expected.  Her head shot up to find that she had been laying her head on a curled up Rainbow Dash, using her flank as a pillow.  Blushing mightily, she scrambled up to a sitting position, her sudden movement waking her unexpected bedmate.
“Huh…?” Rainbow said, opening her bleary eyes and looking up at Fluttershy.  “Whazzat…?  Oh, hey, Flutters,” she said with a jaw-cracking yawn.  “How’re you doing?  Feeling better?”
“Rainbow?” she said, still blushing.  “What…?  How…?  What are you doing here?”
Rainbow chuckled.  “You passed out in the forest,” she said.  “I had to carry you back home and find the others before they all got lost.  Twilight and Applejack managed to get you all patched up, but you were still out, so we all just kinda stayed.  Rarity and AJ are upstairs.”  She shrugged apologetically.  “Sorry, Rarity insisted AJ get the bed.  Something about ‘her condition,’ I guess.”
Fluttershy slid the blanket aside, inspecting her bandaged wounds.  Seeing them in the soft light of the fire as opposed to the darkness of the rainy forest, they appeared smaller than she’d originally thought.  Though whether that was due to the somewhat overzealous bandaging she’d received or to the actual nature of the wounds, she wasn’t quite sure.  Whatever the case, she was back safe and warm in her home with her friends.
And with Rainbow Dash.
She stared at her oldest friend for a long while as she tried to figure out what to say, until Rainbow began fidgeting under her scrutiny.  “Hey, Flutters, I know I’m awesome and all, but you’re starting to embarrass me a little…”
She blushed furiously and immediately averted her eyes.  “S-Sorry, Rainbow…” she said softly.
“Hey, it’s alright,” Rainbow replied.  The silence lengthened between them, the crackling of the fire and the occasional snore from Pinkie Pie the only sounds in the room.  Finally, Rainbow looked up at her, a touch of uncertainty in her normally fearless eyes.  “So…” she began slowly.  “Uh… What happens next?”
Fluttershy bit her lip.  “I… don’t know, really.  I’ve never had a marefriend before…”
Rainbow shrugged.  “Me neither,” she replied.  “I guess we’re gonna find out together.”
“I guess…” Fluttershy replied before falling silent once more.  Suddenly, she blurted out, “I love you, Rainbow Dash.”
Taken by surprise, Rainbow stared at Fluttershy for a moment before smiling widely.  “I love you too, Fluttershy,” she replied softly, pulling Fluttershy into a hug and giving her a kiss.
A squeal of joy caused them both to jump, and they looked over to the bottom of the stairs, only to find a giddy Rarity watching them.  “I knew it!” she cried happily, watching the two pegasi cuddling together on the couch.  “Oh, Rainbow Dash, I told you that Fluttershy would be perfect for you.  Oh, this is going to be so wonderful!”  She gasped, and her face lit up.  “Idea~!” she sang.  “I can design matching outfits for the two of you, there are so many complimentary designs I can think of.  And the wedding!  Just think of what I could do for you for your wedding!  Why, it would be spectacular…”
As Rarity prattled on and on about an uncertain future and the others on the floor began to stir, Fluttershy did her best to shut out her babbling while trying to enjoy Rainbow’s warm embrace.  Somehow, things had worked out for them this night.  She was in love with Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash was in love with her.
This night was quickly shaping up to be one of the best nights of her life.
> Dog Days - Summer (Part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash soared through the bright blue skies on her way to Ponyville, enjoying the freedom of an unscheduled flight.  It felt like it had been forever since she’d had a chance to just fly lately.  All of her time had been devoted either to Wonderbolts practice sessions or shows, and after getting back to the dorms, all she’d been able to do was collapse into bed, only to get up the next morning and do it all again.  It didn’t help that Spitfire was grooming her to become the next Wonderbolts captain, so any free time she had was spent with her in planning sessions or learning the ropes of running the group.
She mentally allowed herself a moment of ego as she sent herself into a spinning loop.  That’s what happens when you’re as awesome as I am, she thought with a smirk.  She easily banked around a large, fluffy cloud, smiling as she caught sight of Twilight’s castle shimmering in the summer sunlight.  Almost home, she thought wistfully.  Being married to her best friend and greatest love was one of the most wonderful things she had ever experienced, but lately the Wonderbolt’s heavy summer touring schedule had left her with little time to actually spend at home.  She’d had to beg for the three weeks to herself, promising to take Spitfire’s shift with the latest recruits in the Wonderbolts Academy when she got back.
She’d hoped to surprise Fluttershy when she arrived, so she’d done whatever she could to keep her break a secret, choosing to fly back as quietly as possible instead of taking the train.  Now, with her mane fluttering in the wind and her wings spread wide, she soared across the land, just relaxing and letting all of her cares and worries slip away.
Coming up to the outskirts of Ponyville, she smiled as other familiar sights began to greet her: the great spire of town hall reaching up towards the sky, the pristine white walls of Rarity’s boutique, and the colorful confectionary shape of Sugarcube Corners.  As her eyes caught sight of the bakery, a thought sprung up in her mind, and she angled her way down towards the ground.  I’ll just pop in and grab a little treat for Flutters.  I’m sure she won’t mind.
One quick loop and an easy landing later, she found herself on the ground outside the bakery.  Glancing around with a big grin on her face in anticipation of some sort of greeting, her grin faltered when she realized that nothing had happened.  Confused, she looked around once more, her eyes searching for the reason for the silence.
It wasn’t that the town was empty.  No, it was still its normal, bustling self, especially around the bakery, as it was approaching midday.  The difference was that anypony that had noticed that she had arrived was either blatantly ignoring her or giving her a look of outright disdain.
Confused, she slowly made her way into Sugarcube Corners, where she was greeted by the normal pleasant bustle of a busy bakery, a bustle that quickly turned sour as the ponies inside caught sight of her.  She gave them a sheepish grin in the face of the glares just as a bright, peppy voice called out, “Be right there!”
A moment later, a flour-dusted Pinkie Pie emerged from the kitchen, her eyes landing on Rainbow as she stood in the entryway.  Her expression went from welcoming and happy to guarded and sad, a trace of hurt in her normally-bright eyes.  “Dashie,” she said simply.
“Hey, Pinkie,” Rainbow replied as she approached the counter, trying to ignore the hostile atmosphere.  “How’s things?”
Pinkie stared at her for a long moment before replying.  “Things… are good, I guess.”
“Great!” Rainbow replied, now feeling a little uncertain about her return.  “Say, Pinks, can I get something to go?  I wanna bring Fluttershy a treat when I head home.”
Pinkie hesitated, the happy-go-lucky party pony unusually serious for a moment.  “Dashie, I don’t think that’s a good idea, ‘k?”
Frustrated, Rainbow’s anger flared.  “And why’s that, huh?” she snapped.  “Why can’t I bring my wife a treat after I finally get some time off?  And why’s everypony treating me like I got the pony pox?”
“Tell you what,” Pinkie replied.  “Go have a seat and I’ll come talk to you in a little bit.  Ok?”
“But –”
“Please, Dashie,” Pinkie said with finality.  “I don’t want any trouble right now.  I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Rainbow glared for another moment, but finally nodded.  Turning away, she stormed off to have a seat in a corner booth, silently seething.  She continued to glare in frustration, even as other ponies glared back or ignored her entirely.  She tried to listen in to some nearby conversations to figure out what was going on, but every time a pony noticed she was paying attention to them, they would give her a look and quickly clam up.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Pinkie finally emerged from behind the counter, leaving a teenaged Pumpkin Cake in her place.  Flour and other bits of baking detritus still dusted her vibrant pink coat, and her mane and tail were as curly as ever as she made her way through the bakery, greeting everypony she came across with the same bright smile and happy tone.  However, when she reached the table where Rainbow Dash sat tapping her hoof impatiently, she seemed to deflate slightly, her mane losing some of its poofiness and her eyes losing some of their shine.
Sitting across from Rainbow, Pinkie gave her a weak smile which Rainbow brushed off impatiently.  “So what’s the deal, Pinks?” she asked brusquely.
Pinkie countered with another question.  “Why’d you do it, Dashie?” she asked, hurt and betrayal in her eyes.
Rainbow Dash stared back, confused.  “Why’d I do what?”
“Why’d you cheat on Fluttershy?”
Rainbow gaped at her friend, at a complete loss for words.  Her mouth worked silently as she tried to find a way to respond to such a ridiculous statement.  Finally, she did the only thing that she felt like she could do.  She broke out into peals of laughter.
As she laughed, pounding the table as tears ran down her face, she noticed Pinkie’s face.  It was red with embarrassment and anger, and her eyes were hard, nearly as hard as she’d seen them the last time somepony had broken a Pinkie Promise.  She did her best to stop laughing, but it was difficult, and she kept fighting down another bubble of mirth as she looked over at Pinkie.  “What’s so funny, Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie asked, her voice completely different from before.  It was a scary voice, the kind of voice that sent shivers up Rainbow’s spine.
“You – you can’t seriously think I’d cheat on Fluttershy, can you?” she asked, trying to school her face back to a semblance of normality.  “Element of Loyalty, remember?”
“That’s what I thought too,” Pinkie replied in the same voice.  “‘Dashie wouldn’t do anything like that,’ I told them when we saw the papers.  ‘She’s better than that, you know.’”
Rainbow’s confusion deepened.  “Wait, what papers?  What are you talking about, Pinkie?”
Pinkie reached up into her mane and pulled out a newspaper, passing it across the table without breaking eye contact.  Rainbow glanced down at the headlines, and her eyes went wide.  “W-what the buck is this?” she asked, completely blindsided.  “’Partying With a Liar: Loyalty’s Farce,’” she read, before diving into the article itself.  “’Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, Wonderbolts star flier, blah, blah, seen partying frequently with Wonderbolts team members Soarin and Fleetfoot, blah, blah, said to be carrying on an affair with Captain Spitfire!’”  Rainbow slammed her hoof down on the paper, her eyes blazing as she glared at Pinkie.  “What the buck, Pinkie?  Why would anypony believe this – this – trash?”
“I didn’t want to believe it either, Rainbow,” Pinkie replied harshly, her mane slowly losing its curl.  “Rarity and Applejack were ready to hunt you down, but I convinced them not to until we figured things out.”  She leaned forward across the table, staring into Rainbow’s eyes.  “But then I asked around when I was in Canterlot last week.  It’s amazing what Donut Joe knows about what goes on in that city.  He told me that you’d been ‘secretly’ visiting Spitfire for a while now, but everypony knew about it.  Soarin himself told him that the two of you had hooked up a bunch of times when you were drunk.”  Pinkie slammed her own hooves down on the table, barely-controlled fury on her face.  “So once again, Rainbow Dash,” she hissed.  “Why did you cheat on Fluttershy?”
“I DIDN’T CHEAT ON FLUTTERSHY!” Rainbow screamed, thrusting her face into Pinkie’s.  “I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER!”
“THEN WHAT ABOUT THIS?” Pinkie screamed back, pointing at the paper.
Rainbow flopped back down into the booth, rubbing her forehead.  Pinkie hovered over her, a touch of uncertainty creeping into her furious expression.  It was a moment before Rainbow finally spoke.  “It’s garbage,” she replied in a weary voice.  “Spitfire’s been training me to be the Wonderbolt’s new captain.  That’s why I’ve been spending so much time with her.  I guess Soarin found out, and he’s been with the team for so long, maybe he got jealous or something.  I dunno.”  She shrugged.  “It’s true I’ve been partying a lot.  Maybe a little too much.  Got swept up in the life, I guess.  That bit’s my own fault.  All the rest?”  She shook her head.  “Everything I’ve done out there, I’ve done for her.  I would never cheat on her.”
A long silence greeted this announcement.  Rainbow finally looked up at Pinkie, jumping a little in surprise.  Pinkie was inches away from her, staring into her eyes with an intensity that rivalled Fluttershy’s Stare, and Rainbow had a brief moment of panic as she inexplicably saw her life flash before her eyes.  Then she blinked, and Pinkie was back in her seat, a bright smile on her face and her mane as curly as ever.  “Alright, Dashie,” she said softly.  “I believe you.”
Rainbow blinked once more.  “Y-you do?”
“Yeppers!” Pinkie replied brightly.  “That’s the Dashie we all know and love.  Now,” she said as she quickly pulled a small paper bag out of her mane, passing it over to Rainbow, “run along to Fluttershy and Auntie Pinkie Pie will take care of things around here, ‘k?”
“…Wait, take care of what?”
“The others, silly,” Pinkie replied with a giggle, and Rainbow looked around the bakery as if seeing their audience for the first time.  Every customer in the place had gone completely silent while she and Pinkie had been talking, and were now staring in awe at the two of them.
Rainbow felt her cheeks heating up at the sudden unexpected attention.  Normally, she was more than happy to be the center of attention, and quite often strove for it.  This time, however, was different, and she felt more embarrassed than excited.  At the same time, she felt grateful for Pinkie Pie’s offer, and decided to take her up on it before the mood changed at all.  Quickly grabbing the bag from the table, she dashed out of the bakery.  “Thanksh, ‘inkie!” she called, her voice slightly muffled from the bag in her mouth.
“Anytime, Dashie!” Pinkie called back before turning her attention to her other customers.  “Soooo…” she began with a grin.  “Who wants to get ready for a ‘You’re getting promoted and you’re back together with your special somepony’ party?”



The cottage that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy now shared was a beautiful sanctuary of love and kindness in the summer.  The sunlight shone down on the quiet glade, shimmering off the gently flowing stream just outside the door.  A warm summer breeze wafted through the nearby trees, sending the leaves dancing soothingly.  Bright flowers of all colors surrounded the cottage, each lending their beauty to a place of joy.  There were always animals around the cottage, brightly-colored hummingbirds zipping this way and that, little squirrels and chipmunks that skittered around in search of food or a little kindness, and the occasional seal or bear that stopped by for a visit.  Everypony that approached the cottage immediately felt at ease as the kindness of the one who had lived there for most of her life worked its magic on the surroundings.
To Rainbow Dash, the approach to her home was anything but soothing right now.  To her, it felt like she was stepping into the gates of Tartarus and all she had to defend herself was a single, fresh-baked pastry and a lame apology.  
Her visit to the bakery had cleared up so many things: the townsfolk’s reaction to her arrival, the coldness she had noticed from Soarin lately, and that one reporter’s odd questions at the last team press conference.  It even explained why Fluttershy’s letters of late had been rather brief and impersonal.  
Rainbow had just assumed it was because she’d barely had any time to sleep, let alone respond to a letter.
As she made her way to the front door, a feeling of trepidation began to build within her.  What if Fluttershy didn’t believe her?  What if she really thought she was cheating?  What if she threw her out?  What if – 
Rainbow shook her head wildly, trying to dislodge all of the nerve-shattering thoughts.  Fluttershy wouldn’t do anything like that.  Not the very embodiment of kindness.  Fluttershy wouldn’t throw her out.  Rainbow would just have to sleep on the couch, that’s all.  That was all.  It wasn’t like the normally demure pegasus could be incredibly scary on the rare occasions she was angry, and despite the fact that she generally shied away from any confrontation didn’t mean that she wasn’t a force to be reckoned with.
She slowly reached for the door handle, her uncertainty returning full force and causing her to hesitate.  Come on, Rainbow Dash, she berated herself.  Fluttershy’s the shy one, not you.  A problem like this, you just take life by the horns and go with it!
Still she stood there, hoof on the handle, bag in her mouth, not moving an inch.  Despite the fact that she knew the truth, talking to Fluttershy about it was going to be the hard part.  Rainbow Dash, to put it bluntly, was horrible at relationship stuff, and frequently ended up putting her hoof in her mouth during arguments.
As she stood there, trying to convince herself to open the door and walk into her own home, her problem was solved for her as the door opened on its own.  Caught unawares, all Rainbow could do was stare blankly as Fluttershy herself appeared in the doorway before letting out a squeak of surprise and slamming the door in Rainbow’s face.  Her heart sank like a rock for a brief moment before the door opened again, albeit much more slowly.
Fluttershy stood there, carefully looking out, her full expression hidden by her curtain of a mane.  Rainbow’s heart, momentarily buoyed by the door reopening, resumed its sudden descent as she saw the smile on Fluttershy’s face.  It wasn’t the smile Rainbow was used to seeing whenever she showed up, that smile of happiness and joy that was unmatched by anypony else.  No, this was the smile of greeting a friend that Fluttershy gave to nearly everypony that showed up to her door.
Absently scratching the back of her head, she tried to smile at Fluttershy, a gesture hampered somewhat by the bag still in her mouth.  “Uh… Hey shere, Fluttersh,” she said lamely, her greeting slightly muffled.  “Shuprishe…”
The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Fluttershy stepped back from the door.  “H-hi there, Rainbow,” she stammered softly.  “I-it’s good to s-see you again.”  Inwardly, Rainbow cursed.  There was that greeting.  Like she was a friend who had just stopped by for a chat.  She slowly followed Fluttershy into the cottage, the familiar, comforting scent of their home tickling her nostrils around the slight sweetness of the pastry in the bag.  
Rainbow carefully sat the bag down on the nearby table before turning to study her wife.  Fluttershy was watching her carefully, as if she were a dangerous animal ready to pounce and the yellow pegasus was trying to decide whether to run and hide or stay and try to calm her.  After a long, awkward silence, during which Fluttershy continued to hide behind her mane, Rainbow finally spoke.  “So… how’s it hanging?’ she asked lamely, causing Fluttershy to squeak in surprise.
“Fine…” Fluttershy replied in barely a whisper.  “Um… How are you, Rainbow?”
“Well, you know, just my normal awesome self,” Rainbow replied with a forced smile.
“That’s good,” Fluttershy replied.  “I-I haven’t seen or heard from you in a long time, so I was curious…”  As she trailed off inaudibly, Rainbow winced inwardly.  “Um… would you like some tea?” Fluttershy asked, averting her gaze.  “I was just making myself a pot.  I-If you don’t mind, that is…”
“Sure, that sounds fine…” Rainbow replied, her mind racing as she stared at Fluttershy.  What should she do?  Should she just come out and say it or should she talk about something else and hope it came up so she could just laugh it off and say it was nothing and they could go back to being normal and happy and in love and oh Celestia what should she do?  
She realized that her inner monologue had been going on too long when she saw Fluttershy’s expression change from hesitant to slightly fearful, and she shook her head to clear her mind.  “Sorry, you say something?” she asked, and Fluttershy’s expression softened.  Just a little bit.
“I-I asked if you wanted one lump of sugar or two,” came the quiet reply.
That stung a little.  Fluttershy hadn’t asked that question for a few years now.  “Um, two, please,” Rainbow replied.  Fluttershy disappeared into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups, which she placed on the table.  The two of them made themselves comfortable on the couch, though they carefully avoided touching each other as if an invisible wall had sprung up between them.
In a sense, one had.  Fluttershy sat quietly, staring into her teacup, her shyness and uncertainty keeping her quiet and reserved, while Rainbow’s mind was still racing a mile a minute trying to figure out what to do.  Finally, after nearly half an hour of awkward silence punctuated only by the occasional sips of tea, Rainbow opened her mouth to get it over with.  “Hey, Flutters, about that article…” she began, at the same time Fluttershy opened her mouth to whisper, “It’s ok, Rainbow, you can leave if you want to.”
Rainbow paused mid-sentence.  Caught completely off-guard for the second time that day, she slowly turned her head to gape at Fluttershy, who had immediately buried her face in her teacup while shading her eyes with her mane.  Finally, she managed a response.  “…What did you say?” she said slowly, uncertain that she had heard right.
Fluttershy turned her head slightly, and Rainbow could see the resolve on her face, as hesitant as it was.  “Y-you can leave if you want to, Rainbow,” she said, slightly louder than before.  “Y-You can l-leave me if I-I’m holding y-you back.”  She smiled at Rainbow, a sickly yet brave smile.  “I’ll be ok, h-honest.”  As Rainbow stared, Fluttershy slowly reached up to her mane, hesitating for a long moment before sliding the jeweled butterfly clip out and placing it on the couch between them.  “H-Here, I-I know how much y-you liked t-this,” she said, her voice trembling as much as the teacup in her hooves, “s-so I thought y-you could take it f-for your next s-special s-s-somepony…”
As soon as she finished what she was saying, Fluttershy quickly placed her teacup down on the table and promptly bolted up the stairs and into their room, slamming the door behind her.  Rainbow could hear the soft sounds of sobbing drifting down the stairs as she stared down at the clip lying next to her.  Ever so slowly, as if she were in a trance, she reached down and picked up the clip, turning it this way and that in her hooves as she tried to process what Fluttershy had just said.
A dark, sneaky little voice in the back of her mind encouraged her to take the chance she’d been given.  That voice taunted her with images of flying high and free, all by herself with nopony holding her back.  Tempted her with the thought of cutting loose from the ground and soaring to new heights, showing all of those doubters who the champ was.  Offered her a future without that weak ground-bound pegasus that couldn’t handle her lifestyle, and that was probably jealous of her success and her fame.
No more arguments over how much free flying she was doing during her breaks home.  No more disappointed looks when she took off, leaving Fluttershy behind on the ground to take care of the cottage or yet another animal patient.  No more having to deal with yet another one of Fluttershy’s anxiety attacks whenever something went wrong.  It wouldn’t be a betrayal, no.  It would just be a shifting of loyalties.
Fortunately, Rainbow knew how to deal with that voice.  She balled it up, stomped it down, and kicked it away as she tightened her grip on the clip in her hooves.  There was no way she was going to abandon anypony, let alone the love of her life.
Launching herself from the couch, she quickly flew up the stairs to the door leading to their room, determined to fight for their friendship and their marriage.  
> Dog Days - Summer (Part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy was crying on the bed, huddled under the thin blankets so that only a short tip of her long pink tail peeked out.  She’d done it.  She’d done what she’d felt she should have done a long time ago, when Rainbow’s visits home started to seem more like chores for the brash pegasus than anything she actually wanted to do.  It seemed like the right thing to do, the kind thing to do.
So why did it feel so wrong?
Being kind to others was one of the things that she enjoyed, that made her life feel worthwhile.  Her kindness towards her animals had led her to her cutie mark and her wonderful life in Ponyville, and her kindness towards other ponies had led her to the five best friends she had ever had in her life.  For the past ten years, her kindness had led her to her greatest joy, her wife and love, the pony that even now she was treating with as much kindness as she could.
Sometimes being kind hurts.  It hurts beyond all measure.
She lay there, sobbing into Rainbow’s pillow, the pillow that still smelled like her even after so many months of sleeping alone.  It was the smell of warm sunshine on fur, the sharp tang of ozone from all her time spent in the clouds, even the soft scent of a cool breeze.  It was Fluttershy’s favorite scent, though if ever asked, she was much too shy to say it out loud.  Right now, that scent was tainted with the salty smell of her tears as she hugged the pillow to her, doing her best not to pretend that it was Rainbow herself.
The faster she could forget and move on, the kinder it would be.  Though to whom, she wasn’t certain.
A knock at the door caused her to jump in alarm, and she burrowed even further into the blankets than before.  She hid, heart pounding, hoping that whoever had decided to show up now, of all times, would just go away and leave her be in her blanket sanctuary.  Rarity wasn’t due to stop by with her weekly groceries for another hour, so it couldn’t be her.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.  The knock came again, demanding for her attention, followed by a voice.  Her voice.
“Fluttershy?” Rainbow called, her voice muffled by the door, but still very much her endearing rasp.  “Fluttershy, we need to talk.”
Talk.  That word was anathema to Fluttershy.  So many times she wished she was as confident and outspoken as Rainbow Dash, as eloquent as Rarity, or as openly honest as Applejack.  She would even take as energetic and oblivious as Pinkie Pie or as technical as Twilight.  To be anything other than her shy, anxious self, hard pressed to speak even in the simplest of social situations, let alone a private, emotional situation like the one she was in.
She heard a hollow thump come from the door, and Rainbow spoke again.  “C’mon, Fluttershy,” she said.  “I gotta talk to you about that article.  It’s not what you think it is, really.”
Fluttershy felt the first stirrings of confusion.  What was she talking about?  This had nothing to do with any article.  She listened further, hoping to figure out what Rainbow was referring to.
“I’m not cheating on you, honest.  You gotta believe me.  It’s all a big mistake.”  She paused for a moment before speaking in a softer, wry voice.  “Well, and a lotta jealousy.  But that’s not the point!  And I’m not jealous of you, it’s somepony else that’s jealous of me for something they didn’t get.  A-and it’s not that I couldn’t be jealous of you, there’s plenty of things I could be jealous of, and…”  She paused once more, and Fluttershy heard Rainbow groan in frustration.  “Oh, ponyfeathers, I’m no good at this.”  Her voice changed into a pleading tone.  “Please, Pinkie Pie believes me.  Can you?”
Suddenly it clicked for Fluttershy.  That article that had come out a few weeks ago about Rainbow’s supposed affair with Spitfire.  The article that had driven Fluttershy into more seclusion than normal, if only to avoid all of the well-wishers or mean-spirited ponies slandering Rainbow’s name.  She hadn’t believed a word of the article, knowing Rainbow as well as she did, but no matter how much she tried to explain that to anypony else, including some of their friends, they had all just treated her like she was being too kind.
So she’d simply just stopped coming into town.  Rarity had been generous enough to agree to do her shopping for her while understanding her need, which Fluttershy gladly reimbursed her for.  Not many ponies made the trek out to her cottage anyway aside from her friends, so she was comfortably alone with her animals.
Well, alone, at least.  Comfort was another story.
“Fluttershy, I’m not leaving until you answer me!”  Rainbow spoke once more, the desperation plain in her tone.  “Please…”
Finally, Fluttershy stirred from her sanctuary.  She felt the blanket slowly slide down her back as she pushed herself up, crawling out of bed and plodding over to the door.  She reached up, placing her hoof on the door with a soft click.  She could feel the sudden tension on the other side of the door, could hear Rainbow’s sudden gasp as she held her breath, waiting for Fluttershy to speak.
“Rainbow…” Fluttershy began softly, voice hoarse from crying.  “It was never about the article.”
A shocked silence from the other side.  Then finally, Rainbow’s outburst.  “What?” she cried.  “What was all that about, then?  The whole town was ready to write me off the moment I landed!  Pinkie Pie said Applejack and Rarity were gonna hunt me down!  And then you come out and say I can leave!  What does all that have to do with anything but the stupid bucking article?”
Fluttershy was silent for a long while, trying to build up the courage to say what needed to be said.  She could feel Rainbow’s frustration building the longer she said nothing, and she didn’t want to anger her wife any more than she already had.  “I-I never thought you were cheating on me.  I knew you better than that.”  She took a deep breath.  “B-Besides, I knew you h-had stopped w-wanting to b-be with m-me a long time ago…”
The silence continued, and Fluttershy plowed on, resting her forehead against the door.  “I-I was just trying to make it easy for you.  To make sure y-you would understand t-that I-I was…”  She gulped, trying to master her voice once more as she closed her eyes.  It wouldn’t do to make Rainbow feel like she was suffering.  That wouldn’t be very kind of her.  “…That I was ok.  With whatever you wanted to do.”
The silence on the other side of the door was deafening.  The only thing that Fluttershy could hear was the thunderous pounding of her heart in her ears as she waited for Rainbow to do something, anything.  Finally, Fluttershy heard the creak of the floorboards as Rainbow stepped away from the door, and she prepared herself for the heartbreaking sound of Rainbow’s hoofsteps down the stairs.  What she heard next caused her eyes to fly open in surprise, and a fluttering hope began to grow in her heart.
“Fluttershy, please open this door,” Rainbow pleaded.  When Fluttershy didn’t respond fast enough, Rainbow’s tone became anxious and determined.  “Fluttershy, please, please open the door,” she repeated.  “I really don’t want to break it down, but if that’s what it takes to make you see…”
Fluttershy quickly opened the door, stepping back as she looked out at Rainbow.  Her wife looked as miserable as she felt, her eyes red-rimmed from fighting back tears.  Her head was hung low, and she was holding the butterfly clip outstretched in her hoof.  “You forgot something downstairs,” she said softly as she averted her gaze.  “It belongs to you.  Nopony else is gonna get it, I promise.”
Fluttershy slowly reached out with a shaking hoof to take her clip, the first gift that Rainbow Dash had ever given her as a couple, a gift that she treasured beyond all other.  The moment she took the clip from Rainbow’s outstretched hoof, Rainbow looked up with a tiny smile on her face before pouncing on Fluttershy and drawing her into a great hug.  Fluttershy let out a squeak at the sudden sign of affection, dropping the clip.  Rainbow quickly scooped it up, sliding it back into Fluttershy’s mane with a smile, hugging her close again.  “I’m not leaving, Fluttershy.  Never.  Whatever I did to make you think so, I’m sorry, ok?”
It took a long moment, but Fluttershy eventually relaxed into Rainbow’s embrace, wrapping her forelegs around her.  The two of them sat there, holding each other with a sense that if either of them let go at this point, the other would be lost.  Finally, in a burst of courage that surprised even her, Fluttershy reached up and grabbed Rainbow’s face, pulling her down into a deep kiss.
Suddenly, the tears were falling again, but no longer were they the hot sting of heartbreak and disappointment.  Fluttershy felt the warmth building within her as she kissed her beloved, soothing tears of joy and love trickling down her cheeks and dripping on the floor, where they mingled with the same tears flowing from Rainbow’s eyes.  Her head was swimming with emotion, thoughts bouncing every which way in her mind as she slowly began to comprehend just what was going on between them.
Rainbow wasn’t going to leave her.  They were still together.
In that moment, it felt like the world suddenly shifted under her.  The kisses, the touching, the embrace, it wasn’t enough.  She needed more.  It had been months since she and Rainbow had been together, and she felt the need building within her.  Breaking off the kiss, she looked deep into Rainbow’s eyes, seeing her desire mirrored in those magenta pools.  “Come on, you,” she ordered, with a throaty growl so uncharacteristic of her that Rainbow’s eyes widened in shock for a moment before Fluttershy grabbed her, hauling her directly to their bed.
Throwing Rainbow down on her back on the tousled sheets, she stared down at her for a moment with such a predatory smile that Rainbow looked apprehensive.  “Umm…  I said I was sorry, Flutters,” she said, unused to such aggressiveness in her normally demure wife.  “Really, I am.  No need to –”  Whatever Rainbow was going to say next was driven from her mind as Fluttershy kissed her once more, gracefully sliding up onto her body.  When they finally broke apart once more, Rainbow was panting slightly as she looked up at Fluttershy.  “I love you, you know that?” she said softly as the two of them embraced tightly on the bed, wings flared wide and brushing their feathers against each other.
Fluttershy smiled brightly, and as the summer sunlight illuminated her face Rainbow knew that they were going to be just fine.  “I love you too, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy replied softly.  After that, other sounds began issuing from the bedroom, sounds that caused a certain white unicorn that had just arrived with a grocery delivery to blush profusely and quickly make her way back out of the cottage with all the grace and speed she could muster.  



A long while later, the two of them lay intertwined in their bed, drenched in sweat from both the summer heat and their own exertions.  Rainbow held Fluttershy tightly against her, joy mixed with hatred for herself flowing through her.  She looked down at Fluttershy, admiring the way the sunlight glittered in her aqua eyes.  Her gaze shifted to the sparkling butterfly clip that had somehow stayed in her mane despite all of their best efforts, and reached up to gently touch it.  “What happened to us, Flutters?” she asked, genuinely regretful that she had caused her love so much pain.
Fluttershy froze in her embrace, and a tinge of fear crept into her eyes.  “I don’t know,” Fluttershy replied softly.  “It just felt like you didn’t want to come home any more.  Like I was a burden to you.  I sent you letter after letter while you were away, and you just… stopped replying.”  A hitch crept into her voice as she continued.  “A-And w-when Angel…  Y-You d-didn’t even come h-home…”
Rainbow grimaced.  The plucky rabbit had passed away the previous summer, while Rainbow had been in heavy touring mode.  With all of the stops they had made across the country, Fluttershy’s letter informing her had missed her by two months.  When Rainbow had finally received the news, she’d been too exhausted and drained to completely realize what Fluttershy was going through, figuring that the rest of their friends would be able to help her out, and that she’d be home in another month for a break.
Definitely not her proudest or most loyal moment.
Rainbow let out a big sigh, leaning back and resting her head on Fluttershy’s pillow.  “I’m sorry, Flutters,” she said.  “I… I don’t really have any excuses for what I did then other than I just wasn’t thinking.”  She spread her hooves wide, and Fluttershy took the opportunity to snuggle into her side as Rainbow spoke.  “When I came home, I just wanted to fly, you know?  Flying around town, without running drills or practicing a routine or putting on a show.  Flying for myself, not for anypony else.”  She was quiet for a moment, putting a hoof around Fluttershy.  “I… guess I lost sight of the fact that you’re not that big on flying.  And once I lost that, it just went from there and I lost sight of… well, us.”
Fluttershy was silent in the wake of Rainbow’s confession, her only reply a gentle squeeze.  After a time, she felt Rainbow’s lips on her forehead, followed by her voice.  “I screwed up and I know it, Flutters.  I’ll do better at spending more time on the ground with you from now on.”  She could hear the smirk creeping into Rainbow’s voice as she continued to speak.  “Hay, you’re the reason I came to the ground in the first place, so you’d think I’d be a little happier about being there.”
Fluttershy felt the blush creeping up her cheeks, and she squeezed Rainbow a little tighter, nuzzling her chest as she drank in the scent of her fur.  “I… ” she began, swallowing as she forced the words out, determined to do show the pegasus she loved more than anything that she could be brave.  “I… could fly with you more often, too…  You… could teach me…  I-If you… don’t mind, that is…”  Her voice trailed off as her face felt like a furnace and her mouth clamped shut.
She felt a hoof on her chin, slowly lifting her head up to find herself looking into Rainbow’s excited eyes.  “Fluttershy?”  Rainbow asked slowly, a grin creeping across her face.  “You really want me to teach you to fly better?”
Fluttershy, lost in Rainbow’s excitement, could only nod silently.  Rainbow’s grin blossomed into a wide smile, and she wrapped Fluttershy in a crushing hug.  “Thanks, Flutters,” she whispered.  “I won’t let you down.”
Fluttershy smiled as her blush receded, and she playfully punched Rainbow in the chest.  “You’d better not,” she said, a twinkle of mischief in her eye.  “You owe me for everything you’ve put me through these last couple of years.”
Rainbow’s face fell, and she opened her mouth to apologize once more, but a new, bright voice coming from behind and above them interrupted her.  “Don’t worry, Fluttershy.  Dashie’s gonna take good care of you.  She’s already made a really good start of it.”
The two of them stared at each other for a brief moment before turning as one to look at the window behind their bed.  There, hanging partway into the room with her forelegs resting on the windowsill and suspended by her middle by a large bunch of balloons, was Pinkie Pie.  Rainbow’s mouth dropped open, and Fluttershy’s face immediately flared bright red once more.  “P-P-P-P-Pinkie?” stammered Fluttershy.  “Umm… W-When did you get here?”
Pinkie grinned brightly at Fluttershy.  “Oh, I’ve been here for a while now, waiting to give you this invitation to Rainbow’s party tonight!”  She reached into her mane and pulled out a rainbow-decorated envelope, passing it over to the two cuddling pegasi.  “I would have given it to you earlier, but once you started in on the third time, I figured it would have to wait a little longer.  By the way, Fluttershy, I knew you had a great set of pipes on you, but I didn’t think you could ever get that loud!”
Rainbow happened to be looking at Fluttershy as Pinkie spoke, and thus was able to see when the color of her cheeks passed bright red and went almost to the point of setting her face on fire.  As soon as Pinkie reached her last word, Fluttershy’s pupils nearly vanished from her eyes and she immediately dove under the covers with a soft squeak, leaving only a small tuft of her tail visible.  Rainbow, her own face slightly pink, giggled at her wife’s reaction and poked at the tuft with her hoof.  “You forgot something,” she said with a snicker, and the tuft immediately disappeared into Fluttershy’s blanket sanctuary.
Turning back to Pinkie Pie, who was still grinning obliviously, Rainbow gave her a mock glare.  “Pinkie, didn’t anypony ever teach you to knock?”
Pinkie cocked her head slightly.  “But I did knock, silly.  Fluttershy yelled ‘Yes’ a few times, so I let myself in.”  Before Rainbow could even respond to that, Pinkie was pushing herself away from the window and floating off into the afternoon sunlight.  “Anyway, I gotta go finish getting ready for the party.  See you there!”
Rainbow watched her go, a half-smile on her blushing face.  When Pinkie was finally out of sight, she turned to the huddling mass of blankets next to her, gently lifting the edge up to peer into the darkness.  “Hey, Flutters, you can come out now.  She’s gone.”
A soft voice issued from the blanket sanctuary.   “I’m never coming out!  I can’t believe she heard me…”
Rainbow let out a snort of laughter.  “Well, you were kinda loud.  I suppose that’s yet another way I’m so awesome, right?”
The blankets shifted slightly, and Fluttershy’s bright red face came into view, glaring at Rainbow.  “Easy for you to say,” she pouted.  “You weren’t the one screaming…”  A half smile stole over her face at the memory, and she let out a satisfied sigh.
Rainbow grinned at her.  “C’mon, Flutters, it’ll be fine.  Besides, we got a party to go to.”  She flipped the blankets off Fluttershy, causing her to let out a surprised squeak.  “And as the guest of honor, I need you there by my side.”
Fluttershy glared at her once more, but Rainbow’s infectious grin slowly brought a smile out on her face.  “Fine…” she muttered.  “But what if Pinkie says anything?  I don’t know if I could live that down…”
Rainbow leaned over and gave her a kiss.  “Don’t worry about it.  Pinkie’ll be too wrapped up in the party to say anything about it, trust me.”
“If you say so…” Fluttershy replied, biting her lip as she slowly made her way out from under the blankets.  “What’s the party for, anyway?  She said it was yours…”
Rainbow opened the envelope, which promptly let out a squee and a blast of confetti.  Sputtering and shaking the confetti from her face, Rainbow pulled out the invitation, which turned out to be inviting them to ‘Rainbow Dash’s Reconciliation and Promotion Party.’  Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she read the invitation, and she looked up at Rainbow.  “Promotion?” she asked hesitantly.
Rainbow brightened.  “Yeah!” she said.  “Forgot to tell you earlier.  The whole deal in that article about me spending so much time with Spitfire?  Well, turns out she’s planning on making me the next Captain of the Wonderbolts!  She’s been showing me the ropes, and that’s why I’ve been spending my free time hanging with her.”
Fluttershy let out a squeal of happiness, squeezing her tightly and giving her a passionate kiss.  “That’s wonderful, Rainbow!”  A moment later her mood darkened, and she laid her head down on Rainbow’s chest as a realization hit her.  “I-I suppose that means you won’t be able to come home much anymore…”
Rainbow looked uncertain for a moment, before her expression changed to one of determination.  “I’ll make it work, Fluttershy,” she said, lifting Fluttershy’s head up to look at her.  “Pinkie Promise, ok?”
Fluttershy’s eyes widened, and she smiled, reassured by Rainbow’s promise.  She giggled softly.  “You’re in trouble now,” she said softly.  “You know what happens when you break a Pinkie Promise.”
Rainbow gave her a cocky grin.  “Hey, I’ll be in charge now.  I can set whatever schedules I want.”  She shrugged nonchalantly, her grin still present.  “And if those schedules happen to include a few passes over Ponyville, or a few extra days between shows, then…”  She left the sentence hanging as the two of them snuggled together happily, a comfortable silence developing between them.
A minute later, Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.  “You know, Rainbow, a promotion like this deserves a little celebration, don’t you think?”
Rainbow glanced down at her, confused.  “Yeah, I know.  Isn’t that why Pinkie’s throwing a party?”
Fluttershy smiled before kissing her deeply.  When they finally broke apart, her voice was husky as she spoke.  “That’s not the only celebration I was thinking of…”  She kissed her again, hooves making their way across Rainbow’s body as her wings rose into the air.  “I was thinking we should clean up for the party, and the shower’s big enough for the two of us.  Let’s see how loud you can get, shall we?”
Rainbow just grinned.



A short while later, as Celestia’s sun began its descent behind the horizon, lighting the summer sky up with a beautiful tapestry of colors, Applejack stood in the street outside Sugarcube Corners, a grumpy expression on her face and a bottle of cider in her hoof.  She was waiting with the rest of her friends and the majority of Ponyville for the appearance of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.  She let out a huff of exasperation as she did her best to ignore the mingling crowd, choosing instead to keep her gaze on the skies for any sign of their pegasus friends while keeping half an eye on her youngest daughter, who was off tagging along with her Auntie Apple Bloom.
Pinkie’s party had brought up no small measure of conflicting emotions within the farm pony.  If she was being honest with herself (and she usually was), she was still angry at Rainbow Dash for the pain she had put Fluttershy through, even if that article had turned out to be a load of hogwash.  On the other hoof, she was thrilled that they seemed to have reconciled, and according to a somewhat flustered Rarity, ‘were thoroughly enjoying themselves.’
Another huff escaped her as she continued to scan the skies.  A moment later, a bubbly voice called to her, diverting her attention from her self-imposed duties.  “What’s up, Applejack?  Didja spring a leak?”  She glanced back at Pinkie Pie, who was standing nearby, a tray of fresh cider balanced on her back and a bright smile on her face.
“Hey there, Pinkie,” she said in a frustrated drawl.  “When’re the lovebirds getting here?  Ah’m getting a might tired of waiting.”
“Well, they were a little busy when I dropped off their invitation, so it might be a teeny-tiny bit longer,” Pinkie replied brightly.  “But don’t worry, I’m sure Dashie won’t miss out on such a super-special-funerrific party, especially since it’s for her!”
“Speaking of which,” Rarity interjected, “what is this promotion that you’re referring to?  Rainbow Dash certainly hasn’t mentioned anything about any promotion that I’ve heard.”
Pinkie giggled.  “Well, I’m not gonna spoil the surprise, but it’s gonna be a big one!”  She suddenly shivered, her back twitching and her ears twisting, and she grinned widely.  “Ooh, that’s gonna be one doozy of a noise!” she said, much to the confusion of the others.
A moment later, a loud cry came from the direction of the edge of town, followed by the sight of a flock of birds taking off.  Pinkie glanced off in the direction of the sound, a satisfied look on her face.  “Well, should be any minute now before they show up!”
Twilight looked confused while Rarity looked slightly embarrassed, a pink tinge plain on her white cheeks.  “What do you mean?” Twilight asked, scanning the sky herself.  Rarity gently grabbed her ear with her magic, bending it down so she could whisper into it.  Twilight immediately flushed pink as well and began fidgeting.  “Oh!” she said hesitantly.  “I-I get it now…”
Applejack let out a loud guffaw at her friend’s embarrassment, which earned her a dirty look from both of them.  “Sounds like they’re still ‘enjoying themselves,’ eh, Rarity?” she said, nudging the blushing unicorn with her shoulder before taking a long pull from her cider.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response, Applejack,” Rarity replied haughtily.  “A lady never gossips about such things.”
Pinkie looked over at her, confused.  “But you were totally talking about it earlier.  How else did I know I was going to walk in on them doing that when I went to give them their invitation?”
Applejack promptly sprayed Pinkie with the cider she had just been drinking as Rarity sputtered indignantly.  “Y-y’all did what?” she asked, coughing.
Pinkie grinned, unconcerned about her impromptu cider shower.  “I got to watch a little.  Hey, look, here they come!”
The others, still trying to wrap their thoughts around what Pinkie had just said, found themselves following Pinkie’s outstretched hoof into the sky.  Two familiar pegasi were slowly making their way into town, both framed by the gorgeous colors of the sunset.  The two of them were flying close together, circling around each other with an obvious joy and affection, touching every time one passed close enough to the other.  
A wave went through the waiting crowd of ponies.  One by one, all conversations slowly ceased as each pony noticed the approaching pegasi, hooves pointing into the sky towards them.  As the two of them came in for a landing in the center of the group, a great cheer went up from the surrounding ponies.  Rainbow Dash, relieved at the positive reception this time, smiled widely while waving at everypony.   Fluttershy, however, was still unused to such attention, and huddled in close to Rainbow Dash, hiding behind her curtain of a mane, her butterfly clip glittering in the fading sunlight.  
Pinkie Pie quickly dashed over to them, her tray of cider forgotten in midair, which Twilight quickly managed to grab with her magic before it crashed to the ground.  Sweeping the two lovers up into a big hug, Pinkie squealed with joy.  “Ohmigosh you’re here this is so awesome now we can get the party started and you can tell everypony about your promotion and how you two are all happy and cute and lovey together again and I’m so happy happy happy you’re here!”
Caught up in Pinkie’s crushing grip, Fluttershy let out a faint squeak and Rainbow gasped.  “P-Pinkie – need – air!” Rainbow managed to get out, causing the party pony to release them.  They fell to the ground gasping for air while Pinkie bounced in place excitedly.
“Ugh…” Rainbow muttered, pushing herself up and helping Fluttershy to her hooves.  “Pinkie, you gotta watch it with those hugs.”  Shaking her head and wrapping her wing around a shaky Fluttershy, she grinned around at the surrounding ponies before making her announcement.  “Everypony, guess what?  You’re looking at the next Captain of the Wonderbolts!  Spitfire was gonna make the announcement in a few weeks once I got back from my break, so you’re the first to hear it!”
A brief silence greeted this announcement, followed by a great roar of approval.  For a few minutes, Rainbow basked in the admiration, grinning like a mad fool at anypony that would look her way.  After a time, she held up her hoof, motioning for silence, which she eventually got as the crowd quieted down.  “There’s something else I gotta say,” she said as her heart began racing, and she felt beads of sweat pop out on her forehead.  She was more nervous for this than for any of her shows, but she knew she had to say it ever since she and Fluttershy had talked in the cottage.
“Everypony…” she began, hesitating as she turned her gaze to Fluttershy, who in turn was giving her a confused, slightly fearful look.  Rainbow cleared her suddenly dry throat, and pushed on.  “Everypony, I know I’ve done some things the past couple of years I’m not very proud of.  When I got here this morning, I… realized that I really messed up.  Everypony seemed to hate me.  My best friends were ready to beat me up.  My wife was ready to…” she trailed off a moment as the memory of her arrival at the cottage struck her, and she took a deep breath while mastering herself.  “Let’s just say it wasn’t good,” she finished lamely, hanging her head.
“I just wanna say I’m sorry, everypony.  But especially, I’m sorry, Fluttershy.  I hurt you, and I promise you I’m gonna make it up to you, whatever it takes.”
The silence lengthened as Rainbow continued to stare down at the ground.  Finally, she felt a hoof under her chin, and her head was lifted up to see Fluttershy smiling down at her shyly.  “Oh, Rainbow,” she said softly, drawing her love into a hug and kissing her deeply.  “We said for better or for worse, you silly thing,” she whispered into Rainbow’s ear as the crowd around them erupted into cheers once more.  “I love you, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow nodded as she gripped her wife tightly while the party began to start around them.  “I love you too, Flutters.”  The two of them felt rather than saw their friends surrounding them, offering well-wishes and congratulations much like they had long ago at their wedding, but like then, neither had eyes for anything but the other.
As that long summer day came to a close, they both felt a sense of closure on a portion of their lives together, and they grinned at each other.  “Wanna start those flying lessons?” Rainbow teased playfully.
Fluttershy simply smiled before launching herself into the air.  “You might have to catch me first,” she teased, emboldened by the shocked look on Rainbow’s face.
She quickly flew away, but not quick enough for one of the fastest fliers in Equestria.  She felt a rush of air beneath her, and glanced down to see Rainbow flying on her back, a grin on her face.  Rainbow darted up to her, wrapping her in a gentle hug as both their wings beat together, keeping them afloat.  
“First lesson,” Rainbow said as she tenderly kissed Fluttershy.  “Flying with a partner.”
> A Cave in the Moonlight - Autumn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Whitetail Woods was a large, bountiful forest, teeming with life of all kinds.  It was generally a calm place, not like the chaos and danger of the Everfree Forest, but a place where a pony would be able to visit for an afternoon for a picnic or a walk.  It was especially beautiful in autumn, when the bright green of the leaves was replaced by the fiery reds, crisp oranges, and soft yellows of the season.  
Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy loved coming to the forest in autumn, though for different reasons: Rainbow loved the Running of the Leaves, and still entered every year, while Fluttershy loved the peacefulness of the area and often visited in order to help the local animals get their winter nests ready.  Today, the two lovers were visiting the autumn woods as a vacation to celebrate Rainbow’s retirement from the Wonderbolts, but unfortunately, neither of them was particularly happy to be there at the moment.
Today, the forest was on fire.  And the cause of the fire was a little too happy to see the two ponies.
Fluttershy stared wide-eyed at the large red dragon watching her and Rainbow from across the burning clearing.  Roughly twice the size of the dragon costume Rarity had made decades ago, its eyes shimmered in the flames, staring at them with a hungry, haughty look.  Smoke was trickling out of its nostrils and its open mouth, small puffs rising into the sky with each breath of its bellows-like lungs.  Its jaws hung open in silent laughter, dagger-like teeth glistening with saliva, and its razor-sharp claws dug deep into the loam of the forest floor.
The two of them had been enjoying their campout for the past few days, with plans of staying for most of the week before moving on to a visit to Cloudsdale, followed by a possible trip north to the Crystal Empire.  However, the peaceful afternoon of their third day had been shattered by the roar of a nearby dragon, followed by a sudden explosion of fire as the dragon had let loose with a blast of flame that engulfed their campsite and the nearby trees.  Luckily, the two of them had been heading to the nearby pond for an early picnic dinner and some swimming, and had avoided the initial blast.
Now they found themselves being eyed as a potential lunch ticket.
Rainbow snorted as she glared at the dragon.  “What’s your problem, buddy?” she snapped with her usual bravado.  “Whaddya got against the trees?”
The dragon laughed loudly before giving Rainbow a toothy grin, and Fluttershy felt her hackles jump to attention.  “I have nothing against the forest, pony,” it replied, its booming voice ringing in their ears.  “I was simply bored.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she shook her head.  “Bored?  You were bored so you set the forest on fire?”  She flared her wings as she prepared to launch herself into the air.  “Geeze, you need a hobby or something.  Now I gotta do something to put the fire out.  You better get outta here before I come over there and kick you into next week for being so stupid.”
The dragon chuckled once more, its razor-sharp teeth flashing in the flickering light.  “I think not, pony.  You see, when I get bored, I tend to want to eat.  And roast pony is a tasty dish that I have enjoyed on many occasions.”  With that, the dragon lifted its head, drawing in a great breath before letting loose a blast of flame that flashed across the clearing to where Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were standing.
Rainbow, her reflexes honed from years of training and trick flying, reacted quickly.  Knowing that Fluttershy’s fear of dragons would keep her paralyzed, she shoved Fluttershy off to the side and away from the fiery breath.  Rainbow rolled away from her across the grass, doing her best to steer clear of the burning trees.
Fluttershy found herself lying disoriented on the grass, her side aching from where she’d landed on her saddlebags.  Looking up, she let out a squeak as she saw the dragon staring down at her.  Or, more accurately, staring at the jeweled butterfly clip in her mane.  A grin split the dragon’s face, and she cringed at the sight of those shining teeth.  “A lovely trinket you have there, pony,” the dragon rumbled, greed causing its catlike eyes to narrow.  “I think I’ll take it for myself.”  With that, it reached over to her with those razor-sharp claws, and she let out a tiny scream as her entire body froze.
Another cry split the air as a rainbow-colored blur flashed across her vision, striking the dragon on the jaw.  The dragon recoiled, off balance, and glared up at the little pony that had dared assault it.  Rainbow glared back as she hovered in the air, her breath coming rapidly.  “I don’t think so,” she growled, before swooping in for another strike.  “Fluttershy!” she cried, dodging a swipe from those claws and swiftly striking the side of its head with her hoof.  “Get outta here!  I’ll keep it busy!”
“R-Rainbow…” Fluttershy stammered, willing her body to move with all of her might.  Despite all of her intentions, her limbs remained locked and her wings remained closed.  Her entire body trembled as she watched her wife battling with the fearsome dragon, her breath coming in short, quick gasps.  She felt the panic attack strike, the terror worming its way into her heart and squeezing with all its might, freezing her mind.
Suddenly, Rainbow slammed down in front of her, rolling across the ground after being clipped by the dragon’s massive tail.  Rainbow slowly got to her hooves, spitting out a glob of blood and shaking her head.  She was breathing heavily and favoring her right side a little.  “Buck it, I’m getting too old for this,” she groused as she readied herself once more.  Glancing back, Fluttershy saw a brief flash of fear before it was quickly swallowed by her normal bravado.  “Fluttershy, come on.  I know I’m awesome to watch, but you need to get outta here now.”
Fluttershy shook her head slightly, and Rainbow began to panic a little more.  Glancing back at the dragon, which was slowly picking itself up from the beating she had given it, she gulped and quickly turned back to Fluttershy.  “Ok, ok, Flutters, you gotta listen to me,” she pleaded, trying not to let the terror creep through to her voice.  “Hey, over here, ok?  Look at me, ok?  Nothing else, just look at me.”  
After what seemed like an eternity, Fluttershy finally looked over at Rainbow, who gave her an encouraging smile.  “That’s right, just look at me, ok?” she repeated, trying to soothe her wife’s terror while doing her best to ignore the sounds of the rising dragon behind her.  “We’re gonna get outta this, got that?  But I need you to do something for me.  I need you to turn around and run, ok?  Trust me, it’ll be fine.”
Rainbow kept talking, saying whatever she could think of to keep Fluttershy’s attention to her and away from the dragon.  For a time, it seemed like it was going to work.  Fluttershy was moving backwards and out of the clearing, locking eyes with Rainbow with a desperation borne of a need to see them both safe.
The dragon roared once more, breaking the spell.  Fluttershy froze again, and Rainbow quickly turned to see the dragon rushing at them, claws outstretched.  Disregarding Rainbow, it went for the one it perceived as weaker, striking out at Fluttershy.  With a strangled cry of “NO!” Rainbow launched herself in front of the dragon, taking the blow meant for her love.  She felt the claws rip through her side, felt something snap deep within her, and she was falling into blackness.



Fluttershy saw the dragon lunge, saw Rainbow leap in front of her, and saw the claws bury themselves deep in Rainbow’s body.  Rainbow’s blood sprayed into the air, slowly drifting down in tiny red droplets reflecting the burning forest on one side and Fluttershy’s face on the other.  Fluttershy stared into that tiny reflection, seeing herself terrified and motionless while the love of her life took the blow meant for her.
She stared at that terror, and the terror stared back, mocking her.  How can you call yourself her wife? it asked.  You stand there, powerless, putting yourself in danger so that once more she has to come save you.  Can you truly take care of yourself without somepony else always coming to your rescue?
She flushed under the scrutiny of her inner self, feeling anger and worthlessness welling up inside of her.  Rainbow was badly hurt, possibly dead, and all because of her.  It was the dragon in the cave all over again, but the stakes were much higher this time around.  She had conquered her fear then, and she would now.  Wouldn’t she?
Last time the dragon just wanted to be left alone, she thought.  He didn’t really hurt anypony, just bullied them.  This is different.
Isn’t it?
She looked down at Rainbow’s motionless body, blood pouring out of the deep cuts.  Rainbow would die if she didn’t do something, anything, to save them.
She made her decision.
Looking up at the dragon standing over her, a lopsided grin on its face, she felt the familiar stirrings of anger from deep inside of her.  “How dare you,” she whispered, her eyes setting with the familiar hardness that signified the Stare.  The dragon cocked its head slightly, curious as to what this little pony thought it could do.
“HOW DARE YOU!” she screamed, letting her anger flood out of her, catching the dragon’s eyes with her own and letting the power of the Stare snare it.  She dug her mental claws into the dragon’s very being, forcing it to bend to her will and locking their gazes together.  “Do you always do this?  Just go around terrorizing little creatures just for fun?  Is this your idea of fun?  It’s horrible!  How would you feel if some big mean thing came up to you and said it was going to eat you?”
She Stared into the dragon’s eyes, not noticing that she was slowly moving closer to the great beast, cowing it with the power of her gaze.  “Because of you, a lot of animals have gotten hurt and have lost their homes and their winter food stores!” she screamed, her voice beginning to grow raw from emotion.  “Because of you, this forest is going to be destroyed!  Because of you, Rainbow Dash got hurt!”  
At those words, she began to falter slightly, her voice losing some of its force.  “B-because of y-you,” she stammered, fear breaking through the anger.  “I-I might lose h-her.  I-I might lose m-my love…”  Her eyes lost some of the hardness, but her eye contact never wavered, even as the tears began falling.  Somehow, she found herself inches away from the great dragon, looking down into terrified eyes.  A part of her knew she should feel some measure of pity for the beast, but the rest of her – the part that was devoted to Rainbow in every way, shape, or form – felt satisfaction at the fear she was seeing.
“Just go away,” she said softly, for once not apologizing for using the Stare.  “Leave us.  You’ve done enough.”  Closing her eyes and turning away, she ran over to Rainbow Dash, scooping her up as quickly and carefully as she could, laying her over the saddlebags on her back.  She then ran through the forest, away from the fire and from the cowed dragon, who could only watch as the most powerful and frightening pony it had ever encountered vanished from sight.



Running through the forest, Rainbow’s unconscious and bloody form weighing her down, Fluttershy’s mind was oddly blank.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t panicked, or angry, or scared.  She was frightened out of her wits, worried beyond belief, and angry beyond all reason.  It was like all of those emotions filled her to the brim, forcing out every possible thought she could have and leaving nothing behind, allowing her to focus on her current predicament with unusual clarity.
Need a place to take care of Rainbow, she thought.  Can’t fly back.  Too hard to carry Rainbow that far.  Running back would take too long.  Need someplace to stay for the night.
Her eyes darted this way and that, searching for suitable shelter, but saw only trees surrounding her.  A feeling of hopelessness started to creep up on her, but she shook her head, driving it away.  I can’t give up, she chided herself.  Rainbow needs me.  This time, I can save her.
Suddenly, she stumbled out of the forest, coming upon a path in the middle of the trees.  Pausing in the middle of the path to catch her breath and fighting through the stitch in her side, she glanced around, a glimmer of recognition coming to her.  I know this place!  It’s the trail for the Running of the Leaves!  She and Rainbow had walked the path a few times when Rainbow had wanted to show her the beauty of the trail before the race occurred, knocking down the colorful leaves.  
She peered up and down the path, searching in the fading sunlight for a familiar landmark that would give her an idea of just where she was in the trail.  Rainbow would know exactly where we were, she thought with a pang of apprehension before catching sight of a nearby rock formation.  There!
She dashed down the path, coming up to the rocky hills in the middle of the Whitetail Woods.  Rainbow had pointed out a small cave during one of their walks that Fluttershy vaguely recalled being in this area.  A quick search of the side of the hills revealed the entrance, and Fluttershy carefully brought Rainbow into the cool darkness of the cave.  Laying her down as gently as she could, Fluttershy finally did what she had been unconsciously avoiding – she inspected Rainbow’s wounds.
What she saw brought a lump to her throat and a weight in her gut.  Carefully lifting Rainbow’s right wing revealed three deep gouges running parallel along her side, one passing directly through the wing joint.  Blood was flowing freely from each gouge, following the rise and fall of her side with each shallow breath and staining her beautiful cyan coat an ugly, sticky red.  Here and there she got a glimpse of the ugly white of bone peeking out from the dark red, though she did her best to ignore it.
Fluttershy stared for a long moment, eyes glued to the horror that was her love’s side.  Thoughts raced through her mind at lightning speed as she fought to process what she was seeing.  Panic!  No, no time to panic, can’t panic.  Must panic!  Need to fly, need to get help, find something to bind the wounds.  The campsite!  No, can’t, it’s on fire.  Panic?  No, no panic.
As her mind filled up with worries and fears, she did something that she had never done before: forced the panic to stop.  Slamming a wall down in front of her racing thoughts, she brought everything to a screeching halt, allowing her to focus on what needed to be done.  She glanced outside to see the sun finish its descent behind the horizon, plunging the land into darkness that was lit by the orange glow of the burning trees.  A soft squeaking from above caught her attention and she looked up, only to have a smile cross her face at the sight of a colony of bats hanging from the ceiling.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she whispered to herself before flying up to the colony.  The bats were all in the process of waking up, preparing for another nightly sojourn to find food, and thus unprepared for the sudden appearance of the pegasus.  After a brief moment when the bats all swarmed around her in confusion, she managed to calm them enough to get their attention.  “Please, I need your help,” she pleaded.  “I need you to fly to Ponyville and find Princess Twilight.  You need to tell her we’re in trouble and to come as fast as she can.”
For a minute the bats chattered amongst themselves, and Fluttershy was afraid that she hadn’t gotten through to them.  She hadn’t spoken to this colony before, after all, and sometimes new animals took extra time to befriend until she learned to understand their particular dialect.  Finally, one of the bats turned to her and chattered back an affirmative.  “Oh, thank you so much,” she breathed with relief.  “Please, tell her to come as soon as possible.  It’s an emergency.”
The bats nodded, and a group of them flew out into the darkness.  Before the rest of them could fly away, she stopped them with a question.  “Can you please tell me if there’s any water nearby?  I need some for Rainbow Dash.”
Another minute of chattering and she was given directions to a nearby stream.  She thanked the bats profusely before turning her attention back to Rainbow.  She found herself looking into a magenta eye that was filled with pain and gratitude, and quickly hurried over to her side, apologizing profusely.  “Oh, Rainbow, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for you to get so hurt, I just couldn’t move and I was so terrified and –”
Her apologies were cut off by a weak chuckle coming from Rainbow.  “T-that’s my Flutters,” she breathed with a smile.  “A-Apologizing for something I w-would’ve done anyway.”  She slowly gathered her hooves under her, and before Fluttershy could stop her, tried to stand up before letting out a cry of pain and collapsing back to the ground, triggering a fresh flow of blood.  “O-oh, that’s gonna hurt tomorrow.  I-I knew I was getting too old for this.”
“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy exclaimed, carefully pushing Rainbow down on her uninjured side.  “Please don’t move; you’ll only make it worse.  I don’t have anything to bind it with, so the more you stay still, the better it will be.”
Rainbow chuckled, the motion causing her to wince.  “Got it,” she breathed, a trace of amusement in her voice.  “Doctor Fluttershy’s orders, right?”
Fluttershy nodded quickly, doing her best to keep the tears from spilling out of her eyes.  The more that Rainbow could see that she was going to be ok, the more likely she would be to listen to her.  “L-listen, Rainbow, I need to go get some water to wash out y-your w-wounds,” she stammered, trying to keep her voice level.  “J-just please stay put, ok?  I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
Rainbow gave her a cocky grin shadowed with pain.  “Gotcha, Flutters.  I’ll be here.”
Fluttershy hesitated, torn between her unwillingness to leave her love in such a vulnerable position and the need to do something to help as much as possible.  In the end, the need to help outweighed the worry, and she stepped out of the cave and into the silver moonlight of the night.  Following the bat’s directions, she quickly found the stream, but ran into a new problem that triggered another bout of panic.  She hadn’t brought anything to carry the water in.  
Ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoodness, she thought rapidly, staring down at the swift-moving stream.  What do I do?  I don’t have a canteen with me at all.  What if I can’t find anything?  What if I can’t get Rainbow’s wounds clean?  What if –
A wall slammed down in front of her thoughts once more.  She took a deep breath, mastering herself.  Rainbow needed her as calm and collected as she could be, and panic wasn’t doing them any good.  She looked around for something, anything that she could use to carry water in, and smiled as she thought of a possible solution.  My saddlebags!
She quickly took off the saddlebags, emptying them of their contents and trying to ignore the sticky redness coating the sides before slinging them back on.  It wasn’t a perfect idea – they weren’t completely waterproof – but they would do for now.  Wading out into the stream, she knelt down into the swift-moving water, filling the bags as much as possible before heading back to the cave, water dripping behind her.  
When she arrived at the moonlit cave, she was greeted with silence, a silence that chilled her to the bone.  Nearly dropping the precious water she had gone to so much trouble to collect, she hurried over to where Rainbow Dash was lying, her eyes closed and her body still.  “Rainbow?” she called, her voice shaking with fear.  Receiving no answer, she brought her ear as close as she could to Rainbow’s mouth, relief flooding through her as she heard the shallow breathing.
Wasting no more time, she gently prodded Rainbow’s cheek, hoping for a little help cleaning her wounds.  Rainbow groaned in response, opening her eyes halfway before closing them again.  “F-five more minutes…” she moaned before Fluttershy prodded her again.
“Rainbow, I need your help,” Fluttershy said.  “Can you lift your wing, please?”
Rainbow’s eyes opened once more, focusing on Fluttershy for a brief moment with one of the most frightened and pain-filled looks Fluttershy had ever seen on her love.  “N-no need for that,” she said with a smile that didn’t match her eyes.  “I-I’ll be fine.  Thanks anyway.”
“Rainbow, please,” Fluttershy begged, her eyes pleading.  “I need to clean your wounds.  Can you please lift your wing?”
“Fluttershy…” Rainbow began before Fluttershy cut her off.
“No, Rainbow, please lift your wing,” Fluttershy said, her voice rising with panic.  The saddlebags were getting very heavy, and the water was slowly dribbling out onto the cave floor.  “Please, Rainbow, I need –”
“I can’t!” Rainbow burst out, the words echoing through the cave and ringing in Fluttershy’s ears.
“What do you mean, you can’t?”
Rainbow took a deep, pained breath.  “I… I can’t feel my wing anymore.”
Fluttershy’s mind went blank.  All thoughts were driven from it the moment Rainbow’s confession came out, and all she could do was stare numbly at her love.  “…O-oh,” was all she said, her voice carrying little inflection, but her stammering giving away the effect those words had had on her.  “T-Then I-I’ll have t-to do it m-myself.”  She slowly knelt down next to Rainbow’s side, gently lifting the lifeless wing with her hoof.  She used her other foreleg to carefully pour some water over the ugly wounds as Rainbow looked on in concern.
“Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked softly.  “Are you ok?”  She winced as Fluttershy did her best to cleanse the wounds, the pain shooting through her entire body.
“W-why w-wouldn’t I b-be?” she replied, her voice shaking even as her body was still.  She finished pouring the water over Rainbow’s wounds, gently lowering the wing back down.  She brought the bag over to Rainbow, carefully tipping some water into Rainbow’s mouth.  “H-here, d-drink.  I-it’ll h-help…”
Rainbow drank as Fluttershy watched.  She felt like her insides were shaking like a leaf in a windstorm, and it was all she could do to hold herself up.  Rainbow’s words were echoing through her mind, beating against her sanity, threatening to wear her down and finally crack.
She looked down at Rainbow.  The silvery moonlight creeping in through the cave entrance spilled across her, washing her out and highlighting just how old she had become.  In the moonlight, her coat was no longer a bright, vibrant cyan, but a dull, pale grey.  Her mane, normally filled with the colors of the rainbow, was faded and dull.  Even the streaks of silver that had popped up the past few years – streaks that Fluttershy secretly adored, since she felt they gave Rainbow a daring, rakish look – were highlighted in the moonlight, turned a ghostly white.
The windstorm inside of her finally broke through her restraint, and she felt her emotions run out of control.  She felt the hot sting of tears spill down her cheeks, and she sobbed openly, much to Rainbow’s surprise.  “H-hey, Flutters, it’s gonna be ok, you know?” she tried to reassure her, only to find Fluttershy wrapping her head in a hug.
“Why did you do it?” Fluttershy cried as she pressed her forehead to Rainbow’s as best she could, her tears dripping onto Rainbow’s cheek.  “You could’ve just grabbed me and flown away.  Why didn’t you?”
Rainbow gave her an incredulous smile before carefully reaching up and brushing her soft mane, hoof briefly resting on the clip resting there.  “He was gonna take this,” she said simply.  “I… kinda lost it when he said that.”
Fluttershy looked down at her blankly, before her own hoof reached up to touch the clip.  “B-but Rainbow, it’s just a clip.  We could’ve gotten another one.”
Rainbow let out a snort, followed by a wince.  “Really, Flutters?  After I fought so hard to keep that one?  Fat chance.  Besides, you won’t be getting rid of me this easily.”
Fluttershy stared down at the love of her life, who was now hanging between life and death, all because of her and her clip.  Her mouth worked silently as she tried to come up with the words she so desperately wanted to say, but couldn’t shape in her mind.  Finally, she gave up, letting out the first words that came to mind.  “You big dummy,” she said with a bittersweet smile.  “If I’d known you were this much of a romantic, I might not have married you.”
“Well, you did say for better or for worse,” Rainbow said, her eyes drooping slightly.  “Just don’t let it get out, you know?  I still got an image to maintain.”  Her breath was becoming labored, and she let out a gasp as a sudden wave of pain struck her.  “Ooh, yep, that’s gonna smart later,” she breathed.  A moment later, she let out a wheezy chuckle.  “G-good thing I r-retired already,” she stammered as her body shivered with pain.  “I’d hate to see what Rumble would think of me right now.”
“H-he’d probably s-send you off w-with full h-honors and a b-big party,” Fluttershy sobbed with a wan smile, thinking of the Wonderbolt’s new captain.
“Y-you kidding?  He’d drum me out f-for being so s-stupid.”  She let out one last chuckle before falling silent, eyelids drooping even further.  After a long, tense silence, she spoke once more.  “Hey, Flutters?”
“Y-yes, Rainbow?” Fluttershy replied, holding her love’s head close.
“I love you, you know?”
“Y-yes, Rainbow, I-I do.  I love you too.”
Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, and silence reigned in the moonlit cave, broken only by Fluttershy’s soft sniffles as the night wore on.



Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes, voices echoing in her ears, fading in and out of coherency.  Her vision swam with colors, moving blurs that shifted back and forth even as she tried to focus on one.  She could see light shining in the room from a nearby window, the bright golden light of the sun and not the silver light of the moon.  She slowly turned her head, trying to focus on one of the nearby colors when a loud familiar voice nearby arrested her attention.
“Hey, everypony, she’s awake!”
Rainbow turned towards the voice, her blurry vision still clearing as she beheld the orange form of one of her best friends.  “A-Applejack?” she asked, her voice dry and raspy, barely more than a croak.
Suddenly the room was filled with more colors: purples, whites, and pinks surrounding the bed she was lying in, all clamoring for her attention.  All but the one color she wanted to see.  “Fluttershy?” she asked in her wisp of a voice.
“She finally fell asleep an hour ago, the poor darling,” Rarity replied as her form slowly shifted into focus.  “Don’t worry, we’ll wake her soon.  She was exhausted.”
“She’s ok?” Rainbow asked as she tried to push herself up and see her wife, wincing as her movement pulled at her side.  She glanced down to find her torso completely wrapped in bandages, and gentle testing of her muscles told her that she had plenty of stitches to take care of.  Her left wing hung freely, while her right was tightly bound up against her body.
“She’s just fine,” Twilight said with a smile, pushing her back down and passing her a glass of water, which Rainbow drank greedily.  “She’s just been up this whole time keeping an eye on you.”  Twilight shook her head in exasperation, her wings ruffling slightly.  “You’re both lucky I had been studying a spell of animal translation when those bats showed up at the castle.  Otherwise I might not have gotten there in time.  She keeps forgetting that I can’t normally speak with animals.”
Suddenly, the door burst open, and an exhausted-looking Fluttershy rushed into the room.  “I-I’m here!  I heard – Did she – Is she…?”  Her voice trailed off as she saw Rainbow in the hospital bed, eyes open, looking over at her.  Her expression immediately changed to tearful joy, and she flew over to the bed, her hooves barely touching the ground as she launched herself at Rainbow.
Rainbow grimaced as her wife wrapped her in a great hug, water splashing out of her cup and pain radiating from her side.  “H-hey, Flutters, ease up a little, will ya?  I told you I was gonna be sore in the morning.”
Fluttershy let out a soft squeak, immediately loosening her grip, but not fully letting go.  “Sorry, Rainbow,” she replied.  “I-I didn’t mean…”
Her apology was cut off by Rainbow drawing her into a deep kiss, causing Pinkie to let out a loud wolf-whistle and Applejack to blush mightily.  Rarity absently bopped Pinkie on the head as she gazed with admiration, and Twilight just smiled.  After what seemed like a brief moment to the two lovers but an age to the onlookers, Rainbow released Fluttershy with a soft smile.  “Don’t worry about it, Flutters.  Everything’s gonna be ok, right?  I’m here, and I always will be.  Got that?”
At those words, instead of looking relieved, Fluttershy looked heartbroken.  Rainbow recoiled from her love’s change in demeanor.  “F-Flutters?  What’s up?” she asked, hesitantly.
“N-not everything’s going to be ok, Rainbow,” she replied softly.  “Y-your wing… they said… the nerve had been severed, a-and with the joint damaged there wasn’t any way they could reconnect it that would allow you to fly again.”  Her last words spilled out in a rush, as if saying them faster would make the moment go by any quicker.  
Rainbow stared, wide-eyed.  “…Wait, what did you say?”
“We’re sorry, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight spoke up, drawing Rainbow’s attention.  “The doctors did all they could, but nerves are tricky things.  It just… wasn’t possible.”  She grimaced as if the words themselves caused her physical pain. 
“I… can’t fly anymore…?”
Twilight shook her head, and the jovial mood that had been present mere moments ago was completely gone.  “I’m sorry…” Twilight breathed as she hung her head.
Rainbow stared around at all of her friends, each of them wearing a similar, grief-stricken expression.  Finally, her gaze settled on Fluttershy, who was looking equal parts relieved, grieving, and guilty.  Rainbow’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Fluttershy, who took an unconscious step back from her lover’s hard gaze.  “R-Rainbow…?” Fluttershy said apprehensively.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said bluntly.
The entire room fell silent as they all tried to take in Rainbow’s words.  “Umm, are ya sure ya didn’t hit your head or something, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.  “Whaddya mean, ‘it doesn’t matter?’”
“It doesn’t matter,” she repeated confidently.  “It’s gonna be all right.  I’m here.  Fluttershy’s here.  I’m gonna make it.  That’s all that matters.  We said for better or for worse, right?”  Fluttershy nodded absently.  “Well, this is definitely in the ‘worse’ category.  ‘Sides, now I’ll have a really good excuse to spend all my time on the ground with you.”  She gave Fluttershy a hard look tempered with her cocky grin.  “And don’t you dare go blaming yourself for this,” she ordered.  “I’d take on a hundred dragons for you, and you know it.”
“That’s… awfully mature of you, Rainbow,” Twilight said with admiration and a tinge of disbelief, while Applejack gave Rainbow a hard look.
“Gimme some credit here, Twilight,” Rainbow said with exasperation.  “I can be mature when I need to be.”
A loud guffaw greeted this pronouncement, and the group quickly looked over at the culprit.  Rarity had the decency to look ashamed, her cheeks painted a bright red as she clapped a hoof over her mouth.  “I’m sorry, did I do that out loud?” she said meekly.  She cleared her throat before assuming a regal pose and spoke once more.  “I do apologize for my outburst, Rainbow Dash,” she repeated, “it’s just that ‘maturity’ has never really been your thing, if some of Fluttershy’s stories are anything to go by.”
Rainbow gave Fluttershy a hurt look and Fluttershy blushed brightly, tears still glistening in her eyes.  “Y-you do tend to be a little foalish when you’re at home…” she said softly, her mane falling like a curtain in front of her face.
“Really?” Rainbow replied with an exasperated tone.  “I spent how long as the Wonderbolts captain and manager, and none of you think I can be mature now and then?  I mean, with friends like you guys…”  She gave them all a mock glare and they laughed in reply.  A moment later, she nearly dislocated her jaw with a loud yawn, which elicited another giggle from everypony.  “Wow, guess I’m still pretty tired.  Pain meds must be catching up with me.  You guys mind if I get some sleep?  I wanna get outta here as soon as I can before I go stir-crazy.”
“Sure thing, Dashie!” replied Pinkie Pie.  “You gotta rest up for your ‘I kicked a big dragon’s butt and now I’m outta the hospital’ party that I’m gonna throw for you!”
Rainbow chuckled weakly in reply.  “You got it, Pinkie.  I’m looking forward to it.”
Twilight reached over, resting her hoof on Rainbow’s.  “Take care, ok?  We’ll be by to check on you later.”
“Thanks, Twilight,” said Rainbow.  “Thanks, everypony.”  She watched them all go, filing out of her room one by one.  Applejack gave her another penetrating look before leaving, but after glancing over at Fluttershy, whatever words she may have said died in her mouth.  Instead, she simply tipped her old hat to them before following the others out.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Rainbow closed her eyes, doing her best not to think of anything.  Her brief moment of peace was shattered by the sounds of sobbing and a sudden weight awkwardly encircling her, and she opened her eyes to see Fluttershy hugging her from the side of the bed.  “Flutters…?”
“T-two days,” Fluttershy sobbed softly.  “T-two days, Rainbow.  That’s how long you were out.  Y-you’d l-lost so much blood, a-and the s-surgeries, and you w-wouldn’t w-wake u-up…”  She sniffled, her tears staining Rainbow’s bandages as they dripped from her cheeks.  “I-I was so scared…”
“Fluttershy…” Rainbow replied, fear and regret coursing through her.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to worry you so much.”  She carefully wrapped her sobbing wife in a hug, taking care to avoid stretching her wounds.
“A-and now they say y-you can’t fly anymore and I k-know how important f-flying is to you and y-you go and try to treat it like it’s nothing!”
Rainbow froze at this statement, and she felt the weariness and anger that she had been holding aside spill from her mental dam.  “You always did see right through me,” she said softly.  Fluttershy looked up at her, and Rainbow brought her up into another kiss.  “Truth is, I’m really scared, Fluttershy.  I’m angry.  It’s not fair at all, and it makes we wanna go smack that dragon around some more.  But I can’t.  I’ve never felt so helpless in my life…”  She trailed off as her voice choked up, and she shook her head.
“But one thing I said before was definitely true,” Rainbow continued after a moment.  “I’d do it again for you.  The only reason I know things will be fine in the end is because I’ve got you.”
“R-really?” Fluttershy replied, sniffling.
“I said I’d always be there for you, didn’t I?” Rainbow replied, her cocky grin back as a shadow of its normal self.  “We still got a life together.  As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter that I c-can’t f-f-f…”  She paused as a wave of panic overtook her, took a deep breath, and tried again.  “…that I c-c-can’t f-f-f-f…”
Her eyes went wide, and she began to shake in Fluttershy’s grasp.  Fluttershy, recognizing what was happening, drew Rainbow into a tight embrace, silently letting her lover release her pent-up emotions.  Rainbow stared blankly at the wall as she held on to Fluttershy like a final lifeline.  “…Oh, Celestia, it’s true, isn’t it.  I can’t fly anymore…”
As the autumn sunlight slowly dimmed, plunging the hospital room into darkness, Fluttershy was vaguely aware of the door to their room opening and closing a couple of times, but nopony came to disturb them.  The silver moonlight began to creep into the room, illuminating the two lovers in an effervescent halo.  Fluttershy looked down at her brave, frightened, and bent but not yet broken wife, admiring the way the moonlight accented her beauty.  Her mane, normally bright and vibrant, was subdued, bringing out the natural beauty of her face and giving her an almost otherworldly look.  Her cyan coat was almost glowing, and the silvery streaks in her hair shone brightly.
She held Rainbow close, mindful of her wounds. She knew that together, they would be able to manage this.  Rainbow had sacrificed much to ensure her safety, and the least she could do was stand by her through the difficulties to come.  There would be hardships, frustrations, and adjustments to be made.  But they were still together.
That was truly all that mattered.
> Covered By Roses - Winter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash slowly trudged through the snowy path back to her cottage, the plain black cloak covering her weighing her down.  It’s done, she thought numbly, her whole body trembling with pain and anguish, blotting out all other thoughts aside from the finality of her day.  It’s done.
She paused as she crossed the small bridge in front of her cottage, peering over the edge at the frozen stream.  She stared at her reflection, wondering for a brief moment just who that mare was that was looking back at her.  A once brilliantly rainbow-colored mane was now faded and streaked with silver, and her cyan coat was looking dull and unkempt.  Her magenta eyes, once sharp and energetic, were now worn, beaten, defeated, and red-rimmed from crying.
She loved sitting by this stream, she thought with a small smile.  Just the two of us.  Even when it was all I could do to just bring her out and sit her down in the grass, she wanted to just be by the stream.
A long moment passed as Rainbow stood there, small snowflakes drifting down in the air and settling on the frozen waters.  She lifted her head, staring at the cloudy skies, her breath misting in the air and displacing the drifting snow with each exhale.  She wrinkled her nose as a few snowflakes settled on it, gently blowing them away before they melted.  The chill wind began to pick up, ruffling her mane and grabbing at her cloak, tugging her towards the cottage door.
Taking her cue from nature, she abandoned her vigil of the stream with a shiver and finished the short jaunt to her front door, pushing it open on noiseless hinges.  She shut the door behind her, pushing out the cold and wind before hanging her cloak on the nearby peg.  Turning away from the door, she faced her home before closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, taking in the scent of… nothing.
Confused, Rainbow Dash opened her eyes.  She looked around the cottage, familiar sights greeting her eyes: the dark fireplace with its cooking utensils hanging in an orderly row, the now-empty birdhouses for the birds that had flown south for the winter, the doorway leading to the room that had become Fluttershy’s bedroom after she could no longer manage the stairs.  The couch that they would cuddle on during fun-filled evenings of just watching the fire or having their friends over, and that would double as Rainbow’s bed during bad nights, both past and present.  The door leading to the kitchen right at the base of the stairs that led up to Rainbow’s room and bathroom.
Everything looked familiar.  But nothing smelled familiar.
Gone was her smell.  The smell of earth and air, of animals and their food.  The smell of sunshine and kindness.  It was Rainbow’s favorite scent, even though if anypony had asked her, she probably would have said otherwise.  There was always an image to maintain, of course.  Not that Fluttershy cared.  She always wore that scent of kindness like a beautiful gown, one even more beautiful than any of Rarity’s designs.  
Even the more recent, less pleasant smells were gone.  The harsh tang of antiseptic, of sterilization.  The smell of age that had permeated Fluttershy, despite any of the baths that Rainbow had given her.  The scent of old food that Rainbow just hadn’t been able to take care of as there had always been something else more pressing, such as making sure Fluttershy didn’t injure herself trying to climb the stairs or leave the house by herself.
Even the smell of death was gone.  Rainbow wasn’t quite certain how she felt about that.
Moving slowly into the cottage, she glanced around in the dim light, scanning the pictures covering every blank space they could find: pictures of their friends, of themselves, of their families, of their friend’s families.  Pictures of animals and trees, castles and landscapes, and everything in between.  
Of memories.
She briefly considered laying a fire and throwing all of the pictures in it, but resisted the urge.  Besides, the fire would never warm her in the way Fluttershy’s presence always had.
Her leg bumped something unexpected, and she hissed in pain as she glared down at the offending object.  Somepony had moved their coffee table, and it had jumped out and attacked her in a moment of inattention.  Thoughts of pony-on-furniture violence ran through her mind, but she decided against it as she spotted a note resting on the table, weighed down by a jeweled butterfly clip.  Curious, she turned on a nearby light and picked up the note to read.
Dear Rainbow Dash – 
Once again, I’m very sorry for your loss.  She was my dear friend too, so I understand what you’re going through, to an extent.
The past few years have been hard on all of us with her dementia, you especially.  You put on such a brave face whenever we were all around, but I think I could detect a hint of bitterness and desperation every time I visited and things didn’t go the way you wanted them to.  I wish you would have taken up our offers to help more often, but I understand the depths of your loyalty and respect you for it.
As a token of my respect and of the respect of Equestria for your services, I had your cottage cleaned while you were away today.  Don’t worry – I told them not to throw anything important away, so everything you have of hers should still be there. There’s not enough that I could do to match the respect and love I have for the two of you.
I’ll be by to check on you later tonight and see how you’re doing.  Feel free to tell me to leave if that’s what you want.  Just know that I’ll always be there for you as you’ve always been there for the rest of us.
With love, your friend, 
Twilight Sparkle.
Rainbow laid the note back down on her table, conflicting emotions welling up inside of her.  On the one hoof, she was grateful for Twilight’s thoughts and her offer of support.  On the other hoof, she was furious that she would dare take the one last thing that she had of her love from her.  Those scents were a part of her and of their life, and Twilight had wiped them away with little more than a simple order.
Moving over to the couch, she sat down with a wince; her old wounds were acting up again, sending a lance of pain down her right side and wing.  She carefully stretched her left wing, her right held stiff and withered from the old scars that had kept her grounded since that night in the cave, oh so long ago.  She grimaced at the memory, recalling the deep depression she had sunk into after she had received the news.  Fluttershy had been there for her every step of the way, calmly enduring the many nights of sobbing and bargaining.  
She even stayed for those nights where Rainbow’s mood was dark, and all of the anger and jealousy would spill out in a depression-fueled vitriol.  Element of Loyalty, pah, Rainbow thought wryly as she idly picked up a photo album from the arm of the couch; she had been looking at it that very morning and whoever had come in to clean had thankfully left it out.  I’ve got nothing on her.
Though in a bittersweet way, she was thankful for her wounds.  They had allowed the two of them to realize Fluttershy’s condition sooner than later, and give them time to prepare for the worst.  When Fluttershy had started becoming a little forgetful, they had both just laughed it off as one of the side effects of age.  Rainbow had even gone to teasing her a little bit, grabbing small things just after she had set them down and moving them across the room.  Her little prank had continued until the day when Fluttershy had idly asked when she was planning on going out to practice that day.  She had wanted to know when Rainbow would come home so she could have lunch ready.
Rainbow had been grounded for over ten years by that point.  Suddenly ‘a little forgetful’ had become something scary.
Rainbow’s smile became strained as she flipped through the pictures of their life, pausing on one that had been taken on their wedding day.  Her memory of that day was still crystal-clear: the laughter, the joy, all of the games.  The sight of their family and friends all gathered around them as they said their vows.  At the reception, Fluttershy, in a fit of bravery and mischievousness, had managed to catch her by surprise, smearing cake all over her face.  Every moment of their wedding had been filled with love and affection, and they had cherished those moments the rest of their lives.
Near the end, Fluttershy couldn’t even remember her name.
Shaking her head in an effort to push away the sudden surge of remorse, Rainbow laid the photo album back on the couch and carefully got to her hooves.  Plodding into the kitchen, she headed straight for a cupboard in the back, opening it and retrieving the bottle of wine resting there.  She blew on the bottle, raising a cloud of dust that swirled in the air, catching the last strands of dim winter light from the frost-covered window.  They had bought the wine a long time ago, intending to have it as part of an anniversary dinner that for whatever reason had never happened.
Rainbow pulled down a wine glass and a bottle opener, uncorking the wine and bringing both bottle and glass back to the couch before pouring herself a glass.  The wine was a pale rose color, almost exactly the same shade as Fluttershy’s hair had been.  It had been the main reason that Rainbow had picked out that particular wine, especially considering she wasn’t a big fan of the sweet wines.  Fluttershy was, though, and that had sealed the deal.
Rainbow sat on the couch, wine in hoof, watching the light catching the crystal of the glass and shimmering through the wine itself.  Raising her glass to the nearby wall, where a picture of a blushing Fluttershy hung, trying to avoid the camera by hiding behind a curtain of mane, she smiled.  “Rest well, Fluttershy,” she said sadly.  “You’re free now.”
Tipping a splash of wine into her mouth as a toast to her departed love, she sat back, letting the alcohol warm her belly before glancing back at the photo album once more.  Pulling it up next to her, she slowly flipped the pages with a shaking hoof worn with age, pausing here and there with a wistful smile at a particularly romantic picture or giggling at a funny one.  Memories flooded through her at each page, somewhat spotty with age but still filling her with a sense of joy and sadness.
Reaching the end of the album, Rainbow sat back in the couch with a sigh.  She glanced around the empty cottage, still her home yet no longer her home.  Gone were the sounds of her love, the idle humming, the clip-clop of her hooves on the floor, even the soft sound of her breathing.  All she had was the silence of her home and the sound of roses covering a coffin, a sound that still echoed in her ears.  
She took another sip of wine before staring up at the picture on the wall, her eyes heavy from exhaustion and a long day of tears.  I’m so tired, she thought, feeling the wine coursing through her, fully relaxing her body for the first time in four years.  Another tear formed at the corner of her eye as a pang of grief hit her, and she ignored it, allowing it to spill down the well-worn tracks in her fur.  She closed her eyes before another sob came, doing her best to still her mind and allow herself to drift away.
She had no idea how long she lay there with her eyes closed before she was startled out of the darkness by a familiar voice calling her name.  She jumped, dropping her wine glass, rose wine spilling across the hardwood floor as the delicate crystal landed on the rug under the couch.  Glancing around quickly, her jaw dropped as she found herself staring at the source of the voice, a voice that she had longed to hear for over a year.
Fluttershy sat there on the couch next to her, a soft smile on her face.
Gone were the deep lines of age, the clouded eyes, and the vacant expression that had been the norm for too long.  Gone was the silver mane and tail, replaced by the soft rose of her youth and interwoven with real roses.  Her pale yellow coat shone with health and life, and her face once more held the kindness and love that had knocked Rainbow head over hooves in the first place.
Fluttershy waved at her, giggling.  “Hello?” she said, her melodious voice bringing Rainbow to the brink of tears.  “This is Rainbow Dash, right?  Did you fall asleep again?”
“F-F-F-Fluttershy?” Rainbow replied, finally finding her voice.  Fluttershy giggled once more before reaching over and taking Rainbow’s hoof in her own.  Rainbow felt the warmth of her love’s touch on her own hoof, her voice failing her once more.
“Of course, silly,” Fluttershy replied kindly.  “Who else would it be?”  Her eyes glittered with a trace of mischief before she spoke again.  “Who else would put up with you for this long?”
“Hey, a lot of ponies would ‘put up with me’ for just a chance at my awesomeness,” Rainbow replied, reflexively falling into their familiar bantering routine.  Inside she was reeling, cut adrift, uncertain.  Her mouth worked for a moment before she managed to find the words she both wanted and didn’t want to say.  “B-but how…” she started before Fluttershy cut her off with a hoof on her lips.
“Don’t worry about it, love,” she said softly.  “I’m here now, and that’s all that matters.”
“I-I missed you so much,” Rainbow replied, a hitch in her raspy voice.  “I-I know it’s stupid, since you were with me and all, but I-I missed… you.”
“I know,” Fluttershy replied with a smile, the jeweled butterfly clip in her mane catching the dim light and twinkling like a star.  She leaned over, enveloping Rainbow in a gentle hug.  “That’s why I’m here.”
Rainbow felt the warmth and love surrounding her, and she took a deep breath.  Immediately, the scent struck her: Fluttershy’s scent, kindness and sunlight rolled into one.  The memories returned unbidden: memories of flying together, of laughing together.  Memories of their courtship, their wedding, their adventures, their love.  All of this flooded Rainbow’s mind and she gasped as tears began welling up in her eyes once more.  For the last time that long, grief-filled day, Rainbow Dash cried.  
She cried long, wracking sobs that shook her body to the core.  Fluttershy gently stroked her back as she held her, whispering comforting words all the while as the normally tough and confident pegasus let go of her restraint, tears of happiness and love and grief and sadness rolling down her cheeks.  Finally, the wave of emotion passed, and Rainbow looked up into Fluttershy’s sparkling eyes.  “So,” she said with a brief flash of trepidation, a shaky smile on her face.  “What happens next?”
“Next?” Fluttershy repeated as she slowly disengaged herself from Rainbow.  “Why don’t we find out together?  Isn’t that what we’ve always done?”
Rainbow chuckled.  “Another adventure?” she asked.
Fluttershy nodded, before lapsing into contemplation.  Her face brightened a moment later, and she stepped off the couch before turning to Rainbow.  “I-I’ve got an idea to start with,” she said, suddenly her shy self once more.  “I-If it’s ok with you, that is.”  She briefly shuffled her hooves before extending a hoof to Rainbow and dipping her head, her curtain of a mane obscuring her face as she spoke.  “Rainbow Dash, would you like to dance?”
Rainbow gaped at her for a moment before bursting out laughing.  “All this time, and you wanna dance?  Flutters, you know I can’t dance.  I couldn’t even dance at our wedding.”
Fluttershy pouted, blushing as Rainbow’s laughter washed over her.  “W-well, I guess I thought this would be a good time to learn,” she replied softly, looking up at Rainbow with wide, pleading eyes.  
Rainbow stopped laughing with a sigh and a wry grin.  She could never refuse that look.  Shaking her head in defeat, she folded her forelegs in mock-frustration.  “Fine,” she huffed, blowing a lock of brilliantly rainbow-colored hair out of her eyes as she glanced to the side.  “What do I need to do?”
She started as she felt something slide into her mane.  Looking over at Fluttershy, who was withdrawing her hoof, she reached up and felt her new decoration: a single rose, resting just over her right ear.  Fluttershy smiled at her and extended her hoof once more.  “Just follow my lead.”
Rainbow reached out, grasping her love’s hoof and allowing herself to be pulled off the couch and into Fluttershy’s embrace.  At first they just stood there, relishing each other’s touch, before Fluttershy began humming softly, giving them a rhythm to start.  It certainly wasn’t smooth sailing – Rainbow had never gotten the hang of dancing their entire life, and it wasn’t going to come easy right away – but eventually they settled into a rhythm as Fluttershy guided Rainbow through some simple back-and-forth steps.
They swayed together for what felt like hours, Rainbow drinking in Fluttershy’s scent as much as possible and sneaking kisses whenever she could.  Fluttershy’s giggles lifted her heart, slowly draining away all of the tension in her body, all of the built up anger and dismay gone.  Her beleaguered body felt ten times lighter, and she spread her wings wide with ease as she drew Fluttershy into a deep, passionate kiss, bringing the dance to a halt.
After a long, lingering moment, the two lovers broke apart, staring deeply into each other’s eyes.  Fluttershy kissed Rainbow once more before speaking.  “So,” she said playfully, a shy smile on her face as she mimicked Rainbow’s earlier question.  “What happens next?”
Rainbow gave her a cocky grin before wrapping her in another hug.  “Why don’t we find out together?”
The two pegasi looked at each other for a brief moment before bursting into peals of silvery laughter that echoed throughout the cottage.  “C’mon,” Rainbow said, guiding Fluttershy to the front door, passing by the table that still held Twilight’s note next to the jeweled clip.  “I spent all that time training you to fly better.  Let’s go find out if you still got what it takes.”
Fluttershy let out a squeak, blushing as Rainbow pulled her to the door.  “R-Rainbow, you know I-I still don’t fly very well,” she stammered.  “I-I really appreciate w-what you did for me, b-but…”  Her protests were silenced by Rainbow flinging the door open and hauling her out into the early night air, the chill winter wind passing through her with a shiver.
“C’mon, Flutters!” Rainbow cried, bounding out into the snowy yard.  “What better way to warm up on a cold night than a good fly?  Besides,” she finished with a grin, “You can just follow my lead.”  She spread her wings wide, feeling the winds ruffling her feathers for a moment before pushing off into the air.
Fluttershy looked up at Rainbow with an exasperated grin, leaving the door open behind them.  “I can think of something else that’d warm us up,” she muttered before spreading her own wings and taking to the air, snowflakes dancing around the two of them.
Rainbow’s cocky grin returned as Fluttershy approached.  “Don’t worry, Flutters,” she said.  “There’ll be plenty of time for that.”  She chuckled at the blush that swiftly spread across Fluttershy’s face, and darted forward to give her another kiss.  “Now, c’mon, let’s fly!”
Fluttershy let out another giggle at the sight of Rainbow’s enthusiasm, remembering one of the many reasons she fell in love with her all those years ago.  The two bright-eyed pegasi turned their attention to the glittering sky, and with easy, powerful strokes of their wings, set off into the brisk winter air, flying together for the first time in decades.



Twilight Sparkle slowly made her way down the snowy path to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s cottage, Rarity walking beside her.  The two were still dressed in their funeral garb, Rarity with a well-made black dress complete with hat and veil, and Twilight in a black variation of her regular princess attire.  Twilight walked with ease, keeping her steps measured and light with regards to the ageing unicorn next to her.  Despite all evidence to the contrary, Rarity still refused to fully admit that she was growing older, and anypony that ever asked was always told that she “simply wasn’t a shade over twenty-nine, darling.”
“Thanks for coming, Rarity,” Twilight said as they approached the small stone bridge, the chill winter’s evening air washing over them as the falling snow did its best to turn their black clothing white.
“Oh, no trouble at all, darling,” Rarity replied as she squinted ahead while attempting to look like she was not squinting at all.  “I was most concerned about Rainbow Dash’s appearance today.  She looked simply dreadful.”  She gave an affected shudder that had nothing to do with the cold.  “I do wish she would have let me design her something other than that old cloak.  It certainly would have been no trouble at all and honestly, the very least I could have done for her.”
Twilight smiled wanly.  Leave it to Rarity to be more concerned about how the grieving widow looked than anything else.  “At least it was a nice service,” she commented, more for the sake of saying something than of any desire to reminisce about the funeral of one of her best friends.  “Pinkie did a good job, especially considering the circumstances.”
“Yes, yes, she did,” Rarity replied with a distracted air.  She was busy trying to navigate her way across the bridge alongside Twilight, her diminished eyesight making it difficult to see exactly where the edges began.  
Twilight rolled her eyes with a small smile, extending a wing to guide her somewhat vain friend.  “You know, Rarity,” she said conversationally, “I hear there’s a unicorn up in Canterlot who’s developed a new magical procedure to help correct eyesight in order to eliminate the need for glasses.”
Rarity covertly shot her a grateful look while trying not to appear too interested.  “Is that so?  I may have to read up on this doctor and this new procedure of his.  What did you say his name was?”
Twilight giggled silently before answering.  “I believe his name is Dr. Bright Eyes, and from what I’ve seen, his work is rather fascinating.  I don’t doubt that ponies will be clamoring for his services before long.”  She looked up at the cottage, seeing a light glimmering in the window.  “Looks like Rainbow Dash is still up,” she said.
Rarity’s expression became somber.  “I do hope she’s doing all right,” she said.  “The poor dear was just beat down these last few months, stubborn little thing that she is.  Did you know that I offered on no less than ten occasions – ten! – to come watch Fluttershy so that she could simply have some time to herself?”  She let out a huff of indignation.  “She turned me down every time.  Said she could handle it by herself.”
Twilight nodded in reply.  “Yes, she did the same to all of us, even Applejack.  It’s not like Applejack is short on time these days, what with the size of her family.”
Rarity giggled as she reached up to knock on the door.  “I must say, her newest great-grandfoal has got to be one of the cutest little things, wouldn’t you agree?  He was such a darling in his little suit today.  I don’t often get a chance to design for the little ones; I was thankful that Apple Pie asked me to whip one up for him.”  Her smile drooped, and she let out a great sigh.  “I do wish it had been for a happier occasion, though.”  She stared at the door for a moment before knocking once more.  “What could be keeping Rainbow Dash?”
Twilight bit her lip as she stared at the door.  “Do you think I offended her with my note?” she asked nervously.  “I knew I shouldn’t have been so formal.  Maybe she thinks I don’t care that Fluttershy’s gone and doesn’t want to see me?”
Rarity gave her a look of exasperation.  “Darling, there is no possible way she could think that.  Not after that lovely eulogy you gave today.  I do believe there wasn’t a dry eye among the guests when you finished.”  She turned back to the door, her expression turning irritated, and she shivered as a sudden chill passed through her.  “Though I do agree, she should have answered by now.  Perhaps she fell asleep?”
Twilight nodded.  “Yes, yes, that’s probably it,” she said without any trace of nerves whatsoever, or at least that’s what she told herself.  “Let’s just check in on her, and we’ll be on our way, ok?”  
Rarity nodded, stepping aside for Twilight, who carefully opened the door with her magic.  The two friends slowly entered the silent cottage, glancing around with a touch of uncertainty.  “Rainbow?” Twilight called, her gaze quickly drawn to the light burning next to the couch across the room, and she stopped dead.
Rarity nearly bumped into Twilight when she stopped, and she carefully pushed around her with a slight glare.  “Twilight, what was that…”  She trailed off as she caught sight of what had caused Twilight to freeze and she gasped.  “Oh, my…”
Rainbow Dash was lying on the couch across the room, looking for all the world like she had fallen asleep, her head lolling to the side.  An empty wine glass lay on the floor next to the couch, the slowly spreading puddle of wine glistening on the hardwood floor.  Her hoof rested on a photo album lying next to her, the pages open to a set of wedding photos, the pair of them smiling widely.  The two of them could easily see from where they were standing that her chest was no longer moving.
“Oh, Rainbow…” Twilight said sadly, slowly approaching the body of her dear friend.  She heard a sniffle behind her and glanced back to see Rarity wiping her eyes as she began crying anew.
Rarity waved away her concern. “I-I’ll be fine, d-darling,” she said, a hiccup in her voice.  “I-I just need…”  She turned away a moment, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly.  When she turned back to face Twilight, she was no longer crying, but her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.  She slowly approached as well, standing next to Twilight and gazing down at Rainbow.  “S-She would do this, wouldn’t she?” she said sadly.  
“Do what?” asked Twilight.
“See Fluttershy off,” Rarity replied, “then follow her.  The loyal little fool.”  She said it with a smile as her tears started flowing once more.
Twilight said nothing, her emotions churning within her.  She felt the sting of tears beginning in her eyes.  After a day when she felt that she couldn’t cry anymore, fresh tears began making their way down her cheek as she looked into Rainbow’s sightless eyes.  Following their gaze led her to a picture of Fluttershy adorning the wall, where the bashful mare was trying to avoid the camera by hiding behind her mane.
Twilight smiled sadly, thankful that Rainbow’s last vision was that of her wife at her best.  She reached up to gently close Rainbow’s eyes, and her gaze caught something unexpected, especially since when she had seen Rainbow last, it certainly hadn’t been there.  “What’s this?” she murmured to herself as her hoof brushed against the object.
Intertwined in Rainbow’s faded, silvered mane, looking fresh and hale, was a single red rose.