> Anniversary of What?
>  by Gutovi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Naïvety and Obliviousness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sunshine gently envelops the houses and stores around me and highlighting the beauty of this quaint, lovely town I’ve grown to call my home. The sun’s gentle warmth over my coat feels like a personal wing-hug from Celestia herself; me being one of the only ponies in Equestria who has the privilege of knowing that feeling first hoof. I can see flocks of birds dancing around in the sky with gleeful abandon and I swear I can see the town twinkling with sparks of utter perfection.
Morning in Ponyville shimmers, morning in Ponyville shines! And I know for absolute certain... that today will be an unexpected day.
I’m sure most ponies will agree that such a wonderful, sunshine-filled morning would signal an amazing day and, were you to ask me the same some years ago, I’d have agreed immediately. But, not anymore. I don’t know if I would attribute it to Ponyville, my burden as a bearer and world-saviour or  life enjoying toying with me, but it is on these amazing days, that things go most unexpected. Days like these make me worry for my carefully planned schedules and my triple-checked itineraries.

Luckily, I don't have to ponder about the possibilities of what could happen on such a calm day for long, since I spot two of my best friends walking nearby. They don't seem to have noticed me, engrossed as they are in each other's faces in a seemingly random staring contest.
“Applejack! Fluttershy! Over here!” I wave at the two.
“Oh, howdy, Twi! Hope we didn’t keep y’all waitin’ too long.”
“Not at all, Applejack. I got us a nice table outside, the day seemed far too lovely to have brunch inside, don't you think?”
Fluttershy nods gently, and gives me a soft greeting hug before she takes her place on the table. “I'm sorry we didn't get to tell you earlier, Twilight, but it seems it will be just us today. We shouldn't have inconvenienced the staff with a table for six…”
“Oh? Are the others busy?”
“Pinkie said they’ve got a sudden, short-notice party comin’ up, n’ the Cakes need a lot o’ help to get all the food ready n’ whatnot,” Applejack explains as she takes a seat next to Fluttershy and adjusts her hat to better cover the sun rays.
“Oh, and Rarity said she was hit with a sudden spark of inspiration and she simply had to start designing. She has to have her line for next season ahead of time you know,” Fluttershy says gently, as if defending our fashionista friend’s absence.
“Of course, of course, it’s not easy to predict, stay ahead and set the trend…” I reply thoughtfully. But wait... The math doesn't add up! So I ask. “I assume Rainbow Dash is busy too?”
This got a quiet snicker out of Applejack who, upon a swift swat of Fluttershy’s wing, clears her throat and tries to reply seriously, but can’t keep the smirk out of her muzzle “Nah, Dash ain’t busy, she’s jes’ sleepin’ off all the cider in ’er system. Girl talks a big game, but those hollow bones seem to really soak up the alcohol mighty fast.”
I almost forgot, they had invited me to a little cider testing night, but I was busy with some princess reports. Really, royalty isn’t all that fun.
“Umm, well I didn’t feel very drunk last night.”
“Sug, y’all were nursin’ a single mug o’ cider all night long, n’ it was the non-alcoholic kind,” Applejack says flatly.
“I-it was?” Suddenly Fluttershy’s cheeks turn red and her feathers ruffle slightly. I would attribute it to the whole situation being a bit silly and clearly embarrassing her but…
“Didn’t stop y’all from actin’ all frisky later in the night, now did it?” Applejack utters with a grin that belongs more on a timberwolf than on a pony. Then again… frisky Fluttershy? That’s something I regret missing. We’ve seen our skittish friend transform when she gets angry or backed into a corner too much, but frisky? 
“That must have been quite the sight!” I giggle behind my hoof. Being at the Acres, I bet Big Mac was there, and back when I first got here there were a lot of rumors about those two. “Well, anyways… if it’s just us, then let’s order already, I’m starving!” I lift one hoof to signal the server to come by.

After a few minutes we were done with our meals. Well, mostly. Applejack had quickly wolfed down her double decker barbeque-tempeh sandwich, while Fluttershy had chosen to eat a large grilled oatburger with the house’s special sauce. This surprised me, but lately Fluttershy had started having larger meals. She hasn’t put on a single pound, however, so she must be exerting herself a lot more. Wonder what she’s up to?
Meanwhile, I am on my fifth hayburger. Alicorn cravings are WILD, let me tell you. I’m so glad my friends are as understanding and Ponyville’s residents are as discrete about it as they are. Unlike Cadence and Luna, I can’t conceal it very well at all, nor do I have special ops trained specifically in dealing with meal-time paparazzi as Celestia does.
Lunch had been quiet, seems we were all hungry for the first part because barely a word was uttered -except for praises to the food itself- until at least half of it was gone. With our hunger settled, we talk about each other’s day, as we finish our meal. After they were done with theirs, Fluttershy and Applejack kept a respectful silence, allowing me to devour my fries without interruption. They’d gone back to the impromptu staring contest from earlier apparently, although they weren’t doing all that well. There goes a blink… another… that’s another. Wow, they’re not good at this, Pinkie would be disappointed.
My loud sigh breaks them out of their little trance as I relish on my satisfying meal. “This place never fails me.”
Applejack chuckles and answers slyly “Never would’ve guessed, ‘Princess’. Ain’t like y’all eat here twice a week with or without us.”
“S-shut up! I am helping the Ponyville economy and boosting gastronomy, is all.”
Fluttershy tries and fails to cover her giggle with her hoof. I would be offended, but really, Applejack and Fluttershy are among the most gentle souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and I found myself smiling broadly rather than feeling insulted. Truly, they were one of the most dependable, reliable, predictable and constant of our little group. Rarely was I ever surprised by either, and I liked that. It balanced Pinkie’s… Pinkieness.

“Well, this has been lovely, Twilight, but we’ll have to be on our way now,” Fluttershy says as she stretches her back and wings before pulling one back, and draping the other across Applejack’s shoulders.  “Today is our first anniversary, and we had some plans already, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, of course not! Just curious, anniversary of what?” 
“Well, anniversary of us datin’, sugarcube! What else would it be?” Applejack chuckles and nuzzles Fluttershy’s cheek as they get up. “Ah’m jes’ gonna leave our part plus the tip, ‘cause we're in a bit of a hurry, alright?” she adds. She must’ve had a bag of bits somewhere, but I don’t notice as my eyes glaze over and my brain tries to process the information I have just received.
I think I heard some bits clanking on the table and a few goodbyes, but it could’ve just been my imagination. At the moment I was thousands of light years away, in a far off world -or inside my head, I’m not sure- screaming and mumbling questions at the air in search for an answer.
“WHAT!? What do you mea- what. No, really, what!? STOP. What!?” Apparently, these last few words were actually screamed, and I notice the patrons of the restaurant worriedly looking over to me, a few mothers shielding their young just in case.
Oh no. I can’t deal with this right now, there are more important matters at hoof. I mumble a short apology as my cheeks redden and I run past the server, uttering “P-put what’s missing on my tab!”
I keep on running, unsure of where to go or what to do, my head is in a scramble and I just can’t believe it all. Anniversary? I didn’t even know they were dating! Hay, I didn’t even think Fluttershy liked mares. How could this happen? They’re my best friends for Celestia’s sake! But, they didn’t act bashful about it, so this wasn’t some sort of confession they were hiding or something, so how could I have missed this?
I am hyperventilating and at this point I'm not sure if it is because of the sudden physical exertion or just my anxiety, so I slow down to a short canter and finally a brisk walk. There’s no way I missed this. I can’t have! The uncaring book-blinded dork that didn’t listen or noticed her surroundings is long gone and buried, isn’t she? I still get hooked on books now and then, but there’s no way I’d miss something so huge! Is it a prank? Is the whole Discord thing happening again and I missed one extremely important moment and am now left out of the loop? I have to talk to someone else about it.
As my brain settles on a plan, I look up to what seems to be the first show of good luck on this ‘shimmering, shining Ponyville morning’. Inadvertently, my hooves have taken me to Carousel Boutique, and truly, who better than Rarity to talk to right now? She’s arguably Fluttershy’s closest friend - although now it seemed Applejack was leagues closer than what I expected - and Rarity’s a self-proclaimed expert on romance and love, surely she knows about this and can tell me what I missed. Or better yet, let me in on the prank and we can just laugh off this definitely ridiculous joke. Yes, a silly prank, that’s all. I didn’t miss an obviously massive event in my best friends' life, it is just a ruse. I definitely didn’t fall back on my bad habits.
So sure am I that this was all a big joke, that I don’t just barge in the boutique like a lunatic. Instead, I only pound the door with my hoof several times, making it rattle.

“Heavens, darling, it is a door, not a bongo! What is this ruckus?” Rarity opens the door with the face of a mare who has half a mind to scold somepony’s ears off, but upon noticing me, she changes it into an awkward smile. “Oh, it is you, Twilight, darling! What brings you here and knocking so… vehemently?”
I intended to apologize and start a pleasant conversation with her, like any normal pony would, but I guess my mouth has other plans because I hear myself blurting “Fluttershy and Applejack!?”
Rarity is obviously perplexed at such a nonsensical question, I can see it in her eyes. I think she notices the strain and worry in my voice, because she raises an eyebrow and inquires “Are they alright? Did something bad happen?” Her eyes shoot up, wide and she grabs me by the shoulders. “Are they hurt?”
“No, they’re celebrating their anniversary.”
“Oh.” Rarity smiles and let go of my shoulders, falling back on her all four hooves with the grace of a ballerina and walks back inside, leaving the door open.
I guess that’s my cue to follow her inside. Regaining enough sense of mind, I follow her inside and close the door.
“Anniversary of what, may I ask?”
“Them dating!” 
Rarity’s ears flick around and she looks back at me with a soft giggle. “Excuse me darling, I must have misheard you. Anniversary of what?”
“Anniversary of them dating, Rarity! Going out! You know… kissing and hugging and going on dates an-”
“AHEM! Darling, I swear I cleaned my ears recently, but it seems you’re saying they are celebrating a year of being a couple?” her giggle turns hoighty and strained, like if she laughs any posher I’ll stop joking or something. Which means I’m not the only one! 
“Y-you didn’t know either?” I let out a long, deep, relieved sigh. “So I’m not going back on my hermit ways!”
“Seriously, darling, what are you even going on about? You have not made a bit of sense today!”
“I just came back from lunch with the girls, and they told me they were celebrating their anniversary of dating! I feel so embarrassed, but I didn’t even know they were going out together! Did you?”
Rarity snorts at me - quite unladylike for her-  and lifts her head. “Now, you are being frankly ridiculous, darling. I was with Fluttershy at the spa last week and she told me herself that her relationship status has been the same as it’s been!” Oh boy, her eyes just shot open... and there go her pupils shrinking. “F-for the past eleven months…”

Looking deep into Rarity’s paralyzed expression and focusing on her pinprick pupils, I swear I see a tiny Rarity screaming and pulling on her mane inside.
“So Fluttershy did tell you!” I can’t believe Rarity wouldn’t tell us about this.
She shakes her head around like a mare possessed, yet somehow doesn’t ruin her delicate coiffure. What does she even use in that mane? “No, no, this simply can not be! I refuse to accept it.” She looks at me, that’s some heavy worry in her eyes. “Yet you are not one to play jokes on others. You must be wrong, you must!”
“What? But you just said it yourself that she tol-”
“No, no, it must be wrong, dear, because that would mean she told me she was dating somepony and I missed it. And that is simply ridiculous! HAHAHAHA!” The miracle keeping her mane pristine is wearing off, I can see some unruly curls poofing out of control. Is this how I look when I have my own breakdowns? “WHY ARE YOU NOT LAUGHING?” Yep, sounds like what breakdown me would say.
“Rarity, I’m serious! And this is serious, how could we not know!?”
She stopped laughing like a psycho, that’s good, right? Oh, and she’s walking… to the kitchen.
“Twilight, we are reasonable mares, surely there is no way we would miss such an event in our best friends’ lives. A cup of tea is all we need to decipher this.” Tea does sound nice right about now.

Rarity is obviously in shock. Probably like I was right before I got here, so I’ll let her finish up preparing tea. After that’s done, she serves us both a cup and I give her some extra time to drink and calm down.
Alright, she looks a bit better now, let’s start. “Did you know Fluttershy liked Applejack, Rarity?”
“No, darling, I did not. We had weekly meetings at the spa, but we rarely broached the area of romance. Well, at least she rarely talked about it. In fact whenever I pried upon her love life she would always recite the same response. ‘O-oh, you know…’ ” she says in a weak imitation of Fluttershy's sweet voice. “ ‘still wishing for the’...”
“ ‘The’?” I ask. Her face is blanching… somehow.
“...’The apple of my eye’. Oh Celestia.” She brings both fore hooves to her face and groans. “I believe my tea needs a little kick.”
I see her magic come to life and soon a small flask from a high cupboard floats to the table and starts pouring an amber liquid into her teacup. Should I bring up the fact that her teacup has no more tea left and she’s just filling it up with whatever’s on that flask? Oh, too late, she already downed it all in a single swig.
Aaaand there goes another ‘tea’ shot. “She even brought Tallulah to the spa last week, how could I not notice the significance of that!?”
“Tallulah? Who’s Tallulah?”
“It’s the name Applejack has for her hat! And I only know this because Fluttershy told me!”
“Why did she have even have it on her?”
“Applejack had apparently told her to… keep it warm for her.” Hoof meeting face again, although this time with decisively more force.
“Okay, how did you not notice that, Rarity? What ‘friendly’ gesture is that!?”
“I don’t kno-ho-ho-how! Just how many things like this have we missed?”
“Well, they can’t be that many!” Ah, karmic retribution, my old enemy. my mind thought it proper timing to bring up our earlier meeting, especially when they arrived and when they were waiting for me to finish eating. “Oh Luna.” I try not to be too biased in my sayings. “Those weren’t staring contests.”
“What?”
“When they got to the restaurant they didn’t even notice me ‘cause they were so… busy looking deeply into each others eyes.”
Rarity scrunches up her face. If I wasn’t on the receiving end, I’d find it cute. “Twilight, are you serious, darling?”
“I knew they were losing so badly, blinking normally!” I confess as my cheeks heat up. “How could I not notice that…”
“Are we the only two who are unaware of this?”
“We have to be. It’s obvious we missed some pretty blatant things, but the rest definitely know! ...right?”
Rarity suddenly raises herself on the table, full of DETERMINATION. “Rainbow Dash!” is all she says, but truly, it’s all she needs to.
“You’re right! She’s known Fluttershy since childhood, and she spends most her time competing or goofing around with Applejack, she definitely knows!”

With a newfound destination, we both quickly left the shop looking for the pegasus’ cloud mansion. A quick cloud-walking spell, a short flight, and here we are, both knocking on the door.
A growl emanates from inside as the only response, so we knock again. Another groan and another knock go by, until we are finally greeted by a sleepy Rainbow Dash.
“What is it, girls?”
“Hello, Rainbow. Sorry to bother you but Rarity and I were wondering if you knew today was Applejack’s and Fluttershy's anniversary?”
“Anniversary of wha-”
“There is no time for that, darling. Rainbow Dash, did you know that Fluttershy and Applejack are dating?”
Her eyes blink at different times and I worry she’s picking up habits from Tank. A second later her eyes widen and she starts smiling. “Whoa, really? That’s pretty neat. Who are the lucky stallions?”
Rarity and I look at each other and then back. “No, Rainbow, they’ve been dating each other. For a year, apparently.”
Rainbow Dash starts snickering, then laughing, and finally guffawing for a solid minute. “Ah, good one girls, almost got me. You should join me and Pinkie for pranks, you’re not half bad.”
“Rainbow, darling. We’re serious, we just found out and we want to believe it was just us missing it all for some reason.”
“Alright, alright. Joke’s old already. Prank’s done, don’t keep the act.”
“We're serious.”
“...It’s too early in the morning for this.”
“It’s already afternoon, Rain-”
“You are talking nonsense! No way.”

A few minutes later we filled her in on our memories and findings. She's currently holding her head with her hooves.
“Oh man, that's why she was there…”
“Who was where, darling?”
Dash sighs “Some months ago I visited Shy at dawn.” Dash? At Dawn? She must've noticed our disbelieving eyebrows because she quickly adds. “I was up all night.” Now that I believe. “Anyways, I got to her house knowing she's an early riser, and knocked. Got surprised when Applejack opened the door. All happy and bedheaded. We shared some breakfast before AJ had to go work on the farm.”
Rainbow Dash.
“Darling.”
She pulls in her face so hard her bottom eyelids follows her hooves.
“Ugh! And this happened several times lately! I just thought since they were both early risers they were just meeting up for breakfast!”
“Rainbow Dash, dear, really now?”
“Nooo!” She wails like an angered banshee.
“I know, it's hard to believe we've been so blind to it.” I rest a hoof on her shoulder. I know how hard it is to think we’ve missed something like this.
“No, this means that Fluttershy has been getting it on way more often than I have!”

After our blushes subsided, we all went to check on the only pony that, without a doubt, would know about this. Arguably part of the Apple family and with such an accurate and uncanny ability to know things that raises serious questions to the ‘magicless earth pony’ theory. There’s no way Pinkie Pie is unaware.

“Oh! Anniversary of what?”

A few minutes of explanation later, we are all in Pinkie's room as she alarmingly cries and runs around, checking schedules and calendars.
“This can't be, girls! This means I missed so many parties including this anniversary itself! The 'Congratulations, Appleshy!’ party for their 1st day together, the ‘Glad you found meaning!’ party for their 42nd day together, I even missed the 343rd one! I feel so guilty, Sparkle!” She’s shaking me back and forth with such incredible strength and speed I have to wonder if non-alicorns could survive it. “Oh, I even missed the one for their 360th day together! It's like their first one but with a twist. How could I miss so many!”
“Pinkie Pie, dear! I believe it is far more worrying that none of us noticed they were dating to begin with!”
“Think, Pinks! Can you remember stuff about them that we should've picked up? Hints they were dating or at least liked each other?”
“Wellll, I did think it was weird that Fluttershy was at the last Apple Family reunion… and she sat next to Applejack… and she didn’t leave when the night was over…”
A loud slap sound reaches my ears as Rainbow Dash’s hoof meets her face with a passion. “Are we super blind, or just stupid?”

It’s been an hour since we all gathered at the throne room to share and remember signs we should’ve seen coming.
“How about the time where Applejack went out of her way to carry an incapacitated Fluttershy AAAAALLL the way up a mountain through the long way, when Rainbow Dash could’ve flown her there at the same speed as us or Twilight levitated her?”
A round of groans follows, before I add: “I remember that when Applejack and Fluttershy were called to deal with the kirin, they were all winky and smiley and nudgy and talking about them being ‘so good at solving friendship problems’... Then I remembered that their previous mission was in Las Pegasus…”
“Oh they totally celebrated their mission success there, I bet!” 
“Rainbow Dash, please, would you stop insinuating and talking about our friends’… intimate activities?”
“I meant they definitely went drinking! What were you thinking about?”
Rarity’s cheeks get so pink, I fear they’ll plan a party. Still, she fumbles with another story “W-well, regardless, I seem to remember one other moment. When Discord betrayed us to that Tirek brute, I remember Fluttershy flung herself into Applejack’s arms to cry with wild abandon, do you girls recall?”
“Ooh! Ooh! That one time Trixie did the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive, Fluttershy totally draped herself over Applejack’s shoulders!” Pinkie adds.
“Okay, well, but that doesn’t really count, right?” Dash interjects. “Like, AJ’s probably the most levelled of us, and really, even if I was scared about something and had to hold on to one of us, she’d definitely be top spot, right? I’m not alone in that, am I?”
Well, she’s not wrong… but this does make me realize. “Well to be fair… many of the memories we’ve been having can be totally platonic… but now that we know they’re together, they look so different!”
“You’re right… I still can’t believe they didn’t tell us!”
“That is very true!” Rarity huffs.
Suddenly, Pinkie gasps with such intensity I start feeling the air of my own lungs being sucked in as well. “You guys! We are as dense as my family’s farm rocks! Don’t you remember that one party last year? In Canterlot? We could bring a date!”
“Why yes darling, I worked on those dresses for weeks! And they were glorious~”
“No, shoot, she’s right! They came together and alone, and when we asked they said…” Dash adds.
“We came together!” We all say in unison, before groaning in varying degrees of annoyance.
“I thought it was just friendly… so they didn’t feel alone or something…”
“They really couldn’t have been much more obvious!”
“What’s with all the shouting and groaning, is everything ok in here?”
“Oh, hey Starlight…” Ah, my reformed student, surely you’ll help us. “We just found out today is, apparently, Applejack and Fluttershy’s anniversary.”
“Aww, that’s wonderful! I should congratulate them.” You knew. How could you? Why didn’t WE? “Oh, shoot, were we supposed to get them something? I know usually couples get each other gifts, but I didn’t know friends had to! I’m new to all this, still. You have to give me a warning, girls!”
The synchronized movement of four pairs of ears honing in on her must look quite menacing, because I see her take a step back and look at us worriedly.
“You knew?” I finally voice.
“I just said I wasn’t prepared for it, how could I’ve known it was their anniversary already?”
“No, darling, we are surprised you knew they were dating at all. We found out today!”
“What.” That’s the face of pure confusion. “No, seriously… what. What do you mean?”
“It means we didn’t know they were dating, silly.”
“How could… but they’re… what. You’re their best friends! What!? Are you messing with me?”
“No Starlight, we aren’t… we truly just found out, and we’ve been here exchanging stories and realizing we were just way too blind.” I admit.
“But they flirt all the time! Sure, it is tame for most ponies' standards, but given we’re talking about Fluttershy and Applejack, it’s pretty obvious. I’ve seen them kiss a lot, too! Surely you didn’t miss THAT.” She seems exasperated as she walks toward us, looking at our faces in search for a crack, probably still thinking we are pulling her leg.
“Kiss? We couldn’t have missed that! Surely, they must’ve done it away from us!”
“Girls, they do it every time they get here, and every time they leave!”
“It is nothing but a friendly peck, dear.”
“Friendly peck on the lips?”
The images. They return to me. I can see it clearly now. The lingering stares, the too-friendly rubs, the way-too-long hugs, them leaving together at the end of most parties… it’s been going on for so long, and we were blind to it all. Face, reacquaint yourself with the cutie map again.
“I don’t believe you, girls!” I hear Starlight give a soft chuckle. “Next time you’ll tell me you didn’t know me and Trixie are together.” 




What.