Love or Flutterdash?
The night was young, and the spark was lit. The mares, stallions, and fillys waited expectantly, ready to cheer at the appropriate moment. The thin wire had been set up like a complex set of falling dominoes, traveling over, under and around obstacles, and burning through interesting shapes and spirals. The ponies follwed the flaming line with their eyes, Pinkie Pie unable to suppress a giggle as the flame traveled down two different wire paths into spirals, making her very dizzy. The paths merged back into one, and then into seven paths. Each path led to a rocket, the seven rockets spread in a basic arrow formation so that they would be set off at different times, the smallest first and the biggest last.
Pthfsssshhooooooooow!
The first rocket soared up and exploded in green showers, and the ponies cheered. The other rockets exploded in various colors, the last one bursting in a rainow colored explosion. It was at this last hint that many of the crowd members understood that the seven rockets stood for the six mares that had helped save the Crystal Empire, plus Spike the dragon, who had previously been unknown to the Equestrian fanbase following the adventures of the six ponies who had thwarted Nightmare Moon and Discord. Two sizable rockets blasted off then, twirling around each other as they soared up. A third rocket followed behind the other two, difficult to notice by those not on the sides of the crowd. The two dancing rockets burst to reveal images of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor with an enamourous gaze for each other, the third rocket bursting into a heart set behind the two. The cheering grew ever louder, especially from the many, many crystal ponies in the audience. Just about every pony in the Crystal Empire who had been able to come had attended. This was all, after all, to celebrate their successful return to existance.
Princess Celestia stepped up to the podium at the head of the crowd. "Mares and gentlecolts, welcome to the 147th Annual Equestrian Fair!" She paused for more cheering. As she gazed into the crowd, she couldn't find one unpleasant expression. Everypony was ready for a good night. "This year, the fair is held in the great and shining Crystal Empire to celebrate its rebirth! The fair's presence here would not have been possible without the aid of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, the Elements of Harmony Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, and their assistant Spike the dragon, as well as all of you! I hope you enjoy the attractions, and don't forget to donate to further rebuilding and modernization of the empire. Let the festivities begin!"
Music blared from either side of the crowd and more fireworks were shot off. Some stayed to continue watching the rockets while others dispersed to experience the food, games, and carnival rides. Pinkie Pie became a speeding blur trying to experience all three at once, only to be told she couldn't bring food on the rides. "Opps!" she said, giggling. "I forget every year!"
Rarity walked to the hall of mirrors with a serious expression on her face. While many considered it barely a ride, Rarity found looking at the deformed versions of herself quite a challenge, and was determined to make it all the way through this time. Rainbow Dash wanted to continue watching the fireworks, but knew that if she didn't get in the line for the fair's largest roller coaster soon, then she'd have to wait FOREVER to get on. She zipped into the air and used the advantage of wings to get to the ride before most of the earth ponies and unicorns.
"Sweet!" she said, landing next to a sign indicating a five minute wait. That would be no time at all.
"Hey, I imitated you," said a crystal pegasus landing just behind her. "I don't think we're technically supposed to fly while the fireworks are still going but we're smart enough to stay low, right?"
"Right!" said Rainbow Dash. "This ride was the best part of the fair last year, and they've added to it since then. Oh hey, you're a crystal pony, so this whole fair must be new to you, right?"
"Mm-hm," replied the crystal pony. "We had traveling carnivals and such, but they weren't this large scale. I mean, they were a lot of fun, but I think this totally surpasses it."
Pinkie stood at the front of the food stall Applejack had set up, eyes darting around at the treats.
"Howdy there, Pinkie! What can I get for ya?"
"Ooo, it's so hard to decide! There's so many different things! Whoa, those caramel apples are really big!"
"Yep," said Applejack, aiming her front-left hoof at the display of giant caramel apples on sticks. "I betcha one of these could fill the appetite of just about anypony in Eques-"
"I'll take three!" said Pinkie excitedly.
"Uh, three? All for yerself? Are ya sure?"
"Yep!"
"Alrighty then, that'll be nine bits."
Pinkie handed her the money and Applejack watched, a little stunned, as she ate all three caramel apples faster than Applejack herself could've eaten one. "Honey, I gotta ask, where does it go?"
"I have a fast metabolism! And hopping everywhere burns lots of calories, allowing me to eat lots more yummy tasty treats!"
"Now I'm no doctor, but-"
"Oh Applejack," said Pinkie, laughing and rolling her eyes. "Doctors gave up on me a LONG time ago!"
Twilight Sparkle gazed lovingly at the magic powered lights of the faris wheel under the starry night sky. She and Spike had stayed to watch the last of the fireworks and were now walking to get some popcorn. She glanced over the crowds of ponies as she passed by. Successfully passing Celestia's Crystal Empire test had given her new confidance, and though she wasn't an official overseer of the fair, she wanted to watch out for anything going wrong. So far, things seemed to be progressing smoothly. Not a villin, cretin, or parasprite in sight, and by the time they reached the popcorn stand, her stoic formality was fading into a gentle geeky biss.
"Umm hey, are you Twilight Sparkle?"
Twilight turned to see two mares, the left with a lipstick red mane and pale yellow coat, and the right with a light blue mane and off-white coat.
"Yes, I am."
"Okay," said the left mare, who had been the one to speak initially. "Well I was, that is, my friend and I, we were, umm..."
Before her stammering could continue, the right mare stepped in and said, "We were hoping you could tell us the story of how you and your friends saved the Crystal Empire."
"Yeah, cause we've been hearing all sorts of crazy rumors."
"Like the one that says Shining Armor chucked his wife!"
"Oh yeah! As if!"
"Actually," said Twilight. "That really happened!" She paused to admire the shocked looks on the two mare's faces before saying, "I'd be happy to tell you two the story." As she gracefully collected her recent memories and mentally stacked them like a deck of index cards, she dove into the narrative. As she spoke, passerby noticed what story she was telling, and soon she had a small crowd around her. She was worried that she might be boring Spike, but in a way it was his story more than anyone else's, and when it got to his part, she let him take over. By the time the story hit its climax, there were quite a few ponies around the purple mare and her assistant.
"We should've made this one of the attractions!" joked the popcorn stall attendant, and some of the ponies laughed.
Fluttershy settled into a wodden seat between an excited young colt filly and a stallion partially covered in bandages. She had stopped at the first animal related event she had noticed. A banner hung over the stage displaying painted drawings of animals both big and small. "Should be starting soon," the mother of the filly told him. A couple minutes after her words, the curtain on the stage pulled back, and two stallions in striped outfits stepped forward. They reminded Fluttershy a bit of the Flim Flam brothers, but with a bit more genuinity in their expressions.
"Welcome to the world famous Dr. Sal Silverster Star's Animal Show!"
"Now before we begin our presentation, can we talk about how good Soaring Eagle brand shampoo is?"
Both stallions held up a bottle.
"It revitalizes and rejuvinates hair, leaving no flakiness or gray tones!"
"We're not paid to advertise it or anything. We really think it's that good!"
This got a smile from Fluttershy and some laughs from the crowd.
"Now," said the left stallion, sounding a bit more serious. "A lot of animal shows typically start with a few small routines and slowly build up to their best stuff."
"Unfortunately," said the right one, "we won't be able to do things that way tonight because... We simply don't have room in our jam packed collaboration of fantastic beasts for any small routines!"
There was some cheering, and the two stallions yelled out together, "Let's bring out the tiger!"
The curtin closed and when it pulled back again there was standing a white tiger, it's thick coat showcasing that it came from the cold tundra just outside the Crystal Empire. Fluttershy's eyebrows raised at what was surely in nature a very wild beast. But his eyes showed maturity as well as pride and dignity, and his pose had a calm demeanor. "He must've been awfully hard to tame," said Fluttershy, thinking out loud.
"Oh, you bet," said the stallion sitting next to her. "How do you think I got all of these bandages?" It was only then that she noticed he was wearing the same uniform as the stallions on the stage under his bandages.
The tiger was made to leap onto balls and platforms and through hoops, then hoops on fire. Fluttershy clapped along with the other ponies. Though at times she wondered how much the tiger could be enjoying this, he seemed to have a good repore going with the trainers, and she sensed affection between them. Then the trainers said they were going to let a filly from the audience ride the tiger, and Fluttershy's eyebrows went into her mane. Surely that couldn't be safe! When a little colt from the second to front row was placed on the tiger's back, she tensed up, willing to fly at the beast to snatch him from danger if that's what it took when the tiger's menacing side broke out. But he simply took the little colt for a casual stroll around the stage. The audience cheered for the colt, and he waved to his parent's from atop the tigers back. What a great memory for him to make, and what a story to tell his friends! Fluttershy couldn't help but give a small cheer along with the others.
"Hey Twilight, what's up?" said Rainbow Dash, running up to meet with Twilight, who didn't answer immediately cause she was in the middle of a yawn.
"Me and Spike are getting kinda tired." Spike was falling asleep on Twilight's back. "Scratch that. Really tired."
"Heh, not me," said Rainbow Dash. "I'm gonna stay till closing if I can."
"I think we're gonna head back to the castle suite," said Twilight. "See you tomorrow."
"See ya." Rainbow Dash glanced around at the attractions. "Mare, I've been on so many roller coasters that I'm starting to feel dizzy. Maybe I should just chill and hang with somepony for a bit. If anypony else is still awake that is. Hey, is that Fluttershy?" She trotted through the crowd to meet up with Fluttershy, who had a small bag in her mouth with a bottle of water and an apple. "Hey Fluttershy. Been enjoying the fair? I bet you loved Nightmare Mountain." Nightmare Mountain being the name of the largest roller coaster, this was a joke statement, as she knew Fluttershy was terrified of roller coasters.
Fluttershy set down her bag and said, "Oh, well I haven't been on that, but I did go to an amazing animal show. I assumed the birds would be my favorite part, and they were very lovely, but I knew what almost all of them were. There was a tundra tiger I'd never seen one of before though, and a couple of animals I'd never even HEARD of before. It was very impressive. I guess sometimes it's nice to be surprised."
"Yeah," said Rainbow Dash. "Unexpected good things are the best kind." Her and Fluttershy had very few similarities, but that had never stopped them from being very good friends, and Rainbow could see where she was coming from here. It was odd, really. There were so many other pegasi with personalities similar to her, and she'd had many casual friendships with them over the years, but the only one that had really stuck was Fluttershy. She had supposed that being opposites made things a lot more interesting. Long term, at least. In the short term she'd rather hear about flying techniques than an animal show, but in the end, Fluttershy's friendship offered something she couldn't get from other pegusi. "So, I've been on all the rides I want to for a little while. Wanna just hang out?"
"Alright." Fluttershy slipped the loops of the bag over her wing so she'd be able to talk. Rainbow Dash was the only pegusi she was able to talk to for any good length of time. When she was little and had still lived in Cloudsdale, the other fillies had picked on her for being so inadequate at flying and so easily scared, but Rainbow Dash had often stepped in and stood up for her. She hadn't had to do it as much since Fluttershy had found her new home in the forest, but they had remained friends off and on their whole lives, and now, seeing as they were two of the Elements of Harmony, it seemed like they would continue to be friends forever.
As they strolled down the grassy lane, Rainbow Dash pointed out a filly mare that had a cutie mark that looked exactly like Fluttershy's Element, except it was painted on. "Must be one of the attractions."
"Yes, I think I passed by it earlier," said Fluttershy. "Actually, I've been thinking. Someday, the six of us will be too old to be fighting villins and such."
"You're right!" said Rainbow Dash, getting where this is going. "So, these kids getting their flanks painted could someday be the new Elements of Harmony!"
"I bet," said Fluttershy, with a hoof on her chin, "that if Scootaloo were here, she'd be getting a cutie mark just like your element of Loyalty."
"Heh," said Rainbow. "I'd better start training her now if she thinks she's going to be taking over for me! Okay that's it, this is too cool. We need to find that stall."
"Perhaps we could ask one of the ponies that works here where it is," suggested Fluttershy. "I see somepony at an information booth over there."
"K. Go ask him."
"Oh, me?" said Fluttershy, started. "But I think you're much more qualified to-"
"To what?" said Rainbow, making her voice more firm. "To ask somepony who's job it is to tell us things where something is? You don't exactly need a masters degree. So go ask him."
"Oh, well... okay." Fluttershy knew that she couldn't win, and also that Rainbow was doing this in her best interests. She was always trying to get her to be more confidant socially. It was true that it was getting easier all the time, especially with ponies that she knew in Ponyville, but here at a big event full of ponies she'd never met it was more challenging. She took a breath and started walking towards the booth, very self conscious of the way she moved and trying not to get in the way of any passerby.
Rainbow Dash leaned against a nearby wall and waited. Some ponies would have a hard time believing it, but Fluttershy had once been much more shy than she was now. It had been at its worst in high school. Sometimes she could barely get through a conversation with friends (which she'd had very few of), and was so self-conscious that even the smallest mistake would end in tears. Honestly, it was downright unbearable, and for a while, the two of them were barely friends. When Rainbow was around the pegasi she called her friends (although now they were vague memories), she would put Fluttershy down to keep herself looking cool. Nowadays, she understood that if Fluttershy did anything that made her look lame, she could make up for it in ten seconds flat.
Rainbow Dash had hoped that the put downs would make her realize she needed to toughen up, but all they seemed to do was make things worse. She felt sorry for Fluttershy, but it was hard to want to help somepony who didn't seem capable of helping herself. One day in gym class she watched as Fluttershy failed to perform the exercises they were given at the beginning of the period. The ponies behind her were mocking her, shattering whatever confidance she began with, and the coach yelled at her for not even being able to perform the basics they were supposed to have down since last year. At this, Fluttershy gave up and ran into the changing room, and Rainbow Dash could see the tears running down her face. Rainbow sighed, and when the coach wasn't looking, she followed her.
Fluttershy was sitting on one of the stone backless benches in the changing room, crying into her hooves. Though Rainbow was pretty sure Fluttershy couldn't tell who had entered, it was clear she knew somepony had.
"I'm sorry!" she yelled.
Rainbow stepped closer to her, unsure yet what drive other than pure pity had led her in here or what she was going to say. This changing room had a grass floor and glassless windows, and a slight breeze rustled Rainbow Dash's mane. "Flutter-"
"I'm sorry!" Fluttershy yelled again, taking one shaky glance from under her hooves before bringing her back legs up onto the bench and burying her face in them. "I'm sorry I'm so worthless!" Her voice was much louder than it usually was, and it echoed off of the stone walls. "I wish I'd never been born! I'm not supposed to be around other ponies! I'm supposed to be in the woods with animals! What the buck is wrong with me!?"
Rainbow Dash's mouth twitched. There was something really upsetting about Fluttershy cussing. If she was going to be lame, the least she could do was not do the wrong things that cool ponies did. "You're going to have to be around other ponies no matter what."
"No. No, because..." Fluttershy took a shaky breath. "After high school, I'm never talking to anypony ever again. I won't ever bother anypony. They'll forget I ever existed. I won't burden any of them."
As Fluttershy said this, her flow of tears increased, and Rainbow Dash knew that this wasn't the future she wanted deep inside. In fact, Rainbow could swear she trying to sound as pitiful as possible, so that Rainbow would lavish pity on her and give her a big hug and tell her it was alright. But she didn't think that was going to help.
"How will you get food and clothing without other ponies?"
"I-"
"You need them!" said Rainbow Dash sternly.
"But I'm worthless! I can't do anything right!" Fluttershy buried her head deeper into her legs.
"Look at me." Fluttershy didn't look up. "I said, look at me!" Fluttershy slowly raised her head to look at Rainbow Dash. "Are you listening? I'm only going to say this once." Fluttershy nodded slowly, her face wet, quivering slightly.
"You can do anything that I can do," said Rainbow Dash.
After a moment, Fluttershy shook her head a bit. "No, that's-"
"It's true. You're alive. You have wings. You're not crippled. I don't see what's stopping you."
"But..." said Fluttershy, struggling to have reason to give up. "I'm not as good as you!"
"Why?" asked Rainbow flatly.
"I'm not talented!"
"You can get better."
"I'm not cool."
"You can get better."
"I'm not beautiful."
"Neither am I," said Rainbow Dash with a shrug. "Ponies don't seem to mind looking at me." A couple of mares, friends of Rainbow Dash, had entered the changing room and were looking at the two of them, but she didn't take her gaze away from Fluttershy.
"You're different!" Fluttershy was breathing in short, rushed breaths. "You've always been a great flier! I take care of animals."
"So what!?" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Did Celestria declare it a law that flying is cool and animals are lame!? Ponies like animals!"
"But-"
"It's not the animals! Other ponies weren't born better than you! I train and talk to ponies and work hard! I wasn't born better than you! It's just you! You give up and run away and avoid everything scary! I can stick up for you and tell other ponies to get off your back, but why should I do that if you won't try?" Rainbow said these last three words with a serious finality. She waited a moment, but Fluttershy didn't speak, so she continued. "You're not worthless. But you have to try." She didn't have anything more to say, and Fluttershy was staring at the ground silently. She had stopped crying. Rainbow left the dressing room, passing by her friends. She thought that she would get picked on by them the next day, but if anything, their respect for her seemed to increase.
And little by little, Fluttershy improved. Rainbow Dash saw a determination in her eyes that hadn't been there before. And once she saw her trying, really trying to improve, she became there for her more often when those attempts failed and she needed some cheering up or somepony to have her back. And it was worth it. Rainbow discovered why she had been friends with Fluttershy when they were younger. Though they didn't share the same taste, Fluttershy's overwhelming love of nature and animals and call things cuddly was very endearing . . . in small doses at the very least. Her shyness was adorable just as often as anything else. And she was so willing to help in any situation that wasn't, well, terrifying (which to her was admittedly quite a few things). When Rainbow's teachers finally cracked down on her and said that her athletic prowess was not going to be enough to pass high school and she needed to get her math grade up (Rainbow felt she was able to determine wind speeds, angles, and such just fine with her body, but she didn't have a grasp of it on paper), Fluttershy became her tutor and helped her pass. She was certainly a much better teacher than the demented Ms. Hearthburn. Rainbow Dash also didn't feel like she had to try as hard around her. The idea of needing to look cool around Fluttershy was laughable.
Rainbow felt like most other pegusi were similar to her, but lesser. Fluttershy didn't seem less. Just different.
Fluttershy came back to Rainbow Dash, looking relieved. "She says it's just past the faris wheel, by the cotton candy stall."
"Alright," said Rainbow, streching. "Then let's- Whoa!" The wall she had been leaning against was apparantly just there for support and not suitable for leaning against. It fell down, and with a crack and a swoosh, the rest of the tent came down with it.
"Hey!" A security gaurd came walking towards them, a very displeased look on his face.
"Oh crud!" said Rainbow. "I recognize this guy! He's nuts! Steal a candy bar and he'll hold you in a cell for hours with a club pointed at you!"
"You two are in serious trouble!"
"What!?" said Fluttershy, eyes wide. "But I didn't do anything!"
"Run!" yelled Rainbow Dash, grabbing her hoof. She pulled Fluttershy down the grassy lane. She was a lot faster than Fluttershy was, and couldn't run at full speed, so she kept looking over her shoulder to make sure that they were still at a good distance away from the gaurd, who was doing an admirable job of keeping up despite the size of his gut. When they rounded a corner, Rainbow took Fluttershy under a table too low for the gaurd to fit under and came out the other side. But at the next turn they hit a dead end.
"Let me through! I'm in pursuit of two troublemakers! I HAVE A FILTHY ROOM SET UP JUST FOR YOU TWO!"
"Oh my goodness!" gasped Fluttershy. "He sounds really mad at us! Surely if we just explain it was an accident-"
"I didn't wanna take the chance of that not working then and it DEFINETLY wouldn't work now!" said Rainbow Dash. "We need to fly over these stalls. Can you do it?"
"That'll take us outside the park."
"The fair's almost over anyway! Can you do it!?"
Fluttershy nodded, her face set and serious. The gaurd rounded the corner in time to see the two of them fly over the stalls and out of the park. "IF I SEE YOU TWO AT NEXT YEAR'S FAIR YOU'LL BE IN TROUBLE!"
The two girls drifted down to the ground, trying to avoid places where there was mud, breathing heavily.
"Mare!" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Can you imagine being as mad as that guy ALL THE TIME?"
Fluttershy started chucking nervously.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing," said Fluttershy, still chuckling. "I was just so scared."
Rainbow Dash laughed too, thinking that was a pretty funny reason to be laughing, and the two of them laughed together for a solid while.
"Is it okay if we sit here for a bit?" asked Fluttershy, settling down on the grass. "I'm not used to running so fast. I'm still tired."
"Sure," said Rainbow Dash.
"The carnival looks so beautiful."
Dash took a look, ready to be unimpressed, but even she could appreciate the way the tents and lights looked against the starry night sky. "You're right." An odd thought popped into her head and she said, "It would make a nice painting."
Fluttershy looked at her, surprised, and said, "You like art?"
"Well..." said Rainbow Dash, thinking it over. "I like simple stuff. Like mountains and trees. Real stuff."
Fluttershy nodded. "For me it's all about color. If a painting could capture the colors of these lights, I bet it could be really lovely."
Dash was looking at the layout of the park. "What I like... Is seeing how it all fits together. Like, the design. Cause they couldn't just think about how it looked; they had to think about how easy it would be to get through and stuff. I wouldn't wanna build stuff for a living, but looking at the end result and being able to see what the guys were thinking when they designed it is really cool, I think." Fluttershy was looking with interest at the layout of the fair, her brow furrowed a bit. "I mean," Rainbow Dash scooted closer and pointed, "there's the main path where the biggest rides are. They made that path the biggest because the most ponies would be walking on it. And then the little stalls and booths are on littler paths."
"Yeah," said Fluttershy. "I see. That's very interesting."
Rainbow Dash turned her head to look at Fluttershy, and was startled a bit by how the park was reflected in her eyes. Whoa. That . . . That is amazing. No joke.
Fluttershy turned to look at her. "What?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're giving me a strange look." She smiled.
"Yeah," said Rainbow Dash, suddenly finding her words lost. She gathered what she could. "I guess I am. I'm just... enjoying spending time with you." That sounds lame but... I bet she won't mind.
Fluttershy's smile widened and her eyes narrowed a bit. "Yeah. I am too."
All of Rainbow Dash's words were gone. Looking at Fluttershy, she was just so... different. So alien. And suddenly, she didn't want her to be so seperate. So far away. Rainbow Dash leaned forward.
Fluttershy did too.
They kissed.
And when they broke apart, they turned to see a new set of fireworks being set off in the fair.
"It must be signaling the end of the fair," said Fluttershy. "What a nice surprise for the ponies who stayed the whole time."
Rainbow Dash said nothing. Her thoughts had checked out for the night.
Diamond Tiara picked her mouth up off the ground and brought it back up into place. She had ran out of the fair to chase after her stupid cat, and couldn't believe what she had just seen. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy... KISSING!? They were from two completely different universes! She was going to tell her parents and all her friends what had happened as soon as possible.
Two days later...
Fluttershy was now at home in her familiar bed, and she woke up a little earlier than usual, because she felt something strange on her nose. It was a butterfly, with wings of a deep purple. "Well hello little one. How did you get in here?" The butterfly flapped off her nose and setted down on her bedside table. Now that Fluttershy was able to turn her head, she saw that she'd left her window open. "I must've been very tired last night. After the long trip from the fair-" Oh. Fluttershy remembered what had happened two nights ago. The kiss. She sat up and wrapped her front legs around her back legs. Her and Rainbow Dash hadn't talked about the kiss since it happened. She had been too shy to bring it up, and Rainbow Dash . . . why HADN'T she brought it up? She couldnt've been too shy or scared or embarassed. That wasn't Rainbow Dash. It was so not Rainbow Dash that it would've been immediately very obvious had she felt that way. They had just talked like normal all the way back to the castle suite. Flying stunts and animals. Their plans for the next day. Like it had never happened.
But how long could that last?
Fluttershy tried to imagine a life in which the two of them simply never brought it up ever again. For one, that sounded very unlikely to her. Even if Rainbow Dash never brought it up, she felt like she would have to eventually or it would never leave her mind. For another . . . WAS that what she wanted? The kiss had been... nice. It was the right moment, and it hadn't felt too overwhelming. The idea of it happening again didn't terrify her. But as for all of the things that came with it...
She had dated a colt back in high school back when she was slowly gaining more confidance. It had ended terribly, and for a little while she'd felt like she didn't want to date ever again. But that feeling had passed, and as for the colt she'd gone out with, she'd only known him for a little while before dating, whereas she'd known Rainbow Dash almost her whole life. And they did say that relationships were more likely to work out with ponies you've been friends with for a while. Plus, she certainly did like the idea of being in a relationship with somepony.
But when she tried to see it in her head, her and Rainbow Dash hoof in hoof, giving each other gooey looks and saying lines from a romance novel, it didn't fit. Was it that she couldn't see Rainbow Dash in her ideal relationship, or was it that she couldn't see her in ANY relationship? Had Rainbow Dash ever talked about what she saw in an ideal partnership, in personality or appearance or anything? Fluttershy certainly couldn't remember right off the bat. Rainbow Dash was more like a pre-teen colt, mainly appreciative of all things awesome and cool. But... at the fair she felt like she'd started to see a slightly different side of her. Was there a way to explore that further without getting into a relationship? And again, was not getting in a relationship with Rainbow Dash really what she wanted?
"Oh, I'm going in circles!" exclaimed Fluttershy (or at least, what passed for an exclaimation from her). She pulled back her blanket. "I just need to eat some breakfast and take care of my animal friends, and then everything will be clearer." She felt like she was probably lying to herself, but it was time to get her day started.
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and knocked on Twilight's door. She tapped her hoof impatiently, hoping Twilight wasn't out or in the shower. When Twilight magicked open the door, her initially annoyed expression told Rainbow she'd probably been studying, but when Twilight saw who it was she brightened up. "Oh hi, Rainbow Dash! Don't suppose you're finally going to borrow something other than a Daring Do book."
"Heh, as if," said Rainbow Dash, trying not to sound nervous. "Sorry, but I tried to read that Expectations of a Mare in Canterlot thing you gave me, and it was SO boring. Why would I wanna read a whole two pages about a dang flower?"
"Well, the flower was a metaphor for how-"
"A medabot?"
"No, a meta- oh forget it!"
"Uh, actually," said Rainbow, rubbing her hoof against her front left leg. "I kinda need your help."
Looking a bit surprised, Twilight said, "Well sure!" and stepped aside, letting her in. "Anything for you, Dash. You do look a bit frazzled. Maybe you'd like some herbal tea? It can be very soothing."
"Uh, sure," said Rainbow. She didn't remember liking tea very much, but the last time she'd tried it had been some time ago, and if it was supposed to be soothing, maybe now was the right time to give it another shot.
Twilight set a pot of water on the stove to boil. "That'll just be a minute. So, what exactly is the problem?"
"Well," said Rainbow, taking a slow glance around the library. Everything was clean, and all the books were shelved in proper order. The only thing out of place was a single book set open on a desk. It could be assumed she had been reading it when Rainbow Dash stopped by. "You seem to be really good at organization, and I kinda have some thoughts that need organizing."
"What've you been thinking about?"
"I can't tell you."
"Oh." Twilight frowned a bit, looking concerned.
"It's not something you need to worry about or anything," said Rainbow with a shrug. "It's just that I've got too many thoughts going on at once and pulling me in different directions right now, and I need a bit more..." It took her a moment to find the right word. "Clarity."
"Heh," said Twilight with understanding. "Don't we all?"
First time I've had a problem with it. "So, I was thinking maybe you'd have some kinda spell that can clear up my brain or something."
"I dunno, Rainbow," said Twilight, sticking a tea bag into the pot. "Such spells are fairly common. I've read about them and could probably get one to work if I had a little time to study the exact procedure. I'm afraid it's been a while. Knowing about all those spells was the standard back in high school, but lately with physical villins popping up every few months I've been focusing more on practical magical research, at the requrest of the princess. That said, I COULD use a spell of that type on you, and will if you really need it and it comes to that, but I'd much rather start from a more practical base."
Rainbow blinked. "Such as..."
"How about a table?"
"What? A tab- oh! You mean like a chart?"
"Sure!" Twilight dragged out a sheet of paper on a stand that looked to Rainbow like what artists use to paint on. She turned it towards her and started drawing on it. "Let's see... Oh, hold on. I think the tea is done." She poured Rainbow a cup then went back to the . . . easel. That was the word.
Rainbow took a reluctant sip, and her eyes widened. "Hey, this is actually sweeter than I expected."
"Yes," said Twilight. "I thought you might appreciate it if I added a bit of honey." Rainbow smiled appreciatively. "You should see how much sugar Pinkie puts into the cup. I swear, it's more sugar than tea. I don't know how she stands it. Alright now . . . I know you don't feel comfortable telling me exactly what you're thinking, but maybe you could sortof tell me the way that your thoughts need organized."
"Well," said Rainbow, thinking. "It's like... there are two paths I could go down, and I don't know which one to take. And my different thoughts keep saying different things about it."
Twilight nodded. "I hear you. I think I know what to do for you." She continued drawing on the easel. It didn't take very long. "Got it! I have a feeling this'll help."
Rainbow Dash wasn't so sure. Anything on paper just seemed like it'd be designed to create more thinking, which wasn't what she needed right now. Twilight turned the easel around. On the paper was a square, with a line through the middle in both directions like a plus, making four squares. To the left of the upper-left square was the word Pros and to the left of the bottom-left was Cons.
"Alright," said Twilight. At the top of the page, you write the two paths that you could go down. Then, in the four squares, you write the good and bad things associated with each path. It should help simplify and organize your thoughts, and you can weigh the choices a little better. Simple enough?"
Rainbow nodded. It was simple enough, though she still wasn't sure about this. She brought her tea, which she had decided she would definetly finish, to the easel, took a breath, and started writing.
Fluttershy had finished breakfast and feeding the animals, and now she was almost done with schetching out the butterfly which had woken her up. Drawing had become a recent hobby of hers. She wasn't very good yet, but this was helping to keep her mind busy for the time being. "There. Finished." She took a look at the final result. Well. It looked like a butterfly. "I'm sorry. I don't think I made you look very enchanting." The butterfly flew from the flower it had been resting on and she lost it amidst other insects.
"Fluttershy!"
She jumped at the sound of the sudden voice. Pinkie Pie could come out of nowhere sometimes! Fluttershy turned and, although Pinkie wasn't known for her predictability, she had a feeling she could tell what was coming next. From her party cannon to the amount of envelopes on her person, she assumed she was getting invited to one of Pinkie's parties. So soon after the fair? Something good must have happened that's cause for celebration. Pinkie sang her little invitation jingle and handed Fluttershy an envelope.
"I sure hope you can come! You're one of the guests of honor after all."
Fluttershy smiled at Pinkie calling her friends the guests of honor, as if they didn't come to every party she threw when they could. "What are we celebrating?"
Pinkie laughed and said, "What do you think, silly? The only important thing that's happened in the last couple days. You and Rainbow Dash getting together!"
Fluttershy's eyes widened. "What!?"
"Yep! I mean, none of us have gone out with anypony since we became the Elements of Harmony, and now two of us are getting together with each other! I think that's cause enough for a party! I just hope everypony's not still tired from the fair. I have gotten a few rejections."
Rejections. "Pinkie..." said Fluttershy. "How many ponies know about this?"
"Well, it started with all of the kids Diamond Tiara told. I found out while playing with them. And then I've told at least fifty ponies. And when you add in all of the ponies they must've told, that's over a hundred right there at least! And the day's still young!"
Fluttershy fainted.
Rainbow Dash had finished filling in the pros and cons of going out with Fluttershy. She hadn't let Twilight even have one glance at the page, and after a while she had gone back to her book. The main pro of going out with Fluttershy was of course that she liked Fluttershy. That's why they were friends. The main con with it was that if they broke up that friendship might end, which would severely damage the elements of harmony. The main pro with not going out with Fluttershy was that things would presumably go back to normal. And the way things had been before the fair was just fine with her. The main con with not going out with Fluttershy was that she would have to go tell her they weren't going out. Soon.
There was one big deciding factor in this that she hadn't untangled. Whether or not she had a real crush on Fluttershy or if that kiss had just been a weird fluke brought on by some lights and an adrenaline raising chase. Maybe if the knot in her stomach would go away she could figure it out. If she just wasn't so . . . Guess it's time to admit it. Scared. Scared of change and the unknown. Gah! She put the pencil down on the easel. This is so not me! I'm not supposed to have to worry about this stuff! I'm not supposed to get scared. I'm not... Jeez. No way am I tearing up right now. No. Way. She shut her eyes tightly.
"Umm, are you alright over there?" asked Twilight.
Rainbow Dash nodded, turning her head a bit away from Twilight.
"You know, if you wanted to talk about it, I promise that I wouldn't-"
There was a knock at the door. "Knock knock!" came Pinkie's voice.
Rainbow Dash smiled a little. As nice as Twilight was trying to be, hearing Pinkie's upbeat, bubby voice was better. She could get through this. Everypony had their low points, their off days. No shame in that every once in a great while. She'd be just fine soon enough.
Twilight opened the door for Pinkie, and she came in with her cannon and sang her party invitation jingle.
"Whoa!" said Twilight, as confetti exploded all over her library. "Already, this soon after the fair!?"
"I know, I know," said Pinkie. "But you HAVE heard the news right? Oh, Rainbow Dash is here! So of course you've heard the news! This party is to celebrate Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash becoming a couple!"
All of the sudden, Rainbow Dash didn't exactly live up to her name, as all of the color drained from her body.
Twilight's mouth fell open. "Oh my gosh! I had no idea! Rainbow Dash, you didn't tell me! This is so exciting! I've never had two friends go out before! I can't wait to see you two together! It'll be so adorable!" She couldn't help but give Rainbow Dash a big hug, but she didn't recieve one, and when she pulled back, she frowned. Rainbow didn't look happy at all. Wait...
Rainbow Dash took a step towards Pinkie. "How many invitations have you sent out?" Her voice was deeper than usual, and suddenly Twilight felt worried.
"Over thirty! Plus I told as many ponies as I could along the way!"
"WHAT!!!?"
Twilight shoved her hooves in her ears and Pinkie's eyes widened, along with her smile fading.
"Umm, was that... bad?"
"Bad!?" shouted Rainbow. "I don't even... Why did you... I'm not... I don't even know if I... ARGH!!" She zoomed out of the house through the window on the second floor.
Looking confused and a little worried, Pinkie said, "I... didn't get a chance to give her an invitation."
Twilight wasn't listening. She looked from her invitation to the easel by the other wall. Oh boy. I get a weird feeling the letter to Celestia tonight is going to be really long.
Rainbow Dash zoomed up onto the first high cloud she saw. She rested there, breathing heavily, looking down on Ponyville. She no longer felt scared. She felt downright terrified. "Oh mare," she said, rolling onto her back and putting her hooves on her eyes. "Of all the ponies in all of Equestria to scare the crud out of me, I never in a million years would've guessed it would be Fluttershy."
An hour later, two balls of tangled thoughts, one yellow and one blue, entered Pinkie's house for the party. Generally speaking, it was very rude to not go to a party designed for you. They entered approximately one minute apart from each other.
"Now they're both here!" said Applejack when Rainbow Dash entered.
"Excellent!" said Rarity. "Okay," she glanced between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, "I know this was supposed to be a casual party, but I couldn't help myself. I made you both dresses specifically for the event!" She levitated the two dresses for them to see, and the party guests clapped. Fluttershy looked at her dress, but couldn't seem to get past the hammering in her chest to develop an opinion. Rainbow was trying to read the awfully blank epression on Fluttershy's face. "Now then," said Rarity, stepping forward and motioning for the two of them to come in closer so they could talk a bit more privately. "I know that if it happens it'll be a long long way away but I just got so excited and I was on a roll so, I started drawing up some plans for you two's wedding dresses."
"What!?" yelled Rainbow Dash, flying up into the air. "Wedding dresses, Rarity! Why in my whole life would I ever need a wedding dress!?"
Fluttershy felt a flame of anger rise up in her, but she wasn't sure if it was directed at Rarity or Rainbow Dash.
Rarity rolled her eyes and said, "Alright then, Ms. Big Tough Tomboy, I suppose you want a tux."
"What I want is for this party to be over!" There was mumbling among the guests are Rainbow Dash's words.
"Why!?" snapped Fluttershy suddenly. "So you can keep avoiding talking to me!?"
Rainbow was stunned for a moment, then she yelled, "I wasn't avoiding anything! I didn't hear you talking about the kiss!"
"Maybe I had nothing to say!"
"Yeah, big change! If we had a wedding I bet you wouldn't be able to make it through saying the I dos!"
"You wouldn't be smart enough to write the vows without a school dictionary!"
"Dating you would be about as lively as dating a couch pillow!"
"Dating you would be as rambunctious as a train crash!"
"Rambunctious!? That doesn't even SOUND like a real word!"
"Do I need to get you that dictionary now!?"
"You wouldn't even be able to lift it!"
The party guests were looking back and forth between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, at a loss for words. Pinkie stood with her mouth open, holding a tray of cupcakes with sparklers in them. If this argument didn't end soon, those sparklers were going to become a serious fire hazard.
"I only kissed you because I felt sorry for you!" Rainbow Dash shut her mouth tight. That wasn't true, and she knew she'd gone way too far. Fluttershy getting so mad had been so unlike her that she forgot who she was arguing with.
"Well..." said Fluttershy, breathing hard and shaking, near tears. "Well... GO STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE MUD RAINBOW DASH BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN CARE!" With that schoolyard retort, she ran out of the house sobbing. Rainbow Dash gave an unintelligable yell of rage and soared into the sky with a rainbow streak that had a lot more red in it than usual.
Everyone at the party was quiet. The happy music playing on the record player didn't fit the mood at all.
Twilight turned her head to look at the others. "Was that . . . Our fault?"
"I don't know what just happened!" yelled Rarity.
"Umm," said Pinkie shakily, putting out the sparklers and setting the cupcakes down on the table. "I'm sorry everypony, but I think this party might be over."
Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy ran into their house and slammed the door behind them.
"Dang it!" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Why the heck did Fluttershy have to start an argument!? We could've just talked quietly outside or something!"
"I can't believe she said that to me!" said Fluttershy, quickly wiping streams of tears from her face. "That jerk! She knew how much it would hurt!"
Rainbow Dash shook her head and threw herself into a rolling chair. "I don't even-! She doesn't say a single thing to me about the kiss and then has the gall to call me out on it!?"
Fluttershy sat down on her bed. "She didn't have to ruin Pinkie's party like that. She always gets angry at the drop of a hat. Am I not allowed to for once!?"
Rainbow Dash sighed and leaned back on the chair. "Freaking Rarity . . . Bringing out her stupid wedding dress designs. . . . Okay, maybe I didn't have to yell at her in front of everypony. ...Including Fluttershy. But still."
"I guess Rainbow Dash was right," said Fluttershy, her head hitting the pillow. "Both of us were maybe wrong for not saying anything. But why did everypony else have to find out?"
"Jeez," Rainbow Dash put her head in her hooves. "Things got way too complicated way too fast. If we could've just hung out without everypony making such a big deal about one freaking kiss, then maybe this wouldnt've happened."
"I don't know how things might've turned out," said Fluttershy. "But now I wish the kiss had never happened at all."
"I wish-"
"I just want-"
"-for things to go back to the way they were," they both said.
Angel ran up to Fluttershy's bed holding a piece of paper and pencil. "Hm?" Fluttershy sat up. "You think I should write Rainbow Dash a letter?"
Rainbow Dash accidentally backed the rolling chair into her desk and the stuff on it fell over. "Ah crud." She started picking it up and setting it back on the desk in an uneven pile. She stopped. There was a set of stationary Twilight had given her one year as a birthday present. (To decrease the lameness, she had also included a pair of lights that attached to your wings so that other ponies won't crash into you while you're flying at night.) She picked up the stack and snorted at the corny text at the top that said 'From The Brain Of Rainbow Dash'. She was about to toss it back onto the desk, but then she pulled the rubber band off and set a page on her desk.
"It does seem like a nice idea," said Fluttershy. "A little calm honesty might be the only thing to fix what's happened." She took a deep breath and started writing. "Dear Rainbow Dash,"
"Dear Fluttershy,"
"First, I want to apologize for how things went at the party. I let my anger get to me, and said some things I'd like to think are very unlike me. I knew the things I was saying were mean, but I just couldn't stop myself."
"Straight up, I'm sorry. What I said was totally uncalled for, and I didn't mean it. I don't pity you. That's like I think you're lower than me, and I don't. I care about you."
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything after we kissed. I felt so shy. I just kept talking about what I was going to do the next day."
"I didn't say anything because-" Rainbow Dash froze. Go on. Write it. "-I was scared. I was embarassed that I can lift weights and perform sonic rainbooms but a kiss scares me to death. I don't feel ready for a relationship." She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling like a weight had been lifted.
"I don't think we should go out. I'm sorry if that hurts, but I feel like it's best in the long run to be honest."
"I'm sorry all this got so complicated."
"I'm sorry things got so out of hoof."
They ended their letters on the same note: "Can we still be friends?"
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both decided that waiting for the mail to be sent the next day was too long and that they would slip the note under the other pony's door. They started walking, and about halfway between each other's house they met up on a hilltop. They silently handed their letter over and silently read them. They looked up. Smiled. Hugged.
Dear Princess Celestia,
It's always exciting when your friends start showing romantic interest in each other. But rather than get too excited and make a huge deal over it, sometimes the nicest thing to do is to back off and let them interpret and develop their feelings for themselves. I, and my friends, have learned to be a little more careful about how far we take our assumptions in the future, because for all we know, we may have ruined something very beautiful today, and that's a mistake the kind don't make twice.
Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle
Turning to Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack, Twilight asked, "Does that sound good to everypony?" They nodded.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy entered Pinkie's house, wanting to both help clear up the party and clear up what had happened. The four of them immediately began shouting thier apologies, and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy kindly listened, and once they were done, offered their own apologies for the argument, especially to Pinkie, who's party they had ruined.
"That's ok," said Pinkie. "The party was for you two, so if you guys didn't enjoy it, that's my responsibility."
"Well," said Twilight. "Thank goodness that's all settled."
"Now hold on," said Rarity. "Let me just make sure I have this straight. You two aren't together anymore?"
Fluttershy facehoofed and Rainbow Dash yelled, "We we're never together!"