Fluttershy sits in her cottage alone. Waiting for one of her best friends to come visit. They had scheduled a play-date with there pets a week ago, and she was excited to see Angel finally make some new friends. However, Fluttershy has been waiting for over an hour. Where has her dramatic friend been? She decides to go to her house instead. "Alright Angel, stay here, I know you wanted to play with Opal, but Rarity Hasn't come for an hour. I'll go try and find her. If you get hungry there are some carrots in the pantry..." Fluttershy says to Angel, just before leaving the house. Angel glares back at her but let's it go. Fluttershy knew he wouldn't mind, he never really did like cats.
Fluttershy enters into town, to see a rather hipper-active pink earth pony. "H-Hello Pinkie Pie, how are you? Have you seen Rarity recently? We were supposed to have a play-date with Opal and Angel."
"Oh, well, I'm fantabulous! But, I haven't seen Rar anywhere until yesterday. Maybe you should go to her Boutique!" The party pony exclaimed just before she bounced down the street. Fluttershy never understood Pinkie, but she doesn't mind her crazy antics. She continues on through the market side of Ponyville to find a farm pony selling baked goods. She gets a sudden craving for apple fritter, so she pauses her journey to go buy some apple treats.
"Well, hey there Fluttershy! What brings you to the market side of Ponyville?" Applejack said after selling an apple pie to a customer.
"Oh, well, I was walking over to Rarity's Boutique... a-and I saw your apple treats, and was wondering if I could have an apple fritter... please?" Fluttershy says while pulling out a few bits.
"Oh, don't ya'll worry none, It's on me."
"T-Thank you... have you seen Rarity by any chance?"
"Hmmm..... well... I don't think so, but it'd be best if you try her shop." Applejack responded while giving Fluttershy an Apple Fritter.
"Once again, thank you."
"Y'all come back now, ya here!" Applejack said waving her shy friend goodbye. Fluttershy ate the apple fritter and continued her walk to Rarity's house. On the way, she passes many familiar buildings. Town Hall, SugarCube Corner, Twilight's Library. The Boutique should be a few minutes away. Fluttershy becomes more anxious, she slowly begins to walk faster and faster. She nears the corner when she hears a loud noise come from behind her. She walks faster and faster. Her mind goes wild with crazy stories that might have happened. She's now at a gallop. Fluttershy is almost there, she turns a corner and sees..... Rarity's Boutique, in a gust of flame. Screaming comes from inside the building sending shivers down Fluttershy's back. Tears well up in her eyes, she starts to run to the opening to find all of her friends there, besides Rarity.
"W-What happened!?!" Fluttershy says through her tears.
"We don't know! One second everything was fine, and the next... firecolts are blaring down the street!" Twilight says.
"Where's Rarity!?" Fluttershy's heart began to race. Where was she? Was she in the...
"We believe she's trapped in the house, but the firecolts aren't able to put the fire out... we don't think she'll make it..." Twilight responds.More and more tears come on Fluttershy's face. Rarity was... gone? Her best friend, the most generous of ponies was gone... Another loud scream came from the house. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut and began to barrel towards the burning building.
"Fluttershy! What are you doing!?" Spike yells after her. She blocks out the dragons words and smashes the burning door down. Inside, everything is in flames. There are embers everywhere, and in the middle of it, a scarred white unicorn. Fluttershy can feel a tingling in her right wing from the fire. She runs to Rarity, and tries to speak, but smoke fills her lungs and she begins to cough. Fluttershy barely manages to pick Rarity up, only to find that the doorway has been blocked off by rubbage. She finds the nearest window and flies as fast as she can to it. Ignoring the burning pain on her body she thrusts Rarity out the window, but doesn't have the strength to go out herself. Fluttershy crashed to the burning ground. All around her, flames tear down the once beautiful boutique. Tears of fear, pride, and regret, she slowly closes her eyes and waits to pass. More burning material falls around her. Within a few seconds she's out cold.
Fluttershy can't see anything. She wonders if this is the afterlife she's been told about, only voices. She hears a familiar voice and can feel a moving sensation.
"Doctor! Will my friend be alright?!"
"We don't know yet, we need to get her into the burn room. Prey to Celestia she makes it through the night..."Fluttershy tries to open her eyes but can't. She feels her right wing, her left hind-leg and face burn, but it's suddenly cooled down. The change in temperature is so overwhelming, she passes out once more.Fluttershy awake once again, just hardly managing to open her eyes. She lays in a blank room with one window, and a couch. She tries to talk but ends up coughing instead.
"Dear, don't try to to talk, it's only going to make it worse. Wait till the smoke clears your lungs" The nurse says just before leaving. A few minutes later, a doctor comes in with a clipboard in his mouth. He sets it down and begins speak.
"Hello, Mrs.... Fluttershy, is it? Well, you've got yourself in quite a mess, haven't you?" Fluttershy nods her head. "So, do you remember what happened the other day?" Fluttershy shakes her head, but she remembers every detail. "Well, to start off, your friend Rarity, her house caught on fire do to a sewing machine accident. Unfortunately, with so much fabric around, the fire spread quickly. She wasn't able to escape and we'd thought she'd pass in the burning building, until you came along... Fluttershy, I have to tell you, you are one of the bravest ponies I've seen in my whole life. So, after you rushed in, a few minutes had gone by, then we saw Rarity come flying out the window. A few minutes had gone past, but we didn't see her savior. We thought you had gotten hit by a piece of wood that had fallen off the ceiling. Even more minutes went by, and we still didn't see you. At this point, the firecolts could calm the fire. The second that flame went out, your friends bolted over to the once-boutique. They searched through ash and rubbage for what felt like ours, until we found you. You looked a mess, the tips of your mane were scorched, parts of your body were severely burned, yet you still lied there, so peacefully, like you accepted your fate. We rushed you to the hospital afterwards, and we put you into a burn room, which is where burn victims are taken to heal there wounds. We couldn't keep you in there, or the treatment would have made you ill. And here we are. Two days after the fire.." Fluttershy's eyes widened, two days? She's been asleep, for two days? "I can see that you're shocked by this. Yes, you were in a burn coma, luckily for a short time. Now that your caught up, I can finally get to the part you want to pay attention too. So, here's the plan, you were severely burned on your right wing, and left hind-leg. You have minor burns on your face and flank, your right fore-ankle is broken, and your lungs are filled with smoke. You are a very lucky pony to be alive right now. So anyway, you will be staying here for a few weeks while we treat your wounds as best we can. Is that okay with you?" Fluttershy nods her head once again. After the doctor is finished talking he calls to a few ponies outside the room. Then enters her friends, each one with a bright smile on their face.
"Hello, Fluttershy, I take it your doing well?" Rarity says first. Fluttershy nods and turns to her other friends.
"Fluttershy... that was one of the noblest things I've seen anypony do, you are truly a hero." Twilight says to her injured friend
"Yes, Fluttershy... you saved my life, for the risk of yours. I won't ever be able to repay you for something like this..." The white unicorn says. A smile comes on Fluttershy's face, but she stops immediately due to her burns.
"Yeah Flutters! You're the best pony ever! Rarity is totally grateful for her life being saved! I hope you get better soon!" The party pony says before hugging Fluttershy. She winces from the pain and Pinkie apologizes.
"I just wanna tell y'all, that was a mighty fine deed you did back there. If it wasn't for you, Rarity wouldn't be standin' here." Applejack says. "Unfortunately we have to leave, so I wish the best of luck to yuh'"
"But before we leave, Fluttershy... that... was... so... awesome! You saved her and everything! And when we thought you were dead, you still managed to keep going! I hope you get better soon FS!" Rainbow Dash says just before leaving the room. The rest of them leave besides Rarity. The dramatic pony walks over to the door and closes it.
"Fluttershy... I didn't want to say this in front of everypony, but..... I am truly grateful for what you did. If it wasn't for you.... I wouldn't be here. I will see everyday as long as I live as a blessing. Thank you Fluttershy..." Just before she leaves, Fluttershy smacks the table next to her to try and get her attention. Rarity turns around before she walks out the door. "What is it dear?" Fluttershy picks up a paper and clipboard the nurse left her to talk to people. On it she rights 'Why can't you stay?' Fluttershy gestures towards it to show Rarity "I wish I could stay as long as I could, but the doctor says that I can't"
'Can you bring him in here so I can ask him?' Fluttershy writes.
"Of course." Rarity leaves for a few seconds and comes back with the doctor.
"Is there something you need, Mrs. Fluttershy?"
'Yes, I was wanting to know if Rarity could stay the night with me.' The doctor pauses and reads the message.
"I wish I could, but there is to be no overnight stayers"
'Not even one?'
"Not, even one, I'm sorry Mrs. Fluttershy" The doctor responds. A tears drop rolls down Fluttershy's cheek, causing her pain.
"Ugh... look, how about we make a deal, Rarity's Boutique has just been rebuilt, if you want to, you can go home with her. We can give you the burn ointment and medicines. If Rarity wants to though." Fluttershy nods her head at Rarity quickly.
"Alright, alright, it's the least I can do"
"Okay, it's settled then. Fluttershy can go home with you, Rarity. I just need you to sign a release forum, and it'll be settled." Fluttershy nearly falls out of her bead with joy. She doesn't have to stay at this lonely place, with it's gross food and strange people. Plus, she doesn't have to spend a bunch of bits. She can nearly scream but doesn't. After a few minutes, Fluttershy begins to be wheeled off to Rarity's Boutique. When she gets there, she finds that everything looks the exact same. But only newer, and a better smell. Rarity comes a few seconds later and takes Fluttershy up to her room. Before she takes her in, she covers up the blinds, so the sun won't damage her burns.
"Alright Fluttershy, you are now under my protection. The doctor said that you should be able to talk by tomorrow and I should apply this burn cream twice a day, some in the morning, and some before you go to sleep. I will also need to have you breathe through an oxygen tank every night for 3 days, just to get the extra smoke out. We will start with your treatment now, so.." Rarity leaves the room and comes back with a bag. Inside is all of her medical treatments, including some rubbing alcohol encase if there is any infection. She pulls out a cylinder tube which has the ointment inside. Rarity squirts some on her hooves. "Okay Fluttershy, ready? Three... two.. one" Rarity touches Fluttershy's face and rubs the ointment. Fluttershy's eyes fill with tears. Slight squeaks escape her throat. "It's going to be alright... don't worry.. it'll be over soon" She rubs more of her face. Tears start rolling down Fluttershy face, she squeezes her eyes shut and tries not to cry, but only cries more. "Oh Fluttershy, don't cry, it's almost over" She rubs the last part in and puts more ointment on her hoof. "Okay, now onto your wing, now remember, no crying." She strokes her right wing back and forth. Fluttershy winces even more this time. "Fluttershy, the more you struggle, the longer it'll take." Fluttershy stops moving but keeps crying. "Alright, we're finished with the wing, two more two go." Rarity takes more ointment and rubs it on Fluttershy's hind-leg. "See? Isn't it much better now?" Fluttershy learns to tolerate it more and more. "See how quick and easy that was? Now, one more." She gets more ointment and starts to rub it on Fluttershy's flank. A tingling sensation arises from Fluttershy, almost enough for her to jolt, but she stays still. Rarity rubs this one slower. "The doctor told me to take extra care of your flank, it's one of the most sensitive spots of your body." Fluttershy begins to stretch her body but stops instantly. "Okay, we're done, two more weeks to go. Now, time for the oxygen tank." Rarity pulls out a giant cylinder and places a mask on Fluttershy's muzzle. "Okay, Fluttershy, take deep, calm, relaxing breaths. Breathe in and out, no need to rush it." Fluttershy begins to breathe, it goes by quick and painless like she expected. "See? It wasn't that hard. And within a few days, you will be able to have full conversations with absolutely zero smoke in your lungs. I'm going to let you get some rest, and if you need anything I'll be
downstairs, there's a bell next to your nightstand, just ring it and I'll be up here as fast as possible. Goodnight, my guardian angel." Rarity closes the door and leaves Fluttershy by herself.
What had she meant by 'My guardian angel?' Fluttershy thinks to herself. Was it because I saved her life? I hope I don't have to deal with it the rest of my life. It was really nice of her to take me home with her. And even nicer, treat my burns. Even though it hurt really, really badly. Except the time she did my flank.... why was I so... giddy? It was supposed to hurt, not feel good. Ugh, I'm tired I need to go to sleep. Before Fluttershy falls asleep, she thinks of the last few days. How has
so much happened? The last thing she remembers before dreaming, is Rarity's face when she sat in the middle of the old Carousel Boutique.
Fluttershy awakes the next day find that her sheets have been changed, and she finds it better to breathe. She tries to speak but only croaks come out. She tries to find the bell next to her bed, but can't. She frantically searches for it, but she still can't find it."R-Rarity!" She tries to say. "Rarity! I can't find the bell!" She finds herself screaming her name as loud as possible for hours. Her throat grows more and more hoarse. She begins to cry. "Rarity! Rarity! Please!" she stops for a few minutes and sobs. "R-R-Rarity!!" her friend has left her, even though she said she would be there, she wasn't. Fluttershy gave up trying to call for her name, before she stops she tries one more time. "RARITY!!!!" She begins to cough loudly, then choke.
Downstairs Rarity hears a strange sound coming from upstairs but can't make it out. She puts the noise out of her head and begins to work. She is so tied up in her work from the fire incident which brought many customers from all across Equestria. She's sold a total of 18 dresses in the last 3 days. She's been working her flank off everyday to try and meet the customers demands. She hears the strange sound more and more, but keeps stitching a dress. An our has gone by, and the noise won't stop. She turns around to see if it's anypony, and by doing so, she cuts her hoof with the sewing machine.
"Gah! Buck! What the hell does that blasted noise want!!" Rarity rushes upstairs, to here her name being called from her room. A sudden wave of guilt comes over her. She's been ignoring Fluttershy for an hour straight. She rushes to the door and puts her bloody hoof on it. Inside she sees a sobbing Fluttershy trying to crawl out of bead. "Fluttershy! Oh my Celestia, I am so terribly sorry, why didn't you ring the bell?" Rarity questions while trying to help Fluttershy
"B-...ause-.. It.. wasn-... ther-.." She manages to say, but begins coughing and choking. Rarity looks at the night stand and remembered she used the bell as a way to know if anypony entered the door.
"Fluttershy... I am terribly sorry, I took the bell and... well... I used it for the door to tell me when ponies entered the shop..."
"Y-Yo-... wha-...?" She began to cough more.
"Save your voice Fluttershy, yes, I did... I thought you wouldn't need it..." Fluttershy begins to cry more."Please don't cry, what if I make it up to you? I'll close the shop and spend all day here with you."
"Oka-.." Fluttershy coughs some more and gestures with a hoof 'water'. Rarity rushes downstairs and closes the shop, She cleans her cut and wraps a cloth around it. She then gets a cup of water and brings it upstairs.
"Here you go, Fluttershy" She takes it and drinks it quickly.
"T-Thank you..." She finally says.
"Fluttershy.. I'm sorry for doing that to you, it was a stupid mistake... but look on the bright side, I get to spend all day with me best friend."
"I guess that's true..." Fluttershy responds while resting her head back down on her pillow.
"So, what do you want to talk about? I am a gossip but I won't tell if it comes from you." Rarity says, while moving over to sit on the bed.
"Um.... I don't know... I've never really had somepony to keep a long conversation with.. by themselves..." Fluttershy says slightly wincing.
"It's alright dear, here let me start. Um... how is life with animals?" Rarity says.
"Well.. um.. it's quite fun meeting new animals and critters that brightens up your day..."
"Oh, well that sounds very pleasant. Life as a dress maker is hard work. If you don't have enough dresses to sell, you need to make more and more. However, I have gotten a few stallion followers. It's pretty fun going on dates with them. I don't expect to find a special somepony through my work, though." Fluttershy's stomach churned. Why had that upset her? Just the thought of Rarity going on a date? How could that upset her?
"W-Well, I spend a lot of my time near animals, I obviously don't talk to much people unless if they want me to sweet-talk their pet or something." Fluttershy's stomach churned even more. Why was the thought of dating anypony so... obscure?
"Oh, common, you really don't have a special somepony in mind?" Rarity says while slowly leaning in. Fluttershy thinks for a moment. She's never really had a special somepony before. She's never paid attention to that topic.
"Um.... I-I don't think so..." Her stomach becomes much more aggressive.
"Aww, now don't lie to me Fluttershy." Rarity places a hoof on Fluttershy's hind leg. Another tingling sensation went all the way up her leg.
"I really don't know if I had on-" The thought smacked her right in the face. Was it.... was it... Rarity? No, no... she's never liked mares before. And nopony would accept it anyways. She's always thought of Rarity as a friend... and now... something more. She... she... she was in love with Rarity, her friend.
"Fluttershy, is everything alright" Fluttershy snapped out of her trance.
"Yeah.. um, everything is going fine. Hey, can we switch the topic please? If it's alright with you.." Fluttershy finally says.
"Why of course, I'm sorry for distressing you. Let's talk about our fillyhoord. Did you know, I once lived in Manehatten?"
Rarity and Fluttershy talked all night long. A slow build up of emotion towards her crush, Fluttershy has enjoyed spending so much time with her. Before they go to be, Rarity replaces the bell and she applies the ointment and oxygen treatment. Rarity walks out the door, but before she does, she tells Fluttershy good night. She responds with "Goodnight... I love you too" But Rarity couldn't hear the last part. Fluttershy was so excited, she's never had a special somepony in her life. But a
wave of depression sweeps over her, realizing that because they're friends, Rarity would want to stay friends. Her thoughts keep her awake for another hour until she finally sleeps.
Fluttershy awakes with a smile on her face. She dreamed about Rarity, all of the amazing things they've done together. She snaps out of her daze no find sunlight coming through her window. It's beautiful, she hasn't seen sunlight it what feels like weeks. It's a glorious feeling.
"R-Rarity?" She's able to speak much clearer. "Rarity..?" She looks to her right and sees the bell. Fluttershy picks it up and rings it. Withing a few seconds Rarity is in her room.
"Anything you need Fluttershy?"
"I'm getting a little lonely... um... would it be to much of me to ask if you can go get our friends?"
"Why of course! I'll be back in a little bit, I'll bring you breakfast and then go get our friends" Fluttershy nods in agreement. Rarity walks downstairs and comes back within a few minutes with a tray of food.
"You can eat this, once again, I'll be back in a few with everypony. Don't get too lonely," Rarity leaves the house and Fluttershy sits alone. She eats her food and begins to think about the day ahead of her. It'd be nice to see her friends finally. It's been days since they've last met. It'd be nice to catch them up on everything. She thinks for a few moments. Should I tell them about.... She decides against it, it'll just be a nice evening, nothing else.Rarity comes back around 30 minutes later with Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Spike.
"I can't wait to see Flutters again! I'm so excited!!! How has she been? Is she alright? When will she be healed? I'm so excited!!" Pinkie Pie exclaims while walking into the dressmakers shop.
"Calm down Pinkie, I don't want y'all startling her or nothin'" Applejack says before Pinkie has time to warp through the wall.
"Pinkie, Fluttershy is doing fine, I've been taking very good care of her, you have nothing to worry about." Rarity walked the gang of 5 upstairs into her room. She slowly opened the door. "Hey Flutterhy... We have some visitors for you.."
"Is it my friends?" Fluttershy asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes, come on everypony, come hello" Rarity let everypony in and they all crowded around the bed.
"How are you holding up Fluttershy?" Twilight asks first.
"I'm alright, Rarity has been doing an excellent job in aiding my recovery..." Fluttershy screams inside.
"That's cool, so when do you think you'll be up in the air flying?" The rainbow maned pony asked.
"I-I'm not sure, maybe in a few weeks?" Fluttershy replied.
"That sounds great! I can't wait for you to get better!" Spike finally says.
"It was very nice seeing everypony again, can somepony tell me what's happening with Angel? I've been worried so much"
"Well, Spike's been taking care of your animal friends for you, they're starting to get along actually." Twilight Replies
"O-Oh, thank you very much Spike. Maybe I'll give you a gem or something." Everypony laughs and they continue to talk. They talk about how their lives have been going. They talk about Fluttershy's experience in the burning building. Before everypony leaves that night, they say their goodbye's
"Um... Fluttershy can I speak to you for a few minutes alone?" Applejack says just before the other ponies leave.
"Of course, what is it you need to talk about?" Everypony walks out of the room besides Applejack and Fluttershy.
"Well I've noticed something is bothering you.... the whole night, I saw that you were a little... iffy, everything alright?"
"A-Applejack, can you keep a secret?"
"Why of course I can, what's the secret?"
"W-Well.... I have been thinking about some new topics recently.... I have a... a... special somepony... a crush on somepony... and I don't know how to deal with it..."
"Well why didn't y'all say so in the first place! Who is the lucky stallion!"
"Well..... um... you see... it's not necessarily.... a stallion... per say..."
"Ohhh, so like, a colt, like a 10-year old, that's a little weird, but I like it!"
"N-No, Applejack, I mean... not a stallion... or foal... or colt.... I like... m-mares.." Fluttershy winces.
"You what now?"
"I... like mares..."
"So, you're telling me... you like mares? Like me or something?"
"Not you particularly, somepony else..."
"W-W-Whoa hold on a minute. Have you always been gay?"
"C-Can we please not use that term... I just... like mares.. that's it.."
"Okay, so instead of liking stallions, you like mares. And you have a crush on another mare, that may or may not be a marbian."
"Can we not call it that either..." Fluttershy presses
"Fine, but, ya'll like another mare, right?"
"Yes..."
"So who is she? Maybe I know her"
"T-That's the thing... we both know her pretty well... i-it's Rarity...." Applejack's mouth dropped open. For a few moments neither of them spoke. When the moments passed, Applejack gulped.
"Rarity? Our Rarity?"
"Y-Yes...."
"Okay... Flutters Ima be honest with you... I don't really 'approve' of this whole you being gay thing, I was grown up in a strictly straight family, so all of this is a little uneasy for me. Not only that, it's Rarity, our friend Rarity is your special somepony. I'm sorry but that just goes a little far."
"A-Are you saying you d-don't want me to be happy?" Fluttershy begins to get angry.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, but two mares liking each other is just unnatural!"
"It's unnatural! My happiness is unnatural to you! Leave now! And take your corrupted mind with you!"
"Have fun with your bucked up world!" Applejack sprints out the door and back to her farm. Fluttershy begins to weep silently to herself.
"Fluttershy are you alright? I heard some screaming, and Applejack ran out." Rarity entered the room.
"I-it's fine...."
"No, It's not 'just fine' tell me what's wrong?" Rarity says while sitting down on the bed.
"I just told her some troubling news...."
"What was it? Nothing ever gets AJ that upset"
"Well.... I... I can't tell you...."
"Why not? We've been such good friends, you can tell me anything"
"Rarity, this is something that can't be shared with you...."
"Why not? Trust me, whatever it is, I won't freak out. I Pinkie Promise."
"O-ok.... Here it goes.... I.... have a crush on somepony"
"Okay, well that's not bad at all, who's the colt that's going to be your new husband?" Rarity teases.
"Well... the thing is... it's not a colt... or a stallion.... or a foal... I have a crush, on a... mare.."
"Oh, you mean like a crush like 'I want to be like her' right?"
"No, I like mares.... I am a fillyfooler.... and I have an actual crush on a mare...."
"Okay...? Well I'm not one to judge, who's the mare, then?"
"That's kind of the problem.... I have a crush on.... y-you....."
