3 - Running Wild

Trappy got outside of the house and stretched his hooves and his wings. Then he trotted to the hills between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. He wanted to exercise a bit, before going to Fluttershy’s house for his job.

As he comes out of the town, he observed the surroundings. The prairie was peacefully waking up, under the morning sun Princess Celestia was raising. Trappy made a step, then another, then more steps faster, and he started to run for real all around the prairie, between the trees. His speed was incredible. He was running visibly faster than any earth pony. So fast, a black and purple trail appeared behind him.

After a while, he stopped near a tree, panting softly and sitting there, to recover his strength. “I love this place. There’s clearly more space for running, here.” he thoughts. He sighs of relief and he suddenly hears rustling leaves, above his head. He gets back and looks at the tree. He sees the head of a cyan colored head of a mare that was looking at him.

“Oh, it’s you, that new girl who moved here recently!” she says.

Trappy blushes and says “Well, actually, I’m a stallion… but yes, it's me.”

Surprised, the mare got down from the tree and approached him. She was a pegasus with pretty purple eyes and a beautiful rainbow colored mane. She stared at him from everywhere, turning around him “You look pretty girly for a male… I like it!” she says. Trappy chuckles, embarrassed a bit.

Then she adds “I’m Rainbow Dash. The fastest flyer of Equestria for sure!”

“Trappy Tickles.” Trappy replies, brohoofing the mare.

“I was sleeping in the tree but your running woke me up. And I couldn’t help but watching you do. You’re incredibly fast on your hooves, bro!”

“Why...thanks.” Trappy says, scratching the back of his head, embarrassed.

“I would love to make a race with you! I’m sure you’re pretty fast with your wings too!” Rainbow replies as she already gets near Trappy, ready to start the race.

Trappy gets a bit scared. He was about to decline, but it was too late. The rainbow pegasus was determined to do this race. “Ready? GO!” She shouts, and she flies away, really fast, leaving a rainbow trail behind her. Trappy deployed his wings and started to fly behind her.

It wasn’t going good for him. Although his running was incredibly fast, his flying skills were awful. Fluttershy was flying faster than him. He just reached a hundred of meters when Rainbow Dash joined him, finishing the race.

“Hey, don’t joke me, bro, I was serious about the race!” Rainbow giggles.

“I…” Trappy sighs “I might run fast… but I don’t know how to correctly fly...”

Rainbow laughed hard, rolling on her back and Trappy looked down, sadly. Rainbow notices his frown and loses instantly her laugh. “Oh… It’s… I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was that hurting.” Rainbow nuzzled Trappy and he smiles a bit again.

“I can fly straight in line fast, but I can’t turn or stop myself easily. Since i’m a colt, I never could get myself flying correctly. I’m always scared to crash somewhere if I do, since I always crashed when I tried… So instead, I learned to run. And as you could see, I run faster than I fly…”

“Well.. You would like me to teach you a bit about flying?” Rainbow asks.

“That would be nice!” Trappy smiles, nodding. “I’m not very fond of flying but if I-”

He suddenly notices the sun up in the sky “Oh my! I’m gonna be late! I must go! Thank you, Rainbow, I’ll see you later for that!” leaving Rainbow with a fast black and purple trail going in Ponyville.

“You can call me Dashie!” She shouted with a smile.

Trappy wasn’t late for his appointment, thanks to his speed. Fluttershy and him started the morning duties and everything went fine. After a few hours, lunchtime arrived.

“It’s time to eat.” Fluttershy says.

“F-Fluttershy, I… I’d love to.. Invite you to a restaurant today.”

Fluttershy looked at him confused and blushed “I.. I would be happy… But I’m the one paying for it, then,... if it’s okay with you...”

Trappy shakes his head “Nah, I’m the one inviting you.”

“M-May I insist? You arrived recently in town. You should keep the money you earned for a bit longer… And it would be my pleasure to thank you this way…”

They glanced at each other a moment and they giggled softly together. Trappy nods “Alright then, but next time, I’ll pay it.”

The Sugar Cube Corner was almost full, that day. Fluttershy and Trappy were eating muffins together in front of each other.

“They’re very tasty… No wonder why sissy loves them so much!” Trappy says. “I’ll have to get some for her, for tonight.”

Fluttershy smiles “Should be wonderful to have a sister.”

“Actually we’re only brother and sister in law. I only could see her for vacations… But now I live with her, while I wait for a vacant house in Ponyville. But I missed her, yes… D’you have any family?”

Fluttershy was about to reply when a “I’m here Spikey Wikey!” is heard behind Trappy’s back. He turned aside and he noticed Rarity at a table, joined by a purple and green baby dragon.

“Wow, a baby dragon!... I always thought dragons were legends. I never seen a real dragon before…” says Trappy.

Fluttershy smiles “Spike is an adorable dragon. He’s the assistant of Twilight Sparkle in the library… And it’s been a moment that him and Rarity are dating.”

“Dating?” says Trappy, surprised. They both looked at the couple. Spike and Rarity were speaking, unable to leave each other’s glance. From where they are, Trappy was unable to get what they were saying, but they looked happy. there was some aura between them. Something sweet.

“In my opinion, they’re more than just friends. They look like they’re in love for each other… But, none of them dared make the first step, apparently… But, look how happy they appear, when they’re together.” says Fluttershy.

“I envy them… Must be…” He turned away to face Fluttershy, blushing red as he feels her eyes on him “Must be…wonderful…to be in love…” Fluttershy blushed too, but was unable to stop glancing at Trappy either. They both looked at each other, for a long moment, without a word, their hearts beating in rhythm…

Fluttershy was first to react as she seen the clock, from the corner of her eye. “Oh my! We should go!... We’re late for the cleaning of the bunnies hutches!” she panicked.

Trappy started to panic a bit too, but then, he got an idea. As they get out, he says. “Flutters, get on my back. I’ll take us to the hutches.”

“W-What?” she replies, surprised. “But how-”

“Trust me! You’ll see!” says Trappy.

Fluttershy nods and climbs on Trappy’s back. “Clench your legs around me, close your eyes and don’t let go!” Fluttershy obeys. As he feels she’s ready, Trappy started to run through Ponyville. He wasn’t as fast as usual, but enough to leave a black and purple trail behind him. Fluttershy screamed of fear at the speed. But, three seconds later, she suddenly noticed Trappy stopped running. They were arrived.

Fluttershy gets down from Trappy’s back, shaking like a scared lamb, but amazed to be back so fast.

“Oh...my… You… How did you do that?” she stutters.

“Oh.. Just some… training…” Trappy replies, panting a bit.

As they go back to the duties, Trappy tells Fluttershy about his running skills, and also his inability to fly fast in counterpart.

“W-Well, I don’t mind, Trappy… You know,.. I’m not a good flyer either…”

They looked at each other again a long moment, realizing their common…

Trappy was going back home in the evening. He was walking slow, remembering the sweet day he got with Fluttershy. His walk leaded him to the park. There was nobody really around, except for three fillies playing together on the grass… He also noticed something, sitting on a bench. It wasn’t a pony. It was Spike. And he was looking sad.

Listening to his heart, Trappy approached him and sits at his sides. Fighting his shyness, Trappy started “You don’t look really happy, lil’ fella.”

Spike sighs and says “It’s just…girls… I don’t understand them. I wonder what she thinks of me.”

Trappy nods and sighs too, absentmindedly watching the three fillies playing and yelling something about cutie marks. “I know that too well… I wish I know what’s in the mind of the girl I dream of.”

Spike turned to Trappy “Then, you know?... You know how it feels, right?”

Trappy nods. “Though… For how much long you date each other?”

“I’d say…around 4 months…”

Trappy nodded and watched Spike “Dude, I think you should tell her what you feel.”

“But what if she rejects me?”

“She won’t.” Trappy smiled “To be honest, I seen you both at the Sugar Cube Corner today. The way you looked at each other… Believe me, I don’t think she sees you just as a friend. You should take her to another-… no, wait, even better.” He stands up and faces Spike. “You’re going to get a big bouquet de fleurs, run to the Carousel Boutique and tell her your feelings, tonight!”

Spike doesn’t say anything, confused. Trappy’s look was determined. He was certain of what was going on. It couldn’t fail in his opinion.

“You know what? Climb on my back. I’ll take you there.”

Spike was amazed on how this pegasus can run so fast while not using his wings. In less than 20 minutes, he had a beautiful bouquet and was in front of the Carousel Boutique. Trappy even had time to stop by the Sugar Cube Corner to get the muffins for his sister.

“It’s here that I leave you. Just tell her what you have in the heart and all will be fine, I’m sure. Good luck!” says Trappy as he runs back to Derpy’s home, without even hearing Spike thanking him behind him.

During the dinner, Trappy told Derpy about his day. Trappy was feeling accomplished today. He was hoping that everything would turn well, for Spike… And was hoping to feel something similar with Fluttershy, soon…