--Reach Beyond The Sun--

"Dash... What do you think about our sky?" A young Fluttershy was standing on the balcony of her mother's home, head craned towards a slowly dimming sky. Thick grey clouds lazily drifted across the vast blue before them, blessed with an orange tint seeping through the edges. Fluttershy reached her arm out to the sky and slowly traced the nearest cloud with her finger. The simple motion only took her a few seconds, barely a wink of time, but the cloud she traced was miles long. She grinned at the waning sky, content to gaze into it until complete blackness fell upon the world.

"I mean, it's okay I guess. We see it everyday, Shy'." Rainbow Dash looked on towards the open blue for a few moments before getting bored, turning her spastic attention to a beetle scurrying its way across the railing she rested her arms on.

"Pewww." And with a flick of her finger, the beetle was gone.

"D-Don't be mean, Dash. I meant... Oh goodness, never mind." Fluttershy harrumphed, blushing more than she probably should have. She felt a quick soft prick on her head, then another. The sky slowly began to open up, the masses of grey above them fulfilling their natural duties.

Neither girl budged.

"Hey, don't be like that." Dash lightly rustled the slightly shorter girl's hair, frizzing it up until the immanent downpour would eventually wet it back down again. "What'd you have to say?" Dash put a hand above her eyes so she could look up without being blinded by the rain. She never truly understood how the world could go from cloudy to storming in just a few moments. She wondered, but she wondered about the same that all teenage girls probably would.

She's just never cared.

"H-have you ever really thought about how amazing our sky is? H-how wherever you look you are seeing for thousands, even millions, of miles." Fluttershy cupped her hand and caught some of the rain, letting it trickle down and off her palm, the suspended droplets rejoining their brethren in their final journey together. "You never think about it, but even during the day you're getting a wide glance of our galaxy."

She gestured towards the passing Nimbostratus. "You can see multiple clouds at once, but each cloud stretches out for miles. They look so soft. Like you could just hold them in your hand and squeeze." As she spoke her eyes shined in a way that was completely Fluttershy. The big blue orbs taking in everything that they could, a nearly impenetrable smile adorning her face. "Everything is so... Pretty."

Dash looked up but felt none the wiser. Clouds were still just clouds, and the sky was permanent.

"I guess, but you see the sky all the time. It isn't really, well, special..."

"B-but that doesn't mean it isn't still incredible." Fluttershy shrugged her lean shoulders and basked in the life bringing weather. The pitter patter of rain had climbed in pace and volume, becoming a constant drawl. A continuous slosh that never changed in pitch, promising the life of any plants in the area. Fluttershy loved it

Rainbow Dash was confused.

Rainbow stared at a currently lost Fluttershy for a few moments before letting out a light chuckle. "You can get kinda' freaky sometimes, bud." Fluttershy blushed and pocketed her hands in her already-dark-now-made-darker sweatshirt, taking sudden interest in her bare feet as she shuffled them.

"I'm not freaky..."

"Girls!" Fluttershy's unusually tall mother opened the sliding glass door to the balcony and waved at them frantically, "Girls your age should be out at the mall buying silly things or whatever, not just sitting in the rain getting soaked. Now come inside, I'm making food." Her mother waved the duo into the home, and both teens promptly trudged inside at the thought of some nourishment. Fluttershy stopped to take one last glance at the now fully grey canvas before her, then she too joined the world indoors.

"You know, my young and simple teenagers, if you want me to keep my sanity you're going to have to not bring a gallon of water inside with you. That's something that your little cousin would do, Fluttershy. Not you." The sound of butter sizzling on a frying pan provoked Fluttershy's mother to dump a bag of rice in to start frying. She expertly traced a spatula through the rice, keeping it from burning while letting it sizzle.

"Yeah, Vie, we know. We we're just kinda' relaxing but then that storm came in like lightning... Ha... Get it. Because it's a storm..." Rainbow nervously chuckled and winked to Vie while she cooked.

"First of all, Dash, Its just a shower. Secondly, you've been listening to your father's jokes far too much." Vie rolled her eye's and added some vegetables to the mix, as well as some spiced chicken.

"Hey, his shitty jokes can be pretty funny." Vie chuckled.

"Oh, so you've been out drinking?" She continued expertly stirring the food without giving the pan a single look.

"What?" Dash held up her hands in defense, a lighthearted smile still etched on her face. "I'm like, a law abiding sixteen-year-old, Ma'am. Come smell my breath if you don't believe me." She pointed into her open mouth with a finger.

"Only drunk people think your dad tells funny jokes. They're pretty bad. You're lucky I don't tell him that you've been drinking"

"Ahh, but then you'd have to tell him that his jokes are bad." Vie laughed off her daughter's friend and continued flipping rice around on the stove. "Can you go change into something that wont water log my kitchen, please."

"Yes, Mommy. I have to go to the bathroom anyways." Dash rolled her eyes and kicked her shoes off, putting them near the door and waltzing off to find some of the extra clothing she dragged with her to Fluttershy's house.

"Don't get lost, you old drunk." She heard Rainbow shout something back, but the long hallway morphed whatever she said into a bland babbling. She couldn't help but love the upbeat girl like a second daughter. Vie sighed and scratched behind her head. Long and thick pink hair slid between her fingertips, tied back with a hair clip so she didn't get pounds it in the food. She remembered her first day on the job as a chef. Specifically, she remembered how the first time she cooked a few strands of her impossibly long hair fell into the burner and caught fire. It was horrifying then.

It's giggle worthy now.

She knew that time could close the widest and deepest of wounds, both mental and physical. However, she also knew it was your own actions that decided how much time had to be spent healing the pains throughout your life. Time can indeed, heal any wound.

If you let it.

She saw that her only child was pressed against the window pane, staring out into the rain as it continued draining life back into the earth. She was very quiet. Even for Fluttershy.

"Hey honey. Isn't the scenery a bit... Dull, for today? Hmm?"

"Eh..." She replied without turning. Vie poured the now finished stir-fry onto a large plate but left it to sit on the counter. Pulling up a chair next to her daughter, she planted herself on it and pulled her daughter into a one armed hug.

"What's wrong, dear." Fluttershy shrugged, but accepted the motherly affection and rested into it.

"Nothing, Mom." She betrayed her own words by letting her head fall against her mother's shoulder. It reminded her about how short she was compared to the sky scraping woman. It almost made her smile.

"Bah, I can tell that isn't true sweetie. Is it something you want to tell me in private, after Dash leaves?" Fluttershy shook her head no, breathing in deep to try to calm herself.

"I've been thinking about Dad a lot."

"Ahh, and out comes the truth."

"I know it's been a year now, but I still miss him. A lot." Fluttershy felt her eyes get teary, but she sucked back the tears as they threatened to spill. She wouldn't cry over him. Not again at least.

"Aww, honey." She pulled her daughter closer. "Your father was the greatest man that I've ever met. He had brightened the lives of hundreds by the time he turned twenty. He loved you until the day he passed on, and I'm more than positive he still loves you all the same."

"But that doesn't make it any easier, Mom." She felt a tear drip down her cheek. That battle never lasted long.

"It should. Honey, look; He left with no bad blood between any of us. No fights, he was always happy, he never really got mad. Everything about him screamed fun and love, and if not that, jokes that were far better than Dash's old man's are. You need to remember that you got to spend so many perfect days with him. "Just the good times" would include practically every day."

Fluttershy nodded. "I suppose you're right."

"Well of course, I'm the mom. It's in the job description."

"I guess I miss his actual presence, all of his little quirks. I still come home after school thinking that I'll pass him rocking in his favorite chair, watching whatever was on t.v. Most likely yelling at a show if it wasn't 'on par with his pristine rating system'. Or the times that he would claim the chef role for the night, and thirty minutes later we would get handed pizza he ordered from his friends restaurant. He'd write his name on the box over the big "Baurinzelli's" logo at the top. I keep expecting to get texts from him every day during school telling me that..."

"If you find a cute girl, she'll have to fist fight him to earn the right to love you." Her mother finished her sentence with a hearty giggle escaping Fluttershy.

"Mhmm." She wiped away a stray tear, but her smile didn't falter this time. "I never deleted those messages, not one. It was the same message every day, but I kept all of them. They made me laugh whenever I was having a bad day." Her eyes traced rain drops as they fell. "I remember being scared to come out to him. I knew you would understand, but I had heard all the stories about dads rampaging about stuff like that. Yet, I clenched my fists and stormed up to him and out came the secret. "Dad, I'm Gay." Do you remember what he told me?"

"Don't get her pregnant." Of course her mother would remember. They both shared a laugh now. Fluttershy picked her head off her mother and stretched her arms, noticing that she was still wearing her drenched clothing from outside. They stayed like that for a few more comfortable minutes, reminiscing in the strong bond they've kept. Even through Fluttershy's teenage years.

"He was a pretty perfect Dad." She gazed up at the sky, finding a whole new beauty in it. "I bet you he's up there right now, trying to run the place. He probably thinks Celestia and Luna are Inefficient." Her mother laughed at this, getting up and giving her daughter one last hug before returning to the meal she had crafted.

"That's the spirit, sweetie. Now stop getting the floor wet, I have to change now too." She glanced across the room and saw that half of her mothers pale orange blouse had been assaulted by a generous helping of water. She covered her mouth and giggled.

"Oh my... Sorry, Mom."

"It's quite alright dear. Before you change, check to see if the drunk got lost. It's been a good ten minutes since she left to get changed."

"I'm here!" Dash came into the room with vigor, much more dignified than the average drunk. "I had to practically go diving to find my lazy clothes, sorry." She wore a pair of old and tired track shorts, with a matching pale white tank top. Halfway through her march into the room she stopped, turning back around and starting back towards the hallway. "...And I totally forgot to use the bathroom. Whoops."

Dash started jogging away.

Vie started giggling.

Fluttershy started staring. Staring at Dash to be more exact. Staring at the way the athletic car junkies toned body rippled as she jogged away.

Vie started staring. Staring at Fluttershy to be more exact. Staring at the way her daughter's eyes followed how the athletic car junkies toned body rippled as she jogged away.

Vie started giggling again

Dash slammed the bathroom door in her rush, breaking Fluttershy out of her stupor. She turned her attention to her mother whom was still giggling.

"W-what?" Fluttershy blushed and folded her arms, pouting. Stir fry poured onto individual plates as they were set on the table, carefully, can't scratch the table after all.

"She would have given your dad quite a walloping."

"Fluttershy, your shower is way too damn sophisticated." Dash walked into Fluttershy's homey living room, the owner herself lounging on the couch. Her injured arm was propped up on the arm rest, feet resting on the coffee table in front of her. She was sipping on a glass of water, nearly spilling it when Dash approached her.

In just a towel.

"Oh...Y-yes, it is quite towel. I mean, uh muscular. I-I meant Towel!" Fluttershy stammered as her lifetime crush stood utterly confused. She could feel her cheeks turning red, and nothing but. It took a few moments for Rainbow to truthfully grasp what her friend was on about. Then it hit her.

She's never laughed harder in her life.

She laughed all the way back to the bedroom. She laughed when she swapped the towel for a fresh pair of jeans and a new shirt. She laughed again when she saw the towel draped on the floor, and she laughed some more when she re-entered the living room. When Fluttershy sighed in relief at her change of attire, she laughed.

She laughed a lot that day.

"Oh I'm so sorry, Fluttershy." The short girl crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"N-no you aren't."

"No, Really. I am. Honest," She sat down on the couch next to her friend and crossed her legs, snagging the remote for the t.v off the table and flipping it on. She looked at Fluttershy's still flustered form before realization dawned on her.

"Hey Shy'. Sorry for bringing this up after that little fiasco, but, how will you bathe?" Even Rainbow got a little quiet at the question.

"Oh... I can just sit in the tub. I shouldn't need help with that..." Rainbow stopped sweating, which was a nasty side effect to being extra nervous. She wiped off her brow and sighed in relief. "Narrow escape."

"Oh thank goodness, errm. No offence. that would be..."

"Awkward..." The usually headstrong Dash nodded quite meekly. Silence ensued, however it was anything but comfortable. It was a more awkwardly flustered silence. It took an unusually loud knock to break through the foggy cease to conversation.

"Ooh, that'll be Applejack." Fluttershy made a motion to get off the couch before remembering that she wasn't capable of doing so. She asked for the remote instead.

"Did you ask her to come over today?" Dash placed the remote next to her friend and made her way through the overly-friendly living room to the overly-friendly door. Dodging the occasional cat bed or hanging birds nest as she bumbled her way through.

"No. N-not that I mind that she's here or anything."

"So how do you know it's her?"

"...She knocks loud."

Fluttershy was right. Well, half right. Upon creaking the old wooden door open she caught sight of the hard working farmer. Unironically, she was chewing on a length of straw. Along with the plaid dawning farm girl was her giddy younger sister, as well as her two friends. She should have expected the company, but yet the sudden appearance of 4 extra people through her for a loop.

"Hey Applesmack," She looked down and put her arm out for a knuckle bump. "Squirt!" The smallest of the three kids, Scootaloo, gave her that knuckle bump.

"Howdy, Rainbow. Ah' reckon Fluttershy would be in there somewhere, ya'll mind if..."

"Ooo! Ooo! Yeah, Is she okay?"

"Ah' hear she got banged up!"

"I heard she lost her arm."

"Scoots, that's ridiculous. She still has both arms."

"You don't know that..."

"But what if she doesn't."

"That would be... That would be..."

"Girls!" They all snapped to attention. "Didn't ah' just get done tellin all'a'ya'll not to act like that? Can you hush fer just a second?" Each girl collectively nodded, all a little bit disappointed in themselves for breaking Applejack's one rule and bringing upon a scolding. Applejack took a large breath and calmed herself before she continued.

"Is Fluttershy here, sugarcube? Ah haven't seen her for quite a while, and Pinkie said she got discharged. She also said that she didn't watch it happen, she just had one of 'er feelins'." Applejack smacked a bug off her arm without looking, so used to them from her work outside that the two second combat came and went without a second thought.

"Yup, she's lounging on the couch right now. Come on in, I'm sure she would love to see you three. Same goes for you, hillbilly." Applejack rolled her eyes and playfully thwacked Rainbow on the arm, and it came without saying that with years of farm work under her belt, she can hit pretty hard. Still, Rainbow shrugged it off and both girls had their laughs, and headed inside. Fluttershy patiently fiddled with the remote while she sprawled out on the couch, unaware of the mass majority of her visitors.

"Fluttershy!" Her head snapped from the remote to the collective voices, beaming brightly when she saw the girls.

"Girls!" They each gave their unofficial aunt a soft hug and bombarded her with questions. Each girl had a measured amount of softness to their voice when they were around Fluttershy. They asked questions specifically benevolent, ones that Fluttershy could only answer with a smile on her face. Even Scootaloo gave up the cool girl act for her injured one time caretaker. It made Rainbow happy to see her slowly growing, in more ways than just physically. Each one of the trio ended each new day a more mature and knowledgeable outlook on life. It would seem the adventures they spent so much time on actually did benefit them.

They were all pretty damn smart for their age.

"Fluttershy, can we come by and feed the animals and stuff sometimes? Like, since you're all hurt and everything."

"Yeah, we should!" We can be like, the animal feeder...uh, people." Applebloom nodded in approval.

"Pleaaase?" They all asked at once, putting their heads together and smiled equally toothy and equally wide. Fluttershy's heart melted into a pasty puddle.

"Yay! I'm so glad you think about the animals!" Fluttershy beamed in pure excitement. "Of course girls, It's actually almost time to feed them today. You can all start your new work soon, if you would like." They came in to hug her softly once more, careful not to put too much pressure on her. Rainbow couldn't help but notice that Applebloom was only about a foot shorter than Fluttershy, the other girls not far behind.

She also thought her crush looked adorable. "She'd be the perfect mom."

"Alright squirts, let Applejack talk to Fluttershy for a bit. I'm sure she has stuff she would like to say too." The girls nodded. "Go fiddle with trees or the river outside, or something. I'll be out to help feed the animals eventually." The trio ran out of the home, waving a goodbye to both Rainbow and Fluttershy. Applejack followed them out yelling about not burning down Fluttershy's chicken coop.

She re-entered the living room, Dash having taken a spot next to Fluttershy on the couch.

"Take a seat, farm girl." Rainbow pointed to Fluttershy's plush and fluffy reclining chair that sat adjacent to them.

"No thanks, rather stand anyways."

"Sit." Dash rolled her eyes.

She sat.

"Mind If ah steal a drink? Mighty dry out in the sun all day." Applejack kicked her feet up but pointed to the kitchen. The looked visibly relieved to be off her feet for the first time that day.

"We have water, Is that cool?" Dash flung a rubber band she found on the table at the farmer.

"Perfect."

Rainbow got up and bowed. "I'll even go get it for you, ma'am." Applejack flung the rubber band back, hitting her on the head.

"Much appreciated."

"Sit." Applejack pointed to the couch, Rainbow tossing a bottled water to her. She brought another cup and straw for her crush to sip on as well , plus her own bottle. Applejack took a heavy swig, downing half the bottle in a few long gulps. Rainbow tossed her own bottle to the farm girl.

"So, how're ya'll felling, Sugarcube?"

"Oh I'm feeling really good!" She smiled at Dash. "Rainbow has been doing her best to help me heal." Applejack smiled at this.

"She better be, or ah'll kick her hide up and over mah farmhouse." Rainbow chuckled, giving Applejack the finger, covered by her hand so Fluttershy could not see.

"I'd never let you down, bud."

"Rude hand gestures and violence are never the way to solve an issue." The wallflower stated, all of them chuckling.

"Well, in all seriousness, ah really just want to be sure you don't need extra help. By Celestia, Me and the family are here if you need it. With anything really, as you can see from the girls proposition earlier. Ya'll don't have ta' let 'em help if they'll be trouble ya' know. They can be quite a hand full."

"Oh no, it won't be any trouble at all. I love having the girls around." Rainbow nodded in approval.

"The only problem is that it's pretty hard work out there, and it takes a while. It took me hours to really grasp the task at hand yesterday. I'd love it if "Them dern young'uns" helped, but it's going to be actual work." Rainbow pointed to the shed door with the long list nailed onto it. "That's a pretty big list."

"Don't ya'll worry about that. They all have plenty'a time on their hands, not to mention they're tough as nails. Hell, they all told me they'd be here everyday to help if it wasn't for their few responsibilities at home."

"Well alright, they can help as long as they wan't to then. Does that sound okay?"

"Eyup"

"Totally."

They called the girls back in for a few moments and laid their plan out to each of them. They couldn't have been any happier, although Applejack said that Rarity will collapse in agony when she finds out her sister is working outside. In the muck. The girls were sent back out to study the list before Rainbow would join them, to get a real feel for the task at hand.

"We need to get all the girls together soon. I-I haven't seen any of them for almost a week..." Fluttershy frowned lightly.

"Tell that to Twilight. Have you seen her recently, Rainbow?" Applejack took on a look of slight concern, intriguing both the permanent and temporary residence in the home.

"Not since yesterday, why?"

"She's showed up at the farm to "Help out". She's still steaming."

"About me?"

"Eyup. She blames you for every bit of the accident, and ah don't think that girl has a hair on her head that cares if it wasn't actually your fault or not. Damn near chilled me to the bone, some of the looks she was shooting off around the barnyard."

"Oh sweet." Rainbow slumped back into the couch cushions. "That's reassuring."

"B-but, Rainbow has helped so much. I'll talk to her if she wants..."

"Whoa-ho-ho, slow it down there sugarcube. That's not such a good idea. I reckon Twilight is just a bit scared and needs some time to get used to all'a this. Think about it; girl's been a bookworm her whole life, but to the point where she didn't have any deep friends. Ah could only imagine how hurt she'd be if she lost one of us. We're practically all good people she has 'round here."

"But that doesn't explain why she's gotten all pissy."

"Well, sure it does. Remember that time you almost spilled your drink because our waiter bumped into ya. Ya'll didn't spill it, but ya still got mad. It's like that with Twi but on a larger scale."

"O-oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense." Rainbow sat puzzled along with Fluttershy. They hadn't really thought of how such a close call could still hurt those around them. They had figured that the miracle of Fluttershy's life would be enough to brighten the spirits of those around them. It's not uncommon for the good to outweigh the bad in life.

Or vice versa.

"Ah think ya'll should just wait 'till Shy' is healed up, then surprise her. It sounds right bad, but it'll be much better for all'a us if she gets mad at herself for worryin' too much than if she gets mad at you two. Ya'll haven't really done anythin' ta deserve it.

"Soo... Wait it out, I guess?"

"Do you think she'll be alright?"

"Bah, she'll be good. Old Jacky over here knows what she's talking about. You two catch up, I'm going to go start food duty." Rainbow saluted both her friends and marched out of the room. Applejack launched a perfectly aimed rubber band at hyper speed into the clear target, her rear end.

"Go on, get."

And so she did.

Fluttershy sat on her comfy bed, resting her head on her good arm and looking out the window. Her mounted clock rang out eight times, signifying a new hour with the quiet chirps from an Eastern Yellow Robin. She didn't even hear it. The sun had fully set over the horizon, and the blanket of night was slowly being dragged over the sky she still held love for. But It was her favorite time of night. It was the time where the blue sky still fought back the covet of darkness. The silent battle before her left the worlds ceiling a dull grey. There were no stars to look at yet, only grey.

She stared out into her back yard, passed a large field that harbored animals during the day, but sat empty at night. Her favorite tree sat at the end of the field, completely unobstructed by any sort of vegetation other than the grass that lay at it's base. It was her favorite tree because it sat alone. She had spent many nights by it, shielded by its massive stature. She would lay at its base and rest her head on it, drifting off into a deep sleep more times than she could count. Spending time with a tree may sound silly to some people, but if she did not, the tree would sit alone.

Everybody needs a friend.

The grey sky gave enough light to see her tree, and only just. Passed that was an endless black, and even the tree was blanketed with the light haze of an unyielding darkness. Soon the night would creep up and claim the tree along with everything else, but she didn't mind The light would bring it back tomorrow. Every night that she could, she would watch the picture like state of the world as night fell. Yet, as far as she could tell, there was no reason why she did it. She just did.

It gave her an odd feeling. Indescribable. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but nor was it pleasant. Undoubtedly unique. She never tried to explain it to her friends, she was sure that the words she required to fully explain it did not exist. She could tell that they wouldn't be interested in it either. After all, It is something that happens every night. She did not believe there was was a real reason for this feeling. It just was.

A clank of plates rang out from her kitchen, loud enough that she heard it from upstairs. It was the telltale sign of dishes and silverware being cleaned after a meal. Of course, she already knew her crush would be cleaning up the kitchen. Rainbow told her that she would five minutes ago. She thought back to her crush, or rather, back to when the crushing had started.

Rainbow had always made her laugh. It could be the slightest of jokes to the most brash sarcastic gestures, but unadulterated laughter was common between them... Throughout their time in high school together, Fluttershy would be a giggly and bubbly mess and it would all be Rainbows fault. However, many people make her laugh. Pinkie Pie did it every day.

Rainbow was quite intelligent, though she hid her above average intellect behind a sharply crafted bronze and imminently-dangerous cut out of herself. It was the kind of forefront that scared the crows away, that nobody with even half the smarts she had would mess with. The reason that she was always able to hide her irrefutable intellect is because she had the brains to do so. Yet, Rainbow isn't even close to the smartest person she knew. Twilight's simplest of studies boggled all of their minds.

She was perpetually incredibly fit, as it came with her tough gal facade. When she wasn't working, either at the corner store or her job down in the pits on the local race track, she would keep up on her sports. The all access gym membership Fluttershy had bought her last year was put to use every other day. She was the queen of the athletes in school; the poster girl, the popular one, the demijock. Everything about her screams fitness... But it's practically the same with Applejack.

Fluttershy liked the feeling of security. She was always afraid of the benevolent, taken to a phobic level by anything that did, and sometimes did not, posses a threat. Rainbow was the one who gave her that security. Every bully that picked on her got her friends fist, in literal terms. She supposed it could have started then, right? Rainbow was practically her personal knight in a glittering school uniform, protecting her whenever she had needed it. But that couldn't be it, Fluttershy was not a very needy girl.

But maybe that's where the answer laid it's weary head. She had never asked to be given kindness, but Rainbow had always given it to her. As far back as she could remember, they had been mutual friends. Mutual because, for once in Fluttershy's life, she was treated with the same respect she gave out. Sure, Rainbow could be thoughtlessly rude on occasion, but those day's always ended with a hug and an apology. Maybe it was just simply because Rainbow was her very first friend.

She felt a strange and bubbly thought crawl up into her head. It was one that she had many times before, but it never truthfully out-shined her other emotions. It used to be a little nibble, a simple peck at the back of her mind, but now it snapped at her attention. She didn't know why she loved her. She had a few clues why her love may exist, but not one reason she could set in stone.

Fluttershy supposed that she just did.

Even besides all of the contemplation, there was never a doubt about her love for the tall and charismatic local superstar. She embraced it with open arms, even if the more she thought about it's underlying cause the more confused she became. She still loved her with every bone in her body.

Another clank rang from the kitchen

She opened her eyes in suddenly. "O-oh my... Did I dose off?" It was quite obvious to her that she had. Her favorite tree was gone. She sighed lightly, with slight sadness behind it. She never liked to miss out on her favorite time of night. Even if it was because she passed out.

"Hey, I finished up the kitchen."

"Eep!" Fluttershy nearly launched out of her.

"O-oh my goodness. You startled me." Rainbow chuckled, sliding herself onto the bed next to her friend, sitting in between Fluttershy and the window.

"Whatcha looking at?" Fluttershy realized that she was still staring outside.

"My favorite tree..." Rainbow looked out of the window as well, but saw nothing but black.

"Huh, cool tree..." They sat silent for a few moments. They had been doing this frequently these past two days, just silently sitting with each other. Though, those who understand each other often have no need for words. Fluttershy resumed her new favorite position, leaning to the side and against her friend, Rainbow of course accepting the affection. It was becoming the regular thing for them to do, done without much thought. It occured to Rainbow as her friend leaned on her that thing was indeed a form of snuggling. Snuggling was totally uncool.

"Snuggling is totally cool."

"Oh..." A signature Flutterblush crept up onto the shy girls face. "I-is that what this is? I just thought it was...like a super long hug..." N-not that I mind! Of course." Rainbow smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Yes bud. We're pretty much snuggling."

"Ooo, Yay." She snuggled in closer. A new feeling of comfortable entered the room.

Though, something new happened that night.

As they sat, Fluttershy felt Rainbow's hand move off of her leg and next to her own hand. She felt her crush's fingers come into contact with her's, and she felt both of their hands clasp together. Fluttershy sighed happily and leaned in further, now hand in hand with her love. Rainbow was shocked that Fluttershy accepted the hand holding, but she was far happier than she could imagine. Rainbow's thumb grazed over the back of the smaller girls hand lightly, a subconscious motion that went unnoticed by Rainbow, but not unappreciated by Fluttershy.

They sat like that until the clock gave nine consecutive chimes, and then some. Rainbow gave one last squeeze of her hand and started to get up, unclasping her hand from her friend's. Fluttershy quickly grabbed her arm.

"Please don't go..." Rainbow looked a little surprised.

"We're both dozing off anyways, Fluttershy. I should let you get some sleep." Fluttershy shook her head and blushed. It's now or never, Fluttershy."

"Would...W-would you stay here for the night."

"Of course, I'll be right downstairs if you need me." Rainbow turned to leave again, promptly being stopped short once more.

"I-I meant here. Like, with me..."

"Oh, uh, Oh!" Rainbow blushed heavily. "If you really want me to..." Fluttershy vigorously nodded, now consisting of seventy-five-percent blush. Rainbow pulled the covers down and crawled into the bed, pulling them back up and over both of them.

A few moments of awkwardness passed before they settled in like they had before. Fluttershy scooted next to her friend, silently cursing her still healing arm. The odd position it put her in stopped any sort of cuddly affection when sleeping. Yet, Dash understood this. She sat up and put a pillow behind her head, now matching the position Fluttershy had to sleep in. Fluttershy put her good hand out for Rainbow to take, and in an unspoken understanding, she took it in her hand once more.

"Tell her..." Rainbow looked sleepily over to her elated friend.

"Tell her..." Fluttershy, elated, looked over to her sleepy friend.

It was funny how hard such a small phrase could be to utter. It was three words that, said around the correct person, could mean an entire life's worth of happiness. But the trio can bring a a comparable amount of hurt when said to the wrong person. That second issue stops even the bravest of souls from speaking their minds. They could be with the person they are the most comfortable with in any situation, it makes no difference. It takes a particularly brave soul to break that silence.

At one point in everyone's life, they will have that moment to shine.

Fluttershy had rested her forehead on her crush's chin, still gripping her hand tightly. She looked up, and they both made eye contact. Butterflies swam in her stomach. She felt weightless. Before she knew she had even moved, she gave her friend a light kiss on the cheek. It was a simple gesture, a safe bet she could place that could still win her the love she was longing for. However, when they made eye contact again, she knew that there was more to be said.

She leaned up once more and gave the taller girl a long kiss on the lips. She didn't really know what she was doing, or how long to kiss for that matter, but after a second or two, her friend kissed back in full.

It was the best moment of their lives.

It was pure, unwavering, joy. It was two loving people showing their previously unknown love for each other to each other. The best part was that they now both knew. They both understood that from that moment on they would have one another to hold onto and enjoy. They knew that this moment was the very beginning of their own story together.

They basked in each others warmth. The room started to feel sweaty, but it was an excellent sort of sweaty. Rainbow's lips were tantilisingly smooth, yet characteristically gruff. Fluttersh had, without a shadow of doubt, the softest lips in existance.

They pulled apart, Fluttershy nuzzling back into Rainbow's neck.

"I love you, Rainbow..."

"I love you too..."

They fell asleep together. It didn't matter what would become of tomorrow, because they had that night to fall asleep with one another. Fluttershy fell asleep first, her small and adorably snores barely audible to Rainbow. Each snore came rhythmically, eventually working its own charm on the athlete.

No, they did not have any worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow was going to be an entire day to just love each other. Tomorrow would be, undoubtedly, incredible.

No exceptions.

Author's Note

You think its going to end there, do ya? You think that I'm just going to start cranking out chapters somewhat regularly only to end the story there? On such a cliche and sappy note?

Well tough luck, bub, This story is just starting on its journey, and It's going to need to take some of you with it for the ride.

Comment if you liked it, leave brutal hate mail if you wish my death to be slow for writing a chapter you find in poor taste. I Still have not even a whisper editor, though I thank one friend for sending me a few inspirational and spectacularly helpful pm's to get this story rolling again. He pushed me to clean up the two first chapters somewhat so the story can fit a little bit better into its own little nook in everybody's library. Still, if you find little mistakes, including spelling or grammatical errors, please tell me I muffed up. Have a good week, folks.