Loyalty and Kindness

The weather was good today. As proud as she usually was of her work, she was even more pleased today with what she and the other pegasi had done. The skies were clear, save for a few white and fluffy clouds, the wind was little more than a gentle breeze and Celestia's magnificent sun gave warm rays to all who walked below. Rainbow nodded in admiration of the day, as those down on the ground would certainly appreciate the good weather, especially today.

Hearts and Hooves day. That special day of the Equestrian calendar where all "special someponies" get together and simply enjoy the day in each other's company. Rainbow had never been one for all that "lovey-dovey" stuff, but she could not deny the joy it brought to others. "Others" was the right word for her to use here, because even though Rainbow had never sought out companionship of any romantic sort, looking at all the mares and stallions down there in each other's company made her feel somewhat left out.

She rested her head on her cloud, thinking about her situation. It was not as though she was unpopular about town. Indeed, she had been the subject of several stallions' attempts at courtship over the years, and while she'd always appreciated the fact that they admired her, she'd never accepted any of their offers. Perhaps it was out of a lack of interest, or maybe it was just a way for her to keep up her "too cool" attitude that ponies now associated her with. But whatever her reasons had been at the time, this year she felt more inclined to be accepting of such offers.

At least, she would be if she'd been approached by anypony this year. Her past rejections had clearly sent a message that Rainbow was some sort of unattainable mare, and under normal circumstances, having that kind of reputation might make her ego swell larger than usual. Now though, she considered the possibility that maybe she herself should try and go out to seek a partner for today.

A frown appeared on her face as she dwelt on this notion. She was Rainbow Dash! She wasn't the kind to just go asking other ponies to go on dates with her, and even if she was, who could she possibly ask? She closed her eyes and imagined standing next to the mares and stallions around town that she knew of. None of them felt right to her. None had much in common with her, because if they did then they'd be much closer friends than they were right now.

Then another thought popped into her mind. The image of a pegasus mare, gracefully floating above a field of green grass and beautiful flowers, surrounded by an assortment of animals who all adored her. That thought led to another. If the other ponies of Ponyville weren't an option, then perhaps she should look closer? The mare she'd known since she was a small filly? Rainbow shook her head at that thought. Date Fluttershy? No way. If she did that and things didn't turn out good, or worse, if she rejected her outright, then who knows that that might do to their friendship?

"But then..." she said to herself. "If we're as good friends as we've always said we are, then this shouldn't be too much trouble. We can just go back to being friends afterwards."

She flipped over and laid on her back now, staring up at the sky.

"But even if I go through with this, how do I do it? I've never asked something like this before. Where would I even start?"

As she laid there, thinking things over, she considered the possibility that maybe one of her other friends might be able to help. But who to ask? It didn't take long for Rainbow to suddenly smirk, ss if it was actually difficult to figure out which pony to ask about this. She spread her wings and leapt off her cloud, diving down towards the ground. Before reaching the ground she changed direction and moved upwards, down the main street of the town, towards a fancy-looking purple boutique. Landing gently on the ground, she approached the door and knocked on it.

After a few brief moments, the door opened and the familiar sight of a white unicorn greeted her.

"Rainbow Dash? To what do I owe this visit?" she said in her usual manner.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. Even to her close friends, Rarity acted the high class mare she always wished she was. She walked past her and into her shop as Rarity closed the door behind her. As Rainbow moved further in, she noted a number of new dressed scattered all over the place.

"Looks pretty busy in here today," she noted.

Rarity gained a look of pride on her face after hearing this.

"Indeed! Hearts and Hooves day is by far the busiest time of the year for me. You would not believe the number of mares and stallions who come in here trying to look their best for their special someponies. And of course, I'm always glad to help them in that regard."

Rainbow smiled as she turned away from the dresses and towards her friend.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Rarity tilted her head in confusion.

"You see...I need some help."

Rarity still looked confused as Rainbow's words sank in. Then, as understanding dawned on her, her expression became one of utter excitement. She let out an ear-piercing squeal as Rainbow covered her ears to prevent herself from becoming deafened by it.

"Rainbow Dash has a special somepony? Oh joyous day! Honestly dear, I was beginning to think you'd never get somepony to like you that way."

Rainbow narrowed her eyes at that comment, leading to Rarity raising both her front hooves in a gesture of defence.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that you've always been so...content with being single that I thought it wouldn't bother you to stay that way."

Rainbow's expression softened and now became somewhat uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I did too. But, ponies change, I guess."

Rarity walked past her and stood next to a number of dresses on display.

"So then. What style are you looking for?" she asked.

Rainbow shook her head.

"No. It's not that kind of help I'm looking for."

Rarity looked somewhat disappointed at that statement, but she tried not to let it get her down.

"Oh, then what help were you looking for?"

Rainbow started to look uncomfortable again.

"Well...I was wondering if...you know...you had any tips on the...asking part of the issue."

Rarity's expression became one of understanding once more as she smiled and approached her pegasus friend.

"Rainbow, darling, there is no right way to do something like this. It's just something you feel. Tell me, how do you feel about this stallion?"

The pegasus shook her head.

"Not a stallion."

Rarity's eyes widened somewhat.

"Oh! I see. Carry on."

Rainbow Raised an eyebrow. Rarity had accepted this revelation unusually easily. Despite her better judgement, she decided to enquire about that.

"Carry on? You mean you're not...you know...surprised or bothered by that?"

Rarity gave a brief giggle and shook her head.

"Rainbow, we live in a town where there's ten mares for every stallion. At this point I'd be more surprised if most mares here didn't lean that way at some point."

Rainbow shrugged her shoulders. She certainly couldn't argue with that logic. Indeed, such couples had never, to her knowledge at least, ever drawn any odd looks or anything from the locals. But it was never something she'd paid much attention to. Still, she had been asked a question and had to answer.

"Well, about how I feel about her...we've known each other since we were children. Not a day goes by when we don't talk to each other at least once. I think she's probably the most beautiful mare I've ever known, so much so that, at this point, I consider myself lucky that nopony, stallion or mare, has ever tried to make a move on her before."

Rarity raised an eyebrow.

"Rainbow, why haven't I met this mare yet? You've known her since you were a child? But the only mare who's done that is..."

Rarity's expression became difficult to read. As she took in each of these facts that Rainbow was giving her, her eyes began to widen.

"Rainbow...do...do you mean that your special somepony...is..."

The rainbow-coloured pegasus could tell that her unicorn friend had figured it out by now. She'd done all but name her at this point. She gave no answer to Rarity, whose mouth was practically on the floor at this point, and instead simply nodded. Rarity stood there in silence, her face clearly shocked by what she'd just heard.

And Rainbow couldn't blame her. Not once in all the time that the six friends have known each other did Rainbow ever show any kind of romantic affection towards Fluttershy. In truth, such thoughts had never popped into her head until recently. But she could not deny that she felt close to her for as long as she could remember. Right back when they were fillies together, they were more-or-less inseparable. Rainbow had always been protective of her, defending her from bullies and other aggressors. And Fluttershy in turn had become one of her most trusted friends, even when they both moved to Ponyville together a few years ago.

Rainbow simply could not imagine her life without her, and it was when she realised that, that thoughts of a romantic nature began to fill her mind when she thought about Fluttershy. Now, on this day, she would finally make those feelings known.

The pegasus could not help but chuckle at the sight of her friend's gaping mouth. She'd been like this for about five minutes now with no sings of coming back to her senses. In an effort to bring her, back Rainbow waved her hoof in front of her face.

"Yo Rarity! You gonna snap out of it anytime soon?"

The shocked unicorn shook her head and closed her mouth, still clearly taken aback by what she'd heard.

"Well...Fluttershy. I must say dear, I had not expected this."

Rainbow then noted with some confusion that Rarity, for some reason, was now looking straight past her. Her eyes widened with surprise somewhat, but then she gained a somewhat more mischievous look as she turned her attention back to Rainbow. Under normal circumstances, the pegasus would question this behaviour. But right now she had other things on her mind.

"Tell me Rainbow, exactly how long have you had these feelings for her?"

Rainbow considered the question carefully. It was hard to pinpoint exactly when she started thinking that way about her, but she knew she needed to give an answer.

"Well, we've known each other since we were fillies. But I didn't begin to feel like this about her until a few months ago. It was during the effort of the Ponyville pegasi to try and get the water from our reservoir up to Cloudsdale."

Rarity nodded, her eyes still darting between Rainbow and whatever interesting thing she'd spotted behind her.

"Yes. I remember that. Fluttershy flew very well."

Rainbow smirked a little here.

"Well? She was awesome! That was the best flying I've seen from any pegasus I've ever known, especially from her. But even before then, I'd been thinking about her. When things between us had become difficult over that reservoir duty, I suddenly realised how important she was to me. How integral a part of my life she'd become. I think it's safe to say that was the start of it."

Rarity nodded again.

"But I must say, Rainbow, even if this wasn't one of our friends we were talking about, I would never have pictured you with anyone so...reserved."

Rainbow frowned at that.

"Fluttershy is far more than that and you know it! She's kind. She always thinks of others before herself. She's never hurt anypony in her life, something few can ever say about themselves. She's been a trusted friend to all of us for as long as any of us can remember. She's sweet, she's beautiful, she's..."

Rainbow stopped talking as she saw the expression on Rarity's face. It looked as though she was trying to hold back laughter. Rainbow was starting to feel angry over this? Was Rarity finding amusement in all of this?

"Hey look! I didn't come here to be judged or criticised by you over this! I came here to ask for your help about how to approach her on this!"

Rarity then successfully held back her laughter and composed herself, giving the angry pegasus a small smile.

"My dear Rainbow Dash, I don't think that will be a problem."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, confused at what she was talking about. Then, Rarity once more looked past her. A few moments passed as Rainbow stood in silence, considering what could possibly be behind her to make Rarity behave like this. Then it dawned on her. Her face turned several shades paler, as she slowly turned around and looked behind her.

There, standing in the open door of the boutique, was a very shocked-looking Fluttershy.

Rainbow's mouth was gaping open, not unlike how Rarity's was a few minutes ago. her mind was racing as the two pegasi stared at each other. What could she do? What could she say? How was she going to fix this? How could Rarity not warn her about this? Had she just botched her only chance of getting together with her? After all those things she said, would Fluttershy leave?

As Rainbow's mind kept putting terrible scenario after terrible scenario in front of her, Fluttershy's expression softened, and then she smiled. She walked up to the still-paralysed-with-shock Rainbow Dash and, before the latter could react, planted a small kiss on her cheek. This did the trick as Rainbow started moving normally again, placing a hoof up to her cheek in the spot where she'd been kissed. She looked a combination of surprised and relieved, as the doubtful thoughts from before melted away. Fluttershy continued to look up at her, smiling. Then ,before Rainbow could speak, she gave her the answer she'd been hoping for.

"Yes. I'll be your special somepony."

Rainbow's face was like stone for a few moments, before cracking into the biggest smile any of them had ever seen on her. Without warning, she grabbed Fluttershy and swung her around with joy, oblivious to the frightened squeals of the timid little pegasus. After a few minutes of this, she put her down, and after a brief recovery, Fluttershy and her simply smiled at each other, enjoying this perfect moment.

At least, it would have been perfect if a certain white unicorn didn't decide to speak then and there.

"You can thank me later".