Standing Up for Fluttershy
Rainbow dash looked down at the glass of water in her hand. The water was slight tinge of brown, it was uncommon for the water to be pure, even for Equestria’s best athletes. She took another sip of the liquid. She thought about the tonics that the government probably released into the water, anything to peak the performance of their runners.
Rainbow dropped the empty glass into the sink with a loud crash. It hadn't shattered, just disturbed the metallic cutlery that layered the sink. Washing the dishes was always such as painful task, but it was hers. She grabbed a hold of the taps and gave them a solid tug and was rewarded with the gentle hiss of warm water filling the silver tub.
She relaxed as she put her sleek hands into the filling sink, beginning to scrub the utensils clean of old food. She worked slowly recounting the events of the morning in her head.
She had woken up, laying on her stomach, facing the barren wall that was devoid of any hint of colour and was only decorated by splotches of stains or possibly mould beginning to form.
Kicking her singular quilt off her she promptly eased herself out of bed and got dressed. Changing out of her pyjamas she wore a loose light blue tank top and jeans cut short at just below the waist. After that she had exited her dull bedroom, switched on the living room light and had found herself a drink.
Now that the last of the dishes were drying she grabbed a bread roll off the counter and tore off a chunk as she grabbed her backpack and swiftly ran out the door.
It was a nice morning for a jog. She finished off her bread roll as she began her morning run to school. Rainbow Dash was an athlete, a runner. She was fast. Fastest in her school, most likely the fastest in all of Equestria
.
Although her run was slower than normal, as it was only a warm up on her way to school, it was still faster than most others could keep pace with. She took a left, opting to run on the concrete path, long overgrown with grass and weeds from the various gardens it bordered than running on the road, which even though unused could still be occupied at any moment by a government troops.
Equestria’s military was extremely active. The platoon of a hundred or more soldiers march the streets each day, deterring crime and killing those who dared to commit it.
Cloudsdale was a series of massive cities built in the sky. These floating cities house over one hundred thousand residents each. A tall, thick grey concrete wall guarded the edges of every city. It would take many days to travel to another city, however no one ever chose to. Why would they? They were content with their lives upon their own floating haven.
The athletes slim body fought effortlessly as Dash glided over the pavement, soon to be arriving at her destination, high school.
School was compulsory in Cloudsdale. Most cities didn't have a school system at all, others only had selected students that would attend. Rainbow didn't like school, she hated it. She didn't need school, she didn't need books or brains.
She was going to run, compete and win. The only joy she found in the place was her running group, they were all losers anyway. That and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy had been Rainbow Dash’s best friend since they were little girls. She would do anything for Fluttershy. Fluttershy loved birds and would often endure her long lectures about the many of them that she could see from the city. Dash, on the other hand would happily endure running, well watching Rainbow run, just to spend time together. She didn't care for birds and Fluttershy didn't care for running, but this is how it's always been and they enjoyed each other's company.
Before long Dash had arrived at her school, one of the many located around the city. There was a large wall guarding the school grounds. The wall was about twice her size, made of white brick overgrown with moss and leaves. It was a rather pretty wall, the purple and pink flowers that dotted the loose vines that grasped the wall complimented the bare pearly white stone.
The pink haired girl drifted back into conciseness. It was morning, time to get up and prepare for the rough day ahead. She felt groggy and still half asleep, she was not a morning person. She wanted to stay in bed but the friendly chirps of the birds by her doorstep served as a reminder of her chores that had to be done. With a sigh of exasperation she sat up slowly and gently pulled the sheet off her bed. Her rundown house was a small, tin building consisting of 3 rooms. A bedroom, kitchen and living room connected by doorways which lacked doors themselves.
Even though she was poor, she was very tidy as quickly located her clothes for the day, stored neatly in her bedside table. The table was old and wooden consisting of a single deep draw where she stored the few clothes she could afford.
The dress she pulled out did not match the quality of her surroundings in the slightest. The stunning white summer dress looked stunning against the dilapidated walls and creaking ceiling of her home. This dress had been a present from her best friend Rainbow.
Fluttershy had always worn poor clothing made of the simplest clothe until Rainbow offered to give her some money to purchase some new clothes. Fluttershy couldn't imagine spending that much money just on clothes, so she had spent the majority repairing her roof, which now threatened to collapse once more. The remaining had been spent on a beautiful yellow dress with pink butterflies that she wore everyday to school.
She carefully took off her singlet and got changed into the silk garment and passed through the doorway to the kitchen. The kitchen was comprised of a wooden bench with a sink, a row of wooden cupboards painted a faint green colour and a set of drawers in the front of the bench itself which contained various cooking implements. There was no oven or fridge. Fluttershy couldn't afford these luxuries, though they were expensive to acquire in Cloudsdale.
Fluttershy looked to where the bread would be kept, but like always it was barren. She only get to eat bread when the bakers were kind enough to give her a stale loaf, even then that was probably only once every few weeks.
Turning on the tap yielded the depressing sight of thick brown water that gurgled as it spilled its filth into the faded metal sink. Fluttershy breathed a sigh of monotony and opened the cupboard above her revealing a two litre plastic bottles filled with clear water with only the slightest tinge of brown. Rainbow Dash would take a bottle to Fluttershy at school once a week.
Rainbow knew that Fluttershy was poor but she had no clue as to how severe her poverty was as she had never been permitted to accompany Fluttershy home. She was ashamed of her house, her lack of wealth and would never dream of pestering Rainbow Dash with her small problems.
She unscrewed the lid and took a sip of the putrid warm liquid before opening her front door allowing an array of colourful birds to swoop into the room and land gently on the bench. She watched them gratefully accept the water that she poured into the cap of the bottle and offered each bird. She wished she could offer more to them, perhaps some cleaner water. Her birds cheered her up, a smile grew on her face as she watched the birds enjoy their free drink.
Reality returned her to the realisation that she would never be able to offer them more as they departed her house as quickly as they had came. Screwing the lid back on, the bottle was returned to its place as she grabbed her bag and hurried out the door.
After finishing her breakfast and probably her only meal for the day she wandered towards school, following the sidewalk of cracked and broken concrete.
It was a not long before she arrived at the school gates to see Dash lost in the beauty of the overgrown school wall.
She too took a moment to re-examine the wall she had seen so many times. Nothing had changed. The wall still bore is various cracks, vines, and flowers that covered it like a sea of colour. It had always reminded Mera of an ancient castle, though it had not served the purpose of a castle to protect her.
"Hey Dash!" she called out to her friend.
Rainbow snapped out of her trance and turned around to see Fluttershy waving to her in the distance.
"Hey Flutters" she replied. She walked over to her friend and took her in an embrace. Mera sighed.
"I got some more water." Rainbow looked excitedly opened her backpack and pulled out a bottle similar to the one that Fluttershy had at home, only fuller. She blushed as she was handed the bottle. She unzipped her faded yellow backpack and gently lowered the bottle inside next to her books and other assorted school supplies. She was glad to have a friend as good as Dash.
"You should let me come see your place one day, we can hang out over there and stuff."
"Umm.. maybe."
"Anyway, let's get inside. " said Rainbow now bored with the situation.
Together they walked up the wide white concrete path that led through the school yard, overgrown with weeds and grass, to the main entrance. It wasn't a large school, It could house around ten classes. The school itself was just a single building, two stories in height, the concrete and stone that it was built from had a faded yellow hue, not unlike Fluttershy’s backpack, from the old paint job that used to cover the exterior of the school.
They hurried through the main door into the corridor. The corridor stretched the depth of the building with doorways leading off at regular intervals to classrooms that would soon be occupied by students eager to learn.
To the right of the door was a small open window, inside the window was the school office. Mrs Cheerilee was seated down at her desk facing the window, glued to her computer screen. She was probably organising the annual school running tournament. The running tournament is a big event. Everyone on the sports team competes for the fastest time while running on a variety of tracks. One through the city, another through the park and the third track, around the school oval. Representatives from Cloudsdale Running Team come to every event to pick out the fastest runner to join the elite team to represent Equestria in the International running circuit.
Rainbow’s dream was to be picked by the elite team and run for Equestria.
The old lady looked up to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who were standing by her window.
"Hey we'd like to check in." said Dash
"Yes, ok, hold on." Mrs Cheerilee pulled out a clipboard.
"Name."
"Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy." Dash answered.
"Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy." she barked in a husky tone, ticking their names of the daily roster.
Before they turned to leave, Mrs Cheerilee spoke up.
"Fluttershy dear, Principle Mane wants to see you."
"oh ok." responded Fluttershy shyly.
"Catch you later, I'm going to go for a warm up before gym class."
Fluttershy watched Dash casually head out the door before walking down to the end of the hall. She wondered why the principle wanted to see her, she hadn't done anything wrong, maybe it was to congratulate her.
She smiled at that thought.
She arrived at the stairs and began her ascent.
She found the principal's office and tapped lightly on the door.
"Come in." chimed the lovely voice of principal Mane.
Fluttershy hesitated before opening the door and walking in. She was faced with a desk with three seats, two on the side closest to her and one on the other occupied by the owner.
"Fluttershy, good to see you. I have to talk to you about your latest test." said the principal sternly.
"You, do?" questioned Fluttershy afraid she had done something wrong.
"Yes, it seems you got 100%. While it is normal and you do normally do well, it was identified by two fellow classmates that you cheated."
"Cheated?" She whimpered, her eyes began to water.
"I am very disappointed in you."
Fluttershy started to cry.
"As a result you, your grade has been revoked. You have failed your class. As you know this is an extremely prestigious school. Only running would keep you here."
"But I don't run."
"Precisely, that is why we are asking you to leave."
It hit her like a tonne of rocks. Her throat closed up, she couldn't breathe. She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay here, with Dash. What would her parents say, they will be devastated. Her father would probably never speak to her again, he already hated her for not being a runner.
As to be expected parents always pushed her to run, it was the only way to live a rich life these days however, Fluttershy was more interesting in her birds than sports. One thing that she still does not regret.
"Hey is that Fluttershy crying?" asked Riven from the hall.
"Probably nothing." responded Cloud Kicker.
"I'm going to go check." said Riven as she turned away from her friend, stopping their conversation about who would be chosen next to join the elite team of runners.
Cloud Kicker grabbed Dash's shoulder.
"Who needs her anyway, she doesn't run. You got me, on the team together. I don't know why you hang out with her, she'll be fine."
Dash brushed the hand from her shoulder and continued to follow the source of the sound. It emanated from Principal Mane's office.
"Whatever, I'll catch you later out on the track." snorted Cloud Kicker turning her back on her friend that was now ditching her.
Rainbow approached the door and gave it a knock. The gently sobs from behind were drowned out by the call of the principal.
"Come in."
She opened the door to see Fluttershy looking up at her through her tears.
"Dash, Principal Mane is going to kick me out because I cheated." she cried, ashamed that she was embarrassed in front of her only friend. She didn't want Dash to see her crying.
"Is this true." opposed Dash now sounding like the adult in the room.
"Well, yes."
"For cheating on one test."
"Uh, yes. Since she isn't a member of the athletic team she is reliant on her grades, I cannot have her cheating."
"Do you think Fluttershy would cheat?" quizzed Dash.
"Yes." replied Mane as though she was a student being interrogated.
"Fluttershy, this kind girl that would do anything for anyone." Rainbow emphasised her point.
"Well.."
"Has she ever gotten into trouble before? No. Has she ever cheated on a test? No. It's not something she would do. Ever.
"We have witnesses saying she cheated." Mane raised her voice, in an attempt to re-assert her presence in the room.
"Really? Who."
"Two students."
"Who." pressed Rainbow with a hint of anger.
"Student confidentiality." hissed the stubborn principal with her own anger.
"You will tell me who!" demanded Dash, now furious.
"Snips and Snails." Blurted out the principal, now defeated.
"Snips and Snails, the same duo who got caught stealing school supplies, the same Snips and Snails that assaulted the janitor, the same Snips and Snails that pranked the whole school, the same Snips and Snails that have been caught cheating on multiple occasions."
Mane only responded with silence.
"What was the test even on anyway?" pushed Rainbow.
"Biology."
"Biology, what unit in biology?"
"Birds."
"Birds." stated Dash plainly. She wanted to hit herself in the forehead with her palm.
"You're kidding me." She laughed.
The atmosphere of the dusty room had calmed.
"What? I don't understand. This is a serious matter."
"You're telling me, you didn't expect Flutters, a girl that spends her life dedicated to the things, to not ace the test. She spends her weekends bird watching, bird counting, bird cataloguing, feeding birds, looking after birds, healing wounded birds. She drags me along to almost everyone of these things. Trust me she knows her stuff. Of course she is going to ace this test. If she put all her time studying the winged buggers into studying, I don't know, maths she would ace her maths exams too."
"My point remains, she will be leaving."
"If she goes, I go." Dash stated bluntly.
"Dashie! No." protested Fluttershy who had stopped sobbing to watch the argument.
"Hey, if you're going. I am too."
"No. It's ok. Don't worry about me. You have to race. Running is everything to you. I can't come between you and your dreams. We both know you’re going to be the next pick for the team."
"Rainbow Dash! This is absurd, you are our best athlete. You will stay and you will run." Demanded Mane."Not without Fluttershy!" Dash shouted. The tension in the room now rising again.
It was all too much, Fluttershy ran from the room, away from her shouting friend, away from the principal who probably hated her. She ran. The tears filled her eyes as she clumsily found the stairs, almost tripping over some books that had been left on the floor.
The wind was cold. It brought a chill to her as she sat down next to her favourite push in the garden. It was a beautiful green fern that bloomed the prettiest yellow flowers that reminded her of her sparkling blond hair. The clouds above where grey and threatened rain. The chilling air was somehow refreshing as her body cooled from her previous distress.
The ground was cold and her silk dress was growing damp from sitting on the wet grass but she didn't care. All she could think about was what had happened. She had been upset, forced to leave the school and her friend had stood up for her. Her friends effort were futile, she would still be sent away, away from her only friend. Dash had stood up for her in the face of her troubles, like a knight that was her friend. Perhaps the castle walls that she rested her back against did protect her, in a way that she hadn't yet realised.
She heard the soft footfalls of someone approaching. Fluttershy lifted her head from her thoughts of turmoil and smiled at Dash.
"Hey." Rainbow said glumly.
Fluttershy breathed a sigh of grief before collecting her only friend in a tight embrace.
"Good news is you’re staying, the running team needs me. They won't let me leave so you're staying."
This news lifted Fluttershy’s spirits entirely. "Really?!" she squealed in disbelief, jumping back in excitement.
"I guess I'm too awesome."
"Yeah, you are." she responded, stroking her friends ego.
Fluttershy and Dash smiled at each other. They were both overcome with joy. Fluttershy, being able to stay with her friend and Rainbow Dash, proud of herself for standing up for her friend.
"You should take up running." suggested Rainbow.
This was unlike her friend. She didn't run. Dash knew she wasn't athletic. Was this what she expected in return for helping her?
"Why?" was the only thing Fluttershy managed to say, hurt by Rainbow's cruelty to mock her.
"Cause then you'd be my two favourite things combined." Dash paused.
"Running and you."
Fluttershy blushed and hugged her friend again.
"Fluttershy, did you actually cheat on that test?" asked Dash now curious. She had never checked with her.
"No, I didn't."
"Then why didn't you tell Principal Mane?"
"I didn't want to cause any trouble." said Fluttershy shyly. She was worried that she had upset her friend.
Dash just laughed.
"Classic Flutters."
"Hey!"
"Only joking." She teased.
The End.
