The Heart is Where it is.

Chapter 7: The Hunt

Fluttershy felt tears stream down her face as she exploded into Twilights house, calling out for her.
"Twilight," she gasped. "please help me!"
The sound of rushed hooves pounded down the stairs, the purple pony gazing at Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, what's wrong?"
Fluttershy buried her face into her hooves with a shudder.
"R-Rainbow Dash ran away!" she sobbed.
"What do you mean?"
"Rainbow and I went to g-get the address for h-her parents. The stallion there said they d-d-died!" Fluttershy collapsed on the smooth wooden floor, Twilight rushing up to her.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy," the purple alicorn said sternly. "We will find her!"

"I hope so," whispered Fluttershy, lifting her head slightly. "I don't want to loose her." Twilight placed a wing around the yellow pegasus in hopes of comforting her.
"You won't. I know that as a fact."
Fluttershy gazed up at Twilight, her eyes sticky from her fresh tears.
"Thank-you, Twilight." Twilight nodded and headed to her shelves of books.
"Now, where did you look?"
"Everywhere! My house, her house, Sugar Cube Corner. Everywhere...." she repeated. Fluttershy watched her friend head to the door, following her quickly.
"Maybe she headed to Cloudsdale?" she suggested. Fluttershy gasped.
"Of course! That's where her parents were last seen."
Twilight spread her wings and took off, the yellow pegasus in pursuit close behind.

Oh Rainbow, Fluttershy thought. My poor, poor Rainbow. As they entered Cloudsdale, Twilight turned to Fluttershy.
"Do you remember what the address was?" she asked over the howling wind. Fluttershy nodded firmly, swooping down onto the clouds below. When Twilight Sparkle landed beside her roughly, Fluttershy galloped towards the heart of the city. They approached empty lots that had rubble all around a cloud structure, all except for one that was barley standing; Rainbow Dash's parents house. With a squeal of excitement the yellow pegasus fluttered towards the demolished house.

Twilight helped Fluttershy search the house, only feeling her hope crushing.
"Oh no!" Fluttershy wailed, falling onto the ground. "My poor Rainbow, all alone with no one to comfort her!" She leaped to her hooves and began to pace.
"What if she gets depressed because she thinks her parents are dead?! Then she can't find me because she gets lost and becomes even more depressed!"
"Fluttershy,"
"What if she disappears from the face of equestria!?" Fluttershy screeched, covering her head with shaky hooves. "No one ever hears from her again and I loose my one and only love!"
"Fluttershy,"
"But that's not the only bad part. What if I go crazy and never leave my house to see anypony?! Then I can't hadle myself so I go into an emotional breakdown because I'll never see Rainbow Dash again!" Fluttershy wailed.
"Fluttershy!" Twilight hollered, grabbing Fluttershy's face. "Knock it off! You're having an emotional breakdown right now."

The yellow pegasus looked away, choking on a sob.
"But I'll tell you; we will find Rainbow Dash. No matter what, we will keep looking!" Twilight let go of Fluttershy with wide eyes.
"Fluttershy, don't give up now! Rainbow Dash wouldn't give up on you." She placed a hoof over Fluttershy's heart.
"We can do it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Fluttershy closed her eyes slowly, only opening them to a worried Twilight Sparkle.
"Ok," she whispered. "let's keep looking."

They searched Cloudsdale for hours, covering every inch even as night approach. They headed home when it was too dark to see anymore, Fluttershy deciding to fly to the cliff at the edge of Ponyville to be alone.
"Are you sure?" Twilight asked worriedly. "You seem... distant."
"I'm fine, Twilight," the yellow pegasus reassured her. "We'll continue the search tomorrow." Twilight reluctantly agreed, heading back to her house and leaving Fluttershy in the thick blanket of darkness. Fluttershy soared to the cliff, her eyes watering up once more.
It's ok, Fluttershy thought to herself. I can find her tomorrow.

Fluttershy reached the cliff, landed softly on the rough surface. She padded quietly to the edge and sat down, gazing out at the treetops. The stars produced little light, but just enough for her to make out shapes. She buried her face into her hooves in defeat, shaking her head. I wish it was still light out! Then I could keep searching. Fluttershy gazed over the cliff and at the dense forest below, only the sound of an owl or mice scuttling on the lush floor reaching her sensitive ears.
Snap!
Fluttershy spun around to somepony pouncing on her, knocking them both over the edge of the cliff. She screamed on the top of her lugs, her attacker dragging her down, her wings pinned to her side. Fluttershy bucked the pony as they cried out, releasing her. She swooped into the sky, gasping as the pony also flew, heading towards her once more.
"No, go away!" she cried, racing back to the rocky cliff. The pegasus raced after her, locking it's hooves around her waist, pulling her back.

"Help!" she cried, flailing.
"Fluttershy?!"
Fluttershy stopped struggling to a familiar voice, shoving away the hooves that captivated her.
"Who are you?" she asked, backing away.
"Fluttershy, it's me, Rainbow Dash!" she squeaked, stepping closer. Fluttershy felt as if her heart would explode as she wrapped her hooves around Rainbow's neck, sobbing loudly.
"Rainbow Dash, you scared me so much!" she cried, holding the cyan pegasus tightly. Fluttershy then let go suddenly, narrowing her eyes.
"Why did you attack me?" she snapped, her ears flattened. "Who were you really expecting, huh?" The only sound was the whirling wind howling over the cliff, chilling Fluttershy to the bone.

"I...I can't say who--"
"What do you mean?!" Fluttershy interrupted, creeping closer to Rainbow Dash. "Was it another mare?" Fluttershy felt like a cold slap went over her face as she realized she might be right.
"W-were you seeing... somepony else?"
Silence.
Fluttershy turned away and headed to the edge of the cliff, tears threatening her eyes.
"No, Fluttershy. I wasn't seeing anypony."
"Oh, really?" she cried, turning to the cyan pegasus. "Why did you attack me then?" She placed a hoof to her mouth. "Did somepony hurt you?!"
"No!" Rainbow Dash snarled, suddenly stopping her fury. She took in a deep breath, ruffling her wings.
"Soarin' has become a little...overprotective."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Rainbow said hesitantly. "when I flew off crying about my parents, he thought you had hurt me. He said if he saw you he'd hurt you instead. I... I didn't want him to hurt you so I flew away, knowing he'd follow me."
Fluttershy sat there with a blank expression on her face, her eyes clouded and unreadable.
"So you thought I was Soarin'?"
"Yes."

Fluttershy looked back towards the treetops, Rainbow Dash quietly trotting towards her.
"Didn't you say it wasn't me that hurt you?" asked the yellow pegasus looking at Rainbow Dash with a hurt expression plastered on her face.
"I tried but... oh, that pegasus is so stubborn!"
They shared a laugh, watching the forest down below.
"I'm just so glad I decided to come here," Fluttershy whispered, resting her head on they cyan pegasi's shoulder. Rainbow let out a hum, flicking her tail.
"Me, too."

Rainbow Dash stretched a wing over Fluttershy like a blanket, humming a soft tune.
"I'm sure you were stressed," she whispered to the yellow pegasus.
"More than you can think of."
"Then sleep. Sleep, Flutters."
Fluttershy reluctantly agreed, resting her head in Rainbow Dash's lap and warming up quickly.
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Yes?"
"Never run away from me again, understood?"
A tiny chuckle escaped the cyan pegasus, holding Fluttershy closer.
"Yes, ma'am," she snorted, brushing her muzzle against Fluttershy's ear. "Now, sleep."

Fluttershy closed her eyes to Rainbow Dash singing once more, her body relaxing instantly. I found my rainbow... she thought with a soft smile. Sleep soon overtook Fluttershy like a black wave crashing over her head gently, whispering soothing promises.