The intoxicating aroma of lavender
Lavender. That was all Rainbow Dash could take in, lavender. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest and her breathing was rapid but she didn't even seem to notice. The only other thing she could take in besides the scent of lavender was the beautiful mare standing in front of her. Her canary coloured coat and silky pink mane made her beauty truly intoxicating; her teal eyes stared right into Rainbow’s soul and drew her in like a moth to a flame.
“Fluttershy” she whispered gently.
“Yes Rainbow?” the shy mare asked her eyes seemed to be beckoning her to come closer, Dash complied. Now they were merely inches apart.
“I- I love you” she stated her breathing becoming harder. She waited for Fluttershy’s reaction but found her expression to not even flinch. Instead she did something that Rainbow Dash had wanted to do for a long time now. She leaned in and pressed their lips together, Dash reciprocated immediately pressing with equal force.
After a few minutes of having her lips locked with Fluttershy’s, Rainbow Dash felt a blinding light hit her eyes and stumbled back away from Fluttershy, with her eyes closed. When she opened them the pegasus was gone.
“Fluttershy?” she called
“Fluttershy?!” she yelled this time with panic creeping its way into her voice.
She opened her eyes to find herself lying in her bed the sheets tangled and the sun shining through the windows of her cloud home. Her cyan body was covered in sweat and her heart was racing. She grunted in frustration and rolled over. These dreams were becoming much more frequent, each time it hurt her more to know that she was too cowardly to confess her love to the enchanting pegasus.
She had been thinking about this situation the previous night and decided that enough was enough, she couldn’t go on torturing herself with these dreams. So she concluded that she should get advice from one of her close friends, but which one? Twilight would be able to help her logically but she didn’t think Twilight had much experience in romance, apart from probably a dictionary definition, so she ruled her out. Rarity would be a much more ideal choice but she would probably give Rainbow advice from one of those sappy romantic novels she reads. Pinkie was good at keeping secrets so that was helpful but she couldn’t really think of how Pinkie could really give her good advice. So in the end she decided that Applejack was her best option, after all Applejack was her best friend, she gave rather good advice and she would be completely honest with Rainbow on what she thought. Yes AJ was her best option.
About twenty minutes later Rainbow flew out of her window and sped over to Sweet Apple Acres. The feeling of wind in her mane was truly one of the most amazing things about flying, she never felt more alive than when she was soaring through the sky. She arrived at Sweet Apple Acres within a few short minutes of flying. She could not find anypony in the orchard so she went over to the farm house and knocked three times and waited and waited. After she decided nopony was home she turned around to fly off, that’s when she heard a noise coming from the barn. She trotted over to the huge barn doors and listened, she could not make out what the strange noises that were coming from inside, so she knocked loudly. The noise came to a halt immediately and she could have sworn she heard hushed voices but she shrugged it off. Applejack suddenly yanked the barn door open, she wasn’t wearing her hat it was lying on the floor of the barn, Dash found this strange but didn’t comment on it and she was sweating profusely.
“Howdy there sugarcube” she said quickly. Rainbow Dash stared at her for a second.
“Hey AJ, you alright?” she asked narrowing her eyes at the farmpony. A strange smell hung in the air Rainbow thought it was a familiar aroma but she couldn’t tell what it was.
“Why Ah’m fine” she replied with a nervous smile
“Okay, if you say so” said Dash uncertainly. Applejack motioned for her to enter and Dash did.
“Okay Applejack I really need to talk to you about something, something important” Rainbow said her heart beat growing faster. Applejack wore a look of concern.
“Go ahead Dash, Ah’m listenin’ “she said nodding.
“Well you see… funny story. I think I am in love with Fluttershy” she said clenching her eyes shut. Rainbow could have sworn at that moment she heard a faint gasp of shock that did not sound like Applejack.
“Did you hear something AJ?” Applejack suddenly looked nervous and Dash could have sworn she started sweating again.
“Nope, I didn’t hear anythin’” she said with a nervous unconvincing grin. Rainbow decided to shrug it off.
“But ya like Fluttershy huh? Wow Ah never woulda guessed. But Ah must admit you too sure would make a great couple” Applejack said nodding.
“Wow! You really think so AJ?” dash asked, her eyes were lit up with joy.
“Ah sure do sugarcube” she said grinning. Dash frowned. “what’s the matter Rainbow?”
“I don’t know what to do, I’m totally lost. That’s why I came here to see if you could give me some helpful advice” Applejack nodded in understanding
“Do ya really love Fluttershy?” AJ asked already knowing the answer that she would receive.
“Yes! I do I know I do. I just don’t know how to tell her or if I can tell her. What if she hates me?”
“Fluttershy is one of yer best friends she would never hate you. Even if she did reject you, which Ah’m not sayin’ she would, she would never stop bein’ yer friend”
“Yeah I guess you’re right AJ” dash said feeling slightly better. “But how can I tell her?”
“That’s for you ta decide sugarcube. If you want my advice Ah would say just be completely honest with her and she’ll be the same with you. Trust me Ah know she will be, she’s a great mare.”
Rainbow nodded starting to like the idea. “She’s more than just a great mare Applejack, she’s amazing she’s the only pony who can break the emotional walls I’ve built up inside, she is so beautiful that I sometimes lose track of my thoughts and to top all that off she has the biggest heart in all of Equestria. She’s just absolutely perfect”
Rainbow thought she heard a small sob come from the back of the barn near some bales of hay but she ignored it.
“Ah think she’d be lucky ta have a mare like you as her marefriend Dash” AJ said as she wrapped her in a hug.
“Thank you” Dash whispered. She was suddenly possessed by a great rush of enthusiasm and adrenaline. “I’m going to tell her today” Dash said boldly heading towards the doors, nothing could stop her now.
“Well Ah hope everything works out well for ya sugarcube” and with that Dash flew off at high speed.
“Is she gone?” came a voice from behind a few bales of hay.
“Yeah she’s gone” Applejack turned her head smiling, to see Rarity step out from behind the hay.
“Do you think she knew I was back there?” Rarity asked. Applejack chuckled
“No but Ah think she might have found it strange that a bale of hay could gasp at her announcement.” Rarity blushed slightly
“Well it was very surprising news to hear, I simply could not help myself darling. It was very moving all the wonderful things she said about dear little Fluttershy. I could not help but shed a tear or two” Rarity finished with her eyes watering at the memory. “It simply reminded me of us, is all” Applejack wore a grin at this point. The truth was the pair had been secretly dating for weeks now and not one other soul knew except them and they were both growing on each other. Applejack pressed her lips to Rarity’s for a few seconds, and then pulled away.
“Now where were we?” Applejack asked with one eyebrow raised. She rushed over and shut the barn doors.
“Well…” Rarity said picking up AJ’s hat and placing it upon her own head “I believe we were playing “rodeo” she said grinning seductively.
Rainbow Dash was flying over Ponyville on her way to Fluttershy’s cottage, she was thinking about her conversation with Applejack in the barn. ‘I mean come on it was so obvious that Rarity was hiding in the barn, I’m not that stupid’ she thought. The other four elements often spoke about how obvious it was that Rarity and Applejack were dating and how silly they thought it was that the couple thought the nopony suspected a thing. But the four ponies all just went along with it because they all knew that AJ and Rarity would come clean when they’re ready but when they break the news nopony will be surprised at all.
Rainbow Dash didn’t even realise she was at Fluttershy’s cottage until she almost collided with a raven. She apologised and then flew over and landed on the door step. ‘Here goes’ she thought to herself nervously. She was sweating now the droplets clinging to her cyan coat, her heart was pounding against her chest like a drum and her breathing was shallow. She raised a hoof to knock on Fluttershy’s door when it flew open and a small bunny was standing there instead with an annoyed look upon his face.
“Oh… hey Angel” Rainbow Dash started trying to keep her breathing under control “Is Fluttershy home?” she asked nervously. Angel pointed to the living room then stepped aside allowing the Pegasus to step inside the cottage. Angel still looked grumpy but he bounced away into the kitchen.
Fluttershy sat on the couch reading a book, she hadn’t seemed to of heard Rainbow come in. As Dash stepped closer Fluttershy raised her head and squeaked. “Oh Rainbow Dash I didn’t hear you come in, you startled me” she said in a voice just above a whisper. A small blush formed on her cheeks Dash thought nothing of it.
“Sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to scare you” dash said, feeling annoyed at herself for scaring the poor mare.
“Oh it’s okay don’t worry about it. You look like you’ve got something on your mind” The buttery Pegasus stated, motioning for Dash to sit down beside her. Dash trotted over and sat down, growing more nervous with each passing second.
“Well… I-I guess I do have something on my mind” she said stuttering. Fluttershy nodded for her to continue.
“Well Fluttershy I need to tell you that I really…” she trailed off her mouth making no sound. Fluttershy stared at her in confusion.
“Could you repeat that, Rainbow Dash? I couldn’t really hear you” Rainbow gulped
“Heh… right, sorry. I need to confess my…” she seized up again. She could feel could sweat trickling down her face. ‘Wow this is harder than I imagined’ she thought. Fluttershy started to look concerned for her the cyan mare.
“Are you alright Dash?” she asked frowning. Rainbow opened her mouth to start again but then realised it was no use; there was only one thing she could do now. She needed to show Fluttershy her feelings since she couldn't force the words out of her mouth.
She knew she was taking a huge risk, one that could quite possibly destroy her friendship with Fluttershy. But she had to know, she had to be the brash Pegasus to make this decision so she was.
Rainbow took a deep breath and closed her eyes, she then gently but quickly pressed her lips against Fluttershy. Fluttershy’s eyes went wide open and a crimson blush spread over her cheeks but she didn’t pull away from the kiss. After a few more seconds Dash pulled away and looked into Fluttershy’s enchanting eyes, searching for a response. After a few seconds of staring into each other’s eyes silently Dash spoke up; “I love you” she stated in a voice just above a whisper. She stared at Fluttershy longing for a response, after a few seconds the shy mare seemed to compose herself enough to give her one.
“Rainbow Dash if I’m being completely honest I-I think I knew all along you had feelings for me, although it wasn't as obvious as Rarity and Applejack it was still clear” Rainbow’s mouth hung open, she thought she had been more discrete with her feelings.
“And lately” Fluttershy continued taking deep breaths. “I have been having mixed feelings towards you” Rainbow felt her heart explode inside her chest ‘I might have a chance!’ she thought feeling elated. “I-I am not really sure how I… feel towards you… but I would be willing to try. Oh- uh-um if that’s okay with you” she finished hiding behind her mane a pink blush colouring her cheeks.
Dash shot up into the air and spun around cheering. “REALLY?!” she asked. Fluttershy nodded with a small smile on her lips. Rainbow flew down and wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy gently “I love you” she stated for the second time that day “and I will make this work between us, I will not let you down”
“I know” said Fluttershy smiling a gorgeous smile. Rainbow grinned and the two just stared into each other’s each for a while. Fluttershy then leaned in eyes closed and lips puckered and softly planted them on Rainbow’s own. Dash kissed her back instantly, she felt as though all of her dreams were coming true.
But the best thing about this moment to Rainbow Dash was the intoxicating fragrance of lavender.
