Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Fluttershy was walking through Ponyville. She went about her business; she had to stock up on food for the animals that would be hibernating this winter. She walked leisurely, making sure not to bump into another pony. It's a beautiful day, she thought; the sun was still warm, even if it was autumn, and the sky was clear for the first time in weeks.
As she turned a corner, she heard familiar voices. She quickly hid behind a building. Wait I can't eavesdrop on them, it was a bad thing to do. But still her fear locked her in place
“...Help her. It’s eating her inside. She doesn’t have enough courage to talk to her. She’s scared.” Wait is this Rarity’s voice? Who is she talking with? Who is she talking about?
“I know. I have known since she was a filly...” the other voice was definitly male. But who did it belong to? She knew she knew it, but couldn’t recall who it belonged to.
Wait a minute, they aren’t talking anymore. She managed to gather the courage to look around the corner... to find herself staring in bright green eyes.
EEP!
She quickly dove down, covering her head with her hooves. She heard a laugh, but not a mocking laugh; it was a happy, good natured laugh she knew well. A smile crept back on Fluttershy’s lips and her head shot up. She took a quick glance at the pony before her; it was a tall light blue stallion, he had messy dark blue mane that stopped just before hiding his green eyes. He had a smug grin she would recognize everywhere.
“Storm!” she jumped and gave him a hug. Rarity was behind him with a dumbfounded look on her face seeing her timid friend so affectionate. “Hum... sorry.” Fluttershy quickly let the stallion go and gave a sheepish smile to Rarity. Fluttershy was blushing, partially because of the attention, more because of her outbreak of joy.
“So I take it you know Storm Dash. Well I should’ve known since you knew Rainbow since you were a foal, it’s only normal you know her brother.” She smiled at Fluttershy, who simply blushed harder and tried to hide behind her mane.
“Now now, what did I say about hiding those beautiful eyes.” Storm Dash gently pushed back her mane revealing an even redder pony under it. Rarity thought that she couldn’t possibly get any redder. A devilish grin appeared on her face.
“I don’t believe it’s you she wants to hear it from.” She walked toward Fluttershy with her normal grace. Fluttershy did get more flustered and red. Rarity wondered if she would glow if she got any more red.
“I don’t believe it either.” He had his trademark grin plastered on his face. “I think I will leave you girls alone, I already have a date with the stupidest mare in town.” He looked at Fluttershy, who had her mouth opened as if to say something, and gave her a wink. He took off in a blue blur leaving a dark blue trail behind.
“Now, Fluttershy we have things to discuss.” The shy pegasus turned slowly toward her white unicorn friend and seeing her eyes and her grin, she made a very courageous squeak.
Storm flew at breakneck speed toward the edge of Ponyville. After only a few seconds of flight, he saw his destination, a small cloud villa with a rainbow fall. He aimed directly for the door and stopped dangerously fast mere inches before barrelling through it. He quickly regained his balance and raised his hoof to knock. But before he could the door opened on a familiar looking rainbow-maned Pegasus.
“You.” she sounded mad, but was betrayed by her playful grin.
“Long time no see, sis. Oh, I’m fine, thank you for asking.” Rainbow simply rolled her eyes. “What about you? How’s life treating you?” Storm’s gaze was gentle. Rainbow sighed and went to the edge of the cloud, sitting comfortably.
“Not bad.” She started as her brother joined her. “I’ve been doing ok.” Storm could tell from the way she was staring at the horizon that something was on her mind. Exactly why he was there.
But first he had to get her to open a bit more.
“You know I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the young flyer competition.” He said, trying to get the flow going. “But I heard you pulled another Sonic Rainboom. And felt too.” Storm chuckled at his own joke.
“I already told you, Storm. It’s fine.” Rainbow answered. She bit her lips hesitating a bit. “How are things back home?” she looked at her brother, expecting good news she knew wouldn’t come. It was always bad news.
“Well...” Storm searched for words. For a way to tell his sister things she didn’t want –needed- to hear. “Worse.” Was the only thing coming to his mind.
Rainbow chuckled sadly. “Not surprising.”
They stood there for a few minutes, an awkward silence having fallen between them.
“So I heard you were fast, little one.” Storm said in a ridiculous voice, breaking the silence and awkwardness in one go. “Care to show me? Can you beat me?” he continued, still in a silly voice, making Rainbow crack up in laughter.
“You know I can beat you anytime. I. Want.” She rose to her hooves and took a starting stance, putting emphasis on the three last words.
Storm chuckled. “Show me.” and took position next to his sister on the edge of the cloud. “Ready...”
“Set...”
“GO!” both said in unison as they sped forward.
Rarity and Fluttershy walked in direction of the spa, their usual place for girl talk. Well more like “Rarity” talk since she did most of the talking. Fluttershy was getting more nervous by the minute. She glanced at the white unicorn next to her. She had a content smile drawn on her features. She tried to ask what they were going to discuss but all she manage to do was a little squeak. Rarity giggled.
“Don't worry, Fluttershy, I’m only here to help.”
Help me? The yellow pegasus thought. She couldn’t possibly know, could she? She stopped dead in her track, Rarity getting a little ahead of her. The gorgeous unicorn turned in her normal poise and winked at the pegasus behind her, who was now blushing madly.
She knows. Was the only thought going through the timid yellow pony’s mind at that moment, her legs locking in fear. Rarity backtracked and began pushing the pegasus toward their destination.
The two friends reached the spa and upon entering Rarity simply exclaimed.
“The usual.”
Storm and Rainbow raced for what seemed like hours. They didn’t have a definite route for their race, it was more a challenge to see who could stay in front of the other the longest. It quickly became a competition on tricks and stunts. Rainbow was sitting on a cloud, just having finished a double loop followed by a triple barrel roll, she was heaving and sweating. Paying no attention to the stunts of her older brother, Rainbow laid back on the cloud.
She thought about technical problems she had when doing stunts, she relived in her head everything she had done. Then he mind wandered toward her day, toward her family and her past. Then toward more recent events, here in Ponyville, about the cutest yellow pegasus she had ever seen... she shook the thoughts out of her head. It wasn’t the time for that. It would never be. She made a choice long ago and she was going to stick to it.
“What are thinking about, Sis?” Rainbow jumped back on her hooves at the voice, letting out a scream. Her brother, who had landed next to her, exploded in laughter, rolling on the cloud. “Oh Celestia. You should've seen your face.” He managed to place in between two fits of laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes. He sighed. “It’s been too long, sis. We should see each other more; you’re the only real challenge I have around here...”
“Yeah.” She went back in her thoughts and didn’t really listen. She responded in automaticly. Her brother grinned at the oppurtunity.
“... And a dead slug could beat you in a race.”
“Yea... wait, what?” she grunted and punched her brother on the shoulder, but he only laughed. Rainbow sighed.
“So, sis, want to tell me what’s on your mind.” He had a hint of worry in his voice. Rainbow couldn’t bring herself to make him worry.
“It’s not...”
“I swear to Celestia, if you say ‘It’s nothing’ I will punch you. You make me worry more when you say that.” Rainbow didn’t know how to react to her brother outbreak. She laughed sadly.
“Yeah, I suppose so.” She looked down from the cloud, toward Ponyville. Pain and sadness filled her eyes. She was on the brink of crying but she held it in. When her brother saw the state of his darling sister, he was nearly brought to tears too. It was painful to see her like that.
“If you don’t want to talk it, it’s alright. I’ll wait until you’re ready.” He gave her a comforting smile, which she tried to give back. It held for a big three second. Well she’s getting a little bit better, Storm thought. He looked at the horizon. The sun was setting; he hadn’t realized it was this late. He didn’t come here only to help his sister, he had important news. “Sis?”
“Yeah, big bro?”
“Mom and Dad are going to divorce.”
“About time. They hate themselves since my birth. It’s my fault and I’m happy it’s over." Rainbow's voice was shaky, but didn't break. "I thought they would get better along if I wasn’t there.” Tears began to flow from her eyes. It was too much.
"It's not your fault they're divorcing." Storm quickly hug his sister, but she pushed him away.
"They sure made it look like it!" there was a awkward silence. After a couple minutes, Storm broke it.
“So that’s why you ran away and live here in Ponyville?”
“Yeah, and no..." A small smile crept on her face as her mind filled with images of a gentle mare. "It’s not the only reason.” Her brother just chuckled.
“I see... I hope she makes you happy.” He looked at his sister and waited for her reaction. It took a good ten seconds.
“What? How...? I mean, what makes you think it’s a ‘she’?” she turned around, taking a fighting stance on habits, all her muscle tensing, glaring at the stallion that was supposed to be her brother.
“I think I know you, Rain-chan.” It had been years since he called her that. She relaxed at the nickname her brother gave her.
When Rainbow was young she was smaller than the other fillies in her class. She argued it was to make her lighter and faster, but her brother loved teasing her about it, so he gave her a cute nickname to mess with her. She lost herself in the memory. She was brought back by her brother draping a wing around her, reminding her why and when he did it when she was younger. She understood. She started to cry.
“I’m s-sorry, brot-ther. I-I’m so sorry-y. I sh-should’ve told y-you.” she wailed in the empty sky using her brother’s shoulder to cry.
The two ponies rested in the sauna. Fluttershy thanked the steam that hid her blush, even thought she had it since before she entered in the spa.
“Now darling, I believe it is time we talk about your problem.” Fluttershy was startled by the quick break of the silence
.
“I don’t have any problem.” Her gaze laid on Rarity, who was sitting in front of her. Rarity gave her a deadpan look, which made Fluttershy hide behind her mane again. Rarity sighed.
“Yes, dear, you have. And it’s a problem of the heart, so who better to help you than ME.” She practically sang the last word while making a large gesture toward herself, Fluttershy simply squeak. “Oops. Sorry, dear I didn’t mean to startle you.” she scooted closer to the shy pegasus and started to whisper. “Now, I want you to tell me who is it that gets you so flustered.”
The yellow pony was taken aback. “Well, I thought you knew.” She averted her gaze, making it go around the sauna, anywhere it wouldn’t meet Rarity’s and started fidling on the hard wood floor with her hoof.
“Yes, I know.” Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by a hoof. “But I want you to affirm it yourself. I want you to have faith in yourself. Now, tell me my dear, who has stolen your fragile heart.”
“It’s... It’s Rainbow dash.” She casted her gaze downward, contemplating her hooves.
“Excuse me dear, I didn’t hear.”
“It's Rainbow Dash”
“I must be deaf; I didn’t quite get the last part.”
“It's RAINBOW DASH.” She screamed, but quickly brought a hoof to her mouth. She became red from ears to tail, and quickly ran away from the spa and toward the safety of her cottage.
“Ha ha." Rarity exclainmed. "Now big sister got you, my dear Fluttershy.” She exited the spa, dropping the bits as she passed, and slowly made her way toward her friend’s cottage.
Rainbow was still in her brother’s arm, sniffing. She had finished crying. She looked at him.
“If you tell anyone I cried, I'll kill you.” Storm just chuckled.
“It’s good to see you’re getting better.” He looked in her eyes filled with sorrow, his filled with understanding and love. “Do you want to tell me everything.” She simply nodded.
“It’s Fluttershy.” She expected astonishment, or even disgust, maybe even jealousy, but not this.
“I knew it.”
“What? You knew?” He laughed, again. Did he ever took anything seriously?
“Of course, I saw the way you look at her, like you want her in your bed right now.” his sister changed from light blue to red and he chuckled. “You know you’re cute when you blush.” Her answer was one of high intelligence which would close this discussion. She hit him on the shoulder.
“Shut up.” Of course, he fell down laughing. It was getting annoying.
“Calm down, I’m just messing with you.” he stood back up. He had a serious expression, even angry. Rainbow Dash never saw her brother serious, not even talking about angry. She got scared. “I want to know why you never told me.” his voice was even and serious, not his normal cheerful voice, but not angry either. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
“I was scared.”
“Because of what happened when you were in school?”
“Yeah.” She buried her head back in his shoulder, reliving the memory like it was yesterday.
Every day she would go to school thinking it would stop. Every day they would insult her, denigrate her. Every day she would come back home to parents who didn’t care for her. The only reason she didn’t think of killing herself is because of her brother. Every time she came home crying, he would comfort her, tell her everything will be alright. She believed him, but the next day it would start again.
One day, at flight camp, she saw a pegasus filly having trouble with her flying. She was taller than her, but much more frail. She decided to help her. She made her way toward her; she arrived so fast the other pegasus jumped at least a foot in the air, and fell down on the ground.
“Hi. Sorry to have scared you. I’m Rainbow Dash.” She extended her hoof. Please don’t insult me. Please, please, please. I don’t know what I’ll do if you insult me, she thought, while still putting a smile on her face.
The yellow filly looked up. “Hum... I’m Fluttershy.” She hid behind her bangs. She’s cute, she thought but quickly pushed it away in a dumb fear other could hear her thoughts. She wasn’t going to justify their actions.
“I’m sorry can you repeat.”
“I’m Fluttershy.” She raised and met her eyes. It was the most beautiful eyes Rainbow ever saw. Light blue orbs so beautiful she could lose herself in them. Rainbow’s gaze made its way down to her lips. They looked so soft, she wanted to kiss them. “Hum... are you alright? It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”
Rainbow was brought back to reality and stammered excuses. “Hum... I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.” She realized Fluttershy was blushing and she felt awful for making her feel uncomfortable. “I saw you fly and I wondered if you wanted me to help you.”
Fluttershy looked disappointed to Dash, but it must’ve had been her imagination.
“Yes, I’d like that... I mean if that’s okay with you?”
“Sure, it’s my pleasure.” She giggled like a schoolfilly in front of a handsome stallion. but quickly caught herself, checking around to see if someone had heard her. it seemed that nopony heard her. she turned back to Fluttershy and motioned toward an emptier part of the cloud they were standing on. "C'mon."
But as both of them made their way, Rainbow was hit by a ball of hard cloud. The ball felt much less painful than the laughs she heard.
“Hey! The fillyfooler is at it again. What are you going to do to her? take advantage of her? you're nothing but a slut, fillyfooler”
Rainbow didn’t turn back; she didn’t need to see who said it. She looked Fluttershy in the eyes and mouthed the word “sorry” before taking off full speed, leaving tears in her trail.
She flew as fast as she could toward her home. When she reached it she barely slowed down and went directly to her bedroom, slamming the door.
She didn’t know how long she cried. Her brother came to check on her but even he couldn’t comfort her. She just cried in his arm until she fell asleep.
When she woke up the sun was setting and her pillow was soaked from her tears. She sighed and went back to crying, but silently this time. She wondered why did it hurt so much? I'm used to their jokes and insults. is it because of this filly, Fluttershy? Is it because they said I was going to hurt her? It must be that. But I can’t be a fillyfooler; I am not going to do them this pleasure. I will never date a mare even if it means I will never date.
Her inner monologue was interrupted by a knock on her door.
“Go away! I don’t want to see anypony right now.” she heard whisper behind the door. One of them was her brother but she couldn’t identify the other one. Her brother seemed pushy, but with who? The door opened with her brother in the frame. He simply smiled and pushed a yellow pegasus in before shutting the door before the other filly could run away. Rainbow looked away from her door, from the other filly. She turned her back on her. She brooded.
“Hum... I know we don’t know each other much, but, if that’s okay with you, do you still want to help me?”
Rainbow quickly turned around. In the middle of her room was the most beautiful filly she ever saw. She smiled without realizing it. She could be friend with her. To hell what the others said. She would never hurt Fluttershy.
“Yeah.” She wiped the rest of her tears from her eyes and ran to the door. “Come on I’ll show you some tricks.” The two fillies ran outside giggling and smiling.
“So you knew?” the blue mare looked in the eyes of the equally blue stallion in front of her.
“I knew since the first day, Rain-chan.” He chuckled again. “You were so cute together.”
“Yeah, but I’ll never be with her. She’s not a fillyfooler.” She looked crushed; the pain of knowing the one you love doesn’t love you back was overwhelming
“Maybe, maybe not.” She gave her brother a quizzical look.
“What are you talking about?” he just winked and took off.
“Come on Fluttershy. It’s wonderful that you’re in love.” Rarity tried to coax the shy pony from under her bed where she seemed to have found refuge. “Please, Fluttershy. Why don’t you want to tell her?” No answer. She sighed.
“Because she was always teased in school.” It took Rarity a couple of seconds to understand the voice was Fluttershy’s. It was full of conviction, full of confidence, but also full of pain. “Everypony would make fun of her. I don’t want to be the reason she suffers more. I couldn’t live with it. I can’t be with her.”
Rarity was at a loss of word. She understood Fluttershy point of view and she could see why such a gentle mare couldn’t think of putting others in harm even for the most wonderful thing in life. At that moment, Rarity believed Fluttershy deserved the element of generosity. Leaving such joy as to live with the one you love, simply because it would hurt her. It must’ve been horrible, all those years of suppressed feeling.
“Alright dear, I’ll leave you alone.” She turned to exit the bedroom, but stopped in front of the window when she caught sight of a dark blue streak followed by a rainbow one. “But somepony else would like to see you.”
The only answer was an “eep” from under the bed.
“Why are we at Fluttershy’s cottage?” asked Rainbow as they landed a little way from the cottage, but of course her brother just chuckled.
“For the fastest mare in Equestria, you sure are slow.” He began walking toward the house. But Rainbow didn’t follow.
“You didn’t answer my question.” She was getting angry. Why was her brother bringing her here? She was happy with Fluttershy being a friend. Did he want to destroy it all? Not impossible. But she had to be sure.
“Celestia, you’re thick. Isn’t obvious? Tell her. Tell her how you feel.”
“But what if she doesn’t love me?” her brother was losing his smile. Twice the same day. It wasn’t good. He sighed.
“Rain-chan, there is one thing in this world that can make me mad. And that is stupidity. And right now, sis, you are being very stupid. If you looked at her more than you looked at yourself you would see that she loves you.” he raised his voice. Rainbow took a step back. She could fight a dragon head on, but not her brother. Her head dropped.
“What if everypony make fun of us for being fillyfoo...”
*SLAP!*
He sentence was cut off by a slap behind the head by her brother. Her eyes watered.
“Then you will have somepony to share the pain with. You will sleep every night next to the mare of your dreams and everything will seem so far way that you won’t even care. You have such a chance, Rain-chan. Don’t be afraid, it’s not like you. Go inside and get that mare. Show her you’re love. Show her or I swear you will regret it for the rest of your live.” Rainbow was getting pump up by Storm’s speech. Yeah, she thought, I love her and I will show her. She pumped her chest defiantly and ran toward her prized mare. Storm just watched her go. “That’s my girl.” He chuckled.
Rainbow Dash passed Rarity on her way in, but paid her no heed. Rarity joined Storm away from the house. She giggled at first, but then they both staring laughing out loud.
“I never thought it would work. I owe you one, miss Rarity. I have never seen my sister happier.”
“Oh please. Rarity is fine. And I think I know how you can repay me.”
“Oh really. How?”
“Well, there is this restaurant I would like to try. Care to join me?”
“Well of course, milady.” He offered his front leg and locked it with Rarity’s. They walked back to Ponyville laughing at the wonderful day it turned out to be.
Rainbow entered the cottage. It was dark and silent.
“Fluttershy.” She called gently. She heard a squeak coming from upstairs and rushed upstairs. She called again.
“Fluttershy, I want to talk to you.” another squeak came from her bedroom. She slowly walked toward the door trying not to scare the pegasus inside. She looked inside. Empty.
Crap, she thought. Wait is that bed shaking? She stepped closer and lifted the covers. Nothing. She slowly looked under the bed. Her gaze met a scared pegasus, trying not to shake from fear or nervousness.
“Fluttershy, I want to tell you something. Can you come out of under the bed, Please.”
The yellow pegasus hesitated, but then nodded and carefully made her way out from under the bed. She was still shaking.
“I want to tell you something for a long time, Fluttershy. I lo...”
“Stop. Please don’t say it.” Her voice was so low Rainbow barely heard it, but all the pain it carried forced her to stop
“Why? Why can’t I say it?”
“Because it will only bring you pain. I can’t live with that, Rainbow. I love you too much for that.” Tears were staring to fall down her cheeks. Rainbow realized she was on the brink of tears too.
“So you love me too.” The crying pegasus nodded.
“I don’t want you to relive what you already suffered through. I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t.” She started to cry for good. Wailing and sobbing to her heart’s content, releasing all her emotions cooped up inside her for so many years. She felt warmth around her, the gentleness of feathers and a hot breath on her ears. She looked at Rainbow who was now draping her wings around her. She began stroking Fluttershy’s mane, gently singing a lullaby her brother would sing when she was crying.
“You know what Fluttershy...” The crying mare stopped sobbing and raised her head to look at the pegasus who was comforting her. They locked eyes, each trying to read the intentions of the other.
Then, as if on cue, Rainbow Dash brought her lips to Fluttershy’s. They felt soft and warm. She smelled of fresh flower and warm breeze. She broke the kiss, Fluttershy craning her neck trying to follow her lips.
“I don’t care what they think. I care what you think. I love you Fluttershy.”
“I love you too, Rainbow Dash.”
Big Brothers and Big Sisters pt 2
It was a peaceful day in Ponyville. Every day was peaceful, but this day just seemed better to a certain white Unicorn. Rarity was walking through Ponyville revising the past days events in her head. Fluttershy finally managed to talk to Rainbow Dash about her feelings, and Rainbow went over her fear of being rejected to be with her. Storm had gone back to Cloudsdale. Such a shame, he was such a gentlecolt. Pinkie threw her biggest party yet in honour of the new couple. She let out a happy sigh. Truly life in Ponyville was good. Everypony found happiness here.
As she reached the market she saw a strangely familiar face in the crowd. She did a double take, trying to find it. There it was at the other edge of the market place, a tall bright yellow Pegasus stallion that was flanked by two other ponies who could be twins. Their sunglasses and designer jacket told Rarity they were bodyguards. When Rarity eyes rested on the taller Pegasus cutie mark, a pair of paint brush crossed, her heart skipped a beat. It was Jay Canvas, the most popular painter in Cloudsdale and Canterlot. She squealed with delighted and went to meet him, wondering what an artist like him could possibly want in a town like Ponyville.
When she got closer, she saw he was showing a picture to passing ponies asking if they knew her. Many ponies said yes but couldn’t point him to her house. When she reached him, he turned to her. She blushed; he was even more handsome in real and up close.
“Have you seen this mare, miss?” when she managed to tear her eyes away from his face and unto the picture, her breath caught in her throat. On the picture was Fluttershy, a bit younger. It must have been before she came to live to Ponyville.
“I... hum... I do know her. She’s a good friend.” She stammered at first but soon found her composure. Did he come here to get her to model for him? “Why do you want to find her, mister Canvas?” at the mention of his name, the Pegasus looked stunned, before exploding in laughter.
“I didn’t know any country folk like you would know me.” he managed to put between two laughs. Rarity was insulted but managed to remain ladylike. He was an important pony and she could make a name for herself if she managed to make friend with him. Maybe she could propose to model in place of Fluttershy, like that she would help her friend and boost her carrier. She inwardly squealed at her idea. She opened her mouth to speak but before she could place a word Jay Canvas raised a hoof to silence her.
“Well, I do not care who you are or how you know me.” Rarity was truly insulted now and was on the verge on hitting him. “But you know my sister, so show me where she lives.” Rarity’s anger disappeared as quickly as it came. His sister? It couldn’t be. She looked at the yellow Pegasus as if he had grown a second head.
“She’s your sister?” Jay facehoofed.
“Yes she is!” he practically screamed. “I just said it. Now will you show me, or not, where she lives?” he sounded impatient, like all those little foals who had everything from the start and couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. To Rarity he was exactly that, a spoiled foal.
“Fine! I will show you. BUT only because you are her brother.” She raised her nose and close her eyes, snobing that idiot Pegasus, and made her way toward Fluttershy’s cottage. Jay’s eyelid twitched and he seemed incredibly angry but he still put a fake smile and followed Rarity followed by his two bodyguards.
***
Fluttershy enjoyed her afternoon, watching her marefriend practice her tricks around her cottage as she fed her little animals. She fed them one after the other, making sure every critter and animal had their share and ate well. From time to time, a rainbow blur would pass over her and she would lift her head to marvel at the beauty of the love of her life. She smiled sweetly. Nothing could bring her happiness down. Not even a dragon.
Except, the pony she saw coming over the hill was much worse than any dragon. She unintentionally dropped her basket of food she had been holding. Rainbow Dash had seen the strange yellow pony and felt her marefriend’s uneasiness. In the middle of her routine, she stopped mid stunt and landed abruptly next to Fluttershy. She didn’t jumped or shriek in fear. The rainbow-maned mare had never seen her like that. It wasn’t like her. Something was wrong. She linked it back to the strange pony, which was now halfway to them. He was flanked by a pissed looking Rarity and followed by two bodyguards. She turned to her lover.
“Who is he, Shy?” Fluttershy didn’t have time to answer her as the yellow pony called to them with a fake smile on his face.
“Well, hello there.” He is too cheerful. She thought she knew that smile, but it seemed so far away. Fluttershy started shaking and Rainbow Dash could clearly see fear in her eyes. As the stranger approached further, Fluttershy took a step back. The strange yellow pony stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Is this any way to treat your own brother?”
As the words came out of his mouth, Rainbow Dash immediately recognized him. He was Fluttershy older brother, Jay Canvas, biggest artist in Cloudsdale. But she never really talked to him in all the years she had been friend with Fluttershy. In fact, she never went to her marefriend’s house while they were in Cloudsdale. She never met her parents and Fluttershy always escaped the subject of her family.
Rarity stood between the two groups, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash on one side, Jay Canvas and his bodyguards on the other. Her gazed traveled between the two groups. She thought she could act as a mediator, protecting her best friends from Fluttershy’s brother and stop Rainbow Dash if things got too heated. As her thoughts played tennis between the two groups, a realization came to her mind. If Jay Canvas is her brother, does that mean her mother is the famous Silver Canvas? The most successful Pegasus designer in all of Equestria. She grinned. So that’s why she’s so good at sewing. She was beaming inwardly at her thoughts. She was friend with the daughter of one of her hero. But when she saw the state of her yellow friend, she decided against squealing with delight. Her mind went immediately back to the current situation.
Fluttershy was now shaking violently and finally gave out, dropping to the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. Her brother seemed shocked by his sister’s reaction and closed the distance between the two of them before any other pony could react. His fake smile disappeared.
“Is that how a member of the Canvas Family acts?” he screamed. “Stand up straight!” he screamed again at her, forcing her head up. His action only made Fluttershy more fearful and her marefriend angrier.
“Hey!” rainbow dash pushed the other Pegasus on the ground and stood between him and her love. “Don’t you dare touch her!”Jay’s body guard sprung into action, only to be stopped immediately by their boss.
He was taken aback by the sudden reaction of the blue pony, but he quickly regained his composure. Once standing again, he exploded in a laugh that gave shivers to anypony present, even his own bodyguard.
“My, my.” The smile he now wore was far from a fake one he wore mere minutes ago. Althought Rainbow wished it was, because his smile was filled with a sick pleasure. As if he enjoyed seeing his sister and her marefriend struggle while he knew they couldn’t do anything. “Not only have you the guts to be a fillyfooler.” He said the last word as if it was a disgusting disease. “But your ‘marefriend’ is nothing but a barbarian with the IQ of a rock.”
Rainbow’s body tensed, ready to beat some sense into this idiot. But before she could give way to her anger, she was stopped by a faint voice behind her.
“Please.” She turned to see Fluttershy, still in the same state and position. “Stop, Dashie. Just stop. I don’t want to see you hurt.” She raised her head, her pleading blue eyes meeting angry rose eyes. Rainbow sighed and relaxed. Jay chuckled.
“That’s it, be a good little fillyfooler.” Rainbow rushed to him, too fast for his bodyguard to react on time, grabbing his collar in her hoof and bringing him down the few inches he had more than her.
“You’re lucky your sister doesn’t want me to beat you, because you would already be on the moon.” The bodyguards finally reached her. They grabbed her and pinned her to the ground. “HEY! Don’t touch me! You’ll regret it! Do you know who I am? I’m the fastest flier in Equestria and the next Wonderbolt star.” Jay’s eyebrow went up at Rainbow’s last words. While she continued her rant, trying to shake off the bodyguards, Jay looked toward Rarity who was right next to them, trying to reason with her friend. He finally recognized her cutie mark. He felt stupid not seeing it before, but he wasn’t going to admit that. His devious smile appeared once again. He just had a brilliant idea, which involved his sister’s greatest weakness. He slowly walked over to his failure of a sister and whispered in her ear. She recoiled back when she saw him approaching but didn’t run away.
Rarity realized it was useless to reason with her rainbow maned friend and turned toward Fluttershy. She saw Jay whisper in her best friend’s ear. Fluttershy’s eyes were as wide as saucers and her pupil only pinpricks in the middle. Rarity was too far to hear what he was whispering, but she knew it couldn’t be good seeing his twisted smile. Before she could get closer, He walked away from her shy friend and toward her other friend. As he turned around he whipped his sister’s face with his tail, leaving a red mark on her cheek and making her cry out for the first time, putting a stop to Rainbow Dash’s rant. He passed right by Rainbow Dash, ignoring her. He turned toward Fluttershy once more, his creepy smile still on his face.
“You have until tomorrow, at noon.” He turned to his bodyguards. “Now boys, leave this... bitch... alone. Come on, I don’t want to stay in this fillyfooler nest a minute more.” He walked away not looking back. His two bodyguards released their captive and followed him soon after. Once free, Rainbow Dash ran to her marefriend already crying on Rarity’s shoulder and hugged her. Fluttershy returned the hug while Rainbow kissed the red mark on her cheek.
“I have to talk to you, Dashie.” Fluttershy’s managed to place between to sob after crying for a while. She managed to stand up and walk to her house, her lover shielding her with her wing. Rarity decided to leave them in their intimacy, but before she could walk away she heard Fluttershy’s voice.
“Please Rarity, wait here. I have to talk to you too.” With that both mares entered the cottage, leaving the white Unicorn waiting outside.
After several minutes, the silence of Fluttershy’s cottage was broken by Rainbow Dash screaming voice.
“WHAT!”
Rarity acted on instinct, rushing to the door. She knew Rainbow would never hurt a friend, especially not Fluttershy, but she still barged inside. She found Fluttershy resting on her couch, crying her eyes out while Rainbow Dash was standing in front of her, her wings flared and her whole body tensed.
“How can you do this to me?” she could see Rainbow was on the verge of crying, but she was too proud to show it. Fluttershy simply muttered ‘I’m sorry’ over and over, her eyes closed, unable to look at her marefriend. “What did he say? Did he threaten you?” she got even tenser. Fluttershy finally found the strength to look at her lover.
“Dashie, please just go. I don’t want to make you suffer.” Her voice was broken, her eyes red and puffy.
“What?” Rainbow relaxed, not bothering to hide her sadness anymore. “You’re just going to throw me out? Just like that, because your brother told you to.” The hurt blue mare simply grunted before bowling past Rarity and into the sky above. Fluttershy continued to mutter apologies. Rarity walked up to her, sitting next to her on the couch and wrapping her legs around her friend.
“Dear, tell me what he said to you.” she tried to sound soothing, but it was hard considering the only thing on her mind was to sew shut the mouth of a certain cretin Pegasus. “What did he say?” Fluttershy stopped crying, her tears running dry
.
“He didn’t threaten me.” her voice was broken, weak. Rarity was mortified at how much her friend was hurt. “He threatened you and Dashie.” The last sentence took Rarity by surprise.
“What?” Rarity couldn’t believe what she had heard. “Would you mind explaining, dear?” The yellow Pegasus closed her eyes shut as if it could stop the memories assaulting her mind.
“He... He knows hurting me or threatening me won’t work.” Her memories were filled with her brother insulting her, threatening her, even beating her. “But he knows I can’t stand other ponies suffering.” She started shaking violently again. Rarity nuzzled her, trying to comfort her. She finally stopped shaking. Rarity tried to ask more details.
“What did he say he would do?” Fluttershy looked her in the eyes for the first time.
“He would close your shop, that he would ruin you.” Rarity gasped. “He would ban Rainbow Dash from the Wonderbolt and every major competition.” Rarity gasped again.
“Does your family really have that kind of power?” The broken yellow mare nodded grimly.
“We are the oldest and most powerful family in Cloudsdale.” Her head dropped in shame. “We have that power. And my brother has been abusing it for as long as I can remember.” Rarity couldn’t believe what she just heard.
“What about your parents?” Fluttershy started to shake again, assaulted again by memories unwanted.
“My father died when I was a filly. He was sick all his life, bedridden. I would care for him when I could. My mother didn’t really care. It was an arranged marriage, she never really loved him. My brother cares nothing for others and would force me to do all the work while he had ‘fun’ with the maids. My father was probably the only pony in my family with a heart. Every day I would go wake him up, cook him breakfast and tell him about my day before.” A sad smile appeared on her feature but disappeared as quickly as it appeared. “But one day he just didn’t wake up” Fluttershy found some well hidden tears and shed them, burying her nose in Rarity’s neck.
“My, dear, it’s horrible.” Rarity was at a loss for words. No wonder her friend was so shy and slow to socialize. She didn’t live an easy life. Rarity’s gaze was steeled with resolve. She wouldn’t allow things to come to an end so fast. “Don’t worry my dear. Big sister Rarity is there for you.” Rarity took a ridiculous heroic pose before charging outside, hot on the trail of a certain blue Pegasus.
Fluttershy was taken by surprise when Rarity charged off and didn’t have time to react.
“But... Rarity. My brother is not somepony you can face.” She said to an empty room. Seeing that her friend wouldn’t come back anytime soon, she let out sigh of resignation and went upstairs to pack her things.
***
Rainbow Dash flew forward. She didn’t car where she was going, or how fast. She just wanted to vent her anger.
WHY?! She would just give up. Just because of her brother. Who is he anyway to decide what is good and bad for is sister?
She was lost in her thought she didn’t realize her wings were starting to ache. Her breath was heavy and her lungs on fire. She still pushed herself, the pain making her forget the sadness.
She tortured herself for too long before deciding to sit on a cloud. She realized she had been flying for several hours, because before her was a beautiful sunset. But she couldn’t admire it. Her heart was in shamble. She buried her head in the cloud and screamed with all her might.
She screamed at the world, at the pain and at the bastard that drove the mare of her dream away. She gave up her effort to scream her problem away when her throat could not carry on anymore. She resigned for a muffled sob.
Rainbow Dash’s head rose when she heard her name being called. She peered down from her cloud to see an out of breath and sweaty Rarity calling her.
“Rainbow Dash! You better get down here right now.” Rarity had the look of a mother scolding her child. Rainbow Dash simply grunted and rolled back in the middle of her cloud. Still, she answered Rarity.
“She left me, Rarity.” Rainbow voice was filled with pain and started breaking. “She’s just going to listen to that flankhole!” she punctuated the last word with a punch in the cloud. “I was happy. She was happy. And he came and ruined it all.”
“Do you know he didn’t threaten her?...” Rainbow Dash flew back down landing in front of Rarity. Her whole body tensed, her wings flaring and her hooves digging in the ground.
“WHAT!” her eyes were filling with anger, but Rarity knew it was more than that. She felt betrayed. “She just gave me up! Just like tha-” Rarity lifted a hoof to stop her friend.
“He did not threaten ‘her’, he threatened me and you.” all trace of anger subsided almost immediately from Rainbow Dash’s body and mind. She slumped down, dazed.
“He... he threatened me?” she couldn’t believe it. Using such a backstabbing tactics against his own sister. He was even worse than she thought.
“He would ban you from the Wonderbolt and every major competition.” Rainbow was in such a daze she practically didn’t hear her friend.
“I give up.” Rainbow’s head dropped down in shame. The sudden answer surprised Rarity so much she needed to do a double take.
“Excuse me?” She lifted her friend’s head with a gentle hoof. “What did you say?”
“I said: I give up.” Her voice was broken, just as much as her heart. She turned around and began walking away toward Ponyville. She couldn’t take it anymore. She just wanted to end it all. But Rarity couldn’t accept it. She planted herself before the blue Pegasus.
“Who are you and what have you done to Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow’s answer came in the form of an angry glare. She tried to walk around Rarity, but the Unicorn would have none of it. She stood again in the path of her friend. Her voice was gentler than her previous tone. “Darling, I believe she is ready to suffer for you. More than you imagine. So what are you going to do? Let both of you suffer because of a flankhole decided to? Or are you going to stand up for the mare of your life.” At the question, Rainbow froze.
What would I do? What CAN I do? She sat down assaulted by a thousand thoughts. If I assault him, I’m going to get arrested. But I can’t negotiate, he has everything. She strained her mind to find a solution. Rarity simply put a hoof on her shoulder, and whispered in her hear.
“Whatever you do dear, do it for her.” with that Rarity walked back to Ponyville. She was in dire need of a bath.
***
During that time, in a dark cottage at the edge of the Everfree forest, a yellow Pegasus was saying her farewells to her belongings and animal friends. She sat in the middle of her bedroom, lit by a single candle, the darkness of the night invading her house. She had gone through many things in her closet.
A certain picture book left her crying once more. It contained all the pictures she and her friends took during their time together. The last pages were too painful for her. They contained all the pictures they took at Pinkie’s party for their coming out and their newly formed couple. When she looked trough it she quickly realized she would never see her friends again. Neither would she see Rainbow Dash. As that thought passed through her mind, she remembered an old box, hidden in the dark of her closet. A box she hadn’t opened for several years. Never since she came to Ponyville.
She reached inside her closet once more, bringing out a dusty black box. The box opened with a loud ‘squeak’ and revealed its treasure. A raged blue doll with a mane the colour of the full spectrum. It was the first thing she ever sewed together. She took it out and squeezed her close to her chest, sobbing silently, the memories of her last day in Cloudsdale flooding her mind.
***
A younger looking Fluttershy stood in the hallway of a luxurious cloud mansion. In front of her were two giant doors with signs reading ‘Do not disturb’ and ‘Silver Canvas workshop’. It was her mother’s workshop. Usually she would be scared witless of disturbing her mother. But for once she did something her mother would be proud. She put all her knowledge and effort in making the best doll she could. She was a little embarrassed by the fact it was actually her friend, Rainbow Dash, which was the model for it.
Will she pick up on my feelings if I show it to her? That simple thought managed to break her courage. But as she retreated, her mother opened the door. Her eyes were blue like her filly, but much colder. Her coat was a washed out orange and her mane, originally pink, had become grey with age. Her gaze was off steel and an everlasting frown adorned her face. She never seemed to be happy about anything, or sad for that matter, always... angry at something. But Fluttershy never found the guts to ask her why she was always frowning.
“What is it?” Her tone was as cold as her eyes. It sent shivers through the filly’s body, making her shake. Desperate to hide her creation, Fluttershy tried to hide it under her wing, but she wasn’t fast enough. Her mother saw the doll and managed to quickly take it away. She held it in her hoof, examining it from all perspective. Her face relaxed a bit, letting her filly hope for the best.
“What is this?” she asked as if in another world. The little filly smiled.
“It’s a doll.” She exclaimed with pride before retreating behind her bangs in embarrassment. “Do you like it?” her mother couldn’t take her eyes off the doll.
“It’s... It’s...” the yellow Pegasus smiled in expectation. “Horrible.” She ripped open the small Rainbow Dash effigy, before letting it fall on the cloud floor, her stuffing escaping their prison. “I will not accept that my daughter make such petty toys. You should follow my example and design clothing, you ignorant filly.” Her tone wasn’t angry, just dead cold. The old mare slammed the doors in the face of her own filly.
Fluttershy slowly took the remains of her first and most important creation. She felt as if her mother had ripped her heart open. She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing out of her eyes, and didn’t want to. She ran to her room and gently closed her door, not wanting her brother to be mad at her. At the thought of her brother, her sides began to hurt once more where he had kicked her, the day before. She threw herself on her small bed.
Her room wasn’t like her brother’s or her mother’s, it was small, simple and, most important, quiet. Just outside her window she could hear birds sing for her. Any other day she would sing with them. One of her few moments where she could be herself was with small animals, mostly birds, which lived in the cloud gardens of her family estate. She cried, trying to repair her doll. After a couple hours of love and hard work she managed to bring her back to her former beauty. She stared dreamily at it; Imaging all sorts of adventures with Rainbow Dash outside of her mansion; About how Rainbow Dash would swoop down from the sky to rescue her from the witch that was her mother. Just like a knight in shining armour saving a princess. But they were only that, fantasies.
She jumped, as if struck by lightning. She had an idea. A dangerous Idea, but she had to do it. For herself, for Rainbow, and for all the animals she loved. She was going to... runaway.
She quietly stuffed her doll and other belongings in her saddle bags before exiting through her window. Being a Pegasus made that part that much easier. She went up to her bird friends to say her goodbyes.
“Good bye, little friend. Don’t worry you’re going to be happy here even without me.” the birds in front of her just stared at her. “Oooh... Don’t make those faces... you know I can’t resist ‘the face’.” The birds continued to stare. She gave up in front of the power of ‘the face’. “Okay you can come with me.” all the birds began to happily chirp but were soon silenced by Fluttershy.
After getting out of her estate, while being followed by a flock of birds, saying hello to all the gardeners and helping one of them, she set off in a random direction.
A direction, which at that time, she didn’t know was Ponyville.
***
Jay Canvas stood in front of a limousine chariot, just outside Ponyville, taping his hoof on the dirt road in impatience. An expression of displeasure adorned his normally handsome features. Soon after, his face lit up in an evil smile as he saw his sister appear on the dirt road. She looked sad and beaten but he didn’t care. He had won and in his little twisted mind that was all that counted. When she was finally within earshot, he called out to her.
“I knew you would listen to reason, dear sister.” He chuckled, truly happy for his sister’s pain. “Mom is waiting.” He gestured at the limousine. Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks.
Mother is here? Oh my goodness. She started to panic, a state of mind she had mastered over the years. If her mother was here it could mean nothing good.
But before any of the siblings could do anything, a rainbow blur fell from the sky landing square on the limousine, scaring the two pullers and making a dent on the roof. Fluttershy’s heart fluttered while her brother gritted his teeth. It was Rainbow Dash, standing atop a multi million bits limousine carriage, a serious expression painted on her face. She gestured toward the yellow stallion.
“YOU!” she said in a commanding voice. “You will let Fluttershy go.” She stepped down from the limousine and closed the distance between him and herself. “And you will leave us alone. Understood?” she glared at him with all her might, while he exploded in an evil laugh.
“You really think I’m going to listen to you, fillyfooler!” at the last word her lost his smile and glared back. “I could have you arrested for talking to me. I can make your life a living hell!” Rainbow dash never flinched.
“Do what you want.” Jay lost his composure at her statement.
“What?” was all he could answer. Rainbow Dash smiled gently and looked over at a blushing Fluttershy, locking their eyes together.
“As long as I’m with her, you can make my life hell. Because with her... it will never feel like it.” She punctuated her sentence with a wink to her blushing marefriend. Jay growled.
“Then I’ll ban you from the Wonderbolt!” a desperate smile replaced his evil one when Rainbow Dash didn’t react to the threat.
“Do what you want. I know the Wonderbolt won’t listen to a spoiled foal like you.”
“T-T-Then you’ll go to prison.” He stammered pushed in a corner by the mare’s stare.
“Then you’ll see me again went I get out.” Jay’s expression turned to one of pure anger. He never lost. But the mare was clearly winning.
“Fine!” he gestured to one of the limousine puller. “Shield, take that mare to the nearest police station.” The puller nodded and he unhooked himself from the limousine.
But before her could make it halfway to Rainbow Dash he was stopped by a commanding voice.
“Stop, Shield.” The voice was soft, but carried an enormous weight. “I will settle this matter.” Rainbow looked to whom that voice belonged and found the answer behind her.
Stepping out of the limousine was an exact replica of Fluttershy, only older. Her gaze was cold and hard. Both Jay and Fluttershy bowed slightly.
“Mother.” Jay muttered angrily. Rainbow Dash sat there, stunned to meet for the first time Fluttershy’s mom. Jay quickly went to his mother’s side. “I was going to get that trash out of th-“ Silver Canvas interrupted her son with a simple glare.
“I shall put an end to this matter. Go wait in the limousine.” Her tone harsh and cold. Her son couldn’t talk back and simply went inside the limousine looking extremely displeased, slamming the door.
The old mare stared at Rainbow Dash with such intensity the younger Pegasus lost all confidence in herself. She felt as if the older mare could read everything about her, all the way down to her most secret thoughts. As if she was judging her and had all the rights to do it. It was an experience she didn’t want to relive. Silver Canvas walked around the blue mare, examining her as if she was a piece of ugly clothing.
After what seemed an eternity to Dash, she spoke.
“So you are the one who stole my precious daughter’s heart.” Rainbow couldn’t answer any other way than truthfully.
“Yes. And I love her with all my might.” The old mare simply nodded before walking toward Fluttershy. The shy Pegasus recoiled a bit, but stood her ground staring back at her mother.
“Fluttershy, do you love this mare as much as she loves you?” she gave her daughter the same stare she gave the cyan Pegasus. Fluttershy nodded firmly.
“Yes, mother, I do.” A small smile crept on her face as she glanced at the mare of her life. Her mother simply turned around, her back facing her daughter.
“I’m not heartless, my dear.” Fluttershy felt her heart soared. “But I have our honour to uphold.” And crashed brutally. Her eyes filled with dread. “I will do something I never wanted to do.” Fluttershy’s mind filled with all sorts of punishments imaginable and unimaginable. Her mother finally faced her. “Fluttershy” She said ceremonially “you are now expulsed from the Canvas family.” The timid mare stood there, mouth agape.
“Mother?” her mother walked back to her limousine, the puller having reattached himself. “What does that mean?” Fluttershy ran toward the chariot, but her mother closed the door. The window opened, her mother didn’t even spare a glance at her own daughter.
“You will be erased from every family register. It will be as if you never existed.” With those cold words she pulled up her window, leaving Fluttershy to stare at her own reflection. Only behind its protection, did the old mare allowed herself to shed the tears she held back.
The limousine sped away, leaving the two mares in its wake. They looked at each other, and quickly hugged one another. Rainbow kissed the mare of her dream and kept her close to her heart. Fluttershy started to cry.
“She abandoned me.” seeing her marefriend crying was a torture to Rainbow Dash. “How could she?” her sobs were cut short by the lips of her lover. Once the kiss broken, they lost themselves in each other’s eyes. Rainbow Dash smiled sweetly.
“I’m your family, Shy. And never will I abandon you. Never will I hurt you. And never will I hate you.”
Both mares made their way back to their house, trying to forget the events of the day and to look ahead.
Maybe it’s not so bad to finally be free of them? Fluttershy thought. She looked at her marefriend. She was smiling, her chest pumped and her wing beating lightly with pride. She was indeed proud of herself. Fluttershy giggled and nuzzle her lover.
Rainbow turned to Fluttershy, seeing her happy smile and peaceful face.
“What are you thinking about, Shy?” Fluttershy happily sighed.
“Nothing.” She answered dreamingly.
My knight in shining armour.
FIN
