Fluttershy
Fluttershy awoke to a beautiful sunrise, outside she could hear a chorus of birds singing gently as if coaxing the world from it's gentle slumber. She had slept well and was rejuvenated after the long and demanding day which was the Winter Wrap-Up. The annual clean up had been successful as always thanks to Twilight's organisational skills but this year the animals seemed to be somewhat reluctant to emerge from their burrows, dens, sets and other simple yet fascinating structures which were these animals homes. The snakes, badgers, bunnies and a huge variety of other cute creatures who usually were eager to see the world again after their long hibernations this year had to be brought out more forcefully.
It was hardly a disaster in fact all this meant was that Fluttershy had to try a little harder to make the lovely creatures end their extended slumber. Still she reminded herself as she faced this challenge it couldn't be any worse than when the new unicorn had helped out in her first Winter Wrap-Up. She remembered it well, Twilight being unsure of where to help out had tried her hand at several jobs required to bring the start of Spring around. When she had helped Fluttershy with the animals she had been happy to help but maybe too energetic. Fluttershy giggled quietly to herself at the memory Twilight had attempted to awaken the critters peacefully but she had been scared by a little snake.
This made Fluttershy realise-not for the first time- that many ponies do not possess her ability to commune with the animals as well or even better than she did with other ponies. She pitied the other ponies who were not at one with nature as they missed out on so much of their lives. Nature was so wide, so expansive and teeming with activity and energy which some people didn't appreciate, too wrapped up in their own lives. For example Twilight who Fluttershy admired and held in very high esteem could sometimes be too wrapped up in her library and books to see the wonders of the outside world and the graceful, elegant powers which the earth held. As Fluttershy left her house she realized that today she would rather stay in the lively yet hushed outdoors which suited her to a T rather than the joyous loud hustle-bustle of Ponyville. As much as she loved her friends somedays Fluttershy just needed to be alone with the wildlife and relax and tend to the needs of the many creatures who inhabited the the grassy fields, swampy pools and deep, lush forests which surrounded the outskirts of the Ponyville.
Fluttershy packed a saddlebag with all kinds of treats for the sweet beasts which greeted her as she wandered freely through the forest. Here she could forget her very few troubles (as her life in Ponyville was close to perfect) but her lone strolls through the world made her feel at peace with the environment and gave her ample time to contemplate her life. One very pressing issue which had been on the top of her mind... No she would not think about that now those thoughts brought strange feelings even she could not explain and did not want to obscure and dim her peace and happiness she felt when she was in this kind of state. However the more she ignored this feeling the more it bore into her brain and made it's presence known.
This evening Fluttershy was supposed to attend one of Pinkie Pie's parties. As fun and as good a social event these were both the bouncy and exuberant earth pony and her party's could become somewhat overbearing.
For an introvert such as herself Fluttershy found it difficult to be with so many people at once. Since she was born she had been quite uncomfortable with other people in conversations and her natural shy nature made it difficult to make new friends or talk to strangers. This also meant that many ponies overlooked Fluttershy and although this suited Fluttershy fine sometimes her friends begged her to be noticed and more assertive. Fluttershy tried to be the kind of person they wanted but usually stuck to being more shy, quiet and generous-more Fluttershy- than most ponies.
As she walked back to her quiet house back to angel her darling bunny she found herself both dreading and looking forward to the party she had been anticipating so much. She decided she would attempt to stay inconspicuous and stay around people she knew.
As the party drew nearer she got herself ready. She was not very Rarity-esque about her appearance but still liked to look nice. She combed her hair into its regular style which hid most of her face. She left her house and headed to the centre of Ponyville and into the corner. The party as she had expected was lively and energetic but in a different way to how it was in the forest. The music seemed to surround her and fill her with good feelings. Throughout Pinkie Pie could be seen popping up occasionally spreading the joy. She peered around the large room seeking her closest friends in one corner talking to a timid pegasi was Applejack she seemed to glow with a vibe which shone with honesty and kindness. She could always be relied on if you ever needed a friend and right now on a whim Fluttershy felt that she needed to talk about her strange feelings which bounced around her head which she herself couldn't understand. She cut through the party trying not to feel out of place but failing. As she neared Applejack saw her. “Hey hun, you made it. Another great party!”
“Um yeah” Fluttershy replied in characteristically quiet voice. “Hey, can I talk to you about something”
“Fluttershy you know you can always talk to all of us” she replied with an endearing smile. “But anyway hun what is it you wanna talk about.”
Fluttershy squirmed slightly Then began to reveal her feelings “Well um lately, um. I uh”
“Well, spit it out hun”
“Um, never mind” Fluttershy moved away swiftly with tears in her eyes she had lost her nerve even though she knew she could completely trust Applejack. The party called after her and as she left the party with her eyes streaming she could hear the music and festivities becoming quieter.
On the way back home she met Spike who had gone back home from the party to retrieve the hat he had received several birthdays ago. He noticed her crying and asked her what was wrong, Fluttershy was in no state to answer and so he practically dragged her back to the library.
The library was mercifully quiet after the boisterous atmosphere of the party. After Fluttershy had calmed down Spike began to ask her why she came out of the party screaming like a foal. “Did somepony hurt you?” he asked “If they did I'll show 'em not to mess with my friends.” Fluttershy couldn't help but laugh. Spike was still just a baby dragon but sometimes he could be so brave it was delightful. “No, no pony hurt me Spike. It's just. Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course” The small dragon replied his voice dripping with curiosity. His eyes sparkling with interest and need for this new information.
“Ok well lately,” Fluttershy started nervously. “I've kind of um had feelings for somepony.”
“Oh, oh is it Big Mac” Fluttershy shook her head without conviction. “Ok then... Dr. Whooves?”
“No Spike none of them... “
“Then who?”
“Well um you can't tell anyone but it's” she spoke the next part at an inaudible squeak “Rainbow Dash”
“Who?” A perplexed Spike asked.
“Rainbow Dash” she repeated louder and she saw shock dawn in Spike's eyes. “Oh Celestia, I shouldn't have told you.”
“No, no it;s fine” Spike recovered quickly. “It's just I didn't expect it to be a mare. You know I thought a stallion.”
For a long time afterwards Fluttershy talked to Spike about her feelings and he listened intently. She told him about how she loved Rainbow Dash's sassy style and how she would never give up on anyone and her devil may care attitude. She respected the fact she could talk to huge crowds of people without being intimidated and how she led her flying teams fearlessly without worry.
She loved the spirit the lively Pegasus had shown on several occasions especially the first time when Twilight first appeared in Ponyville. Rainbowdash had given up the one thing she wanted most to stay with her friends.
Another part of her brain however was tormenting Fluttershy telling her that Rainbow Dash would never feel the same way about Fluttershy she simply did not stand out enough and Rainbow Dash almost certainly liked stallions.
Fluttershy told all this to Spike and he sat listening quietly the whole time. When Fluttershy was finished she felt all the worries pressing on her brain disappear and the warm, glowing, pinkish hue thoughts she had of the Pegasus seemed to arrange themselves into one simple answer Fluttershy was stupid not to see.
She loved Rainbow Dash.
She told this to Spike just as she heard the door opening behind where she was sitting. She had forgotten that this was Twilight's library and as she walked in she looked at Fluttershy with a quizzical and worried look etched on her face.
After gentle and careful persuasion from Twilight, Fluttershy told her the same story she had told Spike. Throughout Twilight listened and nodded occasionally to prove she was listening. Once Fluttershy was finished she felt exhausted as now it was well past midnight and the moonlight shone through the windows casting meagre light into the dim almost silent room.
Fluttershy waited for Twilight to say something but she seemed to be preparing herself to talk. For the first time Fluttershy wondered if her friends would be freaked out by the fact that she loved Rainbow Dash.
Twilight beamed at Fluttershy and began earnestly to talk. “This is so great.” Oh, great was not the word Fluttershy had been expecting maybe more along the lines of weird, ewww even disgusting. But great no she did not expect that.
Twilight was practically aglow with happiness as she said “I mean I always knew something would happen between you two but so soon. Wow. I... You need to go tell her.”
“What oh, no I can't she doesn't like me that way you know.”
“How do you know?”
“Because... well...” That stumped Fluttershy a tiny hopeful voice said “What if she does?”
“Yes but Twilight, it's too big a risk what if she says no and then hates me forever. We might never be friends again and I couldn't take that.”
“She wouldn't do that to you. None of us would, you know that.”
“What if she thinks I'm a freak or something?”
“Fluttershy she's your friend she'll accept whoever you are.”
All through until morning they talked back and forth like this Twilight urging Fluttershy to make her feelings known to Rainbow Dash. Until finally Fluttershy saw the sunlight creeping through the window panes illuminating all the flecks of dust which floated in the air. She knew that today she had to tell Rainbow Dash how she felt before she got cold feet again. As apprehensive and tired as she was she was buzzing with excitement. As she left the library she felt a huge wave of nervousness almost forcing her back inside. She told herself no and steeled herself.
In the distance she could she a fluffy grey-white cloud and on top a small rainbow blur perched like a multicoloured canary. As she saw her Fluttershy began to canter faster and looked back to Twilight who was nodding with a huge grin on her face. As she drew nearer she felt queasy and could hardly believe what she was about to do. Dash saw her and hopped off her cloud and scrutinised Fluttershy attentively then Fluttershy readied herself for what she had to do.
It had been a few days since Fluttershy had made her feelings known to Rainbow Dash, and for the latter of the pair a agitating few days. She wasn't really too sure what had happened Fluttershy had told the vibrant pegasus that she was in love with her. Well that was a shock. It was a moment where Rainbow wanted to just fly away but for obvious reasons that wasn't possible.
So anyway she had been told that this timid pony loved her. No, not even as a friend! Then she asks if I feel the same way. I know. This was all going through Rainbow's mind at the time as she struggled to formulate an answer. She realized then she didn't even know. They were both very young after all. So she had said no. The disappointment on the other Pegasus' face was heartbreaking. She hoped she hadn't caused too much anguish for the shy pony, but even so she seemed to shrink to the ground and as she said farewell Rainbow saw tears in her eyes.
Since that moment they hadn't talked. Three, no, four days. It was sad really that two friends could drift apart so quickly, but she knew that if she tried to talk to Fluttershy then their conversation would be awkward beyond compare.
Anyway she couldn't think about it now, she had things to do. Not that clearing the skies took much concentration but she didn't want to think about it anyway.
Fluttershy was in the woods. Since she had made her feelings known to Rainbow Dash she had been even more withdrawn than usual. She hadn't seen anypony besides Twilight for days. The bashful pegasus had been in a sort of exile, trying to forget the embarrassing event of the other day. After which she had been saddened and slightly angry at herself for trying.
There had been one silver lining, however. Dash had said "No, well I'm not sure." This gave the modest pony a small amount of hope in her aching heart which was filled with unreturned love for her companion. She could hardly blame her though. "If she's unsure about that kind of thing," Fluttershy said out loud. She turned quickly to check nopony had heard. But the forest was still and hushed. The light filtered down through the trees casting a dappled pattern on the bushes and leaves which still littered the floor from the past autumn.
Rainbow Dash had almost finished clearing the skies, with the help of a pegasus who was more trouble than she was worth. The lilac pony with a sun yellow mane had spent the mornings work causing accidents and generally getting in the way of other ponies.
Dash, however knew what she was going to do as she flew down to Sweet Apple Acres. She glanced around looking for Applejack. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the familiar Stetson hat bobbing towards the barn.
Dash swooped down beside her startling the hard-working earth pony in the process.
"Whoa there Nelly!" She exclaimed whilst jumping about a foot in the air. "You shouldn't scare me like that."
"Sorry A.J just need to talk to you about something."
"Sure what is it sugar cube?"
"Well I guess you heard about... You know that Fluttershy and me thing." She said it as a statement not a question, by now everypony in the area knew about it to the pairs dismay.
"Well to be honest hun ah don't really unnerstand it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well not to beat around the bush..." She took a moment to think. "Ah don't really think that a pony should think in that way... Well what I'm tryin' to say is somepony should..."
The impatient pegasus cut her off. "A.J get on with it."
She was now choosing her words carefully. "Right yeah, ah just think it's a bit weird that somepony thinks about you in that way. But ah don't wanna talk abou' it." Before the shocked pegasus could reply A.J was in the barn with the door closed.
Fluttershy was on her way to Twilight's library for the first time in days. She wanted to talk to the unicorn because she was the pony who Fluttershy had told first along with Spike. As she made her way down the street with her head hung close to the ground she felt eyes on her. She wondered if other ponies thought she was a freak. She entered the library and as usual Twilight was in the middle of a huge stack of books and looked like she had been reading most of the night.
She glanced up when Fluttershy stepped in. "Oh Fluttershy I was worried about you I was going to go visit you after I finished these." She waved a hoof which encompassed all the books and she had a guilty grin on her face.
"That's Ok" The pegasus replied.
For a moment neither of the pair said anything they both knew why they were there.
Surprisingly it wasn't the unicorn who made the first move. "Twi I can't talk to Rainbow it's too awkward. The other day I saw her and practically ran away in the other direction."
"You know I'm still surprised she said no. In all the books I've read they always live happily ever... What?"
She stopped when she heard Fluttershy giggling at her. "You can be so naive sometimes you know."
The unicorn frowned at her. "Well, I still think you should talk to her you're supposed to be friends aren't you?"
"I guess so... Ok I'll try." She said this with a sigh.
Rainbow was walking through Ponyville. Yeah walking it surprised her even. She saw a yellow pegasus with a light pink mane and made a beeline straight to her. She was just going to have a normal conversation with her. Fluttershy almost walked into her and flinched when she saw who it was. "Hi" she began weakly. Suddenly a fog seemed to settle in Rainbow Dash's mind and she seemed to see the pegasus in a different light instead of just plain Fluttershy she saw kindness and a meek beauty trying to escape. Was this how she felt as well the way Fluttershy was looking at her seemed to answer her question. Before she knew it her heart was talking for her. "I need to tell you I think I feel the same way about you." A glint of pure hope filled Fluttershy's eyes but soon disappeared when Rainbow said "But I don't think we should be together in that way because I don't want to ruin our friendship, and someponies don't take kindly to that kind of thing here. I'm sorry."
For almost a minute they were silent until Fluttershy said "Ok" on instinct they hugged lightly and stood for longer still.
Then at the same instance they said "If it's for the best." They smiled weakly and hugged again.
Fluttershy exited the embrace first and departed without a word. She was disappointed. But to be cliché she felt a huge weight leave her shoulders. She said out loud as she headed home. "At least I tried."
