Bloodshot

How does one define perfection?  Can it be represented by a physical object, or is it constricted to merely an abstract concept?  Is it something one feels, or is it something one observes?  Is it common, is it a miracle, or is it impossible?  Is it an illusion?

       No, no, it couldn’t be an illusion.  It was always taught that nopony was perfect, nor could they ever strive to be.  However, perfection definitely still existed.  Moments could be perfect.  Places could be perfect.  Heck, even something as crazy as a mathematical formula could be perfect.

       If perfection was an illusion, then Fluttershy would’ve been in complete disorder right about then.  Regardless of the possibilities, the Element of Kindness truly felt perfection.

       On any other day, if one had walked up to her and asked her how she was doing, she would’ve probably lowered her head and muttered that she was fine.  On her good days, she might’ve shrugged her shoulders and said, “Pretty good.”

       Today, though, was different for the timid mare.  Today was special.  Today was exceptional.  Today was a day of celebration.  Today…was perfect.

       Happy thoughts like these danced around in Fluttershy’s head as she pranced through Ponyville on her way to her cottage.  Quiet little notes floated out of her mouth as she sang a soft tune to herself amidst her jubilance.  Her saddlebags bounced up and down as they hitched the ride on her hips through the busy town.  This sort of ecstatic bliss was quite an unusual occurrence for her, which caused the ponies on the streets to turn in her direction.

“Is that…Fluttershy?”

“Is she alright?”

“Did Twilight mess up a spell or something?”

“Looks like somepony finally caught some of the Pinkie Pie fever.”

“I don’t think the Butterfly Migration’s today or anything…”

       Murmurs like these filled the air around the gleeful pegasus.  None of them managed to penetrate her eardrums, though.  The joyful soul was drowning out the sound with her own singing.

       But where was all this joy coming from?  After all, the Element of Kindness was never one to show excitement in public.  Her happiness came from the happiness of her animal friends, far away from the bustling activity of downtown Ponyville.  Extra special ecstatic emotions never came like this without a good reason.

…

       On her way toward the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy galloped past Twilight Sparkle’s crystal castle.  Seeing a hint of yellow out the window, the alicorn hurried down the stairs to greet her friend at the door.

       “Hey, Fluttershy!”  She called.

       Fluttershy paused her quaint little tune to glance at her lavender friend.  “Oh, hello, Twilight!”

       “Would you like to visit?  It’s been quite a while!”  Twilight called.

       Fluttershy grinned.  “My, that would be lovely!”

       Without a care in the world, Fluttershy turned around, and trotted in the direction of her best friend’s not-so-humble abode.  Her smile remained on her face.

       Twilight couldn’t help but to notice this with a chuckle.  “Gee, Flutters, I’ve never seen you in such a good mood!”

       Fluttershy sighed.  “There are things in this world that can make even a little old pegasus like me happy.”

       “Well that’s great to hear!  By the way, you might want to be careful when stepping inside.  I have Rainbow Dash over as well, and she’s trying to break that ball-bouncing record again.”  Twilight explained.

       Fluttershy giggled.

…

       Rainbow Dash heard a mess of hoofsteps from the foyer as she continued to bounce her ball on her head.  All of her focus was on her counting, so she hadn’t a guess on who the visitor was.

       “Two-hundred sixty-three, two-hundred sixty-four, two-hundred sixty-five…”

       “Hi, Dashie!”  Fluttershy squealed.

       Rainbow Dash gasped at the sudden noise, but managed to keep her counting steady.  The ball swayed a little bit out of place, but was quickly realigned when Rainbow Dash’s signature reflexes came into play.

       “Oh, hey, Fluttershy!  Try to be careful next time!”  She warned.

       “Ooh yeah; my bad.”  Fluttershy responded with another giggle.

       “What’ve you been up to lately?”  The ball-bouncing pegasus asked.

       “Oh, just returning from a little trip.  Heading on my way home.  Enjoying the nice weather.  It’s so beautiful outside.”  Fluttershy mused.

       “It’s cool that you’re acting so positive today!  I usually have to strain to get you to talk.  Say, um…what number am I on again?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

       “You just passed three-hundred ten.”  Twilight answered.

…

       Fluttershy smiled again.  “You’re really good at that, Rainbow Dash.  I enjoy watching you do it.”

       Rainbow Dash laughed a little.  “Man, Fluttershy, what’s got you so bright and vibrant today?”

       Fluttershy blushed a little.  “Do you really want to know?”

       Rainbow Dash and Twilight both nodded simultaneously.  “Sure, why not?”

       Fluttershy smiled at the ground for a few seconds before answering.  “I got a date!”

…

       The two listeners froze in place.  Rainbow Dash’s mouth opened wide.  Her ball hit her head one last time before falling to the ground, shattering her record attempt once again.  Twilight sat down on the bottom step of the staircase, looking up at Fluttershy like she had five hooves.

       Rainbow Dash stuttered.  “…A what?”

       “A date!  He’s really nice, too.  I feel so special when I’m around him!”  Fluttershy added.

       More silence ensued.  Fluttershy was the only one in the room with a smile on her face.  Twilight and Rainbow Dash both sat still in shock, allowing an awkward atmosphere to hang in the room.  It took quite some time for them to pick up on the…perfection that Fluttershy was feeling.

       When Twilight and Rainbow Dash finally came around, they wasted no time in congratulating their eager friend.

       “Well, that’s just wonderful, Fluttershy!  I…had no idea you had it in you!”  Twilight complimented.

       Rainbow Dash ignored the fact that her ball was lying on the ground with all of her hopes of breaking the record.  She turned to her butter-yellow friend, and smiled as well.

       “Yeah, Flutters, I didn’t know you could pull it off!  So, who’s the lucky stallion?”

…

       Fluttershy blushed madly at this sort of question.  Her perfection did not fade the tiniest bit, however, regardless of the embarrassment of telling her friends.

       “His name’s Silver Spirit.  He’s one of the chief caretakers at the Ponyville Petting Zoo.”  The love-struck mare answered with a sigh.

       Rainbow Dash’s smile vanished.  “You know…I probably should’ve expected an answer like that.”

       Twilight still held on to her smile, however.  “That sounds very nice!  Did he ask you out just earlier today?”

       Fluttershy fiddled with her front hooves.  “Um…no.  I asked him out.”

       Twilight and Rainbow Dash gasped in amazement.  Both of their smiles were back and wider than ever at this point.

       “Way to go, Flutters!  Glad you finally worked up some courage!”  Rainbow Dash beamed.  She walked over to where Fluttershy was standing on the foyer, and gave her a playful slap on the shoulder.

       “That’s phenomenal, Fluttershy!  What made you decide to approach him first?”  Twilight asked curiously.

       “Well, I saw the way he helped ponies out with feeding the animals and getting around the zoo.  He really shares a love for animals!  I didn’t know of any other pony before him who had a passion for critters.”  She paused for a moment, and looked up toward the ceiling as if she were daydreaming.  “…He’s so handsome, too.  I used to pay to go back into the petting zoo just so I could look at him.”

…

       “Aww, that’s so cute!  I never would’ve guessed that you were into somepony!”  Twilight cooed.

       Rainbow Dash started laughing spontaneously.  “You actually paid just to go look at a stallion?  You really are in looovvvee, aren’t you?”

       Fluttershy’s face only continued to get redder.  She looked back down at the ground, and kicked her hoof softly in front of her.

       Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash.  “Hey, don’t make fun of her like that.  One of these days, you’ll meet your Special Somepony, and you’ll be drooling over him just like any other pony would.”

       “Yeah, you’re right about that.  My Special Somepony is going to be so hot that everypony will be straining to get a look at him.”  Rainbow Dash bragged in response.

       “Well, this isn’t about you, is it?  Let’s be supportive at all times.”  Twilight chided.

…

       Rainbow Dash just shrugged, and looked back at Fluttershy, who was still studying the ground.  Twilight tapped her with her hoof to snap her out of her daze.

       “So do you know any of the details?  Are you seeing a movie, or having dinner together, or visiting the park, or…”

       “We’re having dinner tomorrow night at the Riviera in Canterlot.  He suggested it after I spoke to him.”  Fluttershy interrupted.

       “The Riviera?  Isn’t that place, like…extremely expensive?”  Rainbow Dash asked with awe.

       “Oh my, it’s very expensive indeed.  But Silver Spirit said that he would sometimes wait tables there, so we get to eat at a discount.”  Fluttershy explained.  When saying Silver Spirit’s name, her voice seemed to trail off for a short second.

       “Wow, that’s wonderful!  I sure hope you guys have great time together.”  Twilight congratulated.

       “Yeah, but don’t get carried away or anything.  We don’t have a lot of money to support you if things get out of hoof.”  Rainbow Dash added with a smirk.

       Twilight nudged her.  “Rainbow Dash, pipe down!  Fluttershy has a lot more self-control than that.”

       “Yeah, but she gives in to suggestion a little too easily.  Too much wine on either side, and we have a serious problem on our hooves.  Or two.  Or maybe even three, if she’s lucky.”  Rainbow Dash countered.

       “Rainbow, what a thing to say!”  Twilight scolded.

…

       As Twilight and Rainbow Dash began to argue, Fluttershy stepped backwards slowly and awkwardly.  Thinking about the possibility of Rainbow Dash’s words made the poor mare blush out of control.

       “Um…guys?”  She whispered.

       The two arguers continued their babbling, drowning out her words completely.  Fluttershy tried to speak a number of times, but failed to be heard during each one.  Eventually, she decided that leaving them alone would be the best option.

       “Well, I’m just going to go, you two.  I have to make sure everything’s in order for tomorrow night!  Silver Spirit will be meeting me at my cottage, so I don’t want anything to be out of place.  See you later!”  She announced.

       Barely hearing the embarrassed pegasus, Twilight and Rainbow Dash turned to see her walk out the door.  Rainbow Dash slugged Twilight in the shoulder.

       “Nice, egghead.  You made her leave.”