Swept up

The grey light of morning poked through the blinds of Fluttershy’s window and landed on the quietly snoozing girl’s face. She stirred, groaning softly as her mind began to slowly wake up, despite the protests of the rest of her body.

She chose to keep her eyes closed, just for now… another minute, that’s it. She rolled over and snuggled into her blanket, throwing the heavy cloth over her head and yawning. Then, the events of the day before filled her mind, and her eyes flicked open. She sat bolt upright, and looked to the clock.  It was half past eight. She let out a small gasp. She was supposed to be at Rarity’s in half an hour!

She scrambled to get out of bed, but in her haste, her legs became tangled in the blanket, and she let out a fearful squeak as she toppled to the floor with a light thud. She picked herself up, relieved that no one had been there to see that particular faux pas and rushed to the bathroom to begin her morning routine. After a quick brush of her hair, a splash water on her face, a thorough brushing of her teeth, and a self-conscious glance at herself in the mirror, she scurried downstairs to leave Angel a snack before she left. She had neglected to tell Angel of the events that had transpired, (strange because she usually shared most everything with the rabbit) but if things went as she planned them to, there would be no need to tell him and risk getting him riled up over nothing.

After a large carrot had been carefully slipped next to the sleeping bunny’s bed, Fluttershy set off for Rarity’s boutique, relieved that she had made such good time after waking up so late. She shivered as a gust of wind whipped at her, the days certainly were getting colder and the grey sheet of sky remained above, without a hint of sun or a trace of the overdue snowfall.

As she walked, Fluttershy mused that she should have worn a sweater… But there was no time to go back, she was almost at Rarity’s.

As she crossed the ponyville square, Rarity's home and shop finally came into view. It's name, Carousel Boutique, was easy enough to understand, the outside of the building was a renaissance-esque, gilded structure, with a second floor dedicated to rarity's living space, and the first floor hosting her business. Fluttershy paused at the door, staring at it. She sighed, took a deep breath, raised her hand to the door, and knocked.

Fluttershy heard a gasp, something clattering down, and the fast-paced clicking of someone running... in heels. The door swung open to reveal a giddy, broadly smiling Rarity. She let out a girlish, squealing giggle, took Fluttershy's wrist, still raised from knocking on the door, and pulled her inside.

"Good Mooooooooorning, Fluttershy!" Rarity sang, turning to face Fluttershy  and looking her up and down. "Oh, i LOVE what you're wearing! Casual, not too suggestive, perfect for a first date!... maybe a little light for this kind of weather, but it works! You'll be inside at Sugarcube Corner, yes?"

Fluttershy nodded slowly, craning her neck to see what she looked like in Rarity's mirror, she had only thrown her clothing on, and hadn't really thought about it. A pair of faded blue jeans and a yellow, ruffled-collar blouse was what she had chosen while half asleep, and she silently congratulated herself on not coming in her PJs. She smiled weakly at Rarity and nodded "Yes, Pinkie said she'd... wait on us." She shrugged, "I hope we're not troubling her, i feel bad enough as it is taking your time."

Rarity scoffed, and sat fluttershy down. "Nonsense, dear! I knew you would put yourself on the market eventually, and I just HAD to be apart of your first date!-... Circumstances notwithstanding." She added, winking at Fluttershy. "Now... let's get you ready..."

The next few hours were ones of incredible delight for Rarity, and for Fluttershy... utter discomfort. She felt like she was modeling for Photo finish again as her eyebrows and wings were plucked of any loose ends, her hair washed and styled, and her nails painted. Rarity spend a good twenty minutes debating over which blush to use, and another 10 applying "To create the illusion you aren't wearing any blush!" she exclaimed brightly to Fluttershy's meek questioning.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to poke a hole in this arguement, but Rarity had already darted away, and was shuffling through her perfume cabinet. She returned with about 8 bottles and told Fluttershy to hold out her wrist. Fluttershy whimpered.

Four Hours later, Fluttershy was slumped in her chair, a dazed expression glossing her face, as though she had accepted that this was how she'd die, when suddenly, Rarity spun her chair around to face a mirror. Fluttershy gasped. Her hair, usually quite flat, now landed in gentle, elegant curls around her shoulders and down her back. Her teal eyes seemed brighter, the perfect amount of makeup and mascara complementing them and causing them to stand out. Her newly-glossed lips parted in shock, and she reached up to touch her face, hardly believing it was her reflection.

Rarity popped up beside her, smiling into her reflection. "What do you think darling?" She asked, giggling excitedly. "Quite gorgeous if i do say so myself."

"Oh, Rarity, I... Wow." Fluttershy breathed "Talk about a makeover."

"Well you were a wonderful subject, dear, i just did a bit of tweaking!" Rarity said, making a sideways glance at the clock. "Oh! Look at the time! You'd better get going soon!" Rarity said, pulling Fluttershy up and heading towards the door. "Now, a few things to remember; Don't put up with him if he isn't a perfect gentleman. He should hold doors for you, listen when you speak, and afford YOU every courtesy. If he doesn't, let me know..." She said, the final 3 words coming out slowly and threateningly.

Fluttershy nodded. "I- I don't think that'll be a problem Rarity... He did seem kind of sweet."

Rarity shrugged. "Just making sure you know." She said innocently.

With that, Fluttershy headed towards sugar cube corner, Rarity waving her away. "Good luck darling! Come by when you're done, i want to hear all the details!." She called, retreating back into her home. As she closed the door, she sighed and slumped against the door, sniffing and dramatically dabbing at her eyes. "Little Fluttershy is growing up!"

Fluttershy arrived at Pinkie's home, relieved for the warmth of the bakery to replace the growing cold outside. She looked around, noticing the bakery was rather populated, when she heard someone calling her.

"Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy turned, to see Gust, waving her over to a table near the corner of the shop. Fluttershy smiled and headed over, beginning to feel her cheeks warm up. "Hi-hi Gust..."

As Fluttershy approached, Gust seemed to get a better look at her, and his eyes widened, he reached up to feel his own hair- as wild, tangled and messy as ever. He ran his fingers through it in a vain attempt to make himself more presentable, but stopped and sprung to his feet as Fluttershy approached. "H-hi!" He said, his voice strained slightly. "You look- uh, here, let me get your seat." He said, dashing to the other side of the table and pulling out her chair.

Fluttershy's blush deepened as she took a seat, murmuring a quiet "Thank you." She watched Gust as he retook his own seat, and pushed himself in rather clumsily.

The silence of their first meeting returned, but was mercifully and nearly instantly broken by Pinkie as she bounded over to their table "Hey you two!" She said brightly. "Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! Or SCG! for short! No one ever really calls it SCG though, but i think if i keep saying it enough it'll catch on! Anyway, would you two like anything?" She asked brightly.

"Uh- sure." Gust said, and looked over to Fluttershy. "Ladies first?" He offered, smiling weakly. Pinkie Pie turned to Fluttershy, and winked playfully at her.

"What'll it be, miss?"

"Oh, uhm..." Fluttershy paused, looking from side to side as she thought. "I think i'll have... Just a cup of hot chocolate, please. With a little bit of cinnamon."

Pinkie pie nodded, then turned to Gust. "Well? What about you?"

Gust blinked. "Uh... I'll take a sarsaparilla, please."

Pinkie beamed. "Ooooooookay! Sassy and a hot choco! I like you style! Be right back with those!" With that, she darted off.

Gust watched as she left, then turned back to Fluttershy, chuckling. "Man, she is on a permanent sugar rush or something, huh? Always a ball of energy."

Fluttershy nodded. "It's like my friend Twilight says, 'She's just being Pinkie Pie.'... I don't mind, she's always been nice to me as long as we've been friends."

Gust blinked. "Oh! Are you two friends? If so, i hope you know i didn't mean anything by the sugar rush comment- It was a compliment really! It's every time I've seen her, she's bouncing around in here. And I-"

Fluttershy interrupted him, waving his apology away. "Oh, no, I know you didn't mean it like that- You were just making an observation." She said. "She's proud of it anyway; It's just who she is."

"Alright" Gust said, smiling and sighing in relief. "I just didn't want you thinking i was-... You know. So, anyway... What's it like living near the forest? What kind of animals do you take care of?"

Fluttershy smiled again, sitting up a little straighter. "Oh, all kinds!"

With that, she went into the story of her cutie mark, and how she discovered her affinity with animals. She explained her wide variety of animals, from chickens to bears and toucans to seals, otters, squirrels, and bunnies, pink flamingos, kittens, and everything in between. His eyes widened quite appropriately as she regaled the tale of the manticore in the forest.All in all, Gust was an excellent audience. He listened with rapt attention, both of them barely noticed when Pinkie returned with their drinks, which they sipped on as time went by.

"Wow..." Gust breathed, draining the last of his second drink. "So you really know your way around animals huh? What were you and your friends doing in the everfree forest anyway? I don't think i'd want to set foot in that place." He said, grimacing at the though.

Fluttershy explained the return of Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna, though she understated her own role in that particular escapade, instead relegating almost all of the credit to Twilight and Princess Celestia.

"So you're, like, a national hero!"

Fluttershy blushed brightly, shaking her head. "Oh no, i wouldn't go so far as that... I was just nice to a manticore, really..." She said, but unable to hide her smile.

Gust grinned. "You don't give yourself enough credit! You marched into the everfree forest and saved the world from eternal night! That's something to be proud of." He says, looking at Fluttershy with a mixture of admiration and amusement. "Look at me, for example. I just help plan the weather in Equestria, and occasionally do some mail runs. Not much of that would matter if it was perpetually midnight, would it? Doesn't make much difference if the sky's clear or not if we never get to see the sun."

"I...guess you're right!" Fluttershy said, sipping her hot chocolate.

"There you go!" Gust said.

"But don't say that about yourself either- Your job's just as important as mine, taking care of the animals wouldn't be possible if there was no sunshine, or rain, or... really, animals need a lot of things provided by weather. It's all apart of nature's cycle, right?"

Gust shrugs. "I suppose that's true, but I've never been 'the hero' or anything, you know? Always kind wanted to-"

Just then, Pinkie Pie appeared. "Hey again! Can i get you two anything else, or are we all set?" She asked.

"I'm fine." Gust said, then looked to Fluttershy. "Uh- how about you, i mean?" He amended. "Anything else you want?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "I'm fine." She said, smiling at Pinkie. "How much do we owe you?"

"Let's see..." Pinkie said, biting her tongue as she did the math. "2 sassies is... Carry the hot chocos..." She stood there for a few seconds, before a small ding could be heard and she snapped out of it. "Eight bits!"

Fluttershy nodded, and reached into her pocket, but Gust interrupted.

"No, no, I got it." He said, bulling out 10 bits and laying them on the table. "Keep the change, Miss Pie."

Fluttershy blinked, looking from Gust to the bits several times. "Are... Are you sure?"

Gust nodded, waving away Fluttershy's question. "You pay for plenty of things for animals, I'm sure. Just uh- Think of this as my treat!" he said, smiling again at fluttershy.

Pinkie grinned widely. "Aww yeah! Tip! Thanks a bunch! Have a good night you two!" She said, gathering the coins up and skipping merrily away.

Fluttershy returned Gust's smile, and stood up. "Well, I suppose we should get going, huh...?"

Gust nodded, sighing and standing up. "Yep... Hey, this is probably gonna be one of the last days without snow on the ground, i don't suppose you'd... like to-... to take a walk? With me?"

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "Well... I really should be getting home to Angel Bunny... I want to make sure he's eating." She said truthfully.

"Oh... Well, maybe i could walk you home?"

Fluttershy remained silent, staring down at her shoes. "I..." She started then trailed off, squeaking softly into her hair.

Gust scratched the back of his head, and kicked softly at the ground. "Uh, y'know, if you want...If not, it's really okay. Just thought it would be fun"

"...If you want to...I mean, i want you to, i mean-... Yes." She said finally and simply, her blush growing by the second.

Gust couldn't help it. His face broke into a large smile, and he walked over to the door, opening it for Fluttershy. "Lead the way, then!" He said, and with that, they headed out into town, just as the street lights flickered to life.

Fluttershy walked right beside Gust, and shivered as a sudden sharp wind cut down the street they were walking down. She grabbed onto her mostly-bare arms, and tried to keep herself from shaking.

Gust noticed this, and stopped. After a brief moment of consideration, he pulled off his flight jacket, and presented it to her. "Here. You're shaking."

Fluttershy blinked. "Oh, no, i couldn't- then you'd be c-cold." She said, shivering again as yet another breeze ran across them. He didn't move, still holding out his jacket to her as he shook his head.

"I'll be fine, i was a little warm anyway." He lied, giving the jacket a little shake. "C'mon, it's warm."

"B-but it's too big for me..." Fluttershy protested weakly.

"Button it up and roll up the sleeves!" Answered Gust cheerily. "...Look, I'm not gonna wear it now, it's already off. Either you wear it or neither of us do." He said rather flatly. "Cooome ooooon..." He said in a high, sing-song tone, brandishing it again. "

Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle as Gust dangled the coat in front of her and sang. "...Oh, alright then. If you don't mind."

Gust shook his head, "Not at all!" As he helped her put it on. It was almost comically too large for her small frame, but after some coordinated sleeve movement she got her hand through, and several rollings later Fluttershy regained use of her hands. Gust beamed. "See? Perfect fit!" He said, suppressing a laugh as Fluttershy smoothed it out, and allowed her wings to find their way out through the holes in the back.

Fluttershy laughed softly again as they continued walking together, out to the outskirts of town and towards Fluttershy's home.

This is... nice. Fluttershy thought as they continued down the road. and not 'I don't really like this' nice... Really Nice! They slowed to a stop as they reached the gate of her house, and turned to face each other, both their faces a bit pink... from the cold, of course. "Well..." Fluttershy said, glancing up at Gust, then back down to the ground. "There's something i need to say to you..."

Gust smiled. "Oh? Like what?" He asked, tilting his head.

He's so sweet, you can't just...

No! you said didn't want this! You have to tell him.

Gust began to grow concerned as Fluttershy merely stood there, slilently arguing with herself. "E-...Everything alright?" He asked, nervously reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder, an encouraging smile on his face.

"I wanted...to tell you"

"Tell me what?"

Break it off!

No!

Fluttershy took a deep breath, and began to speak. "I wanted to tell you... I've had a really good time, but..."

Gust's hand began to slowly slip away from her shoulder, and his smile faltered oh so slightly.

"...But we have a lot more to talk about. We should do this again."

Gust gaped at her. "Wha-... Really? You mean it?! I... Mean... Yeah! We should! Definitely!" He said, unable to hide the enormous grin on his face.

"I do... How about this next sunday?"

"Sunday, yeah, sure! I actually know this really nice cafe in town... maybe we could go there?"

"I'd like that... Same time as today?" Fluttershy said, pulling his jacket off and handing it to him. "You learned about me- I still don't know all that much about you."

Gust took his jacket with shaking hands. "Yeah... Sunday, then... Cafe... Same time... S-see you then."

Fluttershy opened her gate and backed into it, walking briskly backwards as she wiggled her fingers in farewell. Gust returned the gesture awkwardly, and took off, beating his wings to launch himself into the sky. As Fluttershy closed the door, she thought she heard a distant cheer.

She wandered through her darkened house until she found her couch and flopped down on it, sighing contentedly, when she suddenly began to hear a rhythmic thumping. For a moment she thought it was her heart, but as she looked around, and noticed a small, fluffy white bunny, tapping his large foot and scowling.

"Oh... hello Angel."

Angel's expression, as usual, was incredibly effective at what he wished to convey, and at that moment, with Fluttershy perched on her couch, staring down at the bunny, it was clear. 'Who was that? Where were you? What's going on?! you have some serious explaining to do!'

Fluttershy bit her lip, anxiously picking up the little bunny and hugging him. Angel struggled, but  Fluttershy held firm to her little friend. "Oh Angel... We need to have a little talk." With that, she set the rabbit down on the couch beside her, and sighed. "That... was Gust. He's a very nice boy and..." Her cheeks grew rather pink "We went on a little date today..."

Angel's jaw dropped. He then began shaking his head and waving his arms across his body. No, I forbid it!

Fluttershy raised her eyebrows. "You... You can't tell me who i can and can't spend time with, mister!... And I-I'm not saying things are going to work out with him but-... but they might! And if they do, I-I'll be spending lots of time with him, so...so you should get used to the idea of that happening!" Fluttershy said.

Angel merely folded his arms and turned away from the pegasus, nose thrust into the air.

Fluttershy huffed. "Don't you back-sass me! I think a certain rabbit is getting grumpy just because he's getting ready for hibernation!" She said, mimicking Angel's action, turning away from the rabbit and folding her arms. They sat like that for a few minutes, both silently fuming.

"Now... I'm going to go over to Rarity's. I want you to stay here and think about your attitude." Fluttershy said, rising from the couch and heading over to the closet. After throwing on a heavy coat, Fluttershy bustled out of her house and made her way to Rarity's. As she traveled, her mind went over the events of the day, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought. She found herself skipping slightly as she made her way to her friend's home, the dark, bitterly cold night seeming just a bit brighter.