Once, in a generic autumn night, Fluttershy went from her house through the western part of Ponyville, at the edge of Everfree. She wanted to reach Sweet Apple Acres, to walk in there for some time at night, because she used to do that. Not afraid even of the guarding Winona waking up, she was prepared to blast anything coming from the forest at her with her stare. She kept her magical ability prepared and precharged. Not that she expected her trip to be interrupted this time, because it almost never had been.

But nevertheless, passing by two isolated small houses quietly, she heard a hissing sound from the sky. A bright flash flew to her from south-west at low altitude, accelerating. Not knowing what that was, she automatically used the Stare, decharging her magical power by half. But then, realizing that there was an alcove below a wooden porch of a cottage, she instantly jumped there.

She hit something already lying there, in the darkness.

She was too frightened to come out to see what had been chasing her, but she experienced something awkward hiding in the nook. Something else alive was in there, that wasn't her.

"Hello?" - she asked.

Nothing responded. She saw a strange warm lump beside her that she felt before. It wasn't moving. It was somehow familiar.

She wondered what kind of animal would be sleeping in such place. Deciding not to disturb it, she just gave it some of her remaining magical care energy, and left a hole.

And then, she saw Rainbow Dash, her head and legs glowing brightly yellow. She got scared, thinking that she'd seen a ghost.

"No!" - cried the ghost, confirming her fear.

Fluttershy darted back into the dead end, her head hitting the suspicious object again.

"Fluttershy, I'll explain! Calm down!" - Dash shouted.

Looking back, the yellow pegasus saw Rainbow's face, its outlines still lit with fading light.

"Rainbow Dash?" - Fluttershy said, worried. Rainbow seemed to be crawling towards her, using her forelegs.

"It's nothing. Please come out." She stopped, pointing at the way out.

"What are you doing here? You scared me."

"I'm just flying. Speaking of that, why aren't you at home?" - Dash asked, her voice still suspiciously loud.

"I was apples to the orchard, and... aah!" - Fluttershy screamed, seeing her friend in yellow light. Or, more accurately, half of her. Her rear half was replaced by a jet engine, a rainbowy orange trail was still visible behind it.

"Apples? What are you talking about?" - "eh, I guess you're afraid now. Of this. Nopony... no one was supposed to know!" - Dash began. "I'm a jet pony, I didn't want you to see..." - she dove into the black hole, "I'm an experiment. I'll tell you later, just don't be afraid."

With that, she slowly pulled her other half from the sand under the house, pushed something on its sides, and connected it to herself. The engine disappeared in the slot in the back part. "Connection."

Later at Fluttershy's cottage, they had an emergency tea party. With special, fear recovery herbal tea. "And that's why I like speed," - Rainbow confessed. " And sorry that I haven't told you, and for what I made you to go through, but, please don't tell... the others? ...I'm just a little bit... not ready for this to come out."

Fluttershy said nothing. Something near the wooden wall creaked quietly.

"And don't worry that I'll fly at night again. I'll pick another place if you want" - Rainbow offered, drinking.

"No, I'll pick another route," - she replied, "I don't have to go to the orchards anyway."

Rainbow fell silent for some time. She knew she'd go there too, sometimes. And she knew several other ponies who liked apples, especially at full moon.

"No, alright, or... can we go together next time? I used to go there too."

"You're one of us?" - Fluttershy spoke, surprised.

"...Not exactly. But I like apples" - Dash replied.

Author's Note

Music: Sonic 3 Marble Garden theme