A Slice of Flutterdash

Chapters

6 - Intervention (Stare Master)
DELETED SCENE: Surety
12 - Protector (Luna Eclipsed)
13 - Appreciation (May The Best Pet Win)
14 - Teamwork (Secret Of My Excess)
15 - Heartwarming (Hearth's Warming Eve)
16 - Applejack (The Last Roundup)
BONUS SCENE: Fugitive
1 - Confession (Dragonshy)
2 - Rendezvous (Swarm of the Century)
3 - Inferiority (Fall Weather Friends)
4 - Assertiveness (Sonic Rainboom), Part One
5 - Assertiveness (Sonic Rainboom), Part Two
7 - Celebrity (Green Isn't Your Colour)
8 - Coincidence (The Cutie Mark Chronicles)
9 - Concealment (Party Of One)
10 - Expectations (Best Night Ever)
11 - Divulgence (The Return Of Harmony)

6 - Intervention (Stare Master)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

DELETED SCENE: Surety

Author's Note

This is a deleted scene that originally happened at the end of the party in the previous chapter. Cut due to a rewrite, but it's still kinda cool so I thought I'd put it up here.

DELETED SCENE: Surety

The evening drew on, and once the excitement had died down, the topic of conversation turned to other matters. They talked about Rarity's upcoming fashion line, costume plans for Nightmare Night... the same kind of stuff they'd always talk about. If knowing about Rainbow and Fluttershy's relationship had changed anything for the others, it didn't show. They accepted it, smiled about it, took it in stride and carried on as if they'd known all along. Rainbow praised herself on her choice of friends.

As night began to fall, Fluttershy had to leave to feed her animals, and Rarity insisted on walking her home – no doubt to quiz her on first dates and kisses and stuff – while the others stayed behind to help clean up the library. So, after kissing Fluttershy goodbye, Rainbow stood in the doorway, watching her tail sway as she started down the trail towards home.

“She's a lucky girl,” said Applejack, stepping up beside her.

“She sure is,” Rainbow agreed. She cracked a smirk at Applejack. “You jealous?”

Applejack snorted. “You wish, 'Loverbolt'.”

Rainbow blinked, then furrowed her brow. “Loverbolt?”

“...You know, like Wonderbolt, but--” Applejack shook her head and huffed. “Nevermind. I'll leave the jokes to Pinkie Pie.”

“Probably best,” said Rainbow.

They stood there in silence for a while, watching Rarity and Fluttershy slowly disappear down the trail, into the evening gloom. It was a little bit surreal, suddenly being open about the relationship they'd kept secret for so long, and it would probably take her a while to get used to those kinds of comments. She was reasonably sure it felt good though, knowing that her friends were cool with it.

“RD?”

Rainbow turned, but Applejack didn't meet her eyes. She was staring into the distance at something Rainbow couldn't see, chewing the inside of her cheek as she would a stalk of corn. Not that Rainbow Dash was stereotyping her friend, of course, that's just the image that sprung to mind. “What's up?”

“You're sure about this, ain't ya? You and Fluttershy, I mean.”

Rainbow frowned. “What kind of question is that?” she asked, with an unavoidable edge to her voice. It was a stupid question, but she was more confused about why Applejack would ask, rather than angry at her for doing so.

If Applejack noticed the edge, she didn't show it. She just shrugged. “You were sayin' earlier about explorin' stuff, an' seein' whether this thing between you's gonna work out. I know you probably didn't mean it like that, but it sounded like you were thinkin' it might not.”

Rainbow let her eyes wander for a moment, thinking back to when she'd said it. “No. I mean, that's not what I meant. I haven't really thought about it.”

“That's what I thought.” Applejack paused, and shrugged. “Don't know that it matters, but it raises the question. What if it doesn't?”

“Doesn't work out?” said Rainbow. Applejack grunted, which Rainbow took as a yes. She stared for a moment, then turned her eyes to the trail Fluttershy had disappeared down. “...I don't know,” she admitted. “You think it won't?”

“Didn't say that,” said Applejack. “Shoot, I don't mean anythin' like that. I think it's great news - you two are just about perfect for each other as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure it'll work out. Just... I don't know... seemed like a strange thing to say. Like you weren't so sure.”

Rainbow stared at her for a long moment, then let her gaze wander back out to the horizon, lost in silent thought.

“I don't know,” Applejack said again, with a noncommital shrug. “Just somethin' that bears thinkin' about, maybe. Come on, let's go help Twilight and Pinkie clear up.”

She went back inside, leaving Rainbow there to stare after Fluttershy's pink tail. 'What if it doesn't work out?' The words played through her mind, but didn't quite form a coherent thought. She didn't really know what to think about that. Or even whether she wanted to think about it.

“Right,” she muttered, finally responding to Applejack, though she couldn't hear. She shook the worry from her mind and turned to walk back into the library, closing the door behind her.

* * *

12 - Protector (Luna Eclipsed)

The wind whistled dreadfully that night, as if it carried the breath of some wheezing horror. Clouds blotted out what little light the moon offered, leaving an oppressive darkness over the land. And behind every corner, lurking in every pitch black shadow, was a nightmare ready to become real. For this was the night of monsters. When everything that could ever go bump in the night did so, and did so with cruelty, benighted...

Fluttershy shivered as she crossed the garden to her chicken coop, hunched down and ready to jump at any shadow. She really did not want to be outside tonight, but in her haste to get everything battened down for the evening, she'd forgotten to shut the coop. If she left it open, the wild foxes from the Everfree would get inside, so she had no choice but to brave the darkness to protect her animals.

It took forever-too-long to reach the chicken coop on the other side of the garden. A sudden gust of air made her body tense and her eyes dart about, but there was nothing there. It was just the wind. With a still-panicked sigh, she leant down to close the coop door. It took her a few tries, but when it finally fell shut, she felt a huge weight off her shoulders. 'They're safe,' she thought. 'Now I can get back inside, lock all the doors and windows and wait for this awful night to end.'

It was only when she turned for the house that she saw the grinning, yellow-eyed monster staring her in the face.

Fluttershy's wings locked up. Her mind stopped working. Her hindlegs gave out and she fell back onto her haunches, stunned. Then she screwed up her eyes and screamed.

The sound pierced the night and set off every single animal under Fluttershy's care. The chickens thumped and squawked inside their coop, birds screeched and bolted into the sky, cats hissed and dogs barked. Fluttershy knew none of it would do her any good. The thing was too close, and she couldn't move.

“Haha, gotcha!”

Fluttershy screamed louder. The thing had a voice! A horrible, scratching voice that boomed and echoed in her ears. More terrifying still was the fact that it was right – it'd got her.

“Uh, whoa, okay!” said the thing. “Chill out, it's just me!”

Her throat started getting tight and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Now it was changing its voice to sound like Rainbow Dash. 'This is the worst nightmare ever!'

The screaming finally stopped when Fluttershy felt a hoof plugging her mouth. It didn't so much force her to stop as it startled her into silence. The animals still kicked up their racket, but other than that, the air between Fluttershy and the monster was dreadfully silent.

After a long, startled moment, Fluttershy craned open one eye, ready to shut it again right away. She didn't though. When she'd calmed down enough to make out the shape before her, she saw that it actually was Rainbow Dash – awkwardly smiling and with her usual, kind magenta eyes, now that her Shadowbolt mask was lying on the ground beside her.

“Um, hi,” said Rainbow, taking her hoof back.

Fluttershy slumped. She took a long breath and let it out in a smiling sigh of relief. Of course it was Rainbow Dash. Even this close to the Everfree, monsters didn't just come waltzing into somepony's garden. Not to mention the fact that Fluttershy had helped Rainbow make that costume to begin with – she should've recognised it right away.

“Thank goodness,” said Fluttershy, straightening up. “I'm sorry, Rainbow. I'm a little bit jumpy tonight.”

Rainbow raised her eyebrows. “Just a little bit, huh?”

Inside from the cold and the wind, Rainbow Dash sat on the edge of Fluttershy's bed, idly rolling a mug of tea between her hooves. Fluttershy was sitting beside her with a blanket over her hindlegs, for comfort rather than warmth, and sipping at her own mug. She wasn't shaking anymore, so the fright had passed. And she had a little smile on her face, so she wasn't mad. Probably more relieved than anything. Even still, Rainbow felt kind of dumb for playing that kind of prank on her marefriend.

“Sorry for jumping out at you like that,” she tried, glancing at the costume which she'd set down on the floor. “Guess I got carried away with the whole Shadowbolt thing. I didn't think it'd freak you out that much.”

“Oh, it's alright,” said Fluttershy, though it didn't inspire a lot of confidence. “I always scare easily on Nightmare Night... or any other night, I suppose. I know you didn't mean to-- Well, scare me out of my wits, that is. Um.”

Rainbow cringed. “Sorry.”

“It's fine, really,” said Fluttershy. She set her cup down on the bedside table and touched Rainbow's leg with a gentle hoof. “I'm actually glad you came by – tonight has been very scary. Did you know that Princess Luna was back in Ponyville?”

Glad to move on from the subject, Rainbow nodded. And she couldn't help a smirk as she thought back to when Luna showed up. “Yeah, she made a pretty awesome entrance. Terrified, like, the whole town.” She thought about adding 'except me', but that went without saying. Princess Luna hadn't been that scary, even if a couple of her pranks may have startled Rainbow. That wasn't the same as being scared, though. 'Nope.'

“Oh, good,” said Fluttershy. “Well, not really 'good', but it's nice to know that it wasn't just me. Twilight brought her by here for... something. I'm not quite sure what it was, but she seemed happy when she left.”

“Yeah, it's been a weird night,” Rainbow agreed. “Fun, but weird. I'm kinda glad it's over now, so I can chill out.”

“Well, it's not over yet,” said Fluttershy.

Rainbow cast her a sidelong glance and raised an eyebrow. 'I like where that comment is going...'

Fluttershy clearly saw the intent in her eyes, because she quickly backed up and stammered. “O-oh goodness, I didn't mean like that! I mean, not that I wouldn't-- Well, rather, um--” Her face got very red.

As always, it was extremely cute to see her flustered like that. Rainbow chuckled to show she was kidding. Kind of. It wasn't the first time Fluttershy had said something like that and, more often than not, she actually did mean it suggestively. That shouldn't really have surprised her, considering how forward she was in the first place, but sometimes it still felt odd to see Fluttershy being so bold. In a good way, of course.

The chuckle seemed to calm Fluttershy down at least, though she still hid shyly behind her mane. “I only meant that the night's not over yet, not until morning. The scary things are still out there.”

Rainbow raised a brow. “You mean the other ponies in silly costumes?”

Fluttershy averted her eyes again, and picked up her tea purely for something to do with her hooves, by the looks of it. She was obviously embarrassed about it, so Rainbow decided not to press. There really wasn't anything to be scared about as far Rainbow was concerned. But then, that was only from her point-of-view. Rainbow worried about things that other ponies would find silly too, and she didn't much like talking about them either.

Even the line of thought made her uncomfortable, feeling a stiffness in her neck. She put her mug down on the bedside table and got up to stretch--

“Wait!”

Freezing mid-stretch, Rainbow looked over her shoulder, and met with her marefriend's frown.

“You're not leaving, are you?” said Fluttershy, with something that could've been worry in her voice.

Rainbow furrowed her brow and glanced at her mug. “Uh, I was gonna finish my drink first. I... just got up to stretch.”

“Oh.” Fluttershy looked down at the floor.

“Is that okay?”

“I'm sorry, of course it is,” said Fluttershy with a shake of her head. “I'm just...”

Rainbow turned to face her properly. “Yeah?”

Fluttershy let out a huff and turned to one side. There was a long pause before she managed to ask, “Could you stay here tonight?” Her voice came out quiet, almost too quiet to hear, like it did when she got shy about meeting a new pony. “I know it's silly, but I can never sleep on Nightmare Night.”

“How come?” said Rainbow, frowning at her. Her first instinct had been to say 'Yes' and leave it at that, but curiosity got the better of her. It wasn't like Fluttershy to be so closed up about asking her to stay over – she did it all the time.

Fluttershy shook her head. “I don't know. I know it's just ponies playing pranks and telling scary stories, and all the rest is just in my imagination. But I still get scared every year. I--” She paused and gulped. “--I'd just feel better if you were here to look after me.”

Rainbow's stance softened. “That's not silly,” she said. “Everypony needs someone to look after them sometimes. Heck, I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't been there all those times I hurt my wing and couldn't fly.”

Fluttershy still refused to meet her eyes. So Rainbow decided to go to her instead. She knelt down at the bedside, lowered her head into Fluttershy's eyeline, and said, “Hey.” Fluttershy would've had to turn full around to ignore her, but the thought didn't seem to cross her mind. She peered out from behind her mane and gave Rainbow a fragile look. Rainbow just met her with a smile. “Of course I'll stay over,” she said. “I'll always protect you, pal. You only ever have to ask.”

That brought a tiny smile to Fluttershy's face. And a bit of an embarrassed blush to Rainbow's cheeks. It'd come out a little cheesier than she'd intended, but she meant it. While it should've seemed an obvious thing, in saying it out loud she realised just how true it was. She would always protect Fluttershy. And if she couldn't, she'd try anyway. Even if, like the times with the dragon and the manticore, it often ended up being the other way around.

It wasn't just returning the favour though, not to Rainbow. It was something deeper. Deeper than friendship, even. She couldn't put a name the feeling, but it was a desire to keep her safe and happy, coupled with a fear that she wouldn't be able to, which made the feeling all the stronger. Whatever it was, Rainbow couldn't ignore it if she wanted to.

“Thank you,” Fluttershy said. That was all the assurance Rainbow needed to know that this was a good feeling. Her smile grew, and she climbed up to sit on the bed beside Fluttershy again, wrapping a wing around her and taking back her tea.

Lightning flashed outside the bedroom window again, but it didn't scare Fluttershy this time. Nor did the whistling wind, the shifting shadows or the creaking of wood in the night air. She lay in bed, head above the covers – which was an achievement in itself for a Nightmare Night – and smiled at her firefly night light. It was calm, peaceful and pleasantly warm.

Fluttershy was the first to admit that she scared easily. On nights like this, she'd usually be up all night, worrying about the noises outside and whether her animals were alright, and wishing she'd just fall asleep and it'd all be over.

But that night, with a pair of hooves wrapped around her and the warmth of Rainbow's body against her back, Fluttershy would be hard-pressed to feel scared of anything. It was like someone had draped an extra blanket over her, one that chased away the scary things and thoughts. Made her feel secure. It was a deep feeling – deeper than friendship, even – and though she couldn't put a name to it, she knew it was a good one.

With a last, smiling yawn, she closed her eyes and started to drift in Rainbow's embrace. She knew that she could manage without it – she always did, somehow – but having Rainbow there to protect her, only a breath away if ever she needed it, was priceless.

* * *

13 - Appreciation (May The Best Pet Win)

Author's Note

Takes place during the episode - after the race, but before the pony pet play date at the end.

13 - Appreciation (May The Best Pet Win)

As awesome as it had probably looked to get buried under an avalanche, only to come riding out on a tortoise with nothing but a sprained wing, Rainbow had to question whether it was really worth being grounded for a few days. With her wing hurt, she'd only been able to get up to her house via the makeshift cloud-staircase that Fluttershy put together for her. It was kind of embarrassing that she had to do that, but also really cool that she did.

Staring up at the Wonderbolts poster on her living room wall, Rainbow had to remind herself not to fidget too much. At her side, Fluttershy worked away with a roll of bandage, wrapping her injured wing in a cast. That she knew how to do that was also pretty cool.

Just in general, Fluttershy was a pretty cool pony.

“There you go,” Fluttershy said, before tightening the bandage with her teeth. “How's that?”

Rainbow shrugged her shoulder and tried to flex her wing. It was held tight to her side, so she couldn't move it an inch, but it didn't hurt when she tried. “Can't even feel it,” she said with a smile. “You're a wizard, pal. Don't know what I'd do without you.”

Smiling too, Fluttershy knelt down beside her and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then one on the lips. “It's just as well that you don't have to do without me, then.”

It was, Rainbow thought. Fluttershy had always been there, and if Rainbow had any say in the matter, she always would be.

Unfortunately, that did mean that, now and again, Rainbow caught herself taking things for granted. Not the kisses, of course. Or the cuddling. And definitely not the sex. But things like always having someone to talk to, or hang out with, or just to be around. Those things were just as important, and she knew that not everypony had them. Fluttershy didn't have to do any of this stuff, but she did. Rainbow counted herself lucky.

“Um, Rainbow?” said Fluttershy, grabbing her attention back. Fluttershy was looking down to one side, a little timidly. “I know your flying tricks are really quite dangerous and all, but do you think maybe you could be just a teensy bit more careful? I mean, not that I mind looking after you, not at all. But I do get worried sometimes.”

Rainbow cracked a sheepish grin. Whoops. “Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I'm just kinda accident-prone.”

“Just kinda,” Fluttershy agreed. She didn't do sarcasm, but she was sure good at implying it.

“Well, I guess I don't wanna worry you,” said Rainbow. “I'm not sure how much good it'll do, but I'll try to cut down on the crashing.” While she did mean it, it didn't inspire much confidence for her even, so she doubted it'd do much for Fluttershy. Hoping to ease her mind, she gave her good wing a demonstrative flap. “But hey, at the end of the day, I always come out fine. Right?”

Fluttershy smiled at that. “I suppose you do.”

The buzzing of propeller blades drifted in from the corridor, making Rainbow grin. “Besides,” she said, “thanks to you, I've got a new flying buddy to watch my back.”

On cue, Tank hovered into the living room, propeller whirring away on his back. He made a lazy turn in the air and brought himself down to Rainbow's eye level, blinking once at her in greeting.

“Hey, buddy,” said Rainbow, reaching up to pat the side of his shell. “Staying out of trouble?”

Tank's mouth curled up into a smile. Eventually.

Something shifted within Fluttershy's mane, drawing Rainbow's eye. Angel Bunny poked his head out from the pink locks to look at Tank. He squeaked something in bunny language, and then, after a moment's consideration, Tank hovered up next to Fluttershy's head. The bunny hopped onto his back, held on to the base of the rotor, and pointed towards the kitchen.

When Tank looked at her for permission, Rainbow gave him a smile and a nod. “Sure. Go have fun. Just be careful, and try not to drop your... passenger.”

Tank gave a slow nod. Then, apparently satisfied, he flew off towards the kitchen, with Angel Bunny holding on tight and squeaking at him.

Fluttershy, having watched the whole exchange with a smile on her face, waited for them to leave the room before turning to Rainbow. “You're very good with him,” she said. “It really shows off your maternal side.”

“Tch, what maternal side?” said Rainbow, turning her head away to hide a light blush. She'd never really been one for 'tender loving care' and all that sappy stuff. Leave the maternal stuff to the moms.

“I actually find it quite attractive,” Fluttershy put forward.

Rainbow paused to think about that for all of two seconds. “Oh, that maternal side,” she said, selling out with dignity. Sort of. “Yours isn't so bad either, you know. I mean, I can take care of myself and all... but it's still kinda cool to have you do it sometimes.”

“I'm glad you appreciate it,” said Fluttershy. “I've always loved caring for sweet little creatures.”

“Okay, maternal's not so bad, but 'sweet' and 'little' are too far.”

“Sorry.”

A little silence fell between them – not awkward or anything, just a moment of peace – and Rainbow found her mind drifting back to what she'd been thinking about a moment ago.

“I do appreciate it, y'know?” said Rainbow, smiling at Fluttershy without looking at her. “Not just you taking care of me like this, but watching my back, cheering me up... and generally putting up with me, I guess.”

Fluttershy leant up against her, careful to mind her wing. “It's never been a bother. If anything, I'm honoured that you trust me with those things. Even more so that you do the same for me. Especially, um, 'putting up' with me – I know I can be a little slow, sometimes.”

Tank hovered back through the living room, with Angel Bunny having acquired a carrot and using it to point him forward. “Nothing wrong with taking it slow, now and again,” said Rainbow.

“I suppose not,” said Fluttershy, with a sly smile that Rainbow noticed, but didn't mention.

“Besides,” Rainbow went on, “you don't exactly keep me grounded. Like I've said before, you can more than keep up with me when you want to. I'm as free as ever, being with you.”

Fluttershy pressed a little closer against her. “I'm glad. I would never want you to feel like I was holding you back.”

“Never happen,” said Rainbow, with confidence. “What are you worried about holding me back from?”

“Anything, really. Your training, your competitions--” Fluttershy glanced away. “--your Wonderbolts.”

If Rainbow was any judge of body language, the last one was what really bothered her.

“Well, you can relax, then,” said Rainbow. “Training for the Wonderbolts is part of who I am. And what's so great about being with you is that I can always be who I am. I've never had to pretend to be anyone else with you, and I never will.” She managed to catch Fluttershy's eye and flash her a smile. “Promise.”

They looked at one another for a moment, before Fluttershy simply said, “Thank you.”

“Don't have to thank me. Just be yourself too. That's what it's all about.”

“I am,” said Fluttershy. “And I will. I promise, too.” She paused and looked up as Tank and Angel flew overhead again. “Speaking of which...”

Rainbow quirked a brow. “Yeah?”

“They seem to have things in hoof down here,” said Fluttershy, turning to flash her a smile that was all too innocent for what she was suggesting. “Would you like to go upstairs?”

Rainbow cracked a slow smirk. There weren't many ponies who considered 'being themselves' to involve spending a lot of romantic time alone with her. That was one of the things she definitely didn't take for granted.

When she shifted, Rainbow was reminded of the cast binding her wing to her side. That could be an issue. She grunted with discomfort. “What about this?”

“Oh, don't worry,” Fluttershy assured her. “I'll be gentle.”

“Oh,” said Rainbow. “Well, in that case...”

...Yeah. As if she was going to say no in the first place.

* * *

14 - Teamwork (Secret Of My Excess)

With the disaster of Spike's transformation averted – mostly – everyone had chalked it up to just another day in Ponyville and started drawing up plans for the repairs. It probably said something about the town that several buildings being destroyed by a dragon with puberty problems was thought of as commonplace. But it was still home, and Fluttershy wouldn't have it any other way.

Well, she would have it without the rampaging dragon part. That wasn't so homely.

As far as Rainbow seemed concerned, their work for the day was done after 'heroically saving Spike and Rarity from certain doom'. Fluttershy would've liked to stay and see if anyone needed help with fixing things, but part of her was glad to have a chance to rest after the taxing afternoon. Her wings still buzzed a little from flying that quickly.

“Nice save back there, partner,” said Rainbow, bumping into her as they walked through town. They weren't heading anywhere in particular, just walking off the flight. “We make a pretty awesome team.”

Fluttershy smiled and shook her head. “You're being modest. You did most of the work, I really just held the other end of the tarp.”

“I'm being modest?” said Rainbow, raising an eyebrow at her. “That doesn't sound like me. You're the one who's always selling herself short. You kicked flank today!”

Fluttershy felt her cheeks heating a little, and angled her head away. Maybe she had done pretty well to fly that fast and help catch Rarity in time. And, when she thought about it, standing up to Spike in the first place was quite brave – considering how scary dragons were. Rainbow had done most of the work, but Fluttershy had to admit that maybe she was selling herself a little short. Just a little.

“You know, you can do some pretty epic stuff when you put your mind to it, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow. “I still can't get over how you caught up to me when Discord messed with my head.”

“You said yourself that you weren't going all out,” Fluttershy countered, by reflex.

“It was still crazy fast! No-one should've been able to do that, but you did. And while dragging an air balloon behind you too.” Rainbow shook her head with a smile. “Trust me, you are awesome Fluttershy. I couldn't ask for a better partner.”

Fluttershy's smile grew at that. “Partners,” she repeated, more to herself. The word was a warm one, especially coming from Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow grinned at her. “That's what we are, right? We help each other out, watch each other's backs--” She inclined her head. “--and fronts. And we take on all kinds of stuff together.”

“I suppose we do make a good team,” said Fluttershy, finding it hard to disagree. They did do all those things, and they did have a habit of always coming through. Rainbow did most of the heavy-lifting, but the fact that she considered Fluttershy a partner meant that she must've been doing something right herself.

“Darn right, we do.” Rainbow nodded and turned a satisfied smile to the trail ahead. There was only a very brief moment of silence before she seemed to remember something. “Oh, uh, speaking of teamwork...”

Fluttershy gave her a sidelong look. “Yes?”

Rainbow rolled her neck. “So, I saw in this Wonderbolts training magazine the other day that ponies tend to perform better as a team if they get a lot of physical exercise together. Like, the more the better,” she added, with emphasis. An extended glance at Fluttershy later, she shrugged. “I don't know. Just putting it out there.”

Fluttershy found a nervy smile. “Are you suggesting we start going for runs together?”

Forgoing subtlety, Rainbow smirked at her. “Somethin' like that.”

Fluttershy hummed and turned her head away to hide the growing smile. “I'm sure I don't know what you might be talking about, Rainbow. But whatever it is, I'm sure we could find some time to... practise,” she said. “For teamwork's sake, of course.”

Rainbow grinned. “I'm up for practise. When?”

“I don't have any plans this afternoon,” said Fluttershy. “Do you?”

“Not anymore!” Rainbow unfurled her wings and gave them a test flap. “Let's go?”

Fluttershy couldn't mask a giggle at her enthusiasm. With a nod, she unfurled her own wings and took off alongside her partner, heading for her cottage out of habit. Her wings still hurt a little bit, but the idea of unwinding at home with Rainbow was more than pleasant enough for her not to mind. It went without saying that this kind of assertiveness was her favourite kind, and not just because it was the easiest.

* * *

Author's Note

I had this one half done, and needed a break from my big project, so here you go! Just a short, cute one this time around. Next one's a Christmas/Hearth's Warming special, so look forward to that :twilightsmile:

15 - Heartwarming (Hearth's Warming Eve)

It was the night before Hearth's Warming, and little stirred in the streets of Canterlot as the six friends made their way through the waning light, towards the train station.

It'd been an honour to be chosen to represent a founder of Equestria in the Hearth's Warming pageant. A terrifying honour, for Fluttershy, but an honour all the same. It wasn't half as bad as she thought, once she got up on the stage. It probably helped that she was among friends – they made her feel safe. And also that she couldn't really see the audience for the lights.

They'd been walking in silence since they left the theatre, but that only lasted until Rainbow got one of those looks on her face, like she'd just had an interesting thought. She flashed Fluttershy a smile, then bounced forwards between Rarity and Applejack, to start a conversation. “So, Hurricane and Pansy,” she said. “What do you think?”

Applejack quirked a brow at her. “Think about what?”

“She means to ask whether we think they were involved,” Rarity explained. “And in answer, I'd say that I very much doubt it.”

Rainbow frowned at her. “How come?”

Twilight got a smile on her face, the one that said, 'I read this in a book'. “Romantic relationships between military personnel were outright forbidden in those days,” she said. “And especially with the huge difference in rank, it's highly unlikely that they'd pursue any feelings they did have. It'd be impossible to keep a relationship from interfering with the chain of command. At least, that was the original reasoning behind it.”

There was a moment of silence while everyone else absorbed that.

“...Well, that's a total downer,” said Pinkie.

“It's not very romantic, true,” Twilight agreed, “but it's quite sound from a logical standpoint.” She paused, and frowned. “Though I'd probably feel differently if I was the solider in question.”

Rainbow rolled her neck and jumped back in. “So, military protocol aside, you didn't answer the question, Twilight.”

“I just said it was highly unlikely--”

“But you didn't say it didn't happen,” said Rainbow, smirking.

Twilight rolled her eyes, then gave she and Fluttershy a pointed smile. “Well, I suppose they would make a sweet couple.”

“Yes, one!” Rainbow cheered. “How 'bout you, AJ? Pansy-cane – perfect match or no?”

Applejack laughed. “You already know how I feel about it, lovebird.”

“Was that a pegasus joke? Those are so Pre-Equestriaic.”

“That ain't a word. And you're too sensitive.”

“Am not!”

Fluttershy watched the exchange with a smile on her face, walking a little behind the rest of the group. It felt warm to see them all like this, even in the heart of winter. That was what the holiday was all about, she supposed. Finding warmth among friends when everything else was dark and scary.

Rainbow looked back over her shoulder, noticing Fluttershy hanging back. She'd obviously finished her discussion, because she slipped back and fell into step beside her. “So, what about you, Fluttershy?” she asked. “Think Hurricane and Pansy would work?”

Fluttershy smiled at her. “Something tells me that it would have.” She pressed up against Rainbow's side as they walked. It was a familiar weight now. “It was a lovely performance, wasn't it? You're a very good actor.”

“Yeah, I know,” Rainbow agreed. “You were great, too. Nailed it.”

“I didn't really have to act very much,” said Fluttershy, though she appreciated the compliment. “Except for the really, really disliking you part. I'd never say that about anypony. Especially not you.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, that's true. I guess it wouldn't be much of a roleplay if you didn't really have to act.”

Fluttershy tilted her head. “Roleplay?”

“Well, I was just thinking,” said Rainbow. “You looked pretty hot in that outfit...”

It took Fluttershy a moment to catch up. When she did, she found a playful smile. “Oh, really? I suppose I could ask Twilight if they'd let me... borrow it for a while.” She turned the smile on Rainbow. “With your permission, Commander.”

Rainbow grinned. “Permission granted, Private.”

Fluttershy felt a flush of heat. That was definitely not on the list of things she thought she'd be agreeing to today. Nor was performing in front of hundreds of ponies, now that she thought about it. Today was full of surprises. Tomorrow would be too, judging by the number of presents she had under her tree at home, from all her friends. She smiled at the thought.

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” Fluttershy asked.

“Hearth's Warming? Nah, not really. I mean, Pinkie's throwing that party at the bakery at twelve, but after that, I don't know. Why? You wanna do something together?”

“If you wanted to,” said Fluttershy.

“Yeah, 'course I want to,” said Rainbow. “What'd you have in mind?”

Hearth's Warming came around, and it was a beautiful day. White clouds let enough of the sunlight through to make the fields of snow over Ponyville gleam, without turning it to slush. It was freezing out, so Fluttershy had dressed up warm – in a fluffy green winter saddle with matching bobble-hat, and a yellow-striped scarf that was her Hearth's Warming gift from Rarity. Rainbow Dash had matched her – though she was all in red except for the white bobble – and they met up on one of the smaller lakes outside of town.

Ice-skating was harder than most ponies made it look, but still easier than it sounded, once you'd gotten the hang of it. Luckily, despite having not been skating in a while, Fluttershy hadn't forgotten how to do it, so she hadn't fallen over yet. Yet.

“This was an awesome idea, pal,” said Rainbow, with a warm smile on her face as they skated in a casual circle.

“I think so, too,” said Fluttershy. She was on the inside, and staying a couple of steps apart from Rainbow so that they didn't collide. “It's very relaxing.”

“Only 'cause it's just the two of us,” said Rainbow. “If you've seen Pinkie Pie skating, it gets pretty crazy. Impressive, but crazy.”

Fluttershy giggled in agreement. It was always nice – and always soothing – to spend time alone with Rainbow, whatever they were doing. It didn't have to be romantic dates or dinners in front of the fire. Just being together was the special part.

They fell into a silence, and for a long while, they just kept circling, content to enjoy one another's company and listen to the wind and the clack of skates against the ice. Minutes passed, maybe even hours. It all blended together into one long, perfect moment of peace and comfort. Fluttershy didn't feel the cold, just the warmth of being with Rainbow.

Feeling Rainbow's gaze, Fluttershy looked across at her. Rainbow was smiling at her, looking warm and particularly cute in her hat and scarf. Fluttershy smiled back. Rainbow really did have pretty eyes. It was easy to get lost in them, and Fluttershy did. The world outside got quiet and hazy, and though her hooves kept working against the ice, they did so on their own, leaving the rest of her to focus on Rainbow.

“Do me a favour?” said Rainbow, still gazing into her eyes. “Don't ever let me forget this.”

Fluttershy's smile turned questioning. “Forget what?”

Rainbow kept her hooves on the ice, and made an all-encompassing gesture with her head and eyes. “This. This date. This moment. You and me, here.” Something glistened in her eye. Her voice went a little scratchier than usual. “I think... this is the happiest I've ever been.”

Fluttershy felt something tug at her heart as she saw the tear in her marefriend's eye. “Oh, Rainbow...” She guided them to a stop at the edge of the lake, and they both stepped off the ice into the snow. Fluttershy kicked her shoes off and touched Rainbow's leg, giving her a look which, she hoped, told that she had no idea what to say. The sentiment had caught her totally off guard, and saying that she was touched by it would be putting it mildly.

Rainbow shook her head, kicked off her shoes too and used a hoof to wipe her eyes. “Ugh. Sorry. Don't know where that came from.”

Fluttershy's concerned frown held. “I think I might,” she said. It certainly sounded like it came from her heart.

There was a pause until Rainbow was sure she'd gotten rid of the wetness, then she took a breath and let it out in a sigh. She looked up at the sky. “This is crazy, Fluttershy,” she said. “So crazy. I don't understand why I feel this way.”

Fluttershy could've said something in the pause, but she didn't know what. Something in Rainbow's voice said that she was about to try getting something off her chest. Fluttershy did what she was best at, and listened.

“I don't know how to say it,” Rainbow went on. “I don't even know how I got to this, or when it happened. It's huge.”

Fluttershy felt her heart. “What're you talking about, Rainbow?”

Rainbow glanced down at the ground, then met Fluttershy's eyes with as much intensity as she'd ever seen. “I think I'm in love with you, Fluttershy,” she said. “I think I have been for a while now. I've just been too afraid to admit it to myself. Because if I'm in love with you, then--” She paused to shake her head, mouthing hopelessly. “--then I don't know. It's new. I've never been here before.”

Fluttershy gazed back into her, thoughts racing and heart doing the same. “Do you really mean that? That you... love me?”

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

'Oh my goodness,' Fluttershy thought, as an unbearable heat flooded her body, even despite the freezing air over the lake. There it was. The moment that she'd read about in story books. She'd dreamed of one day hearing those words herself, but she'd never imagined...

She'd loved Rainbow for a long time – they'd been best friends since they were foals, and the care and concern they shared for one another had always been love, there was no doubt.

But being in love? That was something Fluttershy hadn't even considered. Their bond had only been growing stronger over the past few months, there was no denying that. And the warm feeling Fluttershy got when she thought about Rainbow, or kissed her, or even when they were just around one another, that was growing too. She hadn't been able to give a name to it.

But now she could.

Fluttershy did the only thing she could think to do – she moved in and kissed Rainbow. There had been a lot of kisses, a lot of indescribable moments of closeness between them. Every one of those moments meant the world to Fluttershy. And this one meant more. It was a deep kiss, filled with heartwarming flame, only made brighter by the thought racing through Fluttershy's mind. 'She's in love with me.'

The kiss was one of the longest they'd ever shared. When they finally pulled back from it and opened their eyes, Rainbow truly did look happier than she'd ever been. There was a silent question behind her eyes, and Fluttershy didn't waste time in answering it.

“I love you, too,” Fluttershy told her.

“For real?” said Rainbow.

Fluttershy kissed her again, shorter, but just as deeply. She pulled back with a smile. “I'm in love with you,” Fluttershy reaffirmed. It was the most terrifyingly beautiful thing she'd ever said. And she meant it, with all her heart.

The look on Rainbow's face was priceless. “Never thought I'd hear that,” she said. “Especially not from my best friend.”

“Neither did I,” Fluttershy said. “It feels...”

“Awesome?”

“Wonderful,” said Fluttershy. “Only, more wonderful than anything I've ever felt.”

“You said it,” Rainbow agreed.

They shared a long, smiling silence, enjoying the feeling while it lasted. Like their first kiss, there would only ever be one first 'I love you.' But Fluttershy hoped that there would be a second, and a third, and many more. It was a moment to cherish though. Even if it did raise an important question...

Fluttershy gave her partner a thoughtful frown. “What happens now?” she wondered out loud.

Rainbow shook her head. “I don't know. Like I said, I've never been here before. But I think we just keep doing what we normally do. Like this--” She waved at the lake. “--and this.” She moved in and kissed Fluttershy.

Fluttershy's chest bubbled with a laugh. After the kiss, she nodded in agreement. “That sounds perfect to me.”

“And I guess we keep saying it. Like, a lot,” Rainbow finished.

“Saying I love you?”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow. “How sappy is that?”

Fluttershy giggled. “Sappy enough for me.”

Rainbow smiled back. “So, d'you wanna keep skating?” she asked.

“Definitely,” said Fluttershy. “I want to make the most of today. In fact, I'd much rather that it never ended at all.”

Rainbow shrugged. “It doesn't have to,” she said. “We've got all the time in the world. Come on.”

Rainbow led Fluttershy back out onto the ice, and they started skating again. They didn't say anything more, both of them keeping their focus on the act rather than looking at one another. But Fluttershy didn't have to look at Rainbow to know that she was smiling too.

* * *

Author's Note

Happy Hearth's Warming to all you lovely ponies :yay: :rainbowkiss:

16 - Applejack (The Last Roundup)

The sound of the steam engine pumping away and the feel of the train rattling against the tracks was kind of relaxing, Fluttershy thought. She sat at a window seat, with her hooves on the table in front of her, and her eyes watching the scenery fly by outside. She recognised some of the familiar landmarks which told her they were getting close to Ponyville – maybe just half an hour out. But she wasn't really paying them much attention.

“What's up?”

Fluttershy blinked a couple of times, then looked back over her shoulder. Rainbow Dash was sitting beside her, with a gentle smile on her face. It was just the two of them in the booth – the others were back in another towards the rear of the carriage.

“Oh, it's nothing,” said Fluttershy. “I'm fine.”

“Oh. Okay, cool,” said Rainbow. She shrugged, then closed her eyes and leant her head back against the seat, meaning to return to her nap. “Just checkin'.”

Fluttershy looked out the window again, and the false smile she'd given Rainbow melted into a frown. Now that she thought about it, there was something 'up'. It'd been up for the past couple of days, and now it'd reached the point where it was actively bothering her.

“It's not really nothing, is it?” said Rainbow. When Fluttershy looked around again, she met with a concerned look from Rainbow. “C'mon, what's on your mind?”

'It's really silly,' Fluttershy thought. 'I probably shouldn't say anything.'

“I'm just thinking, that's all,” said Fluttershy.

“'Bout what?”

“Nothing, it's--” Fluttershy paused and tried not to huff in frustration. It was hard to tell with other ponies, but she knew that if Rainbow asked her what was wrong, she genuinely did want to know. It wouldn't be very nice to lie to her, even if it was embarrassing to talk about. “--it's silly,” she finished.

Rainbow shrugged. “I can handle silly. Hit me.”

Fluttershy sighed and looked down at her hooves. 'I suppose I should just come out and say it.'

“Do you have... feelings for Applejack?” Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow made a snorting noise, but she didn't blatantly laugh. She took a moment, probably trying to figure out if Fluttershy was joking. Fluttershy wasn't. As soon as the words had left her mouth, she felt her face heat up.

“Uh, no,” said Rainbow, after a while. “Sorry, I wasn't hesitating, it's just, uh... I got a weird sense of deja vu there. Didn't we talk about this way back? What made you start thinking I like AJ again?”

“I know we talked about it before,” said Fluttershy, in a quiet voice. “I just noticed that you've been getting very emotional, since Applejack said she wasn't coming home. More so than the rest of us, I mean. Not that I'm saying that's a bad thing – it's not. It's just very strange to see you get tearful over... anything, really.”

She hadn't meant any offence by it, but apparently Rainbow didn't see it like that. “Hey, I wasn't emotional! And I sure as hay wasn't tearful.”

Fluttershy shrank. “S-sorry. I told you it was silly. Forget I said anything.”

There was a long moment of silence, where Fluttershy looked anywhere but at her marefriend. 'Oh, me and my big mouth,' she thought, and she felt the sense of deja vu Rainbow was talking about. 'I'm so insensitive.'

After the moment passed though, Rainbow sighed. “Okay, maybe I got a little emotional there at the end,” she said. “But so what? I'm not allowed to get upset when one of my best friends suddenly skips town?” She said it in an even voice – not in a scary or mean way – for which Fluttershy was thankful. If it was anyone else who'd called Rainbow 'emotional', it would've been a very different story.

“Of course you are, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it,” said Fluttershy. She met Rainbow's eyes with an apologetic frown.

Instead of holding her gaze though, Rainbow looked away. She looked like she was thinking about it, and when spoke, she used a much quieter voice. “AJ and I... we do a lot of stuff together, y'know?” she said. “We're both into athletics – out of all of our friends, it's just the two of us – so we go running, or swimming, or play games. She's the only one I can do that kind of stuff with.

“When I thought she'd suddenly skipped town without even saying saying goodbye, yeah, it really got to me. Felt like she didn't even care.” Rainbow shrugged her shoulders, then looked at Fluttershy. “So yeah, we're really close. But I don't have feelings for her, not like that. I love you, Fluttershy. Nopony else. You don't even have to worry about that kind of stuff.”

Fluttershy's whole body flushed at hearing that. The words 'I love you' were still fresh between the two of them. The first time had been indescribable, and every time since was like a flush of warmth blossoming in her chest and flooding out through her whole body. Once Rainbow reminded her of it, she felt even more silly.

“I should know that already, shouldn't I?” said Fluttershy, frowning. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't be getting jealous in the first place.”

Rainbow smiled at her. It took a load off her mind. “It's kinda sweet that you do,” said Rainbow. “Guess I should be flattered, huh?”

“Oh, no,” said Fluttershy. “I-I mean, yes. I mean, y-you don't have to--” She forced herself to stop stammering and take a breath. When she'd gotten it under control, she looked her marefriend in the eye and said, “I love you, too, Rainbow.”

“Good,” said Rainbow. “So, try not to worry so much, okay?”

Fluttershy found a smile of her own. “I will.”

“'Preciate it,” said Rainbow. She leant back against the seat again and put her hooves behind her head, relaxing as she moved the topic on. “Nice work pulling the cart back there, by the way. Guess all those 'training sessions' are paying off after all.”

Fluttershy's cheeks were still a little red, and that comment didn't help. Her first instinct was always to brush the compliment off, but she managed to take it in stride this time, just because it was Rainbow. “I do feel a lot fitter for all the exercise,” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow gave her a look. “Uh, I was actually talking about our teamwork getting better,” she said. Then she smirked and shrugged. “But yeah, I noticed that, too. Kinda hard not to.”

“...Oh.” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, face on fire now, out of embarrassment and something else entirely.

“Think you could get into any of the athletic stuff?” Rainbow asked her, off hoof. “Running, flying, hoofball?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, I really don't think that kind of thing is for me,” she admitted. “I'll leave that for you and Applejack to share.”

“Sure about that?” said Rainbow. “You don't wanna keep an eye on me, make sure she doesn't seduce me and steal me away?”

Fluttershy giggled. “It sounds even sillier when you say it like that.”

“Talkin' 'bout me?” came Applejack's voice. They both looked, and saw her walk up to their booth from down the aisle, with a smile on her face. “My ears are burnin'.”

“Hey, AJ,” said Rainbow. “Yeah, Fluttershy's on to us, so I have to break off our secret love affair. Sorry.”

Fluttershy gave up on hoping that her blush would go away, and just hid behind her mane.

Applejack laughed. “I ain't even gonna ask what that one's about.” She smiled between them. “I just came over to say thanks for bringin' me around, both of ya. It means a lot that ya came after me.”

“Don't forget chasing you across the desert,” Rainbow said with a grin. “And catching you, all while pulling a cart with three of our friends inside.”

“Gotta admit, that was impressive,” said Applejack. “Outrunnin' four grown stallions with just the two of ya? Y'all oughta enter the next rodeo when it comes around. I bet you'd give a lot o' folk a run for their money.”

“Pass,” said Rainbow, without hesitation. “Flying contests are one thing, but I'm not a rodeo kind of mare.”

“Your loss. What about you, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy shook her head and peered out from under her fringe with one eye. “Um, n-no thank you. I couldn't possibly do that with ponies watching me. And I'm not a big fan of running in the first place – it's exhausting.” She shifted in her seat. “So, um, if you wouldn't mind not running away again, that would be lovely. If that's alright with you, I mean.”

Applejack gave her a warm smile. “I won't, Sugarcube. I promise.”

They stayed in silence for all of three seconds before Rainbow suddenly stood up. “Oh, hay. Is Twilight still back there? I wanted to ask her something.”

“Yeah, she's still there,” said Applejack, standing to one side to let her out.

“Great, be right back!” said Rainbow. She gave Fluttershy a quick kiss on the cheek, then slid out of the booth and trotted off down the aisle.

Applejack watched her go and shook her head. “You're on a lucky one with her, Sugarcube,” she said.

Still part-hidden behind her mane, Fluttershy smiled beside herself. “I know.”

* * *

BONUS SCENE: Fugitive

Author's Note

Random, cute little bonus scene, taking place shortly after 'The Last Roundup'. Enjoy :twilightsmile:

BONUS SCENE: Fugitive

Fluttershy had been having a quiet afternoon. She was sitting on the couch in her living room, running a brush through Angel Bunny's coat to get all the knots out. All manner of other little creatures lounged around her as well, just relaxing and enjoying her company.

They all scattered in a panic when the door burst open. Fluttershy dived behind the couch in fright.

“Fluttershy, you've gotta hide me!” said Rainbow, jumping inside and slamming the door behind her.

When she recognised her marefriend's voice, Fluttershy stood up. She saw that Rainbow had her back pressed to the door, and was panting heavily. It looked like she'd been running. “Goodness, what's the matter?” said Fluttershy, voice filled with concern.

Rainbow gulped. “You remember how we kinda left Rarity and Pinkie in the middle of the desert when we were chasing Applejack?”

“Yes,” said Fluttershy. “Um, but they weren't there when we went back. I thought we decided that they must have gone back to Dodge Junction, and caught a train before we did?”

“Well, turns out they didn't,” said Rainbow. “They turned up in Ponyville just now, on a railroad pump car. They found it on the old tracks and wheeled themselves all the way back here.”

Fluttershy covered her mouth. “Oh my goodness! I didn't realise-- Oh, and we just left them there. I feel just awful!”

“Yeah, not as awful as I do,” Rainbow hissed. “Because Rarity's convinced that it's my fault! And now she's--”

“Rainbow Dash!”

At the sound of Rarity's yell from outside, Rainbow darted across the room, past Fluttershy, and dived behind the couch. She peered up at Fluttershy with pleading eyes. “She's gonna kill me! You've gotta hide me until she calms down.”

“H-hide you?” said Fluttershy. “B-but I don't-- I couldn't possibly--”

“Please!” Rainbow whispered, as if afraid her voice would carry outside. “I swear, I'll do anything to pay you back. Anything you want. Just please don't let her kill me!”

“I-I'm sure she won't really--”

“As Celestia is my witness, Rainbow Dash, if I find you in there, I am going to kill you!”

“Oh my...”

Rainbow gave her the puppy eyes. Fluttershy could not resist the puppy eyes.

Hearing a loud knock at the door, Fluttershy had to think fast. She guided Rainbow to lay down on the couch, then grabbed a nearby blanket and threw it over her. Then she gave a sharp whistle, signalling her animal friends to form up and climb on top of Rainbow. Once her marefriend was completely covered by a mound of fur and fluffy critters, Fluttershy hurried over to the door, gulped, then opened it.

“O-oh, hello, Rarity,” she said.

Rarity was standing there, and she looked like she'd been dragged backwards through a thorn-bush. Her mane was out of control, her pristine coat was marred with dirt, her face was beet red, and she was clearly out of breath. She also looked very angry about the whole thing. It was scary, even though Fluttershy knew none of that anger was directed at her.

“Hello, Fluttershy, darling,” she said, in a even tone. “So sorry to bother you, but I was wondering whether you perchance knew where Rainbow Dash--” She scowled and tried to look around Fluttershy. “--might be hiding.”

“R-Rainbow Dash?” said Fluttershy. She knew that she wasn't a very good liar, and felt herself starting to shake even as she stood there. “No, I-I haven't seen her today. Are you sure she came this way?”

Rarity gave her a look. “I didn't say that she came this way.”

Fluttershy's cheeks burned. “N-no, I didn't mean-- I-I just assumed, since you're here, and you look like you've been running, that you p-possibly might have been chasing her this way. Not that I'm saying she did come this way, o-or that that's what you're doing. Goodness, it's hot in here...”

“Mhm,” Rarity hummed, raising an eyebrow. “So, Rainbow Dash didn't happen to burst in just before I arrived and beg you to hide her from perfectly calm and not-murderously-vengeful little me? Are you sure?”

Fluttershy shifted on her hooves, getting more and more anxious by the second. 'I can't do it. I can't do it. I can't--'

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Fluttershy blurted out.

Rarity blinked. “Pardon?”

'WHAT?! Why would I say that?!'

“I-it's just that you look quite flustered,” said Fluttershy, trying and failing to think on her hooves. “I thought you might like to sit down and have a drink.”

There was a long moment of stunned silence, for both ponies. Rarity's eyes narrowed, as if trying to pick out some trace of a lie. Fluttershy gave her a too-wide smile.

Then Rarity sighed, and let her shoulders slump. “I think you may be right. Yes, Fluttershy, I would love a cup of tea. Thank you.”

“O-oh, good,” said Fluttershy. “Come on in. Just, um, don't sit on the couch. My... animals are sleeping.”

Fluttershy was careful to keep her eye on Rarity while she was brewing the tea, to make sure she didn't go snooping around the couch and find her fugitive pegasus. Once it was ready, they sat down on the rug beside the fireplace, with two steaming cups between them, and Rarity started talking. Venting, really, about her long and arduous trip home.

When it came to it, Rarity brushed aside Fluttershy's apology, saying that it was her own fault for agreeing to follow Pinkie to the old train tracks, rather than staying there and waiting for the group to return. Once they'd established that, Rarity's anger at Rainbow Dash started to mellow out. The tea seemed to help, too, and by the time she came to the end of her cup, there was no more murderous glint in her eye.

When she took her last sip, Rarity let out another sigh. “I am so sorry for rambling on, darling. I fear I got a little carried away with myself.”

Fluttershy shook her head with pursed lips. “Oh no, not at all. I'm glad I could help you get it off your chest.” She spared a glance for the couch, where the mound of animals shifted again. Rainbow had certainly been under there for a long time. It was a miracle that Rarity hadn't noticed her fidgeting.

“Darling?”

Fluttershy snapped her eyes back to Rarity. “Y-yes?”

“Are you sure that I didn't interrupt anything?” said Rarity. “You seem very distracted.”

“Oh, not at all!” said Fluttershy. “I just... have a lot of things to do before this evening. I keep thinking about it. Them. I'm sorry.” It wasn't a total lie – she did have a lot on her to-do list – but it was still uncomfortable to keep misleading her friend.

Rarity got a kind smile on her face. “I understand, darling. I've taken quite enough of your time for one afternoon, and I really should be getting home, myself.” She got to her hooves, then lifted one of them to give it a pitying look. “Perhaps via the spa. I must look a state.”

Fluttershy shook her head, but felt too awkward to comment. She stood up too, and walked Rarity to the door.

“Thank you for the tea,” Rarity chirped, as she stepped outside.

“You're welcome,” said Fluttershy. “It's no bother. But, um...”

Rarity looked back. “Yes?”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Well, if-- W-when you see Rainbow Dash, maybe you could, um--”

“Don't worry, darling, I shan't be chasing after her anymore,” Rarity assured her. “If you see her before I do, tell her that there are no hard feelings.”

Fluttershy smiled. “Okay.”

“Ta-ta!”

Rarity left, trotting over the bridge and down the trail towards Ponyville. Fluttershy closed the door, then let out a sigh of relief as the tension left her shoulders.

The couch exploded as Rainbow burst up from beneath the blanket, gasping for air. Most of the critters had already vacated the couch as they saw Rarity leave, but those that hadn't were flung off onto the rug, where they bounced harmlessly... and made annoyed noises in Rainbow's direction.

Fluttershy crossed the room to her. “Are you alright?” she asked, seeing that Rainbow's face had turned very red.

“Hot under there,” Rainbow panted. “And hard to breathe... Something kept jabbing me in the side.”

Angel Bunny hopped over to Fluttershy's leg, folded his paws and gave Rainbow a look that said it was him, and he was proud of it.

Rainbow didn't seem to notice, but she jumped off the couch and flapped her wings, bringing herself to hover in front of Fluttershy. “I can't believe you invited her in for tea!” she said, with a tone of irritation in her voice. “I was under there for like half an hour.”

“Sorry, I panicked,” said Fluttershy. “I'm not used to, um, harbouring fugitives.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, but her expression softened after a moment. “I guess you did get her to calm down,” she said. “And she didn't find me. I owe you one.”

Fluttershy found a smile at that, and shook her head. “Oh, don't be silly. You would've done the same thing for me.”

“Well, yeah,” said Rainbow, “but that doesn't mean you don't get a thank you. Besides, I promised to pay you back, didn't I? 'Anything you wanted'?”

Fluttershy's cheeks flushed a little as she remembered. “Oh, I suppose you did.”

Rainbow alighted in front of her with a grin. “So, what do I owe you, pal?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows.

“I-I accept 'thank you's in the form of kisses and/or food,” Fluttershy mumbled, eyes on the floor.

A short silence followed.

“...Wow,” said Rainbow. “Smooth callback.”

“Thank you.”

“Buuut, you know I can't cook,” Rainbow said. “So I guess that kinda limits my options, huh.”

Fluttershy looked up at her, just in time for Rainbow to close the distance between them and pull her into a deep, surprisingly gentle kiss. As always, she was more than happy to return it, and as always, she had a glowing smile on her face when they parted.

“Thanks for having my back, pal,” said Rainbow, mirroring her smile. “Means a lot.”

* * *

1 - Confession (Dragonshy)

Rainbow paced outside the front door to Fluttershy's cottage, screwing up her face in concentration as she worked up the courage to knock. You'd think, after facing down a dragon the day before, something like this would be effortless by comparison. But that thought had only brought her this far.

Shaking her head, she decided to just go for it. “What's the worst that could happen?” she reasoned. With that, a flick of her mane and a puffing out of her chest, she knocked three times on Fluttershy's front door.

“Just a minute!” said Fluttershy, her soft voice drifting out from the upstairs window.

Rainbow's body stiffened upon hearing it. She quickly realised that she still had a chance to bolt – Fluttershy hadn't seen her yet. When she did though, it'd be too late to go back.

'Get it together, Dash,' she told herself. 'She has to hear this. You can't just keep pretending it's not there.'

Rainbow took a steadying breath and planted her hooves. She wasn't going anywhere.

A moment later, the door opened, and Fluttershy stood there with a smile on her face and a towel wrapped around her mane. “Oh, hello,” she said. “I-I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming over, or I would've showered earlier. I--” She broke off, and the colour drained from her face. “--Oh, goodness! We didn't have plans this evening, did we? Did I forget? I was sure that my calendar was--”

“Relax, Fluttershy. You didn't forget anything,” said Rainbow, holding up a hoof to calm her. Somehow, Fluttershy's sheepishness seemed to kindle a confidence in her, and she felt suddenly much more at ease. “I just came by to apologise.”

Fluttershy blew out a relieved breath. Then she did a double-take and blinked rapidly. “P-pardon?”

Rainbow shrugged and gave a 'back there' gesture with her head. “About yesterday. You know, when I was acting like a jerk – telling Twilight that you were a fraidy-cat and not to bring you along?”

“O-oh,” said Fluttershy. “You don't need to apologise for that.”

“Sure I do,” said Rainbow. “It was way out of line, and it had to upset you. You can't be okay with that.”

Fluttershy found a smile, shook her head and stepped outside, closer to Rainbow. “I wasn't upset. Honestly, Rainbow, I wanted so badly for Twilight to let me stay behind. I know I didn't say anything, but I really appreciated you trying to help me.”

“Yeah, but I-- Uh.” Rainbow let her mouth hang open for a moment before raising a brow at Fluttershy. “Come again?”

Fluttershy let out a tinkling giggle. “I'm terrified of dragons, I thought you knew that. I would've done anything to get out of that adventure.” She paused for thought. “Though, in retrospect, it's probably good that I didn't. Even so, I thought you were just trying to help, and it was very thoughtful.”

“Really?” said Rainbow. Fluttershy nodded. “Oh. 'Cause that's, uh, that's not exactly what I was thinking at the time.”

Fluttershy shook her head again. “It doesn't matter. You don't need to apologise.”

“Oh. Cool.” Rainbow gulped on air, suddenly finding a flaw in her plan. Fluttershy didn't want an apology. What was she supposed to do now? It was suddenly very warm outside, and she felt like flapping her wings and taking to the sky. “Okay, well, in that case, I'm just gonna take off,” she said lamely.

Without waiting for a response, she turned in place and trotted a few steps towards the bridge over the river, unfurling her wings as she did.

“Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow froze and cringed. She took a breath, then turned to give Fluttershy a questioning smile.

For her part, Fluttershy had her head tilted to one side and was wearing an unreadable expression. “If you weren't trying to talk Twilight out of it because that's what you thought I wanted... why did you do it?”

Rainbow let out the breath in a sigh. There it was. Fluttershy was smarter than ponies gave her credit for. There was no sense in backing out now – her plan might've failed, but Fluttershy had just given her a straight opening to be honest. She couldn't ignore it. So she turned around to face Fluttershy properly and averted her eyes, a little guilty. “Yeah, uh, that's kinda what I came to talk to you about, actually.”

Fluttershy blinked, but said nothing, waiting patiently for her to continue.

“Ever since this whole thing with Nightmare Moon,” Rainbow began, rolling her neck as she tried to forget the words she rehearsed over and over in her mind, “I've started... thinking about you.”

Fluttershy blanched. “O-oh?”

Rainbow nodded and took a couple of steps towards her, lowering her voice as she did. “A lot more than I should be. Going into the Everfree reminded me that there are actually things out there that can hurt you-- us. That can hurt us.” She closed her eyes, gulped, and forced herself to continue. “And I realised that I really don't want that to happen. Especially not to you.”

Fluttershy gulped too, and her voice quivered. “Why especially not to me?”

“Ah,” Rainbow grunted. She looked off to one side, which incidentally left her staring out towards the Everfree itself. All dark and gloomy and spooky, full of monsters and nasty stuff. She remembered their journey into there to find Nightmare Moon. She remembered how she felt when the Manticore grabbed Fluttershy.

She let out a sigh and looked Fluttershy in the eye. “Because--” Nope, it was no good. She looked downwards and kicked a hoof in shame. “Because I like you... and stuff.”

“...Oh.” Fluttershy stayed very still. Her voice gained a few levels of volume as she actually registered what Rainbow had said. “Oh!”

Rainbow shrugged and managed a look up at her from behind her fringe. “Yeah.”

Fluttershy held her eyes for the briefest moment, before lowering her head too, and though her mane was still tied up in the towel, the effect was the same. For an agonisingly long few moments, the awkward silence was disturbed only by the chirping of birds in the trees, and of Fluttershy shuffling her hooves against her welcome mat.

“Well, um,” said Fluttershy finally. “Sh-should we do something about that?”

Rainbow blinked up at her. “You want to?”

“W-well, thinking about it, I suppose that I like--” Fluttershy froze, shivered a little, then offered a weak smile. “I mean, that I'd like to. Yes.”

Rainbow's eyes widened, and her face lit up with a grin. She let out a whooping “Yes!”, jumped into the air and backflipped to land on all four hooves. Fluttershy watched the display with one eye and that same, tiny smile.

As Rainbow furled her wings, she cracked her neck and shifted back into her usual, cool demeanour. “So, Fluttershy – you wanna go on a date or something?”

Fluttershy nodded twice. That smile on her face was something that Rainbow wouldn't soon forget.

* * *

Author's Note

Sometimes you just need to relax and write some simple, cute, prompt-based shipping. This is one of those times :twilightsmile:

In case you didn't notice already, this is completely inspired by bookplayer's "The Appledash Project", and it's something I've wanted to do ever since I first read that story. I'm trying to stay true to the 'dialogue-driven' style of the original, because... well, because it's just plain awesome, and works so well for this type of story.

Thanks for the inspiration, bookplayer, and for encouraging me to give it a go with another ship :twilightsmile:

As always, your comments are very welcome! Thanks for reading, take it easy and enjoy the rest of the story (when it's released).

2 - Rendezvous (Swarm of the Century)

“So, I was gonna take you to this restaurant on Quill Street,” said Rainbow, as she and Fluttershy walked across the grassy fields outside of Ponyville. “But it turns out that the parasprites kind of... ate it. Along with every other restaurant in town.”

Fluttershy hung her head a little. “Sorry.”

“Not your fault. I mean, those things were weirdly cute – like irresistible cute.” Rainbow stuck out her tongue. “They even got me to adopt one, and that's saying something. Anyway, since they basically ate my plan, I had to throw something together, last minute.”

“Is that where we're going?” Fluttershy asked, glancing at Rainbow and then looking ahead. They'd been walking for almost ten minutes since they left Ponyville – and the grass was tall and thick here, where ponies hadn't passed through.

“Yeah, it's just up this hill,” said Rainbow. She nodded straight ahead, and Fluttershy found herself smiling. Ten minutes might not have been a lot, but at Rainbow's pace, her legs were getting tired very quickly. She hoped that whatever Rainbow's 'date' was, it would involve some measure of sitting down.

They crested the small hill, and the grass was somewhat lower at the top – only coming up to Fluttershy's knees now. In the middle of the hill's plateau though, the grass lay completely flat beneath a square Wonderbolts blanket. Atop the blanket there was a handled wicker basket, and atop that, a bouquet of yellow flowers.

“A picnic,” Fluttershy breathed. “And... flowers?”

Rainbow stepped onto the corner of the blanket and turned to give her a sheepish grin. “Heh. Surprise. The picnic's to share, flowers are for you.”

Fluttershy's smile widened as her eyes flicked between the blanket, flowers and basket. She felt a bubbling in her chest, and she couldn't help but let out a little squeal of excitement. “Oh, Rainbow, thank you!” She slid closer and brushed her cheek up against Rainbow's in affection. Rainbow squinted with one eye and grinned.

When Fluttershy pulled back and looked over the scene once more though, something occurred to her. Her smile fell. “Oh goodness, but I didn't get you any flowers.”

“Ah, I'm not really a 'flowers' kind of girl,” said Rainbow with a shrug. “Anyway, don't sweat it – this is my treat. You can do next time if you want.”

“But--” Fluttershy met Rainbow's smiling eyes, and struggled to argue with them. Though she hadn't thought to get Rainbow anything, it was Rainbow's treat... Eventually, she found her smile again and nodded. “Okay.”

The two of them sat down on the soft blanket, and Fluttershy moved the flowers to her side whilst Rainbow unpacked the basket's contents. There was a lot more inside than seemed like should've fit. Two plates, two glasses, a large apple pie, two cupcakes, six different sandwiches and two packets of hay crisps joined the flask of apple juice on the blanket.

“Goodness, you really made all this, just for me?”

Rainbow shrugged as she started dividing up the food. “Well, I didn't really make any of it.” She frowned. “Thinking about it, I guess I didn't really do anything.”

Fluttershy tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“I've never done a picnic before,” said Rainbow. “I never even thought of it. After I found out the restaurant was closed, I was pretty lost for what to do. I'm not good at this romantic stuff. But I wanted today to be special, you know? So, I went and asked for help. The picnic was actually Rarity's idea.”

Fluttershy's eyes slowly widened into a look of shock. “R-Rarity?”

“I didn't tell her it was for you,” Rainbow said. “Just that it was for 'a mare I like'.”

“Oh. Good.” Fluttershy let out a relieved sigh. “Um, sorry. Go on.”

“Yeah, so, talking to Rarity about a date was kind of a pain, but I didn't have much choice – she knows more about this stuff than anypony I know.” Rainbow paused to pour apple juice into the two glasses, then nudged one towards Fluttershy. She took it in her hooves and sipped at it whilst Rainbow continued. “I had to play twenty questions with her before she'd tell me, but eventually she said that a picnic is great first date material. And to bring some flowers.”

“Oh, I see.”

“She didn't say what kind though, so I had to fly all the way across town to that stall Roseluck set up after the parasprites 'happened'. I--” Rainbow smirked. “--Heh, spent about half an hour trying to tell her 'what kind of mare I was dating' without telling her it was you...”

Fluttershy swallowed her mouthful of apple juice and glanced down at the blanket, as the matter came up for the second time. “It's not that we're keeping it a secret--”

“No, totally,” Rainbow agreed, with an emphatic shake of her head. “We're just not going around telling everypony right away.”

“Right,” said Fluttershy.

“Yup.”

Fluttershy cleared her throat with a squeak and smiled at Rainbow, prompting her to go on.

“Uh, where was I? Right, flowers. So once I managed to tell her it was for someone 'a lot like you', she sold me those.” Rainbow nodded at the flowers. “And then I had to fly all the way over to Applejack's farm to pick up some of the good stuff.”

“Um?”

“Apple juice,” Rainbow clarified. “And the pie. Heck, I got the plates from her too.”

“So, what you're saying is, you didn't make or choose any of this – you just went around town and picked it all up?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” said Rainbow, with an apologetic smile. “Like I said, I'm not good at this romantic stuff.”

Fluttershy blinked at her for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. “I think you're better at it than you realise.”

Rainbow raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

Fluttershy got up and moved over to sit at Rainbow's side. Their wings brushed as she sat down, but she hardly noticed. “This--” She traced a hoof through the air, guiding Rainbow's eyes across the picnic. “--is absolutely lovely.”

“Yeah. But I didn't really do any of it.”

“But you did – you did all of it,” said Fluttershy. “You asked Rarity what made a picnic special, even though you felt uncomfortable. You spent hours flying all across town to find everything. And you even got Roseluck to pick out the most romantic flowers for me.” She finished with a warm smile on her face.

“I... Huh.” Rainbow turned her gaze upwards for a moment, screwing up her face in thought. It made Fluttershy giggle. Finally, Rainbow found her grin again, and turned to meet Fluttershy's eyes. “I guess I did do something.”

Fluttershy nodded. “You went out of your way to make this afternoon special. And it is. I think this is just about the most romantic thing anypony has ever done for me.” She smiled wider. “Thank you, Rainbow.”

Rainbow's grin turned into a much more subdued smile. “For real?”

Fluttershy nodded again.

“Ah, well,” said Rainbow. “When you put it like that, I guess that I... I'm...” She trailed off. A second later, Fluttershy realised why.

They were close. Very close. She really hadn't meant to get that close, but now their wings were touching, and their eyes were literally a hoof's distance apart. Fluttershy became acutely aware of the deep magenta of Rainbow's eyes. She couldn't remember ever seeing them this close, and for this long – usually Fluttershy would break contact before that could happen. But now...

Rainbow's eyes flicked down to Fluttershy's lips, and Fluttershy found herself mirroring the gesture. Her heart had started hammering. Her cheeks burned fiercely. She tried to say something, but her mouth only opened an inch, and no sound came out. Fluttershy wasn't sure who stared moving first – it was like she was watching from outside her body as she and Rainbow leaned towards one another.

Rainbow stopped before the touch and moved back a fraction of an inch. Fluttershy hesitated. She'd later recognise the gesture for what it was, but right then, her mind was completely blank. She wanted nothing more to lean in and kiss Rainbow Dash.

So she did.

When the touch finally broke – or more accurately, it melted away – Fluttershy's eyes drifted open. The two pulled back so that they were a hoof's distance apart again. Fluttershy stared at Rainbow's chest, breathing with a little labour through her nose. She dared not to look up into her eyes again.

“D-did we just...?” said Fluttershy.

In the corner of her eye, Fluttershy saw Rainbow lick her lips – a nervous gesture, she thought. “Yeah.”

“...Did you like it?”

“Heck yeah.”

Fluttershy found her nerve again. She lifted her head, tipped her mane out of her face and smiled sweetly into Rainbow's eyes. “Me too,” she said.

And they kissed, again.

...and again. And again...

It turned out picnics were great first date material after all.

* * *

3 - Inferiority (Fall Weather Friends)

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were laughing as they crossed the finish line together for the second time. They slowed to a stop, then broke down into exhausted panting. Applejack bumped Rainbow on the flank and said something. Rainbow laughed and bumped her back.

Fluttershy watched, alone, from the otherwise empty stands. She was far enough back that she couldn't make out what they were saying, but it was obvious even from this distance that they'd had a lot of fun on their run. Fluttershy wished that she could've joined them, but she had a distinct feeling-- No, she knew that she'd just get in the way.

A frown crossed her face as Rainbow unfurled her wings and hovered above the ground, putting a hoof to her chest in a 'Who, me?' gesture. Applejack barked out another wave of laughter that carried to Fluttershy's ears. Fluttershy hung her head and stared at her hooves.

Rainbow had always been strong and fast, good at running or lifting or wrestling. She was also very outspoken, something that Fluttershy admired dearly. Because she was never like that. She'd been the scrawny one in school, the quiet one, the one that nopony noticed. It was a blessing, in its own way, always being under the radar. But it also meant that she could never really connect with Rainbow on a physical level.

Applejack could though. Clearly. Working on a farm had made her tough, and quick of both hoof and wit. She could keep up with Rainbow Dash on more levels than one. More levels than Fluttershy would ever be able to...

“Hey!”

Fluttershy yelped and almost fell off her seat as Rainbow appeared in front of her, grinning from ear to ear and still panting a little.

“H-hi!” Fluttershy squeaked, just about managing to stay upright.

Rainbow moved in and brushed her cheek against Fluttershy's, a gesture which made her smile and blush. She couldn't help but check over Rainbow's shoulder to make sure Applejack wasn't watching, and she wasn't – she was walking in the opposite direction, heading home.

Rainbow pulled back and gave her a questioning look. “Don't tell me you've been waiting since the end of the race? If I knew you were back here, I would've left Applejack in the dust!” said Rainbow. She paused for a moment to look back at Applejack. A smirk touched her lips. “Well, probably. I've got to admit, she's a lot faster than I gave her credit for.”

Fluttershy's head drooped a little again. “Yes. She seems it.”

Rainbow tilted her head to the side. “Hey, you alright?” She flapped her wings to carry herself over and sit down next to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy shook her head and forced a smile. “Oh, yes, I'm fine.”

“Uh huh,” said Rainbow, raising a brow. “You sure about that?”

“It's nothing, really.”

“Come on, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy glanced from the ground to Rainbow's eyes. Rainbow flashed her a gentle smile that said 'You can talk to me' without having to use the words. She sighed.

“I was just watching you and Applejack,” said Fluttershy, lowering her gaze again. “How much fun you had on your run.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rainbow shrug. “Yeah, it was alright, I guess,” she lied. “Oh, hey, did you-- I mean, you could've come along if you wanted.”

“No I couldn't. I'd never keep up with you.” Her frown deepened. “Not like Applejack.”

“Well, obviously,” said Rainbow, rolling her eyes. “But I'd slow down for you. No big deal. Want to go now? I think I could manage one more lap, if we take it easy.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “That's alright. I don't really feel like running.” She paused for a moment, then gulped down her nerves and managed to say, “Why me, Rainbow?”

“Huh?”

“Why do you... like me?” She looked up to meet Rainbow's surprised eyes. The question had obviously caught her off guard.

“Wow, put me on the spot, why don't ya?” said Rainbow. Fluttershy mumbled an apology whilst Rainbow shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “What brought this on?”

Fluttershy looked over towards Applejack, who was disappearing down the trail, quite far away now. She lowered her eyes quickly, but not before Rainbow traced them and saw what she was looking at.

“Oh. Ohhh. Hey, Applejack and I are just pals, Fluttershy. I'm not that kind of girl – you're the only mare I'm interested in.”

A flush of selfish heat washed through Fluttershy's face, and brought on a little smile. “I'm glad.” It was short-lived though, as the issue at hoof was still there. “But that's not what I was worried about.”

“Then what was it?” said Rainbow, smiling now, confident. “I guarantee you that it's not a big deal. You're probably just getting worked up over nothing.”

She was probably right, Fluttershy thought. Maybe it would be best just to come out and say it, get it off her chest. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly through her nose, then gave Rainbow a straight look. “It's just that you're so... physical. Athletic, and acrobatic. A-and Applejack's strong and fast and--” She sighed. “And I'm not. She's so much more like you, but you and I have almost nothing in common.”

Rainbow glanced to one side, then back, and shrugged. “So what?”

Fluttershy blinked. “W-well, I just mean that you must have so much more fun with her than you do with me, because you both like the same things. But we don't. We're so very different. I-I mean, not that I don't enjoy watching you train, because I do! It's just not something that I can join in with. Oh! Goodness, a-and I don't mean to assume that you don't enjoy helping me look after my animals. For all I know, you could enjoy it very much, please don't take this the wrong way, I, I'm just--” She abruptly stopped talking and took another breath, this time letting it out in a sigh. “I'm sorry, I'm rambling.”

Rainbow blinked at her a few times, dumbstruck or still processing the information. Fluttershy hid one eye behind her mane. It was comfortable there.

“I guess what I'm trying to say is that... wouldn't being with her be better than being with me?”

“What?!” said Rainbow. “No, no way. You might not be the strongest or the fastest of our friends, but so what? That doesn't mean they're 'better' than you! And it sure as heck doesn't mean I don't enjoy spending time with you.”

Fluttershy hid the other eye and turned her head away. “I'm sorry,” she said again. It was all she could manage. Rainbow probably hadn't meant to raise her voice, but it was obvious that Fluttershy had upset her.

'Me and my big mouth,' she thought.

An awkward few moments passed in silence, before Fluttershy felt a feathered touch on her back. She peeked out from under her mane, to see that Rainbow was smiling at her, and had unfurled a wing and gently wrapped it around her – not squeezing in a hug, but just leaving it there. Nonetheless, it felt warm and kind.

“You wanna know why being with you is so awesome?” Rainbow said. “Sure, it's fun to be able to go for a run with AJ, just like it's fun to play pranks with Pinkie Pie, or... okay, not so much playing dress-up with Rarity.”

Though she tried, Fluttershy couldn't mask a tiny giggle at that.

“With you, it's--” Rainbow looked up at the sky, as if for inspiration. “It's everything else. Like going for a walk or a flight. Or having a picnic. We don't do anything crazy – minus the whole dragon-hunting thing – we just spend time together. And that's amazing. Know why?”

Fluttershy shook her head, and only just noticed that she wasn't hiding behind her mane anymore. She was listening intently to Rainbow's words.

“I didn't want to go out with you because we had something in common,” said Rainbow. “I wanted to go out with you because of who you are. You're one of the kindest, gentlest ponies I've ever met. You're beautiful, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy blinked as she gazed into Rainbow's eyes, smiling uncontrollably. “I'm beautiful?” she repeated in a whisper.

“Yeah,” Rainbow said, finding a smile of her own. “Yeah, you're beautiful. And just being around you is the best thing ever. You're a beautiful pegasus, and a beautiful person, and--” She put a hoof over her stomach. “--and I can't do this sappy stuff much more so would you kiss me or somethin'?”

Fluttershy let out a breath. She giggled out a “Yes,” and closed the distance between herself and Rainbow in a flash, pressing their lips together and her eyes shut. They held the kiss for a long, long moment, wrapping hooves around one another as they did. It vaguely occurred to Fluttershy that they were out in the open, but right then, it didn't matter. She revelled in the kiss until it melted away, softly, leaving them smiling into one another's eyes.

“So, does that clear things up for ya?” said Rainbow. “'Cause if it doesn't, I'll have to ad-lib the next bit.”

Fluttershy tilted her head. “Ad-lib? You mean you wrote that?”

“It's what I was gonna say to you when I came to your door,” said Rainbow with a shrug. “Part of it, anyway. But I got nerrr-- I decided to save it for later.”

The smile on Fluttershy's face widened again. “Well, it does make me feel better, thank you. And I'm sorry for being such a worry-wort.”

“You've gotta learn to be more confident, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow, squeezing her a little with her wing. “You've got way more going for you than you think. Stick with me and you'll get the hang of it soon enough.”

Fluttershy nodded twice. “I like that idea.”

“Great!” said Rainbow. She removed her wing from Fluttershy's back and kicked off to hover into the air. “So, what d'you say we fly into town and get a drink? I'm seriously hanging after all that running.”

Fluttershy giggled. “I like that idea too.”

Rainbow started towards Ponyville, and Fluttershy took off to follow behind her. As she slowly caught up, she couldn't help but stare up at Rainbow's tail and smile to herself. “I'm beautiful...”

* * *

4 - Assertiveness (Sonic Rainboom), Part One

Fluttershy watched Rainbow Dash tumble backwards onto the ground. She frowned. “Too loud?” It was just as well that there was no-one else in the park with them – she would hate for anypony to have heard her shout so loud that it knocked her partner down.

“No,” Rainbow groaned. She wiped her hooves down her face in exasperation, then dragged herself up off the ground and walked over to a nearby bench. “Let's just take a break, okay?”

“Oh. Alright.” Fluttershy found a smile as she fell into step beside Rainbow. “This is kind of hard work.”

“Tell me about it,” said Rainbow, slumping on the bench. “How can you not know how to cheer?”

Fluttershy joined her, though she sat up rather than slouching. “I'm sorry,” she said. And she was – she wanted so badly to be able to cheer Rainbow on and help her perform a Sonic Rainboom. “I'll try harder, I promise.”

Rainbow sighed. “No, don't be sorry. You're just not used to this, I get it.”

Fluttershy smiled across at her. “Thank you for understanding. I'm not very good at being loud, or assertive, or passionate.”

“You're not so bad at passionate,” said Rainbow, smirking at her. Fluttershy blushed and looked away, though she was still smiling. “Seriously though,” Rainbow went on. “Doesn't it bother you, being quiet all the time?”

“Why would it?”

“Well, there must be stuff you want to say, right?”

“Not really,” said Fluttershy. “I usually prefer to just listen.”

Rainbow rolled her neck. “Okay... but what if there's, like, something you want, and ponies don't know because you stay quiet?”

“Oh, I don't really want anything,” said Fluttershy. That wasn't entirely true. In fact, since she and Rainbow had gotten... close, there was something she'd been thinking about more and more lately. The thought threatened to bring a blush to her cheeks, so she tried not to think about it. She smiled, and meant it when she said, “I'm quite happy.”

Rainbow raised a brow at her. “You wanted to go out with me, didn't you?”

So much for hiding the blush, Fluttershy thought. “W-well, yes, I suppose I did. But I was too afraid to say so, and--” She smiled. “--and you asked me anyway.”

“Exactly!” said Rainbow, sitting up straight. “But that was just because I wanted to – I didn't know you wanted it too.”

Fluttershy cocked her head. “But, what if – not that I would – but what if I'd said 'no'?”

“I figure it would've been better than not knowing,” said Rainbow, with a shrug. “But what if I hadn't said anything? Would you have?”

“Goodness, no!” said Fluttershy. “I'd be too afraid.” There was a brief silence, whilst Fluttershy watched Rainbow, who just stared at her, prompting her to keep going. “So... I suppose we never would have gone on our date,” Fluttershy continued, her face falling as she did. “Oh. I see what you mean.”

Rainbow touched Fluttershy's shoulder with a wing and spoke in a gentle voice. “You've gotta learn to be more assertive, Fluttershy. Otherwise, how're ponies gonna know what you want?”

Fluttershy gave it a brief moment of thought, then returned Rainbow's smile. “You're right, of course. I'll give it a try.”

“Good!” said Rainbow. “And another thing – you don't have to agree with everything everyone says, just to keep them happy.”

Fluttershy's smile widened at that. “That's good advice too, I agree.”

Rainbow put her face in her hooves and shook her head. “You'll get there,” she said. With that, Rainbow rose from the bench and stretched out her wings. “Come on, let's get back to practise. And could you try to be just a little louder, for me?”

Fluttershy rose to join Rainbow and nodded. “Okay.”

Rainbow flapped her wings a couple of times and kicked off into the air, preparing to make her ascent. Fluttershy's eyes darted to the ground, then back up. “Wait, Rainbow...”

Rainbow turned around. “Yeah?”

“If, in theory, there was something I wanted from, um, you,” said Fluttershy, carefully. “Would you want me to ask you?”

“Of course! Why, is there something?”

Fluttershy looked to one side. “Um. I'll tell you later?”

Rainbow grinned. “Sure. Whenever you're ready.”

* * *

Author's Note

Hey! Hope you're all enjoying the story so far. Just a quick content warning for the next chapter - this is where the Teen rating comes in - there will be some talk of sexual themes. Nothing graphic, just to clarify. It's all PG :twilightsmile: Just to let you know. As always, enjoy and let me know what you think!

5 - Assertiveness (Sonic Rainboom), Part Two

Author's Note

This chapter contains mild sexual themes (read: it gets a bit steamy) If you're uncomfortable reading that kind of thing, I'd advise you to skip onto the next chapter (when it's published) :twilightsmile:

5 - Assertiveness (Sonic Rainboom), Part Two

Rainbow turned another loop in the air as she soared through the late evening sky towards Fluttershy's cottage. The emotional high – exhilaration, Twilight called it – that came with being crowned Best Young Flyer still pumped through her veins, as it had for much of the day. Now, the whole of Cloudsdale knew just how awesome she was. And that she really could perform a Sonic Rainboom. Take that, jerks from flight school!

She alighted in front of Fluttershy's place and trotted up to the door. It was pretty dark out, and it looked like there weren't any lights on downstairs. But Fluttershy had told her to come over tonight, so she didn't hesitate to knock on the door.

“It's open,” came a quiet voice from inside.

With a smirk, Rainbow flicked back her mane and pushed open the door, striding inside. Sure enough, the hall was dark and unlit. Fluttershy wasn't there to greet her.

“Uh, Fluttershy?” Rainbow called. “You upstairs?”

“Yes,” came her reply. “Come on up.”

After closing the door behind her, Rainbow started up the stairs. She leaned against one wall, so as not to trip in the darkness. The only light to be seen was a dim one coming from upstairs. When she reached the top, Rainbow saw that this was candlelight, coming from within Fluttershy's bedroom.

Stepping inside, Rainbow cast her eyes over the place. There were two firefly lamps, but they were both covered, and candles had been lit on the surfaces beside them. There were about a dozen candles in all, most of which were resting on Fluttershy's bedside table. Fluttershy was standing next to it, just lighting the last of them. She shook the flame from the match in her teeth, dropped it on the table and turned to smile at Rainbow as she entered.

“Wow,” said Rainbow. “What's all this? Fireflies escaped?”

Fluttershy shook her head and slowly crossed the room to Rainbow Dash. “Not exactly,” she said. She leant in and laid a gentle kiss on Rainbow's lips.

Rainbow blinked her eyes open after Fluttershy pulled back, and couldn't keep from raising an eyebrow even as she smiled. Since when had Fluttershy gotten so bold? Not that she was complaining.

Without a word, Fluttershy turned and made her way over to the bed. She sat down on the edge and turned her head so that her mane fell down over her one eye, and candlelight cast little shadows over her features. She patted the spot beside her with a hoof. “Would you like to sit down?” she asked.

In her head, Rainbow began adding together a couple of things that, considering present company, probably weren't supposed to be added together. She dismissed her thoughts as silly, smiled at Fluttershy and crossed the room to join her in sitting on the bed. On instinct, Rainbow unfolded a wing and put it around her marefriend's back, gently pressing their sides together. Fluttershy gratefully accepted the touch.

“I've been thinking about what you said,” Fluttershy whispered, resting her head against Rainbow's chest.

Rainbow scrunched up her eyes and bit her tongue, trying to think. She hated it when ponies said stuff like that. Mainly because Rainbow said stuff all the time, and trying to pick out which of that actually meant anything to the pony in question was next to impossible.

“About being more assertive,” Fluttershy clarified. Rainbow let out a grateful breath and smiled.

“Oh yeah,” she said. “Hey, you know it was just a suggestion, right? You're fine just the way you are.”

“No, I know,” said Fluttershy. “And I think you're right.”

“You do?”

“Mhm.” Fluttershy gulped. “There's something I... want.”

Rainbow grinned and tried to turn to meet her eyes, but their position made it impossible. “Hey, good for you! What is it?”

“...You.”

Rainbow blinked. “Uh, you already have me, 'Shy. I'm right here.”

Fluttershy let out a shuddering breath against Rainbow's chest and lifted her head. One of her eyes was still covered by her mane, but the other met Rainbow's gaze. “All of you,” she breathed.

'All of Rainbow' was hit by a sudden wave of heat. Her breath caught in her throat. Maybe it was the closeness of their bodies, or maybe it was the fire in Fluttershy's eyes... something about the atmosphere made her sound downright seductive. Rainbow mentally shook herself.

“I-I'm not sure we're on the same page,” she muttered, though she had a pretty good feeling that they were.

Fluttershy licked her lips nervously, and Rainbow desperately tried to ignore the way her eyes flicked downwards before she spoke. “I want... sex.”

The three words that couldn't possibly have come from Fluttershy's lips hit Rainbow about five seconds after they were spoken. She drew a sharp breath. The candles, the demeanour... it all made sense.

But it was Fluttershy. This was Fluttershy!

Her breath shook a little as she replied. “I-I did not mishear that, did I?” It was more of a statement than a question, but Fluttershy shook her head all the same. “Fluttershy, that's... huge.”

Fluttershy nodded.

“B-but you've never done it before,” Rainbow whispered. “You're asking me to-- I mean, we've only been together a few weeks!”

“I know,” said Fluttershy. She held Rainbow's gaze. “But I care about you very much. I've been wanting to show you how I feel. I want my first time--” She paused, blinked and smiled. “--to be with you.”

Rainbow mouthed hopelessly. What the hay was she supposed to say? “I can't just--”

“It's okay,” Fluttershy whispered. She leaned forwards, until their muzzles were a breath apart. “I want this. Don't you?”

Rainbow's mind was foggy as anything, and her eyes were already half-lidded, just breathing in Fluttershy's scent. She knew the answer she wanted to give. If it were any other mare sitting next to her right now, she wouldn't have waited a heartbeat to take her then and there. But this was Fluttershy. This mare trusted her. This mare was her friend. This mare had never had sex before, and was asking Rainbow to be her first, after only the few weeks they'd been dating.

It gave her pause. She tried to resist...

“I... really want this,” Rainbow shuddered.

She failed. But she tried. That had to count for something...

Fluttershy let out a shuddering breath of her own and closed the remaining distance between them. Their lips met. A second later, their tongues met. Rainbow drew a heavy breath through her nose and squeezed her wing tight around Fluttershy, as she had done too few times before, and conceded herself to the sensation. Their breaths and tastes intermingled. Their bodies pressed together. The angle was awkward, but Fluttershy turned her body to correct that. Rainbow turned too.

It would've taken a pony of far greater willpower to resist the squeak that Fluttershy gave as Rainbow pushed her down onto her back. Greater still to ignore the excited eyes that stared up at her from the bed. Rainbow didn't have that kind of willpower. So she did the only thing that she could do.

She scrunched her eyes closed and threw herself from the bed. She hit the floor at a bad angle, winded herself and hit her head. The carpet did something to reduce the impact, but the shock of it alone was enough to snap Rainbow back to her senses.

She jumped to her hooves and shook herself like a wild animal. Fluttershy watched her from the bed, looking utterly stunned.

“I can't,” said Rainbow. The moisture making her vision all hazy was probably due to a concussion, but she forced herself not to think about it. “Fluttershy, this is not what I meant! When I said that you should be more assertive about what you want, I never meant that you should rush into things. Especially not something as big a deal as this!”

“I-I'm not rushing!” said Fluttershy. She had a fierce blush on her face as she pushed herself up into a sitting position again. “I mean... I suppose I've only been thinking about it for a few days, but--”

“A few days?” Rainbow shook her head. “Fluttershy, this is something that will change your life. You will never forget it. It's not something you can jump into just because I said something--” She hesitated. “--Something dumb.”

“But... I want it to be with you,” Fluttershy said, very quietly. Her voice was shaking. Hesitant? Yup. Upset? Definitely. Way to go, Dash.

Rainbow gulped down the painful lump in her throat and kept shaking her head, as if it would keep her thoughts from settling on Fluttershy. “This is too fast. I can't. I can't do this.”

“Rainbow--”

“I've gotta go. I'm sorry,” said Rainbow. She didn't wait for a reply. She unfurled her wings, flew down the stairs and... just away.

Fluttershy sat upright on the bed, utter shock and confusion on her face, as she heard the front door slam shut. She felt cold, confused and, suddenly, very alone.

* * *

7 - Celebrity (Green Isn't Your Colour)

“Oh my gosh, that's Fluttershy!”

“No way! Hey, Fluttershy! Can you sign this, please?”

“Quick, she's getting away!”

Fluttershy had already broken into a sprint down the street, her hooves pounding against the dirt and her breath coming hard. The voices on her tail weren't too close, but they weren't getting further either – she was just about keeping the distance, and she couldn't keep it up for long.

In her desperation, she turned down an alley, hoping to break her pursuers' line of sight for long enough to lose them. It might've worked, if the alley she'd turned down hadn't been a dead end. She skidded to a halt in front of a sheer wall and glanced around for other exits. There were none.

One of the voices called out in confusion, and Fluttershy knew she only had a few seconds to weigh her options. If she could calm herself down enough to get her wings to listen to her, she might be able to fly up and over the buildings. But then, she wasn't a very fast flier, and she knew that flying would only draw more attention to herself. She knew because she'd tried it before.

If flying was out, that left two options. To hide – which would be difficult, considering that the alley was bare – or to face her pursuers. She bit her lip and turned towards the entrance of the alley, knowing that her pursuers would come around the corner any second, and she'd be trapped.

And then a rainbow blur tore down from the sky and slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Fluttershy covered her eyes with a hoof as it settled, and as it did, she saw a very welcome sight smirking at her from just a few steps ahead.

“Need a lift?” said Rainbow Dash, flapping her wings demonstratively.

Fluttershy stared at her and stammered. “I-I...”

“Where'd she go?”

“She went down that alley! Hurry, girls – I have to get her to sign my poster or my sister will kill me!”

Panic spurring her into motion, Fluttershy nodded emphatically and rushed forwards. Rainbow lowered herself, letting Fluttershy jump onto her back.

“Hold on tight,” said Rainbow, as Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around her neck.

“Please don't go too fa—AH!”

They shot into the sky like a bullet, and Fluttershy could only squeal and squeeze her eyes shut as she clung onto Rainbow for dear life. All sound but the tearing wind vanished from her world, the voices of her pursuers forgotten as she realised that she'd traded one scary situation for another. She took some comfort in the knowledge that she could trust Rainbow to protect her. As long as they didn't crash...

Mercifully though, they didn't. Fluttershy felt them slowing down after a few panicked seconds that felt like minutes. They finally came in for a silent landing, and Fluttershy could tell that they were inside because the wind had stopped completely.

“You can open your eyes now,” said Rainbow. “And maybe ease up on my neck a little.”

Fluttershy forced herself to open one eye and glance at her surroundings. She found herself in the familiar cloud décor of Rainbow Dash's bedroom. It was a simple room, with a bed, bedside table, Wonderbolts posters on the wall and an open doorway leading downstairs. There was also an open window, which Fluttershy guessed was how they got in.

It took her a moment, but she eventually decided that it was safe to get down. She loosened her grip and slipped down from Rainbow's back, landing soundlessly on the cloud-stuff floor. Rainbow Dash rolled her neck, folded her wings and turned to smile at Fluttershy. “Thank you for flying Air Rainbow. We know you had an awesome flight, but feel free to tell us so.”

Fluttershy cracked a smile. “My hero,” she said. She stepped forward and planted a long kiss on Rainbow's lips.

When they parted, Rainbow's smile grew tenfold. “Wow. If that's what I get for rescuing you from your adoring fans, I might just have to make a habit of it.”

“Please do,” said Fluttershy, walking over to the window. Looking out, she saw Ponyville in the distance and no sign of her pursuers. She'd escaped. 'For now,' she thought, as she closed the window. She took a deep breath and felt her heart still pounding away in her chest, winding down from the adrenaline of the flight. The breath came out as a sigh.

“What's up?” said Rainbow.

“Oh, nothing.” Fluttershy turned and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. “I'm just not sure how long I can keep doing this. I can't even go into town now without ponies chasing after me, asking me to sign things and--” She shuddered. “--take photos with them.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Boy, I'd hate to have your problems,” she muttered. When Fluttershy frowned at her though, Rainbow looked away and changed her tone. “I wouldn't worry too much. I give it another week or two before the next big thing comes along, and when it does, everyone'll forget this whole thing ever happened.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I hope so.”

“For what it's worth, I hope it dies down soon, too,” said Rainbow. “I've gotta admit, I was getting kinda jealous, hearing everypony around town talking about you all the time.”

Shaking her head, Fluttershy wondered if Rainbow could understand. “Being in the limelight isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's actually quite terrifying. At least for me.”

“Ah, I didn't mean jealous like that,” said Rainbow, waving it off and coming over to sit beside her on the bed. “I guess hearing everypony talking about how beautiful you are, how they'd love to have somepony like you as their friend--” Her eyes darkened. “--or marefriend... I don't know. It just kinda seems like that's the stuff I'm supposed to think about you.” Rainbow shrugged and half-turned away, obviously embarrassed at having said that out loud.

Fluttershy stared at her for a moment, then smiled and touched Rainbow's leg with a hoof. “Well, you have nothing to be jealous about. You're the only one I think about that way.”

Rainbow glanced down at Fluttershy's hoof, and returned the smile as she covered it with her own. “You mean that?”

“Of course,” said Fluttershy. She blinked, then stammered. “O-oh. That's not weird, is it? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable--”

Rainbow laughed. “No, no, it's cool. It's just somethin' I've been thinking about.”

Fluttershy relaxed again. “Oh?”

“I've been with others ponies before, y'know?” said Rainbow. “And each of them had something special that I really liked about them. But that never stopped me from looking at other ponies, thinking about them like that, too. Not that I'd ever do anything about it, but still.”

“Oh,” said Fluttershy again, lowering her gaze nervously. “Well, um, I don't have that.”

Rainbow curled her lip. “Yeah, neither do I, that's what I was thinking about.”

Fluttershy bit the inside of her cheek, thinking for a moment to confirm that that didn't quite make sense. When she looked up at Rainbow, she found her staring out towards the window with a thoughtful look on her face.

“Since I've been with you, I haven't so much as taken a second look at anypony else,” Rainbow said. “It's like I don't even think about it anymore. And I hadn't even noticed it happening.”

Fluttershy's face warmed up. She wasn't quite sure that it was a compliment, but it certainly felt like one. There was a bit of a pause while she wondered how to respond, before deciding on, “I'm flattered... I think?”

“I don't know,” said Rainbow. “It just occurred to me, is all.” She stared at the window for a moment longer, before a smirk crossed her face and she turned to meet Fluttershy's eyes. “I guess I only have eyes for you, huh?”

That was definitely a compliment, she could see it in Rainbow's eyes. The confident smirk made Fluttershy want to hide behind her mane and blush while grinning madly, but she only got half-way, finding that she couldn't bring herself to break eye contact. They smiled at one another for a long time, and for Fluttershy, it was one of those moments that she'd keep with her – that she'd smile and think about when she went to sleep each night. It was a wonderful feeling, one that she felt a lot lately, despite not being able to give it a solid name. Warm didn't really do it credit.

“Oh, hey, that reminds me!” said Rainbow. She turned and fished around in the drawer of her bedside table for a moment, before pulling out a photograph. “Mind signing this for me? I'm gonna frame it and keep it here, if that's cool.”

The mare in the photograph wore a lovely green dress that came down past her hooves, and had her pink hair done up in an elegant bun. She had a tiny, frightened yet earnest smile on her face. Fluttershy recognised it immediately. It was one of the first photos that Photo Finish had taken of her – one of those that she'd claimed did not have 'The Magicks'. It had been one of Fluttershy's favourites though.

“Where did you get that?” she asked, taking it from Rainbow to get a closer look.

“One of Photo Finish's guys set up a stall in the market, selling them. When I heard about it, I was gonna go buy 'em out, but most of 'em were already sold when I got there. I mean, not that I was surprised – it's a great photo.”

Fluttershy smiled. “Photo Finish was very good at her job.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn't give her all the credit,” said Rainbow, producing a quill from her drawer and offering it along with another smirk.

With a grateful blush, Fluttershy took the quill and leant down to sign the photo in the bottom corner. She wrote, “To Rainbow. With love, Fluttershy.” It was a simple message, but it was special, and honest – the only honest autograph she'd given since becoming famous.

Rainbow accepted the photo and quill back, smiling when she saw what was written. “Thanks,” she said. She placed the items back in her drawer with care, and closed it, before getting to her hooves and stretching. “Well, I guess those fans are gonna be looking for you all over town. You'd better lay low 'til the heat dies down.”

“That's probably a good idea,” Fluttershy agreed.

Rainbow nodded and smiled back at her. “What do you wanna do in the meantime?”

“Oh, well,” said Fluttershy, hiding a little behind her fringe as she found a nervy smile of her own. “I'm sure we'll think of something.”

* * *

8 - Coincidence (The Cutie Mark Chronicles)

Fluttershy leant on the windowsill in her living room, smiling out at the rainbow in the sky above Ponyville. It was beautiful, and somehow, after the day's events, it felt strangely appropriate.

“Hey, Fluttershy. Can you give me a hoof? I can't... get this... to be fire.”

With a giggle, Fluttershy turned to see Rainbow Dash sat in front of the fireplace, clumsily rolling a stick between her hooves and trying to make a spark. It looked cute, but it wasn't ever going to work. She crossed the room and knelt down by her partner, taking the stick from her and placing it with the others in the pile.

“It's my fireplace, there's a trick to it,” she said. “Here, watch.” She reached in and started shifting the kindling into a vaguely pyramid shape, stacking the bigger logs around and atop the smaller ones.

While Fluttershy worked, Rainbow sat back and watched, as she was told. “What were you looking at?” Rainbow asked. “Out the window I mean. Something going on?”

“It was a rainbow over Ponyville,” said Fluttershy. She smiled wistfully at her pyramid of wood. “I was just wondering if our other friends were looking at it as well.”

“Oh, cool,” said Rainbow, as Fluttershy picked up a flint stone and began striking it. “Heh. I still can't believe everyone got their cutie marks because of my Sonic Rainboom. I always knew it was a big deal, but that's, like, huge!”

“It is,” Fluttershy agreed. The sparks ignited the dry kindling at the bottom, and she leant in to blow on it a few times. The fire started, drawing an impressed grunt from Rainbow. Fluttershy turned to smile at her. “To think, if you hadn't stood up to those bullies, none of this might have happened. It's amazing how something so simple could lead to changing so many lives.

Rainbow nodded and watched the fire. “You said it.”

Still smiling, Fluttershy lowered her eyes. “I've never really thanked you for that, have I? I suppose, between falling to the ground and getting my cutie mark, it slipped my mind. But it shouldn't have, especially since you were racing to, um, 'defend my honour'.”

“Don't worry about it. It's kinda what I do,” said Rainbow. She got a playful grin. “Buuut, if you insist, I accept 'thank you's in the form of kisses and/or food.”

Fluttershy gave a muted giggle and leaned in to oblige her, closing her eyes and kissing Rainbow on the lips. The gesture was familiar by now, but that didn't do much to make it less magical. Every time she kissed Rainbow was a flood of warmth and safety and longing that always ended too soon. It'd fast become a favourite part of their relationship.

When she pulled back – and after Rainbow stole one last split-second of touch by nipping her lower lip – Fluttershy opened her eyes with a warm smile. “Thank you,” she said, in case there was any doubt. Rainbow smiled right back at her.

“Any time.”

The fire cracked and popped, drawing Fluttershy's eye. It had caught very nicely, but once it got going it would eat through the wood they had pretty quickly. “We'll need some more logs to keep it going tonight,” she thought aloud. “I need to stay and finish dinner though. Would you mind?”

“On it,” said Rainbow, rising to her hooves and stretching. “I'll go acquire some from the shed on Applejack's farm.” When Fluttershy gave her a very gentle scolding frown, Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Fine, I'll ask her first.”

Fluttershy smiled and got up as well. “Hurry back.”

Rainbow grinned, pecked her on the lips, then took off out the window towards Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy watched her go, leaning on the windowsill again, and breathed a smiling sigh. Left alone now, she thought to herself just how lucky she was to have Rainbow Dash in her life, and in the way that she was. A few months ago, she never would have imagined being this comfortably romantic with somepony, let alone with her childhood friend.

Then her eyes fell on the rainbow over Ponyville again, still hanging up there as bright as ever. Her expression turned thoughtful. 'Or was it luck at all?' she wondered.

Fire crackled and danced, as was its wont, sending waves of heat out over the pair of pegasi who lay snuggling on the couch. It was dark outside and had gotten very cold, so they'd moved the couch right up next to the hearth and had dinner there, evidenced by the two empty plates on the floor in front of them. Comfy as they were, Rainbow and Fluttershy had decided to leave the washing up for the morning, and settled in for the night.

For Rainbow, there was no doubt in her mind. Lying there with a belly full of good food and Fluttershy curled up against her chest, she'd never once felt more at peace. Sure, she was at home and comfortable when she was tearing through the sky in a race – being a mare of action and all – but the simple comfort she felt right then was indescribably more awesome.

Though she'd never be able to express it with words, she did her best by tenderly squeezing a wing around Fluttershy, holding her close. Judging by the sound Fluttershy made, she approved. It was the longest, most comfortable silence of Rainbow's life. So far. She hoped for many more.

“...Rainbow,” said Fluttershy at last, almost quieter than the crackling of the fire. The first word since dinner.

Rainbow smiled, but kept her eyes closed. “Yeah?”

“Do you think the six of us were really all linked together, before we even met?”

Rainbow curled her lip and took a moment to think about it. “I don't know. I guess anything's possible,” she said. “Why?”

“I was just thinking,” said Fluttershy. “Earlier. About how lucky I am to have you. But... maybe it's not luck at all. Maybe we were meant to find each other. To end up here.”

That made Rainbow smirk. “If that's true, then I owe destiny a drink for setting us up.”

Fluttershy made a sound that could've been a very sleepy giggle. She was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Do you think it could be? Destiny, I mean.”

Rainbow opened her eyes half way and spared a tired look for the flickering fire. “Anyhing's possible,” she said again, leaning her head back. She'd be lying if she said that this was the first time she'd thought about destiny, about what the world had planned for her. She let out a breath, closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. “But no, I don't think so.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The universe might've been giving us nudges, one way or the other, I don't know,” said Rainbow. “Maybe my Sonic Rainboom linked us together and made sure we'd all meet up somewhere, somehow. But at the end of the day, we're all here because we chose to be. I'm here with you because I want to be.” She gave a half-hearted shrug, with neither the energy nor desire to move too much. “If that's what destiny wanted too, lucky coincidence for him, I guess.”

“Mm,” said Fluttershy, and Rainbow didn't have the awareness to ask what that meant. After what could've been ten minutes or an hour, Fluttershy shifted her weight and pressed closer to Rainbow, just when she thought it was impossible to get any more comfortable. “In that case,” Fluttershy said, “I'm glad you chose me.”

Rainbow smiled again, and she felt her thoughts beginning to swirl into dreams. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I'm the luckiest... somethin'... that you chose me too.”

* * *

9 - Concealment (Party Of One)

Between planning Pinkie's birthday party, keeping it a secret long enough for it to be a surprise, and then attending the party itself, Rainbow's day had been a very long one. The party had gone on for a good while, and it was after dark when Rainbow finally said her goodbyes and left to walk Fluttershy home. It had been worth the effort though – seeing Pinkie as happy as she'd ever been – and Rainbow couldn't keep a tired smile from her face as she walked down the trail beside her marefriend.

As much fun as the whole thing had been, there was still something that had been weighing on Rainbow's mind all day. She spared Fluttershy a sidelong glance. “I think Pinkie might be onto us, y'know?”

Fluttershy looked back at her with sleepy eyes and a curious frown. “Really? What makes you say that?”

“I don't know,” Rainbow admitted, because it was more of a hunch than anything. “There's just something off about the way she's been acting around us lately. Especially earlier today, when she was grilling us about hiding something from her.” Rainbow shook her head. “Call me paranoid, but I thought I saw it in her eyes then. I was sure she was gonna say something.”

Fluttershy turned her frown to the ground. “You might be right,” she said. “She's been very suspicious. She may not know for sure, but she definitely suspects something.”

So, she thought so too. That was definitely the impression Rainbow had been getting, and if Fluttershy had it as well, then chances were that they were right. Pinkie Pie was getting close to figuring it out. And if Pinkie was getting close, the others couldn't be far behind.

“I don't think we're gonna be able to keep this quiet for much longer,” said Rainbow. “I mean, with how hard it was for us just to cover up the surprise party, we're not gonna last long if ponies actually start asking questions.”

“Mm,” said Fluttershy. “Especially not with our friends.”

That was very true. They'd naturally been spending a lot of time with their friends lately, and even if they'd managed to cover up the few near slip-ups they'd had, something had to give sooner or later.

“What do you think we should do?” Rainbow said.

With the thoughtful look still on her face, Fluttershy looked straight ahead. “Maybe we should just tell them,” she said.

Rainbow raised her eyebrows. Not that she'd really expected any other answer, but it was still surprising to hear her say it out loud. “You think so?”

“Well, maybe,” Fluttershy repeated. “I'm not sure. But it might be better to do it that way than wait for them to figure it out. They deserve to hear it from us, don't you think?”

“Yeah. I guess,” said Rainbow, giving her wings an uncomfortable flap. It was a good point, but it was one she'd already thought about herself. She'd been hoping for a different point-of-view, maybe some other options to consider.

It wasn't like she wanted to keep it a secret, of course, and it definitely wasn't like she wanted to hide it from her friends. That was actually getting more and more difficult by the day. It was just... awkward. She and Fluttershy had been dating for a while now. It was long past the 'So, we've started dating and thought we should tell you' point, and well into 'So, we've been dating for a long time and kept it a secret' territory. Not that it was anypony else's business to begin with, but at the same time, having not even mentioned it to their friends felt wrong.

And the longer they let that keep them from saying anything, the more awkward it would get, and the harder it would be to say anything... Rainbow sighed, and they walked in silence for a while.

“Do you think they'll mind?” said Fluttershy, looking over at Rainbow now. Rainbow looked back with an eyebrow raised in question. “Well, I mean, I know they'll probably be happy for us. But do you think--” Fluttershy glanced down at the ground, uncertain. “Do you think that anything will... change?”

'Change.' Now, that was a good question, and Rainbow would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it too. 'Will they be okay with it? Will they look at us differently? Will they think it's a stupid idea?' The thoughts, or worries, such as they were, were daunting to say the least. Unfounded – since their friends were a lot more likely to be okay with it than they were to object – but still daunting.

“I don't know,” said Rainbow, shaking her head. She wished she could be more confident than that, but she just didn't know. “I hope not.”

Fluttershy faced front again and watched the ground in front of her hooves, looking pensive. “Mm. Me too.”

An uncomfortable weight settled in Rainbow's stomach. She wasn't sure whether it was for Fluttershy, or more for her own benefit, but she felt the need to say something more. “Hey,” she said, getting Fluttershy's attention. “You know, even if things did change, even if they were all totally against it – which isn't gonna happen anyway – that wouldn't change things between us, right?”

Fluttershy blinked at her, and something flickered behind her eyes. “Well, I'd like to think so. But, what about the Elements of Harmony?” she said.

“Pfft, what about the Elements?” said Rainbow, with a little more vigour than she needed to. “You're my oldest friend, Fluttershy. My best friend. I'm not gonna let anything get between us, especially not some dumb pieces of jewellery.” She surprised herself in saying it, but it was true.

The Elements of Harmony were a super big deal – really important – she got that. If another threat like Nightmare Moon came along, the six of them would need to band together to invoke the Elements and save Equestria. But if it really came down to it, if she really had to choose between wielding the Elements and being with Fluttershy, she knew the choice she'd make. Sure, it was selfish, but it was her choice.

Besides which, she was pretty sure the Elements wouldn't work in the first place if she and Fluttershy thought of them as a relationship barrier.

After a few moments of silence, Fluttershy cracked a little smile. “I suppose you're right. That's quite romantic of you.”

Rainbow dispelled the childish urge to gag at the word, and instead brushed it off with a shrug. “Hey, I can be romantic sometimes.”

Fluttershy nodded in agreement. She was still smiling as she looked ahead, to her cottage in the distance. “You're right. I'm sure they'll all be very supportive. But even if they're not, we'll still have one another.”

“Yeah, we will,” Rainbow agreed. She moved closer to Fluttershy, so that their sides touched, and wrapped a wing around her as they walked. “We'll tell 'em soon,” she said. “When the time's right. I can't keep pretending much longer anyway.”

“Me neither,” said Fluttershy, moving into the embrace. “I--” Her breath froze for a moment, then came out in a quiet huff.

Their angle made it difficult, but Rainbow managed to quirk a brow at her. “You what?”

Fluttershy met her eye too, with a smile. “I'm glad we're together,” she said.

Rainbow gave her a half-smile. She had a feeling that wasn't what Fluttershy was going to say, but she appreciated the sentiment all the same. She squeezed her wing tighter around Fluttershy, pulling her close, and let that be her response.

Nestled up against Rainbow's coat, Fluttershy closed her eyes, and they walked the rest of the way in companionable silence.

* * *

10 - Expectations (Best Night Ever)

It was well after midnight, and the Canterlot Palace Gardens were peacefully quiet. Moonlight played over the winding trail, lighting the way for the two pegasi who walked alone, careful not to disturb the silence. The many little critters, who called the Gardens their home, watched from bushes and tree branches as the smiling ponies passed, and every now and then a couple of birds would flit overhead, drawing attention to themselves only long enough for them to vanish into the night.

Rainbow watched the spectacle with an honest smile on her face. Even she had to admit that the Gardens were awesome, and walking them with Fluttershy by her side brought a strange sense of peace to her mind after the rough evening. It wasn't so much the cute animals and decorations that made her smile though. The look on Fluttershy's face, as she drifted along the trail in her flowing gala dress, could well have been the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

“This is wonderful,” said Fluttershy, smiling back at the pair of squirrels who watched her from the hollow of a tree. “I can't believe you convinced the princess to let us come back here after hours.”

Trying to play it off as no big deal – though she knew it was – Rainbow shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a pretty awesome marefriend.”

Fluttershy drifted across and pressed gently up against her. “That goes without saying. Thank you for this, Rainbow.”

Pleased with herself, Rainbow wrapped a wing around her partner as they turned another corner. “Hey, I figured at least one of us should get her Best Night Ever. Especially after how long we've been waiting for it, right?”

“Mm”, said Fluttershy, closing her eyes and resting her head against Rainbow's. “For what it's worth, I'm sorry tonight wasn't what you were hoping for.”

“It's not the end of the world,” said Rainbow. And it wasn't. Sure, she was a little put out that she didn't get to spend more time with the Wonderbolts, but there'd be other chances. She squeezed her wing around Fluttershy, enjoying the warmth between them. “Besides, it all worked out pretty well in the end. Didn't think I'd get a chance to go on a 'long walk in the moonlight' with you. I bet Rarity would be jealous.”

“Oh, I felt so terrible that her prince didn't turn out to be very... princely. She was so excited about meeting him.”

“Yeah, she thought it'd be 'love at first sight'.” Rainbow gagged. “She'll get over it before long. It's not her fault he was a jerk. Maybe when we get back to Ponyville she'll actually start paying attention to all the nice guys chasing her.” She paused, then shook her head. “But probably not. She's holding out for her fairy-tale prince.”

Fluttershy turned her eyes skyward, as another couple of birds flew past. “Do you think she'll find him?”

'How should I know?' Rainbow curled her lip and watched the trail ahead for a moment, thinking about it. “I think she'll find someone,” she said at last. “It might not be who she's expecting, but he'll make her feel special. Or she'll make her feel special. However it turns out, I guess.”

Fluttershy giggled. “You're so romantic lately.”

“Wonder why that is,” said Rainbow, grinning.

They followed the trail in silence for a while longer, content to just hold one another close and enjoy the walk. Fluttershy would pause now and then to get a closer look at a foraging critter, but they didn't stop to rest properly until they reached a cute little stone bridge over a stream. They leant out over the side, watching all manner of colourful fish swimming past, and enjoying the gentle babbling of the water.

Again, Rainbow wasn't all that interested in the creatures themselves, but her mouth did drop a little when she saw a very big, very cool-looking fish swim by, with rainbow fins that left sparkling trails behind it in the water. An excellent fashion choice, if she did say so herself.

“...Rainbow?” said Fluttershy. Rainbow turned slowly, to see her smiling down at the water. “I can't thank you enough for this.”

Rainbow blinked, then gave her an arch smile. “But you're gonna keep trying, huh? Seriously, you're welcome. I just wanted to make tonight special for you, that's all.”

“And it means the world to me,” Fluttershy said. Her eyes drifted shut, and she said nothing more. Somepony who didn't know her as well as Rainbow did wouldn't have noticed the way her smile flickered, or the little nervous gulp. Rainbow noticed though, and she recognised the signs.

Hoping to make Fluttershy feel more comfortable, Rainbow averted her eyes and pretended to be watching the fish again. She let the silence hang in the air for a moment, before speaking up in her gentlest voice. “Was there somethin' else you wanted to say?”

Fluttershy let out a long breath through her nose, which sounded relieved. “Yes,” she said, followed by another silence. Rainbow didn't press, she gave Fluttershy time to gather herself. After a few more moments, in the corner of her eye, Rainbow saw her lift her head and open her eyes again. “I've been thinking about you quite a lot lately--” She paused, then corrected herself. “An awful lot, really.”

Rainbow nodded understandingly. “Happens to everyone.”

Fluttershy giggled and shook her head. “I mean, I've been thinking about us,” she said, more relaxed now. “There's something I've been meaning to tell you. I've been waiting for the right moment, and after how lovely tonight has been...”

There was suddenly a lot of unexplainable tension in Rainbow's shoulders. She tried to play it off, and she thought she did a pretty good job of hiding her own nervous gulp. “G-go for it.”

“I know I rushed into this before,” said Fluttershy. “But I've had a lot of time to think about it now. I've thought, and I've waited, and-- Well, I don't need to wait anymore.” She turned to smile at Rainbow, and with only the slightest hint of pink in her cheeks, said, “I'm ready.”

After the second it took to process that, Rainbow felt a rush of heat come over her, starting from her heart and washing all the way out to her face and hooves. “You're ready,” she repeated, trying the jostle her brain into action. Unable to decide whether to grin like an idiot or frown in concern, she settled for something in between. “Y-you sure?”

It was a stupid question. Rainbow could see the surety and intent behind those eyes. All the same, Fluttershy gave her a gentle smile and nodded.

“I've never been more sure of anything in my life,” she said. “You're special to me, Rainbow. Very special. I want to show you just how much you mean to me.”

Rainbow's mouth had gone dry. There was a definite smile on her face now, though she was quaking a little. She shook her head slightly. “You don't have to do anything different to show me that, Fluttershy. I already know how you feel about me – I see it every time you smile – 'cause it's the same way I feel about you.”

Fluttershy hid one eye behind her mane, though it was more playful than timid. “Well, I may also have a slightly selfish ulterior motive,” she said, which only made Rainbow blush brighter.

“I want this,” Fluttershy insisted. “But this time, I'm not just thinking about me. I want us both to remember this night forever. So I'm not telling you, I'm asking you...” Her eyes literally twinkled in the moonlight. “Would you please stay with me tonight?”

If a question could ever come close to making Rainbow tear up, that was it. As cool and together as she was, she managed to play if off, but even so... The sincerity Fluttershy put into the words, the intense emotion behind them, and above all, the renewed trust in her eyes. After that one night, which seemed so long ago now, she'd been afraid that Fluttershy would never trust her enough to ask again. But she did, and she had.

And there was only only answer Rainbow could give.

“Yeah,” she whispered, with a smile that said more than the word alone ever could. “Yeah, I'd love to.”

She crossed the distance between them, closed her eyes, and met Fluttershy in a long, tender kiss. The tension that'd built up in her shoulders melted away as quickly as it'd come, leaving behind only a comfortable, buzzing feeling. It was the most a kiss with Fluttershy had ever meant to Rainbow – and that was saying something – conveying all the relief and excitement and joy that she didn't even know she'd been feeling. She knew Fluttershy felt it, too.

They didn't part, so much as they moved closer and wrapped together in a hug, nuzzling into one another's manes and relaxing into the embrace. Fluttershy made a quiet noise of contentment, and simply murmured, “Yay.”

Rainbow chuckled and held her tight.

She hadn't gotten her way with the Wonderbolts, and nor had any of her friends got what they expected from the evening. But whether by chance or some grand design, for she and Fluttershy, it'd still turned out to be the Best Night Ever.

* * *

Author's Note

Season 1, complete! :twilightsmile:

11 - Divulgence (The Return Of Harmony)

Six friends sat and laughed around a table in Twilight's library, where they'd set up for the afternoon to privately celebrate their victory. Compared to the massive party in their honour the day before, which the whole of Ponyville had attended, this was pleasantly tame and laid-back. As much as Rainbow Dash loved big parties, even she had to admit that it was nice to chill out and relax with just a few close friends.

“...and how 'bout discorded Rainbow Dash, huh?” said Applejack, grinning from ear to ear. “Sittin' up there with her head in the clouds, sayin' she's too cool to get involved. Huh... thinkin' 'bout it, you weren't much different from normal, were ya, RD?”

“Hey!” said Rainbow, as her friends all got a laugh at that. She couldn't help but smile too. “I'm not that bad. At least I wasn't walking into stuff because my eyes were shifting all over the place, Applejack.”

“I couldn't help it! I felt like everyone was gonna accuse me of lyin'!”

“Which you were,” Rarity pointed out. “Constantly. I wonder, now that you've regained your senses, can you actually tell a convincing lie?”

“Well, uh, sure I can!” said Applejack, pursing her lips and shifting her eyes as soon as she'd finished. They all laughed again.

It was good to joke around about this stuff, Rainbow thought. Sure, it'd been pretty messed up – even a little scary – at the time, and if you started thinking about it too much or too seriously, you'd give yourself nightmares. Laughing with your friends was a way to talk about it and get all those worries off your chest without getting too heavy. Thus, the jokes.

As the laughter petered out and Rainbow wiped a tear from her eye, she realised that one voice had stopped long before the rest of them. In the seat next to Rainbow, Fluttershy was quietly looking down at the table, eyes unfocused. She had a smile on her face, but she was clearly distracted, lost in thought. Rainbow knew what she was thinking about.

“You've gone quiet all of a sudden,” Applejack pointed out, as she was a master of subtlety. “Somethin' on your mind?”

Fluttershy looked up at her, then glanced around at everypony else. They all met her with looks of friendly interest. “Oh, um...” Finally, she turned to look at Rainbow, smile twitching up as she did.

She didn't say anything, but Rainbow heard the question. They'd talked about it earlier and decided that tonight was the night, but Rainbow had been so caught up in the conversation that she'd almost forgotten. Not quite though. With a smile, Rainbow nodded and sat up in her seat, looking around at the others with confidence. She had to admit to being a little nervous, but she wasn't going to let it show.

“Actually, there is something,” Fluttershy said, taking her time. “I've been meaning to tell you all... That is, we've been meaning to tell you something for a while now.”

Having noticed their exchange, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie glanced between the two of them with curious excitement. “Yes?” Rarity prompted.

Fluttershy's nerves got the better of her. She gulped and turned to Rainbow for support, shaking a little.

Rainbow gave her a knowing smile, then lifted a hoof and lay it on the table, offering it to her. Fluttershy glanced at it, then slowly lifted her own hoof and crossed it with Rainbow's. The gesture helped her swallow the lump in her throat.

“Rainbow Dash and I,” she managed. So far so good. “We're, u-um...” She muttered the last word under her breath.

Their friends all leaned in a little closer. “Sorry, what was that?” Twilight asked.

“R-Rainbow Dash and I are... mmrph.”

Everyone stared at her for a moment, then turned to Rainbow in question. Even Fluttershy spared her a sidelong glance, as if to say 'Help me.' Rainbow rolled her eyes, but squeezed Fluttershy's hoof to let her know it was okay. She smiled across at their friends and took over, figuring she might as well just come out and say it. “We're dating.”

A collective gasp went up from Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Applejack didn't gasp, but her eyebrows slowly crept up her head. After that, everypony went eerily quiet. They probably didn't mean to stare, but they did – looking at Rainbow first, then to Fluttershy to confirm it, then back to Rainbow. Their expressions were unreadable, and they went on for a lot longer than was comfortable.

'Uh, okay,' Rainbow thought, feeling her heart speed up. 'This probably isn't a good sign. We knew they'd be surprised, but...' A glance at Fluttershy, who had her eyes completely hidden behind her mane, told that she was thinking the same as Rainbow. 'They're gonna freak out. Oh, feathers. Maybe I should try to play it off as a joke.'

That idea got shot down pretty quickly, though she gave it more thought than she would've liked to admit. This wasn't a joke, it was for real. She didn't know how Fluttershy would feel about backing out and covering it up again. It was a short-term solution, sure. But if there was a problem here, pretending it wasn't there wouldn't make it go away. They had to face it.

Rainbow squared up and forced herself to wait. Whatever came, she knew how she felt about Fluttershy, and that wasn't going to change.

“Well,” said Applejack, finally breaking the silence. Rainbow met her eyes, and Applejack stared back, though she looked a little unfocused. Still processing it, maybe. She let the word hang in the air for an entirely too long awkward moment...

And then she smiled.

“You rascals,” she drawled. “I don't believe it. How long've you been keepin' this under your hats?”

“W-we weren't really 'keeping' it,” Fluttershy mumbled, quivering. “Keeping it from you, that is. We were just waiting for the right time.”

“Right,” said Rainbow, her own lips curling up as she stared at Applejack's smile. It was for real – pretty much always was with Applejack – and it took some of the edge off. She cleared her throat, which had gone dry, and answered the question. “As for how long it's been going on... Uh. You guys remember that thing with the dragon last year?”

“Whaaat?!” Rarity squealed, making Rainbow cringe. “You've been together all this time and you never once mentioned it? How could you do this to me?” She put a hoof to her forehead and swooned. “All the details I've missed, the romantic firsts that have long since passed. I could understand you not telling Twilight or Pinkie of course, but to keep it from me?”

“We're just going to ignore that comment,” said Twilight, deadpan. She found a smile and turned it on Rainbow and Fluttershy. “I can't believe you've been seeing one another all this time. Congratulations! Or... wait.” She put a hoof to her chin. “That doesn't sound right. But I am very happy for you both. This is wonderful news!”

Rainbow beamed as the butterflies in her stomach exploded into relief. “Thanks,” she said, though it didn't at all sum up how she really felt.

She didn't have a chance to figure out what exactly 'how she really felt' was, because Applejack – in her infinite tact – broke right in and said, “So when's the wedding?”

The pit dropped out of Rainbow's stomach. Fluttershy's face drained of colour. “U-um,” Rainbow said, intelligently.

“Applejack!” Rarity scolded. “You can't joke about things like that!”

“Hehe, sorry,” said Applejack. She leant over the table and punched Rainbow on the shoulder. “Gotta expect some teasin' though, right, RD? But, uh, on a serious note--” She leant closer and lowered her voice. “--have you two... you know...”

“Applejack, honestly!” Rarity all but screamed, going red as Applejack laughed. She was obviously pleased with herself at making the two of them extremely uncomfortable. Twilight looked between them, cluelessly, while Pinkie... Pinkie actually hadn't moved, at all – she was still covering her mouth with a hoof where she'd gasped, and she'd pretty much frozen there. The announcement had broken her.

Rainbow finally managed to regain her senses, realising that Applejack was just joking around. That only made it slightly less embarrassing. She shook her head and decided not to dwell on it. “Well, I don't know about all that,” she said, hoping to gloss over both questions. “We're still in kind of an, er, exploratory phase, I guess you'd call it. That's a word, right, Twilight?”

Twilight nodded automatically. Then her eyes went wide and her cheeks turned pink. “Explora... Oh, my.”

Rainbow facehoofed. “Not like that.”

“Well,” said Fluttershy, choosing then, of all moments, to pitch in. “We are kind of--”

“Anyway!” said Rainbow. “I meant that we're still getting used to being... together. We're not thinking ahead or anything, we're just taking it a day at a time. To see if it works, you know?” She looked across at Fluttershy and smiled. “But we're pretty serious now, right?”

Fluttershy beamed at her. “Right.”

Rainbow felt a rush of pride at that, and barely managed to keep herself from leaning in to kiss her. They both already knew that they were serious about each other, but admitting that to their friends, together, was a bit of a rush and a reality-check. It made her grin, at the very least, as her eyes wandered over their smiling faces. “So we just wanted you guys to know,” she finished.

“Well, we're glad that you trusted us with it,” said Twilight.

“Eventually,” said Rarity, crossing her hooves in a pout.

Applejack shook her head and finally gave Rainbow an honest smile. “Jokin' aside, I'm real happy for the two of you. 'Specially you, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy managed to meet her eyes. “Thank you.”

“Yes, I, of course, am happy for you as well,” said Rarity, with a little sigh. “But I hope you realise that I am going to need a great number of details, to make up for lost time.”

“If you'd like, I could tell you about it on our spa dates,” Fluttershy offered. “That is, if you don't mind, Rainbow.”

Rainbow shrugged. “Cool with me,” she said, smiling beside herself at the support of her friends. Well, most of her friends. Quirking a brow, she turned to look at the one pony who, very strangely, had yet to say anything. “What're you saying, Pinkie Pie? You usually--” She broke off, staring. Everyone joined her.

Pinkie Pie's face had gone very red, and she was shivering in place. It looked like she was trying to hold her breath, or maybe to keep herself from exploding. Knowing Pinkie, it was probably the second one. Rainbow spoke very carefully, for fear of setting her off. “Pinkie, are you okay?”

And then, in a trademark burst of confetti, the dam broke.

“I knew it!”

Before anyone could react, Pinkie was across the table and tackling Rainbow and Fluttershy into a crushing hug. Rainbow had the wind knocked out of her when she hit the ground, then squeezed out of her again by Pinkie's hooves. When, after a long moment of struggling, she finally managed to get a breath, Rainbow burst out laughing, and the others joined her.

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!”

As night began to fall, Fluttershy had to leave to feed her animals, so she and Rainbow said their goodbyes and left their friends to clean up what little mess there was.

“I don't believe it,” said Fluttershy, smiling wide. “We told them. They understood.”

“Well, they are our friends,” said Rainbow, as if she'd known it'd go that way all along. She had to keep up her image of coolness, after all.

“They are,” said Fluttershy. She let out a sigh. “I'm so glad to finally have that off my chest. I didn't realise just how much it was bothering me.”

Rainbow nodded. “You and me, both. You do realise that Rarity's not gonna stop bugging you about it now, right?”

Fluttershy giggled. “I suppose not, but I can't really blame her. It is quite exciting.”

“Glad you think so,” said Rainbow. “Just don't go telling her all my secrets or anything.”

“I won't,” said Fluttershy. “I'd like to keep some of those to myself.”

“Good. 'Cause I'd be ruined if anypony found out about my stamp collection.”

That made Fluttershy laugh, so loudly that she covered her mouth with a wing in embarrassment. Rainbow grinned at her. 'Still got it.' She let that hang in the air for a bit, just watching the clear sky above, and the stars. An image of the chocolate rain and marshmallow clouds from earlier flashed into her mind, followed by the memory of the rest of the town in chaos. She shook her head to get rid of the thought.

Fluttershy picked up on it, of course. “Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it's nothing,” said Rainbow. “Just been a pretty weird day, is all. I can't wait to get home to bed.”

“Mm,” Fluttershy agreed. “I know how you feel. I'm glad everything's back to normal after what happened. I felt just awful about how I treated our friends when Discord got ahold of me.”

“Hey, don't blame yourself for it,” said Rainbow. “All of us did stupid stuff, but it wasn't really us doing it, y'know?”

“I know,” Fluttershy agreed. “But I'm still happy I don't have to act like that anymore.”

Rainbow smiled, glad she wasn't making a big deal about it. See? The jokes worked.

“You were pretty awesome back there, by the way,” said Rainbow, remembering what she'd been meaning to tell Fluttershy all evening. “Catching up to me when I was under that mind-whammy thing. I mean, sure, I had Pinkie and Rarity slowing me down, but you were pulling a balloon and all so that pretty much put us on even ground. I'm impressed, Fluttershy.”

And she was. There weren't many ponies who could've pulled that off, and Fluttershy was the last one she would've expected such a burst of speed from. Befriending monsters, staring down dragons, and now racing alongside the Best Young Flier... Fluttershy was full of surprises.

“I have to admit, I surprised myself,” said Fluttershy, smile turning proud. “I wasn't sure I could do it. I just couldn't stand the thought of Discord winning, after all he made us do to one another.”

Rainbow nodded. She knew that feeling. After she'd gotten free, she'd been more than a little mad at Discord herself. No-one ran Rainbow Dash's life but Rainbow Dash, and no-one made her treat her friends like that either. She counted her blessings that she hadn't done anything to hurt Fluttershy, because it could easily have gone that way.

That was one of those things she did not want to be thinking about, so she rolled her neck and tried to force her mind onto something more pleasant.

“Rainbow,” said Fluttershy, looking thoughtfully at the path in front of her. “There's something I've been meaning to ask you. When Twilight cast her memory spell to break Discord's hold on us, did you happen to see-- Um.”

“You?” Rainbow finished for her, because she'd wondered the same thing herself. When Fluttershy nodded, Rainbow mimicked her expression and looked ahead. “Yeah. Lots of you, actually. Our first kiss on that stupid picnic. The night of the Gala. When you signed that photo for me--” A creeping smile made its way onto Rainbow's face. “--It sounds weird, I know, but somehow it all felt like it was happening all over again. Like I'd gone back in time or something, and saw those memories like I was right there.”

Fluttershy's face lit up. “I felt the same thing! Every sound and touch and--” She did her signature smile-and-blush. “--Everything. I think that's part of why I could fight so hard to get you back. All those thoughts and feelings came flooding back.”

“It was powerful stuff,” Rainbow agreed. She'd have to remember to thank Twilight for that spell of hers. Not that she needed reminding of how much she cared about Fluttershy, but to relive those moments that meant so much to them both was just plain incredible. She flashed her partner a more subdued smile. “'My best memories are here', huh?”

Fluttershy drifted across the trail to brush up against her, and stayed there. “Here's to many more.”

...

“Oh, and by the way... 'Is it okay if I hold you down against your will for a little bit'? What was up with that?”

“Um... I'll tell you when we get home.”

* * *