A FLUTTERING HEART
CHAPTER 1:
AN INVITATION
The sun shined brightly upon ponyville today. The birds sang, the wind blew gently, and Fluttershy's animal friends all romped around as the yellow Pegasus tended to each one of them. "Come now little ones, it's time to eat." Fluttershy cooed to the young rabbits whom each popped their little heads from their rabbit hole before quickly running out to eat the carrots that Fluttershy had placed out for them. "There you go little ones." The Pegasus cooed with a smile as a certain Pegasus landed behind her without her knowing.
"Hey Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash greeted with a smile.
The reply was while not unexpected, still less than what Rainbow Dash wanted to see as the meek Pegasus let out a startled cry, did a vertical one-hundred and eighty spin, and landed on her back with a goat sound seemingly emitting from her maw as her back hit the grass.
"Heh, sorry for scaring you like that." Rainbow Dash remarked aloud apologetically as the yellow Pegasus sat down on the couch to calm her nerves.
"Oh, no, it's my fault. I should have remembered that you'd be coming over today." Fluttershy replied as she picked up a nearby teacup and rank from it before she set it back down on the tray. "So, um, what was the important thing you wanted to talk to me about?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
The cyan blue Pegasus's confident demeanor all but vanished once Fluttershy asked her this question. "Oh well, heh. It's about the Grand Galloping Gala coming up." Rainbow Dash replied though her expression showed a minor bit of nervousness as she spoke now.
"Oh, that's this weekend isn't it?" Fluttershy replied with a soft smile as she looked to her calendar, taking note of the fact that it was currently monday.
"Yeah and if I know that egghead, she'll make sure we all have tickets like she does every year." Rainbow Dash replied with a cocky grin, her confidence returning to her voice and expression for a brief time before they vanished once again. "So, have any special plans for when we go?" she asked curiously which caused Fluttershy to give a thoughtful glance towards her.
"Hmm, I haven't really thought about it much. Though I'm sure we'll all have a great time spending time there as friends!" Fluttershy replied with a wide smile now as she looked at her fillyhood friend.
"Oh, right. Yeah... We'll have loads of fun with our friends." Rainbow Dash asked in a less than enthused tone.
"Is something the matter?" Fluttershy asked curiously with a mildly concerned expression. Her friend had begun acting odd from the moment the topic of the gala had come up but she couldn't place why.
"Oh, uh, well, heh… I was sorta thinking…" Rainbow Dash began to say but trailed off as if the following words were extremely hard to get out.
"Yes?" Fluttershy asked expecting her to follow up and finish was she was trying to say.
"That well, we'll all be going to gala and all but…" Rainbow Dash once again trailed off before she continued. "I was sorta hoping that you and me could-" Rainbow Dash began to say but was cut off by a loud knocking at Fluttershy's door.
"Oh my, hold that thought, Rainbow." Fluttershy replied and quickly hovered over to the door leaving Rainbow Dash with a scowl upon her face now.
Upon opening the door, a large bouquet of flowers was immediately stuffed into the meek Pegasus's face. "Delivery for Miss. Fluttershy!" A young earth pony stallion remarked as he gave her a letter as well, turned about face, and galloped off.
"Oh, my. These are so pretty and smell so nice!" Fluttershy remarked fondly before the letter she was also given caught her attention. Curiously, she opened the envelope and began to read the contents of the letter.
"Whoa, who sent those?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked at the bouquet with a curious expression then to Fluttershy and immediately noticed a crimson red blush upon her face as she read the letter.
"It's from Big Macintosh… He um….wants me to be his date for the grand galloping gala." Fluttershy replied though her voice went down into a nearly inaudible whisper as she spoke.
Due to knowing Fluttershy since fillyhood, it wasn't too hard for the Pegasus to make out what she had whispered so softly. "Oh…" Rainbow Dash replied sourly as her face became one of annoyance. "Well, congrats on getting a date for the gala and all." Rainbow Dash remarked halfheartedly as she walked past Fluttershy and opened her front door.
"Are you leaving so soon? You just got here." Fluttershy remarked curiously. "Besides, you never finished what you wanted to tell me." Fluttershy remarked aloud with a curious expression.
"Oh, that. Don't worry about it. It wasn't anything important anyways." She replied though Fluttershy could tell she sounded mildly irritated as she spoke. "So yeah, I gotta get going anyways. I uh, forgot I had cloud clearing duty, yeah! So, I'll see you around Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash replied hurriedly before she took off without allowing Fluttershy to utter another word.
Curiously, Fluttershy looked up at the sky and was even more confused. "Why would she have cloud duty today when there are no clouds in the sky?" Fluttershy wondered with a concerned expression before she returned to the interior of her home and closed the door behind her.
"Why was she acting like that, Angel?" Fluttershy asked her pet bunny as she set down his favorite bowl of lettuce leaves, carrot chips, and celery.
The bunny immediately began to dig into his meal and gave a shrugging gesture with a full mouth of food before she swallowed it and resumed stuffing his mouth greedily.
"Well, I know one thing. Something is definitely bugging her and I wish I knew what." Fluttershy replied before she let out a saddened sigh and walked to her kitchen to fix herself something to eat as well...
Author's Note
Here ya go! Just in times for valentines day... Well the first chapter anyways! 
Proofread by: Izanagi
A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
"He what?!" Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and even Applejack exclaimed in astonishment as the five sat in each of their thrones in the Crystal Castle.
"I know, it surprised me too." Fluttershy replied softly.
"Heh, Ah always knew mah brother liked ya but Ah never expected him to actually summon up the courage to ask ya out. He's usually quiet and shy like most of the time." Applejack remarked with a smug grin.
"That's why they are super perfect for each other!" Pinkie Pie erupted suddenly as she bounced over to Fluttershy, wrapped her right hoof around the mare and proceeded to give her a nuggie. "You lucky mare, you!" She added before she bounced over to Rarity. "Hey, I bet Rarity can make you the perfect wedding dress!" She exclaimed with a wide smile only for everypony in the room to look at her with a confused look.
"Uh, Pinkie? He's only asking her out on a date to the gala, not to marry her." Twilight remarked as she placed a book she was reading prior to Fluttershy's annoucement down in front of her.
"Ah think yer gettin ahead of yerself thar sugarcube." Applejack added with a light laugh.
"Or Am I?!" Pinkie Pie replied in a mysterious tone as she made weird gestures with her front hooves as if to imply something more was amiss.
"I'm pretty sure the two are only going on a date, darling. Though the idea of making a wedding dress for Fluttershy is tempting." Rarity mused aloud with a thoughtful glance.
"Would you two cut it out? He's taking her on a date to the gala, not marrying her! Geez!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed aloud with an irritated glare at the two as she crossed her front hooves in front of her chest and huffed in annoyance.
"What's got yer tail in a knot Rainbow?" Applejack asked curiously as she took note of the cyan blue Pegasus's behavior.
"Nothing's in a knot! I'm just not having a great day today, okay?!" Rainbow Dash snapped back at the farm pony.
The other five mares exchanged worried glances at one another before looking back at their friend who seemed to be refusing to look at them at the moment. "Rainbow, is something bothering you?" Twilight asked with a concerned expression.
Rainbow Dash remained silent which caused the five to once again exchange worried looks at one another before looking back at the Pegasus.
"Darling, if something is truly bothering you, you know we are all here for you if you need an ear to listen." Rarity said in a supportive manner.
Rainbow Dash let out an irritated groan in response to this but still said nothing.
Pinkie Pie then seemed to rush over to the cyan blue Pegasus and put a hoof around her as she held her close. "Come on Rainbow Dash! You can tell old Pinkie Pie anything! I Pinkie Pie promise!" She exclaimed with a wide smile before her face seemed to become suspicious of the others. "Not sure about those four though." She whispered which caused Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy to give the pink mare annoyed looks.
"This wouldn't by chance have to do with Big Macintosh asking me to the gala would it?" Fluttershy asked curiously as she walked up to Rainbow Dash.
"No! I mean yes, I mean, ugh! Forget it!" Rainbow Dash stuttered as she abruptly shoved Pinkie Pie off her and began to walk towards the castle door.
"Rainbow, please don't leave. Do you not like Big Macintosh or something?" Fluttershy asked curiously as she quickly flew over and landed in front of Rainbow Dash.
"Of course not! Big Mac's a cool pony! It's just… Ugh, never mind." Rainbow Dash replied as she pushed past her friend and towards the castle door.
Fluttershy watched her friend continue to the door for a few moments longer before she took a deep breath, flew over to Rainbow Dash, grabbed her by the mane, and tossed her back a few few harder than she meant to. "Ow! What's your deal?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she rubbed the back of her head where Fluttershy had seized her mane and tossed her back.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! I'm just trying to be assertive!" Fluttershy exclaimed in an apologetic manner as she helped her friend up only for her to swat her hoof away.
"Not the time, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash remarked with a mild glare as she walked past her once more towards the castle doors.
Fluttershy however landed right in front of the castle doors which barred Rainbow Dash's way out. "N-No! You're going to tell me what your problem with Big Macintosh is! You've been acting funny ever since he sent me those flowers and letter!" Fluttershy exclaimed doing her best to hold an assertive attitude despite the clear unease in her voice.
"I already told you! I have no problem with Big Mac!" Rainbow Dash retorted back with a glare as she attempted to move Fluttershy to the side but the meek yellow Pegasus summoned every ounce of strength she had not to budge. "Move, will you?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed irritably as she attempted to move Fluttershy once more but to no avail.
"Is it me? Do you think I'm too good for Big Mac or something?" Fluttershy asked as she continued to refuse to let her friend pass.
"Yes! I mean, no! I mean, ugh! What's the big deal with wanting to know so badly anyways?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed angrily. her temper was quickly rising and she just wanted to get out of here at the present time.
"Rainbow Dash, I've known you since we've been fillies and nopony knows you better than me. I know something is bothering you, you can tell me." Fluttershy replied softly, dropping her assertive demeanor in an attempt to get her friend to tell her what's been bothering her.
"Yeah, something is bothering me right now." Rainbow Dash began to say at which Fluttershy thought she had finally gotten her to spill what's bothering her only for the following word to shatter that thought into a million pieces. "You!" She screamed into the yellow Pegasus's face before she shoved her to the side, bucked the castle doors open, and took off to the skies without another word.
Fluttershy looked as if she was on the verge of tears now as she watched Rainbow Dash quickly soar out of sight.
Pinkie Pie walked past Fluttershy as Twilight and the others put a supportive hoof on the now sobbing yellow Pegasus. "Wow, what an ass." she remarked as she watched Rainbow Dash fade out of sight only to notice Matilda walking by. "Eh-heh-heh… no offense." She remarked sheepishly to the mule who simply smiled back at her.
"None taken, Pinkie" Matilda replied as she continued on her way.
"Why would Rainbow Dash behave this way towards Fluttershy?" Twilight asked herself aloud as she paced back and forth. She was upset with Rainbow Dash for upsetting Fluttershy but she couldn't help but wonder what spurred the Pegasus to act this way towards her in the first place.
"Ah wish Ah knew but right now, Ah'm a tad too ticked off at her to even bother to try and figure out her problems." Applejack remarked sourly as Fluttershy sobbed softly into her shoulder.
"If this is upsetting her so much, maybe I should just tell Big Macintosh no." Fluttershy remarked softly between sniffles and sobs.
Upon hearing this, Applejack's expression became one of annoyance as she gently moved Fluttershy back so she was making eye-contact with the puffy-eyed Pegasus. "Now ya listen here sugarcube! Don't let Rainbow's sour attitude sway yer decision to go on a date with mah brother if yer heart is set on goin'. Ya need to decide for yerself." she said with a supportive smile as Fluttershy sniffled once more and began to wipe tears from her eyes.
"Applejack's right, Fluttershy. Just because Rainbow Dash was rude to you for wanting to date Big Macintosh, doesn't mean you shouldn't go on a date with him just because she doesn't like the idea." Twilight added as she walked up to her friend and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Say… you don't think that she's… Nah!" Pinkie Pie remarked aloud thoughtfully before she dismissed the idea entirely.
"She's what?" Twilight asked curiously as she looked at her pink friend.
"Well, I just had this crazy idea that Rainbow Dash might be jealous of Fluttershy going on a date with Big Macintosh but that's just plain silly!" Pinkie Pie replied followed by a snorting laugh.
"Actually, you just might be onto something, Pinkie Pie." Twilight remarked aloud thoughtfully. "You don't think…" Twilight began to say only to trail off.
"That Rainbow Dash really likes Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie interjected which caused a awkward silence to fall upon the room for a moment before Twilight slammed her hoof against her face and groaned aloud.
"No, Pinkie. I think that Rainbow Dash may have a crush on Big Macintosh too. That's why she's jealous." Twilight finished.
"Ooooh…." Pinkie Pie replied upon hearing this only to give a thoughtful expression. "Huh! Wow, was I completely off target with that one!" Pinkie Pie remarked aloud and began to laugh loudly. "I mean, can you picture it? Rainbow Dash wanting to date Fluttershy?! Bwhaha! Wow, I need to lay off the sugar filled cupcakes! It's making me think silly things!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she fell to the floor and continued to laugh even harder now.
"Yeah… Silly." Fluttershy remarked aloud though her face showed a bit of uncertainty.
Author's Note
Next chapter is already being worked on!
Proofread by: Izanagi
