A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

Chapters

Promise
Eclipse
Heartbreak & Treachery
Plans
First Intermission
Truths
Rumors I
Rumors II
Bygones
Rebirth
Schemes

Promise

Promise

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

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“Darnit, Fluttershy! Why can’t ya see sense? If we don’t get this ‘ere snow off the ground, we won’t be able ta plant no seeds!” Applejack yelled, irritated that almost no progress was being made. Twilight was of course coordinating everything as she had done during the previous year’s winter wrap-up, but with so many village-ponies struck with a cold, the pressure on everypony reached record levels.

“I-I, well... uh-m...” Fluttershy attempted to respond before being abruptly cut off.

“And without those seeds, we got no apples! And without those apples, we starve, along with tha rest of Ponyville!”

“B-But, the animals --”

“Buck the animals! Ah’m sure they got the good sense to wake up when water’s a-comin’ their way!”

“Oh, my...” Fluttershy whispered to herself as she cringed. She always held a distaste for swearing as it brought back dark memories of her foalhood. Bullies at flight school took great care in building their insults -- weaving together her notable flaws with vulgar language. The more she attempted to convince them she was unaffected, the more they would deride the poor pegasus.

“Why don’t ya just use a nice blowhorn? That’ll wake’m up good!” Applejack chuckled quietly at the thought of the 'vermin' sprinting out of their holes in the ground at the rude awakening.

Fluttershy gasped at the thought of her poor friends being awoken in such a frightening way. The animals were so sweet and harmless -- surely not fit to be victims of such maltreatment. It surprised Fluttershy that Applejack could even consider such an iniquity; the pegasus had always thought of AJ as a considerate pony. In many ways, she was beginning to remind Fluttershy more of the colts who harassed her years ago.

“H-How would y-you like it if I-I woke you up that way?” she managed to stutter. ‘I really wish I could be more assertive right now,’ Fluttershy thought to herself.

“Hehe... well nopony who lives on Sweet Apple Acres needs ta be woken up like that, ‘cus we wake up when we should!” Applejack paused as she saw a light brown pony making his way towards them from the farmhouse. “Most of us do, anyways,” she muttered.

Applejack continued her rant about how the snow needed immediate melting until she saw Caramel’s face as he trotted towards her -- a frightened look plastered across it.

“Oh Celestia, Caramel! You didn’t... not again!” Caramel slowly nodded his head while only holding it about one hoof off the ground, his eyes showing remorse and fear. “You lost tha bucking seeds, didn’t ya bird brain?! This is tha third year in a row! There were over a thousan’ seeds in that ther’ bag! How in Equestria did you manage to lose them?! You haff to be tha dimmest, most careless--”

“Now wait just one second!” Fluttershy yelled. “That is no way to speak to anypony! Can’t you see he’s sorry?” She pointed a hoof at the light brown pony who was now wearing a sheepish grimace. Applejack was too distracted to continue, jaw agape, staring at the raging pegasus.

“And another thing! How DARE you not care about those poor, helpless creatures, let alone say to ‘b-buck them’ and wake them up with a blow horn!” Fluttershy had difficulty using such profane vernacular, but overcame it in her frustration. ‘What’s happening to me?’ Fluttershy thought to herself.

Applejack decided to take the offensive, however. “Oh, so now ya’ve gone and taken a fancy to Caramel, huh?” Applejack taunted, causing Fluttershy to blush furiously. “Yea, ah see it! Never figgurred you’d like a workhorse!” Applejack didn’t see that Caramel had also suddenly acquired a rosy complexion, much to his relief. The pink-maned pegasus, even in her rage, looked incredibly fair.

Fluttershy’s courage dissipated as quickly as it came. She glanced over to the shamed earth pony, only to confirm Applejack’s accusations; the stallion’s rugged composure most definitely caught her eye.

“No, I-I, well... um, not that I w-wouldn’t... uh,” Fluttershy babbled, her face growing so hot it was almost melting the snow around her. She glanced up to see Rainbow Dash, whose curiosity had been stirred by the yelling, flying towards them.

It was at this moment that Caramel slipped off his hooves, landing hard on the ice with his flanks. A barely audible crack escaped his back, causing him to yelp and Fluttershy to cringe. Applejack and the recently-arrived Rainbow Dash began chuckling, and soon broke into hysterics.

“Nice going, Clutzermel!” Applejack derided the clumsy pony. “I reckon’ you’re falling head over hooves for her too!” she said before seizing her own sides to control her laughing.

“Yeah, what trick was that? The flank slam?” Rainbow managed to get out between bursts of laughter.

Fluttershy again felt a surge of anger and began yelling. “How can you two be so inconsiderate?! He’s hurt himself! He might have a broken bone!” It was true. The earth pony was squinting his eyes shut in agony. “Oh my,” Fluttershy gasped, beginning to panic. ‘The hospital is closed today! What do I do? Oh, I simply MUST do something! Wait, I might have enough supplies to help him,’ she reasoned out.

“Oh, you poor dear! I have a medical aid kit at my cottage! Rainbow, you help me carry him there; I don’t think he can walk!” As Rainbow opened her mouth to object to this as an overreaction, she was faced with the famous ‘stare’ from Fluttershy. All thoughts of refusing were immediately chucked into the back of Dash’s skull. ‘What has gotten into me?! I’ve never used the stare on anypony before...’

“Sorry, Fluttershy. Ah didn’t think he’d gone ‘n’ broken something,” Applejack apologized, ashamed she had shown so little sympathy. She directed her attention to the writhing earth pony. “And ah’m real sorry ‘bout gettin’ so peeved with ya, Mel. Ya’re on full-paid vacation ‘til you’re one-hundred percent better, y’hear?” Caramel merely nodded in response as AJ carefully lifted him onto the backs of the two pegasi.

“It’s okay, AJ,” Fluttershy said, having returned to a softer tone. “I know you didn’t mean to be... well... mean. I think this wrap-up is getting the best of us.” With that, she and Rainbow executed a delicate vertical takeoff, rising barely above the ground before moving forward. As they hovered carefully towards Fluttershy’s cottage, she heard Caramel groan softly. His pain, like that of any creature, saddened her greatly.

“It’ll be okay,” she whispered in his ear. “I promise.”

~ ~ ~

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew with care towards the yellow mare’s cottage. They were only floating a few hooves off the ground as Fluttershy had instructed Dash for fear of dropping the injured stallion.

“Ugh!” Dash grunted, uncomfortable with having to maintain such a low altitude and speed. “Can’t we go any faster?”

“Dashie!” Fluttershy began to scold her, arousing a blush small enough to go unnoticed by the pink-maned mare. Rainbow liked it when Fluttershy used her nickname, even though she said otherwise for her pride’s sake. “We have to make sure Caramel doesn’t get hurt more than he already is.”

Fluttershy could see the solemn look on Rainbow Dash as they began to approach the small thatch-roofed house outside the town. Rainbow had always wanted to be accepted over all else, but particularly by Fluttershy. She was the only pony who had offered any understanding and sympathy at flight school, so Dash always held a soft spot for her as a result.

“I-I’m sorry, Dash. I didn’t mean to yell at you... It wasn’t nice.” Fluttershy sent Rainbow a small, yet sincere smile. Rainbow beamed one back, if only to use her shining white teeth as a distraction from her reddening cheeks. Fluttershy, keeping Caramel balanced on her back, unlocked and opened the front door. Rainbow and Fluttershy both realized a small problem with the situation in front of them. There was not enough room for the coffee-colored stallion to pass through laterally.

“I’ll grab his rear hooves, and you grab-” Dash began before being interrupted.

“This is a pony, Dash! He is not a couch,” came the reprimand. Rainbow winced at her scolding, ears drooping low. Fluttershy immediately realized her mistake and her eyes went wide in horror at how she was speaking to Dash. ‘I’m the Element of Kindness,’ Fluttershy thought to herself, ‘and I’m being horrible to my best friend.’ The thought caused water to glaze the yellow mare’s eyes before she regained composure. “I’m really sorry, Dashie,” Fluttershy said in her usual soft voice, arousing a small wing extension from the other pegasus before she controlled herself. “I really have no idea what’s gotten into me...”

‘I know what’s gotten into you...’ The cyan pegasus thought, shooting a short glare at Caramel, who was fortunate enough to have his eyes closed. ‘Little mule thinks he can just come in and steal her! That no-good, two-faced--’ Her thoughts were cut short by Fluttershy’s next request.

“Okay, help get him onto my back.”

“W-What?!” Rainbow interjected, eyes wide and wings flaring in what would appear to be surprise.

Caramel felt the same astonishment as Dash. The stallion had enjoyed the feel of Fluttershy’s back -- her bright yellow coat felt as plush as wool, yet smoother than silk -- and her alluring scent -- her light pink mane emanated the aroma of fresh lilies. The thought of being on top of her, however... It almost made him choke on air.

“Please,” Fluttershy added, remembering to be polite. Rainbow gave a reluctant grunt and proceeded to slowly lift the earth pony just out of Fluttershy’s hearing range.

“Don’t you dare try anything! Understand?” Rainbow growled through clenched teeth. The wide-eyed stallion merely gulped and nodded quickly. “Good.” Dash slowly lowered Caramel onto Fluttershy’s back.

The weight of the stallion on her back astounded the fragile pegasus. ‘Well he is very muscular... It’s probably from working the farm all day... he must get so sweaty.’ Fluttershy continued to imagine Caramel pushing the snow plow, sweat causing his coat to glisten like the snow around him while his mane became dampened. Fluttershy’s wings shot out during the fantasy.

“Fluttershy, are you okay?! Is he too heavy?” Rainbow panicked.

“Hey!--” Caramel began to object to the insult, before Fluttershy intervened.

“No, I-I’m fine...” Fluttershy assured her. ‘More than fine...’ she thought to herself. The stallion’s body, despite being fairly muscular, was quite cool. As they touched, a spark of frost transferred to Fluttershy's back; goosebumps coated her skin. While Fluttershy felt her back cool down with his contact, heat discreetly rose to her face.

Caramel was experiencing similar thoughts. ‘She’s so warm and soft.’ He could feel the heat from her back seeping into his chest, causing his spine to shiver slightly from the relative cold. He involuntarily tightened his forehooves around her collar and sighed lightly. Caramel was melting away...

“Umm...” Rainbow said, cautious not to upset Fluttershy who snapped out of her trance, blushing a bit. “Aren’t you going to take him inside?” Dash questioned, smirking. Fluttershy felt her face growing hotter.

“Y-yes, of course...” she said as she entered the house. Fluttershy made her way over to the couch, slowly letting the stallion slide off her back and onto the sofa. Caramel landed muzzle-up, looking her directly in the eyes. ‘His eyes...’ she thought to herself. ‘Such a dark blue.’ Fluttershy’s curious eyes caused her to glance all over the light brown pony. She admired his dusky brown mane and tail, calm and simple, yet perfectly complementary to the rest of his appearance. Her eyes scrolled over to his cutie mark: three horseshoes. ‘I wonder what those could mean...’ she pondered, wading in deep thought for a short while.

It then became apparent to Fluttershy that Caramel had been timidly watching her stare at his body -- especially his flanks -- for over a minute. She immediately felt her wings snap to her sides in complete embarrassment. “I-I, um...” Fluttershy squeaked out. She could feel the hot blood racing towards her face, when suddenly Caramel smiled at her. Her reaction subsided as she felt her nervousness being to dissipate. Something in his touch calmed her as she shot him a small smile from behind her pink mane.

“Uh-uhm,” Rainbow coughed, feeling incredibly awkward and... a little bit angry. ‘Why am I angry?...’ She brushed the thought off. “Doesn’t he need medical attention?” Dash sneered. Fluttershy turned her head and scowled with red cheeks at the rainbow-maned mare. ‘She’s so cute when she’s angry.’ Rainbow Dash sighed.

“Oh-okay, roll over, please... well... if you wouldn’t mind, that is,” Fluttershy asked softly, her gentle demeanor now pouring through each syllable.

“S-sure, Miss Shy” Caramel stammered while turning over, his voice letting slip a slight southern drawl. It wasn’t as thick as Applejack, but it added a gentlecoltly flavor to his speech. ‘He’s so polite,’ she thought sighing. ‘I better make sure he recovers nicely.’

“Oh, you can call me Fluttershy,” she said, giggling lightly. “All of my friends do.”

“Yeah,” said Dash raising her voice a bit too much, “especially her best friends, like me!” She almost yelled the last part, staring Caramel straight in the eyes. ‘I don’t trust this obsequious colt for two bits!’ Rainbow thought, mistaking her anger’s source as concern for her friend.

The cottage became uncomfortably silent as Fluttershy gave Rainbow Dash a disappointed frown. “I think you should leave,” Fluttershy suggested calmly. Rainbow’s expression turned from anger to sadness in an instant as she opened her mouth to object. “Now.” Fluttershy insisted, adamant in her request. Rainbow turned her head as she left only to be met with a door slamming at her flanks.

~ ~ ~

“I-I’m terribly sorry about that,” Fluttershy apologized, her muzzle and eyes pointed at the floor, mane covering most of her face. “I-I just--”

Caramel interrupted her. “You don’t need to be apologizin’ for your friend.” Fluttershy nodded, but still wore a somber expression. She wasn’t only disappointed in Dash, although her actions were completely out of line. Fluttershy was at the same time disappointed with her own actions. The way she had scolded Rainbow was... mean. ‘I’ve never been mean to Rainbow before,’ Fluttershy thought, a tear beginning to form in her eye. ‘She’s been my best friend since we were fillies, and I... just kicked her out my house...’ The realization was enough to allow the tear to break free. Caramel saw this and sat up.

“It’s okay,” he whispered softly, extending his hoof to her chin and gazing with concern into her eyes. Fluttershy let escape a small smile and lifted her head, her face emerging from behind her flowing pink mane. Caramel found himself grinning uncontrollably, overjoyed that the pegasus had cast aside her gloominess, if only for a moment. Fluttershy’s smile widened, and his followed suit. They stared -- eyes locked -- for a few minutes until the silence broke.

“I do still need you to roll over for me,” Fluttershy said, recalling why they were there in the first place.

“Oh, right...” Caramel responded, beginning to turn over. He had forgotten all about his pain by just looking at Fluttershy smile, but now it was flooding back to him. As he rolled over on the sofa, Caramel felt a searing sting erupt from his tail, causing his rear legs to buck out, propelling him off the couch and onto the hard, wooden floor.

“Unnngh,” Caramel moaned, his back now throbbing in addition to his tail.

“Oh, my goodness! Are you hurt? Oh, please be alright! You have to be alright! Can you move? How many hooves am I holding up? Oh, this is all my fault! I should have put you on a bed! Oh, no, no, no...” Fluttershy was sobbing incessantly, lying on the ground with her head shaking side to side in her hooves.

Caramel reached a hoof to her cheek, nudging Fluttershy to turn her tear-streamed face towards him.

“It’ll be okay,” he whispered in her ear. “I promise.”

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A/N: Tell me what you think!

<--- actual views (story was moved from other account)

Eclipse

Eclipse

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A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

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“Oh, my goodness! Are you hurt? Oh, please be alright! You have to be alright! Can you move? How many hooves am I holding up? Oh, this is all my fault! I should have put you on a bed! Oh, no, no, no...” Fluttershy was sobbing incessantly, lying on the ground with her head shaking side to side in her hooves.

Caramel reached a hoof to her cheek, nudging Fluttershy to turn her tear-streamed face to look at him.

“It’ll be okay,” he whispered in her ear. “I promise.”

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“Where does it hurt?” Fluttershy asked in her usual, harmonious voice. While most ponies simply found her voice comforting, Caramel revelled in her mellifluous, sing-song tone. ‘It’s like she’s dancing with words!’ Caramel dreamed. Caramel’s eyes now took their turn to wander as they scanned over the hovering pegasus. Her light pink mane and yellow coat complemented each other perfectly, as if by Celestia’s own design, and radiated a soft sweetness. Her cutie mark, three teal butterflies with bright pink wings, shone on her flanks. Caramel could swear they fluttered with each flap of Fluttershy’s wings as she floated next to him. Fluttershy was, he deemed, lovely in every sense of the word.

“U-uhm...Caramel?” Fluttershy mumbled, not entirely sure how she felt about Caramel staring at her like that. ‘The last time a colt looked at me like that... No!’ she yelled in her mind. ‘That’s not fair! Besides, you were looking at him the same way before...’ She shot him a friendly smirk, reminding him where her eyes were. Caramel fell out of his daze and looked down, completely abashed.

“At the base of my tail,” he pointed. Fluttershy noticed a large, red swell protruding through his coat a few inches above his where his tail joined his backside. She frowned, picturing how painful it would be for a stallion as tough as Big Mac, let alone for a pony with such a lean build. ‘Oh, dear,’ she worried frantically. ‘He’s broken a bone! I don’t have the equipment to deal with this!’

Caramel saw the panic flare in Fluttershy’s eyes and knew immediately he had to console her. “Fluttershy, are you okay?” he asked, concerned for the pegasus. “Don’t worry, I feel fine,” Caramel blatantly lied. He felt guilty immediately. Applejack had cautioned him to always be honest while working the farm, and he had implemented that lesson into all other aspects of his life as well. As much as Caramel despised himself for fabricating his response, he knew it would be worthwhile, if only to set the yellow mare’s mind at ease. Fluttershy had, after all, shown him much kindness.

“Oh, that’s good. I was so worried about your back, and I think you’ve broken a vertebrae...” she said, a fretful look returning to her eyes. “The Hospital is closed because of Winter Wrap-Up today; I should probably ask Twilight what to do until tomorrow.” Caramel nodded in response.

Fluttershy hovered over to a small desk in the room. Caramel felt his eyes lock; the way she moved -- gliding through the air with each skip of her hooves -- mesmerized the brown stallion. With each leap, Fluttershy spread her shimmering wings, slid effortlessly through the air, and ,when her hooves did eventually reach the floor, gave a gentle press with her hind legs. This coupled with a brief downstroke with her wings once again propelled herself upwards. ‘Grace, pure grace,’ Caramel sighed. He had seen pegasi fly before, even witnessed a few sonic rainbooms courtesy of Dash. Never in his life, however, had he borne testament to such delicacy, especially in simple movement.

Fluttershy removed a quill from the desk drawer, held the utensil lightly between her pursed lips, and began inscribing on the blank parchment before her. Caramel barely managed to avoid squeaking at how adorable she appeared, focusing so hard while holding a feather in her mouth.

URGENT!!!

Dear Twilight,

Caramel, one of AJ’s farm-hooves, slipped on the ice today and fractured a disk in his spine. I have taken him into my care, but I don’t know how to treat him until the hospital opens tomorrow. Any help or advice would be appreciated, that is, if you’re not too busy...

Fluttershy

Content with her note, Fluttershy gave a lengthy, strident whistle. Instantaneously, a red blur shot through the open window and stopped dead on the opposite edge of the desk. Caramel jolted at the sudden appearance of the bird, nearly falling off the couch once more.

“Red,” Fluttershy addressed the bird sternly, “Twilight needs to get this letter really fast, okay?” The Vermilion Flycatcher sounded a short chirp as if to confirm. “Thank y-” she tried to respond, but Red had already flown halfway to the library.

“Celestia, that bird is quick!” marvelled a bewildered Caramel, fully convinced Red could give Rainbow Dash herself a run for her money. Fluttershy merely giggled at the stallion, very much amused at his reaction.

“Oh my, yes,” she acknowledged, still chuckling softly. “Red is a very special messenger bird of mine. I only ever call him if it’s an emergency,” Fluttershy explained in a far more serious, yet still gentle, tone. “In fact,” she admitted, contrition evident as she stared downwards and pawed at the floor with her hoof, “I didn’t tell Dashie about her when she was looking for a pet. She’s always been my best friend, but she can get terribly jealous...”

“I noticed,” Caramel muttered to himself. The cyan pegasus had certainly made a foal out of herself. ‘I shouldn’t be so judgemental,’ he scolded himself. ‘She was just trying to look out for her friend.’ In all honesty, Caramel couldn’t blame her; Fluttershy was gorgeous, but unbelievably sensitive. Being the Element of Loyalty could only justify Rainbow’s actions to a limit, however. Caramel knew something lay deeper within Dash than a simple protective nature: something that made her act more aggressively than usual.

Caramel’s train of thought derailed when the Flycatcher once again zipped into the room, a letter in it’s talons. This time he did fall off the couch, but luckily onto his hooves. Caramel dusted himself off as Fluttershy thanked the bird and took the scroll. She spread the parchment out with her hooves and commenced reading.

As Fluttershy read, her serious composure faded as a smile began to spread wide across her face. Caramel felt his heart begin to sink the more she grinned. ‘It probably says I’m fine and should go home to rest,’ he feared. While the confused, coffee-colored stallion remained uncertain about much at the moment, he knew in all his being that he did not want to leave Fluttershy’s cottage. Nopony had ever shown him so much kindness in his entire life. Even Granny Smith, who had taken Caramel in as a colt, had fairly made him earn his keep as a farm-hoof. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, had no interest besides caring for him, and it seemed a very foreign, yet comforting feeling to him -- one he wouldn’t trade for the world.

"What does it say?” Caramel asked, intense anticipation in his voice.

“It says you shouldn’t be moved if possible, and that rest is...” Fluttershy squinted slightly as she tried to decipher the rushed handwriting, “paramount to your recovery,” she finished with a grin on her face. Caramel’s heart soared at her words, his spirit fueled by the fulfilment of his greatest wish.

“Does that mean -- ?”

“Yes!” the yellow mare interrupted him, almost bouncing up and down in excitement. “You’re mine for tonight!” Fluttershy’s face retained a wide grin which quickly made way for a gaping expression of shock as her own words hit her like a dropped piano. Caramel couldn’t move, much less speak; his mind began running completely haywire -- trains of thought smashing into each other. ‘Did she just -- ? No, no way! But she did! Does it mean -- ? Maybe she just phrased it badly? Or maybe she slipped! Say something dimwit!’ Tears welled up in Fluttershy’s eyes, fully prepared to slip down her now rosy cheeks and past her lip which was quivering behind her pink mane. A surge of courage suddenly burst through Caramel’s veins.

“I really like you,” he said calmly, his voice unwavering yet sincere. Caramel’s mind went blank, waiting in complete silence for the response of the mare he had just confessed his feelings to. Fluttershy’s butterflies somehow managed to float from her flanks into her stomach and swarm, almost making her fall off her hooves. All the blood that had previously stormed its way into the mare’s cheeks began retreating from her face. As the wave of dizziness washed over Fluttershy, she met Caramel’s eyes with her own. The dark ocean-blue calmed her like the sound of waves crashing onto the shore. Fluttershy quickly regained her posture and hoofing, prepared to speak her mind.

Looking him dead in the eyes with a small grin on her face, she whispered, “I really like you too.”

They continued to stare into each other’s eyes, their minds far too scrambled for any coherent thought. Fluttershy slowly trotted closer to Caramel, her eyes still fixed on his. When she stood but a few hooves away, she bent her head down slightly, slipping her mane underneath his neck. The smell of her mane intoxicated Caramel, and he began to lose his balance from the floral ecstasy. Before he could fall over, the yellow mare pressed her face against his chest and pushed him upright. She then started to nuzzle the stallion, rubbing her muzzle up and down his warm neck, drawing in the scent of hay bales and fresh sweat. Caramel caught on quickly as he poked his nose through Fluttershy’s aromatic mane while planting small kisses on the back of her neck, sending ripples of pleasure coursing through her.

‘This is perfect,’ they thought in unison.

~ ~ ~

“This is awful!” Dash screamed, her face buried in a cloud pillow now soaked with tears. “It isn’t fair!” Rainbow had always defended Fluttershy in her time of need, ever since their days in flight school. ‘Flight school,’ she thought to herself. Rainbow Dash had been careful to protect Fluttershy, especially on that day. ‘Don’t think about that!’ she warned herself. Yet as much as Rainbow Dash desired to efface all memory of the event, she knew it defined her. The single sacrifice Dash made for Fluttershy earned her the Element of Loyalty so many years afterwards. The trauma, however, left in its wake a damaged psyche and the burden of a horrendous secret: one she felt obliged to bear alone.

Rainbow knew her friends would understand and even help her to cope with her past. ‘Fluttershy can’t ever know!’ she had told herself numerous times. ‘She would blame herself.’ As the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy had a predisposition of accepting responsibility for things out of her control. Just knowing what occurred could permanently damage her delicate mind. No, Dash would continue keeping the weight on her own shoulders; it belonged to her and only her. Why should any other pony have to suffer because of her decision? Allowing that to happen would be... disloyal.

“Be true to your Element,” boomed a voice, seemingly coming out of nowhere. Rainbow’s thought-train ground to a halt as she scanned the room. ‘Not you again,’ Dash sighed.

“What do you mean ‘not you’? Have I not guided you well? Have I not led you when you were lost? Have I not taught you to be strong... especially after what happened?” the voice continued taunting. ‘Don’t bring that up! I’ve told you that before!’ Rainbow yelled mentally at her guardian, remembering when it had first visited her as a filly, not so much as a day after her traumatic experience. She had tried speaking to it out loud, and Dash’s parents had her taken to a therapist. Since then she had learned that the guardian communicated telepathically.

“At least you haven’t forgotten! Hopefully you still remember the most important lesson...” the spirit reminded her. Rainbow’s thoughts immediately turned to loathing of particular ponies in her mind. The bullies at flight school, her father, and her brother made the top of the list. Now, however, a light brown stallion with a darker mane filled her mind with hatred.

“Good.”

~ ~ ~

Luna, in engendering her moon, had left behind a magical aura, and this emanation gave ponies across Equestria dreams. It was common knowledge that visions under a full lunar eclipse were prophetical, even if they mostly remained vague. Dreams holding the future came to three such ponies the night of Winter Wrap-Up. Their visions would teach them an ancient doctrine of vision: “All is not always as it seems... but it sometimes is.”

Caramel faded into a deep sleep on Fluttershy’s couch, thoughts of the yellow mare still floated around him. As he lost consciousness, the smell of blood overcame his senses. It was then that he heard a voice -- a plea in so desperate a tone it made him cringe in his sleep. It called out to him, begged of him, screamed at him.

“Caramel, stop it! PLEASE! I’ll do anything, just STOP!”

The stallion’s heart exploded as his unconscious mind made a terrifying realization. He ignored it, rejected it, loathed it, but knew it in his heart. The voice belonged to none other than his caretaker, his fancy, his love: Fluttershy. Caramel wept silently in his sleep for what he had yet to do, the most despised of crimes, the most loathed of sins, the most disgusting of acts: rape.

Rainbow Dash, tears fresh on her cheeks, gradually drifted off into unconsciousness. Her mind became far too exhausted from depression to keep her thoughts focused and went blank as she floated into slumber. From the ubiquitous blackness came a fuzzy illusion of yellow and light pink. Even without her conscious mind, Rainbow knew who it was. As Fluttershy spoke to her, Rainbow could feel the truth in her words.

“Dashie, I love you. You have been my best friend since we were small fillies, and you have been loyal ever since. I could not imagine anypony more deserving of my devotion...”

Tears formed in Dash’s closed eyes -- tears of overwhelming joy. Never had she felt such elation; never had she felt so complete; never had she felt so loved! A smile swept across Rainbow’s face as she whispered in her sleep, “I love you too, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy’s thoughts continued to dwell on the stallion sleeping soundly downstairs. She had made sure he was resting before retiring to bed herself, weary of intense mental stress. The yellow mare eventually did manage to quiet her mind and allow herself to float into a light, dreamy state.

A scene clearer and more vivid than Rarity’s most precious diamonds appeared in her mind. Fluttershy could see the walls of a chapel around her while numerous ponies she knew (along with some she didn’t) occupied the pews. She smiled at them, especially at her four friends in the front. ‘Where’s Dashie?’ Fluttershy thought to herself but then turned around; a cyan mare in a white dress stood right behind her, smiling with tears in her eyes. ‘This can’t be real... Can it?’ Fluttershy saw, out of the corner of her vision, a light brown pony looking slightly uncomfortable in his tuxedo. Fluttershy blushed intensely in her sleep, unable to release fantasy’s hold on her.

“Dost thou, Fluttershy, take Caramel to be thy husband, to have and to hold, ‘til death do ye part?” echoed a strong feminine voice.

“I do,” Fluttershy said without a hesitation. Caramel slipped a silver band onto her hoof which tightened magically.

“And dost thou, Caramel, take Fluttershy --”

“I do!” he interrupted. The audience laughed, but Caramel showed no shame for his outburst. Fluttershy delicately slipped a similar band onto his hoof which also sealed itself permanently.

“Then, by the authority of the crown, I pronounce ye bonded by matrimony. Thou may kiss the bride.”

Fluttershy smiled as Caramel looked straight at her, tilting his head slightly to one side. She did the same, beginning to close her eyes. The yellow mare could feel the stallion’s breath on her cheeks as he moved in slowly for the kill. ‘This is it!’ she thought.

Yet as quickly as the phantasm arrived, so did it leave her. The clear image before her now faded to blackness as she felt a small patting on her hoof.

“Curse you, Angel Bunny,” she whispered.

Heartbreak & Treachery

Heartbreak & Treachery

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

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Yet as quickly as the phantasm arrived, so did it leave her. The clear image before her now faded to blackness as she felt a small patting on her hoof.

“Curse you, Angel Bunny,” she whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The white rabbit stared at Fluttershy impatiently, pointing at the invisible watch on his wrist while slapping her forehoof with his paw. Angel evidently wished to be fed some breakfast. Fluttershy lazily turned her gaze to the window adjacent to her bed only to meet with blinding sunlight. Fluttershy squinted her eyes shut and let out a soft groan. Angel remained adamant in his desire for a morning meal and proceeded to poke her repeatedly in the ribs.

“St-op it Angel! Th-at tickles!” Fluttershy said, giggling uncontrollably. Angel smirked in amusement and continued to jab the pegasus in the underbelly. “S-seriously! I can’t -- I can’t breathe!” Angel ceased his attack on the pegasus and let his ears droop back in a pathetic display of sadness.

“Awwwww... Don’t be sad Angel; I’ll be right up to fix you some breakfast!” Fluttershy smiled at him. At this, her furry friend’s ears perked up, and he jumped into her hooves. Angel nuzzled the yellow pegasus, sliding his fluffy head and ears under Fluttershy’s soft chin. Fluttershy closed her eyes and smiled widely.

“Come on, let’s feed you.”

As Fluttershy floated downstairs, she could hear a light snoring emanating from the living room. ‘Awwww. He’s so cute when he’s sleeping,’ she thought to herself, a light blush appearing on her cheeks. As Fluttershy came closer, however, it became evident that Caramel’s sleep was not peaceful. He was shaking his head quite violently, softly whispering in his sleep, “No.... no.... no.” Tears ran down his cheeks, leaving stains on his face in their wake.

‘Oh my,’ Fluttershy thought to herself, ‘he must be having a horrible nightmare!’ She frowned, upset that the stallion (literally) of her dreams was enduring such a frightful sleep. The yellow mare resolved to end his torture by waking him and proceeded to nuzzle Caramel’s neck. “It’s okay,” she whispered, “you’re safe.”

The earth pony snapped awake, eyes wide, the sound of Fluttershy’s desperate screams still ringing in his ears. Caramel turned to see his victim nuzzling his neck and jolted backwards, causing the pegasus to emit a small “Eep!” He could only manage to stare at her, more tears coming to his eyes. ‘I’m a monster,’ he decided, ‘a horrible, sick monster.’

“Caramel, w-what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked him, confused and even somewhat frightened. ‘Everything,’ the stallion thought to himself.

“Nothing,” Caramel lied with a small cringe. This made it the second time he had told a complete aspersion to the pegasus, and it caused him to feel far worse. Even more disappointing for the stallion, Fluttershy wasn’t buying it. Her eyes shot him a despondent look -- yet she still retained kindness in her smile.

“Caramel... you were having a nightmare... Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Caramel immediately shook his head. Nothing could prove a more horrible resolution than talking about how he was going to violate her and do Celestia knows what else.

Fluttershy looked even more concerned than before. “I-I find it helps to talk about things,” she said quietly. Caramel couldn’t feel more like a mule if somepony asked him to tow a boat down a canal. He could see in her sympathetic gaze that Fluttershy desperately wanted to help him.

“Not this,” the brown stallion said, shaking his head with his eyes shut, “... not this.” Fluttershy felt completely useless -- something she hated to be called her entire life. Bullies at flight school would frequently remind her what a waste of pony life she was because she could barely even fly. Their words stung her, but she always found solace in making others happy and believed her kindness could prove useful on its own.

Finding herself unable to help a pony, much less somepony she cared deeply about, was unbearable for Fluttershy.

“O-okay, then,” she whispered. The yellow pegasus trotted her way back over to the couch and resumed nuzzling Caramel’s neck. He sat completely frozen, staring up at the ceiling. ‘The mare I’m going to -- ,’ he panicked, unable to even think the word, ‘is nuzzling me!’ Caramel tensed up, his entire body was quaking. Fluttershy felt him shaking and stood upright next to him.

“What’s wrong?” Caramel’s behaviour concerned and even vexed the pegasus slightly. “Caramel... I’m r-really worried.”

‘You should be,’ he thought to himself.

“Y-you can tell me anything.”

‘Except this.’

Fluttershy bit her lip and stared at the floor. She started to paw at it, softly running her hoof over the same invisible line. “U-um...please Caramel, I-I...I really care about you.”

Caramel’s heart was tearing at the seams. Every ounce of him wanted to tell the kind pegasus how much he liked her, how much he cared for her, how much he loved her. Alas, he knew he could do no such thing; it would only prove to make matters worse. Allowing Fluttershy to become more attached would only increase the risk of fulfilling Caramel’s worst nightmare. A single tear fell unnoticed from the brown stallion’s eye. He knew what he should do, what he needed to do, what he hated to do.

“Don’t,” he commanded simply and sternly.

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but no image could ever possibly retain the power of a single word between two ponies in love. Caramel knew that his one, well-chosen word could destroy the connection that he and Fluttershy had built. All that remained for him to do now was to lie there -- lie there and watch the link crumble -- lie there and mourn what he had just lost. ‘I really am a monster,’ he thought to himself, ‘a cold, heart-breaking, nefarious monster.’

Fluttershy’s previously nervous demeanor slowly faded as she deciphered what Caramel had just said. The yellow mare ran his one-word message through her brain several times to verify she hadn’t gone insane. Fluttershy’s mind was spinning, her emotions losing their bearings. ‘Did he -- what? -- but yesterday -- huh? -- I thought he, he liked me,’ she thought, sniffling. One emotion, misery, took command in the confusion, inducing sniffs from the broken pegasus. ‘But my dream!’ she mentally objected, ‘What about my dream?!’

Nothing could uplift Caramel’s spirits as he witnessed Fluttershy’s strife. He desperately desired to reach a hoof to her, take back his one word, declare his love for the pegasus, and put her in a tight embrace. Yet, he did not do so; he could not do so; Caramel had to push her away... for her own safety. ‘If only you understood,’ he explained silently, ‘If only...’

Fluttershy was barely able to stammer between the incessant sobs, her voice cracking like her heart. “I-I.... th-th-think I’ll go g-get you... some m-medicine...”

With that Fluttershy bolted out the door as fast as her wings could carry her. As soon as she left, the floodgates opened; all pent up agony poured down her rosy cheeks as she exploded into uncontrollable despair. The miserable pegasus was blinded by her own tears, but gave it no thought. Fluttershy didn’t care if she crashed headfirst into a tree; in fact, a part of her wanted to. She soared at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash proud, dodging tree trunks at the last second. A bright red rectangle appeared in her vision. ‘Perfect,’ she thought, accelerating to a ramming speed. Fluttershy was preparing for the impact of solid wood, certain it would be lethal at her velocity... Only seconds before impact did she see it was the door. ‘Oh buck!’

A huge bang erupted as the doors gave way to the yellow and pink missile. Applejack and Big Mac jumped with fright and looked toward the distant barn. They logically assumed the usual had occurred.

“Darnit, that Rainbow maniac scared me half ta death!” AJ complained, clearly peeved. She figured it had to be the third time this month Dash had “dropped in” which, as it turns out, is more accurately “rocketed through”.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac confirmed, chuckling slightly at how badly the sound had alarmed them.

“Why for Celestia’s sake, I’m gonna give that pegasus a piece of my --”

“Jeez what was that noise?” Applejack looked behind her to see none other than Rainbow Dash. She blinked her eyes a few times in confusion, but came to terms with the fact that the pegasus could not have physically appeared behind her if she had indeed crashed into the barn.

“Wait a second! If y’all didn’t crash into mah barn, then what pegasus did?” Applejack asked her quizzically, still unsure of whether or not it was her.

“That’s not possible; I just sent out all the flight crews to fetch birds!” Rainbow reasoned. “There’s not a single pegasus left in town, except... except...!” Dash’s jaw dropped as she and AJ stared at each other for just a fraction of a second, both of them having reached the same conclusion.

“Oh, no! Fluttershy!” Applejack panicked, looking left and right. “Big Mac, go ’n’ get the medical kit! We’ll make sure she’s ah’right!” Rainbow took flight in the direction of the barn with AJ sprinting close behind. Even after a minimal distance, their hearts began racing for fear of what might be left of their beloved friend. After a seemingly endless few seconds, the pair arrived panting at the barn doors, both of which now lay ajar. Rainbow Dash was the first to recapture her breath and speak.

“Fluttershy!... Are you okay?” A grumbled moan came from behind a hay bale. Fluttershy was still conscious, but very short of comfortable; scrapes and bruises outlined her sides and her wings were covered in splinters. She tried standing up on her hooves, but her limbs throbbed. The injured pegasus fell back onto her haunches and cried quietly, only moaning slightly from the pain.

“Sugarcube, where are ya hurtin’?” Applejack was deeply concerned for the delicate, yellow mare. Unlike Rainbow’s strong build, Fluttershy’s frail composition was especially vulnerable to damage from an impact of that magnitude.

“Right here,” Fluttershy whispered, a hoof pointing towards her heart. Both AJ and Dash scrutinized the spot she indicated, but it didn’t have so much as a scratch. The two ponies exchanged confused glances before looking questioningly back at Fluttershy.

“Uh... there’s nothin’ there,” Applejack observed bluntly.

“Exactly...” sighed Fluttershy, knowing AJ would not get her meaning. Rainbow proved herself to be quicker on the uptake, however, and frowned knowingly.

“AJ, I think I should talk to Fluttershy alone for a few, okay?” Rainbow knew this injury didn’t require Applejack’s assistance. Although she was a kind pony on the whole, AJ did have a tendency to act brusquely, especially on such an emotional topic. Applejack merely nodded and walked off, yelling at Big Mac to cancel her order.

Caramel couldn’t weep anymore; he was far too exhausted. This, however, didn’t prevent him from mentally berating himself. ‘I can’t believe I did that.... She showed me nothing but kindness, and I turned around and threw it at her... I should be sent to the moon; maybe the icy cold of space will match that of my actions towards Fluttershy... Not even close.’ Caramel’s insult session with himself was interrupted by a knock on the door. He rose from the couch, surprised to find no surge of pain from his back, and opened the door.

“Hi, I’m Nurse Redheart. I heard there was an injured stallion here?” The white mare looked around, as if searching for one.

“Uhh, yeah. I guess that’d be me,” Caramel told her sheepishly. “I don’t feel pain anymore, maybe I should --”

“Nope! Sorry, but we still need to make sure you’ve healed correctly.” The pink-maned earth pony evidently took her job very seriously, perhaps even more so after being away for a day. Caramel opened his mouth to ask if they should depart, but a patting on his hoof distracted him. He turned around to see a white bunny with a grumpy look on his face and his arms crossed.

“Is it okay if I feed the animals quickly? I guess F-Fluttershy forgot to feed them before she left...” Caramel gulped, knowing he was only telling a half-truth. ‘... because I broke her heart in fear of ending up raping her if she got too close to me,’ he finished mentally.

“That’s very unlike her...” Nurse Redheart thought out loud. Caramel began to sweat, hoping she didn’t press the issue further. “I guess she’s not used to having a handsome stallion in the house. I bet you distracted her quite a bit,” she said, giggling. Nurse Redheart meant nothing by it; she was older than Caramel by a few years and wouldn’t really date him. That, of course, didn’t stop her from playing the “naughty nurse” role and flirting with him. The promiscuous nurse’s compliment had the desired effect as Caramel’s face began to turn a bright scarlet.

“I-I’ll just g-go feed them...” he stuttered embarrassingly. Caramel began making the food rounds about the house. Few animals in the house needed feeding seeing as most were currently hibernating, but he didn’t want the few that needed a meal to go hungry. The light brown stallion made sure to mimic Fluttershy’s feeding procedure exactly, surveying each bowl to ensure it had the right amount of food. After he had finished distributing breakfast to the various creatures, Caramel took a short moment to watch them eat, finding satisfaction in his small act of compassion.

“Ready to go?” Nurse Redheart interrupted his daydreaming. Caramel nodded and began walking to the door. “Ap, ap, ap,” she said, signalling for him to halt. The pink-maned mare walked out the door and came back in with a wheelchair and a blanket. She smiled and pointed at the seat, directing Caramel to where he should place his flanks. Caramel merely furrowed a brow at her.

“Is this really necessary? I can walk just fine!” he objected. Nurse Redheart’s friendly grin morphed into an adamant glare. Caramel gulped -- fearing she might resort to restraints -- and immediately planted his haunches in the chair. The white mare smirked at his obedience and wheeled him outside.

“What in Equestriah is goin’ on?!” Braeburn muttered to himself. He had been taking a pleasant nap up against an apple tree when a sudden bang had sent him jumping head-first into a low branch. The stallion was now trying to overcome the effects of his concussion by forcing the two blurry apple trees he saw drifting in front of him to merge into one. Such a task would have proven easier if Braeburn hadn’t been swaying side to side. “Stay still darnit!” he yelled at the tree.

The earth pony eventually regained his balance and sight, and proceeded to check himself for injuries. He ran his hoof through his mane and found to his displeasure a very large bump. “Ah guess ah’m a unicorn, now,” he chuckled to himself. Braeburn proceeded to scan Sweet Apple Acres for the source of the commotion, his eyes resting on the barn a few hundred yards away. The bright red building had dust coming out of the doors -- or more accurately, the lack of doors. He saw two ponies racing to the barn at top speed, the cyan pegasus barely in the lead. ‘Somepony must be hurt somethin’ bad,’ Braeburn fretted, ‘Ah better go ’n’ help!’

The amber earth pony began trotting quickly, taking care not to run in case somepony asked him to hastily fetch something from town. Braeburn’s ability to think clearly in emergencies went unnoticed by many ponies, largely because he acted foalishly most of the time. When the apples hit the fan, however, he was always the stallion to call.

By the time Braeburn reached the barn, Applejack was trotting out, waving off Big Mac who held the first aid kit in his mouth. He began to turn around when he overheard a conversation through the barn window.

“So what did Caramel do?” Rainbow asked, her hooves crossed as she hovered in midair. ‘Caramel?’ Braeburn’s curiosity got the better of him, so he crouched behind a bush near the open window and listened closely. He typically didn’t eavesdrop, but Caramel was his best friend after all. The yellow pegasus with eyes puffy from crying spoke next.

“Well, *sniff*, last n-night he told me he l-liked me... B-but this morning... Oh, Rainbow! He was a completely different stallion! He got so distant and frightened! And then... when I t-told him I cared, *sniff*, about him... he -- he just -- said not to!” Fluttershy broke back into tears, her face buried into her hooves. Rainbow floated over to her and placed a foreleg around her shoulders.

Braeburn couldn’t believe his ears; Caramel was the gentlest pony he had ever met. There was no way he could have behaved so harshly, especially not to such a lovely pegasus. It just wasn’t like Caramel. Braeburn made a mental note to have stern words with him afterwards, but he carried on listening.

“Aw, Fluttershy... You two barely even met; how did you expect to trust him? He is a stallion after all,” Dash emphasized, the sexism cutting through her words. “You remember the bullies from flight school,” she continued, cringing at her own mention of them, “and what they tried to do to you?” Fluttershy closed her eyes and nodded slowly before objecting.

“But... he’s such a kind pony,” she objected in a soft tone. “Why would he suddenly change like that?” Fluttershy shook her head, trying in vain to rattle her mind for an answer. Braeburn did the same outside the barn, baffled at his friend’s supposed change in attitude. ‘Not like Caramel at all... Somethin’s gotta be up with him.’

Rainbow Dash brought Fluttershy in closer, cherishing physical contact with the mare. She blushed slightly, and although Fluttershy failed to notice, the spying stallion did not. ‘Odd...’ he thought, rubbing his chin with his hoof. Dash seemed to act a bit too sympathetically for a friend.

Rainbow pulled away after a few seconds. “They’re all the same, Fluttershy! All colts want is to get us into bed. They can’t be trusted, and I’m sure how nicely Caramel was acting at first was just a big facade which he couldn’t keep up.” The cyan mare’s words lit a fire under Braeburn’s flanks. As a member of the Apple family, he could immediately tell the pegasus was lying through her teeth. ‘She’s tryin’ to pull somethin’,’ Braeburn thought angrily, ‘and that somethin’ seems to be the wool over Shy’s eyes...’

The amber pony withdrew from the bushes and began to canter his way into town. He knew he had to do something about Dash poisoning Fluttershy’s mind that way and figured he would ask Twilight first. Braeburn presumed she wouldn’t have a wealth of experience in drama or relationships with the way Applejack had described her, but also deduced she was the most logical of the group. Twilight would surely have a plan.

Author’s Note: Well it took longer than expected, but here it is: the fourth and once again longest chapter I’ve ever written. I do hope you all enjoy it thoroughly as it took a lot of energy to complete.
None of this, of course, would have been possible without my chief editor: Criticul94
And it wouldn’t be as good as it is now without the help of my ex-girlfriend (who, interestingly enough, is my personality basis for Nurse Redheart XD)
thereare.uselessmachines:
It seems like that memory would be painful to remember. Maybe, Fluttershy could 'cringe'.

Plans

Plans

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

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Rainbow pulled away after a few seconds. “They’re all the same, Fluttershy! All colts want is to get us into bed. They can’t be trusted, and I’m sure how nicely Caramel was acting at first was just a big facade which he couldn’t keep up.” The cyan mare’s words lit a fire under Braeburn’s flanks. As a member of the Apple family, he could immediately tell the pegasus was lying through her teeth. ‘She’s tryin’ to pull somethin’,’ Braeburn thought angrily, ‘and that somethin’ seems to be the wool over Shy’s eyes...’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Caramel trotted down Ponyville’s dirt road, he marvelled at how little the town had changed since his last visit a few years back. His eyes passed over the buildings while his nose took in the nearby aromas. Even the smell of the market hadn’t changed; a mixed scent of flowers, baked goods, and freshly cut grass littered the air. Braeburn sighed in delight. ‘Wish we had grass in Appleloosa,’ he thought to himself as he continued cantering along. The amber stallion noticed a few familiar faces and even waved to Lyra and Bon-Bon, both of whom seemed to be enjoying an ice cream together.

The top branches of the library came into view over the roofs of surrounding houses, and Braeburn quickened his canter. He was a few hundred yards from the tree when what appeared to be a gigantic piece of pink cotton candy jumped out in front of him. Braeburn jumped back, landing with a thud on his haunches. The pink mare in front of him gasped loudly; but then proceeded to spew out words at a rate of knots.

“Ohmygosh, I’m so sorry! I almost ran you over; that would have been bad! Hey, waitaminute! I don’t remember seeing you here before! You’re Braeburn, right? Gosh, it’s been SO long since I saw you! Are you moving here permanently? That makes you a NEWCOMER! And if you're new--!” Braeburn’s hoof put a stop to Pinkie Pie’s constant sputtering.

“Ah have been here b’fore. In fact, ah used ta live on Sweet Apple Acres.” Braeburn held his hoof to Pinkie’s mouth until the garbled words stopped and then resumed. “Ah worked tha farm ‘til I joined tha frontiersponies years ago when ah saw that rainbow explosion come from tha west. Just knew it was where ah belonged,” he proclaimed proudly. Pinkie gasped loudly and continued her verbal hail-fire, but with a lowered speed and volume.

“Wow, you saw Dash’s sonic rainboom too?” Pinkie asked excitedly, unable to keep herself from bouncing.

“That was Rainbow Dash?!” Braeburn had of course heard his cousin prattle on about how Dash flew with an alacrity unlike any other pegasus, but flying so fast that it results in a colorful explosion--the very idea baffled his mind.

“Of course it was! Boy, you really have been gone an awfully long time! Ohmygosh! I need to plan a party! I better get over to Sugarcube corner right away! Nice seeing you again, Braeburn!” And with that, the boisterous pink earth pony bounced off down the road.

Braeburn forged on to the library, frequently shifting his gaze sideways to ensure he wouldn’t receive any other surprises along the way. The amber stallion, having safely reached his destination, knocked on the door with his hoof. Before he finished knocking, the door swung open. Braeburn looked left and right, expecting to see somepony but found none.

“Uh-hum,” Spike said, looking up at the stallion. “Down here,” he muttered, slightly upset with his own lack of height. Although the purple dragon was fully aware his current stature was only temporary and he would become one of the largest creatures in Equestria, Spike retained a bit of an inferiority complex, especially when reminded he “was just a baby dragon.”

“Oh sorry there, li’l fella,” Braeburn began to apologize. Spike blew a thin trail of smoke out his nostrils, clearly displeased with this epithet. “uuh, is Miss Twilight ‘round? There’s somethin’ important ah got ta talk ta her about.” The dragon’s displeasure with Braeburn now shifted to an instant dislike. Spike loathed country accents--a result of his time mingling with upper class ponies in Canterlot. Although he would never say, even Applejack’s voice made him cringe occasionally.

Spike glared at the stallion in a vain attempt to intimidate him into walking away. Braeburn merely put on the widest smile he could and tried not to let his sheepishness show through. The tension snapped when a voice called from deeper within the tree.

“Spike, is somepony there? Let whoever it is in please, and make sure to offer them a seat--oh, and coffee! I’ll take mine black with two sugarcubes.” Spike grunted at Twilight’s order but stood aside to let the stallion enter. Braeburn wisely did not wait for the dragon to offer him a seat and planted his haunches on the nearby couch. As Spike ran off to the kitchen to whip up a batch of coffee, Braeburn whistled softly and pressed his hooves together. He always did feel a bit awkward waiting, so he tried to pass the time in tune and thought. ‘That drake doesn’ seem ta like me much,’ Braeburn noticed. ‘Then again, he probably has an stressful life bein’ a dragon ‘n’ all...’

His thoughts were cut off by the sounds of hoofsteps echoing off the walls. Braeburn glanced over to see Twilight trotting down the stairs. Twilight, previously behind the door to her room, now was able to see her guest. She immediately identified the amber pony as Braeburn, and proceeded to show him a friendly grin. Remembering his manners, the stallion stood up as Twilight made her descent. ‘Curious,’ Twilight thought to herself, beginning to analyze his display of etiquette. ‘I never saw him as the courteous type.’ She widened her smile slightly to show her appreciation for his gesture.

“Hello, Braeburn. What might I be able to help you with today?” Twilight asked, still closing the gap between them. Braeburn looked down and shook his head.

“Ah think ya should sit down. This’s quite a story.” Twilight nodded and pointed a hoof at the couch, directing him to sit. Braeburn complied, but much to his surprise, the lavender unicorn sat adjacent to him on the couch instead of using the armchair opposite. Twilight crossed her hind legs, placed her hooves on her knees, and looked up at him with wide and curious eyes. Braeburn stared at her for a few seconds, admiring how adorkable she was.

“Well?” beckoned Twilight, eager to hear his story.

“Oh, right.” Braeburn was grateful his amber coat served well at hiding the blood that now burned his cheeks. Regardless, he told Twilight everything that occurred that morning, getting somewhat embarrassed about eavesdropping on a private conversation. The lavender unicorn remained attentive and silent most of the time, occasionally nodding or asking for more detail.

When Braeburn had completed his story, Twilight put a hoof under her chin and muttered quietly, “Well, this is interesting... It’s pretty obvious to me that Rainbow Dash is manipulating Fluttershy. We definitely have to do something.” Braeburn nodded his head, eagerly awaiting for the mare to conjure up some plan. “To be honest Braeburn, I-I’m not really sure what to do...” the stallion drooped his head and frowned slightly. He had thought for sure that Twilight would have a solution. “... but I know somepony who might... Spiiiike!”

Spike walked out of the kitchen, a cup of coffee in his hand. “Hold your humans, I got your coffee right here!” Spike placed the cup on the cocktail table, but Twilight looked at him questioningly.

“Ah-hem! Spike, aren’t you going to offer our guest some?” she said in a patronizing tone. Spike merely crossed his arms and gave her a blank look. Twilight glared back with a fierce ‘don’t you ruin this for me’ expression. The baby dragon merely yawned in response, inducing fury from the lavender mare. Twilight opened her mouth, drawing breath for a verbal assault, but Braeburn used the time to interject.

“It’s fine,” he said, grinning widely at Twilight. “Ah’m not much thirsty, anyhow.” All of the unicorn’s anger dissipated, completely melted by the friendly smile on Braeburn’s face. For reasons Twilight couldn’t fathom, blood rose to her cheeks and remained there. The lavender unicorn silently thanked the stars her dark coat mostly concealed her blush. She turned back to Spike and addressed him sternly.

“Spike, the real reason I called you over is I need you to ask Rarity over.” Spike’s eyes immediately went wide and a huge grin exploded onto his face. The dragon shifted his weight, ready to make a launch for the door, but Twilight held him in place with her telekinetic aura and brought him up to eye level. “Make sure to bring her back here. This is very important,” she emphasized, knowing full well that Spike would likely become distracted. He gave Twilight a mock salute and zoomed towards the door at a rate of knots.

Yet, Spike came to a halt before leaving the library and glanced back to see the unicorn sitting fairly close to Braeburn. He observed her tells--scratching the back of her neck with her hoof, looking anywhere but directly at the stallion, but most importantly, Twilight held a light blush on her cheeks. Although still a baby dragon, Spike had known the unicorn long enough to ascertain that she definitely fancied Braeburn. Spike’s brow furrowed in anger as smoke drifted in two small streams from his nostrils. He would have admitted to disliking the pony before this, but now his mind was rank with malice.

“Spike?” Twilight said with a concerned look. “Aren’t you going to get Rarity?” The mention of Rarity’s name rekindled the baby dragon’s enthusiasm to leave. Without another word, Spike rushed out the door, slamming it behind him. Twilight giggled with amusement and then turned to face her guest.

“So, how have you been Braeburn?” Twilight asked, trying her best to act like a normal pony. Ice-breakers had never served as her strong suit, so she relied on others to give conversations some momentum.

“Same ol’, same ol’, ah guess. Jus’ got moved in at the Acres, but--”

“You’ve moved here?!” the lavender unicorn interrupted excitedly. The force of her own reaction surprised Twilight, and she began to question herself. ‘Why did I say that so loud? He must think I’m a lunatic!’

“Yes ma’am,” Braeburn politely responded, causing Twilight to blush again slightly. His gentlecoltly manner was all too flattering for the city-filly. “AJ told me she was short on help out here. Bein’ family an’ all, ah reckoned I had to help. Besides, she’s offerin’ me food, lodgin’, and fair pay. The way ah figgur, that’s more than enuff reason.” Twilight nodded her head in agreement. She had noticed Applejack becoming more stressed as help around the farm faded. First, Big Mac had injured himself trying to buck a lamp post after a long night at the pub. Shortly afterwards, Noteworthy landed a record deal with the famous Vinyl Scratch, allowing him to resign from his job as a farm-hoof (which he loathed anyway).

“Well, that’s terribly kind of you,” Twilight admired in a cheerful tone. She remembered briefly what happened when she had first offered Applejack assistance with farm work. Never had she seen a pony behave so stubbornly, but the lavender mare nonetheless respected AJ’s resolve. Twilight held even greater respect for Braeburn’s willingness to work alongside the adamant earth pony. ‘But blood is thicker than water,’ the mare mentally recited, ‘and Apple blood is all the thicker.’

Braeburn shifted slightly at Twilight’s compliment, not quite used to praise for his actions... In actual fact, he had become far more accustomed to hearing his name yelled in anguish. The pedantic mare next to him giggled slightly at his sheepishness and leaned a tad closer. Braeburn could now distinguish a lavender aroma in the atmosphere and surmised it was emanating from Twilight’s mane. The subtle, floral scent retained a certain spice-like sharpness, piercing the earth pony’s nostrils as he closed his eyes. The country-colt took a deep inhale and allowed the blessed air to loiter in his lungs awhile before eventually returning the gas through his nostrils. Braeburn’s eyes met with the face of a very intrigued purple mare. A light scarlet highlighted his nervous grin as the stallion attempted to recover lost time.

“Oh-a, thanks, Miss Sparkle.” Twilight’s blush deepened slightly as she began chuckling loudly.

“Please Braeburn, Miss Sparkle is my mother; I’m just Twilight.” Braeburn silently nodded. In all honesty, he had no idea why he was being so formal in the first place. True, he was always a polite enough stallion, but something within him told Braeburn to be on his best behaviour as if Granny Smith were speaking to him from the back of his mind. Three rapid knocks broke the stallion’s thoughts. “Come in,” Twilight called out before the door opened.

“Why, hello darlings! This is quite an unexpected invitation,” sung the white mare as she pranced in, followed by a floating purple dragon. Spike’s tongue hung from his mouth in an unflattering manner, while little pink hearts jumped in his eyes. Twilight breathed heavily and rolled her eyes at him. Spike fell out of his trance and then furrowed his brow in response, nodding his head towards Braeburn. The lavender mare noticed how closely she had shifted towards the stallion and blushed.

“Hello, Rarity. Please come in and take a seat with us.” Twilight pointed her hoof at the armchair on the adjacent side of the cocktail table. Rarity observed the lavender mare and her company and smiled at them both before taking a seat.

“I must say this is a surprise, dear. We rarely ever have time to chat nowadays... Aren’t you going to introduce your guest?” Rarity asked, reminding Twilight of her etiquette.

“Oh, sorry! Rarity, this is Braeburn; Braeburn, you remember Rarity?”

“Of course ah do! Pleasure seein’ ya again, Miss Rarity.” Braeburn gave a small bow of his head to the mare.

“Likewise,” came the cheery response.

Twilight, satisfied that introductions were complete, proceeded to explain the situation to Rarity.

“We have a bit of an issue, Rarity. Braeburn told me what he overheard at Sweet Apple Acres this morning, and it doesn’t sound good at all. Caramel and Fluttershy had a bit of a falling out yesterday. We still aren’t exactly sure about what happened, but it was enough to make ‘Shy hysterical. She crashed into AJ’s barn at top speed--intentionally. Dash was there to ‘comfort’ her, but it seems she has an agenda of her own.” Rarity’s eyes went wide at the drama apparently unfolding without her notice. She took a few seconds to completely process the information, and then put a hoof to her chin as she contemplated.

“Exactly what kinds of things did Rainbow say that would bring you to this conclusion, Braeburn?” the white unicorn inquired.

“Well ma’m, she made some very sexist slurs while insultin’ mah best frien’. She said things like ‘All colts want is ta get us inta bed,’ and ‘He is a stallion after all.’ What bit me was that she was lyin’ through her teeth ‘bout Caramel bein’ a phony! Ah don’t mean to go ‘round callin’ ponies liars, but as an Apple ah can honestly say ah could tell she was spoutin’ complete garbage.”

Rarity nodded silently as Braeburn finished his explanation. She had already known Rainbow to be a homosexual, but never would have pinned her as sexist. The pieces of the puzzle gradually came together in Rarity’s mind, however, as she recalled her spa visit with Rainbow. The two had been relaxing and gossipping in the sauna when Dash had let it slip she fancied Fluttershy.

The cyan mare made Rarity Pinkie-promise to never tell anypony about her crush or that she liked mares. She agreed but told Dash that, sooner or later, she would have to tell Fluttershy about her feelings or nothing would change. It seemed clear now that Rainbow was allowing her desires to make her do things she otherwise never would.

“... Rarity? Do you know anything about why Rainbow would act this way?” Twilight asked slowly after watching the other unicorn become lost in thought. Rarity quickly snapped out of her daze, shaking her head sharply.

Rarity knew she shouldn’t betray her friend’s trust, even with noble intentions. At the same time she refused to lie to Twilight--regardless of the fact that attempting to do so would be useless with a member of the Apple family present.

“Yes,” she said flatly, doing her best to hide the thought racing across her mind.

Twilight paused briefly, logically expecting a more verbose response. After waiting and not receiving one, she decided to press the issue further.

“... So... are you going to tell us?”

Rarity sighed heavily and buried her forehead into her hoof. “I’m afraid I can’t, dear,” she confessed, shaking her head. “I promised I wouldn’t say anything... and you remember what happened last time Applejack broke a Pinkie promise, don’t you?” Both mares shuddered with horror at the memory of Pinkie’s pure rage. It was something everypony hoped never to witness again.

“Well, you can’t break your oath by telling us, but perhaps if we guess correctly... Is...is Rainbow a lesbian?” Twilight asked hesitantly. She knew it was quite a conclusion to jump to, but all the evidence seemed to point in that direction. Rainbow’s attempts at comforting Fluttershy may not have proven convincing on their own, but her slander about Caramel’s character certainly affirmed suspicions.

“H-how did you know?!” Rarity’s eyes shot fully open and her mouth fell slightly ajar.

Twilight put on the best smirk she could muster. “It’s quite obvious, really...” Rarity shot the lavender mare a deadpan stare. “Uh-h, yeah... Dash’s snide remarks about stallions and the affection she showed Fluttershy definitely point to her being a filly-foo--”

“Don’t use that word, Twilight!” Rarity broke in curtly. “It’s very offensive. To imply that anypony’s orientation is child’s play is--is just vulgar.”

Twilight stared at her hooves stammering for words, completely abashed. “I-I’m so sorry, Rarity! I d-didn’t mean t-to...” Her voice trailed off, words escaping her feeble efforts to force them into a coherent sentence. Rarity’s stern look softened greatly. She knew Twilight meant no harm but felt the need to point out just how prejudiced the term was.

“No, no, of course you didn’t, dear. I’m sorry for scolding you like that; it was quite brash of me.” Rarity now found herself with her chin down, unable to meet Twilight’s gaze.

“It’s fine, Rarity. I really shouldn’t have used that word.” Twilight also hung her head in shame, remembering her foalhood. While loving parents, her mom and dad held very strong traditional opinions and would frequently condemn homosexuals for “indulging in such unnatural iniquities.”

Twilight obediently subscribed to her parents’ dogmatic lessons on social morality until one afternoon in high school, after she had directly insulted two lesbian mares. Her Equestrian teacher, Mr. Scroll, asked her in private, “What gives you the right to impose your moral opinions on another pony--especially on something as subjective as love? Just how much do you know about love? It seems to me they’re learning a lot more about it than you are.” Twilight felt so horribly about herself she broke down cried right there in front of him. After he had finished consoling the lavender mare, Twilight asked him to teach her.

Confused, Scroll asked, “Twilight, what are you trying to sa--,” but was cut off by Twilight pressing her lips into his. The unicorn was incredibly inexperienced, yet what she lacked in knowledge she assuredly made up for in enthusiasm. When her teacher pulled away after a few seconds, Twilight came to an astonishing realization--that you can’t control who you fall in love with: male or female, young or old... even pupil or mentor. As she prepared to lock lips once more, Twilight Sparkle knew it would not be her last time, for she still had much to learn.

Braeburn mustered enough courage to break the silence and said quietly, “If y’all are done, I high think it’s time we decided what ta do ‘bout this.” Both mares looked at each other briefly before turning to the stallion and nodding, “Thank Celestia,” he muttered, completely relieved the whole awkward situation had blown over.

“So what’s the plan, Twilight?” Rarity asked, her eyes fixed calmly on the purple mare. Twilight furrowed her brow a bit and turned towards Braeburn, only to view a similar expression of anticipation on his face. She turned back to Rarity and looked at her quizzically.

“I thought you would know what to do about this,” Twilight stated bluntly. She had only called Rarity over for that reason in the first place.

“Oh no, dear. I have absolutely no clue as to what we even can do about this, to be honest,” the white mare confessed sheepishly. The only thing she was sure of is that something certainly needed to be done.

“Well, our best bet at this point would be to gather what knowledge we can. Perhaps reading up on romance and rela--” Twilight began eagerly before being cut off by the stallion’s voice.

“Uh, Ah don’t think books will be of much use here, Twilight,” Braeburn dissented, shaking his head.

“Hmm, perhap’s you’re right,” she admitted. Twilight put her hoof to her chin and concentrated for a few seconds before her eyes shot wide and a smile began to creep onto her face.

“I’ve got a plan.”

First Intermission

First Intermission

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pinkie Pie stood at the counter of Sugarcube Corner with her “elbows” on the display glass. She hadn’t expected many customers to walk by today, not with the recent frigid weather, but not even one customer? Pinkie was beginning to feel terribly lonely, something the extroverted earth pony detested intensely. The Cakes had taken their first family holiday, charging the pink mare with responsibility for the shop during their absence. Had she known it would prove so dull, Pinkie might not have shown half the enthusiasm she did.

She felt overwhelmed with joy when the bells on the door jingled from opening. She bounced behind the counter, eagerly awaiting the entrance of her customer.

“Howdy, Pinkie! Ooh!” Applejack exclaimed, shivering from the cold. “It’s colder than a Windigo’s breath out there!”

Pinkie giggled at the the old cliché. Such sayings must have been as old as the Apple family itself, which some thought older than Equestria and the Alicorns. Granny Smith claimed she could trace her lineage all the way back to Orchard the Great -- the first pony to harvest fruit from trees -- although every time she tried, she would end up dozing off after a few generations.

“Hey, Applejack! What can I do ya for?” Pinkie said, laughing jubilantly.

“Well, ah’d like a chimicherrichonga, if yah got one.”

The food’s name made Pinkie Pie reminisce about Applejack’s disappearance and their quest to find her. She sighed a bit as she moved around in the kitchen, looking for the proper tools and ingredients.

“There aren’t any ready right now, so I’ll have to make you a fresh one!”

“Gee Pinks, yah don’t have to go through that for me. I’ll just order something else,” Applejack said, feeling guilty for making her friend work to make just one pastry.

“No, no,” the energetic mare insisted. “I’ll make you a nice, fresh one. Besides, I’ve been really lonely all day, and this’ll be a great opportunity for us to catch up. And besides,” she paused, “you still haven’t apologized for that whole ordeal three years ago.” Pinkie added a wink to the smirk plastered on her face.

“Pinkie, we’ve gone over this b’fore. Ah didn’t break mah promise.”

“Well you kinda did, but that’s not what I’m talking about... I’m talking about how you ran away in the first place...” Pinkie Pie stared at the ground in front of her hooves, pawing at the floor in the best Fluttershy impersonation Applejack had ever witnessed from the pink pony.

“Ah did say sorry; ah said it to the whole town!” she said, perplexed.

“... Y-You never said it to me. You never apologized to me,” Pinkie whispered. Applejack frowned at the mare in front of her, wondering what could be occurring in that chaotic mind of hers. Pinkie always cheered AJ up when she fell into a depressed state, but it appeared the roles had been reversed this time around, leaving it up to her to rekindle the party-mare’s spirit.

“Ah am sorry, Pinkie. Ah know it must’ve been hard for yah when ah left, what with us bein’ such good friends an’ all... What’s happened, Pie? Yah never seem quite the same any more. Every time ah see yah, yah don’t seem quite as happy, and it’s botherin’ the hey outta me!”

“I-I can’t tell you.” Pinkie said flatly. She looked more distraught than when she had lost use of her tongue four years back. Applejack recalled the whole “curse” issue from years ago and chuckled quietly.

“Heck, yah remember when we all got ‘hexed’ by the Poison Joke, and yah couldn’t talk for beans?”

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

“Yah remember how yah kinda used charades to talk to us? Well... if yah can’t tell me what’s on your mind, Pink, then show me, and maybe I’ll guess.”

Pinkie froze for a moment. How could she put into words, much less charades, what she wanted to communicate? Applejack could never comprehend how lonely she truly was. Sure, the pink-maned mare had all her friends who cared for her, but she constantly had to stay happy around them lest they worry about her. She merely wanted somepony to confide in: one who she didn’t always have to act silly and joyful around. Pinkie needed somepony to be honest with, and who better than the Element of Honesty herself? It only helped that she loved... loved...?

Did she really love Applejack? She took a moment to rattle the question around in her brain. True, she liked AJ best out of all her friends, but that surely didn’t constitute love. Pinkie thought about how the tough mare gave her goosebumps and butterflies often, but still concluded it was insufficient. She tried to reason a way of determining her feelings, and thought of an incredibly risky test.

‘No, no, no, NO!’ she mentally scolded to herself. There was no way in Equestria she could do that! What would Applejack say? Pinkie was reasonably sure the farmer was straight anyway. If she followed her own feelings, they could lead to the end of her friendship with Applejack. But if she didn’t, she could be forever haunted by what might have been had she shown courage. Pinkie shook her head violently and stood up straight, pure determination on her face.

She slowly walked towards Applejack, who began nervously backing away. Eventually the orange mare’s flanks hit the wall, but Pinkie showed no signs of slowing down. Instinctively, Applejack sat on her haunches and leaned back up against the wall to avoid collision with the pink pony’s face. ‘Perfect,’ Pinkie Pie thought, grinning slightly.

“Hey, Pinkie what’re ya--?!”

Pinkie lunged forward and locked lips with AJ, savoring the sweet, apple-like flavor of her lips. The pink mare’s sudden advance had knocked the air straight out of Applejack’s lungs and onto her rose-colored cheeks, sending Pie’s heart a-flutter. It seemed to Pinkie that her risk had paid off, as the other earth pony offered little resistance to the tugging of her lips. When she attempted to slip her tongue into the farmer-pony’s mouth however, the entire situation exploded in her face like a clogged party canon.

“Pinkie!” Applejack yelled after violently pulling away from the mare who had just kissed her. “W-what was that?! Why did you do that?! I-I... I gotta go, okay? I’m sorry, but I-I just...” With that, Applejack bolted out the door like a bat out of an aqueduct, leaving the Pink mare alone once more. Pinkie sighed and plopped her face on the counter. She heard the door close... and after few seconds re-open. She jerked her head up hopefully, only to meet her eyes with a pair of sympathetic, magenta ones. Rainbow sighed and put a hoof on the party pony’s shoulders.

“Pinkie... you are so random.”

Truths

Truths

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, our best bet at this point would be to gather what knowledge we can. Perhaps reading up on romance and rela--” Twilight began eagerly before being cut off by the stallion’s voice.

“Uh, Ah don’t think books will be of much use here, Twilight,” Braeburn dissented, shaking his head.

“Hmm, perhaps you’re right,” she admitted. Twilight put her hoof to her chin and concentrated for a few seconds before her eyes shot wide and a smile began to creep onto her face.

“I’ve got a plan.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight trotted briskly down the dirt road towards the outskirts of Ponyville, her eyes occasionally darting towards the sky, searching for any sign of the rainbow-maned pegasus. As Twilight passed Sugarcube corner, she watched Rainbow Dash make her exit. With her mental checklist ready (a physical one would lack the necessary discretion), the lavender unicorn prepared to confront the pegasus.

“Hey, Rainbow!” she exclaimed cheerily. Dash turned her head towards her friend and forced a smile. The visible effort communicated that this was certainly not somepony she felt like talking to right now, if she felt like talking to anypony at all for that matter.

“Heh- hiya, Twi’!” Rainbow cantered at an angle in an attempt to move past the mare, but Twilight seemed intent on keeping up with her as she moved along.

“So, anything new? You don’t look too happy; is something wrong?” Rainbow Dash stopped and turned to face Twilight.

“Well, Pinkie had a bit of a... an incident with Applejack. I really don’t think we should talk about it though,” she affirmed, insisting to herself such things weren’t their business anyway. Rainbow began to trot off once more.

“Wait, Dash; I don’t think that’s it. You seem upset about something. What is it?” Rainbow Dash sighed as the logical portion of her mind made some observations. Maybe she should at least tell somepony if she couldn’t muster the courage to admit it to the one pony to whom it concerned. And who better to confess to than her best friend? Dash shook her head violently. Sharing the burden of her feelings would certainly do more harm than good.

“Nothing, Twilight. I’m fine,” she lied, hoping to Celestia the conversation would end at that. Dash began to pick up pace, but the unicorn remained persistent. Twilight teleported herself directly in front of the cyan mare and put a hoof on her shoulder.

“No, you’re not, Dash. You need help... Please just say what’s bothering you.” Rainbow flared her nostrils and huffed irritably.

“Nothing you would understand,” she said coldly. Twilight shot an aggravated frown at the pegasus. Dash’s fiercely independent behavior did not excuse her impudent tone, especially when directed at a pony who merely wanted to help. Twilight thought for a second and then decided to turn around, confident she could easily turn the situation in her favor.

“Fine,” she uttered brusquely, doing her best to act extremely hurt. As the unicorn estimated, Rainbow Dash did an about-face and began galloping after her. Twilight smiled to herself slightly, and deliberately slowed down. Dash cut in front of her and began to apologize frantically.

“Twi’, I’m so sorry! Please--it’s just I’ve--it’s been a rough week, okay?” Twilight felt a pang of guilt at manipulating the pegasus into feeling sorry for her, but she knew it was best for them both that Rainbow willingly tell her the truth.

“I forgive you, Rainbow. But please... tell me what’s really wrong, and I’ll do my best to help.” Dash sighed and glanced around the mostly void street.

“Okay, but we need to go someplace private... I’ll lift you up to my cloud-house, c’mon.” Both ponies began trotting once more towards the edge of the town, saying nothing on the way there. In a matter of minutes, they had reached Rainbow’s home, a humongous cloud structure that cast massive shadows over them.

“Up we go!” the pegasus yelled as she gripped Twilight’s sides. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings feverishly, causing both mares to slowly ascend towards the cloud. The lavender mare could hear Dash’s heavy breathing and grinned sheepishly. ‘Maybe I need to lose some weight,’ she thought, thoroughly embarrassed at the effort required from the pegasus. They finally reached cloud, and Rainbow quickly dropped Twilight onto it without a second thought. Twilight quickly cast the cloud-hoof spell, and not a second too soon; a moment’s worth of hesitation would have sent her plummeting to the ground. Twilight glared at the cyan mare, eliciting a timid grimace.

“Heh... it’s not my fault you’re so heavy,” she teased. In her best attempt at a Rarity impersonation, the unicorn gasped histrionically.

“How rude! It’s not my fault you’re such a poor flier.” Dash just smiled, absolutely delighted.

“Hey, I didn’t know you had a sense of humor!” the pegasus exclaimed. Twilight seldom ever recognized humor or sarcasm, let alone participate in either.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me,” she replied, smirking at Rainbow. The other mare merely cocked her head to one side and gave her headstrong friend a curious look. Twilight continued, “B-besides... somepony has to be serious.” Rainbow Dash could tell she wasn’t telling something, but decided not to press the issue--not yet.

“Well, you don’t have to be serious all the time, Twi’. It’s nice to joke around a little,” Twilight nodded knowingly.

“Yeah, unfortunately moderation has never been my strong point. I tend to be a bit... polar.” A strong wind blew by the two ponies outside the cloud home, causing them both to shiver.

“Brrrr! With the way the winters have been getting worse, I’m wondering if all of Equestria isn’t getting more polar! C’mon, let’s go in before my feathers start snapping off.” Twilight furrowed her brow at the pegasus.

“Your feathers freeze?” Dash facehoofed and shook her head.

“Still as gullible as ever, Twi’! C’mon, inside!” Rainbow pushed the unicorn through the door and shut it behind her. They both removed their scarves and hung them on the stand by the door. It was surprisingly cozy inside the cloud-home, a phenomenon Twilight knew as a result of the water vapor’s greenhouse effect. The dense cloud used to construct the house also served as a shield against bitter winds, flurries, and even hail.

Even with the distracting nature of the house, Twilight knew she needed a direct approach.

“So, Rainbow Dash... what’s been bothering you?” Although she felt pretty sure of the answer, Twilight needed to hear it “straight from the horse’s mouth” as it were. The goal, however, of her covert operation was not to seek answers to specific questions, but rather to collect as much information about the situation as possible. With this in mind, Twilight Sparkle thought it best that she ask somewhat open-ended questions that could provide a wide range of understanding.

“I... I don’t know how to say it. I’m not even sure of my own feelings any more,” Dash confessed. Twilight sympathized with how difficult it must be for Rainbow to cast off her cloak of narcissism, even in front of her best friend. Perhaps the unicorn’s greater understanding of Rainbow Dash allowed them to stay such good friends despite their variance in primary interests and personalities. While both were greatly committed to reinforcing already-held opinions of themselves, each pony somewhat privately enjoyed aspects of the other’s life. Twilight relished the witty banter and playful insults, and Dash had a strange obsession with adventure novels. Alas, the two knew that others expected differently from them; the unicorn was relied upon to behave seriously... and the pegasus had to act strong.

As an intelligent mare, Twilight recognized that nopony could remain tough all the time, no more than one could keep earnest at length. Just as she would occasionally crack a small joke, the cyan mare needed somepony she could speak openly with every so often--somepony who understood her.

“Well, why don’t you tell me what happened?” It carried less the air of a question than it did an invitation as Twilight lay on the plush cloud floor, patting her hoof on the area adjacent to her. Rainbow gave the unicorn a reserved smile and stretched herself out next to her.

Dash then proceeded to retell the previous day’s events--beginning with her noticing the ruckus in town and ending with being kicked out of Fluttershy’s house. Twilight mostly nodded, sporadically requesting clarification or more detail. At the end of the tale Twilight smiled at Rainbow, causing the pegasus to chuckle.

“Heh, what is it?” Twilight’s smile seemed all too familiar, gleaming from some esoteric fact. Patience did not fit into the Rainbow’s qualities, and the unicorn’s smile certainly tested her shortfall.

“You’re in love.” The statement had more confidence behind it than Dash put into any flying maneuver or egoistic remark. Twilight’s acumen astounded the pegasus into silence; never had she expected to be so easily guessed. The side of her mouth twitched slightly in shocked unconscious agreement. As the pause grew longer, Rainbow fumbled over herself to recover.

“How-I-but-no I’m not! That’s ridiculous! She’s my oldest friend!” came the largely rushed and incoherent response. Realizing she had tried too desperately to repudiate the fact, Dash lifted her head and gave an exaggerated laugh to lighten the situation.

The lavender mare giggled quietly. “The prickles, the blurts, and the head laugh. There’s no sense trying to lie to me, Rainbow; I’m well versed in the signals. I read Signs of Deceit, which curiously enough is written by Applejack’s uncle.”

The pegasus huffed loudly, admitting her defeat. “Fine, you got me, but you have to swear not to tell her!”

“Oh, I’m not going to tell her, Dash. You, on the other hoof, need to let her know. It’s not beneficial to either of you for this to stay a secret. You need to let her know how you feel!”

“Pfft! What does an egghead know about stuff like this? I don’t think your reading material covers it, Twi’.” Rainbow’s snide remark infuriated Twilight.

“What makes you think I don’t know anything about it, huh?! Because I’m intelligent, you automatically assume I’m pure and innocent! I’m not, okay?” Dash was caught off guard by the unicorn’s explosive reaction and once more stared silently at her. Almost immediately, Twilight restrained her outburst and lowered her head, ears folded back. “I’m so sorry, Dash. I-I don’t know why I said that.” Dash’s shocked expression changed into a sympathetic smile.

“I think I do. I also think there’s a story you’re not telling me.” Twilight sighed, recognizing that she was now expected to tell a very private story of her own. She resented the thought of revealing that part of her past to anypony; it would expose her as a bigot and worse...

On the other hoof, Rainbow had effectively admitted her love for another mare, more specifically her oldest friend. If Dash could find the courage to confess herself to the unicorn, the least Twilight could do would be to return the favor. She drew a breath in preparation for the long tale.

“... When I was still in the Royal Academy for Gifted Unicorns...”

~ Flashback ~

Twilight lightly tapped her pencil on her desk, having already handed in her assignment and eagerly awaiting completion by the rest of the class, so they might be permitted to leave early. She thanked Celestia that Mr. Scrolls was a kind enough teacher to allow such liberties, granted everypony completed the class-work. Script was a very enthusiastic instructor, fresh out of Canterlot University. He now taught Equestrian Literature to what were considered the most talented magicians in their generation, a burden which he did not take lightly. He consistently considered new methods for teaching: ones that could suit each and every pupil under his instruction. Today’s assignment was a partner teaching activity.

“The measure of true understanding of a subject is your ability to teach it to somepony else,” he reminded them as they worked. “If you can simplify an idea to the point where you can explain it to somepony who doesn’t have background knowledge on the subject. If you can explain the concept without regurgitating the details, then you will understand it conceptually.”

The silver stallion trotted around the pairs, listening in on their conversations. Some of them were using analogies or metaphors to explain an idea while others were following the Socratic method to develop an understanding of what the other pony was trying to convey. Mr. Scrolls felt a hint of pride knowing he had helped them to advance their communication skills. Of course his sense of pride turned to concern when he saw his star pupil staring at the clock as if it would spontaneously jump off the wall.

Considering there were an odd number of student in class, Twilight had volunteered to perform an alternative writing assignment. Even when Script had suggested she merely join to for a group of three, the young unicorn insisted it would be “no problem at all.”

“Waiting for something, Miss Sparkle?” the adolescent schoolfilly quickly turned in her seat. She was blushing slightly in a way that made Scrolls think she merely felt embarrassed.

“N-no, Mr. Scrolls. I was just lost in thought.” Obviously a lie.

“Thinking about leaving early, eh? What’s the rush?” Twilight wondered to herself how in Tartarus he managed to know what she’s thinking so well.

“I have some studying I want to do. There’s a spell I’ve been trying for three days straight, but I just can’t seem to get it.”

“Hmm, what is the spell? Perhaps I can be of some assistance, although I was never as good a magician as you already are.” Twilight blushed again, his compliment adding insult to injury in the opposite manner.

“It’s a powerful healing spell called the ‘Repamor’. Even the books Princess Celestia gave me don’t delve into much detail about it.” Script chuckled under his breath, knowing full well the requirements for that particular spell. He spoke very quietly to her.

“Well Miss Sparkle, considering that is a very volatile spell for most of the students in this classroom, I will only be able to tell you more after they have left. Twilight gasped with excitement.

“So you’ll be able to teach it to me?!” Mr. Scrolls chuckled aloud this time.

“It’s a unique spell. You will only be able to use it under certain conditions, but I can teach you how to cast it when they arise.” The young mare gleamed with happiness as her teacher trotted back behind his desk. She then took a glance at the clock on the wall and became instantly disappointed; there was a full half hour left remaining in class. Twilight groaned and propped her face in her hooves.

Fillyish giggling filled her right ear, and the lavender unicorn couldn’t help but look. Spella was once again flirting with her fillyfriend and even going so far as to nuzzle occasionally. Twilight grumbled under her breath at the pair, disgusted with their vile behaviour. She put her head in her hooves again, but the young couple’s laughter continued to bombard her ears. Finally, the young mare snapped.

“Hey! Can you two filly-foolers cut it out?! It’s sickening enough watching you two, but I can’t stand having to hear it all the time!”

The entire room became as silent as a tomb. Nopony dared to breathe. Mr. Scrolls stood up slowly.

“Class dismissed. We’ll continue our lesson tomorrow, but please be sure to bring your textbooks as well.” The class began to silently gather up their belongings into saddlebags and exit the room without speaking above a whisper. “Except for you, Miss Sparkle. You need to stay.” Twilight gulped very loudly. She had never been in trouble with a teacher before and had no idea what to expect. Each student left the room as Mr. Scrolls stood by the door. After the last one left, he carefully shut it.

Script smacked a hoof on his desk with such force that blood began to trickle from it. “I am extremely disappointed with you, Twilight! I would never have expected my brightest student to be so prejudiced.” Twilight folded her ears back as she attempted to avoid his gaze, causing the stallion to soften his tone. “Neither you nor I are homosexual, but I want to express to you just how difficult it already must be for them. Their orientation, regardless of what your parents may tell you, is not a choice, and they have to live with ridicule each and every day, probably for the rest of their lives. That you would participate in the verbal stoning distresses me.” The young unicorn made a weak attempt to speak up.

“M-mr. Scrolls --”

“Don’t call me that now. I’m not telling you this as your teacher; I’m telling you as a friend, but go on.”

“S-script?” The stallion nodded. “Isn’t it kind of... well, unnatural for two ponies of the same sex to be in love?” Script just shook his head.

“What gives you the right to impose your moral opinions on another pony--especially on something as subjective as love? Just how much do you know about love? It seems to me they’re learning a lot more about it than you are.” Tears began to fall from Twilight’s eyes--ones of sorrow, regret, but mostly self-pity. She had grown to almost full adulthood now and had never experienced love. What little she knew she only got from fiction and history novels.

Script softened his gaze and re-acquired his soft tone. “I’m sorry for yelling, Twilight. You do need to be more tolerant, however, if you wish to understand love. You cannot love until you can tolerate, and you cannot love unconditionally until you tolerate unconditionally.” The unicorn simply nodded. “Your first lesson should be that love knows no bounds. Male or female, young or old, white or black or any color coat in between.” Twilight stayed silent as her mentor continued speaking.

“Coincidentally, the spell you have been practicing so hard requires a deep romantic feeling for the pony you are trying to heal. The Repamor spell only works by concentrating on your affection while pressing your lips to the injury.” The young mare put her hoof to her face, realizing she had misread the ancient writing as “affliction” instead of “affection”. She removed her hooves from her face to see a small puddle of blood by Script’s hoof.

“Mr. Scrolls, you’re bleeding!” he quickly glanced down at his hoof and elevated it in front of himself.

“Hmm, so I am,” he agreed nonchalantly. A small stream of blood was seeping from the top edge of his hoof. Twilight stepped closer to it, not taking her eyes of the red liquid. It did not seem any serious injury, but she knew it needed attention regardless if he didn’t want an infection. She would hate for him to need to take sick leave...

Twilight glanced up at her teacher, looking from his light azure mane, down his glimmering silver coat, and to his cutie mark--an open scroll and quill. She wondered silently to herself before taking his hoof in hers. Script offered no protest, knowing intuitively what she was attempting and thinking it a bit naive of Twilight to mistake her physical attraction to him as genuine affection.

The lavender filly closed her eyes, and a soft purple aura began to emanate from her horn. Carefully, she lifted Script’s hoof to her lips and kissed it gently. The same aura now surrounded his wound as the blood began to dissipate. Scrolls went wide-eyed as his mind began rushing with various conclusions. Hiis student was possibly using another healing spell and merely trying to fool him, or perhaps she was casting an illusion spell, designed to make him believe himself fully healed. In his heart, though, he knew the inevitable truth: his own pupil had fallen for him.

“It... appears you have learned,” he said slowly, implying both of magic and of love. Twilight nodded her head slowly as she re-opened her eyes--eyes now filled with a new purpose as she glanced at her mentor.

“... You said the first lesson in love is that love knows no bounds,” she responded in almost a whisper. Script opened his mouth to speak, but realized he had absolutely no rebuttal; his own words had convicted him. Twilight took another step closer to her teacher, gazing deeply into his eyes. The stallion didn’t dare move in any direction.

“You also said that I need to learn about love... Well, I want to know what love is. I want you to show me.”

“Twilight, what are you trying to sa--”

Script’s question was cut short by Twilight’s lips as she pressed hers softly against his. The gentle contact electrified the unicorn as she began to push into him with more force. Too shocked to react at all, her mentor allowed Twilight to clumsily force her tongue past his lips. Although she was extremely inexperienced, Script could tell by her enthusiasm that the young mare adamantly meant what she had said. She continued testing to see what she liked, but more importantly what pleased him. Even through his stone-struck state, Script still gave her passive clues like goosebumps and shivers. As Twilight’s technique improved he could feel himself melting away.

... Until he realized just who he was kissing. This was Twilight Sparkle, his student and apprentice to the ruler of all Equestria. Not only were his actions unethical; they may very well land him on the surface of the moon. With that in mind, Script pulled away from his pupil. Confused, Twilight opened her eyes.

“W-What is it? DId I do something wrong?” The stallion sighed. How could he possibly explain it given what he had told her not a minute ago? He pondered for a second and then began to speak.

“Twilight... I-you-we can’t be like this. It’s not that I don’t have feelings for you; believe me I do... but we cannot possibly be together. It’s unethical, and I could lose my position--even end up in prison... or worse,” he said, thinking about Celestia’s younger sister.

“B-b-but you said love was unconditional, that we can’t control who we fall in love with! ... We can keep it a secret. I don’t care about these obtuse social ethics; they’re nothing. You said yourself that we should only be governed by our own moral code, and in my moral code I l-l-love you. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it; in fact, I’ve never felt anything so right in my entire life!” Script shook his head and began to turn away from her, but Twilight grabbed his hoof--the same one she had healed earlier--and began to sing quietly.

“I want to know what love is. I want you to show me... I want to feel what love is. I know you can show me.”

Script smiled widely at her. Perhaps it was he who could learn something about love. As their lips locked once more, both were sure of one thing: they had never felt happier.

~ Return (Music Stops) ~

Dash sat open-mouthed next to Twilight with a newfound respect for the unicorn. Despite her seemingly detached nature, the lavender mare had quite the experience in romance. Of the many questions formulated in Dash’s mind, one stood out among the others.

“... So, what happened?” Twilight sighed, knowing that would be the one question she could rely on anypony to ask, given a story like that.

“Maybe some other time, Dash. I think it’s best I get going anyway; it’ll be night soon.” Rainbow nodded and stood up to stretch. The long story had kept her still for quite a while--a condition she remained unaccustomed to except while napping. The two mares gathered their scarves and walked outside.

Dash flew over to Twilight and once again lifted her into the air slowly. She spread her wings, allowing the two to spiral slowly to the ground. Dash let go, this time ensuring Twilights hoofs were planted first. Twilight smiled at her and waved goodbye while she did the same back, now with a better understanding of her best friend... now also better understood by her best friend.

Rumors I

Rumors I

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, our best bet at this point would be to gather what knowledge we can. Perhaps reading up on romance and rela--” Twilight began eagerly before being cut off by the stallion’s voice.

“Uh, Ah don’t think books will be of much use here, Twilight,” Braeburn dissented, shaking his head.

“Hmm, perhaps you’re right,” she admitted. Twilight put her hoof to her chin and concentrated for a few seconds before her eyes shot wide and a smile began to creep onto her face.

“I’ve got a plan.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rarity cantered briskly towards Fluttershy’s cottage, eager to put her element of Twilight’s plan into motion. She even allowed herself to giggle slightly after checking that nopony was around to see. ‘This is the most fun I’ve had in such a while!’ she thought to herself. While certainly a subscriber to gossip, Rarity had never been given the opportunity to collect intelligence herself. The adrenaline of having to perform a covert operation was giving the mare goosebumps. ‘I should have been a spy!’

Making her way across the bridge, Rarity caught a glimpse of her target entering the modest house. She grinned deviously and quickened her pace to follow after the pegasus.

Fluttershy closed the door behind her and trotted glumly over to the couch. She buried her face in the plush sofa as she plopped the rest of her body onto it. She groaned into the pillow, physical and emotional ache bearing down on her. “Why?” she whispered to herself. “Why did he say that?” Tears slowly filled the pillow under Fluttershy’s face as her sobs grew louder.

Four knocks from the door caused the distraught mare to gasp and jump off the couch. She had completely forgotten about her weekly spa visit with Rarity. Fluttershy hopped off the couch and rushed to open the door for her friend.

Rarity gasped at the sight before her and nearly fainted. Fluttershy’s mane was an absolute crow’s nest, and her eyes looked red and puffy. The bags under them were well complemented by the disheveled wings on her back, which had feathers pointing in every direction.

If Rarity were the captain of a ship, she would have turned on every siren and emergency light she could, screaming “Code Red! Code Red!” throughout the bridge. Alas, being a humble unicorn somewhat limited her dramatic abilities, and she settled for frantic, nosy questioning.

“Fluttershy, my dear! What in Equestria happened?! I know you had a bit of an accident, but I didn’t think it was this bad! Are you feeling alright? Why did you crash into a barn in the first place? What were you thinking?!”

“I-I um... I don’t, u-uh, really know,” Fluttershy whispered, very embarrassed with her appearance.

“Oh, I’m sorry, dear! Never mind my rambling; we must be prompt if we are to make it to our appointment on schedule,” Rarity turned to begin walking back towards town, but Fluttershy stepped back into the cottage.

“Oh, sorry Rarity,” she apologized softly, “but I forgot to feed my animals breakfast. It should only take a minute.”

“Don’t fret, my dear; take all the time you require. I’m sure Aloe and Lotus won’t mind if we’re a tad late, anyway,” Rarity assured her.

“Especially considering how much business I give them,” she muttered under her breath. The unicorn was nonetheless convinced that her pulchritude and health justified every bit.

Fluttershy ducked back inside quickly and made her way towards the kitchen. She opened the cabinet under the sink only to find that the animals’ food bowls were missing. The pegasus scratched her head with a hoof, swearing mentally that she had put them there the night before. It was then that her eye caught the circular shape of a food bowl in the corner of the kitchen.

‘Strange,’ She thought to herself. ‘I specifically remember putting them back in the cabinet.’

As Fluttershy bent to pick up the bowl, two things become apparent to her. One; there was a bit more food left over than usual, and two; that which remained smelled fresh--not stale as it should after so many hours lying about.

It suddenly occurred to her that Caramel must have fed them before leaving in the morning. Fluttershy smiled slightly at the thought of him dishing out food, giving it to each animal with the same kindness she would have shown herself. She sighed and trotted slowly back to the door.

“Well that was quick!” Rarity exclaimed, surprised to see her friend back so quickly.

“Yes, it appears they’ve eaten already,” Fluttershy said as if she weren’t really speaking to Rarity at all.

She could not distract her mind from thoughts of the warm-colored, gentle earth pony. The yellow mare sighed lightly and allowed a small grin to grace her lips. When she once again glanced over to Rarity, Fluttershy realized the unicorn was practically beaming.

“So... who is he?” Rarity inquired with a smile that could have disturbed Pinkie.

“I, um... what are you talking about?” Fluttershy asked in a vain attempt to bury her feelings.

“Honestly Fluttershy, you’re a worse liar than Applejack. For one, you never should answer a question with another question; it shows you are trying to be evasive. Secondly, you had that look on your face.” Rarity’s smirk certainly spoke for her, saying, “I’m really enjoying this!”

“W-what look?”

“You were staring into empty space, my dear. I doubt you would have noticed if a dragon set your house on fire!” she said giggling. Fluttershy merely blushed and stared down at her hooves. Oddly enough, the pegasus was grinning--something she rarely did when feeling so abashed, but she couldn’t take Caramel off her mind.

“... W-well, I did l-like him,” she admitted coyly. Rarity laughed at her response, and after a while so did Fluttershy.

“Come, dear. We’ll speak more about this at the spa. I’m sure the relaxation will help you tell me all about this stallion of yours.”

Fluttershy nodded, and both ponies began cantering towards town. While glad to get some relaxing treatment after such a strenuous week, Rarity remained focused on her mission. She must find out the truth.

‘Okay Twilight,’ she thought to herself. ‘Stage one is complete.’

~ ~ ~

Rarity and Fluttershy pushed open the door to the Ponyville Day Spa and trotted into the lobby. Both ponies could smell the flowery incense rush over them as the warm air of the spa replaced the bitter cold from outside. Rarity sighed joyfully and placed her scarf on the clothing stand, and the other mare followed suit. Aloe and Lotus came up to greet their regular patrons with open arms.

“Rarity, Fluttershy, meh dearz! You boths look dazzling! Come, come! We have your sauna vaiting for you!”

Aloe released her hold on Fluttershy and pointed down the hall, beckoning her customers to follow. Lotus, after kissing Rarity on each cheek (a customary greeting in their hometown Stalliongrad), also pointed them towards the steam room. Both ponies had learned quickly--after a few eeps--that Fluttershy was not one for such affectionate behaviour and limited themselves to offering her a small hug in greeting. As Fluttershy’s longest friend aside from Rainbow, Rarity wondered what had made her so hyper-sensitive. She resolved to ask this today; there would be plenty of time in their visit to find the information Twilight needed.

The two mares stepped into the steam room and sat on opposite corners of a short, three-sided bench. Aloe trotted over to the red-hot stones in the corner with a bucket of water. After pouring a good deal over the smooth rocks, she trotted happily out and left her customers to their gossip. Steam arose from the sizzling liquid and dispersed itself around the room, shrouding both ponies in warm vapor. The two lay silent for a short time, but then Rarity decided now would suffice.

“Fluttershy, I don’t mean to intrude, but... why are you so uncomfortable with affectionate contact? I always see you snuggle your rabbits, and you even let that manticore lick you! Yet, even when Aloe gave you a hug, you seemed tense... I’m just worried is all.” Rarity truly felt concern for the pegasus sitting next to her. Physical contact with other ponies had been proven as a psychological need. She had even read that newborn foals die if not stroked a bit. Fluttershy’s constant shirking from any physical connection couldn’t be healthy.

Fluttershy sighed, knowing there would come a time somepony would have the courage, not to just point it out (as many had done before), but to question why she behaved so timidly. Fluttershy even had a bogus tale prepared for such an occasion--one she had rehearsed multiple times in front of a mirror. Yet she could not bear to lie to Rarity, one of her best friends and quite easily the one she could relate to the most. The pegasus took a deep breath and prepared to reveal a secret she had kept from everypony besides one over the years.

“... When I was a little filly, the bullies at flight school used to pick on me. They would call me weak and useless, and sometimes they would even go as far as throwing things at me. Of course, Rainbow Dash was always there to defend me.” Fluttershy smiled a bit, remembering Rainbow--a filly even smaller than her--ferociously shouting at her assailants.

“I’ve already heard this, Fluttershy. You fell off the cloud and lived in Ponyville ever since.”

Fluttershy nervously looked away. “That’s not entirely true... I stayed about a day, but I knew I had to go back up at some point. My parents would have worried and probably sent the Cloudsdale Guard out to find me. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble.” Rarity rolled her eyes. How typical of Fluttershy to only concern herself with the feelings of other ponies, even after almost falling to her death as an indirect result of her abuse. Rarity continued to listen to the mare, however, and noticed she was beginning to stammer.

“A few d-days after I got back...”

~ Flashback ~

Fluttershy stepped out of the flight school, the cold night air embracing her like an old friend. Although she loved staying to talk with the chorus teacher after practice, she knew she couldn’t let it get completely dark before she flew home. Fluttershy saw the four bullies on a nearby cloud, goofing around. The colts had left her alone during that week, mostly because she stuck near Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy hopped from cloud to cloud, trying to keep her distance by flying around them. She tried her best to not look at them and pretend they weren’t there, but the bullies spotted her and flew over to block her path. Once they reached her, the pegasi surrounded their prey, making the poor filly whimper in fear.

“Hey, come look guys! Fluttershy’s got her cutie mark!” one bully said to the rest. The others chuckled and made similar remarks.

“Yeah, it’s almost as cute as her little flank!” Fluttershy blushed, not accustomed to the type of attention she was currently receiving. The hairs of her mane began to stand on end as anxiety sharpened her senses.

“Dat plot!” another interjected. The rest laughed boisterously at his vulgar remark.

The largest colt, unsurprisingly the leader of the group, spoke up. “You know what they say about fillies, right? ... Old enough to be marked: old enough to be mounted!” Fluttershy gasped. She glanced around, hoping the others would just laugh--that it would all be a joke, but they weren’t laughing. They weren’t joking. Every one of their faces portrayed a deadly serious expression.

The large pegasus flapped his wings and started to hover a few hooves above Fluttershy, a wild smirk plastered on his face and eyes glinting with malice. The three other ponies began circling her, smiling in the same nefarious manner. They began closing in on her, crowding her so much she had to sit on her haunches to avoid being knocked over. The colts started sticking their snouts into her mane and tail, inhaling her flowery scent, and rubbing their hooves on her neck and shoulders. Fluttershy shuddered with squinted eyes, trying to convince herself she was having a nightmare.

‘Don’t resist,’ she thought to herself. ‘They’ll leave you alone soon, just don’t try to fight them; it’ll only make things worse.’

Fluttershy gulped; nopony had ever told her what to do in this situation. Her fear was further exacerbated as the colts became increasingly daring in their endeavors. They moved their hoofs all around her, occasionally grabbing at her flanks, but instead of reacting, Fluttershy remained frozen to the spot with tears pouring down her face. Her young predators then began kissing her neck and stroking her wings, causing the yellow pegasus to tremble.

Fluttershy barely managed to keep still; every cell in her body screamed for her to flee. The boldest of the colts circling her then decided to kiss the frightened filly on her lips. The young stallion’s lips tasted vile, like burned vinegar, and his breath almost knocked Fluttershy unconscious. She tried as she could to sit there and take it, but what little instinct she possessed would have no more of it. Faster than lightening, the pegasus snapped up her wings in preparation to launch. The colts around her instinctively flinched and backed away in fear. Fluttershy gave a powerful downstroke with her wings, propelling her straight up at a rate of knots.

She did not think; she did not pause; she only flew. The yellow filly flapped her wings as hard as she could, trying desperately to put as much distance between her and the now astonished colts. She could feel the wind rushing through her mane and coat, washing out the stench left by the intrusive barbarians. She could feel the freedom, taste it all around her in the frigid air. She could feel... a tugging sensation on her hind hooves.

Fluttershy’s heart throttled itself into her throat as she turned her head. Behind her floated two of the bullies, both of whom had a firm hold of her legs. She tried everything she could to loosen their grip: kicking, bucking, flapping, and spinning. In the end, the two colts managed to overpower her and drag her back onto the cloud.

The young stallion to her left held down both of her left hooves while his companion pinned the right ones to the cloud. Fluttershy began to squirm and write, but to little avail. A third colt who had been watching with only a smirk on his face now trotted over towards Fluttershy’s head. Before she could react, he shoved his hoof forcefully into her mouth, eliciting a muffled cry from the pegasus.

Fluttershy was experiencing a complete adrenal reaction; her heart beat frantically, and sweat poured from every inch of her body. Yet even with the added adrenaline, she lacked the strength to throw off her captors. Her eyes went wide with horror as her pupils chased the circles the fourth colt was making above her as he descended closer and closer.

The large colt landed to the left of her, trotting very slowly in her direction.

‘It’s over,’ Fluttershy thought to herself. She stopped her movement, her urge to resist now nullified by the inevitability of what was to come. The yellow filly now surveyed her surroundings; these were the colts who were about to steal from her something she could never regain. She looked to each of them in turn: the young stallion on her right, the one with his hoof in her now silent mouth, and the one on her left who appeared to be... frowning.

The colt glanced back into Fluttershy’s eyes. He could feel the soft gaze which showed no hatred in its gleam, but rather pity and fear. As a tear left the filly’s eye, the young pegasus shook his head and released her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the large colt calmly inquired, his voice flat, but low.

“This isn’t right!” the smaller protested. “Let’s just... leave her alone. She won’t talk.” The group’s leader began to laugh, followed closely by the other two minions who still held firmly onto Fluttershy. He stepped towards the smaller colt and stared at him for a moment or two before delivering a quick blow to his head, knocking him instantly unconscious. Fluttershy tried to let loose a scream, but like previous outbursts it was suppressed by the other colt’s hoof.

The young stallion trotted over to Fluttershy and positioned himself above her, using his right hooves to pin her now free left ones. With his free front hoof, the colt began rubbing her wings, feeling her soft plumage rub against his limb. He began moving his hind hoof up the inside of her leg, causing the filly to tremble. Fluttershy squinted her eyes and prepared for the inevitable. Her ears caught the sound of a strident whistle which slowly grew louder. She opened one eye to see a bright rainbow-colored streak arcing towards her in the sky.

“...sssssSSSSSSSSSS THWACK!”

Now beside her lay the same oversized colt, motionless aside from the stream of blood trickling from the hoof-shaped impression in his skull. Scared out of their wits, the two other colts jumped off Fluttershy.

“Fly!” Rainbow dash yelled, clutching her hoof in agony. “FLY!”

~ Return (Music Stops) ~

Rarity felt completely astounded. “Rainbow Dash saved you?!” Fluttershy nodded slowly.

“If it hadn’t been for her, I w-wouldn...” She went silent. Having to relive and recite what had actually occurred was terrible enough for the mare. She desired nothing less than to imagine what might have happened.

“Fluttershy, my dear, why haven’t you told anypony else about this before? We’re your friends, and this is a matter we can help you with. I understand it’s painful to recall, but you mustn’t keep such things contained. Even if you only tell one of us, it’s far better than staying silent, dear.” Rarity placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. While she could still barely digest Fluttershy’s narrative, Rarity made her best attempts to calm the pegasus.

“I know, I know...” Fluttershy whispered.

“... I think we should switch to a less depressing topic. Hmm, you still haven’t told me about your new stallion fancy,” Rarity said saucily. Fluttershy blushed immediately, but the grin she wore displayed no shame with her attraction.

“You, um, remember Caramel?”

“Why yes, I believe I do. He is that café-colored stallion, is he not? I do recall him being quite... clumsy.” The yellow mare frowned at Rarity as her defensive attitude regarding Caramel bubbled to the surface.

“It’s not his fault! Besides I-I... find it kinda cute,” Fluttershy timidly admitted, her cheeks now a deeper pink than her hair. Rarity saw the rosy color through the steam surrounding them and squealed like a giddy schoolfilly.

“So the rumors are true!”

“Rumors?!” the yellow mare yelped. “W-what rumors?” Rarity giggled at the yellow mare’s reaction.

“I was kidding, dear. Please, just try to relax.” Rarity sighed lightly and closed her eyes. Fluttershy followed suit and allowed herself to drift off into somewhat of a half-dormant state, held awake only by the hissing of the boiling water.

After a short while, the previously red-hot stones had lost their glow and the sizzling of the water subsided. The two mares stood from the bench and stretched. They opened the thatch door and stepped out, the steam billowing out behind them. Lotus stood outside, ready to direct them both to the next stage of their treatment.

“Ah, I see the steam haz done you both many goods! If you vill follow me, I vill take you you for your facials!” The blue pony led her customers down the hallway, occasionally glancing back to ensure they were following. She lead them into the treatment room where Aloe awaited them, cream in hoof and cucumbers close by. “Here you are meh dearz! I vill be back later with the massage oils. Oivua!”

Fluttershy smiled at Rarity. This treatment was proving a refreshment in more ways than one.

Before long, both hosts had returned with the oils and were already applying them to the two customers.

“Mmm... isn’t this wonderful, Fluttershy? I always love a nice massage to relieve my stress.” The timid pegasus emitted a muffled hum in agreement. While not acclimated to such contact, Fluttershy convinced herself to relax into it, allowing Aloe’s hooves to press deeply into her coat. She closed her eyes and permitted her mind to wander into a half-dream state. In her light slumber, Fluttershy glanced up at the hooves that were pressing into her back. Their light brown shade both calmed and aroused the pegasus.

“Mmmm... Caramel,” she moaned softly.

Rarity’s uncontrollable giggling brought the dream-swept mare out of her hallucination and into complete embarrassment. Fluttershy was blushing so much that her coat color more closely resembled that of Applejack.

“Having a nice time, my dear?” Rarity teased through her chuckles.

Unable to blush more for risk of bursting a blood vessel, Fluttershy smiled sheepishly. Aloe and Lotus smiled widely, nearly as interested in gossip themselves as their most loyal customer, and recent romantic developments were always top priority.

“Mizz Fluttershy!” Lotus exclaimed, still vigorously massaging Rarity’s back. “You havez not told us about diz new stallion of yourz!”

Aloe nodded in agreement as she slowed her pressing. “Yes, pleaze do tell us about your new coltfriend,” she pleaded with overjoyed eyes. Fluttershy’s smile became more of a grimace with the added attention. Rarity could see the distress in the pegasus’ facial expression and quickly ended the inquisition.

“Now, now,” she said in a slightly patronizing tone, “Fluttershy’s interest in this stallion is still just that: an interest. We should make this easier for her by not overwhelming her with questions.” The two spa ponies nodded and apologized for intruding on the other mare’s privacy. Fluttershy smiled and mouthed a “Thank you,” to Rarity when both masseuses weren’t looking. The unicorn grinned widely, thinking to herself, ‘Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t be asking questions later. I am, after all, one of her best friends.’ For now, however, she was content to allow Fluttershy the relaxation she deserved.

Rumors II

Rumors II

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

by ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aloe nodded in agreement as she slowed her pressing. “Yes, pleaze do tell us about your new coltfriend,” she pleaded with overjoyed eyes. Fluttershy’s smile became more of a grimace with the added attention. Rarity could see the distress in the pegasus’ facial expression and quickly ended the inquisition.

“Now, now,” she said in a slightly patronizing tone, “Fluttershy’s interest in this stallion is still just that: an interest. We should make this easier for her by not overwhelming her with questions.” The two spa ponies nodded and apologized for intruding on the other mare’s privacy. Fluttershy smiled and mouthed a “Thank you,” to Rarity when both masseuses weren’t looking. The unicorn grinned widely, thinking to herself, ‘Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t be asking questions later. I am, after all, one of her best friends.’ For now, however, she was content to allow Fluttershy the relaxation she deserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rarity, covered in seaweed, slowly sunk into the warm mudbath, sighing as she let the minerals do their magic. Fluttershy timidly stepped into the sludge one hoof at a time before allowing her torso to submerge. She too exhaled in delight at the viscous blanket of warmth that began to envelop her. Aloe and Lotus each placed a celery cocktail on the tile floor between the two rectangular mud pits, as per Rarity’s order, and left. Rarity proceeded to lift hers with magic and bring the straw to her mouth, allowing the fiery liquid to slide down her throat.

“So Fluttershy...” Rarity began quietly, trying not to disturb the pegasus. “What in Equestria could have made you crash into that barn door this morning? My sources tell me you were very upset over something.” Fluttershy hid part of her face in shame; she knew what she had done was, regardless of the reasons, very careless. Knowing she couldn’t lie convincingly, the yellow mare decided to tell it to her straight.

“Rarity I-I... I tried to crash into the barn!” she exclaimed in a rushed voice. Rarity began coughing as if her drink had suddenly turned to dust, hacking so loudly that Fluttershy had to wait before continuing although she was not permitted to.

“Fluttershy! Why in Celestia’s name would you do such a thing?! What were you thinking? Your friends and I love you very much, dear, and that is not okay!” Fluttershy looked even more ashamed than before, staring at the mud in her bath instead of making eye contact with the disappointed unicorn. Rarity stayed silent long enough to calm herself down and allow the pegasus to glance up at her. “... I’m sorry my dear, but I was-am extremely worried about you. Attempted s-suicide is an extremely serious matter. You don’t still feel like that, do you?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no, no, I’m just... confused though. Sorry Rarity, I shouldn’t have let m-my emotions get so out of hoof.” Rarity furrowed her brow at “confused,” and determined there was a lot surrounding this situation she wasn’t aware of.

“Fluttershy,” she said softly, “I think you should tell somepony what happened--the whole story--even if that pony isn’t me.” Fluttershy paused and then nodded. Perhaps Rarity could be of some help to her current predicament. The pegasus leaned to take a small sip of the cocktail and began to recount what had transpired earlier.

~ ~ ~

Rarity, still sipping her empty drink inattentively, nodded with understanding. “Hmm, you’re right, dear. That is certainly odd behavior for anypony. I mean it’s obvious he’s fallen head over hooves for you, but--”

“You think he’s in love with me?!” Fluttershy interrupted with a greater volume than she intended. Rarity, although taken aback, responded in an even tone.

“Well, yes in a way. Judging by what you’ve told me, he seems deeply infatuated with you.” Fluttershy smiled widely, a blush decorating both corners of her grin. After a few second, however, her happiness faded back into a depressed confusion.

“... But why did he say that to me then? Why would he tell me n-not to care about him? Oh Rarity, this is so frustrating I could just hit something!” Fluttershy smacked the nearly full cocktail glass next to her, but it just wavered a bit before becoming still again.

Rarity stifled a giggle and began to answer the downhearted mare. “I’m not sure why he said what he did, Fluttershy. The only real advice I can give you is to not give up on this.”

Fluttershy sighed, resting her head against the tile edge of the bath. “I’m sorry, Rarity. I assumed because you know so much about dating and stuff--” She was cut short by incessant giggling coming from the pool next to hers.

“--Hehe, I’m sorry, Fluttershy. It’s just funny that you think I have so much experience in these matters. To be honest dear, I haven’t even had a proper date since I was a schoolfilly!” Fluttershy looked at the unicorn with astonishment.

“But you always talk about your dream stallion and how you two are going to get married and have foals!” she protested. Rarity sighed and shook her head.

“Fluttershy, there’s--nevermind.” Rarity turned her head away from fluttershy and closed her eyes. ‘I can’t tell her. I promised myself I would never tell anypony!’ she thought to herself. By the look Fluttershy gave her, the unicorn knew it was already too late.

“Rarity, is there something you want to talk about?” Her eyes remained fixed on Rarity. The white mare gazed into those gentle, compassionate irises which pacified her urge to preserve a secret she had guarded for over a decade.

“... Yes. I’ve never told anypony this, Fluttershy, so please excuse my behavior.”

Fluttershy began to panic slightly at the gravity of the current conversation. “O-oh! Rarity, if it’s too personal we don’t have to--”

“No,” Rarity said sternly, “it’s about time I told the truth. Applejack may be the Element of Honesty, but it doesn’t mean I should hide myself from my friends.

~ Flashback ~

BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGG!!!

Eager to head home, fillies and colts of various sizes galloped and flew out the large front doors of the school. Among these was Rarity who stopped a few hundred hoofs down the dirt road that led home before turning around to scan the students passing through the doors. She spotted a mint green unicorn with a pale cyan mane and waved frantically to her. The filly smiled widely and galloped at full speed towards Rarity, rushing into a passionate hug with the purple-maned mare. Giggling, they broke the embrace, a light blush gracing both faces.

“Hello to you too, Lyra!” Rarity teased, still laughing slightly.

“Oh shut up; you know I missed you!” the other young mare replied in an unapologetic but sincere tone, eliciting a laugh and nuzzle from her companion.

“Yes, it is simply dreadful that we do not share any classes this year!” Lyra nodded at this, her grin now all but gone.

“But at least we get to hang after school, right?” she said, nudging the white filly. Rarity smiled and began laughing once more.

“Yes, and a good thing too!”

The two young mares trotted slowly towards Ponyville Park, exchanging tales about their day in the only way fillies can: with dramatic hoof motions and giggling. In what seemed no time whatsoever, the duo reached the park and trotted under the archway of branches. After a short walk they came across a small wooden bench just large enough to accommodate two adult ponies. For the two small fillies, however, it was more than roomy enough. The both sat down and turned towards each other in silence--not an uncomfortable silence which often intrudes in the midst of social interactions--but a serene gap, filled with the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves by the West wind. Lyra was the first to break the fragile quiet, but only after a short while of enjoying it.

“Hey, check this out! I started playing this a few months ago, and I think I’m getting pretty good.” The teal pony opened her saddlebag and pulled out a golden lyre. “I found this in my attic. Grandpa said it was his when he was a colt, but he never really got the hang of it. I’m not too good at reading music yet, but I... uh... wrote something.”

“Ooh! Can I hear it? Pretty please, Lyra!” Rarity begged, giving her friend puppy-dog eyes. Lyra blushed quite intensely, her more self-conscious side now revealing itself.

“Well I-I... uh... did write it for you, hehe...” Rarity’s jaw dropped. Lyra pretended to ignore it and began to magically tune and test her lyre, playing a major scale to ensure its readiness. Confident she had done everything necessary for her performance, the green filly took a deep breath and began.

~ Wait for song to finish before continuing ~

Lyra, eyes still closed, placed the lyre gently next to her on the bench. She opened her eyes and cautiously shifted her gaze to the filly next to her who just stared back the same way she had been for the past few minutes. Neither said anything until the mint-green unicorn couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

“S-so... what did you think?” Lyra rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof, unsure just how to take Rarity’s reaction (or lack thereof).

Her mesmerized friend gradually leaned in closer and closer, closing the gap between their faces. She could feel Rarity’s hot breath on her nose, and the sensation gave her goosebumps everywhere. Lyra closed her eyes, instinctively knowing what came next and what to do in spite of her now idle consciousness. Rarity did the same and leaned slowly forward once more, leaving the gap and all doubts behind.

Lyra allowed the other filly’s lips to tug at her own--the wet tenderness of her mouth causing the green mare’s stomach to do backflips. She was too shocked to move and notice Rarity was trembling with anxiety. Just as Lyra began to melt into the embrace, her companion pulled away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I-I... oh my gosh, Lyra, I-I’m so sorry! I just *sniff* don’t know what c-came over me--I just--your song and...” Rarity mumbled, her speech diving into complete incoherence as the sobs invaded her throat. She turned away from Lyra in reproach, doing her best to hide her piteous condition. Still shaken by Rarity’s kiss, the teal filly instinctively slid over towards her friend and placed a hoof around her, hugging her tightly.

“Rarity,” Lyra spoke quietly, “please don’t cry! I-I liked it; I really did! The truth is... I've been having these kinds of feelings for you for a while now.” Rarity sniffed and looked up at the mare holding her.

“Y-you have?” Rarity’s typically gorgeous eyes were now red and puffy from tears. Lyra smiled at her and moved the purple mane out of her face, all the while inching her nose closer. Rarity closed her tear-filled eyes as she felt the filly’s cool, minty breath begin to dry the wet trails on her face. Lyra slowly pressed her lips forward to meet Rarity’s once more.

All of the things she had missed in the first kiss’ confusion suddenly caught her notice. The subtle taste of vanilla on Rarity’s lips perfectly complemented the scent of her mane and coat. Lyra listened as her breathing became more rapid, putting more force into the kiss until she could hear Rarity make near-silent whimpers. Finally, the callow unicorn ran out of breath and broke Lyra’s hold, gasping dramatically for air.

“That answer your question?” she whispered in Rarity’s ear. While the white filly continued catching her breath, Lyra giggled. “I thought so.”

“Lyra!” Rarity yelled, causing her partner to jump. “Look, you have your cutie mark!” Lyra jumped off the bench to inspect her flank, seeing it now adorned with a golden lyre.

“Wow! We must’ve missed that on account of--uh... distractions,” she said with a wink to Rarity. “In fact, why were you looking at my flank in the first place?” A smirk spread widely across Lyra’s face, but it did not last long. Far better equipped for seduction (both mentally and physically) Rarity shot her schoolmate a sultry look and crawled off the bench.

“Oh, was I? My apologies; it just looked so... toned.” She stepped leisurely past Lyra, sliding her tail across the entranced mare’s face provocatively. Even with her back turned, Rarity noticed Lyra’s massive blush from the sudden increase in temperature.

“Hehe... I, uh--”

“You are so adorable, when you’re embarrassed, Lyra,” Rarity teased, giggling. She trotted back to her companion and nuzzled her affectionately. “I have to go home; my mother is probably worried sick. Same time tomorrow?”

“You know it, babe!” Lyra exclaimed, eliciting an eye-roll from her new fillyfriend. After Rarity was out of sight, she took another glance at her cutie mark and smiled. ‘Best day EVER!’

~ ~ ~

BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGG!!!

The fillies and colts previously wandering the halls began cantering to their first class of the new day. Most of them trotted groggily, heads down and backs hunched with the weight of their saddlebags.

Rarity, however, was practically skipping into the classroom. Dreams of her new fillyfriend had left her well rested this morning, and she simply couldn’t contain her own excitement. She quickly seated herself at her group’s table and beamed at her friends, trying her best not to yell the news out to the world. After Mrs. Chalk finished addressing the class and handing out the day’s worksheet, Rarity began talking to Berry Punch.

“Berry,” she said, practically squealing, “you’ll never guess what happened yesterday, I--” She stopped mid-sentence, noticing the dark pink mare wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention to her... In fact, she seemed to be deliberately ignoring the white filly.

Rarity huffed and turned to face her other friends at the table... only to observe that none of them were making eye contact with her. Hidden within the typical chatter of her calssmates, two words caught the unicorn’s attention: her own name and “filly-fooler.” Listening closer to the conversation, Rarity could pick out the other foals’ remarks.

“... yeah... in the park... Lyra...”

“ugh... in public?... whorse...”

“... heathen... be burned at the stake.”

Rarity’s eyes began to fill with tears as they wandered over the faces of her so-called friends. Not a single one would return her gaze; not a single one would defend her. Resolved not to let the ponies behind her hear evidence of her pain, Rarity held in the sobs--silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

~ ~ ~

BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGG!!!

Once again, the school foals rushed out of the building, eager to get back home. All except one, that is. The puffy-eyed unicorn trotted aimlessly down the steps, taking no notice of anything besides the ground beneath her hooves.

“Hey, Rarity!” Lyra called to her from a short distance. The white filly glanced up, and instantly her fillyfriend began to panic at the sight. “Oh my gosh! Rarity! Are you okay? What happened?”

Rarity did not respond immediately, her energy depleted by the high emotional stress that she had incurred long past her first class of the day. Eventually, she found the will to speak.

“Lyra, *sniff* they were... horrible. Even my friends! They all hate me now!” The light teal unicorn looked with melancholy at her oldest friend.

“Oh Rarity, I’m so sorry! Don’t listen to them,” Lyra placed a hoof under her fillyfriend’s chin, lifting it to look into her still shimmering eyes. “All we need is eachother.”

Rarity smiled, wiping away her tears with a hoof. “I *sniff* fully agree w-with you. I don’t care what those other fillies say; I love you, and nothing is wrong with that!”

The two fillies enjoyed a passionate embrace, caring not in the least who was watching.

~ ~ ~

BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGG!!!

After enduring another nightmarish class period, Rarity mindlessly trotted her way to lunch. There she looked upon her one solace of the day: a dark grey colt just a year her senior. She smiled to him as she took her seat at the table, glad he was back.

“Hey, Thunderlane! How was Stalliongrad?” Rarity, despite her love of travel, had never visited anywhere east of Canterlot. ‘That lucky colt,’ she thought to herself.

“S’alright,” he said nonchalantly. Rarity giggled at his indifferent attitude, knowing he only did it to impress her. Although she had full awareness of her sexual orientation (by this point, at any rate) it didn’t stop her from actively attracting attention from any gender.

“I’m so glad you’re back... You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been dealing with,” she said dramatically, shaking her head.

“Yeah, I think I have a pretty good idea, Rarity,” he said harshly, adding a snort.

Rarity couldn’t quite grab his meaning. “What are you talking about?” she asked politely. She could feel Thunderlane’s displeasure hiding behind his veil of apathy.

“Nothing,” the colt responded coldly. Rarity was already stressed, and this was testing her patience.

“What. Is. It?” Rarity glared at him with utmost ferocity. The pegasus looked right back.

“Noth-ing,” he articulated, giving each syllable time to fully penetrate the mare’s ears. Rarity, realizing her aggression didn’t suit the situation, formed a pitiful pout on her face.

“Thunderlane... pleeeease tell me?” She forced out her upper lip and sniffed slightly. Then, Rarity put her eyes to good use, opening them as wide as possible to the young stallion.

“Don’t you try that on me!” he snapped. The colt stood up from his seat and slammed his hooves onto the table. “I saw that little performance as I passed the school yesterday.”

Rarity stared in utter disbelief at the pegasus. He was perhaps her best friend aside from Lyra, and now she had lost him along with all the others. Her eyes followed as he trotted away to the lunch line. The unicorn began to stammer, tears once again flooding her eyes and blurring her vision.

‘How many more friends am I going to lose?’

~ ~ ~

BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGG!!!

Foals once more hurried out the doors of Ponyville Elementary, eager to begin their afternoon activities. Rarity, however, trotted out in the same idle fashion she had yesterday. Lyra’s heart sank at the sight; she had hoped the worst of it had been over, but her fillyfriend’s demeanor reealed otherwise.

“Another bad day?” she inquired gently.

Rarity scoffed. “Yeah, you could say that.” Lyra didn’t even need ask to know that Rarity’s classmates were the cause of her condition.

“Rarity, please... don’t let them get to you. There were people saying things behind my back all day yesterday. Who cares what they think?” Lyra asked rhetorically. Rarity glared at the unicorn, tears now rushing out of her eyes.

“I do! I have to! My special talent is fashion, and fashion is all about image! What’s going to happen when nobody will buy anything from me because I’m a... heathen?!” The white unicorn was fuming, letting all of the emotion pent up during her tortuous day gush out. “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen; I’ll be ruined!... I’m sorry, Lyra, but this can’t work.”

“W-what do you mean?” Lyra asked, tears coming to her eyes now.

“It’s... over,” Rarity replied flatly, feeling completely empty after the words left her lips.

“W-wait, Rarity please! We can work this out! I’m here for you. Please, don’t give in to them. I-I love you!”

Rarity didn’t make eye contact. She just shook her head, staring at the ground.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Just like th-that, huh? *sniff* Well, I hope you’ll be happy having your shallow friends back. Seems they’re a g-g-good match for you.” With that, Lyran galloped away, water streaming down her cheeks and sobs choking her shortened breaths.

Rarity turned and trotted home with her nose almost dragging in the dirt.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

~ Return ~

“... Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did, Fluttershy. I placed my own image above what could have been a beautiful relationship. I tried to fool myself: say it’s because that type of relationship would have ruined my career. Now I can see my own selfishness... so much for Element of Generosity, huh?”

It was Fluttershy’s turn to stare as she tried to wrap her head around the tale Rarity had just told.

“Rarity... s-so you’re--?”

“Yes,” the illustrious mare admitted, nodding her head, “I am very much homosexual.”

“Then what about Prince Blueblood? You said he was the stallion of your dreams,” Fluttershy reminded her. Rarity gave a rather unladylike snort.

“That animal? Honestly dear, I wouldn’t be caught dead with him.”

“But that was after you met him. If you don’t even like stallions, why were you so attracted to him in the first place?” Fluttershy’s head was spinning with confusion or perhaps as a result of her earlier concussion--likely both. Rarity chuckled slightly.

“I guess my acting skills are still worth something. To be perfectly honest, I had heard rumors that Prince Blueblood was gay as well. As you know, homosexuality is considered very scandalous by most nobility. I thought a fake marriage might suit us both, but...”

“But?”

“Well it turns out the reason he doesn’t sleep with mares isn’t because he’s gay. It’s because no female can stand his company. I tell you, when he grabbed my flank...”

“I don’t remember that part of the story,” the pegasus mused, hoping to elicit a continuation.

“Perhaps another time, dear. The last thing I want to think about is that pitiful excuse for a colt.” Rarity threw back the last of her cocktail as if the mere image of the stallion was driving her to alcoholism. Fluttershy nodded with understanding.

“Umm... Rarity, you n-never um...” Fluttershy blushed, too petrified to continue her question.

“Never what, Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.

“You never, um... were attracted t-to, uh--”

“Was I ever attracted to you? Well, Fluttershy you’re a very pretty mare and all, but--”

“Nonono!” Fluttershy interrupted, “I didn’t mean me specifically; I meant a-any of our friends as well.” Fluttershy gazed inquisitively at the unicorn, awaiting some form of response. Rarity, however, made the mistake of pausing and then the mistake of overcompensating for said pause.

“Oh! I--no! No; I’ve never had those sort of feelings for them... or for you,” she slowed, presenting an artificial smile. Fluttershy didn’t need Applejack’s element to see through Rarity’s facade.

“It’s okay, Rarity. I won’t tell anypony; I promise... Is it Applejack?” she asked innocently.

“Wha--no! Fluttershy, I’m not attracted to any of our friends!” Rarity said curtly.

“Okay okay... Twilight?” Fluttershy knew she was pushing her luck, but the more curious part of her mind wouldn’t let this go.

“No! Fluttershy, for the last time--”

“Rainbow Dash?”

“My word, Fluttershy! What makes you think I could ever like Rainbow?”

Fluttershy formed the best sly grin she could manage and explained, “Well for one, you answered with a question. Two, Lyra seems to have a similar personality from what you told me. Three, you’re um... blushing quite a bit.” Rarity stared at her, positively shocked.

‘Damn.’

“I--but--ugh!” Rarity sighed and admitted, “You’re right, unfortunately...” Rarity stared despondently into space, no doubt picturing the cyan mare.

“What do you mean by that, Rarity?” Fluttershy inquired, bringing her friend out of her trance.

“... Rainbow would never date a mare like me, if she even goes for--”

“She does,” Fluttershy interrupted before giving a small ‘eep!’ and putting a hoof in her mouth.

Rarity gave the pegasus a perplexed look. “Fluttershy,” she began slowly, “is there something you aren’t telling me?” Fluttershy removed the hoof from her mouth and sighed.

“I-I really shouldn’t tell you this, but... Rainbow does like mares.”

“How do you know?” Rarity asked, tilting her head slightly.

“A few ways, actually. For one, I always catch her staring at my flank even though she doesn’t notice. Also... at flight camp, some fillies brought Smirhoof into the dorms. Rainbow had a bit too much to drink one night and u-uh...” Fluttershy paused, incredibly uncomfortable telling the story. Rarity motioned for her to continue, and she complied. “She kissed me.”

Rarity laughed patronizingly. “Darling, a drunken mare trying to kiss you doesn’t make her gay. Believe me; I figured that out in college.” Fluttershy shook her head.

“No, Rarity. I mean she kissed me. I had taken a few shots myself, so I kinda... went along with it,” she said with a blush, trying to ignore Rarity’s open-mouthed stare. “Sh-she... tried to, uh, get me--”

“Into bed?!” the unicorn gasped, extremely surprised and... somewhat aroused. Fluttershy looked away and nodded. “Well, that must make things... awkward between the two of you.”

The pegasus froze, knowing that Rarity’s reaction to her next statement would likely be anything besides clam. “Uhm, Dash doesn’t really remember... Like I said, she was very, very drunk.”

Rarity’s jaw dropped. If not already soaking in a tub, she certainly would have collapsed onto the floor at this stage, the weight of current events finally bringing her to her knees. Rarity stumbled over her own words before managing to take deep breaths and collect the fragmented pieces of her mind.

“Y-you didn’t tell her?! Fluttershy! This whole time she’s been ogling at you, and you never thought to mention her affections are unwanted. Not only that, but you have kept a very serious event involving you both hidden from your oldest friend!” She halted her censure when she saw a tear escape Fluttershy’s closed eyelids. “I-I’m sorry for yelling again, Fluttershy... but you need to tell her!”

“Don’t tell me what I need to do!” the pegasus snapped back. “You don’t know Dash like I do. Behind that egoism is the most insecure mare I’ve ever met. Me telling her something like this could break her. I-I don’t want to lose her friendship,” she said, beginning to calm herself. “Th-that’s why I never told her. I w-wanted things to be the same.”

Rarity looked with great sympathy at Fluttershy. While Dash’s predicament was unfortunate, she did not have to shoulder the burden of such a secret nor make the doubtlessly difficult decision of whether to reveal such a story.

“I understand, Fluttershy, but you’re only delaying the inevitable.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “No,” she said firmly, “Dash doesn’t have to know.”

The two spa ponies entered from across the room, trotted towards their customers, and helped them out of the mud baths. Rarity and Fluttershy made their way to the rinsing tubs and hopped in, the warm water working quickly to dissolve any mud still trapped in their coats.

After a few minutes of continued rinsing, the pair stepped out of the baths and into some plush robes similar to the ones from the steam room. Fluttershy and Rarity trotted back to the lobby, where Aloe was waiting patiently behind the counter. Fluttershy, as usual, attempted to pick up at least half of the bill, but Rarity would hear none of it.

“Consider this my way of thanking you for taking care of Opal,” she said, waving the pegasus away from the counter. “Now, run along; I’m sure those adorable creatures are missing you terribly.” Fluttershy nodded and floated out the door, leaving Rarity to sign the bill.

After leaving her mark, Rarity trotted out the door, turning and making her way towards the library.

‘Celestia, Twilight is going to need a drink for all this,’ she thought, keeping in mind there were some things she couldn’t disclose, even if she wanted to.

‘A promise is a promise,’ Rarity reminded herself, ‘regardless of the situation.’

Bygones

Author’s Note: For those of you who may be confused, Dr. Stable (a.k.a. Stable, M.D.) is the currently accepted name for the doctor in Season 2, Episode 16: “Read it and Weep.” (He is the unicorn with the heart monitor cutie mark.)

Bygones

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

By ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, our best bet at this point would be to gather what knowledge we can. Perhaps reading up on romance and rela--” Twilight began eagerly before being cut off by the stallion’s voice.

“Uh, ah don’t think books will be of much use here, Twilight,” Braeburn dissented, shaking his head.

“Hmm, perhaps you’re right,” she admitted. Twilight put her hoof to her chin and concentrated for a few seconds before her eyes shot wide and a smile began to creep onto her face.

“I’ve got a plan.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nurse Redheart wheeled her patient through the magical sliding-glass doors of the Ponyville Hospital. She took a moment to stare at the doors, trying her best to imagine the skill it must require to cast such a complex spell. The white mare quickly released the thought and concentrated on getting Caramel some medical attention.

“Is there a consulting room open?” she questioned the mare behind the counter. The orange unicorn continued calmly filing her hoof and didn’t even bother to make eye contact with the impatient nurse. Infuriated with the young mare’s impudence, Nurse Redheart smacked a hoof forcefully on the counter, causing the unicorn to jump in surprise.

“A room, if I may?” the nurse uttered through clenched teeth. The secretary smiled sheepishly and pointed out a room adjacent to the large desk she sat behind. Nurse Redheart shot her a look and gave a displeased hmph before pushing Caramel in the indicated direction. The amber pony was growing tired of being wheeled around as if he were some ancient retiree.

“I can walk, you know,” he said irritably to the white mare as they approached the room. The nurse merely smiled and giggled softly in amusement.

“Oh, of course I know that!” she exclaimed with a cheeky smirk. “You were walking when I came to get you; I... I just thought this might be a tad more fun,” Nurse Redheart trailed off, blushing noticeably through her white coat. They entered the consulting room, and Caramel stood up, stretching after having to sit in the uncomfortable wheelchair for so long.

“Why did we even have to come to the hospital? Wouldn’t your clinic have been good enough?” the coffee-colored stallion questioned, yawning slightly after asking. Nurse Redheart started to paw at the tile floor with her hoof, avoiding eye contact deliberately.

“Uh-m, funny story about that actually... I may have accidentally broken the X-ray machine... heh,” she chuckled nervously. Caramel frowned slightly, sympathizing greatly with the abashed mare. He had, after all, a large deal of infamy for his constant misfortune--something often mistaken for incompetence.

Noise from a heated conversation just outside the door began to increase in volume as the two stallions approached it. Both the nurse and her patient turned to look at the shadows cast on the translucent window.

“I am the single most qualified doctor in this hospital. Members of the royal court themselves take the hour-long carriage ride from Canterlot for my diagnoses. Princess Celestia herself appointed me the official doctor for the Elements of Harmony. So please, Dr. Forecolt, remind me why in Equestria I have to listen to ponies complain about their stomach aches and impotence!”

“Because if you don’t, the Board of Trustees will fire both of us! Professor Scalpel already wants your head for the ‘tour’ of the psych ward you gave to his pupils last week. Some of the students are still suffering nightmares.”

“Heh heh heh... So, let me get this straight. Because some interns lack a sense of humor, I have to waste time I could be spending diagnosing my patient on ponies with no real issues?”

“When you put it that way, yes! Now get in there before I fire your sorry flank to cover my own!”

A grunt came from outside the door before the doctor pushed it open. At first glance he appeared to be a normal physician; he wore a white lab coat, and his cutie mark was a heart-rate monitor--an obvious indication of medical expertise. After the first few milliseconds, however, both Caramel and the nurse realized he was no ordinary doctor. He had a familiar amber coat and coffee-colored mane with the odd wrinkle and strand of grey respectively.

A death-like silence stormed the room, occupying it with such oppression that all any of the three ponies could hear were their own heartbeats and the soft hum of the heating system. Nopony breathed. Wind blowing waves of air past the window became the only perceptible movement. The doctor’s mind searched for something to say as his mouth which lay ajar moved up and down slightly. Caramel gulped and with wide eyes addressed a pony he presumed he’d never see in this life.

“Dad?”

The doctor stood frozen on his hooves, unable to process his surroundings. It simply couldn’t be. He could no longer count how many years since he last saw the stallion who now stood before him. ‘Stallion,’ he thought to himself, and it was true; Caramel had grown into an adult. That fact alone, more than his re-appearance, shocked Dr. Stable into a depressed silence as a tear came to his eye--one not of happiness, but of grief. He had missed seeing his only child grow up. He had missed teaching him how to put on horseshoes. He had missed playing hoofball with him. He had even missed teaching him about fillies and the facts of life. The foal he had held in his hooves over a decade past stood before him: now a stallion in his own right.

Stable remembered how alike Caramel’s appearance had been to his own, even as a newborn, but he couldn’t believe just how much of his physical composition he had passed down. ‘Pretty much the only thing I ever gave him as a father,’ he mentally snorted. While he knew the circumstances under which he had lost Caramel, Stable doubted his son remembered. Even if he did, Cinnamon had most likely made sure he recalled it quite differently.

Thinking of his wife now proved too much for Stable to bear as he collapsed to his haunches. Losing his wife and son had turned him into a cynical and bitter stallion--a pony few tried to befriend and from whom even fewer received any kindness in return. How could anypony expect him to be decent after he had lost his family? Well now, years later, he had gotten something back, and Stable convinced himself he wouldn’t let the only remnant of his family slip away from him again. Stable’s only hope was that Caramel had not followed in his father’s hoofsteps and hardened his heart.

“Redheart, could you please wait outside?” he asked monotonously.

“Y-yes, Doctor,” came the flat reply. Nurse Redheart slowly left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

“Caramel,” he whispered, shaking his head.

“Yeah Pa, it’s me.” Caramel’s eyes had become like dinner plates in size and shade. Minus the horn, he would have believed he was staring at his future self.

“I-I can’t believe it... after all these years I find you in the hospital! H-how? Where have you been?”

“I was about to ask you the same question,” Caramel said in a somewhat hurt tone. He had been raised a bastard for some of his life and an orphan for the rest of it. All the while his father had been right here--at the village hospital.

“Son, I know Mom probably said some uncomplimentary things about me, but I think you should hear my side of the story.” Stable was trying his best to be sincere--an attitude that didn’t fit easily on him.

“I don’t reckon’ it’s fair to accuse her of slander,” his son replied curtly.

“And why not? She’s guilty of greater crimes!” Stable was beginning to lose his temper. His wife seemed to have turned his only child against him.

“Because she’s no longer here to defend herself,” Caramel solemnly explained. His mother’s death still remained a traumatic memory in the far reaches of his mind, suppressed for the purpose of his sanity--not to mention survival.

Before finding sanctuary at Sweet Apple Acres, Caramel had endured many grueling years as an orphan: stealing food to avoid dying of starvation, sleeping under anything to avoid the elements, and skipping town before anypony became too suspicious. He couldn’t afford the luxury of grief and depression lest he follow his mother to Discord’s gates--a prospect he had considered once or twice.

“I... I’m so sorry; that’s awful! How long ago?” Stable could hardly trust his senses. His son was here, and the mare who birthed him had passed away. Another similar blow and he estimated a self-prescription of antidepressants might be in order.

“I don’t remember. I think it was a few years before I earned my cutie mark.” He remembered in detail receiving his cutie mark: three horseshoes marking his talent for physical labor. He hadn’t exactly felt overwhelmingly pleased with it at first--the labor seeming more as means to an end for his continued stay at the Acres. Gradually, however, he enjoyed the calm nature of the work and revelled in the feeling of accomplishment after a difficult day.

His father was at a loss for words. The unicorn was utterly astounded at this horrific news.

“N-no! That--no! That can’t be! It isn’t right! My son, an orphaned foal while his father lived!” Stable collapsed to the floor, his face almost pressed against it. He began weeping softly, whispering “no” repeatedly as if it were some spell with which he could change the past.

Caramel’s previous indifference to his apparent sire dissolved. How could he not be empathetic to a stallion who had also lost his family and spent much of his life in solitude? While he still didn’t know the whole story, the earth pony felt his father--given all the pain he had endured over the years--deserved at least a chance to explain himself.

He placed a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder.

“Tell me what happened, Dad.”

~ ~ ~

Caramel sat silently, hoof still on his father’s shoulder as his open mouth struggled to find a suitable response to the dark tale of his early foalhood.

“I-I... dad, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that she...” he said, voice drifting off.

“Of course not, how could you know?” Stable assured him sympathetically.

“I just... I just can’t believe she’d hide this from me--she lied to me!”

Sensing the anger in Caramel’s tone, the unicorn grabbed both his front hooves and hushed him. “Your mother loved you more than anything else in this world, son. Don’t you ever think differently. She only did what she thought was best for you.”

“By taking me away from my own father?!” Images of his past flashed before Caramel. Every freezing winter night in a strange town, every day on the streets stealing from market stalls just to survive, and every long, lonely sunset spent wishing for somepony who cared--somepony to tell him everything would be fine. Each memory felt like a small stab in the back.

His own mother, the only pony he had ever trusted, betrayed him, and now Caramel realized the horrific truth: none of that ever had to happen. His childhood could have been a simple, pleasant experience with a mother and a father who loved him... but she took it away from him. The earth pony’s face hardened as he sniffed away what weakness had escaped him.

“I hate her!” The words echoed in the small room, each reverberation increasing the height of Caramel’s snarled expression.

“Don’t say that,” his father said in a flat tone.

“And why shouldn’t I?! She has caused me more pain than you know! Why shouldn’t I hate her?! She deserves every bit of it!”

“What she deserves is the respect due to the dead, and I will not allow my son to bring himself so low!”

“She destroyed my life! She took me away from you and you from me! Why shouldn’t I be angry?!”

“Because it doesn’t stop there!” Stable bellowed, scowling at his son. He paused to calm himself and continued, “I have walked down that road son, and it is not one I would wish on anypony, especially you... You start off hating her, but you can only focus your anger for so long. Eventually you just lose control of your anger, and the ponies close to you are the ones who get hurt most. After that... after that, nopony befriends you, and you harden your heart forever.”

Caramel stared wordlessly at his father, trying to imagine the pain of losing both a son and a wife. Bowing his head shamefully, the earth pony trotted out the door, where a dumbstruck nurse stood waiting. Caramel cantered past her and out the doors of the hospital.

Dr. Stable sighed and also exited the room. Before he could get very far, however, he found two hooves wrapped around his neck. Looking down, he saw a pink mane pressed against his neck. The doctor moved aside the hair with a hoof, and saw two bright blue, tear-filled eyes staring back at him. Tentatively, he wrapped his own hoof around her neck and squeezed gently.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he sniffed back his own tears. Nurse Redheart merely smiled and held him tighter.

~ ~ ~

Braeburn shivered as he cantered towards the hospital. Granted, Appleoosa could get quite chilly during the winter, but Ponyville felt downright frigid by comparison. Still, he had a mission, and Braeburn liked to believe perseverance in the face of adversity remained a pillar of his very being. As fate would have it, the very friend he wished to speak to was now trotting out the doors and towards him. Braeburn picked up his pace and smiled.

His grin quickly disappeared as he observed Caramel’s troubled expression.

“Caramel,” Braeburn called out, “y’alright bud?” His friend turned to face him, a fake smile quickly shrouding his despondency.

“Yeah, just great,” Caramel responded, a a sour tinge of sarcasm leaking through the last word.

“Now, don’t yah lie ta me, ‘Mel. Ah can see clearer than a spring mornin’ that something’s botherin’ yah. C’mon, tellit,” Braeburn said with a gentle punch to the smaller pony’s shoulder.

Caramel’s facade fell, and his voice took on a much flatter tone. “I just saw my dad for the first time I can remember.”

Braeburn’s jaw dropped slightly and his eyes widened. “Huh? Wher’? Did he say anythin’?”

“He’s been working at the Ponyville Hospital ever since my m-mother took me away,” he responded, voice slightly choked by approaching sobs.

“You tol’ me he left her!”

Caramel nodded. “That’s what she told me. I guess she wasn’t the mother I thought she was.”

Braeburn sighed. “Ah’m sorry for yah, ‘Mel. Gettin’ news like that can’t be easy, but I s’pose yah don’t quite feel ready to talk about it, huh?”

Caramel shook his head earnestly. “I wouldn’t even know what to say,” he said flatly, causing Braeburn to frown slightly.

“Ah know. But hey, you listen here; when yah need somepony to talk to about it, ah’m here for yah,” he responded, putting a hoof on his shoulder. Caramel gave a small smile, grateful for his de-facto brother’s empathy. “There it is!” Braeburn yelled, laughing. “C’mon, let’s go home.”

The two trotted towards Sweet Apple Acres, taking their time to appreciate Spring’s arrival. Various small flowers had begun budding on both sides of the path with a promise of beauty in the near future. Caramel breathed in deeply, allowing the sweet aromas to distract him from his plight. A small, yet bright, yellow flower bending lazily in the wind caught his eye, drawing him towards it. Upon further examination, he noticed the petal tips were adorned with the sweetest shade of pink imaginable. Caramel began to feel an overwhelming urge to pick the flower, rescue it from an ill-starred fate of watching the ponies pass by without a second glance.

He reached a hoof towards it, smiling as the flower seemed to bend towards him. Then, he paused.

Is it right? Should he really be the one to take this beauty from its home?

No, he is not worthy.

Caramel backed away slowly, returning to the path.

“What was that all ‘bout?” Braeburn questioned, having watched the entire scene unfold without a word.

“Nothing,” Caramel replied hesitantly, “nothing at all.”

“Now don't you try tah feed me that shit, cuz ah ain't hungry. Ah know a love-struck colt when ah see one.” Caramel averted his gaze and blushed slightly, causing a grin to spread across his friend's face as he continued. “Come on, big fella, who is she? She mus’ be awfully pretty tah deserve a flower like that one there.”

The brown-maned stallion huffed and resumed cantering to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping Braeburn would drop the subject entirely. A foreleg around his neck and a hoof in his mane, however, quickly rubbed out any such thoughts.

“Agh! Damnit, Braeburn!” Caramel yelled as he attempted to writhe his way out of the larger pony's grasp. “Quit it!”

“Ah’m sorry, ah don't think ah caught a name in there! C’mon, who’s caught your eye?"

“Nopony’s--urgh--caught my eye!”

Braeburn laughed. “Oh come off your high human, will yah? Just tell me her name!”

“Fluttershy...” he said in almost a whisper, but not for the sake of his release. A few hooves away, the yellow pegasus stood staring at them. Braeburn turned around and smiled bashfully, hoping his rough-housing hadn’t bothered the young mare.

Almost immediately, Fluttershy took off in a gallop, tears streaming from her eyes as she ran. While his friend became utterly shocked by this display, it only managed to depress Caramel. With a sigh, he resumed trotting towards Sweet Apple Acres once more, only to feel the sharp sting of his tail being tugged.

“Ow! What in Celestia’s name--”

“Shut it!” Braeburn snapped. “Now y'all better explain jus’ what in the hay that was all about--startin’ at the beginnin’.”

The brown-maned stallion grumbled, but went on to describe the morning and previous day's transpirations. Braeburn listened quietly, occasionally nodding his head or saying something to the effect of, “Awww! You li’l Roameo, you!” and giving his comrade a thorough nuggie. Eventually, Caramel told him how he had pushed Fluttershy away and that her recent breakdown was a result of what he said.

“Why in Equestria would yah say something like that to her?! You’re practically head over hooves for the filly!”

“I-... I know. I just don’t want to hurt her.”

Braeburn huffed. “Oh please, we both know you’d never hurt a damned fly let alone a sweet little mare like that!”

“That’s just it, though,” Caramel said softly. “Remember what Granny Smith said about dreams under a lunar eclipse? How they predict the future?” Braeburn nodded. “I dreamed that... that I... raped Fluttershy!” Tears once again flooded Caramel’s eyes, blurring his vision as they threatened to descend down his cheeks.

“Now wait just a second!” Braeburn scoffed. “Y’all don’t honestly believe yah’d do that, do yah? Hell, I’ve known yah for years, ‘Mel; there’s nothin’ even slightly vicious about yah.”

“But they always come true, ‘Burn! Every single one!” He stomped a hoof emphatically for the last three words.

“Ah don’t care if they’re prophecies from Celestia herself, ah’d never believe anything sayin’ yah’d do somethin’ like that,” Braeburn said quietly, putting a hoof on the other stallion’s shoulders. “Have some faith in yerself... did yah even see yerself do it?”

Caramel paused. “No... But I could hear her screams... Sh-she was begging me to st-stop...” A deep nausea filled his stomach, and he had to fight the urge to throw up.

Braeburn shook his head. “Ah’m sorry about this nightmare of yers, Caramel, but ah can’t believe, even for a second, that it has any chance of coming true--eclipse or not!”

“Well, I don’t plan on finding out.” With that, Caramel began rotting towards the Acres, leaving his friend quite befuddled.

“Damn,” Braeburn sighed as he turned towards the library. “Twilight’s in for quite a ride.”

Rebirth

Rebirth

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

By ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Fluttershy...” he said in almost a whisper, but not for the sake of his release. A few hooves away, the yellow pegasus stood staring at them. Braeburn turned around and smiled bashfully, hoping his rough-housing hadn’t bothered the young mare.

Almost immediately, Fluttershy took off in a gallop, tears streaming from her eyes as she ran. While his friend became utterly shocked by this display, it only managed to depress Caramel. With a sigh, he resumed trotting towards Sweet Apple Acres once more, only to feel the sharp sting of his tail being tugged.

“Ow! What in Celestia’s name--”

“Shut it!” Braeburn snapped. “Now y'all better explain jus’ what in the hay that was all about--startin’ at the beginnin’.”

The brown-maned stallion grumbled, but went on to describe the morning and previous day's transpirations. Braeburn listened quietly, occasionally nodding his head or saying something to the effect of, “Awww! You li’l Roameo, you!” and giving ‘Mel a thorough nuggie. Eventually, Caramel told him how he had pushed Fluttershy away and that her recent breakdown was a result of what he had said.

“Why in Equestria would yah say something like that to her?! You’re practically head over hooves for the filly!”

“I-... I know. I just don’t want to hurt her.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fluttershy’s canter back to the cottage gradually quickened into a gallop as a downpour emerged from the Everfree’s edge. As she ran through the muddy path leading to her front door, her right ear caught the faint sound of... crying?

She turned towards the source, scanning for any sign of a pony but could see no one. The noise seemed to be emanating from the chicken coop. The yellow pegasus cautiously approached the small pen, taking care not to reveal herself just yet.

Fluttershy lowered her head and peered through the small opening. In the dark of the coop, she could faintly observe the outline of a small, shivering pegasus. Suddenly, the lightening flashed, revealing the filly's orange coat and purple mane, and causing both pegasi to gasp.

“Scootaloo?” Fluttershy questioned, her voice full of disbelief.

“I-I can explain! I-I-I...” Scootaloo's voice was shaking from the cold and her own sobs. “I was p-pretending to be a chicken! Y-yeah, that's it!”

Fluttershy cast aside her sorry attempts at fabrication. “Please come inside; you’ll catch something awful out here!” The soaked filly crawled out of the coop, shaking off stray chicken feathers as she did so. She followed Fluttershy into the cottage, feeling a wave of warm air wash over her.

“Stay right here; I'm going to fetch you a towel!” The mare said frantically as she galloped up the stairs. She returned with a towel in hoof and immediately began rubbing Scootaloo's torso with it. The young pegasus just sat still, frowning at the trouble she was causing Fluttershy.

“Oh Celestia, you're freezing!” Fluttershy softly exclaimed as she touched Scootaloo's chest with a hoof. “I’ll make a bigger fire.” She left the towel draped around the filly and cantered away.

As Fluttershy went to add more wood to the fire, a small rabbit hopped down the stairs. He frowned immediately at the filly, remembering her as one of the three who caused his owner so much strife. As he looked longer, however, his gaze began to soften. The filly before him did not wreak havoc and destruction as she had before; she just sat there--shivering with cold and misery. Even Angel could not remain cross with her as she appeared.

Fluttershy came back to the filly and extended a wing to her, using it to guide her towards the fire. Scootaloo semi-consciously obliged. She sat down directly in front of the blazing logs as Fluttershy stretched her wing behind the filly's back, using it to reflect back as much heat to Scootaloo as she could.

“Scootaloo,” Fluttershy questioned in little more than a whisper, “why were you in there?”

Scootaloo took several deep breaths, trying desperately to calm herself. She had caused this pony enough problems today; the last thing she wanted was to break down right in front of her.

“Scootaloo?” the pegasus asked again, awaiting a response.

“I-I was playing outside, and it started raining,” she replied softly, desperately hoping Fluttershy would not question her further.

The mare closed her wing around Scootaloo and pulled her closer.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You can tell me the truth.”

Scootaloo lost it. Sobs began to shake her body as a constant flow of tears slipped down her face. Fluttershy put her hoof around the filly and pressed her head gently into the mare’s shoulder. With her other hoof, she gently stroked Scootaloo’s mane.

“Shh, it’s going to be okay” Fluttershy whispered. The filly’s convulsive weeping continued for a few minutes until she ran out breath and tears.

“I-I’m sorry,” Scootaloo croaked, the sobs having robbed much of her voice.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Fluttershy assured her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Scootaloo nodded into the mare’s shoulder and sniffed. “I don't h-have a house. I usually just sleep in the clubhouse, but Applejack's been getting suspicious about rodents all over the farm. Sh-she almost found me this morning.”

“Why would you be worried about that? Applejack's a nice pony; she wouldn’t--”

“It's the nice ponies that make me more worried,”Scootaloo interjected.

Fluttershy responded with a confused expression. “Why?”

“Because they're the ones who'll try to ‘help.’”

“Don't you want help?”

“No!" Scootaloo snapped, her wings flaring aggressively. She quickly realized her mistake and recoiled. “I'm s-sorry, I just... I just don't want to go back.”

“Go back where?” Fluttershy asked, eager to know what had this poor filly so frightened.

“Tartarus...” she grumbled back.

Hospitals, with thin walls and thinner mental filters are a breeding ground for far more than just disease. Thus, it came as little surprise to Dr. Stable that the team had already heard of his son's morning visit. The stares he had received all day were unnerving, but his own colleagues' erratic behaviors were proving far too much for him to handle... especially given the day's earlier events.

“Alright, I think it's time to call it in. Everypony have a good night." Aside from the mildly polite manner in which he said it, this statement might have been completely normal for the doctor. That is, if it weren't only half past one. Stable leaving for home early remained almost unheard of, but this nearly caused his entire staff of doctors to faint where they stood.

He quickly shuffled out the door before any of them could utter any useless words of sympathy. Many were staring as he pushed through the halls, and his brisk trot soon became a nervous canter.

Suddenly, a nurse walked out of an adjacent door and right into Dr. Stable's path. “Horsefeathers.” Unfortunately, his muttered expletive did little to prevent the imminent collision. Several exclamations later, the two ponies began picking themselves back up, groaning as they did so.

“I’m so sorry,” the nurse said after she had brought herself upright. Dr. Stable looked at her with a stern expression before noticing that before him stood the same young mare who had brought in his son. The realization that she had just been on top of him, as well as the general embarrassment of the situation, caused his face to flush violently. Stable stood up as fast as possible, if only to allow gravity a chance to equalize the blood apportionment.

“N-nonsense,” the stallion said as he placed an apologetic hoof on Redheart’s shoulder. “I wasn’t paying attention to where--”

“Doctor!” she interjected, grabbing his hoof from her shoulder. “You’re bleeding!”

Stable examined the hoof, turning it to see the thin laceration on the outer side. He glanced down and located the culprit: a bloodied scalpel which now lay on the floor and not in the biohazard container Ms. Redheart had been carrying.

“Oh my gosh...” she whispered. “You need treatment, now!” The nurse grabbed his good hoof and rushed him down the hall. Before Dr. Stable could even begin to make an objection, she dragged him into a clinic room and hastily reached for the rubbing alcohol.

“Sorry about this,” she said before dousing his hoof with the disinfectant. The stallion’s yelp made her wince slightly before she wrapped a clean towel around the wound. “Sorry!” she pleaded yet again, hoping he wasn’t more than seriously frustrated with her. Nurse Redheart removed the towel and began bandaging his hoof, sealing the cover with a small piece of medical tape.

The doctor inspected the work and nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me! This is all my fault, and now you might be infected with whatever was on that scalpel! It could be anything! Oh my Celestia, you might die because of me! I--”

Redheart’s nervous breakdown was interrupted by a well-placed hoof. “Whoa, calm down, Red!” he said calmly. “I’m sure I’m just fine. You cleaned the cut well, so I think it’s okay for me to go home now.” Dr. Stable moved towards the door, but the nurse intercepted him.

“Oh no, you don’t! You’re staying here while I run tests on that scalpel.” Stable now wore an expression of complete amazement. Almost nopony ever told him what to do, let alone a nurse. As he huffed and prepared a rebuttal, another nurse walked in, holding the reddened blade cautiously. Nurse Redheart took the scalpel and placed it in a thick plastic box. She handed the box back to the other nurse.

“Take this to Scopes and tell him to check for everything. Viruses, bacteria, parasites, microscopic animals and plants, nano-dinosaurs, the works--I want no stone unturned.”

“But that will take at least the rest of the day! Ther--” The light blue mare began before being abruptly cut off.

“Then I guess you better get it to him quickly,” Redheart replied simply. The younger nurse nodded and cantered out the door.

“Really, Redheart, this is ridiculous! You disinfected the wound sufficiently. I highly doubt there’s any chance of me being contaminated.”

The white mare did not respond; she merely looked at him--looked at him with her large sky-colored eyes. Dr. Stable could see only one thing in them: panic--pure, hysterical panic. Her stoic expression, try as it may, could not mask the nurse’s apprehension.

“... But, if it makes you feel better, I suppose I could spend the night in the hospital.”

The corners of Nurse Redheart’s mouth curled up, and the concern in her eyes seemed to subside. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“W-where?” Fluttershy asked again, confused by the filly’s cryptic response.

“The Cloudsdale City Orphanage,” she explained. “I... I never knew my parents.”

“Oh Scootaloo,” the mare lamented, “I’m so sorry.” Fluttershy wrapped both hooves around Scootaloo and held her tightly. ‘Every filly needs a parent. This isn’t right,’ she thought.

“It’s fine,” she lied. “Cloudsdale was founded by warriors, so orphans don’t have it so bad... most of the time.” Fluttershy could imagine why. With so many children losing one or both parents during wartime, keeping orphans healthy and strong would be a necessity.

“I was actually pretty happy before they started making us go to school. Most of the other foals at the orphanage were my friends.” Scootaloo chuckled slightly. “That’s until they got to know me, I guess.”

“Scootaloo, don’t say that. You’re a wonderful filly,” Fluttershy scolded.

The little pegasus shook her head. “No, I’m not, but that’s not what I meant. One of the foals in my class recognized my name. My parents were both members of the Loo clan who unfortunately don’t have a good reputation in Cloudsdale... They were the ones who turned in that first battle of the Lunar Rebellion. Most of the pegasi who fought for Celestia were massacred because they had enemies on both sides. After the rebellion was put down, most of the Cloudsdale pegasi wanted the whole clan executed for treason, but Celestia wouldn’t have it.”

The yellow pegasus was beginning to understand. “So the other foals in your school...”

“B-beat me. Every day, at least one would start it by pointing me out as a traitor or an oathbreaker. Th-then the rest would join in... Anypony who tried to help me was punished.”

“Didn’t the teachers do anything?!” Fluttershy asked, astounded something this vile could go unnoticed.

Scootaloo snarled slightly. “They were conveniently nowhere around when it happened. They’re officially supposed to strictly punish any violence between students, but without parents to threaten them, I was pretty short on options.”

“But you only came to Ponyville three years ago. Why did you stay so long?”

“I thought I could handle it,” Scootaloo explained. “I was getting stronger, and their beatings were starting to have less of an effect on me. I also had one friend in that school: another Loo clanspony. She always helped me with my injuries and stuff...”

“She sounds like a kind pony,” Fluttershy said, trying her best to focus on the positive.

“Sh-she was,” Scootaloo whispered.

“One day, I went looking for her after school got out. I didn’t s-see her anywhere, but then they came... These two colts grabbed my legs and a third knocked me out with a bottle. When I woke up, I saw her st-strapped to a table. She had bruises e-everywhere, even her f-flanks.” Tears began to stream down the filly’s cheeks. “They m-made me watch... One of them put a b-branding iron on the stove... Sh-she screamed so loud it h-hurt.”

Fluttershy’s stomach was threatening to expel all its contents. The sheer barbarism shook her to her very core, reminding her too much of her own assailants.

“Th-they cut her neck,” she whispered. “Her eyes went dark.”

Scootaloo began openly sobbing, clinging to the elder mare as her body writhed in emotional toil. How the filly had carried such a burden for so long was beyond Fluttershy who also now weeped, though she did so silently.

“Sh-shh, sshh, i-it's okay...”

It was not okay. It was perhaps the farthest thing from okay. Scootaloo had been hurt, scarred in ways that would traumatize ponies years older. Yet, all the while she managed to wear this shell of a jubilant, little pegasus. It suddenly occurred to Fluttershy that for perhaps the first time in the filly’s life, she had a shoulder to cry on. Even though the mare’s foalhood had its own emotionally damaging moments, she never had to face them alone. Her parents had always shown her support, and Rainbow Dash proved her loyalty time and time again.

Scootaloo... Scootaloo had nopony.

That needed to change.

“I, um, want you to stay here for a while, okay? Y-you’ll be safe here,” Fluttershy said, wrapping her other wing around the filly.

Scootaloo pulled her damp face away from the yellow mare’s shoulder and glanced up. “I-I’ve caused enough t-trouble today. Besides, the rain is letting up.”

“Please,” she whispered.

The young filly shifted anxiously. “Just... don’t tell anypony I-I’m here... I d-don’t want to go back.”

Fluttershy breathed a small sigh or relief and said softly, “I promise you, Scootaloo, you will never have to go back.” A small voice in the back of her mind began ranting about just what exactly that promise may entail, but she cast such thoughts aside. The implications of keeping said promise did not matter in the least to her at this moment. Scootaloo needed somepony to put her first, and that reality alone filled Fluttershy’s mind and heart.

~ ~ ~

Dr. Stable’s light snores echoed throughout the small care room, disharmoniously interweaving with the soft hum of the building’s air conditioning. The percussive plick, plick, plick of the intravenous drip remained the sole disturber of the overture, each drop like a small cannon in the white mare’s ears. She had attempted thrice to count the drips in time with the silent analog clock hung high up on the opposite wall, but to no avail. Any and all attempts to distract herself failed to keep her thoughts off the adjacent stallion.

‘He might die,’ she thought, shaking her head. ‘And it would be all my fault.’ Despite this, Redheart knew she had been acting unprofessionally regarding the entire ordeal. She had made worse mistakes in the past, but the nurse had never panicked as she now did, but why?

Perhaps the doctor’s position as the best diagnostician world-wide held some weight to her. Maybe her realization that he remained Caramel’s last piece of family left caused her to act so rashly before. Tartarus, his almost identical face and... form had been tugging at her emotions as well.

Yet no, it was the stallion in and of himself that spurred her behavior so. The past few hours aside, Nurse Redheart had always thought him a bitter man--bitter for no purpose other than some deep cynical nature. His curtness and occasional malice had reached even her now and again, and she seldom ever visited the large hospital.

To know the true cause for his demeanor, however, brought yet more silent tears to her eyes. In her mind, she had made him a monster, as did everypony else. The nurse’s body began shaking as she wept.

‘I am the real monster,’ she mentally whispered. ‘I, along with the rest of them, judged without perception.’ To think that he may die as well, as a result of her carelessness, caused her whimpers to crescendo into small wails of despair. Redheart cast her pride aside, allowing her hysteria to take control completely.

An unexpected pressure on the back of her neck caused the nurse to jolt.

“Shh,” a deep voice whispered from aside. “It's alright, Red. Everything will be fine.” She blushed slightly, both at the nickname and being caught crying like a foal. Dr. Stable began running his hoof through the back of the nurse's mane, completely enraptured with the softness of her bright pink hair. The repetitive stroking calmed her slightly, and her breathing returned to a steady rate. With the continuous sedating effect of Stable's hoof, she found her eyelids increasing in weight. Nurse Redheart leaned her side against the bed, allowing her head to rest on the soft mattress.

“Why don't you go get some sleep?” he suggested in little over a whisper. “I promise I won't try escaping while you're gone,” he teased.

“It's fine. I'm not tir-” Redheart's defense failed, her rambling falling into an unexpected yawn. Her face turned a deeper shade of scarlet as she placed a hoof over her mouth. “Besides, Dr. Scopes is probably close to finishing his tests by now.”

“If he has any sense, he’s sleeping at his house and making his interns do them,” Stable retorted with a chuckle.

“Sense? If I found out he left a hospital doctor’s tests to his pupils, he’ll be lucky to have any of his senses left,” the nurse replied, unable to keep a straight face and giggling tiresomely.

“You need to sleep,” the doctor repeated. Redheart responded with a half-hearted groan. her eyes already closed. “Come,” he said, nudging her as he moved over on the bed. “There’s more than enough room on here, and if you sleep like that, you’re going to wake up incredibly sore.”

The nurse slowly picked her head up from the blanket and turned to Stable. He patted the space next to him on the mattress, causing more blood to rush to her face. Nurse Redheart slowly climbed onto the pale blue blanket and curled herself into a ball.

“Y-you can use the blanket as well,” he stuttered, his own cheeks reddening as he lifted the sheets. The nurse wordlessly wedged into the fabric pocket, noting the heat and pleasant musk as she did so. She could feel her heartbeat throbbing in her temples as her face turned beet red.

‘This seems professional,’ Nurse Redheart inwardly chided as she laid her head on the pillow. ‘Sleeping with a patient... in the hospital.’ She looked across, watching the faint outline of the stallion next to her. Every long, steady breath he took acted like a small sedative, calming the nurse and weighing down her already heavy eyelids.

Dr. Stable remained awake until the telltale whistley breathing of a sleeping mare filled the room. A truth dawned on him. Every other pony in the hospital who had expressed concern for him only did so because of his position and what it meant to the lives of patients. This nurse, however... her actions did not represent a calculated assessment of his worth nor a fear of punishment for the mishap. No, Nurse Redheart had behaved somewhat erratically--her deeds spurred by frantic worry and desperate passion. This pony, a mare he barely knew, remained perhaps the only pony who legitimately cared for him, besides possibly his son.

As the doctor’s eyes began to close, a single hope remained in his mind: the hope that she would be there when he woke up--tomorrow and every day after.

Fluttershy trotted carefully out of the kitchen, holding one steaming bowl in her hoof and another in her mouth. She set the former in front of Scootaloo who had been pre-occupied with tracing the lines in the tablecloth with a hoof. The filly glanced up at her as she sat down with her own bowl.

“Uhm, I just made some vegetable-barley soup for us. I-I’m sorry I don’t have much else at the moment, but I’ll go shopping tomorrow.”

Scootaloo could hardly believe her ears. This mare had presented her a hot meal and apologizing for it. “No, this is fine--more than fine, actually! Last time I got a good meal was at Bloom’s house.” Applejack had been kind enough to whip up a few pies for the fillies while they slept over, and, needless to say, the little pegasus ate them ravenously. Scootaloo took the spoon and began shoveling soup into mouth, her mind doing backflips as the hearty flavor overwhelmed her senses

“How do you get away with not eating lunch?” Fluttershy asked, perplexed. “Surely Cherilee should have noticed by now.” The filly, much to her stomach’s dismay, ceased eating the soup and averted her eyes by looking down at the floor. The older pegasus recognized Scootaloo must feel ashamed about the answer, whatever it was, so she had best wait for the filly to admit it herself.

Eventually she responded, “I-I bring an empty lunch box, and Bloom and Sweetie give me a little of theirs--just a little, though! Just enough so Ms. Cherilee sees I have food.”

Fluttershy felt stunned. “So they know?!” she exclaimed loudly (well, loudly by her standards).

“They were going to tell a grown-up when they found out, but I made them Pinkie-Pie-Swear not to... Bloom was really upset about it.” Such seemed logical; the Apple family had a reputation for honesty, and tarnishing that likely didn’t sit well with the youngest.

“Scootaloo,” the mare said, voice gentle but very stern, “I’m disappointed in you. You forced your friends into a very difficult moral dilemma.”

Scootaloo sniffed. “I-I know...”

“I’m sorry. You didn’t want to do that to your friends, and I know that. You didn’t have much choice in your situation.” The orange pegasus smiled slightly at the sympathy. “You really should eat now,” Fluttershy insisted, “It’s already after midnight , and you need your rest.”

The two ate in silence for the remainder of the meal, too mentally exhausted for further speech. After scraping the bowl clean, Scootaloo leaned back in her seat, patting her stomach with a contented expression which said, “Mission accomplished!” The filly failed to suppress a yawn and lifted a hoof to her bagged eyes and rubbed them.

Fluttershy giggled softly. “Sounds like it’s a little filly’s bedtime.”

“I’m not little,” Scootaloo grumbled, unwilling to address the primary point of the mare’s statement.

“O-oh, of course not,” Fluttershy responded in a voice of sore contrition. A frown crossed the filly’s face as she witnessed the result of her malcontent.

“I-uh... okay, maybe I’m a bit small,” she conceded. The yellow pegasus smiled at her knowingly. “But just a little bit!” she reaffirmed.

“Just a little bit little?” Fluttershy teased. The filly scowled as best she could while so exhausted, forcing her host to stifle a giggle. “Come on, let’s get you to sleep.”

Scootaloo trotted alongside Fluttershy, following her up to the guest room. “Don’t worry, the sheets have been cleaned since the tree sap incident,” the mare assured her, causing her guest to scratch the the back of her head with embarrassment.

“Thank you,” Scootaloo said as she climbed onto the bed, “for everything.” She lifted the covers and slid under them.

Fluttershy trotted over to her and began re-tucking the bed sheets until they were taught. “You’re very welcome,” she said with a smile, “and you always will be welcome here. Okay?” Scootaloo nodded. “Good night, Scootaloo,” said the mare as she trotted out of the room.

“Good night,” the filly quietly spoke as Fluttershy shut the door, “...mom.”

Schemes

Author's Note

I found this unpublished chapter in my google drive and figure even if I'm not gonna finish the story (which I may considering there's maybe 4 chapters left) I should at least post what I do have.

And yes, this is part of me leaving the site and fandom (which I technically did 2 years ago). I just don't like loose ends.

Schemes

Schemes

~~~~~~~~~~

A Happy Accident

By ScriptScrolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caramel paused. “No... But I could hear her screams... Sh-she was begging me to st-stop...” A deep nausea filled his stomach, and he had to fight the urge to throw up.

Braeburn shook his head. “Ah’m sorry about this nightmare of yers, Caramel, but ah can’t believe, even for a second, that it has any chance of coming true--eclipse or not!”

“Well, I don’t plan on finding out.” With that, Caramel began trotting towards the Acres, leaving his friend quite befuddled.

“Damn,” Braeburn sighed as he turned towards the library. “Twilight’s in for quite a ride.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The town librarian hummed merrily to herself as her eyes scanned the open book before her. She rarely had such an opportunity to relax, but with Winter Wrap-Up now out of the way, she could finally make some progress with the newest Daring Do novel. The dynamic adventurer had just escaped the clutches of the Hoovitos, a group of belligerent natives who had not taken lightly to their sacred burial grounds being disturbed.

“Haypenny! We’re leaving, now!” Doo yelled as she flew over the hill and towards her assistant. The distracted unicorn perked her ears and looked in the voice’s direction. A dark mass of angry buffalo was stampeding impressively close behind the airborne archeologist.

“I’ll start the truck!” she hollered back over the deep rumble of heavy hooffalls.

“No time! Brace yourself!”

“Brace for wha-OOF!” Haypenny exclaimed as the wind was knocked out of her. Before she could even inhale, Daring banked to the right and began a steep climb.

“Hold on!” she yelled, a good piece of advice for the wingless unicorn.

“D-D-Daring!” Haypenny gasped as she finally recovered use of her lungs. “Put me back on the ground!”

Arrows bean whizzing past the duo, filling their ears with sharp hissing noises. “I don’t think you want to go down there. You’re not scared of heights are you?”

Haypenny shook her head insistently, but as the earth dropped farther and farther from her hooves, she took note of a deep ache in her stomach and started nodding. “Uh-huh.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back on the ground in no time,” Doo said reassuringly.

“Twilight?” came the voice of a distant baby dragon.

“Yes, Spike?” she said back.

“Can I have some bits to go get lunch?” he asked, walking down the bedroom steps.

“There’s food in the house, Spike.”

“I know, but I haven’t eaten out in a while. Swee-I mean Snips and Snails said they’d be eating lunch at Sugarcube about noon. I don’t wanna be late.”

Twilight smirked and chuckled quietly. “Here, Spike,” she said, holding out some coins, “just make sure you behave yourself.”

“Thanks,” he responded with a smile before pausing to look at the money. “... Twilight, there’s more than enough here for two meals.”

“Make sure you pay for her meal to. I won’t have my charge not paying for his date as well.” Twilight’s smug smile almost reached her eyes, and Spike’s cheeks went scarlet.

“I--no, it’s--how did you--?”

“Relax, Spike, and go have fun, just remember what I said about behaving yourself” Twilight lectured, poking her hoof in the air at him. The dragon’s face seemed to redden by the minute as he stared intently at the library’s floor. “And don’t worry,” she reassured him, “I won’t tell Rarity.”

Spike grumbled and quickly made his way to the door and out of the building, ears literally emitting smoke. As the door slammed behind him, Twilight couldn’t help but sigh. ‘They grow up so fast.’

She turned her attention back to the open book in front of her. After an uneventful half hour flight which the author wisely chose to omit from the text, the heroine and her assistant found themselves in a humble western town, not much more than an outpost on the frontier.

“Um... Haypenny, you can let go now,” Daring said to the pony wrapped around her neck.

“Is it over?” the unicorn asked nervously, her eyes still squinted in fear.

“Yeah, it’s over. I’m actually standing on the ground.”

Haypenny tentatively opened her eyes to verify her companion’s statement. Behind the adventurer’s head were a few small wooden buildings with ponies standing out front, doing nothing out of the ordinary.

Well, nothing out of the ordinary besides glancing curiously at the unicorn draped around some pegasus’ neck. Haypenny smiled sheepishly and released her hold on Daring, allowing her hooves to finally touch solid ground.

“Much better,” she said quietly to nopony in particular.

A stallion in a dark brown vest and stetson approached the two mares. His light gold coat provided little contrast to the amber-like hue of his mane. His irises, however, shone a deep and bright green, a color which would seem out of place but managed to complete the stallion’s image perfectly. Haypenny suddenly found herself fidgeting and attempting in vain to keep her eyes concentrated elsewhere. If the approaching pony noticed, he didn’t make any indication of it.

“Howdy, y’all and welcome to Farpoint! Reckon’ you folks are a long ways from home, so I’m sure you’d like to be shown somewhere to eat, huh?” The two ponies nodded enthusiastically, stomachs suddenly enticed by the mention of sustenance. “Well I wouldn’t recommend that there establishment,” he said pointing a hoof to the nearby saloon. “Not unless y’all are particular fond of bad grub and worse company. The Wheezing Dragon is a mighty good joint, though. Mare runnin’ it is a real honest pony an’ don’t tolerate no nonsense from troublemakers, believe you me.”

“Thanks for the advice, uh...?” Daring said, attempting to recall the stranger’s name.

“Oh, pardon me ma’m, I musta forgot my manners; my name is Clemens. I run a citrus farm o’er yonder. And may I be so bold as to ask your ladies’ names?”

“I’m Daring, Daring Doo: adventurer extraordinaire,” the pegasus said with a slight flare of her wings. “But you’ve probably heard of me already.”

“Sorry, can’t right say I have, but pleasure to meet yah regardless. And who might this pretty, young mare be?” Clemens asked, smiling towards the unicorn.

“I-uh-m-my name is H-haypenny,” she said, her face reddening under the handsome stallion’s gaze. “I’m j-just her assistant.”

“Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Haypenny.”

The shy mare’s blush became only more pronounced. “I-it’s just Haypenny,” she said in a barely audible voice.

KNOCK KNOCK!

Twilight jumped out of her seat, gasping for air.

“Y’all alright in there? Hope I didn’t give yah a fright,” came the soothing southern voice only an Apple could behold.

“N-no, not at all,” Twilight insisted, still heaving for oxygen as her heart rate slowly descended. “Please, come in.” The door clicked open to reveal an expected guest. “Braeburn, good. Go ahead and take a seat; Rarity’s still not back yet.”

“Figured,” Braeburn said with a sigh. “Do you want to be filled in now or when Rarity gets here?”

Twilight’s cheeks reddened significantly. Unfortunately for her, the most brilliant minds will often find innuendos in the most innocent of phrases when their minds are so oriented... And with Braeburn here, her mind was most definitely so oriented. Relevant images made her sweat nervously and breathe heavier. Scientifically speaking, he was a prime specimen. Broad haunches, a strong set of core muscles, and a fairly toned rear made him an ideal--

“Twilight?”

Twilight snapped back to reality. “Wait!” she said, far more forcefully than she had meant to. “--We should... wait for Rarity so we all can be on the same page.

Braeburn nodded and began browsing the cocktail table. It was covered in books of all kinds, most of which had titles that made his head spin. Synergetics in the Arcane Arts, Magic and Metaphysics: Brilliant Concoction or Blatant Catastrophe?, and a rather large tome named Divine Enchantments, Volume 8. What caught his attention, however, was the book in Twilight’s hooves. Not only could he actually understand the title, but he had read the book on the train ride to ponyville.

He stood up from the armchair and made his way over to the couch where Twilight was sitting. The mare was so enveloped in her book she didn’t notice a thing. Braeburn leaned in slightly to see where she was in the book, touching his shoulders to Twilight’s in the process.

She could feel the firmness and heat of muscle as soon as he made contact. She tried her best to ignore it, but every second he stayed there completely tore her attention from the book.

Braeburn noticed she hadn’t turned the page since he entered and came to the conclusion he must be distracting her.

“Sorry... Just wonderin’ wher’ y’are.”

“You’ve read it?”

“Hell yeah! Those books are darn impossible tah put down, especially that one! Man, that Haypenny sure is sumthin’! She’s quicker than silver.”

Upon hearing that, Twilight nearly choked. When imagining the story, she always cast Rainbow as Daring Do, Discord as the nefarious mercenary Fo Hire, and... herself as Haypenny.

“Y-yeah she’s... really... something,” she managed, struggling for words.

Braeburn realized his mistake, or at least thought so. “Oh, my apologies Twilight... You’re far, far smarter than she is.”

As it was the latter, Twilight became even further troubled, but did her best to hide it continue reading.

“Oh hey, Rarity’s back!” Braeburn announced as he watched her walk up the path.

Twilight sighed and went to fetch the door. Rarity appeared a bit alarmed that it had been opened before she had knocked, but decided not to question.

“My oh my, do I have a story for you two!” she exclaimed as she rushed to the armchair.

“Same here,” said Twilight and Braeburn in unison, eliciting a slight blush from the two of them.

“Ladies first,” Braeburn followed, gesturing to the two of them. Twilight gestured in Rarity’s direction and they began recounting the findings of their research... in as general a way as possible to avoid exposing and secrets.

The three of them sat silently for a while, wondering how best to approach the situation. Rarity was the first to speak up.

“I’m fairly certain we’re all thinking along the same lines, but nobody wants to say it... As much as we love Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Caramel are in love with eachother. Nothing Dash does will change the way Fluttershy feels about her; she’s just not ‘batting for that team’ as it were.”

“I agree,” said Twilight in a solemn voice. “As much as I sympathize with her, Rainbow is in a no-win scenario. It’s better that she accepts Fluttershy isn’t into mares as quickly as possible.”

“Well shoot, what are we gonna do ‘bout Caramel, then? He’s done convinced himself he’s gonna do something horrible ‘cause of all that eclipse nonsense. No way is he gonna get in a room alone with her, let alone get closer to her.”

“Wait,” Rarity said, the gears turning in her head. She glanced to the two ponies sitting cozily on the couch beside her. “I have an idea...”

“Obviously Fluttershy, as her name suggests, would prefer to be with Caramel alone. From what you’ve told us, Braeburn, Caramel seems unready for the relationship to be that serious? Apologies, but the description you gave was vague.

“The solution to this is... a double-date! We’ll have them go on a date with another new couple, so they will be far more at ease. Caramel won’t feel that the relationship is moving too fast, and there will be enough privacy to keep Fluttershy from... well, being Fluttershy.”

“That’s great, Rarity!” Twilight applauded. “But who will they gon on the date with?”

Rarity paused as a disturbingly wide grin spread across her face. “Why you two of course!”

“What?!” the two said in unison, completely blind-sided by Rarity’s twist.

“It’s perfect. This way they can get closer but won’t have to be alone! Ooh, I truly am a genius! Watch out Twilight; I may be up for your job soon.”

Twilight’s only response was to put a hoof to her face.

“Listen, Twi’... if you don’t want--” Braeburn began.

“Nononono!” she responded in a desperate attempt to keep him from completing his sentence. “It’s actually--erm--a good idea... We should start making the preparations!”

Both Twilight and Braeburn did their best to keep blushing in check, but Rarity’s eye is keener than most.

‘I knew it!’ she thought excitedly. ‘I am so good at this!’

“Fantastic,” she said aloud, “we’ll get this set in stone and tell them about it by tomorrow. Remember to inform them that not going is not an option.”