Floating, that was the right word. Fluttershy was floating in happiness like one of Pinkie Pie’s balloons, even with all four feet on the ground. An absolute calm reigned within her, and she didn’t care about what was happening around her. Except Rainbow Dash. Although she had had all night to admire her, Fluttershy never tired of seeing her eyes, her untidy hair, nor her athletic and muscular body. She was so distracted, she took a moment to realize they were back in her cottage. By the look of Rainbow, it seemed like time to say goodbye.

“I‘ve had a great time,” said Fluttershy, reluctant.

“Yeah, it was fun. I’ll see ya again sometime,” agreed Rainbow, smiling. “Well, bye.”

With nothing more to add, Rainbow began to turn back, but then noticed how Fluttershy pulled her tail, retaining her.

“Rainbow, I ...”

“What’s up?”

Honestly? She didn’t know what she was doing. She wanted to tell Rainbow that she didn’t want her to leave. And not just tonight. Rainbow was so kind, so caring, so understanding... Fluttershy wanted to know if there was anything else. If her suspicions were true. Her throat refused to issue any sound, so she gave a step forward. And then another. Dash's eyes fixed on her, and she felt a warmth grow inside that gave her courage. Only a few steps separated both. She stopped to think, closed her eyes.

Then she kissed Rainbow.

It was not the kiss she thought an adult pony’s would be, more like the kiss of a filly, who just fell in love for the first time. Her first kiss. Shy, insecure, but so sincere that it made up for inexperience. It was barely a touch, but it was enough to make the Fluttershy’s heart beat wildly and her body trembled from head to hooves.

She was about to fall back, embarrassed, when Dash's lips pushed against her. This contact was stronger, firmer, allowing Fluttershy to taste the flavour of Rainbow’s lips. It left her stunned; she didn’t dare to move, and risk doing something wrong, but before she could think or try something, the moment ended abruptly.

Fluttershy blinked to see her friend jump back with wide eyes, and an expressive mixture of confusion and surprise.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow said, dazed. “You're a lesbian?”

“I ... I mean ... I guess so.”

Rainbow shook her head and blowed air from her muzzle. “Okay, it doesn’t matter. You drank, I drank, it has only been a mistake, we forget this and no big problem.”

“Rainbow... but I had to tell you ... I lov...”

“Don’t you say that!” she pushed Fluttershy back “You don’t dare to say that. Don’t you see? It could ruin everything. What about our friendship, doesn't it matter you?

“But you kissed me... and the dinner...” Fluttershy’s hesitated, and shrank with fear.

“I’ve not kissed you!” Rainbow denied, pawing the ground with strength, causing Fluttershy to back off. “That's your imagination, you're... confused. I’ve not kissed you. It hasn’t happened, or ever will. Did you think that this dinner was something else? Well, forget it. I would never go out with you.”

I would never go out with you.

Fluttershy had endured many taunts before, but they were never as bad as this. Even worse, because those words came from Rainbow. The sense of bliss she felt a moment ago had vanished completely, leaving only a sharp pain in her heart. Fluttershy wanted beg to Rainbow, apologize, but she didn’t dare to look into those eyes full of fury. She hates me. She hates me and I deserve it. I shouldn’t have kissed her. She's right, I ruined our friendship.

It was too many emotions for one night, and Fluttershy couldn’t stand any more. She ran to her house, passed in a flash and went upstairs to finally throw herself on her bed and hid under the blanket. She didn’t have time to mourn or whine. Seconds were enough before the exhausted pegasus fell asleep. Her body knew better, that above all else she needed rest now.

A tree outside shuddered, receiving a strong kick. Then another, and more and more until rain of blows caused the tree splintering from the force. But Rainbow didn't stop. Just when their hooves were bloodstained and too sore to continue she did. She dropped to the ground and wiped her tears. Only then, she looked at cottage and whispered.

“I’m so sorry, Fluttershy. I'm so sorry.”

The cloudy sky and wind gusts threatened to storm on the morrow, though the climate team hadn’t announced anything. Twilight didn’t care it; she had planned this day long ago and she only had in mind read a couple of volumes, safe in her library. But now she was in the streets, trotting towards Rarity’s boutique to return a novel she had given her a few days ago. She liked the novel so much that Twilight wanted to ask to Rarity if she had more from the same writer.

Arriving at Carousel Boutique, Twilight hit a few times the door and waited. Before two seconds passed, the door opened, Rarity quickly hurrying out with an expression of relief.

“I was already worried dear...” she paused. “Ah, Twilight. My apologies, I thought you were somebody else.”

“Hi Rarity, I have come to bring the book you left me,” Twilight said as she levitated it from her saddlebag. “Did you expect any customers?”

“No, not exactly.” Rarity took the book with her own magic and invited pass to Twilight. “I had met with Fluttershy a while back. She provided my past model designs.” she pointed three mannequins to the end of the room, each one with a different dress. “Divine, don’t you think?” she added with a smile that barely lasted. “But it’s been an hour and she has not arrived yet.”

Immediately a voice of alarm jumped in the head of Twilight. It’s very strange. Fluttershy wouldn’t miss an appointment without grounds and Twilight’s analytical mind couldn’t avoid thinking it was something related with her plans of the past night. Had something happened at dinner?

“Do you know anything about Fluttershy? Have you seen her?” Rarity asked with some concern, who seemed to have realized Twilight’s thoughts.

“It's nothing,” Twilight said, playing it down. “Simply, I just remember that yesterday she and Rainbow Dash were going for dinner. Because of what happened at the Fair Exchange, Rainbow wanted to apologize,” she clarified, realizing Rarity's thoughts. “Maybe they finished late and Fluttershy is sleeping still? Or she simply forgot your appointment,” she suggested, not convinced.

The two mares looked at each other, hesitant.

“Perhaps... she did. Better go to see her.” Twilight pointed out. “Just in case.”

Rarity nodded and after ensuring that her sister was perfectly safe, she closed the boutique and they marched together towards Fluttershy's cottage. Upon arrival they noticed that something was wrong; one of the trees in the road had been viciously beaten and was half-broken. Moreover, a considerable group of animals surrounded the cottage, and they seemed nervous.

The two mares moved on, working their way up to the door. A slight push showed that it wasn’t locked. They quickly entered, accompanied by several animals that slipped through her legs. There seemed to be nothing different or of concern, excluding the ground floor, was deserted and devoid of any life aside from the creatures that had entered.

“Fluttershy?” Rarity called out. When she didn’t receive answer, she tried again. “Fluttershy, darling, are you there?”

“Let's go upstairs,” Twilight said. She didn’t feel comfortable invading Fluttershy's house, but she was getting really worried and Rarity’s look told her that the feeling was mutual.

A few seconds after, they found themselves in the master bedroom. Fluttershy was there, wrapped in her blanket, while Angel was shaking her insistently. For a minute both mares feared the worst, but to approach to the bed they could see how her friend's chest rose and fell with an even pace. They were relieved, laughing for being so frightened.

"We should wake her up," Rarity suggested.

Twilight went to bed and shaked Fluttershy. She was so sleepy that it took a great effort to wake her. Feeling attacked, she cried out in fear until she realized who was in. “Rarity, Twilight ... what are you doing here?”

“We were worried about you, Fluttershy,” said Twilight. “Rarity was waited you for an hour and as you didn’t show up, we decided to come see you, to see if everything is okay.”

“An hour?” Fluttershy looked at the bedside clock and she blinked her eyes with surprise. “I'm sorry, I didn’t want...!” then she realized that Angel hit her foreleg, impatient. “The animals! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” she went out running to the living room without missing time.

Her friends followed her. The animals received Fluttershy with great enthusiasm as she began to prepare food for everyone. Without thinking twice, Twilight came to help her busy friend. Rarity followed, but with much less enthusiasm and trying to stay as far away as possible from certain "undesirable critters". Fluttershy gave them a grateful look.

The animals were quite eager for breakfast and kept the three ponies busy, but Twilight couldn’t avoid notice that something was wrong on Fluttershy. Normally her friend would be happy, humming a song, caressing and talking to the animals. Today she had a dull look and didn’t smile at all.

“Rarity, have you noticed?” Twilight whispered to her friend.

“Did you say something, darling?” she said as she fed a skunk with a look of barely concealed disgust.

“Look at Fluttershy. Normally she loves to take care of their animals, but today she doesn’t seem herself. I think something bad happened last night."

“Poor Fluttershy. Should we ask her?"

“We'd better finish to help her, then we find out what happened.” Twilight said, receiving Rarity’s approval.

Finally, all the animals were fed and groomed at the cost of requiring all morning. Just after midday, the three mares could relax and unwind. Rarity offered to prepare lunch, to Twilight's delight. During the meal Fluttershy seemed quite normal, but she couldn’t deceive her two friends. Rarity glanced at Twilight and whispered her. "I'll take over this". She hesitated, but finally decided to be direct.

“Darling, Twilight told me that yesterday Rainbow prepared dinner for you. Did you have a good time?

Fluttershy's reaction was instantaneous; she shuddered and hid her face completely before the mane. ”Please,” she whispered with trembling voice. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I'm sorry,” Rarity said quickly. “You don’t have to tell us anything, of course. It's just that we don’t like seeing you sad, if we can do something to help...” she let the offer in the air, not daring to push.

Fluttershy nodded, but she said nothing more. The rest of the meal passed in awkward silence, except for some attempts of conversation that didn’t go ahead. Then, when they were about to leave, Fluttershy spoke again.

“The dinner was fine... we talked... we danced... and then...”

At first, the words of Fluttershy were fairly inconsistent, but with patience and support Rarity had gotten that she confessed everything about dinner, her secret love for Dash, and her departure from Cloudsdale. Now that she was rid of that weight and she was able to share her feelings with her friends, Fluttershy was a little better. Rarity and Twilight left the house soon after, promising to see her the next day.

After a while, Rarity was the first to speak, outraged. “How could Rainbow Dash do that? She has always been a scoundrel, but I never imagined her able to do something so horrible.”

Twilight took a moment to respond. There was a part of it that puzzled her; for a moment Rainbow had kissed to Fluttershy, but then she denied it with such zeal that made to Fluttershy hesitate. “I can’t believe it either. There must be a rational explanation for all this and I have to find it.” she waved her wings. “I’ll make a visit to Rainbow and I’ll discover what happened.”

“Good luck, I’d accompany you, but I've left Sweetie Belle alone too long. I hope she hadn’t touched any of my new fabrics,” she said nervously, biting her hoof.

“Easy, I’m sure all is right. See you later.”

Twilight took flight and quickly reached the level of the clouds. His first thought was to visit the climate team; Rainbow Dash was usually working at this time. She didn’t take long to find them, flying north of Ponyville. The foreman, Thunder, a bushy mustache veteran pegasus, ran the placement of several clouds when he noticed the presence of Twilight and went to meet her.

“Good morning Princess Twilight, what brings you here?”

“Good morning Thunder. I'm looking for Rainbow Dash, I want to talk with her.

“I want as well!” replied with energy. “She has been gone all day, and today we have much work to do. If you see her, tell her that I hope to see her here tomorrow with a good explanation. She is a good worker and I'd not like to fire her.”

“Okay, as soon as I see her, I’ll say that. Bye.”

She continued flying, but this time she took course towards the house of Dash. Fluttershy had reason to be concerned and neglecting their duties, but again Rainbow’s attitude didn’t make sense. She didn’t doubt that at this stage Rainbow would be feeling a little guilty at least, but Twilight doubted her remorse would have prevented go to work. She was who had rejected Fluttershy, not reversed.

Lost in her thoughts, Twilight almost crashed into the Rainbow’s house. Going back a bit, she landed in the cloud and hit the door, initially soft and then harder.

“Rainbow, I know you're home, open the door!”

Twilight hope, but no one answered. She wasn’t sure how to proceed. She could easily break through with her magic, but she wouldn’t destroy Rainbow’s house. If I was not a pegasus, it would be as simple as through a wall... but of course, then I couldn’t have flown here. Luckily, her problems were solved when the door opened, though it was not Rainbow who was behind, but Tank, her pet. The turtle looked with concern and pointed toward the bedroom.

“Thanks Tank, I owe you one.” she stroked the head of the tortoise with care.

Uncomfortable, Twilight went to the bedroom, not knowing how Rainbow would react. She found her lying in bed, her back to the door. Rainbow could simply be sleeping, but then she said with irritated voice.

“A closed door doesn't mean anything to you? What do you want?”

"I'm sorry about that, but I need talk to you.” she heard Rainbow growl from the bed “I won’t leave until we talk,” she insisted.

“What are you my father now? Well, let's finish this.”

Rainbow turned to Twilight with some difficulty, panting. Twilight’s eyes widened when she realized that Dash front hooves were wrapped in bandages.

“What did you happened? Are you okay?”

“Just a minor accident,” snapped Rainbow. “But I don't want to talk about it. Why are you here?

Twilight felt a twinge of anger at the attitude of Dash, but stopped herself. She hadn’t come to pick fights, but answers. And she had already at least once. It wasn’t difficult to put two and two together to realize the connection between Rainbow’s wounds and the half-broken tree. Now it was time to figure out the rest.

“I've been in Fluttershy’s home this morning,” she began, trying to be impartial. She told me what happened last night. I can understand you don’t feel anything for her, but you could have been more subtle with your rejection, don’t you think? Fluttershy is very sensitive, as you know.

“And since when is what happens between Fluttershy and me your business?”

“Since both of you are my friends,” pointed Twilight. “Fluttershy is having a hard time, you know? You could apologize at least for how you behaved last night, trying to cheer her up... and tell her that your friendship is not in danger.

Rainbow ducked her head and looked away from Twilight, which she interpreted as a gesture of regret. However, her next words left her frozen.

“I can’t do that.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t. It’s the best for her,” she said, biting her lip.

Twilight couldn’t believe what he was hearing, she refused to believe it, those words couldn’t come out of Element of Loyalty’s mouth. “The best thing for her is that she thought you hate her? Because that's what she thinks right now, Rainbow. You can’t turn your back just when she most needs you. This morning she didn’t seem herself, she has been crying and...”

“I already know it!” Dash's cry echoed off the walls of the room. She raised his head, revealing Twilight her eyes filled with tears. “I already know. But she shall not love me. She shall forget me, no matter how hard it is.”

Twilight's mind was about to explode. All this makes no sense. Why Rainbow...? And then the truth appeared before her as a revelation. Dash’s nerves for dinner, her efforts for everything were perfect, the kiss that she denied having given, her tears to confirm that Fluttershy was suffered. Everything could be summed up in one simple sentence.

“You love Fluttershy too.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Rainbow replied, shaking her head.

“Of course it matters, it’s the only thing that matters! Twilight insisted, excited. “Go hug her and tell her how you really feel!”

“You don’t tell me what I have to do.” she sighed in exasperation as the tears. “Real life isn’t like your romance novels Twilight, it isn’t so easy. We can’t be together.”

“That doesn’t make any sense! Explain to me what happens.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Twilight wasn’t willing to give up so easily. “Why wouldn't I? Just tell me, I'm sure we can find a solution.”

Do you think that you are an expert in matters of love!?” Rainbow exploded. “Don’t make me laugh! Until a year ago you had no friends, you didn’t know what friendship meant, yeah, sure you understand what love is.” she said, sarcastic. “Return to your library, egghead.”

Tired of arguing, Rainbow turned around and ignored Twilight, waiting she go out and leave her alone. But Twilight didn’t move. Rainbow was already thinking throw directly when heard to her.

“You're an idiot, Rainbow Dash. You have the pony that you love just in your side and you leave, you might’ve been happy with her. I have to conform with a reminder of Flash...

Flash? Who is Flash? Rainbow was going to ask when a memory came to mind. A few months ago, in the Crystal Empire castle, when Twilight had gone in search of the unicorn called Sunset Shimmer. When she came back from that other world, she spoke some about such Flash Sentry.

“Although I’m an idiot too.” Twilight continued after taking a breath. “He isn’t even of our species. And my simple presence in its world could alter irreversibly, as would happen if he would come to Equestria.” she laughed full of bitterness. “And even if not, we could meet only each thirty moons. That’s no way we could have a relationship... and yet I can’t forget him. Did you say I know nothing about love, Rainbow?” she remarked in a hard tone. “I’d wish you were right. Everything would be easier if I didn’t dream with an impossible relationship.”

Rainbow didn’t know that answer. Twilight’s sudden confession had left her stunned. And she was not even angry.

“Do what you want Rainbow. For my part I won’t tell to Fluttershy any. But keep in mind this; you can choose. Others don’t have a choice.

After that she left, leaving Rainbow alone with her thoughts.

Author's Note

I hope you liked this chapter. Comments and constructive criticism are appreciated.
You'll have to wait a bit for next chapter, I was really busy by university exams, I'll continue writing when I finish.