Everypony Needs A Place

“Happiness is where we find it, rarely where we seek it.” J. Petit Senn

A sound of dishes clattering wakes me up around noon, judging by the light coming to Rarity’s guest room, and immediately yesterday’s conversation come rushing to my brain, leaving a little dizzy. I struggle to get out of bed and I can barely keep my eyes open, they were puffy from all the crying. I finally manage to stand up and I make my way toward the sounds in the kitchen, when I get there Rarity is cleaning some dishes and she has the kettle on.

She turns around and looks at me letting out a tiny giggle that makes me self conscious. I probably look awful. So I hide behind my mane as I always do, she seemed to notice this because immediately she stopped laughing. “Don’t worry darling, your mane is just a little bit frazzled, nothing a bath can’t fix” she said and I was about to agree when my stomach rumbled leaving me more ashamed. Rarity simply states “But first you must eat something” she said while pointing to her table, were an assortment of fruits and biscuits were laid, “here, you can take anything, I am going to work on some designs, if you need anything I’ll be in my inspiration room” she is about to leave the room when I finally find the courage to look to her.

“Wait” I said and she turned toward me. “Um… I-I”. Why can’t I speak normally? “I just wanted to thank you, um, yesterday… the talk… it really helped a lot”

“Think nothing of it” she said and then she left leaving me alone in the kitchen. I ate till I was full; I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. I started to get worried about my animals so I took a quick shower in Rarity’s bathroom and went on my way, not without thanking her first, she had been such a good friend.

I arrived at my cottage and fed the little animals that were still in the cottage they didn’t seem upset about me being late but I still apologized profusely especially to Angel, although he made me prepare him a very complicated salad. Even your own pet can control you, you’re such a pushover.

After finishing my chores I planned on resting, yesterday’s events really left me with no energy and I felt the need to evaluate my feeling toward Twilight. The more I thought about her the more I needed her, I felt incomplete without her and that thought made my heart ache and my stomach felt empty even though I had already eaten.

I want to be with Twilight but I’m not worthy of her. Despair starts to creep in my mind and I find myself wanting to cry again. The animals come near me and start cuddling around me, perhaps in an attempt of consoling me, which brings a smile to my face. We spend some time like but some of them start to shiver. I had forgotten how cold it was.

I decide to knit little blankets for my animal friends. I am a pretty good knitter and the animals definitely seem to need it. I go to my special room where I keep all of my creations and I start working on the blankets it helps me get my mind off of thing and it relaxes me. I really like knitting, my grandmother taught me and I always remember her when I’m in this room.

An idea strikes me. I should make something for all of my friends! The idea excites me and after finishing my animal blankets and making sure they are all comfortable I start making presents for my friends. I want to apologize to all of them for being so distant lately and I settle for something simple yet useful, especially in this time of the year: a scarf and a hat set, they would be compliment each of my friends colors in addition of having their cutie marks.

I went to work and it definitely lifted my spirits, doing something for other ponies always made me feel happy.

By the time I finish all the presents the sun had already set and I felt pretty tired. I wanted to give the scarves to my friends as soon as possible but they were probably asleep already so after a light snack I went to sleep, even though I felt giddy about tomorrow I slept very peacefully.

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I woke up earlier than usual so I had to finish my chores before feeding the animals, the excitement distracted me from them but I managed to finish, I fed my animals and then I ate breakfast myself, I took a shower and made sure everything was in order before heading out. I carried a bag with my friend’s presents in my back and I headed to Rarity’s boutique but along the way I spotted Rainbow Dash and she saw me.

“Hey Fluttershy!” she said in her characteristic tone, loud and carefree, as if she didn’t care if anyone else was listening. “What you got there?” she asked pointing to my saddlebags.

“Oh, um well… I wanted to give these to all of you girls” I said while I reached for a bag in my saddlebag, I took out Rainbow’s scarf and hat, they were red and the scarf had her cutie mark in both ends. It was wrapped in brown paper with her name on it. I handed it to her and while she opened it I said. “I wanted to give you this as an apology; I know I’ve been distant lately… It’s just… there have been some things on my mind… I’m s-sorry for being such a bad friend…” I turn to look at her and she’s just staring at me eyes really open.

She probably hates it. “I-it’s okay if you don’t like it… you don’t h-have t-to use it” I said while staring at the ground tears were starting to pool around my eyes.

Suddenly she said, almost screaming. “Are you kidding?! I love it, it’s amazing” I turn to look at her and she is wearing them and it makes me smile and although I try to stop them some tears get out of my eyes. “It definitely makes me look 20 percent cooler” I giggle and she gives me a pat in the back. “Thanks Fluttershy, you really are a great friend.” I feel happy that she said that but at the same time I don’t feel it’s true.

Rainbow must have noticed something was wrong because she sat down next to me and said in a very serious tone. “Look Fluttershy, I don’t know what’s got you so down, but you need to know that you are not a bad friend okay. I accept your apology if that’s what you want but you don’t need to be sorry for anything ya hear me?”

“You know you can tell me anything right?” she turned to look at me and in that moment I felt better, knowing that she cared. Dash is like a sister to me so I felt the need to tell her all about Twilight, so I did.

“… I want to be with Twilight so badly but I’m not brave or cool like you so I don’t think she would be interested” I finish and my voice lowers in volume and my head sinks to the ground as I utter those last words. A long silence follows and I’m inclined to believe Rainbow has left but when I turn around she is looking at me, she looks surprises and offended? Oh no… I’ve offended her. Stupid, stu…

Her voice breaks me from my thoughts. “Don’t sell yourself so short Fluttershy. You may not be as cool as I am… well nopony is as cool as I am, but you are definitely brave… when it counts. Besides you think somepony as amazing as me would hang out with someone lame or un-cool?” she asks and I am rendered speechless.

I stare at her in awe. When I was younger I always used to think that Rainbow only hung out with me because she pitied me and I guess that fear stayed with me throughout the years we’ve known each other.

Perhaps I haven’t given my friends enough credit, they definitely are not stupid and if they want to hang out with me then maybe I’m not so bad myself.

Rainbow’s voice broke me of my reverie. “Hey Equestria to Fluttershy” she waves a hand in front of me and I can’t help myself and I give her a hug, I know she doesn’t like them but I needed a hug right now.

“I’m sorry Rainbow, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” I can feel she wants to say something but I keep going “Thank you; you have no idea how great it is for me to hear you say that… I was afraid that all of you girls only hung out with me because you felt sorry for me but now I know better thanks to you”.  I kept hugging her but I could tell she was getting uncomfortable so I had to let go. “Sorry” I whispered.

She looked at me for a while and finally she said “I had no idea you thought of yourself like that, but I guess that explains a lot of things” she paused and she came close to me while looking from side to side, making sure we were alone “Well I’m only going to say this once and don’t you dare tell anypony about it okay” I nodded a little bit intimidated by her tone. Her gaze softened and she said, almost in a whisper “I love you okay, you’re like a sister to me and I know that you will always be there for me when I need you, you are an amazing friend and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise okay?”

I was at a loss of words and tears started streaming from my eyes. She smiled and patted me on the back. Nothing else needed to be said.