(Flutterdash) The Whole Story

Fluttershy woke up hazily at Rarity’s, with Rarity still snoozing next to her. Pinkie Pie, who had joined them yesterday night, slept curled up at the foot of the bed. Fluttershy had almost just gone home. But when she got there, the large front window lay in razor sharp chunks and fine sparkling dust about the ground. Worried about her animals, she had cleaned up and pressed plastic wrap over the hole. Her friends had been surprised at her strength, then stemming directly from emotional exhaustion. She had just been too tired to be afraid.

But now she was at least a little better, and the reality of what had happened snuck a foothold in her mind. She shook, and her eyes burned, but there were no more tears to come. Grow up, she told herself. Fights happen. Crimes happen. You’re not dead, Rainbow’s not dead. You’re strong enough to fix this; you have to be, and if you aren’t you will become strong enough.

Carefully, letting the others sleep, she left to find Rainbow Dash.

Twilight was awake, just barely. A cup of black coffee hovered near her, half empty.

“Hi Twilight. Is Rainbow Dash up?”

“No, she’s still asleep. Are you alright?”

Fluttershy looked at the dark circles under Twilight’s eyes, “Good enough. Are you?”

“Just didn’t sleep well. Rainbow did, she’s upstairs in my bed if you want to wake her.”

“Thank you Twilight, I think I will.”

“What’s that under your wing?” Twilight asked as Fluttershy walked in.

“A brick.”

Rainbow could feel herself being woken up. She tried to fight it, but the light was already spilling through her eyelids and she was moving too much. When she opened her eyes, she saw Fluttershy looking down at her. She sat up immediately, wary. Fluttershy just looked tired—the kind of tired that couldn’t be slaked by sleep. A deeper, stronger exhaustion taken root in the organs and growing around the heart. She didn’t look mad, but definitely wasn’t happy.

“Hey,” Rainbow said neutrally.

“We need to talk,” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, I know.” Rainbow moved over so Fluttershy could join her on the bed. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m sorry Fluttershy. I just—well you know how I am angry.”

“I accept your apology. And I’m sorry too. You’re right, if I really love you I should love you enough to fight for it. I will. Or, at least, I want to keep dating you. The ponies in the town, they are wrong. And it’s not —” she remembered what Rarity had told her the other night, “— our fault how they react.”

Rainbow smiled weakly. “Thanks. Yeah, uh. I’m really sorry. I still love you, alright? And I’m sorry all this has happened. You don’t need to really fight—I mean—not like hoof fighting or anything. Just. Yeah. I want to keep dating you too.”

They smiled, starting to heal.

“Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked, “You seem a lot braver all of a sudden.”

“I think I’m still shellshocked, honestly. I feel numb. I’m not afraid at all.” She calmly unfurled her wing and extended a heavy, thick brick into Rainbow’s forelegs. Written on it in white paint:

GET OUT OF TOWN

“I wish I could be.” Fluttershy whispered.

Big Mac saw the damage done to Fluttershy’s cottage. He had only wanted to talk to her, but she obviously wasn’t home. In a big-brother way, he worried about her. But what was he planning to say anyway? Hey Fluttershy, you don’t know me well but I’m also not heterosexual and would love to talk to you about Applejack. He shook his head. No. Maybe I can offer to help fix her window, when she gets back. Turning, starting back towards Sweet Apple Acers, he kept thinking. There’s got to be some way to fix all this. I can sell apples tomorrow, if I can think up a pretext. Take down that vile banner and make some real money.

I hope Apple Bloom’s okay. She might still not know what’s going on. Maybe I can tell her. Somehow. He sighed. Far too long he had been in the closet. But there was always one friend he could tell. It was time.

If I’m quick, I can swing by Sugarcube Corner.

Pinkie Pie carefully pulled out the fresh sheet cake and set it down to cool on a wire rack. The bakery was fairly busy today, filled with ponies here both for food and to, indirectly, show their support for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash and the general acceptance of same-sex relationships. Her rainbow sprinkles were almost all used up, everything gay-looking selling out quickly. Except for the odd pony or two who scowled at the general scene as they paid for lollypops or something, everybody inside was happy.

The doorbell jingled, and Pinkie looked up to see Big Mac looking around nervously. He beelined to the counter, obviously distressed.

“Ah. Pinkie?” He asked as she moved to meet him at the register. “Could I talk with you a second?”

“Of course Big Mac. Ms. Cake,” She called out to the left doorway, “Can you cover for me for a bit?”

“Sure dear!”

Pinkie lead Big Mac into the back—she trusted him more than enough not to steal or anything—and sat him down at the Cake’s breakfast table.

“You have something big to say, I can feel it.” She said. “Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“Coffee would be nice, if you please.” He said, rubbing his hooves together nervously.

“So what’s going on?” Pinkie said, pouring both of them blacks.

“Well, I’ve got something on my chest. I just want to tell someone before I hurt myself keeping it in for so long.”

“Well,” Pinkie sat down, “I’m listening.”

“Pinkie I.... Well I know you’ll still be my friend and I know you probably already know, but I....” He’d known for years, but now that he had to say it out loud, the words would not come. “I - ah - I’m bisexual.” He took a big gulp of coffee and watched her smile brighten. Shaking from leftover nervousness, a new, wobbly, relief engulfed him.

“That’s great Big Mac! I’m so honored I’m the first one you’ve told. Do you have a special somepony yet?”

Big Mac smiled and shook his head, “Nope. Hahaha.”

Pinkie gave him a knowing look as he chuckled in spite of himself.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “It just feels so good to say it, finally. I can’t stop smiling.” His face hurt from how wide his grin forced itself.

“I’m really proud of you, Big Mac. Thanks, really, for telling me,” Pinkie reached across the table and held his hoof loosely. Are you going to tell anypony else soon?”

“Applejack.”

Pinkie was surprised by this, “Really? I mean, isn’t she kinda the last pony you would ever tell right now?”

Big Mac shook his head. “No. She’s not right about this, but she’s my sister. Family is important, and even though I know we’re going to fight, it’s a fight we need to have. For our family, and for the town. I want to tell her today.”

“Wow. I mean good for you, but I think you’re a lottle off your rocker.”

“Hah ha, that’s alright.”

“So when did you know?”

“Well, it wasn’t too long after I got my cutie mark. There was a colt named Caramel in school that always made me nervous and warm inside when he sat next to me at lunch. It was the first crush I’d had on a stallion. We’re still friends, but I don’t feel that way about him anymore. It scared me white, really. I didn’t know there were other ponies in the world that felt like I did. Of course, eventually I realized on my own that I wasn’t alone. But I still haven’t told anypony, besides you. I figured with the whole town segregating, it was only a matter of time before I got found out. Think I want to say it, not have it said for me. And of course, given what’s happened, it’s something Applejack needs to hear.”

Pinkie Pie smiled comfortingly, “That’s really great. I’m so proud of you! You know there’s something not many ponies know about me.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m pansexual. I haven’t done much with romance though, so I just never remembered to say.”

Big Mac still smiled, even in his voice. “Well that’s mighty fine Pinkie.”

“Thanks! I really like girls, they’re so soft and skinny and there’s just this feel that feels so good and... you know what I mean?”

He nodded in agreement. This was weird, but nice. “I think I know what you mean. Mares are very nice.”

“But then stallions are so strong and hefty and thick. And they feel amazing too, you know, like when you’re hugging them, and I’ve only met four but ponies who are genderfluid or ambiguious, oh!” Pinkie hugged herself hard and squirmed in her chair. “I love love!”

Big Mac chuckled. “Me too. Listen, Pinkie,” he finished his coffee and stood. “Thank you for the coffee and for listening. And, well,” he rubbed at the back of his neck with his hoof awkwardly. “For accepting me. I wanted to have somepony on my side before I talk to AJ.”

“Yeah, of course!” Pinkie got up and hugged him tightly. When she pulled back and smiled encouragingly into his eyes, she had the strongest compulsion to lean forward and kiss him. But, giving in to her better judgement, she didn’t.

Big Mac turned and started to walk, then turned back around, “Oh, and Pinkie Pie? I almost forgot to say—I think Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash could use your friendship about now. Somepony awful broke through Shy’s front window.”

Pinkie was out the door quicker than Big Mac.

“A BRICK!? Somepony put a BRICK through your window?!”

Fluttershy nodded.

“I—what the FUCK!”

She cringed, “Rainbow, please don’t cuss.”

“But, a brick! Okay, okay first off you’re staying with me tonight. Or me with you, I don’t care if I have to sleep on the ground outside your house. And you’re not leaving town. Have you called—oh my Luna are you okay? Are you hurt?” She pulled Fluttershy very tightly to her chest and moved her hooves all over her, as if expecting to feel swelling lumps or wet cuts, but emotional pain does not manifest itself in so obvious a physical form.

“Rainbow, I’m fine. I wasn’t there when it happened, I just went home and saw the window broken and the brick on the floor.”

“Okay, okay, have you told the police?”

“Not yet.”

“Call them, right now. I’m going to tell Twilight. Hey,” she said, hugging Fluttershy close and hard, “I love you girl. This isn’t your fault.”

“I love you too.”

As soon as Twilight found out about the window, she immediately began drafting a letter to Princess Celestia. Rainbow paced angrily, every now and then casting Fluttershy a worried glance. Suddenly, Pinkie burst into the library with Rarity right behind her. They ran right for Fluttershy and Rainbow, sweeping them up and hugging them in the most frantically comforting way possible.

“Pinkie told me what happened—she heard it from Big Mac—oh my Celestia I hope you two are alright.”

“You’re not hurt are you?” Pinkie said, looking fluttershy all over for scratches just like Rainbow had done.

“I’m fine, Pinkie.”

“Are you sure, did you double check?”

“Yes.” She didn’t laugh.

Scared stiff by Fluttershy’s utter lack of even a smile, Pinkie cast Rarity a very worried look.

“Um, dear,” Rarity started gently, “You look ill. Would you like anything? Tea maybe, something to help the nerves?”

“Sure.”

“Rainbow will take some too, please,” Pinkie said.

“I’ll be right back, then.” Rarity left the three of them and joined Twilight and Spike downstairs. “May I borrow your kettle, Spike?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll light stove with my breath.”

Twilight sat at one of the study tables intended for students, still writing the letter. Rarity sat down and waiter for her to finish or the water to boil, whichever came first.

The water did.

“I’m fine, really Pinkie. I don’t feel scared. I just feel tired.”

“Well, we can let you take a nap if you want.”

“No,” Fluttershy said, slumping down on the mattress. “I’m not sleepy, just tired.”

Trying her best to swallow her anger until Fluttershy got better, Rainbow approached her and gently put a foreleg over her neck. “Do you want to go for a fly? Or something?”

“That’s alright Rainbow. I’m going to go make sure my Animals are okay, but I’ll stay for Rarity’s tea.”

“Alright, I’ll come with you.”

“I’ll come too,” Pinkie said, keeping herself close.

“No, Pinkie, you have work today.”

“The bakery isn’t going to melt if I take a day off.”

Rarity came up with the tea, a blend of chamomile, catnip, and passionflower, and poured each girl a cup. They took them somberly, and all watched Fluttershy sip hers without commitment.

After a quiet twenty minutes, they all started up and headed out to Fluttershy’s cottage to help her tend to her animals. Rarity hung behind, not eager to get her hooves dirty and aware someone needed to heard Twilight onward when she finished her letter.

“I’m just finishing, Rarity,” Twilight said after a minute, standing up slowly, still writing. “Spike, mail this to Princess Celestia please.”

Spike eagerly jogged up and set the paper aflame, off to the princess.

“Ok Rarity, I’m coming. Spike, we’ll be at Fluttershy’s. Will you take care of the library, please?”

“On it!”

Far away, a scroll appeared over Celestia’s desk with a pop. It landed on an open book and rolled off onto the floor.

“I’m coming, I just need to grab my reference book - and I think I heard a scroll from Twilight.” Celestia popped her head in her room and grabbed the thick volume Twenty Years of Substance - a Theory of Molecules and Micromagic with her magic and looked across her tall bed to her desk against the wall. Nothing new on it; she needed to clean it off later, things were starting to pile up.

“Alright, on my way. And my bags are being packed, is that right?”

“Yes, Princess. Any message?”

“No, it must have been something else. Say, next week am I scheduled for astrophysics? - I’ve got a good theory I’ve been working on....”

Reality started steeping into Fluttershy around noon. She looked at the hole in the window, plastic wrap waving pathetically in the breeze. “Oh my Celestia, that could have been me!”

“Yeah!” Rainbow said, right next to her. She hadn’t left her side for longer than a minute the whole time. “That’s what we’ve been saying!”

“I could’ve been hit by a brick! I could have been - poines could have come in and beat me up!” She started shaking, and wrapped her forelegs around herself. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“I’d like to stay with you tonight, please.”

“Definitely.”

“Shouldn’t Celestia have responded by now?” Twilight said, mostly to herself.

“Maybe you ought to check the library?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right back.” SHAP.

Pinkie watched Twilight teleport, and looked questioningly at Rarity.

“She’s checking for a letter from Celestia.”

“No, I know that, but she’s right isn’t she? Celestia usually responds pretty quick.”

“Hmm.”

Big Mac felt his stomach churn. This is it. The end of hiding. No more peace. No more relaxation. This is the end. He approached Applejack, who was busy weeding the grapevines. His lungs felt like melting ice. “Hey. AJ? Can we talk?” Acutely, he was aware of how odd his voice sounded.

“Yeah, sure thing. Let me just get this root out. Uh! There, whatcha need?” She straightened up and turned to face him. Sweat rolled slowly down her face, and the rest of her body, but she breathed evenly. Her eyes burned into him steadily.

He swallowed thickly. “I.” Oh yeah, that’s what his voice sounded like. Funny. “I uh, I need to tell you something.”

“What?” Applejack softened, and paid him full attention now. She stepped closer and put a hoof on his withers.

Big Mac couldn’t do it. He couldn’t. He couldn’t look her in the eyes and say it. I can’t do it. “Applejack, I—” It’s not coming “I’m—” Why can’t I get this over with “I’m —”

“What?” And suddenly, she looked slightly afraid of what he might say.

Somehow, it choked it out of him, “I’m bisexual.”

“What?”

“I’m bisexual. I like mares and stallions.”

She looked like someone had ripped the earth out from under her and, like in a comic book, she was just now looking down to see she would fall. “No you’re not.”

“Eeyup, I am.”

“NO.”

“It’s the truth, AJ.”

“How! I—after all this time?”

Big Mac nodded.

AJ, torn between angry and sad, started on hysterics. “No, no, no, you can’t be! You’re better than this. Just because—because you haven’t found the right mare—we can still....” She thumped the ground hard with her right hoof. Stared down at where the grass met the mulch and watched hot pearls hit the dust without a sound.

“AJ, just listen. I know you think it’s wrong, but it’s not something I can help. I can’t change it, I tried. It’s just a fact of me.” He felt less and less nervous now that it was out, but he hated seeing Applejack mad at him.

“You tried? Did you try hard enough? Come on Big Mac, you can fix this!”

“It doesn’t need to be fixed, and it can’t be changed.” He heard his voice rising, and reigned it down. “I’m sorry AJ, but when you get past your shock there isn’t anything wrong with it.”

“No, we can fix it! You can choose to be straight, just only go after mares!”

“AJ, love dosen’t work like that. I can’t decide who I fall in love with.”

“Uh huh.” Applejack looked up, tears trailing down her already moist checks. “You’re just as bad as the rest of them. I can’t believe—” she had to look back at the ground. “I can’t believe you.” Without looking at him again, she pushed past him and sternly trotted away.

Big Mac let her go. It would take time, but she would get there. He sat on his tail and wiped a tear from his eye. It could have gone so much worse.

Applejack paced her room in a depressed fury. Her body couldn’t decide if it wanted to kick something a thousand times or collapse limply and weep, so it compromised by walking in circles and slowly leaking from the eyes.

How could he. How could he choose this? And then just act like it isn’t his fault. Her teeth pressed themselves together tighter and tighter. Didn’t he think of his family? Our family? What about Apple Bloom, what am I supposed to tell her?

She slammed her hoof into her bedpost, and jumped down on the mattress while the frame still rattled. Maybe, a voice told her for the first time, he’s telling the truth. Maybe he really didn’t choose it.

No, of course he did. Nopony actually was born like that, they just say it so ponies don’t yell at them.

But what if? And AJ, you know you don’t choose to fall in love.

I know. But that’s real love. Not some facade of lust. And you know that.

I do not know that.

I do.

A third, If it’s true, just if, wouldn’t that apply to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash as well? They seem in love, not lust.

Seem like it. I don’t think so. Besides, true love, real love, is something only a girl and a boy can feel together. Mare and stallion. Such pure love couldn’t become something so gross and disturbing.

She stood up again, punched the headboard, and started pacing again.

They’ve got their sick spell invading my mind.

Twilight decided enough was enough. Already, the day had spun halfway through two o’clock. She would see Celestia herself and find out why nothing had happened yet. Fluttershy and Rainbow were shopping for a replacement window, Pinkie was with them, and Rarity with herself.

“Rarity,” She said, turning to her, “I’m going to catch the train to Canterlot and talk with the princess personally. I don’t know why she hasn’t responded yet, but I’m going to find out.”

Rarity looked up from the notebook open on the library desk, “Do you want me to come with you?”

“You should probably stay, and help out the other girls.”

“Very good, I think I will.”

Twilight packed light and walked to the library door with her saddlebags almost empty. “It’s only two, so I should make it back before night.” Rarity nodded, and watched her go.

On the train, Twilight passed the time by reading A Homosexual Heart with the cover masked by the dust jacket of the first Furry Potter book. The book talked, in the four chapters she was rereading, about how to deal with finding out one of your friends is gay or bisexual.

Sleepover threats:

If you were comfortable holding a sleepover with your friend before you found out they were attracted to the same sex, you should still feel comfortable letting them sleep over now. Though it may be scary at first, remember that they are still the same pony they were before they came out...

The train rattled onward.

The secretary bowed when she saw Twilight, and it reminded her suddenly that she was a princess. “Oh! Uh, at ease?”

“Thank you. Princess Twilight, are you seeking an audience with Celestia?”

“Yes, I need to speak with her at once,” she said. The secretary was a unicorn; chocolate-colored with a smooth cream mane and tail. Her mane was tied up in a bun, and her tail cut short, just reaching past the point where her black and white type-writer cutiemark stopped.

She spoke, “I’m afraid you just missed her, you highness. She’s on a two-day trip to Mostcow, to settle relations with the Hooviets.”

“What—really?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. If you want, I can take a note for you.”

“No, no that’s alright. What about Princess Luna?”

“She’s asleep right now, or she should be. Is this urgent? Should I send for her?”

“Um.” Twilight paused to consider that. Luna still held power like Celestia, but how much help would she be sleep-deprived? But she wouldn’t be much help at night, either. Would she? “No, that’s alright. I’ll wait untill she wakes up, around eight, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay. And Shining Armor is still in the crystal kingdom, right?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“You don’t have to call me—thank you.” Twilight left the lobby and found a quiet balcony to think on. Overlooking half of Canterlot, she sat down on the marble with her forelegs hooked over the railing. She closed her eyes. The gentle, cool breeze ruffled her mane and pushed wispy ribbons of her tail over the majestic floor. It tickled her ears, the gentle, fresh movement, and combed her thoughts into order.

Luna can visit the dreams of ponies, but we still don’t know who threw the brick and visiting each pony separately might not work. Shining armor would be nice to talk to, but I don’t think he or Cadence can really do anything.

Can I do anything? I am a princess.

What would you do, arrest every pony in the town?

No. No, I don’t know what I would do. What would Celestia do?

She’s Celestia, she could do anything. She probably has a spell to find out who did it.

Oh! Of course, the library. I can look for criminology spells, there must be something to help!

Yes, but what about the rest of the town? How can we fix this whole thing? A public address, a speech about it. But they already know you’re for it. They need a higher authority telling them to calm down.

Hmm. I need to visit Shining, be here when Luna gets up, and check the library. If I teleport to the crystal kingdom and back, I should be able to do it all today.

She opened her eyes and looked up at the central clocktower behind her, held high aloft by voluminous, intricately scrolling columns. It’s five forty. I better get going.

She checked in the library, but the spells were harder than she thought they would be. Without practice, she memorized a few that looked helpful, and then gathered her strength. SHAP.

She stood, suddenly, on the train tracks to the north, about ten miles away from Canterlot. SHAP. Closer.

Closer.

Closer....

By the time she made it to the front gates of the crystal kingdom, a ravenous exhaustion had eaten into her. Panting, sweating, her wings hanging limply at her side, she nodded at the surprised security guard, who opened the door for her.

“Tha-thank. You.”

“Of course, your highness. Are you alright?”

“Just... I’ll recover.”

In the glittering metropolis of the crystal kingdom, everything fought for her attention. The shimmering beauty of the crystal in the evening sun, the crystal ponies, the towering palace walking toward her, caught her breath in her throat. It was more beautiful then she remembered. As quick as she could manage, she made her way to the palace. Inside, she found Shining Armor by chance, bustling through the hallway.

“Twilie! Hey! Where did you come from?”

“B.B.B.F.F.! I was looking for you! I need your help on something, is now a good time?”

“Oh no, what is it now? Did Ponyville get invaded again or--”

“No, no it’s not like that.”

She led him into an empty conference room and shut the door. A round table, big enough to seat twenty ponies, stood in the middle of the room. Twilight sat down, and motioned for Shining to do the same. He now looked slightly nervous, but took a seat resolutely. “What’s this about?” He asked.

“Well, it’s about the town. It starts with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.” And for the first time it occurred to Twilight that she didn’t know how Shining would react. She became nervous herself. I’ve already accepted them, really, but what about him? What if he reacts badly? What if he wants to throw a brick through their window? “Uh, they. Well,” a strange, fizzy nervousness foamed up in her stomach. But she had to tell him. “They’re lesbian. Dating each other.”

“Oh! Hahaha, that’s great. They’ve come out then?”

He was smiling. Happy. Accepting. Huh. “Yeah, they did. And the news kind of spread, and now the town is fighting with itself. Today, somepony threw a brick through Fluttershy’s window.”

“Whoa, that’s awful. Is she okay, have you caught the pony who did it?”

“Yeah, Fluttershy is alright. We haven’t caught the pony yet, and the whole town is angry. I don’t -- I don’t know what to do. I was going to Celestia, but she’s in Mostcow. I’m going to talk to Luna later tonight, when she wakes up. What should I do?”

“I think you’re on the right track. Gosh. I don’t know. I bet Cadence could do something, but she’s sick with the flu.”

“UH! Are you serious? I can’t believe I never thought about it, she could fix everything, but she’s sick!”

Shining gave her a look.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m sorry she’s sick, I hope she gets better soon.”

“Yeah me too. Things aren’t the same without her up and about. I don’t know about Ponyville, but once Cadence gets better, we can come down and try to help.”

Twilight looked down at her lap. “Thanks big brother.” She looked up again, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course you can.”

“How are you so... okay with this?”

“With?”

“With Fluttershy and Rainbow dash being in love. Two girls, it just doesn’t make sense. It’s weird and illogical, and not right. It’s not supposed to be like this. Love is supposed to be between a girl and a boy, not a girl and a girl. And I thought you would think this too, but you’re just fine with it. How are you so unphased?”

Shining smiled at her understandingly. “I was the same way, at first. When I moved here to help govern the crystal ponies with Cadence, I only thought about love as a mare with a stallion. And then, I met some of the crystal ponies. A lot of the workers in the palace, it turns out, are in same-sex relationships.

“I freaked out, kind of. Cadence managed to talk me down. She explained that love isn’t confined by boundaries like gender. I didn’t believe her. But my best friend, Arrowpoint, came out as bi. Kind of like how Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash came out to you. It totally threw off my perspective. And I’m fine now. It just takes getting used to.”

“But how do you get used to it? It’s so gross.”

“Haha, yeah I thought that too. Let me tell you, when I first saw Arrow kiss his boyfriend, it made me feel weird. Like it was wrong or something. But while I could never kiss a stallion myself, I’m alright with others doing it. They love each other like how I love Cadence, and how Cadence loves me. It just takes getting used to.”

“Yeah, I guess.” The whole thing still didn’t feel right to Twilight. It was too off, too strange. “I dunno, I still don’t feel right about it. Would Cadence be up for talking?”

“We can go check. Oh, well, you can. I got a lot of work to get back to. Sorry, Twilie.”

“That’s alright, thanks for talking to me.”

“No prob. I gotta get going though, love you!”

They hugged each other tightly, and Twilight held on a little long. In the end, she watched Shining run back to whatever he was doing. She started making her way to Cadence’s room, walking slowly. She didn’t want things to be okay. She just wanted everything to go back to normal. But now, things would never be the same. Things would always be weird now, wouldn’t they.

On her way up, she watched the ponies around her. How many were gay? How were you supposed to know? She sighed. Stopped walking. Turned her head into a doorway and watched for a minute.

An earth pony with a gray coat and a dark purple mane, a stallion, was talking to another stallion, a pegasus, with a pink coat and white mane. They were smilling, laughing. Suddenly, the pink one leaned in and they kissed, the two boys kissed eachother on the lips. The gray one put his foreleg over the withers of the pegasus, and they walked out a different door together.

Twilight pulled her head back and lay down on the floor. Girls kissing girls, boys kissing boys, it’s so weird. A hoof hit her in the side of the head, and she straightened up lightning fast.

“Oh! Oh my Luna, I’m so sorry your highness,” The gray stallion bowed and so did his equally flustered pink boyfriend.

“No it’s alright, seriously stop bowing. It’s okay.” They obviously didn’t leave out the door they had ducked into. Twilight felt her face heat up as she realized she had been caught creeping on them.

“I - uh - it’s nice to meet you!” The pink one said.

“Nice to meet you too.” Without thinking, she blurted, “It’s okay that you’re gay.”

“Uh? Thanks?” More surprised than anything else, they awkwardly skirted around her, apologized again, and quickly went on their way.

Twilight denied herself anymore detours on her trip to Cadence.

Cadence looked like a pink version of death, confined to her bed like a prison. “Twilight?” She asked thickly, sitting up slightly. Her eyes were red, her nose was red, she looked like every movement hurt.

“Hey cadence,” Twlight said, “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this. How’re you feeling?”

“Like tartarus. Come give me a huuug.” She was a little loopy, whatever drug they had her on certainly showed through.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s okay, Shiny put a spell on me so I’m not contagious anymore. Huuuug.”

“Alright...” Twilight walked over, and leaned into a shaky hug. “Wow, you’re burning up.”

“I’m getting better. What brings you here?”

“Uh, I have a bit of a problem.” She related the whole story to her, and included her run-in with the two stallions in the hall.

“Aww, you poor girl.” cadence said, “If I get better soon, I’ll help you put the town to rest. It’s okay. Love is love is lovely. Girls love girls sometimes. Boys love boys sometimes. It happens.”

“But it’s not supposed to.”

“That’s not true. You’re just like your brother, he was crazy at first. Twilight, have you ever been in love?”

“Well, not really. I have a crush on this one stallion, but that’s all.”

“Then you don’t understand yet. What it is to really love somepony. When you do, Twilight, and when they love you too, everything else just disappears. It’s magic. I’m the princess of it, Twilight. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a boy and a girl or a girl and a girl. They’re the same pony underneath, but better. Because they’re in love.”

“Thanks Cadence,” Twilight said, not much reassured.

“Listen, Twilight, you’ll understand one day. It’s just gonna take time.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Cadence was falling asleep, her eyes closed as she strained to listen and talk. “I love you Twilight,” she whispered. “Just remember love. And talk some more, it’s soooothing.”

Twilight smiled. “Well, I’ve got to get going soon, I teleported here but I don’t have the strength to do it again. Talk some more, uh. I read some spells about criminology, and I hope....

“...but I don’t know about her.” She checked the time against their alarm clock. “Yeah, I’ve got to go. Thanks, Cadence, it was really good to see you again.”

Cadence, asleep and snoring softly, didn’t respond.

On the train back to Canterlot, Twilight watched the sun hit the horizon.

In ponyville, Big Mac finished installing Fluttershy’s new window. All of them, except for Pinkie, were surprised to see him come and want to help. He’d explained to them that he was, in fact, bisexual. Fluttershy had been so happy for him, everyone was so kind and accepting, hugging him and smiling with him and teasing him about the water in his eyes.

He turned around and grinned at Rarity, who smiled warmly back. She walked over, and inspected both him and the window.

“The window looks marvelous, Big Macintosh. And so do you, you haven’t stopped smiling since you came out.”

Big Mac laughed, “Eeyup, I just don’t know Rarity. It feels so good to be out.”

Rarity hugged him around his immense barrel. It was true, the smile had not left his voice or his face the whole time.

“Okay, Big Mac, I want to know,” She said, pulling off of him. “How are you and Applejack holding up?”

“Ah, eeyup.” Big Mac sat and pushed himself around to face her. “I told her already. I think it’ll help. We haven’t talked since, but it was only today I said it.”

“Oh.” It was hard for Rarity to speak, her hoof up against her mouth as if witnessing some horrible monstrosity. “Oh, you poor thing. I’m sorry, I hope you and her make up.”

“One day.”

“Do you have a special somepony? Come on now, I need to know. Perhaps some refined mare, or maybe a nice handsome stallion?”

“Hahaha, no, I wish. I would love to have a special somepony, but I don’t.”

“Not even a crush? Not even a little one?”

“Well.... There is this one stallion that’s sort of cute, but. I don’t really know him.” It felt so amazingly odd and pleasant and honest to say that. To talk about that. In the midst of the whole town burning up around them, Big Mac couldn’t be happier in the moment.

“Well, Big Mac! If you ever want help setting up a blind date, you know where to find me.”

“Hahaha, thanks.”

“This whole thing could be settled in ten minutes, someone just needs to give her some real stallion love, she’ll snap out of it.”

In the dirty, sweet-smelling bar, his friend tried to talk him out of it. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s--”

“No, it’s not! Give thirty seconds and she’ll be into it.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Look, it cures lesbianism, I already know that. A friend of my friend’s cousin says he knows a pony who did it, and they ended up getting married afterward.”

As the day wound down, Big Mac returned to the apple farm. Applejack wasn’t in the fields, but she waited right inside the door to berate him for being gone so long.

“Consarnit, Big Mac!” She started as he walked into the living room. “Where have you been all day? You were supposed to be helping me in the fields, not gallivanting all over Ponyville. I mean, come on Big Mac, we’ve already got your personal issues to worry about, don’t start letting work pile up.”

“I’m sorry, AJ. I was helping Fluttershy install a new window.”

“A new what?”

“Window; somepony threw a brick through her old one.”

“What? Somepony broke her window?”

“’S right. Now, I’ll be off to bed already; don’t worry none about the chores, I’m gonna get up extra early tomorrow. I’ll make up for it in a couple hours.” Big Mac started up the creaky wooden stairs by himself. He could see this was news to Applejack, and news that she was having trouble digesting. She needed to think over this on her own, so it would be her own thoughts leading her toward acceptance, and forgiveness.

Applejack stood rooted in the wooden floor of the house. The whole lamp-lit interior of cosey rugs, nice family portraits, comfortable couches and chairs, the radio in the corner... it all fell away around her. Someone hurt Fluttershy. That’s so wrong. But Fluttershy’s a lesbian. She. Celestia! How am I supposed to feel about this?

You should feel good, the problem is being taken care of by other ponies.

No, you should feel bad. Fluttershy can’t take this, this isn’t justice.

...

For about fifteen minutes, she stood staring at the lines in the wood of the floor, tears ever threatening to produce themselves in her eyes. Until Apple Bloom found her.

She patted Applejack on the side of her right foreleg, “Hey sis, you alright?”

“What? Oh. Yeah, I’m fine Apple Bloom.”

“That’s about as true as fried pickles tasting bad. What’s wrong? Come on, you can tell your little sis.”

“I. No, it’s alright Apple Bloom. You run along, I’ve got some more chores to do.”

“Well, okay. But the Cutiemark Crusaders are ready to get their cutiemarks in therapy any time you need us!”

Turning out the door, Applejack said, “Thanks AB, that’s real sweet.”

Apple Bloom smiled as she watched Applejack leave. She hopped upstairs and found Big Mac brushing his teeth. “You’re going to bed already?”

“Eeyuph,” he said through a mouthful of toothpaste.

“Well, alright. I was just gonna read any way.” She almost trotted away, but turned back around. “Hey, does Applejack seem okay to you?”

“I hope so.”

“Yeah, me too. Oh! And I kept forgetting to say, do you know Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?”

He turned to look at her. “Eeyup.” Where was this going?

“Well Scootaloo found out they’re datin’!”

He tried to look surprised, helped along by his genuine surprise at Apple Bloom knowing this. And she was okay with it? “Haha. Good for them,” He said mostly in a question.

“Yeah! Can you believe it? I could hardly believe it, I never would have put them two together. And a mare dating a mare, isn’t that funny? I think the town’s picked up on it, with all the banners. How come some of them are so mean?”

Uh-oh. She was asking questions. He should have thought about her noticing all the commotion. “Well, some ponies don’t think it’s right for a mare to date a mare.”

“But it is right, ain’t it?”

“Yes. It’s just different, and most ponies don’t like different.”

She nodded. “I like different. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy make a cute couple, I reckon.”

He smiled now, “Yeah, they’re a good match. Say, how would you feel about a stallion dating another stallion?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. That’s good too. Right?”

“Right.”

She almost walked off, but turned back around excitedly, “Huh! Big Mac, are you telling me that you’ve got a special somepony who’s a stallion too?”

“No, AB. Though, I might have a small crush on one.”

“Big Mac. How come you never told us! The Cutiemark Crusaders can try to get their cutiemarks in matchmaking again!”

“No, that’s alright—”

“But we’ll have to wait until tomorrow,”

“AB, please don’t—”

“And we need to know who the stallion is,”

“AB—”

“We can set up a cafe date. And—”

“Apple Bloom. I don’t suppose you keep can this to yourself for the time being?”

“That Big Mac has a Big Crush? Suuure, I’ll keep it to myself.” She smiled and winked very unencouragingly at him.

“Uh, thanks.”

As she dashed off to her room, she called back, “But I’m gonna have to tell Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!”

Big Mac frowned at himself in the mirror, but he would let her do that. Just so long as she didn’t mention it to Granny Smith. How he was going to break the news to her he had no idea. Continuing to brush his teeth and think, realized Apple Bloom must have read the word “sexuality,” surely, somewhere in the town. Did she know what it meant already? She wasn’t quite old enough for The Talk, but maybe she was getting there faster than he realized.

Banners, banners everywhere. Just about every commercial establishment in Ponyville had taken a stand on the issue of gay relationships. Even a few houses had hung up something to show their support or dislike.

It made Fluttershy queasy as she flew with Rainbow to her cloud house. She had insisted on Fluttershy staying with her, and Fluttershy did not object at all.

Rainbow flew ahead by a few lengths. When they got there, they both ate leftover spaghetti and crawled in bed together. Fluttershy positioned herself so that Rainbow could cuddle with her. Rainbow hugged her back with all four legs, and curled her tail into Fluttershy’s waist. She kissed down her neck, down her side, pulling herself on top. Then, she kissed her on the lips and slowly sank down onto her.

Her eyes beautifully half-lidded and seductive in the dim light, she asked, “Hey Fluttershy. You up for some fun?”

Fluttershy felt her body heating up. “Fun?”

“I know this is all really stressful,” She said, trailing a hoof down her chest, “and I was thinking maybe we could try and relieve some of that stress?”

Fluttershy was too stunned by surprise and pleasure to say anything, and the face Rainbow read belied her intentions.

Rainbow’s hoof tickled a path down her soft belly, around her teats, “So is that a yes? Cuz, I’m ready to get started,” her hoof reached it’s goal, and Fluttershy snapped herself out of the stupor.

“R-rainbow, Rainbow wait, wait Rainbow,” She sat up as fast as she could, squirming out from under Rainbow and planting her rump firmly on the mattress, fun stuff out of reach.

“Oh, sorry,” Rainbow said, immediately backing off and sitting up like Fluttershy was. “Did I come on too strong? We can start with some gentle stuff first.”

“No,” Fluttershy said, feeling her whole face heat up from a mixture of arousal, embarrassment, guilt, and fear. “No, Rainbow. I want to wait.”

“Too tired tonight?”

“No, I want to wait until we’re married. If—you know—if we get married. I’m not asking to, I mean—not that I don’t think I could marry you—but, I don’t want to do it until I’m married.”

“Oh. Are you sure?”

She nodded, awkward but resolute.

Hot all over and still very much aroused, Rainbow couldn’t understand. “But why not? I mean, nopony actually does that anymore, not since, like, decades ago.”

“Rainbow. I’m sorry if this is upsetting. I know it’s old-fashioned, but that’s because I still believe in old-fashioned sex.” The last word tasted funny in her mouth, and sounded strange in her voice.

“That doesn’t mean, like, no toys or..?”

Becoming even redder, “No, no, it’s not like that. I mean, if you want to try, or—I’d be alright with experimenting—hooh.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Rainbow. But by old-fashioned sex, I mean I still believe it’s something only married ponies should do. Something more than just pleasure. It’s a bond. It’s the most physical display of love and trust between two ponies. You’re letting out the deepest, most hidden part of you to make you both happy. Sexual things become unnerving and gross outside of relating to the pony you love, but when you come together by yourselves it becomes something magical.

“When you have sex with someone, it forms a bond. Your bodies fall in love with each other, regardless of the heart or the head, and it becomes part of you. So if you had sex with just any pony, it would become meaningless. It would degrade the value of love in your heart, and in the heart of the pony you slept with. So I’m waiting until marriage. Marriage is a gentler bond, to me, even if it seems bigger. It’s huge, but not as big as sex. Not to me. I hope you’re okay with this.”

It was a lot for Rainbow to take in, especially when the sheets rubbed so enticingly between her legs. But it was sweet, Rainbow admitted to herself. “Of course I’m okay with it. I don’t want to do anything that’ll hurt you, and if you don’t want to do it at all, that’s alright. Just, yanno, not what I was expecting.”

Fluttershy smiled. Rainbow leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“I really love you, Fluttershy.” For a small, intimate moment, they only looked at each other. Then Rainbow looked down, abashed for Fluttershy’s sake. “But, uh, my gears are already grinding so... I think I’m gonna need to go take a shower, if you get what I mean.”

“Oh yeah, sorry. I’ll um. I’ll be here, then.”

Rainbow smiled in a way she hoped was reassuring, and started to leave for the bathroom. At the doorway, she turned back, suddenly curious. “Fluttershy, do you masturbate?”

Feeling immensely guilty and weird about such a frank question, Fluttershy admitted uneasily, “Sometimes. It just happens sometimes.”

“Ha. Well, I’ll be in the bathroom, so if you want to rub one out—”

“I’ll be fine,” Fluttershy cut her off, “It’s alright.”

“Okay, babe.”

When Rainbow climbed in bed twenty minutes later, Fluttershy had calmed down. Rainbow was curious whether she had had to relieve the steam too, but didn’t ask. Instead, libido cleared from her head, she said something she had thought about in the shower. “Hey, Shy. Thanks for stopping me. Earlier. I know it made you scared to say no, but I really admire it. And, yeah, I really don’t want to do anything until you’re ready for it.”

Fluttershy whispered back, “Thanks for accepting it, Rainbow. I was scared, but I feel good now.”

“Nice. So, can we cuddle?”

“We can try; I’d like to. Just, well, I don’t want to make it too tempting.”

“Don’t worry Fluttershy,” Rainbow said as she swept her up in a hug and pulled the blanket over them both, “I’d stop you.”

Fluttershy felt her chest swell, an actual almost painful burst of largeness in her heart as Rainbow’s love for her filled up all the empty spaces and grew her love for Rainbow ever larger. “Thank you Rainbow Dash. I love you.”

“I love you too, Fluttershy.”