In the darkness of the night, when the roads of Ponyville are filled with nothing but blackness. When everypony has snuggled into their safe beds and has drifted to sleep. It is at these times that Pinkie Pie’s bombastic noise machines filled the area with the sounds of joyous beats and bright notes.
Hosting another one of her famous parties, Pinkie Pie skipped around the room handing out party treats to her many guests. As she made her way over to the dance floor, she couldn’t help but smile as she observed her most timid friend Fluttershy being talked up to by a handsome stallion with a short, spiked blue mane and a bushel of grapes for a cutie mark. Fluttershy was blushing a bright red and backing away slowly as usual. Pinkie Pie saw Rainbow Dash eating some snacks off of the table and eagerly ran over to her.
“Hey, Rainbow, who’s that?” She asked excitedly, pointing to the stallion with her front hoof.
Rainbow still had a bit of cupcake in her mouth when she spoke. “Who? Oh, I don’t know. Colton...something the Third I think. All I know is he runs the local winery.”
Pinkie Pie started giggling gleefully. “Oh my gosh, I think he’s hitting on Fluttershy!”
Rainbow Dash swallowed the last bit of cupcake and started laughing as she saw Fluttershy almost run away from the stallion. “Aw, that’s cute. Good luck to him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fluttershy talk to a colt without totally losing it.”
It was true. Fluttershy was often finding stallions approaching her and asking her out. And even when she really wanted to say yes, she more often found herself squeaking unintelligible noises and running off. Everypony knew how shy she got, but they couldn’t pinpoint what this major difficulty with colts was.
“I don’t know,” Pinkie said “this one looks pretty determined. I don’t think he’s letting her get away.”
“She had better not run off,” Rainbow said, observing the stallion for a while “colts like that are hard to come by around here.”
“See if you can get closer! I want to know what he’s saying!” Pinkie said mischievously.
Rainbow thought for a second, then decided there was nothing wrong with this. She wove her way through the crowd and got a little bit closer to hear.
~*.*~
Fluttershy danced along with the happy beats. She felt her always well-kept pink mane flow back and forth. Nopony really knew it, but Fluttershy always loved dancing. She loved getting lost in the euphoric sounds of beautifully composed instruments; forgetting the world all around her.
“Hey!”
*eep!* Fluttershy squeaked and fell out of step at the sound of a male voice behind her. She looked up and saw the stallion that ran the winery, a place she didn’t visit too often.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just saying hi.” The stallion repeated.
Fluttershy stood up and shuffled her hoof on the ground. “H-Hi” she said in a soft voice that was only just audible over the noise of the party happening around them.
“My name is Colton.” He said, stepping a little closer.
Fluttershy shuffled nervously, trying to get words to come out of her dry mouth. When she finally spoke, it was barely a whisper. “I’m Fluttershy.” She expected him to just laugh at how appropriate her name was like most colts did. Oddly enough, this one just smiled.
“I couldn’t help but notice you were dancing her all by yourself,” the colt said, a light blush coming across his face that he hid behind a strong confidence “strange for a beautiful mare such as yourself to be at a party like this one without a date.”
Fluttershy, on the other hoof, was trying to hide herself behind her mane. Her face was turning from a yellow to a bright pink. Instead of speaking, she just gave an in-audible squeak.
“So, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to dance?” Colton asked.
Fluttershy felt as though her knees were going to buckle underneath her. Even though on the inside she wanted to shout “yes!”, all she could do was babble out of nervousness. “Oh! Oh, oh goodness, I don’t know. I-I was j-just going to g-go get some punch and...” her words faded into obscurity.
Colton smiled, attracted to her shy nature, “Can I join you?”
Fluttershy gave a little nod. “Okay,” she whispered.
Colton escorted her to the punch table and poured her and himself a cup of purple punch. Fluttershy tentatively took the cup in her teeth and sipped it quietly. After a few minutes of silent drinking, Colton spoke up.
“So, I’m guessing parties aren’t really your scene?”
“No. Well, I mean, I love Pinkie’s parties and all, but, I guess I’m not really good at the, uh, talking part...”
“Well, maybe you and me could go out somewhere a little quieter?” Colton looked at her with a lot of hope.
Fluttershy thought her heart might stop, it was beating so hard. She knew she wanted to say yes, but she just couldn’t. “Oh, I-I uh...” She stared into his eyes and felt a tear in hers. She jumped up and ran away.
~*.*~
“What is he saying? What is he saying?” Pinkie Pie excitedly asked Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow giggled. “He’s asking her if she wants to go somewhere quieter.”
“Oooh,” Pinkie said with mock sensuality “what did she say?”
“Uh oh.”
“Uh oh? Why in Equestria would she say that?”
Suddenly Rainbow Dash started running off through the crowd. Pinkie just stood there confused, and saw that Colton was suddenly sitting alone.
~*.*~
Fluttershy evaded the ponies dancing in front of her and ran out the door with tears in her eyes. She stepped aside and sat in the grass beside Sugarcube Corner. As she was wiping her eyes, she suddenly felt herself get tackled by an unknown body.
“Fluttershy, what the hay is wrong with you?!”
Fluttershy looked up. “Oh, it’s just you, Rainbow.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Rainbow said “I asked ‘what the hay is wrong with you?’! He was so into you and he was so cute.”
Fluttershy blinked. “Wait, were you spying on me?”
“Of course I was. That’s what friends do.”
“Oh, right, of course.” Fluttershy had learned by now that friendship is really confusing sometimes, but you just go with it.
“So why’d you run off?” Rainbow asked, returning to a more sympathetic voice.
Fluttershy felt herself start to cry again. “Oh c’mon, Rainbow. You know why...”
Rainbow looked down and decided to get off of her. She suddenly felt a little bad. “This isn’t still about the change, is it? Fluttershy, that was so long ago.”
“I-I know,” Fluttershy started sniffing in-between her words “but, I just can’t stand the idea of having to tell anypony else. Especially a coltfriend.”
Rainbow sighed. "Shy, I get that this isn't easy to tell ponies, but keeping this a secret is really starting to hurt you. When was the last time you went out with a stallion?"
"Well, I guess it was with Caramel. And, well, you remember what it was like telling him..."
"How could I forget? You cried for two days." Rainbow replied flatly.
"He dumped me!" Fluttershy burst into a loud sob.
Rainbow immediately bit her tongue and hugged her friend. "I-I'm sorry. Fluttershy, I know that's hard. But it was only one time. Not all colts are like that. And you'll never learn that until you get the confidence to date again. Like Colton. Did he really seem like the kind of colt that would do that to you?"
Fluttershy stayed silent, and her sobbing calmed down into sniffles.
Rainbow released her from the hug and brushed her mane out of her face. "He seemed really into you. Something tells me he was pretty nervous about asking you out. He probably worked that confidence up for weeks. Are you just going let him sit there, rejected and alone?" Rainbow giggled "Doesn't sound like the element of kindness to me."
Fluttershy smiled. "You're right, Rainbow. Thanks."
Rainbow fixed her mane and wiped any remaining tears away. "Hey, nopony's been through as many relationships as this filly," she said, pointing to herself "I know my stuff."
Fluttershy giggled and hugged her again. "Okay, let's go."
Rainbow Dash led her back into the party and took her back to the table. Pinkie Pie was sitting there, drinking some punch.
“Oh, hey Pinkie. Where’s Colton?” Rainbow asked.
“Oh, he left a little bit ago through the back. I tried to get him to wait, but he seemed pretty sad and just wanted to leave.” Pinkie replied.
Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, feeling a pang in her chest. “Oh, I see.”
Rainbow placed a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Maybe we can check the winery tomorrow and see if he’s there?” Rainbow heard Fluttershy sniffling again.
“Um, Pinkie, is it okay with you if I leave the party early?” Fluttershy asked, even though she really didn’t have to.
Pinkie Pie didn’t quite understand the whole situation, but she jumped up and have Fluttershy a hug. “Of course you can, silly.”
“Th-thank you.” Fluttershy’s voice cracked as she walked away, leaving the two mares with each other.
Pinkie Pie looked over to Rainbow. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s just something Fluttershy’s been going through.” Rainbow looked to the door. “Hey, if you don’t mind, I’m going to, uh...” She pointed towards the direction Fluttershy went.
“Oh, of course,” Pinkie replied “good luck.” She said with a smile.
~*.*~
Fluttershy was already on the dirt path for her house. It was a little chilly out tonight, but she didn’t really notice. She felt more tears roll down her cheeks. She often wished she wasn’t so sensitive. She felt like all of her crying got on her friends’ nerves. She thought about that stallion Colton and how she managed to mess things up again. It’s during these self-destructive mental and emotional times she goes through that she wonders how she ever even managed to keep her friends for as long as she has.
While she walked, she heard the sound of flapping wings behind her. She looked up and saw Rainbow Dash coming in for a landing next to her. Fluttershy stopped, and with perfect accuracy, Rainbow stuck her landing. “Hey, you alright?” She asked softly, even though she figured she probably knew the answer.
Fluttershy sniffed. “Y-yeah, I mean, well, no.”
It pained Rainbow Dash seeing her friend in such pain. Not just from the events of tonight, but everything that she had gone through. She knew Fluttershy for as long as she could remember. Ever since that fateful day they met at Cloudsdale Flight School. Fluttershy never opened up to anypony except for her. Rainbow knew that what Fluttershy really wanted was to feel loved. She didn’t get it from her parents, and she’s been too afraid to go out with any of the stallions around town. And it wasn’t her fault. Rainbow never really felt obligated to help anypony before, but she knew she had to help Fluttershy. After walking in silence for a while, letting Fluttershy cry out her pent up emotion, they arrived at her cottage.
Fluttershy opened her door and invited Rainbow in. “Umm, make yourself at home. I’ll go make us some tea.” She then trotted off to the kitchen. Rainbow Dash never really liked to admit it, as it would go against her ‘tomcolt’ personality, but Fluttershy’s tea was a guilty pleasure of hers. Even though she didn’t come over to Fluttershy’s home very often, she still felt herself craving that tea from time to time. Looking around her home, Rainbow noticed most of the little animals she took care of had already gone to bed. Rainbow hadn’t noticed, but it was almost one o'clock in the morning. Fluttershy walked back in with a tray in her teeth loaded with a tea kettle, two cups and a small box of sugarcubes. Fluttershy poured a cup for Rainbow and for herself. Rainbow eagerly grabbed her cup and took a drink, forgetting that tea is usually hot. She bit her lip and let out a groan of pain, bringing a smile to Fluttershy’s long face.
Rainbow lowered her cup. “Fluttershy, I don’t know how you do it. This tea tastes better everytime I drink some.”
“It’s an old recipe my grandma taught me. I used to sleep over at her house on the weekends.” Fluttershy said. “Oh, I’m sorry Rainbow. It’s late, you don’t have to stay here.”
Rainbow waved her hoof. “No no, Fluttershy. I don’t think I’d be able to sleep tonight leaving you alone now. Besides, I haven’t had a sleepover in a long time.”
Fluttershy smiled that sweet smile that could melt even Nightmare Moon’s heart. “Thanks Rainbow. I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you.”
Rainbow blushed a little. She had never received a compliment like that. She didn’t really know what to say, so she decided to just smile and change the subject. “So, I’ve been thinking. Do you think you’d be a little more comfortable telling a colt if you first told your best friends?”
Fluttershy thought about it for a while, then nodded her head. “Yeah, I mean, I guess.”
“Okay, how about we set up a date and get everyone together? It’ll be better to just tell them all at once than tell them separately. That’s how gossip starts and ponies get the wrong idea.”
“Okay, maybe that would be best.”
“And, if you want, I’ll help you explain it to them. But don’t worry. They’re your friends and will love you no matter what. I mean, be ready for some weird questions, but don’t panic or anything. You’re lucky enough to have made friends with some of the most understanding and loving ponies I’ve ever met.”
Fluttershy felt as though she had butterflies in her stomach. She felt as if a great weight was about to be lifted off of her shoulders. She hugged Rainbow tightly. “Thanks, for everything.”
Rainbow embraced her for a few seconds, then let go and released an exaggerated yawn. “Well, I’m about ready to hit the hay.”
Fluttershy yawned too. “Yeah, let’s get some sleep.” Fluttershy led Rainbow up to her bedroom. Fluttershy and Rainbow laid on either side of the bed and Fluttershy blew out the candle. “Goodnight, Rainbow.”
“‘Night, Fluttershy.”
~*.*~
The next morning, Rainbow woke up early and left Fluttershy to sleep in. She went downstairs, made herself some toast for breakfast and flew off to locate and collect her friends, telling them each to meet at the library at around two o’clock p.m. for something important.
Upon returning to Fluttershy’s cottage, she smelt something amazing. “Well, I guess she’s up.” She said to herself. She opened the door and saw Fluttershy making pancakes.
“Oh, good morning, Rainbow.” Fluttershy said, she seemed to be in a better mood. “You’re up awful early.”
“Fluttershy, it’s eleven o’clock...Yeah, I guess that is pretty early.” Rainbow Dash shared a laugh with Fluttershy. “I was just out corralling our friends. We’ll meet them at the library at two o’clock.”
Fluttershy looked down at the pancakes nervously.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ll help you through this. I’m confident in saying that they’ll be perfectly fine with this.”
Fluttershy looked back up with a glint of determination in her eye. “Okay Rainbow. I can do this!”
“That’s the spirit! Now, pass me a flapjack.”
~*.*~
Touching down next to the library, the two pegasi prepared to make their announcement. Rainbow Dash gave some encouraging words to boost Fluttershy’s confidence, if only for a little bit. When they felt they were ready, Rainbow held the door open for Fluttershy.
Everypony was present and sitting around chatting. When the pegasi entered, Twilight Sparkle spoke up. “Hey Fluttershy, Rainbow. So, what’s all of this about?”
“Well, Fluttershy has something she needs to say to everypony. And, it’s kind of serious, so please listen.” Rainbow Dash said, she then gave the floor to Fluttershy.
“Um, yes, well, this is something that I’ve kept a secret from all of you for a long time. Actually, ever since we met, and I’m so sorry. But this isn’t easy to say and it isn’t easy to take, or I guess it might not be if...” Fluttershy started babbling into nonsense again.
“Darling, just tell us. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s just fine.” Rarity said with her usual class.
Rainbow Dash gave Fluttershy a reassuring look. Fluttershy finally spoke up, visibly trembling. “Um, well, you see...I wasn’t...I wasn’t born a filly.”
