Void: United

Fluttershy stared intently at Sugarcube Corner, while her blue marefriend walked next to her. A drop of sweat rolled down the canary mares forehead, and she was lightly shaking. Her heart pounded like a drum, and her stomach became increasingly upset over the course of a few minutes.

"Uh... You alright, 'Shy?", Rainbow Dash asked in concern.

"N-...Y-... I don't know.", Fluttershy answered after a few moments. The two stopped, and Rainbow Dash looked into Fluttershy's eyes with a raised eyebrow.

"Hmmm... Well, you're sweating. Like... A lot.", Rainbow Dash observed her, and then asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Um... Nauseous?... Feverish? I'm not really sure...", Fluttershy sighed, looking down towards the ground in shame.

"When did you start... Uh... Dying?", Rainbow Dash asked.

"D-D-Dying?!", Fluttershy half-screamed, "Am I going to die?!", she placed her forelegs onto Rainbow Dash and her pupils shrank exponentially as she stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes while grinning, and then said, "I'd HOPE not. I don't really think you are, but uh... Moving on... When did you start feeling like this?"

"It started when we were going to the um... 'secret' party.", Fluttershy answered, putting a hoof under her chin, "I don't know enough to.. um... really determine what I have. Could we, maybe, go and see what Twilight thinks? I mean, we can just... Go to the party if you want.", Fluttershy tilted her head slightly.

"As much as I'd like to go to the party? You matter more to me, so I guess going to Twilight is a pretty good idea.", Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy, causing the scared mare to emit an adorable squeak from fear. Once Fluttershy was in her arms, Rainbow Dash sped off in the direction of Twilight's castle.

"P-Please slow d-d-down?", Fluttershy requested, shoving her face into Rainbow's neck in hopes of leaving the situation.

"What was that? Speed up?", Rainbow Dash asked, with a chuckle. She slowed down once she heard a hardly audible cry of despair, "Sorry... I shouldn't have done that.", Rainbow said once they were at half the previous speed.

"I-I-It's... Okay... Y-you just... Scared me. Th-that's all...", Fluttershy said with heavy and harsh breathing, causing her marefriend to cringe slightly. Rainbow Dash placed Fluttershy on the ground infront of Twilight's castle, and then helped her up onto her legs. Fluttershy mumbled a 'thank you', and the two pegasi entered the massive crystal tree. Rainbow Dash slapped a hoof onto her face once she had a moment of realization.

"...What is it?", Fluttershy asked inquisitively.

"She'd be at the party.", Rainbow Dash groaned.

"Oh... Right.", Fluttershy said, coughing to clear the silence, before suggesting, "Maybe we could look in her library?"

"I dunno... You know reading isn't my thing. Unless it's Daring Do, obviously.", Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof.

"That's okay. You're fast, so you could find books, and then I can look through them.", Fluttershy smiled at her own idea.

"Huh. That's not bad of an idea. My speed WOULD be pretty helpful in that situation, huh?", Rainbow Dash gave herself some self praise.

"Of course!", Fluttershy nodded. The two went ahead and brought themselves into the large library contained inside of the castle.

"...But what exactly are we looking for?", Rainbow Dash bit the inside of her cheek as they looked along huge rows of books. Way too many to go through, in Rainbow Dash's opinion.

"..I'm not sure. Medical books, but um... We only know the symptoms.... I don't feel.. THAT... bad anymore though.", Fluttershy commented, looking down towards the ground.

"Really? Huh... Maybe you're, like... allergic to parties?... That would suck."

"Hmmm..."

"'Hmmm'?", Rainbow Dash repeated, curving an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I, um... It'll be too hard to look through... All these books, and... Maybe we could just... See what Twilight thinks at the party?... I'll feel safe with you there, so um... It won't be too bad... Right?", Fluttershy asked, looking towards Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah... Yeah! I'll be there, and it'll be just like old times if they do say anything. Not like old-times would be GOOD, it's just... Well, better than being alone.", Rainbow Dash chuckled.

"Of course! I don't know what I'd do without you... I don't know if I'd even be--", Fluttershy started, but cut herself off, "Can we um... Go to the party?"

"Oh, sure. But uh... You don't know if you'd even be, what, exactly?", Rainbow Dash asked as the two pegasi flew from the castle and off into the air. Their flight path was aimed towards Sugarcube Corner, obviously to go to the party.

"It's nothing. Just a... Silly thought I had.", Fluttershy responded quickly.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, "C'mon, Fluttershy! You know I'm here to listen. Plus, I'm actually sorta wanting to know what you were gonna say!"

"I... I can't.", Fluttershy sighed.

Rainbow Dash sighed as well, but remained silent. She was dissapointed, but decided not to worry about it any more. Fluttershy was relieved that she hadn't continued asking -- yet oddly distressed. She was only slightly distressed, but the feeling remained. Fluttershy couldn't put her hoof on the reason, but she shrugged it off as meerly being surprised from Rainbow Dash's lack of pressuring. But the lack of pressuring saddened Fluttershy, because sure, Applejack could ease her out of her out of her shell and give her confidence. Rarity could too, but... Rainbow Dash gave her a burst of confidence that nopony else could.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were left with their thoughts for most of the flight, before speaking,

"Flutter--", Rainbow Dash started to speak, but stopped midway.

"Rainbow--", Fluttershy spoke at the same time, blushing slightly, "Um... Y-you go first."

"Well, alright. I uh... Tell anyone about the sappy stuff I'm 'bout to say, and I'll tickle you 'till next Tuesday. Okay, that a cool enough punishment?"

"Um... Yes.", Fluttershy giggled.

"Just wanted to uh... Say that I probably wouldn't be where I am without you either. Heh, gonna be honest? You taught me loyalty."

Fluttershy gave her a confused look, and Rainbow Dash took that as a signal to continue.

"'Cuz... I protected you 'n stuff back in flight school, so uh... I guess, what I'm tryin' to say... Is that I love you to bits.", Rainbow Dash chuckled sheepishly, "But uh... Well, I'd like to have a non-bitty Fluttershy to love?... That was bad, I won't do that again."

"I think it was cute.", Fluttershy gave her a small smile, "But um... Yes, I'd like to not be... Bitty.", Fluttershy blushed.

"Heheh. Yeah, I'd like to have my Fluttershy, 'n you can have your Dash."

"Yes...", Fluttershy's expression softened, and the two pegasi landed infront of Sugarcube Corner. They walked up the cobblestone pathway, and then up concrete stairs, right into the room filled with talkative ponies, snacks, balloons. The aroma was exactly how it sounded. Rubbery, mixed with chocolate, as well as the distinct smell of ponies. One of which, jumping right at them, smelled of cotton candy, soda pop, and most likely illegal drugs.

"Omigosh! I was wondering if you to were gonna show up! I was so sad that you two might've been away having sweet, sweet sex, but then I remembered that that is a GOOD thing, and so I was happy. Oooo! Did you already finish? Would you, could you in a train? Could you, would you, with a goat? But of COURSE I don't mean that you did it with a goat, just that you--", Pinkie Pie went silent after a cyan hoof was crammed into her mouth. Pinkie Pie's expression didn't change. Her eyes stared ahead, and Rainbow Dash cringed and was extremely grossed out when she felt Pinkie's tongue moving, touching her hoof as the pink mare tried to speak.

Fluttershy stared at Pinkie Pie, blushing and shaking intensely. Her eyes shrank to the size of pin pricks, and her jaw dropped.

"Pinkie, we did NOT do any of those things!", Rainbow Dash exclaimed, slowly drawing her hoof out of the pink mares mouth. Her mouth opened and her nose wrinkled in disgust as she saw the hoof was coated in Pinkie-slobber.

"Ugh...", Rainbow Dash said, as she wiped the slobber off onto a ponies dress. The pony screamed loudly, and then said,

"WHAT?! Rainbow Dash! What have you done! This is... THE, WORST, POSSIBL--", the white fashionista started, but the same blue hoof was shoved into her mouth. Pinkie Pie stared on with a huge and joyful grin, and Fluttershy just felt like throwing up. The slobber from Pinkie Pie's mouth had mostly remained on that hoof, and now the hoof was inside Rarity's mouth.

Rainbow Dash's shocked expression turned to a grin, and then the grinning turned into roaring laughter. She tugged her hoof out of the unicorns mouth, and quickly grabbed a napkin off of a table to clean her hoof. She stared as Rarity's mouth was purely open, and then the white mare's silence turned to screams, and the screams trailed off into the distance as the unicorn mare ran out of the building out towards the direction of her boutique.

"I... I don't think I want to um... Eat anything yet, after seeing that...", Fluttershy commented in the silence that enveloped the party.

"What?! Why nooot! I promise that I didn't accidentally put cyanide pills in the punch this time!", Pinkie Pie pouted infront of Fluttershy.

"Oh, um... I'm sorry... I'll get a glass right now then, if you really want me to...", Fluttershy quietly said, walking towards the punch bowl.

Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy's pink tail in her teeth, slowly pulling her back with a cringe on her face, as she stared at Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy fell onto her stomach, and slowly slid back, staring ahead in confusion and shock.

"What?", Pinkie Pie asked, bubbly as ever, "I said I didn't this time!"

"This time.", Twilight Sparkle inserted, walking up to the trio.

"Right!", Pinkie Pie confirmed.

"THIS time?", Twilight repeated, in a frightful tone.

"Yuppers! Did I say something else? Nope! I said THIS time. Not LAST Time, or NEXT time -- that'd be SILLY! I don't know if I accidentally put cyanide pills in the punch NEXT time! Or maybe I do, I wonder if my Pinkie-Sense can detect that! I could be a detective. No, I already tried that for cake-thieverers... A cyanide pill-detectorer!", she exclaimed, hopping up into the air.

"Right...", Twilight Sparkle dumped the liquid out onto the floor, and levitated the currently empty glass back onto a table. Many ponies ended up doing the same, while others shrugged it off. Twilight Sparkle sighed, and walked off back to her table. The mare pulled a glass of punch from the claws of Spike once she arrived at her destination.

"Sooo, no sweet winged sexitimes?", Pinkie Pie asked the two pegasi. Fluttershy remained on the floor, with Rainbow Dash holding her tail in her mouth still. The only movements from the two was breathing.

"No, Pinkie... Could you just... Not ask stuff like that?", Rainbow Dash asked, after letting the silky tail go from her mouth, slightly angry at the bubbly mare.

"Awww, but I wanna know about your sex-life!"

"But you don't need to, so we won't tell you about it!", Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Oh, okay! But what if I DO need to!", Pinkie asked, batting her eyelashes while a beaming smile was plastered on her face towards Rainbow Dash.

"Not gonna happen.", Rainbow Dash said with a blank expression on her face.

"Oh well, I tried!", Pinkie Pie shrugged while on her hind legs, and hummed happily as she trotted off into the kitchen.

"Errr... Ya'll thinkin' that that was a bit of a wacky scenario?", Applejack asked after approaching the two pegasi.

"'A BIT of a wacky scenario' is putting it lightly...", Rainbow Dash sighed, and picked up the shy yellow mare in her wings. The yellow mare had stopped moving, and her eyes gazed ahead, but she squeaked once the wings picked her up and held her up infront of the cyan mare. Rainbow Dash looked at the shocked mare, and then gave a light peck on her lips. After the kiss, Fluttershy held Rainbow Dash's neck with her forelegs, remaining in her hold.

Applejack chuckled at the sight, and then continued, "Ah guess it is a bit puttin' it lightly... Ya'll make a cute couple, y'know?"

Rainbow Dash blushed, "S-shush, AJ! I'm not cute, I'm... Cool, 'n awesome!"

"Awww, Rainbow... You were very cute as a filly, and you still are cute sometimes...", Fluttershy commented. Fluttershy booped Rainbow Dash on the nose, and then just continued looking up at her from the winghold.

"Uhhhh...", Rainbow Dash blushed even harder, as the teal eyes looked up at her.

"It's true, Dashie.", Fluttershy moved up slightly, licking Rainbow Dash's muzzle.

"Uhhhh...", Rainbow Dash continued.

"Did y'break her?", Applejack asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Um... I hope not.", Fluttershy commented, biting her lip.

"Uhhh... Fluttershy. Um...", Rainbow Dash started.

"Yes?", Fluttershy tilted her head slightly.

"Just... Wanted to say that uh... You were cute as a... Ugh, this is sappy... You were cute as a filly too, and you still are.", Rainbow Dash mumbled while blushing.

Applejack chuckled as Fluttershy made an audible, "Awwww..."

"Thank you. I'm um... Glad you think so.", Fluttershy smiled up at Rainbow Dash, "I could get used to this. Your wings are very comfortable.", Fluttershy continued.

"Th-thanks.", Rainbow Dash commented.

"Hey Rainbow Da--... Woah.", an ecstatic orange filly started, looking at the scene ahead of her.

"Oh, uh. Hi, squirt.", Rainbow Dash chuckled sheepishly.

"What's going on?", Scootaloo asked.

"Well, uh... I uhhh... You want the truth, or an excuse?", Rainbow Dash finally said.

"I... I guess the truth?", Scootaloo responded, with a dumbfounded expression.

"We're dating.", Rainbow Dash said flatly.

"Oh. That's cool! A little mushy and sappy, but cool! Y'know, I never thought you'd go for Fluttershy. I mean, ugh, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle talked about you two being perfect for eachother or something ALL the time. Can't believe I was WRONG about it though... Anyways, I guess I'll catch up to you two later! Gotta go tell them they were right... I guueessss...", Scootaloo grumbled, but walked off.

"She took it pretty well.", Applejack inserted.

"Uhuh. Kinda surprised, actually...", Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof.

"Scootaloo is a sweet filly, I can't believe you two doubted her!", Fluttershy said with disbelief, "Oh, but um... It's okay. I'm sure you had your reasons.", she quickly inserted afterwards.

"No, no. Ya'll're right.", Applejack nodded.

"I just sorta thought she might think it was... Sappy, 'n stuff.", Rainbow Dash said.

"Sugarcube, she DID think it was sappy.", Applejack responded, sipping her drink.

"I mean... I expected her to react horribly.", Rainbow Dash replied.

"Yea, ah getcha.", Applejack chuckled.

"...Applebloom and Sweetie Belle talked about 'us' possibly being together?", Fluttershy asked after a moment.

"...Oh...", Applejack coughed lightly, showing her discomfort for the situation.

"Huh.", Rainbow Dash sighed, "Guess Spike's not the ONLY one. Sorta."

"Spike's not the only what?", Applejack asked afterwards.

"Apparently he thought we were ALWAYS dating.", Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"Really?", Applejack gave a surprised frown, "Guess it makes som' sense. Way  y'two talk 'bout eachother, heh... Might've well as been datin' for a while now."

"Well, we're dating now.", Fluttershy smiled happily.

"Heheh, yep. Oh, and nopony is being jerks about it. See? What'd I tell you, nothing to be afraid of.", Rainbow Dash winked down at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy giggled, and then said, "I never doubted you."

Rainbow Dash blushed at the compliment. Usually she wouldn't, but anything from Fluttershy was almost always true and heartfelt.

"So, ya'll stayin' much longer?", Applejack asked, gazing towards a clock.

"Dunno.", Rainbow Dash sighed, "Maybe we'll stay for a bit? Guess it depends."

"Well, um... I was thinking... We could maybe, go back to my cottage tonight, and ummm...", Fluttershy mumbled.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared at eachother.

"Oh, no um... Not like that. I just wanted to know if... If you'd like to cuddle, and... Maybe talk about stuff?", Fluttershy explained.

Applejack chuckled, and gave a smirk.

"I- I uh... Sure, I'd be cool with that.", Rainbow Dash gave a sigh of relief. Rainbow Dash took most stuff pretty quick, but she wasn't very good with relationships already, and the thought of such a thing made her feel very uncomfortable.

"So um... Maybe we'll stay an hour, and then go?", Fluttershy asked.

"Sounds good, 'Shy.", Rainbow Dash nodded, "Wanna do anything?"

"Well, I mean... I usually talk with you or the others, and we've been doing that already... So um... Maybe we could just... Keep doing that?", Fluttershy questioned.

"Alright I guess. So, what's been up with you, AJ?", Rainbow Dash started.

"Nothin' much, farmin' is preddy much it. Ah gotta ask though, when're we gettin' more rain by the orchard?", Applejack questioned.

"Whenever you need. I can get you some early tomorrow morning if you want.", Rainbow Dash shrugged.

"Ah reckon that that'd work.", Applejack replied with a grateful expression.

"'Kay, tomorrow morning it is. I'ma go see what's up with Twilight. Cya in a bit, AJ!", Rainbow Dash said.

"Bye, RD.", Applejack nodded in acknowledgement.

Rainbow Dash continued to carry Fluttershy in her wings, gaining a few cheerful and kind smiles. They found themselves at a table with Twilight and Spike. Twilight had her eyes down into a book, while Spike rested his chin on an arm in boredom.

"Hey 'Twi.", Rainbow Dash said, sitting on a cushion at the table. She adjusted her wings so she held Fluttershy infront of her.

"Hello Rainbow, hey Fluttershy.", Twilight said, smiling happily at the two pegasi, "So, you two showed up this time?"

"Err.. Yeah, eheh. We did.", Rainbow Dash chuckled, nodding at the question.

"Twilight, um... If it's not too much to ask...", Fluttershy started, gaining the attention of everyone at the table.

"Go ahead, Fluttershy.", Twilight gave a small, respectful, smile.

"Something happened earlier, but um... It's not happening anymore, and... I'm not sure what it was, and I was wondering if... If you knew."

"...Alright? Well uh... I guess I need a bit more info.", Twilight tilted her head.

"I felt sort of... Sick before the party, and I was wondering if... You knew why."

"Did you eat anything?"

"Nothing from what I usually eat."

"Did you consume any medicine?"

"No."

"Hmmm... Any specific symptoms?", Twilight asked, pulling out a small clipboard and pen.

"I... I felt nauseous, and... I was sweating alot, and um... I felt like my heart was... 'Racing'.", Fluttershy explained.

"Huh... Well, it's either narcotic abuse, a drug overdose, dehydration, kidney failure, cocaine abuse, lyme disease, hyperhidrosis...", Twilight trailed off.

Fluttershy was on the verge of tears, and Rainbow Dash felt her heart drop.

"...Or a panic attack!", Twilight concluded, "Most likely a panic attack, too."

Fluttershy fainted into Rainbow Dash's arms with a sigh, and Rainbow Dash released a breath she had no idea she had been holding. Twilight stared at the pegasi, and then commented, "I'll have to add fainting to the list of symptoms then... Kidney failure it is!", she decided.

"No, no! Twilight, I think 'panic attack' was the best conclusion.", Rainbow Dash bit her lip, and stared into Twilight's eyes.

"...Oh, hm... I guess fainting COULD be caused by anxiety... Hmmm... If I were to thin it out for a SPECIFIC type...", Twilight tapped her pen against her cheek, and then said, "When was it EXACTLY?"

"While we were on our way towards the party.", Rainbow Dash quickly responded.

"Huh... Did she complain about anything in specific?", Twilight inquired, with a raised eyebrow.

"I guess the symptoms?"

"No, I mean like... Like... I don't know how to explain... Oh, I know. Social phobia!"

"...Social phobia?", Rainbow Dash repeated flatly.

"Social anxiety?", Twilight said back plainly.

"...So like... She's afraid of..."

"Social situations, yes. Best conclusion I have. Definitely not post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Oh, and it only makes sense that FlutterSHY has that sort of anxiety.", Twilight explained.

"Huh. Dang, I kinda feel like a jerk now.", Rainbow Dash groaned.

"Why?", Twilight pondered.

"Because... I guess I've just put her on like, the spot before sometimes, thinking she'd like it...", Rainbow Dash continued to hold the fainted Fluttershy in her arms. When Fluttershy awoke, the yellow mare sighed and just put her face against Rainbow's neck.

"Hm... No, I don't know. She might've liked it more than you know, Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy was probably afraid of being embarrassed or just put on the spot in a bad way. Get what I mean?", Twilight said.

"Yeah... I... I think so. Heh, alright, yeah.", Rainbow Dash nodded proudly, grinning.

"Dashie... You're so soft... Mmm...", Fluttershy mumbled, holding onto the cyan mare. Rainbow Dash blushed, avoiding direct eye contact with Twilight or Spike. Twilight meerly smiled, but Spike seemed to be JUST containing his laughter. A quick glare from both Twilight and Rainbow Dash stopped him, and he slid back down from his standing position onto the floor, holding his claws against his mouth.

"I think it's high-time that I uh... Take 'Snuggles' here home.", Rainbow Dash said to Twilight, as she was scrubbing Fluttershy's pink mane.

"Alright. Bye, Rainbow! Have a good night.", Twilight said, facing back down into her book once more. Rainbow Dash stood up, and scooped the canary mare up in her arms, lifting up into the air and flying outside of Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow Dash made sure to not fly too fast, but she kept at a steady pace that would get them to Fluttershy's cottage quickly. Rainbow Dash let herself inside of the warm cottage, and flew past a grumpy Angel bunny to avoid any delays. Rainbow Dash calmly and slowly slid Fluttershy into bed, and once she closed the wooden bedroom door, Rainbow climbed into bed with her fillyfriend.

Rainbow Dash yawned, pulling the covers up high onto the two of them. Seems they wouldn't get to talk, but the cuddling could still be done. Rainbow pulled Fluttershy's resting form up against her, feeling her warmth fill a hole in her heart that was previously undiscovered. Cuddling with the shy mare was a perfect fix to any situation. Well, emotional ones atleast.

Rainbow enjoyed the feeling of the shy mares warm breath against her coat. It only made the cuddling better. The two tried to sleep while in eachothers embrace.

"I love you.", mumbled Rainbow Dash, as she finally gave a final yawn, and fell asleep. Fluttershy mumbled something quietly in her sleep, but just sighed and went quiet -- minus her breathing.