Fluttershy Blooms (A Flutterpie Tale)

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

Pinkie’s eyes fluttered open as the morning sun entered her window gently bathing her in its warm light. She closed her eyes and pulled her calendar into her mind’s eye to check the date and the events on her to do list. Mentally checking off ‘wake up’ and ‘make sure you’re breathing’. she checked the next item on the list before getting out of bed. ‘Smile’

She tossed her legs over the bed landing on all fours with a clop. She began some basic body stretches beginning at her hind quarters and moving up to her neck before groaning and trotting to the mirror by her wardrobe to look at herself.

Curly pink hair? Check. Happy smile? Check. Clean teeth? she peered into the mirror at her mouth and exhaled on the glass and raised an eyebrow as her reflection covered its mouth and shook its head before returning to it’s job as her reflection.

“That’s a nopers-scopers. Thanks other me,” she said turning and pronking to the bathroom as her reflection waved her off, a clothespin on her nose. “Mirror me is so strange sometimes.”

“Bye Gummy, see you tonight,” she said leaning close to him speaking softer, “it’s our first date and I might be late,” she said winking to the gator that was looking vacantly at her from the bed. She skipped to the bathroom, exiting shortly after, ready for the day.

She descended the stairs, ready start her day. I’m so excited for tonight, I can’t wait.

“Good morning, my little friends,” Fluttershy said as she exited her front door, a pouch full of seeds around her neck. She wore a smile and her words were laced with happiness. “Little friends that I hold so dear, I have a story for you to hear,” she started as she opened her wings and took to the air, a few feet from the ground as she tossed a hoof full of seeds to a tree’s base, “I found a pony I hold so dear. Never have I felt this funny… Little squirrel; I’ve found my special, somep~ony!”

She reached out and a family of squirrel scampered from a branch and hopped the short distance to her forelegs, she landed and began feeding other animals as she sang.

“She’s sweet, she’s pink, she really made me stink,” she mused, “she held me close and I realized; she had the most beautiful blue eyes. Like the blue in the sky they shine all day, filling me with a reason to say~

Hi Pinkie, you’re the one. Hi Pinkie, you’re so much fun. You gave me a feeling I never kne~w. I didn’t know I could love, you.”

With a short applause from her animals she accepted their praise before emptying the last of her seeds in front of an upset looking bunny rabbit.

“Oh, hi Angel. Did I tell you the great news? I have a special somepony, aren’t you happy for me?”

With a scowl the bunny kicked the seeds at her and began stomping his right foot.

“Oh, you don’t want seeds? How about a nice carrot? A salad? A carrot salad? What would you like, Angel?”

Angel looked at her, deepening his frown. “Oh, Angel, you want asparagus, right?”

Angel smiled and nodded excitedly. Fluttershy patted his head.

“Okay dear, I’ll go get you some from the house, be right back.”

Several minutes later she returned with a carrot, asparagus, tomato salad in a large bowl for Angel. “Well, this was going to be my breakfast but, I guess I can have oats again.”

Angel was already face deep in the bowl, munching greedily. He looked up to Fluttershy, food bits falling back into the bowl. He spit his mouthful of food into the bowl and pushed it back to Fluttershy before hopping away.

“...Um, thank you?”

“Oh, Fluttershy~?” Pinkie said in a singsong voice, softly from the path ahead of Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Oh, it’s lovely to see you again, Pinkie. Why are you here so early? Oh, wait, I understand. It’s okay, I guess I had plans too.”

“What? Fluttershy, I’m here to take you for a walk, silly. I’m not cancelling our date,” Pinkie said with a stern look before beaming a smile again.

“Oh, well that’s very nice to know. Um, w-where are we walking to?”

“I dunno, I just wanna walk with you. How about to the woods and back?”

“Um, well,” she hesitated, almost intentionally, “very well. That sounds like fun. Ang-”

“Just us, okay?”

“Oh, okay,” she replied, her anxiety was acting up but she wasn’t going to avoid her marefriend over it.

“Great!” Pinkie said loudly beginning to pronk along the path to Whitetail Woods with Fluttershy next to her. “So, ‘Shy, what’s new?”

“Well, it’s early summer so the animals are beginning to take care of their young, the harvests are coming along nicely, and Rainbow Dash said the weather is going to be warm for the rest of the week.”

“Oh, did you hear about the fire the other day?”

“Oh my, yes. Two silly colts were practicing magic and it got out of control. Thankfully nopony was hurt.”

“Except AJ!”

“Oh, that’s right. Twilight miscast a spell, right?”

“Oh did she ever! It was supposed to be a water spell, but it turned into a, um, electric rope spell? Buck Wild bumped her and she jumped, AJ was in the way and bzzzzap,” Pinkie fell to the ground with a frizzy mane, her eyes twirling in different directions, then she hopped to the air and began bouncing.

“Oh, I heard that,” Fluttershy blushed and looked to the ground.

Pinkie poked her head from under Fluttershy’s wing and whispered in her ear. “Dashie and AJ kissed.”

Fluttershy squeed and jumped, watching Pinkie fall to the ground from under her wing and begin trotting casually down the path again. “P-Pinkie, I don’t like when you do that.”

“Well, I know that,” she replied looking back with an honest smile, “but we’re going to be close, I should be able to whisper in your ear whenever I need to.” Fluttershy blinked and Pinkie was gone. Before she could register that Pinkie had vanished Pinkie whispered in her other ear. “There are spies everywhere.”

“Flutters, I’m sorry I scared you so bad. I thought you were upset about the whispering, not my moving around you. I’ll try to not do that so much,” Pinkie asked looking at the treeline, “okay?”

“Um, please don’t. I, I think I nearly fainted. I’d be so embarrassed to have ruined your walk.”

“‘Shy,” Pinkie said stomping her hoof and turning to face the yellow mare, “don’t be so down. You’re the super duperiest mare in the city and being with you is the happiest feeling I’ve had in weeks, now c’mon slowpoke!”

Happiest in weeks? “Wait up, Pinkie,” Fluttershy said loudly as she trotted quickly to catch up. “What did you mean ‘in weeks’?”

“Oh, you heard that?”

“Yes, are you okay?”

“Well, can you keep a secret?”

“Pinkie,” was the reply with a serious look.

“I know you can, I was just checking. You see,” she looked around twice while walking, her head spinning back to the correct alignment to see Fluttershy with trembling eyes, “sorry, I’ll try to be less fun for now. Um, I haven’t really told anypony this, but,” she leaned in close to Pinkie and whispered quietly, this time stopping them both just past the treeline.

“I’m a little crazy.”

“Oh, I know that, but what’s your secret.”

“No, that is my secret.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened as the news sank in. “You see, I’m a party pony and I love to make my friends happy,” Fluttershy nodded, “but when I thought you girls weren’t going to be my friends anymore, I had an episode.”

“Um, an episode? Is this what Rainbow was talking about?”

“Well, I stopped her before she blabbed too much, but yeah,” she sighed as her color faded slightly to a darker shade of pink, “I used to have them all the time when I started throwing parties and they didn’t go as planned. Then I got better, until that day. I didn’t take it well; I started to have nightmares, then I stopped eating for a while, finally I almost…” she looked to the ground and her mane deflated somewhat.

“Oh dear. Pinkie, it’s nothing to be ashamed about. I’ve had those thoughts for years.”

“What?” Pinkie whispered.

“Me too. Um, hurting myself; I used to do it.”

“Why?”

“Because I have problems too. The only thing I know for certain, though,” she lifted Pinkie’s chin so she could look into her eyes, “the world would be a sadder place without me.” Pinkie chuckled. “Seriously. Pinkie, where would Ponyville be if I wasn’t here to be an element bearer? What about taking care of all the animals I do?”

“I dunno, maybe they’d be sick or hurt more?”

“Mr. Bear was going to eat a filly a few years ago,” Pinkie looked to Fluttershy with a surpised gasp, “yes, and most of the fish in the stream would have died from over fishing, unable to spawn upriver. Then the balance would have begun to degrade, life would struggle, and then we’d have to move.”

“Oh, I get it. So,” Pinkie said taking in a deep breath and letting it out, “if you weren’t here then everything would be worse. And that means that if I wasn’t here the town would be like when I got here?”

“Oh yes, I remember that. Everypony only cared about themselves. Distrust was all around, even the Apples had a royal guard to keep robbers away. You came into town and fixed us all, in your own way. You might be a little crazy, but this town needs that.”

Pinkie smiled weakly and took a shaky breath. “It’s so hard sometimes, ‘Shy. I smile all the time, but I feel empty inside. I eat sweets all the time and don’t gain weight. I do impossible things to make ponies happy, but nothing fills the empty place in me.”

Fluttershy sat next to Pinkie and draped a wing over her. “I know. But now, maybe we can fix that. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy with you. You preened me, even though it didn’t last long, it was very filling. Like my cup was empty and you filled it.”

Pinkie smiled for real, her color brightening. “And when we kissed, I felt happy! Maybe that’s what we need, kisses! I’ll open a booth where you give preening and I’ll get kisses and that’ll fix everything!” Pinkie rebounded to her happy self and turned to gallop away before stopping and looking to Fluttershy.

“But then, I’d be leaving you and that would be mean. No, that idea can wait until tomorrow.

Fluttershy giggled and began to trot with Pinkie further into the woods, enjoying each other’s company while talking about happier things, as well as nature in its most vibrant.

Chapter 2

“Well, here we are,” Pinkie announced as she and Fluttershy stood at Fluttershy’s front door.

“Thanks for walking me home, Pinkie. It was nice walking with you, through the forest and all.”

“No prob-bob! Um, ‘Shy,” Pinkie looked to the ground a little uncertain.

“What is it, Pinkie?”

“Um, thanks.”

“For what? We just went for a walk,” Fluttershy said looking to her hooves.

“I, I told you my secret and you’re one of the only ones to know about it.”

“Oh, well, you can always trust me to help you when you need it, um, especially now. Since we’re, together.”

“Fluttershy? Can I have a kiss?”

Fluttershy looked to Pinkie. She looks so cute, and she’s asking. I like kisses. “Okay.”

“Okay, sorry to have, what?!” Pinkie hopped up, landing with a grin.

“I said, ‘yes’,” she puckered her lips slightly as Pinkie closed her eyes, leaned forward, and pressed their lips together. Pinkie’s tail made a ‘sprong’ noise as her ears fluttered before Fluttershy broke the kiss with a giggle. “You’re so cute, Pinkie. Um, I have to feed my, um, animals.”

“O-okie dokie, I’ll see you tonight… great kisser,” Pinkie said before she galloped away, back to town, leaving a stunned Fluttershy to watch her leave.

“G-great. Kisser? Oh my,” she said turning to open the door a grin crossed her muzzle as she burst in giggling. “A perfect day, so far.”

Pinkie skipped through town, carousel boutique was to her right, so she turned toward it. Taking in a deep inhale she closed her eyes, exhaled and looked around the dressing room she was in. It was closed, empty, and purple; the thought crossed her mind. Why do ponies need dressing rooms? We’re always naked!

She listened closely to hear Rarity humming as she worked, distracted enough to let Pinkie peek out of the room. Rarity was wearing her glasses, cloth draped over a mannequin, and a length of measuring tape draped over her back facing the other way, her tail swayed with the beat of the song she was humming to.

She was very focused on her work. Pinkie grinned as she walked out of the changing room. As her tail left the room she grabbed the side of the mannequin to steady herself. “HI, RARITY!” she screamed as loud as she thought should be appropriate for her friends business.

Rarity screamed and stumbled back, falling onto her back and still scrambling back, a hoof placed to her chest as she began to gasp.

“P-P-Pinkie? What in the world are you thinking? Scaring me as such? Wait,” she looked around, “how’d you get in? The back door is locked and I didn’t hear the chime.”

“Well, duh. I came in through the dressing room, I can’t walk through locked doors, silly,” Pinkie guffawed, slapping the side of the mannequin as she laughed.

“Pinkie, please, be careful, that cloth is one of a kind, I got it from the Crystal Empire and it’s almost impossible to replace!”

“Oh,” Pinkie said helping Rarity up.

Rarity screamed again. “You were just there! How’d you… Ugh, nevermind,” she finished taking to her hooves and looking herself over. “Awww,” she whined, “my Ta~il, it’s messed up.”

“I’ll fix it,” Pinkie said quickly grabbing Rarity’s tail and pulling it.

“NO! Ouch! Don’t do, that?” Her tail was as pristine as it had been an hour before, even between that unfortunate ‘hot tea’ incident where she decided finishing her work took precedence over a few stray hairs. “Pinkie,” she started, stopping herself from asking any more questions on how Pinkie was so, Pinkie, “to what do I do the honor of you visit, darling.”

“Well, I just wanted to say hi. So, hi!”

“Oh no, no, no, no, no,” Rarity said looking intently at Pinkie, “that’s not all. I’ve heard the gossip, so tell me, are you and Fluttershy, ‘an item’,” she asked raising her eyebrows. She took her glasses off and placed them on the floor below her recent work.

“Oh, well, yeah. We kinda started the other day and it just, worked out.”

“Spraying her with a skunk helped, then?” Rarity said with a sarcastic tone as she went to a nearby lounge chair to lay on while they talked. Pinkie followed, but paced slowly in front of her.

“Well, no, and yes. See, I made her sad, and then I got sad. Then I fell off a cliff-” Pinkie stated sitting down on the carpeted floor.

“You what?!”

“...then we walked s’more and then I preened her, and then-”

“Slow down, Pinkie, this’ too much,” Rarity said placing a hoof to her head below her horn, trying to understand what was being told to her.

“...we kissed and poof,” Pinkie said hopping into the air, “we’re together.” She landed and smiled at Rarity.

“Wh-what do you mean you preened her?” Rarity asked in a haughty tone, “like, with your mouth, on her feathers?!”

“Yup!”

“But, eew,” she sneered, pulling a fan from under the chair, “you don’t even have those, ‘gland’ things pegasi have; how’d you make them, you know?”

“Glands? You mean that sticky feather stuff? Nope, I just used my spit!”

Rarity suppressed a heave, covering her mouth with the fan. “And, even though this is a bit, um, presumptuous a question, this event wasn’t done while bathing, was it?”

Pinkie laughed. “You can’t take a bath in the forest, silly filly. Plus,” she said leaning in closer to Rarity, more than Rarity was comfortable with, “preening in water doesn’t work, just washes the spit away.”

Rarity used her hoof to nudge Pinkie back as she held her breath, exhaling when Pinkie was leg’s length away. “So, am I to understand that you showered with her then?”

Pinkie scrunched her face and muzzle. “No, that’d be weird. We haven’t even had sex yet, sheesh, what a weird question.”

Rarity felt herself flush pink from nose to tail at the mention of adult relations between her friends. “S-sex, uh, ahem,” Rarity composed herself as she fanned herself again, the pink fading slowly, “dear, are you implying you’re planning to have an,” she waved her hoof in circles, trying to find the right phrasing, “advanced relationship, with our dear Fluttershy?”

“Oh, not yet. You can’t plan for that stuff, it just happens! It’s not like a party where you have years to plan,” years? Rarity thought, “but it has to be in the moment. Fluttershy doesn’t have ‘moments’, at least not like the ones that say what I think need to be said; so, I can’t plan for it!”

“Oh, quite right, darling-”

“So I’m guessing five years, give or take,” Pinkie continued.

Rarity’s eye widened. “F-five years?! You’re going to be with her and wait that long before you, um, ‘shower’ with her?” Rarity made air quotes. She hoped it wasn’t in relation to some of the most uncouth fetishes she’d heard of.

“Well, it’s not like I have anything else to do. I’m okay waiting, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll still be the best of friends. I mean, we’ve only kissed twice, ever,” Pinkie dismissively waved a hoof, “it’s not like we’re in a rush. Um, should we be?,” Pinkie’s ears perked and she leaned a little closer to Rairity again, “I know you’ve had a lotta coltfriends.”

Rarity, who had returned to her normal color, this time blushed in her cheeks. “Well, I’ve had a few, but not many have, um-”

“Ridden your saddle?” Pinkie inquired innocently.

“Oh dear,” Rarity gasped at Pinkies casual statement, “um, if that’s how they’re saying it now, then yes. But, rushing it is by no means encouraged. Afterall, patience can be its own reward.”

Pinkie leaned in too close to Rarity again. “It’s gonna be hard when we go into heat,” she whispered, looking around suspiciously.

Rarity was now pink across her face at how quickly the juicy gossip had turned to something so private, a level at which she couldn’t just talk about it to anypony. “Y-yes, indeed dear. Um, perhaps you should go and occupy your time in a more, effective manner to suit your own needs, I have a lot of work to finish, you see,” she sighed in feigned resignation, pushing Pinkie leg’s length away again.

“Oh yeah, I forgot, I’ve gotta do something! See ya later, Rares.”

Without waiting for a response Pinkie had already opened the door and was on her way to another pony. “And she says she has patience? I relish the idea, yet, I’m not ready to console two of my best friends when they inevitably part. Oh well, back to the task at hand,” she said closing the door with her magic and preparing to resume her work. “Still, I wish them the best of luck, if anypony needs it, it’s those two.

Chapter 3

"Oh, hello my little friends. I had such a good time with Pinkie. Thank you for asking. Why yes, we will be going out tonight for a small dinner. Oh, I don't know where yet."

Fluttershy was in her cottage feeding and conversing with various critters.

"Well, I don't think we will be out late. I have a lot of you to take care of," a question made her stop in her tracks and look into space, "I have all of you to take care of me."

A critter chittered.

"Well, if I get sick you can send help. And if I get hurt I know you'll help me."

Another creature added her thoughts.

"W-what? I mean, it's true that none of you can set limbs or mend cuts; but I'm sure there's a way that you can help me like I help all of you."

A bird tweeted in a somber tone.

"I-I don't know how the other ponies will understand you. I guess I..."

She felt Angel climb her tail and walk across her back and sit on her head while she pondered. She looked up to see a concerned look on his face.

"I love you too. All of you; but you're right. I can't live out here alone forever. Someday, even though I don't want to think of it, something will happen and I won't get help right away. And yes, that could be very, unfortunate. Very well, friends. I'll try a little harder. But, I don't know," she hesitated as a breeze blew in from the open window, washing over her, "I just don't want to be hurt or hurt her."

A mouse squeaked.

"Well, I know she wouldn't hurt me. And I won't hurt her, as well. Very well. I, Fluttershy, will be a good marefriend."

She was expecting the cottage to roar with applause and approval. Instead several critters approached her.

"Um, is everything alright?"

They looked at her. A bird tweeted.

"Y-you want to help me be better? How?"

A squirrel chittered.

"Oh my. Well, that's a very good offer. I accept."

The cottage roared with approval making Fluttershy tingle with happiness.

The sun was low in the sky when Pinkie knocked on the door to the cottage. She waited patiently at the door. She was wearing a maroon bow tie, a brown vest, and hoof boots that were very stylish.

"Oh my, she's here! Hurry, finish up," Fluttershy called loudly. A flurry of noise happened then silence. The door slowly opened to show Fluttershy. Pinkie's mouth opened slowly, stopping slightly more than should have been possible as she stared, unblinking, at her date.

Fluttershy was wearing a dress of light blue that faded from blue in the front to yellow in the back, accenting her wings. Her legs were covered in knee length stockings and she had on silver gilded horse shoes. Fluttershy's mane was elegantly coiffed into an updo that Pinkie felt like she could slide down, if she was small enough.

"Fluttershy, you look beautiful," Pinkie screamed, startling several critters away.

"I-I think I'm over dressed, m-maybe I should change?"

Pinkie shook her head so fast it blurred. "No, please. You look amazing. If anything I'm underdressed! Don't worry. No pony will say anything. Please, don't change."

Fluttershy blushed and looked to the ground as she poked it a few times with her hoof. "Thanks, Pinkie Pie. It means a lot that you're doing this. And with me."

Pinkie took a step forward and lifted Fluttershy's chin so they were looking at each other. "Thank you for saying yes. Let's go," she finished softly. Pinkie turned and began bouncing, a grin on her muzzle, as she pronked away.

Fluttershy stepped out of the door, looked back with a sheepish grin. "See you soon, friends." With a farewell and series of 'good lucks' she closed the door and turned to catch up to Pinkie.

The walk into town was uneventful as they walked. They talked about general life, just to pass the time until they got into town.

"Oh my," Fluttershy said softly as she looked ahead into town. The street was lined with streamers between the lights and more variety of flower petals than Fluttershy could Identify lined the path they were to take to the restaurant. "Pinkie, did you do all this for me?"

"Well, duh! This'll be my first date too! I want it to be perfect."

Ponies were treading carefully across the street, doing their best to not overly disturb the setting as Pinkie pronked happily beside Fluttershy down the flowered path.

"Wow, look at them."

"They're so beautiful together."

"Why won't you do things like this for me?!" Were a few random comment Fluttershy heard as she looked intently at the ground as they moved at a steady pace.

"Um, Pinkie? This' Sugarcube Corner. Are we going to be eating here?" The shades were drawn and it seemed awfully dark, sending a slight chill down Fluttershy's legs.

"Well, yeah! It's a great place to have a date."

Fluttershy felt her expectations deflate at the prospect of sharing a tray of cupcakes with Pinkie. Maybe I got too excited. This wasn't what I was expecting at all.

"Don't worry, 'Shy. We'll eat something different this time," Pinkie ensured as she walked to the door and opened it slightly, gesturing for Fluttershy to enter.

Fluttershy sighed and forced a kind smile as she walked up the stairs and past the pink mare and inside. It was dark. Too dark.

I hope this isn't a surprise party. I really don't like those.

Pinkie walked in and closed the door. A rustle was heard and Fluttershy readied herself for the shouting and cheering. "Wait here," Pinkie said softly. Fluttershy began to grow nervous as Pinkie left the room, the shadows felt like they were coming to life around her.

A snap was heard in the kitchen and Fluttershy's ears swiveled to listen. The soft sound of hooves carefully clopping back toward the door and a slight light got her attention. A controlled fire that was chasing away the shadows began to calm her.

Pinkie Pie slowly trotted into the room and set a candle in the center of a table. The light brightened and lit the room with its flickering wick.

Fluttershy felt elated at the setup.

A small round table, just low enough to sit at comfortably with soft, fluffy pillows set at opposite ends; One pink, the other light yellow.

The main room was lightly decorated with balloons floating against the ceiling, flowers adorned every available corner. A slow melody began to hum from outside, slow and steadily.

"Pinkie, this' amazing! Did you get the Pony Tones to sing outside?!"

Pinkie Pie smiled and nodded calmly. "This' a special night for us both," she started as Fluttershy trotted to the window and peeked out to see the quartet singing softly from across the street, "I've told you so much about me, and I have to say this before we eat, and I hope you understand."

Fluttershy turned back to Pinkie and looked at her. "I will, and if I don't I won't be upset."

Pinkie walked over to Fluttershy and looked at her. Their eyes met.

"Fluttershy, I just don't know if I can make you happy enough as a marefriend."

Fluttershy smirked at Pinkie. "You're the most fun pony in Ponyville-"

"I know that, but," Pinkie hesitated, "I, um, it's, well. I have problems, and I don't know how to be in a relationship."

"Oh, well, me too, Pinkie. We can learn together and, no matter what, we'll always be friends."

"But, well, this isn't really first date talk but, I want to be more than just friends."

"We're marefriends, what else could we be?" Fluttershy asked, slightly cocking her head to the left.

"...Lovers."

Fluttershy froze, the look on her face was slightly twisted from comforting to concern. A minute of silence passed.

"Um, I-I don't know. Uh, I just, well..."

"No, it's okay, 'Shy. I know I move too fast. I talked with Rarity and told her I'd wait a few years if we had to. If it takes that long for you to love me enough," Pinkie forced a smile, "then I'll wait."

Fluttershy stepped closer to Pinkie and placed a hoof on Pinkie's cheek. "It's not because of you. I-I can't tell you right now. But I promise I will soon. Okay? I do love you, and I want to really love you and trust you before," she stopped and looked ahead, lost in memory.

Pinkie saw the pain of Fluttershy's past beginning to grow. "Suppertime!" Pinkie said loudly with a grin. She clapped her hooves together twice and a series of hoofs were heard entering the kitchen. With a push Fluttershy stumbled and landed, chest first, on her pillow at the table. Pinkie was sitting already, looking at the swinging kitchen doors.

Three stallions in tuxedo's entered the room carrying large silver trays covered with domes. Setting them on the floor beside the table the lids were removed and the stallions left, unceremoniously. The kitchen door closing with a light slam as they left the business.

The trays each had a full meal set on two plates for the mares to choose from.

"Ladies first," Pinkie offered. Fluttershy smiled and looked to the options, choosing an item from two different trays. A large salad and a bowl of fruit. Pinkie chose a small salad and a sandwich, of some sort. Fluttershy couldn't see it well enough, but it didn't matter.

"Care for a drink? What would you like?"

Fluttershy thought and decided to be silly. "I'd like a crystal smoothie, grape flavor."

Pinkie pulled one from under the table and set it in front of Fluttershy, pulling a malt out for herself next. "I made sure yours was made by a crystal pony trained in the art of smoothies. Do you know how hard it is to keep a smoothie perfect all the way from the Crystal Empire?" she asked excitedly. "It's very hard! Drink up," she said plugging a straw into both their drinks while Fluttershy stared at her beverage in awe.

"Wow, thanks Pinkie. I didn't know if I'd ever have one again, they were so good the last time we were there."

"I know. That's why I ordered a dozen for you!"

They shared a smile then began to eat. The silence broken only with their enjoyment of their meals.

Chapter 6

Fluttershy bumped into a tree as she descended and curled tightly into a ball, slamming into another tree and rolling into a bush as she stopped her motion. "Ouch," she said softly uncurling and standing up.

"So, are you ready to talk?" Pinkie asked as she lounged in a tree. Fluttershy frowned up to the pink mare. "What? It's my job to make sure every upset pony is happy," she pointed a hoof, "and you, my Fluttershy, are un-happy," she emphasised. "So, tell me what's going on and why you called me 'sir'."

"I, uh, don't wanna talk about it. Can we just help the raccoon?" Pinkie landed on her hooves next to Fluttershy and leaned suggestively against Fluttershy and hummed in question. "Ugh, you are a bother sometimes."

"I know, but I'm your bother. So, confess, what's up in your coconut?" Pinkie tapped Fluttershy's shoulder with a dusty hoof.

"Tell me how you get around so fast."

"Fine, I'll tell you how I get around as soon as you tell me what's going on."

"Uh," Fluttershy grunted and looked down, beginning to walk slowly ahead, "fine, deal. But, you have to-"

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye that I won't tell anypony ever."

Fluttershy stopped and looked pointedly at Pinkie. "You had better not or else I'll never speak to you again," she hissed, sending Pinkie's ears to her head and making her cringe slightly.

"Sheesh, I've never seen you so serious. But, I'm here for ya, gal-pal," she opened her forelimbs in an inviting hug.

Fluttershy sighed and moved into the hug, embracing her marefriend tightly as she whispered. "I was molested," Pinkie was silent but tightened her hug, "and, I've never trusted a stallion since," she said in a deeper tone.

Pinkie whispered as she held back tears. "How old were you, Fluttershy?"

"It doesn't matter. I was born shy, I got my cutie mark shy, and I left Cloudsdale a broken pony. Rainbow Dash never knew, but she knew something was wrong when she came to my parent's house one day and he left me crying on my bedroom floor."

Pinkie sniffled.

"He flew from the window and left me alone, my body was broken, my heart was broken, Pinkie, because I loved him. I, never saw him again after that and it was," she began to cry, "all my fault he did what he did and then left me-e-e~!"

"Fluttershy!" Pinkie gasped and pushed the bawling mare legs length away, "it wasn't your fault at all! What he did-"

"I liked what he did, Pinkie, don't you see?" Fluttershy babbled, "it wasn't about how much it hurt at first, or how good it felt when I finished... or when I tasted him while he tasted me-"

"Oh, Fluttershy," Pinkie covered her mouth with her hoof as a silent breath left her.

"-It was... that I said 'no more'. H-he hated me, told me I wasn't his little sweetheart anymore," she sobbed and fell to the ground, covering her head with her hooves, "that he wasted the best months on me because I... Pinkie, I," she snorted a puff of dust from beneath her snout, "I've never been in heat. I, can't have babies, and when I told him he left me! I'm a terrible-"

Pinkie stomped her hoof so forcefully Fluttershy felt it through her body. "No! You're the best pony I know. And I mean it. So what if you fell in love with a creep! So what if he made you do gross things with him, and so what if he left you. That was the best part to the whole thing I've heard yet," Pinkie flailed her forelegs. "I know it might be okay to mate when you've gotten your cutie mark, but what he did was loved you and left you! Pegasi are weird," her eyes crossed briefly, "and you're one of them, but, you're a great fantastic, amazing, terrific, wonderful weird!

"You talk to animals! I can't even talk to Gummy, and he never stops talking. You are best friends with a bear," Pinkie leaned in close to Fluttershy, "a bear. That eats mostly meat. We're meat, Fluttershy. And you're friends with him."

Fluttershy chuckled between sobs.

"And you know what else, I hope that stallion got eaten by a dragon and pooped into a volcano and turned into ashes that another dragon snorted and-"

"Okay, Pinkie, okay," Fluttershy said looking up to the animatedly moving mare, "I think I get it... I, loved him but he didn't love me," a sigh, "and that's why he left me when I told him no, and that I can't have babies."

Pinkie rolled her eyes. "I think it was more from the 'no' than the baby part, but whatever. He's dragon poop, right?"

FLuttershy giggled and sniffled, wiping her snout on her fetlock, and blinking eyes full of tears. "Dragon Poop sounds like a good name for him," she giggled again as Pinkie grinned widely, "I think he's-"

"Nope! Nah-uh, nay, no! Wherever Dragon Poop is, he can stay there and stink it up on his own. He's outta our lives for good, right?"

"Right! Dragon Poop can," she looked up and smiled, "stink it up."

"Woo-hoo! That's a mare! Now, do you feel better?"

Fluttershy, with still wet eyes and matted darkened fur beneath her eyes, looked at Pinkie. "C-can we go home?"

"Yes, of course! I think I heard the raccoons-mpgh!?!"

A minute passed before Fluttershy stopped kissing Pinkie, after which the pink mare fell to her flank wearing a goofy grin that only she could pull off. "They'll be fine. Let's, go home, read a book and relax, together."

Author's Note

A special chapter for this occasion.

Chapter 7

Fluttershy woke in Pinkie's embrace and took in the events of the previous evening with a warm blush and a content sigh. She rolled carefully off the bed and to the floor, snuck out of the room, and went to the kitchen to begin breakfast.

...

"Good morning, Pinkie-Winkie!" Fluttershy exclaimed into Pinkie's sleeping face inches from her muzzle. Pinkie awoke with a start and scrambled to the pillows as she took in her surroundings. A tray of food was balanced on Fluttershy's back and wings that didn't waver. "Are you ready for a super day?! Oh, I feel like I could fly to Cloudsdale and back."

"Uh, I stayed the night?" Pinkie asked rubbing her eyes and looking around the cottage room.

"You did more than that," Fluttershy giggled and turned aside, sliding the tray onto a side table. Fluttershy took wing over the bed and slowly lowered herself onto Pinkie's body. Nuzzling the candy scented mare, Fluttershy hummed. "Thank you, so much Pinkie. I, didn't know how much stress I had pent up inside me."

"Yeah," Pinkie replied softly as she held Fluttershy tenderly, "it felt like a lifetime of stress left you last night all at once for some reason."

Fluttershy sat up and looked shocked. "Pinkie? D-don't you remember? Last night? When we... oh you," Fluttershy shoved Pinkie with a hoof slightly, "you're teasing me, aren't you?"

Pinkie giggled and lunged, pushing Fluttershy to the bed. All the buttery mare could do was eep as she looked up to Pinkie above her. "I'll never forget it. Can I kiss you?" Fluttershy nodded and puckered her lips. She moaned and meweled into Pinkie's kiss, finally letting her tongue slip from her mouth and pass into Pinkies.

She let her body relax and she began to feel a stirring under her tail the likes she hadn't felt for a long time. "P-Pinkie," Fluttershy gasped, "I need you."

"I'm right here," Pinkie replied breathily as she panted from the intense kiss, "silly."

"Make love to me again, like last night."

Pinkie stopped and looked at her lover. "I... I, okay," she smiled and kissed Fluttershy's neck, biting her softly.

"Harder, Pinkie."

"But, I don't wanna hurt-"

"Do it harder!" Fluttershy ordered. Pinkie complied and bit firmly on Fluttershy's neck garnering a whiney from her. "Oh, yes, that's it... Don't stop."

...

Pinkie and Fluttershy lay in bed panting and smiling after their latest personal encounter. Fluttershy rolled over and lay her head on Pinkie's barrel. "I can hear your heart beating so fast, Pinkie. It, does it beat for me?"

"Only for you, my Flutter Stormie." Fluttershy hummed and let her hoof trail down Pinkie's underbelly. "Fluttershy?! Again? It's almost lunch time and we haven't even left bed yet."

Fluttershy gasped and hopped from the bed into the air. "My friends must be starving! Oh, mister raccoon! I forgot about him and his family. I have so much to catch up with," she sighed in defeat and landed beside the bed and lay her chin on the comforter, "and all I wanna do is be with you."

Pinkie patted Fluttershy's head and tried to fix her unkempt mane. "Flutters, I'm yours and I'll be here when you need me. Go take care of your animals, I've got a party to host in a couple hours for the new pony in town. He's only here for a couple days but it's enough reason to party, right?" she smiled and leaned down, kissing Fluttershy's head.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight, then?"

"Of course! I can't stay the night, though, but I can cuddle and snuggle and love you."

"I'd love that. Thanks again," Fluttershy said pulling Pinkie into a hug, "for everything."

Chapter 8

Fluttershy sang as she went about giving specialized food to the nearby animals in their respective homes around her cottage, inside and out. The melody was soft enough that it was almost angelic, yet she could have put words to it without effort while her heart fluttered at the end of each bar.

"Here you go, Missus Squeakers, remember to stay off the table from now on, so you don't fall again. I've spoken with a friend of mine and she told me," she sighed, "that your eyesight is only going to get worse, not better. I'm so sorry, but we'll all be here with you until the end," she leaned closer and nuzzled the mouse. "Now, eat up and stay as healthy as you can for as long as you can."

With a reply that befit her name, the rodent scurried away into a hole in the wall and left Fluttershy finished with all her creatures save for one. "Angel, I understand you're not in the mood for what I have to offer, but it's later than usual today and you have to eat this salad I made for you."

She placed a small bowl filled with what could essentially be described as trail mix by the plush pillow that Angel claimed as an afternoon resting place. He hopped onto the pillow and walked to the end, sniffed the bowl, frowned, then tipped it over with his right paw and upturned his nose.

"Wha- what's wrong with this meal, Angel?"

He glared daggers at her.

She pouted and hung her head, but before she could apologize she felt her heart beat heavily in her chest. A rare feeling rose and her upper lip tugged slightly showing her upper teeth. "Mr. Bunny," she said as her head rose, "you will eat what I gave you."

He turned on his pillow and lifted his tail in defiance, looking over his shoulder with a smirk. Fluttershy growled in the back of her throat and looked pointedly at the spilled food on the floor, ignoring the insult the rabbit had flashed her. "Angel, please eat. I'm not in the mood, nor do I have time to make you something else."

He hopped to the opposite end of the pillow and turned to face her, crossed his arms, and scowled as she shook his head.

With a quick leap, she landed by the pillow and slapped the bowl and food across the floor and stomped her hoof to the floor once the display was done. "Angel, you are a... a... meanie bunny, and I won't feed you again until," she gulped, "you eat all of the food I made you right here," she picked up a hoof and stomped on a pretzel, "every last crumb. And no one will help you either, right?" she asked, looking around the room at many creatures that were watching the sudden display and nodded with encouragement.

Angel looked at Fluttershy and broke, nodded in defeat, and turned to leave. "Angel, where are you going?" he didn't answer as he began to hop quickly away. In a blink he entered a full panicked sprint and left the cottage before she could stop him. "Oh... Flutterstorm, what've you done?" she whimpered. She looked at the mess and steeled her gaze. "I'm turning into a bully, and it's probably because I took back my old name. But, Angel was a meanie, and more of a bully," she spent a moment rationalizing before she smirked. "No, I was being defensive against a bully bunny. When he comes back my punishment will have to stand, or he'll hop all over me again."

She bent down and picked up the pillow in her teeth and trotted to the couch where she placed it where it belonged, brushed some fur off of it, then turned to the main room again. Save for the spilled snack, it was tidy enough and she nodded to herself as she left the cottage and began to prance towards the woods to meet the raccoon family.

"And... there we are, all wrapped up tight. Now, I have to caution you again about going near unknown burrows. You can be hurt worse than a couple quills in your side. There are very dangerous animals, predators, that live in burrows. So please, don't play hide and seek in dangerous places, okay?"

With a family hug and squeaks of agreement, Fluttershy smiled at the two young ones she'd helped and bid a heartfelt goodbye as she took flight over the canopy and made her way back toward Ponyville. A warmth spread through her body as the wind softly caressed her coat and skin beneath at the accomplishments she'd made over the past day. How she'd grown and what she'd done. How free she felt for the first time in a long time, and the future was before her. Unknown and scary, but full of endearing hope.

Chapter 9

Fluttershy landed outside the market, folding her wings and wiggling her rump then sighed. I forgot my saddlebags. Of course, I forgot my saddlebags. I had to go all over the area taking care of animals when I haven't even eaten yet because... she blushed and felt her heartbeat quicken as she thought of the previous fifteen hours. Her time with Pinkie was the best she'd spent in ages with another pony in such closeness, and she relished it even now.

Her wings began to open as she thought back to the night, what freedom she'd felt, and then the passionate embrace of Pinkie that same very morning. She heard a pony giggling and broke her concentration, she looked and saw two teenage mares obviously hiding their laughter from her. She ducked her head and began to walk away before she noticed why they were laughing. Her wings were stiff and fully extended; an obvious sign of arousal she hadn't personally experienced since she was much younger.

Her face heated as she looked for a place to hide until she could get control of her wings again and quickly ran down an alley she was beside. She turned left at an intersection and stopped before she exited, willing her wings to move under her control.

After a couple minutes, she was able to flex her wings and when she was sure she was out of danger of further embarrassment she exited the alley and took note of where she was. She blinked twice and smiled as she began a happy trot to Sugarcube Corner. She entered and when she saw Pinkie Pie behind the counter she felt a familiar tension in her flight muscles. She chose a table near the corner and cantered to it, climbing into the booth she scooted to the corner and slouched as her wings extended again, her mind defying her and letting the memories and feeling return with such intensity she could feel it in her privates.

She jumped an inch off the seat when Mrs. Cake greeted her sweetly. "Oh, darling, is everything okay? Would you like some water?" the mare asked.

"N-no, I'm sorry, Mrs. Cake, I'm having a, uh," Fluttershy froze, unable to explain.

"Oh, it's perfectly fine. I thought there was something amiss, so I grabbed the foal's blanket for you to hide your," she looked at the obvious problem, "embarrassment," she said softly as she reached her hoof under her apron and produced a green blanket and passed it to Fluttershy. "Now, can I get you a smoothie or chocolate milk?"

She draped the blanket over her back and kept her gaze and ears low. "Thank you, Mrs. Cake. I'm, having a problem I can't control and," she paused, furrowing her brow, "I can't get her out of my head." She looked up and made eye contact with the older mare. "Is that wrong of me?" she glanced past her to Pinkie, standing at the counter and taking payment for something.

"Cinnamon on a bun, of course not," Mrs. Cake said moving closer to the table and rearing to rest her forelegs on it, "anypony you love is worth a little embarrassment. I remember when I met Mr. Cake," she tilted her head and smirked, "it was far from love at first sight, to be honest. When we met, I thought he preferred eclairs over turnovers."

Fluttershy frowned for a second then gasped, snapping her eyes to meet Mrs. Cake's. When the blue mare nodded, she continued. "Well, I wasn't going to court him since I thought he wasn't into mares, which wasn't a problem to me or my friends. I became best friends with him and we spent hours a day together doing all kinds of fun things. Then one day," she rolled her eyes and snorted, "I was talking with him about who I'd like to be my first real mate, since using toys during heat wasn't enough sometimes," she giggled, "then he kissed me."

"He, just kissed you? Without proper courting or did you lead him on?" Fluttershy asked as her wings lowered while she focused.

"Oh, he actually thought I was courting him. I didn't know that and when he kissed me I didn't feel anything at first, then he put a hoof on my cheek and, well, let's just say it's good I wasn't in heat," she giggled at Fluttershy's slack-jawed reaction. "That was when we realized we had fallen in love long before then, because we were friends for months first. That's why it worked out so well, we learned about each other. What we liked, needed, wanted, and most of all what we desired, and we both desired what the other had," she blushed with her smile.

Fluttershy sighed and noticed how she'd moved to the table's edge and was resting her chin on her steepled hooves. "Awe, so you and Mr. Cake have been in love for so long because you made a mistake?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it a mistake. More of a misunderstanding, and one I don't want you to make. I know how our Pinkie feels about you and what she'd be willing to do for you. Now, vanilla bean, don't doubt your feelings, just let them guide you. Now, how about a cookie, on the house while I get you a chocolate milk," she winked, "on you."

Fluttershy sighed happily as her gaze moved to Pinkie again. "Yeah, that sounds lovely. Thanks, Pinkie."

As Fluttershy watched Pinkie move quickly to fill an order, she felt the warmth in her chest that wasn't erotic. It was passionate and caring. A feeling she'd blocked, pushed aside, and redirected to her animals was now unblocked and flowing freely through her veins, offering her another sensation she wasn't familiar with, but knew about. True love sparked then toked a flame inside her that threatened to overtake her senses as a desire to be held in Pinkie's embrace again overshadowed her need to avoid embarrassment or criticism of others.

Her eyes followed Pinkie's every motion until their eyes met. Pinkie grinned and waved a foreleg before leaving the counter and hopping over to the open seat in the other booth.

"Heya, Flutters, what's goin' on. All done with your animals? Ooo, that looks just like the foals' blanket! They'll get a kick out of you having one just like it."

Fluttershy smiled at Pinkie and spoke softly, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. "No, Pinkie, it's theirs. I had a slight arousal related issue," she blinked and tilted her head slightly. "Why... did I say that?"

"Uhm, maybe because," she leaned closer and lowered her voice, "you were aroused."

"Oh, yes. But, I... I just said it, and I don't feel embarrassed or scared. Is there something wrong with me?"

Pinkie slid under the table and emerged sitting next to Fluttershy with a thermometer in her hoof. "Open up and say 'ahhh'."

"Pinkie, uhm, you know that's a rectal thermometer, right?" They both looked at it and snickered.

"Well, bend over and say-"

"Icing on a warm cake, Pinkie, were you about to use the foals' thermometer on Fluttershy?" Mrs. Cake tisked twice and shook her head. "Pinkie, please give that to me and I'l give you your marefriend's drink, okay?"

"Sure thing, boss lady!" They traded amicably. "Wow, what a weird word."

"Yes, marefriend can be surprising when it's yours, but-"

"No," Pinkie looked around, "'amicably'. Somepony broke out the dictionary for that one!"

Fluttershy and Mrs. Cake looked at Pinkie, then each other, and shrugged. "Pinkie-Winkie, may I have my chocolate milk while you, um, talk about words?"

"Huh, oh, sure thing. Here ya go, my Butter-Flutter! Hmm, Flutter-Butter? Oh! I know; Shybie! I like it, don't you girls?"

Fluttershy took the drink and placed it on the table leaned over to Pinkie, and gently bit on her ear. Pinkie stopped talking instantly and shivered from snout to tail, a grin holding firm as she turned to nuzzle the pegasus.

"Well, I think I need to put some powdered sugar on, well something. You two remember you're in public, now, and if you need anything just holler." Mrs. Cake took her leave and left them alone.

"Flutters, why'd you do that? You know it's one of my spots," Pinkie whispered as she rolled to her side.

Fluttershy removed her hoof from a place in Pinkie's mane and smoothed the hair back into place. "You were being a little too energetic, so I tickled your spot and nipped your ear, it's how we'll know when you're talking too much."

"Well, I can understand that, but what if we're in a more public place and you don't feel like nipping my ear? What the-hhhhh-" Pinkie's eyes closed slowly as she moaned quietly.

"Then I'll touch one of your spots, like this," Pinkie gasped and twitched her neck as Fluttershy let her hoof touch firmly and drag in a serpentine path down her side. Pinkie squealed, twitched, curled, and trembled as her lovers hoof gently brushed against the skin beneath her coat. It all came to a head when Fluttershy lifted her hoof from the pink mare and then pressed her it into the cotton candy mane, Pinkie almost literally melted as she rolled from the booth to the floor. Fluttershy giggled when she looked under the table. "I smell blue cotton candy, Pinkie. Are you getting excited?" she teased.

"Yeah, that happens a lot around you," Pinkie sighed and climbed back up to sit with her mare, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's leg after an approving nod. "So, you know my tickle spots, got it. What about if I go for yours?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"No, not in public, Pinkie." Pinkie waggled her hooves and started reaching for Fluttershy. "Pinkie, I said 'no'," she lowered her voice to a harsh whisper that commanded respect and obedience. Her eyes widened and Pinkie felt the world turn into a blur as she focused on the eyes staring at her. "No, Pinkie," Fluttershy said intently, flaring her wings suddenly, startling several ponies in the shop as well as Pinkie. "If you're going to be a naughty puppy then you're gonna have to go home and think about what you've done, young lady."

Pinkie smiled and winked at Fluttershy. "Woof-woof!" she hopped to the floor and ran in a circle several times before ponies groaned and went back to their business.

"She's silly, mommy. I wanna chase my tail, too," a filly said from a nearby table.

Fluttershy relaxed and drank her drink while Pinkie crawled under the table and lay at Fluttershy's hooves, panting happily.

"Darling, she's weird and you just worry about your own cutie mark, not what she does with hers."

"Okay, mommy," the filly said as she looked under the table to Pinkie the puppy with a smile. "Hi, I don't think you're weird. you're fun."

Pinkie replied with a wink and bark. Shortly afterward, Fluttershy finished her small meal and left three bits on the table before she made to leave. She looked back and tilted her head to the doorway. "Come, Pinkie, we have something to do back at the cottage." She watched as Pinkie crawled from under the table and let her tongue roll from her mouth as she galloped to and around Fluttershy, then leaped to the door and scratched at it lightly with a hoof and whimper.

The room fell into silence at the scene. When Fluttershy opened the door and patted Pinkie on the head, and closed to door softly as Pinkie ran in random directions seeming to sniff spots and ponies, the room returned to normal after a brief addition to friendly conversations about how the barers of the Elements of Harmon were the weirdest and most eccentric of ponies.

Chapter 10

Fluttershy lay in her bed as the midafternoon sun shone into her room, speckling off minute hairs and dust floating in the warm spring air. She couldn't feel anything but a warm afterglow from what she'd done to Pinkie, then what the nice puppy had done to her in return.

She giggled at the idea of being in love with a dog, a lesser animal in some ways... she looked over to Pinkie, who was lying beside her and playing with a portable gaming device with her forehooves while her hindlegs kicked and thrusted in response to the game.

"Pinkie, what are you playing?" she asked with a smirk, expecting some filly's game with monster hunting or perhaps a colt game of fighting for dominance of a sandbox.

"Solitaire. Level six. I'm on a roll," Pinkie said arching her back and reaching under her with a foreleg quickly and grabbing a warm soft roll. "Want some?"

Fluttershy looked with interest at what'd happened just then and shook her head slightly. "No thank you, I'm not hungry because I just ate."

"Meh, more for me," Pinkie tossed the roll into her mouth and started to chew, then began to cough loudly. Changing colors slightly she rolled her head over the bedside and spat bread from her mouth and swallowed whatever was left. Once her airway was safely cleared she laughed and rolled to her back with a grin and obvious glow about her. "That, was funny because it was true," Pinkie finally said, returning to her game.

"Well, I'm glad you liked it. I practiced it for a while earlier and was worried you wouldn't think it was funny."

"Where'd you hear it?"

"I got a few pointers from some local pegasi. You know Blossomforth and Cloud Kicker?"

Pinkie glanced over and an eyebrow rose. "Yeees, two very... uh, promiscuous mares that really have a thing for buying icing in bulk. I like them!" Pinkie grinned and moved her head to the side, tilting the game with her.

"Well, they have very colorful language and offered me some ideas on what to say that are a bit more naughty than I'm used to, but," Fluttershy shrugged, "life is full of stuff, right?"

"Heh, you have no idea," Pinkie said tossing the game aside and rolling to her side to look at Fluttershy, "and for the record, I really think we should go on a vacation somewhere. Just us and no animals," she smirked and reached a hoof up to the collar around her neck then trailed the leash, looped around Fluttershy's left forehoof, "except me, of course."

"Well," Fluttershy held the silence as she pondered, "I think I'd love to. But, Pinkie, you're okay playing pet and pony, right?"

"Meh, it's something new and anything with you is fun," Pinkie let her hoof slide against the hair on Fluttershy's foreleg, "and I mean anything."

"Pinkie, you're so important to me that I just don't know what I'd do without you. I feel too needy, am I?"

"Nah, if you were I'd tell you in a pop. Not like a soda pop, but a popcorn popping all buttery and parmesan cheese! Are you getting hungry too?"

Fluttershy giggled but shook her head. "No, I'm full. Perhaps you'd like to do something else?" her eyes narrowed slightly in a seductive way.

Pinkie looked over to Fluttershy and sighed. "Flutters, there is one little, teeny, tiny, itty bitty thing I was thinking about ma~ybe bringing up if -urk-," Pinkie's head expanded then returned to normal size as she giggled happily, "I like when you choker me like that," she giggled, rubbing the band across her throat, "but, yeah, I kinda think you have, well... you may have a problem coping with something and you just might be using all this to cover up something," she stopped as the leash was pulled and she fell over atop Fluttershy.

"Pinkie, you talk too much," Fluttershy whispered as she pressed their lips together. "I don't have problems when I have you."

"What if you didn't have me, what then?"

Fluttershy's eyes narrowed at the mare laying on her, muzzle inches from hers and a friendly concerned expression on her pink face. "I'd love her and appreciate her as a friend then," she finally said, averting her eyes. "I'd know that no matter what, for a while, I was free of my past failures and that she had taught me how to love ponies again, more than just as friends but as creatures worthy of caring about, in the same way, they care about me. I wasn't able to see that," she looked at Pinkie again with a soft look and smile, "and it's all thanks to you. If you wanna leave me, I won't even cry a little, Pinkie," she caressed Pinkie's face in her hooves and let the leash fall.

"Pinkie, you've made me more than I was and that's not something I'll ever just get over or be sad about because you listened to me, trusted me with your secrets as well, and I'll never forget that. I'll never go back to the pony I was... at least not as much as I was," she giggled.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you. We're already together and it's like we're starting a herd of our own! Maybe we can expand on how many mares we bring in and you can have a harem'ph-" Pinkie started before she was pulled into another kiss, this time the collar fell off her with a quiet clatter of the metal ring hitting the latch on the leash as it impacted Fluttershy's belly and bounced to her side.

"Pinkie, I... I love you like I haven't truly loved anypony since I was a filly," she brought her head up and nuzzled Pinkie, "I want to be yours, and only yours."

Pinkie's eyes widened slightly. "W-wait, you mean you wanna be with me like in a herd with me?" When Fluttershy nodded Pinkie giggled and hugged her tightly, pulling the yellow mare on top of her. With a forceful push, Fluttershy pressed herself up so she was stratling the pink mare. "Flutters, you can have all of me," she sucked her lips in and glanced side to side, "mirror pool not included."

"Deal," she leaned down and nuzzled Pinkie. "Now, I'm behind tending to the animals and you're behind on baking that cake for Miss Duty's promotion to supervisor-"

"Super Duty," Pinkie snorted a laugh.

"Yes, Pinkie. It is amusing, but we're behind and now I don't really feel the desire to take my widdle puppy for a walkies around the house," she booped Pinkie's nose.

"Awe, maybe the puppy can come over tonight around bedtime? With mister leash and missus hoofcuffs, with," her eyes closed then opened lustfully, "uncle riding crop?"

The both shivered and shared a smile. "Bring a new bridle, I have a feeling we're going to play late into the night."

Pinkie hummed. "Yeah, I can see that. Well," she stretched and zipped from under Fluttershy, standing on all four hooves and wearing a fake mustache. "Must be dashing off now. Toodles," she backflipped from the bed and silence befell the room.

Fluttershy took wing with soft flaps and looked over the edge of the bed to see the bare floor. With a giggle, she felt a warmth in her chest, a fulfillment she'd forgotten years before and now drank in the warmth that seemed to exude from her. A sparkle and shimmer emanated from her chest and a bright flash of light swole from the cottage to cover the whole of Ponyville, the Everfree Forest, and every creature within.

She sighed contently and landed on the bed then hopped off with a clatter of her hooves on the floor then she pranced happily out of her room and downstairs to take care of her animals.

Pinkie fell into her bed bouncing and cartwheeling several times until she finally landed on her tail on the floor. "Guess what, Gummy! I've got a special somepony forever! And she's amazing, and sweet, and soft, and warm, and yummy... That... might be too much information for your little ears. Anyway," she giggled and shut her eyes as she placed her hooves into her mouth and held back a joyful scream.

A pink light emanated from her and in a heartbeat a sphere of pink energy exploded from her, covering the city and surrounding area.

She opened her eyes and sighed. "Wow, what tastes like pink?" she smacked her lips and shrugged. "Oh well, gotta do stuff, catch ya later, Gummy," she gave him a soft hug and opened the door to her room. Her ears perked and she smiled as a familiar tug pulled at her and she ran downstairs. "A heartsong! Where are we?" she leapt out into the street and stumbled to a stop. "What the... Dozens of heartsongs? At the same time?!" she laughed, screamed, and jumped into the air as she picked one at random and joined in with at least five more to go before they should have been done.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading, another story to come along as soon as I get inspiration.

Chapter 4

Fluttershy laid in her bed and sighed at the ceiling. The night was one of the best of her life and she was as happy as when she sang with her animal friends. There was a joy in her that was new too: A warm fuzzy feeling that she hoped was true love.

She was also afraid because it was so foreign to her. What if she lost the feeling, what if she lost Pinkie, or what if Pinkie left her.

A swirl of negative thoughts began to enter her mind, ruining the joyous feeling she'd had. A flash to her past of a hoof pressing into her back between her wings and a voice...

She turned her head to look out the window and the evening sights. The sky is clear, thanks to the weather team supervisor. Quill? Something like that, I should make them a pie and see who's doing the weather these days, she thought to herself, the stars are twinkling, the night critters are doing their business, and even the forest is calm. What am I going to do about everything?

She sighed and looked at the ceiling again, tracing the knots in the wood in the relative silence as her mind tried to make sense of what-ifs and why-should-I's.

"I have to stop being so afraid," she said in her normal voice, "Pinkie won't leave me. She's a true friend and, after tonight, she's a real... marefriend," she smiled and covered her eyes with her hooves, allowing herself a slight giggle. "Tonight was the best I've everhad and I don't have to be afraid with Pinkie in my life now. She'll be the one, I think. Maybe she'll be," she gulped and looked at the ceiling, eyes wide, "the one."

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Fluttershy knocked on Pinkie's room door. The dinner had been amazing, as had the following week, and now was a day for Fluttershy to give Pinkie a surprise. On her back was balanced a tray with several traditional breakfast items and a cup of apple juice she'd gathered and purchased from the Cakes. She pushed the door open and walked up the flight of stairs to the room itself to see Pinkie laying half off her bed, her head on the floor, holding her mane as a pillow, blankets a mess, and Gummy asleep under the bed.

With a quiet giggle Fluttershy entered the room, set the tray on a small table by the stairs, and approached the pink mare. "Pinkie," she said softly. "Pinkie Pie," she repeated, reaching to poke her exposed belly.

"Hgggng," Pinkie replied as she fell off the bed and curled like a cat on the floor, her tail swishing side to side.

"Pinkie, go~od morning," Fluttershy sang softly. Pinkie smiled, but didn't wake up. Fluttershy huffed and leaned in close. "Pinkie Pie, I love you."

Before she could react Pinkie was hugging her tightly. "Me too," Pinkie said softly, "only, about you."

"Good morning, Pinkie," Fluttershy said wrapping her wings around Pinkie and holding her as close to her body as she could. "Pinkie, I brought you breakfast, would you lik-"

With a speed that rivaled Rainbow Dash Pinkie was sitting on the banister looking at the tray.

"Ooo, oatmeal, hay fries, a small quiche; extra carrots! Apple juice?" She looked at it closely. "Yup, and from the Apples, and, dun, dum, dun," she grinned looking at a smiling, yet slightly surprised, Fluttershy, "a double oat bran and strawberry muffin. Thanks, Shy!"

"Oh, it was no problem. Eat up, Pinkie, we have a busy day. I have to go into the Whitetail Woods and find an injured, but stubborn raccoon and you have your parties to plan."

Pinkie leaned over her food and began eating, while still on the banister. "Mnoph," she stopped to gulp, "not really. It's going to be a slow day since everypony is focusing on Rainbow Dash and Applejack."

"Well, I'm happy they're happy, however, they don't need to be so aggressive in their relationship."

"Pah," Pinkie waved a hoof at Fluttershy, "they're really sappy when they're alone."

Pinkie Leaned down and took another couple bites of her breakfast before hopping to the floor and sitting a little more properly.

"Um, Pinkie? Do you mean you've watched them in private?"

"Well," Pinkie said after a drink from her cup, "I was waiting for Rainbow to make a Pinkie Promise, then they went to bed and were talking really sweet and having fun, but not 'that' fun. Then finally Rainbow said it and I jumped from under their bed and reminded them that if you break a Pinkie Promise you risk losing a friend forever.

"After they were done yelling at me about stuff I left and, well, that's about all I did that night. Must've been yesternight?"

"Last night? So," Fluttershy asked raising her eyebrows slightly, "you left me early to hide under their bed?"

"Yuppers!" she replied with a grin, "never know when a PP is gonna be made, so I've gotta be ready... but, I really did mean what I said about it being an emergency reason I left you and didn't get a kiss," Pinkie said hopping to the floor and taking a smaller bite of her quiche before eating it in the next bite.

"Oh well, at least you stayed busy," Fluttershy shrugged and hugged Pinkie with a wing, "so, would you like to go for a walk?"

Pinkie gulped the last of her juice and placed the cup on her snout, balancing it. "Nah."

"Oh, um, how about a picnic?"

"I just ate, silly filly," Pinkie said as she reared and balanced on one rear leg, the cup staying stable on her muzzle.

"What about if we, had a race?"

"Nah, you're not very fast. Why don't we read a book or something?" Pinkie suggested as she, somehow, was riding a unicycle in place, focusing on the glass.

"Pinkie?! How'd you... Nevermind, um, that idea sounds okay. I didn't know you read, though."

"Well, duh! How do you think I know where everything in the library is? I've read them all, some twice!" Pinkie said as she hopped onto the seat of the unicycle, still balancing the cup on her muzzle. "But, I like to read comics too. I trade with Spike so I always have a good supply! Did you know he has hundreds of them? I could spend weeks reading them and he'd still get new ones, but Twilight doesn't agree with comic reading. You know how Twilight feels about those kinds of 'too short graphic novelizations of improbable fictions'."

The cup wobbled as the football ball Pinkie was balancing on her right hoof tipped free and she slipped, sending her toppling to the floor. "Aw, shoot. Almost broke my record."

"Pinkie, I don't... How do you even..." Fluttershy looked at Pinkie with an amused awe before she shook her head, clearing it of the spiraling thoughts of confusion. "Okay, would you like me to get your, um, comics with you?"

"Oh, no. I have to meet him at our secret spot," Pinkie said rushing over to Fluttershy, "it's downstairs, don't tell Twilight."

"O-oh, okay, I won't," she nodded.

"Besides, Twilight's in some trouble still from enchanting Dashie, so she's kind of under house arrest until the end of the week."

"What? What did, I mean, I don't want to pry but what happened? She's... Twilight."

"Oh, well, some jealousness made her a meany pants and she cast a spell on Dashie to make her think she was Apple Jackie, but then she stopped it and the real Apple Jackie almost beat her up and then the guard came in and kersplash! A magic poof stopped them and then they were in jail. No biggie."

Fluttershy looked at Pinkie with a slack jaw as the pink mare pushed a pile of toys under a green rug that was too small to hide them. "Um, were you..." Fluttershy started.

"I was hiding on the bookshelf behind a copy of 'The Smithy Mountains' when it went down. I almost jumped out to stop them but Apple Jackie was really mad and Twi was using magic that was a little scary to keep AJ from hitting her. Oh! Twi had three shields up and before the guard came in AJ had broken two of them and was cracking the last one like an egg," Pinkie grinned and motioned with her hooves.

"O-oh dear... I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You didn't ask," Pinkie replied as she sided with Fluttershy and draped a foreleg across her back. "'Shy, if you wanna know more, you gotta ask more, I can't remember to tell you everything when I forget what I was supposed to remember!"

With a slight pull, Pinkie began to lead them to the stairs. "Oh, okay. I'll ask, more?"

"That's more like it!"

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Chapter 5

Pinkie led Fluttershy into Whitetail Woods. "C'mon, Shy, it's not too far, right?"

"Actually they are supposed to live by the third creek in and that's about a half hour fly," she gulped and looked to Pinkie apologetically, "or two hours trot at normal pace."

"It's okay, Fluttershy," Pinkie said as she trotted back, "I don't mind the walk with you, let's go save a squirrel!"

"Raccoon."

"Raccoon!" Pinkie corrected herself and led Fluttershy.

"Um, Pinkie? It's that way." Pinkie looked where Fluttershy was pointing and cantered herself to the direction and didn't hear the timid pegasus giggle as she went to follow. "Pinkie, what should we talk about while we're walking? We have time now."

"Why are you so shy?" Pinkie blurted as she slowed to let Fluttershy catch up.

"Oh, um, I don't know. It's just my way, I guess."

"I don't believe you," Pinkie squinted then made a tsk sound, "but I can't make you tell me-"

"N-no, maybe I can tell you some of the reason."

"I'm listening~" Pinkie sing songed as she hopped between a split tree.

"I don't really like ponies, is all. I'm anxious about what they think of me or what they'll do if they get mad at me."

"Get mad? Fluttershy, ponies don't do much of anything when they get mad," Pinkie dismissed until she saw an expression on Fluttershy's face, "unless you think otherwise."

"Pinkie, when ponies get mad they don't always use words to, hurt, but words can be enough," she sighed and took wing hovering, "maybe I should scout ahead for, uh, monsters?"

"Shy," Pinkie said in a stern voice, "get down here and talk to me like a marefriend," she stomped a hoof and stopped where she was.

"B-b-b-but..."

"No butts but the one you sit on when you talk to me right now, little filly," Pinkie joked.

Fluttershy folded her wings and fell to the ground, scampering to her hooves and to Pinkie, sitting on her haunches. "Y-yes, Sir. I, mean Pinkie."

"Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked in concern. Fluttershy blinked and trembled, looking around. "Fluttershy, it's okay, I was just being silly. You know me, always silly," Pinkie grinned at the fearful mare.

"W-well, maybe you should stop being silly and be serious!" Fluttershy shouted taking flight and leaving Pinkie behind as she flew deeper into the forest.

"Wait! Fluttershy?! Come back! You're going the wrong way," Pinkie spoke at the end and looked around the woods. "Well, at least there aren't any monsters in these woods." She listened and waited for a monster to roar and when none did she shrugged and took to a frolicing skip after Fluttershy.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*