Vinyl Scratch is in Wub Wub Wub!by ThundraChaptersEuphoric Nightmare (Ch 1)Reminiscence (Ch 2) Amor Ebrius (Ch 3)Stupor (Ch 5)Careless Whispers (Ch 4)Euphoric Nightmare (Ch 1)Authors Note: Please leave a comment with good feedback if you can. I really appreciate the help of others! Her eardrums thumped against the back of her skull in agony. The ground was quaking, and the sound of hoof beats filled the air. Cowering in fear, a butter yellow mare laid on the brightly colored floor, her eyes tightly shut as the noise in the air consumed her. The sound of something ripping was sent through the air, replacing the noisy clopping of hooves with loud, angry cries. The pink haired mare feared for her life amongst tendrils of her mind that kept smacking her all over, with cold, hard demeanor. She felt herself being lifted into mid air, only acknowledged by the loss of pressure on her legs, curled under her body. Curling up into a fetal ball position, as she slowly rose into the air. ‘Am I dead? Am I rising up to the afterlife? What is to become of me?!’ pondered the pony. She had no clue what was happening to her, and she dared not to open her eyes. Despite her irrational thoughts of being dead, it felt like a surprising warm wave had washed over her. One that she had felt before, but she couldn’t put her hoof on it. It was all too much for her. Slowly losing consciousness, the darkness filled her eyes more than were already filled, and she felt the loss of focus as her hooves hung in the air, limp like cooked linguine. With her last bit of concentration, she feared for her friends, and what they would think of her for giving up her life so easily. She wished that her friends had received her thoughts of farewells, as she slowly fell into a deep slumber. Several Hours Earlier: Fluttershy was laying down in just inside her cottage, waiting for the boredom spell to pass. She had so little to do in the winter, what with all her little critter friends hibernating. She made herself a small lunch of a sunflower sandwich and some hayfries, then settled into her couch, only to be interrupted by a loud rapping sound on her door. As she turned the handle on the door, it swung open on it’s own accord, with enough force to scare Fluttershy directly in to the air, where she grasped at the ceiling with all her might. Below her stood a rainbow trail, leading directly into the corner, in which strew a pile of blankets and pillows, assembled in a large mound surrounding the oh so courteous Rainbow Dash. “Hey Fluttershy! Wanna go out?” Called the rainbow mare from underneath the mountain of fluff. Fluttershy only looked stunned. Not only had she never been asked out before, but she never knew that anypony, especially Dash, had feelings for her. Not only did it confuse her, but even scared her a little, beca- “Ground to Pegasus, bzzzzz do you copy? over.” Dash was now in her face, their muzzles inches apart. Fluttershy, averting her gaze, tried to mutter a response. “oh…well…Rainbow…I don’t… I never knew…” “Never knew what? Do you wanna go with us or not?” Interrupted Dash. “I… wait, us?” “Yes, us. Me, Twi, AJ, Pinkie, and Rarity are going clubbing! It’s going to be so AWESOME! I can show off all my cool dance moves! I even customized all of my flying tricks into dance tricks! Like the Blazing Buccaneer! Or the Whirlwind!” Dash was now spinning around to emphasize her point. Fluttershy looked confused. ‘I thought… she meant me and her…’ “I-I don’t know… I’ve never g-gone b-before…” The look on Rainbow's face was a mix of confused and eccentric. “NEVER? You HAVE to go now! Cmon Shy! You gotta try new things!” Rainbow looked as if she hadn’t been breathing at all. Grabbing Fluttershy by the hoof, Rainbow nearly dragged her out the door. Fluttershy grabbed the door and held on with her meek little arms. “W-w-wait!!” Fluttershy gasped. Rainbow looked back, momentarily stoping. “What?! Cmon!” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves in embarrassment. “I…I don’t know.” Rainbow put her hoof under the filly’s chin, seeing the small, pale yellow Pegasus that she remembered all too well from flight school. Lifting the mare’s head, Fluttershy met the gaze of those deep, magenta eyes, which seemed to emphasize all the love she could manage. “Fluttershy. Don’t you trust me?” Her tone was that which Fluttershy used when talking to the critters. Her voice was soft and gentle, while calm and inviting, waiting for the pony’s heart to warm up. After a bit of silence, Fluttershy looked up, and stared into the deep eyes. “Yes, Rainbow Dash, I do. I’ll go if you want me to.” Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy’s hoof and sped off as fast as her wings could carry her. The last thing to be heard in the clearing of the cottage was “LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Fluttershy trotted down the streets of Ponyville, while Rainbow glided slightly above her. Rainbow was laying on her back, her forehooves crossed, and almost with ease, floated down the road, regaling the tough-as-nails training sessions that she goes through, in anticipation for the Wonder Bolts. Together, they arrived in a new section of Ponyville. A few new houses, a sports shop, and their destination for tonight, a large, stone building. Walking towards the front of the building, Fluttershy spotted the rest of her entourage, who where conversing about their latest accolades. Obviously the loudest one in the group, the ivory pony with dark purple hair could be heard boasting about her latest hotshot client. The building had bright blue neon letters hanging on the front depicting the words “Tom Dan’s Club”. Most didn’t notice it, but Rarity felt a twinge of pain. They entered the door to the club, only to be found in utter darkness. The loud drone took over of many ponies talking, most more than with an inside voice. The smell of alcohol permeated the air, while wafting into her nose. Many a pony pushed and shoved in the darkness. Fluttershy soon lost contact with her friends, and was utterly alone in the terrifying void. Trying to make her way back to her friends, something snagged her leg, and she fell to the floor with an audible thump. ~Present time~ Her mane starting to stick to her face, Vinyl Scratch was ever vigilant. Ready to call it a night, she was finishing her final track on her turn table, pumping out the bass like there was no tomorrow. She’d been paid to make an appearance as her DJ persona DJ P0N-3 and play for Tom Dan’s Club. She was about to pack it in, when something caught her eye. There had been a small mare in the crowd that caught her eyes. The mare had a creamy, light yellow coat, and a luscious pink mane, along with the widest, most soulful eyes she had ever seen. The mare had captivated her attention, until she realized something was wrong. The mare was curled up on the ground, shaking, nearly getting stepped on by every other pony on the dance floor. Vinyl, halfway through changing a disk, dropped the disk from her mouth, causing it to scratch against the needle, creating a reverberating RIP across the mass of ponies. Dropping all her concentration, she focused all of her remaining magic into her horn, and mentally grabbed the Pegasus, levitating her up into the air. Beads of sweat rolled down Vinyl’s face as she pulled the mare past the stage, and into the back, where she laid the mare down. Slowly, the pink haired filly opened her eyes, to see a white unicorn curled up beside her. The unicorn’s flowing mane consisted of a spiky dark blue shroud, with streaks of electric blue. The unicorn bore bright crimson eyes, that seemed to look right into Fluttershy’s heart. The strange unicorn, with sunglasses on her forehead, was floating a bottle of water over to the mare. Fluttershy tried to speak, but no words left her throat. The unicorn simply shushed her softly, putting a pillow underneath them, and laid down next to the scared pony. For the longest while, they just sat there. Eventually, the strange unicorn got up, and extended a hoof to Fluttershy. Fluttershy was subconsciously divided inside. Her mind told her not to trust this random stranger, but her heart told her differently. Her heart told her that this pony wasn't going to hurt her. Fluttershy aimlessly looked into her eyes, and saw someone who genuinely cared. The stranger merely lifted Fluttershy onto her back, like she was a small animal. When Fluttershy asked where they where going, the unicorn merely smiled, and said in her calmest voice, "Home." Fluttershy didn't argue with any logic that presented it's self. She merely closed her eyes, her anxiety being lifted off her since she met the strange pony. The last she saw was her cottage in the woods before she drifted off into slumber, vaguely aware of something warm slipping over her, and something soft and plushy being placed underneath her. Reminiscence (Ch 2) Reminiscence (Ch 2) Fluttershy regained her senses before she opened her eyes. Not knowing where she was, or who might be there, she decided to remain “asleep” until she could figure out where she was. Still curled up in a ball, the scent around the room felt familiar. The crisp sheets beneath her felt vaguely familiar, the same way her mattress felt after a year or so of laying on it. Last night left a hazy blur on her memories, and the last thing she could remember was Applejack’s flank as they walked into… into… ‘Oh for h-heavens sake! Where did we go last night?’ The yellow mare couldn’t get a hold of what happened last night. Maybe she could ask the others what happened last night. But she was getting ahead of her self. ‘I could… but first I have to figure out how to get away, and where I am, and ho-‘ Her thoughts where interrupted by a strange sound. A deep, throaty sound emanated from a short distance. Fluttershy slowly opened an eye, barely enough to start to form shapes of the small grey shapes around her. A sudden wave of nostalgia washed over her, and she started to recognize more and more things. A bookcase. Birdhouses. Pots of flowers. A big pink dresser. A fireplace. It slowly dawned on her. ‘This is MY house! But why would they take me here anyway…’. Fluttershy finally let the curiosity get the better of her. She needed to confront her marenapper. Getting up, she trotted slowly across the all too familiar dwelling, reaching the door to her living room. She carefully opened the door as quietly as she could, but it still let out a mournful squeak. To not make noise when crossing the room, she spread her wings and lifted herself a few inches off the ground, slowly but surely “air crawling” her way into the center of the house. The noises she heard where coming from her couch. She slowly crept up behind the house, to catch a glimpse at her capturer. Slowly poking her head over the couch, she saw it. It was a marble white Unicorn, lying on her couch, lying being the simple term. In reality, the unicorn was sprawled all across the couch, every which way, one leg resting on the back of the couch, the other strewn under her body. Her head hung off the side of the couch in a state of deep slumber. The unicorns chest was slowly heaving up and down, a slight snoring sound coming from her muzzle. The inner furnace inside of Fluttershy raged with the heat of Celestia’s sun it’s self, as she set off on the strange unicorn, her eyes wide open. “Hey! Wake up!” Fluttershy was nearly screaming. The strange unicorn’s limbs flailed as she rolled headfirst off the ground, landing on the wood with her shoulders, she tumbled over until she was flat on her back, her head reeling from the sudden awakening. However, Fluttershy was already on top of the situation, boring into the unicorns deepest fears. “You never, never go in anyone else's home! Ever! got that?” Fluttershy saw the unicorn cowering and backing away slowly. Fluttershy reached forward, and grabbed the pony’s purple glasses, and pulled them off. “Why I have half a mind to-“ Fluttershy’s rage was taken away mid sentence. She looked into the ponies piercing crimson eyes, and saw the slightest sliver of fear, despite how much the unicorn was trying to hide it. Fluttershy saw her own reflection in the deep, bright red eyes, and all the rage steamed away inside of her, leaving behind only a momentary memory. Thoughts of last night eluded her, while a certain one stepped forward, revealing her familiarity of those eyes. She had seen them last night, through the darkness. Fluttershy looked away, embarrassed, a rosy blush appearing on her cheeks. Vinyl, regaining her ruffian bravado, stood back up, the fire returning to her eyes, her ears perking back up. “WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME!” Fluttershy couldn’t quite call up the words to help her. The stutters leaving her mouth didn’t help with communication that often, “O-oh, I-I d-didn’t m-mean to…I-… you w-where in m-my h-ouse…” “Yeah. I carried you here after you were getting trampled by a crowd o’ drunken slobs.” The pink mare looked stunned. “You… y-you wha?” The white unicorn let out a tired sigh. “I think you better sit down. I got a story for you.” Vinyl put her glasses back on, and relined against the sofa as she started regaling the events of last night. Rainbow was laying belly first on her favorite cloud, gazing up towards the stars. Not even her most comfortable cloud could sooth the inner apathy that slowly consumed her conscious being. She rolled over, and planted her face into the floating cushion, letting the tears flow into the cloud, making sure that she was far from anypony who could disturb her. The thought still completely fresh in her mind, she replayed it over, and over, hoping that there was another explanation for what she saw. As they entered the club, it was dark and loud. Rainbow knew that the club was infamous for their electric strobe lights, and knew it was only a matter of time. Bursting into the center of the dance floor, she was ready for the euphoria that is the heavy techno beat, combined with the lust and alcohol. She was ready to party harder than any pony, when she heard the faint squeal that she knew all to well and the yellow mare with pink hair. Her instincts kicked in, and she began shouting for Fluttershy, trying with all her might to find her. She could barely make out the coat colors of any ponies in the effects of the alternating strobe lights, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She began to panic as she couldn’t locate the tender and quiet mare that she knew all too well. She spotted the mare in the place she least expected her to be. On the stage, heading for the back door. Rainbow shot for the entrance with a burst of speed, sending two disgruntled bounder ponies to the ground. Shooting straight up into the air, her adrenaline gnawed at her to save her friend. She couldn’t find anything, so she started scouting the path back towards Fluttershy’s cottage. Hope was fading fast, until she saw the pink tail on the trail towards the quiet pony’s home, only, something was wrong. She was walking, swaying, arm in arm with a different pony. Nearing the house, the other pony picked up Fluttershy, and carried her inside. Dashie’s thoughts got the best of her, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. She flew as fast as her wings would carry her, towards the second story window. She could only see a silhouette being laid on the bed. The second silhouette leaned over the smaller one, and put her muzzle to the lower mares face, and turned out the light. With an almost audible CRACK Dash's heart snapped in half. Utterly defeated, her tough facade shattered instantly, by one pink haired, yellow coated filly. She couldn't put into words what she felt towards that filly, and she never could, that being one of the biggest reasons that she never told anyone. Fluttershy was the gentlest, most nicest pony she had ever met. She was calm, and timid, able to care for the strongest pony. She was everything Dash wasn’t. In a sense, she was what felt like to dash, a “Better half”. Not being able to stomach it any longer, Dash burst away, flying as far and fast as her wings could go, just trying to get away from any pony, not wanting them to see her with tears streaming down her face. The cyan mare could only lay there, and think about what was going on inside that hut. Like a car wreck, no matter how horrible the thought felt to her, no matter how painful it was to think about it, the image stayed burnt into her mind. With the tears flowing from her face, Rainbow let her limbs go limp. she no longer felt anything from her body, other than the constant source of burning hatred that spewed from her broken heart. Fluttershy was sitting on in her recliner, covered in a blanket, and hot cocoa in her hooves. The mystery pony was sprawled out on the floor, with her legs crossed in the air, unable to sit still. As the story went on, the memories of the nightmare slowly returned to Fluttershy. “Wait… erm… what did you say your name was? You look kind of f-familiar.” The white pony looked back up. Fluttershy never noticed how eccentric the pony looked. She was a solid, marble white pony with a black musical symbol cutie mark. She had spiky blue hair, with a light, almost electric teal streaks in her hair. The strange mare had eyes like she had never seen. They where deep, crimson iris’s that seemed to never end, but the pony constantly hid them behind her purple shades. “Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. But most people know me as DJ P0N-3.” Fluttershy looked astounded. “Y-y-you’re the f-famous DJ!?” Vinyl looked as if someone had offered her Brussels sprouts for desert.A nearly enigmatic expression crept onto her face, as if she did not know she was famous. She merely hummed “Mmmhm.” “I… I really owe you an apology. You s-saved me, and I just y-yelled at you…” The unicorn laughed. “It’s fine. If I woke up with a stranger in my house, I would freak too. ‘Sept I would go all ninja.” She jumped up onto her hind hoofs, and kicked the air, while throwing random karate chops. “I would be all HYAAH! And WATCHAAA! I would kick them good!” Fluttershy giggled a little at her eccentric antics. But one thing was plaguing her mind. “Erm… one… thing… H-how did you know where I l-live?” The look on the DJ unicorn’s face dropped. “Oh… right.” She suddenly got quieter. Years ago, I was in a rut. I didn’t have a job, and I was alone in my life. I may have been alone and poor, but the one thing that I would never give up is my music. I always found music in my life, no matter how small, or how blaring. I had given up, and ran into the Everfree forest to die. I didn’t care what did me in, and I didn’t care how it happened. I closed my eyes and ran. I just ran for as long as I could. When my tears dried, I found myself in a small clearing, with nothing left to do. I just laid down, and waited. I waited for something to come, but nothing happened. I don’t know if it was dehydration, or if it was a sign. I heard a rustle, and I slowly sat up, expecting to be faced to face with a monster, who I would become dinner for. Instead, I saw me. Except, it wasn’t exactly me. I was wearing insane purple shades, and I had electric blue in my hair. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew it was me. The older me lifted up my chin, and gave a broad grin. Her voice echoed slightly through the forest. “You’re gonna go far kid. Don’t give up now. Trust me. No matter how much life throws at you, it’s always the darkest before the dawn. If I know you, and I think I do, You’re gonna pick yourself up, find a loving pony, and settle down happily. Now get goin’! You must be starving.” Before I could respond, she picked me up. She set her glasses over my eyes, and gave me a gentle push. I turned around, with the words welling up in my throat, but She… I… what ever it was, it was gone. I tried to get back home, but I was completely lost. I was nearly ready to pass out, until I heard the best sound in my life. It was soft, angelic, and caring, but it rang out from the heavens, as if speaking to me. The voice continued, as it was followed by a mass of bids chirping. I had no choice. I followed the chirps until I met into a road. I climbed as far as I could, and the last thing I saw was a yellow coated mane, and a long, pink mane. I closed my eyes, expecting to be gone. I woke up in the hospital. They said that they found my on a road a little outside of Ponyville. When I got better, I slowly started rising, getting jobs as a low paying DJ. I got lost while looking for a gig, and I saw a small clearing leading from a path. Something drew me towards it that day, but I couldn’t tell what. I went through the clearing, and saw a small cottage, surrounded by singing birds. I knew it was the same clearing. I made a promise to myself. If I ever saw that yellow coated mare again, I would do anything in my power to help her. Unfortunately, after that, I moved to Manehatten and got a steady job, slowly getting more and more recognition, until they opened up a club in Ponyville, and asked me to be their DJ. I said yes at the chance to go back to my home town again. It was quiet, (Not that my hearing is that good anymore.) until one night, I saw that pink mare, and I knew I had to help. I carried you back to that cottage from memory, and made sure you where safe. “I put you in your bed, and without realizing it, I guess I crashed on your couch without realizing it. I-I… I’m sorry. I’ll leave if you-“ She was interrupted by the yellow mare, who simply hugged her. The white unicorn’s face lit up red, and after a second, she hugged back. When they separated, Fluttershy made it well known that she can stay here tonight. Vinyl curled up on the sofa, with a blanket and a pillow, as Fluttershy said her goodnights, and promised her they would go out tomorrow. Vinyl Scratch slowly drifted off thinking about the yellow mare whom she owes her life, and owns her heart. Amor Ebrius (Ch 3)Authors Note: I'm sorry if I put this out a little... late. I'm falling behind with a lot of stuffs, and lately I've been really depressed, and it was just plain difficult to find the effort to write anything, but I had an awesome day today! I really have a hard time finding inspiration sometimes, and when I do, I don't always have the will to write. Thanks to DJMidli and Oblivion2k for pre-reading and helping me edit my story, and to everyone in the chat room for being awesomesauce!! A few weeks have passed since the incident, but to Fluttershy, days melted into mere seconds while with the white unicorn. Fluttershy felt an almost physical tether to the DJ Pony. No matter how much Fluttershy felt like a nuisance, she wanted to stay by the unicorn’s side, but she can’t say it. Of course, Vinyl doesn’t mind, quite the opposite, Vinyl enjoys spending time with Fluttershy more than anything right now. She has become her inspiration, her muse. Vinyl was absolutely taken with the golden angel since the first time she heard that voice, to the first time she saw the mare, frightened on the dance floor. Vinyl had schemed out everything, and was ready to make her move. But there was one thing she hadn’t accounted on. The leaves made a crisp crunch as they succumbed to the pressure of the two mares. They slowly stepped along the dirt path, surrounded by the finesse of the looming green trees. Vinyl was strutting along the path to the beat of her favorite track, while sharing a story fond to her, about her weekend antics. “And THAT’S when I bought the horse a prostitute!” the ivory DJ finished as Fluttershy let out a soft giggle, a rosy hue creeping up on her face. “I can’t believe you did that!” Vinyl pounded by Fluttershy’s side, and threw her hoof around the mare’s small shoulders and leaned into her, making Fluttershy wobble about. A small gasp escaped from the little yellow filly’s lips as she toppled over. She hit the ground with a slight thump, and a small cloud of dirt and dust wrapped over her like a blanket, drying out her throat as she succumbed to a small cough. With the dust settling, her muzzle and the bridge of her nose were covered in those bright, teal blue streaks that were as soft as a blanket, and deep as a crystal clear lake, the sharp smells of strawberries and cream drifting off of Vinyl’s mane. The scent spiked her senses and reminded of home, surrounded by the fields of berries and flowers, creating a delightful mix of aromas, able to quell her every stress. The dream of roaming in fields was cut short by a small fading rumble. Fluttershy flinched and closed her eyes, afraid of the possibilities. She let out a small cry. Vinyl pushed her purple shaded glasses up past her horn, and looked up into Fluttershy’s eyes; her ruby iris’s reflecting a shine, like a small star imploding into a nova of light. The thought crossed Vinyl to finally go for it. The timing felt right. Vinyl slowly leaned in close to Fluttershy, her entire body tensing up and quivering from the thought of what she was doing. Right before she took the final plunge, her stomach gave off a loud gurgle. Vinyl shot back out of embarrassment, and sat on her flank, her hind legs spread out. “Want to go get some food or sometin’?” queried the unicorn, flailing her limbs one by one to get the blood flowing. Fluttershy agreed, and they trotted along the path back into Ponyville, in an odd, yet comfortable silence. Vinyl thought about how close she was, and muttered a quiet "Ah, horsefeathers! Maybe next time..." Vinyl let Fluttershy pick out a restaurant, and as they ate, they delighted each other with past anecdotes from their lives and friends. Having their fill, they decided to walk around Ponyville for a while. Rainbow had nigh given up. Not even flying could make her happy anymore. She just wanted to rip out her heart. She was belly up on a cloud, her heart cleaved in twain. People had tried to talk to her, but she only ignored them. She couldn’t will herself to move. The only mare she had ever loved has abandoned her. Of course, Rainbow had had plenty of one night stands, but those meant nothing compared to waking up to the one you love. Sex was sex, and even then, Dashie wasn’t up for it. Eventually, Rainbow got to the point of starvation. She wanted to roll over and die, but not like this. She could handle to pain, she could handle the waiting. What she couldn't handle is going out with a whimper. The thought of dying of starvation only registered one thought in her mind, 'lame.' If she was going to die, it needed to be radical and extreme. Like catching a hail of bullets, and falling headfirst into hell.'Yeah, that's it. Now all I need is a guy in a black trench coat, and a gun.' While she fantasies extensively about this, she knew it was not likely to happen any time soon. Finally summoning up the courage to move, she rolled off the cloud, falling towards the ground with the same velocity of an unladen swallow. Merely seconds from hitting the ground, her wings shot out in a glory of cyan feathers, slowing her decent in the blink of an eye, as she touched back on earth. Only barely registering the awkward gawks of those around her, she slowly marched, foot by foot, through the town. Head down, tail in-between her legs, Dash made her way to the nearest place that could serve her any kind of nourishment. Her heart ached with every step. She decided to go with something to take the edge off. A drink might soothe the ache in her chest, as well as prohibit her from remembering what happens when she wakes up in the morning. She found the nearest bar, and drifted inside, up to the nearest barstool. The bar pony asked her what kind of drink she wanted, and with her head in her hoofs, she replied with an empty “Strongest thing you got.” The bartender obliged, and mixed her a drink worthy of an alicorn's strength. They could no doubt get Princess Celestia plasted. Speaking of whom, Dash could vaguely hear a TV in the side of the bar, playing and episode of the 'Honeymooners'. She could vaguely recognize the fake Celestia voice on the TV. "One of these days, Luna, one of these days! Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!" One turned too many, and soon, the table was fluttered with shot glasses. Rainbow, snacking here and there, was almost starting to feel a little better. The alcohol had taken the edge off of her heart ache. She turned to leave, but somepony grabbed her hoof and stopped her. Rainbow dash struggled, but the bouncer just held firm, as another bouncer placed a large, industrial rubber band around Rainbow’s mid section, around her wings. “Wha’ sthe b-big id-dea?” Rainbow uttered in incomprehensible slurs. The bouncers simply stated it’s so “You can’t fly drunk. Too dangerous.” Rainbow protested, but to no avail. She limped out of the bar, and started her trek home, drifting slowly through the stone streets, barely able to register the ponies and stores passing by. Taking all her concentration on walking nearly made her miss the squeal. That familiar, shocked, squeal that she knew all too well. She turned around, and that’s when she saw it. Rainbow felt inner rage like she never had before. Her body ran on a different fuel. Not food, or water, but hatred. Pure hatred and anger. Her adrenaline spiked, and with a newfound energy, she shot out as fast as she could. Vinyl never walked around so much, but for that Pegasus, she would do anything. Fluttershy seemed so in tune with nature, in step with everything happening around them, from the trees shaking to the birds fluttering. As they walked past a few buildings, Vinyl had a well of emotion being barricaded inside of her. Vinyl yearned for the yellow filly. Not for friendship, or even for sex. Vinyl wanted her for her mind, and for her soul. She wanted to be there for her, and do whatever she can to make her happy. Vinyl wanted to scream it to the heavens, but it always got lodged in her throat. Lost in her emotions, she nearly collided with a wall. It was enough to get Fluttershy to stop in her tracks, and turn her attention to the DJ beside her. “W-what’s wrong?” queried the pegasi, but the DJ pony nearly looked off into the distance, and responded with a crisp “Thinkin’”. “Oh? What about?” but the ivory pony merely stopped. After a moment of silence, she responded. “I’ve never been good with words… or saying what I feel… so I’ll just show you.” Before she could protest, Fluttershy was against the wall, with Vinyl pressed against her body. She let out a sharp cry of shock, as she felt Vinyl’s muzzle against hers, locking into a long, warm embrace of their mouths. Vinyl could feel the tension inside of Fluttershy vanish, and she soon became limp in her arms, not wanting to pull away any more than Vinyl did. But vinyl did pull away to catch a breath of air, when instead, she caught something different. She caught the body of another pony, ramming into her with all of her might, sending them tumbling to the ground, landing on her back. On top of her, she saw a blue furred Pegasi with flowing rainbow locks with hazy rose colored eyes bearing down at her. Before Vinyl could move in protest, the pony lashed out and struck Vinyl in the face with both of her hoofs, beating on the the unicorn’s eyes and cheeks. A small strand of deep red came out of Vinyl’s mouth, and rolled down over her chin.. With the vision barely left in her eyes, she saw a burning look in the pegasi’s eye. Vinyl, recovered from the initial shock, pulled up her hind leg, and positioned it under belly of her assailant, and forced her hoof into the cyan mare’s abdomen, sending her reeling on the ground, gasping for air. Vinyl stood up on her wobbly hind legs, and wiped the dripping blood from the corner of her mouth, focusing all the magic in her horns, she locked onto the outer body of the pegasi, and with her remaining strength, threw her in the direction of the nearest wall. The mysterious mare hit the stone clad wall with an audible thump, and reclined on the ground, struggling to get up.. Vinyl stood her ground, waiting for the next barrage from the mare, but the next strike never came. She slowly relaxed her shoulders, instinct telling her that the danger was gone for now.. She could hear the distant echoes of frantic yelling, but it only barely registered as the adrenaline of battle swayed her body. A set of hoofs grabbed her from both sides, instinctive sending Vinyl twirling to her side, only to see the worried faces of not only the mare that she would gladly fight for, but a random purple unicorn that she vaguely recalled as the local librarian. The ivory DJ plumped down on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked across the alley to see her attacker on the ground, limbs flailing, struggling to get free. She was being held down by a blonde, orange pony with a cowboy hat, and on the other side, a large red stallion with long spiky locks of a dirtier blond. With the angry mare subdued for the time being, Vinyl leaned back into a set of arms, and closed her eyes for minutes, feeling her heart beat in her throat. She could feel the soreness in her face already, and it was beginning to become difficult to keep her eyes open. She vaguely felt the feel of magical energy around her body, but she paid it no heed. Her mind was racing, trying to recollect all that had happened. In the state of confusion, Vinyl managed to get on her hoofs, and stagger off while people were trying to sort what happened. She got behind the buildings, out of sight, and headed for the one place she could think. Vinyl set off up the luscious green hill, the grass darkened to a deep, forest like green in the tint of darkness. She galloped up the hill at an moderate pace, making sure not to disturb her injuries. she couldn't help but think about how she had gotten into all of this. The words of her father echoed freshly in her head. 'Fillies are all trouble. Settle down and find yourself a nice colt. All mares ever do is make drama. You want to know what goes through a colts mind? Hard work, and naked mares. Makes for a simple life.' Vinyl reached the top of the hill as the moon reached it’s full glory. She sat on the top of a big hill, that overlooked some low flying clouds, silver lined by the moons light. Finally alone with her thoughts, she could still only think about one thing. The cyan mare. She needed to talk to her about what had happened. Rainbow Dash lay pressed to the ground, wings strapped to the side of her body, her limbs held down in place by Applejack and her elder brother Big Macintosh. She struggled to get free, but under the pressure of the stallions weight, she relaxed, and stopped moving. She wasn’t going to get out with brute force. She had a trick up her sleeve that she planned to use. During the tumble, the band keeping her from flying had slipped off of her wings, and now hung from just below her midsection. Waiting for the perfect moment, she complied with what her captors said. Applejack let go of Dash, and at that moment, she new to strike. Rainbow unfurled her wings right into Big Mac’s face, sending him staggering in confusion. With the momentary lapse of security holding her in place, Dash shot towards the sky, leaving only a herd of confused ponies, and a trail of the rainbow behind her. She flew quickly towards her favorite cloud that lay above a big hill just outside of Ponyville. Quickly transcending the hill, she took what she saw with extreme caution. It was the unicorn that she had just battered, sitting on top of the hill. Rainbow walked awkwardly over to the pony. The unicorn span around, and looked Rainbow dead in the eyes, with a piercing gaze worthy of a rapier. She simply stated. “Why?” Rainbow Dash was at a loss. She had expected a more violent outcome from both of them, but this pony was perfectly calm, her eyes listless and unfocused. Rainbow looked down out of embarrassment, and under the hush of her voice, she said, “Because I love her.” “I know. Why haven’t you told her?” Dash avoided eye contact with the unicorn. “It’s going to be a long story… are you sure you’re up for it?” “Yeah.” Rainbow Dash sat down next to her, and began explaining all the details of their friendship, from filly hood, to their friends, even up till now, excluding Dash’s period of apathy and fasting. They sat in silence for a while. Neither said much. The unicorn relieved herself of a heavy sigh, before looking Dash right in the eye, and simply said, “Tell her.” Rainbow objected to this, trying to find some excuse, no matter how dismal, as to not tell her. “I… but… you guys are… and I’m just… you’re a couple… and-“ Dash was cutoff. “Listen. I can’t claim to know her that long. I don’t have the right to say that I love her. I don’t know her that well. But you can. We both know deep down that you want her. She completes you. Makes you whole. We aren’t a couple. I kissed her. I can’t speak for her, but I know that I really like her, but I can’t say I feel for her yet like you do. You need to go tell her. I don’t care if we were a couple, you need to tell her all of this. If she is really a friend, even if she never feels the same way about you, she will always be your friend, you got that? I want her to be happy, even if that means being with you. My feelings don’t matter. If she is truly happy with you, then I want her to take that chance, and be with you. You have my blessing.” Rainbow Dash was utterly speechless. She sat for a while, mulling the speech over in her head. “You… you want her to be with me? W-why…” The unicorn gave a heart felt smile through her bruised lip. “Because I want her to be happy. Not me. If she is happy, then I’m happy. Go to her.” Rainbow was torn asunder. Her mind did a backflip, but her heart retched. Rainbow would have greatly taken those words, and sought after the filly of her dreams. But this time, her heart stopped her. She didn’t deserve to have Fluttershy. All she could think about is what she wants. What would make Rainbow Dash happy. What was best for Rainbow Dash. But her heart retched. All she could think about is what she wants. What would make Rainbow Dash happy. She never stopped to consider how Fluttershy might feel. But here was this pony, who even after she kissed Fluttershy, was telling Rainbow to tell her how she felt. She didn’t care. She wanted Fluttershy to be happy. This unicorn was the one who deserved her. Rainbow sat up, and spread her wings, before jumping off the top of the hill, and slicing through the air, before turning up right, and flying into the clouds. She landed on her favorite comfy cloud, but not even that did anything. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Nothing would come out. Instead, she sat there, and let her heart bubble over with anxiety. She doesn’t deserve Fluttershy. She never did. Stupor (Ch 5)Authors Note: Thank the lord for Fire Soul! I had just about given up, and even if I did get more writing done, it was extremely unorganized and I would never have gotten far. He helped me out and set my story straight, as well as given me a very interesting plot suggestion for the rest of my story. Check out his stories! http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Fire%20Soul Those teal eyes, wide and unfocused, her mouth slightly agape, seemed to be deep enough to pierce the very air that surrounded them. Fluttershy’s leg muscles tensed slightly as she leaned back slightly, her eyes bloodshot from the excessive crying. Her voice left a faint echo against the gridded limestone wall behind her. “Rainbow… I-“ but she was cut short at the stamp of Rainbow Dash’s right fore hoof striking the dirt path, bringing her multicolored mane close to Fluttershy’s head. Rainbow Dash’s voice was shaking and squeaking. “Fluttershy… I love you… I love you Fluttershy! Please… please please please Fluttershy I love you. I always have. You’re everything… I want you’re heart and your soul… I want you I NEED YOU!” Fluttershy’s cringed at the onslaught of alcohol that soon filled the air around her nose, courtesy of the drunken mess before her. For a split second, Fluttershy’s stare went completely blank, not a single emotion to be read. As quickly as it began, her expression turned into a deep scowl, her teal eyes raging with the blunt traumatic force of a Morningstar. “Rainbow Dash! How could you? How could you?!” Fluttershy’s voice slowly climbed in volume, and in strength of the words she said, until her sentences became a various crescendo of words. “You ignore all of your friends, who just want to help you, you get drunk constantly,” Fluttershy slowly rises off the ground, beating the wings to the rhythm of her words, until she is angled down and staring wide eyed at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow’s back arched inward as she forcibly lowered herself caught in the line of Fluttershy’s intense gaze while the yellow pony continues with her onslaught. “AND to make it all worse, you attack the pony I love?! What is wrong with you!” Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide, stricken with awe at the emphasis on love, as her heart was cleaved in twain with the power of an emotional scythe, forcing a burning pain up through her heart and out her eyes. A trail of tears rolled over her rosy cheeks, slowly backing away from the angry yellow and pink bee in front of her. Fluttershy only continued forward, pressing on. “DID YOU HEAR ME RAINIBOW DASH?” Rainbow Dash slunk back, turned on backwards on her heels, and shot away, flapping her wings as hard as her muscles would allow, fully aware that there was no chance that the mare left behind her could follow. The extremities of the wind continually pressed the wind on the tears welling up on Dash’s eyes, pushing the salty tear infused wind back into her eyes, making her blink rapidly. Slowly descending to the ground, heart beating out of her chest, Rainbow couldn’t bear the pain of what her pony love had just said. Love… Fluttershy loved Vinyl. Dash began racking her brain for anything to make the pain go away. One answer always returned. One magical elixir that rid her of her torment. Booze. Alcohol was the answer, the painkiller to her emotional distress. Rainbow’s eyes darted around, surveying her location for a continuous source of liquors. On the corner of two streets sat a large rectangular brown building, with a simple sign on the front reading “Hoarse Horse”. Rainbow shuffled her hooves over towards the door to the bar, and nudged it open with her head, pushing through to the inside. The interior of the bar was decorated in a fashion befitting a typical sports bar. To either side of the entrance and along the outlying walls were small bar booths, cushioned seats surrounding a standard square table with ponies flanking either side of the table. Scattered throughout the middle of the bar where circular wooden tables with matching chairs. She turned her attention towards the opposite side of the bar. At the opposite wall from the entrance stood a long wooden counter traversing the entirety of the wall. Behind the counter stood many large shelves of alcohol and running beer taps. Rainbow scooted past the array of wooden tables and ponies and makes her way up to the barstools along the wooden counter. Sitting down at a barstool in the center, Rainbow gives a quick glance to either side to see if there is anypony who might recognize her. The only recognizable pony is to her right. On the seat a few to Rainbow’s right sat a pile of purple fur, head against the counter, slumped over in a mess of purple frizzy mane hair. Soft snores can be heard bouncing off the bar counter. A quick look at her flank, depicting a cluster of grapes and a juicy strawberry identifies the drunkard as Berry Punch. A milky grey pony in his mid thirties steps up to the counter across from rainbow dash, attentively drying out a glass with a cloth using the magic from the horn atop his head. His voice comes out as a mildly light and cooingly smooth slight western accent. “What’ll it be miss?” Dash paused for a moment, attempting to remember the strongest drink she could think of. Her voice came out strained as she said “Beer and a shot of absinthe.” The bartender nods as he turns around to the tap, and begins pouring the beer into the angled glass. He pushes the mug of beer over to Dash while pouring the shot into a typical shot glass, passing it again over to the blue mare, then returning back to his cleaning. Rainbow dash immediately picked up the shot glass in her teeth, and dropped it bottom first into the mug of beer. She grasped both sides of the mug with her fore hooves, and wrapped her mouth around the rim of the mug, lifting it up to her mouth, drinking as much of the mixing drink as possible. While most of the alcohol slid down her throat, small dribbles ran down her coat. Fluttershy bound through the door to her home, a small trail of tears running down her face. She leapt face first into her couch and held the cushion against her face. Vinyl Scratch emerges from the kitchen, a look of confusion and empathy on her face. Vinyl kneels at the front of the couch and nuzzles the side of Fluttershy’s face, gently speaking into her ear. “Shy? What’s wrong Shy?” Without lifting her head, Fluttershy responds. “I-It’s Rainbow Dash.” With that name, Vinyl seems to tense up. Fluttershy merely sighs, and rolls upright, but keeps her gaze focused at the floor. She regaled Vinyl about coming home from Sweet Apple Orchards, running into dash, yelling at her, the alcohol on Dash’s breath, and Dash running away. Vinyl sat down next to Fluttershy and slowly petted her mane, and calmed her to sleep. Applejack knocked on the door to Fluttershy’s cottage. The door opened a crack, and a small light blue eye peaked through, along with a pale pink curl. “H-hello?” “Hi sugercube. I just wanted to make sure you were doin’ okay.” “Y-yes… I’m okay…” “Do ya mind if I come in sugarcube?” “Sure…” Fluttershy opened the door to allow Applejack inside, closing the door behind her. Fluttershy walked over to the couch and sat down while Applejack followed suit, taking a seat opposite her on the couch. “Hon, I’m worried. Have you seen Rainbow Dash lately?” “N-no… I haven’t… not since last month… on the way home… from Sweet Apple Orchards… where she…” “I understand. Neither have I… we need to set that girl straight.” “But Applejack… do you even know where she is?” “No… but I can take a wild guess. You said that she had alcohol on her breath mighty fierce, right?” “Y-yeah… I could smell it when she talked…” “Well I’ll just have to check every darn bar in Ponyville until I find her!” “Applejack… p-please… calm down…” Applejack bolts upright out of her chair, standing up. “Darn it Fluttershy, she has to learn that she’s hurting people!” Applejack stomps away from Fluttershy and out the front door. Standing on the front path to Fluttershy’s cottage, she tries to think about the bars in Ponyville, and sets off to find the few still standing. Applejack began trotting down the path, saddlebags resting on her back, as she gets to the streets of Ponyville, passing many pony and building alike, until she arrived at the bar named “Hoarse horse”, where she cantered inside. Passing the crowd of drunken ponies inside the bar, making her way up to the cloudy white bartending unicorn. Applejack pulled a picture of Rainbow Dash and puts it on the bar counter. Looking at the bartender, Applejack inquires, “Have you seen this Pony lately?” The bartender held his eyes closed for a minute, then nodded towards the back corner of the bar, to a square booth. Applejack gave him a suspicious but relieved look, and put the picture back in her saddlebag. She turned on her heels, and started to march towards the back corner booth. Applejack poked her head into the booth in the corner of the building, to see a mostly empty booth, aside from on the farthest side of the booth, was Rainbow Dash, lying outstretched, with her hooves resting on the head of another pony, placed on top of Rainbow’s stomach, all lying atop the leather seat cushions. The pony lying on her had scraggly purple mane atop a lighter purple body, with the cutie mark of grapes and strawberries. Beer mugs and shot glasses litter the hard wood of the table, some upright, most knocked over. With a hearty sigh, Applejack leans into the booth, putting her maw right next to the sleeping blue pony’s ear, and with a deep breath, shouted with discontent. “RAINBOW! WAKE UP YOU DRUNKEN SWINE!” With the loud and sudden noise, the hazy blue pony flailed around in her seat, desperate to get some leverage to pull herself upright, sending the sprawling purple pony underneath the table, still half asleep. Rainbow finally was able to grasp the ledge of the table, and pull herself semi upright. Her once rosy eyes were now dulled and empty, heavily affected by the bottles of Everclear stacked and strewn on the table. Rainbow’s eyes continually fluttered, opening and closing in sporadic patterns, attempting to get used to the light and focusing on the dark orange apparition merely feet away, but still remained a darkened blur. Silence between the two settled in the air, broken by the cacophony of the other bar patrons, and the low hum of an country singer detailing his faith in the lord, despite the extremities of that around him. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes with her hooves, only to see her orange and blonde friend bearing a scowl. "Hhhhaaaaay AJ," she said, wobbling a little in her seat. "Whuh'zup with'th' long face?" Rainbow attempted and failed miserably not to laugh at her own joke, but Applejack's anger only intensified. “God dang it Rainbow, it’s not even noon yet and you’re more drunk than a filly in a cider cellar. What is wrong with you?” "Nothin's wrong wih'-" she started to say, but was interrupted by a very uncouth and loud burp. Almost directly into AJ's face. "-me. S'wrong with YOU?" “Rainbow! Look at yourself.” Applejack slowly and continually moves closer to Rainbow Dash while talking. “You’re drunk… you’re always in a bar, you haven’t done your job in weeks, and you’re ignoring all your friends…” “N' yer an or'ng' BITCH!” Applejack inched as close to Rainbow as possible, and put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, atop her ratty and unkempt mane. “I think you need help.” Rainbow Dash bashed Applejacks fore hoof away with her liquor sapped strength, standing up on unsure legs, staring down the orange and blonde pony. "ShCREW YOU, I doh' need y'r help!" she shouted at her Southern friend, turning away and trying to stomp her way out of the bar. Sadly, and rather amusingly, this only resulted in her tripping over her forehooves and going face-first into the floor. "Buckin' floor, shcrew yer Mother too," she grumbled quietly to herself. Multiple attempts were made to get up, and only the fourth try garnered favorable results for the plastered pegasus.' Applejack let out a deep, throaty sigh, and attempted to follow Rainbow Dash outside the bar. Passing through the door, Rainbow Dash is clearly leaning up against the side of the building for support. Applejack called out to Rainbow Dash, trying not to tear up at seeing her friend do distraught. “Rainbow please! You need help sugarcube…” Applejack began inching closer to Rainbow Dash, enough to put put a hoof on the back of her shoulder. Rainbow Dash knocked Applejack's hoof away from her, stumbling around in a backwards circle in the process on her hindlegs, before managing to get back down on all fours without collapsing into a drunken heap. "I dun' need nun'y'all. S'right, y'all, 'cuz yer accent....s'cute," she mumbled towards the end, her wings spreading and flapping out of sync, slowly getting her off of the ground, but in a wobbly, swaying way. "Dun' need nobody! Doinnnnn' JUS'FINE WITHOU'CHA!" she shouted down to Applejack while slowly, shakily flying away, tears running from the corners of her eyes. "So jus' lemme 'lone!" Rainbow Dash started to transcend the horizons of the buildings, far out of reach of the sorrowful earth pony. Applejack could only sit and watch as her broken friend escaped her line of vision over the roofs of Ponyville. His eyes slowly opened, revealing the dusky and often described as lifeless grey eyes, half covered by the stringy bangs of his fuchsia purple mane. After taking a moment to let his eyes become accustomed to the light, he sat up right in his king sized bed, surrounded by bunched up sheets and covers, strewn all across his bed, a clear sign that he had been tossing and turning in the night, as he often does. Throwing the covers off his body and onto the side of the bed, he slowly rolls off the bed and stands up on slightly shaky feet, as he made his way down the hallway of his house, taking a moment to pause in the open doorway halfway between his room and the bathroom. Peeking his head inside, there amidst all the posters of the Wonderbolts and Rainbow Dash sat the sleeping orange ball with the same fuchsia hair as his. With a quick smile, he continued down the hallway, grabbing a towel and heading into the bathroom. He set the towel and climbed into the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water hit his head, as he places one hoof on the wall, and hangs his head, letting the water fall off of his long locks. After washing his hair and body, he turns the water off, and climbs out of the shower, toweling off his mass of wet fur. Completely dry, he starts his morning hygiene regimen of brushing is teeth, combing his mane, and shaving his face. He stopped to look into the mirror at the pony in front of him. The pony in the mirror had a dimming silver coat, and long purple mane on his head, and a thick and straight tail with small half crescent curls up and down his tail Still completely tired, he trudges into the living room to see his daughter with her face in a bowl of cereal. Crossing over to the kitchen counter, he starts his coffee percolator and readies his mug. “Use a spoon Scoots.” Grumbling quietly, Scootaloo stands up and retrieves a spoon from the kitchen drawer, and begins eating her cereal with the silverware. She looks at her father, and in a sarcastic tone, she calls to him. “Better?” The father couldn’t help but smile at the left over milk and cereal still clung to her jaw. Slowly cantering over to the kitchen table, he frazzles Scootaloo’s hair.” “Much. Now eat your cereal or you’ll be late for school.” Scootaloo starts talking to herself while gathering her supplies in her school pack. “Would have gone better if you’d just let me eat…” Scootaloo made her way to the front door with her stuff. “Have a good day Scoots!” He called back as Scootaloo walked out the front door and already began to start talking to the young unicorn Sweetie Belle. He poured himself a cup of coffee, and drank it as is, black and bitter, eager to wake him self up. Putting the mug into the dishwasher, he puts his saddlebag on top of his back, and trotted out the door, locking it behind him, as he started to make his way along the sidewalk, eventually arriving at a small wooden building with the sign “Wood Works” on top of the building. He opened the door, and let himself inside, to see a large interior filled with small carpentry machinery, and lumber stacked upon lumber. Inside was his partner, a red pony with a grey mane, known to him as Drill Press, his co owner of their small wooden construction operation. “Mornin’ Drill.” “Howdy Tim.” “Still working on that dining room set?” “Unfortunately, yeah. It’s going to be a while too.” Tim made his way towards the front counter, taking his place behind it, drawing up blueprints for a new project, waiting for a customer to come in, while Drill Press worked in the back with the machines. On a slow business day, a couple ponies would come in needing some repairs or crafting done. Near the middle of the day, a small purple unicorn with highlights in her hair walked into the shop, and came up to the counter. Tim looked up from his drawings to see the unicorn facing him at the counter. “Hello and welcome to Wood Works! My name is Timber Saw. What can I do for you today, Miss…” The unicorn looked up with large unwavering eyes, and a smile on her face. “Twilight Sparkle. I was wondering if I could have a bookshelf made.” After discussing the size of the bookshelf and how tall the shelves would have to be apart, Timber made a few calculations about the cost of the wood, and how much they would charge for the construction of the bookshelf it’s self. Coming to an agreement, the small pony paid the agreed amount of bits, and made her way out of the store as Timber began cutting out the needed lumber for the project, getting as far as jointing and planning the wood into a nice looking products. The clock on the wall and the light of the sun outside both told him that it was time to head on home. Saying a final goodbye to Drill Press, and locking the store, he cantered home whistling a tune at the satisfaction of another routine day. Taking a while to get home, he was thoroughly tired from the day when he arrived at his house, walking in and dropping his saddlebag of gear off by the door. “Scoots, I’m home!” he called out, but there was no reply. It was a 50 50 chance. Sometimes she was home, other times she was out with her friends, or her idol Rainbow Dash, but when he got to her room, Scoots was in her bed, face down into her pillow, quietly sobbing her body wrapped up in blankets. A sense of urgency washed over Timber’s face seeing his daughter in distress, as he rushed to her side and sat down beside her, rubbing the top of her mane gently. “Scoots? Scootaloo, what’s wrong baby?” Without looking up, Scootaloo stuttered in her response, unable to start sniffling. “I-It’s R-rainbow Dash…” Careless Whispers (Ch 4)The moon shone a luminescent light down from the sky, the stars shimmering from the heavens. The hill was merely a silhouette from the distance, reigning taller than then the forest surrounding it. The two equine figures atop the hill, frozen in place, deadlocked in each others eyes. Rainbow’s single thought bounced around her head repeatedly, in the same soft, high pitched, soprano voice. ‘Don’t deserve…don’t deserve… don’t deserve… Fluttershy…’ The realization hit Dash like a tidal wave. She wasn’t worthy. Her dream mare spent all her time caring for animals, making sure that others were safe before her, and if it came down to it, protecting her friends. On the other hand, Dash wanted to be the best. She wanted to be the fastest. She wanted to be pull the best stunts in Equestria. She wanted the most beautiful mare. Her heart dropped from it’s usual spot held high in her chest, down to the pits of her stomach. The pain and gnawing set in her abdomen, like being eaten from the inside out. All that was left in her chest was a vacuum, forcing the pressure of the outside world onto her chest. She thought she might implode at any moment, with the overbearing force centered at where her heart used to be. Her legs frozen to the ground, bound by the tendrils of fear and betrayal, all Dash could do was watch the sharp cardinal eyes bore into her soul with the same pain as if someone had thrust a broadsword through her heart. Rainbow Dash barely felt the strength to continue to breathe, as the enigmatic Vinyl Scratch slowly stalked past her, and down the hill, leaving the down trodden pony to sulk in her sorrows. The warmth and light of Celestia’s pride and joy landed upon Fluttershy’s face, lighting up her sharp face and light pink hair. Her nose gave way to a small ruffle, before she slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the new light. Letting her eyes open to their fullest extent, she was hit with a barrage of images in her mind, along with the dull thump in the back of her head. The remnants of the previous night shot through her head. Vinyl. Lunch. The kiss…. Rainbow Dash… it all happened so fast. ‘I couldn’t even stop it… why would she…’ Fluttershy didn’t know. She spent the entire night after that trying to figure out why. She hadn’t even seen Dash in weeks. She tried to push it out of her throbbing head, but couldn’t manage to quite escape it. Rolling out of bed, she slowly made her way to her bedroom door in a down trodden trot. She pushed open the door, and found herself in her home, the small cottage off to the side of Ponyville. Walking her way towards the living room, the small clops from her hoofs on the wood floorboards alerted Angel that she was awake. Fluttershy merely glanced towards the kitchen, and gagged in disgust. All the food in the kitchen made her sick to the stomach. Instead, she merely sank onto the couch, and covered herself in a big, forest green blanket, and oversized beanie. She took in deep breaths, trying to keep from crying, while recollecting the events that transpired the night before. Deep in thought, she didn’t notice the small thumping noise on the table in front of her, but what DID catch her attention, was her face catching the side of a carrot. Fluttershy let out a small cry in surprise, and fell backwards off the couch, landing on her back, hoofs cocked below her chin. She looked up past her hoofs to see Angel’s beady eyed bearing down at her. “Oh… A-angel… do you have any advice for me?” But Angel merely stood there and stamped his foot against the table. “Do… you have something you want to show me?” Angel nodded, and hopped off of the table. Before Fluttershy could get back up, Angel was back, holding a picture frame. He laid it down on the table, and waited impatiently as Fluttershy got back to her feet. With Fluttershy finally settled, she looked at the picture, and saw none other than her friends, all bunched together and smiling. “You want me to… hug my friends?” Angel bunny merely shook his head, and let out a stream of incomprehensible gibber jabber. Fortunately enough, Fluttershy had lived with Angel long enough to know what he is trying to say. “I should… go talk to my friends?” Angel bunny shot his hands up in the air in the shape of a goal post, while nodding furiously. Was this what Angel wanted her to do? ‘What would my friends think of me… what if this is all my fault? Oh no… are they going to pick sides? What if this splits us apart?! I couldn’t do that-‘ Fluttershy, deep in thought caught the other side of the carrot, and a glare from Angel. Fluttershy knew she couldn’t do this alone. She needed the help of her friends, even if they thought badly of her. Fluttershy got up, and headed for the door while wrapping a scarf around her neck. She opened the door, and stepped outside, calling a short goodbye to Angel. With a steady pace, she cantered down the short dirt path that leads into Ponyville. One question kept pacing her mind. ‘Who do I talk to first? Pinkie Pie is… well… Pinkie pie… god knows what Rarity would do….’ She kept pondering the question, when she found herself entering the outside edges of Ponyville, when the answer became clear. ‘Applejack. I should go to Applejack. I mean… she’s Dashie’s best friend right? I’m sure she’ll be able to help… and… she’s the Element of Honesty and all… she will tell me what’s on her mind… I’m sure she has had suitors before… I mean… she’s an attractive pony… her brilliant green eyes… long blonde hair… No. I shouldn’t be thinking about her like that! It’s wrong!’ She made sure that that particular train of thought had come to a complete stop before arriving at the path that led into the heart of Sweet Apple Acres. Small amounts of dirt kicked up from around her feet as she walked. She could hear a small thud around a few large apple tree’s, as she spotted the large red stallion striking a wide apple tree with his southern leftmost hoof. With a sharp crack, the apples fell from the tree and landed in the strategically placed baskets at the bottom. Fluttershy pondered approaching the large stallion, but before she could decide, he spun around on his hind legs and let out a large whinny, as he whirled to approach the mare who failed to compare in size. A look of bewilderment swept across his face as he saw nothing behind him. His mind sank back into his work, until he noticed the tree a short distance away from him was shaking uncontrollably. His deep, baritone voice echoed out. “Fluttershy? Is that you?” Fluttershy slowly drifted towards the ground, averting her gaze. “Is… Is AJ h-here?” “Eeeyup. I’ll take ya to her if ya want.” Fluttershy merely nodded as Big Mac turned around and cantered at a steady pace farther into orchard. They passed slowly, tree by tree, until they arrived at a clearing. Big Mac said his farewells, and disappeared back into the orchard to presumably buck some more apple trees. Fluttershy stalked her way into the clearing, where she saw Applejack. The sunlight flashed off of Applejack's mane, making Fluttershy blink in astonishment. Applejack was a beautiful mare, even if Fluttershy was too shy to say it out loud. Fluttershy thought about being in a relationship with Applejack once, but she was scared that the farm would come first in AJ's life. However beautiful she was, Fluttershy just didn't feel that way about her. Fluttershy trotted across the clearing to where Applejack was content with some mid season applebucking. With the grass rustling beneath their feet, AJ turned around to see the little yellow mare trotting up to her. “Well shoot, sugarcube, what are you doin’ here?” “AJ… we really need to talk…" AJ nodded and slumped down to the ground, her back resting against her tree. She shifted herself so that her forehooves lay behind her neck, and her legs were crossed, with a thin piece of wheat resting in her jaw. She motioned for Fluttershy to sit next to her. Fluttershy walked over next to her, and dropped to the ground, keeping her hooves curled up beneath her. AJ was the first to speak. “Alright darlin’. What’s got you in such a slump?” “Well… It’s about last night.” “Ah. The tussle between Dash and that other pony.” “Y-yes… that… I need your advice on that…” “Shoot ‘Shy, I don’t even know what happened. Y’all and that other pony took off while me n’ Big Mac were holdin’ down Dashie.” “Well… y-you see… I think I know why she did that… you see… do you remember when we w-went to that club?” AJ nodded. “I kind of… met… somepony… and… well…before dash came at her… she kind of…” Fluttershy averted her gaze to the ground, letting her voice drop to a barely audible whisper. “Kissed… me.” AJ’s eyes opened a little. “Sugarcube, you ever think that Rainbow might be… ya’ know… jealous?” “J-jealous? What do you mean?” “Ah can’t speak for her, but ah do know one thing. That mare owes a lot to you. I mean…she was standin’ up for you when she got her cutie mark, right? And when that dragon bashed the Dash out of her, you came to the rescue, righ’?” Fluttershy wanted to say something, but she was at a loss for words. “All ah’m sayin’ is that it’s possible Rainbow could have developed certain feelings for you. I mean, ah’ve known her for a while, and she’s a lot more sensitive than she lets on.” Fluttershy’s worst nightmare had come true. As much as she wished she hadn’t she had been the one to cause harm to Dash. It was her fault that Dash had lashed out, and for everything else she had been feeling. Dash had gone missing for over a week. Was that her fault too? The thought of bringing harm on another animal was too much for her. Fluttershy buried her head inside her mane as small tears began to crawl down her face, and roll off into the grass. Fluttershy couldn’t help a small whimper as she failed to fight back the tears. Through all the pain and torment swirling through her heart, she felt something warm touch the side of her cheek. She looked up to see Applejack’s orange muzzle pressing against her neck, making Fluttershy slowly crane her head up. Applejack wrapped her forhooves around Fluttershy’s neck, and pulled her into her embrace. Slowly brushing the pink mane out of Fluttershy’s face, she talked with a soft, sing-song voice. “Shh… It’s okay Shy… let it all out… crying is good for you.” Fluttershy's tears became a solid feature on her face, the small, clear line easily visible. She could do nothing but let all of her sorrow and frustration out, without the prohibition of being alone or in a crowd. She laid there with her hooves to her eyes, leaning against one of her best friends. After minutes of verbal silence, Fluttershy finally was able to stop crying. The small clearing in the apple orchard was silent and still without the sounds of her sobbing. She still wanted to cry, but her eyes were dry. Nothing more would come out. She tilted her head up slightly, and looked at the horizon. The sun was starting to go down, leaving the sky mostly blue, but tinted a bright orange near the edges. She looked up a little more, until she was looking into crystal cut emerald eyes looking back at her. The deep pools of green were filled to the brim with sorrow. Applejack was never one for emotional confrontation, let alone between her two friends. She was fighting back tears when she finally spoke. “Are we okay now?” Fluttershy let out a small sniffle, and let her head fall back into the mélange mare’s lap, and let out a large sigh. “Applejack… what should I do?” Applejack paused for a moment, and stared inventively into the distance. “Fluttershy… Ah can’t tell ya what ta do. Ah can’t tell ya what ta feel. But ah can tell ya this. If ah was you, ah would talk to Rainbow. You owe her that much, right?” “I… I guess so…” “Find her. Talk to her. Get this out in the open with each other. Before she hurts herself or anypony else.” Fluttershy looked at the sky again. The sun was finally beginning to set. “AJ?” “Yeah sugarcube?” “I’m sorry.” “What for darlin’?” “I kept you from the farm… for… I don’t know how long…” Applejack let out a big, heartfelt grin, and touched Fluttershy on the cheek. “Sweetie, no amount of apples could compare to seein’ my friends happy. It’s gettin’ late. We should head back… I’ll walk ya out of the orchard.” Applejack and Fluttershy slowly rose to their legs, stretching their limbs, trying to get the blood back into their limbs. Together, they slowly trotted back through the thicket of apple trees, in a comfortable silence. It was quiet, but they could hear each other’s emotions loud and clear. They finally crossed over onto the dirt path that was a few feet from the big entrance to the apple farm. With a quick hug and a warm smile, Applejack gave one final piece of heartfelt advice. “Shy. If you take anything from today, let it be this. Don’t be afraid of your feelings. You need to choose what your heart tells you, not what others tell you. Okay sugarcube?” Fluttershy nodded, fighting back the tears in her eyes. She turned around and slowly stalked her way away from the farm, and started her trek back into Ponyville. As she walked down the long path, she took a moment to lose herself inside her head. What she could do… what she wanted… what the best for the others is. She thought about Vinyl, the mysterious DJ whom had saved her. She was brash, and she was reckless. It was something about her care free attitude that drove her to stay with her… almost like another pony. But there was something different. No matter how fast she was, she always looked back to make sure that Fluttershy was with her, always ready to help. That was more than dash could ever say. While Fluttershy had no doubts that Dash was there for her, Dash always put herself first. Even when Dash had stuck up for her, she nearly killed Fluttershy, and didn’t even notice. That alone had always convinced Fluttershy that the rainbow mare only cared for herself. Fluttershy took a moment to recollect herself. She looked around, not just at the town she was in, but the world she was in. Seemingly, around her were trees, benches, a fountain, and some ponies, but to Fluttershy, all she could see, was unconventional love. These ponies probably didn’t have to choose. While Fluttershy had spent most of her time alone, or caring for others, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to have someone caring for her. Making sure that HER needs were met. All around her, she could see love building up between ponies. Off to the side, she could see the mint green unicorn she guessed was Lyra sitting upright on a park bench, with the pewfy swirled mane of Bonbon resting on her lap. Over by the fountain, she could see the pale toned Colton hugging a lightly colored pink Daisy. It seemed like all the ponies except for her had found their better halves. Even Ditzy Hooves could be seen lying in the grass in the distance, caressing a banana nut muffin. That didn’t even make sense, but it didn’t have to. She was happy. Fluttershy skulked passed the town square, feeling even more alone than ever. Here she had two amazing ponies, each after her heart, and she couldn’t even tell either of them how she felt. Like always, her words had never ceased to fail her. Her stutter and shyness had always been embarrassing, and no matter how hard she tried, it was difficult to make herself heard. Every time she practiced her words, it would come out as a jumble of nonsense and mumbles. It always left her with a heart full of pain, a head full of stress, and a hoof full of anger, held in her chest. Not being heard is one of the worst feelings in the world. Like you can’t do anything. Like no one will ever hear the stories you tell. Like nopony’s listening. Building after building passed, yet she felt no different. The pain and pressure of today's and yesterday’s events took a heavy toll on her mind. She barely did anything today, yet it felt like she held the weight of the sky. Fluttershy kept on walking, drudging her feet one after another down the road, trying to get back to her cottage where she can rest, and put the day behind her. Sleep seemed to be the one place she finally found sanctuary in. She seldom had dreams that she remembered. Every once in a while, she would have an abstract dream, or even the rarer nightmare, but most of the time, she didn’t remember anything. All she seemed to remember, was going from tossing and turning in the bed, into a hazy like state. After that, she would wake up in the morning, without a single memory of falling asleep. It had just become normal for her. But her day was not over yet. Before she could lay her head down to rest, she had one more trial to face. As she rounded the corner, she became face to face with the one pony in Equestria she was not ready to deal with. She was right in front of the same rosy eyes and cyan body that had plagued her emotions and haunted her thoughts. She was inches away from Rainbow Dash.
Euphoric Nightmare (Ch 1)Authors Note: Please leave a comment with good feedback if you can. I really appreciate the help of others! Her eardrums thumped against the back of her skull in agony. The ground was quaking, and the sound of hoof beats filled the air. Cowering in fear, a butter yellow mare laid on the brightly colored floor, her eyes tightly shut as the noise in the air consumed her. The sound of something ripping was sent through the air, replacing the noisy clopping of hooves with loud, angry cries. The pink haired mare feared for her life amongst tendrils of her mind that kept smacking her all over, with cold, hard demeanor. She felt herself being lifted into mid air, only acknowledged by the loss of pressure on her legs, curled under her body. Curling up into a fetal ball position, as she slowly rose into the air. ‘Am I dead? Am I rising up to the afterlife? What is to become of me?!’ pondered the pony. She had no clue what was happening to her, and she dared not to open her eyes. Despite her irrational thoughts of being dead, it felt like a surprising warm wave had washed over her. One that she had felt before, but she couldn’t put her hoof on it. It was all too much for her. Slowly losing consciousness, the darkness filled her eyes more than were already filled, and she felt the loss of focus as her hooves hung in the air, limp like cooked linguine. With her last bit of concentration, she feared for her friends, and what they would think of her for giving up her life so easily. She wished that her friends had received her thoughts of farewells, as she slowly fell into a deep slumber. Several Hours Earlier: Fluttershy was laying down in just inside her cottage, waiting for the boredom spell to pass. She had so little to do in the winter, what with all her little critter friends hibernating. She made herself a small lunch of a sunflower sandwich and some hayfries, then settled into her couch, only to be interrupted by a loud rapping sound on her door. As she turned the handle on the door, it swung open on it’s own accord, with enough force to scare Fluttershy directly in to the air, where she grasped at the ceiling with all her might. Below her stood a rainbow trail, leading directly into the corner, in which strew a pile of blankets and pillows, assembled in a large mound surrounding the oh so courteous Rainbow Dash. “Hey Fluttershy! Wanna go out?” Called the rainbow mare from underneath the mountain of fluff. Fluttershy only looked stunned. Not only had she never been asked out before, but she never knew that anypony, especially Dash, had feelings for her. Not only did it confuse her, but even scared her a little, beca- “Ground to Pegasus, bzzzzz do you copy? over.” Dash was now in her face, their muzzles inches apart. Fluttershy, averting her gaze, tried to mutter a response. “oh…well…Rainbow…I don’t… I never knew…” “Never knew what? Do you wanna go with us or not?” Interrupted Dash. “I… wait, us?” “Yes, us. Me, Twi, AJ, Pinkie, and Rarity are going clubbing! It’s going to be so AWESOME! I can show off all my cool dance moves! I even customized all of my flying tricks into dance tricks! Like the Blazing Buccaneer! Or the Whirlwind!” Dash was now spinning around to emphasize her point. Fluttershy looked confused. ‘I thought… she meant me and her…’ “I-I don’t know… I’ve never g-gone b-before…” The look on Rainbow's face was a mix of confused and eccentric. “NEVER? You HAVE to go now! Cmon Shy! You gotta try new things!” Rainbow looked as if she hadn’t been breathing at all. Grabbing Fluttershy by the hoof, Rainbow nearly dragged her out the door. Fluttershy grabbed the door and held on with her meek little arms. “W-w-wait!!” Fluttershy gasped. Rainbow looked back, momentarily stoping. “What?! Cmon!” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves in embarrassment. “I…I don’t know.” Rainbow put her hoof under the filly’s chin, seeing the small, pale yellow Pegasus that she remembered all too well from flight school. Lifting the mare’s head, Fluttershy met the gaze of those deep, magenta eyes, which seemed to emphasize all the love she could manage. “Fluttershy. Don’t you trust me?” Her tone was that which Fluttershy used when talking to the critters. Her voice was soft and gentle, while calm and inviting, waiting for the pony’s heart to warm up. After a bit of silence, Fluttershy looked up, and stared into the deep eyes. “Yes, Rainbow Dash, I do. I’ll go if you want me to.” Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy’s hoof and sped off as fast as her wings could carry her. The last thing to be heard in the clearing of the cottage was “LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Fluttershy trotted down the streets of Ponyville, while Rainbow glided slightly above her. Rainbow was laying on her back, her forehooves crossed, and almost with ease, floated down the road, regaling the tough-as-nails training sessions that she goes through, in anticipation for the Wonder Bolts. Together, they arrived in a new section of Ponyville. A few new houses, a sports shop, and their destination for tonight, a large, stone building. Walking towards the front of the building, Fluttershy spotted the rest of her entourage, who where conversing about their latest accolades. Obviously the loudest one in the group, the ivory pony with dark purple hair could be heard boasting about her latest hotshot client. The building had bright blue neon letters hanging on the front depicting the words “Tom Dan’s Club”. Most didn’t notice it, but Rarity felt a twinge of pain. They entered the door to the club, only to be found in utter darkness. The loud drone took over of many ponies talking, most more than with an inside voice. The smell of alcohol permeated the air, while wafting into her nose. Many a pony pushed and shoved in the darkness. Fluttershy soon lost contact with her friends, and was utterly alone in the terrifying void. Trying to make her way back to her friends, something snagged her leg, and she fell to the floor with an audible thump. ~Present time~ Her mane starting to stick to her face, Vinyl Scratch was ever vigilant. Ready to call it a night, she was finishing her final track on her turn table, pumping out the bass like there was no tomorrow. She’d been paid to make an appearance as her DJ persona DJ P0N-3 and play for Tom Dan’s Club. She was about to pack it in, when something caught her eye. There had been a small mare in the crowd that caught her eyes. The mare had a creamy, light yellow coat, and a luscious pink mane, along with the widest, most soulful eyes she had ever seen. The mare had captivated her attention, until she realized something was wrong. The mare was curled up on the ground, shaking, nearly getting stepped on by every other pony on the dance floor. Vinyl, halfway through changing a disk, dropped the disk from her mouth, causing it to scratch against the needle, creating a reverberating RIP across the mass of ponies. Dropping all her concentration, she focused all of her remaining magic into her horn, and mentally grabbed the Pegasus, levitating her up into the air. Beads of sweat rolled down Vinyl’s face as she pulled the mare past the stage, and into the back, where she laid the mare down. Slowly, the pink haired filly opened her eyes, to see a white unicorn curled up beside her. The unicorn’s flowing mane consisted of a spiky dark blue shroud, with streaks of electric blue. The unicorn bore bright crimson eyes, that seemed to look right into Fluttershy’s heart. The strange unicorn, with sunglasses on her forehead, was floating a bottle of water over to the mare. Fluttershy tried to speak, but no words left her throat. The unicorn simply shushed her softly, putting a pillow underneath them, and laid down next to the scared pony. For the longest while, they just sat there. Eventually, the strange unicorn got up, and extended a hoof to Fluttershy. Fluttershy was subconsciously divided inside. Her mind told her not to trust this random stranger, but her heart told her differently. Her heart told her that this pony wasn't going to hurt her. Fluttershy aimlessly looked into her eyes, and saw someone who genuinely cared. The stranger merely lifted Fluttershy onto her back, like she was a small animal. When Fluttershy asked where they where going, the unicorn merely smiled, and said in her calmest voice, "Home." Fluttershy didn't argue with any logic that presented it's self. She merely closed her eyes, her anxiety being lifted off her since she met the strange pony. The last she saw was her cottage in the woods before she drifted off into slumber, vaguely aware of something warm slipping over her, and something soft and plushy being placed underneath her.
Reminiscence (Ch 2) Reminiscence (Ch 2) Fluttershy regained her senses before she opened her eyes. Not knowing where she was, or who might be there, she decided to remain “asleep” until she could figure out where she was. Still curled up in a ball, the scent around the room felt familiar. The crisp sheets beneath her felt vaguely familiar, the same way her mattress felt after a year or so of laying on it. Last night left a hazy blur on her memories, and the last thing she could remember was Applejack’s flank as they walked into… into… ‘Oh for h-heavens sake! Where did we go last night?’ The yellow mare couldn’t get a hold of what happened last night. Maybe she could ask the others what happened last night. But she was getting ahead of her self. ‘I could… but first I have to figure out how to get away, and where I am, and ho-‘ Her thoughts where interrupted by a strange sound. A deep, throaty sound emanated from a short distance. Fluttershy slowly opened an eye, barely enough to start to form shapes of the small grey shapes around her. A sudden wave of nostalgia washed over her, and she started to recognize more and more things. A bookcase. Birdhouses. Pots of flowers. A big pink dresser. A fireplace. It slowly dawned on her. ‘This is MY house! But why would they take me here anyway…’. Fluttershy finally let the curiosity get the better of her. She needed to confront her marenapper. Getting up, she trotted slowly across the all too familiar dwelling, reaching the door to her living room. She carefully opened the door as quietly as she could, but it still let out a mournful squeak. To not make noise when crossing the room, she spread her wings and lifted herself a few inches off the ground, slowly but surely “air crawling” her way into the center of the house. The noises she heard where coming from her couch. She slowly crept up behind the house, to catch a glimpse at her capturer. Slowly poking her head over the couch, she saw it. It was a marble white Unicorn, lying on her couch, lying being the simple term. In reality, the unicorn was sprawled all across the couch, every which way, one leg resting on the back of the couch, the other strewn under her body. Her head hung off the side of the couch in a state of deep slumber. The unicorns chest was slowly heaving up and down, a slight snoring sound coming from her muzzle. The inner furnace inside of Fluttershy raged with the heat of Celestia’s sun it’s self, as she set off on the strange unicorn, her eyes wide open. “Hey! Wake up!” Fluttershy was nearly screaming. The strange unicorn’s limbs flailed as she rolled headfirst off the ground, landing on the wood with her shoulders, she tumbled over until she was flat on her back, her head reeling from the sudden awakening. However, Fluttershy was already on top of the situation, boring into the unicorns deepest fears. “You never, never go in anyone else's home! Ever! got that?” Fluttershy saw the unicorn cowering and backing away slowly. Fluttershy reached forward, and grabbed the pony’s purple glasses, and pulled them off. “Why I have half a mind to-“ Fluttershy’s rage was taken away mid sentence. She looked into the ponies piercing crimson eyes, and saw the slightest sliver of fear, despite how much the unicorn was trying to hide it. Fluttershy saw her own reflection in the deep, bright red eyes, and all the rage steamed away inside of her, leaving behind only a momentary memory. Thoughts of last night eluded her, while a certain one stepped forward, revealing her familiarity of those eyes. She had seen them last night, through the darkness. Fluttershy looked away, embarrassed, a rosy blush appearing on her cheeks. Vinyl, regaining her ruffian bravado, stood back up, the fire returning to her eyes, her ears perking back up. “WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME!” Fluttershy couldn’t quite call up the words to help her. The stutters leaving her mouth didn’t help with communication that often, “O-oh, I-I d-didn’t m-mean to…I-… you w-where in m-my h-ouse…” “Yeah. I carried you here after you were getting trampled by a crowd o’ drunken slobs.” The pink mare looked stunned. “You… y-you wha?” The white unicorn let out a tired sigh. “I think you better sit down. I got a story for you.” Vinyl put her glasses back on, and relined against the sofa as she started regaling the events of last night. Rainbow was laying belly first on her favorite cloud, gazing up towards the stars. Not even her most comfortable cloud could sooth the inner apathy that slowly consumed her conscious being. She rolled over, and planted her face into the floating cushion, letting the tears flow into the cloud, making sure that she was far from anypony who could disturb her. The thought still completely fresh in her mind, she replayed it over, and over, hoping that there was another explanation for what she saw. As they entered the club, it was dark and loud. Rainbow knew that the club was infamous for their electric strobe lights, and knew it was only a matter of time. Bursting into the center of the dance floor, she was ready for the euphoria that is the heavy techno beat, combined with the lust and alcohol. She was ready to party harder than any pony, when she heard the faint squeal that she knew all to well and the yellow mare with pink hair. Her instincts kicked in, and she began shouting for Fluttershy, trying with all her might to find her. She could barely make out the coat colors of any ponies in the effects of the alternating strobe lights, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She began to panic as she couldn’t locate the tender and quiet mare that she knew all too well. She spotted the mare in the place she least expected her to be. On the stage, heading for the back door. Rainbow shot for the entrance with a burst of speed, sending two disgruntled bounder ponies to the ground. Shooting straight up into the air, her adrenaline gnawed at her to save her friend. She couldn’t find anything, so she started scouting the path back towards Fluttershy’s cottage. Hope was fading fast, until she saw the pink tail on the trail towards the quiet pony’s home, only, something was wrong. She was walking, swaying, arm in arm with a different pony. Nearing the house, the other pony picked up Fluttershy, and carried her inside. Dashie’s thoughts got the best of her, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. She flew as fast as her wings would carry her, towards the second story window. She could only see a silhouette being laid on the bed. The second silhouette leaned over the smaller one, and put her muzzle to the lower mares face, and turned out the light. With an almost audible CRACK Dash's heart snapped in half. Utterly defeated, her tough facade shattered instantly, by one pink haired, yellow coated filly. She couldn't put into words what she felt towards that filly, and she never could, that being one of the biggest reasons that she never told anyone. Fluttershy was the gentlest, most nicest pony she had ever met. She was calm, and timid, able to care for the strongest pony. She was everything Dash wasn’t. In a sense, she was what felt like to dash, a “Better half”. Not being able to stomach it any longer, Dash burst away, flying as far and fast as her wings could go, just trying to get away from any pony, not wanting them to see her with tears streaming down her face. The cyan mare could only lay there, and think about what was going on inside that hut. Like a car wreck, no matter how horrible the thought felt to her, no matter how painful it was to think about it, the image stayed burnt into her mind. With the tears flowing from her face, Rainbow let her limbs go limp. she no longer felt anything from her body, other than the constant source of burning hatred that spewed from her broken heart. Fluttershy was sitting on in her recliner, covered in a blanket, and hot cocoa in her hooves. The mystery pony was sprawled out on the floor, with her legs crossed in the air, unable to sit still. As the story went on, the memories of the nightmare slowly returned to Fluttershy. “Wait… erm… what did you say your name was? You look kind of f-familiar.” The white pony looked back up. Fluttershy never noticed how eccentric the pony looked. She was a solid, marble white pony with a black musical symbol cutie mark. She had spiky blue hair, with a light, almost electric teal streaks in her hair. The strange mare had eyes like she had never seen. They where deep, crimson iris’s that seemed to never end, but the pony constantly hid them behind her purple shades. “Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. But most people know me as DJ P0N-3.” Fluttershy looked astounded. “Y-y-you’re the f-famous DJ!?” Vinyl looked as if someone had offered her Brussels sprouts for desert.A nearly enigmatic expression crept onto her face, as if she did not know she was famous. She merely hummed “Mmmhm.” “I… I really owe you an apology. You s-saved me, and I just y-yelled at you…” The unicorn laughed. “It’s fine. If I woke up with a stranger in my house, I would freak too. ‘Sept I would go all ninja.” She jumped up onto her hind hoofs, and kicked the air, while throwing random karate chops. “I would be all HYAAH! And WATCHAAA! I would kick them good!” Fluttershy giggled a little at her eccentric antics. But one thing was plaguing her mind. “Erm… one… thing… H-how did you know where I l-live?” The look on the DJ unicorn’s face dropped. “Oh… right.” She suddenly got quieter. Years ago, I was in a rut. I didn’t have a job, and I was alone in my life. I may have been alone and poor, but the one thing that I would never give up is my music. I always found music in my life, no matter how small, or how blaring. I had given up, and ran into the Everfree forest to die. I didn’t care what did me in, and I didn’t care how it happened. I closed my eyes and ran. I just ran for as long as I could. When my tears dried, I found myself in a small clearing, with nothing left to do. I just laid down, and waited. I waited for something to come, but nothing happened. I don’t know if it was dehydration, or if it was a sign. I heard a rustle, and I slowly sat up, expecting to be faced to face with a monster, who I would become dinner for. Instead, I saw me. Except, it wasn’t exactly me. I was wearing insane purple shades, and I had electric blue in my hair. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew it was me. The older me lifted up my chin, and gave a broad grin. Her voice echoed slightly through the forest. “You’re gonna go far kid. Don’t give up now. Trust me. No matter how much life throws at you, it’s always the darkest before the dawn. If I know you, and I think I do, You’re gonna pick yourself up, find a loving pony, and settle down happily. Now get goin’! You must be starving.” Before I could respond, she picked me up. She set her glasses over my eyes, and gave me a gentle push. I turned around, with the words welling up in my throat, but She… I… what ever it was, it was gone. I tried to get back home, but I was completely lost. I was nearly ready to pass out, until I heard the best sound in my life. It was soft, angelic, and caring, but it rang out from the heavens, as if speaking to me. The voice continued, as it was followed by a mass of bids chirping. I had no choice. I followed the chirps until I met into a road. I climbed as far as I could, and the last thing I saw was a yellow coated mane, and a long, pink mane. I closed my eyes, expecting to be gone. I woke up in the hospital. They said that they found my on a road a little outside of Ponyville. When I got better, I slowly started rising, getting jobs as a low paying DJ. I got lost while looking for a gig, and I saw a small clearing leading from a path. Something drew me towards it that day, but I couldn’t tell what. I went through the clearing, and saw a small cottage, surrounded by singing birds. I knew it was the same clearing. I made a promise to myself. If I ever saw that yellow coated mare again, I would do anything in my power to help her. Unfortunately, after that, I moved to Manehatten and got a steady job, slowly getting more and more recognition, until they opened up a club in Ponyville, and asked me to be their DJ. I said yes at the chance to go back to my home town again. It was quiet, (Not that my hearing is that good anymore.) until one night, I saw that pink mare, and I knew I had to help. I carried you back to that cottage from memory, and made sure you where safe. “I put you in your bed, and without realizing it, I guess I crashed on your couch without realizing it. I-I… I’m sorry. I’ll leave if you-“ She was interrupted by the yellow mare, who simply hugged her. The white unicorn’s face lit up red, and after a second, she hugged back. When they separated, Fluttershy made it well known that she can stay here tonight. Vinyl curled up on the sofa, with a blanket and a pillow, as Fluttershy said her goodnights, and promised her they would go out tomorrow. Vinyl Scratch slowly drifted off thinking about the yellow mare whom she owes her life, and owns her heart.
Amor Ebrius (Ch 3)Authors Note: I'm sorry if I put this out a little... late. I'm falling behind with a lot of stuffs, and lately I've been really depressed, and it was just plain difficult to find the effort to write anything, but I had an awesome day today! I really have a hard time finding inspiration sometimes, and when I do, I don't always have the will to write. Thanks to DJMidli and Oblivion2k for pre-reading and helping me edit my story, and to everyone in the chat room for being awesomesauce!! A few weeks have passed since the incident, but to Fluttershy, days melted into mere seconds while with the white unicorn. Fluttershy felt an almost physical tether to the DJ Pony. No matter how much Fluttershy felt like a nuisance, she wanted to stay by the unicorn’s side, but she can’t say it. Of course, Vinyl doesn’t mind, quite the opposite, Vinyl enjoys spending time with Fluttershy more than anything right now. She has become her inspiration, her muse. Vinyl was absolutely taken with the golden angel since the first time she heard that voice, to the first time she saw the mare, frightened on the dance floor. Vinyl had schemed out everything, and was ready to make her move. But there was one thing she hadn’t accounted on. The leaves made a crisp crunch as they succumbed to the pressure of the two mares. They slowly stepped along the dirt path, surrounded by the finesse of the looming green trees. Vinyl was strutting along the path to the beat of her favorite track, while sharing a story fond to her, about her weekend antics. “And THAT’S when I bought the horse a prostitute!” the ivory DJ finished as Fluttershy let out a soft giggle, a rosy hue creeping up on her face. “I can’t believe you did that!” Vinyl pounded by Fluttershy’s side, and threw her hoof around the mare’s small shoulders and leaned into her, making Fluttershy wobble about. A small gasp escaped from the little yellow filly’s lips as she toppled over. She hit the ground with a slight thump, and a small cloud of dirt and dust wrapped over her like a blanket, drying out her throat as she succumbed to a small cough. With the dust settling, her muzzle and the bridge of her nose were covered in those bright, teal blue streaks that were as soft as a blanket, and deep as a crystal clear lake, the sharp smells of strawberries and cream drifting off of Vinyl’s mane. The scent spiked her senses and reminded of home, surrounded by the fields of berries and flowers, creating a delightful mix of aromas, able to quell her every stress. The dream of roaming in fields was cut short by a small fading rumble. Fluttershy flinched and closed her eyes, afraid of the possibilities. She let out a small cry. Vinyl pushed her purple shaded glasses up past her horn, and looked up into Fluttershy’s eyes; her ruby iris’s reflecting a shine, like a small star imploding into a nova of light. The thought crossed Vinyl to finally go for it. The timing felt right. Vinyl slowly leaned in close to Fluttershy, her entire body tensing up and quivering from the thought of what she was doing. Right before she took the final plunge, her stomach gave off a loud gurgle. Vinyl shot back out of embarrassment, and sat on her flank, her hind legs spread out. “Want to go get some food or sometin’?” queried the unicorn, flailing her limbs one by one to get the blood flowing. Fluttershy agreed, and they trotted along the path back into Ponyville, in an odd, yet comfortable silence. Vinyl thought about how close she was, and muttered a quiet "Ah, horsefeathers! Maybe next time..." Vinyl let Fluttershy pick out a restaurant, and as they ate, they delighted each other with past anecdotes from their lives and friends. Having their fill, they decided to walk around Ponyville for a while. Rainbow had nigh given up. Not even flying could make her happy anymore. She just wanted to rip out her heart. She was belly up on a cloud, her heart cleaved in twain. People had tried to talk to her, but she only ignored them. She couldn’t will herself to move. The only mare she had ever loved has abandoned her. Of course, Rainbow had had plenty of one night stands, but those meant nothing compared to waking up to the one you love. Sex was sex, and even then, Dashie wasn’t up for it. Eventually, Rainbow got to the point of starvation. She wanted to roll over and die, but not like this. She could handle to pain, she could handle the waiting. What she couldn't handle is going out with a whimper. The thought of dying of starvation only registered one thought in her mind, 'lame.' If she was going to die, it needed to be radical and extreme. Like catching a hail of bullets, and falling headfirst into hell.'Yeah, that's it. Now all I need is a guy in a black trench coat, and a gun.' While she fantasies extensively about this, she knew it was not likely to happen any time soon. Finally summoning up the courage to move, she rolled off the cloud, falling towards the ground with the same velocity of an unladen swallow. Merely seconds from hitting the ground, her wings shot out in a glory of cyan feathers, slowing her decent in the blink of an eye, as she touched back on earth. Only barely registering the awkward gawks of those around her, she slowly marched, foot by foot, through the town. Head down, tail in-between her legs, Dash made her way to the nearest place that could serve her any kind of nourishment. Her heart ached with every step. She decided to go with something to take the edge off. A drink might soothe the ache in her chest, as well as prohibit her from remembering what happens when she wakes up in the morning. She found the nearest bar, and drifted inside, up to the nearest barstool. The bar pony asked her what kind of drink she wanted, and with her head in her hoofs, she replied with an empty “Strongest thing you got.” The bartender obliged, and mixed her a drink worthy of an alicorn's strength. They could no doubt get Princess Celestia plasted. Speaking of whom, Dash could vaguely hear a TV in the side of the bar, playing and episode of the 'Honeymooners'. She could vaguely recognize the fake Celestia voice on the TV. "One of these days, Luna, one of these days! Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!" One turned too many, and soon, the table was fluttered with shot glasses. Rainbow, snacking here and there, was almost starting to feel a little better. The alcohol had taken the edge off of her heart ache. She turned to leave, but somepony grabbed her hoof and stopped her. Rainbow dash struggled, but the bouncer just held firm, as another bouncer placed a large, industrial rubber band around Rainbow’s mid section, around her wings. “Wha’ sthe b-big id-dea?” Rainbow uttered in incomprehensible slurs. The bouncers simply stated it’s so “You can’t fly drunk. Too dangerous.” Rainbow protested, but to no avail. She limped out of the bar, and started her trek home, drifting slowly through the stone streets, barely able to register the ponies and stores passing by. Taking all her concentration on walking nearly made her miss the squeal. That familiar, shocked, squeal that she knew all too well. She turned around, and that’s when she saw it. Rainbow felt inner rage like she never had before. Her body ran on a different fuel. Not food, or water, but hatred. Pure hatred and anger. Her adrenaline spiked, and with a newfound energy, she shot out as fast as she could. Vinyl never walked around so much, but for that Pegasus, she would do anything. Fluttershy seemed so in tune with nature, in step with everything happening around them, from the trees shaking to the birds fluttering. As they walked past a few buildings, Vinyl had a well of emotion being barricaded inside of her. Vinyl yearned for the yellow filly. Not for friendship, or even for sex. Vinyl wanted her for her mind, and for her soul. She wanted to be there for her, and do whatever she can to make her happy. Vinyl wanted to scream it to the heavens, but it always got lodged in her throat. Lost in her emotions, she nearly collided with a wall. It was enough to get Fluttershy to stop in her tracks, and turn her attention to the DJ beside her. “W-what’s wrong?” queried the pegasi, but the DJ pony nearly looked off into the distance, and responded with a crisp “Thinkin’”. “Oh? What about?” but the ivory pony merely stopped. After a moment of silence, she responded. “I’ve never been good with words… or saying what I feel… so I’ll just show you.” Before she could protest, Fluttershy was against the wall, with Vinyl pressed against her body. She let out a sharp cry of shock, as she felt Vinyl’s muzzle against hers, locking into a long, warm embrace of their mouths. Vinyl could feel the tension inside of Fluttershy vanish, and she soon became limp in her arms, not wanting to pull away any more than Vinyl did. But vinyl did pull away to catch a breath of air, when instead, she caught something different. She caught the body of another pony, ramming into her with all of her might, sending them tumbling to the ground, landing on her back. On top of her, she saw a blue furred Pegasi with flowing rainbow locks with hazy rose colored eyes bearing down at her. Before Vinyl could move in protest, the pony lashed out and struck Vinyl in the face with both of her hoofs, beating on the the unicorn’s eyes and cheeks. A small strand of deep red came out of Vinyl’s mouth, and rolled down over her chin.. With the vision barely left in her eyes, she saw a burning look in the pegasi’s eye. Vinyl, recovered from the initial shock, pulled up her hind leg, and positioned it under belly of her assailant, and forced her hoof into the cyan mare’s abdomen, sending her reeling on the ground, gasping for air. Vinyl stood up on her wobbly hind legs, and wiped the dripping blood from the corner of her mouth, focusing all the magic in her horns, she locked onto the outer body of the pegasi, and with her remaining strength, threw her in the direction of the nearest wall. The mysterious mare hit the stone clad wall with an audible thump, and reclined on the ground, struggling to get up.. Vinyl stood her ground, waiting for the next barrage from the mare, but the next strike never came. She slowly relaxed her shoulders, instinct telling her that the danger was gone for now.. She could hear the distant echoes of frantic yelling, but it only barely registered as the adrenaline of battle swayed her body. A set of hoofs grabbed her from both sides, instinctive sending Vinyl twirling to her side, only to see the worried faces of not only the mare that she would gladly fight for, but a random purple unicorn that she vaguely recalled as the local librarian. The ivory DJ plumped down on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked across the alley to see her attacker on the ground, limbs flailing, struggling to get free. She was being held down by a blonde, orange pony with a cowboy hat, and on the other side, a large red stallion with long spiky locks of a dirtier blond. With the angry mare subdued for the time being, Vinyl leaned back into a set of arms, and closed her eyes for minutes, feeling her heart beat in her throat. She could feel the soreness in her face already, and it was beginning to become difficult to keep her eyes open. She vaguely felt the feel of magical energy around her body, but she paid it no heed. Her mind was racing, trying to recollect all that had happened. In the state of confusion, Vinyl managed to get on her hoofs, and stagger off while people were trying to sort what happened. She got behind the buildings, out of sight, and headed for the one place she could think. Vinyl set off up the luscious green hill, the grass darkened to a deep, forest like green in the tint of darkness. She galloped up the hill at an moderate pace, making sure not to disturb her injuries. she couldn't help but think about how she had gotten into all of this. The words of her father echoed freshly in her head. 'Fillies are all trouble. Settle down and find yourself a nice colt. All mares ever do is make drama. You want to know what goes through a colts mind? Hard work, and naked mares. Makes for a simple life.' Vinyl reached the top of the hill as the moon reached it’s full glory. She sat on the top of a big hill, that overlooked some low flying clouds, silver lined by the moons light. Finally alone with her thoughts, she could still only think about one thing. The cyan mare. She needed to talk to her about what had happened. Rainbow Dash lay pressed to the ground, wings strapped to the side of her body, her limbs held down in place by Applejack and her elder brother Big Macintosh. She struggled to get free, but under the pressure of the stallions weight, she relaxed, and stopped moving. She wasn’t going to get out with brute force. She had a trick up her sleeve that she planned to use. During the tumble, the band keeping her from flying had slipped off of her wings, and now hung from just below her midsection. Waiting for the perfect moment, she complied with what her captors said. Applejack let go of Dash, and at that moment, she new to strike. Rainbow unfurled her wings right into Big Mac’s face, sending him staggering in confusion. With the momentary lapse of security holding her in place, Dash shot towards the sky, leaving only a herd of confused ponies, and a trail of the rainbow behind her. She flew quickly towards her favorite cloud that lay above a big hill just outside of Ponyville. Quickly transcending the hill, she took what she saw with extreme caution. It was the unicorn that she had just battered, sitting on top of the hill. Rainbow walked awkwardly over to the pony. The unicorn span around, and looked Rainbow dead in the eyes, with a piercing gaze worthy of a rapier. She simply stated. “Why?” Rainbow Dash was at a loss. She had expected a more violent outcome from both of them, but this pony was perfectly calm, her eyes listless and unfocused. Rainbow looked down out of embarrassment, and under the hush of her voice, she said, “Because I love her.” “I know. Why haven’t you told her?” Dash avoided eye contact with the unicorn. “It’s going to be a long story… are you sure you’re up for it?” “Yeah.” Rainbow Dash sat down next to her, and began explaining all the details of their friendship, from filly hood, to their friends, even up till now, excluding Dash’s period of apathy and fasting. They sat in silence for a while. Neither said much. The unicorn relieved herself of a heavy sigh, before looking Dash right in the eye, and simply said, “Tell her.” Rainbow objected to this, trying to find some excuse, no matter how dismal, as to not tell her. “I… but… you guys are… and I’m just… you’re a couple… and-“ Dash was cutoff. “Listen. I can’t claim to know her that long. I don’t have the right to say that I love her. I don’t know her that well. But you can. We both know deep down that you want her. She completes you. Makes you whole. We aren’t a couple. I kissed her. I can’t speak for her, but I know that I really like her, but I can’t say I feel for her yet like you do. You need to go tell her. I don’t care if we were a couple, you need to tell her all of this. If she is really a friend, even if she never feels the same way about you, she will always be your friend, you got that? I want her to be happy, even if that means being with you. My feelings don’t matter. If she is truly happy with you, then I want her to take that chance, and be with you. You have my blessing.” Rainbow Dash was utterly speechless. She sat for a while, mulling the speech over in her head. “You… you want her to be with me? W-why…” The unicorn gave a heart felt smile through her bruised lip. “Because I want her to be happy. Not me. If she is happy, then I’m happy. Go to her.” Rainbow was torn asunder. Her mind did a backflip, but her heart retched. Rainbow would have greatly taken those words, and sought after the filly of her dreams. But this time, her heart stopped her. She didn’t deserve to have Fluttershy. All she could think about is what she wants. What would make Rainbow Dash happy. What was best for Rainbow Dash. But her heart retched. All she could think about is what she wants. What would make Rainbow Dash happy. She never stopped to consider how Fluttershy might feel. But here was this pony, who even after she kissed Fluttershy, was telling Rainbow to tell her how she felt. She didn’t care. She wanted Fluttershy to be happy. This unicorn was the one who deserved her. Rainbow sat up, and spread her wings, before jumping off the top of the hill, and slicing through the air, before turning up right, and flying into the clouds. She landed on her favorite comfy cloud, but not even that did anything. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Nothing would come out. Instead, she sat there, and let her heart bubble over with anxiety. She doesn’t deserve Fluttershy. She never did.
Stupor (Ch 5)Authors Note: Thank the lord for Fire Soul! I had just about given up, and even if I did get more writing done, it was extremely unorganized and I would never have gotten far. He helped me out and set my story straight, as well as given me a very interesting plot suggestion for the rest of my story. Check out his stories! http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Fire%20Soul Those teal eyes, wide and unfocused, her mouth slightly agape, seemed to be deep enough to pierce the very air that surrounded them. Fluttershy’s leg muscles tensed slightly as she leaned back slightly, her eyes bloodshot from the excessive crying. Her voice left a faint echo against the gridded limestone wall behind her. “Rainbow… I-“ but she was cut short at the stamp of Rainbow Dash’s right fore hoof striking the dirt path, bringing her multicolored mane close to Fluttershy’s head. Rainbow Dash’s voice was shaking and squeaking. “Fluttershy… I love you… I love you Fluttershy! Please… please please please Fluttershy I love you. I always have. You’re everything… I want you’re heart and your soul… I want you I NEED YOU!” Fluttershy’s cringed at the onslaught of alcohol that soon filled the air around her nose, courtesy of the drunken mess before her. For a split second, Fluttershy’s stare went completely blank, not a single emotion to be read. As quickly as it began, her expression turned into a deep scowl, her teal eyes raging with the blunt traumatic force of a Morningstar. “Rainbow Dash! How could you? How could you?!” Fluttershy’s voice slowly climbed in volume, and in strength of the words she said, until her sentences became a various crescendo of words. “You ignore all of your friends, who just want to help you, you get drunk constantly,” Fluttershy slowly rises off the ground, beating the wings to the rhythm of her words, until she is angled down and staring wide eyed at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow’s back arched inward as she forcibly lowered herself caught in the line of Fluttershy’s intense gaze while the yellow pony continues with her onslaught. “AND to make it all worse, you attack the pony I love?! What is wrong with you!” Rainbow Dash’s eyes went wide, stricken with awe at the emphasis on love, as her heart was cleaved in twain with the power of an emotional scythe, forcing a burning pain up through her heart and out her eyes. A trail of tears rolled over her rosy cheeks, slowly backing away from the angry yellow and pink bee in front of her. Fluttershy only continued forward, pressing on. “DID YOU HEAR ME RAINIBOW DASH?” Rainbow Dash slunk back, turned on backwards on her heels, and shot away, flapping her wings as hard as her muscles would allow, fully aware that there was no chance that the mare left behind her could follow. The extremities of the wind continually pressed the wind on the tears welling up on Dash’s eyes, pushing the salty tear infused wind back into her eyes, making her blink rapidly. Slowly descending to the ground, heart beating out of her chest, Rainbow couldn’t bear the pain of what her pony love had just said. Love… Fluttershy loved Vinyl. Dash began racking her brain for anything to make the pain go away. One answer always returned. One magical elixir that rid her of her torment. Booze. Alcohol was the answer, the painkiller to her emotional distress. Rainbow’s eyes darted around, surveying her location for a continuous source of liquors. On the corner of two streets sat a large rectangular brown building, with a simple sign on the front reading “Hoarse Horse”. Rainbow shuffled her hooves over towards the door to the bar, and nudged it open with her head, pushing through to the inside. The interior of the bar was decorated in a fashion befitting a typical sports bar. To either side of the entrance and along the outlying walls were small bar booths, cushioned seats surrounding a standard square table with ponies flanking either side of the table. Scattered throughout the middle of the bar where circular wooden tables with matching chairs. She turned her attention towards the opposite side of the bar. At the opposite wall from the entrance stood a long wooden counter traversing the entirety of the wall. Behind the counter stood many large shelves of alcohol and running beer taps. Rainbow scooted past the array of wooden tables and ponies and makes her way up to the barstools along the wooden counter. Sitting down at a barstool in the center, Rainbow gives a quick glance to either side to see if there is anypony who might recognize her. The only recognizable pony is to her right. On the seat a few to Rainbow’s right sat a pile of purple fur, head against the counter, slumped over in a mess of purple frizzy mane hair. Soft snores can be heard bouncing off the bar counter. A quick look at her flank, depicting a cluster of grapes and a juicy strawberry identifies the drunkard as Berry Punch. A milky grey pony in his mid thirties steps up to the counter across from rainbow dash, attentively drying out a glass with a cloth using the magic from the horn atop his head. His voice comes out as a mildly light and cooingly smooth slight western accent. “What’ll it be miss?” Dash paused for a moment, attempting to remember the strongest drink she could think of. Her voice came out strained as she said “Beer and a shot of absinthe.” The bartender nods as he turns around to the tap, and begins pouring the beer into the angled glass. He pushes the mug of beer over to Dash while pouring the shot into a typical shot glass, passing it again over to the blue mare, then returning back to his cleaning. Rainbow dash immediately picked up the shot glass in her teeth, and dropped it bottom first into the mug of beer. She grasped both sides of the mug with her fore hooves, and wrapped her mouth around the rim of the mug, lifting it up to her mouth, drinking as much of the mixing drink as possible. While most of the alcohol slid down her throat, small dribbles ran down her coat. Fluttershy bound through the door to her home, a small trail of tears running down her face. She leapt face first into her couch and held the cushion against her face. Vinyl Scratch emerges from the kitchen, a look of confusion and empathy on her face. Vinyl kneels at the front of the couch and nuzzles the side of Fluttershy’s face, gently speaking into her ear. “Shy? What’s wrong Shy?” Without lifting her head, Fluttershy responds. “I-It’s Rainbow Dash.” With that name, Vinyl seems to tense up. Fluttershy merely sighs, and rolls upright, but keeps her gaze focused at the floor. She regaled Vinyl about coming home from Sweet Apple Orchards, running into dash, yelling at her, the alcohol on Dash’s breath, and Dash running away. Vinyl sat down next to Fluttershy and slowly petted her mane, and calmed her to sleep. Applejack knocked on the door to Fluttershy’s cottage. The door opened a crack, and a small light blue eye peaked through, along with a pale pink curl. “H-hello?” “Hi sugercube. I just wanted to make sure you were doin’ okay.” “Y-yes… I’m okay…” “Do ya mind if I come in sugarcube?” “Sure…” Fluttershy opened the door to allow Applejack inside, closing the door behind her. Fluttershy walked over to the couch and sat down while Applejack followed suit, taking a seat opposite her on the couch. “Hon, I’m worried. Have you seen Rainbow Dash lately?” “N-no… I haven’t… not since last month… on the way home… from Sweet Apple Orchards… where she…” “I understand. Neither have I… we need to set that girl straight.” “But Applejack… do you even know where she is?” “No… but I can take a wild guess. You said that she had alcohol on her breath mighty fierce, right?” “Y-yeah… I could smell it when she talked…” “Well I’ll just have to check every darn bar in Ponyville until I find her!” “Applejack… p-please… calm down…” Applejack bolts upright out of her chair, standing up. “Darn it Fluttershy, she has to learn that she’s hurting people!” Applejack stomps away from Fluttershy and out the front door. Standing on the front path to Fluttershy’s cottage, she tries to think about the bars in Ponyville, and sets off to find the few still standing. Applejack began trotting down the path, saddlebags resting on her back, as she gets to the streets of Ponyville, passing many pony and building alike, until she arrived at the bar named “Hoarse horse”, where she cantered inside. Passing the crowd of drunken ponies inside the bar, making her way up to the cloudy white bartending unicorn. Applejack pulled a picture of Rainbow Dash and puts it on the bar counter. Looking at the bartender, Applejack inquires, “Have you seen this Pony lately?” The bartender held his eyes closed for a minute, then nodded towards the back corner of the bar, to a square booth. Applejack gave him a suspicious but relieved look, and put the picture back in her saddlebag. She turned on her heels, and started to march towards the back corner booth. Applejack poked her head into the booth in the corner of the building, to see a mostly empty booth, aside from on the farthest side of the booth, was Rainbow Dash, lying outstretched, with her hooves resting on the head of another pony, placed on top of Rainbow’s stomach, all lying atop the leather seat cushions. The pony lying on her had scraggly purple mane atop a lighter purple body, with the cutie mark of grapes and strawberries. Beer mugs and shot glasses litter the hard wood of the table, some upright, most knocked over. With a hearty sigh, Applejack leans into the booth, putting her maw right next to the sleeping blue pony’s ear, and with a deep breath, shouted with discontent. “RAINBOW! WAKE UP YOU DRUNKEN SWINE!” With the loud and sudden noise, the hazy blue pony flailed around in her seat, desperate to get some leverage to pull herself upright, sending the sprawling purple pony underneath the table, still half asleep. Rainbow finally was able to grasp the ledge of the table, and pull herself semi upright. Her once rosy eyes were now dulled and empty, heavily affected by the bottles of Everclear stacked and strewn on the table. Rainbow’s eyes continually fluttered, opening and closing in sporadic patterns, attempting to get used to the light and focusing on the dark orange apparition merely feet away, but still remained a darkened blur. Silence between the two settled in the air, broken by the cacophony of the other bar patrons, and the low hum of an country singer detailing his faith in the lord, despite the extremities of that around him. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes with her hooves, only to see her orange and blonde friend bearing a scowl. "Hhhhaaaaay AJ," she said, wobbling a little in her seat. "Whuh'zup with'th' long face?" Rainbow attempted and failed miserably not to laugh at her own joke, but Applejack's anger only intensified. “God dang it Rainbow, it’s not even noon yet and you’re more drunk than a filly in a cider cellar. What is wrong with you?” "Nothin's wrong wih'-" she started to say, but was interrupted by a very uncouth and loud burp. Almost directly into AJ's face. "-me. S'wrong with YOU?" “Rainbow! Look at yourself.” Applejack slowly and continually moves closer to Rainbow Dash while talking. “You’re drunk… you’re always in a bar, you haven’t done your job in weeks, and you’re ignoring all your friends…” “N' yer an or'ng' BITCH!” Applejack inched as close to Rainbow as possible, and put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, atop her ratty and unkempt mane. “I think you need help.” Rainbow Dash bashed Applejacks fore hoof away with her liquor sapped strength, standing up on unsure legs, staring down the orange and blonde pony. "ShCREW YOU, I doh' need y'r help!" she shouted at her Southern friend, turning away and trying to stomp her way out of the bar. Sadly, and rather amusingly, this only resulted in her tripping over her forehooves and going face-first into the floor. "Buckin' floor, shcrew yer Mother too," she grumbled quietly to herself. Multiple attempts were made to get up, and only the fourth try garnered favorable results for the plastered pegasus.' Applejack let out a deep, throaty sigh, and attempted to follow Rainbow Dash outside the bar. Passing through the door, Rainbow Dash is clearly leaning up against the side of the building for support. Applejack called out to Rainbow Dash, trying not to tear up at seeing her friend do distraught. “Rainbow please! You need help sugarcube…” Applejack began inching closer to Rainbow Dash, enough to put put a hoof on the back of her shoulder. Rainbow Dash knocked Applejack's hoof away from her, stumbling around in a backwards circle in the process on her hindlegs, before managing to get back down on all fours without collapsing into a drunken heap. "I dun' need nun'y'all. S'right, y'all, 'cuz yer accent....s'cute," she mumbled towards the end, her wings spreading and flapping out of sync, slowly getting her off of the ground, but in a wobbly, swaying way. "Dun' need nobody! Doinnnnn' JUS'FINE WITHOU'CHA!" she shouted down to Applejack while slowly, shakily flying away, tears running from the corners of her eyes. "So jus' lemme 'lone!" Rainbow Dash started to transcend the horizons of the buildings, far out of reach of the sorrowful earth pony. Applejack could only sit and watch as her broken friend escaped her line of vision over the roofs of Ponyville. His eyes slowly opened, revealing the dusky and often described as lifeless grey eyes, half covered by the stringy bangs of his fuchsia purple mane. After taking a moment to let his eyes become accustomed to the light, he sat up right in his king sized bed, surrounded by bunched up sheets and covers, strewn all across his bed, a clear sign that he had been tossing and turning in the night, as he often does. Throwing the covers off his body and onto the side of the bed, he slowly rolls off the bed and stands up on slightly shaky feet, as he made his way down the hallway of his house, taking a moment to pause in the open doorway halfway between his room and the bathroom. Peeking his head inside, there amidst all the posters of the Wonderbolts and Rainbow Dash sat the sleeping orange ball with the same fuchsia hair as his. With a quick smile, he continued down the hallway, grabbing a towel and heading into the bathroom. He set the towel and climbed into the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water hit his head, as he places one hoof on the wall, and hangs his head, letting the water fall off of his long locks. After washing his hair and body, he turns the water off, and climbs out of the shower, toweling off his mass of wet fur. Completely dry, he starts his morning hygiene regimen of brushing is teeth, combing his mane, and shaving his face. He stopped to look into the mirror at the pony in front of him. The pony in the mirror had a dimming silver coat, and long purple mane on his head, and a thick and straight tail with small half crescent curls up and down his tail Still completely tired, he trudges into the living room to see his daughter with her face in a bowl of cereal. Crossing over to the kitchen counter, he starts his coffee percolator and readies his mug. “Use a spoon Scoots.” Grumbling quietly, Scootaloo stands up and retrieves a spoon from the kitchen drawer, and begins eating her cereal with the silverware. She looks at her father, and in a sarcastic tone, she calls to him. “Better?” The father couldn’t help but smile at the left over milk and cereal still clung to her jaw. Slowly cantering over to the kitchen table, he frazzles Scootaloo’s hair.” “Much. Now eat your cereal or you’ll be late for school.” Scootaloo starts talking to herself while gathering her supplies in her school pack. “Would have gone better if you’d just let me eat…” Scootaloo made her way to the front door with her stuff. “Have a good day Scoots!” He called back as Scootaloo walked out the front door and already began to start talking to the young unicorn Sweetie Belle. He poured himself a cup of coffee, and drank it as is, black and bitter, eager to wake him self up. Putting the mug into the dishwasher, he puts his saddlebag on top of his back, and trotted out the door, locking it behind him, as he started to make his way along the sidewalk, eventually arriving at a small wooden building with the sign “Wood Works” on top of the building. He opened the door, and let himself inside, to see a large interior filled with small carpentry machinery, and lumber stacked upon lumber. Inside was his partner, a red pony with a grey mane, known to him as Drill Press, his co owner of their small wooden construction operation. “Mornin’ Drill.” “Howdy Tim.” “Still working on that dining room set?” “Unfortunately, yeah. It’s going to be a while too.” Tim made his way towards the front counter, taking his place behind it, drawing up blueprints for a new project, waiting for a customer to come in, while Drill Press worked in the back with the machines. On a slow business day, a couple ponies would come in needing some repairs or crafting done. Near the middle of the day, a small purple unicorn with highlights in her hair walked into the shop, and came up to the counter. Tim looked up from his drawings to see the unicorn facing him at the counter. “Hello and welcome to Wood Works! My name is Timber Saw. What can I do for you today, Miss…” The unicorn looked up with large unwavering eyes, and a smile on her face. “Twilight Sparkle. I was wondering if I could have a bookshelf made.” After discussing the size of the bookshelf and how tall the shelves would have to be apart, Timber made a few calculations about the cost of the wood, and how much they would charge for the construction of the bookshelf it’s self. Coming to an agreement, the small pony paid the agreed amount of bits, and made her way out of the store as Timber began cutting out the needed lumber for the project, getting as far as jointing and planning the wood into a nice looking products. The clock on the wall and the light of the sun outside both told him that it was time to head on home. Saying a final goodbye to Drill Press, and locking the store, he cantered home whistling a tune at the satisfaction of another routine day. Taking a while to get home, he was thoroughly tired from the day when he arrived at his house, walking in and dropping his saddlebag of gear off by the door. “Scoots, I’m home!” he called out, but there was no reply. It was a 50 50 chance. Sometimes she was home, other times she was out with her friends, or her idol Rainbow Dash, but when he got to her room, Scoots was in her bed, face down into her pillow, quietly sobbing her body wrapped up in blankets. A sense of urgency washed over Timber’s face seeing his daughter in distress, as he rushed to her side and sat down beside her, rubbing the top of her mane gently. “Scoots? Scootaloo, what’s wrong baby?” Without looking up, Scootaloo stuttered in her response, unable to start sniffling. “I-It’s R-rainbow Dash…”
Careless Whispers (Ch 4)The moon shone a luminescent light down from the sky, the stars shimmering from the heavens. The hill was merely a silhouette from the distance, reigning taller than then the forest surrounding it. The two equine figures atop the hill, frozen in place, deadlocked in each others eyes. Rainbow’s single thought bounced around her head repeatedly, in the same soft, high pitched, soprano voice. ‘Don’t deserve…don’t deserve… don’t deserve… Fluttershy…’ The realization hit Dash like a tidal wave. She wasn’t worthy. Her dream mare spent all her time caring for animals, making sure that others were safe before her, and if it came down to it, protecting her friends. On the other hand, Dash wanted to be the best. She wanted to be the fastest. She wanted to be pull the best stunts in Equestria. She wanted the most beautiful mare. Her heart dropped from it’s usual spot held high in her chest, down to the pits of her stomach. The pain and gnawing set in her abdomen, like being eaten from the inside out. All that was left in her chest was a vacuum, forcing the pressure of the outside world onto her chest. She thought she might implode at any moment, with the overbearing force centered at where her heart used to be. Her legs frozen to the ground, bound by the tendrils of fear and betrayal, all Dash could do was watch the sharp cardinal eyes bore into her soul with the same pain as if someone had thrust a broadsword through her heart. Rainbow Dash barely felt the strength to continue to breathe, as the enigmatic Vinyl Scratch slowly stalked past her, and down the hill, leaving the down trodden pony to sulk in her sorrows. The warmth and light of Celestia’s pride and joy landed upon Fluttershy’s face, lighting up her sharp face and light pink hair. Her nose gave way to a small ruffle, before she slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the new light. Letting her eyes open to their fullest extent, she was hit with a barrage of images in her mind, along with the dull thump in the back of her head. The remnants of the previous night shot through her head. Vinyl. Lunch. The kiss…. Rainbow Dash… it all happened so fast. ‘I couldn’t even stop it… why would she…’ Fluttershy didn’t know. She spent the entire night after that trying to figure out why. She hadn’t even seen Dash in weeks. She tried to push it out of her throbbing head, but couldn’t manage to quite escape it. Rolling out of bed, she slowly made her way to her bedroom door in a down trodden trot. She pushed open the door, and found herself in her home, the small cottage off to the side of Ponyville. Walking her way towards the living room, the small clops from her hoofs on the wood floorboards alerted Angel that she was awake. Fluttershy merely glanced towards the kitchen, and gagged in disgust. All the food in the kitchen made her sick to the stomach. Instead, she merely sank onto the couch, and covered herself in a big, forest green blanket, and oversized beanie. She took in deep breaths, trying to keep from crying, while recollecting the events that transpired the night before. Deep in thought, she didn’t notice the small thumping noise on the table in front of her, but what DID catch her attention, was her face catching the side of a carrot. Fluttershy let out a small cry in surprise, and fell backwards off the couch, landing on her back, hoofs cocked below her chin. She looked up past her hoofs to see Angel’s beady eyed bearing down at her. “Oh… A-angel… do you have any advice for me?” But Angel merely stood there and stamped his foot against the table. “Do… you have something you want to show me?” Angel nodded, and hopped off of the table. Before Fluttershy could get back up, Angel was back, holding a picture frame. He laid it down on the table, and waited impatiently as Fluttershy got back to her feet. With Fluttershy finally settled, she looked at the picture, and saw none other than her friends, all bunched together and smiling. “You want me to… hug my friends?” Angel bunny merely shook his head, and let out a stream of incomprehensible gibber jabber. Fortunately enough, Fluttershy had lived with Angel long enough to know what he is trying to say. “I should… go talk to my friends?” Angel bunny shot his hands up in the air in the shape of a goal post, while nodding furiously. Was this what Angel wanted her to do? ‘What would my friends think of me… what if this is all my fault? Oh no… are they going to pick sides? What if this splits us apart?! I couldn’t do that-‘ Fluttershy, deep in thought caught the other side of the carrot, and a glare from Angel. Fluttershy knew she couldn’t do this alone. She needed the help of her friends, even if they thought badly of her. Fluttershy got up, and headed for the door while wrapping a scarf around her neck. She opened the door, and stepped outside, calling a short goodbye to Angel. With a steady pace, she cantered down the short dirt path that leads into Ponyville. One question kept pacing her mind. ‘Who do I talk to first? Pinkie Pie is… well… Pinkie pie… god knows what Rarity would do….’ She kept pondering the question, when she found herself entering the outside edges of Ponyville, when the answer became clear. ‘Applejack. I should go to Applejack. I mean… she’s Dashie’s best friend right? I’m sure she’ll be able to help… and… she’s the Element of Honesty and all… she will tell me what’s on her mind… I’m sure she has had suitors before… I mean… she’s an attractive pony… her brilliant green eyes… long blonde hair… No. I shouldn’t be thinking about her like that! It’s wrong!’ She made sure that that particular train of thought had come to a complete stop before arriving at the path that led into the heart of Sweet Apple Acres. Small amounts of dirt kicked up from around her feet as she walked. She could hear a small thud around a few large apple tree’s, as she spotted the large red stallion striking a wide apple tree with his southern leftmost hoof. With a sharp crack, the apples fell from the tree and landed in the strategically placed baskets at the bottom. Fluttershy pondered approaching the large stallion, but before she could decide, he spun around on his hind legs and let out a large whinny, as he whirled to approach the mare who failed to compare in size. A look of bewilderment swept across his face as he saw nothing behind him. His mind sank back into his work, until he noticed the tree a short distance away from him was shaking uncontrollably. His deep, baritone voice echoed out. “Fluttershy? Is that you?” Fluttershy slowly drifted towards the ground, averting her gaze. “Is… Is AJ h-here?” “Eeeyup. I’ll take ya to her if ya want.” Fluttershy merely nodded as Big Mac turned around and cantered at a steady pace farther into orchard. They passed slowly, tree by tree, until they arrived at a clearing. Big Mac said his farewells, and disappeared back into the orchard to presumably buck some more apple trees. Fluttershy stalked her way into the clearing, where she saw Applejack. The sunlight flashed off of Applejack's mane, making Fluttershy blink in astonishment. Applejack was a beautiful mare, even if Fluttershy was too shy to say it out loud. Fluttershy thought about being in a relationship with Applejack once, but she was scared that the farm would come first in AJ's life. However beautiful she was, Fluttershy just didn't feel that way about her. Fluttershy trotted across the clearing to where Applejack was content with some mid season applebucking. With the grass rustling beneath their feet, AJ turned around to see the little yellow mare trotting up to her. “Well shoot, sugarcube, what are you doin’ here?” “AJ… we really need to talk…" AJ nodded and slumped down to the ground, her back resting against her tree. She shifted herself so that her forehooves lay behind her neck, and her legs were crossed, with a thin piece of wheat resting in her jaw. She motioned for Fluttershy to sit next to her. Fluttershy walked over next to her, and dropped to the ground, keeping her hooves curled up beneath her. AJ was the first to speak. “Alright darlin’. What’s got you in such a slump?” “Well… It’s about last night.” “Ah. The tussle between Dash and that other pony.” “Y-yes… that… I need your advice on that…” “Shoot ‘Shy, I don’t even know what happened. Y’all and that other pony took off while me n’ Big Mac were holdin’ down Dashie.” “Well… y-you see… I think I know why she did that… you see… do you remember when we w-went to that club?” AJ nodded. “I kind of… met… somepony… and… well…before dash came at her… she kind of…” Fluttershy averted her gaze to the ground, letting her voice drop to a barely audible whisper. “Kissed… me.” AJ’s eyes opened a little. “Sugarcube, you ever think that Rainbow might be… ya’ know… jealous?” “J-jealous? What do you mean?” “Ah can’t speak for her, but ah do know one thing. That mare owes a lot to you. I mean…she was standin’ up for you when she got her cutie mark, right? And when that dragon bashed the Dash out of her, you came to the rescue, righ’?” Fluttershy wanted to say something, but she was at a loss for words. “All ah’m sayin’ is that it’s possible Rainbow could have developed certain feelings for you. I mean, ah’ve known her for a while, and she’s a lot more sensitive than she lets on.” Fluttershy’s worst nightmare had come true. As much as she wished she hadn’t she had been the one to cause harm to Dash. It was her fault that Dash had lashed out, and for everything else she had been feeling. Dash had gone missing for over a week. Was that her fault too? The thought of bringing harm on another animal was too much for her. Fluttershy buried her head inside her mane as small tears began to crawl down her face, and roll off into the grass. Fluttershy couldn’t help a small whimper as she failed to fight back the tears. Through all the pain and torment swirling through her heart, she felt something warm touch the side of her cheek. She looked up to see Applejack’s orange muzzle pressing against her neck, making Fluttershy slowly crane her head up. Applejack wrapped her forhooves around Fluttershy’s neck, and pulled her into her embrace. Slowly brushing the pink mane out of Fluttershy’s face, she talked with a soft, sing-song voice. “Shh… It’s okay Shy… let it all out… crying is good for you.” Fluttershy's tears became a solid feature on her face, the small, clear line easily visible. She could do nothing but let all of her sorrow and frustration out, without the prohibition of being alone or in a crowd. She laid there with her hooves to her eyes, leaning against one of her best friends. After minutes of verbal silence, Fluttershy finally was able to stop crying. The small clearing in the apple orchard was silent and still without the sounds of her sobbing. She still wanted to cry, but her eyes were dry. Nothing more would come out. She tilted her head up slightly, and looked at the horizon. The sun was starting to go down, leaving the sky mostly blue, but tinted a bright orange near the edges. She looked up a little more, until she was looking into crystal cut emerald eyes looking back at her. The deep pools of green were filled to the brim with sorrow. Applejack was never one for emotional confrontation, let alone between her two friends. She was fighting back tears when she finally spoke. “Are we okay now?” Fluttershy let out a small sniffle, and let her head fall back into the mélange mare’s lap, and let out a large sigh. “Applejack… what should I do?” Applejack paused for a moment, and stared inventively into the distance. “Fluttershy… Ah can’t tell ya what ta do. Ah can’t tell ya what ta feel. But ah can tell ya this. If ah was you, ah would talk to Rainbow. You owe her that much, right?” “I… I guess so…” “Find her. Talk to her. Get this out in the open with each other. Before she hurts herself or anypony else.” Fluttershy looked at the sky again. The sun was finally beginning to set. “AJ?” “Yeah sugarcube?” “I’m sorry.” “What for darlin’?” “I kept you from the farm… for… I don’t know how long…” Applejack let out a big, heartfelt grin, and touched Fluttershy on the cheek. “Sweetie, no amount of apples could compare to seein’ my friends happy. It’s gettin’ late. We should head back… I’ll walk ya out of the orchard.” Applejack and Fluttershy slowly rose to their legs, stretching their limbs, trying to get the blood back into their limbs. Together, they slowly trotted back through the thicket of apple trees, in a comfortable silence. It was quiet, but they could hear each other’s emotions loud and clear. They finally crossed over onto the dirt path that was a few feet from the big entrance to the apple farm. With a quick hug and a warm smile, Applejack gave one final piece of heartfelt advice. “Shy. If you take anything from today, let it be this. Don’t be afraid of your feelings. You need to choose what your heart tells you, not what others tell you. Okay sugarcube?” Fluttershy nodded, fighting back the tears in her eyes. She turned around and slowly stalked her way away from the farm, and started her trek back into Ponyville. As she walked down the long path, she took a moment to lose herself inside her head. What she could do… what she wanted… what the best for the others is. She thought about Vinyl, the mysterious DJ whom had saved her. She was brash, and she was reckless. It was something about her care free attitude that drove her to stay with her… almost like another pony. But there was something different. No matter how fast she was, she always looked back to make sure that Fluttershy was with her, always ready to help. That was more than dash could ever say. While Fluttershy had no doubts that Dash was there for her, Dash always put herself first. Even when Dash had stuck up for her, she nearly killed Fluttershy, and didn’t even notice. That alone had always convinced Fluttershy that the rainbow mare only cared for herself. Fluttershy took a moment to recollect herself. She looked around, not just at the town she was in, but the world she was in. Seemingly, around her were trees, benches, a fountain, and some ponies, but to Fluttershy, all she could see, was unconventional love. These ponies probably didn’t have to choose. While Fluttershy had spent most of her time alone, or caring for others, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to have someone caring for her. Making sure that HER needs were met. All around her, she could see love building up between ponies. Off to the side, she could see the mint green unicorn she guessed was Lyra sitting upright on a park bench, with the pewfy swirled mane of Bonbon resting on her lap. Over by the fountain, she could see the pale toned Colton hugging a lightly colored pink Daisy. It seemed like all the ponies except for her had found their better halves. Even Ditzy Hooves could be seen lying in the grass in the distance, caressing a banana nut muffin. That didn’t even make sense, but it didn’t have to. She was happy. Fluttershy skulked passed the town square, feeling even more alone than ever. Here she had two amazing ponies, each after her heart, and she couldn’t even tell either of them how she felt. Like always, her words had never ceased to fail her. Her stutter and shyness had always been embarrassing, and no matter how hard she tried, it was difficult to make herself heard. Every time she practiced her words, it would come out as a jumble of nonsense and mumbles. It always left her with a heart full of pain, a head full of stress, and a hoof full of anger, held in her chest. Not being heard is one of the worst feelings in the world. Like you can’t do anything. Like no one will ever hear the stories you tell. Like nopony’s listening. Building after building passed, yet she felt no different. The pain and pressure of today's and yesterday’s events took a heavy toll on her mind. She barely did anything today, yet it felt like she held the weight of the sky. Fluttershy kept on walking, drudging her feet one after another down the road, trying to get back to her cottage where she can rest, and put the day behind her. Sleep seemed to be the one place she finally found sanctuary in. She seldom had dreams that she remembered. Every once in a while, she would have an abstract dream, or even the rarer nightmare, but most of the time, she didn’t remember anything. All she seemed to remember, was going from tossing and turning in the bed, into a hazy like state. After that, she would wake up in the morning, without a single memory of falling asleep. It had just become normal for her. But her day was not over yet. Before she could lay her head down to rest, she had one more trial to face. As she rounded the corner, she became face to face with the one pony in Equestria she was not ready to deal with. She was right in front of the same rosy eyes and cyan body that had plagued her emotions and haunted her thoughts. She was inches away from Rainbow Dash.
