Chapters Fluttershy shook with anticipation.
The monthly sleepover was fast approaching. It was an event so cherished, it could almost be considered sacred among her group of friends. A night to tell stories, drink cider until thoroughly smashed, pig out on pizza and ice cream, sing, laugh, play games, and grow closer as friends; a night of both mindless fun and meaningful bonding.
And this month, for the very first time, it was finally Fluttershy’s turn to host.
Fluttershy had worked hard, taking all the necessary steps to make sure everything would be perfect. She found somepony to take care of everyone’s animals, including her many own, for the weekend, and shelled out extra bits from her savings account to make sure everypony had a nice comfy bed. Last Tuesday she got her hooves the latest edition of of Ogres And Oubliettes, the unrated violent cut of the new film adaptation of Daring Do And The Quest For The Sapphire Stone as per Rainbow and Twilight’s request, cards for Pony Poker, a few dozen flavors of ice cream from Sugarcube Corner, and of course, the most important item of all: The Apple Family's Hard Apple Cider.
Everything was looking to be lined up perfectly, yet Fluttershy still had that ever-present little inkling of stress in the back of her mind; after all, there was always the possibility that things could go catastrophically wrong. And if they did… oh, she didn’t even want to think about it. She just hoped what she had done was enough to make this night as epic as past ones had been.
But just as she was anxiously going through her mental checklist one last time, she heard a loud knock on the door. She let out a shrill yelp. "Who could that be!?" she wondered, opening the door. Her purple Alicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle, stood sheepishly in the doorway.
“T… Twilight! What is brings you here? The sleepover isn’t until tomorrow!”
Twilight inhaled sharply. “Yeah… see, about that… I’m afraid I’m not gonna be able to make it”, she replied with a heavy tone of regret in her voice.
“What!? Why not?”, Fluttershy questioned, suddenly somewhat panicked.
“Celestia has summoned me to Canterlot. She says a very serious problem has come up and I must be there immediately,” she answered urgently. “I’m afraid I’m gonna be in Canterlot all weekend.”
Fluttershy’s heart sank. “We can wait another week, can’t we?”
“No, we can’t! This sleepover is tradition, and as the tradition goes, it has to be on this weekend. ”
“Oh…”
“I guess you’re just gonna have to do it without me. I’m sorry,” Twilight concluded before turning around, opening her wings, and flying off towards Canterlot.
Fluttershy exhaled. “O… OK, Fluttershy, get a hold of yourself. So Twilight isn’t gonna be there, it’s fine. At least the other four are still gonna be there!”
“What do you mean you’re not gonna be there!?”
Fluttershy sat at a roundtable in Joe’s donut place with Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie.
“I’m really, really, reaallly sorry Fluttershy, but Limestone’s birthday is tomorrow and I have to show up! Believe me, when her birthday doesn’t go perfectly, things aren’t very pretty,” Pinkie Pie said, her voice losing its signature bounce and growing very serious on that last point.
“And I’m afraid the Sisterhooves Social is this weekend, ‘nd we promised Sweetie ‘n Apple Bloom we’d be able to take ‘em this year. We tried lettin’ ‘em down easy, but we just couldn’t stand to break their little hearts again.”
Applejack gestured at Rarity, who promptly nodded. “Besides, you simply cannot resist those sad eyes of theirs.”
AJ shuddered a bit. “Oh Celestia , those eyes.”
“But… but you can’t all be unavailable! This sleepover is supposed to be special and I can’t have it be all messed up on my first hosting! Oh what do I do, what do I do!? ” she cried out, slamming her head down on the table.
Looks of concern for Fluttershy flashed across the three ponies’ faces.
“Oh, please relax, dear”, Rarity chimed in, lifting Fluttershy’s chin up. “Rainbow Dash told me she will still be in town for the event, and I’m sure you two will have a lovely time together.”
Fluttershy calmed. “Yeah, I suppose.” She smiled, drifting off a bit.
Although she couldn't quite put her hoof on it, there was a special little feeling Fluttershy always felt whenever she was around Rainbow Dash. They had been friends longer than most of their circle even knew eachother, ever since Rainbow stood up for her against those horrible bullies that fateful day at Flight Camp. Since that day, Fluttershy felt a strong, almost supernatural connection with her. Fluttershy's thoughts couldn't help but drift to images of her sky blue friend. That brash, tomboyish personality. Her unstoppable courage. The way she always pushed Fluttershy to be the best she can. Images of those gorgeous ruby eyes filled Fluttershy's mind, along with those stunning outstretched wings, that flowing prismatic mane, those...
“Darling, are you alright?”
Fluttershy snapped out of her little trance. “Oh! Um, y- yes, I’m… I’m fine. I’m sure the sleepover with Rainbow will go great”, she stammered, blushing a little. “I have to go.”
Fluttershy slowly trotted back through town towards her cottage, the cool night wind flowing through her mane. The walk was really helping to put her mind at ease, just her, the gorgeous moonlit sky, that cold yet subtle breeze, the solitude… it was pleasant, almost ethereal.
That is, until a blur came and socked Fluttershy straight to the ground. She looked up. Of course it was Rainbow.
“Oh, ah, hey there Fluttershy. Sorry ‘bout that, didn’t see ya there, heh.” she stammered while backing off of her yellow friend, rather uncharacteristically apologetic of her.
“I’m fine, Rainbow. Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure? Because I can get you some bandages or something if you need-”
“Rainbow, calm down. I’m okay.” Fluttershy said, chuckling a little.
“Heh, cool. So, uhh... how ‘bout that sleepover tomorrow? You excited?” Rainbow asked, playfully giving her friend a light punch on the shoulder.
“Yes… yes, yes I am.” Fluttershy responded nervously.
Rainbow picked up on Fluttershy’s nerves, which seemed tense tonight even for her. “Fluttershy, is everything…”
“YEP! Never better!” At least, that’s what Fluttershy said, when in her mind she was just praying for Rainbow to leave to end the awkwardness.
The two stood in silence for a good ten seconds.
“OK, well, uuh, good talk. I gotta go. Sorry again.” Rainbow said before bolting off, leaving Fluttershy on her own once again.
Fluttershy just stood there, looking wistfully in Rainbow’s general direction, before turning around and continuing the trek back to her cottage, trying to put herself back in the relaxed mindset she was at before.
As Fluttershy made the final preparations for the following night's event, she couldn't help but let her mind wander. Rainbow Dash inevitably entered her mind once more. Her eyes, her smile, her passion... Fluttershy snapped out of it once again. “Get it together”, she told herself.
There was no escaping the truth anymore. She had to face it.
"I… I have a crush on Rainbow Dash," she stated out loud to herself.
Admitting it made her feel a little better. It had to be true. There was no other explanation. She was in love; powerful, unfathomable love.
But what would she do? What COULD she do?
Fluttershy's nervousness swelled up inside her as she subconsciously spoke her thoughts aloud. "Should I confess? If I confess, what if it makes things weird? What if… could it end our friendship?" Fluttershy shuddered with fear. So many things could go wrong.
She eventually vowed to keep quiet; after all, who knew what kind of issues that would create? What if Rainbow didn’t love her back? What if she did completely screw up somehow and ruin their friendship forever?
She vowed to herself she would keep quiet during the sleepover; the night was going to be as special as ever even with only two ponies, and she wouldn’t dare squander it with her possibly moot attempts at romance.
She laid herself into bed, closed her eyes, and visions and memories of her and that wonderful blue Pegasus began to dance in front of her eyes as she slowly drifted off into the land of dreams.
9:45 PM, Friday
The clock ticked. 15 minutes to 10. Rainbow would be there any second.
The walls were lined with pizza, junk food, and barrels of cider. The furniture and decorations completely clean and organized; prime to be totally wrecked as the night went on, of course. Fluttershy wasn’t the only one prepared; Rainbow had assured her that she had something up her sleeve to make this sleepover extra special. Fluttershy wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but if anyone besides Pinkie was trustworthy when it came to making wild nights like these, it was Rainbow.
Speaking of Rainbow, there was a sudden knock on the door. Fluttershy froze; it was time. Before answering, she closed her eyes and went into her mind one more time.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Remember, this night is about having fun. It’s about making memories and hanging out with your best friend. Tonight will be great, no matter what happens. There is no reason to be uncomfortable or nervous.
There is no reason to be uncomfortable or nervous.
There is no reason to be uncomfortable or nervous…
Fluttershy mentally repeated this to herself as to attempt to hammer the point in as she trotted to the front of the room and swung the door open, letting in the cool night air. Sure enough, there she was: that tomboyish Rainbow pony casually stood in the doorway.
“Well, if it isn’t my good ol’ partner in crime,” Rainbow said as she entered the foyer, Fluttershy shutting the door behind her.
Rainbow looked around the cottage. “Ah, I see you’ve got the place set up for us.”
Fluttershy nodded. “Yep. Everything we need is right here.”
Rainbow inhaled sharply and sighed. “Now this is what I’m talking about! Just you and me, two pegasi, taking on the night together! Come on, give me some wing,” Rainbow exclaimed, outstretching her left wing. Fluttershy took the cue and extended her right wing, slapping it across Rainbow’s in a traditional Pegasus display of camaraderie.
“Yeah, that’s the stuff. Tell me, how’s it goin’?” she followed up as she trotted over to the corner of the room to place down her saddlebags.
“I’m quite fine. Thank you for coming.” Fluttershy responded.
“Hey, no need to be so formal,” Rainbow responded with a chuckle.
“I only have one thing to ask you.” Dash leapt forward, putting her forehoof around Fluttershy's shoulder, wings flapping in excitement.
Fluttershy was taken aback by her crush’s sudden movement, trying her hardest to keep her composure. “Oh... um… a- and what might that be?”
Rainbow’s voice grew somewhat intense. “Are you ready? For the GREATEST. MOST AWESOMEST. MOST UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT of your LIFE ?!!!”
Fluttershy hesitated for a second, then nodded meekly.
Rainbow’s face switched briefly to one of skepticism. “Now I’m not playin’ around here, Fluttershy. Tonight, it’s just you and me, and I promise you, we’re gonna make it the best sleepover yet. We’re gonna get wasted, we’re gonna mess this place up, we’re gonna go crazy and it’s gonna be awesome. I promise, this is gonna be one for the history books. Are you game?”
Fluttershy mulled it over for a few seconds. She recalled all the previous magical nights this time of the month had brought forth; this was going to be no different.
She nodded firmly this time, a sly smile crossing her face. “I’m game.”
“That’s the spirit!” she exclaimed, releasing Fluttershy and high-winging her once again.
Rainbow dashed over to her saddlebags, retrieving a large book. She plopped it onto the table and told Fluttershy to dim the lights, before lighting a few candles and gesturing for her to come over.
The cover was a deep, luscious shade of purple embroidered with cheap gold linings. “The Elements Of Harmony Sleepover Journal: Access Only Permitted To Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity” was scribbled across it in black ink.
Rainbow opened the tome to its first page, upon half of which which was scrawled a short pledge, the other half blank. Rainbow placed her right hoof on the blank space, and instructed Fluttershy to do the same.
“Um, is this really necessary? I mean, it is only the two of us.” Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow scoffed. “Of course, Fluttershy. We do this every sleepover. It’s tradition. Come on.”
Fluttershy placed her right hoof on the blank spot as well, both pegasi subsequently raising their left hooves in the air.
Rainbow cleared her throat and began to read the inscription in a mocking ‘serious’ tone.
“I, Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale, solemnly vow to celebrate the night ahead in honor of flowing cider, good fun, and friendship. There shall be no strife, no conflict, and no sadness, for in the realm of this night there is only good times and togetherness.”
Fluttershy followed suit reciting the same vow, with her own name in place of Rainbow’s. When she was done, Rainbow slowly closed the book and, after a moment of silence, both devolved into a fit of laughter.
“Oh man, I love saying that stupid pledge,” Rainbow said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye as Fluttershy blew out the candles and turned the light back on. She began to leaf through the book.
At the end of every sleepover, it was a tradition to gather around and record the greatest moments in the book, in a sense preserving the memories and experiences forever. Pictures, over-the-top retellings, and genuine sentiments of togetherness littered its pages.
After a couple short minutes of reminiscing, Rainbow closed the book once more and left it sitting on the table.
She grabbed a mug and pranced over to the nearest keg of cider, pouring herself some. “Want any?”
“Oh, not right now, maybe later.”
“Suit yourself,” as she took a long hardy sip of the drink. “Aah, that’s the good stuff. Well, shall we get this party started?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Let’s begin.”
And with that, the two exchanged a strong hoofbump, and the night got off to a promising, relatively stable start.
10:30 PM, Friday
Daring Do flew like the wind, just out of the grasp of the horde of monsters chasing after her. Using every last iota of her awesomeness, Daring leapt through the-
“Umm, Rainbow, do you think maybe you can, um, take it down a bit?” Fluttershy asked with a hoof-lowering gesture.
“Oh, sorry Fluttershy, I guess I got a little overexcited. You know how it is with me and Daring Do, after all.”
The two laid in front of the screen, open pizza boxes and empty cider mugs littering the floor around them, all the latter of which belonging to Rainbow, as the action of the Daring Do movie flashed before them.
Fluttershy took another slice of pizza from the nearest box, taking a delicate nibble. She turned to her friend who was just scarfing down pizza and guzzling cider like it would all disappear any second.
There was something Fluttershy admired about Rainbow’s… “uncouth”-ness, as Rarity would have put it. Fluttershy was always so concerned with being delicate and polite, and while that certainly worked for her, there was something to be admired about somepony so… casual, who always lived her life in the moment and with such a free-spirited, carefree mindset, not constantly concerned with manners or anything else she found trivial, living for what she loved doing. Fluttershy watched Rainbow take down another slice of pizza, admiring the blue pegasus, until she realized… oh no, she had fallen back into it.
Before Fluttershy could stop staring, Rainbow turned to her. “Everything okay, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy briefly panicked. She couldn’t talk to Rainbow in this mindset!
She stammered out the first thing that came to her mind. “Um… I, uh… think I’m gonna go step into the kitchen for a minute, this scene might be a little intense for me.”
Rainbow shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She took another sip of her cider. “But hey, if you ever get too scared again, I’m here for ya.”
Fluttershy laughed nervously all the way to the kitchen. Rainbow wondered if she should check up on that mare.
Finally making it to her destination, Fluttershy shut the door, breathing heavily. She recalled the little breathing exercise Twilight had taught her. She inhaled deeply as she held her right hoof near her chest and, moving it away, gave a deep exhale. It calmed her body, but not her mind, which was still running like mad.
Fluttershy paced for a while and mulled over her options. Maybe she should open up to Rainbow? No, it would be too sudden. Fluttershy would want to plan for something like that to make sure nothing went wrong. And there were, indeed, a myriad of things that could go wrong. Yet at the same time, just keeping it in was near impossible. She continued pacing, just wondering what possible options there were.
And then it caught her eye. She saw one of the kegs of cider she bought from Applejack’s family that she had left in the kitchen.
She grabbed a mug from the nearest cabinet, turned on the tap on the keg, and let the cider flow.
She took a sip; that familiar, strong, apple-tinged taste hit her mouth like a brick. She sat there with the mug for a few minutes, feeling her stress melting away. She didn’t want to get too buzzed; just enough to keep herself composed around Rainbow.
Around the time half the cup was empty, she felt good enough to get back out there; hopefully that and whatever was left was good enough.
She trotted out of the kitchen and back into the front room, seeing Rainbow with her eyes still glued to the film.
She sat down and took her place, along with another sip of cider.
“Ah, I see you’ve finally poured yourself some booze.” Rainbow said. “Oh, quiet, here comes the best part of the book! Oh man, I hope they do it justice.”
Fluttershy blushed a little at that first comment, but ultimately kept her composure. She and Rainbow watched the rest of the movie together with no more interruptions.
Her idea was a success.
11:15 PM, Friday
An epic orchestral score played as the final credits rolled, Rainbow and Fluttershy stomping their hooves on the floor in front of them as a form of applause.
Rainbow laughed with joy. “Holy sweet Celestia, that was awesome ! By Luna, did they do the books justice! I can’t wait until they do the sequels… oh, I can’t wait to see what Twilight thinks of it! How about you, Fluttershy?”
“Well, that really was something,” said Fluttershy, rolled up in blankets and filled to the brim with pizza. She wasn’t as enthused as Rainbow, not being a fan of the books, but she still enjoyed the film for what it was.
“Man, just the action and the peril and the violence and the adventure… it was so good !” Rainbow exclaimed, still hopped up on the adrenaline.
Fluttershy rolled around and got back on her hooves, going to turn the lights on. “So, what’s up next?”
Rainbow thought for a minute. “Anything we want.”
Fluttershy found the statement promising, if unnecessarily vague. Still, it was true. Everything was going down the right path; Fluttershy had gathered herself, the film was amazing, and they still had the whole night ahead of them to do... whatever they wanted.
At last, the party could truly begin.
11:30 PM, Friday
Fluttershy and Rainbow laughed roaringly.
“Ah, The Tale Of Old Stallion Halfpint has to be one of my favorite old Pegasus drinking songs,” Rainbow said as she threw back another big gulp of cider, holding a small acoustic guitar and laid back in her chair, hind hooves relaxing up on the table.
“Oh, one of mine too,” Fluttershy responded, taking a delicate sip of hers. “Doesn’t that one date back to the times of the three divided tribes, when Commander Hurricane and her army would sing it in the taverns and during feasts?”
Rainbow chuckled as she tuned her guitar. “Wow, Fluttershy. You really know your history.”
Fluttershy blushed a little, and hiccuped slightly from the drink. “Oh, it’s just a little tidbit I picked up.”
Rainbow stretched out and cracked her vertebrae and wing muscles a bit, letting out a big sigh of relaxation before returning to her previous state. “All right, as per tradition, how about we do Me And My Friends next?”
“Oh, I don’t know. That one is really best with all six of us.”
“Oh, that’s no problem, we’ll just do our usual verses and leave the others’ out. I’ll start, OK?”
“All right. Go.”
Rainbow strummed her guitar and began to sing.
“Well, some ponies say that I’m kind of a hothead,
Or even that I’m just a jerk,
But I really couldn’t give a flying feather
Those stupid insults won’t work
‘Cause I’ve got the best friends a mare could ask for,
And that’s all I’ll ever need,
And if any pony looks down to us,
or tries to put us down, oh, we’d
Just pour another cider and strike up a tune, so let’s all sing along…
For the chorus, the two ponies sang in unison.
“So here’s to us, me and my friends,
Just hanging out ‘til we all meet our ends,
Drinking up, singing, and having a ball,
And we don’t give a damn what they think of us all,
Oh, here’s to us, just me and my friends,
Whatever comes up will surely amend,
For there is no greater thing from here to the moon,
Than me and my friends here in this very room…
“All right, Fluttershy, go!” Rainbow called out, still playing.
Fluttershy began.
“Now, I’m not the most zestful of ponies,
I’ve got an odd quirk or two,
But me and my lot will have eachothers’ backs,
Whatever Tartarus we’re put through,
I’ve got the most wonderful friends a mare could ask for,
And that’s all I’ll ever need,
And if anypony looks down on us,
or tries to put us down, oh, we’d
Just pour another cider and strike up a tune, so why don’t we sing along…
“Soooo, here’s to us, me and my friends,
Just hanging out ‘til we all meet our ends,
Drinking up, singing, and having a ball,
And we don’t give a damn what they think of us all,
Oh, here’s to us, me and my friends,
Whatever comes up will surely amend,
For there is no greater thing from here to the moon,
Than me and my friends, here in this very room…
Rainbow finished off the song with a small bout of frantic strumming before hitting the strings and bringing the song to a close.
The two cheered, as Fluttershy went in for a toast but accidentally lost grip of her mug and splashed her cider all over Rainbow. “Oops.”
“Hey!” Rainbow said, subsequently soaking Fluttershy with her own drink.
The two burst into hysterics, with Rainbow jumping up on the table and playfully tackling Fluttershy to the ground.
While pinned down, Fluttershy eyed a half-full mug close by. She reached out to it and poured the beverage directly onto Rainbow’s head.
The laughter continued as Rainbow unpinned her friend.
Fluttershy looked at herself. “Oh, look at this mess,” Fluttershy said half-jokingly, lightheartedly jabbing her friend with her hoof.
“Hey, you started it,” Rainbow chuckled, jabbing Fluttershy back. “At least it wasn’t soda this time.”
Ah, yes. The Great Cola War Of That One Time Applejack Hosted. Fluttershy flashed back to that legendary sleepover; the brown fizzy liquid spraying everywhere, the barn left completely soaked, Rainbow and AJ’s team with such incredible tactic against Twilight and Pinkie’s… sadly, there were no survivors. Well, actually, that’s not true, in fact all of them survived, that’s just what they said to make it seem more ‘epic’. “You just had to bring the Cola War into it, didn’t you?” Fluttershy said.
“Hey, it’s always worth bringing up how much I kicked Twi and Pinkies’ flanks, isn’t it?”
Fluttershy laughed as opposed to taking offense on their behalf. She knew the jab was made in light-hearted jest, and as moderator, she knew firsthand that her and AJ did, in fact, kick Twilight and Pinkie’s flanks pretty hard. “It certainly is.”
“Yeah. Shame Rarity didn’t want to participate, but she thought it was so ‘uncouth and childlike and would simply stain my coat!’”, Rainbow put on her over-the-top Rarity impression.
The two laughed. It had been a while since Fluttershy felt this comfortable around Rainbow Dash, just standing around and reminiscing on sleepovers past. It was nice to just spend some quality time with her.
“All right, I’m gonna get the O&O campaign set up. Since you’re still a bit new to the game, I’ll get the beginner’s edition. Cool?”
“Cool.”
Rainbow walked off to Fluttershy’s drawer to retrieve the game board.
As Fluttershy watched Rainbow prepare the next event, she felt compelled to say something. “Rainbow?”
“Yeah?”
“...thanks.”
Rainbow was taken aback. “Thanks? For what?”
“Thanks for being here. It’s nice to get to share this time with you.”
Rainbow smiled. “Aww, Fluttershy, no need to get so sappy.”
“I mean it, though. You’ve been a great friend and I just wanted you to know that… I’m grateful for you.”
Rainbow blushed a little. “Aww, Fluttershy, come here.” The two embraced in a hug.
Maybe it was the cider taking its effect, maybe it was simply having her crush actively hug her, but Fluttershy’s mind slipped into a state of intoxicated bliss, one where she didn’t ever want to let Rainbow go.
“...Rainbow?”
“Yeah?”
“...I love you.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened as she pushed Fluttershy back. “WHAT!?”
Fluttershy had just realized what she said. It had slipped out. She didn’t mean for it to, but it did. Her vision began to blur as everything turned into a big haze. In that moment, it felt like everything was falling apart. For a good moment, she considered just up and running. Running away from the stupid thing she had just said. “Rainbow, wait, I… I can explain…”
But before she could head to the door and make a break for it, something happened she wasn’t expecting; Rainbow got flustered and ran away.
Fluttershy was left in shock. With four words, four little, stupid words that came out of her mouth, she had run her own friend right out of the house and ruined a perfectly good moment.
She ran out the door and looked to the skies for Rainbow, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, Fluttershy, you fool!” she convicted herself under her breath with a facehoof before flying off in search for her friend.
Maybe, just maybe, she could somehow fix this.
Chapter 1: The Night Before
Initial Draft: COMPLETE
Rewrite: COMPLETE
Final Version: COMPLETE
Chapter 2: Game Time
Initial Draft: COMPLETE
Rewrite: COMPLETE
Final Version: COMPLETE
Chapter 3: Pegasi Of A Feather
Initial Draft: COMPLETE
Rewrite: PENDING
Final Version: NOT STARTED
Chapter 4: A Night To Remember
Initial Draft: NOT STARTED
Rewrite: NOT STARTED
Final Version: NOT STARTED
Epilogue
Initial Draft: NOT STARTED
Rewrite: NOT STARTED
Final Version: NOT STARTED
Day after sleepover, F + R reveal their newfound love the the rest of the Mane 6, the rest of the group/we see what F + R wrote down in the book, we cut to a scene where they consumate their relationship with a kiss, story ends
