"Hiya, Fluttershy! What can I getcha?" Pinkie Pie smiled brightly at the butterstick who had just walked into Sugarcube Corner, welcoming her friend with an elated enthusiasm that only Ponyville's very own party-pony could pull off. It was a late Friday evening, the July afternoon mugginess already fading into a warm and breezy night just made for adventure. Maybe that's why the restaurant was so crowded; everypony wanted to do something in the flawless weather while it lasted. Besides Fluttershy, Pinkie had already seen most of her friends, like Rainbow Dash, who made them almost run out of pie, Twilight, who had only come in to read a book, and Applejack, who spilt an apple tart between Applebloom and herself.
Pinkie was left in charge with the customers while the Cakes worked to make more pastries it the kitchen, so that was her sole adventure for the night. Pinkie didn't mind though; it was really fun to work up front with everypony else! A sudden gust of cool air shut the door behind Fluttershy, making her 'Eep!' In surprise. Her yellow cheeks flushed the same shade as her hair when she noticed a few ponies giving her a mix of amused and concerned looks. As Pinkie liked to say, amuerned. Fluttershy quickly moved towards the safety of Pinkie Pie, coming to a stop at the bakery's front counter.
"Umm.." Pale, ocean blue eyes quickly scanned the vast menu, before coming to a gentle rest on brilliant cyan ones. "I think I'll have a berry oat muffin? If that's ok?" Fluttershy anxiously twisted a lock of bubblegum mane around her hoof, eyeing the contents of her pocketbook. She didn't know how much a berry oat muffin costed, but seriously hoped she had brought enough with her. Usually, Fluttershy ordered an Apple-Carrot salad and a small banana shake every time, so she wondered if Pinkie would be mad at the change. Maybe she supposed Fluttershy had grown bored of the same salad and drink from Pinkie's bakery. Which, she wasn't. She still actually really enjoyed them.
"Yeperoo!" Pinkie cheered, her eyes lighting up. "One delux super-delicious-if-I-do-say-so-myself-and-I-do berry oat muffin coming right up!" That'll be.."
Pinkie ducked down behind the counter for a minute, seemingly checking something. Fluttershy softly smiled, waiting patiently. She was pretty sure she had enough...2 bits seemed reasonable. Pinkie quickly rocketed back up with a notepad in hoof."..3 bits, please and thank you very much."
"Oh no." Fluttershy mumbled, disappointment evident in her voice. "I..have 2. But that's not enough." Her butter ears layed back, her hesitant smile slipping. "I..um, could just...no..you can cancel my order, Pinkie. I can't pay for it." Something lodged in Fluttershy's throat, and she struggled to swallow. This muffin was supposed to be special, but here she was, foolishly one bit short. She could come back tomorrow night and try again, and bring along an extra bit like she should of; though it wouldn't be the same. Fluttershy needed to do this tonight, because tonight was...tonight was..important. That was all. Trying not to cry, Fluttershy began to turn around to leave.
"2 bits works like a charm for me!" Pinkie beamed, reaching into her poofy pink mane and pulling out a bit. "There! 2 of your bits, plus 1 of mine equals 3 little itty bitty bits! So you can pay for your order!" Pinkie clinked the bit onto the table, shoving it towards her friend.
"Oh, no! You don't have to! It's fine, I mean. I...don't need this. Don't waste yours on me." Fluttershy nudged it back, pushing her stubborn mane out of her eyes. She tried to act assertive. This wasn't her money, after all.
Pinkie let out a high-pitched giggle that suddenly turned into honking snorts. Startled, Fluttershy flinched away every so slightly. "W-why are you laughing? I-I can't take it."
Pinkie calmly leaned forwards and nuzzled Fluttershy across the register. "Don't be silly, flutter-bear! It's just one bit, not 100!" Another squeal, but her tone became more serious. "Besides, I can see how much missing the money really upset you. Those muffins are super-duper fantastic." Pinkie began drooling, her eyes glazing over momentarily. Fluttershy waved a cautious hoof in her face, concerned. The sugar-addict snapped out of it, her sky colored eyes focusing once again. "...And your like my PFF! And that's what pony friends forever do for each other!"
Fluttershy blushed, and happily nose-snuggled Pinkie Pie back. "Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, Pinkie. I really, really needed that muffin because-umf!" Fluttershy caught her almost-mess up, snubbing her muzzle with a hasty foreleg. She had no intention of sharing her real motives for wanting the pastry so badly. Fluttershy fearfully peeked at Pinkie, wondering if she had noticed. But Pinkie Pie said nothing, taking 2 bits from Fluttershy's purse and putting them in the bit register, along with the other coin. Fluttershy meekly coughed. "..Erm, because, um, I'm in the mood for berry oat muffins tonight." She winced at her own explanation, her curtain of hair taking its usual spot in front of her face.
"I here ya, giryl-friiiend. That's like my, allll the time." Pinkie winked and cheerfully booped Fluttershy on the nose, making the yellow mare go cross-eyed. "I'll be right back with your special muffin~!" Before Pinkie went into the kitchen, she gave her another eye twitch. Fluttershy gasped, stunned. So Pinkie did hear?
Before going into a heart attack mode, which she commonly liked to do in dire situations, Fluttershy remember Pinkie Pie still had no idea why that pastry mattered so much. Whew. That was good then; her secret was safe. Even though Pinkie could be trusted with important information, Fluttershy still didn't want anypony to know her super embarrassing secret. Especially her.
Within a few minutes of quietly standing, Pinkie bustled back from the kitchen, balancing the muffin on a china plate on-top of her bright pink nose. Fluttershy was about to say something about how that probably wasn't the most efficient and safest way to carry it, but stopped herself. This was Pinkie. And Pinkie did things nopony else could do; none of her other friends seemed to question it. Why, it'd be ab-normal if Pinkie didn't anything crazily impossible for a day. The plate flawlessly fell from Pinkie's muzzle to the counter without so much of a dent.
"Oh, thank you!" Fluttershy blinked, astonished. "You sure work fast back there."
Pinkie grinned as Fluttershy took the meal, nodding her head in agreement. "Yep. We sure do. And we make all our treats from scratch, here at Sugarcube Corner!" The pink mare suddenly turned her head to the side, staring directly at something Fluttershy couldn't see. Between her two hooves was a giant poster of Sugarcube Corner, flashing lights adorning the edge.
"Err.." Fluttershy rubbed her head, completely confused. She cleared her throat at the still-posed mare, craning her neck to attempt to see what Pinkie did. Pinkie suddenly bursted back to normal, throwing the picture behind her. It disappeared in a fiery explosion. Fluttershy widened her eyes, but shook it off. Remember who this is?
Pinkie swiftly picked the plate back up using her teeth, and held it out to her. "Ear oou goh."
Fluttershy looked at it nervously, hesitating. She slowly took the muffin from Pinkie using her teeth. They accidentally bumped noses, causing them both to burst out laughing. One in tinkling little giggles, the other in loud, resounding guffaws. Backing up, Fluttershy put the plate in her hooves, smiling gratefully at her friend. "Thank you, Pinkie. For helping, I mean. It really means a lot." Vigorously nodding and grinning, Pinkie gestured towards a single open table.
"Oh, no, no." Fluttershy shook her head, dismissing the offer. "I'm taking this to go, please. You guys do that, right?" She attempted a light joke, but a wave of fear gripped her as she considered the possibility. Maybe not all places did. Fluttershy had always eaten inside, and never asked for take-out.
"No."
Fluttershy blanched, the muffin almost falling out of her grasp. "What?! You-you don't?" Her eyes started to water. Was this all pointless from the start?
"Aww." Fluttershy heard Pinkie say. "I'm sorry, that was mean of me. I was just kidding, Flutters. We absolutely do take-out. Sorry." Pinkie gave a sheepish grin, looking sideways at Fluttershy. Relief flooded the pegasus, and she gave a small laugh.
"Oh, oh, good. I thought this would have been for nothing." Pinkie lost her sheepish look, replaced by insatiable curiosity.
"What would have been for nothing?"
Fluttershy gulped, suddenly feeling cold. "Ah-ah-nothing! Just...never mind." Pinkie shrugged, letting Fluttershy's second slip up go. Fluttershy, desperate to leave, quickly said goodbye. "Oh kay, bye Pinkie! See you tomorrow I hope!"
"You too! I already miss you," Pinkie said, wiping away a few non-existent tears. Fluttershy couldn't tell if she was serious or not.
Walking towards the back door with the muffin repositioned in between her teeth, Fluttershy felt happiness radiate from deep inside her. Yay, she accomplished Step One of: Make her Love You, written by Fluttershy Fly Butterfly. Now all that was left was Step Two! Step 2 was to give her gift, the yummy muffin, to her secret special somepony.
Rarity.
She would give the sweet goody to Rarity. But, oh goodness! Not directly, no! She would leave the anonymous muffin at Rarity's door along with a un-signed note in a basket, and then run away back to hide in her cottage. She knew berry oat muffins were Rarity's absolute favorite, and tonight was the only night Fluttershy was sure Sweetie Belle wasn't staying over with her big sis. That was why the muffin was so important to her, and why it had to be now. Fluttershy didn't want Sweetie Belle, who commonly played outside and unnecessarily sat by windows, to see Fluttershy sneaking over and getting involved. If Rarity happened to see her causally walking over with the muffin, she could pretend it was just to say hi. But that meant forgetting the plan, and her self-written book. Her surprise was a gift of love to a pony who had no idea that love even existed. Hmm. That was going to be hard.
Step 3 was actually walking straight up to Rarity like a brave pony and saying, "I love you," but just the thought of that made Fluttershy shake in fear. What if Rarity didn't like her back, or worse, laughed at her and ruined their friendship? She wasn't sure she would ever be able to make the first move by herself. All she could do for now was give tiny hints to somepony liking Rarity, and Rarity could figure out who that was by herself.
But Fluttershy could think of her feelings in her head. Rarity, she thought. I really love you so much, and will you be my special some pony?
