Fuzzy Blue Lights

"Rainbow Dash? Are you awake?"

"...Yep."

"...I told you."

"Told me what?"

"Why I hate my singing. That you'd hate it."

Mr. Shy opened the front door. He was mildly surprised to see a young lady with vibrant multi-colored hair standing there.

"Hi. Is Fluttershy busy? I'm her friend, Rainbow Dash."

"Oh, no," Mr. Shy said in a puzzled but optimistic voice. "She's just finished dinner. Come inside, I'll go fetch her."

He stepped to the side to allow Rainbow Dash in. Shutting the door, he turned and ascended the stairs. Already having friends coming over to the house? Progress. He chuckled to himself. Also, why does the name Rainbow Dash ring a bell?

He knocked on Fluttershy's door. "Fluttershy? Sweetie?" A second later, the door cracked open.

"Yes?"

"You have a visitor." Mr. Shy smiled.

Befuddled, Fluttershy opened the door, and followed her father downstairs. She stopped halfway down the stairs when she saw who the visitor was.

"Sup?" Rainbow Dash jerked her chin in greeting.

"Uhh, hi?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go hang out for a bit," Rainbow Dash shrugged. "I mean, it's been a while, so I thought it could just be you and me. You know, get to know each other more since... well, you know."

"Umm," Fluttershy looked over to her father for permission. He smiled, giving her a little nod. "Yes. Let me get my shoes really quick."

When the two girls left, Mr. Shy returned to the kitchen, still smiling. "You heard all that, right?"

"I did." His wife beamed.

Their little girl was outside with a friend.

"So, um, what do you want to talk about?" Fluttershy asked as they walked. Rainbow Dash held her arms behind her head.

"Well, I figured we should go back and forth, and just tell each other stuff, you know? A lot can change over time," When Rainbow Dash saw that Fluttershy was still confused, she explained. "I'll say a fact about myself, you say the same thing, but about you. Like, my favorite color is blue."

Favorite color? Why... why was that question so hard? Fluttershy tried picturing it. "Gr-green." Fluttershy mentally face-palmed. There was green grass right next to them.

"Okay," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Now, you choose something about you."

Fluttershy thought to herself for several moments. "My favorite place is the ocean."

Rainbow Dash whistled. "My favorite place is on the field. Pretty much any field. My favorite musician is..."

Fluttershy felt more... intact. What a blessing it was to have someone want to be with her. To be around her. Fluttershy remembered her short walks with Rainbow Dash on their way to their spot. But back then, she had let Rainbow do most of the talking.

But after she got home from their evening stroll, Fluttershy had learned more about herself, as well as her friend. Little, seemingly insignificant things. Like Rainbow Dash first watching a waterfall. Herself hand-feeding a deer. The way they each preferred their eggs cooked. When they pulled out their last baby teeth.

It was as if Fluttershy's life was a mess of puzzle pieces, and Rainbow Dash had come along and given her the missing pieces that allowed it to make sense. For the first time in however many years, Fluttershy fell into a pleasant, terrorless dream that night. Despite the refreshing change, Fluttershy had fantasized about that walk all the next day. Which was why she was confused that someone was trying to get her attention.

"Darling? Why haven't you been eating?"

Fluttershy snapped out of her trance. "Hmm?"

"Why don't you eat?" Rarity repeated. "I haven't seen you touch a scrap of food in the whole two weeks you've been here. It's as if you're a vampire!"

"Oh. I bring a sandwich to school and eat it before lunch." Fluttershy lied while Rarity did her hair. Rarity had aspirations of being a fashion designer in the future (though Fluttershy thought that hair fell under cosmetology). Fluttershy was nervous about changing her look, but Pinkie Pie and Applejack assured her that Rarity knew what she was doing.

"But do you eat enough?" Rarity asked in concern. "So many girls starve themselves to get the perfect figure. If that's your intent, you really mustn't. You still have plenty of growing to do before you judge your body in any way."

"I don't starve myself." Fluttershy whispered. Well, it technically wasn't a lie. She had grown accustomed to eating only one meal a day.

"Very well," Rarity said simply. "I apologize if I sounded like I was prying; you are so skinny, my dear. It'd be unhealthy for you to do such a thing."

Fluttershy didn't avoid eating to slim down. Honestly, impressing others with her looks would probably never appear on her list of priorities. The sharp hunger pains helped keep her mind distracted.

"Alright darling, what do you think?" Rarity passed Fluttershy a handheld mirror, indicating that her work was finished. Fluttershy carefully accepted it, then looked down at her reflection.

Her hair had been let down for Rarity. Fluttershy looked from several angles, but couldn't get a good view.

"Oh, silly me," Rarity giggled. "Let's get you in front of the full body mirror," Fluttershy, directed by Rarity, stood up and walked out of the bathroom. Rarity guided her in front of a large mirror on the wall. "Now what do you think?"

Fluttershy was too stunned to answer. Her hair was brushed and curled at the ends, and felt less brittle somehow. She wore a sleeveless spring green shirt, the smooth texture of which Fluttershy absolutely loved, and a matching skirt that went just below her knees.

She looked more open and confident, like she was a whole different person. It was more skin than Fluttershy normally would have been comfortable showing, but she looked and felt amazing.

"I used minimal makeup, as you requested," Rarity added. "Just a hint of blush."

"Thank you," Fluttershy smiled gratefully. "You did a lovely job."

"Oh, pish-posh," Rarity waved a hand. "I must say though, you are very lucky. Loads of girls would kill to have your natural beauty. I bet you could've had all those slick city boys wrapped around your finger."

Fluttershy shifted on her feet, eyes falling downward as she answered with less enthusiasm. "Oh. Yes. I am lucky for that, I guess."