Forgotten Legacy

I looked at Fluttershy as we rolled bandages up. We had decided that we would dedicate our time to setting up medical supplies and a triage center.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She ducked her head in a way I recognized. She was a little embarrassed.

“How did you and Rarity wind up together?” she whispered. “I don’t see how you found the courage to ask. I haven’t.”

I felt the flush climb through my face. “Oh,” I said. “Actually, s-she asked me.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Well, sort of,” I said. “We were on a cruise and she found out I had been hiding a crush on her.” I had flashes of the times we’ve shared on the cruise and since then. “She also found out about just why I’m so shy.”

“Oh dear,” she whispered. “You too?”

“Fluttershy,” I said. “Could we not talk about that? It’s still a little raw.”

Fluttershy will always cry.

She nodded. “I understand,” she said.

“I can tell you one thing, though,” I said. “Ever since we got together, the chanting doesn’t show up as often.”

She flinched, and I saw a familiar distant look in her eyes.

We continued to wrap bandages. “As a matter of fact, our AJ and Dash got together on that trip too,” I said.

“Your AJ and Dash are dating, too?” she asked.

“Too?”

She squeaked and covered her mouth with her hooves. “Oh my gosh,” she said. “I promised them I wouldn’t tell anypony!”

I patted her shoulder. “It’s ok, it’s just between us.”

She calmed down.

“But when, and how?” I asked.

She was interrupted by Sunset and Princess Twilight coming in.

“How’s it going with the first aid kits?” Twilight asked.

“We’ll be able to outfit maybe a hundred medical ponies with supplies, but triage is something we don’t have a lot of experience in,” Fluttershy said. “It’ll be scary for the first few…” She couldn’t say the word ‘casualties’.

Sunset nodded. “Caren should be able to brief the medics on the principles,” she said.

I nodded. “It was part of my medical courses,” I said. I shuddered, my wings fluttering. “But I hope they won’t need it.”

Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can’t hardly fly.

I know she didn’t mean it, but even mentioning the chanting could bring back the memories. I glanced over at her as she finished going over the basics of triage to the two princesses. I kept finding myself staring at them, a strange feeling of longing at war with my timidity.

“Fluttershy?”

I shook my head as Twilight called my name. “Yes?” I asked.

“Do you think you can help distribute the information?” she asked, levitating a small stack of parchments over.

“Yes, of course,” I said.

As they left, I couldn’t help but watch, a familiar sense of longing flaring up.

“Fluttershy?”

I glanced at Caren, and I saw her face light up.

“You have a crush on somepony, don’t you?” she said.

“What?” I sputtered. “No, no, of course not.” I felt the heat rise on my face.

She eyed me with a soft smile. “You can’t lie to me,” she said. “I know what to look for. Who is it?”

I looked away, but the pink pegasus was suddenly in front of me, her wings holding her aloft. “Is it Rarity?” she asked.

“It’s not Rarity,” I said, turning back around only to find myself looking in her pale eyes again. I felt my temper flare as she opened her mouth. I felt the Stare forming.

She froze and looked away. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just that, when Rarity and I got together, everything started making more sense. She gave me the support I needed and never judged me when I told her what had happened in school. She just held me.”

She looked me in the eyes. “I just want you to find that same feeling.”

I looked down, my thoughts whirling around.

We prepared another few first aid kits, silence growing heavy between us.

“Twilight,” I whispered.

She looked over at me.

“It’s Twilight,” I said more firmly. “But I can’t begin to state the number of reasons why it won’t work.”

“Have you told her?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “She wouldn’t want a silly filly like me. I’m not worthy of a princess.”

She smiled. “You are strong, Fluttershy,” she said. “Not like Applejack or Rainbow Dash, perhaps, but you are strong like the wind. Willing to bend when you need to but when you need to, you stand firm. And I think that makes you worthy of your friend, Twilight.”

I looked at her in surprise.

She was still smiling. “Why should you deny yourself a chance at happiness?”

I felt a smile tug at my mouth.

“You sound rather wise,” I said.

She blushed and ducked her head. “That’s what Rarity said to me the night I confessed to her,” she said. “I think it fits you, too.” She looked at me again. “Tell her, and let her make the choice.”

I nodded, turning back to my work.

Maybe it was time I stood firm against myself.